The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 27

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 27

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The city of Austin is located on both sides of the Cedar river. It is surrounded by a finely improved and productive prairie. country in all directions. From the days of Austin Nichols, who came here in 1853 and from whom the city was named, and of Chauncey Leverich, who bought out his claim in 1854, there has been a healthy, persistent growth. Its location, about a hun- dred miles from Minneapolis, La Crosse and other large shipping points, gives it a territory largely its own. It is an industrial and railroad center of prominence. The first railroad to enter here was in 1867 and today we have five lines of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road coming here, and we are on the direct line of the Great Western between Minneapolis and Omaha. Our shipping facilities are superior. The division point of the Milwaukee road and one of its car shops are here and they have an Austin payroll at present of $55,000 each month.

Austin is pre-eminently a city of homes. A larger propor- tion of the residents own their own in most cases. The resi- dences are the pride and joy of the city, many of them built with the latest improvements and with attractive architectural ideas. The Austin Civic Improvement League is helpful in keeping the general appearance of the city neat and attractive. Two very pretty parks give the people ample chance for convenient outing. Lafayette park lies at the foot of Main street where the Cedar is bridged. Central park is adjacent to the city water plant on Water street.

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The schools of Austin are of the highest efficiency. The pub- lic schools are provided with the large central high school build- ing and also five up-to-date grade ward schoolhouses. The year of 1910-1911 required a total force of thirty-eight teachers, with special work, domestic science, mannal training, music, normal department, drawing and gymnastics. The graduating class of 1911 consists of thirty-one members. In addition the St. Augus- tine's parish has established the Columbus parochial school with eight departments, all of them in grade work. The Southern Minnesota Normal College, founded in 1897, is located here and has a yearly enrollment of over 1,000 pupils from all the north- western states. In this connection we mention the splendid li- brary facilities of the city. In addition to the fine school and private libraries we have a public library, the building for which was provided by Andrew Carnegie. This building was completed in April, 1904. There are about 7,000 volumes at present. The nucleus of this library was a gift of 3,500 volumes from the Austin Floral Club, which was organized in March, 1869, to promote taste and skill in horticulture and to establish a circu- lating library. Austin is a city of churches. There are eleven fine church buildings and the clergymen rank high in preaching ability and in personal worth and influence. Fifteen of the prin- cipal denominations are well represented in the city.

Austin is a prominent business city and commercial center. Its wholesale and retail trade covers twenty-two blocks of our streets. Every line of commercial trade is represented. Its hand- some business blocks fronting upon its brick paved streets and its enduring cement sidewalks are a mark of enterprise and thrift that attract all visitors. In the way of manufactures we excel. Roller mills, tow mills, plow and harrow works, cement tile factories, immense Farmers' Briek and Tile plant, weed ex- terminator plant, the second packing house in size in Minnesota, Austin greenhouses, marble and granite works, steel enlvert fac- tory, machine shops, foundries, carriage building are among our prominent industries. We have two telephone systems connect- ing with all the surrounding country and bringing us in touch also with the large centers. A city hospital shows advanced serv- ice for the afflicted.

Although Austin is essentially a home town, there is fine hotel service here for the traveling public and the four leading hotels, the Fox, the Grand, the Elk and the Railway, make this city an attractive stopping place sought by all who can make it con- venient. In connection with the business interests we mention the three national banks, whose total deposits in March, 1911. were $3.072.120.31, and a total capital and surplus of $625,729.71. The Austin Commercial Club, the successor of the Board of

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Trade, organized in 1874 and reorganized in December, 1903, is an active body looking after the development and growth of the city.

One of the commanding buildings of the city is the fine county courthouse, occupying a whole square on Main street. It was occupied in March, 1884, and is the just pride of the county. A new federal building for the postoffice and other government officials was commenced in the fall of 1910 and will be completed at the close of 1911. It is 50x65 feet and will cost $50,000. Plans are also accepted for a new city hall to cost $40,000.

Austin feels proud of its military company. Back in the war of '61-'65 this community sent its full quota to the front and the soldierly spirit has never waned. Company G, Second Minne- sota National Guard, was organized by Capt. James S. Ander- son in September, 1882. An appropriation from the state legis- lature in April, 1911, gives the company $10,000 for an armory here and the city will add to this to make a suitable permanent drill hall for them.

Austin has one of the most successful municipal water, elec- tric light and power plants in the United States. Its low rate for electric power has made it famous. The city owns and con- trols its own plant. Previous to about 1885, Austin's water supply was wholly from private wells and its fire protection was from cisterns. With the growth of population the demand was for modern water supply. A 132-foot well was put down and Smedley & Co., of Dubuque, put in the first pumps, two of them, each with a million-gallon daily capacity. John M. Greenman was the first superintendent. From this beginning other and deeper wells were sunk later as the demand increased and in 1910 a more ample supply of water was obtained by the pur- chase of the famous Sargent's springs east of the city with a flowage of 1,300,000 gallons of purest water daily. This water was piped into the city in the summer of 1911. It comes wholly by gravity to the reservoir at the power plant. The water mains which at first covered only our principal business section now run to all parts of the residence portion.

The city municipal electric and power plant was established in 1900, when the city bought out a private concern for the sum of $16,000. The Pierce Brothers put in the original plant in April, 1889. This furnished only the stores at first with light, but later the city made contracts for street lighting and the use of electric lighting was extended to residences. The city rebuilt the plant when it bought it in 1900 and in 1903 the entire man- agement was placed in the hands of a board of water, electric, gas and power commission. The plant has been steadily devel- oped until it had in May, 1911, a 750-horsepower dynamo sys-

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tem, supplying lights to 940 different consumers, power to fifty users and light for 121 are street lights, besides seventy-five smaller street lamps. It is a fact that the Austin municipal plant furnishes cheaper power and light to consumers than any other successful electric plant in this country. The present members of the water and electric board are: John L. Gulden, president ; Mayor A. S. Campbell, J. D. Sheedy, Al. M. Smith and C. A. Pooler; superintendent, William Todd. Austin has an efficient fire department and excellent fire protection.

The streets of Austin are worthy of mention. There are many miles of cement sidewalks with many boulevards, which give a substantial appearance. In the summer of 1906 the main business portion of the city along Main street and adjacent blocks was paved with vitreous brick and in the following summer ten blocks were paved from Main street to the Milwaukee station, making it possible to reach all the business portions by it. This makes Austin one of the best paved cities of its size in the Northwest.

The city has kept pace with its growing population and the improvements of the day, and the resident here finds every con- venience afforded much larger cities. The Austin Gas Company is a private corporation, whose service adds to the comforts of the home, and with annual Chautauqua in summer and lecture and concert courses in the winter, with churches and schools and library of the highest merit, with ample water supply and ex- tensive sewerage, with the best of electric light and power and in the midst of a prosperous farming community, located near the height of land in southern Minnesota and with a eli- mate unexcelled for its many healthful conditions, Austin knows the reason why during business depression and prosperity she has maintained a steady and permanent growth.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Austin has excellent fire protection and a well-equipped fire department. Hose Company No. 1 has its house at the corner of Chatham and Maple street and Hose Company No. 2 has its house at the foot of Bridge street. There are also companies at the Hormel plant and at the Milwaukee yards. Plans are under way for the building of a combination city hall fire house and armory at the corner of Chatham and Maple streets. The state has ap- propriated $10,000 for the building of an armory, and plans have been drawn for a combination building. to be erected at a cost of some $42,000.

The fire department, which is a volunteer one, is organized as follows: Fire warden, Nels P. Jensen; hose cart No. 1, fore- man, Frank E. J. Christie; assistant. J. J. Rngg : hydrantmen,

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Leonard Hall and Archie Moreland; pipemen, George Fitzthum and James Anker; steward and treasurer, Edward H. Elward; secretary, Louis Duelos. Hose Comany No. 2: Foreman, M. J. Mayer; assistant foreman, George Umhoefer ; hydrantmen, C. W. MeNally and J. Mayer, Jr .; nozzlemen, Frank Hummel, Alvin Setterloff, D. J. Sheehan ; secretary, J. H. Mayer ; treasurer, Frank Mayer ; steward, J. Mayer, Jr.

The Austin Volunteer Hook, Ladder and Bucket Company was organized March 11, 1870. The first officers elected were: Presi- dent, W. I. Brown; foreman, Capt. H. J. Gilham ; first assistant, J. D. Jennings ; second assistant, H. L. Burgess ; secretary, A. M. Hutchinson; treasurer, George H. Litchfield. On April 27 No. 2 of the east side was organized. In September, 1895, the city hired its first team and driver, Oscar Hill securing the position. Among those who in the past have assisted in fire department af- fairs in some official capacity may be mentioned : A. J. Phelps, H. B. Hall, D. B. Smith, Tom Riley, John Walsh, C. A. Pooler, C. Bieseker, Tom Dugan, Jesse Makepiece (the first chief of the Austin fire department), E. J. Ames, Henry Trenary, John Gul- den, Edward Elwood. Tom Mann, Mile Mhyre, Nels Jensen, Frank Reynolds and many others.

OAKWOOD CEMETERY.

Austin was a village of 400 people before a move was made to have a place to lay its departed. The dead were laid away in the vacant lots of the platted city. The body of Chauncey Leverich, who was murdered, was buried near where the Swen Anderson building stands on Chatham street. On the banks of the Cedar near the South Bridge the bones of Don and Jaek Fleming molded. They came here from New England for their health, as they were both suffering with consumption. It was not until 1862 that a move was made to secure a cemetery. A few of the ladies of the city got talking about the needs of the city and a meeting was ealled February 1, 1862, at the home of J. L. Davidson for the pur- pose of organizing a society for the purchase of suitable lands for a burial ground. At that first meeting Mrs. J. L. Davidson was elected president and Mrs. Ormanzo Allen secretary.

The name adopted for the society was "The Mite Society and Cemetery Association" and the meetings were to be held every two weeks at the homes of the members in alphabetical order. Each member was to pay ten eents at each meeting. The at- tendance at these meetings was between eighty and 100, for there was little doing in the pioneer village in those days.

The first regular meeting was held at the home of Mrs. J. L. ('lark. Here it was voted to have the men buy the land and the

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Mite society promised to build the fenee. A subscription paper was passed among the business men and twenty agreed to take lots at $5 each. On March 15, 1862, the men met and organized the cemetery association. Solomon Snow was chairman of the meeting and Ormanzo Allen secretary. The following trustees were elected: For one year, L. N. Griffith and Ormanzo Allen; for two years, John S. Lacy and Oliver Somers; for three years, Solomon Snow. A committee had been sent ont to seeure land and on the suggestion of the Mite society looked over the Baudler farm. The committee found the land suitable evidently, for it purchased five acres at a cost of $100. D. B. Johnson surveyed the land. laying it off in lots twenty feet square, and Squire Griffith made a map. The $100 was raised by twenty men, each of whom bought a lot at the cost of $5.

The story of the cleaning up of the grounds by the ladies, as- sisted by the men, is told elsewhere by Mrs. L. A. Sherwood. Mrs. Sherwood says that the first body buried in the cemetery was that of Katie, the eight-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Clark. The little girl died of diphtheria and Mrs. Sherwood as- sisted in the eare of the little girl. That was the first ease of diph- theria that had appeared in the little village of Austin. Having bought the land and laid it out as a place to bury the dead, the cemetery seems to have received but little attention, each lot owner being supposed to eare for his own lot. In 1895 the Oak- wood Cemetery Association bought 160 acres of land of the Adler farm adjoining the cemetery. They sold about thirty acres lying east of the river to D. B. Smith. D. H. Stimson was one of the prime movers in this purchase. Anton Friedrich was elected su- perintendent of the cemetery and has been in charge from that day to this. The cemetery was graded, the unsightly grave

mounds all being leveled, flower gardens were laid out and each year saw the place still further beautified. Now it is one of the most beautiful resting places for the dead in the state. On March 7, 1904, the trustees were authorized to ereet a chapel and vault, not to exceed the sum of $5.000, and this beautiful building was dedicated in the fall of the same year. William Baudler had opened up a private cemetery on the northern line of his farm adjacent to the Oakwood cemetery and the lot owners of this cemetery wanted those lots taken in as a part of beautiful Oak- wood. This petition was presented by Mrs. Hiram Smith at a meeting held November 12, 1904. She stated that $430 had been subseribed and guaranteed that $70 more would be raised, mak- ing the amount $500 for the purchase of the unsold lots in the Baudler cemetery. On December 3, 1904, a meeting of the eeme- tery association was held to consider the proposition. At that meeting the Baudler cemetery lot owners were ready to pay $500

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to the Oakwood cemetery to secure possession of the Baudler lots so that the two cemeteries might be united. The board of trus- tees offered to take over the Baudler cemetery, lots, alleys, streets, etc., on the payment of $2,000. N. F. Banfield said he would be responsible for the amount and the proposition was accepted. Soon after the old fence was torn down, both cemeteries were made one, the Baudler cemetery being graded and beautified to conform with Oakwood. On August 23, 1905, the cemetery asso- ciation purchased four rods of land adjoining the old Baudler cemetery on the east, paying for it $75. On March 2, 1906, Mc- Intyre Post G. A. R. exchanged their old lot for a lot in the cen- ter of Section 3 of the new cemetery and the bodies of the dead heroes were removed to their new sleeping place. On this lot a beautiful soldiers' monument was erected and dedicated in 1907.

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES.

(By Robert L. Moore.)

While Austin is on seven railroad divisions, it is also on fif- teen divisions of the King's highway, all having one grand termi- nal point. These are the divisions: Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist, Chris- tian, Jewish, Christian Scientist, Seventh Day Adventist, German Evangelical, Universalist, Children of the Dawn and Christadel- phian. Eleven of these denominations have church buildings, all practically free from debt.

The many church spires like indices pointing heavenward sug- gest to the stranger that Austin is a city of churches. Approach- ing the city from any direction the first object to greet the eye is the cross of Christ in the skyline. The rays of the rising sun first rest upon it and the last dying rays of day are reflected by it. Austin is a religious city, but it is not a bigoted one. Sec- tarianism that has rent other communities has never been known here. No man disputes with another which is the direct route to heaven. Religious liberty is here enjoyed to the fullest. Aside from the distinctly church organizations, the club and social or- ganizations never consider church affiliation as a qualification for membership.

All the churches are liberally supported and well attended. The buildings are as a rule superior to church buildings in cities of the size of Austin.

First Congregational Church .- Members of this denomination had their first meetings in Austin in what was known as the "Headquarters," which stood on the corner where the Austin National Bank now stands, gathered there together by their first pastor, Rev. Stephen Cook, on July 6, 1857. There were fifteen

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charter members, as follows : J. L. Davidson, Mrs. II. A. David- son, Rev. Stephen Cook, Mrs. Jennett Cook, J. N. Cook, Mrs. L. A. Cook, J. N. Wheat, J. S. Decker, Mrs. M. A. Decker, Oba- dial Smith, Mrs. M. A. Smith, Mrs. Amanda Adams, J. Baker, Miss E. Bennett. Rev. Cook served as pastor of the church for three years, resigning in May, 1860. His successor was Rev. Nel- son Cook, who held the pastorate from May 1, 1860, to October, 1860. He was, in turn, followed by Rev. Stephen Cook, who held services from October, 1860, until May, 1861. Next was Rev. C. C. Humphrey, May, 1861, until May, 1863. Following the last named Rev. W. S. Clark preached from May, 1863, to November, 1863.

In March, 1864, Rev. W. J. Smith was called to Austin, dur- ing which year the Baptist ehureh was completed, and an invita- tion was extended to the Congregationalists to worship there. The invitation was accepted and for two years both seets wor- shiped there. In November, 1864, Rev. Smith resigned the pas- torate and was succeeded in December by Rev. Alfred Morse, who continued until December, 1868. During his stay here or in the year 1866 the next place of worship was the "Briek School House" on the site where the Carnegie Library now stands. In October, 1868, the first building of this denomination was dedi- cated, it being built on the same site as the present building, the lot having been donated by J. L. Davidson some years before. Soon after its dedication Rev. Morse tendered his resignation and he and his beloved wife left for other fields of duty. His sue- cessor was Rev. E. M. Williams, December, 1868, until December, 1870. Other ministers in close proximity were: Rev. J. T. Graves, from January, 1871, to January 1873, and Rev. Henry Ketcham, from June, 1873, to September, 1874. Rev. C. E. Wright commenced his labors with the church in December, 1874. He was a man of great personality and influence and his long stay of twenty-four years were fruitful ones to the church. Not only by the spiritual help were the people of this church benefited, but also by a new building, which was erected in 1892 and dedi- cated February 26, 1893. While the new edifice was being erected Sunday school services were held in the courtroom of the Court- honse and devotional meetings in the Grand Army hall. The dedicatory hymn sung on the occasion was one of rare merit, being the same as was sung at the dedication of the old build- ing twenty-seven years before and composed by Mrs. Samuel Morris, wife of the former pastor. When the resignation of Mr. Wright was tendered, November, 1898, it was met with a feel- ing of deep regret, for those who had known him so long and to whom he had administered in their sorrow and cares were wont to say that in the loss of him the church had lost one of its most

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valuable assets. The other ministers after him were Rev. E. T. Wheeler, 1898 to 1902, and Rev. Arthur Dascumb, 1902 to 1904.

The present pastor, Rev. F. E. Knopf, came to the church in September, 1905. He was born of German parents at Columbus, Ohio, 1858. But upon the death of his parents while he was yet seven years of age, he was brought up on a farm twenty-eight miles from Columbus, where in the district school he received his common school education. His desire to rise in the world, how- ever, did not keep him on a farm, for later he entered the Univer- sity of Wooster, Presbyterian College, where after a few years he completed the prescribed courses. After leaving the univer- sity he was elected superintendent of schools at Columbus Grove. Later he held the position of professor of Latin and Greek at the Tri-State Normal college, remaining with that institution for four years. In 1889 he was ordained minister and labored with the Congregational church at Elkhart, Ind. Since then he has held pulpits at Michigan City, Ind., Sabetha, Kans., and Cheyenne, Wyo., from which last named place he came to Austin. During his pastorate up to date one hundred members have been added to the church. In 1907 occurred the fiftieth anniversary of the church and many of the former pastors were present. The church has two of its members in missionary work, Arthur McBride, missionary teacher, stationed at Bombay, India, and Olive Vaughan at Hadfin, Turkey. The societies are few in number, being the Ladies' Aid, president, Mrs. E. H. Smith; vice-presi- dent, Mrs. Dr. M. J. Hardy ; secretary, Mrs. F. I. Crane; treas- urer, Mrs. Eunice Rice. The Sunday school is a very large one and is lead by Ransome Thompson as superintendent. The Y. P. S. C. E. was organized during Rev. Wright's pastorate and since then has grown to a very prominent organization. It first met at the home of Harlan Page, with Fanny Eastman as presi- dent. The present officers are: President, Helen Banfield; vice- president, Leonard Decker; secretary, Josephine Catherwood; corresponding secretary, Alice Hayse; treasurer, Neil Cooke; pianist, Thekla Knopf. The Woman's Missionary Society was organized by Mrs. E. M. Morse, wife of the former pastor, who was president of the state missionary board, first president of the society here and also founder of the Floral Club of Austin. The present officers include Mrs. C. H. Decker as president; Mrs. II. A. Avery, vice-president ; Mrs. John Rutherford, secretary, and Mrs. Arthur Cole, treasurer. The Boys' Junior Endeavor has at the head Harry Emery as superintendent. The church officers are: Deacons, O. W. Shaw, F. P. McBride, HI. A. Avery, C. L. West, W. O. Page, Jacob S. Decker. The latter and Mrs. J. S. Decker and Mrs. Obadiah Smith were original eharter members of the church and are yet active members. The trustees of the

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church include Mr. C. F. Cook, Dr. A. M. Lewis, Mr. A. L. Eber- hart, A. C. Page, J. E. Crippen, L. A. Sherman and II. L. Ban- field. The two latter are clerk and treasurer, respectively.

St. Olaf Lutheran Church. The Lutheran church of Austin was organized by Rev. C. L. Clausen, October 28, 1867. The same pastor had preached the first sermon of this denomination at Austin about two years previous to that time. The first serv- iees were held at the home of Nels Johnson, with the following persons as charter members : Syver Olson and family, Peter Knud- son and family, Iver Nelson and family, Carl M. Bolnner, Nels Johnson and family, John Halverson, Jacob Johnson, Ole Jacob; son, Ole Miekleson and family, F. B. Frost and family, Nels Olson and family. On November 14, 1867, the second meeting was held at the home of Seymore Johnson, at which time by-laws were adopted and Carl M. Bolnner was elected secretary of the church. During the illness of Rev. Clausen in 1869 the devotional meet- ings were held in the courtroom of the Courthouse. On October 5, 1870, a meeting was ealled together at the office of John Ir- gens. This was for the purpose of deciding on the name and the incorporation of the church and upon the advisability of pur- chasing the old Methodist Episcopal church. The name selected was the St. Olaf Evangelical Lutheran ehurch of Austin. The old Methodist church was purchased and trustees chosen: J. S. Irgens, Carl M. Bolnner, O. J. Johnson, O. H. Johnson, the two former being treasurer and secretary, respectively. On May 25, 1870, Rev. Ostby commenced his labors with the church and all continued well during his pastorate. Resigning in November, 1878, he was succeeded by Rev. Clausen, who continued serving with Svend Strand as assistant (appointed 1879) until January, 1885, at which time he tendered his resignation. Rev. Ostby was recalled in May. 1885, owing to the severe illness of Rev. Clausen, and remained with the ehureh until the arrival of Rev. O. Glasoe, December, 1889. who held the pastorate until September, 1891. Next to succeed him was the Rev. E. T. Rogne, who came in March, 1892. During his labors with the church the eongrega- tion increased so that it was deemed necessary to erect a new building. Subscriptions being secured the new (present) build- ing, costing $16,000, was commenced in the early part of 1895 and dedicated in 1896 by Rt. Rev. G. Hoyme. On the oceasion all the former pastors were present, exeepting Rev. Clansen, who had previously passed to his eternal reward. Rev. Rogne resigned in the fall of 1898 and was sueceeded by Rev. J. C. Roseland, who entered upon his duties in February, 1899, and served eight years until the fall of 1907. During Rev. Roseland's work with the church the Hayfield church services, which had been in charge of the former pastors, was discontinued. He introduced the Eng-

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 27

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

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