USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 21
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 21
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Sewer .- An embryo sewer, with about ten connections, has been laid in Blooming Prairie by Albert A. Peterson. The out- let is in a marsh below the village where a private sewer owned by the West hotel property, had its outlet. This system will doubtless, in time, result in a municipal sewer.
Blooming Prairie Cemetery .- The cemetery, which adjoins the St. Columbanus cemetery and lies about half a mile south of the platted portion of the village, was early set aside for ceme- tery purposes by George E. Skinner. April 4, 1892, a num- ber of citizens decided to form an association, and contributed a sufficient amount to purchase from Mr. Skinner for $125 such lots as were not already occupied, in the portion not reserved for the Catholic people. The organizers, and contributors were T. S. Morton, Ele Ille. A. Palmer Smith, G. H. Johnson, H. Noble, T. R. Symes, C. E. Hancock, R. I. Fuller, E. H. Wheeler, J. C. Brainerd and C. B. Pettie. The present officers of the asso- ciation are : President and actuary. T. S. Morton ; secretary and treasurer. J. C. Brainerd. There is also a board of directors.
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
GRAIN INDUSTRY.
Grain raising was for several years the principal industry of the farmers of this vicinity. and buying and handling of grain was a large trade interest. The first buyers were A. C. Hawley, Ennis Bros., M. Johnson and C. W. Gardner, who handled grain in the warehouses erected near the depot.
Messrs. Bassett, Huntting & Co., of McGregor, Ia., soon built a warehouse, J. C. Noteman, Chris Vollhardt, L. Ellington and J. C. Rea buying grain for them at different times, this firm was the first to erect an elevator here which they did in 1875.
\V. H. Valleau bought grain here in a warehouse north of the depot for a couple of years, Geo. Vallcau and A. H. Wiggin were employed by him. Late in 1875 Mr. Chas. Whitton, who was a grain buyer for some five previous years, built an elevator at the foot of Fourth street ; this elevator was sold to G. W. Por- ter in the spring of 1877 and burned the same fall. On its site H. W. Pratt & Co. built at once: this was operated for some years by Mr. Porter and afterwards by M. H. Hitchcock; after some transfer it was sold in 1895 to the Farmers' Elevator Co., who lost it by fire and built a new elevator which they still own and operate. F. J. Quinn, now of Colorado, was in charge of the Farmers' Elevator for a time and was succeeded by J. R. Edmond, who is their present buyer.
In 1875 M. M. Guthrie, formerly of Dubuque, la., was placed in charge of their elevator by Bassett Huntting & Co. The fol- lowing year he acquired an interest in the building and the business. During most of the succeeding years Mr. Guthrie has purchased grain at this point, and at present is owner of one of the elevators.
The grain receipts were the largest in 1875, 1876, 1877, when they were nearly half a million bushels annually.
Farmers' Elevator Co .- This company was incorporated in 1905, by the election of the following officers : President, Thomas Herron ; vice president, C. E. Symes : secretary, G. A. Peterson ; treasurer, H. A. Peterson : directors, O. G. Anderson, Soren Mil- ler and John G. Johnson. The company purchased the old Pratt elevator, and placed F. J. Quinn in charge. In March, 1907, the building was destroyed by fire. The business was continued in a rented warehouse, and a new elevator was at once erected. For several years past, James Edmonds has been the buyer. The firm is capitalized at $5,000 with about 180 shareholders. The business amounts to over 100,000 bushels annually. The present officers are the same as above, with John Jurgenson, Peter Hanson and O. G. Anderson as directors.
Lumber Yards .- The sawed lumber for the buildings erected
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
in the village prior to the building of the railway was hauled by team mostly from Owatonna. When the railway was com- pleted Minneapolis and other river points became the natural wholesale supply market for the territory. A Mr. Searles, of Owatonna, put in a small stock of lumber in 1867 and erected one of the first buildings, which was used as an office and dwell- ing, and situated on lot 1, block 13. Mr. Aaron Pettie & Son soon succeeded in the business, which they continued until 1872. In 1871 J. C. Brainerd established a lumber business and in the following year Chas. Whitton became a partner. For sev- eral years the firm of Brainerd & Whitton controlled the lumber and coal trade and were succeeded in 1878 by Brainerd & Gard- ner. In 1882 Mr. Gardner retired from the firm and J. C. Brain- erd conducted the business until 1902, when he sold to the North- west Lumber Co. A. Solberg opened a yard here in 1892, and in 1893, O. A. Veblin having acquired an interest, the firm became Solberg & Veblin and continued under that style until 1900, when Mr. Veblin retired, his interest having been pur- chased by Geo. A. Peterson, P. A. Peterson and Thos. A. Helvig. The firm name was changed to Solberg & Co., and in 1893 they incorporated under the style of A. Solberg Lumber Co. Mr. Veblin in 1900 opened a new yard, which was also taken over by the Northwest Lumber Co. in 1902. Later this corporation sold all their lumber and coal interests in this place to the Laird-Norton Yards and Hayes-Lucas Lumber Co., both Winona firms. At the present time the latter firm and A. Solberg Lumber Co. are the only firms doing a lumber business at the station.
Blooming Prairie Separator Creamery Co .- Dairying has been one of the principal industries in this vicinity for several years. Both wild and tame grasses are luxuriant in growth ; the water is plenty, easily obtainable and good. The climate fine and all conditions are of the best to promote the healthy condition of neat cattle. In the early years of the country butter was made at the country homes, under conditions which made the product a variable one and the price in general was very low. With the introduction of factory system of manufacture and especially since the advent of the milk separator there have been many radi- cal changes and great improvement in methods.
In 1885 the first move was made here for the establishment of a butter factory, a parcel of land was procured in the village by a few representative dairymen and business men and a contract was made with P. O'Reily, of Rawler, Ia., to erect a building. The gathered cream custom was then in vogue.
For a few years several changes were made and some of the efforts were partially unsuccessful, but generally moving toward
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success. Mr. O'Reily was succeeded by a local corporation, the Minnesota Creamery Co. and Potter Lucas Co. followed. The principal and permanent change came when in 1892 a co- operative creamery company was formed under the style of the Blooming Prairie Separator Creamery Association. The first officers were: E. Morton, president ; N. N. Hagna, treasurer ; G. A. Peterson, secretary ; directors, C. B. Peterson, P. A. Peter- son, Ben Benson, C. E. Symes and Ole A. Anderson. In 1897 the present commodious brick building was erected and the business has increased from year to year until the patrons number several hundred and the product manufactured $90,000 annually. The present officers are E. Morton, president ; Ben Benson, treasurer ; John Jurgenson, secretary ; N. N. Ilagna, Wm. Ferrington, H. Noble, Alvin Ille, Ole Embrickson and P. P. Haugen directors.
L. G. Campbell Milling Co .- The first flouring mill in Bloom- ing Prairie was erected in 1875, by Messrs. H. Hegele & Co., but was burned the following year, having in the meantime handled 175,000 bushels of wheat, most of which was flour. The present flour mill was erected 1892 by A. S. and L. G. Camp- bell, who at that time were proprietors of a mill at Austin. In 1895, L. G. Campbell became sole owner and enlarged the plant. In 1904, electrical apparatus was installed, which furnishes lights for the village streets, business houses and residences.
The Steele County Telephone Co. operates in Blooming Prairie, Ellendale, Geneva. Newry, Lansing, Bixby and Union, having 360 instruments in use. It was started in the fall of 1900, and the service was first put in operation August 1, 1901. At that time the officers were: President, O. P. Rask; vice president, A. A. Peterson : secretary and treasurer, S. A. Rask. The present officers are: President, A. A. Peterson; secretary and treasurer, S. A. Rask. These two gentlemen and their wives constituted the board of directors.
HOTELS.
West Hotel .- This popular hostelry was the result of the de- sire of Halvor J. Hanson to open a first-class hotel in this village. G. A. Peterson owned a desirable location, and a company was accordingly formed, consisting of O. A. Veblen, H. A. Peterson, G. A. Peterson and H. J. llanson. The building, a three-story brick structure, was completed and opened in the spring of 1899 with H. J. Hanson as manager. After some years, Mr. Veblen sold his interest to J. C. Brainerd. Later the property was dis- posed of to the Sylvester Brothers of St. Paul. Three years ago the place was rented by S. H. Keeling, the present proprietor. The Sylvester Brothers disposed of the property to C. S. Nelson,
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1001
of Minneapolis, who sold it to E. W. Bunker, of Spooner, Wis., the present owner.
Union Hotel .- This was the first hotel in Blooming Prairie, and was erected by Christ Vollhardt in 1867. The building was afterward sold to Andrew Pettie, and was occupied as a residence and by George Camp's harness shop, when it was destroyed by fire in February, 1889. Among the managers of the hotel were the Messrs. Vollhardt, Dunton, Hartley and A. Pettie.
Western House .- This building was erected before the Union Hotel by C. C. Hartley, but did not open its doors as a hotel until a short time after the opening of the Union Hotel. The Messrs. Hartley, Dutcher, Vollhardt, Carey and Guthrie were among the proprietors. The building was destroyed by fire, January 10, 1886.
Ferrington Hotel. This hotel was built by A. E. Ferrington in 1882. He sold out to J. A. McConnell. Among the landlords were J. Laird, A. J. Pettie, Mrs. O'Toole, Daniel Keefe and J. C. Cummings. George H. Johnson owned and managed the place for some years and was conducting a successful business when he sold out to the West Hotel Company. The building is still standing, but is not used for hotel purposes.
FRATERNITIES.
Prairie Lodge, No. 123, A. F. & A. M., of Blooming Prairie, was organized May 7. when Brother Daniels, of Faribault, read the dispensation of the worshipful worthy grand master, to a few Master Masons assembled. The following officers were named: J. Palmer Johnson, M. W .; Thomas S. Morton, S. W .; C. Whitten, J. W .; J. C. Rea, secretary. May 25, these officers were elected with the following additions: C. D. Giddings, S. D .; C. E. Hancock, J. D .; C. H. Williams, treasurer. The first candidates elected were: Lewis Ellington, E. Morton and J. C. Brainerd, the latter being the first to receive the third degree. Feb. 15, 1876, Brother Daniels, of Faribault, again opened the lodge, and brought the charter, which is dated January 13, 1876, and signed by James C. Braden, of St. Paul, M. W. G. M. The following officers were elected: Charles Whitten, W. M .; T. S. Morton, S. W .; Peter Haley, J. W .; C. E. Hancock, treasurer ; E. Morton, secretary; J. C. Brainerd, S. D .; J. C. Rea, J. D .; C. H. Williams, S. S .; A. Colquhoun, tyler. The worshipful masters of the lodge have been: J. Palmer Johnson, 1877-1880; T. S. Morton, 1881-1885; Geo. H. Johnson, 1886; J. C. Brainerd, 1887; George A. Reynolds, 1888; J. Palmer Johnson, 1889; J. C. Brainerd, 1890-1893; C. W. Treat, 1894; Geo. H. Johnson, 1895;
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Thomas S. Morton, 1896-1900; George H. Johnson, 1901 ; George E. Johnson, 1902-1903; Ed. Morton, 1904-1910. The present offi- cers are : E. Morton, W. M .; B. Melby, S. W .; George E. Mor- ton, J. W .: J. C. Brainerd. treasurer ; A. E. Johnson, secretary ; A. A. Peterson, S. D .: Fred Jurgenson, J. D .; John Jurgenson, S. S .; Henry Peterson, J. S .; R. H. Johnson, tyler.
Oak Glen, No. 177, Order of the Eastern Star, was granted its charter May 12, 1904, with Melissa Brainerd, W. M .; O. P. Rask, WV. P., and Mabel Morton, A. M. as officers. The charter members were Mrs. Melissa Brainerd, O. P. Rask, Mrs. Mabel Morton, Albert A. Peterson, Samuel A. Rask, Mrs. Harriet O. Rask, Mrs. Oline Rask, Laura M. Brainerd, Mrs. Jessie F. John- son, Mrs. Bertina Olson, Mrs. Francis Mary Thomas, Edwin Morton, Mrs. Edna Sauer, Mrs. Ragna H. Peterson, Richard H. Johnson, Mrs. Caroline Johnson, Rena Claire Brainerd, Anton Olson, George E. Johnson, Mrs. Arie Marie Johnson, Mrs. Wealthy A. Johnson and John C. Brainerd. The present officers are: Mrs. Frances Thomas, W. M .: Sam A. Rask. W. P .; Mrs. Carrie Johnson, A. M .: Mrs. Melissa Brainerd, secretary ; Fred Jurgenson, treasurer : Mrs. Rena Johnson, C .; Mrs. Marie John- son, A. C .; Miss Minnie Johnson, Adah; Mrs. Edna Carman, Ruth ; Mrs. Harriet Rask, Esther; Mrs. Mabel Morton, Martha; Mrs. Bertina Olson. Electa: Miss Rose Johnson, warder ; R. H. Johnson, sentry ; Edwin Morton, chaplain; Miss Maude Jurgen- son, organist.
Haakon Lodge, No. 83, Sonner of Norge (Sons of Norway), was organized October 16, 1908. The charter members were : B. Melby, Alex. H. Fjelstad, Hans Roge, A. A. Peterson, A. Sol- berg, J. O. Johnson, O. K. Odegard, A. Olson, Benjamin A. John- son, T. O. Rye, Chris Gorvin, Ole O. Hjelmen, Carl O. Bye, H. T. Holstenson, P. K. Dock, B. B. Johnson, Edward Hanson, A. O. Benson, J. M. Christinnson, E. C. Rask, E. O. Haberstad, S. A. Rask, Theo. P. Fagre, E. E. Simes, Fred Jurgenson and S. S. Severson.
Cedar Camp, No. 1729, M. W. A., was organized August 1, 1892. The first members were: Harris F. Ackerman, Ole O. Bye, Carl O. Bye, Andrew S. Anderson, Louis F. Bakke, Martin Strate, Charles Louis Larson, E. W. Cooley; William Ferring- ton, Carl Nelson, Peter Prahm, Nathan H. Garrison, Nels John- son, Jens Jorgenson, Hans Rasmussen, John Sorenson, Robert Whitelaw, Arnt Solberg, Peter V. Rasmussen, John F. Beatty, Louis Larson. The present officers are: P. C., A. Solberg ; C., J. C. Petersen ; V. C., Joseph Schisler ; E. B., Albert A. Peterson ; S., Sam A. Rask ; E., Fred Jurgensen; I. G., Lawrence Zweiner ; O. G .. Christ Lund; trustees, A. Solberg, T. E. Cashman and John Jurgenson.
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
Freia Lodge, 98, Danish Brotherhood of America, received its charter September 15, 1896. The first officers were: P. P., Hans P. Munck; P., Soren Petersen; V. P., Peter V. Rasmussen ; S., Peter Prahm; treasurer, F. M. Madsen; G., A. P. Olsen; I. G., Christ Sorensen; O. G., Christian Fredericksen; T. R., Jens C. Petersen. The present officers are: P. P., C. M. Mortensen ; P., Fred Johnson; V. P., C. Lund; S., Hans Jensen; treasurer, Christ Rasmussen; G., Jes. Brown; I. G., Walter Jensen ; O. G., Lawrence Jensen ; T. R., Peter Bramsen.
Murray Court, No. 826, W. C. O. F., was organized October 21, 1904. The first officers were: C. R., Mrs. Mary Herron; J. C. R., Mrs. Tillie Pirkle; F. S., Miss Elizabeth Fitzgerald ; R. S., Miss Hannah Keefe ; treasurer, Mrs. Maria Bell ; trustees, Mrs. Bridget Lechy ; Mrs. Sarah Meehan and Mrs. Rose Benish. The present officers are : C. R., Mrs. Sara Mechan ; V. C. R., Mrs. Etta Cashman; F. S., Mrs. Mary Coggins; R. S., Mrs. Frances O'Connor; treasurer, Mrs. Kate Feehan; trustees, Mrs. Ellen Cummings ; Mrs. Ellen Keenan and Mrs. Hannah Goodnature.
Daughters of Erin, Division No. 2, Ladies Auxiliary, A. O. H. was organized November 16, 1902. The first officers were : President, Mrs. G. S. Brainerd ; vice president, Mrs. D. T. Holly- wood; recording secretary, Miss Elizabeth Coggins; insurance secretary, Miss Kathryne Hanlon ; financial secretary, Mrs. T. C. Cashman ; treasurer, Miss Margaret Farrell. The present officers are: President, Mrs. William Trotman ; vice president, Mrs. John Driscoll ; recording secretary, Mrs. T. C. Cashman ; insur- ance secretary, Miss Kathryne Hanlon ; financial secretary, Mrs. T. J. Hanlon ; treasurer, Miss Maggie Farrell.
Blooming Prairie Court, No. 688, Catholic Order of Foresters, was granted a charter June 13, 1897. The charter bears the names of Daniel J. Sullivan, Thomas C. Cashman, John M. Fechan, Eugene B. Keenan, Edmond C. Fitzgerald, William Feeney and Daniel T. Hollywood.
CHURCHES.
St. Columbanus Roman Catholic Church, of Blooming Prairie. Doubtless several of the early Catholic priests passed through what is now the village of Blooming Prairie in the early days. Father Ravoux is known to have traversed this prairie, but the first mass of which we have any real knowledge was that said by Father Prendegast in a construction shack somewhere near the site of the present village in the early part of 1867. The mass was said for the spiritual edification of the construction crews engaged in laying the tracks of the C. M. & St. P. Ry., but many devout Catholics from the surrounding farms were in at-
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tendance. Mrs. Thomas O'Connor, now living in Blooming Prairie, was present at this service. Father Prendegast was at that time located in La Crosse, but made frequent trips to this vicinity. Other services were doubtless held here in the earliest days of the village by Father William Hurley, then stationed at Austin. Father Paul Genis, then stationed at Austin, and Father Patrick McDermott, who passed through here on his way from St. Mary's to Austin. Father Joseph Keller, of Faribault. also held services here at an early day. Father Thomas Pribyl, of Owatonna, had charge of the parish about five years and Father Walter Rawley, of Owatonna, for a similar period. The early regular services of the church were held in a building in block 8. later occupied by Thomas Feeny as a hardware store and still later destroyed by fire. In 1868 a small church was erected. The present edifice in block 8 was erected in 1877 and dedicated the same year. Since then a sacristy has been added and other improvements made. A comfortable parish house was purchased in August. 1883. To this parish, on October 1, 1882, came Father David L. Murray, of Rhode Island, who was the first resident priest. Father Murray has remained here since that date. and ably fulfills the ideal of a parish priest. For thirty years he has labored in this and the surrounding country, and his devotion has endeared him to the people of all denon- inations and creeds.
Among the pioneers of this church who may be mentioned are James Barry, Thomas O'Connor. John Hanlon, Daniel Mc- Callister. Patrick Murphy, James Duggan, Frank Zwiener, Thomas Barry, Patrick Fallon, Thomas Feeney. Octave Garriepy, Michael Fallon, Edward Burke, Richard McCallister, Peter Gosha, Peter Steinlitzer, Thomas Feehan, Milo Flannigan, Denis Moran, James Birgen, Thomas Birgen, M. M. Guthrie and others.
St. Columbanus Cemetery. This cemetery adjoins the Blooming Prairie cemetery, and was a part of the original tract set aside in the early days for cemetery purposes. The ground was consecrated in 1893 by Bishop Joseph B. Cotter, of Winona.
The Episcopal Church was organized here early in the sev- enties by Rev. G. C. Tanner, of Owatonna. Shortly afterward the society erected the church edifice at a cost of about $1,400. In 1896 the edifice was sold to the Presbyterian denomination.
The Presbyterian Church. Services of the Presbyterian faith were held at various times in the days of the early settlement of Blooming Prairie. The church was organized December 2, 1896. and the congregation purchased the church edifice, which had been erected by the Episcopalians. The first pastor was T. N. Weaver, and he has been followed by J. M. Swander, Irwin G. Smith and Egerton S. Carey. The first elders of the church
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1003
were James Campbell, L. G. Campbell, Ed. Morton and George L. Taylor.
Blooming Prairie Congregation of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church, of America, had its beginning with services held by Rev. C. L. Clausen, who organized a society. He was succeeded by Rev. P. G. Ostby, of Austin, who remained until 1878. Mr. Clausen then came back, and took up his abode here, but failing health necessitated his securing an assistant. This assistant, Rev. S. Strand, became pastor in July, 1885, and re- mained until the fall of 1894. Rev. N. Iverson then came and remained until 1898 when he was succeeded by Rev. Osmond Johnson, the present pastor. A church was erected at an early day, but was sold to the Methodist people in 1876 when the present edifice was erected. A sacristy has since been added, and the interior renovated and improved from time to time. The pleasant parsonage was purchased three years ago. The con- gregation assumed its present synodical relation in 1890. Con- nected with this church is a flourishing Sunday school, a young people's society and two ladies' societies. Among the pioneers of the church may be mentioned Guttorm Hillson, Ingvald Peter- son, G. A. Peterson, Even E. Lofthus, Ole Embriekson, Lars Bekkdal, Sven Olson and others.
The First Baptist Church, of Blooming Prairie, had its begin- ning May 16, 1868, when a few Baptists met at the school house near Oak Glen, and organized, with O. A. Williams in the pulpit and Dr. J. M. Finch, of Clinton Falls, clerk pro tem. Sarah McGuire, Fannie Pettie and Kate Farrington were received by letter ; A. E. Ferrington, James Carey and Mary Carey on pro- fession of faith ; and Lydia McDaniels, Julia Thimson, Clarize L. Smith and Cornelius Smith as candidates for baptism. A. E. Ferrington was elected deacon. The last entry of this organi- zation is made in the records in February, 1878. In 1886 Rev. C. D. Belden began holding services in the Methodist Church, in Blooming Prairie village, and on Sunday, September 24, 1893, the First Baptist Church was organized, at the Episcopal Church, to which the congregation had moved. The first board of trustees of the church consisted of N. H. Garrison, C. B. Pettie, Fred P. Thimsen, T. S. Morton and F. G. Brown. In 1896, M. B. Critchet became pastor. One year later came Rev. A. B. Mur- phy, who was ordained in Blooming Prairie and also served the church at Ellendale. In 1898 a parsonage was built. Rev. Mur- phy left in 1899, and the pulpit was occupied three years by stu- dents. January 31, the mortgage on the parsonage was burned and on the same date it was voted to erect a church edifice. In 1902, Rev. B. L. Bergstrom came and served as pastor one year and nine months, and then the pulpit was occupied by stu-
1006 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
dent supplies until the Rev. E. A. Gilmour, the present pastor, came in December, 1905. The church has a Sunday school, a Ladies' Aid Society and a Ladies' Mission Circle. Mrs. F. P. Thimsen is clerk; T. S. Morton, treasurer. and F. P. Thimsen. T S. Morton, Stillman Noble, Hannibal Noble and C. E. Han- cock, trustees. Mrs. B. H. Morton is in charge of the Sunday school.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, of Blooming Prairie, was organized shortly after the settlement of the village. A church was purchased from the Norwegian Lutherans and dedicated in 1876. The church is still standing, but is not now in use. Among the early pastors were Rev. Reuben Washburn, Rev. C. J. Hayes. Rev. E. S. Bowdish, Rev. Putnam, Rev. Reynolds and others.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
Blooming Prairie Mercantile Co. Thomas Feeney, an early settler of Blooming Prairie township, engaged in the mercantile trade in 1871 in a building on lot 1, block 13. Mr. Feeney was interested in business here for many years in general mer- chandise and afterward in the hardware trade. His stock of mer- chandise was sold to Geo. Jenson and O. A. Veblin, who, after a remove or two, purchased the building and the business on lot 1, block 13, from M. O. Wilson. About this time Norman Evans became a partner in the firm, Mr. Jenson soon retired and the firm became Veblin & Evans; the latter a few years later removed to Sioux Falls. This business was finally incorporated under the style of Veblin Mercantile Co., which conducted a successful business until 1907, when it was sold to T. J. Johnson & Co., who a few months afterwards were succeeded by the Blooming Prairie Mercantile Co. This company is now incor- porated, J. C. Brainerd being president, J. J. Bruzek, vice presi- dent ; Fred Jurgenson, secretary ; T. J. Cashman, treasurer, and G. S. Brainerd, manager. This company divided their stock and are now doing a business in general merchandise at the old stand and a clothing and shoe house in block 13.
Alliance Cash Company. Early in 1890, the firm of Gage, Holland & Hayden, of Albert Lea, opened a branch store in Blooming Prairie. A block was erected the same year and opened in September. The following year the firm was incor- porated as the Alliance Cash Company. the officers being : President, D. J. O'Leary ; vice president, F. P. Thimsen ; secre- tary, F. J. Schisler ; treasurer, T. C. Cashman. The firm is now owned entirely by local people, the officers being: President, T. C. Cashman; vice president, Martin Nelson; secretary and
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