Jackson City

Jackson City

LcK'ution - Elevation -Natural 15eauty - First Wiiitcs Arrive Springfield Founded Renamed Jackson - liecomes County Seat Alexander Wood - Land Patents First l>eetl- Early Day Cabins-^Saw Mill Jackson Platted- Ashley & Bailey - The Name - Additions - The First Building - WTiite's Store George Chamberlin's Advertising - Postoffice Established- Its History - Buildings of 1807 - Kimball and Clark - Historic Building- The Town in 1807- Arrivals of 1808 Joseph Thomas* Townsite - Rivalry Between East and West Sides Replatting - legislative Action The Town in 1809 - The l^nd Office- Its History Big Trade. Territory Kimball's Business - An Early Directory- Stage Lines 213

Chapter Xvii

Prosperous Village Develops Improvements in 1870 Trade Territory Abridged- In 1872 - The Grasshopper Days - Railroad Comes - Its Effect Life Awakening Agency - New Enterprises- Attempt to Incorporate - Results in Failure - Improvements in 1879 - Census of 1880- Incorporation First Election Village Officers. 1881-1909 - The License Issue - First Council Meeting Early Financial Statement On a Normal Basis - Statistics - Directory of 1884- Population in 188.3 -A Division Point - Depot Gloved - Water Works System - Prof>i>erity -Panic of 1893 - Census of 189.3 - A Prosperous Era, 1899-1902- Electric Lights "Tlie Wet Years' Again Pros- |>erous 22o

Jackson'S Enterprises

The Schools - First Teachers and Pupils The School House First Financial Statement -Second Building- An Independent District The New School House The Churches - Methodist- -Presbyterian - Nor^^cgiJ^n Lutheran Catholic - -German Lutheran- Episcopal - The Lodges -Masonic (irand Army Relief Corps NVorkmen-Odd Fellows - Motlern Woodmen - Foresters Knights of Pythias The Banks Brown National - First National - Jackson Njitional - Fire Department Early Day Department - Agricultural Society 2.35

Chaptek Xix

JACKSON, the capital of Jackson county, is the oldest and largest town in tlie count V. It is located on the Des Moines river, and its elevation ahove sea level is 1,353 feet.^ It is on the Southern Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, and is a division point of that road. Otherwise described, Jackson is in the southeastern part of Jackson county, the business center of the village being fifteen and one-half miles from the northern boundary, eight and one-half miles from the southern boundary, six and three-quarters miles from the eastern border, and twenty-three and onequarter miles from the western boundary line of the county.

The population of Jackson, according to the census of 1905, was 1,776, but there has been an increase since that, and a census today would show a population of about 2,000. Jackson is one of the progressive and prosperous towns of southwestern Minnesota. All lines of business that are to be found in the towns of the agricultural communities of the upper Mississippi valley' are represented. It is noted for its schools, churches and social organizations, and in this respect it is the peer of any town of its size in the state.

'This is the elevation of the business part of town. The elevation of Depot hill is 1,446 feet, while the Des Moines river at Jackson is 1,288 feet above sea level.

The location of Jackson, considered in its natural state, is one of unusual beauty ; southwestern Minnesota has not a more lovely spot. Here the Des Moines river forms a semi-circle, and on the hills and benches on either side of that stream is builded the city. On the east side are hills and bluffs, covered with a heavy growth of natural timber ; on the west side are a succession of benches. On the lower bench is the business part of the city, while on the higher ground of the next rise is the residence portion. The bluffs and hills surrounding protect the little city from the wintry winds of the prairies.

In the summer season, when the beautiful natural parks that surround the town are clothed in emerald foliage, even he who has not the esthetical nature is moved. The lover of landscapes, as he stands upon one of the tree-crested hill tops of the east side and gazes upon the little city of Jackson, nestling in the valley and perched upon the sunny hillsides, with the sparkling water of the Des Moines flowing below him, sees a picture of beauty and is led to exclaim, ^TVTiat a beautiful sight V' In its natural state and with the embellishments added by the hands of man, Jackson stands at the present time as one of the prettiest little cities of a state distinguished for its pretty towns. Especi- ally i? one charmed with its loveliness in the summer. Then the broad avenues and parks are clothed in brightest green. Trees are evervwhere.

One can hardly realize that only a little over a half century ago this spot was an uncharted wilderness, practically unknown to white men ; yet such is the case. Time was when the dusky red man pitched his tepee where now our churches are located; vast herds of bison inhabited the Des Moines river country and made their wallows where now our courts are held; timid deer browsed where now the pupil studies his natural history; elk in countless numbers roamed the adjacent prairies and saw their antlers reflected in the clear waters of the Des Moines as they bent down to drink.

When the first white man set foot on the soil of the present site of Jackson is unknown. Probablv he was some adventurous trapper who had pushed out beyond his associates in an endeavor to locate new grounds in which to ply his trade. Possibly he was one of the early explorers of southwestern Minnesota.

When the first permanent settler came to Jackson county he selected the spot upon which Jackson now stands as a townsite, having practically the whole of southwestern Minnesota to choose from. It was during the summer of 1856 that the Wood brothers - William, George and Charles - selected their claims, built a cabin, opened a store and christened the site of their proposed town Springfield. The store was built in the northwestern part of the present incorporated town, but their claims took in practically all of the present Jackson west of the river and a part of that on the east side. The same year other pioneers settled along the Des Moines river in Jackson county, but none of them located on the Wood brothers' claims. A few, however, took claims and built their cabias within the present corporate limits of the town, on the east side of the river. Among these were William Church, who located with his family just south of the present location of the elevators; Joshua Stewart, who with his family lived in the southeastern part of the present town; William T. Wheeler, who erected a cabin south of the Jackson depot and then departed.

It is not necessary to tell again of the tragedies that occurred on the Jackson townsite on that eventful 26th of March, 1857 - of the murder of the Wood brothers and the sacking of their store, of the other murders in the vicinity, and of the flight from Springfield. On that day the soil of Jackson was drenched in human blood. Yerv soon after the massacre Alexander Wood, a brother of the murdered storekeepers, came to take possession of his brothers' claims. He formed a partnership with a company of townsite boomers, with the intention of building a town on the land. Elaborate plans were made for the new town, which was to be named Jackson. Mr. Wood was to hold the land claim, the other members of the company were to make certain stipulated improvements, and they were to acquire a half interest in the site. On the strength of these proposed improvements, Jackson - then only a name - was designated the county seat of Jackson county when it was created by act of the legislature on May 23, 1857. Despite the prestige this legislation gave, the townsite company did not fulfil its promises by making the improvements. Mr. Wood did not care to endure the hardships incident to a winter passed on the frontier, so he gave up the idea of becoming the founder of a town and filed on a quarter section only of his brothers' claims," not as a townsite claim but as a farm claim. ^

For several years thereafter immigration to Jackson county was not great, and, although the belief was often expressed that a town would some day be built on the site, no attempt to found ff town was made until after the war. Mr. Wood continued to hold his claim and made some improvements on it. It is said. that the first plowing on the townsite was done by Stephen Muck, who afterwards became

During the late fifties and the sLxties all of the land now included in the corporate limits of the village was filed on, but title was not received from the government to the lafit tract until early in 1873. Following are the names of those who received patents to the land, the date of the patents, the description and acreage of the claims:

Description

During the time these claims were being filed upon and before Jackson was. platted a few cabins were erected. On the east side of the river stood the old fort which had been erected by the soldiers after the massacre of 1862; the Joseph Thomas cabin, which had been erected by William T. Wheeler in 185G; and the cabin of Israel F. Eddy on Depot hill. The first building erected on the west side, except Wood brothers' store and a cabin built son. described as the north half of the southwest quarter and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 24. Mr. Wood received his patent from the government September 1, 1860.

*The oldest deed on record in Jackson county is dated May 28. 1864, when James E. Palmer and his wife, Aminda Palmer, conveyed this land to Jane R. Bailey for a consideration of 1500.

After the civil war there was quite a large immigration to Jackson county, nearly all settling along the river. Among those who came to the immediate vicinity of Jackson was William Webster, who constructed a dam across the river and began the erection of a saw mill in 1865. Owing to lack of capital, he did not complete it that year, but in 1866 Welch Ashley took over the property and completed it. In this mill was sawed nearly all the lumber used in the construction of Jackson's first buildings.

ly history of Jackson were Major Hiram S. Bailey, who filed upon a claim now lying within the corporate limits of the town, and Welch Ashley, who came from Pennsylvania looking for a location in the western country. They were impressed by the beauties of the site and decided that the prospective immigration to the vicinity would warrant the founding of a town. Accordingly they bought the Alexander Wood farm, platted it in the fall of 1866, and named their town Jackson.**

The townsite of Jackson, in Jackson county, in the state of Minnesota, as it is laid out and platted by Messrs. W. Ashley and H. S. Bailey is described as follows, to- wit: Commencing at a point (35) thirty-five rods west of the center of section No. (24) twenty-four, in town No. (102) one hundred and two north of range No. (36) thirty-five west; thence running south (HO) one hundred and ten rods; thence west 75 rods; thence north (110) one hundred and ten rods; thence east (75) seventy -five rods to place of beginning, containing (51 9-16) fifty-one nine-sixteenths acres, all on land owned by W. Ashley and H. S. Bailey. The above described land is divided into (35) thirty-five blocks of (8) eight lots each. Each lot is (3 by 5) three by five rods. The streets between the blocks are four rods \iide. There are also alleys between the lots running north and south of one rod in width.

Welch Ashley H. S. Bailey

I hereby certify that the within is a correct description of the townsite of Jackson, in Jackson county, and state of Minnesota, as it is surveyed and platted.

Hiram S. Bailey

-The name of the county was probably responsible for the name of the town. It will be remembered that so early as the spring of 1857 Alexander Wood had named . the site Jackson and that the Minnesota legislature of that year had designated "Jackson" as the county seat of Jackson county, so that the name of the townsite Is, In fact, older than the county. Possibly the fact that a township near Welch Ashley's old home in Pennsylvania was so named had Its influence In the selection of the name by Messrs. Ashley and Bailey.

The original plat consisted of thirty-five blocks. The streets running east and west were named Sheridan, Grant, Sherman, Ashley, White, Bailey and South. Those running north and south were named Elver, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth. A stone was set in the ground to mark the center of the southwest quarter of section 24, and this was at the intersection of Fourth and White streets.*

Some two or three months before the plat became of record the first building wa£ put up and the Jackson townsite boasted its first inhabitants. These were Thomas H. White and George C. Chamberlin. They first came to the site one day in the month of August, 1866,^ investigated the prospects of the new town.

V" . . . Previous to making Jackson my home I had resided for a short time at Blue Elarth City, and it was here I first met my friend Chamberlin in Minnesota, although I htfd known him for several years in the east. During our first interview I told him of a recent trip to Jackson and of my determination to locate there. I described the townsite as one of nature's wonders - the surroundings as all that could be desired - and expressed the opinion that Jackson, would at no distant day be a prosperous and growing town. I also m formed him that I had engaged Jim Pratt to take out a load of building material and that I wouM return in four or five days to erect a building and prepare for winter. It was soon arranged that he should accompany me to the promised land." - Thomas H. White in Jackson Republic March 9, 1888.

I found that during my absence, by virtue of the surveyors' chain, Jackson had made a wonderful advancement toward metropolitan proportions. It now actually contained 150 or 200 corner lots, several hundred lot stakes, street stake'b and alley stakes.

Mr. White returned to his new home some time in September, bringing with him more stock for the store which he proposed to open. He also brought a wife, having been married since his previous visit to Jackson. Welch Ashley's saw mill having been put in operation by this time, ^Ir. White at once began the erection of his store building, the first load of lumber having been hauled to the site by Menzo Ashley. For temporary quarters a shelter wa^ made by taking four joists and nailing rough boards around them six or seven feet high; two shelter tents provided the roof. When this was completed Mrs. White prepared supper, a table was made by placing a board on a tool chest and box, and Mr. and Mrs. White and Mr. Chamberlin sat down to partake of the first repast served in the village of Jackson.

The store, which was erected at the corner of Second and White streets, where Robertson's implement house now stands, was completed in October. It still stands, forming a part of the implement house. It

-"We [C?hamberlin and White] arrived In Jackson the next afternoon [In August. 1866] and stopped at Thomas' old log hotel, the only stopping place of the kind in the country. The next morning we went down through the timber, crossed the river to Jackson - ^yes, to Jackson. All there was then of Jackson was tall prairie grass, but we pronounced the surroundings and situation good and left. The next day we set out on our return to Blue EJarth. Somewhere on the prairie after we started out we met a company of engineers on their way to survey a line for the Southern Minnesota railroad. I was unsophisticated then and supposed that surveying a railroad meant a railroad In tiie near future, and right then and there decided to cast my lot In the new town. . ." - George C. Chamberlin in a speech delivered September 6, 1889.

is built entirely of native lumber and is about 18x20 feet in size, with a small upstairs room. The store was opened as soon as the building was completed, and soon customers came with their muskrat, mink and other pelts to exchange for calico and groceries.® Mr. White conducted the store until February, 1868. Then J. W. Hunter bought the stock at sheriffs sale arid continued the store.

The White store was the only building erected in Jackson in 1866, and during the following winter Mr. and Mrs. White were the only residents on the town, Mr. Chamberlin having spent the winter in St. Paul. Upon his return to Jackson he took charge of the store while the proprietor and his wife spent two months visiting in the eastern part of the state. Mr. Chamberlin has written: *'Hence from the 22nd of March to the 22nd of May, 1867, I was

"Twenty-eight years ago last September I left my old home in Faribault county for the wilds of the west - even as far out as Jackson county. We took but few household goods with us, expecting to have them come later with a small stock of goods for the store. It was our intention to board at Mr. Thomas* hotel until our store and dwelling combined could be built; but when we arrived we learned to our disappointment that the lumber was not all sawed yet. I have forgotten now what was the cause, but think it was either the great demand for lumber or they were waiting for the timber to grow. Anyway, our plan of getting plenty of help and rushing the building right along had to be given up. After staying at the hotel a few days, we decided to go to house-keeping in a tent pitched on the beautiful townsite of Jackson.

"The weather favored us, being perfectly delightful during October. Not having been in the house-keeping business very extensively for some time previous, and necessarily having very few conveniences in so small quarters, I did not And it the all-absorbing pleasure It Is supposed to be - by the men. Of course, If I could have washed windows and doors and scrubbed floors, and so kept real busy all the time, I might have enjoyed tenting better tnan I did. Finally, after taking the boards as they dropped off the logs as the saw plowed through them, we got our building enclosed, the roof on, the loose boards down - for the floor, and moved Into the up-stairs of the first building in Jackson. But in spite of our late fall, the whole structure was so very green that It was badly frost-bitten. I wonder quite frequently at the present time how we managed to exist in th/e building that winter, unfinished, as it was; but I remember how our sheet-iron stove used to blaze with heat, and I presume the parties who sold us the wood we burned realized that we were not at all economical in that line.

the only inhabitant of Jackson. Certainly society circles were select during those two months, waiving all claims to respectability." During these earlv days of Jackson's history Mr. Chamberlin acted in the capacity of advertising agent, and quite a number of the town's early residents came as a result of hi.s representations. He opened up a correspondence with thirteen newspapers in different parts of the country from Minnesota to the far east, telling of the vacant government lands to be secured and advantages in the new country, with a view to attracting new settlers.

During the winter of 1866-67 the first bridge at Jackson, located where the lower bridge is now, was built. It was built of oak piles and hewn lumber, furnished by Welch Ashley, and tlie work of building the structure was donated. The bridge was not long in commission, for the ice took it out in the spring of 1867.^®

In those days. We bad quite a number of boxes of goods outside our tent (from which we sold to an occasional customer through the day), and they never were disturbed in any way. Jackson in those days was noted for one thing - scarcity of money - and as a consequence too much credit was asked to insure a successful business. While some asked credit with the assurance of millionaires, once in a while a man offered some security. I have in mind one case; a man with a large share of the alphabet for initials came Into our store one day and asked for a few things on time, Insisting on leaving as security a couple of plated wine goblets. They might have cost 12.60 wholesale. After this, on one promise or another, he ran that little bill up to 125.00, and the goblets were all we ever had for it. As soon as he ran out of securities he left the county. And yet In many other cases men were not able to give any security. So, as some of the present residents well know, our venture In business was not a success.

"In the spring of 1867 we went oft on a sort of a wild goose chase and left our Jolly friend Chamberlin to look after our interests during our absence; and he did it well, too, Judging from one Item I now remember we found on the book: 'To one darning needle, ten cents.' I do not recall other mistakes, if there were any, and being 'booked' could easily be corrected, and our few cash customers did not suffer to any great extent. Mr. Chamberlin used to tell the joke on himself, so probably remembers it. Having lived there three and one-half years, I became attached to the people and place and was loth to leave."

'-The second bridge over the Des Moines river at Jackson was put up during 1869 and 1870 where the upper bridge is now. It was a bent bridge and the stringers were whipped out by hand. The county stood part of the expense of Its construction and residents of Jackson the rest. It was In commission about ten

. In the spring of 1867 Thomas H. White was appointed postmaster of Jackson, and at once entered upon his duties. Previous to this time the postoffice had been at the Thomas hotel on the east side of the river, and Joseph Thomas had* been the postmaster. During those times the office was supplied by weekly mail from Emmet (Estherville), the carriers being Major H. S. Bailey and his son, Frank Bailev. At the old hotel on the hill the settlers were wont to congregate every Thursdav to witness the arrival of the mail, which contained the St. Paul Weekly Press, two weeks old, as the latest intelligence from the outside world. What letters and papers were not handed out on the spot to the owners would be laid back (m a shelf to await the call of the owners. Mr. White has written of his appointment as postmaster:

It was a lamentable fact that while we lived in the city we had to go three-quarters of a milo into the country for our mail. A friend of Mr. Aiken Miner, from Fillmore county, had stopped at my place for an hour or so during the winter and bad comprehended our wants. On his return to Fillmore county he immediately took steps to have the writer appointed postmaster, and this was against my wishes at that time. However, the appointment came, and in due time the office was moved to town."

Jackson's second building was erected in the spring of 1867. It was built by Welch Ashley for his son-in-law. Palmer Hill, on the site of the present Jackson National Bank building on Second street. It was a years. A combined Iron and wood brid^ took Its place, and that was washed away durini; the high water of 1881. From its wreck another was constructed. The present upper bridge was put In ten or more years ago by the county and township. The present lower bridge was built by the county and villas about 1889.

"Mr. White served as postmaster until Then J. W. Hunter received the appointment and conducted the office at his store until 1870. On April 16 of that year Moses A. Strong became postmaster and served until October 4. 1877. In May, 1871, the Jackson office was designated a money order office, but It was not until July that this department began operations. Alexander Fiddes succeeded Mr. Strong and served until March. 1886. That month John Fiddes became the Jackson postmaster. He served until his death, whloh occurred May two-story building, built of native lumber, and was occupied by Mr. Hill for a wagon shop for three or four years. The family Hved up-stairs. It was in this building that Jackson's first bank was started. It now stands on Third street and forms a part of one of the buildings of the R. S. Robertson lumber yard.

The season of 1867 was wet and backward, and it was not until July or August that the little saw mill could furnish sufficient lumber for the few contemplated buildings of that year. Every board wastaken possession of almost as soon as' it left the saw. The cause of the activity in the building line was the arrival of two families in July, who came to engage in business and become permanent residents of the village. These were the families of W. S. Kimball and Samuel M. Clark, who increased the population of the Jackson townsite from three to eleven - a gain of over 200 per cent in one day.

Owing to the scarcity of lumber, these new arrivals were obliged to take temporary quarters in an improvised board shanty located where the Ashley house now stands. George C. Chamberlin, who was about to erect a building, generously surrendered lumber and carpenter privileges, and tliose gentlemen began the construction of business houses. Mr. Kimball, who later became one of the best known business men of the village, erected a store building on the corner south of the Ashley house and opened a hardware store. His was a two-story building, and he and his

24, 1887. D. M. DeVore served under appointment by President Cleveland from Augrust. 1887. to August 1, 1889. From that date until November, 1893. Alexander Piddes was again in chargre of the office. From that time until November 2, 1897, the office was under democratic administration and V. B. Crane was the postmaster. Herman Strom then became the postoffice official and served until February 1, 1902. He resigned and Alexander FIddes again received the appointment. Mr. FIddes has since conducted the office. He has served nearly twenty -three years as Jackson's postmaster.

family resided upstairs.^^ Mr. Clark erected a dwelling house on the site of the present Cowing block, and a blacksmith shop just to the east of his house. Another building erected in Jackson in 1867 was the office and dwelling house put up by Mr. Chamberlin. This stood at the corner of -Second and Ashley streets. When it was moved in 1889 to make room for the Berge block, Mr. Chamberlin gave the history of the building, as follows:

Consequently this was number four in the order of ardiitectural enterprises during the starvation season of 1867. The half inch basswood boards used as siding were unloaded on the grass just south of Cowing's old store, and nearby stood a carpenter^s bench, where one side of those boards was smoothed by the acting carpenter. I suppose one hundred teams now pass to and fro within the time then occupied by that brevet carpenter in dressing one-half dozen boards, but he gave as a reason for the slow progress that the boards should be thoroughly seasoned before using.

"The little cottage In the village of Austin had been sold, the last goodbyes spoken, and we had started on our westward journey in the good, old-fashioned way, hoping to build our fortune by supplying the early settlers with the stock of hardware that had been purchased for the new town. On the outskirts of the city which had been our home for years, we were joined by the family of an honest blacksmith, familiarly known as Sam Clark. The season was an unusually rainy one, the newly laid out roads almost impassable and the streams unbridged. Only those who have traveled in like manner can realize the joy we felt as our train drew up before the log cabin of Uncle Joe Thomas, and, although almost twenty-eight years have elapsed since we reached the wooded bluffs on the Des Moines. I remember still the good warm meal that was set before us, and that bed! It may not have been down, but it seemed as such to us after those long nights of camping.

"But where was Jackson? This was the question I asked my husband as we stood on the banks of the bridgeless river. Silently he pointed to the little sawmill at our feet and the small, unfinished dwelling in the valley. These were the only signs of habitation as far as the eye could see: not a roadway to tell of neighboring villages: only the redman's path, a too vivid reminder of the terrible massacre that had so recently swept our borders. Trees were felled, and soon the little mill had provided us with boards enough for a small oneroom shanty, which we shared In common with the blacksmith. September came, and the north half of the building now owned and occupied by Ole E. Olson was ready for occupancy, and the two families were moved to the second story. To be sure it was neither lathed nor plastered. There were no partitions, and the roof rose like the dome of a church over our heads, but we did not complain though the winter was long and severe, for such is the life of pioneers."

It was the home of the writer for several years; county officers and county commissioners here transacted their duties; different business gatherings were wont to convene within its walls; social chit-chats, town gossiping, and local loafing generally seemed for a time to drift to that building as headquarters.

At one time Rev. Peter Baker held protracted meetings there, and the tunes and psalms sung on that occasion were far mor^ sacred than those sung by the carpenter boys, who almost every evening during the autumn of 1868 assembled there for interchange of songs and stories. That was a busy season, and every room was occupied. The boys would not only remain during the evening, but brought in their blankets and covered the floor during the night. .

Justice courts were frequently held in this building, and in this connection many curious coincidents have already been recorded. The first land trial after the United States land office was moved to Jackson in 1869 was held in this building and lasted until long into the night. As rather a strange circumstance in this connection, the one before whom the trial was had, the two contestants and the half dozen or more witnesses have all left for distant parts. The two who acted as attorneys, however, are still residents of Jackson - one of whom can appear on your streets only with the aid of two crutches, while the other is infirm and blind. .

In the autumn of 1869 another building formed an addition to this structure, where early in 1870 the Republic was born and flourished until 1874. . The old quarters were then used for a justice office and peanut stand - as a gentleman crossing the street read the sign, ** Justice and Peanuts for Sale!"

In 1869 this building was the office of county auditor and register of deeds; in 1889 it serves the same purpose for court commissioner and county surveyor; and I suppose in 1909 it will be occupied by whoever may be the scholastic and cultured persons filling the offices of superintendent of schools and county attorney, and the same oak shingles split and shaved by M. S. Clough in 1867 will protect them from rain and storm.

In October, 1867, myself and family landed at Jackson, on the 20th. The first persons whom I met were Joseph Thomas, Jr., and R. D. Larnard. They assisted me down the steep embankment just below the mill. We crossed the river and made straight for Aiken Miner's. I found quite a change in the townsite. I found a general store, well stocked, W. S. Kimball's hardware store, Clark's blacksmith shop, and Joseph Thomas* hotel near by. I also found the following families living near by: Major II. S. Bailey, Welch Ashley, Clark Baldwin, R. N. Woodward, W. V. King, Darby

During these pioneer times every addition to the town was cause for much comment and congratulation. The residents would gather around the carpenters as they would begin some little building, and that would be the principal resort until the building was completed.

An important addition to the community in the spring of 1868 was John W. Cowing, who founded the town's second general store, erecting a building in the middle of the block between the present locations of the Kobertson implement house and the Albertus clothing store." Another arrival in 1868 was John A. Myers, who opened a 'store in a building situated where the First National Bank now stands. This building was one and one-half stories high and was erected during the summer by Welch Ashley. It was the first lath and plastered edifice erected in Jackson county, the lime and lath having been hauled by ox team from Mankato by Menzo L. Ashley. This old store building still stands, to the east of the First Xational Bank.

During the late sixties rivalry sprang up between the conmiunities of the east {ind west sides of the river. It was learned that the original plat as laid out by ^lessrs. Ashley and Bailey waa defective for some cause or other, and in May, 1868,

''"Thirty years ago last spring a slim young man drove over the brow of the hill In front of the Thomas place and took a look at the townsite of Jackson. He had been traveling in a covered wagon and camping by the roadside, looking for a location to commence life for himself. The sight was a pleasant one. and before descending the steep hill to the ford he had decided that this was the place he had been looking for. He had five hundred dollars in cash and some personal property. Securing a lot he unloaded his plunder, and, buying an ax, he started out to buy trees enough to build a store. Cutting and hauling the logs himself. he soon had enough lumber to put up a small building. 16x24 feet, on the lot now occupied by A. E. Olson's store. It was an Immense store building at that time, and John W. Cowing soon had a small stock of goods displayed, and his career as a merchant commenced." - Republic, October 14, 1898.

Joseph Thomas platted a townsite on the east side of the river, which he also named Jaekson. Thereafter for a year or more there was some feeling between the two communities and ranch speculation as to which would finally become "the town." The plat of the east side Jackson was dedicated in the following language : r, Joseph Thomas, do hereby certify this May 26. 1868, that I have caused a survey and plat to be made of lands belonging to me and situated on the north half of the southeast quarter of section 24, town 102, range 35, to be called the town of Jackson.

Joseph Thomas

The plat was surveyed by James E. Palmer. It extended from the Des Moines river to the Wisconsin township line and consisted of eight blocks, in addition to a homestead reservation by Mr. Thomas and small unplatted areas in the names of P. Brown and C. Chamberlin. The east and west streets were named Front street and Oakland avenue ; those running north and sonth were Biver, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth. The plat was filed for record May 26, 1868.

To rectify the errors of the original plat of the west side Jackson, Messrs. Ashley and Bailey had a new survey made on October 30, 1868, by J. A. Dean. It was practically the same as the old plat, but it complied with the law, and was filed in the office of the register of deeds November 4, 1868. That there might be no question as to the validity of town property titles, the matter was taken before the state legislature, and on March 3, 1869, an act was approved which legalized all deeds and convevances made, bv the townsite proprietors under the old plat.*^

"-Section one of the act reads as follows: "That the plat of the town of Jackson. In the «unty of Jackson, as offered for record by Welch Ashley and Hiram S. Bailey and rewjrded in the office of the register of deeds of iaid county on the first day of December, 1866, and as resurveyed and corrected by a plat made by John A. Dean on the 30th day of October, 1W8, and filed for record In the office of the register of deeds of said county on the 4th d^y

There was then strife between east and west Jackson, and it was mixed which would come out ahead. The east side had the hotel, and the west side the postoffice. In some respects it looked as if the west side had the advantage and a little blue for the east siders.

After dinner we went **oyer the river;" they did not call it "over town** then. On the way I took in the towns. On the east side was - or, rather, had been - a store kept by one Radford, then retired, played out, closed out, locked out. He still lived in an old house near by, waiting for something to turn up. Charles Chamberlin, a big mugwump of the east side, had an unfinished house in the suburbs. One Arkle was a shoemaker and pegged away in a small house at the foot of the hill. Philander Brown owned a patch of land on each side and didn't care which way the cat jumped. Down at the river at the end of an old mill dam was an old saw mill, and tlie proprietors, Cardwell & Wiltsie, lived in an old house near by. This was about all there was to the east side [except Joseph Thomas' hotel].

We crossed the river on the ice, there being no bridges then. When there was no ice and the water was low they crossed at the ford below the pond; when it was high they didn't cross at all.

Up on the west side, toward where the bridge is now located, was a house owned by B. W. Ashley. ' Next, the house of Palmer Hill; across the way, Sam Gark's residence and blacksmith shop; then a small store kept by J. A. Myers, a one-armed ex-soldier; across the street was the hardware store of W. S. Kimball. His family - wife, two young daughters and wife's sister - lived over the store. Then came George Chamberlin's little oflfice and bedroom combined. It was occupied by Chamberlin and Garratt, as county auditor and register of deeds office, and when both were in there was no room for others. Mr.

oi November. 1868. be, and the same Is hereby, legalized and established and declared to be of the same force and effect in the law as if the same was in strict conformity with the statutes upon the subject of the laying out of towns and the survey thereof, and of the making, certifying and recording of the plats thereof; and the said plats are hereby declared to be lawful and competent evidence of the contents thereof in all courts and places In the same manner and with the same force and effect as If the same had been In all respects certified, acknowledged and recorded In strict conformity with the statutes upon that subject In force at the time when said plats were respectively made. Provided, that whenever the said two plats differ from eaoh other in any respect, the said plat made by the said John A. Dean for the said Welch Ashlev and Hiram S. Bailey, town proprietors, shall be deemed paramount, and shall to that extent supersede the former plat."

Across on the opposite corner was the store of Hunter Brothers - J. W. and David. The family, then consisting of J. W., David, Agnes and their mother, lived in an addition to the store. James W. Hunter was postmaster. Elder [Edward] Savage assisted David and had a room over the store. Dr. Foster had a little drug shop across the way and he and his wife lived in one end. A little farther along was the store of Cowing & White. They lived over the store. Then came the residence and photograph gallery of T. H. Wliite and wife. Across the way was the feed store and harness shop of Hale & Munger and wife. Down at the end of the street lived Alex Hall, who ran the Jackson & Blue Earth City stage. Down by the bayou was the 7x9 frame school house. Nearby lived Chris, a half-crazy Norwegian. This love-cracked old man lived alone and made furniture.

A little out of town lived Major Bailey and family in a log house, and Wilson Oarratt and the Dayton families a little farther up the creek. Philander Brown and wife lived on the bench, and Nathaniel Frost and familv near

An event of the greatest importance occurred in the spring of 1869; then the United Statas land office was moved from Winnebago City to Jackson upon an order issued by Commissioner Wilson.'* That event brought happiness to the hearts of the people of the little community; they knew then that Jackson was to become a town. It also settled the matter of the supremacy of the two towns of Jackson, as the office was located in the west side village. A number of new residents were

"This office had been opened at Brownsville, on the Mississippi river. In 1854. with Messrs. McKinna and Welch In charge. In 1856 It was moved to Chatfleld, and in 1861 to Winnebago City. When the last named change was made Mr. Holley was receiver and Mr. BulUs register. When the office was moved to Jackson In 1869 E. P. Freeman went In as register and J. B. Wakefield as receiver. After the colony Immigrants began to arrive and settle In the Worthlngton country, the bulk of the business was In the west end of the district, and In the spring of 1874 the government ordered the removal from Jackson to Worthlngrton.

Soon after the removal Mr. Freeman retired as register. He was succeeded by Dr. Leonard, of Rochester, who held the office for a time. The latter's appointment was not confirmed, however, and Captain Mons Grlnager became register In Augrust. 1874. He resigned June 1. 1886, having held the office nearly twelve years. In January. 1875, J. P. Moulton took the place of Mr. Wakefield as receiver, and held It until June. 1881. C. H. Smith was the next receiver, added to the town in 1869. Among them were Moses A. Strong, who opened a drug store; Dr. C. P. Morrill, the town's first doctor; Alexander Fiddes and several others.

During the year Jackson became the trading center of an immense territory. Settlers from twenty miles up the river and the same distance down came to Jackson for their mail and to do their trading; from the numerous lakes and streams to the west and northwest, around which homesteaders were locating, came the settlers from long distances; those on Heron and Graham lakes did all their trading in Jackson ; from beyond the west line, of the state they came. The few people living in the Sioux Falls conntry came to Jackson to mill, and it is said that Philo Hawa«, who then lived on the pre*5ent site of Luverne, once made the little trip to Jackson to have a sickle repaired. Jackson became a great market for fur, which was practically the only medium of exchange in the country and brought good prices.

W. S. Kimball was the leading business man of the town, and he carried on an enormous hardware trade. His goods were shipped to the end of the railroad, at Owatonna, Mankato or Winnebago City, in car-load lot<. From those points they were hauled to Jackson bv ox or horse teams, it taking a week or more to make the trip. The freighting teams would arrive at their destination, looking like a occupy Ingr the ofTIce until September 1, 1886. when August Peterson, of Albert Lea, took the office. He held It until after the removal from Worthlngton. C. P. Shepherd succeeded Captain Grlnager as register In June, 1886, and held the position while the office was located In Worthlngton. The land office was closed February 28, 1889, there having been a consolidation among the offices In Minnesota. Those at Benson, Worthlngton and Redwood Falls were -discontinued and the papers turned over to the office at Tracy. The Tracy office was then moved to Marshall. The land office was under democratic management from 1854 to 1861; the republicans were in charge from 1861 to 1885. Then each party had one official In the office until 1886, when Mr. Shepherd took office; thereafter It was democratic.

People wondered where lie sold so many goods, but to those who knew him it was no i^onder. A settler from Graham or Heron lake, or somewhere away up north or west, would hitch up a yoke of steers to an old wagon, pile in a lot of fur, and start for -Jackson. Where he came in sight of town over the hill Mr. Kimball would see him and commence striking up a trade, and the first thing you knew he would have the wagon loaded with hardware, a stove, plow, coffee mill, jack knives, etc., take all the money he had and notes for the balance. He would embrace his customer heartily, shake his hand warmly, ask him to come again, send his love to all the neighbors, and bid him adieu.

When the first number of the Jackson Republic was issued on February 26, 1870, the following local business and professional firms were represented by advertiseraents :

In addition to this list there were in the little village a feed store, two blacksmith shops, a second eating house, a shoe shop, a meat market, a saw mill, the United States land office, a school house and a church. Several mail and stage routes were, operated to the town, as follows: The through line from Blue Earth City to Yankton, the line from Winnebago City, another from Madelia, connecting with one from Sioux City and forming a through route from Mankato to the Union Pacific railroad.

DURING the first six years of its history Jackson was the only town in Jackson county. During this time it was also -without a rival in many neighboring counties. Thousands of settlers were pouring into the country and locating upon the government lands. Because of this extensive settlement, because of the fact that it was the only town within many long miles in all directions, and because of the progressive spirit of the founders and first business men (nearly all of whom were American bom), Jackson developed into a place of importance. During the years 1865 to 1869 its growth had been slow, but beginning with 1870 it took a start, and its growth continued until the beginning of the terribble grasshopper scourge.

The vear 1870 was a livelv one in all lines of business. Several new business houses were started and many new buildings wer(f erected. The improvements for the year footed up to $17,650, itemized as follows :

Business was better in 1871 than it had been the year before, and several new enterprises were put under way. We gain an idea of the size of the little town that year from the writing of a resident, who declared that in June the village contained a total of about fifty buildings, including residences, shops and public buildings.

With the building of the St. Paul and Sioux Ciiv railroad in the fall of 1871 and the founding of the towns of Windom, Heron Lake and Worthington, the immense trade territory of Jackson was greatly reduced. This was offset, however, by the rapid settlement and development of the immediate surrounding country, and Jackson continued to advance during the year 1872. Real estate sales However, Jackson suffered less severely had never before been so lively. Forty or Ihan many of the neighboring towns. It fifty residence and business lots were sold was the center of an older settled country during the summer. The building im- than were jnost of the towns of southwestpro vements for the year amounted to over em Minnesota, and many of the farmers $23,000, many of the structures erected liad lived in the country long enough to being superior to those of former years, make .«ome headway toward financial in- The improvements of 1872 were as fol- dependence. The other towns had been lows: founded as a result of the immigration of Jackson County, court house $ 6,400 1872, and not one crop had been harvested of progress, there was retrogression. This has a right to exult over the auspicious openchange wa-* brought about whollv bv the *»« <"{ »? excellent a line of road. Situat^ »" ^ ^ . - - one of the grandest thoroughfares in the west, of the grasshopj)ers. A town depending ^^^^^ /^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^ succession of besolelv upon an agricultural country for witching lakes, containing a population noted . * i - 1 ffx - XX i_ 1 - for industry, intelligence, thrift and responsiits support IS left in pretty bad circum- ^^^y^^^ -^ j/ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ch oflf in rapid strides and Jackson soon came to the same condi- moral, enterprising, cooperating, happy, benevtion. Business men extended credit until «'^"^' P^^^^^"^ *"^ industrious community, they lost their own ; several failed and Owing to the topographical features of moved away. The depression continued the town's location, difficulty was encounseveral years, and Jackson received a set- tered in getting the road built into the back which it took vears to overcome, town, and the depot was located nearly

The coming of the road proved a great like-awakening agency. Before, the town had been scattered over a large area, with several vacant lots intervening between the business houses and residences. Many of these vacant places now became filled with new buildings. The sound of the saw and hammer was heard all day long; the streets were thronged with new arrivals. During the five months from September 1, 1878, to February 1, 1879, the following new buildings were erected : Sargent & Collins, store building; Lars Nelson, saloon building; Vandaworker & Seip, blacksmith shop; Brewster Bros., store building ; F. T. Brayton, livery barn ; C. L. Colman, lumber office, sheds and bam ; John Paul, lumber office and sheds ; A. N. Tompkins, John Paulson, F. A. Chittenden, George C. Chamberlin, E. Owens, Jesse Wood, W. J. Case, Mr. Moe, Welch Ashley ^nd H. White, residences; Thomas O'Neill, boarding house; M. H. Smith, harness shop; Dr. Tidball, office building; E. A. Hatph, ice house; railroad company, engine Louee; Bonner & Hyde and Cargil & Van, warehouses.

During the same season the following new business enterprises were started in Jackson: M. H. Smith, harness shop; Vandaworker & Scip, blacksmith shop;' Clark & Hartuess, hardware store; Sargent & Collins, clothing storg ; Olson Bros., general store ; Ole Eognas, furniture store ; Brewster Brothers, grocery store; J. A. Ehodes, photograph gallery; Thomas O'Neill, boarding house; W. E. Powers & Co., saloon ; Ira Walden, butcher shop ; E. A. Hatch, saloon ; A. Haskins, barber shop ; A. N. & I. D. Converse, real estate and insurance office; W. N. Brayton, meat market; 0. A. Sathe, wheelwright's shop; F. T. Brayton, livery barn; John K.

Brown, bank; C. L. Colman and John Paul, lumber yards; M. B. Odell, jewelry store; 0. L. Patch, paint shop; F. Quentin, F. M. Smith, F. A. Chittenden, R. Hanson, carpenter shops.

So great had been the increase in population that at the beginning of the year 1879 steps were taken to bring about the incorporation of the village. On January 6 a mass meeting was held at the court house to take the preliminary steps. The meeting was presided over by Major H. S. Bailey, and George C. Chamberlin was the secretary. When the question was discussed, it was found that there was considerable opposition to taking the important step at that time. It appeared, however, that a majority was in favor of beginning municipal government. A committee, composed" to T. J. Knox, J. W. Cowing, Alexander Fiddes, P. Brown and Joseph Thomas, was selected to draft a charter. A charter was drawn up and reported to another meeting held January 11.

The matter was placed before the legislature, and on March 6, 1879, the Minnesota law making body enacted into law a bill providing for the incorporation of Jackson, with the boundaries it now has. The act provided that before if should become operative it must be ratified by a vote of the people residing within the proposed limits of the village. For the purpose of calling and presiding over such election the act named J. W. Hunter, B. W. Ashley, M. A. Strong, Alexander Fiddes and J. W. Cowing as commissioners.

There the matter was allowed to rest for two years, and the village of Jackson was governed by the board of county commissioners and the Des Moines township board of supervisors until 1881. Why immediate action was not taken is lucidly explained by the Jackson Republic of March 20, 1880, as follows: is all on account of the condition upon which our town bonds were voted for the Des Moines river bridge a-nd in consequence of a decision of the supreme court, holding that when towns [townships] had voted bonds and subsequently a municipal incorporation was created within such town limits, the township outside of the incorporation was compelled to pay the full amount of the bonds so voted. Now, the village has no desire to shirk the obligation of its portion of the bonds voted and we make this public explanation.

The building activity continued during 1879. From early spring until late in the fall carpenters were busily engaged in erecting the new structures. Unlike the cheap structures sometimes put up in mushroom towns following the coming of the railroad, many substantial edifices, costing several thousand dollars, were added to the village. The improvements for the year amounted to $37,650, itemized as follows:

According to the federal census of 1880 - the first in which the population of Jackson was enumerated separately from the township - the town was found to have a population of 501, making it rank fourth among the towns of southwestern Minnesota.^

The matter of incorporation again became a live issue during the winter of 1880-81. A mass meeting was held on the last dav of the year 1880, of which M. A. Strong was chairman and J. W. Hunter secretary. There was more unanimity of opinion than there had been two years before, and it was the sense of the meeting that immediate steps should be taken to incorporate. George C. Chamberlin, T. J. Knox and J. T. Bowditch were appointed a committee to draft a charter, and J. W. Hunter, J. W. Cowing, H. S. Bailey, W. S. Kimball, B. W. Ashley, Joseph Thomas and H. H. Hughes, a committee to decide on the boundaries.

A charter was prepared, and, in order to obtain the yiews of the citizens an informal election was held at the postoffice on January 18, at which time 55 votes were registered in favor of incorporation under the charter, while ten voted against it. The charter was introduced as an act in the legislature. It passed both houses,

^Population of other towns In the vicinity was as follows: WIndom. 443; Fairmont. 541; St. James. 434: Madella. 489: Heron Lake. 226; Worthlngton, 636; Luverne. 697; Pipestone, 222.

and then, in some unaccountable manaq; JO aoigo aq; uiojj pajBoddesip *jau seeretarv of state and was never seen again. It is possible that it was burned in the capitol fire, which occurred about that^ time.

The disappearance of the bill put mattors back to where tliey had been before the legislature took action, but the people of Jackson were deltrmined to incorporate as a municipality and took other measures. Messrs. Hunter, Strong, Fiddes and Cowing, of the commissioners named in the act of 1879, posted notices for an election to be held April 12, 1881, to decide the question as to whether or not Jackson should bo incorporated under the provisions of the general law provided for incorporating villages. There was no electioneering either for or against the question, and of the 80 votes cast, G8 were in favor and 12 against incorporating.

The first village election was held on April 19, when a set of village officers was chosen. Those who were chosen at this initial election and at each succeeding election were as follows :

"Eighty votes were poUed at the flrst election. There were contests for only two offices: C. A. Campbell defeated M. A. Strong for trustee by a vote of 42 to 35: M. A. Strong defeated A. C. Whitman for recorder by a vote of 44 to 35.

'Before the incorporation of the village the matter of licensing saloons had been In the hands of the county commissioners. Some years they had granted license for the operation of saloons in Jackson; some years they had refused license. After incorporating, up to 1883. the matter had been left in the hands of the village council, which had granted license during 1881 and 1882. In 1883 the question was submitted to the voters for the flrst time. Thereafter up to the present time, it has been voted on nearly every year. The following shows "the results of these elections, a vote not having been taken in the ye&TB not given, but license having been granted during those years:

1884 - President, Alexander Fiddes; trustees, A. C. Whitman, Ole Rognas, C. A. Campbell; recorder, E. P. Skinner; treasurer, John Fiddes; justices, H. W. Peck, J. A. Goodrich; constable, F. Quentin.

1889 - President, Alexander Fiddes; trustees, W. A. Conrad, H. H. Berge, G. A. Albertus; recorder, E. J. Orr; treasurer, J. W. Hunter; justices, Joseph Bushnell, J. A. Goodrich; constables, R. J. Henderson, Rasmus Hanson.

"Resigmed June 20, 1902, and Andrew Nelson appointed June 24, 1902. Mr. Nelson resigrned January 5, 1903, and John Peterson, Jr., was appointed.

The Jackson village government was begun at nine o'clock in the morning of Friday, April 22, 1881, when the council met for the first time. The first official act, after taking the oaths of office, was to appoint F. T. Brayton, street commissioner. A committee was appointed to notify the saloon keepers that they must cease selling intoxicating liquors until licensed by the village council. At a second meeting of the council, held on the evening of the same day, ordinance No. 1, fixing liquor licenses at $200 per annum, was passed.

The first village financial statement shows the receipts and expenditures from the date of organization, April 22, 1881, to December 30, 1881, and is as follows:

Receipts

There was not sucli great activity in building operations during 1881 as there had been for a few years preceding, and the town settled down to a normal basis. (iood time& came upon the country, and Jaebon developed into an excellent trading point in consequence. An indication of the town's business is shown by a statement of the impoits and exports by rail. During the year 1881 there were imported ^892,912 pounds of freight. This included 42 cars of coal and 169 cars of lumber. The exports reached a total of 3.302,774 pounds, including 40 cars of wheat, 32 of oats, 8 of barley, 5 of flax, 31 of hogs, 27 of cattle and 3 of butter. The following table shows the exports by pounds:

Miscellaneous

Die Rognas, furniture. Swenson & Sathe, wagon factory. G. W. Arentson, shoe shop. George A. Stark, cooper shop. Levi Davis, tailor shop. I. G. Walden, meat market. G. A. Albertus, harness shop. H. White, dray line.

During the middle and later eighties Jackson continued to grow slowly, and prosperous times were enjoyed. The improvements for the year 1884 amounted to a little over $15,000. The population in 1885 was 608.

Early in 188i5 Jackson became a division point of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, and thereby added to its importance. This event was brought about largely through the efforts of Jackson citizens, particularly, J. K. Brown, Alexander Fiddes, P. H. Berge, T. J. Knox and J. W. Cowing. Over $100,000 worth of railroad buildings were erected, including an eight-stall round house. The securing of the division point was not accomplished without a concession on the part of the village. This was the permission given the railway company to move the passenger and freight depots from thcoriginal location to a point farther from the business part of town.

By the terms of an agreement made in 1879, incorporated in a legislative act, the railroad company had agreed to forever maintain its depot on the spur track where it had been originally located, but when the proposition of establishing a division point at Jackson arose, the company demanded the right to move the depot to the main line. A mass meeting of the citizens of Jackson decided to permit this, and on August 7, 1887, the village council passed an ordinance granting the demand of the railroad company, provided the town be made division headquarters and an eight-stall round house built and maintained. The next spring the Minnesota legislature legalized the municipal act, and the depot was moved.

Among the improvements of the early nineties was the water works system, which was put in during 1892. The year before the legislature had authorized the village to vote on the question of issuing bonds for the purpose, and at the election on November 3, 1891, by a vote of 81 to 19, the electors authorized the council to issue $10,000 bonds. The bonds were sold in the fall of 1892 at a premium of $359, and the system was installed.

Prosperous times came upon the village in 1892, and great strides forward were made. More building improvements were made that year than in the five years preceding and were of a total value of $93,- 475. A few of the principal items were as follows : Water works system, $12,000 ; Ashley house, $10,000; Harlow house, $9,000 ;- Boston block, $6,500; P. H. Berge, residence, $4,000 ; C. L. Colby, residence, $3,500; G. B. Paddock, residence, $3,000; Catholic church, $3,000; C. A. Portmann, residence, $2,200; J. V. Makovicka saloon building $2,100; Presbyterian parsonage, $1,600; William V. King, residence, $1,500; Sakolik & Co., store building, $1,500; P. P. Haverberg, residence, $1,400; Henry Hoovel, residence, $1,200.

In 1893 the improvements amounted to $71,200, and among the principal items were the State Bank of Jackson building at $15,000 and the J. W. Hunter brick block at $7,000. In the summer of 1893 came the memorable panic and the resultant hard times period, and the village

Pilot placed the total at $81,230. This The first steps toward installing the included $31,000 for two new school electric lighting system were taken on buildings, $11,000 for the Jackson Queen March 16, 1899, when, at a special elecmill, $7,400 for the Livengood & Co. mill tion, by a vote of 194 to 38, it was deand $3,500 for city improvements. Busi- cided to issue $10,000 bonds for the puruess depression and commercial stagnation pose. The contract for the construction continued during 189G. The improvements of the plant was let September 8, 1899, for the year were valued at $35,800. By to the Northwestern Electric light com- 1898 times had become much better. That pany of St. Paul, and to the Ideal Enyear were erected the Anderson & Lindsley gine company of the same city. The plant block at a cost of $14,000 and the M. B. was completed within a few months, and Hutchinson block at a cost of $11,000. Jackson was lighted by electricity for the Other improvements brought the total to first time in January, 1900. $58,275. Building operations were not prosecu- The years 1899 to 1902, inclusive, con- ted so vigorously in 1900. The principal stituted a most prosperous era in Jackson, buildings put up that year were the M. as well as in the county and the whole J. Olsen block, $9,000; the H. 6. Andernorthwest country. Land values soared son block, $3,000 ; the Oliver Brown block, and hundreds of new settlers came to $2,000; and several fine residences. T^e Jackson county. The eflfect on Jackson population in 1900, according to the fedwas a healthy growth in all lines of busi- eral census, was 1,756. ness. New enterprises came into existence Nineteen hundred one was a good year and prosperity abounded. The first year in the building line, the expenditures of this era was the most prosperous one amounting to $84,400. Some of the prinin the history of the village and almost cipal items were as follows : Presbyterian took the nature of a boom. Many brick church, $12,000; J. K. Brown, business blocks were erected and the main street block, $10,000; A. C. Serum, residence was in a state of confusion all summer as $5,500 ; W. E. Manchester, residence, $5,- a result of building operations. In addi- 000 ; Lindsley & Anderson, business block, tion to other enterprises, a municipal elec- $4,500 ; H. H. Berge, residence, $4,000 ; trie lighting system was installed, a tele- V. W. Avery, residence, $3,500; Episcopal phone system was put in, and a system of church, $3,000 ; F. B. Faber, residence, thereafter the advancement was slower. Due to an abnormal rainfall, there were a few years of partial crop failures, and but little progress was made. The census of 1905 gave a population of 1776, a gain of only twenty in five years. This was a better showing than most towns of southwestern Minnesota made during those five years, many showing a loss.

Conditions returned to a normal basis in 1908, and in this year of our Lord 1910 Jackson is again in prosperous circumstances. Among the events of recent years is to be recorded the completion of the Jackson county court house in 1909 at a cost of over $117,000.