Biscay City

Biscay City

The village of Biscay, which is the principal market place of the beautiful and fertile township of Hassan Valley, is situated in the southeast portion of the town on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and is the home of the first cooperative creamery organized in Minnesota. Land in the Vicinity sells at from $65 to $125 per acre, and the surrounding country is occupied by well cultivated farms, the dairy interests being in a particularly flourishing condition. The village has a present population of about 100.

Among its present or more recent business enterprises are the following: Biscay Co-operative Creamery Association; Biscay Hardware Company; Biscay Milling Company, flour mill (Jos. Burich and Jos. Monroe); First State Bank; Kuester Mercantile Co., general store; Geo. Ohland, blacksmith; F. A. Osmek, railroad, express and telephone agent ; V. J. Pechousek, general store; John Raden, barber; Steinkopf & Neilson, grain elevator, H, A, Schramm, agent; Thompson Yards, Inc., lumber.

The Kuester Mercantile Company originated in 1880, when Frank Kolar started a store here, which he conducted until 1912. He then sold out to Henry Kuester, who is now con- ducting the business, with his sister Kathryne as equal partner. In 1915 they erected their present store building, 26 by 50 feet, with modern improvements.

The Biscay post office was established in 1889 and was at first located in the elevator office. John Kennedy, the first postmaster, served until November 10, 1910, when he was succeeded by John M. Kennedy, who had charge of the mails until November 21, 1911. From that time until March 1, 1912, the acting postmaster was Daniel Kennedy. Frank A. Osmek was then appointed postmaster and has served up to the present time, being assisted by his wife. The second location of the office was in the railroad depot. Afterwards it was located in the creamery and also for awhile in the mill, being then removed to the store owned by J. Kennedy. On March 1, 1912, a transfer of location was made to the old Danek building, formerly occupied by the bank, and about July 1, it was moved to its present location in the dwelling owned by the postmaster, August 1, 1906, it became a registered letter and money order office and at the same time the rural route was established, R. Engel being the present carrier.

The First State Bank of Biscay was incorporated February 1, 1909, by Lyman Wakefield, of Minneapolis; Charles Fiman, of Hutchinson; Sam G. Anderson, of Hutchinson; John Kennedy, of Biseay; Henry Ulrich, of Biscay; William Schultz, of Biscay; and Frank J. Kolar, Jy., of Biscay. The first officers and directors were as follows: John Kennedy, president; Sam G. Anderson, Jr., vice-president; Charles Fiman, cashier; John Kennedy, Sam G. Anderson, Jr., Lyman E. Wakefield, Charles Fiman, Frank J. Kolar, Jv., Henry Ulrich, and William Schultz. On February 17, 1909, the bank opened its doors for business. The subsequent changes in the official staff and directorate have been as follows: November 30, 1909, William Schultz was elected president in place of John Kennedy, deceased. Robert Vollmer became cashier August 16, 1911. January 9, 1912, the directors elected were: A. H. Ames, 8. G. Anderson, Jy., Lyman E. Wakefield, William Schultz, Henry Ulrich, Geo. A. Holmes and Robert Vollmer. E.B.J. Rouf was elected caghier May 28, 1913, the new directors being William Schultz, Frank A, Osmek, George A. Holmes, Theo, Filk, Sam G. Andergon, Jr., John Tesmer, W. E. Jergens. June 13, 1914, M. CG. Kimm was elected cashier, the new officers being' William Schuliz, president; George A. Holmes, vice-president; M. G. Kimm, cashier. Directors, William Schultz, Theo, Filk, George A, Holmes, M. G. Kimm, F. A. Osmek, W. E, Jergens, and John

Tesmer. The present staff is composed as follows: William Schultz, president; George A. Holmes, vice-president; M. G. Kimm, cashier, and C. B. Kimm, assistant cashier. It has always been the policy of the bank to treat all alike and to work for the betterment and uplifting of the community and everything consistent with good and sound banking. The bank's statement for June 30, 1916, showed a capital stock of $10,000; surplus, $5,000; total deposits, $74,386.93.

The Biscay Creamery has the honor of being the first cooperative creamery organized in the state of Minnesota, antedating any other creamery by over a year, and ever since it was started, in April, 1889, it has been in continuous and successful operation. The creamery was first started as a creamery and cheese factory, as were most of the earlier plants of the kind, but the manufacture of cheese was soon discontinued. Located in the heart of the Holstein-Friesian district of the county it is one of the most successful institutions of its kind in the state.

The church of the Evangelical Synod of North America forms a religious nucleus for this vicinity and is presided over by Rev. Max Strassburg.

Plato is one of the thriving smaller villages of McLeod county. It is situated on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, in the southeastern part of the county, in the heart of one of the most prosperous farming districts in the state.

very successful co-operative creamery is operated here - One of the best in the state. Among the other commercial Interests are a flour mill, grain elevator, saw mill, bank, black- Smith shop, hotel and several stores. A good three-room, semi- &raded school cares for the educational needs of the district, and Several religious denominations are represented by church edifices, The German Evangelical St. Paul's Church was or- Sanized in 1880 and is in a thriving condition. The German utheran Church was organized many years ago, starting with Seven families, and has taken an active part in the religious upbuilding of the community. The first store in Plato was °pened by a man named Holmes, who came here from Carver and laid out the townsite. Andrew Minder opened the second Store in 1877.

by H. L, Simons, T. M, Paine and M. A. Bell, having been conducted for four years previously by the same parties. The bank owns its own building, which was erected at the time of its incorporation. It has a capital stock of $10,000; and surplus fund of $15,000. The total deposits, June 30, 1916, were $165,914.95. Henry L. Simons is president; and M. A. Beil, cashier. T, M, Paine and Henry L. Simons are directors.

The following is a list of the present or recent business activities of the village: M. A. Bell, insurance agent; Dietrich Bergman, general store (also postmaster); Aug. Boesche, livery; B. G. Bongard, railroad, express and telegraph agent; City Hotel, Teschendorg Bros., proprietors; T. W. Dosch, blacksmith; George Holtz, flour mill; O. H. Howe, hardware; William Litzau, saloon; William Luedtke, saloon; Aug. Mackenthun, meats; Miller Elevator Company, Gerhard Bergman, agent; Miller & Gruenhagen, furniture; Geo. Minder, insurance agent; Minder Mercantile Company, general merchandise; Alb Olson, saw mill; Plato Dairy Association, Arthur L. Radke, manager of creamery; Plato Garage & Auto Company; State Bank of Plato; Stearns Lumber Company, W. F. Leistike, agent; H. F, Wallner, harness; M. G. Wegner, wagon-maker.

Sumter Village

The village of Sumter is situated in the southeastern part of Sumter township, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and is seven miles southwest of Glencoe, which is the banking point. It contains about 50 inhabitants. The commercial interests include a hotel, conducted by F. G. Dols, the Exchange Grain Company, the Midland Lumber and Coal Company, of which F. W. Fenske is manager, the Sumter Creamery, of which N. R. Nobles is secretary, and a general store conducted by F. W. Fenske, who is also the village postmaster. Sumter village has had a slow growth for a number of years, and a few retired farmers live here or nearby. It serves as a convenient shipping and distributing point for the farmers in this part of the county. Such historical interest as the village possesses is bound up in that of the surrounding region, which ig elsewhere narrated in this volume.

Koniska, which was located on the south fork of Crow river, six miles north of Glencoe, was laid out in 1856, and was first called McLeod, which name was soon afterwards changed to Konisca, the spelling "Koniska'' being adopted later. The village possessed a good waterpower, which was utilized by a Mr. Spencer, who in the spring of 1858, built a dam here and also a saw-mill and grist-mill, which helped to bring trade to the place. L. L. Baxter and A. B,. White built new mills, which were in operation by January, 1895, and the future prospects of Koniska looked rosy. It is said that a mill was also operated here by Zimri Langley, being later owned by Capt. R. B. Young, Whose wife was a sister of Gen. Nelson B. Miles, of the U. S. army. Capt. Young, who had served in the Fourth Minnesota Regiment, was for a time one of the most active promoters of the settlement. Besides the mills, a store and blacksmith Shop and a number of houses were erected. After the construction of the railroads, which ignored the village, its glory departed, and a rapid decline set in, until at last the mills and houses were torn down and the town site sold for farm lands. The only business enterprise now existing there is a creamery.

St. George

St. George, the other defunct village of Rich Valley, also had an ephemeral existence, though it flourished for awhile. In the early eighties it contained a saw-mill and grist-mill, a general Store, a shoe shop and three saloons. There was also a little Lutheran church, where services were conducted for a few years. But the causes of decay which operated in the case of Koniska, put an end to this community also, and the town site has likewise been sold for farm lands. About 1898 or 1899, however, a creamery was started here and is still in existence, doing a business of about $35,000 to $40,000 a year, which is Probably several times as much as the combined business of the old village of St. George ever amounted to.