History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 35

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 35

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

A Sunday school was instituted this year of forty-five scholars. The next pastor in charge was J. L. Dyer, the next Rev. Jesse Smith, in charge to the fall of 1861, when the Rev. Harvey Webb was placed in charge and remained until 1863. During his administration, the church was reorganized according to the statutes of the state, by appointing John R. C. Creighton, secretary, Rev. H. Webb, pastor, presiding. Five trustees were elected: Thomas Roberts, John R. Creighton, James Crowley, John Lewis and James Luscombe. They decided to build a church upon a lot which had been previously purchased on Second street. A building committee was chosen, consisting of Rev. H. Webb, L. Dietz, John McArthur, Thomas Bolton and Thomas Roberts. Specifications for the church building were, size 24 by 40 feet, height 14 feet, the vestibule being added afterward. The whole expense of building amounted to $1,000, and it was dedicated on August 6, 1862. The Rev. A. Wilford was placed in charge September, 1863, and remained in charge during 1863-64. In Novem- ber, 1864, Rev. Wilford was appointed, by the governor, chaplain to the 3d Minn. Vol. Inf., and his place was supplied by Rev. J. R. Creighton, who had received license to preach at conference of 1864. At the next session of con- ference in 1865, Rev. T. M. Gossard was appointed in charge, and he was suc- ceeded by Rev. J. L. Farber, who was reappointed in the fall of 1867 and remained until 1868, when the Rev. S. G. Gale succeeded him. Rev. W. C. Rice was pastor in 1869-70, and he was succeeded by Rev. B. Y. Coffin, who remained in charge until the fall of 1871, when the Rev. S. G. Gale was returned as pastor. Mr. Gale remained two years, when Rev. W. C. Shaw succeeded him. Mr. Shaw died in February, 1874, and the Rev. M. O. M'Niff was appointed to supply the remainder of the year. September 14, 1875, Rev. W. H. Soule was appointed pastor and remained in charge until October 21, 1878, when the Rev. James Door succeeded him. October 11, 1880, the Rev. W. C. Miles commenced his pastorate, which continued until October 10, 1882, when the Rev. D. J. Higgins was placed in charge. This church was removed to Fourth street, lots 7 and 8, in 1870, the old lot being sold for three hundred dollars. The first stewards were: H. B. Potter and R. F. Morris, in 1855. The first trustees were James Crowley, Thomas Roberts, J. R. Creighton, John Lewis, John W. Luscombe. The first Sunday school superintendent was R. F. Morris. For a number of years this church had a flourishing existence, and then a period of disintegra- tion set in, due to deaths and removals, the limited resources of the members, and perhaps other causes which need not be specified. At last, too weak to be self-supporting, in 1914 the church federated with the Congregational Church of Wabasha, and on Sunday, July 4, 1920, when only some 35 members were left, a majority of them joined the Congregational Church, and the Methodist Episcopal organization in this city came to an end. The edifice, badly needing repairs, has been sold, and will be remodeled into a residence by the pur- chaser, Mr. Wall.

The German Lutheran and Reformed Congregations .- A German Lutheran congregation was organized in 1875, with a membership of fifty, with the Rev. August Kanne as pastor. Their service was held in the court-room until July, 1876, when their church building was completed on Market street. The size of this church was 25 by 40 feet, and the whole expense, including the church lots and belfry, amounted to $2,000. The first trustees of this church were Jacob Thoney, Sr., Christian Florine and Wilhelm Ruchenbauch. This church and society have a Sunday school, which was organized in 1876. A seven- hundred-pound bell was purchased in 1877. The first pastor of this church was Rev. August Kanne, who was succeeded in 1879 by the Rev. A. Krahn. The lot upon which the church was built was found to be not pleasing to the congregation, and in the spring of 1881 another was purchased on corner of Jefferson and Second streets, South Wabasha, and the church removed to it in the spring of 1882. The first members of this church were: John Voel- ger, Henry Balow, Jacob Thoney, Joseph Thoney, Jacob Ray, Jacob Gengnagle,

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Peter Tervana, Peter Yanette, Herman Lessing, George Bance, Peter C. Cave- detesher, Jacob Miller, William Reichenbach, Jacob Mingold, Peter Klaus, Philip Grub and Jacob Schuler. In the course of time the German Reformed element in Wabasha became stronger than the original Lutherans, and this church practically passed into their hands, though Lutheran ministers con- tinued to preach at intervals. Services were continued more or less regularly until about 1918, the last pastor being the Rev. Tilman Hornemann. Since then no services have been held, though it is thought that they may be resumed in the near future.

The Baptists organized a society in Wabasha in 1857, which for awhile had a flourishing existence. A church edifice was erected in 1857, and a suit- able bell was presented by the citizens. The pastor, Rev. James Wharton, kept the congregation together for some two years after the church was built. The congregation was then dissolved, but the church building continued to be an important religious, educational and social center.

Wabasha has two banks, the Farmers and Merchants State Bank and the First National Bank. The first attempt to establish a banking house in Wa- basha was made in the flush times of May, 1857, when Hiram Rogers & Son opened a banking office on the corner of Pembroke street and the Levee. Mr. Rogers was a prominent business man of Zanesville, Ohio, who came west in the prosperous times of 1856, and had made some investments in St. Paul before coming to this city, in the spring of 1857. He purchased quite freely of real estate here, paying "wild-cat" prices for lots to which he could subse- quently gain no title, on account of the vexed question of half-breed scrip. Being squeezed in the financial crisis of 1857-58, he closed his banking house, abandoned all his property here and departed for St. Paul, having perma- nently invested about $17,000 in this city, from which he realized nothing.

Kepler & Jackson, a mercantile company, were in the meantime engaged to some extent in selling exchange on eastern banks, but this was merely by way of accommodation, and they made no pretensions of conducting a bank- ing business.

A new chapter in the banking history of Wabasha was started in the spring of 1864. W. W. Prindle, the county clerk, and N. F. Webb, clerk of the district court, formed a partnership under the firm name of Prindle & Webb, and opened a banking office in a wooden building on the corner of Main and Alle- ghany streets. The bank location was subsequently changed to the south side of Main street, where they fitted up the small building between Alleghany and Walnut streets, and conducted business several years. The firm as it origi- nally stood was subsequently changed to Webb, Prindle & Chase, and finally became Webb & Co. Webb & Co. continued in business until April 12, 1872, when an assignment was made to E. M. Birdsey, who, when the bank was declared bankrupt, was appointed assignee in bankruptcy for the settlement of the estate. The creditors subsequently received fifteen cents on the dollar, the liabilities aggregating $33,081.31.

In 1872, about two months after the failure of Webb & Co., a banking house was opened in the Campbell block (on Main, a few doors west of Pembroke), by A. D. Southworth and W. J. Florer, under the firm name of A. D. South- worth & Co .; capital, ten thousand dollars. This banking establishment soon gained the confidence of the mercantile community, did a successful business, was subsequently removed to the north side of Main street, just east of Pem- broke, and continued in business until the fall of 1881. W. J. Florer, having died in August of that year, and A. D. Southworth being unable to attend to business through ill health, the banking house of A. D. Southworth & Co. dis- solved, and the Bank of Wabasha was organized as its successor.

The Bank of Wabasha, which through the firm of A. D. Southworth & Co. dated back to 1872, was organized September 1, 1881. The incorporators of the Bank of Wabasha were: C. F. Rogers, C. F. Young, L. S. Van Vliet, A. D.

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Southworth, James G. Lawrence, W. S. Jackson, Knud Johnson, Dr. J. J. Stone, J. H. Evans, H. P. Krick, Samuel Hirschy, Henry Funk, Mrs. C. E. Krick, Mrs. M. A. Florer, Mrs. A. L. Hills, Mrs. M. E. Wetherbee, Loring Ginthner, H. J. Whitmore and Lucas Kuehn. The capital stock was placed at $50,000, of which one-half was paid in. W. S. Jackson was elected president, and held that office until his death in February, 1882, when he was succeeded by Lucas Kuehn. Bruce Florer, who had been for some time cashier of the bank of A. D. Southworth & Co., was elected cashier. October 1, 1882, the bank removed to the north side of Main street, midway between Pembroke and Alleghany streets, in the new building which the Odd Fellows had just completed at that time.

The First National Bank of Wabasha was chartered June 30, 1883, as a bank of issue, deposit, loan and exchange. It was merely an enlargement of the scope of the Bank of Wabasha with no change in ownership or manage- ment. This bank is still in existence. It has a paid up capital of $50,000, with surplus and profits of about $55,000, and deposits of $800,000. The officers are: President, C. C. Hirschy; cashier, L. Whitmore; assistant cashier, H. H. Whitmore.

The Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Wabasha was established in 1911. Its president is J. R. Kelly; vice-president, L. Schurhammer; cashier, H. J. Mars; assistant cashier, P. N. Carrels. The bank has a paid up capital of $25,000; surplus and profits of $6,480, and deposits of $312,000.

The first agricultural fair of the county was held in September, 1859, at Wabasha, across the slough, in the building erected for a warehouse, which building, in 1864, was removed to this side the slough and occupied as a grain elevator until it was consumed by fire April 3, 1883.

The Wabasha Roller Mill Co. is the most important industry in Wabasha. Wabasha Mill Company was organized in September, 1882, with a capital stock of $75,000. The incorporators were James G. Lawrence (president), Lucas Kuehn, W. P. Dugan, H. P. Krick, L. F. Hubbard, P. A. Richards (secretary and treasurer), and J. E. Young (head miller). This industry was started as a partnership concern, in 1872, by Downer & Lowth, who erected the mill and conducted the business about five years, when they sold out to Messrs. J. G. Lawrence, W. H. Campbell and A. G. Foster. J. G. Lawrence became the sole owner by purchase in 1878, and managed its affairs successfully until the formation of the joint-stock company as above stated. The first mill, erected in 1872, was originally a burr mill with six run of stones, and had a capacity of nearly eighty barrels a day. Various improvements were introduced from time to time until 1881, when the whole mill was remodeled and made a full roller mill. By this change the capacity was increased to 225 barrels a day, and their average daily product raised to 175 barrels.

Subsequent improvements have increased the capacity to 1,200 barrels daily, and the product has become famous under the name of "Big Jo Flour." A large part of the wheat is obtained from farmers in Wabasha County, and from a number in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, just across the river. The latter supply has been made more available through improvements carried out by the company in the leasing of the ferry from the city, the introduction of a cable system, the barges being pushed by gasoline launches, and the construc- tion of a good road across the Wisconsin bottoms to Nelson, Wis., whereby the old impediments to transport have been removed. The ferry is operated during the entire year and is a most useful and necessary institution, as the nearest bridges across the river are at Red Wing and Winona, 30 miles above and 35 miles below Wabasha, respectively. General freight is handled, as high as 100 tons being handled in a day, the capacity of the barge being from four to five teams with loads. The Wabasha Roller Mill, or "Big Jo" Mill, as it is commonly called, is now the largest industry in this section. The business has been built up chiefly through the efforts of its forceful president, J. G. Law-

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rence, whose son-in-law, W. B. Webb, is now vice-president of the company. The mill is a familiar landmark on the river, and occupies a fine location, which has been further beautified by the laying out and cultivation of a floral garden along the river front, provided with seats and arbors.

The R. E. Jones Company was organized in 1888 by R. E. Jones and James G. Lawrence. They installed the electric light plant and engaged in the buy- ing of grain and produce. The concern was incorporated in 1889, Mr. Law- rence being president to 1896, at which time he sold his interests to H. J .! O'Neill. Other industries of Wabasha may be found mentioned in the bio- graphical part of this volume.

Wapahasa Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M., antedates the incorporation of the village. The population of the city at that time probably aggregated 600 per- sons, among whom were several who, remembering the old days when they were "wont to be called from labor to refreshment," determined to establish . a lodge of the craft in the new home they had chosen for themselves in the upper Mississippi Region. Accordingly a petition for a dispensation to open and conduct a masonic lodge was forwarded to Grand Master A. T. C. Pierson. A dispensation was granted October 22, 1856, and on January 7, 1857, a char- ter was issued, under the authority of the grand lodge, empowering S. L. Campbell, J. J. Stone, F. J. Collier, S. A. Kemp, Lindsay Seas, Wm. Pierson and B. A. Grub to open a lodge. The lodge was organized in due form with S. L. Campbell, W. M .; J. J. Stone, S. W .; and F. J. Collier, J. W. The original lodge room was in the upper story of a new building on the corner of Walnut street and the Levee, which had been erected for general merchandising pur- poses by Campbell, Gambier & Pendleton. From those quarters in the upper story of this structure the Masons subsequently removed to the upper story of the brick building on Main street, between Alleghaney and Pembroke streets, at that time occupied by Luger Bros. as a furniture warehouse and salesroom. From Luger's, in 1870 the lodge removed to the third story of the Campbell House block, since burned. The upper story of this building, which stood just west of the present Masonic block, corner of Main and Alleghaney streets, had been erected by special contract with the members of the Masonic order, who had contributed six hundred dollars toward the erection of the block, in consideration of which, and a stipulated rental, a lease was executed for a specified term of years. In 1878 the craft removed to the third story of John Schirtz' building, and there remained until the completion of their own build- ing, Masonic block, of which they took possession December 1, 1880. This property was owned for many years by the Masonic Building Association, but in the latter part of the year 1918 it was purchased by Wapahasa Lodge, which now owns it. The lodge meetings are held in the upper story, the lower being rented out for commercial purposes. The present membership is about 125.

Relief Chapter, No. 35, R. A. M .- Wapahasa Lodge, No. 14, had been in existence twenty-four years, and the Masonic building was just completed when the members of the craft deemed it wise to take steps toward the establishment of a chapter, that such as desired might receive instruction in the more ad- vanced work of the craft, as exemplified in the higher orders of Masonry. A dispensation to form a chapter was accordingly petitioned for. This dispen- sation was granted December 12, 1880, and on October 11, 1881, a charter was issued by the grand chapter of the state, constituting Relief Chapter, No., 35, of Wabasha, Minnesota, naming the following as charter members: Jos. Buis- son, C. J. Stauff, Francis Talbot, H. N. Smith, A. Campbell, A. J. Bent, W. H. Campbell, David Cratte and I. J. Pennock. The Chapter continued in active operation until some five years ago, when, on the recommendation of the Grand Lodge, it surrendered its charter and its members dimitted to Lake City, this action being taken in accordance with the principle of centralization, so that there might be fewer Chapters, but those existing of greater strength.

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Red Leaf Chapter, O. E. S., was instituted January 12, 1881, with the fol- lowing named charter members: Mesdames Franc. D. Clarke, Mary I. Stauff, Ellen L. Dugan, Anna L. Walton, Carrie E. Krick, Emma S. Peck, Susan S. Robinson, Barbara Porter, Selma Oswald, and Messrs. W. A. Clarke, C. J. Stauff, E. J. Dugan, H. Oswald. This Chapter has not been active for several years.

Teutonia Lodge, No. 19, I. O. O. F., is the outgrowth of the German Aid Society established in this city in 1860. This "aid" society was a local organi- zation, having for its object the promotion of social relations among its mem- bers and the care of its members in case of sickness. It had a numerous mem- bership and was in quite a flourishing condition for some years after it began operations. But it was soon apparent that its benefits could not be extended beyond the limits of its own pale, and as its members removed from. the city, they were thenceforth debarred from all benefit connected therewith. Accord- ingly, in 1867, a committee of five was appointed by the society to take the situation under consideration, examine the workings of the various aid or fraternal associations having a national existence, and report which one, in their opinion, was the nearest allied in its objects and work to their own local aid society. This committee consisted of F. L. Riechter, L. Gintner, John Satori, J. T. Gintner and F. Kling, who, after due examination and consideration, reported in favor of the I. O. O. F. as most nearly answering the ends sought. The report of the committee was approved, and they were further instructed to proceed to Plainview, Wabasha County, where there was a lodge of the Odd-Fellows order, receive initiation into the same, and so be prepared to take all necessary steps to secure a lodge of the order in Wabasha. The duties assigned the committee were duly performed; a paper was circulated among the members of the "Aid Society" to ascertain how many of the members were willing to enter an Odd-Fellows lodge when formed, and all things proving satisfactory, the five members forming the committee of the Aid Society, being now members of the I. O. O. F. at Plainview, petitioned the grand lodge for permission to open and conduct a lodge of the I. O. O. F. in Wabasha. The petition was duly granted, and on September 25 the lodge was organized as Teutonia Lodge, No. 19, I. O. O. F., of Wabasha, with F. L. Riechter, J. T. Ginthner, John Satori, L. Ginthner and F. Kling as charter members. The first meeting of the lodge was held in the hall in the third story of Schwirtz block, and continued to meet there until 1876, when they removed to the second story of John Satori's building, northeast corner of Main and Pembroke streets, which quarters they occupied till the completion of their own building in the fall of 1882.

Oriental Encampment, No. 24, I. O. O. F., of Wabasha, was instituted February 23, 1883, with eight charter members, the charter being countersigned by Grand Patriarch Romaine Shire, and Grand Secretary J. Fletcher Williams. The name of the charter members, as they appear on the charter displayed on the walls of the lodge-room, are: Herman Oswald, John Schermully, C. H. Crause, Henry Burkhardt, F. H. Milligan, M.D., Paul Casparis, E. J. Dugan and Michael Kuehn.

Other early lodges were: Wabasha Lodge, No. 577, K. of H., organized in 1877; and Wabasha Subordinate Union, No. 215, E. A. U., both of which for some years had a considerable membership. Later the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Degree of Honor and the Royal Neighbors established lodges which are now flourishing. The strongest fraternal order now in Wabasha is the Knights of Columbus, which has a membership of about 450.

CHAPTER XXIV.

MISCELLANEOUS.

HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN WABASHA COUNTY.

· Wabasha County horticulture dates back to the coming of the first settlers from the East, who very soon planted the varieties they had been accustomed to in their eastern homes. Small fruits such as currants, gooseberries, red raspberries, strawberries and grapes, and also peaches, pears and apples were found growing wild near the streams and in the woods; but the prairies only yielded the wild strawberry. It took only a short time to develop the fact that. peaches and pears would not live over the severe winters and apples were but. a little better. It was commonly believed that it was winter that killed them. Occasionally a Talman Sweet or Perry Russet and quite a number of Siberian Crabs stood the test and came into bearing.

About this time, in 1866, Dr. P. A. Jewell and his wife, Catherine Under- wood Jewell, came into the county from Ann Arbor, Michigan. The doctor bought a beautiful location overlooking the city, where he contemplated grow- ing fruit. Coming to this new country he at once became interested in its horticulture. He had come to Minnesota for his wife's health and they spent much time in traveling with horse and carriage through Wabasha and adjoin- ing counties, selling nursery stock and studying the conditions.

It seemed clear that some few varieties were much more successful than other kinds. He found the Duchess of Oldenberg and the Russian Crabs grow- ing wherever planted and he was about to go to Russia to see if he could not find other desirable varieties. Before doing so, he and his wife went to visit a settlement of friends in Hesper, Iowa, where he found a large family of new Crabs growing. He wrote back home that he had found a New Russia and that he would come home and develop what he had found.

In the meantime other pioneers in horticulture met at the State Fair at. Rochester and organized a State Horticultural Society of which Dr. and Mrs. Jewell became.charter members. And to this society of enthusiastic members that has grown to be the largest Horticultural Society in the world, is due the wonderful progress that has been made. In 1867 Dr. Jewell planted on the sand prairie near Winona, 150,000 apple grafts and a like amount near the fair grounds at Rochester. In the spring of 1868, his foreman dug up what was living at Winona, consisting of 250 crabs, and took them to Lake City where Dr .. Jewell had bought a home and where he started the Jewell Nursery and. placed it in charge of his brother-in-law, J. M. Underwood.

Among the other men who had made a success in growing apples is J. D. Howard, near Millville. He planted a large orchard of Duchess, Wealthy, Okabena, Malinda and a number of Russian varieties, from which he harvested. and sold large crops, finding a ready market in Rochester and around his home on the rolling hills adjacent to the Zumbro River. Another successful grower was Sidney Corp living on the Zumbro, seeming to demonstrate that location and soil had much to do with success. In fact it was found that on the north side of hills where trees had been planted, they did much better than on the south or on the level. .. Also that clay ground was better than sand. Clearly demonstrating to us who have had time to study the situation that it is a lack of moisture or drouth that causes the death of trees. Varieties differ in their ability to withstand drouth. The texture of the wood in both root and tree seems to be more close and firm in some varieties, and these do well with less moisture. Wabasha County is directly west of Rochester, New York, where

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the Baldwin and Northwestern Greening are at their best. But the influence of the lakes and even the ocean keeps the trees from drying out by the moist air that they furnish. While in Minnesota the air is dry and the alternate freezing and thawing expels the sap from the branches and bodies of the trees, destroys the circulation and causes the wood to turn black, and the tree is dead. Any location that helps to overcome drouth is desirable. Wabasha County is highly favored in this respect. The broken country along the Zumbro River and up along the Mississippi and Lake Pepin furnishes unlimited loca- tions where the northern side of hills and bluffs make it ideal for growing fruit. So sure does it seem that it is drouth that does the damage, that The Jewell Nursery Company at Lake City have planted the side of a bluff looking to the north and east, by cutting off the heavy growth of oak and birch and planting apple trees. They dig large holes twelve or more feet in diameter, placing the soil on the upper side. On the lower side to make a level surface they plant the tree in the usual way. From above the tree they dig small trenches to conduct the rains to the tree and thus keep the roots of the tree supplied with moisture. In June and again in August and October the ground around the tree is spaded over and left rough to catch and hold the moisture. It is recommended by some to mulch the trees, but mulching has a tendency to draw the growth of the roots to the surface where they dry out and in that. way are more easily injured by freezing. Limestone soil is much better than sandstone, but an application of lime to sandy locations will supply the lime needed for the health of the trees.

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 35

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