Mower County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 25 of those read), 1911

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 25 of those read)

Location and Soil of Township - Early Settlement - Organization - Village of Grand Meadow - Opening of the Settlement and Early Business Interests - Societies - Churches - Postoffiee - Library - Catastrophes - Early Events - Village Government.

Grand ]\Ieadow township embraces congressional township 103 north, range 15 west of the fifth principal meridian. Its boundaries are Pleasant Valley township on the north, Frankford township on the east, Clayton township on the south. Dexter township on the west. The soil is of excellent quality, well adapted to the growth of all the crops commonly cultivated in this section of the country. This is a prairie township. The surface in the northern part is rolling, while in the southern it is quite level. An agreeable variety is imparted to the landscape by groves of trees, which have been planted with a liberal hand to aid and supplement the work of nature. The attention of the farmers of this district. until within a few years, mainly devoted to the production of wheat and other grains, is now being largelylurned to the interests of stock raising and the dairy. Deer creek, which takes its rise in Clayton township, flows through the southeastern part of Grand IMeadow, mostly in sections 85 and 'M). In the northeastern quarter are two branches of Bear creek, one of which, rising in section 3, passes through sections 2 and 12. The other lies farther south, and crosses the eastern lioundary of the township in section 13.

Early Settlement

The first settlement in the town of Grand Meadow was made by Erlund Olson, in the autumn of 1854. Olson was a native of Norway. He came here from Dane county, Wisconsin, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 12. The log house built by him here was the first in the town. After remaining here for some years. Olson sold his place and removed to the town of Racine. The next settlers were Arthur McNelly and Andrew McCabe - the former a native of Ireland, the latter of New York state. They took claims on section 13. In August, 1856, B. F. Langworthy made a claim on section 12. He purchased other land near by. at $2.50 per acre, until he acquired in all 960 acres. In 1875 he sold it at $25 per acre, and removed to Spring Valley. In the latter part of the year 1856, S. H. Rice, a native of the Buckeye state, settled on the northwest cjuarter of section 35, which remained his home until the time of his death in 1881. Mr. Rice was one of the original signers of the Grand Meadow railroad bonds, issued to the Southern IMinnesota Railway Company. Isaiah Peterson came with his family to Grand Meadow in the spring of 1857, and settled on section 6, where they remained but two years. In 1858 two children of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson died of croup. A son, named Peter Peterson, was born to them in the fall of 1857. AVilliam Seabern settled at an early day in the township 's history on the southeast quarter of section 32. Joseph Ross, coming a few weeks later, settled on the southwest quarter of section 33, adjoining Seabern 's land. Ross was from Nova Scotia. He enlisted in the northern army in 1862, and died in the service at Nashville, Tenn, About the year 1858, L. E. Pearce came from Pennsylvania and took a claim on section 26. After making a little improvement, he returned to the Keystone state, where he married. In the course of a few years he came back and settled on his farm. He was engaged for some time in the grain and lumber business at Grand Meadow village ; later he did a commission business in ]\Iilwaukee. In 1858, one William Pye, who came from ^Michigan, settled on section 34. After living here some years, he went to Wisconsin, where he was subsequently joined by his family, Gilbert Christopherson took a claim in section 11, in 1856. lie remained in the township two or three years and then returned to Dane county, Wisconsin. Andrew Halverson, Ole Sortlatten and Ilelge Johnson were Norwegian settlers of 1858. Halverson settled in the northern jnirt of section 14. Sortlatten came directly from Norway and settled in the south part of section 11. Johnson came here from Dane county, Wisconsin, and settled in the north part of the town. About the year 1879 he went back to Wisconsin. 0. E. Sorben, A. Finhart and Ole Loe were also among the early Norwegian emigrants. Clark Markham. with his brothers, Erastus and Joseph, came here about the year 1859, and settled in section 16. C. B. Remington settled in section 8, in 1859. A Mr. Parker, Avho settled in section 17, went away in 1864. William Fineudall and D. Vandenover came to Grand ]\Ieadow township in the year 1860, or near that time, and settled in secton 5. Henry "Weber settled in the northern part of section 4. A Mr. Gleason and his son-in-law settled in sections 17 and 18. They afterward removed to Rochester. Chauncey Kuapp, mentioned elsewhere, Avas also an early settler.

Organization

The town of Grand ]\[eadow was organized in 1862. The first town meeting was held at the house of B. F. Langworthy, in section 12, on April 20 of that year. B. F. Langworthy, Chauncy Knapp and Orson W. Case were appointed judges of election, Alonzo Avery, clerk. The following is the list of town officers elected: B. F. Langworthy, chairman; C. Knapp, 0. W. Case; A. Avery, clerk; G. C. Parker, treasurer; C. B. Remington and S. H. Rice, justices of peace; W. A. Lunt, asse^^sor; N. C. Markham and J. j\r. McCabe. constables.

First Events

The first child not of aboriginal parentage, born within the limits of this township was Forest E. Langworthy, later editor of the Spring Valley Mercury, published at Spring Valley, Fillmore county, Minnesota.

Origin Of The Name

hood, and standing on an eminence with one of the few residents of that time, he remarked, as he looked over the great expanse of fertile lands, "AVhat a Grand Meadow." His exclamation was truthful, and that name was adopted for all time. Grand Meadowis certainly a beautiful piece of country. Gently undulating, sufiieient to give ample drainage, no swamps, rocky hills, or sand dunes, all good available land, with the beautiful groves dotting the prairies, streams and little lakes, with a soil unsurpassed for fertility and ease of cultivation. There are cosy and comfortable homes, and a better grass or pasture country can hardly be found. In fact it led to the remark of one of a party of Elgin, Illinois, dairymen, who were here a short time ago, to exclaim: "I do not wonder that Minnesota can equal or even surpass Illinois in dairying when they can raise such grass as I see here."

The Village Of Grand Meadow

The trai-t of land upon which this village is platted was entered in 1858 by one X. Albee, w4io sold it to Henry Martin, of Connecticut. A transfer was made by Mr. Martin to Messrs. Hall, Easton, Thompson and Holly, who thus became proprietors of the original village site. F. H. Armstrong, of Alpena, Michigan, and L. E. Pearce laid out lots, and offered them for sale on the south side of the railroad track. The price of these being much less than that asked for the lots of the afore-named company, many were induced to buy them in preference to the others. Thus the south side became gradually settled, became the most desirable part of the village for residence. It should here be mentioned that the village was laid out in 1870, the railroad at that time having been built as far as the creek east of the village site.

Lumber was hauled from Spring Valley to put up the first buildings, two warehouses and a lumber office, the latter owned by Richards & Bray. It was later occupied by John Tyrrell as a residence. The first house built for a dwelling was that later occupied by E. M. Barnard. Its builder. L. E. Pearce. moved to ]\Iorris. Stevens county, in 1875. Pearce also l)uilt the first warehouse.

Early Business

The first .store Avas kept by D. B. Coleman in the building later used as a postofifice. Then. 1870, it stood in the street, but was afterward moved to where C. F. Greening's brick block was later erected. For this small room ]Mr. Coleman paid rent at the rate of .^40 per month. Tlie building was later used for a licpior saloon. Most of the older dwelling houses in this part of the village were built in the years 1870 and 1871. The Bell house, George Chatwood proprietor, was the first to be finished and opened as a hotel at Grand Meadow. After a lapse of three or four years it was leased for a period of five years by John Mc- Devitt. At the end of that time, W. T. Hughart undertook its management. Mr. Hughart put an addition on the north side by moving across the street the Centennial house, built by him in 1876. Mr. A. Axtell was next in charge for a brief season, and later the hotel wa.s discontinued. The Brown house was built by John Brown. It was first kept by him and afterward, for a few months, by Frank Dunbar. In 1877 ]\Ir. Brown sold the property to F. M. Pierson. At one time this was the only public house in the village, continuing to be such until George J. A. Correll began to entertain guests at his place of business. Two elevators were built here in 1875. Bonner & Hyde's was the earlier begun, but Cargill's was first completed. The latter was burned in 1880. Another was built in its place. During the years 1876 and 1877 immense quantities of grain were marketed here. It is said that in the last four months of 1877 the freight bills of the shippers amounted to $22,000 per month. A Mr. Plummer was the first to wield a sledge hammer within the village precincts. ]\Ir. Plummer came from Hamilton, but he did not come to stay. AVherefore, when John Peterson put up a shop opposite the Collins house, establishing himself and his trade in Grand Meadow for life, as it woiald seem, he gained a right to be considered really the pioneer blacksmith of the place. George Xewson, the first village barber, came here in 1876. J. Skyburg engaged in business in company with M. H. Fjelstad, in June, 1874, who had previously been engaged in trade here. They ran the business together until 1878. when Mr. Skyburg sold his interest in the business to Mr. Fjelstad. The next year (1879) Mr. Skyburg again embarked in the mercantile business in company with Ole Johnson. This firm remained in business about one and a half years, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Skyburg continuing the business.

Grand Meadow In 1873

In 1873, Grand ^Meadow had tlie following business houses: H. P. Coleman, general store and drugs, two stores; RoUin Dunbar, deputy postmaster, general store; A. Fjelstad, general store; Anderson & Clausen, furniture dealers; Ed. Peterson, harness maker and saddlery; August Fischer, shoemaker; Lore & Luttenberger, carpenters; Brown's hotel. Jolin Brown, proprietor; C. C. Cole, blacksmith and plowmaker; John Peterson, blacksmith; Charles

Grand Meadow In 1885

F. Greening, treasurer, H. M. Lovell, secretary of creamery; Edward Lewis, drayman; H. M. Lovell, bird fancier; Thomas AVagoner, buttermaker ; Charles "Wood, hay presser ; Lars Frankson, feed mill; W. T. Hughart, Turkish bath; Mrs. S. A. Nolan, boarding house.

Incorporation Modern Grand Meadow

Grand Meadow is a prosperous village with a population of some 600 inhabitants. It is well laid out, has some excellent cement sidewalks, and is planted with many shade trees. Its citizens are progressive and the buildings modern and sightlj\

Among the activities of Grand Meadow may be mentioned : Five churches, Methodist and Congregational resident pastors, one lumber yard, one fine high school, two hotels, one newspaper, three general stores, city, Masonic and M. W. A. halls, one opera house, one hardware store, one drug store, one clothing store, one merchant tailor, one jeweler, one dentist, one furniture and undertaking establishment, one harness shop, one automobile garage, two blacksmith establishments, one creamery, two carpenter shops, one woodworking establishment, one saw mill, one physician, one livery, two custom grist mills, two restaurants, one millinery store, one pool and billiard hall, one barber shop, one meat market, one telephone company, two land companies, one feed and coal establishment, one draying line, two painting estal)- lishments, and a postofifice. The Exchange State Bank has the finest bank building in this part of Minnesota.

Among the older settlers still represented in the business of the village are C. F. Greening, Exchange State Bank ; John Peterson, blacksmith; P. Schleiger, drugs; M. 0. AVilsie, lumber yard: Erick Torgrimson, general store (business conducted by son, G. T.) ; Erick Myhre, merchant tailor; C. W. Martin, conducting the Hyde elevation; Fred Pierson, "Old Brown House"; AV. A. Nolan, harness and automobiles; Thomas J. Grimes, blacksmith; George Day, woodwork ; Jolm Peterson, blacksmith ; Lars Frankson, grist mill.

Streets. Tlie streets of Grand IMeadow present an excellent appearance. Few villages in the state are better supplied with sidewalks, and the trees, pleasant residences, and sightly public and business buildings, add much to the attractiveness of life here. For several years the streets were lighted with oil. Lamps of gasoline gas are now provided, and an acetylene plant is under advisement.

City and Masonic Hall. This is a pretty structure built of brick and erected in 1890. The lower tloor is used as a village hall and the upper tioor is well furnished and devoted to Masonic purposes. The waterworks, tower, pump and well were put in in lilOl.

M. W. A. Hall and Opera House. In 1909 a stock company was formed for the purpose of erecting a l)uilding to be used for a fraternity hall and place of entertainment. The building was started in 1909 and dedicated in 1910. It is of ))nck with an ornamental t:ront. The place is well lighted with gas, and iew stages in southern Minnesota are as well equipped. The building is 100x50 feet. The auditorium is 50x66 and the stage 24x50 feet. A fme balcony adds to the seating capacity. The Woodman Hall Association was organized, as stated, in 1909. The otRcers Avere: President, E. F. Greening; secretary, W. D. LockAVOod ; treasurer, G. A. Wright; directors, F. M. Higbie, C. W'. Martin, Andrew Haugen, C. B. Hovda, August Biederbeck and G. G. Torgrimson. The present officers are the same with the exception that Fred Seabern is secretary.

Fire Protection. Grand Meadow is excellently equipped to guard against fire. In the early days the village had various bucket brigades. The present Grand Meadow Hose company was organized September 18, 1894. At that meeting H. B. Sheldon was the chairman and C. F. Greening, secretary. The first otifieers elected were : Foreman, W. A. Nolan ; assistant, P. W^ilson ; secretary, John J. AVeeks; treasurer, C. F. Greening; standing committee, F. H. Townsend, P. McDonough and Ed Bartlett. The present oificers are: Foreman, W^. A. Nolan; assistant, Tlieo. Bratrud; secretary and treasurer, E. F. Greening.

The Grand Meadow Cemetery is suitably located, and well cared for. On March 11, 1873. a meeting of citizens was hold, and various sums were subscribed for the purchase of a cemetery. Temporary officers were appointed as follows: President, 0. W. Case; treasurer, L. E. Pearce ; secretary, B. F. Langworthy. A committee of three, consisting of 0. W. Case, H. P. Colemau and AYilliam Lewis Avas appointed to draft the by-iaws. Pho Grand Meadow Cemetery Association was then formally organized, the directors being O. AY. Case, B. F. Langworthy, L. E. Pearce, A. R. Austin, C. F. Greening, N. C. Markham and AYilliam Lewis. C. F. Greening Avas the first actuary. The first burial Avas probably that of Arthur AA'ood, October 7, 1873. The present officers are: President, John Peterson; treasurer and actuary, C. F. Greening; secretary, Philip T. Elliott; C. AV. IMaitin, A. D. Moore, L. AI. Lindsley and W. P. Lewis.

Grand Meadow Library. In November, 1883, tlie sum of H'B-l was raised liy suliscription among the citizens of the place for the beginning of a public library. Of this amount, the village council gave $10, in order to carry out the design. An association Avas formed, Avith the following officers: Rev. (}. B. Caplc. lu'csident; AV. AY. Ranney, librarian; Airs. H. B. Sheldon iiiid Airs. H. B. ALirtin, directors.

Home Telephone Company. C. V. Greening, lianker of Gran^l iMeadow, ^v;^s a ]>ioiicer in the telephone business. He built a little line for family use. In 1898 some of his )ieigiibors wanted to have telephones connected to his line. Incidentally he connected up a few telephones. He did not realize, at the time, that he was laying the cornerstone for tlie great telephone industry. He added telephones to his exchange until he had nearly three hundred telephones in Grand jMeadow and Dexter. In 1906 he sold his telephone system to the Home Telephone Company, which was organized that year. C. F. Greening was elected sec^'.^a'-;.' of this new company; AY. H. Goodsel, president; and ]\i;u'tin Axness, general manager. The company sold the Dexter exchange to the Dexter Telephone Company and the business grew so that the Grand Meadow Exchange had over three hundred telephones in 1911. The company owns half inter'^st in the to-l lijics connecting the neighboring towns: Racine, Stewartville, Spring Yalley, LeRoy, Ostrand'n-, Adams, Elkton, and Dexter.

The Nolan Auto Company is one of the important conceru.s of Grand iMcadow. It is said that tlie company sells more automobiles than any other agency in this part of the state. An excellent garage and warehouse is maintained, and the members of the company have put much energy and ability into its management. The officers are: President, AV. A. Nolan: secretary, G. T. Torgrimson ; treasurer, G. A. \Yright.

The Farmers' Grain Company. This company, wliicli does a general grain, coal and feed liusiness, was organized ]\Iarch 16, 1907, and purchased the old Ripley elevator building. Tlie first officers were : President, C. L. Schroeder ; vice president, Henry Corcoran; secretary, G. A. Wright; treasurer, R. E. Crane: A. Lybeck, H. Neuraan; P. M. Iligbie, George AY. Coon, Jr. S. Y. Moen was the buyer. The present officers are: President, F. M. Higbie; vice president, M. H. Corcoran; AV. H. Goodsell, C. 1j. Schroeder. Edward Christgau is the buyer.

Grand Meadow Cooperative Butter and Cheese Association. This creamery is one of the oldest in Alinnesota. It was organized Marcli 14, 1889, and l)uilt a creamery at once. The first officers were : President, A. D. Aloore ; vice president, AVilliam 8eabern; secretary, 0. E. Low; treasurer, E. Torgrhnson ; 11. J. Lockwood, L. M. Lindsley, 0. K. Lestrud, P. E. Peterson, C. J. Higbie. The present officers are: President, A. G. Daleu; vice president, L. N. Lindsley; secretary and treasurer, G. A. AVrigiit : George F. Brown, S. J. Olson, AV. H. Goodsell, John Krause and John Joyce, Jr. The creamery does a large trade and enjoys a Avide patronage.

Grand Meadow Creamery Association. This organization was perfected Februaiy 4, 1882, with A. B. Lindsay, president; C. F. Greening, treasurer; H. M. Lovell, secretary. Business was started with a stock capital of $3,000. A suitable building was at once erected, and furnished with the most approved machinery, run by a steam engine of fifteen-horsepower. In the autumn of 188:3. a feed mill was added, at a cost of $500. A dividend of 10 per cent was declared on June 1, 1884, leaving a sufficient capital to carry on the business. In 1883, from the milk of about seven hundred cows, were made 90,000 pounds of butter, which was sold for $21,000. This association did not prove a success, and the building is now used l)y Lars Frankson as a feed mill.

Grand Meadow High School

Independent School District. No. 77, was organized in 1872. The first schoolhouse was built in the southeast cjuarter of block 2.5, Proprietors addition to the village, and at the present time the district owns the whole block. The first site was donated to the district by the townsite proprietors, so long as it shall be used for school purposes. The balance of the block has been acquired since at various times by purchase. The original school house was a one-story, 14x20, frame building -without ceiling or plaster, and unpainted. This was used for the first year and the first teacher was Lizzie Anker, of Frankford township. In 1863 a new building was erected at a cost of $2,000 by G. W. Lore and Louis Lutenberger, under contract between District 77 and D. B. Colman, and w^as paid for wuth district bonds drawing twelve per cent interest. The building was used until 1894, when, becoming overcrowded, it was sold to John Hudson, who moved it down onto Second street, where it was burned in the great fire of 1900. A new building was erected during 1894, of four rooms, by John Kingsley, of Chatfield, was occupied the same fall, and was burned January 24, 1895, the fire originating in the hot air pipes, i^chool was in session at the time and the flames and smoke developed so suddenly that had it not been for the splendid discipline and fire drill of the scholars, under Prof. P. C. Tonning (now assistant state superintendent of schools), many of the pupils mu.st have been injured, if not killed in escaping from the upper rooms. As it w'as, most of the furniture, books and supplies were destroyed. With the energy and resourcefulness of Professor Tonning, the school was in session again tlirce days after, in the town hall and two churches (]\Iethodi.st and Congregational), as though nothing had happened. Another building was erected on the same site and of the same dimensions as the one burnt'd during the summer of 1895. and school again opened in September of that year. This was operated until 1903, when, it becoming so crowded, a special school meeting was called February 20, for the purpose of voting on the question of organizing as an independent school district. Out of fifty-five votes cast, but two were in opposition.

Another special meeting was held April 27, 1903, for the purpose of voting on a proposition to build an addition to the present school and to inaugurate the state high school system. The vote stood fifty-six for and fiftj'-four against the proposition. It was then voted to issue $6,000 of school bonds for the purpose of erecting the new building. The vote stood fifty-two in favor and eight against the proposition. Plans were drawn and the contract let to Tosten A. Stenvig, of Harmony, Minnesota, for the sum of $3,450, the basement for $583, and the steam heating plant for $1,965, or a total of $5,998. The building was completed in time to hold the fall term of school as a state high school, and has so continued to the present time. The value of the school property at the last annual meeting was something over $14,000. All the high school branches are now being taught, with a corps of eight teachers. Under the able management of Prof. "W. A. Alexander, an agricultural course has been added to the regular studies, and for all of the drawbacks from the dry season, our students carried off many prices at the county fair in 1910 for their garden products. The present school board consists of Hon. AV. A. Nolan, president; Philip T. Elliott, secretary; C. F. Greening, treasurer (for last thirty-five years) ; S. P. Hambleton, ]\Iartin Sorom and 6. T. Torgrimson. The faculty consists of the following: Superintendent, Prof. W. A. Alexander; principal. Villa Harris ; assistant principal, Gladys Putnam ; eighth grade, Nellie Keenan ; seventh grade, Irene Warren ; fifth and sixth grades, Grace F. Leonard ; third and fourth grades, Emma Warren ; first and second grades, Eva Barber; .janitor, Anton Odden. Nine months school is always held, with an average attendance of about 200. Grand Meadow is .instly proud of her high school.

in Fillmore county, who went to the war, and gave liis all, his life, for the country. The charter members are as follows: H. B. Sheldon, Company I, First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; A. J. Scribner, Company I, Sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry; "NV. "W. Ranney, lieutenant, Company A, Twenty-sixth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry ; James F. Carson, Company - , Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry; Oliver Lewis, Company K, Forty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry ; C. F. Greening, Company A, Eleventh, and Company H, Twenty-third AViseonsin Volunteer Infantry ; R. A. Donaldson, Company K, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery ; H. H. Hartley, Company E, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; J. W. Farquar, Company C, Twelfth United States Infantry, and Company D, Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry ; C. P. Gladen, Company - , One Hundred and Sixth New York Volunteer Infantry ; A. J. Stewart, Company A, Fovirth ^Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; Benjamin Wright, Company C, Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry ; E. 0. Hovda, Company K, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery; C. N. Bostwick, Company C, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry ; Nels. Seaverson, Company K, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery ; N. S. Green, Company A, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Of the above named sixteen charter members, all have answered the "last roll call" except four - Lieut. AV. AV. Ranney, A. J. Scribner, C. F. Greening, and Benjamin AA'right. The following Averci the first officers of the post : Commander, H. B. Sheldon ; senior vice commander, C. P. Gladden; junior vice commander, R. A. Donaldson; adjutant, AA'". AY. Ranney; surgeon, A. J. Scribner; chaplain, C. N. Bostwick; quartermaster, C. F. Greening; 0. D., A. J. Stewart; 0. G., Benjamin Wright; S. M., N. S. Green; quartermaster sergeant, H. H. Hartley.

The first representative to a state encampment was C. P. Gladen. John Espenscheid, who was one of the early recruits to the post, was the first mem])er to answer the "last roll call." He passed away on November 10, 1885. The first memorial services were held in the Alethodist church on Sunday, May 23, 1887. Rev. Allen delivered the address, assisted by Rev. Colwell, of the Congregational churcli. j\Iemorial Sunday lias Itccn kept ever since, first by the Mctliodist society, and then tlio Congregational society, alternately. In the fall of 1889, the mothers, wives and daughters of soldiers organized a AVoman's Relief Corps. Booth Corps No. 62, and justly proud the post is, of that si)lendid auxiliary. Their main aim seems to be to aid the suffering and needy. August 17. 1891, it was decided to build a home for the post and corps. A .subscription list was circulated, and in te.v days .+523 liad been secured. The building was started, and the ln'Miitiful little home was <-()iii|>Ic1(m1 and occupied the s;ime fall.

That noble body of women composing the W. E. C. donated the sum of $115 towards the new home. At the tirst meeting in the new building, it was unanimously voted that the post hall should never be used for any purpose except for the meetings of the post and corps, so long as the post survived. That agreement has been religiously kept, and will be kept so long as the post exists, and thanks to the W. E. C, we have the neatest and cleanest post hall in the state that we have seen. On the completion of the building it was found that we were free from debt, and no debt has ever been held against the post. With no rent to pay, we have always had a nice balnce in the treasury, both general and relief funds. At a meeting of the post in January, 1906, the question Avas discussed as to what should be done with the hall when the post ceased to exist. It was unanimously voted that the trustees of the post should at once execute a deed of the property, running to the trustees of the W. E. C, and their successors in office, as a mark of love and esteem to that band of women who had been our helpers for so long. The deed was duly executed and is held in escrow so long as the post holds its organization. And when the numbers are so few that the post ceases to exist, the survivors are to place the deed ou record and deliver to our successors, the Woman's Belief Corps, to do with as they may deem best, well knowing that the little home will never be disgraced or used for a wrong purpose. There have been associated Avith the post during its twenty-six years of life, sixty-three members, twenty-eight of whom are known to have died, twenty-one have been granted cards, or have moved away, and fourteen still remain in good standing. C. F. Greening has been its quartermaster for the whole twenty-six years, and in 1908 was elected at the state encampment to the office of senior vice commander of the Department of Minnesota. The post meetings are held the first Saturday of the month, in the afternoon. The W. E. C. meets every other Saturday. The present officers are : Commander, Benjamin Wright ; senior vice commander (vacant, by the death of J. W. Farquar, in December, 1910) ; junior vice commander, A. W. Thornhill ; adjutant, M. B. Johnson ; quartermaster, C. F. Greening ; surgeon, A. J. Scribner ; chaplain, D. C. Sanborn ; 0. D., George Nugent ; patriotic instructor, M. B. Johnson; O. G. (vacant, by death of Amirand Finhart) ; S. M., G. D. Pierce; quartermaster sergeant (vacant, by death of G. AV. Hayes).

Meadovir Camp, No. 1918, ]\I. AV. A., was organized February 14, 1893, with the following officers: George A. Correll, V. C; AVilliam J. Smith, W. A.; clerk, K. J. AVeeks; banker, John J. AVeek.s, Jr. The other members, L. D. Bentler, F. L. Dean, Dr. F. O'Connor, H. A. Phillips, F. II. Townsend and T. M. Stewart,

Mecca Chapter, No. 162, 0. E. 8., was instituted in December, 1904. and is in a Hourisliing condition, having been of much material assistance to the Alasonic body here.

The ladies have a flourishing AA^. C. T. U. lodge here. The I. 0. O. F. lodge has surrendered its charter, and the members now affiliate with the lodge at Racine.

Religious

The first sermon in the village was preached in a saloon by Rev. A. Oleson, Norwegian Methodist minister. At a subsequent date a sermon was preached in Coleman's drug store by one Elder AVhite. an eccentric man, of what denomination cannot now be stated. For some time religious exercises were held in the railroad depot.

First Congregational Chnrch. This church was organized April 15, 1878, and the church was built in 1885, the parsonage being erected just ten years later. The first pastor was the Rev. Cyrus Stone. Following him came H. J. Cohvell, A. L. Brown,

D. E. Smith, Airs. H. AI. Alullenix, T. AV. Alinnie, Benjamin James, James Oakey, E. C. Lyons, C. E. Bain. The present pastor is the Rev. John A. Hughes, who also served the congregation at Dexter. The clerk of the church is E. J. van Bronkhorst. The deacons are

First Methodist Episcopal. The Alethodists agitated tlu' subject of l)uilding a clnirch at an early day, but took no active measure until 1883, wlien they purchased a lot at a nominal price and proceeded to collect tlie necessary funds for building. Tliey then had a convenient and comely house of worship. Rev. W. II. Barkaloo, 1877-78; Rev. Mr. Mattson, 1879; Rev. W. R. Washborn, 1880; Rev. W. Copp, 1881-82. and Rev. G. R. Caple, 1883-84, were among the early pastors. A parsonage was erected some fifteen years ago. The present pastor is the Rev. E. L. Quien, who also serves the Iloppin church, so called.

St. Peter's German Lutheran Church. German services have been held in this vicinity since the earliest days. In 1903 the church incorporated and purchased a church building from the Norwegian Lutherans. The congregation is in a flourishing condition and is served by the Rev. Bernard Thier, Avho is also pastor of the German church in Racine township.

Grand Meadow Catholic Church. The Catholic church was erected in 1879 under the care of Father Hurley, of Austin. The first religious services for Catholics in Grand Meadow were held by Father Pendegast in 1858, in section 13, at the house of Arthur McNally, in section 13. Fathers McDermott and Keller served in the early days. The present pastor is Rev. Henry Germinder, of Spring Valley. Plans are now under way for the erection of a fine new church. The building committee consists of John Ra^ hilley and Thomas J. Grimes. The trustees are Henry Corcoran and James McDonough.

The Grand Meadow Evangelic Lutheran Church had its beginning in the early seventies when meetings were held in the village for the benefit of families who had moved in from the Bear Creek church neighborhood. The church was organized March 26, 1876, at the house of Jens Jorgensen. A church was built a short time afterward. The first preacher was the Rev. P. G. Ostby from Austin. The organizers of the church were : 0. E. Loe, Jens Jorgensen, 0. B. Larson, C. Anderson, H. C. Anderson, A. D. Saniso, A. Hansen, Peter Clausen, Peter Nilsen and Peter Madsen. The directors were Jens Jorgensen, 0. E. Loe, and A. D. Samso. Interest in this church waned. June 7, 1893, a corporation was formed with A. E. Hovda, secretary, P. E. Peterson, treasurer, and John Skyburg and A. D. Samso directors. This corporation purchased the old church. Services Avere held in this edifice until 1902, when it was decided to sell it to the German Lutherans. The present church was dedicated in the fall of 1903. The pastor of the church is the eloquent and able Rev. A. H. G.ievre. of Bear Creek. The church holds a school one month during the summer, and ha-s a fine Sunday school and Ladies' Aid society. The prescTit officers are: Secretary, C. E. Tlovda ; treasurer. E. E. :\Iylirr; directors, T. :\1. Lokke, Andrew I\ryhre and II. A. Hoc.

ilies composed the congregation. A church and parsonage -were built at a cost of $1,200. This congregation has gone out of existence and the church edifice is now used as a residence.

During the years in Avhich this village has had an existence, it has been visited by several destructive tires. The losses by the first ones were a railroad tank in 1873, a house owned by Robert Magary, occupied by M. F. Vining, and a barn with horses owned by E. McCloskey. The next was much more serious, and resulted in losses as follows: F. M. Pierson, dwelling, $800, no insurance; Geo. F. Goodwin, office building, $150; F. M. Pierson, saloon building, $200; Daniel Heising, saloon building, $1,000; R. Dunbar, postoffice building, $300; J. C. Easton, meat market building, $100; August Fischer, dwelling and shops, $300; P. A. Huss, building and household goods, $800; S. S. Baken, building, $1,500, and a portion of stock, probably $1,000; M. H. Fjelstad, building, $1,500 ; AY. W. Ranney, a portion of stock and household goods, probably $1,500. There were various smaller losses, probably footing up another $1,000, making a grand total of $10,100 swept away in an hour. Of this about $6,000 was covered by insurance.

Grand Meadow was visited by a serious fire May 16, 1900. The loss was about $25,000, partly covered by an insurance of $10,000. the losers being C. F. Greening, W. A. Nolan, P. Schleiger, John Lindelin, A. D. Moore, C. T. Bussell, C. E. Lawrence, Geo. F. Barnard, John Criswell, Johnson & Jones, E. "W. Bartlett, N. Elliott. H. C. Thiel, S. E. Ellesson, G. Hestad and M. David. The fire was discovered by George Goodsell, but had obtained such headway that it was impossible to cheek the blaze even by tlie use of dynamite. The buildings destroyed constituted the principal business portion of the city. This has been completely rebuilt with good substantial brick buildings.