The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 23

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 1246


USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 23


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY


Hathaway, Page & Wheeler, Harlan W. Page, C. W. Sawyer, R. I. Smith, Soloman Snow. Ice dealer: B. F. Jones. Jewelry, etc. : Gustav Schleuder. Job printing: Register office. Lumber deal- ers : Crooker & Brother & Lamoreux, Clay & Leach, A. Matson. Livery stables : A. B. Davidson, E. D. Fenton & Brother. Ma- sonic : Fidelity Lodge, No. 39, A. F. & A. M .; Austin Chapter, U. D. Millinery and dressmaking: Cook & Bemis, Mrs. S. Hed- ding, Mrs. D. A. Lord, Miss M. A. Sample, Mrs. Q. A. Truesdell. Merchant tailors : D. Banks, R. Dunkelmann, A. Matson. Meat market: Eyre & Frederich. Newspaper: Mower County Reg- ister. Physicians and surgeons: Dr. Orlenzer Allen, Dr. R. A. Barnes, Dr. P. C. Berry, Dr. O. W. Gibson, Dr. W. C. Jones. Photograph gallery: R. I. Smith. Painters: Weseman & Hickok. Plasterers: R. J. Tyler, William Vandergrift. Res- taurants : Huxhold & Van Campen. Sewing machine agents : J. C. Aekley, Mrs. Orlenzer Allen, C. H. Davidson. Stone and briek masons: Patrick Barrett, William Gutherless. U. S. offi- cers : Deputy collector, Sol. Snow; deputy assessor, H. M. Allen. Veterinary surgeon: Dr. M. M. Walker. Wagon shops: W. I. Brown, Holt & Maloney.


THE RAILROAD ERA


Prior to the advent of the railroad to Austin the business of the place was not classified, but general stocks prevailed. But at this time a revolution took place which really marked a new era in the commercial history of Austin. The history of a ma- jority of the business houses which operated previous to the coming of the railroad has already been given. In this connec- tion will be given the general development of the various branches of trade from 1867, when the railroad was completed, up to 1884, when the modern period begins.


Mercantile. Soon after the coming of the railroad N. P. Aus- tin sold an interest in his general store to F. A. Richardson and later sold his remaining interest to Frank Mayhew and went to California. After a few years Mayhew sold his interest to Rich- ardson and followed Austin to California. Richardson continued in the business until 1880, when his stock was destroyed by fire. James C. Day started in the dry goods business early in this era. After about one year he sold to Stoaley & Williams. Their busi- ness was managed by W. II. Merriek two years, when they closed ont. The C. L. West Dry Goods Company. In the spring of 1869 C. L. West left Osage, Ia., where he had been employed as a clerk in the general stores of II. W. MeNabb and Fonda and Redfearn for three years past, and engaged as a elerk in the drug store of Johnson Bros. for about three months, after which he


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was employed in the general store of Austin & Richardson for about three years. In the fall of 1871 he decided to go into busi- ness for himself. He first thought of going into the grocery busi- ness in some small town, but on counting the cost of a small grocery stock he decided that the small amount of money he had was not enough. He finally decided that the biggest show for the least money was in the crockery business. He went around town and persuaded the dealers to sell their stocks of crockery to him and agree to keep out of the business. He conducted this business until June, 1873, when R. O. Hall moved from Dixon, Ill., to Austin, when they went into partnership under the firm name of Hall & West, and opened a general store. After two years the grocery department was discontinued and an exclusive dry goods business continued until June, 1899, when Mr. Hall retired, since which time the business has been continued by Mr. West up to the date of this writing, making a continuous period of forty years that Mr. West has been in business in Austin. No sensational or radical methods have been employed, only such methods as have appealed to an old merchant as progressive and honest have been the governing policy of this store. L. S. Wil- lard established a dry goods business in Austin in 1876. Christian tian Johnson engaged in the mercantile trade in Austin a few years after the railroad was built with his brother Jacob, who died a few months later. After eight years Mr. Johnson sold out and engaged as a clerk.


Groceries. Among the grocery dealers at the commencement of this era was L. G. Basford, who continued in the business until the falling of the Basford block in 1883. James C. Day, after selling his stock of dry goods, opened an extensive grocery store, from which he drove the first delivery wagon in town. He was succeeded by S. W. Day. Dalager Bros. engaged in the grocery business in 1880, one of the brothers, Edward, having been in the same line since 1872, while the other brother, Andrew, had been engaged in the sale of farm machinery since 1878. Edward A. Dalager is still engaged in the grocery business in Austin. Fred Radermacher opened a grocery store in Austin in 1869, and in 1876 engaged in the bakery and restaurant business.


Furniture. The furniture trade of Austin was represented in 1867 by George Mitchell, Hopkins & Fernald. Mitchell continued in the trade until his death. Hopkins & Fernald continued the business until 1875, when Hopkins sold and moved to Boston, Mass. Fernald was joined in business by A. W. Kimball. They continued in business until their stock was destroyed by fire. Fernald started in business soon after. S. C. Olson, who at first worked in Fernald's store, commenced business for himself. Ile was in trade in 1884.


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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY


Drug Trade. The drug business at the commencement of this era was represented by Woodard & Dorr, and J. J. & G. G. Clem- mer. The firm of Woodard & Dorr was soon changed to Door & Wold. K. O. Wold is still in business here. The Clemmer Bros. were in business but a few years when G. G. withdrew from the firm and went to Hampton, Ia. J. J. was never a resident of Austin. Soon after G. G. withdrew the firm became Clemmer & Pooler. Charles A. Pooler is still in business here.


Lumber. The business was first represented in Austin by Mr. Washburn, in 1866, and he remained in the business two years. The same year a yard was started by P. G. Lamoreaux on Main street. William Leach opened a yard in the fall of the same year on Mill street, east of the yard established by Washburn. Mr. Leach continued in business about one year. The lumber trade in Austin in 1867, after the completion of the railroad, was an immense business. From this point. all the territory between Albert Lea and Mason City had to obtain lumber from Austin. The lumber manufacturers of Minneapolis had yards of their own for several years and did an extensive business. In 1868 there were six yards in the city. Among the dealers who continued in the trade after the boom had ceased was William Richards, whose yard was at the depot. He sold to E. H. Gerard and he to S. B. Woodsum. Bray & French were also early dealers in lumber. Frank I. Crane succeeded Bray & French in 1876. William M. Leach eame to Austin in 1866, engaged in the lumber trade, and later took charge of the lumber yards of Frank I. Crane. The Crane yard is still in existence and is in charge of Ralph P. Crane.


Grain Business. The first to engage in the grain business at Austin in the railroad era were B. J. and E. P. Van Valkenburgh, who located a warehouse soon after the railroad came in. Among the other early dealers were Ames & Co., William W. Cargill, John Crandall and Yates & Lewis. The railroad company built a low, flat warehouse shortly after the road was built in and about the same time the firm of B. J. and E. P. Van Valkenburgh dissolved. Bassett & Huntting built an elevator about 1875, which had a capacity of 60,000 bushels, and B. J. Van Valkenburgh managed it, having an interest in the same. In 1868 Yates & Lewis built a warehouse and handled grain a few years. In 1884 the grain business was in the hands of Bassett & Hunting and Charles Whitton.


Leather Goods. The first harness made in Austin was by LeRoy Hathaway, in 1860. Mr. Hathaway was at that time at work for George B. Hayes, who started the first harness shop. In the spring of 1865 Hathaway engaged in business for himself, and in October of that year Mr. Kaiser became his partner in business.


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This partnership continued about one year. Mr. Kaiser was then alone in business until July 25, 1868, when Mr. Guiney became associated with him.


Boots and Shoes. Joseph Schwan is the oldest established boot and shoe dealer now in business in Austin. He began business October 23, 1867. He began on a small scale in a small frame building only ten feet in width, kept a small stock of ready-made goods and also did custom work. Mr. Schwan is still successfully engaged in business. In December, 1867, James Truesdell, of Syracuse, N. Y., started an exclusive boot and shoe store. In 1869 he moved to Ira Jones' building, where he remained two years, and from there moved to the east side of Main street, into a building which he bought. In 1880 Mr. Truesdell sold his stock to Frank Tieknor. J. C. Ackley purchased the boot and shoe stock which George B. Hayes carried in connection with his gen- eral store and operated until 1873, and then sold to J. P. Revord. In two or three years he sold to John Lambert, continued a few years and moved to southern Iowa. Samuel Sweningsen and Charles I. Johnson embarked in the boot and shoe business in 1880 and were among the dealers in 1884. Charles I. Johnson is still engaged in the footwear business in Austin. Amos H. Ilill came to Austin in February, 1876, and for a time was in partner- ship with John Lambert in the general grocery and boot and shoe trade.


Clothing. The clothing business has always been well repre- sented in Austin. Henry Jacobs, the pioneer dealer, was still in trade in 1884. R. Dunkleman established business here late in 1866, and Joseph Levy early in 1867. Dettleburgh Brothers, better known as Cheap Charley, established their business here about 1878.


Photographers. Dr. Brewer was the first photographer to locate at Austin. He was assisted by A. B. Davidson, who sue- ceeded him in the business. In 1884 Orville Slocum and G. S. Hildahl were each engaged in the business.


Hardware Business. Charles C. Hunt, who is spoken of as being in the hardware business previous to the railroad era, con- tinned in trade until 1870, when he sold to Ira Jones, who was in trade the greater part of the time until 1883, when he was sue- ceeded by Cook & Davidson. J. H. Patterson, general hardware dealer purchased a building of J. B. Recurd in 1883. The busi- ness of Mr. Patterson was established by Crane & Patterson in 1880. The latter purchased his partner's interest in February, 1882. H. O. Jahren and H. S. Hammond engaged in the sale of farm machinery in the firm name of Jahren & Hammond in 1884, purchasing the business established by Goodwin & Jahren in 1874. A. O. Jahren, a brother of H. O., succeded to the business fol-


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lowed by H. O. W. H. Sutton engaged in the general hardware business in Austin in November, 1883, under the firm name of Fish & Sutton. Mr. Sutton became sole owner in May, 1884. In August, 1883, he sold his hardware stock to J. F. Andrews & Son. D. B. Smith started dealing in general farm machinery in Austin in the fall of 1871. Austin Foundry was established near the Milwaukee depot in 1867 by William W. Brownson, who continued the business successfully until his death in 1873. In the agricul- tural implement business there have been numerous dealers. William Allen, about the first regular dealer, after railroad times, operated about five years and then closed out and removed to Wells, Minn. Next came Alanson Wright, who did quite an extensive business in this line. Next came E. P. Van Valken- burgh, who was succeeded by Oscar Ayers, who was in business for a few years.


AUSTIN IN 1876


In 1876, Centennial year, the business and professional prog- ress of Austin was represented as follows:


Main street-Austin & Chase, hardware; Noble & MeWhorter, grocers ; Oleson, Smith & Co., dry goods; C. H. Brewster, mer- chant tailor ; J. J. Hayes & Bro., jewelers; George Baird & Son, stationers; L. L. Gable, organs; Miss W. C. Soper, milliner ; Charles Rommel, meat market ; Hall & West, dry goods and gro- ceries ; Fernald & Kimball, furniture; Clemmer & Pooler, drug- gists ; C. B. Staples, dentist ; J. A. Dunston, barber ; Robert Grif- fith, groceries and stationery ; Mrs. E. M. Benson, milliner ; John B. Revord, groceries and boots and shoes; Bullock & Pierce, bar- bers; Witham & Robinson, painters; James Cronon, cigars, to- bacco and notions ; George Foote, confectionery ; W. H. Anderson, baker and grocer; Joseph Levy, clothing; M. M. Brey, tobacco and cigars; F. King, dry goods; Dorr & Wold, druggists; G. Schleuder, jeweler; M. T. Grattan, reaper agent; R. Dunkle- mann, elothing ; Solner & Morgan, general store ; Davidson & Bas- ford, publishers Register ; Rahe & Avery, dentists; T. W. Wood- ard, justice of the peace; Merrick & Knox, hardware; H. A. Fairbanks, harness maker ; L. Piper, blacksmith ; Smith, Wilkins & Easton, Mower County Bank; L. M. Ober, express agent and deputy revenue officer ; J. A. Waters, sewing machines ; P. Zeller, proprietor European hotel; Dr. W. L. Hollister, physician and surgeon ; Dr. S. P. Thornhill, physician and surgeon; First Na- tional Bank, O. W. Shaw president, HI. W. Page cashier; E. O. Wheeler, lawyer and real estate agent; E. Mapes, groceries; II. F. Kunz, dry goods; Joseph Schwan, boots and shoes; H. Luithlen, confectionery and restaurant ; D. B. Johnson, Jr., at.


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torney at law ; Crandall & French, lawyers; L. W. Griffith, justice of the peace; H. H. Harwood, proprietor of the Transcript; George B. Hayes, loan broker ; Kaiser & Guinney, harness makers; Frank Raymond, harness maker; Padden & Noble, druggists ; James Truesdell, boots and shoes; Tallmadge & Ball, grocers; F. A. Richardson, dry goods; Greenman & Abbey, insurance agents and lawyers ; George E. Wilbour & Son, merchant tailors and clothiers; Engle & Co., miller's office; L. Ed. Day, express agent ; Hazlewood & Tuttle, hardware; H. M. & S. Cowing, milli- ners ; Col. J. H. Mansfield, proprietor Davidson House ; L. Sturte- vant, musical instruments.


Mill street-John Walsh, grocer; William Newman, shoe- maker ; Frank Gibbons, confectionery ; J. J. O'Maley, wines and liquors ; S. Chandler & Bro., grocers; Adrian Drost, silversmith ; H. L. Burgess, gunsmith; A. O. Jahren & Co., farm machinery ; Leo Anderson, bakery; C. O. Berg, tailor; Sever Oleson, pro- prietor Seandinavian House; A. Nelson, liquors; H. J. Minar, marble yard; S. Hutchins, proprietor Ramsey stage line; Henry Kothe, proprietor Austin House ; J. S. Corning, proprietor Grand Central Hotel; D. Heffner, billiard hall; Frank Anderson, liquor dealer ; M. J. Cuddy, liquor dealer; Katz & Driesner, wholesale liquor dealers; O. E. Sloeum, photographer; T. F. Armstrong, liquors ; John McCormick, liquors ; Kyle & Feihn, meat market ; Henry Jacobs, tailor; Mrs. D. A. Lord, millinery; P. Zender, liquors; A. M. Radermacher, grocer; H. S. Smith, plow manu- facturer ; Dr. J. N. Wheat, physician and surgeon.


Bridge street-L. G. Basford, grocer; G. K. Hanson, wagon maker; W. A. Hotehkiss, proprietor Republican ; Dr. J. P. Squires, physician and surgeon; A. H. Alsip, briek maker; Joseph Rhein- smith, blacksmith : W. I. Brown, farm machinery ; H. S. Smith, blacksmith ; J. Cota, shoemaker; Ole Sorenson, shoemaker; A. E. Meigs, postmaster; S. W. Day, notions; Frederich & Gies, meat market : James Geraghty, liquors ; Cameron & Crane, lawyers and land agents; Anderson & Royce, coal dealers; H. G. Waehlin, liquors ; James Bates, wagon shop; J. A. Donaldson, wood and iron worker; M. Feeny, boarding and liquors ; John O'Brien, pro- prietor American House: A. M. Delaire, blacksmith; T. Dugan, blacksmith ; Oleson & Nicholaison, furniture.


Around Publie square-D. B. Smith ; J. Weisel, mineral water; Fleck & Hay, proprietors Fleck House : T. Ilillam, billiard hall; Carlos Fenton, livery : W. Patterson, blacksmith; Thomas Ed- wards, photographer ; E. P. Van Valkenburgh, farm machinery ; George C. Martin, hardware.


Miscellaneous-Dr. O. W. Gibson, physician and surgeon : P. O. French, pump manufacturer and agent for farm machinery: Grattan & Cox, livery ; Brey & French, lumber; W. T. Mande-


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ville livery; J. F. Atherton, proprietor railroad eating house ; William Richards, lumber; J. Fischer, proprietor Burlington House; C. W. Ransom, grain buyer ; J. M. Flowers, grain dealer ; George B. Wright, foundry; A. W. Powers, manufacturer of fanning mills; V. Richard, manufacturer of fanning mills ; Thos, Meaney, liquors : Michael Collins, liquors; W. H. Valleau, grain buyer; J. H. C. Huxhold, brewer; Frank Livingstine, brewer; J. S. Putnam, justice of the peace ; C. N. Beiseker, cooper ; Peter Parker, painter; W. H. Officer, miller ; Jonathan Gregson, miller ; Mathew Gregson, miller; Warner, Crane & Co., millers; J. Mc- Grath, station agent; William Oleson, painter; D. Banks, tailor ; Peter McCormick, proprietor Farmers' Home.


AUSTIN IN 1884


The commercial interests of Austin in August, 1884, were represented as follows: Dry goods: Hall & West, J. Solner & Co., L. S. Willard and F. King. Groceries: C. W. Taylor & Co., Dalager Bros., F. P. McBride, A. H. Hill & Co. Boots and shoes : J. Schwan, Sweningsen & Johnson and F. A. Ticknor. Clothing : R. Dunkleman, Dettelbach Bros., ("Cheap Charley") J. Levy and F. E. Jacobs. Hardware: Cook & Davidson, J. H. Patterson, J. F. Andrews & Son. Drugs: Dorr & Wold and Clemmer & Pooler. Agricultural machinery : D. B. Smith, Oscar Ayers, Keenan Bros., Jahren & Hammond. Restaurants: G. F. Rode- macher, R. P. Boyles. Harness shops: Kaiser & Guiney and Frank Rayman. News depot: James Cronan. Jewelers: G. Schleuder and Hayes Bros. Hotels: Fleck House, kept by A. M. Fleck ; Mansfield House, kept by J. H. Mansfield ; Windsor House, kept by John E. Robinson; Davidson House, kept by S. F. Gib- bons; Railroad House, kept by Bannard & Horrabin; American House, kept by Andrew Noonan; Burlington House, kept by J. Fischer ; German House. Lumber yards: F. I. Crane and S. B. Woodsum. Grain buyers: Bassett & Hunting (per H. A. Fair- banks) and C. H. Whitton.


The following named were ones who at one time had earried on business in Austin, but who, as early as 1884, had gone out of business: Groceries: Noble & Mc Wharter, Paddock Bros., S. W. Day, Sprague & Co., Paden & Simmons. Drugs: Noble & French. Hardware: Austin & Smith, C. L. Chase. Dry goods: Fleetwood & Merril, J. C. Smith & Co., Walker & Lidgerwood, Knud Knud- son. Agricultural implements: W. J. Brown, E. J. Gratton, Nelson Bros., H. II. Kent, G. II. Azure. Boots and shoes: Jehial Woodward.


Of those in business here in 1884, the following are still act- ively engaged in mercantile pursuits in 1911 : Chas. L. West, dry


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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY


goods, cloaks and suits; Edward A. Dalager, groceries; Frank l'. McBride, groceries; Charles I. Johnson, footwear; Joseph Schwan (J. Schwan & Son), footwear; Gustav Schleuder, jew- elry; Knud O. Wold, drugs; Charles A. Pooler, drugs; Frank Raymond, harnesses, and Hayes Bros. (J. J. and Orris), jewelry. Ralph Crane conducts the lumber business of his father, Frank I.


THE MODERN PERIOD


In 1885 began the modern mercantile period of Austin. The companies that have started in business, lived for a time and then sold out, have but little historical importance. There are at the present time a number of business houses which have been estab- lished for many years and which by reason of their stability and standing are worthy of their names being handed down to future generations as representatives of the mercantile interests of Austin at the present time. Among these may be mentioned : George Hirsh, clothing (see biographical sketch) ; Philip H. Friend, clothing (see biographical sketch) ; Hormel Provision House, food products (see sketch of George A. Hormel) ; John A. Maurek, general store; Ernest Myers, tobacco business ; Holmes Hardware Company ; Donovan & Goslee, furniture; Aus- tin Furniture Company; Decker Bros., hardware (see biograph- ical sketch) ; G. Fred Baird, undertaker; Urbatel Bros., hard- ware; Frank O. Hall, groceries; Lars P. Nelson, harness maker ; John Briebach, meats; Fred E. Gleason, jeweler, established in 1890; Joseph Fitzhum, harness maker; M. J. Keenan, musical instruments ; John F. Fairbanks, fuel; Fiester & Thomas, general store; J. S. R. Scoville, jeweler; Mathias S. Fisch, department store (see biographical sketch) ; Frank M. Zender, cigars; W. C. Horrooin, groceries; Paul H. Zender, bakery; Dunfee Bros., cigars ; Fred L. Williams, cigars ; Austin Cigar Company ; Robert R. Murphy, dry goods; William D. Bassler, clothing; Albert Thon, dry goods ; Ormanzo J. Benton, footwear ; John E. Malloy, drugs ; William R. Earl, furniture; Guy H. Burlingame, notions ; Austin Candy Company ; Owatonna Fruit Company; Austin Plumbing Company, Clefton Phiming Company.


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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY


CHAPTER XIX.


AUSTIN MANUFACTURIES


First Mill-Former Industries-Present Interests-Story of the Growth and Development of the Various Plants Which Have Assisted in the Progress of the City-Minor Activities.


While not primarily a manufacturing town, Austin neverthe- less has a number of important factories, and the packing, rail- road, printing, milling, clay products, cement, farm implement, wagon making, creamery, bottling, corrugated iron, bookbinding, rugmaking, gunmaking, farm machinery, bakery, post card, greenhouse, nursery, building and illuminating industries are important.


Naturally the milling industry was the first to occupy the attention of the people of this vicinity.


FIRST MILL


The first mill and factory in Austin is the subject of an article prepared many years ago by Q. A. Truesdell. "The first mill in Austin was of a primitive kind, made and used by the Indians. It was located on the west side of the Cedar river, about twenty rods above Engle's (now Campbell's) dam. A white oak stump was hollowed out in the top in the shape of a mortar, and with a wooden pestle the corn was pounded fine, mixed up with water and baked in the hot eoals. Some of the eorn was begged from the inhabitants and some stolen. In the month of Novem- her, 1858, the Truesdell brothers started up the first water mill. The, mill was made of iron, and ran night and day part of the time. It was valuable at the time for grinding corn, there being no other mill nearer than a distance of thirty miles. Mr. Rose, of Rose Creek, brought the first saek of wheat and had it ground into flour, and when we met afterwards he told me the bread made from the flour was very black and not fit to eat. Most of the pioneers well remember what was called the "Water Johnny Cake Period," when there was little else than corn meal for bread, and not enough of that. Aloysius Brown was in trade at that time and did a large business in furnishing flour to the settlers. He had teams drawing flour from Chatfield and Deco- rah, Iowa; but this whole country was wet and soft that but small loads could be brought in and it took a long time to make a trip. Our supplies were chiefly drawn from Winona. They could not be procured to keep up with the demand, and such


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was Mr. Brown's impartiality that he caused the sacks to be distributed in such a manner that every family should receive each a sack before any supplied were allowed to purchase the second. The settlers who came in years later knew but little what privations the first ones endured. The first steam mill was built by J. Bourgard and Asa Marsh, on the east side of town, and after a while it was fitted up with buhrs for grinding, and it was operated by Mr. Bourgard. In the fall of 1856, Q. A. and W. Trucsdell put machinery in a building where Warner's mill (on Dobbin's creek) now (1876) stands, and for a long time manufactured furniture, but after a time the dam went out and the premises were abandoned."


FORMER INDUSTRIES


In the seventies and eighties, Austin had four important in- dustrial plants, the Engle mill, now Campbell's; the Warner mill, now the lower Campbell mill; the plow manufactory of Johnson. & Smith, which is still in operation, and the Austin Canning Company, now out of existence. Quarrying, lime burning and brickmaking were also important in those days. The brick manu- factured here has entered into the construction of many im- portant buildings in the Northwest, including the postoffice at LaCrosse. The stone quarried here, however, has shown an inclination to crumble and is not well suited for building pur- poses.


The Austin Pressed Brick Company was started in 1887, and for a time was very successful. The plant was burned and never rebuilt.


The Engle Mill was owned by Joe Engle & Sons, who oper- ated a fine corrugated roller mill erected in 1881. These gen- tlemen came to Austin in 1871 and purchased Anderson's mill. The mill at that time was a small affair, containing but one run of stone, and was built by Mr. Anderson in 1864. Immediately after their purchase the firm began reconstructing the property, and practically rebuilt the mill, enlarging the building and adding two sets of buhrs, which, with other improvements, added to the first cost of the property, amounted to $30,000. They operated this mill until February, 1881, when it was destroyed by fire. They began immediately to rebuild, but on a much more elaborate plan. The site of this mill. just east of Water street bridge, is now occupied by A. S. Campbell




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