The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 39

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 39

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1900. Rural Route No. 1 was established January 2, 1901, with O. H. Njos as carrier. Route No. 2 was established March 2, 1903, with Louis Slindes as carrier. The postmasters have been John S. Irgens, Harold Irgens, A. D. Harris, P. M. Rooney, Mathias Krebsbach, A. Torgerson, Anton Kinn, James Slindee, E. L. Slin- dee. Mr. Slindee is assisted by Mrs. Annie C. Slindee, assistant postmistress, and N. P. Gurvin, clerk.

Brownsdale Postoffice. Brownsdale postoffice was established in the fall of 1856, with John L. Johnson as postmaster. The office was kept in his store. Mails were received once a week, brought from Austin on horseback. Mr. Johnson remained in charge of the office until 1858, when H. W. Shook received the appointment of postmaster. He was relieved in turn by A. D. Brown, R. C. Heath, E. J. Stimson, H. Tilton, A. Stevens, Stephen Ives, A. J. Hunt and W. S. Woodard. Mr. Woodard was suc- ceeded by E. J. Stimson, who was followed by Albert Swift in 1891. He held the office till 1897, when he was succeeded by Wm. H. Palmer, the present incumbent.

The office was created a money order office July 1, 1874. The first order was issued July 6, 1874, to Mons Erickson, of Browns- dale, in favor of Ole Wilson, of Kasson, Dodge county, Minnesota ; amount, $5. The first order paid was issued at Dublin, Va., to George W. Weiser, in favor of James M. Weiser; amount, $50; was paid July 18, 1874.

Dexter Postoffice. This office was established in 1874. For a time it was kept at the railroad station by Amasa Converse, the first postmaster, who was succeeded by the following postmasters : John L. Gaskill, L. M. Gaskill, George W. Buck, O. J. Dickens, P. Sheridan, B. S. Benner and E. W. Dorr, the last named being the present incumbent. He has served since June 17, 1901. The Manilla and Sutton offices have been discontinned into this office. Mr. Dorr has an assistant and a clerk. Two rural routes emanate from this office, and were established in 1900 and 1904, respect- ively. The carriers are the Messrs. Chase and Gilmore. The annual business is in the neighborhood of $2,000.

Racine Postoffice. Racine postoffice was originally established in 1878 with T. W. Stewart as postmaster. The present postoffice was established in 1890, when the railroad came through. Among the postmasters have been Robert Eichhorn and O. B. Morse. The present postmaster is Chris Schwarz. The first money order was issued May 23, 1899, to H. Mork. The first order was paid the same day to G. Preibl. Rural routes Nos. 1 and 2 were estab- lished respectively on May 15, 1901, and May 2, 1904. The annual business done is about $1,000.

Rose Creek Postoffice was established in 1868 and Isaac M. Ray was appointed the first postmaster. The office was kept in his

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residence in the Patrick Mealy house. After the first postmaster came C. R. Varco, George Sutton, F. G. Ray, Thomas Cronan, and then again F. G. Ray, who is still serving. The office was made a money order office in 1878. The first order was drawn July 1. 1878, by John Hallin, for $10, in favor of Andrew Peet, Independ- ence, Kan. The first order was to J. A. Priest, July 5, 1878, the amount being $5.

Lansing Postoffice. The Lansing postoffice was established in the summer of 1858, with P. D. Vanghan as postmaster. The office was kept at his house in section 3, where it remained until about 1864 or 1865, when it was removed to the store building, with A. B. Vaughan as postmaster. The office remained here until about 1868, when the office was moved across the street to the store building in section 11, Mr. Vaughan retaining the office. October 29, 1875, W. B. Vanghan received the appointment of postmaster. The office was created a money order office July 1, 1878. The first order drawn was for $2.90, by P. D. Vaughan, in favor of Walter H. Shupe, of New York, dated July 1, 1878. The first order paid was for $3.65, to Mrs. J. S. Greeley, from Mrs. Josephine Miller, of Beaver Falls, Minn. After W. B. Vaughan eame George W. Bartlett, who was appointed April 25, 1886. His successor was H. M. MeIntyre, the present incumbent, who re- ceived his commission May 21, 1889. Corning was discontinued into this office, October 1, 1906. One rural route was established March 2, 1903. The present force in the office consists of H. M. MeIntyre, postmaster; assistant, H. S. MeIntyre; elerk, A. E. Mapes; rural carrier, E. W. Carll; substitutet rural carrier, F. A. Carll. The annual business done is about $1,000. The money order business amounts to about $5,000.

Waltham Postoffice. Waltham postoffice was established in 1866, with Col. A. J. Burbank as postmaster. The office was kept at the Waltham House, of which he was landlord. The mail route from Brownsdale to Kasson, in Dodge county, passed by this office, from which route it was supplied. The office remained here until 1868, when Moses Boliou was appointed postmaster, and the office removed to his house in section 9, where it remained until 1872, when it was discontinued. The present office was established March 9, 1886, with J. A. Stephan as postmaster. Mr. Stephan is still serving in that eapaeity, and has the longest term of service of any postmaster in the county. The first money order was issued January 4, 1899, to Rev. F. C. Milius, and the first order was paid February 22, 1899. Rural service was established from this office March 2, 1893, and eovers a wide territory.

Taopi Postoffice. This postoffice was established in the spring of 1875, with William Brainerd as the first postmaster. It was first kept in a cooper shop in block 3, and later moved into C.

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Alleman's store, on Main street, block 2. In course of time C. Alleman was appointed postmaster, and held the office until Frank Lyons was appointed by President Grover Cleveland. It was then moved further down on Main street. J. M. Lukens was next appointed, and was sueceeded by M. H. Lyons, who kept the office in the old Corbitt building on Main street. G. M. Campbell was appointed postmaster December 1, 1897, and was followed by Jane Campbell, who was appointed December 18, 1902. The first money order was issued January 13, 1894, to Peter Kasel, and the first order paid was to Mrs. Anthony Loftus, January 19, 1894. The rural service was established May 1, 1904. John Johnson is now serving as rural earrier.

Other Offices. There are also postoffices at Sargeant, Renova, Elkton and Mayville. It is impossible to give a history of these offiees owing to the faet that the postmasters have refused to fur- nish the information in spite of the fact that several letters of inquiry have been addressed to them.

DISCONTINUED POSTOFFICES.

Among the discontinued postoffices in Mower county may be mentioned Corning, Frankford, Johnsburg, Ramsey, Root River, Sutton, Udolpho, Chandler postoffice, Madison, Brooklyn, Ben- nington and others.

Corning. The postoffice at this point continued for many years, but was discontinued in October, 1906.

Chandler Postoffice. This office was established in 1856, with W. Means as postmaster. It was on the route between Osage and Owatonna, and mail was received onee a week. The suceessor of Means was D. L. Chandler, who kept the office at his house, see- tion 33, township of Austin.

Elkhorn. This was established in 1855 with Jacob MeQuillan as postmaster. Mail was received from Chatfield once in two weeks. The office was discontinued when Hamilton was estab- lished.

Udolpho postoffice was established about 1874, with Samuel Dunnell, brother of Hon. Mark H. Dunnell, as postmaster. The office was kept at his house in section 2. He was succeeded by Philip Setzer, as postmaster, and the office moved to his house in section 1. It remained here a short time, when Joseph Reynolds received the appointment of postmaster and the office removed to his house in section 1. It was again removed and Gideon Stod- dard appointed postmaster. The office was kept at his house on section 2. Mrs. Malina S. Carll kept the office at her house in section 2.

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The first mails were received twice a week, via Brownsdale, Waltham postoffice and this office, to Blooming Prairie.

Brooklyn. The first postoffice in Windom township was estab- lished in 1858, under the name of Brooklyn. It was on the mail route from McGregor to Austin. The name was afterward changed to Canton. Horatio Marsh was the first postmaster. He was sue- ceeded a few years later by Walter Fuller, who resigned shortly after the railroad was built, and the office was discontinued. Mr. Fuller turned over the records of the office to George Sutton, then postmaster at Rose Creek.

Frankford Postoffice. This office was established in 1856. Lewis Patchen was appointed postmaster. Early postmasters were T. M. Chapman, Charles Lamb and Lewis Patchen.

Madison. A postoffice was established at this point about 1857 by Warren Brown. Later the postoffice was re-established in charge of Moody & Co. Later E. Bassett took the office and continued it about twelve years, but later gave it up.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

GRAND MEADOW TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.

Location and Soil of Township-Early Settlement-Organization -Village of Grand Meadow-Opening of the Settlement and Early Business Interests - Societies - Churches-Postoffice- Library-Catastrophes-Early Events-Village Government.

Grand Meadow township embraces congressional township 103 . north, range 15 west of the fifth principal meridian. Its bounda- ries are Pleasant Valley township on the north, Frankford town- ship on the east, Clayton township on the south, Dexter township on the west. The soil is of excellent quality, well adapted to the growth of all the crops commonly eultivated in this section of the country. This is a prairie township. The surface in the northern part is rolling, while in the southern it is quite level. An agree- able variety is imparted to the landscape by groves of trees, which have been planted with a liberal hand to aid and supplement the work of nature. The attention of the farmers of this district, until within a few years, mainly devoted to the production of wheat and other grains, is now being largely turned to the inter- ests of stock raising and the dairy. Deer ereek, which takes its rise in Clayton township, flows through the southeastern part of Grand Meadow, mostly in sections 35 and 36. In the northeastern

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quarter are two branches of Bear creek, one of which, rising in section 3, passes through sections 2 and 12. The other lies farther south, and crosses the eastern boundary of the township in see- tion 13.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in the town of Grand Meadow was made by Erlund Olson, in the autumn of 1854. Olson was a native of Norway. He came here from Dane county, Wisconsin, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 12. The log house built by him here was the first in the town. After remaining here for some years, Olson sold his place and removed to the town of Racine. The next settlers were Arthur MeNelly and Andrew MeCabe- the former a native of Ireland, the latter of New York state. They took claims on section 13. In August, 1856, B. F. Lang- worthy made a claim on section 12. He purchased other land near by, at $2.50 per acre, until he acquired in all 960 acres. In 1875 he sold it at $25 per acre, and removed to Spring Valley. In the latter part of the year 1856, S. H. Rice, a native of the Buckeye state, settled on the northwest quarter of section 35, which remained his home until the time of his death in 1881. Mr. Rice was one of the original signers of the Grand Meadow railroad bonds, issued to the Southern Minnesota Railway Company. Isaiah Peterson came with his family to Grand Meadow in the spring of 1857, and settled on section 6, where they remained but two years. In 1858 two children of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson died of eronp. A son, named Peter Peterson, was born to them in the fall of 1857. William Seabern settled at an early day in the township's history on the southeast quarter of section 32. Joseph Ross, coming a few weeks later, settled on the southwest quarter of section 33, adjoin- ing Seabern's land. Ross was from Nova Scotia. He enlisted in the northern army in 1862, and died in the service at Nashville, Tenn. About the year 1858, L. E. Pearee came from Pennsylvania and took a claim on section 26. After making a little improve- ment, he returned to the Keystone state, where he married. In the course of a few years he came back and settled on his farm. He was engaged for some time in the grain and lumber business at Grand Meadow village; later he did a commission business in Milwaukee. In 1858, one William Pye, who came from Michigan, settled on section 34. After living here some years, he went to Wisconsin, where he was subsequently joined by his family. Gil- bert Christopherson took a claim in section 11, in 1856. IIe remained in the township two or three years and then returned to Dane county, Wisconsin. Andrew Halverson, Ole Sorflatten and IIelge Johnson were Norwegian settlers of 1858. Halverson set- tled in the northern part of section 14. Sorflatten came directly

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from Norway and settled in the south part of section 11. John- son came here from Dane county, Wisconsin, and settled in the north part of the town. About the year 1879 he went back to Wisconsin. O. E. Sorben, A. Finhart and Ole Loe were also among the early Norwegian emigrants. Clark Markham, with his brothers, Erastus and Joseph, came here about the year 1859, and settled in section 16. C. B. Remington settled in section 8, in 1859. A Mr. Parker, who settled in section 17, went away in 1864. William Finendall and D. Vandenover eame to Grand Meadow township in the year 1860, or near that time, and settled in secton 5. Henry Weber settled in the northern part of sec- tion 4. A Mr. Gleason and his son-in-law settled in seetions 17 and 18. They afterward removed to Rochester. Chauncey Knapp, mentioned elsewhere, was also an early settler.

ORGANIZATION.

The town of Grand Meadow was organized in 1862. The first town meeting was held at the house of B. F. Langworthy, in sec- tion 12, on April 20 of that year. B. F. Langworthy, Chauney Knapp and Orson W. Case were appointed judges of election, Alonzo Avery, elerk. The following is the list of town officers elected : B. F. Langworthy, chairman; C. Knapp, O. W. Case; A. Avery, clerk; G. C. Parker, treasurer; C. B. Remington and S. H. Rice, justices of peace; W. A. Lunt, assessor; N. C. Mark- ham and J. M. MeCabe, constables.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first store for the sale of general merchandise in the town was that of D. B. Colman.

The first hardware store was C. F. Greening's, opened in 1871, and still doing business.

The first child not of aboriginal parentage, born within the limits of this township was Forest E. Langworthy, later editor of the Spring Valley Mercury, published at Spring Valley, Fillmore county, Minnesota.

The first death was of a child of Mr. and Mrs. George Chat- wood.

The first school house in the town stood on the southeast quar- ter of section 13. Delia Evans was the first teacher.

The first girl born in the township was a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. John Peterson.

ORIGIN OF THE NAME.

In the early days of the fifties a gentleman from one of the hilly eastern states was looking over the lands of this neighbor-

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hood, and standing on an eminence with one of the few residents of that time, he remarked, as he looked over the great expanse of fertile lands, "What a Grand Meadow." His exclamation was truthful, and that name was adopted for all time. Grand Meadow is certainly a beautiful piece of country. Gently undulating, suf- ficient to give ample drainage, no swamps, rocky hills, or sand dunes, all good available land, with the beautiful groves dotting the prairies, streams and little lakes, with a soil unsurpassed for fertility and ease of cultivation. There are cosy and comfortable homes, and a better grass or pasture country can hardly be found. In fact it led to the remark of one of a party of Elgin, Illinois, dairymen, who were here a short time ago, to exclaim : "I do not wonder that Minnesota can equal or even surpass Illi- nois in dairying when they can raise such grass as I see here."

THE VILLAGE OF GRAND MEADOW.

The tract of land upon which this village is platted was en- tered in 1858 by one N. Albec, who sold it to Henry Martin, of Connecticut. A transfer was made by Mr. Martin to Messrs. Hall, Easton, Thompson and Holly, who thus became proprietors of the original village site. F. H. Armstrong, of Alpena, Mich- igan, and L. E. Pearce laid out lots, and offered them for sale on the south side of the railroad track. The price of these being much less than that asked for the lots of the afore-named com- pany, many were induced to buy them in preference to the others. Thus the south side became gradually settled, became the most desirable part of the village for residence. It should here be mentioned that the village was laid out in 1870, the railroad at that time having been built as far as the creek east of the village site.

Lumber was hauled from Spring Valley to put up the first buildings, two warehouses and a lumber office, the latter owned by Richards & Bray. It was later occupied by John Tyrrell as a residence. The first house built for a dwelling was that later oc- cupied by E. M. Barnard. Its builder, L. E. Pearce, moved to Morris, Stevens county, in 1875. Pearce also built the first ware- house.

EARLY BUSINESS.

The first store was kept by D. B. Coleman in the building later used as a postoffice. Then, 1870, it stood in the street, but was afterward moved to where C. F. Greening's brick block was later erected. For this small room Mr. Coleman paid rent at the rate of $40 per month. The building was later used for a liquor

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saloon. Most of the older dwelling houses in this part of the vil- lage were built in the years 1870 and 1871. The Bell house, George Chatwood proprietor, was the first to be finished and opened as a hotel at Grand Meadow. After a lapse of three or four years it was leased for a period of five years by John Me- Devitt. At the end of that time, W. T. Hughart undertook its management. Mr. Hughart put an addition on the north side by moving across the street the Centennial house, built by him in 1876. Mr. A. Axtell was next in charge for a brief season, and later the hotel was discontinued. The Brown house was built by John Brown. It was first kept by him and afterward, for a few months, by Frank Dunbar. In 1877 Mr. Brown sold the property to F. M. Pierson. At one time this was the only public house in the village, continuing to be such until George J. A. Correll be- gan to entertain guests at his place of business. Two elevators were built here in 1875. Bonner & Hyde's was the earlier begun, but Cargill's was first completed. The latter was burned in 1880. Another was built in its place. During the years 1876 and 1877 immense quantities of grain were marketed here. It is said that in the last four months of 1877 the freight bills of the shippers amounted to $22,000 per month. A Mr. Plummer was the first to wield a sledge hammer within the village preeinets. Mr. Plum- mer came from Hamilton, but he did not come to stay. Where- fore, when John Peterson put up a shop opposite the Collins house, establishing himself and his trade in Grand Meadow for life, as it would seem, he gained a right to be considered really the pioneer blacksmith of the place. George Newson, the first village barber, came here in 1876. J. Skyburg engaged in busi- ness in company with M. HI. Fjelstad, in June, 1874, who had previously been engaged in trade here. They ran the business together until 1878, when Mr. Skyburg sold his interest in the business to Mr. Fjelstad. The next year (1879) Mr. Skyburg again embarked in the mercantile business in company with Ole Johnson. This firm remained in business about one and a half years, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Skyburg con- tinuing the business.

GRAND MEADOW IN 1873.

In 1873, Grand Meadow had the following business houses: H. P. Coleman, general store and drugs, two stores; Rollin Dunbar, deputy postmaster, general store; A. Fjelstad, general store; An- derson & Clausen, furniture dealers; Ed. Peterson, harness maker and saddlery; August Fischer, shoemaker; Lore & Luttenberger, carpenters; Brown's hotel. John Brown, proprietor; C. C. Cole, blacksmith and plowmaker; John Peterson, blacksmith; Charles

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F. Greening, hardware and bank. B. F. Langworthy was post- master, Dr. S. M. Jenks, B. F. Wood, S. M. R. R., station agents. L. E. Pearce dealt in produce and machinery, as did also M. F. Vening, H. W. Elms and G. W. Wood. U. S. Potter was a grain buyer. F. M. Peirson, a resident of the village, has lived a longer time in this county than any other person now living within its limits.

GRAND MEADOW IN 1885.

In the fall of 1885, Grand Meadow had four churches, Congre- gational, Methodist, Lutheran and Catholic; a postoffice, a rail- road station, a schoolhouse, two hotels, a boarding house, a dentist, a physician, a Turkish bath, a feed mill and several stores. The G. A. R. post, H. B. Sheldon, commander, was in a flourish- ing condition. Following is a brief business directory of the vil- lage at that time: C. F. Greening, general merchant and bank- ing; Lovell & Sheldon, general merchants; S. S. Baken, drugs and decorations ; J. Skyburg, dry goods ; Hudson & Elliott, hardware; A. Thiel, shoes; Mrs. L. M. Hughart, meals; H. Orth, furniture; W. A. Nolan, harness shop; Charles Martin, farm machinery; C. P. Gladen, wagon maker; Nels Green, blacksmith; Peterson & Grimes, blacksmiths; J. J. Gilbertson, farm machinery; E. E. Myhre, tailor ; W. W. Ranney, general merchant ; Phillip & Brown, meats; John Criswell, postmaster and jeweler; Dr. Jackson, phy- sician; F. M. Pierson, proprietor of the Brown house; W. H. Bentley, skating rink; J. Larkins, station agent; George New- sum, barber ; M. O. Wilsie, Inmber; E. M. Barnard, Alrah Hunt, C. W. Martin, grain buyers ; Geo. J. A. Corell, hotel and grocery ; A. Folsom, dry goods ; Barnard & Elliott, Mrs. Lettie Palmer, mil- liners; W. T. Hughart, justice; A. B. M. Lindsley, president, C. F. Greening, treasurer, H. M. Lovell, secretary of creamery; Ed- ward Lewis, drayman; H. M. Lovell, bird fancier; Thomas Wagoner, buttermaker; Charles Wood, hay presser; Lars Frank- son, feed mill; W. T. Hughart, Turkish bath; Mrs. S. A. Nolan, boarding house.

INCORPORATION.

An act passed the legislature early in 1876 authorizing M. F. Vining, C. F. Greening and W. H. Bentley to conduct a village election in Grand Meadow. The election was held on the first Monday in April, 1876, and the following officers elected: Presi- dent, E. M. Barnard ; recorder, B. F. Wood; Wm. Bentley, Gilbert H. Allen, S. M. Jenks. The present officers of the village are: President, T. J. Grimes ; recorder, N. O. Wilsie; C. L. Schroeder, G. W. Day, C. W. Martin.

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MODERN GRAND MEADOW.

Grand Meadow is a prosperous village with a population of some 600 inhabitants. It is well laid out, has some excellent ce- ment sidewalks, and is planted with many shade trees. Its citi- zens are progressive and the buildings modern and sightly.

Among the activities of Grand Meadow may be mentioned : Five churches, Methodist and Congregational resident pastors, one lumber yard, one fine high school, two hotels, one newspaper, three general stores, city, Masonie and M. W. A. halls, one opera house, one hardware store, one drug store, one clothing store, one merchant tailor, one jeweler, one dentist, one furniture and undertaking establishment, one harness shop, one automobile garage, two blacksmith establishments, one creamery, two car- penter shops, one woodworking establishment, one saw mill, one physician, one livery, two custom grist mills, two restaurants, one millinery store, one pool and billiard hall, one barber shop, one meat market, one telephone company, two land companies, one feed and coal establishment, one draying line, two painting estab- lishments, and a postoffice. The Exchange State Bank has the finest bank building in this part of Minnesota.

Among the older settlers still represented in the business of the village are C. F. Greening, Exchange State Bank; John Peter- son, blacksmith ; P. Schleiger, drugs; M. O. Wilsie, lumber yard ; Eriek Torgrimson, general store (business conducted by son, G. T.) ; Erick Myhre, merchant tailor; C. W. Martin, conducting the Hyde elevation ; Fred Pierson, "Old Brown House"; W. A. Nolan, harness and automobiles; Thomas J. Grimes, blacksmith; George Day, woodwork; John Peterson, blacksmith ; Lars Frank- son, grist mill.

Streets. The streets of Grand Meadow present an excellent appearance. Few villages in the state are better supplied with sidewalks, and the trees, pleasant residences, and sightly public and business buildings, add much to the attractiveness of life here. For several years the streets were lighted with oil. Lamps of gasoline gas are now provided, and an acetylene plant is under advisement.

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 39

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