History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 31

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

USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County, Minnesota > Part 31

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

After varying fortunes, the young ladies, feeling the need of more financial aid, had the question of a free public library brought before the voters of the town at the spring election of 1903. Owing to rumors that the library would materially raise the taxes, the question was decided favorably by a small majority.

In October, 1903, the new library was organized under the name of the Lake City Public Library, and in February, 1904, it was opened to the public. The following were the officers and trustees: Mrs. G. F. Benson, president; Dr. W. F. Wilson, vice-president; Mrs. G. S. Todd, secretary; N. C. Pike, J. M. Underwood, J. E. Phillips, Mrs. Jennie Covell, Mrs. C. A. Koch, Mrs. W. Mur- ray, trustees. Miss J. E. Baker was librarian and Miss Alice M. Fowler, assistant.

Since its organization the board has lost two of its original members by death- Mrs. W. Murray and Mrs. Jennie Covell; and one by removal, Mrs. G. F. Benson. The present board consists of Dr. W. F. Wilson, president; Mrs. E. H. Bayley, vice-president; Mrs. G. S. Todd, secretary. The trustees are Mrs. Koch, Mrs. Leonard, J. E. Phillips, N. C. Pike, J. M. Underwood and Prof. C. W. Brown. Miss J. E. Baker is librarian and Mrs. Elton Lamb, assistant librarian.

When the library was taken over by the city, the number of books was 1,148, which number has increased to 5,143. About 3,900 people have visited the library as readers during the past year, the average attendance daily being 22, according to the report of July 1, 1919.

Some preliminary steps were taken some time ago to secure a Carnegie Library, but on account of the war, all efforts in that direction had to cease. There is much hope that in the not far distant future we may have a new library building.

The Lake City Woman's Club was organized in 1894 and federated in the following year. It has from its inception been an important factor in the educational development of the community, its members devoting a part of their time to the study of various subjects intimately connected with modern culture, such as art, music, literature, the ancient and modern drama, social development, the progress of woman, equal suffrage, and other timely topics. Frequent meetings are held with talks by mem- bers of the club, or by visiting speakers, and are enlivened by music, or occasionally a dramatic presentation of some play or scene previously selected as a subject for study. The topics are varied and a strong interest has been developed and maintained in the work. The present officers of the club are: President, Mrs. R. C. Steele; vice-president, Mrs. H. Eastman; recording sec- retary, Mrs. C. S. Nygren; corresponding secretary, Mrs. G. S. Todd; treasurer, Mrs. G. H. Hammond.

The foundations of Lake City's fine post office building were laid in 1914, and the building completed in the spring of 1916. It is located on High street, near Lynn avenue, and cost about $5,700, complete with fittings. It is a brick, fireproof structure, of handsome architectural design, measuring 50 by 80 feet in ground dimensions. It is provided with fireproof vaults and burglar- proof safes, and is installed with 428 lock boxes. The Lake City post office is an office of the second class and has four rural routes. Three carriers are em- ployed for city delivery work, and mailing boxes have been placed at convenient points throughout the city. During the recent war the office sold about $200,000 worth of war stamps. The first post office here was established about April 1, 1857, with Harvey F. Williamson as the first postmaster. The office successively occupied various buildings rented by the government, the last one, previous to the erection of the present building, being located on the corner occupied by the Collins drug store.

Lake City has an excellent park system, to which an important addition is soon to be made.

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Oaklyn Park, situated centrally in the downtown district, was laid out about thirteen years ago as the result of activities on the part of the Woman's Club and other civic organizations. After the idea had been developed and a plan formed, the Jewell Nursery Company furnished and planted the shrubbery, and the park was laid out with the help of the societies interested. Too much artificiality was avoided, much being left to nature. A sum of from $800 to $1,000 a year is set aside by the city to keep the park in good condition, and there have been a number of private benefactions for keeping the cement walks in repair and perpetuating the other improvements. Previous to the great fire of 1882 a part of the ground was occupied by timber yards and the rest utilized as a cow pasture.

Ohuta Park is located on the lake shore below the power station, a part of the ground having formerly been occupied by a large flour mill. The land was platted, cement walks laid out and trees and shrubbery planted.

Point Park .- All of the lake shore from the power house to the Goodhue County line was donated to the city for park purposes by private individuals, the old shacks formerly occupying a part of the ground being torn down, the ground terraced, grass sown, and walks laid out. Some thirty or forty years ago this ground was purchased by the members of a Lake City yacht club for club purposes, the members having individual titles. The original idea, how- ever, was abandoned, the members retaining the land. About three or four years ago it was decided to build a bath house, which was completed and pre- sented to the city. The location is known as Point Park, and in addition to the bath house, picnic grounds have been laid out. It all now belongs to the city.

Louis McCahill Memorial Park .- On the shore of beautiful Lake Pepin there is proposed and under way a material addition to the fine park system of Lake City, as a lasting memorial to the valiant young men who went to the world war from Lake City, and to the memory of Louis McCahill, son of Mary E. McCahill, of Lake City, and in whose honor the Lake City post of the Amer- ican Legion has been named the "Louis McCahill Post." Mrs. McCahill has planned and is carrying into execution, entirely at her own expense, this pro- posed public improvement by acquiring and parking nearly all the real estate bounded by Lake Pepin, Main street and the government pier. The moneys paid by Mrs. McCahill to the city for the part of the property formerly owned by it are to constitute a trust fund, the income from which is to be used for the maintenance of the park. When completed, this beauty spot will forever remain a permanent testimonial to the valor and patriotism of Lake City's notable youths and their sacrifice for their country.

The camp grounds of the National Guard of Minnesota are within the limits of Lake City, and have been occupied by the state for about 25 years. The land was donated to the state by the city, and accepted by act of the legis- lature, a condition of the donation being that the state militia should annually encamp on the grounds for a period of thirty years. Since the first encampment the fine military displays at Camp Lakeview have attracted numerous visitors, the attraction being enhanced during the war with Germany by the special musterings, evolutions of the motor corps and other military functions, exe- cuted and beheld with patriotic ardor.

Banking .- The earliest banking enterprises of Lake City were conducted on a small scale by private individuals. Among the first to engage in this business was C. P. Cogswell, a young man from the East, who opened a bank in 1858 on the corner of Main and Marion streets, in a very pretentious and expensive building (for that early day), erected for banking and office pur- poses in 1857 by Dwelle & Tibbetts. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Cogswell turned over his agency of the Phoenix Insurance Co. to A. T. Guernsey and left town. He was succeeded by E. Chamberlin & Co., who came from no one knows where, and whose banking operations were continued for but a few weeks, when he, or they, also left for parts unknown, leaving a small bill due the village printer.

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About this time, H. F. Williamson established a large general merchandise store here, and, as a matter of convenience to himself and friends, connected with his business a commercial exchange. This was principally done by pur- chasing checks, drafts, and other commercial paper having a par value, from traveling men and newly arrived immigrants. Mr. Williamson subsequently left Lake City and became a merchant in Duluth.

The Lake City Bank of Minnesota .- In 1863 the grain and commission firm of Bessey & Doughty, who were then doing a large business, added a bank- ing or commercial exchange department to their house, not so much as a matter of profit to themselves, but of convenience in their growing trade. They were also agents for and did a large traffic with the old Northern Line of steamboats on the Mississippi, and thus found the convenience of a banking system almost indispensable. The enterprise prospered without event until one morning in the summer of 1866, when it was discovered that the bank had been bur- glarized. This unfortunate affair caused Mr. Doughty to withdraw from the banking business in Lake City. But the already great commercial interests and still growing enterprises here created an urgent demand for a commercial ex- change. The opportunity was taken advantage of by W. C. Hackett, who, in 1867, established a private bank that enjoyed the confidence of the people. In 1870, Mr. Hackett sold out to Joel Fletcher of St. Johnsbury, Vt., who continued it as a private enterprise until 1872. It was then incorporated under the state laws as the Lake City Bank, with a capital of $50,000, the incorporators being Joel Fletcher, M. C. Humphrey, Sr., Ephraim Hackett, Myron A. Baldwin, Sloan M. Emery, J. W. Ray and C. F. Rogers. The first president was Joel Fletcher, who served in that capacity until his death in 1875. He was suc- ceeded by Samuel Doughty, who retired from the office about a year before his death, which took place in 1893. George F. Benson, the next president, served until his death in 1907, when he was succeeded by Clarence A. Hubbard. On Mr. Hubbard's death, April 4, 1919, his son, William A. Hubbard, was elected to fill the vacancy, and is now president. The cashiers of the institution have been: C. A. Hubbard, 1872 to 1907; William A. Hubbard, 1907 to 1919; Milton L. Erickson, 1919 to the present time. The vice-president is Joseph M. Under- wood, and assistant cashier, John W. Lamb. The bank has occupied quarters on its present site since its establishment. Its first building was a small frame structure, which after awhile gave place to a three-story brick building. The latter was completely destroyed in the great fire of 1882, and a two-story build- ing .was erected to take its place. In 1892 this new building was gutted by fire, and temporary quarters were occupied until the present building was erected. Another fire, in 1902, caused the bank to suffer a severe loss, but through all these conflagrations the institution never lost a business day. It is, as its slogan proudly affirms, "The oldest state bank in Minnesota," having a record of 53 years' continuous, conservative and successful banking. It is a member of the Federal Reserve system. Its statement at the close of business, February 28, 1920, showed a capital stock of $50,000; surplus fund (earned), $50,000; un- divided profits, $17,526.78; U .. S. deposits, $4,800; other deposits, $731,920.94.

The Citizen's Bank of Lake City was organized August 19, 1898, as a state bank by Henry A. Young, W. R. Murray, Geo. R. Bartrom, E. F. McCall, Anson Peirce, J. Cole Doughty, Horace F. Johns, R. A. W. McLeod, C. H. Plummer, Hiram Center, and Charles A. Koch. The capital was $20,000 and the first officers were: Henry A. Young, president; George R. Bartrom, vice-president; E. F. McCall, cashier. The directors consisted of the above mentioned officers, together with J. Cole Doughty, Horace F. Johns, Anson Peirce and W. R. Mur- ray. The bank bought the present site and erected their present building before starting business, the building with fixtures costing about $9,000. It opened its doors for business August 19, 1898, on receiving its charter. In 1905 Henry A. Young was succeeded as president by W. R. Murray. On the latter's death in 1913, E. F. McCall became president, but he also died and was

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succeeded in 1918 by Thomas J. Morrow. In January, 1912, G. H. Lange suc- ceeded E. F. McCall as cashier, and is still serving in that position. The bank's financial statement on February 28, 1920, showed a capital stock of $50,000; surplus fund (earned) of $50,000; loans and discounts, $606,398.57; total deposits, $668,793.80. The slogan of the institution, "The bank that backs the farmer," is indicative of its policy, and the Citizen's Bank has proved an important factor in the material advancement both of the city and the sur- rounding agricultural community.

The Security State Bank of Lake City was organized in 1912 by D. L. Mills, John A. Wright, R. C. Tennant, Peter Beck, and F. C. Hartshorn. The officers were: D. L. Mills, president ; R. C. Tennant and Peter Beck, vice-presidents, and John A. Wright, cashier. The capital was $25,000 and the surplus, $5,000. The present building, on the corner of Main and Center streets, was purchased and remodeled. Mr. Mills and Mr. Tennant still hold their respective offices. Peter Beck is now deceased and his place as vice-president has been taken by his son, H. P. Beck. Mr. Wright resigned as cashier and went to St. Paul, and his place has not yet been filled. The capital remains the same, but the surplus has been increased to $12,500. The bank's last statement showed deposits of about $250,000. The institution does a general banking business, including insurance, and has adopted as a slogan, "Security, Strength and Service." The present directors are D. L. Mills, R. C. Tennant, F. C. Hartshorn, H. P. Beck and John A. Wright.

The First National Bank was an institution organized in 1870, according to the United States laws, with a capital of $50,000, and with L. H. Garrard, L. S. Van Vliet, John W. Willis, Wm. S. Timerman, G. F. Benson, H. Center, and J. B. McLean as the board of directors. L. H. Garrard was elected presi- dent, G. F. Benson, vice-president, and L. S. Van Vliet, cashier. After being operated for some fifteen years, the institution proved a failure, going into the hands of a receiver in December, 1885.

The Merchants Bank of Lake City was established, as a state bank, soon after the failure of the First National, with a capital of $50,000. W. F. Holmes was president, and W. N. Holmes, cashier. It also proved unsuccessful, and went out of business.

An important business enterprise, which for a time enjoyed a flourishing existence here, was the wagon manufacturing concern of Neal, Johns & Co., which was started in 1866 by A. B. Doughty and Calvin Neal under the firm name of Doughty & Neal. In 1878 H. F. Johns bought out Mr. Doughty's interest, and the firm became Neal, Johns & Co. From a small beginning the business grew to be the largest manufacturing industry in the city, previous to 1890 as many as 1,000 wagons being turned out in a year. In 1891 the plant was enlarged and the capacity increased to 3,000 wagons a year, with a yearly sale running as high as 2,200. General agencies were maintained in various Middle and Western states, and the concern became widely known. In course of time, however, it became increasingly difficult to secure the right kind of lumber, owing to the exhaustion of the timber supply in this region. Southern timber was expensive owing to the cost of transportation. The proprietors of the concern having realized handsome fortunes, concluded to give up the busi- ness, which was therefore discontinued a few years ago. Mr. Neal is now deceased.

The Jewell Nursery Co., one of the largest business enterprises in or near Lake City, was established by Dr. P. A. Jewell in 1868, with J. M. Underwood as foreman. The business was started on only ten acres of land. The ten years of management by Dr. Jewell brought great credit to the nursery, and rapid progress was made toward developing the varieties of trees and shrubs best suited to this climate. On his death the business passed into the hands of Mr. Underwood, and in 1884 it had so greatly increased that it was deemed best to form a joint stock company and incorporate under the laws of the state

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of Minnesota. The business has since developed to an enormous extent, and in addition to fruit and shade trees and shrubbery, the concern has branched out into small fruit and vegetable culture, seed production, and the raising of pure-bred stock. For the year 1920 it is planned to put into cultivation more than 400 acres of land, including 135 acres of corn, 150 acres of oats and about 140 acres of wheat, besides rye, barley, sweet clover, beans, potatoes, and per- haps other vegetables. In the livestock line, which is yet in its infancy, they now have about 60 horses, 125 sheep, 35 cattle and 70 hogs. This number will be materially increased in the future. The cattle will be of the Holstein breed and the foundation will very likely be purchased this summer. Duroc hogs will be bred, a large start having already been made, and the highest priced herd boar of any breed under one year old was purchased by the Underwood farms recently. The price, with cash and other considerations, amounted to $12,500. Several high priced Duroc sows were also purchased. It is planned to breed nothing but the highest type of animals, and the same principle of highest excellence is followed in the seed and other departments of the busi- ness. J. W. Lawton, former county agent, resigned his position March 1, 1920, to take charge of the Underwood farms, which are operated as a branch of the Jewell Nursery Company, and the united enterprise is bound to make Lake City famous.

Gillette, Eaton & Squire Foundry .-- In the year 1868 Had Gillette, a well- known Lake City man to the older residents, started a small foundry on the corner now occupied by the Interstate Mill. His two sons, James and Asa, were associated with him. As the business grew, a stone building was erected on the lake shore near where the government pier is now located. Robert Eaton was employed by the Gillettes when the firm name was The Gillette Foundry. After they moved into their new quarters, James Gillette disposed of his interests and Mr. Eaton became a partner in the concern, the firm name being Gillette & Eaton. Later W. C. Squire became a member of the firm and the name was changed to Gillette, Eaton & Squire. Two years ago it became necessary to seek a larger site and large buildings to care for the increase. The old Neal & Johns warehouses west of the Milwaukee freight depot were purchased and converted into suitable buildings and the foundry moved there. The concern was incorporated and is now known as the Gillette, Eaton & Squire, Inc. Today it is one of the best equipped foundries in this part of the state. One of the chief products of this cerncern is the Gillette & Eaton Stern Wheel Steamboat Engine, an invention of Mr. Eaton. This engines is used extensively by the federal government on their river boats, and the government of Mexico also uses them extensively on their river craft. Robert Eaton is president of the concern, John Schmauss, vice-president, and J. E. Doughty, secretary and treasurer.

The Tennant & Hoyt Company's flour mill, one of the large industries in Lake City, which contributes a very large share of the total business trans- acted in the city, was established in 1900 by a firm consisting of R. C. Tennant and Charles G. Hoyt. Both. members of the firm were experienced millers, Mr. Tennant coming here from Northfield, and Mr. Hoyt from Minneapolis, where for thirty years he had been associated with the Pillsbury Company. At a cost of $60,000 they erected near the C. M. & St. P. tracks a 400-barrel mill, in which for about six years they carried on a considerable business. In 1906 the mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt in the following year with a larger capacity-of about 800 barrels every 24 hours-and at a cost of $130,000. Later the service was still further enlarged by the construction of storage tanks and other buildings, at a cost of $70,000, and with these improvements the capacity of the mill has been increased to 1,500 barrels. In place of the original steam power, the mill is now operated by electric power derived from the Minnesota-Wisconsin Light & Power Company's service. When the new mill was built in 1906, the concern was changed from a partnership to a stock

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company, with R. C. Tennant as president and manager; R. A. Hoyt, vice- president and treasurer, and C. E. Brostrom, secretary; and the same officers are still serving. The company employs about fifty men, and the mill is operated night and day. Its machinery is of the modern type, and its chief product, "Golden Loaf Flour," is in great demand, being shipped in large quantities to New York, New England, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, the Middle States, and to points in Wisconsin and Minnesota. During 1919 the total busi- ness of the company aggregated more than $4,000,000. They purchased over 1,300,000 bushels of wheat, for which they paid the large sum of about $2,900,000. They produced 226,000 barrels of flour, which was equivalent to 1,000,000 49-pound sacks, or to 20 train loads with an aggregate of 1,000 cars; and this in spite of the fact that it was a little below an average year. This establishment means much to the wheat raiser in this section, as it has been the means of encouraging the industry. The business outlook for this year, 1920, is much larger than last year, and the company expects to see a larger demand for their product than ever before. In addition to flour they manu- facture a large amount of feed, such as bran, shorts and middlings, of which they ship large quantities.

The Interstate Roller Mill was established in Lake City in the summer of 1919 by J. B. Cain. While a comparatively small mill, it is equipped with the latest type of machinery, electrically driven, and has already earned an enviable reputation for the quality of its product, the "Flavo Brand" flour. Custom grinding is also done and a feed mill was recently installed, which is enjoy- ing a good patronage.

A former enterprise of Lake City which had a prosperous career for a few years was the Lake City Commercial College, which was incorporated May 1, 1895. It had an able corps of officers, W. R. Murray being president, Charles A. Koch vice-president, U. Curtis secretary, C. A. Hubbard treasurer, and A. Rosenberger superintendent. The trustees were W. R. Murray, Charles A. Koch, U. Curtis, Dr. E. H. Bayley, J. P. Martin and T. I. Crane. Of the corps of teachers, Professors Rosenberg and Curtis were men who devoted their lives to the cause of education and had made a specialty of commercial work. The college enjoyed a large and increasing patronage, not only at home, but from adjoining states. Its career of usefulness, however, was brought to an end some five or six years ago by the death of the secretary, Mr. U. Curtis, who had been the moving spirit of the institution, and soon after that event the enterprise was given up.

The Strandberg Art Glass Company is one of the leading industries of Lake City. The concern began business here in the fall of 1911 under the name of the Twin City Cut Glass Co., with T. H. Strandberg and G. Carlson, of St. Paul, Minn., as proprietors. The business was continued under that name until April, 1919, when the partnership was dissolved, T. H. Strand- berg taking as a partner his brother, E. K. Strandberg, when the present name of the firm was adopted. The head office of the concern is located in St. Paul, where the Strandbergs operate another plant under the same name. In the Lake City factory twenty people are employed, operating sixteen frames, or machines, the frames being kept in operation the year round, turning out the highest grade of cut glass ware made. The product is sold entirely to jobbers over a territory extending from coast to coast, and from St. Louis to Winni- peg, Canada. The plant is located in the old Commercial Building on Lyons avenue, the corner of Sixth street. E. K. Strandberg has charge of the business here, and the payroll amounts to about $1,200 per month.

Lake Pepin Co-operative Creamery Co. is a prosperous concern which has enjoyed the fastest growth of any in Lake City. The creamery was formerly privately owned and operated, but in 1917 a stock company was formed with a capital of $15,000, the stock being now in the hands of about 200 farmers. The company handles cream, butter and ice cream, most of the farmers bring-

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 31

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