The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 31

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

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or two of students met on the beginning day of the first session, September 21, 1897.

When the proprietors arrived to take charge of the work the building was very much in need of a complete renovation. The citizens of Austin delight in telling how Professor Boostrom donned a pair of overalls and, procuring a spade, proceeded, him- self, to dig at the debris that obstructed the basement.

From the very beginning the growth of the school was rapid. By the end of the first year over 150 students had been attracted by the excellent instruction and the moderate cost of board, room and tuition.

E. M. Shelde became the first president, Charles R. Boostrom, vice-president and treasurer, while Ole Jackson became the first secretary. This arrangement continned for the first three years, when, on account of the failure of Dr. Shelde's health, he retired from the corporation and Professor Boostrom succeeded to the presidency.

At the close of the first year the college company erected a small frame structure on a tract of five acres of land given it by Albert Galloway, a public-spirited citizen of Austin. The fol- lowing summer John Harpman erected a dormitory and boarding hall for the use of the college, and the building erected soon proved too small for the "baby giant" of an institution. In an inconceivablert time the attendance had doubled and had doubled again and again, students coming from nearly every northwestern state, for here they had found the place where worth, not weaith, where industry, not raiment, determined their posi- tion. The student body consists of every shade of religion and of political belief and of almost every nationality under the sun, all being enltivated and educated in the law-abiding restraints which distinguish the American.

To provide quarters for the rapidly increasing institution the citizens of Austin unanimously voted to erect and equip a building to accommodate not less than 1,000 students. This was but three years ago, yet so rapidly had the news of an institution of this kind spread over the Northwest that the facilities are already becoming crowded.

Perhaps nothing is more indicative of the spirit pervading the institution than the remark made to the committee by Professor Boostrom when the new building was under discussion. "Gentle- man." he said. "you can't give us this building. If you build the building for this school you must build with the understanding that we shall have the privilege of paying for the same at the rate of $1,000 a year until the debt is entirely wiped out. Any institution that cannot pay its way in the world isn't fit to live."

Perhaps the institution would not have been possible had it

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not been for the tireless and constant assistance of the wives of its proprietors during the early years of its history-Mrs. Shelde, Mrs. Boostrom, Mrs. Harpman and Mrs. Heilman-in their ambi- tion to aid their respective husbands in their own way and make the institution a success. In the class room and also at the bed- side of sick students their work had been done, and well done.

The students are scattered all over the United States from Maine to California; some are in the treasury department at Washington; one has recently distinguished himself as astron- omer at the United States observatory at Flagstaff, Ariz .; two hundred or more of them are stenographers and bookkeepers in the Twin Cities; many of them are traveling salesmen; while hundreds of them are meeting with marked success as teachers. For instance, one young man who was working on the farm for $15 a month six years ago is now traveling auditor for one of the largest lumber companies in the Northwest. Two others have charge of the Chicago branch of the Success Publishing Company.

February 6, 1906, was red letter day in the history of the institution, for then it was that the college had as distinguished guests Governor John A. Johnson, State Superintendent John Olsen, and Gen. F. B. Wood. The guests were entertained at 1 o'clock luncheon at the home of President and Mrs. Boostrom, where they were met by two score of Austin's elite, after which they were escorted to the college chapel, where several hundred expectant students gave them a rousing reception. When the governor was introduced the students fairly went wild, for in him they recognized one who had the same privations and had to fight the same battles in the effort to gain an education.

During the summer of 1909 a new department was added and a new building was built, known as the steam engineering building.

In May, 1910, Viec-President A. F. Harpman sold his interest in the institution to William W. Meiners, who was a graduate of the scientific course of the institution and had also been one of its former instructors in the teachers' department. In June of the same year Professor O. C. Heilman succeeded Professor Harpman as vice-president and treasurer, and Professor W. W. Meiners was elected secretary to succeed Professor Heilman.

AUSTIN COMMERCIAL CLUB.

In other days there have been various boards of trade, but the present club had its beginning in 1903, when the Austin Pro- gressive League was organized. A preliminary meeting was held November 18, at which A. W. Wright was chairman and I. B. Sherwood secretary. Fifteen were present. At the next meeting,

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November 25, a large number of professional and business men were present and the following officers were elected: President, A. W. Wright; vice-president, A. L. Eberhart; secretary, T. II. Pridham ; treasurer, A. M. Smith ; directors, J. D. Sheedy, Nicholas Nicholsen and C. F. Cook ; membership committee, F. H. McCul- loeh, Coyt Belding, John Skinner, E. P. Kelley and Dr. A. W. Allen. Since then the presidents have been A. W. Wright, S. D. Catherwood, R. R. Murphy, Dr. A. W. Allen and O. J. Simmons .. There are at present 176 members, and the present officers are : President, O. J. Simmons ; vice-president, J. S. Sheedy ; treasurer, F. C. Wilbour ; directors, F. E. Gleason, E. M. Doane, R. L. Stim- son, L. W. Deeker, W. L. Bassler and T. A. Revord. The club associates with the Minnesota Federation of Commercial Clubs.

Its work has resulted in a general betterment of business con- ditions in Austin. The elub was sponsor of the paving movement ; it has brought industries here; it has fostered the Civie Improve- ment League; it was aetive in having the beautiful humane foun- tain erected here by the National Humane Alliance, and it has helped to advertise the eity in various ways. It has also been an important social feature. The name was changed from the Austin Progressive League to the Austin Commercial Club, Aug. 4, 1909.

When the elub was organized the first few meetings were held in Harmonia hall, at 115 East Bridge street. Rooms were later opened at 325 North Main street, over the store of C. L. West. The present quarters were oeeupied September 1, 1909, having been equipped for the special purposes of the club. Few com- mereial elubs outside of the very large cities have more eommo- dious, comfortable and well-furnished elub rooms. A glance at the views presented will give a faint idea of Austin's commercial elub's quarters. The floors are of polished birch, the walls deco- rated in old gold and green. The lights are tungsten lamps in elnsters. The woodwork is all old mission oak, and the furniture is upholstered in leather. There are two pool and two billiard tables and a shuffle-board in the amusement room, besides a dozen card tables, the latter separated from the other by an old mission partition four feet high. The amusement room is 50 x 50 feet. The general assembly room is the same size as the amusement room. Here the floor is covered with fine rugs. This room is also used as a reading room. On the north and south sides of the assembly room are consultation and conference rooms. There are two telephone booths, each of which is provided with everything necessary for recording conversation. There are also eloak rooms, lavatories and everything to afford comfort and pleasure to its members.

The business men also have an organization known as the Austin Business Men's Association, which meets to determine the

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hours of closing the stores, for the discussion of matters per- taining to their line of work. They are also members of a county organization known as the Mower County Merchants' Association, which has for its purpose mutual protection, collection of bills, etc. Once a year the organization meets to listen to reports from offi- cers and to addresses from able lecturers brought here for the purpose of instruction in promotion of trade.

AUSTIN HOTELS.

Austin is a good hotel town. Every traveling man who has ever "made" the town will tell you so. The first hotel was estab- lished here one year after the village was "staked out" in 1855. A year later Austin had two hotels. The city grew up around its hotels, and even today its hotels do much to advertise it.

First Hotel. The first hotel in Austin was opened by J. H. McKinley early in 1856. Previous to this time the traveling public had been entertained at private house and by B. J. Brown, who kept a boarding house. MeKinley purchased from Leverich, who had also kept a sort of a boarding house, a frame building located on the present site of the Windsor house.

The Snow House. In June, 1856, J. H. MeKinley sold his hotel to George E. Wilbour and Solomon Snow, who took charge in September of that year. This was then known as the Snow house, and contained eight rooms. One of these rooms was large enough for eleven beds, and was called the school section. Snow & Wil- bour managed the hotel until 1859, when Mr. Wilbour returned east, and Mr. Snow occupied the house for a time as a private residence. Afterward a hotel was conducted in the building by various persons. The site is at the corner of Mill and Franklin streets.

In 1876, George E. Wilbour made the following remarks in regard to his hotel : "I did not keep the first hotel. There were three before mine, kept by Leverich, Brown and Mckinley. McKinley built the first building for hotel purposes erected in Austin, on the present site of the Central house. Solomon Snow and myself became proprietors of this building in 1856, by pur- chase, after which it was known as the 'Snow house.' Although I was not the first landlord in the place, I represent the first first- class hotel. We had four lodging rooms, and from twenty to forty guests every night. To accommodate them we were obliged to open 'the school section,' in which were eleven beds. Our beds were filled with prairie hay. Our bill of fare was pork, biscuit and dried apple sauce for breakfast ; fried pork, biscuit and apple sauce for dinner ; and about the same or some of both for supper. But as it was first class, and as I do not wish to misrepresent,

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would say we occasionally had a little fresh beef. From 9 to 12 o'clock every evening the boys held a literary sociable, consisting of original recitations, interspersed with more or less music."

The Windsor House was completed on the site of the old Snow house in 1866. It was a frame house, containing forty rooms and veneered in brick. The site is now used for business purposes.

Lacy House. In 1857, J. S. Lacy built the second hotel in the town. It was a two-story frame building with an "ell" attached. It occupied the present site of the Fleck house. Lacy sold this house to Asa Brown, who in the fall of 1865 sold to a man named Cole, who in the spring of 1866 sold to Jacob and A. M. Fleck, who changed the name to Fleck house, raised the main part of the building, and put in a basement and added a story to the "ell" part. As thus enlarged it contained thirty rooms. In 1872 this building was destroyed by fire.

The Fleck House. In 1872, A. M. Fleck erected the Fleck house at an expense of $16,000. It replaced the old Fleck house which was erected in 1857 as the Lacy house and changed to the Fleck house in 1866, being destroyed by fire in February, 1872. The edifice is a brick structure and three stories in height above the basement. The building is seventy-two feet in length by forty feet in width, with a wing 28 x 32 feet. July 28, 1887, Mr. Fleck sold the place to C. G. Ubelar, of Chicago. It passed through various hands and is now occupied by the McCulloch printing plant.

Davidson House. This house was built in 1857-58, by Joshua L. Davidson, as a private residence. It was a commodious house and was used by him as a private residence until war times, when he made an addition and opened it to the traveling public. He managed it a year or more, then rented it to J. S. Lacy. In the year 1870, Mr. Davidson made a large addition to the house. As thus enlarged the house contains forty rooms. In 1872, Mr. David- son again assumed the management of the house. He died there about a year later. This house passed through various hands, and was conducted for some years by Justice John E. Robinson. Later part of it was moved to the northward by Lyman W. Baird. The Hirsch block was built on the old site.

Railroad Hotel. This house was built by the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul Railway Company in 1872. It is a frame building, brick veneered, three stories in height, and contains thirty-seven rooms. It was first managed by John MeConnell and Nathan Hammond. After one year Hammond sold his interest to Joseph MeConnell. The MeConnell brothers were succeeded by Ather- ton & Sons ; they by Sherwin & French, and they by Hall & Hay, who managed it from 1881 to 1884. The hotel is at present con- dueted by Mrs. George H. Sutton and is now known as the Depot

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hotel. It has wide patronage, and Mrs. Sutton, who assumed the · management after the death of her husband, Major Sutton, is an ideal landlady.

Mansfield House. The Mansfield house was built in 1879 by J. H. Mansfield and opened by him late that year. It is a frame building three stories in height, the front veneered with brick. The house contains thirty-five rooms most conveniently arranged. It is now known as the Grand hotel and is conducted by B. E. Shutt.

The Grand Hotel. This is a commercial and family hotel, well situated and well conducted. B. E. Shutt, the genial landlord, and his wife personally look after the comfort of their guests, and the house is popular and well patronized. The rooms are airy, well lighted and well kept, and the cuisine is excellent. The hotel was originally called the Mansfield house and was built in 1879.

The Elk Hotel is a modern European hotel. Its rooms are well furnished and supplied with running hot and cold water. The cafe service is excellent. The hotel is pleasing in appearance, both as to interior and exterior, and enjoys a good transient patronage. The proprietor is W. H. Nangle. The Elk hotel is located on an historic corner, the site being the location of the old Leverich buildings. The hotel was built in 1909, on the site of a livery conducted by B. E. Shutt. Burt Churchill was the first manager.

The Fox Hotel is one of the leading hostelries in Austin. In 1890, Charles Fox came here and purchased land on the corner of Water and Main streets. In 1893 he erected a fine brick hotel and opened for business in October of that year. The hotel is modern in every particular, and the geniality of the landlord won a large patronage. Mr. Fox died in the spring of 1911. The appointments of the hotel are excellent and the table and rooms are all that could be desired.

The Harrington Hotel, a modern brick structure, is located near the Milwaukee station and occupies the site of a previous hotel, which was a wooden frame building. The hotel does a good business.

The American House and the Garman House are also num- bered among the hotels of Anstin.

N. F. BANFIELD.

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CHAPTER XXII.

BANKS AND BANKING.

Story of the Growth and Development of the Financial Interests of the County, Told by Nathan F. Banfield-First Bank in the County-Banks of Austin, Grand Meadow, Le Roy, Lyle, Adams, Racine, Rose Creek, Dexter, Sargeant, Brownsdale, Waltham, Taopi-Summary of Banking Conditions in Mower County.

The Bank of Southern Minnesota was established at Austin in the early sixties by A. L. Pritchard and A. M. Pett, and con- tinned in business for about two years. It was followed in 1866 by the "Banking and Exchange Office of Harlan W. Page," who came to Austin that year from his native state of New Hampshire. He conducted this as a private bank for about two years, during which time the business increased to such proportions as to require additional capital to properly care for the needs of the community. In the fall of 1868 he enlisted the interest of ex- Governor Samuel Merrill, of Iowa, and his brother, J. H. Merrill, of MeGregor, Iowa, in organizing a new bank. Associated with the Merrills in business at McGregor was Oliver W. Shaw, a native of New Hampshire, who had known the Merrill brothers and Harlan W. Page at Tamworth, in that state, before coming west, and they sent him to Austin to look the field over. After doing so he decided to unite with them in the banking business at Austin. As a result of his decision and action, the First National Bank of Austin, Minn., was incorporated and a charter granted to it by the United States government, October 27, 1868, with a paid-in capital of $50,000. It took until the 15th of February following to complete the organization details, and on that date the new bank opened for business, having bought out and taken over the private banking business of Harlan W. Page. The first officers were O. W. Shaw, president, and H. W. Page, cashier. and they, together with J. H. Merrill, N. P. Austin and E. O. Wheeler, composed the first board of directors. The site selected for the banking house was the northeast corner of Main and Bridge streets, which has continued to be the First National Bank eorner. In May. 1870, George F. Trenwith, who had been a book- keeper in the bank, was chosen assistant cashier. In January, 1872, Edward A. Rollins, a capitalist at Philadelphia, and brother- in-law of O. W. Shaw, having become a large stoekholder, was elected a director in place of J. II. Merrill. The bank continued under the same management until July 1. 1885, when H. W. Page

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disposed of his holdings and resigned as cashier to accept the position of financial secretary of Carleton College, at Northfield. Minn. He was succeeded as cashier by Nathan F. Banfield, whose native place is West Roxbury, Mass., and who entered the employ of the bank in March, 1879, through his acquaintance with E. A. Rollins. He had been appointed assistant cashier in April, 1882, and elected a director in January, 1884, succeeding George E. Skinner, of St. Paul. In June, 1903, he was appointed vice- president and cashier. In May, 1892, Herbert L. Banfield, of Worcester, Mass., who entered the employ of the bank in March, 1886, was appointed assistant cashier, and in January, 1902, was elected a director. In November, 1907, Henry J. Drost, a native of Holland, was appointed assistant cashier and was elected a director, he having entered the employ of the bank in April, 1887. In 1902, Edward H. Sterling was elected a director, succeeding his father, James M. Sterling, who had served in that capacity for thirteen years, E. H. Sterling having been in the employ of the bank since April, 1896. In January, 1909, Nathan F. Banfield, Jr., who entered the employ of the bank in August, 1904, was elected a director. These men constitute the present officers and directors of the bank, and by their faithful and conscientious attention to its affairs have contributed in a large measure to its success. The organization number of this bank in the national system is 1690; its first charter period of twenty years was renewed Octo- ber 27, 1888, and the second, after forty years of business, was renewed October 27, 1908, for a third twenty-year period. During a career of forty-two years the bank has been most fortunate in having as its head and guiding spirit its worthy and beloved presi- dent, Oliver W. Shaw, who is still active in its management. In January, 1902, the capital of the bank was increased to $100,000, commensurate with the increase in deposits. Its surplus fund is also $100,000, and undivided profits are $30,000. The taxes paid the county on capital and surplus average about $4,000, and for the year 1910 exceeded $4,200. Interest paid to depositors for several years past on time deposits has averaged $15,000 per annum. The business has steadily increased until the deposits now average more than $900,000, having at certain times in the year exceeded $1,000,000. The total resources March 7, 1911, date of last report to the comptroller of the currency, reached the sum of $1,312,301. These figures show not only the extent to which this bank tries to fulfill its mission and perform its duty to the community, the territory properly tributary to it, and its pat- rons, wherever they may be, but they also plainly show how much it owes to its friends and patrons for their loyalty and confidence during these many years. Owing to the fact of having surplus and undivided profits exceeding the capital, it occupies a place on

FIRST NATIONAL BANK

FIRST NATIONAL BANK, AUSTIN

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the roll of honor of The Financier, a distinction enjoyed by com- paratively few banks in the state. In many instances Messrs. Shaw and Banfield are doing business with the third generation. For this liberal patronage so long continned, they feel grateful and express due appreciation and hope to merit its continuation in the years to come.

Several young men who have served the bank for periods varying from five to eighteen years, and did their part in pro- moting its welfare, have been called to responsible positions in other places, and to mention them may not be out of place : F. R. Cordley, who became assistant cashier of the National Exchange Bank, Boston, now with Charles R. Flint & Brother, of New York ; T. W. Andrew, who went to the same bank, and is now cashier of the First National Bank, Philadelphia; A. W. Wright, who became a lawyer and has been a practicing attorney of this city for many years; J. N. Nicholsen, who also became a lawyer and is now a member of the law firm of Catherwood & Nicholsen, of this city ; C. J. Sargent, who removed to Red Wing, Minn., where he is cashier of the Goodhue County National Bank; W. E. Wal- dron, who went to Billings, Mont., where he is cashier of the Yellowstone National Bank; L. E. Wakefield, who became assist- ant cashier of the Northwestern National Bank, of Minneapolis, and is now treasurer of the Wells & Dickey Company, of that city.

The policy of the First National Bank of Austin has always been conservative; it has adhered to true banking principles and its officers have concentrated their energy and attention to the affairs of the bank, believing the public approved of that kind of management and service ; and the position the bank occupies, and the esteem in which it is held at home and wherever it is known. seems to confirm that theory as correct. It has passed safely through the panies of 1873, 1893, 1896 and 1907, and through other hard and trying periods; has always stood for solidity and strength. and the people of Anstin and Mower county take justifiable pride in this sound financial institution that has served them so well for forty-two years. The First National Bank is a designated depository of the United States and is strictly a home bank, as its stock is all owned in Austin. The last published statement of its condition, made to the comptroller of the currency, March 7, 1911, is as follows :

Resources .- Loans and discounts. $729,325.98; overdrafts, $3,040.39; U. S. bonds to seenre eirenlation, $100,000; U. S. and other bonds, $137,828.34; banking house, $18,000; dne from banks and U. S. treasurer, $242,356.54; cash on hand, $81,760.40; total, $1.312,301.65.

Liabilities .- Capital paid in, $100,000; surplus fund, $100,000;

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undivided profits, less expenses and taxes, $32,720.26; circulation, $95,600; deposits, $983,981.39 ; total, $1,312.301.65.

The Mower County Bank was organized at Austin shortly after the First National Bank, in the year 1869, by Sylvester Smith, formerly county treasurer, of Austin; W. T. Wilkins, formerly treasurer of Fillmore county, of Preston, and J. C. Easton, a capitalist of La Crosse, Wis., under the firm name of "Smith, Wilkins & Easton, Bankers." In the year 1882, Mr. Easton with- drew from the bank, as well as from numerous other banks in which he was interested in towns on the Southern Minnesota rail- road; and Sylvester Smith having died, the firm was reorganized by W. T. Wilkins and Fay R. Smith, a son of Sylvester Smith, who had for some years been identified with the bank under the firm name of "Wilkins & Smith, Bankers." They had built up a good business and enjoyed a liberal patronage, and their depos- its reached a total of $100,000, which was large for that time in our history. Owing to unwise management and injudicious invest- ments, coupled with the hard times experience at that period, the bank failed, June 12, 1886, and passed into the hands of F. I. Crane, receiver, who settled up its affairs.

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 31

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