USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources > Part 65
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The hose company organized, and elected for officers: F. W. Seeley, foreman and president ; W. A. Doe, assistant foreman and vice-president ; M. P. Stroup, secretary ; I. S. Richardson, treas- urer. The following were the enrollment as members: I. S. Richardson, W. A. Doe, M. C. Humphry, Jr., C. E. Cate, R. Hanish, G. W. Mossman, M. P. Stroup, F. L. Kopplen, N. E. Stringham, W. H. Dilley, G. D. Post, Henry Selover, Henry Dwelle, G. N. Tupper, W. J. Hahn, J. B. Hawley, O. N. Smith, F. W. Seeley, Joseph Harley, H. L. Smith, Francis Jenks, L. Lutz, R. H. Brown, Frank Whitcher, Chas. Sargeant, Dan'l Crego, Wm. M. Sprague, E. M. Baldwin and James Gillett.
Within three weeks the hose company had received an additional enlistment of twenty-six members. The new engine arrived on the 14th of May, and the trial test was made on the afternoon of Satur- day, the 22d of that month. The day was made almost a general holiday. The mayor of Red Wing headed a delegation from that city. The chief engineer of the Winona fire department and his assistant, and others from neighboring towns put in an appearance. The "department" was out in force. The engine was stationed near the pond in the vicinity of Doughty & Neal's wagonshop, and four hundred and fifty feet of hose were quickly laid up Center to Washington, and around the corner in front of Richardson Bros' store. In three and a half minutes from lighting the fire, with cold water in the boilers, the steam-gange indicated five pounds of steam, which was rapidly increased, until at the end of seven and
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·
a half minutes the pressure was thirty-five pounds, and water was running from the nozzle of the hose. With ninety pounds of steam, a stream was thrown up the street two linndred and twenty- seven feet through a one and one-eighth inch nozzle, and also to the height of one hundred and twenty-five feet. More hose was attached and extended up Center street to the corner of Main, and a stream thrown completely over a three-story building on the upper side of the street. A second line of hose, each was seven hundred and fifty feet, was attached, and both streams were thrown over the building, and with a branch section the three streams were thrown one hundred and sixty feet in a horizontal direction. Then a single line of hose, fifteen hundred feet long, was run up to the Episcopal church, and a stream forced over the spire and up to the height of one hundred and twelve feet from the gromd. The test was pronounced satisfactory by the council in special session on the following Thursday, and the papers were duly made out. Lake City had at last secured what so many of her citizens had long desired - a good, serviceable fire engine, and many breathed freer, feeling their property was, at least to some extent, reasonably secure.
At the first regular meeting of the council, in May of this year, the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated for the purchase of a lot on the southeast side of Center street, between Oak and High streets, upon which to erect an engine- building, and the fire committee were instructed to purchase the same. Steps were also taken for the building of cisterns in neces- sary locations for water supply, and the council's committee on fire department given charge of the matter. A committee visited La Crosse, Wisconsin, for the purpose of securing information con- cerning the character of the cisterns needed, and reported their conclusion to be in favor of brick cisterns, as the only reliable ones in this soil. The council's fire committee reported bids for building three cisterns, of dimensions according to specifications drawn by J. B. Hawley. The contract was awarded to Dix & Bonney, as the lowest bidders, for seventeen hundred and eighty dollars. Not long afterward, G. W. Thayer was awarded contract for erecting an engine-house for fire-steamer and hose-carts, building to be 20×50. The front thirty feet to be used as an engine-room, the rear twenty for council-room ; contract price, six hundred and thirty dollars. The cisterns were located as follows: The main cistern, with a
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capacity of one thousand barrels, at the intersection of Center and High streets ; two others, each having a capacity of five hundred barrels, one at the intersection of Garden and Dwelle streets, the other at the intersection of Oak and Doughty streets. A very sad accident occurred during the excavation for the cistern at the corner of Garden and Dwelle streets, by the caving in of the walls, owing to the lack of care in stoning up the walls. The men were repeatedly warned of the danger, but did not deem the alarm neces- sary and continued at work, until by the sudden caving in of the walls they were buried alive. Their names were A. H. Sandford and Benjamin Kramer. They were both taken out dead, Mr. Kra- mer after two hours' work, Mr. Sandford about seven hours after the accident. There is another water reservoir, which is more a well than a cistern, at the rear of Messrs. Neal & Johns' manufac- tory, on Center street, and from these the city has quite an ample water supply, well distributed. Improvements, in the shape of hose-tower, hook and ladder company's apparatus, etc., have been added from time to time, until today the city has quite a comfortable city building and engine-room. The old engine-house has had a story added within the past year, the hose-tower has been increased in height, and now the departments are well supplied with places for meeting as well as apparatus for extinguishing fires. The city build- ing as now standing is a conveniently-arranged two-story structure, 20×50, with a hose-tower, 12×12 feet at the base, rising fifty-six feet above the ground. The lower story of the city building is devoted to the storage of the engine, hose-carts, hook and ladder truck, coal-truck, and appliances. The engine is in excellent con- dition, under the care of chief engineer H. Gillette, and can get ready for business, under a full head of steam, within ten minutes of lighting the torches. The engine-room has a supply pipe for furnishing hot water to the boilers in cold weather, greatly expe- diting the work of getting up steam. There is also an excellent force- pump for the protection of the city building, with hose attached. through which water can be instantly turned on any part of the building. The hose-tower has a tank conveniently arranged for cleaning hose, and both tower and engine-room are supplied with abundant heating apparatus for winter use, in thawing out and drying hose and apparatus. The hose-reels are supplied with about twenty-five hundred feet of good hose, on the two carts known as Nos. 1 and 2. The hook and ladder trucks are furnished
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with one forty-foot ladder, one thirty-five feet, one thirty feet, and some shorter ones ; and also with twenty-four good fire-buckets. There are four Babcock extinguishers in the building, and all kept in perfect order, ready for any emergency that may arise. The upper story, which is reached by a broad, covered stairway on the outside of the building, is the city hall. Here the council holds its sessions, public meetings of the citizens are convened here, the engine and hose companies use it for firemen's hall, and it is just what it purports to be - the city's hall. It is comfortably warmed, lighted and seated, and from it emanate the decrees of the city fathers for the government of the little municipality.
The present officers of the fire department are : H. Gillett, chief engineer ; W. M. Sprague, assistant engineer.
Engine company : James H. Gillett, engineer ; Ed. J. Collins, treasurer. Hose company : Ed. Tupper, foreman ; Frank Peirce, assistant foreman and secretary ; L. P. Follett, treasurer. Hook and Ladder company : H. McMillan, foreman ; Sumner David, assistant foreman ; Frank Adams, secretary ; F. Schindler, treasurer.
CHURCHES.
Presbyterian .- The first Presbyterian church of Lake City was organized December 31, 1856, with Rev. Silas Hazlett as acting pastor, and B. C. Baldwin, A. V. Sigler and Mrs. Hazlett as mem- bers. B. C. Baldwin and A. V. Sigler were elected elders.
For nearly a year and a half the church held union services with the Congregationalists, in the old Congregational church erected by the contributions of both societies, the pastors of the two churches alternating in the services. In 1858 the Presbyterian church rented what was then known as Skinner's Hall. This was in the third story of a store-building situated on lot 2, block 14, fronting on Washing- ton street. In 1859 the church erected their church edifice on lots 4 and 5, block 58, which had been presented to the society by Mr. Samuel Doughty. These lots are now occupied by the residence of Mr. Charles E. Crane. The church-building, which originally cost nine hundred dollars, was removed in 1863 to its present location on High street, just north of Lyon avenue, and in 1876 was repaired and enlarged at an additional cost of eight hundred and fifty dollars.
In 1862 the trustees purchased lot 1, block 56, and erected their present parsonage at a cost of eight hundred dollars, and in 1878 it was enlarged and repaired at a further cost of six hundred and fifty dollars.
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The total number of members received into the church since its organization has been one hundred and ninety-seven, and of these one hundred and three were received upon the profession of their faith in Jesus Christ. The total baptisms during these years have been one hundred and four. The present membership is sixty.
The officers of the church are : Pastor, J. W. Ray ; elders, A. V. Sigler and A. T. Guernsey ; trustees, A. T. Guernsey, J. B. McLean and J. W. Kennedy.
The names of the pastors who have successively served the church, in the order of their service, are : Revs. Silas Hazlett, Porter H. Snow, William Speer, D.D., John Valeen, John A. Annin, Hugh W. Todd, John L. Howell, James M. Pryse, W. J. Weber, Samuel Wyckoff, and J. W. Ray, the present incumbent.
The Sunday school was organized on January 1, 1860, with A. T. Guernsey as superintendent, who held the office eighteen years, since which time the following persons have held the position : Oliver Jones, who was superintendent two years, and Messrs. J. B. McLean, S. M. Emery and Wm. Wilson, who have each held the office one year, the last-named gentleman now serving his second term, having been re-elected recently.
Swedish Lutheran .- The Swedish Lutheran church, in this city, was organized October 10, 1869, at a convocation called for that purpose, the Rev. P. Sjoblom, of Red Wing, presiding. The original number of communicants was forty-five, prominent among whom were Messrs. L. A. Hockanson, G. F. Edholm, A. E. Edholm, P. Sundberg, G. Erickson and others. Services were conducted for a time by two lay preachers, L. A. Hockanson and A. G. Westlong, and the congregation was ministered to at intervals by Rev. P. Sjoblom, of Red Wing, Rev. J. Fremling, of Stockholm, Wisconsin, and Rev. J. Wagner, of Svea, Wisconsin. In 1879 the congregation secured the services of the Rev. S. A. Lindholm, who also minis- tered to churches at Millville and Minneiska. Until the year 1875 the congregation worshiped sometimes in a small hall, at other times in the Presbyterian or Baptist churches of this city, which were kindly opened for their accommodation. In 1875 a small church, 26×40 feet, was built and neatly furnished. This building stands on the upper side of Sixth street, three blocks northwest of Lyon avenue ; and facing it on the opposite of Sixth, a commodious parsonage was built in 1881, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. The Sunday school, in connection with the church, organized in
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1873, has always been maintained in a flourishing condition. Its superintendent for many years was Mr. P. Sundburg : the present superintendent is O. Chinberg. The present membership of the congregation is about eighty-five, recent removals having led to a very material decrease. A very efficient Ladies' Society has been working within the church organization for several years, collecting money for church and missionary purposes. They meet the third Friday in each month, and during the year 1883 contributed one hundred and eighteen dollars toward the six hundred and seventy- five dollars raised by the congregation.
The present officers are Rev. L. A. Lindholm, pastor ; Mr. Ed. Edholm, secretary ; Mr. Nils Peterson, treasurer ; deacons, P. Sundberg, A. Anderson, G. Erickson, O. Chinberg ; trustees, A. E. Edholm, Nils Hallin, Chas. Chinberg.
St. Mary's Catholic Church .- The first religious services held in Lake City in connection with the Catholic church were in 1857, in which year Father Auster conducted services in the house of John Moran, in the vicinity of the brick schoolhouse in the first ward. This was the first Catholic service ever held in the place, and though no church building was erected until seven years afterward, regular ministrations at the hands of Father Auster were enjoyed until his departure from the parish in 1860. During these years and sub- sequently, until the old church was built, the congregation wor- shiped from house to house and in public halls, particularly Will- iamson's, in which services were held longer than in any other one place. To Father Auster succeeded Father Tisot, in 1860, remain- ing four years. In 1866 the old church was erected, on Center street, one block nearer the lake than the railway tracks of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. This was a substantial frame building, about 36×60 feet, and in this the church continued to hold services, until 1873, when the church lots were sold and property bought farther down town. The new property consists of an entire block, bounded by Lyon avenue, Center, Prairie and Garden streets. Upon this site the old frame church was moved, refitted for service and occupied until 1877, when it was converted into a school-building for the use of the parish school. Father Tisot was followed by Father Trobec, the present parish priest at Wabasha, in 1865, and he in turn by Father Hermon, in 1868, who continned in charge until 1875. It was during his ministry that the old church was removed to the present eligible and central location.
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Father Quinn became parish priest in 1875, upon the removal of Father Hermon, and remained in charge until his failing health compelled him to seek rest in a more congenial climate. He accordingly crossed the seas and took up his residence in France, but the vital energies were too severely taxed to respond to the call, and he died shortly after reaching France. He was an earnest and indefatigable worker, and it was largely owing to his energetic efforts that the beautiful church structure on the corner of Lyon avenue and Garden street was constructed. The present church edifice, erected in 1877 at a total cost of sixteen thousand dollars, is much the finest church structure in the city. It faces fifty feet on Lyon avenue, and has an extreme length of one hundred and sixteen feet along Garden street, including the sacristy, which is 16×53. The building is a substantial brick structure, stone founda- tions, water-table, caps, sills and trimmings. The side walls are twenty-two feet in height, and the top of the cross is one hundred and sixty-one feet above the sidewalk. It is finished inside to the roof, and seated to accommodate about six hundred. There is room, however, for quite a number of additional pews, and the seating capacity may be easily extended to eight hundred if desired. The church is an ornament to the city, and its spire can be seen from almost all parts of Lake Pepin, rising above every surround- ing object in its vicinity. Father Quinn was succeeded by Father Riley, a young man who remained in charge six months, and who was followed in the summer of 1882, by Father Riordan, who resigned his charge and went south for his health, January 1, 1884. The parish school, which was established in 1868, has not been in session for some time past, and probably will not be until the church has a permanent priest. The services are at present con- ducted by supplying priests from St. Paul. The number of con- tributing families in the parish is about thirty-five, but the number of families actually connected with the parish is much larger.
Congregational : The first Congregational church in Lake City was organized on August 8, 1856, with ten members-four men and six women. This was the first church organization in this place, and at the time of its institution there were probably not far from three hundred people within what are now the corporate limits of Lake City. Rev. De Witt C. Sterry (who died last summer in Kan- sas) was the first acting pastor of the church, which flourished vigor- ously during the ten years that he remained in charge as its minister,
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the increase during the first year being more than fourfold. The little society worshiped in halls and rooms, as they could best secure accommodations, for one year, when they moved into their own house of worship which they had built upon the lot presented them for that purpose by Abner Dwelle, Esq., one of the original proprietors of the town site. Their site was lot No. 10, block 27, and upon it the church-building, a frame structure 30×50 feet, was erected. In 1866 this old house of worship was reconstructed, turned partially around, enlarged and refitted for service, the cost of the improvements being considerably in excess of one thousand dollars, which was all paid early in Jannary, 1869. In 1866 a par- sonage was erected on the south half of lots 6 and 7, in block 49, at a total cost of abont fifteen hundred dollars. Since then the build- ing has received several additions and needed repairs, and is now a commodious and comfortable residence.
In 1873 the old church was repainted, and six years later was burned to the ground. The congregation then decided to abandon their old location and build a new church in a more desirable part of the city. The site selected was on the north corner of Lyon avenue and Oak street. The lot fronts one hundred and thirty feet on Oak street, and one hundred feet on the avenue. Here in 1880 the present beautiful church structure was erected. This is a substantial stone and frame, modern style of architecture, extreme dimensions 40×60 feet. The basement is of stone with a ten-foot ceiling, and is conveniently arranged for Sunday- school and social services, as well as the regular church reunions. Above the basement rises the auditorium, finished to the Gothic roof, comfortably seated and furnished, having sittings for about two hundred and twenty-five persons. The contract price for the building was forty-nine hundred and sixty dollars, but its actual cost was considerably above that figure, the entire outlay for lots, build- ing, furniture, upholstering, bell, etc., being in round numbers abont nine thousand dollars.
As before stated, De Witt Sterry was the first acting pastor of the church, and he sustained that relation for nearly ten years, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Edward Anderson, whose ministry con- tinned a little less than two years, when he resigned, and W. B. Dada accepted a call to the pulpit. His ministry, begun in December, 1867, terminated in February, 1872, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Ray, whose pastorate lasted five years. In October, 1877, Rev. P.
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B. Fisk was called to the oversight of the church, and remained its pastor until the spring of 1882. In May of that year, Rev. J. W. Horner became minister of the church, an office which he now sustains with great acceptability to the church and congregation.
The whole number of members connected with the church from the date of its organization to the present has been two hundred and seventy. The present membership is one hundred and twenty-five. The present officers are : Trustees, A. E. Smith, president ; C. A. Hubbard, treasurer; N. C. Pike, secretary ; deacons, Carlos Clem- ent, M. C. Humphrey ; Rev. J. W. Horner, church clerk.
There is a very efficient Sunday school maintained by the church, the average attendance at which is about one hundred. W. H. Moore, the principal of the city schools, is its superintendent. This Sunday school was organized immediately after the church organiza- tion was effected, and has been in continuous existence until the present.
Episcopal Church .- St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church is one of the strong church organizations of Lake City. The first services were held here in the fall of 1857, at which time Bishop Kemper visited the place, preached and baptized. Subsequent visits were made by the bishop, by the Rev. E. R. Wells, of Red Wing, and in 1860 by Bishop H. B. Whipple. In 1862 the parishi was formally received into union with the council, but no vestry was formed until December, 1864. On the 14th of this month a meeting was held at the residence of Rev. John W. Shatzel, parish missionary, at which time the vestry was constituted by the election of the following : Wardens, Lyman H. Buck, senior, John O. Junkin, junior ; Vestrymen, Wm. E. Perkins, John T. Graves, P. R. Hardt, Thomas Gibbs, B. L. Goodrich, Wm. Marsh, Asa Doughty and Mathias Dil- ley. L. H. Buck was elected secretary of the vestry, and R. S. Goodrish, treasurer. Services were first held in a small school- room owned by Mrs. O. E. Walters, and afterward in a hall under the Masonic lodge, from which they removed in the spring of 1864 to what was known as Harley's hall. Here they remained until the completion of the church-building in the summer of 1866. Prepara- tions for building were begun in 1863, the sum of sixteen hundred dollars was raised or pledged, and a church lot 75×100 feet pur- chased, for which the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars was
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paid. It was found that lumber could not be procured, and build- ing was deferred until the fall of 1865. The church was completed early iu the summer of 1866 and the opening services were held July 1, but the parish being in debt for the building to the amount of eight hundred dollars, the consecration was deferred until Wednesday, January 16, 1867, when the church was formally con- secrated according to the usages of the Protestant Episcopal church. The site of this church edifice is a commanding location on Oak street, just south of Lyon avenue, fronting the lake and overlooking the main business portion of the city. The structure is of wood, 50×30 feet, with a front tower 12×12 feet, and a chancel extension 10×18 feet. The side walls are fourteen feet and the ridge of the ceiling thirty-one feet. The tower is forty-five feet in height, and above it rises the spire a farther distance of thirty-four feet, sur- mounted by a cross four feet high, the total height from sill to cross-top being eighty-three feet. The building is comfortably furnished and has sittings for a little over two hundred persons. The entire cost was about thirty-five hundred dollars, and of this sum two thousand dollars were raised by the society at home, the rest being contributions from abroad.
There have been connected with this church from the date of its organization to the present a total membership of two hundred and fifty-four. Baptisms, for the same period, four hundred and fifty- two ; confirmations, two hundred and one ; marriages, seventy-six ; burials, one hundred and fifty.
The succession of rectors of St. Mark's is as follows : C. P. Dorset, 1861-2; J. W. Shatzel, 1863-6; C. W. Kelley, 1867 ; J. C. Adams, 1868-72 ; C. H. Pluminer, 1873, to May, 1883 ; Rev. W. Gardam, the present incumbent, having been in charge only since last May.
The present church officers are : Rev. W. Gardam, rector ; L. H. Buck and W. E. Perkins, wardens ; vestrymen, G. F. Benson, S. K. Gates, J. C. Adams, C. W. Crary, Thos. Gibbs, A. Wells, O. P. Francisco, C. H. Benedict. Mr. L. H. Buck is secretary and Mr. W. E. Perkins, treasurer. The present number of communi- cants is one hundred and twenty-two.
St. Mark's church maintains a flourishing Sunday school with eighteen teachers and one hundred and forty scholars, of which Mr. J. M. Underwood is superintendent ; Mrs. G. F. Benson, librarian and L. H. Buck, treasurer.
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Baptist .- Baptist meetings were held by Rev. Edgar Cady from July, 1857, to December of the same year, when the first Baptist church of Lake City was organized, December 13. 1857. The num- ber of constituent members was twenty-one. Up to 1871 two hundred and twenty-five members had been added to the church, including twelve members of a branch church at Maiden Roek, Wisconsin, in 1863. Of the above number seventy-seven were by baptism, the balance by letter and experience. Subsequent statistics of membership are not available. The present number of members is sixty-four.
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