Blue Earth County, Minnesota - Chapter 23: Mankato's Golden Jubilee - Eb Cent Events - in Conclusion, 1901 (part 2 of 4)

June 23, 1868, two school districts were organized in Decoria by the County Commissioners - Ko. 116 on petition of John Eoerig and others and Ko. 117 on petition of D. W. Burlison and others. The first school was taught in Ko. 116 by Prances Herrick in the summer of 1870, in a frame building erected for the purpose on section 35.

The first religious service is said to have been a sermon preached' by Eev. Kidder, a Universalist minister from Indiana, in the summer of 1867, at the home of S. T. Mantor. Occasional services were conducted thereafter about every year, but no church was formed until 1887, when a German Lutheran Church was organized, and a church edifice erected that year. This church was incorporated on June 16, 1890, by the election of Adam Keller, Ernest Truehenbach and Fred Schwanebeck as trustees - Ferdinand Herzberg and Henry Webber presiding at the meeting. The incorporated name is "German Evangelical Lutheran St. Johannes Church of Decoria." A good parsonage was built near the church, and a cemetery laid out a few rods to the south. Eev. Fisher was pastor for many years, but in July, 1904, he was succeeded by Eev. Karl Kilian.

During the seventies and the eighties a number of Norwegian families located along the Cobb and Le Sueur rivers, in the northwest corner of the town. They were a religious people and services were occasionally conducted among them by the Norwegian Lutheran pastor from Mankato. July 7, 1890, "The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran LeSueur Congregation" was organized by Torris Gjnul, August Sundvoll, Hans Hanson and Chester Hanson. A church building -was erected about 1891, at the center of the east half of section 7, and on November 18, 1901, the church was incorporated under the name of 'TDeSueur Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Decoria." Ole Andengaard, Chester Hanson and Torris F. Gjnul were chosen deacons, Anton Hoff, Henry Hanson, and Paul Erlandson,trustees. In pastorial services the church has always been yoked to Mankato, As their first chapel was quite

Early in the nineties an English Sunday School and occasional preaching services were held at the Kennedy School house (Ko. 150), and in the fall of 189,3, quite a revival occurred under the preaching of Eev. I. Bergstrom, a Baptist minister from Mankato. A church was organized with eighteen to twenty members, and, during the summer of 1894, a fine large chapel was erected just across the line in ilankato township on the southwest corner of Section 35. Services have been maintained in this chapel with fair regularity ever since by Baptist and Congregational preachers. In the summer of 1903, the Congregational Church of Mankato sent into Decoria and vicinity a young divinity student from Yale College named Eohrbaeh. He started a Simday School and preaching service in the school house of District No. 131 of Decoria. Other students and missionaries continued the work under the direction of Eev. E. L. Heermance of jMankato, and in 1907, a chapel was erected and a church of eight or nine members started on February 9, 1908, as a branch of the Mankato Congregational Church. Eev. John H. Clark has been in charge of this work for over two years.

In the summer of 1873, a Grange was started in the town, which had a large membership and D. W. Burlison was made its first master. For a time it was an important institution in the town. September 11, 1875, school disctriet No. 131 was created on petition of W. Larson and others. A school house was erected that fall and the first school taught in the district during the winter of 1875-6 by Miss Jlary ]\rcCollum. In 1894, the district sold its first school house to the Norwegian Lutherans for a church, and erected a larger building. The town now has eight school houses. Saw mills have been operated in the town by J. D. Humiston and later by J. J. McCollum.

November 5, 1SS9, a postoffice called "Lortz" was established with Henry Lortz as postmaster. At first it was supplied semi-weekly, but after April 1, 1896, it had daily mail in connection with Beauford, Henry Webber was postmaster for two or three years, but resigned in the fall of 1897, and John G-. McCollum was appointed his successor in November that year. In January, 1902, the office was discontinued by reason of the free delivery system having been inaugurated.

In the spring of 1892, through the efforts of B. H. Gerlich and others, a stock company was formed, called "The Young Men's Investment Co. of Decoria" for the purpose of building a hall. The building was completed in June, and for some years was used for town purposes as well as social functions, but was finally sold. In 1896, a good town hall was erected in the center of the town.

The Mankato and Decoria Eural Telephone Co. is a local institution of recent date, which affords many of the inhabitants the advantages of Edison's great invention.

This half township occupies the extreme northeast corner of the County. It is noted for the number and picturesqueness of its lakes. Portions of ^Madison, Washington, Gilfillan, and Eagle lakes are within its borders and the whole of lakes Ballantyne, Duck, George and two or three others are found within it. Blue Earth, County has about twenty-one sections or 13,440' acres of its surface covered by meandered lakes, and Jamestown, though but half a township, has the largest area so covered of any town in the county - being about 1,665 acres. The surface of the land is quite rolling and originally was covered with a dense forest of valuable timber. The Indian name for Lake Madison was "Waukenseche" or "Waukensica" (The "Evil Spirit" or "Abundant Mystery," or "The Sacred Shade"). The Indian name of Lake Washington was "Okapah" (The Choke Cherry Lake"). Their present names were given by the government surveyors. The name "Jamestown" was suggested by Enoch G. Barkhurst in honor of the first English colony in Virginia. The town was at first included in Kasota precinct. When on April 1, 18.55, that precinct was added tn LeSueur County, Jamestown, also, was lost to Blue Earth County until June 1, 1856, when it was restored to it.

1856, Albert Volk, Charles Doran and Lawrence Burns, with their families, arrived at St. Peter from Harrison, Ohio and located in Jamestown. In September of the same year came Alvin P. Davis and family from Pon du Lac County, Wis. Other settlers of 1856, were: James F. Ballantyne, Hugh Carr, Paul Fasnacht,-^ Andrew C. Fowble, Eodey Cleary, John Henry, Samuel Kerlinger, Dennis L. Maher,V Theodore G. Carter, Owen and John Meigher,i Patrick Mulleif,^ Michael,^ Timothy.^ Thomas "and John Murtaugh, Abner Shearer, Lawrence, Margaret and Patrick Smith, John Spencer, James E. Stokes, John Sullivan^ Bowater Sumner, Solon Webster, Hiram Wentworth and James F. Westlake. In

1857, came Anthony/ and Martin Baynes,' Geo. Bluhm, Patrick Doyle, Henry J. Dury, Michael j Parrel, Phil McMasters, Martin Tarpeyj Wm. Brown, and others. Other early settlers were Patrick Baynes,-^ Henry Bobertson, Owen Sulli-4 van, Patrick Lyons, J Joseph Fisher, John Higgs, Owen Meighen, and Capt. P. Burke.

In 1857, Alfred Howe built a steam saw mill on Section 19 between lakes "Wita" and "George." Unfortunately there was no water at the location, except by hauling it in tanks, which with the hard times, hindered the mill from making much money, and after about two years it was moved away. It was in the vicinity of an extensive grove of black-walnut, and during its operation much of that valuable lumber was manufactured, but there was then little or no market for it. Another mill in the meantime had been built at the outlet of Lake Washington, Avhich took much of the patronage from Howes' Mill.

The town was created April 16, 1858, and the first town meeting held May 11, 1858, when the following officers were elected: Supervisors: Timothy Sullivan, chairman, Eobert Heslep and John Cummins; Clerk: A. P. Davis; assessor: Solon Webster; collector: Patrick Mullen; justices: Lawrence Byrne and J. L. Burgess; constables: Geo. Bennett and Timothy Murtaugh. At that time Jamestown included also, all of LeEay, except the south tier of sections. January 4, 1860, the whole of town 108, Eange 25 was separated from it.

The first white child born in the town was Clara Thomas, born March 14, 1858. The first death, that of Mrs. Lawrence Byrne in August, 1858. The first marriage was that of Peter .Jackson to Nancy W. Ives, solemnized May 10, 1857, by Eev. A. H. Kerr of St. Peter. The first school was taught at her own home by Mrs. Sara:h M. Davis, wife of A. P. Davis, with an attendance of eleven scholars.

Jamestown, like most of our towns, had its Indian tragedy. It was in the winter of 1858-9 that some Winnebagos visited St. Peter and procured liquor. On the way home they stopped at the trading post of one John Herron, which stood on the east side of the river, midway to Kasota. Here they got some more liquor and became quarrelsome. In the melee Herron struck one of the Indians with a hatchet and killed him. Soon after this, two relatives of the murdered Indian went down the trail, which in those days led straight from Winnebago Agency through Jamestown, by the outlet of Lake Washington to Kasota. When just below the outlet, they noticed a man coming down the trail wearing a white hat, which form of headgear was characteristic of Herron. The two Indians at once concluded that this was the slayer of their relative and, making an ambush, they shot and killed him. The murdered man, however, proved to be Mr. Furnell of Jamestown. Having hidden the body of iheir victim, the two murderers started home, going across the lake on the ice. It happened that two Sioux Indians, while fishing at the outlet, discovered the murder, and lest suspicion should attach to them, they hurried to a house near the saw mill to report the matter. Only the women happened to be home, but the younger of the Sioux, who went by the name of "John," beckoned them out, and pointed to the two Indians on the lake said, "Bad Winnebagos. Kill white man." When a number of the settlers went to investigate the matter under the guidance of John, they found the body of Furnell, and a posse of armed men went at once to the Agency to arrest the murderers. The Sioux Indian, John, who was taken along for the purpose, immediately identified the two guilty ones, but. Little Priest and his band would not surrender them unless the whites would surrender Herron to them. Por a time it looked like war between the whites and tlie Winnebagos, but at last nothing was done and the murderers went unpunished.

About 1867, W. and E. Volk, under the style of Volk "Bros." put up a store, a saw mill, store, shingle and planing mill near the north line of Section 20. In 1869, they added a furniture factory to their plant. Later a small grist mill for grinding corn and feed was, also, added. So extensive was the plant that it was sometimes called "Volkville,'' and for a number of years did an extensive business.

In 1872, L. D. Saylor purchased of Owen Edwards of South Bend the sawmill, which had formerly belonged to D. P. Davis at Cambria, and moved it to Jamestown, where it was operated for a number of years. In January, 1876, Jamestown had three sawmills, one furniture factory, one gristmill, two shingle mills and one planing mill. February 22, 1880, Volk Bros.' furniture factory burned, causing a loss of $5,000 or more. The sawmill and the balance of the plant were saved. About the same time, A. B. Hough built a sawmill on Barrow's Point at the north end of Lake Madison.

The town has always abounded in game and fish, and has ever been a paradise for hunters and the disciples of Isaac Walton. In June, 1872, a white pelican was shot at Lake ^^'ashington, which weighed 50 pounds and measured 8 feet from tip to tip of wing. During the seventies a large eagle had her nest in the top of a big elm on Stony Point, Lake Madison. Early in the seventies people at Mankato and elsewhere began to realize the advantages these beautiful lakes offered as summer resorts. Pleasure boats were put upon Lake Madison by Mankato parties in 1874. About 1877, or 1878 Geo. A. Clarke put up a summer hotel' on Point Pleasant which he ran until the fall of 1879, when he sold out to Jas. Parsons and Frank KroU. In 1878 C. H. Austin built a fine summer resort on the lake, to which he removed the following spring, and conducted the place for some years. In 1882, J. M.

Barclay erected a two story hotel on Point Pleasant, which has been very popular ever since. In 1883, Point Pleasant was laid out into lots by J. M. Barclay for summer cottages, and a large number were sold and built upon during the eighties and nineties. In Augusr, 1880, a postonice called "Park" was established at the lake with C. H. Austin as postmaster.

The building of the Cannon Valley Eailway through the length of Jamestown in 1884, at once gave it good transportation facilities, and Madison Lake village was laid out by Chas. F. Hatch, trustee, Lewis Pitcher and Luther Z. Eogers, on January 17, 1885. During the winter of 1884-5 A. J. Barber put up a small building for a grocery and restaurant, and Phelps & Allyn erected a large building for a general store in the new townsite, both of which were opened in April, 1885. About the same time a hotel was erected by Patrick Mullen. In Octoher, 1885, a postoffice was established at the new village with Geo. \V. Allyn as postmaster. The same fall Allyn and TuUer built a grain warehouse and, also engaged extensively in the wood business. So the village at once became quite a business center. The next year Pitcher and Alurtaugh started another store and, also, went into the wood business extensively. In the fall and winter of 1887-8 the wood shipping alone amounted to over ten carloads a day. About 1887, another hotel was built with A. B. Cole as landlord. A. H. Hanchett, the same year, opened another restaurant, Peter Frederick and John Kramer opened stores. D. Squires had a blacksmith shop but was soon succeeded by A. H. Hanchett. Anton Hoveland ran a sawmill, Jas. Mapes and Howard Smith were the village butchers, H. A. Hitchcock, the doctor, and J. K. Knapp the druggist.

October 25, 1887, school district No. 43 voted bonds to build a new schoolhouse in the village. The building was completed by January, 1888, and the first school taught by Mr. Carr.

Jamestown was mostly settled by Irish people, who believed in the Catholic faith. Just across the north line of the town, the little village of Marysburg was started in the fifties, and a Catholic chapel erected. In 1876, a much

In the fall of 1887, Eev. Hawley, the M. E. pastor at Eagle Lake, began preaching at Madison Lake. A Sunday school was organized with Geo. Tuller as superintendent, and soon thereafter a church was formed. May, 1889, a church building belonging to the M. E. at Caroline Station was moved to Madison Lake and fitted up for use. October 21, 1889 the cornerstone of a new Episcopal Church was laid, and on Nov. 9, 1889, the "Parish of the Good Shepard of Madison Lake" was formally organized. Eector, James Cornell; Wardens, J. A. Hitchcock and L. M. Coleman, Jr.; vestrymen, Wm. Durrin, 0. G. Chapman, H. J. Luther, Geo. Breed, John Kramer, A. H. Hanchett and E. D. Harris.

In Madison Lake and vicinity are located a number of German Catholics. Early in the nineties, through the efforts of Father Sutor of Mankato, a Catholic Congregation was formed at Madison Lake, - about fifty-two families being interested in the project. In the fall of 1894, a Catholic Chapel was started, 40x75 feet in size. It was completed the following summer and dedicated by Bishop Potter on October 27, 1895. In 1907, a fine brick parochial school building was erected on the lot adjoining the church. The Odd Fellows and one or two other lodges are well represented in the village. December 15, 1891, Madison Lake voted to incorporate as a village and January 5, 1882, it became an independent municipality under the following officers: trustees, T. B. Murtaugh, president, L. Pitcher and Wm. Durrin; recorder, J. K. Knapp, treasurer, W. -W. Zewell; justices, J. S. Clear and J. E. Southwick. About 1892, Wm. Durrin erected a large sawmill at Madison Lake. For a number of years lumber and wood were among the chief exports of the village. During the season of 1889, Allyn & Tuller alone shipped 9,000 carloads of wood. The Durrin sawmill was burned in 1894, and again in 1901. Frank Haskell succeeded Allyn as postmaster and in turn was succeeded January 1, 1894, by T. B. Murtaugh. Four years later Harry Maxfield was made postmaster but resigned in the spring of 1900, and Frank Haskell was again appointed and served until Nov. 22, 1907, when he resigned and P. S. Lyons was appointed.

The village has had a number of local news papers. The "Madison Lake Breeze" was started about 1892. In April, 1896, H. G. Maxfield purchased it, and changed the name to "Madison Lake Mirror." In the spring of 1900, Maxfield removed his paper to JefEers. "The Madison Lake News" , and "The Madison Lake New Era" were then published a short time. Then in March, 1904, "The Madison Lake Tribune" was started by Geo. T. Swearingen and Geo. Southwick. A private bank was started about 1896, by Everett & Lewis of Water- \ille. In November, 1905, The Peoples' State Bank of Madison Lake was incorporated with a capital of $10,000 of which Geo. T. Swearingen is cashier. A fine bank building was erected the same year. A good village hall was erected in 1900. The village also has a creamery, and two rural mail routes were established April 1, 1903. The village and town are supplied, also, with telephone facilities.

Gaeden City

This town was first called "Watonwan" after the river of that name which passes through it. We have already noted, in our history of the county, most of the facts connected with the enrly settlement of the town and hence shall pass them over hurriedly. The first actual set^ tier was S. Titus Mills and his family, who located on the east bank of Mills Lake in Section 13, in July, 1854. Other settlers of that year were Edward A. and William Washburn, Chas. N. G-ilchrist, Geo. W. Lamberton, Ninion E. Thompson, Lucius 0. Hunt, Wm. E. Eobinson, and Samuel H. Thorn. In 1855, came James H. Greenwood, James B. Gail, Wm. E. Thompson, J. C. Thompson, Orlin J. Westover, John S. and Joseph Derby, Edson Gerry, Chas. and Arza Barney, David K. Shaw, J. N. Cheney, Joseph W. Greenwood, and Abram Lytle. Among the settlers of 1856, were: Samuel M. Eolsom, E. P. Evans, Amos Warner, Harris C. Capwell, David and James G. Thompson, A. M. Kendall, Wm. H. Austin, Frank and E. H. Thurston, Patrick Eooney, James Glynn and J. A. Preston. In 1857, came Jefferson Piper, Dr. H. Thurston, C. B. Fray.iiT and W. D. Smith.

As stated elsewhere, the village of Garden City was first laid out in June, 1866, under the name of "Fremont" by Anthony Case, and in October, 1858, replatted as "Garden City" by Simeon P. Folsom, Amos Warner, John Dilley, Cyrus Foot, James A. Wiswell and Edson Gerry.

Benj. H. Seabury conducted the first store in the village, in a tent, in the summer of 1856. After a few weeks he sold out to Cheeney and Harrington. About a year later C. B. Eraser opened a store there.

In 1859j James Besser put up a building on the west side of the river for a store and public hall, where Besser and Thompson engaged in the mercantile business. In 1860, T. N". Boynton opened a store in the village, and in 1861, John H. Bay and Daniel Williams started another mercantile establishment. In the fall of 1856, Conklin and Hoxie built the first saw mill on the Watonwan, about where that river crosses the west line of Section 32. Here was laid out the paper village of Watonwan. In Garden City two saw milk were erected in 1856-7. One by Folsom and Evans, and the other by Dilley, Warner and Capwell. In 1857, a frame hotel was constructed by Folsom and Evans, which was run for a while by Levi Scott. The big quarrel over the townsite between E. P.

Evans and S. M. Folsom, of which we elfiewhere spoke, worked considerable detriment to the village; still during the fifties and sixties it was a thriving business center, and even aspired to be the county seat.

In the fall of 1859, the Yankee Mills operated three run of stones and two bolts in its grist department, having a capacity of 1,500 bushels of wheat per week. In 1857, Jas. A. Wiswell opened a law office in the village, and in 1860 S. B. James hung his shingle there. In 1859, Dr. Jacob W. B. Wellcome located there. The medical profession, heretofore, had been represented by Drs. Thurston, Torrey and Case. The County Fair was first held there in October, 1860. E. P. Evans was appointed the first postmaster in 1857. He was succeeded by James Besser.

Under the republican administration in June, 1861, A. J. Jewett was made postmaster. A. most bitter fight was made against his appointment by the enemies of E. P. Evans, whose nephew Jewett was. Of the part taken by the village in the Inkpadutah trouble we have already written. As a result of the scare a militia company was organized and maintained for a time and an armory building erected, which answered well the purpose of a town hall.

Garden City was mostly settled by Americans, who had received some educational advantages, and there was often more or less brain power running to waste. Debating societies and lyeeums were organized very early. In the winter of 1859, a mock U. S. Senate was formed and Senators chosen to represent each state in the Union. The questions of slavery, and State Eights, A Eesolution to Dissolve the Union, A Bill Appropriating money for the Navy, each provoked a big debate, and the real Senate at Washington did not display more eloquence or vehemance in argument, than did Senators Baker, Evans, Potter, Thurston, Greenwood, Wellcome, Torrey, Jewett, Payne, Thompson, Clark, and others. Big Fourth of July celebrations occurred each year. When Lincoln was inaugurated Garden City celebrated the event with a big dinner. A flag staff was erected in front of Boynton & Thompson's hall. A flag was run up with streamers bearing Lincoln and Hamlin's names. Toasts were responded to by J. C. Edson, E. P. Evans, A. Loveland, A. J. Jewett, J. A. Wiswell, W. K. Thompson, Eev. A. Case, Dr. Wellcome, Nathan Bass and S. Cram. Then there were Military meetings, Teachers Institutes, Political Conventions, donation parties, protracted meetings. Good Templar and other lodges, and singing schools taught by Bdson Gerry. In those days no one could say but Garden City was a very live town, and very much awake on all occasions. January 1, 1864, The village had three general stores: Boynton & Cheeney, Bay & Williams, and Thompson & Barney, a drug store conducted by Wellcome & Smith, a hotel, "Garden City House" with Hiram Perry as landlord, two steam saw mills, with a grist mill attached to one of them. There were, also, a number of blacksmith, wagon and carpenter shops, etc.

We have already spoken of the creation of the election precinct of Watonwan. On May 11, 1858, the town was organized under the same name at the Garden City House, when the following officers were elected: J. A. Wiswell, chairman; W. E. Eobinson and J. H. Greenwood, supervisors; J. W. Cheney, clerk; A. M. Kendall, assessor; T. E. Potter collector; S. M. Eolsom overseer of the poor; E. E. Swan and J. W. Greenwood, justices; D. D. Hunter and William Moon constables.

In February, 1864, a bill introduced by J. A. Wiswell, was passed by the Legislature changing the name of the township to "Garden City.'" At Garden City village the first hotel burned down in 1860, but was rebuilt soon thereafter by B. F. Curtis, who sold it in 1866 to E. P. Evans for $3,500.00. It had various laadlords, but Major Evans and E. T. Norton were perhaps the longest in service. A second hotel was built about 1873 by S. S. Ingram called "Watonwan House."

In the fall of 1865 the Yankee Mills were sold by E. P. Evans to Andrew Friend and Thos. Quayle, who did a big business for many years. The same year -Mr. Capwell built a new grist mill on the site of the old saw mill that Dilley and Warner had built. The next year, he sold it to Loveland and Harrington. For a time T.

N. Boynton "owned an interest, also. In July, 1873, the mill was bought by John A. Willard and run by D. G. Willard for some years, but in 1882 Andrew Friend purchased it, and the following year refitted it and has operated it until the present day. In 1866 Potter Bros, purchased a portable steam saw mill capable of 10,000 feet of lumber per day, which they ran for a few years.

The first saw mill in the town, built by Hoxie and Conklin and the Greenwood Bros., was sold about 1860 to C. F. Butterfield, who transformed and rebuilt it as a flour mill, which for many years did a big business, until it was purchased by A. Friend in June, 1889. The mill built by S. M. Folsom in 1866-7 and operated by him with much success for his brother, i)r. Henry Folsom, was located about two miles below Garden City village. In 1865-6 the Dustin Mill was built on the Blue Earth river on Gail's farm in the northeast corner of the town, and operated by Dustin, Holliday and Johnson, and their successors for several years. In fact, for thirty years or more. Garden City township was the mill town of our county. In the spring of 1868, Garden City Village contained three gristmills, four general stores, two drug and grocery stores, one hardware store, one hotel, one wagon shojD, one harness shop, one shoe shop, one tailor shop, one blacksmith shop, one cabinet shop, one newspaper, two public halls; a two story school house, with a graded school, three church organizations, and many dwellings. Among the merchants of latter date were Piper & Jones, Wm. Mason, Amos Warner, James Dunbar, Over & Clough, J. E. Neff, Thos. Glynn, Ed Nickerson, John & Thurston, and E. E. Norton. Among the postmasters of the village since A. J. Jewett, have been Daniel Williams,- E. P. Evans, Chas. B. Eraser, Garrett Murphy, Lyman T. Shaw, Mrs. Lyman T. Shaw, A. M. Kendall, James S. Church, and E. E. Norton.

The first paper in the village was started in October, 1867, by A. J. Manley and designated "The Garden City Herald." It was discontinued in August, 1870. The next paper was "The Garden City Messenger" started by J. L. Barlow in January, 1881, but which did not contmue long. The last paper was the "Garden City Progress/' which was first issued early in 1900 by A. I. Shaver, but suspended the following year.

We have already spoken of the beginning of the public school work and religious services in the village. The log school house was superceded by a frame building about 1867, and a graded school started the following year. In September, 1874, a new school house was finished 30x50 feet and two stories high. For many years the Garden City schools have ranked high among the graded schools of the county. Prof. E. W. Parker for a number of years was the efficient head of the school.

The Baptist Church, which ecclesiastically had been started in the fifties, was legally organized at the Farmers Hall on August 4, 1866, when the following trustees were chosen : Eliphalet Smith, Marshall Warren, and B. B. Parker. The present church building was begun jn 1867, and completed in 1868. The walls are of cement brick, which were manufactured in the village by Geist & Hentzelman, a firm from Illinois, who had just located there. The building is 33x55 feet, cost $4,100, and was dedicated on January 17, 1869 - Eev. A. Gale preaching the sermon. Eevs. A. Case, A. Gale, E. C. Sanders, and Jos. Eockwood were among the early pastors of the church.

The M. E. Church began work at the village, as we have noted before, very early in the fifties. A class was started and regular services maintained. Various halls served as homes for the church. In the fall of 1888 the matter of a church building was taken up in earnest. On September 17, of this year. Presiding Elder Geo. E. Hair appointed the following trustees for the church: Amos Warner, M. Leatherman, Wm. King, Wm. Stoneman, Wm. Judd, J. H. Baker and Andrew Friend. The new church was finished and dedicated on Sept. 15, 1889. In the spring of 1898 a parsonage was built.

The Christian Church was first organized in 1858 at the house of C. Detamore in Garden City township. Services were held at various places and especially at school house No. 20. In the latter eighties, services were begun in the village, and January, 1890 the church incorporated with the following trustees : C. H. Piper, J. H. Greenwood, L. D. Mills, E. W. Gates, W. J. Osgood and A. M. Kendall. A good house of worship was erected in 1896 and dedicated on Nov. 29, of that year.

A few Presbyterians and Congregationalists were united into a Presbyterian church on Dec. 1, 1866 by Eev. C. S. McElroy. This church kept in existence for a number of years, worshipping in halls and in the Baptist Church, but finally disbanded. An Advent Church, also, flourished in the village during the nineties but finally was obliged to give up the field. For many years the churches united in one Sabbath School, but this plan was abandoned about 1870. April 1, 1895, a creamery was started at the village, and soon thereafter a cheese factory.

In the winter of 1896-7 the ladies of Garden City evinced their public enterprise by giving a series of entertainments, whereby, they obtained sufficient revenue to build sidewalks in the village. The Elmore branch of the C, St. P., M. & 0. Ey was built through the village in 1S7 9, but the building of Lake Crystal and other towns has greatly crippled this ancient city on the Watonwan.

The township of Garden City is noted not only for the number of its mills of which we have spoken, but, also, for the number of its townsites. Garden City, Watonwan 'City, Crystal Lake City, Lowell and Lake Crystal were all within its borders. Of all these we have spoken in our County History. At Watonwan City was located the Butterfield mills, and the postoffice rf "Watonwan," there established in 1858, and continued for many years. C. F. Butterfield succeeded J. H. Greenwood as postmaster about 1860, and Butterfield was succeeded in turn in 1881, by Mrs. Elizabeth L. Scott. The next year the name of the office was changed to "Blaine," and about 1886, Eufus Cornish became postmaster, and the office was moved to his house in Vernon. A. B. Barney opened a small store near the Butterfield Mill in 1864. The school house of District No. 20 is located at the same place. In this school house a Presbyterian church was started about 1894. In May, 1895, this church purchased of Joseph H.

Eobinson a lot and erected thereon, that summer, a very neat chapel. The trustees at the time were: Isaac J. Gardner, Joseph H. Eobinson Eichard J. Julian, Jacob Jones, Nathaniel B. Code, and Wm. Stevens. It was called the "Walton Presbyterian Church."

Lake Ceystal

At present by far the most important village in Garden City town is Lake Crystal. Of the origin and growth of this village we have treated in the history of the county. Platted in May, 1869, by L. 0. Hunt and W. E. Eobinson, iipon the advent of the St. Paul and Sioux City railroad, it sprang into a bustling village of about 200 inhabitants the first year. It was incorporated as a village on February 24, 1870, by a special act of the Legislature, and held its first election on March 29, 1870, when 77 votes were cast. The first officers elected were: A. Schmidlin, president; W. E. Eobinson, L. 0. Hunt, M. E. Dunn and Wm. McGillis, trustees; W. P. Marston, recorder, Henry Humphrey, Assessor; J. Simmons, treasurer; Evariste Franchere, justice; and Alonzo Frizzell, constable. On June 1, 1870, the village contained 3 general stores, 1 hardware, 1 grocery, 4 hotels, 1 drug store, 1 flour and feed store, 5 saloons, 2 lumber yards, 2 millinery, 1 cooper shop, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 shoemaker shop, 1 harness shop, 1 livery, 1 meat market, 2 agricultural implement stores.

The Loon Lake postofEice was moved there on September 1, 1869, and Henry liumphrey became its first postmaster. His successors are about as follows :

In August, 1882, the office became a money order office, and in Nov., 1891, it was promoted to the presidential class. Prominent among the early merchants of the village were: Henry Humphrey, W. C. Davis, W. P. Marston, C. E. Davis, Price Wickersham, J. W. Franchere, J.

W. Hurlburt, P. A. Larson, T. J. Perry, Eowlands & Eees, M. W. Kelley, Crane Bros., P. Eiley, David Thomas, and Jones & Williams. Among the early hotel proprietors were: S. J. Oakley of "Oakley House," Joseph Kiefer of the "Lake House," C. Dossett of the "Union Hotel," Peter Kieffer of "Washington House," J. S. Murphy of "Central Hotel," and D. C. Wood of the "Commercial House" and later of the "Central Hotel." Lorin Cray and W. H. Cole were among the early lawyers. Among the pioneer physicians were Drs. Stoddard, Herring, CuUen and Preese. The first newspaper was "The People's Journal," started in March, 1870, by Dr. E. D. Buekner. It did not long survive. December 4, 1879, John D. Quane issued the first number of "The Blue Earth County Public Spirit," which continued three years. On October 11, 1882, Geo. W. Neff of Mankato, started the "Lake Crystal Union," which still survives, a live energetic country journal. May 16, 1888, T. A. Eckley issued the first number of the "Lake Crystal Mirror" which survived about four or five years. In February, 1891, Dr. J. C. Curryer began publishing the "Minnesota Horseman" from the ofl:ice of the Mirror.

The first Lake Crystal mill was started by Lewis, Marston, Cray and Davis in December, 1883. It was called "The Diamond Flouring Mill," and in July, 1889, was destroyed by fire. In 1894, Graif Bros, built a four story brick fi our mill, 40x60 feet. The same year they also installed an electric light plant, and in Oct. 1901, a telephone exchange. On November 18, 1901, this mill was destroyed by fire. The following year a stock company was formed and the mill again rebuilt at a cost of $28,000. The stock company failed in August, 1907, and the mill was sold to Christian S. Christensen of Madelia, present proprietor.

In 1879, the Elmore branch was built out of Lake Crystal, and made the village a railroad point of some importance. In May, 1882, Marston, Larson & Davis started a creamery, which they sold the following March, to Lawrence, » Straight & Co. In 1884, the merchants formed a Dairy Board of Trade, for the purpose of gathering newly churned butter from the farm-

Tiistoey Of Blue Eaeth Cocjnty

The plan worked well for some years. A cheese factory was also maintained for a time. In 1894, the Lake Shore Co-operative Creami.'Lj was started.

In 1886, the Lake Crystal State Bank was ?tarted by Kandolph Mitchell, but failed in November, 1888. January 1, 1889, Marstou, Larson & Davis started a private bank, which is still flourishing. In 1902, the First National Bank of Lake Crystal was organized through the efforts of J. J. McGuire, who became its cashier, and a bank building erected at a cost of nearly $14,000. James Thomas became cashier in 1908.

September 17, 1887, the village was visited by a very destructive fire, which wiped out nearly half of its business blocks, but within a year they were rebuilt on a much liner style than the first.

In 1887, the Legislature passed a bill authorizing the construction of a dam at the outlet of Crystal Lake to raise its waters three feet, upon the payment of damages to persons injured thereby. D. P. Davis, D. W. Evans and P. Mertersdorf were appointed appraisers and the damages were assessed at $1,705, which were paid, and the dam constructed in the spring of 1888. A boat company was organized at the village, a boat house constructed, and boats launched on the lake. Eobinson Park was, also, fitted up, and an attempt made to build up a summer resort on this beautiful sheet of water. The first school building was erected in the fall of 1869. It was a two story frame 22x40 feet. In 1882, bonds were voted and an $8,000 brick building erected, and an excellent graded school has been maintained ever since.

There are eight churches in the village. Tiie first house of worship was erected by the Presbyterians in 1870, and dedicated on Feb. 26, 1871. Eev. C. Wisner was pastor at the time. The church had been organized Oct. 15, 1869 by the election of the following persons as trustees: Wm. A. Symore, A. H. Smith, E. K. Tarbox, Eichard Tukey, A. J. Murphy, Wm. E. Eobinson and E. G. Eich. The M. E. began holding services about as early as the Presbyterians. They legally organized as the "First M. E. Church of Lake Crystal" on July 16, 1870, by the appointment by Eev. Xorris Hobart, the presiding elder, of the following persons as trustees: A. J. Bangs, Wm. Cole, Jesse Thomas, Leman Wood and Edson A. Tukey. In April, 1874, lot 1, block 5, of Lake Crystal was purchased as a building site. The trustees at the time were: W. C. Davis, M. L. Holley, A. S. Hamlin, A. J. Bangs and M. H. Metier. A church building, 24x50, was started that year and occupied, but not finished and dedicated until June 1, 1879. August 31, 1884, the church was reorganized for legal purposes by the appointment by Elder J. N. Liscomb of the following trustees: W. C. Davis, X. P. John, H. C. McLean, S. G. Brooks, A. S. Hamlin, F. Lewis, and W. P. Cobb. In 1890, a new church building was erected, 32x54, with a wing 16x30, and a bell weighing 715 pounds was hung in its belfry. The old chapel was sold to the Welsh people. The church is now in a prosperous condition.

"The German Evangelical Lutheran St. James Church of Lake Crystal" was incorporated on JIar. 8, 1886, under the pastorship of Eev. C. Eo^^s, when the following persons were elected trustees: Geo. ;\Iayer, Eaphael Eeunscum, and Henry Eadichel. Other charter members were: Daniel Eadichel, Frederick T. Skier, Henry Mayer, and Gottfried Newmann. A church building was erected the same year, which was dedicated Oct. 17, when Eev. Schultz of Mankato preached the sermon.

Early in the eighties the Baptists of the village organized a church, which on May 28, 1888, was incorporated as "The First Baptist Church of Lake Crystal" and again reincorporated on Aug. 13, 1889, under the Eev. I. Bergstrom, when the following persons were made trustees: Wm. Thomas, Andrew Granlund, Henry A. Weymouth, Thos. D. Williams, A. T. Sherwin and Eees W. Thomas. A church

The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists began holding services at the Presbyterian Church in 1886. A Sunday School under the lead of J-*eter Lloyd was the principal service at first. The church was organized by Eev. John C. Jones of Mankato on January 27, 1889, with twenty-nine members. Its first officers were Dr. John Williams, Thos. G. Owens, David E. Davies, Edward Jenkins and Edward Morgan. In September, 1890^ the old M. E. chapel was purchased and the church moved into it. Up to this time they had used the Presbyterian Church. On Sept. 1, 1890, the church incorporated for holding property by the election of iJie following trustees: Thos. E. Evans, Robert S. Hughes and Edward E. Jenkins. Evan Williams, Evan Davies, Wm. P. Jones, Wm. E. Jenkins, John R. Jones and John L. Lewis, became its Elders. In Feb. 1893, Rev. David Edwards became its first pastor, and has continued in the office ever, since. In 1899, the present fine church edifice was erected and dedicated on Oct. 25, of the same year. The old building which they had purchased of the M. E. brethren, was sold, to Geo. W. Neff, and is still used as the printing office of the Lake Crystal Union.

Early in the nineties 'the Norwegian Lutherans began holding services and Feb. 6, 1893, The Zion Scandinavian Lutheran Church of Lake Crystal was incorporated by the following named persons: Lars Larson, Peter Moe, Andrew Tweed, Ole J. Wiger, Henry E. Olson, Syver P. Moe, Martin P. Pederson and Herman H. Olson, and in 1893, they erected their present chapel.

At present Lake Crystal is one of the largest and most flourishing villages in the County. Among the most prominent of its present merchants not already mentioned are : The Pioneer Mercantile Co., D. T. Owens, James Bros., F. Strunk Lumber Co., W. E. & R. B. Thomas, Thomas, Jones & Co. and C. C. Jenkins.

Named by Eobert Patterson, in honor of the ;reat Baptist Missionary. The history of this own has been mostly covered in the general listory of the county. Its first settlers were Chester D. Hill, John Eandolf and Eev. John K. Tidland, who came to the old townsite of Eureka, with H. Kaywood in the summer of L853, and located upon claims in Judson bottom. They were followed the next year by Gustaf Johnson, Peter- Olson, Chas. Youngberg, John Beckman, Oscar P. and Francis 0. Winnerstrand, John Goodwin, Eobert Patterson, Wm. Irving, Calvin Webb, John Jones, (Oshkosh), and Lucius 0. Hunt. All settled ifi Judson bottom except Hunt, Webb and Jones. In 1855, came Chas. Eundquist, Gustaf Peterson, Andrew and John Johnson, Nils Nilson, C. S. Terry, and others whose names we did not learn, who settled in the bottom. In April,

1855, came Humphrey Jones, Thos. Y. Davis, Wm. C. Williams, Wm. Jenkins, Wm. Jones, John Watkins, and others, who located along the timber in the Jerusalem neighborhood. In June and July of the same year came Hugh Edwards with his sons, Hugh H., John and Daniel Edwards, and David Evans, Wm. J. Eoberts and Eowland W. Price and settled along Minneopa Creek. In the summer and fall of 1855, Owen Eoberts, Henry Hughes, David T. Davis and Eev. William Williams arrived in the Jerusalem neighborhood : and in

1856, came Benjamin Lewis, David and Edward Dackins, David J. Eees, Anthony J. Crisp, Wm. M. Crisp, Thos. E, Evans, Samuel Pease, Samuel H. Foster and others who made claims in the same neighborhood. In the Carmel neighborhood located in 1856, Evan Williams and his son Wm. E. Williams, and Evan Davis.

The town was made an election precinct on April 8, 1856, and a town on May 11, 1858, at which time the following officers were chosen: Supervisors, Eobt. Patterson Chr., Wm. Jenkins and A. J. Crisp: Clerk, T. E. Coulson; Assessor, W. H. Thurston; Collector, J. A. Tidland; Overseer of the poor, Gustaf Johnson; Justice, J. 0. Eobinson; Constable, D. Eeed; Road Overseer, L. 0. Hunt.

December 10, 1856, the "townsite of "Judson" was laid out by Eobert Patterson and John Goodwin on portions of sections 3, 4, 33, and 34 in Judson Bottom. A saw Mill was built that fall by Henry Fowler, E. Patterson and John Goodwin, which the next year was sold to Cephas S. Terry, who added a small grist mill. In the spring of 1857, Andrew Friend was employed by Mr. Terry to help run the mill, in which employment he continued until 1864, when he removed to Garden City.. The mill had now been bought by Keene & Whitcomb, and in June, 1866, it burned. Stores were built there by Mr. Terry and T. E. Coulson. Mr. Coulson, also, kept a small hotel. A postoffice was started in 1856, kept by John Goodwin. The first school in the town was taught in the winter of 1857, by Miss Jannette Jenkins (the late Mrs. Jannette Jones of Mankato). It was kept in a vacant log buildTng near Coulson's store. In 1858, a joint stock company purchased of Mr. Coulson a large frame building for $800 to start therein "Judson Academy." The school was put in charge of Eev. J. E. Ash, a young Baptist preacher from Illinois, whose wife had charge of the music department. After one year, Mr. and Mrs. Ash removed to Mankato and the Academy failed. In 1859, Judson village contained about thirty houses. About 1860, Anthony J. Crisp built him a neat frame house and barn on the farm now owned by Joseph Eoberts, and opened a bmall country store. A postoffice was located there called "Crisp's Store," in charge of Mr. Crisp. It continued until the Crisp family moved away after the close of the Civil war. The first school in District 99 was taught in 1860, by Mr. Crisp in his own house.

In August, 1867, Fredrick K. Jones purchased two acres in the southwest quarter of Section 6, about a quarter of a mile west of Crisp's store, and built thereon a store, which he conducted for two years and then sold the lot and building to Eev. P. Peregrine. About 1858, Robert Goodyear started a nursery on Section 12 of Judson, which he conducted for several years.

in the spring of 1863, by Cap't. Skaro's Company. In January, 1868, J. G. Fowler and Bro. opened a second general store at the village, but after a year or two both Fowler and Coulson stores moved away and the village fell into decay. For many years thereafter, Borie Sanstrom kept a small store there on the river bank. Soon after the Indian outbreak the Judson postoffice was removed to the house of Eev. Wm. Williams, where it remained until March, 1877, when W. S. Wolfe was appointed postmaster instead of Eev. Williams, who had resigned. The postmasters since have bfeen:

The first birth in the town was that of Griffith Boberts, son of Wm. J. Eoberts in August, 1J55. The first marriage was that of William C. Williams and Hannah Williams, celebrated on Christmas day, 1855. The second marriage was probably that of E. T. Eoberts to Margaret Edwards, daughter of Hugh Edwards, in June, 1856. The first sermon was probably preached by Eev. Jenkin Jenkins on Oct. 14, 1855, at the house of John Watkins, when the first church in the town was organized. The organization later moved into Cambria township and is now laiown as the "Salem Congregational Church."-

July 11, 1858, a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church was organized at the house of Owen Eoberts on the farm now owned by Humphrey J. Eoberts, by Eev. David Davis, assisted by Evan Evans. The charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. Owen Eoberts, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bowen, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. C. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. E. Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Eichard B. Davis. Later the church adopted the name "Jerusalem." The services were held in private houses until the spring of 1865, when a log church was erected. During 1870-1 the present edifice was built, and in March, 1871, Eev. Wm. Jones became its first settled pastor, which position he held until 1891, with an intermission of four and one-half years. Since 1892, the church has been, joined in a circuit with Lake Crystal under the pastorship of Eev. D. Edwards. The legal incorporation of the church occurred at the log building on June 13, 1870, when the following trustees were elected: Owen Eoberts, Jabez Lloyd and John W. Eoberts. Since 1870, until of late years, the Annual Synod or conference of the Welsh Cal. Meth. Churches of this state has been held in connection with this church, usually in June of each year, and at a grove on the farm of Humphrey J. Eoberts.

In 1858, Eev. J. E. Ash' organized a Baptist church in Judson village. Among the members were Eobert Patterson, John Goodwin, Eev. Wm. Williams, Morris Lewis, John Eees, Geo. Smith and others. After Eev. Ash left, the church was ministered to by Eev. Williams and Mr. Miller for a time, but for some years during the Indian trouble it suspended. About 1867, and 1868 it met again in school house No. 6, and on March 15, 1871, incorporated at the house of John Goodwin, when John Eees, Abel Keene and B. P. Muzzy were elected trustees. The church disbanded in Nov., 1882, and a number of the members joined the Baptistchurch of Lake Crystal.

In the summer of 1867, a Sunday school was started at the house of Wm. D. - Jones in the eastern part of Judson, which on the building of school house No. 75 was moved thereto. Here a church was organized on August 29, 1869, by Eev. Wm. Eoberts. The charter members were: Wm. D. Jones, and wife, Evan Davis and wife, Hugh D. Hughes and wife, Eev. Wm. Eoberts and wife, Watkin H. Jones and wife, Cornelins Jones and wife, Moses Jones, Mrs. Eobert S. Pritchard, Mrs. Eobert Jones, Mrs. Ellen Griffiths, Mrs. Mary Hughes, Mrs. John J. Griffiths, Mrs. Thos. C. Charles, Mrs. John Edwards, Mrs. David J. Williams, Mrs. Humphery E. Jones, Mrs. Joshua Wigley, Mrs. Thos. D. Williams, Mrs. E. E. Jones, Mrs. Wm. H. Hughes and Mrs. John P. Jones. Evan Williams was its first Elder. The church incorporated as "The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church of Carmel" on March 3, 1874, when the following persons were chosen trustees : Thos. C. Charles, Evan Williams and Edward Wigley. That summer the present church edifice was erected at a cost of about $1,700. Eev. E. P. Jones of Mankato was its first pastor. It has generally been attached to Mankato and Zion for pastoral purpose. As noted before a split occurred in the Cal. Meth. Churches of our County in 1865, and one wing Joined the Presbyterian Church. Soon after this a church of that denomination was formed at the house of Wm. C. Williams and services held there and in the house of E. Eowlands, and in school house No. 1, until the erection of a fine new chapel in 1870, on the center of the east line of Section 17. This church was incorporated at a meeting held in school house No. 37, Peb. 14, 1870, and the following trustees elected : John W. James, Wm. E. Jones, Eobt. Pugh, Wm. J. Jones and Wm. Jenkins. The Elders were Eowland E. Pritchard and Eichard Eowlands. Eev. Eichard W. Jones was the pastor of this church for a few years. It disbanded about 1879.

In the fifties the M. E. Church held services in Judson and on Nov. 2.5, 1859, the church was incorporated by Eev. E. T. Eichardson, preacher in charge of Eureka Circuit, appointing the following persons trustees : Anthony J. Crisp, Wm. A. Jones, Cephas S. Terr}', A. H. Crisp and Wm. H. Thurston. Services were conducted at the home of A. J. Crisp and at Judson village at intervals for some years.

The Swedish Lutherans began holding religious services quite early in Judson Bottom. For many years they maintained a good Sunday school in the school house of which John P. Johnson was, for a time, superintendent. This church incorporated and a neat house of worship erected in 1905, at Judson Tillage.

In 1899, the Chicago & Northwestern Bailway built a short line from Mankato to New IJlm through Judson and a new towhsite called "Judson" was laid out near the location of the ancient village. A neat depot was erected there. A grain elevator, two stores and blacksmith shop were built the same summer. These with the postoffice, Swedish Church, Creamery and a few residences make a small village. Eobert G. James and Wm. ]\Lison were the first storekeepers. In April, 1902, Henry Fuller purchased Mr. Mason's store and in 1905, W. W. Jenkins bought out both James and FulleS, In 1904, a bridge was constructed over the Minnesota river at Judson village.

A portion of the village of Lake Crystal is located within the southern boundary of Judson. In 1906, a railway station and wheat elevator were located on Minneopa Creek near the center of Section 23, called Cray.

Originally a part of Jamestown, but made a separate town by action of the County Commissioners, January 4, 1860. Named "Lake" at first, but June 11, 1860, changed to "Tivoli" and on September 5th. of the same year, to "Le Bay" at the suggestion of Wm. D. Cole, after a town in New York from which he hacl come. In its native state the entire town was covered with a dense forest of fine timber. Large portions of lakes Madison and Eagle lie within its northern border, and the outlet of both lakes form two small brooks, which after traversing across the town, empty into the Le- Sueur, not far from its southwestern corner. Indian, Alice, Byron and Mud Lakes form a

The first settlers came in 1856, among whom were : Alexander and James Douglass, Geo. Adam Beiries, Eobert Haslip, Arthur A. Steward, Wm., Geo. L., Albert and Robert P. Turner, Henry B. Lang, M. D. MdSTamara, Wm. D. Cole, George Chapman, Geo. W., Jacob L., John M., and James T. Burgess, Geo. Bennett, Patrick Madigan, Wm. J\Iorris, David Davis, Thos. E. Davis, Eev. Elias Clark, Wm. Gilfillan, Arvad C. Johnson, Conrad Schogll, Joel Cloud, Joseph Titus, Joseph M. Metter, Geo. F. Lill, Jerome Weatherby and Alvin P. Eeynolds. The next year came Henry Eobertson, John Cummins and Horace Cummins. Other early settlers were August Glockzin, Michael Silke, Nicholas Frederick. Geo. F. Sower, John Urlich, Jerome Dane, E. G. Wood, John Waggoner, and Ira B. Eeynolds.

Among the primal things, it is claimed that the first birth was that of Geo. F. Burgess on March 13, 1857. The first marriage, iVlbert Turner to Miss Adaline Cummins, solemnized,- June, 1859, by Elder Small. The first death, Mrs. A. A. Steward in the fall of 1858, and the first . school taught by iliss Hannah Haslip in a log claim shanty on Section 18, about 1859. The average attendance was about fourteen. The first town officers elected in January, 1860 were : Supervisors, Wm. D. Cole, Chr., John Cummins and Geo. A. Beiries; Clerk, Arvad C. Johnson; Treasurer, Jerome Dane; Justices, Jerome Dane and J. L. Burgess; Constables, Geo. Bennett and Isaac Turner. This election was held at Wm. D. Cole's house on the farm now owned by Nicholas Frederick, and thirty-one votes were cast. The first postoffice was established in 1870 and called "Spier" at the suggestion of Geo. A. Beiries after his home in Germany, and Freeman A. Cate was appointed postmaster. In Dec. 1873, the name was changed to Eagle Lake and Henry Bossard became postmaster. He had a small store near Eagle Lake station.

Naturally in a timber town, lumber and wood soon became one of its chief industries. In 1864, J. Sylvester Burgess and Thomas Burgess purchased of McNutt of Judson, a steam circular saw mill of 15,000 feet capacity, and removed it to their farm on the west line of Le Bay. Here in February, 1867, the Burgess Bros, opened a small store.

In 1870, the Winona and St. Peter Eailroad was built through Le Bay, and in Nov. 1873, Eagle Lake was platted by Freeman A. Cate on a portion of his farm. The Burgess Bros, sold their saw mill early in the seventies to Henry Simons, who after two or three years moved it to near the outlet of Eagle Lake, whence it was taken to Tennessee in 1883. In the fall of 1871, Woodham and Harrison Burgess built a grist mill at the Junction of Eagle Lake Creek with Madison Lake Creek, about a mile south of the village. Three or four years later Burgess & Pickle became its owners, and shortly thereafter the firm changed to Cate & Pickle. In the fall of 1873, Morse Bros, built a waterpower saw mill near the mouth of Madison Lake Creek. In 1876, Smith, Kingsley & Cornwell, built a saw mill at Eagle Lake, which the next year was purchased by Allen Moon, who sold it to Selleck and Peck. Chas. F. Stokes, in the summer of 1873, erected a saw mill at Smith's Mill which has been in operation until recent years. We can not even enumerate all the many mill operators of Le Eay. J. D. Humiston, Mc- Beth Bros., Fred Gilfillen, A. B. Hough, B. Gerlich, Gilfillen and several others were engaged in the industry during the past years. In 1893, Horace Cummins built a saw mill at Eagle Lake, using the same engine, which had belonged to the old saw mill of Geo. W. Lay at Mankato. In 1890, Horace Cummins and Wm. McBeth, having bought the Woodham grist mill at the junction of the two creeks, moved it to Eagle Lake and remodeled it as a steam roller mill, increasing its capacity from 35 to 135 barrels per day. In 1893, they sold this mill to J. D. Humiston who, after operating it for twelve years, disposed of it to Gordon Bros., the present owners, who have increased the capacity to 250 barrels per day. In 1877, Elwin Merrill erected a planing mill at Eagle Lake, which after three years burned. In 1885, Miner and Cummins put up a planing mill at the same place, which was operated about twenty years.

In NoT.,^ 1874, the townsite of Lake Eagle was platted adjoining Eagle Lake by James H. Steward and Walter L. Breckenridge. The village is mostly built on this townsite, but it retained the name of the first townsite. In August, 1873, a depot was built. It is said' the first store was kept by Mr. Texley in a log shanty in 1871, and was mainly to supply the railway builders. H. C. & T. E. Burgess started the first permanent store in 1873. Then came W. W. Phelps, who opened a general store about 1874. He was made postmaster in 1875, and held the office fourteen years. Early in 1876, 'W'. J. Allyn opened a hardware, and soon afterwards consolidated with Phelps under the name of Phelps & Allyn. Then came Daniel Selleck, who later was of the firm of Selleck & Peck. (t. W. Braden started alone, but later formed a partnership with- J. J. Haggard as Braden & Haggard. Horace Cummins built first elevator in 1875. In 1882, he built a large octag'pn store, thirty-three feet in diameter and started in the mercaiitile business. Other pioneer merchants were: H. C. Burgess, general store, Wells & Mynard, and John and Geo. Burgess, drug stores. Mynard & Levi and Isaac Eedner, blacksmiths; J. S. Stevens, harness maker; H. C. Bullis and Wm. Gilfillan, wagon makers, A. H. Presnall, prop, of hall, E. Buckley and A. F. Hilton hotels. In 1886, J. J. Haggard became postmaster and served until 1889, when he was succeeded by Cap't. Jerome Dane. A cheese factory was started here in 1889, by Mr. Hnderhill. Among the other prominent merchants have been: J. A. Ewing, E. D. Fisher, C. D. Cook, Chas. Howard and P. H. Kelly. Horace Cummins, A. H. Presnall and J. D. Morris are at present engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1897, E. M. Presnall was appointed postmaster and the present incumbent A. H. Presnall succeeded him in 1900.

The first newspaper was the "Eagle Lake Golden Prize," started by A. H. Wheeler in January, 1874. It suspended in May, 1875. Sept. 1, 1877. A. M. Morrison (now of the Mankato Journal) and Wesley J. Clark, purchased the old printing outfit of the "Prize" from H.

Cummins and started the "Eagle Lake Independent." In 1879, Mr. Morrison removed the press to Canby. July 30, 1897, "The Eagle Lake News" was started by F. A. Swayne, who was succeeded in 1899, by - C. H. Brown. In September of the same year, JI. H. Galer purchased the paper and later it was published by H. Cummins & Son.

Eagle Lake has three churches. The Methodist Episcopal, Christian and Advent. The M. E. Church traces its beginning to prayer meetings started by Hattie Britt in 1864. Ira B. Eeynolds took hold of the work in 1865, and helped to keep the good cause alive. Rev. J. W. Powell became its first pastor in the fall of 1867. The services were held in school houses and in halls at Eagle Lake until 1879, when a church building was put up and occupied that fall, though not completed until 1884. The edifice is 30x50 feet and cost $1,350 besides the steeple which was built later. The dedication occurred Feb. 17, 1884. Besides Eev. Powell, Eevs. C. D. Cook and N. B. Foot were especially identified with the work of this church. The legal incorporation occurred Mar. 24, 1875, when Elder G. W. Wright appointed the following trustees: Thos. Eeeves, Abraham Snyder, Henry A. Simmons, Daniel Selleck, and James Shields. Others, who were prominent in building the house of worship were: I. B. Eeynolds, W. W. Phelps, H. Cummins, A. H. Pressnall, A. A. l\riner, W. H. Allyn and J. J. Haggard. The church is still in a flourishing condition. The Christian Cliurch had its beginning on the advent of the Burgess family to the town in 1856. In December of that year a church was formed with sixteen members, the most of them belonging to that prominent family. Eev. J. M. Harris was their first pastor. As soon as the village started, their place of worship was reijioved- there. April 22, 1S7 7, they became leyally incorporated under Eev. Wm. Burgess as pastor. S. M. Morrison and E. jST. Pressnall presided at the meeting and the first trustees elected were : James jM. Schwartz, Edwin Johnson and Pythogaras Wilson. Their church edifice was erected in 1879.

Iitstoey Op Blue Eaeth Cottnty

four members. In 1876, they pushed their work with great vigor. Monster camp meetings were held by the distinguished Elder White and many converts made. Its first board of trustees were Allen Moon, David Alway and Jeremiah Moon. In March, 1883, they purchased and removed to Eagle Lake, a church which had been built in Tinkcom's addition, Mankato. It is a frame structure 24x40 feet. Though weakened by removals, the church is still quite strong.

The town has always been very active along temperance lines and a good Templar's lodge existed at one time with a membership of over 200. With the exception of one or two years, the saloons have been forbidden to enter its boundary.

As we have already stated in July, 1873, Chas. E. Stokes located on the north shore of Lake Alice, just where the ISTorthwestern Eailway crossed the east line of the county, and built there a sawmill. The same fall Peter P. Smith built another saw mill at the same point, but on the Waseca side of the line. A railway switch was put in, and the place went under the name of Smith's Mill. In 1875, P. P. Eice built the first store on the Waseca side of the line. In July, 1876, a townsite was platte(i called "Iscomo," but the old name could not be changed. P. P. Smith built the second store in June, 1876. A postoffice was started at the residence of Henry Lane about 1876. In October, 1879, Chas. P. Stokes became postmaster and was succeeded in Sept., 1882, by Michael J. Eyan who had opened a small store on the Blue Earth County side of the line. In July, 1886, C. E. Giblin became postmaster and was succeeded in Mar., 1890, by A. L. Lane. A depot was built in the fall of 1883. In 1886, an M. E. Church was erected on the Blue Earth County side of the line. "The German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Congregation of U. A. C. at Smith's Mill" was incorporated Fov. 14, 1892, by the following persons.

About 1878, John and Andrew Anderson located on the east bank of Eagle Lake and they were followed by a number of other Scandinavians. About 1900, religious services were started among them at the Hill School house by the Swedish Lutheran minister from Mankato, and a Sunday School was maintained, of which John Anderson was Superintendent.

On Section 29 of Le Eay is located the only spring of mineral water in the county, known^ as the "Morse Mineral Springs." Its virtues were known to the Indians and the Winnebago medicine man, Baptiste, made use of it in the early days. The medicinal qualities of the spring were first discovered and utilized by the whites about 1889. A stock company was formed and the water has since been handled by ISTick Peterson of Mankato.

Iiistoey Of Blue Eaeth Couxty Lime

Lime, like Jamestown, is a half township. The Minnesota Eiver forms its western boundary and about one half of the town is embraced in its Talley. Here are found the largest and best stone quarries in the county. The famous Klondike and McMullen quarries are within its borders. The eastern half of the town projects into the "Big Woods." The town is said to derive its name from some lime kilns which were the first built in the county. In the eastern end of the town lies lake "Wita" (an Indian name signifying "Island"). There are two large islands in the lake, one of which contains about three acres of land, and the other about two acres. The town was about the earliest settled. James Eablin is claimed to have been the first settler. He located with his family on Section 32 in July, 1852. Among the settlers of 1853, were Evans Goodrich, Jared Lewis, Hiram J. Puller, 0. S. Eedfield, Eobert Wardlaw, William Wood, Henry Goodrich and Chris. Eoos. In 1854, came Peter Schulte, Prank Borghineier, Henry Vahle, Morton Laflin, John H. Menne, Edmund Buckley and John Henderson. In 1855, came Daniel Campbell, Prank Henline, Edward Young, Philip Patten, John G. Sanger and David J. Steel. In 1856, a large number of settlers came, among whom were : John Eausch, Geo. A. Schaefer, John Hamilton, Nicholas Heinzman, Frederick Heinze, Sebastian Pfeffer, Philip Mueller, Jacob Traub, Jos. Haas, Jacob Hub, Patrick DufFy, Wm. H. Chapman, BcnJ. W. Stannard and Nicholas Sanger.

The first birth in the town was John Eablin, n son of Mr. and Mrs. Eablin, born in 1853. The first death was that of J. W. Parnham in the spring of 1856. The first school was taught by Eev. B. Y. Coffin in the winter of 1857-8, in a vacant log cabin on the west side of Section 29, and east of the old Mankato and Mendota road, in present District No. 44. This building was used for two or three terms, when the District bought the log cabin of David Steel, which served the purpose of school house until the fall of 1875. when a brick edifice was erected, 24x36. In the big wind-storm of July 5, 1880, this building was badly wrecked.

About 1871, Chas. Porster put up a saw mill at the North end of Eagle Lake, which was burnt in the fall of 1873, but again rebuilt and operated by Mr. Porster for many years.

In the winter of 1878-9 a terrible epidemic of diphtheria prevailed in the eastern part of the town. In less than a year about forty-five deaths occured mostly among about fifteen families. The families of John Miller, John Krell, Jos. Lunkenheimer, John Bushina and Gustavo Oehler were especially afflicted.

Originally Lime was a part of Kasota precinct and in 1855, became for nearly a year a part of LeSueur County. Eestored to Blue Earth County in 1856, it was created into a separate township in April, 1858. The chairman of its first Board of Supervisors was, Evans Goodrich.

Pour lines of railways pass through the town - The C. St. P. M. & 0. Ey., the C. & N. W. Ey., C. & G. W. Ey., and the C. St. P. & M. By. The stone quarry industry of the town has been greatly developed during the last twenty years and gives employment to several hundred men. There are three school houses in the town, and a fourth belonging to a joint district just across the north line. The Eural Free Delivery was 'inaugurated in the fall of 1900, and a farmers telephone line put in about 1904.

The first settler in Lincoln was Archibald Law, who came from near Janesville, Wis., and located with his family on portions of the westerly halves of Sections 30 and 31 in June 1855. He was followed on July 10, of the same year by Isaac Slocum, father of Chas. E. Slocum now of Madelia, who settled with his family on the southwest one-fourth of Section 31. Dr. Jos. C. Tibbie arrived with the Slocum family on Nov. 17, 1855, and located on parts r-.i Sections 19 and 20. They were from Ripon, Wis. In the spring of 1856, came Conrad Stultz and settled in Section 18. Early in the summer of 1857, Alfred and Smith Keech came with their families to Section 32. In the fall of 1857, Isaac Bundy and his son, Willis G. Bundy, located claims in Sections 30 and 20 and returning to their old homes in Beloit, Wis., brought their families to Lincoln the next spring.

There was hardly any further settlement made until after the close of the war, when the Norwegians and Swedes began settling in the town. During 1864-5-6 the Norwegians commenced to occupy the north part of the town. Among those who came then were; Capt. E. P. Lieberg, Knute Halvorson, Matthew Simon, Ole' Soren, Herman Olson, Ole Olson (Skilewag), Nels Torgerson, John Hustroft, Jacob Jacobson, Hogan Nelson, Kittle Rasmussen, John C. Johnson and Fred Johnson. The latter came from Batavia, Wis. in 1866, and still resides on his homestead in Section 4.

County, Minn, and took claims in the southeastern part of Lincoln. The following year came Peter M. Peterson, Swen Martinson, Andrew Granlund, Swen Bergtson and Swen and Peter Swenson, also from near Carver. In 1867, came Rev. .John Erickson, Andrew Erickson, Jonas P. Johnson and Aug. W. Johnson. These formed the nucleus of the present Swedish Baptist settlement of Lincoln. During this same period came the American families of . Chas. E. TenEyck, John W. Trask, N. W. Conger, David Quinn, Richard B. Sprague, C. D. Halloway, A. H. Fairbanks, William Roberts and M. H. Miller.

The town was designated '^Richfield" on April 6, 1858, and on the 16th of the same month the name was changed to "Fox Lake" (See Ceresco). Sept. 6, 1865, the County Commissioners separated the town from Ceresco, to which it had heretofore been attached, and made it into an independent town under the name of "Lincoln," after the great War President. The first town election was held September 26, 1865, at the home of John W. Trask, when the following .officers were chosen: Supervisors, Isaac Slocum, Chr., S. D. Halloway and Isaac Bundy; clerk, J. W. Trask; treasurer, J. C. Tibbie; justices, Albert Keech and Wm. Roberts; constables, A. H. Fairbanks and M. H. Miller. The first school was taught by Henry Goff in the winter of 1862-3 in a log building which Isaac Slocum had built for a shop. It lasted only two months and there were fifteen scholars in attendance. The first school district was No. 15, v/hich was organized about 1859, and a log school house built about 1866-7. Sept. 1, 1866, school district No. 85 was organized on petition of E. P. Lieberg and others. The first officers were Capt. E. P. Lieberg, Ole Soren and John C. Johnson. A small log school house was erected in the spring of 1871, on Section 8. The first school in this district was taught by Miss Mary Plymat of Garden City. A good frame school house was built later. In 1870 a school house was built in district 119, and in the summer of 1873, a brick school .house, 20x30 feet was erected in district 67 to replace the old log building. About- 1880, this brick edifice was wrecked by a storm;

In November^ 186 a new postofiice called "Iceland" was established in Lincoln with Daniel Qumn as postmaster. In Aug., 1869, Mr. Quinn resigned and A. H. Fairbanks succeeded him as keeper of the U. iS. mail.

The Swedish people under Rev. John A. Peterson began holding religious services shortly after their arrival in the spring of 1866. In 1868, a Swedish iiaptist CHurcn was organized by Rev. Peterson witn twenty-live members. For some time this society worshiped in private houses, but as soon as the school house in district No. 119 was built in 1870, the services were removed thitlier. in A'ovember, 1873, Rev. John A. Peterson resigned to accept a Uaptist Church in Minneapolis and Rev. John Erickson took charge of tlie Lincoln Church. June 16, 1876, the church was incorporated by the election of the following trustees: Mons Peterson, And. Swenson, A. Grunlund, A. Erederickson and A. P. Erickson. In 1881, a very tasty frame church was erected on the southeast corner of Andrew Simonson's land, in the center of Section a6. The church membership has ranged between 60 and 70.

The Norwegians were, also, a religious people and belonged almost entirely to the Lutheran faith. The first services were conducted at private houses, until the erection of the log school house in District 85, when they were held there, and in tlie present frame school building, until the house of worship was erected in 1894. Rev. Nels Olsen was among the first to preach in the neighborhood. The first meeting for organization was held at the house of Peter Langen in Section 3, on Aug. 37, 1876, when the following persons were chosen trustees: Peter Langen, Wm. Peterson and E. Thomson. The name then adopted was "The Norwegian Lutheran Evangelical Church of Butternut Valley." Three years later at a meeting in the house of Herman Olson the name was amended by adding thereto, "and Lincoln." Again at a business meeting of the church held Nov. 6, 1882, at the log school house No. 85, new articles &f incorporation were adopted, with Sivert Kelley, Erland Lindso and Erland Kelley as trustees, Ered and Nels Johnson as witnesses.

and the name selected was "The Norwegian Lutheran Evangelical Church of Lincoln." June 9, 1883, Herman H. Olson gave the congregation a deed for two acres of land in the southeast corner of the southwest one-fourth of the southwestone-fourth of Section 5 for a cemetery and building site. Here a fine church edifice was erected in 1894, costing about $1,800. About 1883, Rev. N. Heggerness became the pastor and officiated about five years. Other ministers have been. Revs. Christian Solensten, S. Romsdahl, S. A. Nelson, J. H. Brono, A. Houkom and Johan Matson. The first parochial school in connection with this church was started in private houses about 1871. The first teacher was Erick Swene. Since that time the school has usually been taught by students from Augsburg Seminary of Minneapolis. Of late years this school has been held at school house No. 85 for two months after the close of the public school.

When the St. Paul and Sioux City Ry. was extended westward from Lake Crystal in 1870, a way station, with side track and platform, was located near the east line of Section 7, Lincoln. A telegraph office was put in later. The station was called Iceland, until 1906, when the name was changed to Perth. A farmers co-operative creamery was built in 1890, in Section 15, with Wm. Kittlespn as the first buttermaker. A rural mail route was established in 1900, from Lake Crystal, and a farmers telephone line was built from Madelia in 1904. 'L'o sum up, Lincoln has five school houses, two fine churches, one railroad with telegraph station, a creamery, two rural free delivery routes and two telephone lines.

Lyra

Lyra is traversed by both the Maple and Blue Earth rivers and is rich of soil and beautiful for situation. The first white settlers were Noble G. Root and Barney Simmons with their families in the fall of 1854. Early in 1855, the Winnebago Reservation was located by the government in Blue Earth County and made to include the present town of Lyra, and these two settl- eis were obliged to abandon their claims early in 185C. April 16, 1858, the County Conunissioners named the town "Tecumseh." On the removal of the \Vinnebagos in 1863, the town "was restored to white settlement and was attached to Mapleton for ofEicial purposes, fciome time before the Indian removal, Jiarnabas Simmons had moved back to his old claim, in Section 33 and lived with the Indians undisturbed. The first permanent settler after the Indian removal was Marcus L. Plumb, who located on Section 2S in the spring of 1864. The same year Lysander Cook settled on Section 5, Jason and Calvin M. Drake on Section 4, Eev. Jesse M. Thurston on Section 3, Gottfried Glaucke on Section 14, Chas. ISl. Plumb on Section 28, Ean Blossom on Section 18, Ered and William Hilke on Sections 32 and 16, Volney Crandall on Section 28, Levi Hauk on Section 10 and Jos. C. Harlow on Section 3. In 1865-6 came Gilbert Webster, Marion Hills, Simon and Thos. Garvin, Ephraim Palmer, John G. Morris, Martin Schroeder, Johnathan Townsend, Clark Puifer, Joshua Burgess, , Geo. E. Beals, Geo. Wilson and Harvey Case. In 1867-8 came 0. Cassody, Andrew L. Heaton, John B. Eadcliff, Eev. Fredrick, A. Pratt, Benj. S. Hawes, and Wm. and Patrick Mountain and Thos. Benedict.

May 29, 1866, the County Commissioners granted the petition of Marcus L. Plumb and twenty-six others for organization of the town and a meeting for the purpose appointed for the first Tuesday in July, at the house of Martin Schroeder. Through some defect of notice another date had to be set. Accordingly on September 1, 1866, the Commissioners appointed September 22, as the date for the first meeting at Martin Schroeder's house, and at the same time the name of the town was changed from ''Winneshiek" to "Lyra." The new name had been suggested by Eev. J. M. Thurston, after a town he had come from in the east. The name had long been applied to places in a number of states. It comes to us from ancient mythology and was originally used to designate a northern constellation under the Ptolemaic system, as it was supposed to represent the lyre, carried by Appolo. The first town officers were: Supervisors, Gilbert Webster, chairman, Clark Puffer and Volney Crandall; clerk, Lysander Cook; treasurer, Gottfried Glaucke, justices, M. L. Plumb and Ephraim Palmer; constables, Martin Schroeder and Chas. N. Plumb.

Meilicke, celebrated at the house of M. L. Plumb, in Section 28, by Eev. J. M. Thurston in December, 1865. The first religious services were conducted at the same house by the same minister in the fall of 1864. The first school was taught by Miss Elvira Eew in the summer of 1867, in a log school house located on the present site of Good Thunder.

The first mill in town was a water power saw mill built in the summer of 1865 by Laslibrook & Gates on the Maple river near the northeast corner of Section 28. In a year or two Eri L. Lashbrook sold out and the mill was owned and operated for four or five years by Trowbridge & Gates, and then the machinery was removed. In February, 1866, another small water power saw mill was built by Hiram B. Doty (or Doughty as sometimes written) on the j\Iaple river in the northeast quarter of Section 28. In Feb. 1868, Doty sold a half interest in the mill property to Merritt Pierce, who a year later sold it to A. M. Hewitt. Doty operated this mill until about 1876, when he removed it to Section 4, added a feed mill to it and put in steam power. This last mill he operated until about 1888. In 1868, Oren Palmer and Allen Miller built a saw and grist mill on the Maple near where the railway bridge now crosses that river. The saw mill machinery was taken out after a few years, and in March, 1881, the mill sold to E. F. Wilson, who ran it for two or three years, when it was abandoned. In 1867 Post & Doak built, on the Blue Earth Elver, in Section 18, a small water power saw and feed mill. The next year William H. and x\aron S. Post became sole proprietors. In June, 1869, they purchased of Doak the south- . west one-fourth of the northeast one-fourth of Section 18, for a mill site and in May, 1870, sold the plant to Herbert W. Dart. Dart made use of an ancient bed of the river to construct a new mill race, which afforded a much better water power and more convenient site for the mill, which now had been changed to a fair sized grist and shingle mill. In January, 1871', Dart sold the mill to Henry 0. JJ^er, who in turn sold an interest in it in October, 1878, to Thos. G. Quayle. The mill was now removed to the top of the bluff, enlarged, and operated by means of a- cable, which communicated with the waterpower at the foot of the bluff. From this device it was called "Cable Mills." It was now exclusively a grist mill. With its new machinery and under the management of two such able niiUers as Quayle and Dyer, it soon became very popular. In June, 1879, the mill was sold to Turner & Redfeam, who operated it with good success until about 1893, when they sold it to W. T. Thompson & Sons. In March, 1900, the mill was purchased by Joseph Kreuer, and ia August, 1905, was struck by lightning and burned.

About 1870, Geo. Doty built a mill on the- Maple river in Section 2, which he operated for a few years, called the "Elkhorn Mills." In the fall and winter of 1905, E. L. Houk and Walter Eedfern built a large steam grist mill at Good Thunder which burned in the summer of 1908.

During the days of the Winnebago Eeservation, an Indian chief called. Good Thunder, occupied the log buildings and field which had constituted the homestead of Noble G. Eoot in Section 10. Here was a good ford of the Maple river, which after the chief was called "Good Thunder's Ford." When the Wells Eailroad was located in 1869-70, the proprietors arranged to have a depot and town site near this ford.

In October, 1870, John G. Graham, who had been in the mercantile business with Chas. B. Prazier at Garden City, began the erection of a store building, 10x24, at the proposed new town, which he opened that fall. The carpenter work on this first building in Good Thunder was done by B. F. Webber, afterwards the eminent judge of the Ninth District. Mr. and Mrs. Graham moved to the new . building Nov.

30, 1870, and were the first settlers in Good Thunder village, ilay 6, 1871, a new postoffice called "Good Thunder's Ford" was established with Mr. Graham as postmaster.

The new town was surveyed in April, 1871, in the west one-half of northwest one-fourth of Section 10, and the plat made by Levi Houk, (^lark W. Thompson, Jas. B. Hubbell and John A. Willard, and dated August 26, 1871. It was called "Good Thunder" after the old name of the ford. The second store was opened early in 1871, by L. E. Saxton & Son, and the third settler in the town was A. S. Handy, who started a blacksmith shop there in February,

1872, Chas. Hawcs succeeded Mr. Graham as postmaster. September, 18 Tl, Oscar Cassidy was appointed postmaster and was succeeded in February, 1876 by L. B. Saxton, who had started a small drug store in town in 1871. H. Wiedenhaft opened a boot and shoe store this same year. Dr. A. G. Meilicke located there about the same time. In the fall of 1873, the village built a two story frame school house, 24x40, A. W. Barron of Medo being the contractor. The railroad was not completed to the village until the latter part of September, 1874, when a depot was built. A tow mill was built in fall of 1873. A cornet band was organized by Professor Howe in winter of 1875-6, which flourished several years. Fred Mann opened a mercantile store there in 1875, A. F. Billet started a harness shop in 1876. In 1878, John G. Graham built a three story frame building fox a hotel and hall adjoining his store, which was opened with a ball on July 4, that year. The same year Aug. Ludtke started a store, which he sold to Sohre & Wendlandt in March, 1882. In 1898, L. E. Saxton died and his son, John Saxton, was appointed postmaster in his stead. In 1881, Austin & Flannegan had a saw and grist mill at the village, and J. J. F. Graf handled hardware and farm machines. Dec. 15, 1883, a Hook and Ladder Co. was organized in the village with J. G. Graham as foreman and J. J. F. Graf as assistant, and some apparatus procured. In

Kev. Jesse M. Thurston was a prominent character in the early history of Lyra. He was a Eaptist by faith, and it was natural that under his lead the hrst church in town should belong to that denomination. The services were conducted usually at M. L. Plumb's house, until the log school house was built on the site of Good Thunder, when they were transferred thither. Here in Oct., 1867, the "Maple Elver iiaptist Church" was organized by liev. Thurston with eight members. Dec. "Zl, 1874, the following trustees were chosen: Marion Hills, Henry Dyer, Chas Hawes, Thos. Garvin, Oscar Cassidy. and Gustavus Meilicke. The society worshiped in a hall until the last of November, 1884, when they first occupied their present house of worship, built that season on Lot 5, Elock 9, of Good Thunder. The M. E., aJeo, held services at school house 98, in the early days and organized in the village in 1878, under the liev. J. W. Powell. Catholic services were conducted by Father Wirth of Mankato early in 1874, at the house of Wm. Mountain on iriection 29, where they continued until 1878, when a chapel was erected at the village, costing $2,500. The church was legally incorporated as the "The Church of St. Joseph of Good Thunder" April 14, 1885, by Bishop John Ireland, Augustine Eevaux, A^icar General of Diocese, Thos. Duane, pastor; and Andrew Mc- Carthy and Wm. Mountain lay members. The first German Lutheran services were conducted by Eev. Albert Kuhl at the village school house. In the summer of 1877, a frame church was erected, and a parsonage in the fall. September, 1885, they purchased the Adventist church for a parochial school house, and a school opened in November, with Adolph Kahlo as teacher. A parsonage for the teacher was built in fall of 1886. Eev. August Wollf was prominent as its early pastor. The church was incorporated May 29, 1882, as "German Evangelical Lutheran Johannes Church at Good Thunder," with the following trustees: Gottfried Schwan, Fred Bleedorn, John Sompke, and John Bosin. June

5, 1898, the following new trustees were appointed: Ered Pautsch, Carl Matzke and Edward Malzahn, with Herman Darge and C. Breuscke presiding. In the winter of 1887-8 a split occured in the church. Eev. Applo was the leader of the seceding wing, and for about a year there was great commotion among the people. The two pastors met in a large hall to discuss in joint debate the question at issue and great crowds gathered to hear them. The seceding party incorporated July 23, 1890, as the "German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church of Good Thunder," with Louis Kranhold, P. C. Witting and E. Christ Blume as trustee. A church building was erected later. In 1895, the Johannas Church erected a fine new brick building costing about $11,000. The dedication occurred September 20th of that year, when an immense crowd gathered to listen to the impressive service. A number of prominent divines were present and delegations from the Lutheran Churches of Maidcato, Lake Crystal, Eapidan, Willow Creek, Amboy, Danville and St. Clair attended the impressive services.

Early in the eighties the Seventh Day Adventists organized a church at Good Thunder. In the fall of 1883, they built a chapel which was dedicated on February 17, 1884, Elder Olson officiating. The church grew rapidly in those days, and in the fall of 1885, their chapel became too small, and it was sold and a larger chapel erected that fall. Eev. M. W. Gregory was their pastor at that time. The church is still flourishing.

May 10, 1895, Bishop Gilbert held Episcopal services at Good Thunder, when it was decided to form a church and build a chapel. The latter was erected during the summer at a cost of $1,050.

May 3, 1890, Good Thunder voted $5,000 to build a new school house. A fine two story brick edifice was completed in 1892, and Chas. Hawes was the first teacher therein. He had taught the first school in Good Thunder twenty-three years before in the old log building. Sept. 6, 1891, the Good Thunder Herald was started by Frank H. GrifEin, which paper is still doing well. January 6, 1893, the Bank

In March, 1889, C. L. Saxton was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded in Aug. 1893, by F. H. GriflEin, who in turn, August 1897, was succeeded by W. A. Wilsie. March 3, 1893, Good Thunder voted to incorporate as a village by a vote of seventy-nine to fourteen.

We have spoken elsewhere of Good Thunder as the center of the Alliance movement in our county and of its great celebrations. The place today is a live substantial village enjoying a good trade.

We have given much space to the settlement and growth of Mankato both city and township in the general history of the county and it is not necessary to repeat the same facts again. Besides, a complete history of our county seat, would require a volume of itself, and space will not permit such particularity. I shall, therefore, only review a few facts very briefly. Mankato was founded in February 1853. Incorporated as a village March 2, 1865, and as a city March 6, 1868.

Second State Normal School located at Mankato, was started Oct. ?, 1868. The first part of its present building was erected in 1869-70. A large addition was made to the building in 1894, another addition in 1906, and a second building erected in 1908.

Mankato, also, has two large parochial schools and two private commercial colleges. The German Catholic school was started in the fall of 1865, with three sisters of Notre Dame in charge. In 1875-6 the present large, four story, brick building was erected. After this a male teacher was also employed. The first was Joseph Karl, succeeded in 1877, by Nicholas Moes, who in turn was succeeded in 1898/ by Frau Suellentrop.

The German Lutheran School was started January 16, 1883, by Eev. K. P. Schulze with thirteen scholars, which increased to ninetyseven before the end of the year. Theo. Diesuer was soon employed as teacher to relieve Rev. Schulze, whose pastoral duties required all his time. Mr. Diesner did not prove a success and resigned in March, 1884, and Rev. Schulze was obliged to resume the care of the school until May, 1885, when Prof. F. L. F. Brockmeyer was put in charge, and remained at the head of the school with great success until failing health obliged him to resign. The school now numbered over 200 pupils and a fine two story brick school building was erected in 1905.

The Mankato Commercial College was started June 10, 1891, by Howard L. Rucker and Arthur G. Matter. After one year. Prof. Rucker sold his interest to H. J. Brandrup. In 1896, Prof. Matter sold out to W. E. Freeman. The latter retired in 1898, to become county superintendent of schools, and Prof. Brandrup was sole proprietor until July, 1899, when Geo. E. Nettleton bought a half interest in the school. The growth of the school has been phenomenal. Beginning with about half a dozen pupils, it now has 300 to 400. Until 1908, the school occupied the upper story of the Sterns' Block, but in the fall of 1907, Brandrup and Nettleton purchased the large three story brick block, which now constitutes the permanent home of this excellent school.

The Toland Business University was started in the fall of 1904, in the upper story of the Hubbard-Patterson Block. It met with such success that it was soon obliged to branch out for additional room to empty stores. When the Richards Block was constructed in 1905, the upper story was built for the special use of this school, where it is now conveniently located and doing splendid work. The school is owned by Prof. Chas. C. Owen, and has a splendid corps of instructors.

Mankato has twenty-two church buildings, including those of North j\Iankato, and there are two or three religious societies who worship in halls.

Seventh Day Adventists organized first early in the seventies. In the summer of 1874, they built a house of worship in Tinkcom's addition. In three or four years this first society becarae scattered and the church building was removed to Eagle Lake. In 1883 the church was reorganized. September 35, 1888, the society became incorporated by the election of the following trustees: David Quinn, Wm. H. Pettis and Gaylor Mattison. Their present building stands on State street and was erected in 1888-9. The membership is about eighty.