The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 47

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 47

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In 1876 John Gaskill rented a building of L. B. Smith, where he kept a grocery store and restaurant about a year. He then made a change in his business. Dealing no longer in groceries he engaged more extensively in the sale of farm machinery, which he had previously handled in connection with his store.

In 1878 E. Mapes rented a building, stocked it with general merchandise and started his son in business. The enterprise not. being wholly successful, in two years' time the store was closed.

Late in 1876 Jesse and Samuel King bought a building in which they opened a meat market, the first in Dexter. In the following spring they put in groceries. They were in trade but a short time. The business passed through several hands before it was finally closed.

Oliver J. Dickens opened a grocery store in the autumn of 1883.

The first drug store in this village was started in 1875, by Joseph Simmons, in the building later occupied by Benner Brothers as a hardware store. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Sim- mons turned over the stock of drugs to his son, Rollon Simmons, a practicing physician, who sold out a few months later to Pettit & Stewart. This firm kept drugs for a time in connection with groceries. Another druggist was George Pearce, who continued in business until the fire of 1897. It was about this time that E. W. Dorr opened a store for the sale of drugs and since that time has been and now is the only druggist of the village.

The first hardware store was opened in 1874, by L. R. Smith, who was in trade rather less than two years. The second was opened by Henry Dudfield, in 1875. Dudfield purchased the hardware stock of L. B. Smith, and a building from Joseph Simmons. In November, 1876, David M. Vermilyea opened a hardware store in the building first erected by Mr. Pearce. Ver- milyea was at this time in the employ of Walter Dixon, of Eyota, in whose interest he managed the store for a year. At the end of that time he, David M., with John K. and James J. Vermilyea, bought the stock. The business was conducted by the Vermilyeas until 1879, when it was sold to Henry Benner, who also bought Dudfield's building. The business was later conducted by his sons, George and Bion Benner, and they, within a few years, dis-

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

posed of the same and were succeeded in that line of business by C. H. Hopkins, C. O. Juelson, Hoppin and Owen, M. D. Williams, Vermilyea and Reed, W. E. Daily, Reed and Nayes, and by Solt and Jacobson.

The first grain buyer here was Amasa N. Converse, who first represented J. C. Easton, and later Wheeler & Hyde. The fol- lowing named also purchased grain in Dexter in the early days: W. P. Hoppin, Seth Keifer, G. Olson, Abner Hunt, A. J. Haskins, A. Gallipean, Charles Anton, J. Riddleton, Aleck Stewart, Alvan Hunt and George Hartwell.

The lumber yard was started by the La Crosse Lumber Com- pany in 1874, whose agent in Dexter was Amasa N. Converse. John Paul purchased the business three or four years later. He later was represented here by George H. Bryan. The lumber yard was finally bought by the Amian Lumber Company, and run by that firm until 1896, when it was transferred to and continued by the Colman Lumber Company, and is still under its management at the present time.

The first hotel in Dexter was built by D. A. Page in 1872. It was opened to the traveling public in August. The building of the second was begun in September, by Robert Swann. This, too, was ready for occupancy before the close of the year. Mr. Page's was a frame building, standing close to the railroad track on the south. It contained, as first built, nine rooms. Page managed the house for two years, then rented to J. L. Gaskill, who rented a few months later to M. D. Chamberlain. About a year afterward the house was closed. In 1880 O. F. Kelly purchased the property. The house was re-opened for a time as a hotel and later was occupied by D. L. Stiles, who was in the drug and merchandise business. The building was destroyed by the fire of 1897. The building put up by Mr. Swann as a hotel was situated north of the railroad and contained twenty-one rooms. Mr. Swann con- tinued as manager of this house till June, 1884, when he leased it to Z. D. Horne. It was afterwards managed and run as a hotel by C. Pearce, Warren and Vandenoever, O. J. Simmons, B. Warn, F. Nolting, H. A. Wilmot and C. W. Howe.

The first harness making shop was opened here in 1877, by Frank Stimson, who sold after a few months to A. C. Warren and removed to Brownsdale. Some six months later Warren sold out to A. N. Converse. From his hands the shop very soon passed into those of a man named Nichols, who held it about a year and then closed up. J. Sherman opened a shop in 1879.

The first to set up shoe making in Dexter was Henry Olson, who represented the craft about a year, beginning in 1879. Robert Behring, his successor, seems to have been a little more contented, as his stay was considerably longer. Frank Trippie was another

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

early shoe maker, who was followed by Johnson and finally by T. K. Berven, who is still engaged in that business.

The first physician to open an office here was Roilon Simmons, M. D., who came in 1875, remained two or three years and then returned to Indiana. His successor was L. D. Jackson, who went from here to Grand Meadow. Dr. Cormick was the third who undertook to make a living by looking after the health of the people of Dexter. He spent but a year in the place, then went to Dakota. Dr. G. J. Schottler located here in 1896 and has ever since been looking after the physical welfare of the people of this locality.

The railroad station in Dexter was built in 1875, 30x70 feet. One end was used as an office and waiting room; the other as a storage room for freight. This building constituted the depot until it was destroyed by the fire of 1897, when it was replaced by another building erected a little farther west, and which still con- tinnes as the railway station of the C., M. & St. P. R. R. Charles H. Pearce was the first station agent and operator. He was suc- ceeded by C. G. King, and the latter by E. E. Bulin.

DEXTER IN 1879.

Following is a brief business directory of Dexter in 1879: S. G. Pettit & Co. (A. Stewart), drugs, collection, grain and lumber agents; G. W. Buck, general store; W. Steppe, furniture; E. Mapes, general store ; J. K. Vermilyea & Co., hardware; Dexter Cornet Band; G. D. Pierce, general store; Robert Behring, shoe- maker; J. L. Gaskill, farm implements and machinery; Havens & Vermilya, wagon makers; J. C. Barry, farm machinery, seeds and fuel ; Robert Swann, proprietor the Swan hotel; L. M. Gaskill, postmaster and collection agent ; L. D. Jackson, M. D., physician ; Congregational church.

DEXTER IN 1889.

In 1889 Dexter had the following business interests: L. M. Gaskill, notion store; O. J. Dickens, postmaster, general store; G. D. Buck, general store; J. A. King, hardware; D. G. Pierce, lumber; O. C. Warren, hotel and livery; G. D. Pierce, general store; Syrillius Funderhide, harness dealer; D. Stiles, general store; F. M. Danby, meats; D. C. March, farm machinery and repairs; J. M. Pierce, blacksmith ; Mrs. Kennerson, notions.

DEXTER IN 1911.

A business directory of the village of Dexter for the past few years shows up as follows: First State Bank of Dexter; O. J.

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Dickens, general store; C. V. Miller, general store; W. E. Daily, hardware, furniture, ete., also dealer in farm implements; E. W. Dorr, postmaster and dealer in drugs; R. Lewis, meats; Solt & Jacobson, hardware; T. K. Berven, shoe shop; Ruth Howe, milli- nery ; E. Karow, creamery ; I. S. Emery, blacksmith ; D. C. March, blacksmith; C. W. Howe, hotel; R. Burke, restaurant; J. E. Kirkwood, deep wells; Union Fibre Company, dealers in flax straw ; C. L. Colman Lumber Company ; Stevenson Elevator Com- pany ; Dexter Telephone Company ; Congregational church ; Seven Day Advent church; a four-room full graded school; G. J. Schottler, physician; Henry Weber, Jr., attorney.

BANKING HISTORY.

First State Bank of Dexter. For some time prior to the erec- tion of the present bank building and the establishment of a permanent bank, G. W. King and also E. S. Hoppin had, in a measure, done some banking business. But it was not until the spring of 1902 that Medbery Brothers, Weber Brothers, W. H. Pierce and E. S. Hoppin, of this village, and Reed & Kline, of Welcome, Minnesota, formed an association for the purpose of establishing a permanent bank. When they had formulated their plans and the bank building had been partly erected, they were induced to sell out to parties from Wright county, Iowa, who completed the building as first planned and in the fall of the same year opened the doors for business as a private banking institution, under the firm name of F. C. Hartshorn & Co., with! D. L. Mills as cashier.

This firm continued in business until January 1, 1907, when the whole, including the banking house, was purchased by the local parties who were the founders of it, and outside parties. among whom were Wright, Parhan, Torgrinson, Zabel and Good- sell of Grand Meadow and F. M. Conklin of Chester, Iowa, and the bank was incorporated under the name of First State Bank of Dexter.

In the early part of the year 1910, the stock held by outside parties was bought by men of this locality, and it is now owned and completely controlled by local parties.

The bank, under its present name, in 1907, started doing busi- ness with a deposit of about $16,000, which has increased to and now exceeds the sum of $90,000. Its officers are : Henry Weber, Jr., president; A. S. Rolison, first vice-president ; G. J. Schottler, second vice-president ; F. M. Conklin, cashier; Theo. Kramer, assistant cashier; and the above named, with H. M. Brue, T. K. Berven, W. Tweeten, R. Weber and J. Miller, are the nine direct- ors of the bank.

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

INCORPORATION.

The village of Dexter was incorporated by an act of the legis- lature, February 28, 1878. It includes sections 13 and 14. The first meeting for the election of village officers was held in Gas- kill's Hall on the 12th of March, 1878. The first officers were: Aleek Stewart, president of the board; councilmen, L. D. Jack- son, L. M. Gaskill, G. W. Buck; recorder, C. H. Pearce; treas- urer, D. M. Vermilyea ; assessor, S. C. Pettit; justices of the peace, J. L. Gaskill and H. Dudfield; constable, I. Dennver.

CHURCHES.

The first religions meetings in Dexter were held in 1874. Rev. T. F. Ladd, a Baptist divine from High Forest, was the pioneer preacher. A few services were held, some of them in the school- house, some in Pearce's Hall. The outcome of these was a Sunday school, of which Israel Best was the superintendent.

In 1875, Rev. Cyrus Stone, Congregationalist, from Massa- chusetts, visited Dexter and preached in the schoolhouse. An interest was awakened, and Rev. L. H. Cabel, superintendent of the Home Missionary Society, came here and organized a church. The first members were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dudfield, Rev. Cyrus Stone, Mrs. Frank Dewey, John DeYoung, Mr. and Mrs. Israel Best, Mrs. Fowler, Walter Hitchman, William Cruikshank. Henry Dudfield and Israel Best were elected deacons, and Cyrus Stone was elected clerk. Rev. Mr. Stone became the first pastor. He was ordained that year at Grand Meadow. He was succeeded by Rev. R. B. Wright, who was followed by Rev. James Sikes. In 1877, a church edifice was erected at a cost of $1,200, about one- half of which was raised in the east. After Rev. Sikes, the pulpit in turn was occupied by Rev. Smith, Cobb, Cowell, Brown, Dun- can, Donalson, Winter, Jones, Lyons, Bain, and the present inenm- bent being Rev. Hughes. The present church officers are I. P. Chase, T. L. Woodford and G. II. MeNeir, trustees ; Mrs. S. Emery, clerk, and Mrs. Clara MeNeir, treasurer.

The Methodist Episcopal class was organized by Rev. Mr. Stokes, of Brownsdale. Among its members were: Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Farrington, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Simmons, Mr. and Mrs. Jolin Harris. R. C. Farrington was class leader and steward. Rev. Messrs. Barklow, Copp and Caple were among the early preachers.

The Seventh Day Adventists erected a church in 1896 and for a time had a regular pastor. Services are held in the church, in charge of the members or of visiting pastors.

In 1869 a union Sunday school was organized at the house of G. W. Bowles. The school was condneted by Mrs. Bowles and

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Henry Dudfield. It received donations of papers and books from the east and from the Congregational church in Austin.

SERIOUS FIRES.

On the night of May 31, 1897, Dexter was visited by a fire which entirely destroyed the buildings on the west side of Main street. When the fire was discovered a high wind was blowing, and in spite of heroic efforts on the part of the citizens, all the buildings on the west side of the street were swept away, includ- ing the railroad station, lumber yard, water tank and coal sheds. The following losses were sustained : S. A. Sorenson, $6,000; H. A. Benson, $2,000; W. H. Pierce, $4,000; G. J. Juelson, $4,000; H. I. Hull, $300; Henry Weber, Jr., $1,500; P. Vandenoever, $2,000; Sorenson & Pierce, $1,200; Cargyll & Hyde, $2,500; G. L. Cole- man, $2,000; George King, $500; F. M. Danley, $1,000; C., M. & St. Paul, $3,000; S. Y. Hyde, $1,200; B. S. Benner, $300.

On January 27, 1907, Dexter suffered another heavy loss by fire, which may be estimated at about $25,000. It was about 10 o'clock in the evening, after the business houses had been closed for the day, that fire broke out in the double-front building owned and occupied by the Medbery Bros. as a dry goods and grocery store. The upper story was used as a Masonic hall, and as an office of Dr. G. J. Schottler. Within a few hours the whole was completely destroyed by the fire. This structure has not been rebuilt. The loss sustained was reasonably well covered by insurance.

SOCIETIES.

Dexter Lodge, No. 253, A. F. & A. M., was constituted in the village April 9, 1903, with fourteen charter members. It now has thirty members, and holds its meeting in the hall of the Buck building. The lodge formerly occupied the Medbery IIall, which. in 1907, was destroyed by fire. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of each month.

The present officers of the lodge are: "E. W. Dorr, W. M .; H. M. Brue, S. W .; D. A. Root, J. W .; F. M. Conklin, treasurer ; J. H. Vandenoever, secretary ; R. G. Longen, S. D .; W. J. Drake, J. D .; J. P. Chase, S. S .; W. Watson, J. S .; W. J. Root, tyler.

Dexter Camp, No. 3504, M. W. A., was organized in this vil- lage January 24, 1896, with twenty charter members. The lodge has at present sixty-six members in good standing and has for several years owned its own hall, which is a commodious one. Regular camp meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Its present officers are: V. C., W. L. Harrison ; W. A., A. T. Root ; E. B., D. A. Root; clerk, O. J. Dickens; escort, John Prickett ; watchman, George Drake; sentry, Charles Kramer.

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Dexter Telephone Company. A loeal telephone company of this vieinity was established in May, 1901. It was a stoek eom- pany known as the Mower County Farmers' Telephone, in which each patron was required to own a share and provide his own instrument and help build the line. It proved to be a sueeess in every way and soon was connected with other lines for long dis- tanee work. The first offieers of the company were: B. F. King, president; O. J. Diekens, treasurer, and J. Rahilly, secretary. On the first day of January, 1909, the company was incorporated under the name of Dexter Telephone Company, with a capital stoek of $10,000, and the line now has 150 miles of wire in opera- tion with about 250 phones in place. The village of Dexter is the headquarters for the company and there is seareely a farm home within a radius of several miles of the village which eannot be reached by the line. The annual meetings are held in June, and the present offieers are L. Larson, president ; A. S. Rolfson, viee president ; O. J. Diekens, treasurer, and R. Rahilly, secretary ; these, together with N. Lee, C. Fairbanks, W. Daily, W. Watson, W. Phillips, W. Drake, and J. Martin, constitute the board of directors.

Dexter Commercial Club. One of the many associations of the village that should not be lost sight of is the Commercial Club of Dexter. Although not more than a year has passed since its formation, it has done a great deal for the business and financial interests of the village and in additon to this it has been instru- mental in maintaining a fraternal feeling among the business men of the town. The elub has a large membership for a village of this size and a great deal of interest is taken. Its present officers are G. J. Sehottler, president ; F. M. Conklin, treasurer, and E. W. Dorr, seeretary.

DEXTER CEMETERY.

The village eemetery is well loeated one-half mile north of the business portion of the town, in the northwest quarter of seetion 13. It is on the main highway and consists of two aeres of niee high ground, which slopes east and also west. It was platted in 1889 and laid out in seventy-two main or principal lots and 306 smaller or outside lots. The cemetery is under the control and management of the village council.

RENOVA.

Renova is located in section 9 and was started after the build- ing of what is now the Chieago Great Western road in 1887. It

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

is chiefly a grain trading point and has an excellent elevator, a railroad station and a general store in which is located the post- office. Renova was platted March 30, 1900, by W. F. Johnson.

SUTTON.

Sutton was located in section 26 on the Chicago Great West- ern. It was started as a trading point after the building of the railroad in 1887. The elevator burned down and the station has been moved away.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

WINDOM TOWNSHIP.

Location, Advantages and Area-Early Settlement-First Events -Organization of the Township-Religious-Rose Creek Vil- lage-Location, Platting, Incorporation and Officers-Busi- ness in the Early Days-Churches-Edited by George Sutton and Ferdinand G. Ray.

Windom township embraces the territory comprised in con- gressional township 102 north, range 17 west of the fifth principal meridian. It is bounded on the north by Red Rock township, on the east by Marshall, on the south by Nevada and on the west by Austin. The surface of this township is quite level, and there are but few acres of waste land. Originally about three-fourths of the surface of the township was clear prairie land, while on a portion of the balance good timber was growing. The largest body of timber was located on seetions 7, 8, 13, 24 and 25. The soil is a rich, dark loam, in some places mixed slightly with sand and in other places with clay. The soil is very productive and excellently adapted to the raising of cereals and grasses common to this latitude.

The township is drained by Rose creek and its tributaries and the tributaries of Dobbins creek. Rose ereek enters the town- ship from Marshall by way of section 1 and flows to section 12; from thence it retraces its course and passes back to Marshall township a trifle. On section 13 it again enters this township, passing across that section; then through the northwest corner of section 24 to 23; thence through 26; the northwest quarter of 35; thence across 34, 33, 32 and the northeast corner of 31 to section 30, from which it leaves this township to enter Austin township. The drainage from the northern part of the township is into Dobbins creek.

In early days, and in fact until about 1878, wheat was the

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

chief product, as much as thirty bushels to the aere being fre- quently threshed. The first wheat raised here was marketed at MeGregor, Iowa, and Winona, and many of the settlers used to make the trip with ox teams. It was generally considered an eight to ten days' trip to McGregor, and six to eight to Winona ; but in bad going it would take longer. In the summer season it was customary to take provisions along and eamp on the way. During the winter they would put up at hotels which were stationed at different places along the road. Some of these taverns were built of logs and not very large, and were often- times erowded with guests, but like a stage coach, there was al- ways room for one more. At the present day wheat is not as profitable as it used to be, and much less of it is sown. Barley, oats, corn, potatoes, timothy, flax and elover are raised in large quantities. The dairy and stoek raising interests are now re- ceiving eonsiderable attention and many good horses and cattle are raised in this township.

Early Settlement.

The first settlement in Windom township was made in 1855 by Sylvester Davis, who came here in the spring of that year and eamped on section 20. But at that time he heard of better pros- pects farther on, and he went west. In August of that year, how- ever, he returned and settled on the southwest quarter of see- tion 20, where he ereeted the first dwelling in the township. It was a frame house, which he afterwards enlarged by building an addition. This he opened as a tavern, it being on the road from the Little Cedar to Owatonna, a road mneh traveled in those days, and his house was frequently erowded with guests. Davis was a typical frontiersman, and was visibly inclined to be rough and uncouth. In 1857 he sold and returned to Iowa, where he lived a short time, then moved to Rice county, Minnesota, where he died a few years later. He sold his place in this town- ship to Nelson Cook, a Congregational elergyman, and while he lived there the place was named "Saint's Rest," by which name some still know it. From Rev. Cook the chain of title to the plaee passed through Franeis Bronson, Elias Branch, John Mer- rill, William V. Little, Henry Baker and then to Vernon M. Gregg, the present owner.

Elon C. Benton was the second settler in the township. He was a native of New York state; but came here from Iowa, where he had lived for a short time. In March, 1856, he claimed the south half of the southwest quarter of section 7, in Windom, and also the southeast of the southeast quarter of section 12, in Aus- tin township. His mother accompanied him. He erected a log

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house on section 7 and lived there until 1861, when he sold and moved to Nebraska, settling near Omaha. Ile lived there for a time then removed to Smith county, Kansas. In 1883 he removed to Oregon. Ile held various offices of trust in Windom, was justice of the peace in Nebraska and Kansas, and in the latter state held the office of judge of probate.

In March, 1856, William T. Mandeville, Alfred Richardson, Hugh Mills and Pliny Conkey came. They were all natives of the state of New York and had lived near West Union, Iowa, for a time. This party came with forty covered wagons. Mr. Man- deville claimed the southeast quarter of section 30; Conkey the southeast of 19; Mills the northwest of 29, and Richardson the north half of the southeast quarter of section 20. They all re- turned to Iowa except Mills, who remained to look after the elaims. In May of that year they came back and with them came Horatio Marsh, George N. Conkey and Charles Zwick. Mande- ville located upon his elaim. Conkey was a single man and made his home with his brother George N. for two years, and then went to Iowa. About a year later he returned and in 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Ninth Minnesota Infantry. He was cap- tured at the battle of Guntown, Miss., and died in a rebel prison. Mr. Mills died in June, 1884, and his family at this writing still ocenpies the place. Richardson improved his land and lived there until 1870, when he moved to Austin, where he resided for a number of years. The place was sold to Walter Hines, whose family now occupies the place. George N. Conkey entered the northeast quarter of section 30. He is now dead. Marsh entered the south half of the southeast quarter of section 20. In 1878 he sold and moved to Austin. He is now dead. This place was sold to Patriek Hues, who sold to William Enright, the present owner.

During the same year (1856) the following arrived with their families : Chester Fuller and his son Walter, Obadiah Smith, Andrew Robertson, Aaron Draper, Mrs. Ann Smith and son Thomas, Ira W. Padden, Martin O'Malley, Michael Slaven, Pat- riek Mealy, Quiney A. Trnesdell, William Cowan, Henry Fero, Peter MeGrath and A. J. Clark.

The Fullers were natives of Connecticut, but came here from Wisconsin. They settled on the west half of the northeast quar- ter of section 20. The father, Chester Fuller, died three weeks later. This was the first death in the township. Walter made this his home until the time of his death. The family are all dead except Mrs. Rosetta Fuller, who lives in Rotunda, N. D. Obadiah Smith was a native of New Jersey. He came here from Iowa and settled on the north half of the northwest quarter of section 7. He is now dead. His wife lives in Minneapolis, and

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 47

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