Lynd City

Lynd City

Lyons, which is town 110, range 42, lies south of Lyad, and is six miles from the west and south lines of the county. The east and south portions of the town are open prairie countrv with the usual rich soil and meadow lands of the count) generally. The northwest corner of Lyons is cut by the Redwood river, giving it some timber groves and also some rough land It is probable, as stated in the article on Lynd, that the first white men in the county located in Lyons. Tlie remains of an old log house, supposed to have been Lynd's trading post was found by the settlers in 1867 on section 6 of Lyons. The station was afterward moved to Lynd, however, if this theoiy is correct, probably after a Uurn out.

The first pt-rinanentsettler in the town was C. E. Goodell, who located oa section 5 in 18G7. He was in the woods as a chopper before this time, a scheme having neen hatched to cut logs there and float them to Redwood Falls duriuo: high water. It i3_claimed by some that he was the first man ia the county after the Indian trading posts of the period before the Indian massacre. Later in the spring ol 18(58 E. E. Taylor settled in the town. Soon after C Hiidreth, W. S. Adams and H. L. Pierce settled iu the town.

Rev. R. Wait, Presbyterian, conducted the lirst religions services there in 1870. A socitly was formed and a church built on section 14 in 1873. The tii\me year the P. O. of P.ildredthsburg was established at the house of Chas. Hildretli, who was P. M. till the discontinuance of the office in 1878, liildreth's house having been burned by prairie fire. The postoffice of Leo was established in July 1880 and located at Mr. Millard's on section 14. Mrs. Millard was appointed P. M., which position she still hokls.

In 1883 there were accoi'ding to the assessor's returns 2.118 atres of cultivated land, 824 wheat, 67G oats, 363 corn, 1G7 barley, 21 potatoes, 43 flax. There were also 43 a::res of cultivated forest trees.

the future of the town is that of a rich agricultural and dairy district. The Duluth, North Shore and Southwestern R. R, will undoubtedly run througli the town next year.

Town Of Lynd

There was a trading station for the Indian trade established here by James W. Lynd probably as eai'ly as 185") or \57. His store was located, it is said, on the norllieast quarter of section Ik!. This statement is contradicted by some who claim tliut it was on the southeast quarter of section 5 in Lyons. In I lie latter place the early settlers foimd the remains of a building that had been bui'ned, and in the spring ot 1880 Mr. (roodell in plowing his garden half a mile north of this spot plowed up a tub full of tools, consisting of handsaws, chisels, an auger, hoes, a hand axe, a f.at iron, a tea cup and saucer. Tho tub was wholly rotted, leaving oidy the impression, and the tools were nearly destroyed by use. The ludian.s, it is said, point out section five of Lyons as the first trading post. On section 3;'. the lirst settlers found a log building still standincr, which L. Tickner u>ed as a residence for a short time. It was later used as a scliool house; then as a store by G. VV^. Whitney. It is (piite probable that Lynd's post may liav" been moved to this ()oinl from si^elion 5 iu Lyons after a burn out, or for other reasons.

Taylor, row Mrs. G. A. Wirt,) M. V. Davidson and family and D. M. and E. E. Ta3'lor made homes in Lynd. Some half-breeds had taken' claims in the town before this time, and two of them, Thomas Robinson and John Mooers, held claims respectiveh' on sections 27 «nd 3t, when the settlers above named arrived. Tliej' sold out to R. Holland and A. Ransom in 1868 and moved to Lincoln conntj'. In 1868, James, A. R. and Geo. (Uinimings, L. S. Kiel, L. and Geo. Marceyes, A. D. Morgan, J. Ri use and John Clark settled in the town.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Ransom became the parents of a daughter in November ot 1868, which was the first white girl born in the county. The first boy born in Lynd was Harry L. Cumraings, .son of Geo. E. Cummings, in 186).

The first religions meeting was a clas? meeting led by A. W. Muzzy in the winter of 18G7 and 18(38 at L. Tickner,8. A Methodist church was organized by Rev. C. F. Wright at L. Tickner's in the fall of 1808. The next year a nu ion Sunday school was organized at the same place with a library of about 135 books, 100 of which were donated by the M. E. Sunday school ot Toulon, 111., the rr.'t by a M. E, book house in Chicago. E. Lamb vvas'superintendent.

In the fall of 1869 the Presbytei'ians organized a society, meetings also b^ing held at L. Tickner's by Revs. Carr and L.'"n. Tlie Methodi.sts of Lynd built the first church in the county in 1871 on land ovni 'd Ijy .M. V, D ivids >n. It was made of logs with floor and root of native soil. Another churah was partly built in Upper Lynd, and used one summer when it was moved to Lower Lynd for a residence.

Lydia Cumraings taught the first school in 1869, bt'iiig paid by subscripti -n. The school was taught in the old log buiklinir u.sed in former years for aii Indian trading post.

A postofKce was established at Upper I^ynd in .June 18;>3 with U. M. Taylor P. M. It was held by him over four years. He also kept a grocery store the first part of liis lei-m.

L. Tiekncr opened a hotel at Lynd in 18G8. The travel Through Lyml at this time cou'dii't have been very large or reirular. Bands ot Flandrciu Indians camped in the woods occasionally aiul a few travelers trom Redwood Falls now and then stopped there as imtnigraiits or on their vv.iy to s<'ttleineMts be- 3'ond. Between Lynd and Redwood Falls there was but one house. Lumber used was h;iuled 50 miles, gr-nerally from logs hauled the same distance to mill. Pro\isuin8 not raised at hi>me had to be briuiglii from St. Pe er or New Ulm.

The fii St regular mail carried to Lynd from Red ^voofl Falls and the first in the county, probably, was by C. Hildrcth. The contract was soon after let to Wm. Jackson; who was the first white child born in St. Paul. James Cummings and J. Rouse built a saw mill at Upper Lyntl in 1868. It was changed to a grist mill about 1872 by Smith, Ellis & Rouse. This is now known as the Camden mill, and is owned by V. M. Smith. It hast hree runs of stone. H. R Marcyes also built c^three run mill on section 23. It is now the property of B. F. Link. Chas. Hildreth commenced the building of a mill on section 17 about 1873. A substantial dam was made and for good reasons,, probably, the scheme was then abandoned.

The village of Lynd was laid out by Mr. Muzzy on the south side of the Redwood river on section 33. In 1871 he sold out to W. T. Ellis who put up sev^- eral buddings.

Lower Lynd was laid out in ,1871 by A. R. Cummings and A. D. Morgan. A hotel was built and run there by Morgan and Kiel, and the former started a store there. Ellis moved his business there from Upjier Lynd, and the P. O. was also moved there. About 1874 the P. O. at Camden was established with Ellis as P. M.

The older citizens of the county will remember Ellis as a character. Governed mostly by impulse he was always ready to preach a sermon, run horses lor the whiskey, conduct a Sunday school or beat his best IVic^nd in a trade. Since leaving here he became the moving factor in a church row to such au extent as to get his portrait in t!ie Police News. While nere he was an energetic, fervid efTervescent citizen who did considerable to build up the church and secular interests of Lynd, and develop its latent possibilities. He opened a store at Lynd and bought goods for it sufficient to stobk several suoh settlements. His goods had to be brought by team from New Ulm, aud were caught in a heav}' rain storm on the way. It is said the dried apples s welled so that all the other goods in that load were shoved overboard, and his load of codfi»5h, bought at ton rates, probably on time, had to be spread over the hills of Lynd to dry till the air of that settlement, it is claimed, reached the i'landreau Indians and seventy bucks went on the war path thinking they sraelled the camp ot another tribe.

The Redwood river flows through Lynd, and a considerabh; body of timber is found along its banks, though the fuel demands of hard^ winters have made lieavy inroads on it, and small quantities are now being' marketed. Three Mile Creek cuts the northwest corner of the town, and small branches of the Redwood make the water supply of the town ample. The f prairie portions of the town are excellent soil and the agricultural status ot Lynd is fully up to the standard.

The town ot Lynd was organized Snpt. 4, 1873, but no election was had. The county board appointed as its first officer J. Rouse, chairman; A. K. Curammgs and J. Stark, supervisors: N. Davis, clerk; G. E. Cummings, treasurer.

There are five school houses in the town, and church services are held at Lynd and Camden ' The houses of the present settlers are located as follows:

Town Of Island Lake

Town 111, range 43, was organized m 1878, the first election being held in March 1879, electing Robt. Gardner, chau*man; L. Grow and Geo. George, supervisors; J. R. King, clerk and assessor; D. A. Kennedy, treasurer; J. H. Sykes, constable.

The town takes its name from a lake in the south part of the town. The island in Isl?,nd Lake has an area of two and a half ov three miles, and is covered with a substantial growth of trees. The lake, covering probably over 200 acres, has^no outlet except in high water,' when it runs into Three Mile Creek. It is fed by springs. Mr. J. R. King, living near the lake, has a fine spring of soft water. The chores of the lake are drj-. There are not many fish in the lake, but efforts have been made by Mr. King and others to stock it with pike and otiier fish, and before many years this defect will undoubtedly be remedied.

North of the lakes Three Mile Creek crosses the town from west to east. On the creek in section 24 there is a grove of natural timber, consisting of four or five acres. A branch of the Yellow Medicine runs across the northwest corner of the town, and has some timber on its banks,

The surface of the town is not as level as that ot some of its sister towns, a narrow range of the couteaus, gravel and stone hills, crossing the town from southeast to northwest. This couteau section interferes somewhat with the agricullnral value of the town, but the valleys of the couteaus have been found to make the best grazing district in the county. The washings from the hills probably enrich them. At least the growth of grass is remarkably large and very nutritious. The rolling character of the pasture is said to make healthier stock than on level fields.

A glacial period or a drift from some other cause has deposited along these couteaus boulders and small ledges of lime rock. The latter is often found in large pieces, apparently dropped from some overhanging vehicle, sometimes standing on edge, Mr. King ran a lime kiln lor some years there on this sup ply, and abandoned it on account of coef of luel.

The first settlement of the town was made by Rev. Williams on section 24, about the year 1870. In 1871 Lafayette Grow and Mr, Fort settled on the Yellow Medicine, and in 1872 John R. Ring settled on section 84, and kept the half way house between Marshall and Marshfield. For some years after the town did not settle very fast, but it is now fairly settled up with vigorous and thrifty ^farmers. Nearly every farmer has planted a grove of timber, which now begins to afford protection in winter, and gi'eatly improves the summer landscape.

First religious services at house of J. R. King by a Mr. Dewey from Chicago, The reported acreage cultivated in 1883 was 1,601, 887 wheat, 370 oats, 173 corn, 139 barlej', 20 potatoes, 10 beans. There were 59 acres of forest trees and 7o0 rods set on highways.

39 votes wei'e cast in Island Lake at the special election, Feb. 23, 1883, to bond the county for f 40,000 in aid of the Duluth, North Shore and Southwestern railroad, which proposes to run through the county from Shelburne to Lucas. All were tor bonding. The last assessed valuation was $30,396. The houses of settlers are situated as follows:

Town Of Coon Ceeek

The .town was organized in 1882. The name of Garfield was first proposed, but as the state already had a town of that name it was changed to Stowe. This name not being satisfactory, was again changed in 1873 to Coon Creek a name that is as appropriate as Walrus Island would be for the equator. If there was ever a coon in the town it must have come with the south wind. The name, however, has one merit, individualty. There is no other town of that name in this latitude.

There is a creek called Coon Creek rising on section 6 which runs in a southeasterly course, striking the east line of the town on section 24. It empties into the Redwood river. This creek has some timber on its banks near its' junction with the Redwood.

The large quantity of school and university land in the town has been a bar to rapid settlement. The greater part of the improvement has been made within the last year or two.

Wood Lake, given as lake Marguerite on some maps, lies in the north pai't of the town and is a beautiful little lake frinofed with timber. The drainao-c of the town is into the Redwood river, wliich flows across the southeast comer and near the east line after leaving it. There is some timber alono- the river, and wood has been sold in Marshall from Coon Creek, but the supply is limited and not suflicient for the future demands of the town. Last year's assessor's report gave 17 acres of cultivated forest trees and 2.30 rods on highways.

The town was first settled by D. S. Burt who took laud on section 24, in May 1870. J. R. Burgett came in June 1871, locating on section 4 on the bank of Wood Lake. H. H. Hodgkins and F. T. Burt came in about the same time. Very little settlement was made in the town for a year or two after.

A portion of the town is cut by t^e coteau range, making some rough and wasteland. There are, however, fine farming and dairy lands in the town, and several thrifty farms have been opened by an enterprising class of settlers.

Town Of Custer

The Cottonwood river flows aci'oss the north end ot the town irom west to east, and had some years ago considerable timber along its banks. This fact, which is an attraction m all new prairie countries, brought white traders to this section before the Indian massacre of 1862. A German some time before this opened an Indian trading station on the Cottonwood river it is said on section 1. It was called Saratoga. Trouble with a halt breed by the name of Joseph Campbell led to the murder of the trader by Campbell who was afterward hung by a mob atMankato for the murder of the Jewett family.

Xo settlement was made after this till 18G8, when H. C. Masters, John Aveiy, Horace Randall and G. S. Robinson took claims in the town. The town was oi'ganized in 1876, the lirst town meetmg, Oct. 14th of that year, being held at the school house on section 2. The first ticket elected was L. D. Lewis, chairman; W. H. Huglies and Wm. Shand, supervisors; B. F. Thomas clerk and treasurer. The other tovvn offices were not filled till the succeeding spring election.

Jane Mitchell taught the first school in a log house on section 2 in ihe winter of 1870. The district then combined the present towns ot Custer, Monroe, Amiret and Sodus. Custer now has three school districts and comfortable school buildings.

town in 1870. The next yeai* a Presbyterian society of 16 members was organized under Rev. Joseph Rees- A church was built in 1873, but was burned in 1878. The Congregational society now have a church on section 13, Rev. Peregerine being pastor.

A considerable portion of the population of Custer is of Welch extraction and the census of the town would probably give about 240 people, the spring election ot this year showing a poll of 48 votes. In the south part of the town are two lakes, Lake of the Hills and Long lake. Along the Cottonwood ai-e some line groves of natural timber, though large ti*acts have been cut off for fuel purposes. There are many pleasant homesteads and rich thrifty farms in the town. The assessor's report ol 1883 gave 3,142 acres improved, 1,456 of which were wheat, 917 oats, 260 corn, 260 barley, 35 potatoes, 6 beans, 90 flax. The town also had at that time 87 acres of cultivated forest trees.

The Dakota Central runs through the south part of the town, but, as yet, has no station in Ihe town. The nearest markets are, Tracy, four miles east; Balaton, 2] miles west; Amiret, 3 miles north; Marshall, 10 miles north.

Source changes here: from An Illustrated History of Lyon County, Minnesota, by Rose, Arthur P, published 1912; 4,747 words in this source stream.

Lynd City

Lynd township, named in honor of James W. Lynd, the trader who in an early day had a post within the township, was declared an organized township by the Board of County Commissioners on September 4, 1872. Officers were not selected at that time, however, and the organization was not perfected until a year later. The first officers of the precinct were appointed by the County Board on January 9, 1873, and were as follows: Jacob Rouse, chairman; A. K. Cummins and John E. St arks, supervisors; N. Davis, clerk; George E. Cummins, treasurer.11

10Farmers who resided in Lake Marshall Township in 1884, according to G. F. Case's History of Lyon County, were as follows: J. W. Pike, Henry F. Hoyt, J. K. Johnson, George Cook, J. B. Drew, W. Hyde, R. Spates, R. F. Webster, James Andrew, George Link, ilThe first child born in Lynd township was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ransom, born in November, 1868; the second child was Harry Lynd Cummins, son of George E. Cummins, born in 1869. The first death was that of Mrs. Bowers, which occurred April 20, 1868. The first marriage, that of W. H. Langdon to Zilpha Cummins, was performed in 1868 by Rev C. F. Wright; the second was that of A. W. M'cGandy to Charlotte Buell in 1871. The first school, supported by subscription, was taught in Lynd s trading post building in the spring of 186!) by l.ydia Cummins. The first church services were held in September, 1867, and the first church was organized in 1868.

The next town created was Lyons,13 which doubtless derived its name from the same source as that of the county, namely, General Nathaniel Lyon. It was officially declared an organized township on March 18, 1873, and given the name it still bears. At the first town election, held April 1, 1873, the following first officers were chosen: Gordon Watson, chairman; C. L. Van Fleet and J. C. Buell, supervisors; Henry Mussler, clerk; C. A. Wright, treasurer; Charles Hildreth, assessor; J. W. Hoagland and Edmund Lamb, justices of the peace; Charles E. Goodell and Amasa Crosby, constables.11 Land

'-The following named farmers resided in Lynd township in 1884: J. Goodwin, P. B. Fezler, ('. Farnham, P. C. Farnham, J. Peterson, Josephus Myers, R Spates, F. Peterson, W. Williams, James Lockey, A. P. Wells, C. S. Foster, A. Mellenthin, F. Mellenthin, C. Morton, Jon Anderson, Larribee A- Sons, William Acheson, Otto Anderson, Charles Pearson, O. A. Hawes. W. S. Eastman, I. V. Eastman, Andrew Nelson, Colon Acheson, Christian Nelson, Orla Nash, W. Wunderlich. Peter Mullany, H. Rolph, Philip Snyder, A. C. Tucker, H. Rathmell, H. Tucker, George A. Wunderlich, L. I'.. Fellows, Alex Burr, W. Sykes, B. Syfces, .lames Cummins, ,L. Marcyes, George Link, B. F. Link, A. I.. Randall, B. Heath, C. E. Rice, L. Oilman. Z. 0. Titus, H. Smith, W. L. Watson, ('. E. Hid-. Levi S. Kiel, S. Van Alstine, A. R. Cummins, 1>. ('. Pierce, J Drvden, C. M. Damuth, O. Gregg, 0. C. Gregg, H. G. Ward, L. A. Gregg, Charles Shilliam, W. 11. Langdon, V. M. Smith, Jacob Rouse and Mrs. Pierce,

Florence Downie in 1873. Religious services wenfirst held in the township by Rev. Ransom Wait ..a November I). 1870, and the first church society was

One of the most important of the smaller towns of Lyon county in a business sense, and by far the most important historically, is Lynd, located on the Great Northern railroad and the Redwood river, six and one-half miles southwest of Marshall. Nestled among the river bluffs, it has the most beautiful

Time was when Lynd was the only village in and the county seat of Lyon county, as well as the business, social and religious center of the county. In chronicling its history it is necessary to deal with three distinct villages, all bearing the same name. The oldest of these has been commonly referred to as Upper Lynd and was on the southeast quarter of section 33, Lynd township, one mile southwest of the present village. Lower Lynd, which became plain Lynd after the abandonment of the upper village, was founded a little after the older village and wras located on the north side of the Redwood river - on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 27, Lynd towmship, - one-half mile north of the present village. Modern Lynd replaced the other village, having been founded in the late eighties, after the building of the Great Northern railroad.

Upper Lynd came into existence in 1868. That year the postoffice, named Lynd in honor of James W. Lynd, the trader who had his post at the site, was established with D. M. Taylor as postmaster. The same year Luman Ticknor opened a hotel and Mr. Taylor put in a small stock of staple goods. The store was not conducted long, but Mr. Taylor served as postmaster for several years. In September, 1870, Dr. George W. Whitney established a store in the log building on section 33 that had been used by the trader many years before. Dr. Whitney occupied that building for a short time and then erected a building in Lower Lynd and continued the business.

When Lyon county was organized on August 12, 1870, the county seat was declared to be on the southeast quarter of section 33, which was Upper Lynd. The following year that village reached the zenith of its power. A church was erected, W. T. Ellis established a store, and the townsite was platted by George

The Upper Lynd townsite was surveyed by T. G. Morrill on August 22, 1871. The certificate of dedication was acknowledged by the proprietors1 before

D. D. Morrill, a notary public for Ramsey county, on February 28, 1872, and it was filed in the office of the register of deeds of Redwood county March 20, 1872. Twenty-four blocks were included in the plat. In the center of the map of the plat was one block labeled "Public Square or Park." The north and south streets were named Alexander, Ramsey, Morton and Fenton; the east and west ones, William, Marshall, Main and Charles.

W. T. Ellis, the guiding spirit of Upper Lynd, labored hard to make the village a success, but his efforts resulted in failure. Without legal authority, but by common consent, the rival down the river became the county seat, the postoffice was moved there, Mr. Ellis moved his store there, and in time the site of

'The dedication was in the following language: "We, the undersigned, George ('. Smith and William T. Ellis, proprietors of the village of Lynd, do hereby certify that we caused the same to be laid out into

Lower Lynd was founded in 1S71. by A. R. Cummins and A. D. Morgan. It. was beautifully situated on the river bottom, with bluffs rising abruptly on either side, and was nearly surrounded by timber. The townsite consisted of about twenty acres of land, divided into eight blocks, and occupied a position within a little bend of the river, on the north side. Separating the blocks were three streets, named Cummin;. Main and Bridge.

Levi S. Kiel and A. 1). Morgan erected a large hotel building on the site and Mr. Morgan established a store. The new Lynd secured the county seat in 1872. the postoffice was moved there, a church building was moved from the older town, and Lower Lynd became the metropolis of Lyon county.

Its importance was not destined to continue, however. The Winona & St. Peter railroad was built through the county in 1872 and left Lynd to one side. Marshall was founded and rapidly outstripped its inland rival. In the fall of 1873 the voters of the county declared their preference for Marshall for the county seat, and in January, 1S74, Lynd lost that aid to future greatness. At the time of the removal of the county seat the Prairie Schooner said that Lynd contained two stores of general merchandise, a postoffice, shoe shop, hotel, blacksmith shop, wagon shop, carpenter shop and several offices.

Lynd steadily declined after it lost the county seat. At the beginning of the year 1876 the county paper stated that Lynd had one store and was the center of a large settlement. In time practically all the business enterprises lots, streets and alleys for town purposes as henplatted and that we hereby give the streets and alleys as here platted to the public. [Signed] George C. Smith, William T. Ellis."

Florence

With the building of the Willmar & Sioux Falls railroad in 1888 came the founding of fehe third, or modern, Lynd. When the grade tor the road was made in the fall of 1887, a grade for a siding was made on the southwesl quarter of section 27. a half mile south of the old town, and in August, L888, the track was put in.

\Y. II. Sherman, vice president of the Willmar A: Sioux Falls Railroad Company, and G. E. Rice platted the townsite. It was surveyed by ('. L. Van Fleet on November 6, 1888, and the dedication was made by the proprietors on November 20. Four blocks only were platted. They were divided by streets named First. Second, Third and Fourth and at right angles by Rice and Railroad Streets.2

Modern Lynd was not built in a day; in fact, its growth was very slow. The first building erected on the site was an elevator put up by the Northwestern Elevator Company. The people of the vicinity wanted a store established,3 but for several years no one made the venture. The first store was opened in 1891 by F. W. Cowdiam. who conducted it until the fall of 1895 and then sold to W. R. Gregg. The Lynd postoffice, which had been conducted so long by

-Two additions to Lynd have been platted, namely: Rice's, by C. E. Rice on March 14, 1905; Sharratt's First, by A. A. Sharratt on April 15, 1911.

3"There has been talk of putting in a store at Lynd, but it does not materialize very rapidly. This is a good point and some one will be here soon to make his fortune." - Lynd Correspondent to News-Messenger, November 17, 1890.

One rural route is operated from the Lynd office. It was the first rural free delivery route established in Southwestern Minnesota and the first trip on it was made December 4, 1899. Philip Snyder was the first carrier and C. W. Cady was substitute. The latter

Levi S. Kiel, was moved to the stoic and Mr. Cowham became postmaster.' After the Cowham store, the next building erected in Lynd was a residence by A. F.

secured. In 1901 the matter was cleared5 and the advancement that year was rapid. Nicholson Brothers put up buildings and engaged in the lumber and hardware business. Larson & Voog built a store and residence and engaged in business. Charles Zellmer erected the store building now occupied by II. C. llausei'. Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Austin put up a building and established the first hotel.

During the past decade Lynd has made fair progress and taken its place as one of the substantial little villages of Lyon county. Among the buildings erected since 1901 are the residences of A. A. Sharratt, F. Nicholson, Mrs. Gillman, Mrs. Williams, C. W. Cady, George Moffatt, G. S. Wunderlich, Stephen Nicholson, Otto Raav and F. W. Yanstrom, the tenement house of Claus Frahm, the school house erected in 1905, the First State Bank building in 1910, the blacksmith shop of Claus Frahm, and the wagon shop of F. E. Bills.

5"The town of Lynd has for many years been sadly stunted because of the lack of title to the land. Until a few days ago no one knew to whom the land belonged and it rested with the courts to decide the matter. T. P. Baldwin bid the lands in at forced sale and contested for possession, but the decision handed down was not in his favor. The court says that the land belongs to Rice & Canfield.

"The boom has already begun. Three lots have been sold to a Mr. Larson, of Wisconsin, who will open a lumber yard and an elevator in a short time. It is understood that a store will also soon be opened." - Marshall Reporter, April 5, 1901.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Lynd is the outgrowth of the first religious society formed in Lyon county, which was established in September, 1867, by the first settlers.6 Rev. C. F. Wright was the first pastor.7 After the founding of Marshall in 1872 the charge was divided and two separate organizations were maintained.

In September, 1889, the Lynd church was incorporated with the following as trustees: L. S. Kiel, W. H. Langdon, L. Oilman, W. R. Gregg, M. C. Kiel, William Cook, A. C. Tucker, E. E. Taylor and W. L. Watson. It was the intention to erect a church edifice at that time, but it was several years later when the building was finally erected.

The matter of a church home was again taken up at a meeting of the trustees on January 28, 1896, when a building committee was selected. The church officers at that time were L. S. Kiel, president; Jacob Rouse, secretary; and W. R. Gregg, treasurer. The building was commenced the following May, the corner stone was laid June 13, and the church was occupied for the first time in August, 1896. The cost was $1200. A parsonage was completed in March, 1911, at a cost of $1200.8

Early in 1889 a Presbyterian church society was organized in Lynd and services were for a time held in the school house, conducted by Rev. N. D. Graves, of Marshall. The trustees at the time of organization were Hiram Fellows, D. C. Pierce and Andrew Nelson. Alexander Burr wras clerk and treasurer.

"Other pastors of the Lynd church have been Revs. A. H. Riley, Eastman, G. H. MeKee, O. C. Gregg, W. T. Ellis, George Galpin, S. F. Lemans, Joseph Hall, Ellery, Lindsley, Hitchcock, A. A, Wilcox, J. W. Farr, J. W. Stebbins, Langworthy. Williams and George W. Root. »

The Lynd State Bank was incorporated June 1, 1910, and opened for business July 11 of the same year, with a capital stock of $10,000. The original stockholders and officers were the same as at present, namely: J. E. Vanstrom, president; S. J. Forbes, vice president; and F. W. Vanstrom, cashier. The bank owns its own home, which was erected at the time of founding. The growth of the institution has been satisfactory. Within six months after founding the deposits were $30,000 and there has since been a steady increase.

Florence is an unincorporated village on the Great Northern railroad and on the northwest quarter of section 20, Shell mrne township. There are a bank, several stores and shops in the village, where the people of Shelburne and adjoining townships do their trading.

Like the other villages of Lyon county on the Great Northern railroad, Florence was founded in 1888. The site for the station was selected in November of the year before,9 and in May, 1888, it was announced that the new station would be named Florence. The name was bestowed in honor of Florence Sherman, daughter of the founder of the town. Train service was begun in the fall and on October 9, 1888, the village was platted by W. H. Sherman, who had purchased eighty acres of land from H. P. Sanden for the purpose. It was surveyed by Jackson & Yause and consisted of seven blocks. The streets, running north and south, were named

C. W. Cady, recording steward; A. E. Alexander, S. Nicholson, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Austin, W. R. Gregg, H. W. Ruliffson, N. F. Larson and William Banks. The trustees are W. R. Gregg, S. Nicholson, A. E. Alexander, C. H. Austin and Fred Nicholson.

9"The last station, making six in all, will be located on section 20, in Shelburne, six and one-half miles beyond Clear Lake [Russell], ten miles west of Balaton and nineteen miles southwest of Marshall." - Marshall News-Messenger, November 11, 1887.

The townsite proprietor erected a store building - the first structure in the town - and leased it to Thomas H. Owens, who sold a farm near Tyler and established a general store in the new town. For several years he was the only business man in Florence and he conducted the store until his death on March 15. 1894. The postoffice was established soon after Mr. Owens located in Florence and he became the first postmaster.11 The second building elected was a blacksmith shop put up by a Mr. Swenson.

For several years after the founding there were few improvements to mark the site, but in 1893 the village advanced rapidly. Amberson Brothers established the second general store (now conducted by M. O. Gorseth), H. O. Jeglum engaged in the implement business, a Norwegian Lutheran church was put up, the Shelburne Warehouse Association engaged in the grain business, L. Anderson put up a building which was occupied by a harness shop and shoe store for a time and later by a general store in charge of T. Dreger, C. O. Green built a hotel which was opened early in August, a school house was completed late in the year, and several others engaged in business.

Florence has not grown as has some of the neighboring villages, but it has developed into a prosperous little community and each year marks some progress. There was talk of incor-

The history of the Florence school antedates that of the village itself. In 1884 school district No. 47, embracing the southwest quarter of Shelburne township, was organized, and a school house was built on C. P. Myran's farm, the southwest quarter of section 20, just south of the future village. The teacher.: of that school were Cora Lowland, Mary Bingham, Amelia Lien, T. H. Owens, Blanch Chapman, Mattie Sanders, Mabel C. Grover and Ella Pierce.

The present district, No. 78, was organized in 1893. ' In the fall of that year a school house was erected in the village at a cost of $750. Forty-five pupils are now enrolled in the school, which is in charge of Edla C. Johnson.12 The members of the school board are A. E. Green, clerk; H. P. Sanden, trea urer; and Anton Hynden, director.

The Norwegian Lutheran church of Florence was established in 1878, ten years before the village was founded.1'1 The first pastor was Rev. Martin Shirle, who was in charge of the church one year. He was succeeded in turn by Rev. Eggeland, 1879-82; Rev. Martin Shirle (second call), 1882-90; Rev. Bernt Askevold, 1890-94; Rev. Sorenson, 1894- 97; Rev. Flelga Aanestad, 1897-07; and Rex. Axel Berg, 1907-12.

Camp No. 3871, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized in November, 1897, 14 and has had an active life. Twenty-three members are now on the rolls.

13Early members of the church were Peter Sanden, Hans P. Sanden, Cornelius Myran, Paul Ronning, E. K. Ronning, J. P. Myran, Andrew Sanden, Christopher Johnson, Edward Anderson, Evan Berg, Evan Blegen , Tver Blegen, Carl Anderson, Andrew Berg and Thomas Ronning.

14The charter members of the Modern Woodmen lodge were John Martin, Hans P. Sanden, K. 10. Ronning, Edward Ronning, Louis Anderson, Evan Berg, Peter Myran, Ole Myran, Louis Blegen, Theodore Drake, Soren Jacobson, Mike Ofstad, M. < >. Gorseth and Peter Ronning.

The State Bank of Florence was incorporated June 5, 1908. with a capital stock of $10,000. The first board of directors was composed of P. A. Christiansen, A. E. Green. M. O. Gorseth, C. H. Christopherson, Ed. Anderson. H. P. Sanden and S. A. Christianson.

Of the smaller villages of Lyon county. Garvin is one of the most important and has a number of business enterprises that would he a credit to more pretentious places. It is a station on the Dakota Central division of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, aboul midway between Tracy and Balaton, and is on the southeast quarter of section 27, Custer township.

Although the railroad was built in 1879 the station was not established that early and the site was not entitled to a place on the map until 1886. Four years earlier a side track had been laid there and in railroad circles the site was known as Siding No. 7.1"' The siding became known as Terry in the spring of 1886, and on April 30 the Terry townsite was platted by the railroad company. It was surveyed by C. C. Pudor and was dedicated by Albert Keep, as president of the Winona <v St. Peter Railroad Company. Two blocks only were included in the original plat. The streets were named First, Sherman, Grant and Sheridan.16

15When this sidetrack was laid in 1882 it had apparently been the intention of the railroad company to establish a station, for in the Marshall New- of August 11. 1882, I find the following:

"Lyon county has a new village, located in the town of Custer, on the Dakota Central, midway between Tracy and Balaton. The company has platted a townsite and put in a sidetrack. A depot and an elevator will be built immediately."

was at the home of William R. Owens. the postmaster.17 The station bore the name Terry only about one year and was then renamed Kent. The first building erected at the station was a flathouse put up by a Mr. Seefield in 1887. H. L. Green was employed as urain buyer by Mr. Seefield. He lived in one end of the flathouse and stored grain in the other. About 1889 the flathouse was replaced by an elevator and Mr. Green continued as grain buyer several year-.

The name of the station was changed from Kent to Garvin, in honor of H. C. Garvin, traveling freight agent of the railroad, in July. 1891. Until business houses were founded there, however. the place was generally referred to as Seefield, after the owner of the elevator. The second structure on the site was a business building put up by William Owen-, in which he opened a store. He conducted the store a few years and then sold to Annie Shand. About the time that William Owens erected his store building he and his brother, Owen Owens, each built dwelling houses in the village.

After selling the pioneer store, William Owens and his brother put up another building and established the second general -tore. About the same time Andrew Anderson erected a small building and engaged in the blacksmith business. Other enterprises followed and the village of Garvin gradually developed. It has had a steady growth

17The office has had only two postmasters. William R. Owen- served from the fall of 1886 until September. 1900, since which time Evan M. Jones has b?en postmaster.

Two rural route> arc supplied from the Garvin office. Both were established March 1, 1903. Samuel Jones was carrier of No. 1 and David V. Jones of No. 2.

History Of Lyox Cofnty

Garvin has an excellent school, with three instructors and about eighty-five pupils. Before the village of Garvin was founded, on December 3, 1879, district No. 47 was organized.18 The first teacher of the school was Annie (i. Shand and the first officers of the district were E. H. Cutts, clerk; Thomas L. Harris, treasurer; and Daniel Willford, director.19 A two-room school house was built iu 1901 and that was replaced in 1911 by a four-room brick school house, erected at a cost of $11,500. The present instructors are Eunice Davis, principal; Agnes Peterson and Clara Jacobson.2"

The First Congregational Church of Garvin was organized in 1891 with only eight members, as follows: John N. Jones, William W. Jones, Annie P. Jones, Mary Anne Jones, Edith Owens, Thomas T. Jones, Evan M. Jones and Maggie Jones. The first deacons were William W. Jones and Evan M. Jones and the pastor was Rev. Edward Thomas.21 The church was erected in 1899 and the value of the church property is now lsThe signers of the petition for the organization of the district were Daniel Willford, E. H. Cutts, A. S. Cutler, L. Soward, Thomas L. Harris, Robert Owens, Hugh R. Hughes, Robert R. Owens, Margaret Jones, Ojen Johnson, John H. Hughes, John S. Owens, H. C. Masters, John L. Harris, C. M. Goodrich, W. W. Harrison, John Avery, Walter DeLong, Simon DeLong, James Steele, John H. Griffiths, Solomon Evans, George S. Robinson, Edward Glynn, B. R. Bass, Jeremiah Evans, David Davis, H. Peterson, Clemct Helleson, Thomas Nelson and Hans Jacobson.

20Others who taught the Garvin school since 1897 have been- N. S. Peterson, Arthur O. Dillon, Glenola Collins, Elizabeth Carlysle, Hannah Johnson, Etta A. Lucas, Myrtle Ladd, S. S. Swanson, H. R. Painter, Mrs. H. R. Painter, Rose Osborn, Ida Amundson, Clara Welty, C. H. Webb, Edith M. Engstrom, Leona Blanchard and Delia Cook.

-2In the same charge with the Garvin church is Bethel Congregational Church of Custer township. It was organized January 20, 1875, through the efforts

( larvin Camp No. 3599, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized April 5, lS'.IS.-'1 The lodge has had an active life and now has sixty-two members. The principal officers are A. A. Persons,

The Woodmen auxiliary, Charity Lodge No. 2048, Royal Neighbors of America, was organized March 20,1 900. 2i There are now forty-three members in good standing.

The banking history of Garvin dates back to May 27, 1905, when the Lyon County Bank, private, was established by G. A. Tate, J. H. Rice and N. H. Olson. Mr. Tate was president and

F. D. Pinckney cashier. In April, 1907, the farmers of the vicinity purchased the stock and organized the Farmers State Bank, with a capital stock of $10,000. The new officers were N. S. Peterson, president; T. P. Lien, vice president; and F. D. Pinckney, cashier.

of Rev. E. H. Alden. The first members of the church were Richard Hughes, Ann Hughes, Thomas Harris, Hannah Harris, Mary Williams, Katherine Thomas, Mary Jane Griffith, Edward Glynn, Ann Glynn, Marguerite Hughes and Ruth Price. Thomas Harris and Richard Hughes were the first deacons and Edward Glynn, James Morgan and William H. Hughes the first trustees.

The church building on the southwest quarter of section 12 was built in 1876 and until 1895 the charge was an independent one. The pastors during those years were Revs. Philip Pergrine, Francis, Wrigley, James Davis, Edward Thomas, John K. Martin and Riifus P. Upton. Since 1895 the pastors of the Garvin and Bethel churches have been the same. Bethel church has forty-one members at the present time.

-3The charter members of Garvin Camp were A. J. Anderson, C. S. Anderson, A. G. Bumford, B. O. Dalthorp, Edward P. Evans, H. L. Green, Reuben L. Harris, Carl R. Holden, R. T. Hughes, Evan M. Jones, John P. Jones, Thomas T. Jones, William W. Jones, George E. Lindsley, John S. Owens. Owen R. Owens, H. L. Shand, James A. W. Shand, A. J. Swenson, Clinton Willford and C. M. Willford.

24Charter members of Charity Lodge wimp Maggie J. Jones, Anna Coyle, Mary A. Jones, Margaret Hughes, Hannah A. Hughes, Olive A. Thomas, Louisa Carlburn, Nellie Caruren, Annie P. Jones, Annie D. Jones, Mary A. Weed, Annie Shand, Sarah Harris. Sephorah Owens. Mary Underwood, Anna E. Owens, Alice Hughes, Mary J. Hughes, Eleanor Jones, Mary F. Jones, Alice Jones, Edith Owens and Lena Anderson.

the Garvin State Bank on July 3, 1909. The latter was organized in 1907 with the following officers: J. R. Fitch, president; C. S. Orwoll, vice president; and H. L. Shand, cashier. The present officers of the Farmers State Bank are N. S. Peterson, president; G. Peterson, vice president; and F. D. Pinckney, cashier. Under the management of Mr. Pinckney the bank has had a prosperous life.

One of the institutions of Garvin is the creamery, which was built by the farmers of the vicinity and put in operation in June, 1899. The Garvin Creamery Company manufactures 200,- 000 pounds of butter per year and distributes about $60,000 per year among the farmers of the vicinity. P. O. Anderson is the buttermaker and has had charge of the creamery for the past eight years. The officers of the company are as follows: Thomas D. Phillips, president: W. W. Jones, secretary; E. M. Jones, treasurer; Ellsworth Evans, J. J. Thomas. E. J. Davis and D. I). Jones, directors.