Amiret Township

Amiret Township

The township which is now designated Amiret dates its existence from March 17. 1S74. when the County Board, upon the petition of Horace N. Randall and others, authorized its citizens to organize. For several years the precinct bore the name Madison, but in 1879, by legislative act. its name was changed to Amiret, to correspond with the name of the village within its boundaries.29 The first town meeting was held at the store of William Coburn April 7. 1874. S. S. Truax, J. H. Williams and H. N. Randall were judges of the election then held and William Coburn was clerk.

The first officers chosen were as follows: James Mitchell, Jr., chairman; Lafayette Grover and David Hawks, supervisors; William Coburn, clerk: S. S. Truax, treasurer; J. H. Williams, assessor; John Taylor, justice of the peace; Luther Mason, constable.30

-9The village was named in honor of Amiretta Sykes, wife of M. I . Sykes, vice president of the Chicago ifc Northwestern Railroad Company and also of the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company.

Nearly all the early day settlers of Westerheim township were Norwegians and when the time came to organize the township they gave it a Norwegian name - Westerheim, meaning western home. The petition for the creation of the township was presented to the county authorities February 24, 1876, and was signed by J. R. Blanchard, A. A. Lee and others. Action on the petition was deferred, but on April 19,

30The first birth in Amiret township was a daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. William Coburn in 1S73. The first death occurred in 1872 and wras a daughter of Luther Mason. The first marriage was that of J. A. Hunter and Miss C. A. Mitchell and was performed June 3, 1875. The first school was taught in 1873 by Mrs. Warnick in a board shanty on section 31. The first religious services were conducted in 1872 by Rev. J. Reese, and the first church, Congregational, was built in 1873.

The town meeting to effecj an organization was held at the home of Peter Johnson May 9, L876, when the following were chosen firsl officers: llalvor Nyland, chairman; 0. J. Moe and Hans Samuelson, supervisors; O. L. Orsen, clerk; Andrew Lee, treasurer; Thorbjon Huso, assessor; John [lstad and H. P. Johnson, justices of the peace; Rasmus Hanson and T. H. Opdahl, constats

32Westerheim's first birth was a daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. John Ilstad in 1874. In June, 1S74, the first marriage, a double one, was celebrated - H. A. Nyland to Inger Olson and T. A. Huso to Carrie Olson. The bride of H. A. Nyland died in September of the same year, the death being the first one in the precinct. The first school was taught by Knud Fodness in 1877.

"The residents of Westerheim in 1884 were K. J. Hall, S. Sigurdson, Ole Thompson, K. T. Thompson, C. Johnson, E. J. Oxaas, John Peterson, S. Hognason, Mary Oliver, Oluf Orson, Josef Josefsson, Andrew Hellikson, S. Jonathason, Bjorn Gislason, K. A. Broughton, Hans Samuelson, Henry Samuelson, John Stensrud, E. Fjeldstad, G. Jonsson, G. Petursson, E. Bjornson, Walter Walsh, Lars Orson, Ole L. Orsen, reason the government was not perfected. The Comity Board passed the necessary enabling act September 21, 1876, and named the precinct Vallers.34

The township began local government October 7, 1S76, when the first town meeting was held at the home of Ole O. Brenna. The officers elected at that time were as follows: S. W. Laythe, chairman; John Anderson and M. K. Snortum, supervisors; Ole O. Brenna, Jr., clerk; Ole O. Brenna, Sr., assessor; Ole O. Brenna, Jr., justice of the peace.35

There was considerable University land in Vallers and as a result the list of those who obtained land titles from the government is not so large as in most of the other towns. The list is as follows:

34It is said that Ole O. Brenna, an early settler, was responsible for naming the town. His desire was to name it Valla, a Norwegian word meaning valley, but because of incorrect spelling in the petition or illegibility the county commissioners made the name read Vallers.

Although one of the first settlements of Lyon county was located in Custer, the township was not "ranted local -government until 1876. The County Board declared the Township organized September 21. 1876, and named it Custer.37 The first town meeting was held October 14 and the following were elected first officers: L. D. Lewis, chairman; W. H. Hughes and William Shand, supervisors; B. F. Thomas, clerk and treasurer.38

Engen, who died in August. 1877. The first marriage ceremony was performed December 23, 1877, and united Ole O. Brenna, Jr., to Anna Olson. The first school, a private one, was taught by J. L. Robinson in 1879; the first public school was conducted by Lavina Day in 1880 and a school house was built that year. Rev. Knud Thorstenson, a Lutheran minister, preached the first services in 1877 at the home of Ole O. Brenna.

3»According to a list prepared by C. F. Case for his History of Lyon County, the following wen- 1 he only heads of families living in Wallers in 1884: G. O. Aaniat, H. Olson, A. S. .Malde. E. Varpnes, .Michel Knudson, Ole O. Brenna, Sr., Andrew O. Anderson, John Anderson, Ole Anderson, O. A. Anderson, T. Thorsteinson, O. J. I'lland. OlecO. Brenna, Jr., E. S. Roti. .1. Roti, I. Olsen, M. J. » >-ne>, O. II. Miller, C. O. Hovde, S. K. Thon, R. J. J. Haaskjold, Knudt Swenson, Ole Lende, H. A. Solberg, H. W. Throop, A. Baldwin, J. L. Robinson. S. II. Thorsness, Ole E. Borthus, Mike O'Toole, N. L. Jones, N.,M. Fisk and Cox Brothers.

A compact, neat appearing little village is Amiret, twelve miles southeast of Marshall on the Northwestern railroad. It is on the northeast quarter of section 19. Amiret township. Here are grouped a number of stores, shops and elevators, enterprises that go to make up a trading point for the convenience of the surrounding farmingpopulation.

25The Coburg postoffice was discontinued late in 1S75, Mr. Coburn having served until that time. It was re-established in the spring of 1878 with James Mitchell, Jr., as postmaster, but the office during his administration was in charge of David Bell. Soon after its re-establishment the name was changed to Amiret. Mr. Bell later received the appointment. He was succeeded in July, 1S79, by C» A. Wheelock, who served until October, 1880. D. S. Hart, the depot agent, kept the office a month or two and late in different periods of its history and it is one of the oldest villages of Lyon county. Nearby the first townsite in the county was laid out in 1857 and named Saratoga, and later when the railroad was built and a station was established in the vicinity it also was named Saratoga - the first name borne by Amiret.

The plans of the railroad company regarding the location of a station in the vicinity of the future village of Amiret were rather indefinite. A sidetrack for the unloading of supplies was laid in 1872, when the railroad was being constructed, on the S. S. Truax farm, the northwest quarter of section 32, about a mile and a half from the present village. There seems to have been the promise that a station would be located farther north, for in the late summer of 1S72 William Coburn erected a store building there and engaged in business. Within a very short time he moved the building to Saratoga Station (section 32). In July, 1872, a postoffice, named Coburg in honor of the pioneer storekeeper, was established with Mr. Coburn as postmaster.25

The present and final location of Saratoga Station was selected in the fall of 1874. The townsite, also named Saratoga and situated on the northeast quarter of section 19, was surveyed for the railroad company on October 7,

November, 1880, the office was put in charge of Frank Watson. J. W. Kellev was the next postmaster and held the office until July, 1885. T. H. Webb was postmaster from 1S87 to April, 1897, and F. W. Webb from that time until 1911. David Morgan is the present postmaster.

with the pioneer business man. Mr. Coburn conducted the store and postoffice at the old station on section 32 until June, 1875; then the neighbors assisted in moving the store building to the Saratoga townsite, where it remained until destroyed by fire in December, 1907. 27 A depot was erected and Saratoga, or Coburg, as the place was more commonly called, began to take on the appearance of a village.

The grasshopper plague brought a stop to advancement; in fact, was responsible for the depopulation of Coburg. Mr. Coburn closed his store and moved away, the postoffice was discontinued, and a few empty buildings only marked the site. Coburg was without inhabitants at the beginning of the year 1876.28

With the departure of the grasshoppers the deserted village once more became the scene of activities. In the spring of 1S7S the Coburg postoffice was re-established and David Bell, who at the same time opened a general store in the Coburn building, hail charge of the office. During the summer of the same year Van Dusen & Company erected an elevator and a dwelling house. The residence was occupied by L. N. Lawshe, who had charge of the grain business.

27The Prairie Schooner of July 2, 1875, said: "The town of Coburg has been changed to a point a mile this side of the old station. Coburn Brothers and others have moved up there and a town has been laid out with good prospects of future growth."

It is said that this old building of Mr. Coburn was the first frame building, excepting the engineers' building at Marshall, erected on the line of the road west from Sleepy Eye. It was used for store purposes respectively by William Coburn, David Bell, H. D. Kelly, D. Y. Davis, A. ('. ( 'liittenden, J. W. Kelley, John Currie, Thomas Webb, Purvis & Griffith and Mr. Hamilton. While the last named was the owner it was destroyed by fire.

29The history of the naming of Amiret was given as follows in the Marshall News-Messenger of August 9, 1907, the information having been secured in an interview with James Mitchell:

Prior to February, 1879, the postoffice bore the name Coburg and the station Saratoga. Confusion in the mail service resulted because of the dual appellation and the name of the postoffice was at that time changed to Amiret, and soon after the railroad company changed the name of the station to correspond. Amiret was named in honor of the wife of M. L. Sykes, at that time vice president of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company.29

Several improvements were made in Amiret in 1879. David Bell sold his store in May to H. D. Kelly, who conducted the business only a short time. C. A. Wheelock became depot agent and opened a second general store in July, which he conducted until October, 1880. William Blair and E. Warn each established hotels, G. L. Lowe opened a blacksmith shop, a school house was erected, and L. N. Lawshe continued to buy grain.

In 1880 C. T. Trow engaged in the lumber business, a Mr. Smith for a few months operated a general store, D. S. Hart became station agent and sold a few goods as a side line, and in the fall A. C. Chittenden, of Marshall, opened a young Jim Mitchell came to the front and insisted that the place should have a new name that should include both the station and the postoffice. He came to Marshall and laid his troubles before Gene Wilcox, who was then station agent and supposed to stand in with the railroad magnates. Gene asked for twentyfour hours' delay and meanwhile worked the wires between Marshall and railroad headquarters at Winona, eulogizing the beauties and prospects of Amiret anil descanting on the renown that would befall the fortunate individual who should name the embryo municipality.

"After due discussion among the magnates, it was determined that one M. L, Sykes, a vice president of 1 he Chicago & Northwestern road, and also holding a similar office in the Winona & St. Peter branch, should have the honor, which was fitting, as he had already bought a farm near the station to be named. With true gallantry the railroad man thought of his wife, whose name was Amiretta, and through Wilcox at first hand, and Mitchell at second hand, the village was christened Amiret, a name which it has sinc^ held."

The progress of Amiret was not rapid, for we find that in the spring of 1882 there were in the village only one store, an elevator, lumber yard, hotel and boarding house. During the next few years there were more backward steps. A. C. Chittenden withdrew from the field and a store was established by J. W. Kelley, who in the spring of 1885 was reported to be the only inhabitant of Amiret.30 And in July he moved to Balaton and left the village without an inhabitant.

There was a revival in the spring of 1886. Webb Brothers opened a general store, two other stores were established, and a blacksmith shop was again operated in the village. Never again was Amiret to be called a "one man town." In 1892 the business interests consisted of two stores, two grain warehouses, two machinery dealers, a lumber yard and a blacksmith and wagon shop.

Slow growth has followed and Amirel now consists of a number of prosperous business houses, housed in substantial buildings. Twice have fires brought losses to the village. In December, 1907, the old Coburn store building was destroyed. On November 3, 1908, the store of Webb & Peterson was burned, bringing a loss of many thousands of dollars. The Tracy Fire Department was called and saved the village from destruction.

30"The executive, judiciary, clerk, postmaster and all is centered in one man, J. W. Kelley. That man runs the village of Amiret entirely and absolutely. Whether he would run the village were there anything of the village besides his store is a question upon which the writer interviewed no one. There is no one to interview besides Mr. Kelley and he couldn't say, for should another man move in he might except to Mr. Kelley's administration and establish a conspiracy. Mr. Kelley knows this and rather than be confronted by any such possibility he throws out no inducements to people to come there,, in the way of flaming posters, circulars and Dakota falsehoods. "- Marshall News-Messenger, March 27, 1885.

lished with a capital stock of $10,000 on October 1, 1910, by a number of business men and farmers of Amiret ami vicinity and is housed in a buildingerected for the purpose. The officers and directors are as follows: President, Lester J. Fitch; vice president, R. A. Mitchell; cashier, F. T. Shaeffer; Solomon Greeley and C. S. Rowell.

Green Valley

Five miles northeast of Marshall, on the line of the Great Northern railroad and on the northeast quarter of section 10, Fairview township, is the little village of Green Valley. There is one general store, an implement warehouse, lumber yard, three elevators, blacksmith shop, a church and school.

Green Valley came into existence when the Willmar & Sioux Palls railroad was built in 1888. The site and name of the station were announced in May of that year, although it was known the fall before that a station would be located in the vicinity.'" The track was laid to the site on Saturday, August 18, 1888, and the sidetrack was laid the next day and a platform built. The Northwestern Elevator Company erected an elevator at the same time, which was the first building on the site.

There were no other improvements in Green Valley during the year of its founding. In February, 1889, the postoffice was established and conducted at the home of G. M. Robinson, who lived nearby. Mr. Robinson served as postmaster until February, 1890. ',2 Not

3I". . . The next station coming toward Marshall is somewhat in doubt, but will probably be near (1. M. Robinson's, in Fairview, or in the southwest corner of Vallers, making it from five to six miles from Marshall and Cottonwood lake. Of course, it will not be a prominent station, but important as a shipping point and will have a first-class elevator.'' - Marshall News- Messenger, November 11, 1887.

32Others who have "been postmasters of Green Valley have been E. P. Duffy, Isaac Clendenning, H. W. Throop, O. S. Walters, Elijah Loomis, J. B. Truax, John Sharratt, John S. Gee and P. F. Ziesmer. Mr. Sharratt is the present postmaster, having served on his last term since October 12, 1905.

Amiret Scenes

there any additions to the village. In August Spurgeon Odell located there and took the management of the elevator, boarding at the home of G. M. Robinson. Before the middle of November he had purchased 21.000 bushels of wheat. The same fall the railroad -tat ion was opened, in charge of Frank Angier, hut was closed the first of the following year. A little box-car structure was hauled to the site and answered the purposes of a depot.

E. P. Duffy erected a building in the fall of 1889 and in January, 1890, opened the village's first mercantile establishment. About the same time H. AY. Throop moved a dwelling house to tin1 village from Yallers township. The Inter-.State drain Company put up a warehouse in August, 1S90, and Charles Ahlbeck became the grain buyer for the firm. The same season a blacksmith shop was established by .lay B. Truax. In 1S92 Spurgeon Odell erected a" dwelling house.

The growth of Green Valley has not been great. Among the enterprises established after the start had been made were a store by J. S. Gee, who also put up a residence; an implement business by Gee & Ziesmer in 1899, lumber yard by the H. W. Ross company, and a blacksmith shop by Mr. Frazier.

Those engaged in business at Green Valley at the present time are as follows: John Sharratt, general store and postoffice; L. E. Boudreau, machinery and vehicles; AY. H. Lane, manager of the H. W. Ross lumber yard; L. A. Knapp, blacksmith; M. J. Barrett, station agent;

33Among the first members of the church were Mrs. D. -P. Andrews, H. N. Robinson, Mrs. W. C. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Throop, Mr. and Mrs. John Sharratt, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Gee, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Ziesmer, Mrs. Thomas Lindsay, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Grant and W. A. Forbes.

-!4The charter members of Green Valley Cam]) were F. H. Deland, Fred Gee, Ernest Ziesmer, Burt Gee, W. A. Grant, James F. Knox, F. E. Markell, George

A Presbyterian church is maintained in Green Yalley, although it has never had a resident pastor ami has only a few members. It was organized in 1898 through the efforts of John S. Leas, Sunday School organizer, of Cottonwood.3'' A church home was built the same year and was dedicated January 23. 1899, by Rev. R. N. Adams, of .Minneapolis. The cost of the church was $1000 and it was dedicated with an indebtedness of only $82.

Green Valley Camp No. 4981, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized September 1, 1897.34 The lodge is still active and has fifty-eight members at the present time.

Dudley

Dudley is a townsite and elevator site on the branch of the Northwestern railroad built in 1901. It is on the northwest quarter of section 17, Clifton township, and is the youngest of all Lyon county sites.

YVhen the roadbed was being graded in the summer of 1901 it was rumored that one of the stations would be in Clifton township,35 and in November the railroad authorities announced that such a station would be established and that its name would be Dudley. A townsite of four blocks was surveyed by F. R. Cline and platted December 20, 1901, by the Western Town Lot Company, of which M. Hughitt was presi- s*"It is possible that there will lie no station in Lyon county. ... If another station or a siding- is put in between West/line and Marshall, it will doubtless be on section 17 or is, Clifton." - Marshall News- Messenger, August 16, 1901.

dent. The lots in the several plats along the new line of road were sold at public auction by the town lot company in April. 1902. A few were sold at Dudley at an average price of $100.

Train service on the new road was established August 13, 1902, and two grain firms erected elevators to handle the season's crop. In the spring of 1903 the voters of Clifton township decided to build a town hall at the station and it was announced that the Hayes-Lucas Lumber Company would put in a lumber yard. Mrs. J. W. Castle conducted a store there three years. A village did not materialize at Dudley. The railroad station was closed March 3, 1904, and the grain business is the only one conducted there. A postoffice was maintained for a time.

Burchard is a grain buying point and siding on the Dakota Central division of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, not far from the crossing of the Great Northern railroad. It is on the southwest quarter of section 11, Shelburne township, and is about six miles west from Balaton.

Soon after the railroad was constructed in 1879 an elevator was built and the place became known as Redwood Station. Excepting the elevator, there was no improvement at the station for several years. A townsite of two blocks was platted by the railroad company September 15, 1885, and soon thereafter came the beginning of a little village at Redwood Station.

36William Shafer later became postmaster, and later still M. S. Fawcett. Owen M. Owens was also postmaster for a time. The office was discontinued in 1911.

established by P. C. McCann. A petition for a postoffice was circulated early in 1886, and after the department had rejected the names Redwood and Shelburne, it was established in April with the name Burchard. It was named in honor of H. M. Burchard. the railroad land agent of Marshall, and P. C. McCann was the post master. ae The station was named Shelburne in April. 1886, but was later changed to Burchard to correspond with the postoffice. M. S. Fawcett in 1891 took charge of the Burchard hotel and conducted it for some time. A dwelling was put up by R. A. Bigham, who took charge of the elevator, and in 1889 a school house was located on the town plat. There was little call for a village at Burchard and now the only business conducted is the buying and shipping of grain during the fall seasons.

Heckman is a siding on the Northwestern railroad at Lake Marshall, five miles southeast of Marshall. An elevator of the Western P^levator Company is conducted by J. F. Brant ner and a postoffice is in charge of Mrs. Brantner.

So early as 1876 the site was selected for a future station,37 but no improvements marked the site until twelve years later. In June, 1888, a sidetrack was laid and the place appeared on the railroad folders as Heckman. At the same time a warehouse was erected, which was managed by W. F. Bryant. Grain was purchased and coal sold at the warehouse. J. F. Brantner became agent of the grain company in 1901 and the Heckman postoffice was established the same year.

Camden, od the Redwood river a short distance above Lynd, was once a place of considerable importance in Lyon county, having a Large gristmill and several business enterprises; now several families reside in the valley that was formerly Camden, Inn for many years there have been no business establishments.

In 1868 James Cummins and Jacob Rouse built a sawmill at the site of Camden, which they operated a fewyears. In the fall of 1S74 George Smith. W. T. Ellis and Jacob Rouse, under the firm name of Smith. Ellis & Rouse, converted the sawmill into a gristmill, platted the Camden townsite, secured the establishment of a postoffice in December,38 and were responsible for the founding of a flourishing little village. I can best give the early history of Camden by quoting from the Prairie Schooner of December 24, 1874, which said :

The outside world has just begun to hear mention of the town of Camden in Lyon county. It will probably hear more of it before the next transit of Venus. It is located on the Redwood river, two and one-half miles above Lynd, on land owned by Smith, Ellis & Rouse. It is snugly tucked away between two ranges of hills which afford a safe retreat from the winds of winter and furnish beautiful and refreshing scenery during the other portions of the year.

About eight acres have been platted, upon which have been built quite a number of nouses, all with one exception since last August. Smith & Ellis have a store building, 20x40 feet with 20-foot posts. The lower part has a large and select stock of goods, sold by Smith & Ellis, and the upper story is occupied as a hotel kept by W. T. Ellis and family. W. M. Van Buren is employed by Mr. Ellis to make boots and shoes to order, and he is said to be an excellent workman. Ellis has built about 150 feet of stable for the accommodation of teams. A frame school house, 24x36 feet, is nearly completed and will be furnished with patent seats. School will be taught this winter by C. L. Van Fleet. On the east side of the river John Keyes has a blacksmith shop. In addition to these buildings and the gristmill are three residences of Keyes, Rouse, Tupper and Van Fleet. Other

A church was erected nearby in 1875. At the beginning of the year 1876 the county paper described Camden as having "a large flouring mill, a store ami plenty of timber and other desirable attractions." \Y. T. Ellis conducted the mill a few years and then sold to V. M. Smith. The latter operated the mill everal years, and after several changes in management it passed into the hands of Jacob Rouse, who operated it many years and finally closed it. In the eighties W. R. Gregg conducted a store at Camden for about five years.

The final blow came to Camden when in 1888 the Great Northern railroad was built and a station was refused the village. Because of the topography of the site and the extensive grading necessary in the vicinity, it was impossible to establish a station there and the village of Lynd was built instead of Camden.

Other Places

Rock Lake was the name of a country postoffice established in 1873. It was first located on section 28, Lyons township, and Roland Weeks was the postmaster. He was succeeded by A. C. Dann and the office was moved to Mr. Dann's home on section 20, Lyons township. In November, 1874, J. A. Van Fleet received the appointment and moved the office to his home on section 4, Rock Lake township. He conducted the office until it was discontinued in 1881, after the establishment of the Balaton office. Mail was carried to the Rock Lake office from Marshall.

Sham Lake was a postoffice established on the southwest quarter of section 2, Lucas township, in 1873. R. H. Price was the first and only postmaster. He opened a store at his place in 1874 and conducted it a few years. The postoffice was discontinued about 1880.

Blan Avon was the name of another country postoffice established about 1873, in Custer township. For a time it was in southern Sodus township. It was maintained only a few years.

On the Redwood river close to the Redwood county line - and part of the time in the other county - for about eleven years was conducted the Ceresco postoffice. It was established in 1872 and T. W. Castor was the first postmaster. A store and blacksmith shop were also conducted at Ceresco for a time in the seventies. Several different persons were in charge of the postoffice, W. J. Simmons having been postmaster in 1882.

Hildrethsburg postoffice was established in June, 1874. It was first located on section 20, Lyons township, and Henry Mussler was the first postmaster. Charles Hildreth, also of Lyons township, was appointed to the office in

39"The Brenner postoffice in the northern part of this county is discontinued on account of the rural mail route established last week from Cottonwood. The records will be turned over to the postmaster of Cottonwood. . . .

"Brenner postoffice was established about 1875, with O. O. Brenna, Sr., as postmaster. The postoffice department evidently intended to give the office the name of the postmaster, but made the mistake of naming it Brenner. Mr. Brenna. Sr., held the office until 1889, when his son Ole became postmaster and held the position about two years. Then he resigned

Island Lake postoffice came into existence in June, 1874, with John R. King as postmaster. It was located at that gentleman's house on section 34, Island Lake township, and there Mr. King in the early days also kept a small stock of merchandise and conducted a "half-way" house for the travel between Marshall and Marshfield. In June, 1898, after the office had been operated at" the same place for twenty-four years, it was moved to the home of C. A. Johnson and Mis. Johnson became postmistress. The office has since been discontinued.

Brenner postoffice was established in Yallers township in December, 1875, with Ole O. Brenna as postmaster. It had an existence of twenty-eight years and was discontinued in November, 1903, as the result of the establishment of rural mail routes.39

Leo postoffice was established in July, 1880, on section 14, Lyons township, with Mrs. Libbie Millard in charge. She was postmistress until the office was discontinued April 1, 1892.

"The mail was first carried from Redwood Falls by way of the old town of Yellow Medicine, Vineland or Voldeys, Stavanger and Brenner to Marshall and back over the same route, making the offices once a week each way. Later the route was changed and mail was carried from Willmar by way of Oranite Falls, Vineland, Stavanger, Brenner, Marshall and Redwood Falls, delivering once a week each way, Soon after the establishment of the Cottonwood office mail was curried to Brenner from Cottonwood." - Cottonwood Current, November, 1903.