Mower County, Minnesota - Chapter 16: Early Austin, 1911

Chapter 16: Early Austin

City Founded at the Old Water Ford - Coming- of Austin Nichols - Arrival of Chauncey Leverich - Beginning of Settlement - Platting the Village - Pioneer Days - Important Events - Murder of Chauncey Leverich - Stories of the Small Beginnings of What Has Become an Important City.

Austin, the county seat of Mower county, is situated, broadly speaking, in sections 2, 3, 10 and 11, in Austin township, and sections 34 and 35, in Lansing township. The exact incorporate limits are as follows:

All of section 3 ; the north half and the southwest quarter, and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 2 ; the northeast quarter of section 10 ; and the northwest quarter of section 11, all in township 102, range 18. Also the south half of the south half of section 34, and the south half of the southwest quarter, and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 35. Also a strip of land, 40 feet wide, oE from the west side of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of same section 34. Also the land within and known as Oakwood cemetery, being in the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of the same section 34, township 103, range 18.

The city is three miles from the western line of the county and midway- north and south. It is built on both the east and the west banks of the Red Cedar river, which raises in Dodge county to the north and flows south into the state of Iowa. Austin was laid out in the fall of 1855 by Chauncey Leverich and A. B. Vaughan. and regularly platted in the spring of 1856.

First Settlement

The first settler on the present site of the city of Austin was Austin Nichols, who located here in 1853. He sold his claim in 1854 to Chauncey Leverich.

Chauncey Leverich was a young man. from twenty-five to thirty years of age. naturally bright and ambitious, with an eye to business. He pre-empted 160 acres of land, described as follows : The south one-half of the northwest quarter of section 3, and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of the same section, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 2. The latter piece of hind inclndcd the mill site. He immediately commenced building a saw mill, whieh was com-

During the same year, 1854, the following named came: D. J. Tubbs, Benedict Brown, Robert Dobbins, David L. and Willard Smith, and a inan named Pinkham. Late in 1854, or early in 1855, Winfield Loveland and Francis Stuhfell came.

D. J. Tubbs was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1825. On coming to this county he entered and bought land in this vicinity, but continued to work at his trade. He built a saw mill in 1854 on the site of the present flouring mill of Engle & Co. lu 1856 he built a saw mill for himself about one and a half miles south of Austin on the Cedar river. These were among the first mills erected in ]\Iower county. Mr. Tubbs remained in Austin, engaged in contracting and building, and became a substantial citizen.

Benedict Brown was a son of Aloysius Brown. He erected a small frame building near Fay R. Smith's residence and entertained travelers for a time. He pre-empted the northwest of section 3. In January, 1856, he sold three forties of this land to Yates & Lewis. He remained a resident of the place two or three years. He afterwards engaged in farming in Lansing. In 1879 he removed to the Dakotas.

Robert Dobbins claimed the southwest of section 3. In the fall of 1855 he sold to David Oliver. He then went to Lansing and later to Clarksville. Butler county, Iowa.

David L. Smith was born in Genesee county. New York, January 22, 1820. In 1854 he and his wife, Emma Tierney, started in a prairie schooner to seek a home in the territory of Minnesota. He arrived at Chauncey Leverich's house on October 19. He had left his family in Fayette county, Iowa. After remaining here two weeks, returned for his family, bringing them to Mower county. They spent the winter on the present site of the city of Austin. In the spring of 1855 he built a cabin on his claim in the town of Lansing; lived there a few months, then purchased eighty acres in section 2, town of Austin, where he lived ten years, after which he sold and bought a farm in section 5, town of Windom.

Willard Smith, brother of David L., spent the winter of 1854-55 in Austin. He afterward settled in section 2, where he resided until the time of his death.

Winfield Loveland was a blacksmith by trade. He purchased a piece of land now occupied by ]Mrs. G. jM. Cameron and there erected a set of log l)uil(liiigs. He was a lover of fast horses.

and was the owner of a running horse that was so well trained that after having been once led over a piece of road he would go over the same stretch to beat another horse or against time without a rider. Loveland remained here but two or three years. After his removal the stable which he had used was taken down and moulds for making gold and silver coins were found secreted between the logs. It was remembered that he had several times passed counterfeit money, but had always willingly redeemed it, and thus avoided trouble.

Francis Stuhfell was a Canadian Frenchman. He purchased the lot later occupied by Sylvester Smith's family. He erected a shanty and made shingles for a time. In the fall of 1855 he sold to Sylvester Smith and located elsewhere. He went away with Loveland. A part of the time while living here he kept a saloon.

The people who spent the Avinter of 1854-55 here were obliged to subsist to quite an extent on wild game, which was quite abundant. The spring of 1855 opened with brighter prospects, quite a number of settlers coming that year. Among those that came were the following: George and Oliver Bemis, J. B. Yates, V. P. Lewis, Sylvester Smith, Levi Watrous, Abe Haveling and "Wild Cat" Brown, G. W. Mason and a man named Hayes.

George Bemis settled on the lot east of Sylvester Smith's place ; was one of the men prominently connected with the "stealing of the county seat." He was an honored resident of the county until 1869. when he removed to Utah, where he engaged in mining. His death occurred there in August, 1884.

Oliver Bemis, from Maine, in 1855 pre-empted 160 acres near the present city, built a shanty and started breaking the land. The following year he sold this land and purchased a farm in section 11. Four years later he sold this place and bought a farm in section 3, Windom township, at about the same time starting, with his brother George, the first shoe store in Austin.

J. B. Yates and V. P. Lewis were both natives of York state and of a speculative turn of mind, and were engaged in business here for many years. Yates continued to reside in Austin. Lewis remained here iintil 1882, when he removed to Hopkins, Mo., where he engaged in mercantile trade.

Sylvester Smith was from Canada. He purchased Stuhfell's place. He snon became prominent in county affairs and remained a resident of Austin until his death.

G. W. Mason purchased an interest in the town plat from Leverich. It was he with Vaughan that had the race to Frankford to beat Yates and Lewis and get their plat recorded first, but like otliers that raced with the same parties got left.

Levi Watrous was from Iowa and with his brother had a claim in section 12. He lived here about two years. Afterward he entered the ministry. He was a chaplain in the army. The last heard from he was near Elkader, la., pastor of an Adventist clnu'ch. It is said that iu the spring of 1855 Watrous. Leverich and ]Mason were one day sitting under a tree speculating as to the future of the place and during the conference named it Austin, in honor of Austin Nichols, the first settler. The place at the time was known as Leverich 's mill.

In 1856 the following named were among those who came: J. H. McKinley, Charles Ferris, George E. AVilbour, Solomon Snow, R. L. and W. S. Kimball, Orlenzer and Ormanzo Allen, Joshua L. Davidson, Hiram L. Coon, G. B. Hayes, D. B. Johnson, Jr., Aaron S. Everest, G. ]\I. Cameron, Colbert C. Hanehett, Loyal AV. Sjirague, Dr. J. N. Wheat, Rev. Stephen Cook and his son, John F., Harvey M. Allen, Samuel Little, S. W. Rice, Luther S. Morgan, James C. Ackley, Albert Galloway and L. N. Griffith.

J. H. McKinley cMinc early in Ihc spring and purchased a frame bnilding. which he opened as a hotel, the first in the place. He managed it but a few months, when he sold and moved to ^Mitchell county, Iowa.

Solomon Snow and George E. Wilbour were from j\Iassachusetts. They Ijonght the liotel fi-oni :McKinley and entertained travelers three years, wlicn Wilbour returned to ^Massachusetts. In 1869 he cam.' back.

Joshua L. Davidson was born in New Hanii)shii-e, in Deeeniber. 1812. AVhen a lioy he moved with his parents to Allei^heny eouiity. New York, in the town of New Hudson, near Cul)a. lie married in his young manhood Phoebe Ann Woodford, who was own cousin to Lucius Robinson, ex-governor of New York. Fi\e or six years after their marriage they moved West, settling in Lake county. Illinois, near Chicago. He there engaged in farming. xVfter four years there he removed to Rockford, 111. This was about 1851, and he remained there till 1855, during wliich time he made several trips into the great Northwestern territory, of which Minnesota is now a part. In the spring of 1855 he came to Winona. Minn., where he purchased a large interest in the town site of that city. His wife died the spring he left Rockford. 1855, and November 24, 1856, in Fond du Lac, Wis., he married his second wife. Mrs. H. Attilla Albro. In the early spring of 1856 he came to Austin and bought large interests, among which was the land known as ''Davidson's addition to Austin." He was a speculator in real estate and a busy worker at whatever his hands found to do. He moved his family to Austin in the spring of 1857, having already, in company with John F. Cook, D. M. V. Stuart and 11. C. Bolcom, built the first frame building of any size. This was known as the "Headquarters." The pine lumber used in the erection of this old landmark was hauled from Winona, a distance of nearly a hundred miles. During the Civil war he built the Davidson House - the second hotel of the place. He leased this property until the last year of his life, when he operated it himself. I\Ir. Davidson was deacon of the Austin church from the time of its organization until the time of his death, which occurred February 27, 1873. He donated the lots upon which the Congregational church now stands at Austin.

plat. He afterward engaged in the boot and shoe trade. After the war he moved to southern Missouri and later to Atchison, Kan., where lie died.

Albert Galloway was born in the town of Newburg, Orange county, N. Y., October 6, 1822. In 1856 he started for Minnesota, intending to locate at Minneapolis. ^Yhile on the boat between Dunleith and Winona he met friends who induced him to go to Chatfiield with them. They started from "Winona on foot and walked to Chatfield. After a short stop there they proceeded on their journey and walked to Frankford. He there procured a ride to Austin. This was in the fall of 1856. He immediately pre-empted a claim in section 17, town 102, range 18. He proved up on that claim in November of that year and engaged diiring the following winter as clerk in Hanchett & Sprague's store. In 1857 he formed a partnership with D. R. Johnson, Jr., and engaged in 'mercantile business. He had cut some logs, which he sawed at Leverich's mill, and erected the store building. The lumber for siding and floor he drew from Winona. Galloway & Johnson dissolved partnership about one year later, after which Mr. Galloway continued in business alone, carrying a good stock of goods. He remained in business until 1868.

L. N. Griffith was born in Allegany county, New York, November 18, 1824. He removed when a child to Lorain county, Ohio. He was postmaster of Austin postoffice from 1857 to 1858, and was also justice of the peace for many years.

Others that were known to have been here as early as 1856 were Dennis Crandall, John E. Hallett, Samuel Wheeler, C. P. Carpenter, Charles and George Bodle, J. M. V. Stuart, John M. Fleming, A. W. Billings.

J. M. V. Stuart and John M. Fleming were from Canada. The former had money to invest in land. After two or three years he moved to Kansas. Fleming was a young man with a good education. He was for a time deputy register of deeds. He remained a resident of Austin until the time of his death, whicli occurrrcd in an early day.

C. P. Carpenter was also a stage driver. Two or three years later he went back to New Hampshire, where he lived a fcAV years. Then returned to Austin, where he died.

First Events

The first man to locate in the vicinity of Austin was "Hunter" Clark, who built a log cabin near the grounds of Oakwood cemetery in the fall of 1853. The first frame house in Austin was erected by Chauncey Leverich, in the autumn of 1855. In 1866 the first brick dwelling house in town was the Congregational parsonage, corner of Maple and St. Paul streets. The second by J. B. Y''ates, corner of Kenwood avenue and Mill street. The bricks were made in Austin by Y^ates & Lewis, who started the first brick yard. The first white child born in Austin was Austin Bemis, son of George H. and Eleanor Merrick Bemis, born November 17, 1855. The second child born in the place was Carrie ]\I. "Wheat, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. N. Wheat. She was born December 6, 1856. She became the wife of E. G. Bascorab, of Rochester, Minn. The first piano owned in the city was purchased by Dr. J. N. Wheat. The first church organ was played by Mrs. Johnson, at the Methodist church, in 1863. The first brick business house in Austin was erected in 1866, by Harlan Page, for a bank, with laAV offices above. This was destroyed by fire in 1869, and the present First National Bank building erected on its site. The first goods were sold by A. B. Vaughan, in 1855. George H. Bemis ran the first shoe shop. The first death within the place was that of Chauncey Leverich, in the early fall of 1856. Old settlers declare that David Oliver broke the first ground on the forty acres now platted and known as "Parker & Brown's addition to Austin."

Early Days In Austin

Judge Ormanzo Allen, some years ago, in an address before the Old Settlers' Association, admirably summed up the early histoiy of Austin in the following words :^

In the year 1853 the territory embraced in Mower county was surveyed into townships and seetionized. Prior to that time and, as for that matter, several years thereafter, Mower county was the home and hunting grounds of the wild Indian, and the early settlers of Mower county have seen them in their native independence as they have been by scores in their teepees and wigwams along the Cedar river ; and many of you have seen them in their native dependence as they have begged for bread in your houses, where they have entered \inannounced and uninvited, and you have heard their simple language.

In the fall of 1852 some camps were made along the Cedar river by trappers from Iowa, but were al)andoned in tlie following wintiM-. In thi' fall of 1853, near where Oakwood cemetery now is, a man by the name of "Hunter" Clark settled and built there the first log house in the eastern part of Mower county. About this time came Austin Nichols, who built a log house just back of where Judge Cameron's house afterward stood. Austin was named in honor of tliis first settler on the to-\vn plat of Austin. Austin Nichols soon moved west. That same winter of 1853-54 and in the spring of 1854 other settlements were made along the Cedar river and Deer creek and loAva river, Lewis Patchin being among the number of settlers along Deer creek.

In the latter part of the year 3854, and in the year 1855, settlers began to come in from Iowa and Wisconsin, among whom were Alanson B. Vaughan, who settled at Lansing; John Robinson, who settled near High Forest ; John Tift, who settled eight miles south of iSustin; Chauneey Leverich, who bought out Austin Nichols; Abraham 8. Lott, C. H. Huntington, James and Return B. Foster, who all settled four or five miles .south of Austin along the Cedar river. September 14, 1855, the first land was taken and proved upon by Chauneey Leverich, Jeremiah B. Yates and Velorous P. liewis. Sylvester Smith, Henry and William Baudler and many others came this year, 1855.

During the year 1856 hundreds came to Austin and ]\Iower county, and among them your obedient servant. So that at the close of the year 1856 there were estimated to be 600 people in Mower county and abcnit 100 people in Austin.

The first deed for the conveyance of real estate in Mower county is now on file at the office of the register of deeds of Goodhue county, in the city of Red AVing. Many deeds were filed and recorch^d in Houston county, and several years ago William Carey Snow, then deputy register of deeds for Mower county, went to Caledonia and copied such deeds upon our records.

The first minister tluit ever preached a sermon in Austin Avas the Rt^v. Ml". IMapes, then stopping f(n' a sliort time near Brownsdale. Following close on to this was a sermon by the Rev. ^Mr. Phelps. These sermons were l)oth by Methodist ministers, and botli preached in the Snow & AVill)our hotel. Rev. Stephen Cook, John F. Cook's father, a Congregational minister, was the third person to i)i'c;icli in Austin. lie preached during August, 1856, and tlic succecdiim' iVw moutlis in a small house, then iised as a schoolroom, and on 1lu" spot wlici-e Tliomas Riley's dwelling Avas later en-tcd. Duriiit:' 1hc winter of 1856-7, Rev. E. F. Gurney and Steplu'n Cool^ prcjirlicd in pi'ivate liouscs about town as they were invited.

The first sdionl in Ausliii was laugiif by Alaria Vauglian in a log bouse, whicii was afterwards occupied by yours truly and liis wilV lor a (iwcUing house and stood on the north side of Water street, where James Anderson's was later erected. The second school was taught by one Sarah Berais, sister of Oliver and George Bemis. The third by Kate Conkey, sister of George N. Conkey. Both these schools were located in a small building where Thomas Riley's dwelling house was later erected. The fourth and last primitive school was taught in the winter of 1856-7 by a young gentleman by the name of Saxon, the payment of whose wages caused the arrest and sale of several thousand shingles, by your most obedient as district clerk, belonging to two merchants whose names I forbear to mention. Those young merchants severely threatened that faithful clerk of the school district with a long and tedious lawsuit, but the suit has never come oflP yet, as I have heard. The first schoolhouse built in Austin was later occupied and used as the Methodist Episcopal church.

The first ])arties married in the county were Caleb Stock and ^lary "\Yatkins. This was in 1856, Sylvester Smith, a justice of the peace, officiating. The first birth was that of Austin Bemis, son of George and Eleanor Bemis, in the year 1855. The first death was that of Mary Robinson, of High Forest, daughter of John Robinson, in the year 1855. The first town site recorded was the town of Austin, M^hich was partly surveyed and platted by Yates & Lewis and is now Y''ates & Lewis' addition to Austin. Then followed the village of Au.stin.

Several once live and famous town sites have long since passed in their chips. I refer to the city of Madison, ten miles north of here on the Avest side of Cedar river, which once had its hotels, stores and saw mill. I refer also to the city of Two Rivers, one mile and a half south of here, at the confluence of the Turtle and Cedar rivers, which 6nce had a famous hotel, kept by Robert Autis, and for a time bid fair to eclipse Aiastin. I refer also to Cedar City, six miles south of here, wlijch once had its saw mill and its flour mill, and Justice Meanes, before whom long suits at law were wont to be tried in ancient days. But the floods of August, 1858, swept out the last vestige of that city. I refer also to Troy City, eight miles south of here, which, unlike its predeees.sor of ancient lore, never had any wooden horses to l)eguile the unsuspecting and overcredulous, but it had its hotel and saw mill and grist mill, which the floods of 1858 and financial reverses swept away. There were also some misadventures upon the east side of the county in founding cities, like Frankford and old LeRoy, which have nearly faded oiit.

The first frame house built in the county was built by Chauncey Leverich on lot 5, in block 2, in the village of Austin, near where the dwelling house of James T. Sargent was later erected. By so doing the Leveriehs were accused, at that time, of putting on "airs," -which frame house long since went down before the corroding tooth of time. The first saw mill built in the county was built by Chauncey Leverieh in the year 1855, where Eugle's was later erected.

The first newspaper ever published in the county was by David Blakely in Austin in the fall of 1858, called the ]\Iower County Mirror. Blakely started this paper in consideration of being elected to the lucrative office of register of deeds of Mower county. He published this paper for about one year, and was succeeded by Rufus K. Crum, Avho published the paper for about another, at which time the paper was removed to Rochester, ]\Iinn. About four months thereafter B. P. Jones commenced the publication of the Courier, which, by various devices, was continued for some two years, when Jones went into the United States service, and in July, 1863, the Mower County Register -was started by Herman R. Davidson, just out of Oberlin college, and son of Joshua L. Davidson, who published the paper for about one year and until his death, when C. H. Davidson continued the publication of the paper. Then came the Transcript and other papers.

The hasty glance Avhich we have taken contrasting the present with the past shows that IMower county has indeed made great progress in every material and A-ital matter pertaining to and affecting the interests and the true interests of her citizens, and that Mower county is well abreast with other counties in our state in her mechanical and agricultural interests, as well as schools, churches, railroads, buildings, bridges and every internal improvement calculated to build up and develop the wliole country. , ,

Headquarters

In the winter of 1856-57, the building known as Headquarters was built. It was built by Joshua L. Davidson, J. F. Cook, J. M. V. Stuart and H. C. Bolcom. It was located on Main street. The lower story was used as a store for many years. The upper story was all that can possibly be meant by the word "headquarters." Within tliis building the Mirror, the first paper in Mower county, was started by David Blakely, and its newspaper honor did not close till it had been used as the office of the INIinnesota Courier, the Register and Transcript, thus being the birthplace of four of Mower coiinty's solid journals. The first court ever held in Mower county convened here. It was also used for school and religious purposes. Some of the early settlers will remember how the pioneers came in from the country with ox- tenms to worsliip at tliis place. There were the old and young, and among the number might have been seen pretty maidens with their shaker bonnets, and sometimes in their bare feet. This was also the place for holding all the public gatherings, festivals, dances and other events. Could its walls but speak, what a tale it would tell of days long since passed into oblivion. The Austin National Bank now occupies the site.

Old Territorial Road

In the early fifties of the last century, a half-broken trail wound its way from the Iowa state line to what are now the Twin Cities. In time the trail became known as the territorial road. At one point it made an abrupt turn to take advantage of a ford in a beautiful stream that bubbled and gurgled over pebbles and ever-shifting sand. Along the trail and down to the ford came army horses and mules to plunge fetlock deep and thrust their dust-filled nostrils in the cooling water. Here the troopers used to tarry on their way through the Northwest. Here emigrants in canvas-covered wagons rested while their tired oxen browsed on the rich herbage. The Sioux from his tepee on the banks watched the ever-increasing, never-ending tide of caravans that were to crowd the red men toward the setting sun. Trappers of the mink and of the otter, and hunters of the deer, came and pitched their tents beneath the cottonwoods.

In the meantime came Austin Nichols. Others followed. Then came Chauncey Leverich. He came to the crossing of the Avaters on his way to the Northwest, where he sought the fur-bearing creatures of forest and stream. Standing on the banks of the Cedar, he said: "Here will I pitch my tent, here Avill I found a city." Here, therefore, the city was built upon the bank of the Cedar, whose waters once swept noisily through this valley to join the far away Mississippi, now harnessed for the needs of man, forms a lake dotted with islands, among which dart the swiftly driven launches of pleasure seekers. Along the banks of the river, parks are laid out, not to spoil but to preserve the wildness of spots which nature made lovely in wanton, reckless prodigality. There are some places where it would seem that nature had set out to make more beautiful than any other spot some places where she seemed to have worked to display what the poet has called "her wilder majesty." Aeons of time she spent to enrich the soil and then set the deep and everlasting springs, some to pour forth like fountains, some mere trickling streams of liquid crystal to flow from the black loam, others she set to form deep pools and put in perpetual motion the silvery sands to roll about the bottom as thougli blown by some spirit of the deep. luto the soil she scattered with a prodigal hand the seed of a thousand flowers and grasses that the land might flow with milk and honey. After they who spied out the land had returned with the grapes of Esehol, others came to this goodly land. The pioneer followed the trail of the trappex\ The lowing of the kine was heard where the wolf's long howl had echoed down the flights of years. The preacher came to plant the cross where the Indian had pitched his wigwam. The teacher came and the schoolhouse was set like a lamp upon a hill. The railroad supplanted the trail itself and the electric spark told that Austin was born on the spot where Chauncey Leverich stood when he declared to his trappers fifty-three years ago, ' ' Here Avill I build a city. ' '

That was over half a century ago. The old ford is no more. The rapids above it are harnessed and the wheels they turn grind the grain that grows where the hunter lay in wait for the buffalo and deer. The trapper comes no more to the stream, for he has passed on with the Indian, the mink and the otter. The territorial trail has become a legend with which the old settlers love to beguile an hour with the newcomer. Its windings were long Hgo made straight, and brick paving covers the soil once trod by trooper and emigrant. Automobiles rush along the city streets where the covered wagon caravan creaked over the prairie trail. The cottonwoods are no more. They were patricians in those days but plebeians in this. The places they occupied are now filled with graceful elms, fragrant catalpa and handsome maples, spirea bow their wreaths in the boulevards over a carpet of deepest green. The sky line, once formed by the trees of tlie virgin forest, is now marked by the spires and crosses of a half a score of ehvirches and by the smokestacks of factories and the roofs of happy homes. - John H. Skinner.

Leverich bought out Austin Nichols and settled on the original village of Austin, Davidson's, Berry's, Brown's and Parker's and a forty of railroad additions; D. J. Tubbs built a saw mill for Leverich; Robert Dobbins settled on the Balcora quarter; Benedict J. Brown on Yates & Lewis' and Brown's additions. In .September, C. H. Huntington. A. S. Lott, Calvin Powers and Moses Rolfe took claims east of the Cedar in the southern part of the town, and D. L. Chandler began the Cedar City settlement. The Averys, father and two sons, settled the Strever farm and other land near. David L. and Willard Smith came in October. 1S.")4. Fi-ancis Stuhfell and Winfield Lovel, or Loveland. a l)l;i<ksinith, came later, perhaps early in 1855. The first mad<' shiiigh^s and for a time ran a saloon ; the last loved fast horses and, so the old settlers allege, made counterfeit money. Game wns abundant ;ind n principal means of sii])sist(>nce. In 1855

George and Oliver Bemis, shoemakers; J. B. Yates, V. P. Lewis, Sylvester Smith, Levi Watrous, Abe Haling, A. B. Vaughn, G. W. Mason, Black Hayes and Wild Cat Brown and others were added to the city population. There settled in the town Robert Autis, on section 10 ; Alexander Nigus, on the Ellis farm ; Reuben Watrous, Widow Lockwood, George and Thomas Phelps, Clem Smith, Daniel McPherson and M. J. Woodson. In 1856 there came early J. H. McKiuley, and built the first hotel, Avhich he sold to Sol Snow and G. E. AVilbour, arriving later, and Charles Ferris, carpenter ; R. L. and W. S. Kimball, hardware ; four attorneys, Ormanzo Allen, Aaron S. Everest, D. B. Johnson, Jr., and G. M. Cameron; three doctors, Orlenzer Allen, H. L. Coon and J. N. Wheat, and G. B. Hayes, Hanehett and Sprague, merchants; -J. L. Davidson, John F. Cook, Luther S. Morgan, James C. Ackley and L. N. Griffith, town proprietors ; Rev. Stephen Cook, Albert Galloway, S. W. Rice, Samuel Little, H. M. Allen and J. j\I. Berry, afterwards judge of the supreme court. That year there settled in the township, among others, Jacob S. Decker, AV. A. AVoodsou, John Chandler, H. VanAVinkle, John AA^atkins, Caleb Stock, Alfred Cressey, Thomas Bonnallie, John Rose, H. E. Case, Thomas Varco, H. G. Prouty and AVelcome Osborne.

In the fall of 1855, Leverich, with the services of A. B. A^aughn as surveyor, staked out a village, including the village of Austin and Davidson's addition, but did not properly survey and record the same. Yates and Lewds had bought the S%, of B. J. Brown's claim, NEJ4 of 3, and tried in vain to have Leverieii make the principal street on the quarter line of three, now AA'est Main street. Leverich platted tlie sides of his lots clear up to the line. Abates and Lewis, with ]Moses Armstrong as sui-- veyor, laid out their addition and Brown's, but in the evening, learning of the movements of A^'aughn and INIason, platted Austin, consisting of blocks 1 to 6 in their addition, so as to be entirely surrounded by their future addition and coming only wnthin a block of AYest IMain street. Vaughn and Mason had bought in with Leverich, and in his absence learned of Armstrong's survey, completed their survey of the fall before and late in the evening. April 16, 1856, crossed the Cedar in a boat and started on foot for Frankford, the county seat, to file tlieir plat. A'ates, Lewis and Armstrong drew tlieir plat, mounted horses, tried at various points to ford the swollen Cedar, gave it up, the night being very dark, staid all night at John Pettibone's in Lansing, crossed in his boat in the morning, swimming their horses behind, and passed Afason and Vaughn about four miles this side of Frankford. They found the .iustice al)sent, sent for Felcli, probate judge, and acknowledged and filed their plat. A''aughn and i\:rason arrived half an hour late, altered their plat by dropping the forty that became Davidson's addition, and christened the other forty "Village of Austin," and filed two hours later.

Leverieh's saw mill was the first business established. A. B. Vaughn and son, P. D., opened the first store in the spring of 1855, and sold out to Aloysius Brown in 1856. Yates & Lewis opened the second store; Sprague.& Hanchett and the Kimballs opened stores soon after.

The growth of the town was from the mill westward on Water street and the street south. Yates and Lewis moved the few buildings erected in their town to the village. The increase in numbers was less in 1857 than in 1856. J. S. Lacy built tlie second hotel pretty well out of town, where the Fleck House stands. In 1858 Avas the first period of railroad construction. What is now the Milwaukee line from IMinneapolis south Avas surveyed in 1857, and in 1858 graded for half the distance, not continuously, but in patches. Bank notes secured by bonds issued by the state for each ten miles of this grading, furnished circulating medium till they collapsed in the spring of 1859. The crops succumbed to the high water in the summer of 1858. A. Brown distributed the supply of flour and meal that kept the inhabitants alive. ]\Tost of it was drawn from Chatfield and Decorah, Iowa. The state of the roads was such that it often required many days to make the journey. When it Avas noised that teams Avere gone for a ncAV supply, sacks and cash Avere deposited to make sure of a portion. The demand sometimes exceeded the supply, so that but ten or fifteen pounds could be allowed to a family. Gold Avould not buy more and everyone received in proportion to their family. ToAAmship and A'illage together in 1860, 462 ; in 1865, 760; in 1870, 2,632, toAvnship being 592 and the village 2,040; in 1875, the village had 2,601; in 1880, 2,305; in 1885, 2,505; in 1890, 3,901; in 1895, 5,087; in 1900, 5,471; in 1905, 6,489; in 1910, 6,960.

Letter From A. R. Nichols

In 1906, John II. Skinner Avrote to A. R. Nichols, tlie first white settler on the present site of Austin, and asked his help in ascertaining certain facts. At that time Mr. Nichols was liA'ing at Nichols, Minn., of AA'hich he had previous to his resignation been postmaster for twenty years. In reply, Mr. Nichols gave the folloAving interesting information: "I Avas born in the town of Hopkinton. St. LaAvrence county, Juno 13. 1814. In 1817 I was taken to Livingston county, in tlie same state, and in 1818 Avent by sleigh through Canada to Detroit, ]\Iich., Avhich at that time contained a cnmplpnu'nt of Ignited States soldiers quariiJ STORY OF MOWEK COUNTY IGi) tered in the historic fort, and a few French settlers along the river. In the fall of that year we went back to Michigan and settled at the lakes on the Huron river. In 1841 we "set sail" in a prairie schooner for the West, crossing the Mississippi on Christmas day, 1841. Then I went to the lead mines in Galena, 111., and Avorked five or six years, then came back to Iowa and spent a winter at Cedar Lake, hunting buffalo. The following summer I went to Cedar river at St. Ansgar. That summer the state line was located. That fall, 1852, and again the following fall, 1853, I hunted along the Cedar river, and possibly the first fall got as far north as Austin. When I reached Mower county in the late fall of 1853, there were only three settlers in this part of the county : Mr. AVoodbiiry and his son-in-law, Mr. Pinkerton, at Woodbury creek, north of the Iowa state line, and O. P. Clark, in a shack to the north of what is now Austin. June 8, 1854, I drove the first claim stake in Austin, and a short time afterward, O. P. Clark brought his family and several head of cattle to his claim, which Avas above mine. The next settlers were Eobert Dobbin, jMiller Clayton and ]\Ir. Pinkham. I sold to Mr. Leverich. Then I left Austin and went to Blue Earth river in Faribault county and settled doAvn to farming until after the close of the war. I then sold out and went to IMinneapolis, stayed there several years, and then came to ]\Iille Lacs lake, Avhere I am at the present time."

Platting The Village

In the fall of 1855, Chauncey Leverich and A. B. Vaughan staked out a village on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 3, but did not properly survey and record the name. On April 16, 1856, J. B. Y'ates and V. P. Lewis procured the services of M. K. Armstrong, county surveyor, and commenced to plat a village on the northwest quarter of section 3. The siirvey Avas not completed until late that evening. Vaughan & Mason (the latter having bought an interest in the plat) saAV Yates and LcAvis at Avork. Their suspicions Avere at once aroused, and thinking to checkmate them they also effected a regular survey of the lands Avhich they had staked off the previous autumn, and late in the evening Mason and Vaughan (Leverich being absent) crossed the Cedar river in a boat and started on foot to Frankford, the county «eat, to file their plat ahead of Yates and Lewis. But the latter party, being fully equal to such an emergency, mounted their horses and rode up the river several miles, trying at various points to ford the sAVollen stream and get to the county seat in advance of them. The night being very dark, they finally .stayed all night at John Pettibone's, in the tOAvnship of Lansing. In the morning Mr. Pettibone took them across the river in his boat, while they swam their horses behind. "When tliey came within about four miles of Frankford they overtook Mason and Vaughan, who had started the night before on foot, and had spent the night upon the prairie, and when first seen were hun-ying along at a rapid gait for the county seat, in order to have their plat placed on file first. Neither party had had their papers acknowledged by a .justice of the peace, as was required by law, and when Yates and Lewis, who arrived at Frankford first, found that the justice of the peace was not at home, they sent for Judge C. J. Felch to come and acknowledge their papers that they might place them on record at once.

Vaughan and ]\Iason arrived a half hour later, but were too .late, as Yates and Lewis had filed a plat of "Austin." Two or three hours later Mason and Vaughan filed their plat as the "Village of Austin."

Murder Of Chauncey Leverich

In August, 1856, Chauncey Leverieh. one of the first settlers of Austin, came to an untimely death at the hands of a crowd of drunken roughs. The affair has been generally believed to have happened in about the following manner: It took place at a saloon where the new Elk hotel now stands. The parties committing the crime were intoxicated and making loud noises and acting very boisterous about Mr. Leverieh 's place, and he finally put them out of doors and they began pounding the side of the building, whereupon Leverieh went out determined to drive them away, but in the engagement he was struck by a bar of some kind, which fractured his skull. He lived about a week and was buried upon the corner of the same lot upon which his building stood. The parties charged with the crime of killing him were Horace Silver and William Oliver, who were tried for assault and battery, and fined respectively $20 and $10. Upon learning of Mr. Leverieh 's serious injury they both left the place.

S. D. Mead, a stepson of Horace Silver, one of the men who was convicted of the assault on Leverieh, has the following to say of this tragic incident: "I was not in the saloon at the time of the affair which cost Leverieh his life and my people their home, but I have my information from Autis, who was there and saw the trouble, as well as from vay own people. This saloon row occurred, as most such affairs do, when the whiskey was flowing freely. Now this was a friendly gathering. Silver and Leverieh were the best of friends, as were Oliver and Leverieh. But this was the grand opening night of the saloon and free whiskey flowed plentifully. The crowd grew merry and was liaving all kmds of fun, but the fun, as is usual in such cases, soon turned into a row, which ended in a general fight, during which no one seemed to know or care M^ho was hit or what thej' hit Avith. The consequence was that in the general melee Leverieh received a blow which laid him oiit. I heard the trial of Silver and Oliver before Justice Smith, but tlien- wns no evidence produced to show who struck the blow or witli wlint it was struck. My father always said he had no enmity against Leverieh and always mentioned that he did not strike the fatal blow. He always said that the first he knew that Leverieh was hurt he heard someone cry out in the crowd: 'For God's sake, stop the row; Leverich is killed.' This was the story he still held to on his deathbed. After the trial he said that if Minnesota were a state and had state laws he would stay in Austin and stand trial. But it was a territory and he was told that he better get away or he might be lynched. So he and Oliver left on foot. My step-father walked all the way to Michigan, where his brother lived, and we neither saw nor heard from him for two years.

"After he had gone my mother was nearly insane with grief and anxiety. I worked and cared for mother and four children for nearly two years. I then disposed of our cattle and personal property and went back to Michigan. Our home in Austin was taken from us on an execution for a debt of $15. Father then took his family and was a good father and husband as long as he lived. The loss of everything he owned, however, broke him all up and he was never the same man after the unfortunate atfair took place. He died in Michigan in 1874 and my mother lived until 1886."

Samuel Rice is an early settler whose veracity is absolutely relied upon. His story differs decidedly from the other versions of the affair, is as follows: "In the summer of 1856 Chauucey Leverich built a store on the southeast corner of Bridge and Chatham streets, "where subsequently stood the buildings until recently owned by D. B. Smith, which, after his death, were sold. He planned to open a saloon on the north side of the store and a grocery department on the south side. Samuel Rice had hauled the first load of groceries from Wabash, arriving the very evening of the murder. On the way to Austin the rear spring of his democrat wagon broke, so he removed it, and arriving at his destination left the spring outside of the building by the doorway. The store was unfinished. A carpenter bench stood in the center of the floor and rubbish lay about the place, which as yet had not been opened for business. Leverich had suggested that he and I\Ir. Rice go to a dance at Ed Merry's when the incident occiirred which resulted instead in the death of Leverich. Horace Silver and William Oliver were lounging about. Leverich, smoking a cigar, seated himself on the carpenter bench near Silver, who carelessly picked up a chisel laying on the bench and deliberately knocked the cigar from Leverich 's mouth, who exclaimed, 'Quit that!' bent down, picked up the cigar from the floor and resumed smoking. Silver knocked it out of his mouth a second time, at which Leverich became angry and swore that if he did it again he would lick him. Leverich put the cigar in his mouth again and Silver delil)erately, when the opportunity presented itself, tapped the cigar with the tool again, sending it to Ihr floor. Levei-ich swore violently, jumped up and struck Silver a I)low wliicli sent him staggering against the wall.

and struck him a hard blow. Silver and Oliver went out of the store by the front door. A few minutes later they told Leverich to come out and they would fix him. It was a very dark night. One of them picked up the spring with the heavy wood piece attached, laying near the door, and when Leverich came out threw it at him, point first. The wood hit him over the eyes and crushed his skull. He fell, unconscious. Bystanders in the building lifted him up, carried him in and laid his senseless body on the buffalo robe spread on the carpenter bench. Dr. O. Allen was called, and under his direction Leverich was taken home.

"He died in about three days. In the meantime Oliver and Silver were arrested, arraigned before Justice Sylvester Smith, and fined $15 and $20, respectively. After the death of Leverich and before papers charging them with murder could be served, they escaped. Silver returned to town secretly some years later to settle his affairs. The body of Leverich was buried under the back window of his store. His wife moved to the rooms upstairs and for years the kitchen slops Avere thrown on his grave. Later it was disinterred by his heirs and moved away. Leverich was an extensive land owner and a prosperous, progressive man. He owned several sections of land and also city property, besides other interests. His wife, according to well authenticated reports, was deliberately robbed by several men of the town. The various pieces of land Avere auctioned off for but a fraction of their real value. Although Chauncey Leverich Avas a man of rough exterior, he Avas at heart good, and his progressive spirit might have done much for the groAving toAA'n."

Important Events

The folloAving accounts of important events of the early days are Avorthy of preservation in this work, as they recall pictures of life in the sixties and seventies, long since forgotten by all except the oldest inhabitants.

January 2 the Lake building, after having tAvice caught fire tlie previous day, Avas entirely consumed before help could be obtained to extinguish it. In the loAver room Avas the store of ]\Ir. Keeny. The most of his goods Avere saved. Upstairs Avas the photograph gallery of A. B. Davidson and the drug store of 3Iorse, Daily & Co. All the stock of both firms Avas entirely consumed. The insurance on the gallery AA'as $150; on the drug store, $400.

Austin, on Rose creek, was consumed by fire. The building was a small log structure. During the afternoon of the same day some timbers remaining from the fire were carried from the spot to Mr. Ames' house, near by. for fuel and placed in the woodshed, with the result that some smouldering embers caused the house to burn down.

On May 3, 1865, the residence of Jacob S. Decker, about two miles east of Austin, was destroyed by fire, together with nearly all its contents. The loss reached .$1,000; insurance, $300. The fire originated in the roof.

On June 10, 1863, it is said by the Courier: "Horse thieves are getting very numerous in this section of the country and that portion of Iowa bordering on Fillmore, j\Iower and Freeborn counties in particular. We have had calls during the past week from no less than seven persons on the lookout for horses stolen. Three horses were stolen on Wednesday evening last from C. H. Owen and Daniel Ames, residents of Lyle tOAvnship. They will get $100 for the recovery of the horses and the thieves, or $25 apiece for each horse or thief."

October 20, 1868, the Democrat said: "The Austin Academy and Commercial Institute, for ladies and gentlemen, will open without fail on Monday, October 26, 1868, in the third story of Hunt & Basford's brick block, corner of ]\Iain and Bridge streets, with J. H. Johnson as principal."

Austin's Disastrous Fire. ^Marcli 3, 1869. Austin was visited by its, first big fire. There was a strong wind blowing froni the north at the time and the thermometer stood 15 to 18 degrees below zero, which tended to prevent the citizens fron: collecting as soon as would otherwise have been the case. However, quite a number were promptly on the ground, but the fire had got under such headway that it was found impossible to extinguish it with the facilities at hand. In three hours from the time the fire was first discovered four two-story brick buildings on the east side of Main street were burned to the ground, nothing being left but the demolished walls. The fire was first discovered in the dry goods store of Case & Shepley, the north building of the four, the direction from which the wind was blowing. How the fire originated was a mystery, but it was supposed it caught from the stove. Witliiii a short tiiiu> a ci-owd of three or four hundred X)ersons were on llie ground and it was decided as impossible to save tlic brick l)uildings, so the first thing to be done was to save 111! cdntcnts as far as possible and to prevent the fire from sju-eading. The major part of the dry goods and groceries of JMessrs. Solner & Morgan were saved, and a few things from the second storv over Paddock Bros.' store. Nearlv all the contents of the First National Bank building, consisting of the fixtures belonging to the bank and to the law and land office of Page & "Wiieeler were saved. The contents of the post office and Griffith's book store, also a portion of the dry goods and groceries of Austin & Richardson, and the liquors from the billiard saloon of W. Simpson were removed. The small frame building belonging to J. F. Atherton, and occupied by him as a grocery store, standing next door north of the row of brick buildings was promptly torn down and remo^'ed. Soon the fire reached the corner building and it was found necessary to tear away the small frame building occupied as a meat market to prevent the spread of the fire to the east along Bridge street. This was promptly done and the fire was confined to the brick structures. At the time the entire loss Avas estimated at from $40,000 to $50,000.

The following is a list of losses as published at the time of the conflagration: J. F. Atherton, one brick building and a small frame, household goods and part stock of groceries; insurance, $2,200. Case & Shepley, stock of dry goods and groceries, books, papers, etc.; insurance, $4,000. Creditors of Paddock Bros., stock of dry goods and groceries. Solner & Morgan, part of stock of dry goods and groceries; insurance, $5,000. First National Bank, brick building, counters, etc. ; insurance, $2,000. Barnes & Baird, brick building; insurance, $2,000. Lewis & Roberts, bi-ick building : insurance, $2,000. Dr. E. C. Dorr, dental tools and machinery, books, papers, etc. Dr. E. P. Hudson, dental tools, etc. Page & Wheeler, furniture, a few books, papers, etc. A. Galloway, frame biiilding. Frederick & Sammons, a few tools, meat, etc. IMrs. INIarshall and ^Miss Nerton, dressmakers, sustained some loss. J. AVoodward and Mr. Carter lost their household goods. Dr. Barnes sustained some loss in his office. Austin & Richardson, W. Simpson, R. Griffith and Postmaster Phelps all sustained some loss by the removal of goods.

In June, 1869, complaint was made to Sheriff' IMollisou, by a gentleman from the rural districts, to the eff'ect that a woman had stolen a horse from him, and giving a description of the woman and horse. It seems that before the woman had got a great distance from the starting place the horse escaped and came to town. The gentleman recovered his horse, and the thief was heard from, being in the country a])0ut three miles distant. The sheriff desired to let the woman come to town and claim the horse before arresting her, but was urged on until he proceeded into the country with papers and brought the woman to town and to trial. It seems that she "smelt a mice" and concluded that hers was a "horse of another color." She swore that she had aeyer seen the horse, which was alleged to have been stolen, and there being no proof, the horse not being found in her possession, she Avas discharged. The authorities came to the conclusion that it took a sharp man to trap a woman.

On September 22, 1868, Henry Hyer, a boy about twelve years of age, was accidentally killed near the depot. The boy attempted to jump upon a handcar, when in motion, and the lever struck him on the head, crushing in his skull and killing him almost instantly.

In its issue of December 1, 1868, the Democrat contained the following item: "Three native Americans - no carpet-baggers - stopped at the Central House in this place last night. Two of them were chiefs of the Menominee nation, one of Avhich killed five Sioux Indians in the war of 1862-63, fighting on the side of the whites. He has five marks made in India ink upon his arm to 'designate the fact.' The tribe lives upon the Black river, in "Wisconsin. These chaps have been out west trapping, and are now returning to their tribe. They are very large, robust men, capable of taking care of a large amount of rations."

The Austin Democrat, February 23, 1869, states that "genuine stone coal has been foimd in Mower county." In that issue appears the following article: "Thomas Smith, of "Windom township, in this county, has left with us a very fair sample of stone coal, and informs us that he has taken from the mine which he is now prospecting, some lumps as good as any ever taken from a Pennsylvania coal field. ^NTr. Smith is something of a geologist, and had discovered signs of coal on his place, in the bluff along Rose Creek, some time since, and a few days ago determined to investigate the matter and prospect for a large deposit which he had reason to believe existed in the vicinity. He employed an experienced miner, and the two went to work, tunneling into the bluff, and the present indications are that a rich bed of coal will soon be discovered. Two or three Aveeks more will tell the story. The importance wliich would attend the discovery of an extensive bed of coal in Windom, lying as it does, in the center of a large prairie country, could not be overestimated. * *

On April 1, 1870, Carl Chanbery, a young man who, the previous spring, li;i(l come with his aged mother from SAveden, and settled in Austin, Avas drowiu'd in CcMlar river.

On Sunday afternoon, .July 17, 1870, David Caswell, a iiroiiiinent citizen of LeRoy, left his residence for the purpose of looking at some grass land nearly a quarter of a mile distant on the farm, ;ni(l as w;is soinctinics bis cusloni. look Avith liiiii a double- barreled shot gun. Later in the day his dead body was found with a shot gun wound in the left side, with every indication that the gun had gone off while he was in the act of loading it.

On August 14, 1870, a Norwegian named Jens Jenson, about 54 years of age, who lived a short distance from Adams station, committed suicide by hanging himself in a grove.

. On September 2, 1870, John Fredell, a Swede, 23 years of age, was drowned in the Cedar river. The young man had come from INIinneapolis about three Aveeks before his death and had been in the employ of the railroad company. He had shown unmistakable signs of insanity.

On Monday, February 13, 1871, at between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning, the warehouse of Guns & Anderson, at Brownsdale, was discovered to be on fire. The flames soon reached the warehouse of Mr. Eowell, and the building was entirely destroyed. The Avarehouse of Guns & Anderson contained 6,000 bushels of wheat, 3,300 bushels of flax seed, 1,000 pounds of tow, about 1,000 grain sacks, a fanning mill, and the articles usually kept about a grain warehouse. Nothing at all was saved and tlieir loss Avas about $13,000, Avhieh, however, Avas fully covered by insurance. Mr. RoAvell's Avarehouse was empty at the time. The total loss on both Avas about $15,000.

On February 20, 1871, Austin Avas visited by a disastrous fire. At about 1 o'clock the Fleck House Avas discovered to be on fire, and the flames spread so rapidly that it was impossible to save the building. There were about sixty persons in the house at the time, and all succeeded in making their escape. The property was valued at $9,000, including the grounds, and Avas insured for $3,500. The hotel at the time Avas under the management of George Hay, who had leased it and taken possession about ten days prcAHous to the time of the fire. The fire caught from a defective flue.

On December 27, 1875, the iron foundry belonging to Geo. B. "Wright, located on the east side, Avas burned to the ground. The cause of the fire Avas unknoAvn. The building and contents were a total loss of about $10,000. The foundry Avas the only one in the city, and its loss not only fell heavily upon its owners but upon the business interests of Austia as Avell.

On the morning of December 30, 1873, tlie building on the corner of Chatham and IMill streets, occupied by tlie store of the Farmers and IMfchanics Grocery Association, Avas l)urned to tho ground. A portion of the goods Avas removed. Tlicre Avas an insurance on the stock of $2,000.

On April 22, 1873, Ole Gordon, of Northwood, Iowa, was instantly killed while grinding plov>'s in the shop of Seymour Johnson, in Austin, by the bursting of the revolving stone. One fragment weighing nearly 500 pounds, struck the unfortunate man in the forehead, at the corner of the right eye, and carried away a large portion of his skull and scattered his brains over the entire room. It passed through one end of the building and struck in the street some sixty feet distant. The stone was entirely new and, as far as could then be discovered, perfectly sound. It Avas driven by horse power, and at no more than the usual speed.

The month of January, 1877, was a disastrous one in Austin, three fires occurring within six days. The first of these took place on the morning of January 13, when six stores and one shop were cleaned out, the historic row of wooden buildings, long landmarks in Austin, on the west side of Main street being laid in ashes. Buildings on the east side of the street were also damaged by an explosion of powder in one of the burning buildings. The total loss was about $13,000, the firm of Hazelwood & Tuttle being the heaviest losers. On the same day a dwelling house on Maple street, owned by C. W. Freeman and occupied by W. D. Phillips, was entirely consumed. Four days later three frame buildings on the corner of Mill and Chatham streets, owned by A. Matson, were destroyed.

The Tenvperance Leagues, among the ladies, were powerful infiuences toward preserving the law and order of the community in the early days. In writing on this subject in 1876, Mi-s. R. L. Kimball. said:

Til" crusade against whisky began in Austin in the winter of IS'iG. At that time not a saloon was to be foiuid in the place, but at some of the stores intoxicants could be purchased. Accordingly tlie women started a crusade and threatened to boycoit merchants who sold strong drinks. To this agreement thirtytwo ladies - at that time all but three of them lady residents of Austin - subscribed their names. Twenty-eight of these names liave been preserved, and arc as follows: Imogene A. Kimball, Hattie A. Adams, Ilainiali E. Leveiich, Jennett W. Cook, Julia A. Wheat, Triphcna Griffith, Lucy L. Wheeler, Bettie M. Vandegrift. Eleanor Biiiiis, Sai-ah Iv l^cmis, Cornelia Benson, 'Mary

Ann H. Decker, Amanda Adams, Elizabeth Brown, Mary Mc- Daniels, Eunice L. Smith, Lois Brown, Martha L. Sanford, Emma Allen, Almeda E. Allen, Mary A. Colwell, Eliza A. Allen, ]\Iaria M. Everest, Mary A. Padden, Naomi M. Revord, Harriet Ferris, Eliza A. McKinley, Elizabeth Tubbs. The merchants were then and asked to pledge themselves not to sell liquors. Three signatures were obtained, Rufus L. Kimball, W. I. Brown, and Aloysius Brown. In 1857, a Ladies' Temperance Society was organized by ]Mrs. ,1. L. Davidson

The Father i\ratthew Temperance Society was organized February 5, 1871, with eighteen charter members. February 19, they decided to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and appointed a committee to make arrangements. The committee deciding to have a banner called on the printers but failed to obtain satisfactory samples for even a temporary article. Mrs. W. I. Brown's proposal to embroider one, with green silk on white merino, was accepted, and work commenced. They were soon out of silk and sent a sample to St. Paul, but found none there. A few skeins were found in IMcGregor, but not enough. Luckily, Mrs. Oscar Ayers had enough to complete it. The committee found it necessary to employ all the ladies they could to get it completed in time, and their fingers w^rought on each successive letter until the "Father Matthew Temperance Society of Aiistin" was complete. Mrs. L. A. Sherwood was among these ladies. At the first annual convention held in St. Paul, February 12, 1872, the society joined the state union wdth only eight members. The majority of those lost were by resignation or non-payment of dues, and not for violation of pledge, which has been the case up to this time. At the second convention the society won the Gold Medal for having gained the greatest percentage of membership of any society in the State, being 100 per cent. At the third convention, held at Winona, May 6, 1874, the society had seventy-five members, l)ut lost the medal, it being won by Father Ostar's Society of Belle Plaine. At th""" fourth convention, in Faribault, June 18, 1875, Austin reported sixty-eight membei-s. The Catholic church at Austin has still a strong Total Abstinence Society.

The Sewing Societies of Austin have always been an important factor in its charitable and social life. In 1876, ^Irs. "\V. AV. Brownson spoke as follows in regard to those at that time in existence :

One can scarcely estimate all that has Ix-cii accomplished and all we enjoy today that has been obtained through the persevering efforts of little bands of ladies in our different churches, known and often spoken of derisively as sewing societies. To them is due the credit of many of t!io comfortable surroundings of our churches, the result of sonicthing very different from gossip. Tn early times, Avhile men were anxiously planning and toiling to secure comparatively comfortable homes for their families, and provide houses of worship, their wives and daughters were not idle. They organized sewing societies with good results. The ladies of the Methodist church organized the first one in Austin, jNIay 17, 1865, since which time it has furnished $1,500 of the money raised by the society for church erection and charitable purposes.

June 12, 1865, the ladies of the Baptist church organized their sewing society, and in less than two years it raised and paid .$125 of the expense of the bell to their chux-ch edifice .and other purposes.

November 8, 1865, the ladies of the Congregational church organized their sewing society, which has contributed about $2,200 to the charitable and other objects of the church. A Circle of Industry, belonging to the church, has also raised $550 to apply on the purchase of the bell.

The Busy Bees, a society of children, organized in the fall of 1874, for the purchase of chandeliers for the church, have raised, through public entertainments and fairs, $40.

In 1868 the ladies' sewing society of the Presbyterian church was organized, but there are no records of its Avork until 1870, between which time and May, 1873, it raised for church purjioses $330. Since then the sewing society has had no existence.

In 1865 the ladies of the Episcopal church organized their society, which has since had a vigorous existence, but no records have been kept, and I am unable to give results.

The Universalist Sunday School Gleaners, a society organized in 1875, for the purchase of a Snbbath School library, have raised $60 toward their object.

The ladies of the Lutheran church, soon after its organization, organized a sewing society, which existed about a year and a half. They raised $75, Avhieli Avas paid toward the debt of the cbureh.