Heron Lake City

Heron Lake City

Location - Site Selected - Platted - Additions - First Inhabitants - Smith & Carroll - Find Raw Prairie - Business Houses of 1871 - The Postoffice - Postmasters - Progress in 1872 - New Enterprises - Fifty Inhabitants - Big Trade Territory - Merchants Prosper - Directory of 1873 - Grasshoppers Take Profits - Better Times - Raiload Building - Improvements in 1870 - Census of 1880 - The Tow Mill - Incorporation - License Question - Officers, 1882-1909 - Prosperous Decade - Big Business in 1882 - Subsequent History - Fires - The Schools - The Independent District - School Houses - The Churches - Methodist - Catholic - Salem Lutheran - Norwegian Lutheran - The Lodges - The Banks - Farmers State Bank - First National Bank 257

HERON Lake, an incorporated village of about 1,000 inhabitants (898, according to the 1905 census), is the second oldest town in the county. It is in the northwestern part of the county, in Weimer township, not far from the foot of the lake after which it is named. It is on the main line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad and is the terminus of the Black Hills branch of that line. As a railroad point Heron Lake surpasses every other town in Jackson county. The village is surrounded by a very fertile farming country, and it has always been a prosperous municipality.

While the country along the Des Moines river in Jackson county was settled in a very early day, the prairie country re- ^ mained unsettled until long afterward. In fact, only a few had builded homes in that part of the county surrounding the future village of Heron Lake until a year or two before the town was founded. When, in 1870, there was great activity in railway circles and it was rumored that the 8t. Paul & Sioux City road would extend its line through southwestern Minnesota, passing just to the north of Heron lake, some far sighted people began to locate homesteads in the prairie country about Heron lake. Said the Jackson Republic of April 2, 1870 : '^At Heron lake, in the northwest corner of the county, there is quite a settlement; the prospect of the early completion of the St. Paul & Sioux City railroad and the possibility that it will pass in this vicinity have called here a good number of settlers.'*

The track of the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad was not laid through Jackson county until the fall of 1871, but in the spring of that year the route was selected and sites for stationt? chosen. It was apparently the first intention of the company to locate the principal town on section 9, Alba township, which was to be called Sibley. The first mention the press makes of this site was on June 10. A little later the Heron Lake site was chosen and the intention of establishing the Sibley station was given up.* The Heron Lake site was selected late in June,* but nothing was done toward platting or building a town there until a short time before the tracklaying was completed in the fall.

*"At Sibley, the new railway town on section 9. township 103. rani^e 88. we learn a store has been built and flUed with a stock of sroods. Thus is the 'wilderness made to blossom as the rose.' -' - Jackson Republic, July 29, 1871.

of Heron lake, three miles, another station has been located, and from here it is expected will be accommodated the Graham Lakes community, and the lan^e settlements that are now. and destined to be, made west and northwest will make an important town here." - Jackson Republic, July 1, 1871.

September, and surveyors appeared late in that month to survey the townsite, although the plat was not put on record until the next spring. The town was surveyed by Alex L. Beach and the dedication was made by the Sioux City & St. Paul Railway company, by Elias F. Drake, its president. The dedication was made April 22, 1872, the original plat consisting of eleven blocks.* It was located on section 19, Weimer township, which was included in the land grant to the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad company.*

While the surveyors were yet dividing the land into blocks and lots and before the railroad was completed to the prospective town, in the month of October, the first inhabitants came. They were John T. Smith and C. H. Carroll, who had been conducting a store at Big Bend, in Cottonwood county, to which place it had been believed the railroad would build. The route having been changed and Heron Lake selected as a site for a town, Messrs. Smith and Carroll abandoned their location at Big Bend and came to engage in business in the new town. They found the site raw prairie land, without a stick on it, and had to burn a strip of prairie grass to get a place to pile their lumber. Mr. Smith bought a lot on Main street - the first lot sold in the new town - ^but had to

Drake's First, by Harry T. Drake, Alex M. Drake and William H. Llffhtner, as executors of the will of Elias F. Drake, November 7, 1894; surveyed by Orrin Nason.

<The boundaries of Heron Lake now include the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 30, as well as the whole of section 19. That forty-acre tract was homesteaded by John T. Smith, who received his patent December 30, 1878.

wait for the surveyors to subdivide block seven before he could locate his lot, which was number fifteen. The partners hauled lumber from Mankato to start tlieir store building, but before it was finished the railroad was completed and lumber was shipped in.

Almost simultaneously the three first buildings were put up. These were the general store of Smith & Carroll, the drug store of Dr. E. R. 'Foster, which was located on lot fifteen of block seven, and the depot, which occupied the present location of the Heron Lake depot. Only two other business houses were started before the close of the year 1871. The lumber yard of Crocker Brothers & Lamoreaux, with J. A. Town as manager, was opened for business early in November. A little office building was erected, but the lumber stock was piled in the open. The other enterprise was the Pioneer hotel, which was built by John Robson on the present site - of the Farmers State Bank building and which was opened for business late in the fall. The Heron Lake postoffice was established in November. John T. Smith was the postmaster, and he conducted the office in his store."

The village of Heron Lake had been founded too late in the fall to make much progress during 1871, and the four business houses before mentioned were the only enterprises started in the year of founding. But in 1872, when train service was established on the new road and the surrounding country was rapidly settling with new arrivals, the little village was the scene of much activity. During the summer months nearly every train

*John T. Smith served as postmaster from November, 1871, to May. 1877. He was succeeded by Dr. J. P. Force, who served several years, George C. Cooley was the next postmaster, holding the office until B. D. Briggs took charge September 1, 1885. Carl S. Bastwood was appointed in Augrust, 1889, served several years, and was succeeded by B. Poppi tz. C. A. Wood became postmaster In March. 1889. and served until Carl S. Eastwood was appointed on his present term.

brought new comers to locate upon the fertile lands in the vicinity, and the town grew in proportion. A correspondent to one of the twin city papers, writing in September, said: "This village, which sprang into existence last fall, is rapidly growing and becoming the center of trade for a large tract of country. New buildings are constantly being erected, arid the place bids fair to be a town of considerable importance ere long.'*

Knute Thompson opened a small hardware store - a branch for H. L. Parker, of St. James - in the spring of 1872, which was under the management of Mr. Thompson for a time and later of Mr. Graves. The stock was bought by Smith & Carroll in September. J. W. Benson & Company erected a commodious twostory building during the summer and opened a general merchandise store in September. Smith & Carroll built a fourteen foot addition to their store to meet the increasing demands of their trade and erected tlie town's first warehouse, which was ready to receive grain in September. Pixley & Stone opened a saloon where the First National Bank building now stands in August, Mr. Pixley becoming sole owner next month. Dr. Foster bought the Pioneer house and made improvements on it. Mr. Jones became the landlord. Ralph Town became the manager of the Crocker Brothers & Lamoreaux lumber yards. George Hubbs opened the town's second lumber yard in November and erected a residence. J. B. Pixley opened a furniture store. H. J. Bosworth, the station agent, took the agency for agricultural implements and vehicles and put in a small stock. William Dahl built a residence and ran a boarding house. John Weir erected a building next to John T. Smith's store late iu the fall and engaged in the hardware business. So far as I am able to learn this completes the list of private improvements in the youthful town during 1872. During the year a mail route was established between Heron Lake and Currie, by way of the Graham Lakes country, which was in operation until 1879. The citizens dug a public well in the middle of Main street, which was considered quite an improvement at that early date. The first birth in the village occurred in 1872, when a child was born to Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Bosworth. Heron Lake had a population of about fifty people when it was one year of age.

The number engaged in business and the population of the town during the first year of its history does not convey a truthful idea of its importance as a trading point. Its merchants drew trade from an immense territory. For long distances north and south Heron Lake was the only railroad town, and retail trade came there from countries now tributary to Slayton, Avoca and Fulda, from half way to Worthington, half way to Windom, half way to Jackson, and for a time from the Big Bend country. In addition to having the retail trade of this large territory. Heron Lake was the distributing point for a much larger territory, much of the goods sold to merchants of Jackson, Spirit Lake, Iowa, and other interior points coming by way of Heron Lake. During the first two years of the town's history its merchants did an immense business and prospered.

Several new business houses were founded in 1873. N: Dahl opened a saloon in the hotel building. Mrs. Fremer opened a photograph gallery. John Jungbauer started a blacksmith shop in July. Johnson & Dieson started the third general store in August. A directory of the business houses in September, 1873, listed the following:

Minnesota during the terrible grasshop- to procure help and stock to supply the Imper scourge. Heron Lake suffered severely. """^^ ^^"'^'"^ ^^ merchandise. During these years - 1873-1878 - no prog- During the iast half of the year 1879 ress was made; the town was at a stand- ^^^^^^^ ^^^>^^^ ^^^« ^P^^* ^^ building imstiU and the merchants lost their profits P^^^^^^ents, as follows : emment. An act was approved November 17, 1881, providing for the incorporation of section 19, Weimer township,^ and naming T. A. Dieson, C. A. Wood and J. F. Force commissioners to conduct the preliminaries. The first village election was held January 3, 1882, and the first village council met and organized January 9.

^At a special election held June. 27, 1899, the corporate limits were increased by the addition of Smith's addition - the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 30. The vote was ten in favor of annexation to six against.

*The license question has often been voted upon at the annual village elections under the local option law. With the exception of the year 1883 license was granted during all the early history of the town. Since 1893 the vote has been as follows:

1893 - President, Joseph J. Jones; trustees, T. A. Jones, B. Poppitz, John McGlin; recorder, T. A. Alexander; treasurer, T. A. Dieson; justice, John McCarvel; constable, John Norton, R. H. Kidney.

The establishment of the tow mill and the prevailing prosperous times made the year 1882 a memorable one in Heron Lake's history. Said a writer who visited the town in March: "We were considerably surprised at the many evidences of thrift, enterprise and go-aheadativeness displayed in Heron Lake, and we doubt if any town of like size in southern Minnesota can surpass or even equal the town in these respects. Many new buildings have made their appearaDce within the past year and evidences of thriving trade are plentiful." The building improvements completed during the year amounted to over $17,000 and were itemized as follows :

But the amount expended in improvements gives little idea of the volume of business done. Three thousand tons of flax straw were marketed in the village, manufactured into tow, and shipped to the eastern markets, while four thousand ton.* of hay were baled and shipped. The vohimo of Imbiness done dii Hug the year (not including professional business) amounted to a quarter of a million dollars, divided among the several films as follows :^* one, and only the favorable direction of During the entire decade of the eighties ^he wind saved the town from destruction. Heron Lake prospered, as did the country gome of the buildings on the north side at .large. There was no feverish boom, ^f ^he track took fire from flying sparks, but the growth was steady and of a sub- ^ut the flames were extinguished before stantial character - keeping pace with the ^^^^ge resulted. The second disastrous progress of the surrounding country. In g^e occurred in October, 1904, when the 1884 the following ;^ere engaged in busi- j^gses amounted to about $65,000. The ness in Heron Lake: John T. Smith, gen- gt. John elevator, the Benson elevator and eral merchandise and tow mill; J. W. the Western Implement company's store- Benson, general merchandise and cream- ^.^^^^ ^^re entirely destroyed with all ery; Johnson & Dieson, general merchan- their contents. Eighty tiiousand bushels dise; John Weir, hardware; Lammers & ^f g^ain and sixteen freight cars were also Wood, general merchandise; J. F. Force, burned, drug store; C. R. J. Kellam, drug store;

E. J. Graves, lumber and real estate; C. the schools. E. Marsh, Chapman house ; W. S. Freer, During the first year of its history Her- Pioneer house; B. J. S venues. La Crosse on Lake had only a private school. On house; E. D. Briggs, attorney. December 17, 1872, a meeting of citizens In 1885 the population of Heron Lake was held at John Weirs store to take steps reached 280. That year there was some toward the organization of a district and advance, the building improvements the building of a public school house. Bev. amounting to $9,500. Comparative dull John Benson was chairman of the meeting times prevailed in 1886, but the next year and John Dalziel was secretary. As & the Heron Lake News reported the expen- result of this meeting the next session of diture of $48,000 in new buildings in the the legislature passed a bill authorizing village. The hard times period following the organization of an independent disthe panic of 1893 temporarily checked the trict at Heron Lake - ^the first independgrowth of the town, but the recovery was ent district in Jackson county. The orquick, and we find that in 1895 the pop- ganization of the district was perfected in ulation had increased to 646. During the March, 1873, when the following named next five years there was another increase, gentiemen were elected as the first board the census of 1900 giving the town a pop- of education : E. C. Sanders, George ulation of 928. There has been but little Hubbs, A. McSchooler, Ralph Town, John increase since that census, but in a busi- Weir and Zebulon Judd. ness way Heron Lake has prospered and A school election was held at Jonee' today ranks as one of the most progressive hotel April 12, 1873, at which time a malittle cities of southern Minnesota. jority of the voters declared in favor of In the history of the town there have bonding the district in the sum of $2,000 been two bad fires. The first of these to raise funds for the immediate construcoccurred Tuesday afternoon, November tion of a school house. The bonds were 10, 1898, when the John T. Smith tow issued and a building erected, in which.

In the spring of 1886 the district decided to sell the old school house to the village and issue bonds to the amount of $3,000 for the purpose of erecting a suitable building on the lots donated by E. F. Drake. At an election in June the bonds were voted, 67 to 52. A school building costing about $5,000 was put up during the summer of 1887. It was used as a public school house until 1896, when it was sold to the Catholic church society, and it is now utilized, with additions, as a parochial school building by that church. By a vote of 258 to 59, at a special election April 1, 1896, bonds to the amount of $20,000 were voted for a new school house. The contract for the erection of the building was let May 19, 1896, to J. D. Carroll on a bid of $18,447, the corner stone was laid with ceremonies July 18, and it was dedicated in November. This handsome brick structure, one of the finest public school buildings in southwestern Minnesota, was totally destroyed by fire December 31, 1901, together with about $5,000 worth of equipment. It was insured for $18,300. Thereafter for several months school was conducted in the various churches, halls and store buildings. The school house was rebuilt during the summer of 1902 and was occupied for the first time late that year.

The Churches

Four church societies maintain active organizations in Heron Lake, namely: Methodist Episcopal, Catholic, Salem Lutheran and Norwegian Lutheran. Several other church societies have been formed

""The Baptist church Is aU enclosed and Is a fine buildlnir. It is to be used as a school house for three years, when It will become exclusively a church. All denominations will worship In It for the present, thougrh It Is controlled by the Baptist society." - ^Heron Lake Correspondent, July 9. 1873.

at different times in the town's history, but are now dormant. Very soon after the founding of the village the residents took steps to secure religious worship, and in the summer of 1872 some money was raised to help build a church, but it was the next year before a house of worship was erected.

The oldest church organization is the Methodist Episcopal. Services were held as early as 1872, conducted by Rev. W. M. Bear, but it was not until June 9, 1873, that an organization was perfected. On that date. Presiding Elder G. W. T. Wright appointed as trustees Rev. J. Benson, P. M. Jones, J. F. Force, G. H. Hubbs and John T. Smith, "thev to be a body corporate under the name and style the First Methodist Episcopal church of Heron Lake." Among the charter members were C. A. Wood, Lucinda Wood, J. T. Smith, Sarah J. Smith, J. F. Force, Sarah J. Force, J. Benson, Mrs. J. Benson, David W. Edwards, Martha Edwards, Sarah Gibbs, Elizabeth Parish, Mrs. Rupert, George Aldrich, V. G. Mott, Edward Rodgers, Martha M. Rodgers, Eli H. Bowman and Elroda Bowman.

For several years the society worshipped in the Baptist church building, which was the first erected in the town. Through the efforts of Rev. H. S. Eldred and others, $1,000 toward the erection of a churdi edifice had been raised in January, 1886. One-half of this was secured by subscription, the balance from the church extension society. In June, 1887, the building was completed, and the Methodists had a home of their own. A parsonage was erected in 1895. The old church building answered the purposes until 1902, when it was replaced by the present handsome building, which cost $8,000. The corner stone of the new structure was laid July 21, 1902, and the dedication services were held December 7, 1902, conducted by Bishop I. W. Joyce. The Methodist society has prospered and has a large membership. It maintains a Sunday school, Epworth Ijcague, Ladies' Aid Society and Womens' Foreign Missionary society. Rev. W. H. Irwin is the present pastor and the following constitute the board of trustees : J. W. Benson, J. D. Wilson, E. L. Ecker, C. A. Wood, C. K. Willard, B. B. Sontag, B. P. St. John, Milo Smith and Pascal Vought.

The Baptist society was the second to perfect an organization. On July 21, 1873, a meeting was held, presided over by R. E. Town, at which the organization was completed with the selection of E. C. Sanders, John Weir and R. E. Town as trustees. The society erected a church building the same year, which was used as a house of worship by all denominations, as the public school building, as a place for public entertainment, and by all societies. The church society was maintained for several years.

The Scandinavian Lutherans had a church organization in Heron Lake in the early seventies, but it was later when the organizations were perfected. In 1886 money was raised for the erection of a church building. For several years the Salem Lutheran and Norwegian Lutheran congregations, although maintaining separate organizations, worshipped in the same church alternating Sundays. This continued until September 3, 1894, when the Norwegian Lutherans separated from the other church and selected Candidate 0. C. Myhre as their pastor. Shortly after its organization it was admitted as one of the congregations of the United church of America. A church edifice was erected in 1898. The church society now consists of about thirty families. Services are held every other Sabbath, conducted by Rev. H. H. Holte. Sunday school is held every Sunday with an attendance of about thirty-five.

The Catholic church was organized in the early eighties, and the church building was erected in the fall of 1884. In connection with the church is maintained St. Cyril's parochial school, which was establislxed in 1896 by Rev. Fr. Von den Berg. It is conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis, of Rochester, and is in a flourishing condition.

The Lodges

Heron Lake Lodge No. 93, Ancient Order United Workmen, was organized October 16, 1886, with twenty-eight charter members and the following first officers: J. D. Wilson, master workman; W. E. Daniels, overseer; H. A. Eobinson, foreman; L. F. Lammers, recorder; T. A. Dieson, financier; J. W. Benson, receiver; John Huber, guide; W. J. Jones, inside guard; Lawrence Readle, outside guard ; C. A. Wood, past master workman ;

The charter was granted and the lodge was instituted March 1, 1894. The following have held the office of pastmaster : LeEoy Brown, John L. Gessell, John F. Humiston, J. H. Dudley and C. E. J. Kellam.

St. Cyril Court No. 970, Catholic Order Foresters, was organized April 20, 1899, by William A. Bieter. Following were the first officers and charter members : William A. Bieter, C. E. ; John Mc- Glin, V. C. E.; F. W. Lynch, recording secretary ; Herman J. Eader, financial secretary; George G. Gehr, treasurer; John McCarvel, P. C. E. ; Frank Haas, Jerry Sullivan and Frank Liepold, trustees; Joseph Thomas, Nicholas Weinant, Joseph J. Birgel, William N. Klaur, Edward D. Flanagan, Joseph E. Fritscher, H. C. Berreau, John G. Liepold, N. J. Henkels, Eichard Burke, Alex Sullivan, Joseph H. Knott, Joseph F. Hartman, Adolph Eeichel, F. E. Heger, N". J. P. Murphy, Edward Wienicke. The order has a present membership of about fifty-five.

Heron Lake has two banking institutions, the Farmers State Bank and the First National Bank. The former is the older, having been organized as a private bank by P. E. Hill in the fall of 1886 - the first financial institution of the town. It continued to be conducted as a private bank until June 1, 1892, when it was n&- organized under the state banking laws as the bank of Heron Lake, with a capital stock of $25,000. T. A. Dieson was president and J. S. Kibbey vice president at the time of reorganization. January 1, 1894, there was a change in management when J. ]Sr. McGregor became president, B. Poppitz, vice president, and E. J. Grimes, cashier. In 1896 B. Poppitz became president, and J. N. McGregor vice president. L. F. Lammers was made president June 1, 1898, and one year later B. Poppitz became vice president. The name of the institution was changed to State Bank of Heron Lake July 30, 1900, and on January 1, 1901, W. P. St. John became president and held the office until his death, October 21, 1905. John T. Smith was made vice president June 1, 1901. After the death of Mr. St. John, W. A. Bieter became president and W. F. Drews was made assistant cashier.

The State Bank of Heron Lake was reorganized in July, 1906, when the majority stock, which had been held by Mr. St. John, was bought by the farmers of the surrounding country and the business men of Heron Lake and the name of the institution changed to the Farmers State Bank. The profits and surplus were paid over to the old stockholders, and the new owners took over the business of the bank, continuing it under the old charter. The oflicers remained the §ame except that John Mathias succeeded John T. Smith as vice president. January 1, 1907, officers were chosen as follows : John Mathias, president; 0. E. Dieson, vice president; W. A. Bieter, cashier; W. F. Drews, assistant cashier. One year later the following officers were chosen: Jerry Sullivan, president; N. J. Henkels, vice president; W. F. Drews, cashier; P. W. Moore, assistant cashier. From the date of reorganization into the Farmers State Bank the deposits have increased from $60,000 to $150,000 and a surplus of $3,000 hac been accumulated. The bank was moved into its present commodious quarters in June, 1901, the cost of the building and furnishings being $12,000.

The First National Bank was organized as the Peoples State Bank in September, 1892, with J. W. Benson as president. The organization into the *First National Bank was made June 9, 1900. The new institution started with a capital stock of $25,000, but this was later increased to $35,000. The capital and surplus at the present time are $45,000. The officers are: J. W. Benson, president; C. M. Doughty, vice president; W. H. Jarmuth, cashier; Paul Benson, assistant cashier. The bank building now occupied was erected in 1901 at a cost, including fixtures, of about $15,000.