USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The history of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 66
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
served as postmaster from November 23, 1901, to February 3, 1903. While he was postmaster, the office was moved to the new village of Lucan, and located in the store on Main street, now occupied by John Zeng's general store. The postoffice was opened there November 1, 1902, and remained till February 13, 1903, when it was moved to its present location. Jens Larson, having been appointed postmaster, erected the first building in the new town, a two-story frame, 20 by 50 feet. Mr. Larson still presides, ably assisted by his wife. They also have a small stock of general merchandise. The office has always been a registered letter office and was made a money order office April 1, 1904. In 1909 it was made a postal savings station, but this branch was discontinued in the following year. There is one rural route, established in 1907, which has been served from the beginning by Henry C. Dittbenner. The West Line postoffice was discontinued in 1902, the mail formerly distributed from that point having been since distributed from Lucan. The Lucan office was con- tinued under the name of "Rock" postoffice until April 1, 1908, as there was another office in the state of similar name to Lucan, but that office being discontinued, the name of Rock postoffice was changed to Lucan on the above-mentioned date.
Milroy postoffice was established June 26, 1902 and located in the store of the Milroy Hardware Company, Looney and Rash- kopf, proprietors, which building is now being used by Joseph W. Dysart, implement dealer. Jerry A. Looney was the first postmaster. Previous to the date above mentioned the mail for this section had been delivered by rural free delivery from Marshall. E. M. Wilson succeeded Mr. Looney as postmaster in 1905 and held the office until 1910, when he was succeeded by Maxwell W. Johnson, who still conducts the office ably assisted by Miss Lucile Leach. After several removals, the office was established in its present location during Mr. Wilson's incum- bency. It has been a registered letter and money order office since it was established. July 1, 1913, it was made a postal savings station, but the savings department was discontinued, owing to lack of business, July 1, 1914. Rural free delivery was established May 15, 1906, with Thomas O. Loovald as carrier. He was succeeded September 1, 1914, by Alfred F. Brakke, who still continues in the service. From Westline township the route extends into Clinton in Lyon county.
Morgan. When the railroad was being constructed, Tom Holland, being section boss, acted as temporary postmaster at Morgan and continued to do so for several years. The first post- office was established on First street, George Knudson, the first regular postmaster, serving until 1882, the office being made a registered letter and money order office in 1878. Lewis Gerst- man, proprietor of a hardware and general merchandise store
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
located on First street, followed Mr. Knudson as postmaster, serving from 1882 to 1886, and having the office located in his store. Nick Eischen was appointed postmaster from 1886 to 1890, the office then being located on Front street, in connection with a general mercantile store. Mr. Eischen's successor was Richard Gertes, who served from 1890 to 1894, when the office was moved from Front street up on Main street. The next post- master following Mr. Gertes was Joe Hartwick, 1894 to 1898, the office being moved from Main street down on First street, in the building know as the old Fred Fixsen building. William Kin- man, the next postmaster, served from 1898 to 1904, and moved the office from First street up on Main street. F. S. Pollard suc- ceeded Mr. Kinman and served until 1915, the office being located on Main street. In 1915 H. F. Hopfenspirger was appointed post- master and is still serving. The postoffice, located on Main street, is now equipped with all the latest fixtures. Miss Rose A. Fixsen, assistant postmaster, has served from 1906 up to the present time. The first rural route was established in 1902 with George Goodell as carrier and he is still carrier on Route No. 1, Route No. 2 was established one year later, in 1903, with Andrew Thompson as carrier for one year. Then Fred Cass was appointed in 1905 and served till 1906, when H. F. Hopfenspirger was appointed carrier, serving till 1911, and being succeeded by Will- iam Koehue, who has served as carrier up to the present time. Route No. 3 was established in 1904, with Julius Conrad as car- rier, he serving till 1906. His successors have been A. A. Carlile, 1906-1912; Rub Gluth, 1912-1913; Paul Zeug, 1913-1914, and Wal- ter Beltz, 1914 to present year (1916). Morgan postoffice became a postal savings depository November 10, 1911, and is one of the largest in the county. The Lone Tree postoffice was discontinued into this office in 1906, John Gluth being postmaster at that time. Previously, the above mentioned office had been served from Morgan postoffice, on Route No. 2. In 1911 this office went into the third class. It is now serving about 1,600 patrons, with receipts increasing each year. When the rural routes were started each carrier handled about 3,000 pieces and served forty boxes. Now they handle 6,000 pieces, each route being twenty- eight miles and serve eighty-five boxes.
North Redwood postoffice was established August 1, 1886, in the railroad depot, J. S. G. Honner, the first postmaster, serv- ing until January 1, 1887, since which time the postmasters have been as follows: E. N. Swan, to June, 1891; H. W. Shoemaker, to May 1, 1894; E. H. Gasper, to April 1, 1896; M. W. Knox to April 1, 1898; A. A. Lindeman, to December 31, 1899; F. F. Ham- mer, to November 8, 1902; H. W. Shoemaker, since 1902. The office has been located in stores since Mr. Hanner's time and is now in Mr. Shoemaker's store on Front street. It was made a
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registered letter office August 1, 1886 and a money order office in October, 1898. Mrs. H. W. Shoemaker is assistant postmaster and Dewey Lindeman, clerk. There is one free rural delivery route, which was established May 1, 1904, and which has been served by the following carriers: John F. Swoboda, to January, 1905; George F. Dittbenner, to July 1, 1906; Robert T. Benson, to November, 1910; August E. Lindeman, to September 1, 1915; Frank H. Schumacher, to May 1, 1916, when he was succeeded by Ralph E. Hutchinson, the present carrier. The offices of Bechyn and Florita, Renville county, Minnesota, have been discontinued into that of North Redwood.
Vesta postoffice was established long before the village was projected. The old office was located in section 22, Vesta town- ship. T. L. Cronley was the first postmaster and James Arnold the second. When the village was established, Mr. Arnold moved the office to the village, and appointed F. H. Bendix as his deputy, the office being kept in the store of Matz & Schroeder. Some months later, H. R. Draper was appointed first postmaster of the village, and moved the office to a small building on lot 4, block 7. In 1904, Morgan E. Lewis became the postmaster. Harvey Harris, the present postmaster, was appointed March 14, 1906. The office became a money order office in 1903, and was a postal savings station from July 1, 1913, to July 1, 1914. F. H. Bendix is the assistant postmaster, and Sadie Wilkerson is the clerk. The rural route was established in 1904. The carriers have been F. L. Frost, B. C. Lewis and A. D. Wyman.
Wabasso. The postoffice was established May 1, 1900, with J. H. Rahskopf as postmaster. In April, 1904, he was followed by Dayton Billington, who served until December 1, 1914, when Joseph Groebner was appointed. Theresia Groebner is the assistant. There are two routes, served by Louis Fixen and Howard W. Pickett, the first route being established in 1906. The office was made a money order office in 1901.
Wanda postoffice was established in 1900, with Valentine P. Eichten as postmaster. He served some six years and was fol- lowed by M. J. Eichten, the present postmaster.
EARLY OFFICES.
Charlestown postoffice was established in section 20, Lamber- ton, in 1872. It was located in the store of Praxel & Schandera, at Cottonwood crossing, just south of the railroad track. The first postmaster was A. A. Praxel. He resigned when the store was moved, and G. L. Wagner appointed postmaster. He held the office about two years and it was then discontinued.
Summit postoffice was established on the west line of Spring- dale township about 1872 and discontinued when Tracy was established a year or two later.
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Ceresco postoffice was established in the late sixties or early seventies in section 20, Underwood township.
Swedes Forest postoffice was established about 1869. Peter Swenson was appointed postmaster and he kept the office at his house in section 26 until 1877 when he resigned and turned the office over to the postmaster at Redwood Falls. No successor was appointed.
The Lower Agency postoffice was established about 1868 in Sherman township.
Paxton postoffice was established in 1878, with S. F. Cale, postmaster.
Weldon postoffice was established in 1873, with Thomas Barr, postmaster. The office was discontinued after a few years. The office was located not far from the present site of Seaforth.
Three Lakes postoffice was established in 1875 and discon- tinued in two years. Another Three Lakes postoffice was estab- lished about 1900 and moved to Clements in 1902.
West Line postoffice was established in the fall of 1878 with N. B. Weymouth appointed postmaster and the office located at his house in section 26. It was discontinued in the summer of 1880. It appeared again before 1889 and was discontinued into Lucan about 1902.
Box Elder postoffice was established in 1879 and Eben Martin appointed postmaster. The office was located in section 39, Underwood township.
New Avon postoffice was established before 1880, with J. S. Towle, postmaster, the office being kept at his house. It was dis- continued in the middle eighties. About 1900 the office was revived with William Lindeman as postmaster. Later it was dis- continued into Wabasso.
Authority. The material for this chapter has for the most part been furnished by the postmasters. The Northwestern- Gazetteer, 1876-1916, has been consulted. Material regarding the postoffices established before 1882 has been secured from the History of the Minnesota Valley, published in 1882. A. E. King, for many years postmaster at Redwood Falls, has written the article concerning the postal service in that city, and has also furnished notes regarding many of the discontinued offices.
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
CHAPTER XLI.
THE PIONEER PERIOD.
For nearly two years after the Massacre, Redwood county remained without settlers. It was, however, by no means deserted. Camp Pope, in the river bottoms near what is now North Redwood, was the center from which Sibley set out on his Indian expedition. A garrison was still maintained at Ft. Ridgely. Both of these posts were in the patrol line established for the protection of the frontier, and the soldiers were con- stantly passing to and fro.
With the lessening of the Indian danger, Redwood county presented an ideal spot for the location of settlers. Considerable land had been broken for the Indians by the government farmers, and was ready for the growing of crops. Here and there were scattered neat cabins of hewed logs and also a number of brick houses, which had been erected by the government for the Indians.
Col. Sam McPhail, Civil war veteran, Indian fighter and frontiersman, was quick to see these advantages. He decided, therefore, to establish a townsite which would include the water- power on the Redwood river, at the fall of which the government had established a sawmill as early as 1855. Accordingly, the present site of the village of Redwood Falls was selected as the location of one of the patrol posts.
In the center of what is now the block bounded by Jefferson, Washington, Second and Third streets, a stockade was erected of prairie sod, reinforced with poles and logs. The wall was some eight feet high, with a ditch around it. At the center of the east and west walls were plank gates, the drive connecting these two gates and running through the center of the stockade, being along the line of the alley now dividing the block. Here and there in the walls portholes had been cut, through which guns could be fired in case of attack.
Inside of this stockade McPhail, with the help of the soldiers, erected his now famous cabin, which is still standing in the Ramsey State Park. In this cabin McPhail, with the soldier patrol and a few pioneers, started the settlement of Redwood county.
There is evidence in Col. McPhail's letters, that the few Indians still remaining in the vicinity kept the little colony con- stantly on the alert during the whole of this first summer. On May 24, to Col. Pfaender in command at Fort Ridgely, he says : "There are in this vicinity six or eight straggling Indians. If
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
you could send up ten or twelve cavalry for a few days, with our aid I feel confident we could capture them." On June 2 he wrote to Gen. Sibley: "We are and have been greatly annoyed by small bands of prowling Indians. We would respectfully ask, if not inconsistent with the public service, that you grant us a small detachment of troops." Again, under the date of June 14, to the adjutant general, Oscar Malmros, he says: "Send me to Fort Ridgely twenty Springfield rifles, also 1,000 round ball cartridges. Should we use these cartridges, we will pay for them with scalps, that is, if the bounty of $200 still holds good; if not, then charge them to the good of the service." The author- ities responded to the appeals by sending guns and ammunition on July 28.
In addition to the constantly passing patrol, detachments of soldiers were assigned to the stockade at various times as sentinel squads. It is said that in December, twelve former Confederate soldiers were stationed here for that purpose. During the sum- mer, McPhail kept the merits of his new town constantly before the public by articles in various newspapers. In this connection a story of McPhail's characteristic humor is told by the old settlers. McPhail, in writing up a Fourth of July celebration for a Mankato paper, spoke of the large and respectable audience present. Afterwards, upon discovering that only one person besides McPhail was present at the celebration, the editor of the paper took him severely to task for his deception.
"Well," said the Colonel, in his characteristic, squeaky voice, "I wrote you the exact truth about it. I am large and Martin is respectable, so we had a large and respectable audience."
On July 12, 1864, the little community began to feel the want of a postoffice and petitioned the postmaster general, setting forth that they were twenty-two miles from the nearest office and pray- ing that an office be established at Redwood Falls, which petition was granted in the fall, Saml. R. Thompson being appointed post- master. The mail was brought by the soldiers from Fort Ridgely.
During 1864 pioneer were constantly going and coming. Sometime in the spring or summer, William Post and Frank Kennedy are said to have arrived, taken a claim west of the river and planted some potatoes, corn and melons. They did not, however, remain permanently.
During the winter of 1864-65 there was quite a little settle- ment inside the stockade. McPhail's family at that time con- sisted of his wife and his children: John and Etta. The family of J. S. G. Honner consisted of himself, his wife and his three sons, Edward, Howard, and William. In the Honner cabin, later enlarged, was kept the first hotel in the country. The family of Saml. R. Thompson consisted of his wife and three children. Jacob Tippery's family consisted of himself, his wife and three daughters
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
and two sons, Miles and Jacob. Mr. Tippery was here through the winter, the wife and family here for a while then went away and finally came back to live in 1865, in which year they were joined by a son, Miles, who had been serving in the army. Edmund Forgate and family also spent that winter here and erected the first house on the town site outside of the stockade.
Among the men here without their families that winter were O. C. Martin, T. W. Caster, George Charter and "Pom" Angel. David Watson spent the winter here and erected, inside the stockade, the first frame house on the village site, the other five houses were of logs. J. W. Harkness was here in 1864. He and his brother, Daniel, located here in 1865. Birney Flynn also visited here in 1864.
The only people who lived outside of the stockade that winter were George Johnson and his son, Marion Johnson, who came in October, 1864, slept one night in the stockade and then located on the banks of Tiger lake, on the town line of Honner and Paxton.
In 1865 the families in the stockade began to move outside. Some remained on the town site and took claims in the neighbor- hood. Others moved out into the country.
In the spring Dr. D. L. Hitchcock moved into the McPhail cabin. This made three families living in the McPhail cabin, the Thompson family living in a "leanto" on the west, the Hitch- cock family on the east side, and the McPhail family in the center. A few days later, Birney Flynn brought his family here. Mrs. Hitchcock and Mrs. Flynn were a distinct addition to the social life of the community. The only ladies who were here when they arrived were Mrs. Honner, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. McPhail and Mrs. Fosgate.
In the same year came the families of O. C. Martin, George Charter and David Watson. The Charter family consisted of Mr. Charter, his wife and children, Emma, Solomon R., who soon died, November 22, and Elizabeth. A son, Henry F., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charter, December 27, 1867. Emma Charter married Samuel R. Thompson.
By July 4, 1865 quite a few families were living in Redwood county. A big dinner was served in what is now the city park. The oration of the day was delivered by Col. McPhail, and a flag manufactured by the ladies was proudly put into service.
The first birth in Redwood Falls was that of Harry, the son of John R. and Maggie Thompson, born in February, 1865.
The first death was that of William Honner, the young son of J. G. S. Honner, who died April 12, 1865.
The first marriage was that of William Morrill and Hattie Tippery, the daughter of Jacob Tippery. The ceremony was per- formed by Col. McPhail as justice of the peace in July, 1865, at the home of the bride's parents. Mr. Morrill, who had previously
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been a soldier, erected a house that year, into which he and his bride moved.
Previous publications have stated that the first marriage took place under the falls, April 10, 1865. The contracting parties were George Coffee and Amanda Cole, O. C. Martin, justice of the peace, presiding. The contracting parties are not known to the early settlers and early historians have failed to state their authority for the statements concerning this marriage.
The first religious services were held by a Baptist clergyman in August, 1865, at the home of J. S. G. Honner.
The first blacksmith shop was opened in the spring of 1865 by John Thomas in the rear of his present residence.
As already noted, the first hotel in Redwood Falls was kept by J. S. G. Honner, in his cabin inside the stockade. The next hotel was kept by William Mills, the mail carrier. The first regular hotel, however, was opened in 1867 by James McMillan on the present site of the county jail. This inn, called the "Ex- change Hotel," was the pioneer social center of Redwood Falls for some years.
The first mail, with Saml. R. Thompson as postmaster, was brought from Fort Ridgely every other day by the soldier patrol. Later William Mills, who succeeded J. S. G. Honner as hotel keeper, brought the mail from St. Peter once a week. Still later, Mr. Mills was the mail carrier between Redwood Falls and New Ulm. An amusing story is told in connection with his encounter with a bear in the early days. One morning on his way toward Fort Ridgely with the mail, he had reached a point near the old Sioux Agency when he met a large bear. With his gun, which he always carried with him, he shot the bear and evidently stunned him. Thinking Bruin dead, Mr. Mills ap- proached him for the purpose of taking his skin, when the animal arose, made a leap at his throat and put up a most vigorous fight. The bear was finally killed, but in the meantime Mr. Mills was almost entirely denuded of clothing and had to return to Red- wood Falls scratched and bleeding with the bear's pelt, but de- cidedly in need of covering for himself.
February 9, 1865, Captain Louis Robert arrived in Redwood Falls with a stock of goods and the next day opened the first store in Redwood Falls, inside the stockade. He made his first sale to Julia Williams, the school teacher, selling her ten yards of calico for $6.00. In the fall of that year Captain Roberts erected a store outside the stockade. It occupied the present site of the Red Stensvad garage, about on lots 4 and 5, block 10, on the south side of Second street, between Jefferson and Wash- ington streets.
July 17, 1865, Henry Behnke and Brother of New Ulm erected a store on the south side of Second street, between Washington
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
and Mill streets, about on lot 4, block 15. A. M. Northrup was put in charge. Later the firm built a store on lot 12, block 16, where the First National Bank is now located. The first blow toward erecting the original building was struck July 17, 1865, and the building was ready for occupancy on the 24th, the first goods being sold that day. The building was 18x30 feet, one and one-half stories high. A dance held on the evening of the 24th celebrated its completion. The third store in Redwood Falls was opened in 1868 by Stickle & Scott, on lot 6, block 10, the present location of the State Bank of Redwood Falls.
Colonel McPhail's claim included the fractional north half of the north half of section 1, township 112, range 36, and the south half of the southeast quarter of section 36, township 113, range 36. T. W. Caster's claim covered a portion of the north half of section 1, township 112, range 36. The town site was located on the claim of Colonel McPhail and a portion of that of Caster. McPhail bought of Caster his part of the site and late in 1865 he platted it, employing David Watson as surveyor. Philip Osborn was McPhail's holding agent and many of the abstracts in the village bear his name as the original owner. McPhail had an interesting method of disposing of his lots. He sold 20 lots for $100. A person buying these lots did not know the exact location of the lots he was acquiring. The purchaser paid his $100 and waited until the day of the drawing. On that day the numbers of all the lots in the village were placed in a box and twenty numbers drawn therefrom at random in the name of the various purchasers. Thus each man owned twenty lots scattered in various parts of the village. It is said that McPhail sold more lots than he had platted, and that as the day of the drawing drew near he was compelled to hastily plat a few more blocks in order that all might receive the number of lots that had been paid for.
The early assessment rolls still preserved at the Redwood Falls courthouse are illuminating in that they give the names of the pioneer property owners. The first assessment rolls on file are those of August 1, 1868, when returns were made for Redwood Falls and Yellow Medicine townships. These two townships then constituted the whole of Redwood county, which at that time extended to the state line. The assessment in Red- wood Falls township was made by Robert Watson.
Land in what is now Redwood county had then been taken as follows :
Morgan. In sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34. Sherman. In sections 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35 and 36.
Three Lakes. In sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23 and 24.
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Paxton. In sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36.
Honner. In sections 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 36.
Charlestown. In section 25.
Redwood Falls. In sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 36.
Delhi. In sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. Also in town 114, range 36 a part of section 31.
Sheridan. In sections 1 and 12.
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