Renville County, Minnesota - Chapter 36: Cities and Villages, 1916 (part 2 of 3)

For a long period during its early history the village of Fairfax was rent with dissentions caused by the rivalry between the West street (First street) and the East street (Second street). Grady's store, the first in the village, had been built on the West street. The Posen & Anderson store had been built on the East street. As other business houses were erected along the two streets the rivalry became intense. In time the proposition resolved itself into two districts, the East street people led by Luther Nichols and the West street people by Horatio Werring. The bitterness was intense. Every proposition considered was considered in the light of its effect on the two factions. When any public improvement was advocated by one faction the other faction opposed it, whatever its merits. So keen was the rivalry that on one occasion two separate Fourth of July celebrations were held on the same day, each faction Inning its own celebration. The growth of the village was thus somewhat retarded. But of late years better counsel has prevailed and the village is now at harmony.

Two efforts have been made to include East Fairfax, sometimes called "Hoboken," within the limits of Fairfax. The first time the people of East Fairfax themselves desired to come into the village. They were championed by Luther Nicholas and others who favored the claims of the East street (Second street) to business supremacy. The people of the West street (First street) and their friends opposed the admission of East Fairfax. The opposition was led by Horatio Werring and E. F. Sell. When the vote was taken, it was found that the proposed annexation had failed to carry.

Later the proposition was again broached. This time the people of the West street desired the annexation, and the people of East Fairfax themselves opposed the proposition. They were upheld by their friends of the East street, and once again the annexation project failed.

The story of the drainage of Fairfax and vicinity is a most interesting one. In the earliest days several small ditches were dug both by individuals who wished to drain their own lots and also by the village. The first venture of any magnitude was that of the Rev. Father Peter Rosen. He conceived the idea of constructing a ditch by voluntary work. The ditch was to extend along the side of the road south of the village. The people rallied to the proposition and considerable work was done but through lack of the services of an expert engineer the project so nobly conceived failed of its object.

The next attempt at drainage on an extensive scale resulted in a county ditch emptying into Maxwell creek. The engineer was E. A. Deiter. This ditch carried off a part of the surface water but only in a measure accomplished its real object. A few years later this ditch was cleaned out and in some places deepened, thus furnishing a fair surface drainage.

In 1915. on petition, a new tiled ditch was constructed at a cost of some $15,000, a larger part of which was met by the benefited land owners. The new ditch follows practically the line of the old ditch until within some three miles of the old outlet, at which point it swerves, and empties into Mud Lake creek, formerly known to history as the Little Rock creek. This new ditch furnishes adequate drainage and will serve its purpose for many years to come.

A recent summary of Fairfax activities and advantages contains the following items : One jitney, one livery, one bakery, two hotels, one produce, three banks, two tinshops, one creamery. one gun club, one pool hall, cigar factory four churches, village council, one auctioneer, two orchestras, one drug store, one stock yard, one wood yard, one tailor shop, two ice dealers, a business block, one pop factory, insurance agents, one public school, one citizens' band, one harness shop, one water tower, two wagon shops, two section crews, three oil stations, expert electrician, two barber shops, one juvenile band, one bowling alley, real estate agents, two butcher shops, two picture shows, two lumber yards, one land company, one cement works, two jewelry stores, seven auto dealers, one printing office, four general stores, electric light plant, several dressmakers. M. & St. L. Railroad, four grain elevators, one commercial club, village water works, two parochial schools, two millinery parlors, two implement stores, two hardware stores, two shoe repair shops, three blacksmith shops, Chautauqua in summer, one little German band, one telephone exchange, two motorcycle garages, two automobile garages, one well drilling outfit, two photograph galleries, shade trees in abundance, one clothing and shoe store, one substantial stone jail, hunters and hunting dogs, clever amateur performers, competent village marshal, church societies and lodges, one dray and transfer line, several beautiful boulevards, several dealers in live stock, one music and stationery store, several miles of cement walk, lyeeum course, fall and winter; one ball park and grand stand: village hall, 500 seating rapacity; 1,050 progressive and sociable people; one depot, day and night agents; one fire department, well equipped; three confectionery stores and restaurants; good graveled roads leading into village; one 600-barrel mill, running night and day; several architects, contractors and builders; instructors in vocal and instrumental music; many beautiful homes and well kept lawns; two good village wells, with motor attach- merit ; local and rural telephone company ; one postoffice, postmaster, lady assistant, four rural carriers ; two baseball teams, basket ball teams, tennis clubs and other athletics; market for grain, poultry, live stock and every other produce from the farm; Western Union Telegraph and Northwestern and Tri-State longdistance telephone connections ; two physicians and surgeons, two dentists, two attorneys-at-law, one veterinary.

Fairfax is surrounded by a thrifty and prosperous farming community. Some of the farmers are able capitalists, and are financially interested in Fairfax banking, manufacturing and other enterprises. Some of the most beautiful homes to be found anywhere are on the neighboring farms.

The Fairfax Commercial Club is a flourishing organization and has done much for the progress and betterment of the village. It fathered the project to carry the water mains to the stock yards, thus furnishing to the stock an abundant supply of fresh water. It encouraged the creamery project, approached the railroad company on the question of a site, and paid for moving away of the building which previously stood on the site. It was also prominent in the securing of the county ditch which has so materially improved the land in this vicinity. Perhaps one of its most important ideals has been the fostering of the Ft. Ridgely Park proposition. In these and many other ways the club has stood for the advancement of the village and its interests, and at the present time has many other projects under advisement.

The club was originated early in May, 1918, when an informal meeting was held at the village hall to consider the question of a regular commercial organization. At that time a village park was under consideration, and other matters of importance to the business men of the village were being considered to the extent that an organization seemed advisable.

May 16, 1913, a meeting was held with C. W. Heimann in the chair, and various sites for a possible park were informally discussed. A. E. Carver acted as clerk of the meeting. Those present at the meeting were H. E. Grasmon, Philip V. Ploof, J. F. Russell, Rev. Jacob Berger, Rev. J. J. Goergen, Rev. Im. F. Albrecht. William Bregel, Dr. A. M. Crandall, B. J. Schramm, A. S. Black. C. Bartelson, A. Ruud, Emil Enger, H. Hulskampf, Frank Willett, C. C. Knudson, B. Bauermiester, L. L. Palmer, John Iago, C. H. Hopkins, B. M. Weisberg, S. H. Gumpolen, L. Pullen, Charles Lammers, 0. H. Grasmoen, J. C. Fullerton. A. E. Fenske, William Pullen, E. W. Wigley, F. H. Hopkins, C. W. Heimann and A. E. Carver.

The election of officers was held June 2, 1913. and resulted as follows: President, Frank H. Hopkins; vice president. S. H. Gumpolen; secretary and treasurer, Philip Y. Ploof: steward.

The present officers are: President, Prank H. Hopkins; vice president, S. II. Gumpolen; secretary and treasurer, Philip V. Ploof: assistant. C. 0. Johnson. Membership committee, S. H. Gumpolen, A. S. Black, G. A. Rieke. W. A. Fiss, C. 0. Johnson. Patriotic committee - C. H. Hopkins, Rev. J. J. Goergen, Rev. Im. F. Albrecht. Good roads and street committee - ('. E. Clarksori, Dr. A. M. Crandall, Dr. Geo. H. Walker, Lee R, Pullen. Frank Pullen. Industrial committee - J. C. Braun, E. W. Wigley. W. E. Cleveland, R. H. Quinn, H. E. Grasmon. Entertainment committee - C. W. Heimann, A. E. Carver, H. F. Dickmeyer, J. C. Grams, E. H. Brown. Park committee - S. E. Dodge. Frank Willett, J. C. Pullerton, Dr. W. W. Brown, Rev. J. A. Rinkel.

Situated in the midst of one of the very finest Minnesota No. 1 hard wheat districts, it was natural that the attention of capitalists should be directed to the milling industry and in 1891, Daniel Katz, of New Ulm, started a flour mill. This mill, compared to the one now doing business in the city, was a small affair. It was a custom mill, grinding the farmers' wheat into flour and taking out so much "toll" for the grinding. Fairfax has received many accessions in business lines since the days that Mr. Katz opened his little mill. With her natural advantages and rich tributary territory, she is bound to secure many more in the future, both in commercial and manufacturing lines, but it is probable that her citizens will never again feel quite as elated as they did in those early days when the Katz mill opened its doors to receive the farmers' golden wheat and the wheels commenced to go round within its walls. It eventually passed into the hands of the Farmers' Cooperative Elevator Co.. and is now replaced with a splendid fireproof brick elevator.

In 1898 a new mill was erected by Nichols & Hornberg (Luther Nichols and Albert L. Hornberg). the mill having a daily capacity of 90 barrels. It was operated continuously until the summer of 1900 when it was destroyed by tin'.

A newer and larger mill was at once erected. It was known as the Phoenix Roller Mills, and was owned at the time of its destruction by L. Nichols & Co., the firm being composed of Luther Nichols, president ; A. Leifer, vice president, and A. E. Leifer, secretary and treasurer.

This mill was threatened with fire Jan. 30, 1904. On that day (Saturday) a short time after the evening meal, the Pacific Elevator burned. The Pacific elevator was the first elevator erected in the village and was built in 1883, directly adjoining the flathouse erected in 1882. The elevator was round, a style of elevator much in vogue in those days. The manager, Ed. Pehrson, and several friends were bathing in the engine room when fire broke out overhead. The elevator was destroyed entailing a loss of some .+7,000. The warehouse was saved.

The roller mills, however, were uot to be spared, for on the morning of Feb. -1, 1904, fire started under the feed mill at the southeast corner of the mili and the building was reduced to ashes, entailing a loss of some $35,000, aside from $30,000 in notes and papers, the personal property of Mr. Nichols, which, it was alleged, were in the office at the time. The mill had been running twenty-four hours a day, but had shut down on Tuesday and Wednesday nights on account of the scarcity of coal and grain. It was when the boiler was being cleaned out in readiness for Thursday's work that the tire was discovered.

The circumstances of the burning were believed to be suspicious. Wild rumors of various natures were afloat. Incendiarism was suspected. Criminal proceedings were brought and two trials resulted. At the first trial the jury disagreed. At the second trial the suspect was acquitted. The case attracted more than usual attention on account of the methods employed by the detectives in gathering purported evidence, and also by reason of the prominence of the counsel employed on both sides.

The county attorney, A. V. Rieke was assisted by Albert H. Hall, a well-known criminal lawyer of Minneapolis. The defense at the first trial was conducted by Frank M. Nye, prominent attorney and later congressman. At the second trial the prisoner was represented by Daily & Barnard, of Renville. Of this firm, Richard T. Daly is now on the bench of the Twelfth district, while L. D. Barnard is the present county attorney of Renville county.

Fairfax was without a mill for a year or so. Several meetings were held by the business men with the idea of securing another null but the various projects did not materialize. Finally word was received that the mill was to be built by Minneapolis capital on the site of the Phoenix Roller Mills. Work was started in the fall of 1905 and in March, 1906, the present mill was completed.

The property was operated with varying success until several years ago when H. S. Comer took charge. Under his management many improvements were made at heavy expense, and the headquarters were moved from Minneapolis to Fairfax, the name being changed from the Crescent Milling Co. of Minneapolis to the Crescent Milling Co. of Fairfax. The present manager is

Fairfax has long been a splendid market, and it is conservatively estimated that at least three-quarter million bushels of wheat are handled in this village. Three elevators besides the mill, handle wheat and coarse grain in large quantities. The Farmers' Cooperative Elevator Co., organized several years ago, brings farmers from territory claimed by near-by villages.

As already noted it has a splendid brick fireproof elevator, one of the best along the entire railroad. Christ Bertelsen is the buyer. Ernst S. Hagg is buyer for the Farmers' Grain & Stock Co. Emil Enger is buyer for the Eagle Rolling Mill Co. Ed. Steinberg is buyer for the Crescent Milling Co.

Besides handling grain the two elevators owned by the Farmers employ stock buyers and during the past year each of them enjoyed a good business in that line. Frank Brunner is stock buyer for the Farmers' Grain & Stock Co., and Paul Darkow works in that capacity for the Farmers" Cooperative Elevator Co.

The Farmers Grain and Stock Company of Fairfax, Minn., has a capital stock of $12,500. The elevator is a structure built of frame, 28 by 40 feet and 32 feet high, having a capacity of 20,- 000 bushels and cost $5,000. The present officers are: President. II. Schmechel : vice president. Einar Nelson; secretary, G. A. Boemmels; treasurer, J. I. < 'arson. The manager is Ernest S. Il.i'_"j. and Frank Brunner is the stock buyer.

An institution that has been of value to the business man and farmer since its establishment several years ago is the Fairfax Produce Co. This concern at Fairfax and its several branches do a gross business running well into hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. The company has made it possible for the farmer to receive the highest market cash price for all kinds of produce, and the local business men dispose of their produce to it at the close of each day's business. The company is owned by Benjamin B. Weisberg and Max Kaplan. The headquarters have been moved to Minneapolis, the former title being retained. A laree business is still done at Fairfax, where the company maintains its accumulating warehouse.

The personal property tax payers in Fairfax for 1915 are as follows: Im. F. Albrecht, Anton Altman, Al. Aamot, Aamot & Huelskamp, A. G. Anderson, Aug. Schell Brg. Co., W. F. Borth. Frances J. Biebl, John Biebl, Geo. A. Biebl, Joseph Biebl, Benedictine Sisters, M. D. Brown, O. P. Bakke, Ed. II. Borth, Ed. Borth, Ed. J. Brunner, John Brunner, A. S. Black, John C. Braun, C. B. Bertelsen, E. H. Brown, E. W. Boyes, F. C. Boethling, Jos. Brunner, W. W. Brown, A. G. Briese, Jas. E. Burk, John Bianchi, Bregel Bros., Jos. Barthel, Aurelia Borth. E. G. Borth, Geo. F. Borth, Frank Bregel. Citi/.ens State Bank, Clarkson & Johnson,

The Ben Franklin Post, No. 116. Department of Minnesota, G. A. R,, was organized in 1888. The charter members were : L. H. P. Fans. 10, Mich, (dead) ; Reinhold Hummel, B, 15, Penn. (dead) ; John Kelly, F, 19, Wis., Morton; Jacob Brell; Henry Dischei (dead) ; Wm. McGinnis (dead) ; Embric Olson. I), 43, Wis. (dead) ; Peter Thompson, E, 22, Wis. (dead); Ormond Otterson (dead); Otis W. Newton, F. 41, Wis., Morton; Charles Knapp, II, 14, Wis., Franklin ; George Yantz, G, 2, Iowa Cav., Redwood Palls ; Peter Yantz, H, 22, Wis., Redwood Falls ; Clement Treadbar, C, N. Y.

Fort Ridgely Circle of Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic of the Department of Minnesota. On January 26, 1911, Department President Emma J. Hicks, of Duluth, Minnesota, organized and installed the officers of Fort Ridgely Circle No. 81, with a charter membership of 21, and Veteran Chas. H. Hopkins, a social member. The following officers were elected and duly installed: Mrs. Effa Wallace, president; Gladys Hopkins, senior vice-president; Mrs. Mary Carver, junior vice-president; Mrs. Anna Olson, treasurer; Mrs. Susan M. Hopkins, chaplain; Mrs. Emma Anderson, conductor; Mrs. Catherine Otley, assistant conductor; Lena Fenske, guard; Agnes Otley, assistant guard; Mazie Wallace, secretary; Mrs. Emma Henderson, patriotic instructor. Mrs. Jennie Greer, Mrs. Emma Marlow, Alma Fenske, Ida Fenske, Mrs. Elizabeth Kennedy, Mrs. Ellen Russell, Mrs. Carrie Pullen, Mrs. Catherine Blake, Mrs. Helen Robberts, Martha E. Lulare.

On May 26 three new members were added. On Jan. 26. 1912, Mrs. Mary Carver was installed as president and Mrs. Ellen Russell as secretary for that year.

On Jan. 13, 1913, Gladys Hopkins was installed as president and Mrs. Ellen Russell as secretary for that year by Past Post Commander Chas. H. Hopkins, as installing officer. There were added in 1913, thirteen new members and two sons of veterans. On Jan. 8, 1914, Mrs. Ellen Russell was installed as president and Mrs. Jennie Greer as secretary by Past President Mrs. Susan M. Hopkins. On Jan. 14, 1915, Mrs. Ethel Pullen was installed as president and Mrs. Mary Rienke as secretary, by Past President Mrs. Ellen Russell, as installing officer. Three new members were added this year and seven sons of veterans, making a total membership of 41. On Jan. 13, 1916, Mrs. Jennie Greer was duly installed as president and Mrs. Ellen Russell as secretary, by Past State Department Commander Chas. II. Hopkins.

Decoration Day each year and celebrations on anniversary clays, and will continue to give its influence in helping develop this historic ground to its full merits.

Franklin Village

Franklin is one of the thriving villages of Renville county. It is a pleasant hamlet of good homes and busy business streets, with many more shade trees than are usually found in a town that is so comparatively new. The village is located on the Minneapolis & St. Louis, at the corners of sections 11 ami 12, 1 and 2, Birch Cooley township.

It was platted in the fall of 1882, the land being the homestead of Halleck Anderson, an early settler. In the winter of 1881-82 work was commenced on the railroad grade through the village and the grade was completed, rails laid and the first train service established in the first part of November, 1882. A box car served as the first depot. The first business house was built by E. S. Johnson on a street extending south from the depot, but after the town was platted this was found not to be the main thoroughfare and Mr. Johnson moved his building to the southwest corner of block 1. In moving, the building was wrecked by a severe wind storm just as it was Hearing its new foundation, being thrown over and split into several sections. A "bee" was organized and the building was again put together and placed on its foundation, after which it was occupied by the postoffice, E. S. Johnson, postmaster, and the firm of Hohle Bros., who conducted a general merchandise business. A blacksmith shop was built by Nils Anderson in block 2. A hotel was built by Peter Johnson on the northwest corner of block 5. A general store building was built by Peter Henry on lot 20, block 2. T. Mackintyre and .J. M. Johnson also built a genei'al store building which ended the building in the fall of 1882. Ed. H. Anderson had built the' first residence building that year.

The first school house was started in 1883 and completed in 1884. This was a frame building of two rooms. In 1899 a 56 by (1(1 brick structure two stories high was built. This is a modern eight-room building. The addition of a manual training hall was made in 1914, when the "Woodmen hall adjoining the school house block was purchased.

Electric light and power service was established in Franklin in 1914, when the Wherland Electric Co.. of Redwood Falls, Minn., extended their lines to this village, giving a 24-hour service a day.

A complete waterworks system was put in about 1896. The supply tank is of 1,000 barrels capacity and rests on a tower eighty feet high. The tower was first constructed of wood, but later changed to steel.

The Citizen's Milling Co. of Franklin was organized in 1907 to take over the old mill and property of the Franklin Milling Co. The old mill was completely overhauled at that time and new machinery put in. bringing the plant up to date in every respect. This plant was operated until June, 1913, when it was destroyed by fire. As soon as possible after the tire the stockholders were called together, plans for rebuilding the present mill were formulated and Jan. 1. 1914, the new mill started grinding. The first officers of the company were : B. F. Weber, president; A. S. Erickson, vice-president; A. J. Olin, treasurer; C. A. Fleming, secretary. The present officers are : A. S. Erickson, president ; J. H. Elstad, vice-president ; Geo. Forsythe, treasurer ; C. A. Fleming, secretary. The plant is located on a private sidetrack of the M. & St. L. Ry., and is of 100 barrels' capacity wheat flour and 50 barrels' capacity rye flour. The capital stock is $25.- 000. Credit should be given the business men and farmers around Franklin who made this plant possible by investing their funds when money was needed to rebuild the burned plant.

The Franklin Lutheran Cemetery is located in the southwest corner of section 8, in Camp township. The school house is located in the extreme southwest corner of the section, and north of the school grounds is the cemetery. The cemetery is controlled by the Norwegian Lutheran church of Franklin and was laid out in the winter of 1867.

Franklin is ninety-five miles southwest of Minneapolis, has a population of about 550. It has Catholic. Methodist, Norwegian Lutheran churches, two banks, a hotel, four grain elevators, and a flour mill. A weekly newspaper, the Tribune, is published.

pany (William Fox) ; Franklin Local and Rural Telephone Co.; Franklin Mercantile Co. (A. S. Erickson, president; Jno. Curran, secretary and treasurer), general store; Franklin Produce Co. (Benjamin Weisberg, Max Kaplan), J. B. Tweet, manager; Franklin Tribune, Julius L. Jacobs, publisher; Chas. H. Gilbert, restaurant; Great Western Elevator Co., Julius H. Anderson, agent, William L. Grimes, livery; Henry Halvorson, garage ; Hauser Lumber Co. (Henry Hauser, president; Clias. Lammers, secretary; G. A. Rieke, treasurer) ; Julius L. Jacobs, publisher of the Franklin Tribune; Johnson Bros. (Edward, Martin and Andrew), shoes and jewelry; Edwin S. Johnson, postmaster; Luke H. Kirwan, drugs; Andrew Lund, harness; Lynch & Son (Jas. W. and Chas. L.), real estate; S. 0. Mundal, bakery; Geo. Nelson, blacksmith; Olaf Nelson, blacksmith ; U. G. Orris, pool hall ; Pacific Elevator Co., Vic Lindquist, agent ; Andrew II. Pederson, barber ; Poss and Freeman (A. Poss, hardware; C. E. Freeman, lumber and furniture, undertaker) ; Jos. C. Sampson, general store ; State Bank of Franklin (capital, $15,000; surplus, $15,000), Anthony Poss, president ; A. J. Olin, cashier ; Geo. Steen, shoes ; S. Steff enson, tinsmith; Clarence J. Wagner, meats; Jacob C. Wagner, confectionery; Wellington and Birch Cooley, Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. (Jno. Drury, president; Jno. Head, secretary); B. F. Ziegler, railway express and telegraph agent.

Village lots in Franklin were first assessed in 1883. The principal owners were Ellen M. Anderson and a party who was designated by the term "Unknown." Those who had already secured lots were : Jacob Friess, lots 13 and 14, block 1 ; Edwin Johnson, lots 15 and 16, block 1; Thomas Tweet, lots 17, block 1 ; lots 17, 18, block 2; Henry Jenson, lot 19, block 1; T. P. Mclntyre, lot 20, block 1; John M. Johnson, lot 21. block 1; Maggie Anderson, lots 15 and 16, block 2 ; Peter Henry, lots 19 and 20, block 2 ; Fuller & Johnson, lot 21, block 2 ; H. L. Ihle, lot 1, block 4; John Dixon, lot 5, block 4; Peter H. Johnson, lots 13 and 14. block 5; J. A. Bergley, lot 10, block 6; George O. Steen, lots 12 and 13, block 6 ; Margaret Casey, lot 14, block 6.

Hector Village

Hector, an attractive and enterprising village, is eighty miles west of Minneapolis on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. The famous "Yellowstone Trail" from Chicago to Seattle runs through here and by road it is eighty-seven miles from Minneapolis.

inunity and to the way the farmers and town people have cooperated together for the welfare of all. At present the population is very close to 1,000 and each year sees new residences built and other improvements made.

A great deal of shipping is done each year from Hector and many carloads of grain and stock go from here. The stores and business jtlaces are modern and up-to-date, aud many of them are of brick. The business men are progressive and keep only the best in their lines. Many fine modern homes are to be found here and the well-kept lawns and shade trees add to the beauty of the place. The high school is one of the best in the state. The people are loyal and wideawake and are always working for the interest of the village.

The land around Hector is gently rolling and was at one time prairie, but is now nearly all under cultivation and dotted with beautiful groves and prosperous looking farm buildings. The soil is a heavy black loam with a day subsoil.

Hector has six churches as follows : The English Methodist, Swedish Methodist. Swedish Lutheran, German Lutheran. Catholic and German Evangelical. The English .Methodist congrega tion is making plans to build a new $10,000 edifice and the work will be started next spring. Rev. Lawrence Radcliffe is the pastor. The Catholic church does not have a pastor just at the present time, but Rev. Father Anthony Scholzen, of Bird Island, has charge of this parish and comes here every other week. All of the other churches have their own pastors. Rev. J. Kulberg being the pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church; Rev. II. W. Krull, pastor of the German Lutheran church: Rev. W. (i. Rath, pastor of the Evangelical church, and A. G. Hultgren, pastor of the Swedish M. E. church. In addition to the above religious denominations, the Seven-day Advents also hold meetings each week in the homes of their members.

Less than forty years ago the present site of Hector was one of the most unlikely spots that could be imagined for the location of a thriving, active village. Marshes and mud holes furnished a home for muskrats aud a haunt for wild water fowl. In the firm places among the swales wound the desolate track of the old Cedar Mill-Hutchinson-Hector-Plainfield-Beaver Falls stage route. In Hector township the stages stopped at the Hector postoffice, kept by John Baker in the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 2 and at the Plainfield postoffice, kept by J. B. Perkins in the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 30.

The home of August Malm, partly a log house and partly a dugout, was 1,500 feet northwest of the present railway station, and the home of August Prelwitz was some 3,000 feet southeast of the present station.

Hector had its beginning in 1878. when the crew of the railway construction company came through'. On the future site of the village the Lang warehouse (now succeeded by the V. H. Smith elevator) was erected, by Charles Lang, of Hastings, Minn., and was <>]>era1r<l by his son, William P., who was also the first station agent under the management of the railroad construction company, and had as his telegraph operator, Harry W. Clark, with headquarters in the wan-house, until the depot was completed. When the construction company turned the track over to the II. & 1). railway company, now a part of the C. M. & St. P. railway system. Harry W. Clark was appointed as station agent and operator by the H. & I), company. In duly of the same year, M. Abbott moved his stoek of goods from Lake Preston and squatted on the townsite of Hector until it was surveyed. In the same month Cornish & Bourne started the first lumber yard and built an office in the main street near the depot. Sometime during the summer Hogland and Stranberg squatted on the townsite and put up a shanty, which was used for a blacksmith shop. They cut a stack of hay. stacking it on the ground now occupied by the State Bank of Hector. The townsite was surveyed in September, 1878. and the lumber yard and office was moved west of the depot to the place now known as the McGregor lumber yard. M. Abbott built his store on lot 1, block 4. In September, W. D. Griffith came from Hutchinson and built on lot 2, block 3. and opened for business the first of October, 1878. C. H. Nixon came from Ft. Ridgely and built a store on lot 24, block 4, and opened for business about November 1. of the same year.

Oscar H. Baker built the first dwelling house in the fall of 1878 on lot 1, block 7. and his son. Guy, was the first child born in the village. W. 1). Griffith was commissioned as postmaster Oct. 8, 1878, and the supplies were moved from the farm of John Baker to the store of W. D. Griffith. The Plainfield postoffice was discontinued a few months later. John Trueman, a carpenter from Fort Ridgely, after completing the store building for C. II. Nixon, built a drug store for B. A. Knapp, and a hardware store for himself on lot 7, block J. B. Pei'kins erected a hotel on lot 2, block 4, and started serving the public about Jan. 1, 1879.

In 1879 there was an impetus to the growth of Hector. Ames & Archibald erected a warehouse about a block east of the depot, now the site of the Farmers' Grain Exchange. M. T. Cornish erected a residence in lot 1, block 5. In the spring of 1879 Nelson & Peterson, of Red Wing, built a hardware and furniture store on lot 23, block 3. The first school in the village of Hector was taught by Minnie Padden in a room over the kitchen of J. B. Perkins' hotel in the spring of 1S79. Religious services were conducted by Rev. George Potter, of Boon Lake, the hotel being the place of meeting. In the spring of 1879. James Chapman started the first meat market. Andrew Strom arrived the same year and built a combined store and residence, but did not put in a stock of goods until the following year. G. P. Bergram opened a blacksmith shop in 1879 on lot 12, block 1. Frank Ueming opened a lumber yard, afterward sold to Henry Stockman. Miles P. Clark came in from Ft. Ridgely and opened a hotel on lot 1, block 3.

In 1880. Bart W. Schouweiler opened a general store on lot 1, block 7. with a house in the rear. Louis Thiele opened a general store in lot 2. block 4. Thiele 's building was on the corner, facing the right of way. west of the hotel, which faced the same way. John Pfefferle, from New Ulm. opened a saloon on lot IS, block 3.

In 1881 the first newspaper was printed, the paper appearing for the first time in June as the Hector "Mirror," with E. D. Morris, editor. Feb. 23, 1881, the village of Hector was incorporated and the first election was held March 11, the same year. There were seven good stores in the village at this time.

arid grocery stores, two drug stores, two hardware stores, one millinery, one furniture and one jewelry store, two blacksmith and wagon shops, one harness shop, a shoe shop, a paint shop, two meat markets, one livery stable, one lumber yard, three hotels, four saloons, two elevators capable of storing u'0,000 bushels of grain, one lawyer and one physician.

Theo. C. Albrecht, garage; A. Albrecht, blacksmith; Oscar A. Allen, lawyer; Aug. B. Anderson, grain elevator; Mrs. Charlotte W. Anderson, milliner; Beck Bros. (Jno. and Andrew), meats; Gust P. Berggren & Son, blacksmiths; Peter A. Berggren, photographer; Carl Bergman, painter; Berry Bros." Milling Co. (Alfred Berry, president; G. M. Berry, secretary and manager), flour mill; Ralph Braithwait, farm implements; Ed. Boeck, tailor: Frank Dodge, proprietor of the Hector House ; B. Brechet & Co. (B. Brechet, Chas. and Frank Wedin), general store; C. Coolidge & Son, restaurant; Commercial Hotel, Jno. F. Davis, proprietor; Harry L. D'Arms, physician; Henry S. Deming, railway express and telegraph agent; Fred B. Dodge, barber: William B. Dodge, barber; Frank Doney, barber; A. L. Erickson, variety store; Geo. S. Eichmiller, cashier of the State Bank of Hector; Aug. M. Ericson, dentist; Fred Foeseh. restaurant: Farmers' Grain Exchange Co., Harry Munson, agent in grain elevator; Farmers' and Merchants' State Bank (capital. $20,000; A. E. Schroeder, president; W. B. Strom, vice-president : S. W. Anderson, cashier; A. B. Dahigren, assistant cashier) ; Hector Land Co. (0. A. Allen, F. R. Stocker, <>. E. Smith): William J. Hager, jeweler; T. Hanson, garage; Hector Creamery Co., J. <'. Past, manager; Hector Elevator Company, Geo. Hokanson, manager; Hector Mirror, Ernst W. Nohbs, publisher; Hector Produce Co., Jno. Koehler, manager; Hector Telephone Exchange Co. (S. W. Anderson, president; II. L. Torbenson, secretary; A. L. Ericson, manager) ; Hector Waterworks, M. A. Cummings. manager; Hirt & Son (Jos. and A. E.), express; J. II. Herrman, hardware; ('has. II. Holberg, harness; Frank and Charles Hamilton, painters; Harry W. Nelson, photographer; Johnson Hardware Co. (Geo. Johnson, president; Leonard Johnson, vice-president; A. B. Schroeder, secretary and treasurer); Richard Johnson, pool hall; Kemble & Wilson, painters and furniture repairers; Jacob Kaplan & Son, general store: H. E. Koehler, general store; R. B. Lorenz, restaurant; Ilarley E. McClaren, veterinary surgeon; Lindberg Brothers, restaurant; McGregor Bros. & Co., Anton T. Lindblad, agent, lumber ; Harry E. MeKibben, physician ; Monarch Elevator Co., E. L. Griffin, agent; ('liris. Nelson, blacksmith; Nelson Bros. (Swan P., Edw. and Alfred P.), general store; Ernst W. Nobbs, publisher of the Hector "Mirror"; Emery O. Olson, garage; Jerpe

The oldest business establishment in Hector is the blacksmith business of G. F. Bergram. He opened his shop on lot 12, block 7, in 1879. and still continues there.

The oldest retail establishment in Hector is the W. B. Strom Drug Company. In 1879, Andrew Strom came to Hector from Beaver Falls, and built a combined store and dwelling house. In 1880 he put in a stock of drugs and general merchandise. W. B. Strom was associated with his father and continued the business after the father's death in 1892. In 1908 the W. B. Strom Drug Company was formed by W. B. Strom, R. F. Clark and C. J. Whitney. The postoffice is in this store and the company is one of the most important in the village.

The next oldest store is the general store of Barney Brechet in lot 19, block 3. The store was established in 1893 and has undergone several changes of location.

The next oldest establishment is that of the Johnson Hardware Company. In 1895, George Johnson and Hans P. B. Peterson, under the firm name of Johnson & Peterson, bought out Erickson & Whitney and engaged in business on lot 4, block 7. Later A. E. Schroeder took the place of M. Peterson in the firm and the Johnson Hardware Company was incorporated. The Hector Lumber & Supply Co., a large organization, had passed into the possession of the Farmers' & Merchants' State Bank and C. H. Freeman. In 1905 it came into the possession of the Johnson Hardware Company, and the Johnson Hardware Company moved to the location of the Hector Lumber & Supply Company, lots 21. 22, 23 and 24. block 3. The building was burned in the spring of 1915, and a large new block erected, the company, in the meantime, occupying its former location in lot 4, block 7. The firm deals in shelf and heavy hardware, furniture, farm machinery, motorcycles, automobiles and undertakers' supplies. It also deals in live stock. The new building is 50 by 80 feet, with full basement and full second story. Besides this, the company has a large warehouse and stock barns. The officers are : President, Geo. Johnson ; vice-president, Leonard Johnson ; secretary and treasurer, A. E. Schroeder.

Probably the next oldest concern is the mill of Berry Brothers, erected in 1899. The concern is composed of several brothers and was originally from Norwood where the company is still in business. Two of the brothers, Alfred and George, live in Hector and operate the Hector mill. "Berry Brothers' Best"' is an excellent product and is in high favor with housewives. The other partners in the Berry Brothers' Milling Co. are: Oscar Berry, of Norwood, and Henry Berry, of St. Paul. The mill at Hector has a weekly capacity of 1,000 barrels. The mills at Norwood and Buffalo Lake are good-sized establishments and there is also a large warehouse at St. Paul which serves as the principal shipping point of the company.

The Hector Elevator Company, a farmers' co-operatiye elevator, has been in business since 1894. The company, with the exception of one year, when crops were very poor, has always paid a good dividend. It is regarded as one of the most reliable elevators in this part of Minnesota.

One of the oldest co-operative elevators in the state, the company does a general grain business, handling on an average about 150,000 bushels of grain a year. The Hector Elevator Company has the name of always paying the farmers the highest market prices for grain.

Much of the success of this company is due to the skillful and high-class management of George Hokanson, who stands high with the business men of the village and the farmers of the surrounding country. Last year the company paid in addition to the regular dividend to the stockholders a 4 cents per bushel return on all grain hauled.

A business institution of Hector which plays an important part in the commercial life of the community is the Farmers' Grain Exchange Company, independent buyers and shippers of all kinds of grain, seed and fuel. The company was incorporated in 1912.

Jt is a farmers' cooperative elevator and is backed by some of the most substantial men in the community. The size of the business may he judged from the fact that each year approximately 160,000 bushels of grain are shipped out. The company pays the highest market prices to the farmers. The Farmers' Grain Exchange Company also does a big business in wood and coal.

The active manager of the company is J. II. Monson. Mr. Monson is a live wire and one of the best liked business men in the village. The officers are: Pat O'Donnel. president: A. E. Jung, secretary, and August Beske, treasurer.

In the Palace Theater Hector has a high-class movie house that is a credit to the village. Dr. A. M. Erickson, a well-known dentist of Hector, is the owner and manager. The Palace is housed in a good building, and has a seating capacity of 400. The moral tone of the theater is high. Pew theaters of so high a class arc found in cities many times the size of Hector, and the establishment is a decided asset to the town.

The Hector Telephone Exchange is a company formed by local business men and farmers in the vicinity of Hector. The authorized capital of the company is $25,000 and there are about 500 subscribers. There are about two miles of aerial cable and half a mile of underground cable in the village, besides many miles of lines in the surrounding country. The officers are : S. W. Anderson, president; John A. Johnson, vice-president; H. L. Torbenson, secretary, and (i. S. Eichmiller, treasurer. The board of directors consists of S. W. Anderson. John Ad Johnson, H. L. Torbenson. (i. S. Eichmiller and B. J. Butler. Alfred Ericson is manager of this company and lias held this position for many years.

Hector was surveyed Sept. 11-14, 187S. by 1). N. Correll on the southwest quarter of section 5, township 115. range 36, and filed April 9, 1879. The original owner was the Hastings & Dakota Railroad Company.

Hector was incorporated by act of the legislature, approved Feb. 23, 1881. The first election was held March 11. 1881, in charge of < '. II. Nixon. O. F. Peterson and John Truman. The result of the election was as follows: President, W. D. Griffith ; trustees, C. H. Nixon, O. F. Peterson and B. W. Schouweller; recorder, H. Simmons; treasurer. M. Abbott: justice, A. Strom; constable, James Chapman.

Schieble and C. H. Coolidge. The school board consists of: President, Geo. M. Berry; secretary, Henry L. Torbenson; treasurer, A. E. Sehroeder; A. B. Anderson, O. A. Allen, W. B. Strom.

The opera house and village hall combine a large and handsome structure. In this building are the recorder's and marshal's office, council chamber, firemen's rooms. Commercial Club room, fire hall and opera house. The auditorium seats 4(10 people and has a stage that is adequate for all purposes.

supply of pure spring water. The village has a sewage system, electric lights, fire department, good cement sidewalks, both in the business and residential districts, and the main street of the town is wide and clean of all posts and telephone wires. Among the Lodges in the town may be mentioned the Masons, Woodmen. Workmen, Modern Brotherhood, and Eastern Star.

The old town hall was built in 1891. The village gas plant was put in in 1903; the present sightly city hall was erected in 1906: the present town hall was erected in 1914; the contract for the electric lights from Bird Island was signed early in 1915; waterworks were first constructed in the village in 1896; extensive waterworks alterations and improvements were made in 1915.

The story of the town hall is an interesting one. It was built jointly by the village and township of Hector, and a few years later taken over by the township. It was purchased on Sept. 23, 1914, by Dr. A. M. Ericson, who converted it into the high-class Palace Theater. That same fall, Dr. Ericson erected the present town hall by contract as part of the purchase price of the property ;it the rear of the old building.

Hector has a first-class water system which gives adequate tire protection, a well organized fire department and good equipment. Win. Jerpe is the fire chief and Joe Prelvitz the assistant chief. Botli of these men take a great deal of interest in the department and generally the first to get to the scene of any fire. The equipment consists of two hoseearts, a hook and ladder and an elegant chemical engine. This apparatus is housed in a specially built fire hall in the lower part of the village opera house. All the members of the fire company are volunteers and are always on hand when their help is needed.

Tin- park, originally a mud hole donated by the railroad company, occupies block 17. Through the efforts of the Ladies' Improvement Society it has been filled in and made into a veritable beauty spot in accordance with the plans of a landscape artist. There is a pretty bandstand, and the park is a delightful expanse of lawns, grand wyalks, trees, shrubs and flower beds. The officers of the Ladies" Improvement Society are: President, Mrs. A. B. Anderson: vice-president, Mrs. Henry Deming; secretary. Mrs. H. L. D'Arms; treasurer. Mrs. G. S. Eichmiller.

The Commercial Club is one of the live institutions of the town and has done a great deal during the past few years for the advancement of the community. W. B. Strom, the president, is one of the prominent business men of the town and under his direction the club has done a great deal of good along the line of road work, both in Hector and the surrounding country. The other officers of the club are: E. W. Nobbs, secretary: S. W. Anderson, vice-president; and G. S. Eichmiller. treasurer. The di-

Hector has been remarkably free from fires with the exception of a few weeks in the spring of 1915, when several serious fires took place. The largest was that of the Johnson Hardware Co. The F. R. Stocker residence, formerly the O. F. Peterson home, and one of the best in the township, went up in flames during the same season. The Snyder Livery barn, back of the opera bouse, burned and endangered the whole village. It was a rambling unoccupied building; the sparks lighted on roofs all over the village, and it seemed certain that at least the opera house would be destroyed. But by heroic efforts everything except the barn was saved. It was also during this season of fires that the private garage of J. J. Prelvitz burned with the Maxwell '"Six." which was in it.

The personal property taxpayers in Hector in 1915 were: A. B. Anderson, O. A. Allen. C. Alvord. A. P. Anderson, S. W. Anderson. Mrs. Charlotte Anderson, Theo. C. Albrecht, Louis Anderson, Andrew Beck, -I. P. Butler, Ralph Braithwait, B. Brechet & Co., H. R. Behrns, G. M. Berry, Berry Bros., Berry Bros." Milling Co., A. J. Brown. G. F. Berggren, Beck Bros., Emil Beck, W. G. Benson, P. A. Berggren, Alt'. Berry, Mrs. C. H. Coolidge, M. A. Cummings, R. F. Clark, W. A. Cords, H. S. Deming, H. L. D'Arms, Frank L. Dodge, Fred B. Dodge, W. B. Dodge, E. I. Dodge, J. F. Davis, Frank W. Donney, A. L. Ericson, A. M. Ericson, G. S. Eichmiller, C. P. Fredrickson, Farmers' Grain Exchange Co., A. G. Fredrickson, F. 0. Foesch, Chas. Fahlberg. H. A. Giltner, P. L. Griffin, A. S. Hallquist, C. H. Holberg. Amanda Hansen. J. H. Herrmann, Mrs. I. L. Hamilton, W. J. Hager, Hector Elevator Co., Hector Produce Co., A. E. Hirt, Leon B. Hawes, J. H. Hirt, Thomas E. Hanson, E. G. Hagquist, Hanson Bros., Weking Hallquist, Leonard Johnson. Geo. Johnson, Jerpe & Nelson, Johnson Hardware Co., Horace Johnson, F. A. Johnson, R. A. Johnson, William Jerpe, H. E. Koehler, J. Kaplan. C. A. Kight, John Koehler, H. W. Krull, J. G. Kallberg, 0. M. Kiser,

Morton Village

Morton is located in the beautiful Minnesota valley in the southeastern part of Birch Cooley township, surrounded by the historic ground on which were enacted some of the most stirring scenes in the history of the Northwest. Nature here is unusually lovely, the rolling prairie not far away, ending abruptly and breaking into beautiful coulees and ravines heavily wooded and forming a wide expanse or natural park.

The village itself is well laid out on a flat, overlooked by the towering monuments erected to the friendly Indians and to the heroes of the battles of Birch Cooley. The picturesque contour of the waterworks tank situated nearby also adds to the beauty of the scene.

It is situated a hundred miles southwest of Minneapolis and thirty-three miles west of Winthrop and is the division point on the M. & St. L. Railway, and here is located the roundhouse. It is also on the new Luce Electric Short Line Railway, which is in process of building from Minneapolis to Brookings, and which will furnish short hauls for the people of Morton to the Twin City markets.

Surrounded, as it is, by the rich farm land of two counties, Morton is a scene of busy activities. Corn yields of over ninety bushels per acre show that this county is coming to the front, and the fine thoroughbred and dairy cattle herds with excellent shipping facilities give proof of its permanency. In former days a splendid fair was given here, but the withdrawal of state aid caused it to be discontinued.

Anyone who loves beautiful hills and the rugged natural scenery will surely enjoy living at or near Morton. The Minnesota valley for miles near this village is one continual park and sonic of the prettiest spots it is possible to find anywhere will be seen in a day's outing at this place. The spreading panorama of green fields and fertile valley, running streams and natural woods which one sees all about are sights one cannot help but enjoy, and a number of persons have compared the region with the Hudson valley and with other places of note, while others from prairie states have contented themselves with simply gazing in open admiration and exclamations of delight. This has been particularly true of the Iowa visitors.

Another point of interest to tourists is the site of the granite quarries, where years ago in the early history of the village several hundred quarrymen were busily engaged taking out building and monumental stone.

One can drive out from Morton either way and witness beauties of nature which in other sections of the United States people with automobiles would drive days to see.

Going south from Morton, the lace makers' house, the Indian Episcopal church and the Indian school will be seen to the right hand, while on the left is the Indian park, from which one of the prettiest views of the whole Minnesota valley may be obtained.

Going out north from Morton, one will see the stone markers which mark the historic spots in connection with the Sioux Indian massacre days and the Birch Cooley battle ground.

When visitors are at the Indian church, south of town, if they will go a quarter mile south and a mile east they will then see the old stone house of early agency and massacre days, and all along the highway will be seen markers recording the historic spots of that territory.

From the depot at Morton may be seen the two granite shafts, one erected in memory of the soldiers and others killed in the Birch Cooley battle and the other erected in memory of the friendly Indians. These stand near the fair grounds, overlooking the valley and the Morton granite quarries.

Morton has a flour mill with a daily capacity of 500 barrels wheat flour and fifty barrels rye products. It has a brick and tile factory with a capacity in a ten-hour day of 40,000 brick and 30,000 tile. Vast deposits of excellent granite for building purposes and ornamental stone are found in abundance.

The village has a good opera house, a moving picture theater, four hotels, two banks, a creamery and ice cream factory, a farmers' co-operative elevator and a thriving stock shippers' association.

A weekly newspaper, the Morton "Enterprise," is published. There are four churches: German Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal, Roman Catholic and Protestant Episcopal.

The public schools are housed in an excellent building and include eight grades, with high school, manual training and domestic science departments, each under competent teachers anil supervision.

The fraternities are well represented here, there being flourishing lodges of the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Workmen, the Woodmen, the Rebekahs, the Degree of Honor, the Catholic Foresters and the Lady Foresters.

while. The present organization is about a year old. The president is C. J. Cook, the secretary is H. F. Rubey and the treasurer is E. J. Kothlow.

The vicinity of Morton has attracted settlers since the earliest days. Even before the massacre, George Buerry, Henry Keartner and John Kumro had settled in this neighborhood. At the time the railroad came through there were quite a few farms along the old bottom road Which passed some half a mile back from the present site of the village.

At this time the nearest residence was that of George Buerry. After the outbreak he had returned to his former claim, and at tin- time tlie railroad came through he was living in a stone house which is still standing. The house is located in the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 30, Birch Cooley, northeast of the village, and on a piece of the old bottom road now discontinued.

Next to Edgert's was the home of John Kumro, in the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 32. He had been here before the outbreak and had returned a year later than George Buerry.

Northwest from Buerry, along the same road, was John Yogtman, on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 30. He was a son-in-law of George Buery, and returned with him after the massacre.

Next up the road, in the same direction, lived Fred Blume. He occupied the farm which Henry Keartner had occupied before the outbreak. His house was in the west half of the southwesl quarter of section 30.

The railroad construction crew came through this vicinity in the summer and fall of 1882, and stopped work some 400 feet from the river, further progress at that time being delayed on account of the rocky formation between the terminal point and the river. It was nearly two years before this rocky barrier was passed and the line continued, the road being pushed to the westward in the spring of 1884.

The first railroad train, the freight, arrived at the present location of the station, Oct. 22, 1882, the first engineer being Robert Meyer, and the conductor, Robert Brown. The depot was erected that fall.

In June, 1882, when the railroad had reached the farm of J. P. Patten, in Birch Cooley township, Frank Camp erected a shack in the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 33, on Mr. Patten's farm, and put in a small stock of goods.

About the time that the railroad reached the present village, the village was platted on land owned by W. G. Bartley. Mr. Bartley presented the railroad with a part of the site. The west side of the present village is located on land originally owned by George Buerry.

W. G. Bartley, before the village was started, was conducting a mill two miles below the Birch Cooley battle grounds. At about tin' time the village was platted he moved to the townsite. lb' was appointed postmaster and kept the postoffice a short time in a shack which lie erected on lot 24. block 9. This building has been moved and is now used by Fred Pfeiffer as a chicken house. For a time Mr. Bartley and his wife and son lived in this shack. Later they lived in a house moved in from the mill, this house moved in being later used as a part of a larger house. It is said that Bartley 's little shack was the first building on the present site of Morton. There are others, however, who declare that this honor belongs to the McGowan shack.

Patrick McGowan was a railroad contractor. He owned a shack which lie used along the line of the railroad to shelter himself and his men. hi the summer or fall of 1882, when the grading crew reached Morton, Mr. McGowan moved the shack to what is now the rear of lot 27, block 15, just in back of where the postoffice is now located. In this shack he lived himself and here he kept some of his men.

the building, partly completed it. and then went away for the winter, renting it to -Tames MeConnell, the first section boss on the railroad. In the spring. Mr. Barkey came back and completed the building, 24 by 4(1 feet, two stories high. In 1884, when the railroad was continued west of Morton, he conducted a boarding house. In 1885 he put in a stock of drugs and gro ceries. He now conducts a hotel in the same building.

In the fall of 1882, the village site presented a scene of busy activity and building operations were started on several structures. Before the railroad was in operation, in October, lumber was hauled from Redwood Falls. All of these early buildings were small and of a primitive nature. They were made ready for occupancy during the winter though many were not reallj completed until the spring.

Patrick McGowan erected the structure that is now the postoffice. He built it on the corner, lot 28 block 15. It was planned that Horatio Weiring, then a storekeeper in Golden Gate, this state, and afterward a merchant of Fairfax, should open a store in this building, he being son-in-law to Patrick McGowan. Goods were ordered and in due time arrived. Mr. Werring, however, decided not to open the store. He went to Redwood Falls and consulted with J. H. McGowan, the sou of Patrick McGowan, and R. B. Henton, Sr., whose daughter J. H. McGowan had married. J. II. McGowan was a railroad contractor. R. B. Henton, Sr., had owned a farm north of Sleepy Eye, but in the spring of 188:2 had sold out and that summer joined .1. II. McGowan at railroad contracting. In the fall they had returned to Brown county, but failing to secure a suitable location at Sleepy Eye. where they had planned to spend the winter, they had rented a home in Redwood Falls. When Mr. Werring approached them, they decided to open his goods, establish a store, and remain in charge of the store until spring, at which time they planned to again resume railroad contracting. The goods originally intended for Werring were, therefore, unpackeil and, on Dec. 13, 1882, J. H. McGowan opened the store. The families of Patrick and J. H. McGowan lived above the stoic .Mr. Henton, while living in Redwood Falls, spent part of his time with his daughter. A number of people were boarded by the McGowans until the hotel was completed. R. B. Henton, Sr.. and J. II. McGowan continued in business together for several years. Then for six months Mr. Henton conducted it alone and then sold out to Mr. McGowan, who operated it until the spring of 1891, when R. B. Henton. Jr., who had then been working in the store for some time, was received as a partner. Dec. 12. 1903, the stock was sold to D. L. Crimmons, who. after conducting the place for a month, moved to Olivia, leaving the place vacant. Oct. 1, 1904. R. B. Henton, Jr., again opened the place, and conducted it until late in 1915, when it was sold to John Kothlow. The store occupies a sightly brick building which replaced the original frame building. The old frame building has been moved a few feet south onto lot 27. block 15, and is, as stated, used as a postoffice.

About the time that T. H. Barkey was completing his building, W. M. Miller opened a saloon on lots 16 and 17, block 14. Many buildings then went up at about the same time.

.1. P. Patten moved the shark nf Frank Camp from his farm to lot 7, block 9. Mr. Camp died at this place that fall, his being the first death in the village.

John Clancy and John Cutting opened a lumber yard on the railroad right of way on practically the present site of the farmers' elevator. They also opened a hardware store on lot 13, block 13. Cutting did not live here. He came here, was dissatisfied with the way things were going, and went away, leaving Clancy for the time being to conduct the business alone.

-T. P. Watson, a hardware merchant of Marshall, had J. P. Patten erect for him a building on lot 11, block 14, planning to enter into business here. But he gave up the project, and rented the place to Col. Tousley, who that fall opened a grocery store therein.

John Tate, whose father had operated the hotel at Beaver Falls but who had later lived at Redwood Falls, erected a house on lot 21, block 9. He was a carpenter and worked on many of the first houses in the village.

Walter Neilson opened a blacksmith shop on the back of lot 21, block 9. This was on the back of the Tate property. Later the shop was moved to the lot in the rear of the present Commercial House and stood there until moved back, when the Commercial House was erected.

A flat house was erected northeast of what is now the Railroad Eating House, on the right of way. The buyer was Thomas Reed. The flat house has long since been burned.

H. B. ("Hobe") Jackson, who had lived on the river bank west of the village, moved in and opened the Eagle House on lot 25, block 14. Jerry P. Patten and his assistants were the carpenters who erected this building. The hotel was opened on Christmas Day, 1882.

The first child bom in Morton was born at the Eagle House, the child of Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Jackson. It died in infancy. The second was Mabel, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. II. Mc- Gowan, born March 4, 1883.

Village lots in Morton were first assessed in 1883. The principal owners were : Geo. Berry, M. P. Hawkins, W. G. Bartley and C. E. Burhaus. The lots which were listed under the name of C. E. Burhaus were all transferred to Jos. L. Preston. Those who had already secured lots were: Mary Jorges, lot 21, block 1 ; Catherine Vogtman, lot 23, block 1 ; Emma Ahrens, lot 24, block 1; Mattie Berry, lot 1. block 2; Henrietta Berry, lot 2, block 2; Caroline Berry, lot 3, block 2; F. W. Blume, lot 1, block 5 ; Chas. Bowler, lot 22, block 6 ; John M. Clancy, lot 17, block 7, lot 13. block 13; Edith Camp, lot 7, block 9; John H. Tate, lot 21, block 9; E. S. Bartley, lots 23, 24, block 9; John Thau, lot 2, block 10; Win. Forester, lot 15, block 10; Magdalena Wieland. lots 4, 5, S, 9 and 10. block 13 ; W. Weiss, lots 6 and 7, block 13, lots 15, 16, block 15: Clancy & Cutting, lots 15 and 16. block 13: Michael Fernbach, lot 3, block 14; S. R. Miller, lot 5, block 14: T. H. Barkev, lot 10. block 14; Watson & Griffins, lot 11, block

The granite industry has been an important factor in the life and growth of Morton. There is here an inexhaustible supply, and though it has been quarried for many years, there has been little apparent diminution in the ledges from which the rock has been taken. The quarries were first opened by T. Saulpaugh & Co., of Mankato, .Minn. John Anderson, the present owner, was the foreman of the crew of ten men which started the work. This was in the spring of 1886. It was only a few months before the ground was covered with derricks and a force of fully 300 men at work. This continued until 1894, when labor difficulties and financial reverses caused the original owners to cease operations here. Mr. Anderson then leased the quarries and operated them on a smaller scale. In 1900, Mr. Anderson and his two sons, Fred and William, purchased the quarries and still conduct them under the name of the Anderson Granite Co. The output and workmanship are of the best. Dressed stone for building purposes and a splendid line of monumental work is turned out. With their excellent facilities they are able, should the necessity arise, to produce solid shafts of marble as much as fifty feet long.

Morton was incorporated in the fall of 1887 and an election duly held. The first president was R. B. Henton, Sr. ; the first council, John Cronan, P. H. Coogan and T. M. Keefe. The first recorder was Mat. B. Bertrang. The first treasurer was M. H. Noack.

The first meeting of the council was held Sept. 12, 1887. President Henton was not in attendance and John Cronan presided. Bruce Brown was appointed village attorney and instructed to draw up the village ordinances. P. II. Ryan was appointed marshal. That being at the time of the quarry boom, a seal was adopted, giving a view of the quarry with a derrick in operation. Bids were asked for the erection of a village jail.

Oct. 3, 1887, the contract was let for the village jail. Dec. 12, 1887, a health board was appointed consisting of Dr. Zimbeck for three years, L. White for two years and Bruce Brown for one year. W. C. Keefe was appointed street commissioner.

The present officers of the village are: President. Michael Eolden; council, Gustave Rohner, Samuel Steinke, L. D. Baker; recorder. Matt. Rueh; treasurer, F. W. Orth; assessor. E. C. Fuller; attorney, John A. Dalzell; justice of the peace, E. C. Puller; constable, John A. McGuire; marshal, William C Keefe.

Fire protection dates from June 5, 1S88, when an engine was purchased from New Ulm. A few days later a 500-barrel cistern was built. The cistern was erected on lot 21, block 9, an engine house erected over it, and the engine duly installed. June 16, of the same year, E. L. Haskins was appointed chief of the fire department. Aug. 7, 1888, it was voted to purchase a hose cart.

The present waterworks were installed in 1901. A tank was constructed at the spring in the side of the bluff. This is used for household purposes and furnishes one of the best water supplies in the state. The force from this tank is sufficient to throw a stream of water over the highest building. But as an added precaution a tank has been constructed at the top of the bluff. This tank is pumped full of water and held in reserve for use in case of fire. The tank at the top of the bluff is of picturesque appearance and its situation gives a tremendous pressure to the water when used in fighting fires.

The village is supplied with electric power from the Wherland Electric Company at Redwood Falls. The lights were first installed in the village in the spring of 1910. Before that the streets w err lighted wit h gas lights.

The Farmers" Co-operative Grain Company was organized by F. E. Sylvester, cashier of the New State Bank of Morton, assisted by Wm. Wichman, August Daun, and others. The present building was erected in 1910 by the Great Western Elevator Company, of Minneapolis, who sold it to F. W. Orth ami H. B. Henton, who operated there until Sept. 1. 1914. under the name of the Farmers' Elevator Company. August, 1914. they sold it for $4,000 t(i the present company, who began operations Sept. 1. 1914. The building is :!2 by 40 ami 100 feet high, and has a capacity of 124.000 bushels of grain. From Sept. 1, 1914, to Feb. 1, 1915, this company bought 160.000 bushels of grain and 450 tons of coal. The elevator is well equipped, is operated by electricity, and does a splendid business, not only in grain dealing but also in selling fuel and state binder twine. Under the present manager, George D. Wells, many improvements have been made, including the erection of an office and the purchase of a sheller. The present officers are: President. August Daun; vice-president, Paul Schafer; secretary, F. E. Zumwinkle: treasurer, Charles Buscho.

Morton Telephone Exchange was established in 1902 by Charles H. Orth, who is the owner and manager. It is located on the second floor of the McCormick building over Jaehnning's drug store. It has 100 subscribers in the village and operates an exchange for the Morton Rural Telephone Company. Its operators are Hattie Flink and Frank Niles. It has Northwestern and Interstate long distance connections.

Orth; vice-president, Dr. P. W. Penhall; secretary, Henry Beckman ; treasurer, Fred Watscbke. It has 102 subscribers at present. Tbe present officers are : President, Louis Ziune ; vice-president, Frank Goelz; secretary and treasurer, Henry Beckman; and manager, Charles H. Orth.

Although Morton was given its present name in 1882, the postoffice continued to bear the name of Birch Cooley until Oct. 1, 1894, when, under Postmaster W. C. Keet'e, the name was changed to Morton.

Olivia Village

Nature has done much for Olivia, and to nature's gift has been added man's industry. It is a thriving city, in the center of the richest and most populous farming and dairying sections of the entire country.

Olivia has beautiful, well-shaded streets, a tine drainage system, beautiful homes, well-kept lawus, a fine system of waterworks, a fairly well equipped fire department, and an excellent market for the buying and selling of everything needed. It has an excellent farmers' co-operative creamery, besides two produce stores, a farmers' elevator and four other elevators, a canning faetory, a sash and door factory that turns out high-class work, a bottling works where sodas are manufactured from distilled water and ice cream manufactured for the trade in all the neighboring towns, a military company with headquarters in a new $25,000 armory, a live commercial chili, fine schools and churches, a public library, one pool and billiard hall, a bakery, a tailor, one men's clothing and furnishing store, one furniture store, one plumbing shop, an orchestra, five good general stores, a variety store, three restaurants and confectionery stores, two blacksmith shops, two garages, two livery barns, two meat markets, two millinery stores, a good jewelry store, an up-to-date drug store, two hotels, five real estate offices, four lawyers, two doctors, one veterinary surgeon, three civil engineers, a dray line, three dentists, a Hour and feed store, two harness shops, two good hardware stores, three hanks, a shoe store, two lumber yards, a good flour mill, a new automobile supply store, three barber shops, one moving picture theatre, one photograph studio and a number of contractors, carpenters, painters and masons. A good electric light plant furnishes electricity for a day and night service and is owned by the village.

Among the fraternities may be mentioned the Masons, Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen, the United Workmen, the Catholic Foresters, the Modern Brotherhood, the Bohemian Workmen and others.

Originally known as the "station on section seven." Olivia gave little promise of becoming the leading village of Renville county. Too near the already developed village on the east with its elevators, stores, bank, shops, making an easily accessible market for the neighboring territory, the station on section seven was doomed apparently to remain always an obscure cross-corner. But Fate smiled upon the little hamlet, and its ultimate prosperity exceeded the most sanguine hopes of its friends and promoters.

Among the earliest settlers in this vicinity were Charles Waldo, who came in the spring of 1872 and settled on section 24, township 115, range 35; John Nestor, who settled on section IS. township 114, range 35. at the same time: George Miller settled here in the fall of that year together with his brother Steve Miller ; Jerome Bosley on section 30: Jim Kearns. Dennis Haley, section 2(1; William Morse and Jos. Hodgson - all in the year 1S72. In the next few years the following appear among the names of the new settlers: Thomas Flanagan, section 26,; James Flanagan, his son; Michael Glenn ; (.'has. Humboldt ; John E. W. Peterson, who settled on a timber claim; R. P. Peterson; H. S. Atchley, who settled on what is now known as the Windhorst farm: Lib. White, on a timber claim: Perry Burch and George Bureh ; John Buxton on the present John Kuske farm; Ira Everson; -James L. White: William Warner, on the farm just north of the village known as the Dennstedt place; John Miller; John Barker, and Byron Gates. The land in the vicinity is of a gently rolling nature and appealed strongly to the early settlers as witness the large number that rushed in within the brief space of a few years. The judgment of tin- homeseekers has proved sound as the land chosen is now the highest priced in the county.

But as is usual in such cases the development of the farming community depended largely upon the development of a good trading center with its facilities for marketing products: merchants, alive and progressive, and able to extend the needful credit to the new settler, ;^ well as religious and educational advantages - all of prime importance to the development of a successful agricultural community. In the course of time they were all supplied and flourished in tin/ midst of abundant harvests; and the settlers on the laud prospered in their close contact with the advantages of the trading center.

The first settler in Olivia was <;. J. DePue, who met the first primitive needs of the settler by establishing a blacksmith shop in 1878. He also built a hotel known as the DePue House. His name is preserved in the designation of the principal residence streel of the village. Isaac Lincoln and brother soon followed with the building of the first "flathouse" or elevator for storing grain. In the same year P. \Y. Heins, of Beaver Falls, opened up a mercantile store and P. Berndgen a general store where the Grand Central hotel now stands.

Isaac Lincoln was appointed first postmaster and had his office located at the elevator. The next postmaster was W. P. Christensen. The Lincolns also built the first lumberyard, in 1878, and the following year erected a steam Hour mill with a capacity of about eighty-five barrels a day. This mill was later sold to John Meldahl, finally passing into the hands of William Windhorst. Destroyed by fire it was not rebuilt. Another general store was opened within a few years by Nahum Stone, who later became the first village treasurer, and a fourth by W. P. Christensen on the spot where now stands a brick residence across from the State Bank. Peters and Kromer were among the first engaged in the blacksmith's trade. George Cadwell was the first station agent for the new railroad and was followed by C. 11. Spencer. John Morgan opened a saloon in 1879. Lib. White opened a drug store in tl arly eighties.

In 1882 the village contained only a handful of people numbering in all about 80, and continued to grow but slowly. There were four general stores, one hardware, one drug store, blacksmith shop, wagon shop, tailor and shoe shop, one hotel, one saloon, one lumber yard, two elevators, one mill. Bird Island was already a thriving little city of 500 people and the county metropolis: Renville had a population of 275 and Hector 250. By 1890 Olivia had 263 : during the next ten years it more than trebled in number, arriving at the centennial with a population of 970.

In 1889 the Peoples Bank was established by P. W. Heins and six years later the State Bank was organized. The same year the Olivia Bottling Works opened up for business.

The first church services were held at different homes by Nahum Tainter, Methodist minister from Bird Island. A church was built a little later in 1888; this was partly torn down a few years ago and the rest of the building framed iuto the pretty church of the present day. Father Koher of Bird Island read

In 18S0 the first public school was built. This building is now the (old) Swedish Lutheran church. Frank de Camp was one of the first teachers.

At about the same time a new flour mill was built with modern machinery by Kubesh and Brown. It is running today and is an important factor in the industrial life of the community, now owned by D. L. Simons.

In 1898 the Northwestern Telephone Company was granted a franchise and in 1905 a local telephone exchange was established. The latter has recently been purchased by the Tri-State Company and the two give Olivia and vicinity excellent service.

In 1899 the village purchased lots for the establishment of a waterworks and lighting system. The village now has an ample supply of water and mains to serve the needs of its people. The water tank of 47,000 gallons capacity, completed in 1901, is placed upon a ninety-foot tower and produces a 40-pound pressure. There are 11,000 feet of mains and 24 double hydrants. The fire department consists of 22 volunteers and is supplied with 1,500 feet of hose, 2 carts, one hook and ladder truck and one Waterous steamer in reserve. Electric power is now secured from the Renville County Electric Company.

The large arc lights installed in 1899 did much to add beauty to the streets. On June 29, 1914, the village signed a contract with the Renville County Electrical Co., at Bird Island, by which the plant at Olivia is supplied with power from the plant at Bird Island. The village still owns its own electric light plant, in good working order, ready at any time to supply "juice'* if necessary.

The Olivia postoffice was established in 1879 and the postmasters have been as follows: 1879, Ike Lincoln; 1880, William P. Christensen; 1884, Lib. White; 1886, Daniel Haire; 1S90. William II. Schmitt : 1894, William P. Christensen ; 1896, J. M. Peekinpaugh ; 1906. II. II. Neueiil>ni-e-: 1914. W. J. Heaney. It was made a money order in 1880, an international office in 1S!)4; was advanced from fourth to third class in 1896 and was given a postal savings department in 1911. During the term of Lib. White as postmaster the office and all its records was burned. Ike Lincoln kept the first postoffice in his elevator office. William 1'. Christensen during his first term had the office in his store and during his second term kept it where the plumbing shop is now located. Daniel Haire and W. II. Schmitt kept the office in their respective store buildings. L. M. Peckinpaugh kept the office in the Heaney building, and there II. II. Neuenburg likewise kept it until 1912, when it was moved to its present location. William J. Heaney is the postmaster, Wilfred Heaney the assistant, and Marguerite and

Ralph Heaney the clerks. There are five rural routes, Nos. 1 and 2, established July 1, 1902; No. 3, established Sept. 1, 1904; and Nos. 4 and 5, established Jan. 16, 1905. The present carriers are William E. Hurt, "William Moran, Henry A. Kobler, Leigh H. Wilson and James P. O'Neil. Norfolk, Winiield and Lake Lillian postoffiees have been discontinued into this one.

The Grand Central hotel was built about twenty years ago by Neuenberg and Company. It is a substantial brick building with modern conveniences and serves well the needs of the traveling public. The proprietors are Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mclntyre.

The location of the county seat at Olivia in 1900 brought a splendid addition to the village in the form of a fine brown stone courthouse, of pleasing architectural style, and modern appointments. It sits alone in the center of a full block, with a beautiful lawn and buckthorn hedge along the border to set off its beauty. It is a fitting monument to the progressiveness of the county's, citizens, in accord with its wealth, and an appropriate situation for the seat of law and local government. Nearby is the sightly and sanitary jail.

The long struggle for the possession of the county scat left the community in a fit of exhaustion and the period of great development which had been predicted failed to appear. Except for the building operations on the courthouse and the coming of the families of county officials to Olivia, there was but little difference from its previous state.

Marked improvements, however, were gradually taking place which have developed within the last few years into a veritable "boom" and have made Olivia one of the prettiest, most progressive and substantial little cities in Southern Minnesota.

The summer of 1915 was marked by a period of unusual business activity. The old Ryan hotel building was removed from the downtown location and is being remodeled as a hotel. On the old location a fine set of brick business blocks have been erected. These six new buildings together with the new armory, the Swanson block, and the remodeled garage mark great changes in the business aspect of the village.

Two of the most important societies in this community are the Commercial Club and the Ladies' Improvement Club. The former is a live organization, with commodious quarters in the New Armory, whose members take keen interest in any matter for the benefit of the community. Their activity has resulted in securing many improvements that would otherwise have been lost. Darwin S. Hall is president and A. N. Nelson is secretary.

Olivia has never been visited by a serious fire. The citizens, however, believe in adequate protection and maintain a fire department which holds fire drills at stated intervals. The equipment consists of hose pumps, carts, bell, and fire extinguishers, all

The Armory is one of the prides of the village. The old armory, a building 80 by 120 feet was erected in 1897, one block north of the railroad station. It was used as an armory, opera house and general meeting place. It has been converted into a roller skating rink. In 1914 arrangements were made by Major II. II. Neuenburg, of the Third Regiment, M. N. <;., and by Captain Alexander McCorquodale, of Company H, of the same regiment, for the erection of a new Armory to be situated on the corner Lot, facing south, and one block west from Main street. It was completed at a cost of abont $25,000. of which $15,000 was paid by the state. The building is 65 by 120 feet, of dark pressed brick, trimmed with stone, and beautified by a sightly entrance illuminated with two ornamental electric lights. The main hall is .equipped with a stage which will be well furnished for the presentation of theatrical attractions. In addition to this, aside from serving its purpose as a drill hall, this auditorium is used for public meetings, lectures, concerts, dances and the like. The Commercial Club has well appointed quarters on the second floor, supplied with billiard tables, card tables, reading matter, and comfortable surroundings. On the main floor, in addition to the auditorium, are found the public library, the council chamber and the women's rest room. The rest room will do much to add to Olivia's popularity as a farm center, for here amid pleasant surroundings the women from the rural districts can find rest and recreation and comforts while visiting in the village. In the basement arc the equipment rooms, the officers' headquarters and the like, with the club rooms of the military company, while space is set off for a target practice' room, gymnasium, baths, dining ) in and similar purposes. The auditorium stage has been furnished with scenery and was dedicated in March, 1916. with a local production of George Ade's --County Chairman."

The Public Library of Olivia was organized in compliance with the laws of the State of Minnesota by a resolution adopted by the village council on the fourteenth day of February. 1914. This resolution authorized the president of the council, and his successor in office to take such steps as the law requires, in perfecting the organization and establishment of a public library.

On March 5, 1914, President M. J. Dowling reported the appointment of a village library board, to serve as follows: For the term ending the third Saturday in July. 1915, Mrs. H. H. Neuenburg, Mrs. (i. II. Mesker and Mrs. T. P. Mclntyre; for the term ending the third Saturday in July. 1916, Mrs. P. J. Schafer, ilrs. L. A. Matzdorf and Capt. A. R. McCorquodale; for the term ending the third Saturday in July. 1917. Hattie S. Bordwick, Mrs. W. II. lleins. Mrs. Noble Coucheran.

On July 13, 1915, President D. S. Hall reappointed Mrs. H. H. Neuenburg, Mrs. Geo. H. Mesker and Mrs. T. P. Mclntyre for the term ending the third Saturday in July, 1918; D. S. Hall taking the place of Capt. A. R. McCorquodale on the library board.

To the Ladies' Public [mprovement society is due much credit for getting the library started up in the first place, and they have taken charge and conducted its affairs from the beginning, displaying efficiency and good business management. In starting, many public spirited citizens contributed books; and the village pays the rent, a small salary to the librarian and helps in many ways. The "Library Teas," "Pines" and other resources which the business women of Olivia have worked out, bring in funds with which to supply the library with more books and late publications.

The officers of the Olivia Public Library, for the year 1915, are: President, Mrs. Warren H. Heins ; treasurer, Mrs. P. J. Schafer; secretary and librarian, Mrs. Noble Coucheron.

The cemetery, about a mile southwest of the village, is well kept and well laid out. It was surveyed Dec. 2, 1884, by C. G. Johnson, and for many years its upkeep was left with private owners. Later the churches and the Ladies ' Improvement Society took up the matter. In 1911 the Improvement Society erected a retaining wall on the north side of the cemetery, ten feet inside of the highway limit on State Road No. 2.

The canning factory is an important business enterprise. In 1915 over 1,000,000 cans of corn were prepared at the rate of 100 cans a minute. Olivia is situated in the midst of a prosperous farming country. Minnesota is ranking high in corn production and many farmers coming from the southern states are greatly surprised to see the fine corn crops grown in Renville county. Pine crops of corn, yielding from forty to seventy-five bushels per acre are grown every year and seem to be more popular than wheat in this section. The canning factory was built in 1903, with A. A. Chapman as manager; C. A. Heins, president, and H. H. Neuenburg, secretary.

Besides corn and peas, kraut, apples, rhubarb and tomatoes are canned. All goods are packed in sanitary cans. The bulk of the goods is sold in Chicago markets.

Such a factory is of value to any community, and particidarly to the county and farmers. It has been said that new settlers have considered buying land in Renville county most favorably on account of the fact that the canning factory would offer special inducements to the farmer for his produce. This, in itself, is an important factor not only for the farmer, but for the community at large, as it helps to build up the town and the county. The factory employs 75 to 100 people during the canning season. The output of sweet corn alone last year was more than 1,000.000 cans. The special brands furnished by this company are well known throughout the state.

The Farmers' Livestock Shippers' Association is a strong, active association, and has been doing big things in Olivia. One of the farmers acts as buyer, with the result that hundreds of dollars that went to the buyers now goes into the pockets of the farmers.

The shade trees of Olivia are an important asset. A recent article written by a man who made an automobile trip through this section of the country pays the following tribute to Olivia's beauty in this respect. The article follows:

"Perhaps the most impressive example of what one man's influence along this line can do, we came across at and around the little town of Olivia, in Minnesota. Here one man. a Scandinavian, and we regret very much that we cannot recall his name (the name is J. E. W. Peterson), not only put out a beautiful park of trees for the little city, and lined nearly every street in it with a double row of trees, but for many miles into the country in all directions, the same thing was kept up along the highways. Instead of a bare little prairie town, with here anil there a few trees set out by an individual lot owner, and approached by dreary stretches of treeless prairie road, the whole town is a beautiful tree-shaded bower, and the drives along the far country roads are made beautiful and full of variety and interest, by shade and protection, and much of the year by tens of thousands of nesting and singing birds. The trees planted by this one man have a money value today of many thousands of dollars, and a beauty value that cannot be computed. On through the coming years, they will continue their mission of blessing and beautifying, though even now the hand which directed their planting is dust beneath their shade." Telephone and electric wires are causing many of the trees to fall, still enough remain for beauty and shade.

Among the many beauties of Olivia is the public park. As early as 1882, the people of Olivia felt the need of a public park, and the block lying east of the P. W. Heins residence was donated by John Nestor for that purpose. Later the block next east of this block was laid out as a public park. In 1901, when a site for the courthouse was being discussed, the council conferred with the county commissioners in reference to offering the A'illage park for that purpose. However, it was not taken for that purpose, and public improvements were begun on it. A splendid band stand was erected in the center of the park, flower beds started, walks laid out, and trees trimmed. Lighting the park

The Ladies' Public Improvement Society of Olivia was organized July 29, 1903, for the purpose of improving conditions in and around the village. Committees on park, street, cemetery and entertainment were appointed.

The Park committee has seen that the grass in the park has been kept cut, and the trees trimmed. In the spring of 1909, Henry Dunsmore, under the auspices of the society, put out the flowers in the park. The cost of this work was $50 of which the society paid half. From year to year flower beds have been added.

The Street committee has looked after keeping the streets clean. Poor crossings have been reported to the council. Railings have been placed on all the bridges in town. This committee lias also seen to it that horses were not left standing on the streets unnecessarily long.

The Cemetery committee has worked in conjunction with Cemetery association, keeping the cemetery mowed and in neat order. In the years of 1912 and 1913, as noted, a retaining wall was built in front of the cemetery grounds, which has added much to their appearance. This wall cost the association $590.

It has been the duty of the Entertainment committee to decide what plays, entertainments and the like should come under the auspices of the society. Some excellent numbers have appeared under their direction. In 1909 the society presented a home talent play, "A Family Affair," the proceeds of which netted $130. This play involved considerable effort, and much credit is due those who pushed it to so successful a conclusion. The committee having charge of the play were Mesdames L. A. Matzdorff. Noble Coucheron and T. P. Mclntyre.

In 1912 the society gave a Leap Year ball, which netted $102. During the same year Hattie Bordewich arranged for Maria Sanford to lecture here and gave the proceeds to the society. The lecture was a treat and much enjoyed by all the members. In the fall of 1912 the society all served a banquet for the District Teachers' association, clearing $48. In November, 1913, a play, "As You Like It," was given. As their share of the proceeds the society received $31. The following year the Eleanor Olson Concert company and Dr. Bancroft, psychological lecturer, gave two entertaining evenings.

In the fall of 1912 a Library committee was appointed, which was to see what plans could be started for establishing a library. The committee procured Grace Baldwin of the State Library Commission. She gave an instructive talk on the organization of a library before a large gathering of the people interested in the project. On hundred books were solicited as a nucleus of a library from the society and later the committee asked each family in town to donate one book. This request met with a gratifying response. The committee were empowered by the society to expend the library fund and the library was opened in the Heins Block in 1913 with Gertrude Preston, who donated her services as first librarian. In Feb., 1914, the association voted to turn the library over to the village, and the council now furnishes the room and pays the librarian's salary. A chain of teas has become an annual event and this adds a good sum to the fund available for new books. The library is now on a permanent basis and well patronized.

Not all the association's funds are spent at home. Twice money has been sent the fire sufferers in the northern part of the state and barrels of clothing also were collected for them.

The funds of the society are raised in various ways. The annual dues are fifty cents per member. A lunch is served at each meeting for which a charge of ten cents is made. One year the society had a sale and supper.

At present the society lias a membership of 53 and meets once every month. Following are the presidents in order of service since organization : The Mesdames G. H. Mesker, Geo. F. Gage, John M. Freeman, T. H. Collyer, C. A. Heins. L. A. Matzdorf and Henry H. Neuenburg.

The youth of this vicinity have excellent educational opportunities in the grade and high school courses of the public school. Besides the regular courses, departments of domestic science, normal work and agriculture have been established with competent instructors in charge. This allows a child to begin an early preparation for whatever line of work he feels himself best fitted for - through the regular courses for the professions ; through the domestic science for a position at the head of the home; through the normal course for becoming a teacher, and through the agricultural course for scientific farming. Manual training also gives a training useful in any line. The equipment of the school is good for carrying on these lines of work ; the two buildings give adequate room for it; and the heating and sanitary appointments are of the best and most modern. Supt. A. N. Gausemel is in charge.