USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
Peter Haan, who, as loeal agent, played so important a part in this movement, has the following to say in regard to the move- ment: "The quick development of the western part of Renville county and the southeastern and southern portions of Chippewa and Kandiyohi counties, as far as tributary to Renville, com-
830
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
menced in earnest with the year 1885 after the firm of Prins & Koch had bought, in the territory mentioned, about 120.000 acres of railroad and state lands. By means of judieious advertising, land seekers from many eastern states soon came in in great numbers, and only to see this wonderfully fertile and nice lying land was in nineteen eases out of twenty equal to buying. In- side of four years nearly all of the land originally purchased was sold, and a great deal more that was purchased later. The sales commenced at $8 per acre, soon rising to $10 and $12. and by 1890 had reached $15 and higher. The new-comers who settled north of Renville came for the most part from the states of New York, Michigan, Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, and were representatives of many nationalities. Hollanders and IIo]- land-speaking North Germans were in the majority. but Belgians, Frenchmen, Bohemians, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and full- blooded Yankees were among the number. They, of course, be- longed to different religious denominations, yet nevertheless made agreeable neighbors. Between 1886 and 1896 in this territory the settlers built no less than twelve churches, four Lutheran, three Holland Christian Reformed, two Catholie, two Duteh Re- formed and one Methodist Episcopal. They also built in the same period abont forty good, substantial sehoolhouses, and laid over thirty bridges over the small rivers and ereeks which cut through the land, besides draining it almost to perfection. The great bulk of the original settlers came from Europe and belonged to the third or working class over there. When they came here they had as a rule very little money and some of them were quite poor, but now all are independent, many well to do, and not a few may be called rich. May not a man, who came here only thirty years ago with a wife and ten children, almost without a penny to call his own, but with a debt of $700, to settle on a rented farm, be called rich if it can be truly stated that that same man is now worth at least $30,000. . There are not many who have been so successful, but there are plenty of them who may be valued at between ten and twenty thousand dollars."
This big influx of thrifty farmers had a marked influenee upon the struggling village of Renville. In 1887 the village was again represented by a newspaper, the Renville Weekly News, published by C. L. Loraine, then publishing a paper at Bird Island, and for a time edited by E. M. Clay, now a physician here. The town began to be awake to its possibilities. M. J. Dowling, at that time professor in the two-room school, had succeeded in aronsing interest and enthusiasm in the cause of education, Ren- ville's powers on the baseball field had begun to advertise the town throughout the state. The population began to increase, and in 1888 a building boom was strnek.
831
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
In 1888 a new four-room schoolhouse was built to replace the two-room building of 1882.
In 1889 the Norwegian and German Lutheran congregations put up a handsome church structure. Lce and Johnson built the briek building now occupied by the F. A. Sehafer furniture store, the Adolph Mandel general store, Mrs. Carl Henning put up a briek block south of the elevator on Main street, Mason Brothers erected a flour mill and W. H. Gold put in a lumber yard.
The growing town spirit was shown by an attempt made at this time to capture the county seat. Bird Island got ahead of Renville and seeured an election and was signally defeated, but for the first time the future metropolis of the county had shown publie enterprise and enthusiasm over the town's future.
The Renville State Bank was organized during the period by O'Connor Bros .. and this enterprising firm was playing an im- portant part in the development of the village. In 1892 the sec- ond bank, the Security Bank, came into existence. Every line of business was prospering, and in the five years between 1890 and 1895 the population of the village nearly doubled.
The boom period was marked by a series of occurrences be- tween 1891 and 1894 which were looked upon as appalling dis- asters at the time, but which, in the light of later developments, proved to be beneficial to the town. In November, 1891, the building, originally built by J. B. Boyd, but at that time occu- pied by Mayer Wolpert's general store, caught fire and was entirely consumed. The family of John O'Connor lived upstairs over the store, and they barely escaped from the burning build- ing. The building was one of the largest in town, and its de- struction was regarded as a great loss, but the following year it was replaced with a two-story, double front brick block that was a source of pride to the town. The O'Connor block, as it was called is now oceupied by the State Bank and the opera house. That year saw the installation of a waterworks plant, the fire' calling attention forcibly to the fact that the town did not pos- sess adequate fire protection. The bonds of the village were is- sued to ereet a water tower that gives sufficient pressure to en- able the firemen to effectually eope with any blaze. Feb. 5, 1893, another fire occurred that threatened at one time to wipe one side of Main street out of existence. It was at midnight that the alarm of fire was turned in. The firemen turned out with prompt- ness, but found that the waterworks were useless, having been allowed to freeze up. There was nothing to do but confine the fire as much as possible. The blaze originated in K. Goeman Pott's hardware store, and before the flames died out that place, S. N. Olson's building, Gold's office, the butcher shop and the millinery store had been destroyed. It was in 1894 that the town
832
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
suffered the severest loss in destroyed property. On Wednesday afternoon, June 27, a tornado eame up from the southwest, form- ing in plain sight but a few miles from town. When nearing town, the ominous looking funnel dropped to the earth. sweep- ing a pathway through the fields until it struck Herman Hach- man's residence in the southwest corner of the village. The build- ing was torn loose from the floor and foundation and smashed into debris. Mrs. Hachman was terribly injured, but managed to survive her wounds. The storm center passed diagonally through the village park, tearing out the band stand, dodged around the Brooks and Lien residences, but tore out the barns on both places, and then swept against the Norwegian Lutheran church with full fury. The church building was literally torn to pieces by the savage force of the storm. F. H. Berning's resi- denee was also completely wiped out of existence, and hardly a shred of the household articles was ever found. Fortunately, neither Mr. Berning nor his wife were at home at the time. The last obstruction in the path of the storm was the four-room school house, just shortly before the voters had decided to build an addition to accommodate the increased attendance. The twisting fury of the wind in a minute's time destroyed all necessity of an addition. The big four-room building was raised up and then crushed into its own basement with an irresistible force. On an- other page will be found illustrations of the school house and other buildings after the tornado had passed over them. For- tunately, the district carried $3,000 tornado insurance, and plans were at once prepared for a larger and more modern building. By fall an eight-room building was finished at a cost of $12,000. The members of the Norwegian Lutheran congregation suffered a heavier loss, in that they had no insurance to recompense them, and were obliged to begin anew. They bravely started the work, however, and now a larger and better building occupies the spot where the storm passed in 1894.
For a time the Spanish war interrupted the peaceful calm that rested on the busy village. Several young men from the village joined Company Il of the 14th Minnesota in April, 1898, and served with the regiment during its term of service. The patriotie people of the village were stirred to great heights of enthusiasm and gave their representatives a rousing farewell, and through- out the summer continually sent them reminders of their good will. In the fall the regiment returned to be mustered out, but many of the Renville delegation were forced to spend many weeks in the hospitals of the South and at home fighting the typhoid and malaria contracted in Chiekamanga. Sergeant J. D. Barnard came home on a sick furlough only to suceumb to the deadly fever, and was buried by his sad-hearted comrades in the village cemetery.
833
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Sinee 1898 the growth of Renville has been rapid and constant. The population, reaching 720 in 1895, increased to 1,075 in 1900. and is now over the 1,250 mark.
The city of Renville was incorporated in 1906.
The last officers of the village were: President, A. A. Bemett ; trustees, A. R. Holmberg, L. E. Lien, Frank Rudolph ; recorder, C. N. Matson ; treasurer, II. N. Stabeek. These officers held over under the city charter until March 20, 1906, when the first city officers took charge. They were: Mayor, Timothy O'Connor ; clerk and municipal judge, C. N. Matson ; treasurer, II. N. Sta- beck ; justice of the peace, F. W. Mason ; aldermen at large, W. J. Ashley and W. A. Lumley ; alderman from first ward, Frank Ru- dolph : alderman from second ward, Frank Rudolph; alderman from third ward, J. R. Butters.
A distinctive feature of the city is the Renville Commercial Club building, initiated and financed through the Commercial Club of this city. The size of the building is 40x90 feet, two stories high and full basement. The cost was $20,000. On the main floor is located A. II. Riedler's barber shop and the post- office. In the rear is the public rest room, and the sumptuous quarters of the Renville Commercial Club. The upper floor is devoted to offices. The law offices of L. D. Barnard, county at- torney, and L. M. Carlson occupy the front of the building. on the south side, while Dr. N. L. Johnson, dentist, orenpies the front rooms on the north side. On the same floor, Judge Richard T. Daly has his chambers. Other offices are occupied by Harold Baker, attorney; the Northwestern Telephone Exchange; Drs. Edward M. Clay and I. R. Maereklein. In the basement is the banquet hall and kitchen, shower baths and a pool room.
Renville has made a steady growth and has kept pace with the settlement and development of the country surrounding. For- ward is always the watchword of her citizens. Nearly every line of business is represented here. The banks are a barometer by which the business of a community is gauged. The three banks of Renville as in their reports to the bank examiners on Sep- tember 2, 1915, showed an aggregate business of $970,183.77.
Ileins & Co., as mentioned, started a hardware store on the corner about the time the village was first organized. The man- agement saw very few changes in that time, until last summer, when E. H. Heins retired from the firm and was succeeded by T. B. Mellraith. The store has an ideal location and carries a large stock of hardware and machinery.
Charley Cronek, the tailor, is one of the old-timers and is kept busy plying the needle early and late. P. Haan is in the real estate and insurance business. He is one of the oldest in this line in the city or county.
834
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
A. Kragenbring in October, 1911, opened up a clothing and shoe store in a small way in the Kieeker building. Two years or so ago he moved into the Yescheek block and now has a neat, np- to-date store and enjoys a good patronage. G. H. Swinney opened a bakery here in March, 1914. He also has a restaurant in con- nection. A. Mutta purchased the Palace Restaurant of C. O. Sveiven in July. 1914.
A. A. Doerr started in the hardware and plumbing business March 1, 1913. The firm is now Doerr & Dunwell. Mr. Doerr is a first-class plumber and gives this branch of the business his personal attention.
The Farmers' Elevator Co. was organized twenty-five years ago. It started in a small way with one horse for power in ele- vating the grain. It is now well equipped, built of concrete and capable of housing the capacity of 45,000 bushels of grain. It has as its stockholders some of the best farmers in the country tributary to Renville. Its manager, A. R. Holmberg, has been at the head of its business department the past ten years.
McGregor Bros. & Co. put in a lumber yard in 1886 and have been in business here ever since. August Wileken has been with the firm for twenty-one years, and has been the manager the past fourteen years. S. A. Smith & Son started in the hardware and machinery business in July, 1912. This firm is doing a good business. They are agents for the Ford and Maxwell cars.
In 1908 G. A. Lumley purchased the II. A. Smith interest in the furniture store and eventually became owner of the entire business by buying out his partners. Last summer in company with O. R. Smith he took over the undertaking business formerly conducted by Heins & Co.
J. F. Wein opened an exclusive grocery store in 1905.
W. H. Gold & Co. started a lumber yard in Renville about the year 1888. About twelve years ago it was purchased by the Jas. A. Smith Lumber Co. Nineteen years ago L. E. Lambert took charge of the yard as manager, and has remained in that position ever since. It may be said of Mr. Lambert that he re- mained manager of a business longer than any other citizen of Renville, consecutively.
H. D. Judd, late in the winter purchased the moving picture business. The Crystal Theatre is a popular play house and is well patronized.
F. A. Williams took possession of the Central Hotel in 1907. At that time it was in a run down condition. Mr. Williams at once commenced making improvements and had the building rebuilt. He now has a most excellent hostelry with ample aecom- modations.
The Renville Roller Mills are one of the early institutions of Renville, and the town and community round about were fortunate
.
835
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
in having easy aeeess to the mill when in need of flour or feed. In the early nineties the Renville Mill Company was organized with W. J. Ashley, manager. Along with the creamery it is one of the best assets of a town. Some two years ago A. A. Moline, a practical millwright and expert miller, was taken into the firm and is head miller.
The department store of Bottge & Hassinger is the oldest now in business in the city. It was established in 1885 in the Rolson building, and when the O'Connor block was built it occupied the room where the drug store is and when the Dale block was built it was moved to its present location. When H. J. and J. H. Dale retired to enter the banking business, the two junior partners, P. J. Bottge and M. L. Hassinger, purchased their interest in the store. They carry a complete stock of goods in their line and enjoy a good patronage.
Olson Bros. opened their general store here in 1906 in the Lee block, where they remained until about a year ago when they moved into the Humboldt building, vaeated by Mayor Wolpert. J. S. Olson has had charge.
A. Mandel is one of the latest to launch out for himself in the general store business. He was not a stranger when he started in 1895 as the head elerk in Mayor Wolpert's department store. In 1913 he opened with a stoek of goods in the Kieker building. This was soon too small for his inereasing business. When Olson Bros. moved, about the beginning of the year, he moved into the Lee block. W. Sanders & Co. are successors to one of the oldest hardware firms in the city. They purchased the store in 1908 and have built up a good trade. At that time, O. J. Dalle, who had been an employee in the store, beeame a member of the firm.
The Star Farmer Co., publishers of Renville Star Farmer, W. A. Reid, editor. It has a large and increasing cirenlation, thor- oughly covers the field. making it a most excellent advertising medinm.
The Renville County Independent will issue its first publica- tion Mareh 30, 1916, with Carl Carlson and Warren Brandt as editors.
Al. Riedler is the oldest barber in point of service in the city. Ile has just moved into the new commercial building. Werner & Packer are in the meat market business. The Renville Produce Co., A. S. Brugman, manager, does a flourishing business. Or- chardist and fruit grower, G. A. Anderson, living three miles west of town, raised a thonsand bushels of apples for the market this year. Ogren & Peterson do a good business in grain and coal at their elevator. There are four line elevators doing business here. The postmaster is W. L. Poseley. There are five mail routes radiating from this point. Fred Seott purchased the barber shop of Werner Peterson some two years ago. H. M. Lentz recently
1
836
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
purchased the jewelry store from J. O. Westby and will soon go into a new building. J. O. Westby, in retiring from the jewelry business, has taken up the sale of pianos, and expects to make that his specialty in the future. C. A. Kronlokken is proprietor of a garage. It is large, well equipped and absolutely fireproof. Repairing is a specialty with him.
The Minnesota Valley Power Company, of Montevideo, in- stalled electricity here two years ago. Business houses, dwellings and streets are brilliantly lighted by electricity.
S. 1. Snortum opened up a variety store recently and is hav- ing a good trade. Draymen, Il. Hogenson, Anderson & Jordet, Harley McBroom. A. F. Leistikow, restaurant. Bert Jones, res- taurant. F. A. Schafer opened up a furniture store in the bee block last spring. J. M. Huff recently purchased the photographic studio. G. J. Lee, shoes, dry goods and notions. Yock Bros .. shippers of pressed hay and straw. Wm. Shufft and Ernest Schulz, stone masons.
There is a harness shop, with Emil Swenson as proprietor. H. Goetz is proprietor of the pool hall. W. A. Goetz, recently from Minneapolis, established a barber shop in the building oc- cupied by the pool hall. Il. J. Molitor, proprietor of a drug store. is successor to G. O. Torgersen. John Harmon, tile ditcher, does considerable work. The West Hotel, conducted by Albert Zaske the past two years, is a good hostelry. Blacksmiths. C. F. Diekow, G. A. Beltz, Carl Zabel, Ernst Beltz. Painters, John Walser. Hans Boeck. 1. 11. Engelking. Contractors and builders. E. M. White. O. V. and Ed. Anderson, L. B. Weleh, O. A. Berg. Livery barns, Blacklock & Bachelder, Anderson & Jordet. Millinery stores. Mrs. Bedeley, Miss Mickelson.
Physicians, Dr. E. M. Clay, J. W. Preisinger, L. T. Francis, I. R. Maereklein. Dentist. Dr. N. L. Johnson. Attorneys, L. D. Bar- nard. Harold Baker and L. M. Carlson.
BIRD ISLAND VILLAGE.
The extension of the Hastings & Dakota Railway from Glen- coe, along its westernmost station, to Montevideo in 1878, caused many new towns to spring up along its path. The majority of these villages were of slow growth. Not so Bird Island. From an almost unbroken prairie it sprang up, almost full-grown, into a thriving and attractive village. As a division point of the new railroad. it presented an immediate appearance of activity and business which it has never lost. Trade that had previously gone to Atwater, thirty miles to the north, or to Beaver Falls, then the county seat, in the south, now came wending its way to Bird Island. Men of means were attracted to the new site and the growth of the village was remarkably rapid.
837
IHISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
The story of the early settlement of the l'arms in the neighbor- hood is told elsewhere by J. M. Bowler. The land appeared to be extremely fertile and its tillage promised immediate and boun- teous reward to the new settlers. Abont one and a half to two miles to the south and west, in section 15, surrounded by sloughs, lay an island whose area extended over sixty acres. An island on an otherwise unbroken prairie may seem somewhat anomalous to the newer generations; but there in reality lay an attractive island on which grew unchecked by prairie fires tall trees-oaks, maples, hackberry-a veritable paradise for thousands of the feathered natives. From this, bird island, the township, and later the village, took its name. Settlers eame from a distance to get their share of its useful and much needed timber. Since the build- ing of the big drainage ditch, the "island" has disappeared and only valuable farm land remains.
Bird Island was platted in July, 1878, on land owned by the Bird Island Townsite Company. The plat was refiled Jan. 3, 1914.
John A. Johnson, it is said, hauled the first timber onto the townsite of Bird Island, taking the load from Glencoe.
The first store was opened by J. W. Ladd in the fall of 1878 and later he built an elevator. C. C. Ladd started the first him- ber yard in the same year. A. H. Reed & Co. (Axel Reed, Jos. Richardson and W. M. Holbrook) opened up a general merchan- dise store and the following year built an elevator. Conklin & Clark eondueted the first hardware store. J. W. Fewer and Michael Murphy were the first village blacksmiths.
In 1879 Dr. J. W. Barnard established a drug store ; the Ren- ville County Bank opened For business with Mathew Donohue in the president's office ; a hotel was begun by P. A. Martell. who sold his interests at the end of a year to Capt. J. A King. In the same year two saloons came into existence. managed by Dana. Hodgdon and Andrew Anderson, commonly called "the Elegant Swede."
The first school was taught near Bowler's in District 64 by Miss Stone, daughter of E. D. Stone.
The Bird Island Post was established by Wesley Moran in Angust, 1879. The Bird Island Blizzard began its career in April. 1881. with J. M. Bowler as editor, and J. W. Ladd, publisher. Bird Island postoffice was opened in 1878 (J. F. Bowler. post- master), on section 26, but was moved shortly to the store of .J. W. Ladd.
Other early interests were: George Cronley, 1879, grocery : Thomas Libby, Merehant's Hotel, 1881; N. C. Little, 1879-80; Dr. F. L. Puffer, 1881; O. A. Strom, drugs, 1881; A. W. Stone, blacksmith, 1879; W. P. Dinon, Bird Island House, 1879; A. W. Hagadon & Reynolds' meat market, 1881: E. II. Keenan. hard- ware.
.
838
HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Village lots in Bird Island were first assessed in 1879. The principal owners were the C. M. & St. P. R. R. Co. and the Town- site Company. Those who had already secured lots werc: F. A. Sherwood, lot 4, block 28; D. Feeder, lot 8, block 30; Conklin & Clark, lot 4, block 41; F. Miller, lot 9, block 41 ; F. Hodgdon, lot 5, block 42. lot 8. block 42; M. R. Murphy, lot 7, block 42; J. W. Ladd, lot 12, block 42; H. McCurry, lots 7 and 10, block 43; A. H. Reed, lots 9 and 12, block 43; JJolm Anderson, lots 1, 2, 3, 4, block 44; Donahue & Paine, lot 5, block 44; D. J. Deasy, lot S, block 44; H. L. Miller, lot 10, block 44; Moore & Canfield, lot 11, block 44; G. E. Bowler, lot 12, block 44; D. S. Hall, lot 1, block 45; JJ. P. O'Shea, lots 4 and 5. block 45; Wm. Winnegge, lot 9, block 45; Mary O'Shea, lot 12, block 45.
J. M. Bowler furnishes the following list of the business firms . of Bird Island in 1879: J. W. Ladd, general store, postoffice, ele- vator: A. II. Reed & Co., general store, elevator; Hodgdon Bros., general store : Conklin & Clark, hardware; Ladd & Bowler, farm machinery ; Chas. F. Arper. farm Machinery; Capt. John King, Merchants hotel and bar; Wm. P. Dinon, Bird Island house and bar; II. L. Miller, furniture and repairing; George Crouley, grocery; J. W. Fewer, blacksmith : Michael Murphy, black- smith : Chas. C. Ladd, Inmber yard; N. C. Little, lumber yard; Chas. Humboldt, livery: Jerry O'Shea, saloon ; Henry Hall, druggist ; Levi E. Sherwood, drayman; Thomas Commisky, drayman.
The village grew rapidly. By 1882 over 500 people were liv- ing within its confines. It had three general stores, one grocery, two hardware and two drug stores, two millineries, one furni- ture store, one harness shop, one wagon shop, three blacksmiths, one shoe shop, one paint shop, one barber shop, three hotels, two meat markets, two saloons, two lumber yards, three physicians, two lawyers, one bank, two elevators.
In 1885 the village of Bird Island was the metropolis of Ren- ville county. It had a population of 567, which was larger than the combined population of Olivia, Renville and Hector. Heetor was the second largest town with a population of 235, and Sacred Heart third, with a population of 207. Bird Island discarded her swad- dling clothes and assumed metropolitan airs at an early age. Being a railroad division point she had an advantage over her sister towns; men of means invested there, and induced others to en- gage in business at that point. She drew trade for many miles and her growth for the first few years was phenomenal.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.