USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The history of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 30
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District 96. Originally organized in 1899, is in the southeast
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
part of Redwood Falls township. The schoolhouse, erected in 1900, is located near the northeast corner of section 23. This is a good building, well equipped on a good site. The enrollment is too small for good results. They maintain a nine-months' term of school.
District 97. Originally organized in 1900, is in the southeast corner of Redwood Falls, northeast corner of New Avon, south- west corner of Paxton and the northwest corner of Three Lakes. The schoolhouse, erected in 1908, is located in the central part of section 1, in New Avon township. The building, equipment and site are good. They have a large school in which good work is done.
District 98. Originally organized in 1900, is in the southwest part of Springdale township. The schoolhouse, erected in 1901, is located in the east-central part of section 30. The school build- ing, which is a good one, is located in a large grove. The people of this community are progressive and maintain a good nine- months' term of school.
District 99. Originally organized in 1900, is in the south- central part of Sherman township, and the north-central part of Morgan township. The schoolhouse, known as the "Mckinley" school, was erected in 1901, and is located in the southeast cor- ner of section 32, Sherman township. The building is good and well equipped, and the site is elean and well kept, but needs trees and fence.
District 100. Originally organized in 1900, is in the west-cen- tral part of Sherman township. The schoolhouse, erected in 1899, is located in the northeast corner of section 30. It has a good building, well equipped, on a fine site.
District 101. Originally organized in 1901, is in the east- central part of New Avon and the west-central part of Three Lakes township. The schoolhouse named "The Golden Rule," and erected in 1914, is located in the east-central part of sec- tion 13, of New Avon. They have a fine, well equipped school which is on a low site. A good school is maintained.
District 102. Originally organized in 1901, is in the central part of Vesta township. The schoolhouse is located in the village of Vesta. This is a four-room frame building, on a site dotted with shade trees. The playground is fitted up with apparatus. They employ four teachers and offer one year of high school work. Sewing is taught in the grades.
District 103. Originally organized in 1901, is in the north- central part of Sheridan township. The schoolhouse, erected in 1901, is located in the central part of section 10. It is a good building with good equipment, near a large grove. They maintain a good school.
District 104. Originally organized in 1901, is in the south-
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west-central part of Sheridan township. The schoolhouse, known as the "Okawa" school, and erected in 1902, is located in the village of Seaforth. This is a four-room building, very well equipped, but only hire two teachers.
District 105. Originally organized in 1904, is located in the southwest corner of Three Lakes. The schoolhouse, named "Marion," was erected in 1900 and is located in the southeast corner of section 27. The school is well equipped although the building is fair and the site small. They maintain a good school.
District 106. Originally organized in 1904, is in the central part of Three Lakes. The schoolhouse, called the "Sunrise" school, and erected in 1907, is located in the south-central part of section 16. This is a good building, on a site which is fenced. The enrollment is large and the attendance fair.
District 107. Originally organized in 1904, is in the north- central part of Three Lakes, and in the south-central part of Paxton township. The schoolhouse, called the "Lincoln" school, and erected in 1904, is located in the southeast corner of section 32. This is a good building, with good equipment, located on a site which is well fenced.
District 108. Originally organized in 1904, is in the central part of Granite Rock township. The schoolhouse, erected in 1904, is located in the village of Lucan. This is a two-room building, situated on beautiful grounds, having fine shade trees and equipped with playground apparatus. The basement is fitted up for a shop for elementary manual training work. There is splen- did co-operative school spirit in this district.
District 109. Originally organized in 1904, is in the east- central part of Morgan township. The schoolhouse, erected in 1904, is located in the northwest corner of section 13. They have a good building and this year equipped for state aid.
District 110. Originally organized in 1906, is in the central part of Waterbury township. The schoolhouse, known as the "Lowell" school, was erected in 1906, and is located in the east- central part of section 16. This is a good building, well equipped, on a high site. They maintain a good school.
District 111. Originally organized in 1906, is in the north- west part of Redwood Falls township. The schoolhouse, erected in 1907, is located in the north-central part of section 8. They have a good building, well equipped, on a large high site. Young trees have recently been set out.
District 112. Originally organized in 1908, is in the south- east part of Johnsonville and the northeast part of North Hero township. The schoolhouse, erected in 1909, is located in the northeast corner of section 35. This is a very good school build- ing, having good equipment. The site needs trees and fence.
District 113. Originally organized in 1910, is in the north-
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central part of Johnsonville township and the south-central part of Granite Rock. The schoolhouse, known as the "Hiawatha" school and erected in 1910, is located near the northwest corner of section 10 in Johnsonville township. They have a splendid, well equipped building, situated on a large site near a large grove. The equipment is very good and a good school is main- tained.
All the city and village schools have a nine-months' term of school and in the rural schools, not otherwise mentioned, there is an eight-month's term.
County Superintendents. The first county superintendent was Edward March, first appointed school examiner and then superintendent. He was appointed Sept. 5, 1866, and served until Nov. 16, 1869, when he resigned. E. A. Chandler served from Nov. 16, 1869, to April 1, 1872. Dr. W. D. Flinn served from April 1, 1872, to April 1, 1874. William B. Harriott was super- intendent from April 1, 1874 to Feb. 1, 1876. D. L. Bigham served from Feb. 1, 1876, to Feb. 1, 1878. R. W. Hoyt served from Feb. 1, 1878, to March 19, 1879. M. M. Madigan was ap- pointed his successor, and after serving a short time was suc- ceeded by D. L. Bigham in 1880. Mr. Bigham was followed by R. L. Marshman. It was in 1886 that S. J. Race was appointed. He served until Nov. 2, 1906, and was followed by H. J. Beber- meyer. Mrs. Adella Huntington-Pratt has served since Jan. 1, 1912.
For the year ending Jan. 7, 1868, the county superintendent received a salary of $25. Jan. 6, 1870, it was raised to $50 a year. Jan. 4, 1872, it was increased to $100 a year. March 20, 1876, the compensation of the county superintendent was fixed at $10 a district, provided that he should fulfill his duties in accordance with the state laws. Jan. 3, 1893, the salary plan was resumed, and the county superintendent was to receive $900 a year. This was increased Jan. 5, 1897, to $910; Jan. 4, 1898, to $1,000; Jan. 8, 1907, to $1,300; Jan. 7, 1908, to $1,500; Jan. 4, 1910, to $1,600; Jan. 3, 1911, to $1,700; and Jan. 2, 1912, to $1,800.
S. J. Race was born in Philadelphia, Pa .; educated in the public schools and graduated from the university of that state. He taught school in Dakota county, Minnesota; later removed to Redwood Falls, and entered the mercantile industry. In 1886 he was called to the superintendency of the Redwood county schools, in which place he continued for nearly twenty years. The county, when he assumed charge of the schools, had an organiza- tion of sixty-four districts. When he resigned in 1906 it had an or- ganization of one hundred and ten. The schools in the beginning were poorly equipped and not very efficiently taught. The standard of scholarship was rather low; there were few, if any, teachers holding state first grade certificates. The normal school graduate
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had not made her advent into the country. Heating, ventilation and sanitation were practically undreamed of in the country school. The average length of term was about five months, this being gradually extended till it became an average of a little more than seven months in 1906. Libraries, free text books, and supervision came in 1896, so that the standard of scholarship of the teachers was very materially raised. School board members seemed to have awakened an educational consciousness through co-operation. During the last ten years of his connection with the country schools of the county, he was appointed by the state superintendent of public instruction to act as president of the state examining board for granting professional certificates, and to personally inspect state summer schools, and to act as a con- ductor of the state teachers' institutes. He says, "the constant association with the state department of education put a special emphasis on the improvement of the rural school and the coun- try life problem; and if the schools of the county made any im- provement during the twenty years I was associated with it, it is largely due to the interests awakened by the teachers and the school boards themselves that brought about the excellency of the school system that prevailed at the time I left the work in 1906."
At the present time Mr. Race lives in Minneapolis, being con- nected with the Northwestern School Supply Company, and be- ing manager of the Minneapolis Teachers' Agency.
It is a recognized fact in the whole county that it was through the efforts of Mr. Race that Redwood county became an educa- tional county, and that its schools are today recognized as among the best in the state. When he began his work here in 1886, the schools were unorganized, scantily equipped, and poorly taught. He began immediately to systematize the work and improve the teaching force. Later he emphasized better equipment and bet- ter buildings. It is largely through his efforts that the Redwood county schools are so excellent today.
H. J. Bebermeyer was born at Lakeland, Minn. His early education was obtained in the public schools of his native county,. after which he entered Central Wesleyan college at Warrenton, Missouri, from which he graduated in 1890. Returning to his native state he taught for two years in the rural schools, four years in St. Paul college, five years as principal of schools at New Prague, and two years as principal at Jordan. In 1903 he came to Wabassa and entered the furniture and undertaking business. In 1906 he became a candidate before the primaries for the Republican nomination for county superintendent of schools. He was successful at both the primaries and the polls, and in 1908 was re-elected without opposition. In 1912 the was succeeded by Mrs. Adella Huntington-Pratt. Supt. Bebermeyer
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was a tireless worker and ranks as one of Redwood county's best superintendents of schools. He is at the present time the editor of the newspaper at Granite Falls, Minn.
Mrs. Adella Huntington-Pratt was born in Platteville, Wis. Her early education was obtained in the public schools of that place, later being graduated from the Platteville Normal school. She holds a first grade state professional certificate from this state. She has attended summer school for two years at the University of Minnesota, for one year at Chicago, and for one year at Chautauqua, New York. After graduating from Normal Mrs. Pratt taught for one year in the rural schools of Wisconsin. She came to Redwood county the following year and taught in a rural school in the southern part of the county and during the next four years she taught in the grades in Redwood Falls. For two years she was assistant in the high school and the next year held the place of principal of the high school in Redwood Falls. She was Normal instructor in the same school the following year. In 1912 she was elected to the office of county superintendent of schools in Redwood county, by popular vote, which place she has most efficiently filled since that time. She has done much to make the schools of Redwood county better. Four districts have con- solidated during her term of office, many new schoolhouses have been erected, and the schools in general are much improved. The teachers and school officers have awakened to a realization of the great need of co-operation in working for the best schools for the children in the rural communities. It is due largely to Mrs. Pratt's efforts that the schools of Redwood county have made such rapid strides for better schools in the past four years.
Authorship. This article has been prepared under the per- sonal supervision of Mrs. Adella Huntington-Pratt, county super- intendent of schools. The work on the auditor's records and the reports of the county superintendent's reports and records has been done by Miss Lillian Jensen, assisted by Miss Esther Jensen and Miss Adeline Anderson. The work on the reports of the state superintendents of public instruction has been done by Miss Evelyn Bolin.
Authority. Reports of the county superintendents of schools (manuscript) in the custody of the Redwood county auditor.
Reports of the state superintendents of public instruction (printed).
Records of the county commissioners (manuscript) in the cus- tody of the Redwood county auditor.
Records of the county superintendent of schools (manuscript) in the county superintendent's office.
Personal observations of Mrs. Adella Huntington-Pratt.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
LIVE STOCK.
When the assessment of 1868 was taken the majority of the settlers were assessed for two horses apiece, and a cow or two, and in some cases a pig. In the present county outside of the Swedes Forest settlement there were 101 horses, 297 cattle, 277 sheep and 67 hogs. The sheep were all in Charlestown, where Joseph T. Bean owned 11 horses, 15 cattle and 99 sheep, and Charles Porter owned two horses, one cow and 178 sheep. F. W. Byington of Paxton had five hogs, the largest number in the county. Bernhart Kuenzli of Honner, had twenty-five cattle, the largest number in the county.
During the Pioneer Period there was a gradual increase in stockraising in the county, as shown by the assessment returns.
In 1872, the last year of the Pioneer Period, there were in the county 397 horses, 105 being under three years old, and 292 be- ing over that age. They were divided as follows: Under three years-Redwood Falls, 89; Sheridan, 4; Sherman, 6; Charles- town, 6. The average value was $35.70, the highest being $38.33, in Sherman, and the lowest $31.25 in Sheridan. Over three years -Redwood Falls, 219; Sheridan, 30; Sherman, 26, and Charles- town, 17. The average value was $65.02, the highest being $66.40 in Sheridan, and the lowest $64.12 in Charlestown.
There were 1,125 cattle; 409 being under two years old; 468 being cows over two years old; and 248 being oxen and steers. They were divided as follows: Under two years old-Redwood Falls, 269; Sheridan, 41; Sherman, 79; Charlestown, 20. The average value was $8.85, the highest being $9.10 in Charlestown and the lowest $8.69 in Redwood Falls. Cows over two years old -Redwood Falls, 319; Sheridan, 49; Sherman, 61; Charlestown, 39. The average value was $20.23, the highest being $20.75 in Sheridan and the lowest $19.45 in Redwood Falls. Oxen and steers-Redwood Falls, 117; Sheridan, 58; Sherman, 31; Charles- town, 42. The average value was $31.20, the highest being $31.78 in Charlestown and the lowest $30.34 in Sheridan.
The sheep numbered 595, there being 84 in Redwood Falls, and 511 in Charlestown. The average value was $1.62.
In the county at this time there were 307 swine, 200 being in Redwood Falls, 69 in Sheridan, 9 in Sherman, and 29 in Charlestown. The average value was $2.81, the highest being $5.00 in Sherman and the lowest being $1.25 in Redwood Falls.
Redwood Falls township had not been created but was gen- erally understood to consist of everything in the county not other- wise organized as townships. Sheridan and Sherman consisted
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of their present area, Charlestown consisted of Charlestown and Lamberton.
The year 1873 marked the beginning of the grasshopper period. Brookville, New Avon, Sheridan, Sherman and Sundown then consisted of their present areas; Charlestown consisted of Charlestown and Lamberton; Swedes Forest consisted of Swedes Forest, Kintire and the northern part of Delhi; while Redwood Falls was generally understood to consist of the rest of the county.
In the county at that time there were 635 horses (as com- pared with 397 in 1872), 139 (as compared with 105 in 1872) be- ing under three years old, and 496 (as compared with 292 in 1872) being over that age. They were divided as follows: Under three years old-Brookville, 6; Charlestown, 5; New Avon, 10; Redwood Falls, 78; Sheridan, 7; Sherman, 19; Swedes Forest, 7; Sundown, 7. The average value was $28.30, the highest being $32.14 in Sheridan and Sundown townships, and the lowest $22.00 in Charlestown. Over three years old-Brookville, 39; Charles- town, 44; New Avon, 36; Redwood Falls, 244; Sheridan, 60; Sher- man, 31; Swedes Forest, 18; Sundown, 24. The average value was $59.85, the highest being $67.58 in Sheridan and the lowest $46.14 in Charlestown.
There were 2,161 cattle (as compared with 1,125 in 1872) ; 837 (as compared with 409 in 1872) being under two years old ; 793 (as compared with 468 in 1872) being cows over two years old; 531 (as compared with 248 in 1872) being oxen and steers. They were divided as follows: Under two years old-Brookville, 47; Charlestown, 28; New Avon, 41; Redwood Falls, 455; Sheri- dan, 53; Swedes Forest, 50; Sherman, 132; Sundown, 31. The average value was $7.60, the highest being $8.80 in Redwood Falls, the lowest $6.22 in Swedes Forest. Cows over two years old-Brookville, 58; Charlestown, 60; New Avon, 51; Redwood Falls, 352; Sheridan, 53; Sherman, 81; Swedes Forest, 86; Sun- down, 52. The average value was $16.95, the highest being $19.60 in New Avon and the lowest $15.10 in Charlestown. Oxen and steers-Brookville, 44; Charlestown, 53; New Avon, 33; Redwood Falls, 179; Sheridan, 44; Sherman, 49; Swedes Forest, 65; Sun- down, 64. The average value was $26.80, the highest being $29.55 in Brookville, the lowest $21.69 in Swedes Forest.
The sheep numbered 425 (as compared with 595 in 1872), there being one in Brookville, 323 in Charlestown, 62 in Redwood Falls, one in Sherman, 36 in Swedes Forest, and the rest of the town- ships having none. The average value was $1.64, the highest being $2 in Brookville and Sherman, the lowest being $1 in Red- wood Falls.
There were 290 (as compared with 307 in 1872) swine, 9 being in Brookville, 25 in Charlestown, 15 in New Avon, 135 in Redwood Falls, 56 in Sheridan, 30 in Sherman, 3 in Swedes Forest, 17 in
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Sundown. The average value was $2.60, the highest being $2.66 in Redwood Falls, the lowest $2.00 in Brookville.
Eleven mules and asses had been brought into the county, divided as follows: Charlestown, 2; New Avon, 2; Redwood Falls, 4; Sherman, 1, and Sundown, 2; the average value being $58.63.
The year 1877 marked the last grasshopper year. That year the little insects disappeared in the summer. But the memory of their devastations had limited the crop acreage and the effect of their presence remained throughout the summer.
In 1877 Delhi did not include fractional town 114-36, Swedes forest consisted of Swedes Forest, Kintire, and fractional town- ship 114-36. Sheridan, New Avon, Sherman, Brookville, Sun- down, Willow Lake, Charlestown, Lamberton, North Hero, Spring- dale, Three Lakes, Underwood, and Gales townships, all had their present area ; Willow Lake, North Hero, Springdale, Three Lakes, Underwood and Gales having been organized since 1873. Charles- town and Lamberton had been separated since 1873.
In the county at that time there were 943 horses (as compared with 635 in 1873), 163 (as compared with 139 in 1873) being under three years old, and 780 (as compared with 496 in 1873) being over that age. They were divided as follows: Under three years old-Redwood Falls, 55; Swedes Forest, 13; Sheridan, 8; New Avon, Delhi and Underwood, 5; Sherman, 11; Brookville, 17; Sundown, 10; Willow Lake and Gales, 3; Charlestown, 12; Lamberton and Three Lakes, none; North Hero, 2, and Spring- dale, 14. The average value was $20.12, the highest being $20.91 in Sherman and the lowest $19.28 in Springdale. Over three years old-Redwood Falls, 279; Swedes Forest, 32; Delhi, 32; Sheridan, 28; North Hero, 28; New Avon, 41; Sherman, 52; Brookville, 60; Sundown, 35; Springdale, 35; Willow Lake, 16; Charlestown, 46; Lamberton, 58; Three Lakes, 11; Underwood, 8, and Gales, 9. The average value was $42.07, the highest being $43.56 and the lowest $40.08.
There were 4,646 (as compared with 2,161 in 1873) cattle; 1,256 (as compared with 837 in 1873) being under two years old; 2,215 (as compared with 793 in 1873) being cows over two years old; 1,175 (as compared with 531 in 1873) being oxen and steers. They were divided as follows: Under two years-Redwood Falls, 335; Swedes Forest, 91; Sheridan, 68; New Avon, 55; Sher- man, 89; Brookville, 77; Sundown, 82; Willow Lake, 47; Charles- town, 90; Lamberton, 63; Delhi, 63; North Hero, 70; Springdale, 35; Three Lakes, 22; Underwood, 37, and Gales, 32. The average value was $5.18, the highest being $5.77 in Three Lakes, the low- est $5 in New Avon, Brookville, Springdale and Underwood. Cows over two years-Redwood Falls, 580; Swedes Forest, 151; Sheridan, 98; New Avon, 110; Sherman, 140; Brookville, 207;
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Sundown, 158; Charlestown, 158; Willow Lake, 71; Lamberton, 124; Springdale, 124; North Hero, 113; Delhi, 74; Three Lakes, 21; Underwood, 50, and Gales, 36. The average value was $11.67 the highest being $12.69 in North Hero, and the lowest $11.17 in Gales. Oxen and steers-Redwood Falls, 319; Swedes Forest, 102; Sheridan, 43; New Avon, 65; Sherman, 82; Brookville, 73; Sundown, 67; Willow Lake, 45; Charlestown, 69, and North Hero, 69; Lamberton, 44; Springdale, 70; Delhi, 48; Three Lakes, 18; Underwood, 38, and Gales, 23. The average value was $16.82, the highest being $21.30 in Gales, and the lowest $13.81 in Lam- berton.
The number of sheep was 1,560 (as compared with 425 in 1873). They were divided as follows: Redwood Falls, 543; Swedes Forest, 133; Sheridan, 1; New Avon, 142; Sherman, 5; Three Lakes, 5; Underwood, 5; Brookville, 54; Sundown, 14; Gales, 14; Willow Lake, 12; Charlestown, 438; Lamberton, 34; North Hero, 32; Springdale, 28, and Delhi, 100. The average value was $1.47, the highest being $1.59 in New Avon and the lowest $1.00 in Sheridan and Sherman.
In the county at this time there were 690 swine (as compared with 290 in 1873). They were divided as follows: Redwood Falls, 269; Swedes Forest, 43; Sheridan, 39; New Avon, 22; Sher- man, 25; Brookville, 50; Sundown, 54; Willow Lake, 27; Charles- town, 55; Lamberton, 19; North Hero, 20; Springdale, 16; Delhi, 17; Three Lakes, 5; Underwood, 21 and Gales 8. The average value was $1.69, the highest being $3.75 in Gales and the lowest $1.11 in Sundown.
There were 16 mules and asses in the county divided as fol- lows: Redwood Falls, 14, and Willow Lake, 2, the average value being $44.06.
In spite of the serious setbacks caused by the grasshopper ravages, the county had steadily increased its agricultural en- deavors from 1873 to 1877, although the taxable area had been decreased.
The number of horses under three years of age increased from 139 in 1873 to 162 in 1877. In 1874 the number decreased to 124, jumped to 173 in 1875, and decreased to 147 in 1876. The horses over three years, cattle under two years, and cows over two years show a gradual increase. The number of oxen and steers, jumped from 531 in 1873 to 1,221 in 1876, and then dropped to 1,175 in 1877. The number of sheep jumped from 670 in 1873 to 974 in 1876 and then decreased to 560 in 1877. The number of swine jumped from 290 in 1873 to 785 in 1876, and then decreased to 690 in 1877.
The year 1878 marks the beginning of the period of rapid growth.
Waterbury township had been organized since 1877, Swedes
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Forest still consisted of Swedes Forest and Kintire. Redwood Falls township still consisted of Honner, Vesta, Redwood Falls, Paxton, Granite Rock, Vail, Morgan, Johnsonville and Westline. During the period of 1878-1905, Johnsonville and Westline were organized in 1879, and Honner, Kintire, Morgan, Paxton, Vail, and Vesta were organized in 1880 and Granite Rock in 1889, al- though it had been taxed as a separate entity since 1880.
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