Goodhue County, Minnesota - Chapter 18: Postal History, 1909

Chapter 18: Postal History

Red Wing - First Post Master - Stage Coach Days - Growth and Progress - Other County Offices - Discontinued County Officers - New Federal Building. - By C. A. Rasmussen.

In 1851 Hon. H. H. Sibley, then the territorial delegate to congress from Minnesota, secured the establishment of a postoffice at Red Wing, and Rev. J. W. Hancock, the pioneer resident, was commissioned postmaster. He was under the necessity of performing a journey to St. Paul to qualify and execute the required bond at an expense of five dollars, and his income for the next two years hardly covered that expense. But the post-office was a great convenience for the few residents here, as previous to that time the nearest post-office was twenty-five miles away. The mail was carried in those days to and from St. Paul, easterly, by steamboats in the summer, and in the winter at first on foot and later by a one-horse train. Mails were expected once a week, but on account of floating ice interfering with the steamboats or blizzards with the one-horse train, the office was sometimes three weeks without mail and for that length of time all communication between the little band of pioneers and the outside -world was cut off. In the spring of 1852, on one occasion, the one-horse mail train was wrecked in crossing Spring creek. The mail bags, some five or six in number, were left several hours in the water and after being fished out were brought to Red Wing and Mr. Hancock spent a whole day in drying out the mail. At one time, in the winter of 1855, the office was without mail for six weeks, the mail carrier having died and considerable delay having been experienced securing a new carrier.

In the fall of 1853, from which year really dates the first settlement of Red "Wing as a village - -prior to that time the point having been mainly a missionary station - Dr. W. W. SAveney was appointed postmaster. Rev. Hancock having resigned. Dr. Sweney served about a year and was succeeded by H. L. Bevans. Mr. Bevans served until 1858, when he was succeeded by H. C. Hoffman. It was during his administration that we find pub- lished for the first time an announcement for the Red Wing postoffice, under date of January 21, 1859, there appearing, in the "Goodhue County Republican," the following:

Red Wing Post-Office. Hours of Delivery of Mail. On Sundays from 9 to 10 a. m. On week days from 7 to 8 p. m. Hours of Arrival and Departure and the time of Closing Mails. Red Wing to La Crosse, - Leaves daily (now) at 3 :30 p. m. Arrives six times a week at 3:30 a. m. The Great Eastern and Southern mails are carried on this route. Mails close at 2 :00 p. m.

Red Wing to Cannon Falls and Le Sueur, - Leaves Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 8 :00 a. m. Arrives Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Mails close at 8 :00 the previous evening. Red Wing to Owatonna and Blue Earth City, - Leaves Monday and Thursday at 7 :00 a. m. Arrives Wednesday and Saturday at 6 :00 p. m. Mail closes at 8 :00 the previous evening. Red Wing to St. Nicholas, - Leaves Monday and Thursday at 8 :00 a. m. Arrives Wednesday and Saturday at 5:00 p. m. Mail closes at 8 :00 the previous evening.

Red Wing to Winona, - Leaves Monday and Thursday at 6:00 a, m. Arrives Thursday and Saturday at 6:00 p. m. This route supplies all way offices on the river. Mail closes at 8 :00 the previous evening. Red Wing to Saint Paul. - Leaves Wednesday at 8 :00 a. m. Arrives Tuesday at 6:00 p. in. This route supplies way offices. Mail closes at 8:00 the previous evening.

Remember that all mail matter to be sent to any part of the United States must be fully prepaid. In prepaying foreign letters by affixing stamps, be careful to ascertain the correct amount of postage before mailing.

It will be seen from this that the stage coach lines had now come into general use in the mail-carrying capacities and Red Wing, being one of the chief distributing points along the river and the headquarters for a number of stage lines mining into the interior country, a considerable quantity of mail in transit must have been brought through here. Captain David Hancock - Uncle David, as he was then known and as he is still affectionately termed - was a pioneer in this mail service. In 1855 he carried the mail between Red Wing and Frontenac, supplying Wacoota en route, giving service once a week. Later this route was extended to include Lake City and Reeds landing, the packet steamers plying in those days refusing to stop at those points.

During the winter of 1855-56 Captain Hancock carried the mail between Red Wing and "Winona on the St. Paul-Prairie du Chien route. He made the trip in four days, two days going and two days coming, receiving four dollars a day, or sixteen dollars for each trip. Besides the mails he carried passengers and express, the income from which often equalled the receipts for the mails in those days. It was not all pleasure traveling even as a passenger in those days, the captain states. In the summer time the stage was compelled to cross unbridged streams, often swollen by heavy rains, and in the winter it was no unusual experience for the passengers to be compelled to join in digging the horses and sleigh out of a snow drift.

Later Captain Hancock conducted two of these lines to St. Nicholas and Blue Earth City, carrying passengers to and from and supplying mails for St. Nicholas, Austin, Mantorville, Wasioja, Concord, Roscoe, Zumbrota, Pine Island, GeneAra, Owatonna, Ashland. Bancroft, Albert Lea and other points. After that he operated the line to Le Sueur. Captain Hancock relates many interesting anecdotes of his experiences as mail driver in those early days. Instead of a pouch for each office the mail was all carried in one pouch, and at each place where a stop was made the postmaster unlocked the pouch, removed the mail for his office, and put in that which he had to forward. The postmasters named were not all men of learning - Captain Hancock found some who could not read - and so the captain was often called on to sort the mail and make the proper distribution.

Among other duties the mail carriers were required to collect the revenue due the government. Captain Hancock distinctly remembers his first collection at what was then Goodhue Center post-office - the munificent sum of six cents, which was the government's share for the business done the previous three months.

During the year 1860 there was a change in the service of carrying the mails along the river from the packets to stages. Only through mails were after that delivered by boats, which supplied Winona. Red Wing, Prescott and Hastings, between St. Paul and Winona. At this time, under date of November 15, 1860, is published the first list of advertised letters. Thirty-five pieces are included in the list, more than are advertised weekly now. In those days also we find that occasional instruction of the public in postal matters was necessary. Under date of December 21, 1860, the press contained the following statement:

"The last semi-official organ of the General Post Office Department, known as 'Holbrook's Monthly Mail Bag.' contains the following post office information for the people:

"Letters can be registered on the payment of the registry fee of live cents for each letter, but if lost, congress has made no provision for restitution, if the letter contains valuables.

"The address of letters intended for delivery in cities especially, should include, if possible, the occupation, street and number of the party addressed.

"A singular notion seems long to have prevailed that it is no violation of laAV to send an unsealed letter outside of the mail. This makes no difference whatever. Even if the paper written upon is not folded, it is a letter.

"If the writer of a letter wishes his letter to reach its destination without being subject to the rules of distribution requiring it to be remailed at a distributing office, he has only to write 'Mail Direct,' and the wrapper will not be removed until it reaches the office for which the letter is designed.

Mr. Hoffman, who was an appointee of President Buchanan, retired in 1861, and was succeeded by Mr. Sorin, who was appointed by President Lincoln. Early in his administration, consequent upon the breaking out of the Civil "War, a new series of postage stamps was necessary, and we find in this connection the following notice published :

We are now furnished with the new stamps of the denominations of 10, 20 and 30 cents and are directed to exchange for "an equivalent amount of the old issue ' ' for six days only.

About this time newspaper wrappers were first brought into use. They must have attracted general attention, for a notice published in the "Republican" at the time states:

"Mr. Lowater, at the post-office, has shown us a new style of wrapper. It is intended for wrapping newspapers, has the stamp affixed, and is self-sealing. It is a great convenience and the price is hut little more than the stamp itself. Try them."

The rapid development of the state at this time led to the continual changing of mail supplies and in 1862 we find a material change in the published announcement of the Red Wing postoffice. Under date of May 16, that year, the following appears:

There were delinquents in matters postal in those days as now. Under date of September 19, 1862, there appeared in print the following notice :

Post-Office Notice, - All persons indebted to the post-office for box rent or postage are requested to make payment before the first of October, if not we shall consider that they do not wish for their box or papers any longer. M. Sorin,

"By sections 33 and 34 of this law the rate of postage on all transient matter and upon all mailable matter, except letters and regular papers and periodicals, is fixed by the weight of the package .(excepting circulars). The standard weight is fixed at four ounces, and passes at the rate of two cents, an extra rate of two cents being added for each additional weight or fraction of it. Double this rate (that is, four cents) is charged for books by the same standard weight. Three circulars or any less number, in one unsealed envelope to one address, pass at the same rate of two cents. Seeds, engravings, and the other miscellaneous matter mentioned in the third class of section 20 of this law, are also charged at the same rate of two cents for each four ounces or fraction of it, sent to one address. These postage charges must in all cases be prepaid by stamps; no extra charge is made, as heretofore, for any business card or address printed on the wrapper. ' '

From this time, to the 15th of April, 1864, unless further notice is given, the Up Eiver Mail will be closed daily at 6 :00 p. m.. Mondays excepted; Down River Mails will be closed daily at 1 :00 p. m., Fridays excepted.

In 1864 E. P. Lowater, who had served as deputy under Mr. Sorin, succeeded him as postmaster. During his administration, on November 1, 1864, the postal money order system of the postoffice department was established and Red Wing designated as one of the 139 offices in the country authorized to transact the business.

The first day one order was issued to Amanda Cole, of Rice Lake, Wis., for $14.00. remitted to L. A. Godey, Philadelphia, Pa. The first order was paid on November 17, 1864. It was issued at Chattanooga, Tenn., being purchased by J. C. Hawes, then serving in the army, payable to his wife, Lydia B. Hawes, and was for the sum of $30.00, the maximum amount of orders at that time. The first year 295 orders were issued, the second 411 and the third 606. During the first ten years 13,100 orders were issued. The first year 104 orders were paid. When the money order business was established the sum of $300.00 was transferred from the general fund with which to do business. With that as the basis was established the business which today amounts to more than $300,000.00 annually.

Mr. Lowater served as postmaster until October, 1866. He conducted the post-office in a general store which he owned, which was at the corner of Main and Bush streets, where the St. James Hotel now stands. Prior to his time the office had been located on Main street in the block between Bush and Plum, a portion of the time on the north side and the remainder of the time on the south side of the street.

W. W. DeKay was appointed postmaster to succeed Mr. Lowater, but for some reason the appointment was-not confirmed and Captain A. "Wright was then named, taking charge of the office in May, 1867, after seven months' service by Mr. DeKay. The same year the office -was removed to a building on Rush street, between Main and Third.

Captain "Wright served as postmaster four years. He was succeeded in 1871 by C. C. Webster. Early in his administration the Red Wing post-office became an international money order office. But the greal evenl of his term was the establishment of mail service by rail on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, then just completed through Red Wing. On October 13, 1871, the Red Wing post-office received its first mail by train, and the days of the steamboal ;md stage coach supply which had done service for more than twenty years were at an end. At the start there was one mail a day each way. A train lefl St. Paul at 9:20 a. m._, arriving a1 Red Wing at noon and reaching Winona, the end of the run. al 4 o'clock. Another train left Winona at 10:10 a. m.. arriving at Red Wing at 2:10 and at St. Paul at 4:55. The trip between lied Wing and Si. Paul consumed almost three hours, where now it is performed in little more than one hour.

Captain Wright, whom Mr. Webster succeeded as postmaster was one of the first two railway mail clerks. In June, 1872. through service to Chicago was established with two trains a day each way. which service has been increased to six at the present time. The run from Chicago to St. Paul consumed about twenty-two hours. Xow it is made in little more than half that time - in fact, in ten hours by some of the mail trains.

In 1875 A. F. Graves became postmaster. Shortly after he took charge the post-office was removed to the corner of Third and Bush streets, the present location of Bender's drug store, where it remained more than twenty years. During the administration of Mr. Graves the office records show the first statement of receipts of the Red W7ing post-office. For the year ending June 30, 1878, they amounted to $7,480.99. As showing the later growth of the office no little interest attaches to a statement of mails found in the old records. A count kept for seven days in Xovember, 1879, showed the dispatch of the following mail from the office :

There were cancelled: 718 one cent stamps; 86 two cent; 3,858 three cent - the three cent letter rate was in force then; OS five cent ; 30 six cent and 31 ten cent. During the week the office issued 94 money orders and paid 29; registered 19 letters, handled 76 in transit and delivered 46.

Mr. Graves served as postmaster from 1875 to 1887, when he was succeeded by Captain W. W. DeKay. During his time of office, in 1889, the city free delivery service was established here, at first with four carriers, which number was later reduced to three, but has since been increased at different times until now seven carriers are employed in the service, making two residence and four business deliveries daily.

In 1891 Fred Seebach, now county treasurer, succeeded Mr. DeKay as postmaster, lie also served four years, being succeeded in 1895 by George H. Benton. A rather amusing incident during Mr. Seebach's term - amusing it appears now, although at the time it possessed a serious aspect to many - was an attempt of the post-office department in simplifying names to change "Red Wing" to "Redwing." The protests which arose because of this were so vigorous and energetic that, although the change had been ordered and put into effect, the department was finally compelled to countermand the order.

Mr. Benton also served four years. Near the close of his term the office was removed to the location on Third street near Bush, which has been occupied the last ten years.

During the fall of that year, on September 5, to be exact, Mr. Rasmussen secured the establishment of the first two rural routes in this section, among the very first in the state. In 1901 this number was increased to five, in 1903 to eight and in 1905 to nine, giving the rural district on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi river tributary to Red "Wing as complete a system of rural mail delivery as can be found anywhere in the county. And as still further evidence of the growth and development of the business of the office during Mr. Kasmusseu's term of service the number of city letter carriers has increased from three to seven, the force of office employees from three to eight, nine rural carriers put in service, besides two employed in the care of the new federal building, making a total force regularly connected with the new post-office of twenty-six, besides five substitutes, where there were but seven ten years ago.

The money orders issued have increased from 295 for the year ending in 1865 to 14,608 for the year ending in 1908, while the number paid lias increased from 104 to 18,719.

The new post-office building, which is located at the northwest corner of Third street and West avenue, on a plot of ground 142 feet on Broadway and 120 feet on Third street, has a ground area of 82 feet on West avenue and 46y2 feet on Third street. It stands 32 feet in height from the ground and is surmounted by a flag staff extending 20 feet above the roof. The front steps, seven in number, of granite, have a length at the bottom of 48 feet. Surmounting the steps are two cast-iron lamp standards with translucent opalescent glass globes.

The foundation is of brick on a concrete footing. The basement walls, 32 inches thick, are of Chaska brick, surmounted by St. Cloud granite above the grade lines.

The basement story, which is 10 feet 8 inches high, contains: a store room, 13 by 15 feet ; a fuel room, 15 by 16 feet; a swing room f<»r the use of the carriers between trips, 14 by 18 feet; a toilet room, 13 by 11 feet, besides the general basement, in which is located the heating plant. The floor is cement, and the ceiling, which forms the floor of the main story, is iron frame work and reinforced concrete. The steps leading to the basement story are all either stone or concrete, making that story wholly fireproof.

The main floor has a height of 15 feet 4 inches in the work room and departments and 20 feet in the main lobby. The main lobby, 12 feet wide, extends along the West avenue side a distance of 63 feet, with a wing near the south end extending back 12 feet.

At the north end of the lobby are the money order and registry departments combined, 15 by 19 feet in size, leading off from which is a vault of reinforced concrete surmounted by a storage vault of the same material. The postmaster's room is at the southwest corner of the building, 13 by 14% feet in size, leading off from the lobby wing. In this wing are also stairways to the basement and attic. At the northwest corner of the building is the mailing vestibule, 13 by 14 feet, for the reception and dispatch of mail. The remainder of the space is taken up with the main work room, 30 by 47 feet. A vault for stamp supplies is located here and there is also a stairway to the basement. Passing directly through the work room, suspended from the ceiling, is the look-out from which can be watched the work of employees, unbeknown to them. Look-outs also extend into the money order and registry sections, the mailing vestibule and the basement.

The public lobby has a revolving door entrance, terrazzo floor, marble border and wainscote. The general delivery and stamp windows are directly in front of the main entrance, the carrier windows to the right and the post-office boxes to the left.

The money order and registry department has wood floor and cove cornice, as has also the main work room and mailing lobby. The postmaster's room has wood floor, base, chair rail, picture moulding and plaster cornice.

A granite curb faces the walk on Third street and West avenue, a concrete gutter extends along the west side and a concrete curb on the north side. The sidewalk is granolithic. On West avenue it is 14 feet wide and on Third street 12 feet wide. At the inside border is a cement coping 3 inches high. A vitrified orick driveway, 12 feet wide, with granolithic coping, leads from Third street across the lot to the north side of the building. On

The building is essentially one of Red "Wing construction. Besides being contracted by W. J. Longcor, the plumbing and heating work was done by J. H. Doyle and the electrical work by Foster Bros.

From the commencement of work until June, 1909, the government was represented at the work by Henry Brack as superintendent of construction. Mr. Brack was then transferred to Michigan and the work was completed under the superintendence of John H. Holmes, who at the same time superintended the erection of the tower on the post-office at St. Paul.

Cannon Falls. - The post-office at Cannon Falls was established in 1854 with James MeGinnis as postmaster. Its first mail supply was on the old Dubuque & St. Paul stage route, for which later on service by stage from Bed "Wing was substituted. This continued until early in the eighties, when the building of the Wisconsin, Minnesota & Pacific line enabled the establishment of railroad service.

Succeeding Mr. MeGinnis as postmaster came George McKinzie; then in order Eli Ellsworth, George L. Baker, A. J. Phelps, Joseph E. Chapman, F. D. Barlow, W. H. Scofield, L. L. Lewis. The present postmaster is P. A. Peterson, who has served since October 1, 1889.

The income of the office for 1908 was $5,525.00. During that year there were issued 4,255 domestic and 50 international money orders and 1,164 domestic and 7 international were paid. There were dispatched 802 registers and delivered 942. There are eight rural routes connected with the office, and four mails are received and dispatched daily. The office served 5,000 patrons. The present force of the office is: Postmaster, P. A. Peterson; assistant, Ella M. Johnson; clerk, H. "Wolander; rural carriers, John A. Anderson, August M. Johnston ; Oscar E. Olson, Harry F. Hine, John A. Lundberg, George F. Miller, John A. Johnson and Edwin Larson. Originally the name of this office was Cannon River Falls, and it so continued up to October, 1889, when a change was made to Cannon Falls.

Dennison. - This post-office, which is located on the western line of the county, on the line of the Chicago Great "Western Railway, was established in 1885, with G. A. Bonhus as postmaster. He was succeeded by K. A. Bonhus, who in turn gave way to A. K. Lockrem. Jens "Walen succeeded him, then his brother, John "Walen. then I. O. Flaten, who was succeeded by

Bistory Of Goodh1 E Count17 309

Eggleston. - This office, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, about eight miles west of Red Wing; was established in the seventies. It serves a small community principally on Prairie Island, for whose greater convenience one rural route is operated from the office. M. T. Nilan is the postmaster.

Frontenac. - This is one of the oldest post-offices in the county, being established about 1855. For a long time it received its mail supply from Red Wing by stage, this continuing until early in the seventies, when the building of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway enabled a rail supply. There is one rural route connected with the office H. Lorentzen served as postmaster for thirty-six years, and H. Scherf, who succeeded him and who still holds the place, has served sixteen years.

Goodhue. - The office of Goodhue Center, which later became Goodhue, was established in 1858 on what is known as the Hadler farm, at the present time about two miles east of Goodhue on the old Zumbrota and Red WTing road. Peter Esterly, who was the first postmaster, continued in office until 1864. At this time the office was transferred to the Gleason place, two miles north of the Esterly place, and Mrs. Rebecca Gleason was made the postmistress. She continued in office until 1880, when. Frank Durig was appointed, moving the office back to the Esterly farm, where he held it until 1887. At that time George Uslar was appointed, holding the office until 1890, the same farm being the location of the office. He moved the office from the old place of Goodhue Center* to the village of Goodhue during 1888.

Soon after George Uslar moved the office to Goodhue, Frank Neubel was made his successor, Neubel being followed by W. C. Pilling, who likewise had the office a short time or until 1894. K. L. Anderson was appointed at this time, keeping the office until 1900, when D. C. Pierce was appointed, being in the office at the present time. The post-offices of Belle Chester, Ryan, Claybank and White Willow have been discontinued into this office. Rural delivery from this office was established in 1901 with two carriers. Later the number of routes was increased to six. The present carriers are : R. R. No. 1, Claire M. Acquard ; R. R. No. 2, Frank P. Ahern ; R, R. No. 3, Wesley Kolbe ; R. R. No. 4, Charles Hanson; R. R. No. 5, Ebba I. O'Reilly; R. R. No. 6, Mary Heaney.

Kenyon. - The post-office at, Kenyon was established in 1856, with James Crowley as postmaster. For nearly thirty years it received its mail supply by stage from Red Wing and from Fari-

Succeeding Mr. Crowley as postmaster came Mr. Clapp, then Mr. Brill, Dr. Brown, E. R, Marshall, W. Stears, Ed. Slee and Dr. Graves. Lars Haaven served from 1877 to 1881, C. L. Brusletten from 1881 to 1884, T. R. Bullis from 1884 to 1889, then Mr. Brusletten again from 1889 to 1893. A. M. McLaughlin was then appointed, serving until 1899. During his term the office was raised to the third class. In 1899 Anders Glimme was appointed postmaster. He still holds the position.

The office became an international money order office in 1900. Rural service was started from the office in 1902, and at present there are six routes. The following offices have been discontinued into Kenyon : Norway, Aspelund, Spring Creek, Ayr, Moland, Nansen.

Pine Island. - The post-office at Pine Island was established in 1856, with John Chance as postmaster. He served two years. The first mail supply was by the Burbank stage line between Dubuque and St. Paul. When this supply was discontinued the office was put on the Red Wing and Mantorville star route, from which it received service until 1878, when the building of the Chicago & Northwestern branch from Rochester to Zumbrota enabled the establishing of railway mail service. The office is now supplied by the Chicago & Great Western Railway, receiving four mails daily. The postmasters following Mr. Chance and their years of service arc: -J. A. Tarbox, 1858 to 1861; Thomas Mc- Mannis and C. R. White. 1861 to 1865; S. Worthing, 1865 to 1868; C. R. White, 1868 to 1876; F. HagleY, 1876 to 1880; Henry Tome. July 1, 1880, to July 1, 1886; Charles Parker, July 1. 1886, to July 1, 1889; Henry Tome, July 1, 1889, to July 1, 1893; W. II. Hamlin. July 1, 1893, to July 1, 1897; Henry Tome, July 1, 1897, to July 1, 1906; George H. Tome, July 1, 1906, to date.

The domestic money order division was established July 1, 1879, and the international January 1, 1903. The office has made a rapid increase in business of late years. For the year ending December 31, 1890, the receipts were $894.86; December 31, 1895, $1,315.25 ; December 31, 1905, $2,236.09 ; December 31, 1908, $2,- 595.30. Last year the office issued 2,986 domestic money orders. There are four rural routes connected with the office, two established in March, ]903. and two in December, 1904. The present rural carriers are : R. R. No. 1, B. T. Vessey ; R. R. No. 2. Willard H. Marsh; R. R. No. 3, John E. Clark, and R. R. No. 4. Ambrose V. Sterling.

Stanton. - This post-office, located on the Chicago Great Western Railway, dates from early in the sixties, previous to the building of the railway having received and dispatched mail by stage. One rural route is connected with the office. Henry W. Nelson is the present postmaster.

Vasa. - This post-office also dates from the fifties. It is today the only post-office in Goodhue county not located on a railroad^ receiving its mail from the Welch station on the Chicago Great Western Railway. The office serves the hamlet Vasa and a limited territory around there. N. B. Ofelt is the present postmaster.

Wanamingo. - The post-office at Wanamingo is among the oldest in the county. It was established in the fifties, with James Brown as postmaster. Martin Halvorson served as postmaster there for nearly thirty years, and after him his son, Henry M. Halvorson, served eleven years. Herman 0. Naeseth is the present postmaster. The mail supply of the office for more than forty years was by stage ; at present the supply and dispatch is by railway service.

Welch. - This office is located on the Northfield branch of the Milwaukee road, about twelve miles west of Red Wing. Samuel Nelson is the postmaster.

Zumbrota. - The post-office at Zumbrota was established late in the fifties, with Thomas P. Kellett as postmaster and an authorization of one mail a week each way by stage from Red Wing. This service subsequently increased to three times a week and still later to a daily service, continued until 1878, when the building of a railroad into the village from Rochester enabled the establishment of a railroad supply.

For nearly twenty years, or until 1875, the office remained in the general store of Mr. Kellett, under his charge. Henry Blanchard was then appointed postmaster and the office removed to his shoe store. Some home-made fixtures, very crude in a way, were installed, but they did very good service. At that time postoffices had been established at Minneola, Roscoe, Wanamingo and Hader, and as the population was not large the mail was very light at all the points.

Mr. Blanchard retained the office until 1887, when C. B. Anderson was appointed. He installed new fixtures and moved into quarters by himself. In 1891 Ira D. Warren succeeded to the office. During his term it became third class. In 1895 Mr. Anderson was again appointed postmaster. During this term the office again dropped to the fourth class. In US99 B. C. Grover was appointed postmaster and held the office until 1908. During

In 1908 S. B. Scott succeeded to the office and still holds it. Under his management many new improvements have been made and the service generally rendered more efficient. For the vear 1908 the receipts were $5,400, the largest in the history of the office.

The office has become an important junction point, receiving and dispatching mails on the Chicago Great Western, C, M. & St. P. and Chicago & Northwestern Railways.

Discontinued Post-Offices

Aspelund. - This post-office, which was located in AYananiingo, was established early in the sixties and conducted about thirty years, being discontinued in consequence of the establishment of rural mail delivery.

Belvidere Mills. - This office, located in Belvidere, was one of the earliest offices in the country. It was established about 1855, with N. B. Gaylord as postmaster. He served the public in that capacity for more than forty years. The office was discontinued about five years ago.

Burley. - This office, which was located in Featherstone township, had a very short career. "When established it supplied a considerable territory, but rural delivery being introduced soon afterwards, its usefulness was early at an end.

Burr Oak. - This office was located in Belle Creek township, being established in 1854. It was on the line of the old St. Paul and Dubuque stage route and when that was discontinued about two years later, the supply being cut off, the office was discontinued. Later it was re-established as Belle Creek post-office in the southern part of the town, which office was also discontinued and its place supplied by Ryan in the east part of the town, which served its neighborhood up to a few years ago.

Fairpoint. - This office, in Cherry Grove township, was established in 1858 and discontinued in 1861, and later, being re-established, did service for a little more than thirty years, rural delivery also supplanting it.

Hay Creek. - This office, which was located in Featherstone on the line of Hay Creek, was established in the sixties and served the community in which it was located about forty years.

Nansen. - This office, also in Holden, had a short eareer. When established it served a considerable territory, but rural delivery coming in cut off its patronage and it was discontinued.

Poplar Grove. - This was one of the early offices located in Pine Island township on the line of one of the old stage routes. It had a short career.

Sunapee. - This was an office in Roscoe township, established in 1858. Later the name was changed to Roscoe and under that name it gave service to a considerable territory for nearly forty years.

Thoten. - This office, which was located in Belvidere, was a small one. For more than twenty years, from the sixties to the eighties, it furnished service to a limited area.

Wacouta. - This office, which was established in 1855, was one of the first in the county. For a time it developed into considerable proportions, a few years after it had been established paying $300.00 a year. Red Wing forging ahead, however, the town gradually fell away and with that the post-office business decreased to a very small item. The office continued to exist until 1905, however, when it was discontinued in consequence of rural delivery.

White Rock. - This office was located in Vasa. Like Wastedo it served the community in which it was established for more than thirty years, rural delivery being responsible for its discontinuance.

Christian A. Rasmussen was one of the moving spirits in that revival of activity in Red Wing which has made this city famous throughout the United States. He was born in the city of Copen- hagen, Denmark, October 30, 1868, son of Christian and Rasmina Rasmussen, natives of that country. At the age of four years he was brought to Minnesota by his parents and received his education in the public schools of Red Wing, graduating in 1885. After graduation he entered the employ of the Red Wing Printing Company, October 12, 1885, when the "Daily Republican" was started. Having a particular aptitude for this work he rose to the position of managing editor, a situation in which he remained until April 1, 1899. During this time the paper grew in importance and circulation and had a powerful influence in shaping the destinies of the city and county. April 1, 1899, Mr. Rasmussen laid down the. editorial pen to take up the duties of postmaster at Red Wing. Previous to this he was chairman of the Republic-fin county committee in 1896 and 1898, and in the latter year ably performed the duties of secretary to the Republican state central committee. He has also served on the school board. Mr. Rasmussen 's term as postmaster has been a long record of faithful public service, his efforts having been crowned with an increased efficiency on the part of the local postal service, and also with a large increase in business. Some years ago he became interested in the work of the State Postmasters' Association of Minnesota. North Dakota and South Dakota, and at the present time is serving this association as secretary. For two years he acted in a similar capacity for the Red Wing Commercial Club, and his business interests include the Red Wing Printing Company, the First National Bank, the Red Wing Advertising Company and the Red Wing Telephone Company. Mr. Rasmussen 's postal history, which appears in this work, not only shows the increase in the volume of business and efficiency of service during his administration, but also demonstrates his ability as a writer and painstaking collector of exact data and statistical facts. April 30, 1901, Mr. Rasmussen was married to Lesa M. Johnson, by whom he has one daughter, Charlotte Katherine.