History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 14

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1222

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

Ferdinand Hampel from 1914 to the present time, he having been re-elected for the year 1920. Mr. Richardson served two years as secretary, and was succeeded by F. H. Ferguson, who served six years; G. J. Pratt, five years and nine months; and C. E. Dickerman, who after nine years and three months' service, was again elected in 1920, H. E. Preston being elected vice-president, and Charles Richardson treasurer. At the same time Henry Wehrs, Ernest Koepsell and W. E. Smith were elected directors for the year. The creamery has enjoyed a healthy growth. In 1902 its net earnings were $38,584.19. The report for 1909 showed gross earnings of $49,577.62; expenses, $2,717.83; net earnings, $46,859.79; amount paid patrons, $45,538.14; balance, $1,321.65. The report for 1919 showed gross earnings of $145,961.33; total running expenses, $5,528.09; sinking fund, $1,284.00; total expenses, $6,812.09; net earnings, $139,149.24. The amount on hand at the beginning of the year was $42.48; total amount net, $139,191.72; paid patrons, $139,184.91; balance on hand, $6.81. The number of patrons during 1919 varied from 126 to 159.

The lumber yard has done much to increase the building industry in this vicinity. With the coming of the railroad, the lumber yard business was started in connection with the Richardson elevator. About 1896, the Laird Norton Yards, with headquarters at Winona, established one of their yards here. J. D. McMartin, now the vice-president of the O. M. Botsford Lumber Co., was the first agent here. In March, 1912, the Botsford Lumber Co. took over the Laird-Norton interests, and has since operated the yard with a local agent.

Elgin Lodge No. 115, A. F. & A. M., Elgin, was organized under dispensa- tion, April 28, 1874. The officers who served under dispensation were: George Bryant, master; Enoch Dickerman, senior warden; H. G. Richardson, junior warden; George Farrar, treasurer; J. Q. Richardson, secretary; Nathan Engle, chaplain; D. A. Hart, senior deacon; George Engle, junior deacon; Ezra Dickerman, senior steward; O. V. Rollins, junior steward; R. G. Richard- son, tyler.

The charter was dated January 13, 1875, and the following were charter members: George Bryant, George Farrar, David A. Hart, Nathan Engle, Orvis V. Rollins, Chas. S. Richardson, Curtis Bryant, Edward B. Hart, Andrew K. Johnson, Benj. F. Norton, Horatio G. Richardson, John Q. Richardson, George Engle, Ezra Dickerman, Robert J. Richardson, Joseph Richardson, Ezra Feller, Henry C. Richardson, Hoyt G. Hale, Enoch Dickerman.

The charter officers were: George Bryant, W. M .; Enoch Dickerman, S. W .; H. G. Richardson, J. W .; Nathan Engle, Chaplain; George Farrar, Treasurer; J. Q. Richardson, Secretary; David A. Hart, S. D .; George Engle, J. D .; Ezra Dickerman, S. S .; O. V. Rollins, J. S .; Edward B. Hart, Tyler.

The first lodge hall was located over the H. G. Richardson vacant store on Main street, the building being better known as the old cheese factory. In 1882 the lodge rented the upper story of the E. O. Ordway building, later known as the L. E. Gates store, and the first meeting was held in the new hall Feb. 14, 1883. The following winter the lodge hall was transferred to the upper story of the Bryant store building, which Richardson Bros. had just purchased, and moved to Park street, where the First State Bank now stands. This lodge hall was nicely furnished and made an ideal place for a lodge home until July 29th, 1899, when the building in which the hall was located burned, together with most of the lodge furniture and equipment. In August, 1899, the present hall in the Searles & Siem building on Park street was rented and furnished. In May, 1915, the lodge purchased the hall over the Dushek Hardware Store, which they now occupy.

The masters of Elgin Lodge No. 115, A. F. & A. M., Elgin, Minn .: George Bryant, Master U. D., April 28, 1874, to Jan. 13, 1875; George Bryant, Jan. 13, 1875, to December 28, 1877; Enoch Dickerman, Jan. 3, 1877, to Dec. 28, 1877; George Bryant, Dec. 28, 1877, to Dec. 28, 1878; William Searles, Dec. 28, 1878, to Dec. 27, 1879; D. F. Ferguson, Dec. 27, 1879, to Jan. 2, 1884; H. C. Richard-

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

son, Jan. 2, 1884, to Dec. 30, 1884; J. W. Bryant, Dec. 30, 1884, to Dec. 22, 1888; D. F. Ferguson, Dec. 22, 1888, to Dec. 28, 1889; J. W. Bryant, Dec. 28, 1889, to Dec. 18, 1893; R. L. Wood, Dec. 18, 1893, to Dec. 27, 1894; J. W. Bryant, Dec. 27, 1894, to Dec. 28, 1898; D. F. Ferguson, Dec. 28, 1898, to Dec. 18, 1900; J. W. Bryant, Dec. 18, 1900, to Dec. 10, 1904; R. L. Wood, Dec. 10, 1904, to Dec. 6, 1906; H. A. Stephan, Dec. 6, 1906, to Dec. 21, 1909; D. W. McDougall, Dec. 21, 1909, to Dec. 29, 1911; Vincent Holton, Dec. 29, 1911, to Dec. 30, 1913; Fred Holton, Dec. 30, 1913, to Dec. 28, 1915; Carl V. Houghton, Dec. 28, 1915, to Dec. 29, 1916; Henry Luhman, Dec. 29, 1916, to Dec. 28, 1917; Jay H. Smith, Dec. 28, 1917, to Jan. 3, 1919; R. E. Graves, Jan. 3, 1919, to Dec. 30, 1919; W. P. Hagner, Dec. 30, 1919, to the present.

Vesper Chapter, No. 196, O. E. S., was chartered June 8, 1910, the charter officers being : Worthy matron, Lenore Holton; worthy patron, Vincent Holton; associate matron, Ida Marek; treasurer, Mary McDougall; secretary, Anna Searles; conductress, Susan Searles; associate conductress, Ethie Earsley. The charter members were: Lenore (Mrs. Vincent) Holton, Ida (Mrs. Joe G.) Marek, Anna Searles, Helen Searles, Grace (Mrs. Fred) Holton, Eva Webber, Nora Johnson, Joseph G. Marek, Vincent Holton, Susan (Mrs De Wane) Searles, Irene (Mrs. Ed. F.) Webber, Mary (Mrs. D. W.) McDougall, Clara Woodruff, Ida (Mrs. Alex.) Scott, Ava Holton, Flora (Mrs. Carl) Houghton, Ethie (Mrs. D. E.) Earsley, Hazelle Westover, Tillie (Mrs. Henry A.) Stephen, Harry A. Stephen, William P. Holton, Frank Blodgett, Alexander Scott, Fred A. Holton and Dougal McDougall. Delbert E. Earsley and Irvin E. Scott joined shortly afterward.

The Elgin Branch of the Wabasha County American Red Cross was organ- ized May 25, 1917, and as Wabasha County was not yet organized for Red Cross purposes, Elgin worked with Olmsted County Chapter at Rochester. The officers elected were: Mrs. John Walch, chairman; Mrs. Walter Bleifuss, secre- tary, and Mrs. John Kettner, treasurer. In September, 1917, it was voted to become a branch of the Wabasha County Chapter, and another election was held whereby Mrs. John Walch was retained as chairman, Mrs. D. J. Whipple became vice-chairman, Mrs. Fred Holton secretary, and Mrs. John Kettner treasurer. Mrs. John Kettner and Anne Searles were added to the executive committee. At the annual meeting in 1918 Mrs. George Barden, Mrs. Frank Gillooly, Mrs. Fred Holton, Mrs. A. L. Kimber and Anne Searles were elected executive committee. This committee elected the following officers for 1918: Helen B. Searles, chairman; Mrs. George Barden, vice-chairman; Nora John- son, secretary, and John Kettner, treasurer. The special committees were as follows: Sewing: Mrs. John Siem (chairman). Surgical: Mrs. John Walch. Refugee Work: Mrs. B. S. Ordway. Knitting: Mrs. Lenora Filkins, Mrs. John Kettner and Anne Searles. At the annual meeting in October, 1919, the execu- tive committee elected was composed of Mrs. Frank Gillooly, Mrs. Fred Holton, Mrs. R. W. Richardson and Nora Johnson. This committee elected the follow- ing officers for 1920: Helen B, Searles, chairman; Mrs. Gillooly, vice-chair- man; Nora Johnson, secretary, and John Kettner, treasurer. The work was continued from May, 1917, until no more was called for, and the records show that the branch completed 861 pairs of knitted socks, 296 sweaters, and 112 other knitted articles. The branch had some knitters who deserve special mention : Mrs. Jo. Richardson, 84 years of age, knit many pairs of socks, besides other articles. Mrs. James Patchin, over 70, also helped much. Mrs. Julius Bartz, over 70, knitted more than 70 pairs of socks. Mrs. Emma Ells- worth, over 70, became totally blind during the time of war work, but stopped knitting only as long as she was seriously ill, adding many pairs of socks to her credit after her sight was gone. Another who knit several pairs of socks, though totally blind, was Marie Zalel. In the sewing department 621 articles were made, including many different kinds. Much of this work was done in the homes, and for several weeks the house of Mrs. John Siem, chairman of the

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

sewing department, was used nearly every day by workers. In the Surgical Department 9,943 articles were made. Much credit for this work is given Mrs. John Walch, who gave much time, work and money, going to Wabasha to pre- pare herself to take charge of and teach the work, all of which was done under her supervision. Three hundred and eighty-three towels, sheets, napkins, and other articles, were made and sent to hospitals. One thousand and ten gun- wipers were made, mostly by pupils of the public schools. The new and used articles collected and sent to refugees in Europe, and to northern Minnesota fire sufferers, numbered 1,377, and money was also sent. From the date of organization up to January 1, 1920, the amount of money raised was nearly $3,800. Many money-making schemes were used, among them an Old-Time Dance, which was in charge of the men. A Home Talent Play was given by the women. Another successful plan was devised, by which every citizen was given a chance to help. A committee of six women canvassed the village, ask- ing each one called on to pledge a certain amount for each of the six succeeding months, this money to be used for material for work. On the first of each month the committee went out collecting, and about $150 a month was col- lected, only a few pledges being broken. Some work was done by Eastern Star members for the O. E. S. Patriotic League. The business men did many things to help, and by the co-operation of all the workers, Elgin Branch of the Wa- basha County A. R. C. never failed to "go over the top" in everything it was asked to do.

The Old Settlers' Perpetual Union of Whitewater Valley, with headquarters at Elgin, has been an important factor in binding together the old settlers and their families, and keeping alive those early traditions which otherwise would be rapidly fading into forgetfulness. The Union had its beginning with an informal meeting of Old Settlers held at Elgin, February 19, 1855. I. W. Rollins was chosen chairman and Charles S. Richardson, secretary. George Farrar, O. T. Dickerman and Curtis Bryant were appointed a committee to draw up constitution and by-laws. The committee appointed to arrange for the regular meeting to be held February 28, 1885, consisted of I. W. Rollins, Ezra Dicker- man, Enoch Dickerman, Perry Whiting, S. B. Evans, George Evans and D. F. Ferguson. The early meetings were held in February of each year. Beginning with June, 1893, the annual picnic and meeting has been held in June. All the meetings have been successful. In 1890, owing to the prevalence of the influ- enza, then called la grippe, the meeting was poorly attended, and in 1917, owing to war conditions. The presidents of the association have been: 1885, George Farrar; 1888, H. C. Woodruff; 1889, A. N. Whiting; 1891, I. W. Rollins; 1894, John Q. Richardson; 1895, O. T. Dickerman; 1898, Enoch Dickerman (died Aug. 22, 1898, and succeeded by Alexander Scott, appointed) ; 1899, Alexander Scott; 1900, Curtiss Bryant; 1902, George Farrar; 1905, Dr. T. W. Adams; 1906, Charles S. Richardson, to the present time. The vice-presidents have been: 1885, I. W. Rollins; 1886, John Q. Richardson; 1887, Enoch Dicker- man; 1888, William H. Teller; 1889, Enoch Dickerman; 1891, John Q. Richard- son; 1893, Dr. W. T. Adams; 1894, O. T. Dickerman; 1895, Ezra Dickerman; 1897; Enoch Dickerman; 1898, C. A. Butterfield; 1899, Ferd. Hample; 1902, Gil- man Robinson; 1903, J. K. Mc-

-; 1904, Charles S. Richardson; 1906, George Farrar; 1907, John Q. Richardson; 1908, Alex. Scott; 1910, Dr. W. T. Adams; 1918, C. H. Siem. The secretaries have been: 1885, O. T. Dickerman; 1888, Curtiss Bryant; 1900, Moses Ross; 1903, Alexander Scott; 1905, Curtiss Bryant; 1906, Ralph W. Richardson, to the present time. The treasurers have been: 1885, William Searles; 1888, I. W. Rollins; 1889, William Searles; 1892, Joseph Richardson; 1894, Enoch Dickerman; 1897, John Q. Richardson; 1906, Alex. Scott; 1908, Dr. W. T. Adams; 1910, Alex. Scott; 1919, Clarence E. Dickerman.

A meeting to form the Elgin Cemetery Association was held May 11, 1863, J. Q. Richardson acting as chairman and R. S. Stillman as secretary. Three trustees were elected: Joseph Richardson to serve three years, H. Stanchfield,

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

two years, and D. F. Ferguson, one year. A tract of land of two acres and ten rods was deeded to the Cemetery Association May, 1864, by Mr. Rollins, for a consideration of twenty-five dollars. According to local tradition, the death of 26 persons who are buried here occurred before the date of the transfer. The first few burials, it is said, were made near the site of the first schoolhouse, and the bodies were afterwards moved to this plot. It is also thought that burials were made here before the transfer. The first three deaths of people who are now buried in this cemetery were as follows: Matilda Bryant, May 27, 1856 (this was the first death in the township); Mary E. Stanchfield, December 2, 1857, and Wilbur B. Emerson, September 28, 1859. The cemetery is still owned and controlled by the Association started in 1863, each owner of a lot being entitled to one vote. At the annual meeting held March 25, 1899, steps were taken to secure proper care for the cemetery by levying an assess- ment of $2.00 a lot to pay for needed improvements, and this plan in its general features has been followed ever since, though the amount of the assessment has varied from time to time. At the same time the ladies were invited to form an organization to assist in the work, which they did, the Ladies' Cemetery Association of Elgin being organized April 15, 1899, with Mrs. J. W. Bryant, president; Mrs. D. W. Searles, secretary; Mrs. O. T. Dickerman, treasurer; Helen Searles, first vice-president, and Fannie Davis, second vice-president. The object of the ladies' association was to improve the appearance of the cemetery in any and every way most needed. The first year about $150 was raised by giving entertainments, socials and the annual dues of twenty-five cents. This society keeps up the flower beds, has planted many ornamental shrubs, and placed urns in several places, besides helping the Elgin Cemetery Association to buy more land, build the fence, and keep the cemetery mowed.

The Elgin Cyclone of July 21, 1883, was an event never to be forgotten in this vicinity. Contemporaneous accounts of the event in the newspapers of the time, give a complete description of the devastation wrought.

No warning of the catastrophe was given. For some days the weather had been unsettled with light rains. The morning of Saturday, July 21, was somewhat cloudy. Nothing untoward happened in the forenoon, and at noon the people betook themselves to dinner. About this time the skies commenced to darken, the rain to fall, the wind to rise and the thunder to roll, and people began to quicken their steps in order to seek shelter from what they imagined would prove to be an ordinary midsummer thunder and rainstorm. Fortunate for them it was that they did so; fortunately it was that the school was closed; providential it was that the devastating wind struck the village at a time when nearly all the people had reached their homes, and together with their wives and children, had been afforded a few seconds' time in which to fly for refuge to their cellars.

At about 12:10 the furious wind burst upon the village; with the pent-up force of whirlwind and tornado, hurricane and cyclone combined, lashed up to a degree of fury hitherto wholly unknown in this section of the country. Whirling, twisting, wrenching and tearing, it broke upon the defenseless village, and in less than two minutes' time literally blew it to atoms. So wholly unex- pected was the occurrence that there was no time for the exercise of any thought save that of personal safety, and but barely time for that. In far less time than it takes to write it, the prosperous little village was a scene of dire wreck and desolation. Within the brief space of two minutes' time whole rows of buildings were leveled to the ground, some piled on top of others; houses lifted up bodily by the force of the wind, overturned, and their inmates violently thrown out and injured; other houses crushed and actually ground to pieces ; acres of crops throughout the town laid waste; large trees twisted off at the trunk, five feet from the ground, leaving the roots in the soil; every business house in the place wrecked or unroofed; horses, cows and other cattle mangled and killed, and some of these, together with heavy timber from the lumber-

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

yard, parts of buildings and other weighty articles, picked up by the wind, lifted high in the air, and sent whirling through space, to come crashing to the earth at forty rods and more distant. The general line the storm took through the town was from about west to east, bearing slightly toward the north, nor was its greatest degree of force attained until it reached the village of Elgin, where it burst and scattered in different directions.

Almost immediately after the storm, the sun shone out bright and clear, but soon the clouds again appeared, and a heavy rain added to the discom- fort of the people, all that day and night and the next day.

The arrival of the 1 P. M. train going north to Plainview was the first means the inhabitants of Elgin had of communicating the terrible news of the disaster to the outside world, the telegraph poles and wires being blown down for the distance of about a mile and a half, and the electrical elements having affected the wires as far north as Plainview. At about 1:30 P. M. E. T. Rollins, who was then telegraph operator at the Elgin office, in the railroad depot, by going along the track to about a mile south of the village, managed to make connections with the broken wires and telegraph the fact of the occurrence to Eyota, and by these means was the news first made known. The response was as generously and promptly made as it was needed; money, clothing, food, mer- chandise and lumber from different parts of the northwest was sent in by kind hearts, to be received by willing and thankful hands. The afternoon train from Plainview brought at least two hundred persons from that place to the scene of the disaster, eager to render all the immediate assistance so needful, while from all portions of the adjoining country people began to pour into the unfortunate village and help in the work of clearing away the wreck and aid in providing means of shelter for the homeless. The injured received all the attention and care possible from a big-hearted, whole-souled people, and before night arrived there were none but who had at least been temporarily provided for. As soon as some of the leading citizens could be assembled together a relief committee was organized, composed of Elijah Ordway, Alex. Scott, H. G. Richardson, Dr. W. T. Adams and Dorr Dickerman.

The people of Plainview and neighboring towns entered into the good work with remarkable generosity and enterprise, and at a meeting held in the Metho- dist Episcopal church at Plainview that night upward of $200 in cash was raised for immediate use. Early next morning a large delegation of men vol- unteered their services, came to Elgin and labored all day in the rain in the work of providing shelter for the houseless, and helping to save much of the perishable goods that stood exposed to the weather.

The only person killed was Mrs. Z. S. Thayer, about thirty-five years of age, and a native of Elgin. She kept a millinery store on Park street, adjoin- ing the drug store occupied by A. L. Kimber. Mrs. Thayer was found lying partly across the counter, crushed beneath the roof. Her little girl, Maud, was found in the ruins, under a counter, unharmed. Edith Dillon, aged about twenty, had her skull fractured; William Bowen, seventy-six years of age, had a thigh broken, and John Townsend's child, about eight years old, was injured about the spine. R. W. Chapman, A. L. Kimber, and a few others, were more or less injured.

A detailed description of the damage wrought by the storm gives something of a picture of the development that had been reached in Elgin and vicinity up to that time.

On Park street, the principal business street, which runs east and west, across the railroad track, stood a large two-story frame building, owned by E. O. Morton, the first floor of which was occupied by Frank Ressler as a meat market and F. A. Amsden as a harness-shop, and the second by R. W. Chapman as a dwelling. Here, no doubt, was the most miraculous escape in the whole disaster. The building was completely wrecked, and yet four persons, Mr. and Mrs. Chapman and Edith and Hattie Dillon, were thrown out with the wreck

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

and escaped with their lives; two of the four only, Edith Dillon and R. W. Chapman, being injured, as before stated. On the same side of the street were two one-story frame buildings, one belonging to and occupied as a dwelling by Frank Ressler, and the other owned by A. Y. Felton, of Plainview, and occupied by Thomas C. Udell as an agricultural machinery warehouse. The front of Ressler's dwelling was thrown ten or twelve feet off the foundation and the building partly unroofed, while Felton's was racked nearly to pieces. On the other side of the street the storm played similar havoc. The two-story frame building belonging to George Bryant, the lower part of which was occupied by Mrs. Z. S. Thayer as a millinery store, and the upper floor by John M. Townsend and family as a dwelling, was left a total wreck, as was also the other two- story frame building next door, owned by Richardson Bros., and occupied by A. L. Kimber as a drug store and dwelling. Mrs. Kimber saved herself and child by seeking the security of the cellar; but Mr. Kimber and John M. Town- send's family escaped by mere chance. Mr. Kimber was caught between the two buildings, which stood not over two feet apart, and it was with difficulty that he was extricated from the debris unharmed.

Mr. Townsend's family, like Mr. Chapman's across the way, were indoors at the time the house was struck. They were not thrown out, however, but came down with the wreck, and with the exception of the one child mentioned landed safe and sound. Mrs. Thayer, who was in the store below, met her death as already stated. A little farther west, on the same street, stood E. Ordway's new two-story frame building, the lower part of which was used by Ordway, Dickerman & Co., as a storeroom, and the upper floor as the lodge- room of Elgin Lodge, No. 115, A. F. and A. M. This entire building was destroyed. Ordway, Dickerman & Co.'s hardware store was unroofed, and the second story of Frank Kiernan's saloon and billiard-room blown off, while Bryant Bros. & Johnson's large store, which had but lately been occupied by A. Ludke, was badly racked, and the second story partly blown down. The railroad station depot received but slight damages. The north end of J. W. Bryant & Co.'s grain elevator was demolished, and the structure racked. Rich- ardson Bros.' grain elevator was slightly damaged, their lumber office and sheds were all down, and much of the lumber in the sheds picked up by the wind and scattered in every direction. Van Dusen & Co.'s coal-sheds near the depot were a total wreck, and E. Meilke's Northwestern Hotel, west of the station, was partly unroofed and badly used up. Fred. Meyer's blacksmith shop on Grain street, and Henry Claussen's house and barn on Van Dusen street were com- pletely destroyed. H. G. Richardson & Co.'s house, occupied by A. Meilke, had the front torn off and was otherwise damaged, while Henry Claussen's shoe- shop was not greatly injured. Capt. J. B. Norton's house opposite was racked, chimney down, stable and outbuildings leveled to the ground, hay lost and buggy broken to pieces.

This includes all of the buildings on Park street, and those north of Park street and west of the railroad track. Another street about as greatly devastated as Park street was Main street, which is in the eastern part of the village, running north and south. Commencing on this street where it is crossed by Dry creek, the bridge over which was torn to pieces, the first house, that of David Houghton, which was somewhat damaged, and a fine barn completely demolished. The next place is that of Benjamin H. Gould, which fared some- what better, but was racked, a post from David Houghton's barn crashing through its north side. Mark Richardson's outhouses, sheds and stables were all demolished. At W. B. Porter's and W. H. Gilman's, trees two and a half feet through were broken off near the ground and thrown in all directions. The houses were not greatly damaged. Mr. Porter's barn was completely ruined, and a corner of Mr. Gilman's house was badly broken from the fall of a large tree. The corner of Main and Center streets, where stood William Bowen's house and barn, was swept clean. A few pieces of boards and a few sections

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 14

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1222

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1222