Edgerton City

Edgerton City

Excepting Pipestone, the oldest town in Pipestone county is Edgerton, fourteen miles southeast of the county seat, on the Southern Minnesota division of the C'liicago, Jlihvaukee & St. Paul railroad. With a population of 381 people, as returned by the 1910 census, Edgerton is the third town in the county in point of size. It has always been a thriving place, and the visitor is at once attracted by tlie ma;iy evidences of prosperity presented. The center of a productive farming region, Edgerton is unexcelled by any of the smaller towns of southwestern Minnesota as a business point. Nature has most kindly favored it. Situated on Chanarambie creek, near its junction witli Rock river, it is here the valleys of these two streams unite to form a broad plain with gradual slopes to the east, south and west, insuring a condition much desired by any town - an almost perfect system of natural drainage.

It was during the early years of settlement in Pipestone county that Edgerton made its bid for recognition. When the Southern Minnesota railroad pushed through the county late in 1879 it found perched on the prairie in Osborne township a little hamlet awaiting its coming. Reversing the usual order of proceedings, the promoters of the village did not wait for the coining of the iron horse to found the town ; tliey founded the town and let the railroad come when it was ready.

On section 28, Osborne townslii]). where the village was later built, three early day settlers secured title to land: A. A. Dodge; to the northwest quarter ; M. M. Gunsolus. to the southwest quarter ; A. D. Kings-

transfer of the south half of lot 9, block 2. to James Hedrick by A. D. Kingsburv and wife for $20 on September 24. 1879. was the first property transfer of Edgerton real estate.

'"Crandall Bros, were the proprietors of the pioneer store only a short time, selling in Sepbury, to the east half of the section. Mr. Kingsbury, upon whose land the original plat was located, settled there with his family in April, 1877, and on August 1, 1879, received title from the government. Osborne township experienced a rapid settlement during 1878 and 1879, and the need of a market became a consideration of prime importance. When it was known that the Southern Minnesota railroad would build through the township and the line had been definitely located, tlie founding of a town was conceived, and in the summer of 1879 the initial steps were taken. Although he had not yet received title to tlie land, Mr. Kingsbury set aside a tract of land on the northeast quarter of section 28 for townsite purposes, and before the land was surveyed a number of business houses had been put under way.

The first building was put up in July, 1879, by James Hedrick.''' It was a small frame structure and was rented to C'randall Bros., of Worthington, who established therein the first business enterprise - a general merchandise store.'" Thomas Butterfield opened a blacksmith shop in July, and the same month Major D. E. Runals, who resided on a nearby farm, began the erection of a 24x30 feet business building, which was used to house a number of early enterprises.'' In August Azom Forbes, of Worthington, opened a lumber yard for the John Paul lumber company.

Having secured a patent to the land, Mr. Kingsbury had the site surveyed early in September, the surveying being done on the seventh of the month by Albert L. Arey, assisted by Major D. E. Runals and Tliomas Butterfield. The dedication was made December 13, the acknowledgtember to J. B. Barlow, who engaged exclusively in the hardware business.

"In this building Mr. Runals conducted a real estate office and served as deputy postmaster. In it was also started the Edgerton News, the town's first newspaper, by Gardner E. Hart.

merit being made belore Mr. Runals, who was a notary public. Twelve blocks were included in the original plat, the streets running east and west being named Elizabeth, Center, and Maple, and those intersecting, ^lain and Mechanic.'^

Another event of early September was the establishment of tiie postoffice, which was named Oslioi'ne, after the township. A. D. Kingsbury was the postmaster, Imt the office was in charge of ilr. Runals, whu was the deputy, and was maintained in that gentleman's building."

There was great activity in the village during tJie closing months of the year 1879. In September T. E. Fitzgerald, of Her.-ey (now Brewster), put uf) a tent on the townsite and engaged in the general merchandise business. Mrs. Patrick Finnegan, whose husband supervised the railroad grading in the vicinity, conducted a boarding house.-" The track-layers reached the new town in October and on the twentietli of that month the first passenger train passed through. A box car was placed on a sliding for a depot and W. E. Lockerby was installed as tiie first agent.

"The railroad company gave the name Edgerton to the new station in honor of General Edgerton. under whom A. D. Kingsbury and George Dodd. two of the earliest settlers of the vicinitv. served during the civil war. With the station ;ind postoffice bearing diffeient names much confusion resulted. Early in 1S80 application was made to have the name of the postoffice changed to correspond with that of the station and the reiiuest was granted.

Witli the coming of the railroad Edgerton town property became a commodity of value, and the townsite proprietor did a flourishing business. S. McLain erected a small hotel from lumber hauled from Luverne: William Lockwood became a resident of the town, erected a building, and established a general merchandise and drug store, wliich was managed by P. P, Barron; ihe C L. C'olman company establislied the second lumber yard, which was managed by G. A. Follett.

Prosperity smiled most graciously on the young Osborne township town. Activity and expansion characterized the year 1880, a number of improvements being well under way in early spring.-' J. H. Barlow, the hardware merchant, erected a store building. George W. Knee. a traveling man, put up another building, ill which was housed the general merchandise business of C. W. Ask. P. P. Barron succeeded to the business founded liv William Lockwood, and that gentleman bei-amc the hotel jiroprietor, also establishing the town's first meat market. ']'. E. Fitzgerald moved his store from the

Saunders and S. L. Bailey. A year passed before the requested action was taken. The authorities at Washington authorized the establishment of the Osborne postoffice May 7. 1S79. but not until in the late summer, after the town of Edgerton had been founded, was the office put in op:>ration.

A. D. Kingsbury officiated as postmaster of Osborne (Edgerton, after January. 1880) until May. 1881, Succeeding postmasters have been as "follows: J, B. Barlow. May. 1881, to March. 1886- C I., Crippen. March. 1886. to March, ISSS; James I.. Miller, March, 18SS, to October. 1SH7: Edwin W. Day. October. 1897. to May. 1905; C. A. Calking, May, 1905, to the present time. , . .

=»To Mr. and Mrs. Finnegan was born the first child in Edgerton. a daughter named Kittie Finnegan. .A little later in 1879 the second child and the first boy. Frank Kingsbury, was born.

="'\lthough scarcely five months have elapsed since the railroad was built and the town came into existence, E<lgerton boasts of several good residences and a number of store buildings that would be a credit to any village. Several lots on Main street have recently been purchased by parties who expect soon to erect good sized business houses, and the prospect is that within a few months the town will ha\^ more than docb! d in size." - Rock County Herald (Luverne). .\pril 23. 1880.

tented shelter nriginnlly occupied iiitn anotlier newly built structure. W. H. Morri.^nn bought a half intercut in tlic townsite and aided in advancing the town's interests. A. I). Kingsbury opened a livery stab!" nnil ('. B. Rolpli engaged in the restaurani husiness. TTodges tV' Hvde erected a v.arehouso ami engaged in the grain business, being represented by Charles Bonner. Cargill Bros, also erected a warehouse and installed J. E. Stott as local manager. During the fall the railroad company erected a suitable .station building, and the box car depot was abandoned. In December, 1880, a harness shop was opened by Scheble & Sage. The federal census of 1880, taken during the summer, gave the youthful town a population of eighty-six people.

Before the passing of another year Edgerton exhibited all the evidences of healthy development. Its growth was remarked by a visitor in July. 1881, who had returned after a year's absence. He wrote : "A visit to this thriving and prosperous village, after the lapse of a year, reveals as a result of its growth and development a change so marked as to make the infant of one vear ago almost unrecognizable in the robust two-year-old of the present time. In fact, since April, 1880, Edgerton has more than doubled in size." Among the additions to the business life in 1881 was a banking institution, founded in June bv Drew & Smith, of Luverne. with Frank Smith as manager.

A natural increase of a firm and substantial order was ex]ierienced by the lusty Pipestone county village following the lioom witli which its existence was ushered in. The result of the first few years of development may be obtained from a pe-

^-The signers of the petUion were H. A. Hoy. C. L. Crippen. Sidney King.=!bury. T. M. GuUiel<. F. Metticli. \V, T. Pratt, .J. I.,. Ryan. .J. Calkins, Iver I. Peterson. O. H. Rolfe, F. F. Biirtlette, Barney Lynch, J. P. .Ashbaugh. George GuUick. Matthew l.yneh, Charles W. Ask, .Tens Johnsmi, George H. Rii-harrlson, J. L. Miller, C. W,

So early as the fall of 1883 the project for the formation of Edgerton into an incorporated municipality was given serinus ciuisideration, but the incorporation did not eventuate until four years later. .\ census taken in Au.e:ust, 1887, disclosed the fact that there were 231 persons living within the square mile of territory wliieli ii was ]3roposed to incorporate. A [letitidn, dated August 12 and liearing the signatures of thirty-one residents,-- was presented to the board of county commissioners, asking that liody to fake tlie necessary action to bring about incorporation. This was done, and at Lockwood'* hall oM Oct.iher 14, 1887, the election to decide the matter was beld.^-'' "For incorporation" carried by a vote of 32 to 11.

On October 22 tlie first election to select village officers was held. The result of this first election and of the subsequent elections wa.s as follows :"*

='The riuestion of granting .saloon licen.=:p in Edgerton has been siitimitted to a vote under the local option law at every annual election with the exception of two or three years in it.s early history. Nine out of twentv-two times the vote has favored license, but for the greater part of its history Edgerton has been a "dry" town. The results of the license vote have been as follows;

After two years' experience with village government dissatisfactinn became manifest among some of Edgerton's population. This led, in Angnst, 1889. to a movement to annul the village goverument and return to towniship government.-' The agitatons were unsuccessful in their designs. The union between Osborne tii\vi)shi|) and Edgerton village was not, however, wholly severed until Api-il 25, 189.5, when by a vote of .30 to 3 the village voted to be set off from llic township for all voting and assessment [inrposes.

Edgerton has never witnessed a period of retrogression. The population of the village in 1890 was 178. The closing years of the century were especiallv notable in the way of material progress and achievement. The Edgerton Dairy association started a creamery June 1, 1895,=' and the same year a grist mill was erected by D. J. Forbes.

^"There i.^ a movemont nn foot (o anrnil our village charier by petition. .A petition will .shortly be iiresentetl to our citizens for that purpose on the grounds that we are not benefited by incorporation hut pay higher taxes than we would if not incorporated; our \-iIIage is no cleaner and our walks no better than before." - Edgerton Enterprise, .\ugust 15. 1SS9.

The sum nf .^-..'d.ddo expended for Imilding improvements in 1897. including a dozen residences, a bank block, postoffice building and elevator. More than double that sum was paid out during the next two years. Several handsome business blocks were erected in 1899, one of them a 50x100 feet brick structure by F. A. and A. J. Meacham. The federal census of 1900 gave Edgerton a population of 150. a gain of 150 per cent in the decade.

Tlie most destructive conflagration in Pipestone county's history occurred in Edgerton September 22, 1901, when one block of buildings on Main street was entirely destroyed. The losses were estimated at .$fi0.000 or more. The fire originated about six o'clock in the evening in Hciward & Kooiman's store and was atiributed to the gasoline aiijiaratus used in ligbtin.o- the store. While gas was being generated preparatory to lighting the lamps the gasoline tank became enveloped in flames, and in an instant the flames had spread to all parts of the building, running along the pipes from the generating link. The store building w'as early dodiiierl and a strong northeast wind carried the flames to adjoining structures. 1'lie situation was rendered most appalling by the absence of facilities for fighting the destroying element. Threshing crews rushed Ihcir water tanks to the scene, bucket brigades were formed, and a heroic fight was made with wet blankets and other crude fire fighting apparatus, but the block in which the flames originated was doomed.

Edgerton profited from the c.\|ierience of the fateful September day. The unwiseness of further postponement in providing a .system of waterworks ami fire protection was made evident. On January 14. 1902. the electors authorized the i.ssuance ^of bonds to the value of $6000 for installing a system of water works.'" The contract for ]iiitting in the system was let early in the summer of 1902.

The fire was only a temporary blow to the people (d' Edgei'toii. W'illiin a slmrt fime Ibc burnt district was partially rebuilt, oil a mure substantial basis. As was the case with many of (be villages of soiitliwe.stern Minnesota, Kdgerton Inst population in the five years from l!)oo fo 1905, the state cen.siis in the last named year giving a population of 380. Siiii-c that time the town has held its own in tlie matter of population, the census of 1910 giving ii |inpiiliif ion of .'tSl.

The School

"'The vote wa.s 117 in favor to S against bonds. Soon after the election it was found an error had been made in the wording of the proposition, and in order to escape possible legal a short fcnn of s<'lio(i| was ludd in the sod shanty on flic claim of E. W. Day and was conducted by Mrs. Ann Day. Tliere were v;-ry few residents in tlic vicinity at the time and the enr(dline:it in tbe pioneer school was small. School district No. 2, embracing the whole of Osborne township, was created liy tbe board of county commissioners March 31, 1879. and the school, conducted on the farm of \. A. Dodge, at the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 28, was [iresided over by West Webster. Six pupils were enrolled. Soon after the founding of Edgerton this school building, 14 X 20 feet, was moved to the new towiisite and ser\(>il as the village school house three years. We.st Webster was succeeded as teacher in district No. 2 by Ellen Forbes (Mrs. Thomas J. Buttcrfield), and she by Sarah .T. Chapman (Mrs. Major D. E. Eunals), who was the first to conduct the sclionl in its present location. During the winter of 1880-81 the Edgerton school was the only one in the county wdiich maintained regular sessions. For fuel iliss Chapman used soft and hard coal, wood, oats, screenings, lumber and railroad ties. For kimllinii' "twisters" were used.

Tbe present two-story frame school linuse was erected in the summer of 1882. It was 1)11 i It on a bond issue of $3500 and .1. B. Barlow, William Lockwood and M. M. (iiinsolus were the committee under whose supervision (lie building was erected. In 1SII8 the Edgerton school was enlarged from two to four departments and became a graded school. In .luly. 1901, (be district was reorganized under tbe independent district plan. Ten grades are at present maintained and there is an enrollment of about l.iO pupils.

The Churches

The oldest church organizatinn in Edgerton is the Congregatinnal, wliich was formed before the town was a vear old. 'I'he orcfanization meeting was held March 'iO. 1880, and was presided over by Eev. r. W. Matthews, of the Congregational Home Mission society. The following named eight persons formed the initial uiemiiership: E. W. Day, J. E. Swain, 1.. N. Converse, Mrs. Ellen Swain, Mrs. Alice Burdette, George Day. John Calking, Mrs. Mary E. Calking. At a meeting the following day E. W. Day and L. N. Converse were chosen to serve as the first deacons. ^'^

For many years the church was without a regular pastor, being sup])Iied liy minif-ters from other cliargcs. Rev. E. Carter located in Edgerton September 1, 1889. as the first resident pastor and served the charge about seven years. Succeeding pastors have been P. H. Fisk, J. L. Martin, A. S. Willoughhy, R. L. Roberts and James Mahaify. The society was incorporated August 11, 1889. The house of worship was erected in 1890 and was dedicated July 19, 1891. by Rev. J. H. I^Forlcy, state superintendent of the Congregational Home Mission society.

For many years a Methodist church society has maintained an organization in Edgerton. It was org-anized in the early days of the town's history, and in the fall of 1882 a small house of worship was which was dedicated May fi, 1883, hv Presiding Elder J. V. Liscombe. This was the first church edifice erected in Edgerton and was paid for with money raised by subscription. For several years the building was used as a union church, but later the Methodists secured entire conti'fil and erected a parsonage.

Thc Hollanders have two religions organizations in Edgerton, the Christian Reformed and the First Dutch Reformed. The Christian Reformed is the older and was organized as a result of a series of meetings conducted during the summer of 1902 by Rev. Schut, of Pella, Iowa. A little lalpf a church, comprising si.x or eight families, was organized. A church home was erected late in the year 1902 at a cost of $2800. It was dedicated February 8, 190.3, the exercises being in charge of Eev. Stewart, of Orange City, Iowa. The society also owns a parsonage, bought in the fall of 190(1 for -$1,500. The first regular pastor was Rev. J. M. Byleveld, who took up his duties in Edgerton in 190(1. He was succeeded in 1909 by Rev. J. F. Schultz, the present pastor. About thirty-five families arc now represented in the membersbip.

The First Dutch Reformed church is of later organization. A house of worship,which cost $2.")00, was dedicated June 26, 1907. by Eev. Schurmans, of Newkirk, Iowa. In August, 1909, a manse, valued at $2,500. was completed. The church was supplied !>y visiting ministers until November, 1908, when the present pastor, Eev. H. Van der Ploeg, located in the field. The membership consists of about thirty-five families, most of whom reside in the country adjacent to Edgerton.

For a number of years the German Lutlierans have maintained a church organization in Edgerton. Tiie house of worship, 30.\40 feet in size, was dedicated September 13, 1903. Eev. H. AmEnde, of Jasper, has supplied the congregation since the church was organized.

ner. one of the srain men. He donated a sack nf the grain each Sundav: when the oats had been consumed the services came to an end reeardless of any program arranged bv the pastor.

The Lodges

Edgertou is the home of a iiiiinln'r nf fraternal organizations. The oldest order in point of continuous existence is U. S. Grant Post No. 80, Grand Army of the Rejnihlic. Tiie post was mustered in March 20, 18S4. with twenty-six members.'--

IT. S. (Jrant Corps No. 13, W. R. C., was organized Marcii S, 1889, witli nineteen charter members.-''^ The order has a present membership of twenty-seven. This noble and patriotic organization has erected a fine granite monument to the unknown dead in Osborne cemetery, furnished a room in the women's building at the Minnesota soldiers" home, and aided in other patriotic work.

Lost Timber Camp No. 1547, Modern Woodmen of America, was g:-anted a charter August 4, 1891. =^ The lodge at present has aboul KiO memliers. In 1900 the order erected a building valued at

E. Hnmi.hr..y, Rose F. Littlefield. Margaret Littleli,-ld. l-aura l.ittlefield. Ruth S. AVare. Irene ,T. Rolph. Minnie A. Pemberton, Eva .1. Thomas. Martha R. Baldwin. Luella G. Uttlelield. Ida J. Himibaugh. Sarah ,1. Runals and Susan S. Bevans. Of the nineteen charter members fifteen have moved away and one has died. The three remaining in the local order are Martha R. Baldwin. Minnie .\. Stone and Sarah J. Runals. . , Pi - (

One of the village's active fraternal organizations is Edgerton Lodge No. 98, Knights of Pythias, which was organized in Februarv, 1893, and received its charier iSeptemlier 27 of the same year.'^

Edgerton Lodge No. 23."), .\. F. & A. M.. was organized under special dispensation May 17, 1900, and a charter was gTanted by the grand lodge January 24, 1901."

Fire Department

Vi'ithin two moiitlis after Edgerton's disastrous fire of September, 1901, the citizens took steps that would pre]iave them to combat the flames in the future. The first fire depr.rtment was lU'ganizcd Noveml)er 25, 1901, with sixteen volunteers, from which were elected the following officers: N. P. Anderson, chief; F. A. l\Ieaclipm. asjisstant chief: George (lil- bertson, secretary ; F. E. Doutv, treasui'er. "^I'lie initial attempt at maintainiiifj a protective l)rigadc was not wholly successful. The department was reorj;anizetl on a more substantial basis February .-f, 1008. At that time N. P. Anderson, the present head officer, was chosen chief and J. L. Baldwin, secretary and treasurer.

The Bank

Tlie State Bank of Edgerton is the outgrowth of the Bank of Edgerton, a private institution established in 1891 willi the following oif icers : H. J. Thode, president; B. Eofs, vice president; C. G. Brady, cashier. No change was made in the management until May, 1901, when an entire new staff of officers was chosen. C. S. Howard became president; Ed. Yncom, vice president ; and F. E. Douty, cashier. On May 10, 1908, the bank was reorganized under the state banking laws as the State Bank of Edgerton, with a paid-up capital of $25,000. The incorporators were C. S. Howard, Ed. Yocom, F. E. D(juty. B. Eoss and C. G. Brady. The officers elected in 1901 continue to serve.