The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 34

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 34

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).

The women of Austin have always been foremost in work for the betterment of our town. How well I remember the time when a meeting had been called at our house for forming a society, by which, in some way, we could earn money to purchase grounds for a cemetery. There had been several deaths here and no place to bury our dead. The society was formed and called the "Ladies' Mite Society of Austin." The men, hearing of what we had done, thought it time for them to go to work. This they did, and they purchased the ground that is known as the old part of the cemetery. A very small portion up in front was surveyed and laid out in lots. The ladies took the work of fencing the ground. The men did nothing more towards finishing the survey or lay-

302

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

ing out the rest of the bloeks. Several years passed. When the ladies thought it was time again for them to do something, we decided on a day (I think it was a day in September, 1864) for work on the cemetery grounds and invited the men to help us. We were to give them their dinner and supper. Early in the morning of the day appointed one could see men and women carrying implements of all kinds, wending their way to the cemetery, and all day one could see men and women working, the women driving stakes, holding chains, pieking brush and burning it. The dinner and supper were served across the street in the yard belonging to William Crane. Austin certainly looked "like a deserted village that day, and the work which the ladies begun has been kept up till now we have one of the most beauti- ful resting places for one's loved ones "gone before" in Minne- sota.

Shall I ever forget the day the little company of men, headed by Captain Mooers, marehed into town? It was known they were coming. A "war meeting" was to be held in the afternoon, and I had thought to have my little school dismissed before they ar- rived. But when the sound of that "fife and drum" broke upon our ears we all rushed to the door, pupils and teacher, and we were there ready to receive them. So they came to a halt before the door, and it is needless to say they were received with cheers and the waving of handkerchiefs from the little band of scholars that were there to receive them.

Before that company of soldiers left town that night their numbers had been increased by several of our own townsmen, and many will remember that that brave captain was one of the first to fall for "his country" in a very few months after going to the front. The ladies of Austin purchased a silk flag for the company with the names of the donors printed upon its silken folds. It has been through many a battle, but never was trailed in the dust. It was brought home by the captain, George Baird, after the close of the war and is now in Mrs. Baird's possession.

The people who lived in Austin in October, 1862, will never forget the night we expected the Indians and they didn't come. We made great preparations for them and posted our sentinels on the outskirts of town. The blacksmiths were running bullets all night. A company had just been raised in Austin and the towns and country around and had gone to reinforee General Sibley, who was then fighting the Indians, so our foree of men was not as large as it would otherwise have been. We had brave ones left, however, and they worked with a will. Nearly all thought it not possible for the Indians to get here, but the people were coming in so thick and fast, hotel and private houses filling and many would not leave their wagons for fear they would not

308

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

reach them in time to get away. When the Indians did come, such a frightened lot you never did see-children were brought in half dressed, women with no shoes on, or perhaps one shoe. It was enough to frighten anyone, knowing what had just been done around New Ulm. Father and mother were away and would not return till next day, so sister and I were all alone. We had friends that came to stay with us and finally two or three families that eame to the hotel and couldn't get in wanted to come to our house and we were glad to have them.

Mr. Ackley told me if I could get father's papers and our small silver in any shape that wouldn't take up any room I had better get them ready; we would want some quilts, he would have his horses ready and could take all that was at our house if the Indians should come. I put three dresses on my sister and three on myself, put the silver and papers into two towels, sewed them securely, then put one on Della (my sister) and I wore one, bustle shape, and in that condition we waited and waited. Three shots in quick suceession was to be the signal. Sometime after midnight the first one eame. We were at the door in an instant, each with a bundle of silverware. But the other shots were never heard and about daylight, after much pleading and many tears, I allowed Della to take off some of her extra adornments.

And so ended our Indian scare.

In looking over the past fifty-four years and thinking what Austin was and what she is today we feel we ean well be proud of our little eity. We have never had a boom and for many years had no railroad. We had a great many things to contend with, but we have come out of the fray with our banners flying and we are a "city of homes."

Of the J. L. Davidson family that reached Austin on the twenty-ninth day of May, 1857, only two remain. The rest are lying in our beautiful Oak Wood cemetery, waiting. The two are : Adella Davidson Mandeville and Alta Belle Albro Sherwood.

309

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE NEWSPAPERS.

Introduction by Gertrude Ellis Skinner - Story of the First Newspaper in the County-History of the Founding, Growth, Development and Present Status of the Journals of Mower County.

The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow. Editors seldom think they write history. Your copy of the local paper may be used to wrap the family laundry, cover the pantry shelf or be placed under the carpet. In a month from the time a newspaper is issued, it would be difficult to locate a single eopy, but in the newspaper office itself, it has been preserved and placed upon file. These files become an asset of the office and increase in value as the papers become yellow with age. Here in the musty volumes is found the history of your town, your county, your state. The history of this county could not be written were it not for the records of newspaper files. The State Historieal Society recognizes the value of newspaper history and a complete file of every newspaper in the state is kept by the Historical Society. Inaccurate history, do you say? Perhaps so, and vet the most accurate it is possible to get, and infinitely more nearly accurate than almost any other historical source. The editor of a newspaper not only means to get correct information but uses the source method for every important article he prints. Each day, if he edits a daily, each week, if a weekly, his effort stands before the bar of public criticism. His erities are those intimately concerned in the articles published. They do not trust to memory, hearsay, legend or tradition. They are eye or ear witnesses or star actors in the passing drama. They surely are trustworthy erities. With them the newspaper must pass muster. If facts are not stated correctly, they are corrected. What other history could stand this crucial test ? The newspaper that is not substan- tially accurate, cannot and does not live. Time gives authen- ticity. Criticism is forgotten, minor inaccuracies overlooked and the newspaper record stands as the accepted history of an event. A newspaper is not mere gossip. It is a record of passing events. Reports of buildings, new industries, biographies, social events, religious movements, births, deaths, polities, policies, honors that come to people, crimes which blacken our record, onward and backward moves in progress, disasters, amusements, accidents, epidemies-all make up the newspaper history of a community. It is the mirror of life as it is daily lived here and now.

310

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

The newspaper is everywhere recognized as the adjunct of civilization. The new town, however far removed from the busy marts of trade, clamors for a newspaper. Never satisfied until it gets one, and never satisfied after it has one. The newspaper is the nucleus of criticism for the entire community. Everyone knows how it should be run better than the editor. Its policies and its literature are criticized and yet people want it and at heart are loyal to it, for they recognize its value. They read it and want it to push along movements they are interested in. A religious revival, county fair, market day, civic improvement measures, new policies or politicians-all need the newspaper to give them an impetus. The press must aronse the people. Through no other avenue can so many be reached. A mass meet- ing ean touch but a mere handful compared with the numbers reached in each issue of a newspaper.

The more progressive a community, the more they read news- papers. Mower county has always been a good field for the press, because of the intelligence of its people. There are but few families in the entire county where the local newspaper is not read. It is an interesting fact that this county has never had a newspaper printed in a foreign language.

Mower county has eight newspapers-seven weeklies and one daily. They are: The Grand Meadow Record, The LeRoy Inde- pendent, The Adams Review, The Lyle Tribune, The Mower County Republican, The Mower County Transcript, The Austin Weekly Herald, The Austin Daily Herald.

AUSTIN.

Mower County Mirror-Mower county had been organized about two years before a paper was printed within its borders. Several efforts were made to secure the establishment of a paper, but each failed. Finally, David Blakely, who was then publishing a paper called the Pioneer, at Bancroft, Freeborn county, was induced to come to Austin and establish the Mower County Mirror. The consideration of this removal, it is said, was the election of Mr. Blakely to the office of register of deeds of Mower county. Bancroft, where Mr. Blakely had been engaged in the publication of the Pioneer, was an embryo village, located a short distance northwest of Albert Lea. It was then a competitor against Albert Lea for the county seat honors, and Mr. Blakely's paper took an active part in the fight which, however, ended in the securing of the coveted prize by Albert Lea. Early in the fall of 1858, the office was removed to Austin, and with the same material, the Mower County Mirror was brought into existence. The head of the new paper was delayed in reaching here, and

311

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

for several weeks the paper was issued at Austin, bearing the old head, "Bancroft Pioneer." C. H. Davidson rolled the forms and set type for the first issue of the Mirror, being then a lad of eleven years of age. During the years 1859 and 1860, Mr. Blakely held the office of register of deeds and continued the publication of the paper. Finally, early in the fall of 1860, he removed the press, type and material to Rochester, and there established the Rochester Post.

The Minnesota Courier .- After the publication of the Mirror ceased Mower county was without a paper for several months. The want of a newspaper, however, was soon supplied by the establishment of the Minnesota Courier. The first issue made its appearance December 5, 1860, as a six column folio, all published in Austin. The founder was B. F. Jones. Among the home adver- tisers in the first issue were the following: Attorneys, Aaron S. Everest, Allen & Shortt, D. B. Johnson, Jr., G. M. Cameron. Physicians, Drs. J. N. Wheat and Orlenzer Allen; T. J. Lake, county treasurer ; Piper & Hunt, blacksmiths, J. S. Laey, hotel; S. W. Rice, blacksmith; H. B. Kimball, painter; G. W. Bishop, sheriff; E. Parleman, jeweler; H. S. Holt, wagon maker; and G. W. Mitchell, cabinet shop. The publication of the Courier was continued until January 4, 1864, when it ceased to exist. The editor, B. F. Jones, had gone into the service, and his father, William C. Jones, took charge and managed the paper for some time previous to the last issue.

The Austin Register .- The first issue of the Mower County Register made its appearance July 2, 1863. H. R. Davidson was editor and proprietor. The paper was then a six-column folio sheet, all printed at home. The subscription price was $1.50 per year. Among the advertisements in the first issue were the fol- lowing: W. Truesdale, farm machinery. Allen & Shortt, Aaron S. Everest and H. R. Davidson, attorneys. H. Jacobs, manufae- turer and dealer in ready-made clothing. J. S. Laey, proprietor Laey House; V. P. Lewis, hardware dealer. Lansing advertise- ments : Hartly & Sons, plow manufacturers and blacksmiths. "Western Home House," S. T. Wells, proprietor. E. F. Arm- strong, manufacturer of men's boots and shoes. Brownsdale cards: Thomas Allred, boot and shoe store. Heath House, R. C. Heath, proprietor. One of the local items in the second issue was the following: "We want no Jeff. Davis!" HI. R. Davidson con- tinued the management of the paper until his death, which occurred May 4, 1864. At this time C. H. Davidson, a brother of the founder, took charge of the paper, and shortly afterward the firm name "C. H. Davidson & Co." appeared at the mast head. In the issue of July 14, 1864, it is announced that James T. Wheeler, of St. Charles, Ill., had become associated with Mr.

312

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Davidson in the publication of the Register. The firm became Davidson & Wheeler. The new member of the firm did not, how- ever, remove to Austin, and in a short time his connection with the paper was severed. After this C. H. Davidson continued to conduct the Register alone, until August, 1868, when H. O. Bas- ford purchased a half interest in the paper, and the firm of David- son & Basford was formed. In April, 1871, D. W. Craig beeame a partner of Davidson & Basford in the publication of the Reg- ister. June 29, 1871, the name was changed to the Austin Register. Davidson & Basford continued the publication of the Register until June 13, 1878, when that firm was dissolved, C. II. Davidson selling his interest to HI. O. Basford. After retiring from the Register Mr. Davidson purchased an interest in the Transeript. In August, 1883, the Register office, with the balance of Basford's brick block, fell to the ground, causing a great loss to all the owners. The cause, it is supposed, was the poor quality of stone used in the foundation of the building.

Mr. Basford ran the paper alone until January 12, 1899, when he took his son Harry into partnership. In 1901 the paper was leased to S. Sweningsen, then postmaster, who ran it for a year with W. G. Cameron of Winona, as editor. H. O. Basford & Son then resumed management. Mr. Brooks purchased an interest and the firm became Basford, Brooks & Basford. Mr. Brooks remained but a short time. The next change came when John Bingham purchased a half interest and the same year the Basfords sold their interest to W. J. Tyler. Mr. Bingham retired and Mr. Tyler ran the paper until May, 1908, when the Register suspended publication. A daily was published from December, 1890, until 1908.

Mower County Republican .- The equipment of the Register was purchased by Miss Jennie Keith and Paul C. Keith and the new publication ealled The Mower County Republican started August 21, 1908, with Keith & Keith as editors. The next April Mr. Keith went to Adams to assume charge of the Adams Review, which the firm had purchased, and Miss Keith took sole charge of the Republican.

Mower County Transcript .- This paper made its first appear- ance on April 16, 1868, at the village of Lansing. It was then a seven-column folio, neatly printed and edited. Colwell Brothers were the publishers, and A. J. Burbank editor. Those were the mnost bitter days in the history of Mower county, and the warfare of the "Page" and "anti-Page" factions, as they were called, brought Mower county into notoriety throughout the whole West. The Transcript was started in the interest of the Page faction, and the Register assumed the "anti" side. A few years later the Transcript changed its views and both papers vigorously prose-

313

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

cuted a common cause. A few weeks after the first issue the name of Sherman Page is hoisted at the head of one of the columns as editor of the teacher's or educational department. At that time lie was county superintendent of schools. A few months later the name of A. J. Burbank was taken from the columns as editor, and the Colwell Brothers are stated to have succeeded Mr. Burbank. Still later it appears that Prof. J. H. Johnson, Mrs. Maria Doolittle and Ella Cook had charge of the educational columns.

The Transcript was published at Lansing until the issue on December 17, 1868, which was dated at Austin, the office having been removed to that place. The Colwell Brothers remained in charge of the paper until the issue of April 1, 1869, when it passed into the hands of Colwell & Boardman. The former, A. N. Colwell, was the senior member of the old firm of Colwell Brothers. A few weeks after the change of proprietorship the paper was enlarged to a nine-column folio. For several months during the summer of 1869, the paper was run without any name or names at the head of its editorial columns, but finally in the issue on September 30, 1869, the announcement is made that "George W. Wright assumes the editorial and business manage- ment." He retired with the issue of November 25, 1869, and was succeeded by George H. Otis. At this time the Transcript was owned by what was called the Transcript Company. George H. Otis, who succeeded Mr. Wright, conducted the paper alone until the issue of March 2, 1871, when Col. C. A. Lounsberry secured a half interest in the paper, and the firm of Lounsberry & Otis was formed. Mr. Lounsberry took the editorial and Mr. Otis the business management. Col. Lounsberry remained with the Tran- script until May 25, 1871, when he withdrew.

After the withdrawal of Colonel Lounsberry, George H. Otis continued the management of the Transcript until August 31, 1871, when the paper was purchased by A. A. Harwood. Mr. Harwood owned and conducted the Transcript for a number of years. On July 23, 1874, the paper was changed to an eight- column folio, having for some years been smaller. During the spring of 1877, S. C. Eldred became associate editor and business manager. Mr. Harwood had become postmaster of the Austin office, and Mr. Eldred, who had been foreman of the office, was taken into partnership. His connection with the paper in that capacity, however, was brief, and Mr. Harwood again assumed sole charge. In this shape the paper was continued until the issue on June 13, 1878, when the paper and outfit was purchased by C. II. Davidson and J. N. Wheeler, and the name of the firm Davidson & Wheeler appears at the head of the columns, succeed- ing that of A. A. Harwood. Mr. Harwood was a trenchant writer

314

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

in one of the stormiest political periods in the county's history. He died at Washington, D. C., August 17, 1884.

Davidson & Wheeler conducted the paper until January 2, 1879. when C. H. Davidson purchased his partner's interest. Mr. Davidson sold to Parke Goodwin and C. L. Barnes December 17, 1886, and they sold to S. S. Washburn and N. S. Gordon of Waseca, April 1, 1887. The paper was changed January 14, 1887, to its present form of eight pages, six columns. Mr. Washburn sold his interest to Mr. Gordon December 25, 1889, and Mr. Gordon ereeted the two-story brick bloek on Mill street, still occu- pied by the Transcript. In April, 1891, the Transcript became all home print. October 16, 1893, Mr. Gordon sold a half interest to C. D. Belden and devoted himself to the mechanical depart- ment. Mr. Belden bought out Mr. Gordon December 10, 1898, and has since been editor and sole proprietor.

The Austin Herald .- In 1881 the Mower County Democrat was first issued, with Campbell & Hunkins as editors, Mr. Camp- bell, whose home was in Spring Valley, running a Spring Valley department. In May, 1890, A. B. Hunkins, who was then running the paper alone, conceived the idea of issuing a paper every Saturday evening and delivering it by carrier to the various homes in the city. The plan was to be tried for three months and the subscription price 25 cents. The paper must have proved popular, for on November 9, 1891, the Austin Daily Herald was issued. It was printed in a large room, on the second floor of the brick building, corner of Water and Main streets. In August, 1892, F. H. McCulloch bought a half interest in the job department. Mr. Hunkins secured a site at the head of Main street and erected a small frame building of peculiar style of architecture, which was the home of the Herald until 1890, when a lot was purchased on Lansing avenue and a three-story briek veneer building, 16x24, erected. Mr. Hunkins was appointed post- master and Mr. MeCulloch ran the paper for one year, from Jan- uary, 1895, to January, 1896. During this time the daily issue was discontinued and only the weekly edition, the Mower County Demoerat, issued.

On January 13, 1896, F. H. McCulloch bought the job depart- ment and C. F. Ellis and Frank Roble the newspaper. The pub- lieation of the Daily Herald was resumed and under different ownership has been published continuously since. October 1, 1897, John II. Skinner, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, bought Frank Roble's interest and for a year and a half Ellis & Skinner were owners and publishers. Under their management the politics of the paper changed from Democratic to Independent Republican and the name of the weekly publication was changed from the Mower County Democrat to the Austin Weekly Herald.

315

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

July 1, 1899, Mr. Skinner became sole owner by purchase of Mr. Ellis's interest and ran the paper with his wife, Gertrude Ellis Skinner, as associate editor, until December 1, 1907, when Fred C. Ulmer purchased a half interest and under the owner- ship and management of Skinner & Ulmer both publications of the Daily and Weekly Herald are at present issued.

The Herald has outgrown its quarters, which were ample ten years ago, and has built a new building of cement stone, includ- ing the old building and exactly twice its size. Two type-setting machines (Typographs) have replaced hand composition and a new Duplex Web Perfecting Press has been installed.

The success of the Herald has demonstrated that a newspaper can be run independent of the financial aid of politicians or a political party, as the Herald has never taken money in politics, and therefore claims its title of Independent with some pride.

The Austin Democrat .- This newspaper was first issued July 8, 1868. The founders were Isaiah Wood and Milo Lacy. The paper was an eight column folio sheet, all published at home and Democratic in politics. The firm of Wood & Lacey continued the publication of the Democrat until February 23, 1870, when Milo Lacey, on account of ill health, withdrew from the firm, and was succeeded by a Mr. Cook.

On October 11, 1870, Isaiah Wood, the senior editor of the Democrat, after a prolonged illness, died of quick consumption, aged a little over twenty-eight years. In November, Milo Mc- Whorter purchased the Wood interest in the Democrat, and the firm became Mc Whorter & Cook. In a short time, however, Mr. Me Whorter became sole proprietor and conducted the paper alone, until its publication was suspended. The last issue was that of July 12, 1871.

The Independent .- This paper was established at Austin on August 26, 1874, by B. F. Jones, formerly editor of the Minne- sota Courier, as editor and publisher, and G. W. Haislet, pro- prietor. The publication of this paper was continued until May, 1875, when it died.

The Mower and Fillmore County Republican .- The Mower County Republican appeared August 27, 1875, printed at Preston, Minn., with T. F. Stevens as editor and A. E. Meigs, business manager. Five or six weeks thereafter Maj. W. A. Hotchkiss re- moved the Fillmore County Republican to Austin, and consoli- dated with the first named paper, as the Mower and Fillmore County Republican.

The Austin Times .- The Times was started in June, 1895, by Tom Hutchinson, who ran same as "Hutchinson's Times" until the first of February, 1896, when he deserted the paper. The plant was purchased under chattel mortgage foreclosure by S. H. Har-

316

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

rison, who then took possession of the paper and plant, issuing the first number February 22, 1896. He remained as its proprietor from then until February, 1903. During this time it was for two years the official paper of Mower county and also issued from the same plant a morning daily for about six months-from May, 1901, until November of the same year, when the plant was burned. In February, 1903, E. B. Kottek and John Jensen be- came the editors and proprietors by sale and published the same until the fall of the same year, when the publication and the plant became the property of the holder of the mortgage, Ira Padden.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 34

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