USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 45
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quarter of section 30. Lorenzo preëmpted in seetion 29, south- west quarter. He held possession three or four years only, then sold and went to Missouri. Finding it very unpleasant there, not to say unsafe, for a union man, during war times, he turned east- ward, crossed the Mississippi river and spent a few years in the state of Illinois. From there he went to Texas, where he died in! 1880. Richards was a Pennsylvanian, whom the summer of '55 brought to Lyle. He bought a claim of William Bean, on the west half of seetion 33, stayed on it five or six years, and then left for Vernon Springs, Iowa. West was a native of York State. He entered the northwest quarter of section 32, where he lived several years.
In 1856 eame the following: Ezra D. Ames, Rev. Alanson Beach, John Beach, Wilson Beach, Erastus Bedford, Chester Cal. well, Edward Calwell, Lewis Ebbers, Calvin H. Owen, Charles Owen, Rev. Samuel Loomis, Henry Roderts, William Shellbach, A. M. St. John, Joseph Thompson, William West. Ames, Bedford, Rev. Beach and his two sons, Loomis, the Owens, C. and H., St. John and West were natives of New York state. Sainuel Surface, a Hoosier, came from Houston county early in the year and pre- empted land in sections 28 and 29. He built a log house and stables and improved a portion of his elaim. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Minnesota Regiment, and died in the service. Ezra D. Ames, hailing last from Indiana, entered the seene of this history in Mareh, 1856. Preempting 120 acres in the northeast quarter of seetion 21, he lived there six months, and then bought a place in the northeast quarter of seetion 19. William Schellbach and Louis Ebbers, natives of Germany, were among the first immigrants of the new year. The former settled on the northwest quarter of section 34. Ebbers settled on the southwest of seetion 34. His death, which occurred before the close of the summer, was the second in the town. In July Rev. Alanson Beach and A. M. St. John bought land of Benjamin Coe in seetions 32 and 33. They then returned to New York. In November of the same year Mr. Beach came again to Lyle, and established his home in the northwest quarter of section 33. His sons, John and Wilson, accompanied him. John Beach preempted -the southwest quarter of section 26. Wilson preempted the south east quarter of the same seetion. He was a single man and lived with his parents until after the war, when he settled on seetion 33. Charles Owen, a young man who came with the Beach family, entered the northwest of section 26, but did not make a perma- nent settlement. Returning to New York, he died before the close of the late war. William West arrived in the summer of 1856, and moved into the house that Alanson Beach had bought of Coe. Here for the next three months he did a lively business as
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a tavern keeper. In the ensuing autumn, he moved on to the northwest of seetion 34, having previously entered the land. Joseph Thompson came over from Wisconsin and settled in the southeast of section 27. After living there two years he removed to Iowa. He served his country as a Union soldier in the war of the southern rebellion. At a subsequent date he went to Cali- fornia, where he died. Calvin H. Owen crossed the Iowa boun- dary line in the latter part of the year, and bought land and made a home in the northwest quarter of section 30. Rev. Samuel Loomis, a Methodist divine, eame in the autumn and preempted the northwest quarter of section 19. Mr. Loomis enlisted in Company K, Fourth Minnesota Regiment. Discharged on account of disability in October, 1862, he returned to his home, where in December of that year he died. Edward and Chester Calwell came from the Keystone state. The former settled on the north- west of section 30, the latter on the southeast of section 19. Two years later they sold their lands and went to Kansas. Henry Roberts, an Englishman, arrived toward the elose of the year, and bought Carrier's elaim in section 20. W. M. Paee and Robert Lyle came to Mower county in November, 1856. In 1864 Pace settled on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 22. Robert Lyle was a native of Ohio. He was a judge of probate, and was the representative from this district to the state legisla- ture. The town was named for him. In 1868 he removed to Missouri.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first white child born in Lyle township was Isaac Moshier. son of Dilarzon and Elizabeth (Milliken) Moshier. The date of his birth was August 16, 1855. The first death in the town was that of Mrs. Margary Bean, wife of William N. Bean, in March, 1856. She was buried within the limits of Woodbury cemetery long before it was surveyed. The next death was that of Louis Ebbers, a German, which occurred in the summer of the same year. His body was also interred in Woodbury cemetery. This cemetery is located in seetion 33.
CEDAR CITY.
The town of Lyle boasts of a locality known as Cedar City. Emigrants at an early day were attracted by this high sounding name, thinking it must denote a place of some importance. Andrew Gemmel often related that he stopped to make inquiry concerning it of the postmaster at St. Paul. The courteous official told him the loeation, and remarked that very likely he would find but one house there. The chosen site of this projected city
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which never was built was in section 4. The land was first claimed by John Chandler. He, however, waived his claim in favor of Caleb Stock and John Phelps, who proposed to erect a mill. They began work there in 1856, putting in a substantial dam of stone and timber. A third party, T. N. Stone, was inter- ested with them in this enterprise. Two mills were built, one furnished with a eircular saw for sawing lumber, the other a grist mill, with one set of buhrs. In 1858 Stock traded his interest in the mill to George Phelps. The grist mill was completed in August of that year. One sack of wheat had been ground, when came a freshet and swept both mills down the stream. Thus the hopes of the company were blasted. The mills were never rebuilt. Owing to the fine water power at this point, people in the neigh- borhood once indulged in the pleasing expectation that Cedar City would become a formidable rival of Austin, even if it did not surpass it altogether. Circumstances determined it otherwise. Nothing now remains to mark the site of the imaginary city but the ruins of the old milldam.
Troy City was platted March 24, 1857, by John Tifft, in parts of sections 4 and 9, township 101, range 18.
VILLAGE OF LYLE. (By William Nordland.)
Lyle is a wideawake village of 552 inhabitants, located in section 36, Lyle township, eleven miles south of Austin, the county seat, and just north of the state line between Minnesota and Iowa. It has. exceptional business opportunities, as it is located on three principal lines of railroad, viz .: The C., M. & St. P., the Chicago Great Western and the Illinois Central.
The surrounding country is one of the best and most highly cultivated agricultural districts in the Northwest. Farming is diversified, and this locality is famous for its good horses, dairy cows and the large number of hogs raised annually. This could not be done were it not for the fact that we are located in the corn belt. Lyle affords a good market for all grains, poultry, stock, fruit and all farm produce.
The city owns and operates its own water plant, which sup- plies its patrons from a drilled well 800 feet deep. Lyle has an Independent Telephone Company, which has 350 'phones in operation and connects with a large number of other companies. One of the things of which the village is proud is its cement walks, almost every street in the village being lined with them. The streets, business places and residences are lighted by a local electric light plant under the management of N. G. Fischer. One of the "busy" places is the canning factory. The Lyle corru-
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gated culvert factory is also among the foremost industries. Other places of business are: A farmers' co-operative creamery, a tow mill, one feed mill, three elevators, three blacksmith shops, one lumber yard, one drug store, four general stores, one furni- ture store, two millinery stores, one shoe store, one jewelry store, one hardware store, one photo gallery, one tailor shop, one har- ness shop, one bank, one newspaper, two butcher shops, two hotels, two livery barns, one garage, two restaurants, two cream stations, two barber shops.
Lyle takes great pride in its large number of beautiful resi- dences, well kept lawns and umbrageous trees. The park, located only one block from the business section of the village, is one of the creditable improvements, and is often the scene of pleasant social gatherings. The Lyle Concert Band is composed of local musicians and is ably led by B. J. Robertson.
Peter Hanson is one of the oldest residents of the village, having lived here since March 15, 1874, all of which time, with the exception of one year, he has been in the harness business. J. H. Sherman, who for many years had charge of the Hunting elevator, 'is also one of the early residents, still residing here. Another one of the early business men still residing in the village is O. T. Lind, dealer in groceries, dry goods, shoes, notions, etc. Some of the other early settlers are O. A. Anderson, the jeweler ; John Norris, Sr .; D. D. Lione and A. B. Olsen.
The health of the residents of Lyle is looked after by three physicians, viz .: Dr. Cobb, Dr. Frazer and Dr. Torkelson. Dr. W. F. Cobb has practiced in this vicinity since 1874 and Dr. W. A. Frazer has been in Lyle for nearly a quarter of a century, having located here March 9, 1887. Dr. P. T. Torkelson estab- lished his office in Lyle in 1909.
Lyle was platted November 11, 1870, by Selah Chamberlain, D. C. Sheppard and Charles MeIlrath.
THE CITY HALL.
The city hall was erected in 1906 at a cost of about $8,000. The structure is a two-story cement brick building 40x80 feet. A part of the first floor is used by the fire department for their apparatus, etc. A large room on the east, known as the council chamber, is utilized for meetings of various kinds, both social and political. It is here that all elections are held and it is often the scene of a warm debate over questions of interest to the people. Back of the council room is a room for the marshal, and off from this is the city jail, which is a model of cleanliness and neatness. The second floor is a large hall with a seating capacity of 500, with a good roomy stage where scenery may be displayed
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to advantage. The fire department has the management of this hall and provide for various amusements, entertainments, lec- tures, etc.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
On May 2, 1891, Lyle village was swept by fire, which left the greater portion of the business section in ashes and destroyed many of the early records, which would be very valuable for articles of this kind as well as in a thousand other ways. This fire as well as other occurrences made evident the urgent need of a fire department, consequently on October 21, 1895, a meeting was called for the purpose of organizing a volunteer company. Ed Stanley was chosen chief and F. B. Losey elected secretary. After two months Editor E. F. Wilson was elected secretary to succeed Losey. Stanley was reelected chief and held the office until June 7, 1897, when George Robertson was elected chief and A. Phillipson was chosen secretary to succeed Wilson. Robertson continued to hold the office of chief, being reelected year after year until he was elected county auditor and moved to Austin in 1903. On June 14, 1898, Ed Stanley was elected secretary, which office lie held until 1903, when R. P. Gibson succeeded him and J. H. Hughes became chief. Hughes and Gibson served for three years, when, in 1906, Gill Ferris was selected as head of the department in the place of Hughes and L. A. Sherman became scribe. After two years Carl Peterson was chosen chief, which office he held until February, 1911, when James Mortenson was elected. Ed Sherman succeeded L. A. Sherman as secretary August 26, 1909, when the latter resigned, having removed from the village. The company is composed of twenty-one members and its present officers are: James Mortenson, chief; O. G. Blakestad, treasurer; E. B. Sherman, secretary. The company owns about 1,000 feet of hose, hook and ladder and two hose carts, and all necessary equipments. Although the service is volunteer, all calls are promptly responded to and some heroic work has been done by these brave fire laddies.
CHURCHES.
Lyle has two churches, the Gospel Mission and the Congrega- tional.
The former is an organization of truc and devoted followers of the Saviour, who gather weekly for prayer and worship. They do not have a regular pastor, but often hold series of evangelistie services under the direction of traveling evangelists.
The Congregational church organization is a union of the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational bodies. The organiza- tion was incorporated April 24, 1886, and the church building was
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dedicated January 30, 1887, the sermon being preached by Rev. J. H. Marley, state superintendent of the Home Missionary Society. Rev. J. S. Rounce was the first pastor. The parsonage was erected in 1896. The present pastor is Rev. A. G. Washing- ton. The church has a flourishing Sunday school in connection, also a Christian Endeavor Society and an active Ladies' Aid Society. L. W. Sherman, one of the pioneer settlers of Lyle, who is now a resident of Minneapolis, was for many years one of the mainstays of the evangelical body.
POSTOFFICE AND BANK.
The postoffice and bank are described elsewhere in this his- tory.
PUBLIC SCHOOL.
Lyle Public School. Lyle has a $15,000 publie school building with a full corps of instructors, taking the children from the pri- mary department through the four years of the high school course, with special instructors in the agricultural and manual training departments. The school board consists of: President, Dr. W. S. Cobb; secretary, B. J. Robertson ; treasurer, H. G. Dahl; mem- bers, C. M. Anderson, J. O. Johnson and W. L. Cole. The faculty consists of: Superintendent, W. H. Detamore; principal, Goldie Garl; department of manual training, E. H. Vinton; department of agriculture, W. J. Rhoades; teachers, Ida Southmayd, Erma Wilcox, Fanny Hendy and Alice Roots. The distriet is No. 90. It was organized in 1873, being formed mostly from the easterly part of No. 15 or Minnereka. The first schoolhouse was built the same year on lots 11 and 12 in block 4, which were presented to the school board by the proprietor of the town plat. It was a small building, 16x26, and seated in the old-fashioned way, the desks extending around three sides, attached to the walls, with benches for seats. S. Anna McCune, of Austin, was the first teacher. The district was made independent a year or two later. In the year 1877 a large two-room building was erected, and about the year 1896 a two-room addition was constructed. This continued to be the home of the public school until 1906, when the present high school was erected, and the old site with the build- ings sold.
FRATERNAL ORDERS.
Among the social and fraternal orders Lyle has had her quota, and among them we might mention the M. B. A. Lodge, No. 333; Willow Wood Camp, No. 565; Knights of Pythias, No. 59; the Railroad Order of Trainmen, I. O. G. T., No. 31, and the A. F.
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and A. M., Alma Lodge, No. 131. Of the above orders, the Masonic, the K. P., the M. W. A. and the M. B. A. survive.
Alma Lodge, No. 131, A. F. & A. M. The Masonic Lodge has had a steady and substantial growth from the time the local lodge received its charter, in 1878, from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. The very nature of the order does not permit applicants to be taken in by the wholesale, as is the custom in many lodges, yet new and appreciative members have been constantly added, and the work has been successfully carried on, year in and year out, until over 200 men, free born and of lawful age, have become affiliated with this branch of the world-wide organization. Alma Lodge mects regularly on the first and third Friday evenings of each month, in their hall, due east and west, over Dahl Bros.' store. The present officers are: O. A. Dahl, W. M .; J. W. John- son, S. W .; Chris Johnson, J. W .; Wm. Nordland, secretary ; F. M. Beach, treasurer; Ole Running, S. D .; Louis Blakestad, J. D .; Asmun Olson, tyler; Geo. M. Anderson, S. S .; Dr. P. T. Torkelson, J. S .; Dr. W. F. Cobb, prelate; S. H. Dahl, marshal. The lodge is very strong socially and financially, and is liberally sharing the cares and burdens of its unfortunate members, who need aid. The special feature of this order is its well informed brethren. Alma Lodge had its inception in the early days of the village, when many orders came into existence and flourished for a time, then were lost in oblivion. But Free Masonry still survives.
Knights of Pythias. The wide-awake and enterprising mem- bers of the Knights of Pythias Lodge are not to be overlooked in a write-up of Lyle and its history, for they toil and spin inces- santly, and their rapid growth proves the constant activities of the order. The work of the lodge is creditably handled by well informed members, but this is only one of the many features of the Knights of Pythias Lodge in Lyle. Its hospitable members and social functions have made the lodge and club rooms one of the most popular rendezvous in this section of the country. The lodge received their charter in 1889, but the great fire in 1891 destroyed the original, and a new one was granted September 9, 1891. Dr. W. A. Frazer is the only one of the original charter members now residing in Lyle. During the last twenty-two years many candidates have wandered through the desert and become useful members of the order. Besides a large membership, the lodge today boasts of having a two-story briek building of their own, which was erected in 1891. The rooms on the first floor are occupied by the drug store and the second story is occupied by the Knights. In addition to this hall, they have a cozy club room adjoining the hall, which is neatly fitted up for the amusement of the members. Following are the officers: A. George, C. C .; N. E.
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Fedson, V. C .; W. F. Cobb, prelate; Ed. Hildebrand, K. of R. & S .; W. L. Cole, M. of F .; Nick Severson, M. of E .; Chas. How- ard, M. of W .; Earl Vinton, M. at A .; John Olson, inner guard; Claude Hildebrand, outer guard; F. E. Wilder, trustee for three years.
The Modern Woodmen of America. About a quarter of a cen- tury ago, the Modern Woodmen of America made their appear- ance in Lyle, and organized a camp, of which Peter Hanson is the only remaining charter member residing in the village. The order is known as Willow Wood Camp, No. 565. They maintain quarters in the Peterson hall, where they hold their regular meet- ings the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month. The camp is in good active and financial condition, and especially of late has it held its own in adding new material and strength to its large list of members. E. L. Stanley was the first Venerable Counsel and J. S. Schuyler the first Scribe. The camp is at pres- ent officered by the following: Fred Wyborney, V. C .; Chris Johnson, W. A .; John Schumacher, banker; O. G. Blakestad, clerk ; M. M. Dunbar, escort; Frank Peterman, watchman; Frank Cafourck, sentry; Ole Running, manager for three years; Dr. Cobb, physician ; Dr. Torkelson, assistant.
Modern Brotherhood of America. One of the latter fraternal organizations of the village is the Modern Brotherhood of Amer- ica, Lyle Lodge, No. 333. This order was first introduced into Lyle about twelve years ago, and today has quite a large member- ship. Ladies are admitted to membership in this lodge, which has a tendency to strengthen the social part of the order. Their meet- ings are held in the Masonic Hall on the second and fourth Satur- day evenings of the month. Officers elected to supervise the busi- ness of the organization are: Peter Anderson, president; T. Thompson, vice-president; C. M. Anderson, secretary and treas- urer; Tom Murphy, chaplain; Ben Helfritz, conductor; George Larson, watchman; Sam Olson, sentry; trustees, Osmun Olson, T. H. Murphy, D. E. Erickson.
INDUSTRIES.
Lyle Corrugated Culvert Company. The village of Lyle is closely associated with the corrugated pipe industry, for it was here, in 1905, that the first corrugated pipe seen in this section of the country was manufactured. The Lyle Corrugated Culvert Company was organized by parties from Ohio, who began opera- tions in a small way, choosing Lyle as a suitable point for manın- facturing purposes, on account of its splendid railroad facilities. After continuing in the business for about one year, A. B. Wilder
W. F. COBB, M. D.
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and Frank M. Beech became interested in the project, and the Lyle Corrugated Culvert Company, as it now exists, was organ- ized. The company at once began operations on a larger scale, and soon established the branch plant at Minneapolis, where sub- sequently the head office was moved. The business has inereased wonderfully within the last three years, and the manufacturing plant at Lyle is one of the assets of the village.
The Lyle Telephone Company was organized Mareh 27, 1902, and incorporated for $20,000, and for thirty years. The above sum was divided into 400 shares at $50 each and sold at par. The highest amount of indebtedness permitted is $10,000. The names and places of residence of the persons forming this corporation are as follows : E. L. Stanley, R. Reierson, W. F. Cobb, J. L. Hugh- son. A. M. Wilson, George Robertson, L. A. Sherman, A. B. Wilder, F. M. Beach, O. T. Lund and C. W. Laey, all of Lyle; John Berga- son and Rahne Brothers, of Deer Creek, Iowa, and H. D. Fair- banks, of Austin. Each took five shares. The following stoek- holders were elected directors: E. L. Stanley, John Bergason, W. F. Cobb, George Robertson and R. Reierson. The first meeting of the board of directors was held April 1, 1902. John Bergason was elected president; George Robertson, vice-president; E. L. Stanley, secretary, and W. F. Cobb, treasurer. In April, 1905, the stockholders voted to bond the company for $5,000 and pay all outstanding indebtedness, which was accordingly done. The first annual statement shows a capital stock paid in of $7,500 and a surplus eash on hand of $416.16. The last annual statement shows common stoek issued, $8,350; preferred stock; $1,470; invested in plant, $17,816.06; outstanding indebtedness, $3,150; outstand- ing accounts, eash and material on hand, $886.61. After the first year the company has always paid its stockholders an annual dividend and for the last seven years the company has paid a dividend of 6 per cent, placing the balance of the net earnings in the sinking fund.
From this showing it will be seen that the Lyle Telephone Com- pany is a live organization. Compared with other telephone lines in rural communities, it stands high, and the service it renders is exceptionally good. Its connections with three long-distance lines give its patrons a service that is metropolitan in its complexion. Its offieers at this time are : W. F. Cobb, president; Charles How- ard, vice-president ; B. J. Robertson, seeretary; A. B. Wilder, treasurer, and John Bergason, director. The company employs three operators and gives almost continual service, a few hours on Sunday being the exception. Its business relations with other companies have always been pleasant as well as profitable. The future of this company promises suecess the same as in the past.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
The first meeting of the village council of Lyle was held May 17, 1875, and the august body was composed of the following named persons: L. W. Sherman, mayor and justice of the peace; John Trodler, O. II. Lucken and P. H. MeLaughlin, councilmen ; T. H. Irgens, treasurer ; John C. Taskernd, recorder; Peter Knut- son, constable, and P. Laughlin, assessor.
Since then L. W. Sherman has served the people of Lyle twice in the capacity of mayor. Seventeen others filled this office with the number of terms as follows: P. H. Mclaughlin succeeded Mr. Sherman after three years with two terms, when Peter Hanson was elected and held the office one term. Frank Jereback fol- lowed Peter Hanson with two years in the chair, and T. H. Irgens succeeding, serving three years. L. W. Sherman was then elected again and held the office one year. L. D. Carter, E. L. Stanley, O. T. Lund, O. G. Myhre followed with one term each, when L. W. Sherman was again elected mayor and held office one term. Geo. Robertson and A. M. Wilson followed with one term each and R. Reierson sneceeded Wilson and held the office two years. In 1897, P. A. Johnson was chosen mayor and served three terms. He was followed by W. F. Cobb. W. E. LeBaron was next elected and held the office for three terms, when he was succeeded by F. M. Beach, who, after two years in the office, was followed by Jens Larson in 1908, who has since had the honor of swinging the gavel.
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