Wabasha County, Minnesota - Chapter 17: Theilman, West Albany and Glasgow, 1920

West Albany Township occupies Congressional Township 110, Range 12. It consists of fine rolling prairie, considerably broken in the southern part by eroded valleys and gorges. The streams all lie at a depth of from one to two hundred feet below the surrounding country, affording perfect drainage, and swamps are entirely unknown. Through sections 34, 27, 26, 25 and 36 in the southeastern part, winds the picturesque Zumbro, with its limestone cliffs, wooded banks and fertile bottoms, receiving the united waters of several smaller streams, which take their rise in the central, western and southern parts. These deep valleys or canons, which are the result of ages of erosion, appear to have been at one time considerably deeper than at present. The rock strata, which consist of Potsdam limestone, lie at an undiscovered depth below the streams, overlaid by a deposit of sand, clay and loam, which is rapidly increas¬ ing, and which indicates a long continued reversal of the process of erosion. The drift, which on the prairies overlies the rock to a depth of from five to fifty feet, consists of clay, topped by a layer of rich clay loam, which in pioneer days nourished a thick growth of buffalo grass and grubs, now supplanted by the products of intelligent industry.

The first settler was Samuel Brink, who located on the southwest quarter of section 21, and built a two-story log hotel, in which to accommodate the traffic from Reed's Landing to Oronoco. A few weeks later John McCollom settled on section 28. He was accompanied by Dr. Spafford. Mrs. McCollom died soon after their arrival. In the summer of 1855 came also Abram Lyons, followed in the early fall by Leroy B., Eugene B., and Cornelius A. McCollom. These settlements were all made in the valley near the future site of the vil¬ lage of West Albany, the first comers being attracted by the supposed superior fertility of the soil and the advantages of water and wood not found on the prairie. In the spring of 1852 Abram Lyons married Jane McCollom; this first marriage of the township was blessed by the appearance of a daughter the following spring, Laura Ann Lyons, who was the first child born in West Albany.

The summer of 1856 brought several new comers among whom were: Wm. Wright, of England; Frederick Jacobs, of Hanover; Andrew Hook, of Baden; Charles Wise, of Baden; John M. Welsh, of Ireland, and Patrick Cronan, of Ireland. This summer saw the destruction of Brink's tavern by fire. At the time of its burning it was occupied by Frederick Jacobs. For some time after¬ ward the settlement was designated as "the Burnt Tavern."

In the spring of 1857, Lawrence Tracy, of Irish nativity, who had previously settled in what is now Oakwood, moved to West Albany. In the same year came Sylvester and William Applegarth, of Canada; Henry Schmuser, of Holstein; Wm. Funk, and some others.

In 1858 (some say as early as 1855) began the establishment of the "Scotch Settlement,' in the northeastern part of the township. Among the first arrivals from Scotland were William Duffus, George and William Wilson, and Henry Glashan and wife. For some time Mrs. Glashan was the only white woman in the settlement; the Glashan children were all born here. William Wilson came about a year later than his brother George; he was accompanied by his wife. George and V illam Perry were also early arrivals. George subsequently fought in the Civil War and died in the service. Dan, John and James Monroe, all heads of families, came also from Scotland to this place. Almost the only exceptions to Scotch nationality were the Fick and Danckwardt families who were German. Soon after came the Gray families - Alexander and James - and the Miller family, several of whom were grown men with wives and children. Other early Scotch immigrants were Charles Forest, Alexander Thoirs, William Sterling, David Munro, William Corry, and the Chalmers, Innes, Asher, Lowe, and George Phillips families. The Thaw family came twelve years later. The first blacksmith was Peter Goihl, who conducted a shop for a number of years and also worked a farm. When he arrived he had nothing but a few small tools in a handkerchief. He is still living, being a resident of Lake City. Preaching was begun early by the Rev. Mr. Collins, of the United Presbyterian church, the services being held in a log schoolhouse. He remained for a year, his suc¬ cessors being Revs. Whitley, Smith, Tate and James Rogers. A frame church was built in 1884 in section 3, and is still standing. About 1880 a number of the young people removed to Lyon County, where they started another Scotch settlement, and owing to removals and deaths, the only family of Scotch origin in the West Albany settlement is that of John Duffus.

West Albany Creek offers the advantage of good water-power to industries of this kind, and its hurrying course was first checked by a water-wheel in 1857, when the McColloms' sawmill was put in operation. As before mentioned, the sawmill built by the McCollums was purchased in 1874 by Hiram Fellows and moved farther down the stream. In 1877 it was purchased by the Brandt brothers, who removed the machinery and erected a flouring-mill. In 1859 Sylvester Applegarth built a gristmill with two run of buhrs. Three or four years after he sold it to Patrick McNamee, and after passing through different hands and experiencing several changes, it was destroyed by fire. In 1867 Wm. Applegarth built a feedmill. It was soon sold, and in 1877 it passed into the hands of its present owner, John J. Hoffman.

Like the early pioneers of every part of the country the first settlers ot West Albany saw their share of hardship and privation, and here as elsewhere bitter cups were often sweetened and brooding clouds lighted by the merry meetings which varied a life of toil, and a generous spirit of equality and neighborly kindness, over the departure of which many an old settler will be seen to shake his head regretfully. Money was scarce, and settlers were some¬ times in actual want of food or reduced to a diet of johnnycake or potatoes. The abundance of game was often a great advantage, and the numerous flocks of prairie chicken and grouse, and the occasional deer that haunted the vallevs, frequently increased an otherwise slim bill of fare. Sometimes the men would devote a day to ball or "shinny," and braking and hauling bees veie quite common, often being a necessity, as teams were rather scarce. In the wintei, sleigh-rides, singing-schools, lyceums, spelling-schools and donations \aried the monotony and will always be remembered with pleasure by the participants.

An Indian trail from Wabasha to Blue Earth passed through this township, over which the Indians often passed, frequently stopping along West Albany creek to fish for the brook-trout that haunted its deeps. \\ inter sometimes saw them camped in the valleys, generally along the Zumbro, and though the\ often visited the settlers, to beg or bring in a little game, they gave no serious annoyance. Lawrence Tracy's cabin, which then consisted of one room, WAS 8 favorite resort, and on cold winter evenings they would invade this waim retreat, lay around on the floor, in the way, and play cards, sometimes until midnight. In 1862 the settlers were badly frightened by the rumor that the hostile Indians from the north were coming, and many wakeful nights weie passed on this account. Some left temporarily, some would go to neighbois houses to spend the night, and some talk of fortifying a retreat was indulged in, but the Indians never came and no scalps were lost.

The first term of school in this township was probably taught by Augustus Applegarth, in the summer of 1858, in a building owned by William Haines.

The Gopher Prairie postoffice was established about 1860, on section 2, with Benjamin Dodge as postmaster. This became a favorite place of resort for the neighbors to gather in, tell stories, discuss politics, or read the newspapers of which Dodge always had a plentfiul supply. In the course of two or three years it was moved to the house of Wm. Wilson and shortly after to the town of Lake.

West Albany Lodge, No. 120, I.O.G.T., was an important organization in the early days. It was organized July 26, 1875, by F. C. Stow, G.W., secretary of I.O.G.T., with forty-one charter members. The first officers were: J. P. Owens, L.D.; A. G. Sulton, P.W.C.T.; John Munro, W.C.T.; Jennie Ritchie, W.V.T.; John Brown, secretary. Meetings were held regularly in the schoolhouse of district No. 26; then in Glasgow township. The organization was dis¬ banded April, 1878.

In 1878 the Minnesota Midland railway was completed, following the course of the Zumbro river through the southeastern part of the township. Before the building of the road, agents of the company went among the farmers and got a majority of the voters to sign a petition for the road agreeing to aid the company to the extent of five thousand dollars in case the road was completed. This afterward created considerable dissatisfaction in the township, and when the road was completed they declined to grant the bonus. The case was carried to the supreme court where the law under which the petition was gotten up was declared unconstitutional, thus relieving the township of their obligation to pay the amount.

May 11, 1858, the township was organized as West Albany, though to whom the credit of naming the town is due, could not be ascertained. The election was held at William Applegarth's, resulting as follows: E. B. McCollom, chair¬ man of board; William Applegarth, clerk; Leroy McCollom, justice of the peace; and Cornelius McCollom, constable.

West Albany was for several years an important hamlet on the road from Read's Landing to Oronoco and Mazeppa. In the spring of 1857 the village was platted by Leroy R., Eugene B. and Cornelius A. McCollom, who bought the property of George H. Faribault and platted the west half of the northeast quarter of section 28.

William Applegarth built a store, which he stocked with a small supply of general merchandise, and the proprietors erected a sawmill. Upon the petition of the McColloms a postoffice was established, being located at Applegarth's store, with E. B. McCollom, postmaster. The store was sold, about 1866, to R. Barry, who carried on the business until within two or three years, and was postmaster until 1878, when the office passed into the hands of Thomas Smith. The mill was run a few years, when it was abandoned, and in 1874 it was sold to Hiram Fellows, who removed it to the site where Brandt's flouring-mill was afterward located. In the same spring of 1857 John McCollom platted the town of Union on the W. V2 of N. W. ^4 of Sec. 27, but agriculture was the only business ever carried on within its limits.

Albany Village was laid out in the spring of 1859 by Sylvester Applegarth, on section 29, about a half-mile west of West Albany, started two years before. The plat was recorded May 3, 1859, and the place soon became the metropolis of the township. Richard Dawson erected a hotel, Sylvester Applegarth a grist¬ mill, S. McIntyre a store and saloon, and Jacob Fister a blacksmith-shop. About this time a small land office was run by E. Foster, who did business of various kinds for the settlers, but upon his election as auditor he left this part of the county. July 4, 1861, the blacksmith-shop was burned. Its destruction was the result of a quarrel about the possession of an anvil with which the inhabitants intended to demonstrate their patriotism. The same year saw the burning of the hotel. Both were soon rebuilt. In 1862 the hotel passed into the hands of Frank Ryan, who ran it as a hotel and saloon for a few years. This place be-

In the early days of the West Albany settlement the Catholics were favored with occasional visitations by Father Tissot of Wabasha. He repeated his visits until 1866, when he was succeeded by Father Trobec, also from Wabasha. In 1869 Father Herman divided his time between this charge and Lake City, and was followed by Father Quinn. In the fall of 1879 Father Jacobs took charge of the church, being the first resident priest, and remaining four years. In the spring of 1883 Father Boland began his administration.

About 1863 the congregation purchased 60 acres of land near the village of West Albany, and two years later they bought 20 additional acres, with Frank Ryan's hotel, which they used for a church several years. The new church was begun under the administration of Father Herman, and completed in 1884. A commodious parsonage was begun in 1881.

Lakey Village was originally called Tracy in honor of Lawrence Tracy. The station continued to be called Tracy for some time, but as there was another town of Tracy in the state, the postoffice was called Lakey, from one of the officials of the railroad. The Mazeppa Mill Company started buying grain here in 1878.

In the summer of 1879 P. J. McGinn built a two-story frame building and put in a stock of general merchandise. In the spring of 1863 he sold to P. J. Fox, who continues the business. In 1880 the postoffice was moved from West Albany to Tracy, McGinn assuming the duties of postmaster.

The Baptist Church was important for several years. The majority of the members of the organization were residents of West Albany; but meetings were for many years held in the schoolhouse of district 26, which, until 1878, was located in Glasgow Township. At that time a new schoolhouse was erected in West Albany, where services were afterward held. The first Baptist preacher who ministered to this community was Benjamin Wharton, a native of Virginia, and at that time a resident of Wabasha. This was in 1858. His first services were held in the log house of John Owens of this township, and until the erec¬ tion of the schoolhouse of district No. 26, in 1861 or 1862, he held meetings at intervals of two or three weeks, here and at the residences of William Corry and B. B. Fetzer. July 14, 1861, he organized the church at the log schoolhouse. Eight were enrolled as members, viz: Isaac Corry, William Corry and wife, Charles Forest, John Owens and wife, by letter from the Baptist church of Wabasha; B. B. Fetzer and Martha Fetzer, from Clarion county, Pennsylvania. The first officers chosen were B. B. Fetzer and Isaac Corry, deacons. Wharton was succeeded by William Sturgeon, who preached about one year, when Wharton returned, remaining several years. He was followed by Rev. Cum¬ mings, and one year later by Levi Ross, under whose charge the church saw its season of greatest prosperity, the membership reaching thirty-three. Aftei a ministratiion of two and a half years he was succeeded by T. F. Babcock, who remained but a short time, and was the last to visit the church. About this time the ranks were greatly thinned by emigration westward; so much so that services were discontinued. In 1859 a sabbath school was organized, and was

United Presbyterian. - At the request of a few persons, residents of West Albany township, they were visited in September, 1860, by Rev. James Mc¬ Cartney, who preached at the house of William Sterling on the evening, of September 13, 1860, and in schoolhouse No. 21 on the 14th. Though preaching was earnestly desired, other engagements prevented him from returning until January, 1861. From this time until July he preached here half the time. The Caledonia congregation of the United Presbyterian church was organized March 19, 1861, with nine members. Seven of these were by letter, from Yorkville, Wisconsin - William Wilson, Jeanette Wilson, Henry Glashen, Jane Glashen, William Sterling, Lucretia Sterling and George Perry; and two joined on profession - William Perry and Martha Perry. In the summer of 1861,. Rev. J. K. Black visited them a few times, and July, 1862, A. B. Coleman was sent by the general assembly and preached half the time for a year. He was followed by H. McHatton, James P. Rait, James M. Wallace, J. Tate, James Rogers, and others. July, 1882, A. Y. Houston took charge.

Roman Catholic Church. - In the early days of the settlement the Catholics were favored with occasional visitations by Father Tissot, of Wabasha. He repeated his visits until 1866, when he was succeeded by Father Trobec, also from Wabasha. In 1869 Father Herman divided his time between this charge and Lake City, and was followed by Father Quinn. In the fall of 1879 Father Jacobs took charge of the church, being the first resident priest, and remaining four years. In the spring of 1883 Father Boland began his ministration. About 1863 the congregation purchased sixty acres of land near the village of West Albany, and two years later they bought twenty additional acres, with Frank Ryan's hotel, which they used for a church several years. The new church was begun during the ministration of Father Herman, and completed in 1884. A commodius parsonage was begun in 1881.

German Methodist. - The exact date of the first preaching was not ascer¬ tained, though it was probably in 1861, by Rev. Grechtenmeyer at C. Fuhrman's house. The following are the names of ministers who followed him: Wm. Schreiner, Philip Funk, August Lamprecht, Adam Wilier, Frederick Hermsmeyer, Frederick Hogrefe, Louis Thoele, Henry Schnitker, and Frederick Hermsmeyer, of Wabasha. A frame church was built in 1866.

Lutheran. - About 1863 Prof. Moldenke, of Milwaukee, made this section a visit and preached at the house of Henry Schmuser, on section 16. Through his influence the few adherents to the church in this neighborhood were visited in 1864 by William Vomhof, of Olmstead county. During the fall of that year he organized a church of six members, as follows: John Dankwart, Henry Schmuser and wife, John Haase, Fritz Lange, Henry Lange and John Schmidt. Early ministers were: F. Seifert, A. Hoffman, M. Stulpnagel, P. Rubreih, and P. Bechtel. A church, a neat frame, was erected in 1868. At the same time a parsonage was erected.

Glasgow Township occupies Congressional Township 110, Range 11. It is bounded on the north by Pepin and a small portion of Wabasha, on the east by Wabasha and Greenfield, on the south by Highland, and on the west by West Albany. The physical features of this township are very striking. The Zumbro river enters the township through section 31 and runs a very roundabout way in crossing the township, passing through or touching each of the followingsections: 30, 29, 20, 21, 28, 27, 22, 15, 14, 11, 12, and leaves the township through section 13. Many small streams both from the north and from the south flow into this river, the most important of which is Trout Creek from the northwest. All along the river the country is very broken, but is interspersed with beautiful valleys all along the little streams. For a greater part the Zumbro is skirted on either side with heavy forests of timber. In most of the hills is to be found plenty of limestone of an excellent quality, which is used to a very large extent for building foundations for houses and barns. The soil of the valleys is very fertile, consisting of a blackish loam underlaid with a clay subsoil.

Wm. McCracken, in 1855, a native of Scotland, was the first to break the sod in the township of Glasgow. Very soon after McCracken came to the town¬ ship Charles Foreman, Hugh McGowen, Hugh and Robert Cochrane, Fred Bernhart, Wm. Stowman, Henry Smith, and several others, laid personal claim to a portion of this township. The next year this number was increased by John and Wm. Cochrane, Hugh McGinnis, the Ring brothers, Henry Ash, J. B. Roone, and others. Soon after establishing themselves in their new home, in the fall.

of 1855, Mr. McGowen's wife gave birth to the first white child born in the township. But the life of this child born in the wilderness was of but short duration, it and its mother both dying in a short time after the child's birth. They both were laid to rest within the bosom of mother earth in the same grave. They were he first to die in this township. The first sermon ever preached within the boundaries was preached in the house of Robert Cochrane, in the spring of 1858, by the Rev. B. F. Wharton, a Baptist minister.

For many years the people of Glasgow township were exclusively occupied in agricultural pursuits until 1861, when Robert Cochrane and A. T. Lansing put in operation a sawmill on Trout brook, and in 1864 Herman Wing concluded to try his fortune among the people by setting up a blacksmith shop. The first postoffice in the township was at the house of Boyd Fetzer, and he was the first postmaster.

Near the center of the town, and lying along the banks of Trout brook, is a field of some fifteen acres, once known as "Indian field." The aborigines used a portion of this field for burying their dead, and the remainder was planted to corn by the squaws. It was rudely inclosed by a brush fence, portions of which were long to be seen. Other evidences of Indian occupancy remained for several decades after the settlement by the whites.

The town was organized May 11, 1858, the first chairman of supervisors was Thomas Matter, and the first town clerk was John B. Roome. The town is named from Glasgow, Scotland.

Dumfries is a trading point on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, situated in Section 10, Glasgow Township. A postoffice was formerly located here, but has been discontinued, and Wabasha is now the postoffice and banking point. There are two elevators, a general store and other business enterprises.

McCracken is a station on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, in section 20, Glasgow Township, three miles east of Theilman, which is the bank¬ ing point and postoffice.

Theilman in the southwestern part of Glasgow Township, situated on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. It has Catholic and German Lutheran churches, a bank, a hotel, a creamery, two elevators and a feed mill, also a blacksmith shop and several stores. It is a convenient trading point for the surrounding territory and considerable business is done.

Theilman, formerly called Theilmanton, was named in honor of Christian Theilman, through whose influence the station was established, and by whom the town was platted in 1877. In January, 1878, Peter Hall completed and occupied a commodious two-story frame, putting in a stock of general merchan¬ dise. He was the first to locate on the site of the town. In the spring of the same year he was followed by Nicholas Reil, who erected a good frame building. During the same season William Morris built a blacksmith shop, and Henry Sommerhelder a wagon shop. In the fall two saloons were started by \\ illiam Colegraff and Nils P. Christianson respectively. The latter afterward sold to John Will. Upon the petition of Peter Hall a postoffice was established, Decem¬ ber, 1878, with the petitioner as postmaster. During 1878 a commodious grainhouse was erected by Christian Theilman, who then began buying grain.

The Theilman State Bank was incorporated June 1, 1911, with a capital stock of $10,000, and opened its doors for business July 17, 1911, with the following officers: Theo. Hampe (president), Henry Iheilman (vice-president), N. E. Bricher (cashier), M. Kinsella, L. Whitten, of Wabasha; J. I). Biichei and John A. Frese, of Kellogg; and William Dankwart, of Lake City. A biick bank building was erected and equipped in accordance with model n plans, and the institution has had a healthy growth. The deposits at the end of the fiist year were $58,000, while the bank's last statement shows deposits of $321,000, with a surplus of $11,500. The same officers are still serving.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Theilman is a beautiful brick structure, built in 1903 under the direction of Rev. W. E. F. Griffin. The parish is attended from Conception. As a consequence the pastors at Conception from the year 1903 until now, were and are the pastors of Theilman.