The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 38

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

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the Hon. Samuel Nichols. The monument is located about a mile and a half south of Brownsdale, in Greenwood cemetery. It is a cottage monument in design, made of blue Vermont marble.

CHAPTER XXVII.

POSTAL HISTORY.

Growth and Development of the System-First Offices in Mower County-Stories of the Stage Coach Drivers-History of the Present and Discontinued Postoffices of Mower County- Edited by George E. Anderson.

The postal service has existed within the memory of every per- son living, and is therefore a matter of such every-day concern that probably few persons realize that it is a feature of govern- ment as old as the written history of man. The influence and accomplishments of the postal service have practically extended the progress of commercialism throughout the world. So far as history records, a system of communication was evidently con- ceived by Cyrus shortly after his conquest of the Persian empire in the year 550 B. C. That systematic ruler sought to keep in touch with the affairs of his vast domain, and to that end required his governors to write to him frequently about their several dis- tricts. In order to make these communications safe and expedi- tious he built post roads throughout the empire and established posthouses at distances along these roads. The service, however, both in ancient and medieval periods was established for the gov- ernment alone and not for the general public.

The first postoffice which was established for the general pub- lic was in 1516, between Berlin and Vienna. In 1823 England established a postal system, but it was only used for communica- tions between the royal family.

The postal system in America dates from 1639, when the Gen- cral Court of Massachusetts, by an ordinance, legalized such a system and directed that all letters brought from across the sea or to be sent to parts of the colonies, should be left at the house of Richard Fairbanks, in Boston, and by him sent to the proper destination. He was allowed a penny compensation for the trans- mission of each letter and was accountable to the authorities for any dereliction of duty. The postal system, however, in the carly colonial days, was somewhat of a go-as-you-please system. In 1785 the colonies decided to manage the postal business on their

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own responsibility, and appointed Ben. Franklin postmaster, at $1,000 a year. In 1776, the total number of postoffices in opera- tion was only twenty-cight, fourteen of which were in Massa- chusetts. Real developments of the postal service in the United States began in 1789, and the marvelous progress which has been made since that time is a matter with which the public is more or less familiar. In that year there were seventy-five offices, yielding a revenue of less than $40,000. Today we have over 60,000 post- offices, yielding a revenue of over $200,000,000. The service has grown and expanded to such a degree that twenty years ago would have been considered extravagant, and yet the service is practically in its infancy. But it already forms an intricate net- work over all our land and extends to the far-off island posses- sions, and yet its achievements are not nearly at an end. It is in view of these facts that a short historical sketch of the postal service and its development in this county may be of interest in this work.

In the days of the earliest settlement there were no postoffices in the county, but letters were often brought by travelers to set- tlers from friends back east or in the old country. The first post- office in Mower county was called Elkhorn, and was established in 1855 with Jacob MeQuillan as postmaster. It was on the old stage route, and mail was received once a week.

Next came the offices at Frankford and Austin, established within a short time of each other, and the old Chandler postoffice, which was opened shortly afterward.

In those early days mail was brought to this county by stage, or sometimes by friendly disposed travelers coming in from Mis- sissippi points. The roads were scarcely more than a trail, and often all passengers on board a stage had to get out and assist in prying the stage wheels from the mud with rails cut from road- side saplings. Sometimes, too, the mail pouches were carried on the shoulders of the stage driver, while the passengers with their baggage waded through swamps over which it was impossible for the stage to pass when weighted with any burdens. The stories of the old stage coach days would fill many volumes.

The stage driver was often an important personage. He was one who saw life in various forms in various places, and the opinions with which he favored the crowds gathered at the stop- ping points along the line were listened to with the deepest respect. Especially was this true during the Civil war, when the stage driver brought the latest war news and opinions from the larger centers. At that time the people of the villages of Minnesota had little sympathy with those who were lukewarm in the Union cause. Consequently the complaint was universal when N. M. Wilder, the stage driver, expressed the opinion that

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there might be some virtue in the Secession cause. On June 18, 1862, the contract for carrying the mail from Owatonna to Osage via Austin was annulled by reason of what was termed Mr. Wild- er's too free expression of sympathy with the Confederate move- ment. For a time the contract thus taken from Wilder was restored to the previous carriers, Williamson & Cotter. Later, however, Mr. Wilder demonstrated his loyalty and the contract was again placed in his hands.

In 1867 the railroad was put through, touching at Lansing, Ramsey, Austin, Le Roy and other points. Some stage lines, how- ever, continued to exist, and as late as 1870 the following list appears in the newspapers as the correct enumeration of the stage mail routes in Mower county :

From Austin to Albert Lea; Rochester to Le Roy; Kasson to Mower City ; Mower City to Spring Valley; Mower City to Aus- tin; Nevada to Austin; Austin to Moscow; Lansing to Neury ; Albert Lea to Austin; Mitchell to Adams; West Mitchell to Lyle; Riceville to Le Roy ; Northwood to Austin; Minneapolis to Lansing, Austin, Rose Creek, Adams and Le Roy .- All were stage routes except the one from Austin to Albert Lea and the one from Minneapolis to points in this county.

AUSTIN POSTOFFICE.

Austin postoffice was established about 1856 with Alanson B. Vaughan, the first merchant at this point, as postmaster. His store in which he opened the office was situated near the present site of the Elk hotel at the corner of Chatham and Bridge streets. Mr. Vaughan was succeeded in 1857 by L. N. Griffith, who moved it to a small building on the site now occupied by the Hormel provision market. This small building was erected by Mr. Grif- fith and the boxes were put in by Jonas Haney. The rental charges were ten cents a quarter for a box, and Mr. Griffith, who is still a hale and hearty resident of Austin, informs us that the patrons considered that an exorbitantly high price to pay for such service. The appointment of Mr. Griffith was the result of an effort to keep the center of the village somewhere near the present court house square. Mr. Vaughan was a Republican, and he realized that President James Buchanan would soon appoint a Democrat to the office. The leading Democratic candidate for the appointment was Jerry B. Yates, whose aim was to move the postoffice, and consequently the center of the village, to the pres- ent site of the Catholic church, where most of his property was located. In those days a postmaster who resigned had the privi- lege of appointing his own successor. Consequently Mr. Vaughan resigned in favor of Mr. Griffith, who was a Democrat, thus plae-

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ing in office one who was of the same political faith as Buchanan, and at the same time keeping the center of the village near where the majority of the citizens desired it. When Mr. Griffith first assumed the duties of the office, the cancellation and fees amounted to about one dollar and a half a day, the patrons com- ing from a radius of twenty miles or more. But as other offices were established the business decreased to about twelve dollars per month, and consequently Mr. Griffith resigned. He appointed as his successor A. S. Everest, who assumed office in 1858 and purchased the office building and fixtures. Mr. Griffith relates that in those days all the mail was carried in one pouch, for all the points along the stage line. When the pouch reached an office, the postmaster unlocked it, took therefrom the mail directed to the patrons of his office, placed therein the mail deposited at the office for other points, and then locked the pouch again. Mr. Everest, who succeeded Mr. Griffith, was an attorney, served as county treasurer, and the county headquarters for a number of years were maintained at his office. He was an extensive land owner, and a part of his farm is now that part of Austin west of Kenwood avenue and south of Oakland avenue. Everest was succeeded by J. S. Lacy, who was an early hotel-keeper, having erected the Lacy House on the present site of the McCulloch Printing Company plant. He in turn was succeeded by C. J. Shortt, who was also an attorney, and for a number of years was a justice of the peace in Austin. Mr. Shortt resided in Austin until his death, after which his family moved back east. After Mr. Shortt came Lyman A. Sherwood. Mr. Sherwood was a lieu- tenant in the Civil war, and was clerk of the district court nine years before being appointed postmaster. George Baird was the next postmaster. Mr. Baird came to Mower county in 1856. He was a captain in the Civil war and served for many years as sheriff of the county. Charles Sawyer was appointed to succeed Mr. Baird. He was employed in Ackley's shoe store. After him came J. C. Smith. A. J. Phelps, who was a justice of the peace, was the next postmaster. He in turn was followed by C. H. David- son. Mr. Davidson was born in Illinois, March 13, 1846. Ile came to Austin in 1857, with his father, Joshua L. Davidson, and was employed in the first newspaper office in Mower county, which was then the Mirror. In 1863, in company with his brother, he started the Mower County Register, a paper which is now suc- ceeded by the Mower County Republican. Later he purchased the Transcript, which he conducted until 1886. Mr. Davidson was prominently identified with every movement which was for the betterment of the county and community. A. E. Meigs was the next postmaster. He conducted the office in connection with a news stand, east of what is now the First National Bank building.

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He was succeeded by A. A. Harwood, who was also an editor. Mr. Harwood came originally from Owatonna. After Mr. Harwood came R. I. Smith, a photographer, who afterwards conducted a gallery over Pooler's drug store. Subsequently C. H. Davidson was reappointed. After this came H. O. Basford, who kept the office in the building where the Normal Restaurant is now located. Mr. Basford was then the editor and sole owner of the Mower County Register, and later started the first daily in Mower county, if not in southern Minnesota. He now spends his summers in Austin, and is a highly respected citizen. He was succeeded by Christ Johnson, who after his term of office was a merchant in partnership with the father of T. A. Revord, in the hardware business, the store being located in the building now occupied by K. O. Wold's drug store. After selling his interest there he formed a partnership with his son-in-law in the clothing business, the store occupying the present site of the Golden Eagle. He sub- sequently removed to Buffalo, Minn., where he now resides. After Mr. Johnson, George Baird served a second time, but died before the expiration of his term of office. President Grover Cleveland then appointed A. B. Hunkins for a term of four years. Mr. Hunkins was owner and editor of the weekly Democrat, which has been succeeded by the Herald. The first rural route in Mower county was inaugurated under Mr. Hunkins, as was also the city free delivery system, which was established March 1, 1898. After leaving the postmastership, Mr. Hunkins conducted the Austin Canning Factory for a number of years, and later was engaged for some time in perfecting an addressing and folding machine. He secured a patent, and later moved to Mason City, Iowa, where he beeame a manufacturer. Mr. Hunkins was succeeded as post- master by S. Swenningsen, who was then a member of the upper house of the Minnesota legislature. Previous to his holding the postmastership he had been a merchant and for many years clerk of court. He was associated in business with C. I. Johnson, who is now a shoe merchant in Austin, and F. E. Gleason, now an Austin jeweler. Mr. Swenningsen now lives in California. Dur- ing Mr. Swenningsen's term, the rural earrier routes were in- creased to six, emanating from this offiee in all directions and forming a complete rural service, covering a radius of ten miles or more from the city. For some time previous to Mr. Swenning- sen's administration, the postoffice was located on the present site of the Hormel provision market. This was seemingly a favorite location for the postoffice, as the site was occupied for postal purposes at several different periods of Austin's history. After conducting the office at this point for four years, Mr. Swenningsen moved the office to the present site, corner of Main street and Oakland avenue. After Mr. Swenningsen, eame O. J. Simmons,

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who assumed office April 1, 1907, and was reappointed by Presi- dent William Taft, in 1911. Mr. Simmons has proven an able and capable officer, and the efficiency of the service he has maintained demonstrates his fitness for his responsible and often trying posi- tion. Mr. Simmons may well be proud of the fact that he will be the first postmaster in the handsome government building now in the process of construction.

The official roster of the Austin postoffice at the present time is as follows: Postmaster, O. J. Simmons; assistant postmaster, George E. Anderson; clerks, C. I. Riley, W. J. Rice, G. E. Sharp- stene, H. F. Olson; city letter carriers, William L. Wells, T. S. Thompson, C. L. Carter, F. I. Seullin, Sven Anderson, Jr .; rural letter carriers, M. J. Smith, J. A. Mills, Carl Johnson, C. E. Kearns, W. O. Johnson and H. A. Rutherford; substitute city carrier, Ralph Craig; substitute rural carriers, I. S. Van House, H. C. Aldrich, B. A. Campbell and P. A. Riley; special delivery mes- senger, Charles H. Earl. In addition to these employes, there are a number of railway postal clerks who make this their permanent headquarters, Austin being a terminal for several of the railroad mail routes.

Austin became a money order office in 1866. The first order was issued to James C. Ackley, remitter. Payee, F. W. Detome, Milwaukee, Wis. Amount, $13.80. Date, August 6, 1866. The first order paid was to Ormanzo Allen. Amount, $8.50. Date, August 13, 1866. It became a presidential office in 1867. The first postal note was purchased by Prof. A. W. Rankin, drawn in favor of parties in Wisconsin, for $4.99.

It is conceded that the growth of the postal receipts is an accurate barometer by which may be judged the growth of any community. It may be of interest to know that during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, there were 1,904 domestic money orders issued at the Austin postoffice, while thirty years later we find that there were issued during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1910, 10.286 domestic orders, amounting to $70,497.13, yielding fees of $592.71. During the same year there were 8,481 domestic orders paid, amounting to $51,049.92. There were issued during the year 174 international orders, to the amount of $2,109.82, yielding fees of $24.28. Twenty-nine international orders were paid during the year, amounting to $733.55. During the same year there were registered at this office 3,388 pieces, enumerated as follows: 1,856 domestic letters, 1,171 domestic parcels, 110 foreign letters, 26 foreign parcels, 225 official free and registered matter. There were 3,261 pieces of registered pieces received for delivery. Dur- ing the past ten years the receipts of the office have been as fol- lows: 1900, $12,226.43; 1901, $13,044.54; 1902, $14,196.11; 1903, $14,419.57; 1904, $15,116.13; 1905, $15,491.77; 1906, $16,737.47;

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1907, $18,076.67; 1908, $20,999.17; 1909, $21,004.67; 1910, $22,- 804.31.

Through the efforts of Congressman J. A. Tawney, who was for a number of years chairman of the appropriations committee of the national House of Representatives, Austin secured an appro- priation of $58,000 for the purpose of buying a site and erecting a suitable government building. A tract of land fronting 102 feet on Bridge street and 125 feet on St. Paul street was purchased eight years ago by the secretary of the treasury, under whose supervision government buildings are erected, but it was not until August 22, 1910, that active building operations were begun on the two-story building which will serve as a permanent postoffice home in this city for many years at least.

The Northern Construction Company of Milwaukee was awarded the contract for constructing the building, and B. F. Jud- son, of Washington, D. C., represents the government as super- intendent of construction. Cold weather interfered with the con- struction during 1910, and labor was not resumed officially until April 12, 1911, when the corner-stone was laid with great cere- mony by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, A. F. & A. M. The Grand Master and other grand officers were in attendance to assist in the exercises, which were preceded by the biggest fraternal parade ever witnessed in Austin. Since this event rapid progress has been made and it no doubt will be ready for occupancy by January 1, 1912.

The building will be forty-nine feet on Bridge street and seventy-six feet on St. Paul street. At the north will be a fine lawn, while on the east will be a vitrified brick drive. There will be an entrance on each street. Its style of architecture will be Renaissance and its beauty will be enhanced by a carefully selected combination of materials.

The foundation which is already completed is built of granite and extends to the first floor line, above which Bedford limestone and gray brick is used. It will be one of the most attractive buildings in the city, and certainly one of the finest government buildings in this part of the country.

In the basement will be found the city carriers' swing rooms, which will be used by the carriers when not on duty. There will also be a janitor's room, a postoffice storage room, fuel and boiler rooms, and lavatories. A steam heating plant will be installed, also a secondary hot-water system for warm seasons.

The entire first floor will be devoted exclusively to postal pur- poses. The postmaster's room will be located in the southeast corner, and will be finished in harmony with the prominent posi- tion it occupies with respect to the entire building. The money order and registry department will be located in a 14x20 room, in

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the northwest corner. At the east end of this room will be a 7x8- foot vault, which will be used for the storage of surplus postal supplies, also the postal and money order records. Directly back of this room, on the east, will be the mailing vestibule and plat- form, which will be used by the mail messenger as storage place for incoming and outgoing pouches and sacks. In the east center will be located the workroom proper. It will be 32x40 feet, and will extend the entire two stories of the building, thus making a high, light, airy and comfortable workroom. This room will also be finished in harmony with the general plan of the building, and will also be equipped with a vault. The lobby, which will be situ- ated on both the St. Paul and Bridge street sides of the building, will be an architectural feature. The floors will be terazzo, fin- ished with marble borders. The screen work will be constructed of marble and oak. On the St. Paul street side will be found the general delivery, stamp window and drops. There will be 376 lock boxes of four different sizes, divided into three sections, in each of which will be a window for the delivery of such packages as are too large for the boxes. Two writing desks of handsome design will be provided for public use, as well as directory cases and bulletin board. The lobby walls above the marble and oak wainscoting will be of handsome design, the construction of which will be composed of plaster pilasters, molded caps and cornices. The design of the ceiling will be an elaborate one and in perfect harmony with the general plan of the lobby. The entrances will be furnished with revolving doors. The main floor will be of rein- forced concrete instead of the usual wood construction. The main stairway starts at the southwest corner of the building and leads to the second story, which comprises five unassigned rooms, four of which are 14x15 feet, and one 14x42 feet. This floor will also be equipped with all modern conveniences and will afford ideal office rooms for other government departments. A stairway from this floor leads to the attic, which may be used for surplus storage quarters.

The main entrances will each be lighted with two large lights suspended on ornamental brackets, and the lighting throughout will be furnished from combination gas and electric fixtures. The lavatories will be of marble floors and marble wainscoting throughout. Not to leave anything in the way of modern improve- ment undone, a complete telephone system will be installed.

The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 38

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