Tracy City

Tracy City

according to the last census. It is in Monroe township, in the extreme southeastern coiner of the count}", the business center being only one mile from the Redwood county line and two and one-half miles from the Murray county line. It is a division point of the Northwestern railroad and is the eastern terminus of the Dakota- Central branch of that road. Its elevation above sea level is 1403 feet.

Tracy is a prosperous and progressive city and presents an attractive appearance. It has broad streets, lined with substantial business houses and handsome residences. As a business point Tracy takes high rank, because of its favorable location as regards trade territory. All the improvements to be found in Minnesota towns of its size are in Tracy. It has an excellent waterworks system, electric light plant, good schools and churches.

While Tracy was not founded until 1875, we may go back of that date several years to get at the beginning of its history. When the Winona & St. Peter railroad was constructed in 1872 there was apparently no thought of planting a village where Tracy was later built, and the only station established in Lyon county at that time was Marshall. But a country postoffice named Summit (which the Tracy office succeeded) was located on the line of the road just over the line in Redwood county, one and one-half miles east of the future city, of Tracy. The office was established in 1872 and Levi Montgomery was the postmaster, conducting it at his farm home. Summit postoffice was operated there until moved to Tracy in the spring of 1875.

During the first half of the seventies quite a number of homesteaders located in Monroe township and there was also quite a flourishing settlement on Lake Shetek, only a short distance south of the site of Tracy. In the spring of 1875 the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company, which had come into possession of section 23 by grant, laid out the village and named it Tracy, in honor of a director of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company.

The original plat included portions of the northeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the section and was surveyed by J. B. Berry. It consisted of ten blocks on the northeast side of the track, divided by South, Morgan, First. Second, Third and Fourth Streets. The dedication was made April 27, 1875, by Albert Keep, as president of the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company, and the

Almost simultaneous with the platting of the site came the building of the town. The first building was put up early in the spring of 1875. It was a warehouse, erected by Neil Currie. The station was established about the same time, with J. L. Craig as first agent. The Currie warehouse served the purpose of a depot until the summer of 1876. The second building on the site was a hotel erected by Henry H. Welch, who conducted the hostelry until the fall of 1879. The third building and the first store was located on the site early in the spring. The building had been erected on the farm of E. L. Stan-, just east of the site, in the fall of 1874, by H. N. Joy and that gentleman moved it to Tracy and located it at the corner of Front and Third Streets. In it a store was opened, conducted under the firm name of Taylor & Joy.

Although the village was platted as Tracy, the site was known as Shetek, or Shetek Station, until June, 1876, taking its name from the postoffice. It was in May, 1875, that' Summit postoffice was moved to the new village and named Shetek.2 The office was conducted in the store of Taylor & Joy and H. N. Joy was the first postmaster.3 at Shetek Station during the summer and fall of 1875. Gley & Brauns opened a general store and erected the second warehouse, J. P. Davis opened a third general store, Truax & Dudrey and J. M. Wardell established lumber yards and sold farm machinery and Mr. Wardell opened a furniture store, David Stafford built a hardware store, Allen Bates engaged in the saloon business,4 a Mr. Mathews conducted a harness shop, and two churches were organized.

The Shetek Station correspondent to the Marshall Messenger of November 12, 1875, told of the growth of the little village during the first season of its history:

This thriving little burg in the big bend has been making good use of its time this summer, and where a year ago there was nothing the traveler now looks out on a nice little village. Notwithstanding the drawbacks it has received, there are few settlements on the frontier that, have made better records in the same time. The second town in Lyon county in importance, it has the same elements of life and growth that have pushed Marshall into its present thrifty condition.

Shetek Station's present business and public buildings are as follows: The Methodists anil Congregationalists have each a ' comfortable church building; there are three general stores, kept by Gley & Brauns, Taylor & Joy and J. P. Davis; Truax & Dudrey and J. M. Wardell have each a lumber yard and deal in farm machinery; J. M. Wardell has opened a furniture store; Mathews has a harness shop; Stafford keeps a hardware store; there are two warehouses, Currie's and Gley & Braun's; there is a good hotel kept by Welch and a saloon by Bates. This, we think, makes a good showing for one summer.

2"We learn that the postmaster general has changed the name of Summit in Lyon county to Shetek and appointed H. N. Joy postmaster." - Prairie Schooner May 28, 1875.

3H. N. Joy served as postmaster of Shetek about one year. He was succeeded for a short time by S. S. Truax, and in June, 1876, the name of the office was changed to Tracy. In September, 1876, E. O. Braun; took the office and served until July, 1888. Under hi administration, in July, 1879, a money order office was established. Charles W. Main was postmaster from July, 1888, to January, 1892; M. D. Gibbs to March 1," 1896; O. J. Rea to February, 1900; W. R. Edwards to April 1, 1908; and A. H. Rowland from that time to the present.

Three rural free delivery routes are operated from the Tracy office. No. 1 was established January 15, 1900, with F. M. Hanks as carrier; No. 2, October 15, 1904, with R. N. Rowland as carrier; No. 3, August 15, 1906, with H. J. Flatequal as carrier.

4The Board of County Commissioners on May 31, 1875, granted license to Allen Bates to sell liquor at Shetek Station from June 1, 1875, to June 1, 1876. The license fee for the year was $35.

Although several business houses had been started, Shetek Station was still a very small village in 1875, and when the census was taken that year the population of Monroe township, including the village, was only 181. During 1S76 the grasshoppers were a burden and not much progress was made. During the summer the name of the village was changed from Shetek Station to Tracy"' and the railroad company erected a depot building. At that time the county paper referred to Tracy as a village of two or three stores, two church building.', school house, hotel, etc. Likewise there was little advancement during 1877. .1. L. Craig established the first livery stable that year.

.More prosperous times came in 1878. The grasshopper plague was a thing of the past and many new settlers located in Tracy and the vicinity. A correspondent writing to the county paper in March said: "Our village is all life now. Every train is bringing new settlers to our border, so that the future of our town will undoubtedly ba: k in sunshine. Trade is brisk, taking the time of year into consideration. Improvements are going on every day. Sidewalks have been built, which we have long needed. Another store building is going up."

Several new buildings are going up, among which are the new hardware store of Mr. Robertson, the dwelling house of Rev. John Gimson, an addition to the Tracy Hotel, and an addition to the store of D. Stafford. Mr. Hughes, of the firm of Hughes & Owens, has returned from Chicago, where he purchased a stock of goods for the new store, which is now nearly completed. The drug store is also nearly finished and another one is about to be commenced. A third hardware store is talked of, also a furniture store.

5" Allow me the privilege of writing you a few lines from this place. As you will see, the name has been changed from Shetek to Tracy. It is a little more lively here than usual and looks quite like a little town. Our hotel has been enlarged to a two-story

Among the enterprises stalled in L878 were a hardware store by D. H. Evans, a general store by Iverson cV. Thurin, meat market by E. L. Starr, store by Beach & Company, grocery store by Mr. Warren, millinery store by Mrs. Warren, and a machinery depot by Ole Rialson & Company.

During the first four years of its history the aspirations of Tracy were not great, and few had the temerity to predict that it would ever become aught but a little trading point. But early in the year 1879 came knowledge that a railroad was to be built from that village westward into Dakota Territory. The effect on the struggling village was magical. The town was filled with strangers, some looking for farms, others for business opportunities. Before the close of spring fourteen frame buildings had been completed, others were in process of construction, and several newT enterprises were founded. The town was lively all summer because of the activity in railroad construction, and there was a large increase in population. The census of 1880 showed a population of 322. An item of importance in the history of Tracy during this period was the establishment of a United States land office there in May, 1880.

Early in 1881 the citizens of Tracy believed the village had developed to a point where incorporation was desirable and they asked the Legislature to take the necessary steps. The village was incorporated under the general laws of the state by an act approved February 5, 1881. The following commissioners were named in the act to set the machinery in motion: M. T. Bohannan, J. M. Warded, D. H. Evans, E. O.

building and the railroad company is at work erecting a building 24xis feet. It is to be used for a branch land office of the company." - Tracy Correspondent, June 23, 1876.

election was held at the Commercial Hotel March 15, 1881, when 103 votes were cast and a set of village officers was chosen. A short time later the Village Council was organized and Tracy began municipal government.6

6 Village government was abandoned in 1893 and was replaced by government under a city charter, the change having been made on August 3. A commission to prepare a new charter was named February 9, 1907, completed its work and reported the following August. Again in April, 1911, a new commission was named to draft a charter to submit to the voters for approval or rejection. It completed it?- work March 5, 1912, but as it had not reported within the six months' time limit, it became necessary to have the commission reappointed before making a final report. At the city election in April, 1912, the new charter was adopted by a vote of 237 to 116.

entire corporate history. On several occasions the matter has been voted on under the local option law. Following were the results at those elections (possibly not complete) :

Tracy advanced by leap- and bounds during the early eighties and soon became the largesl village in the county. The Tracy Gazette in January, 1882, stated thai fifty buildings had been elected during the preceding summer. Progress was substantial in 1882. The next year came a boom that carried the town beyond the expectations of its most ardent well-wishers and gained for Tracy state-wide attention.1"

The causes of the prosperous times in 1XS3 were the action of the railroad company in making the town a division point and the expenditure of many thousands of dollars in railroad improvements. Also adding to the effect were excellent crops and good times in the state at large. Of the activity a1 Tracy the St. Paul Pioneer Press in October, 1883, said:

The immense outlays being rapidly made by the railroad company, in the way of extensive improvements, mark a new era in the permanent progress and prosperity of the town. A fine brick and stone round house, with stalls for thirty locomotives, is being erected as fast as a large force of workmen can push it, and it is now almost completed. A handsome brick machine shop of large dimensions is also nearly ready for occupancy. A splendid turn-table is being put in and two coal sheds are being constructed, each three hundred feet in length. The fact is the improvements being made by the railroad company at Tracy will rank among the most complete and important of any on the entire line of the road. ... A twelve-inch water main has been laid to Lake Sigel for the conveyance of a bountiful supply of pure and wholesome water for railroad purposes. Many other improvements are to be immediately made, the details of which cannot here be enumerated, but all of which combine to make Tracy a very important railroad center.

So soon as it was ' learned that the railroad company had decided to make the improvements, many new business houses were founded. A directory of business and professional men in Tracy, published in C. F. Case's History of Lyon County in 1884, was as follows:

'"The Winona Republican in June, 18S:;, said: "There is probably no section of Southern Minnesota where a more prosperous and jubilant feeling exists this season than at Tracy. The town itself is growing in a manner exceeding any period of its existence. The building improvements are of a substantial and permanent character."

The census of 1885 gave Tracy a population of 1210, showing it to be the largest town in Lyon county. The increase in five years had been 888 and ithad 224 more people than Marshall. The growth and development were steady during the next half decade and Tracy advanced to the second municipality in size in Southwestern Minnesota. Its population was 1400 in 1890. xl

11 According to the census of 1890, only Luverne, in Rock county, had a larger population than Tim \ in the counties of Rock, Nobles, Jackson, Martin, Watonwan, Cottonwood, Murray, Pipestone, Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, Sibley, Yellow Medicine and Lac qui Parle. The population of Luverne was 1466.

A blow that for a time checked Tracy's forward march was a disastrous fire, which occurred November 29, 1891, and which was the most destructive conflagration in the whole history of Lyon county. For a time it appeared as though the whole city north of the railroad track must go. but the flames were finally checked after a loss of nearly $50,000 had been sustained.

The fire was discovered at fifteen minutes before eleven o'clock in the forenoon and when the alarm was given the flames had gained considerable headway. The fire started in the basement of a store building and when discovered the flames had eaten their way to the wooden sidewalk in front and were reaching to the window sills of two or three buildings. Had there been a sufficient water supply and apparatus to get it to the fire, the flames might have been quenched, but Tracy at that time had not a waterworks system. The hook and ladder company did great work at the fire and without adequate apparatus succeeded in confining the flames to the one block. For hours the members of the company fought for the preservation of the town, among the leaders in the fight being Messrs. Tevlin, Hennessy and Thurin.

The flames spread rapidly and it soon became apparent that a serious conflagration was certain, with small means of combating it. When it was seen that adjoining structures must go, there was a general movement to save stocks of goods and thousands of dollars worth were piled in the streets. By reason of this the loss of personal property was not great. Heroic efforts were made to check the spread, but in vain. At one time a cable was attached to a frame building to pull it out of the course of the flames by a locomotive, but the building was pulled to pieces and was

Marshall was appealed to for aid, and that city's fire department was rushed to the scene. Water was hauled close to the raging flames by locomotives and the steamer of the Marshall department was put in action. Two streams were kept playing on the fire for more than five hours and the progress of the conflagration was finally checked.

Twenty-six buildings were destroyed, classed as follows: three hotels, sixteen store buildings, six barns, one warehouse and the Tammany Hall residence. Of the buildings, thirteen were two stories, one was of brick, and two brick- veneered. The burned district covered the central and most prominent block in the village, bounded by Front. Third and Fourth Streets. Every lot on the front of the block was occupied by a building, while only four buildings were located on the rear of the block.

The total losses were $45,399 and the insurance carried by all who sustained losses was only $18,476. Because of the combustible character of the buildings, almost prohibitive insurance rates prevailed and little insurance was carried. The fire was a serious blow to the people of Tracy and came at the worst possible time of the year. The merchants were in the midst of the best trade season ever experienced in the county, and as winter was just beginning rebuilding at once was out of the question.

During the summer before the fire bonds to the amount of $25,000 had been voted to put in a system of waterworks and supply fire protection, but the work had hot been undertaken. After the fire, however, the work was put under way and the system was completed in the fall of 1892. An electric lighting system was also installed the same season. A part of the burned distinct was rebuilt in 1892, but the village was a long time recovering from t lie blow.

During the last twenty years Tracy's progress has been steady and it has developed into an exceptionally prosperous little city. Its population was 1687 in 18!)."). was increased to 1911 in 1 'MM), and reached high water mark in 1905 with a total of 2015. The census of 1910 gave a population of 1876.

The Schools

A public school was established in Tracy a very short time after the first business enterprises were started. The school was opened in the summer of 1875 and was conducted in the recently erected Presbyterian church building. Miss Stella Cleveland was the first teacher and the first pupil; were Mary Starr, Fred Starr, Sanford Joy, Sherman Joy and John Craig. The school was conducted in the Presbyterian church until 1880 and the teachers during that time were Hannah Evans, Harriet E. Tucker and C. W. Candee.

A four-room two-story brick school house was erected in 1880 at a cost of $6000. The first teachers after the house was built were E. A. Currie and Alice Powell. Others who taught the Tracy school prior to the reorganization in 1888 were Frank L. Randall, Elizabeth Lewis, Gertrude Todd, Mrs. Mackay, Professor Lee, C. C. Baldwin, Katie Murphy, Addie Gary and Annie Shand.

A high school was established the same year in charge of Superintendent H. G. Klepper13 and the first class was graduated therefrom in 1890. 14

In time the school population so increased that added facilities were demanded. A frame building was erected and in July, 1893, the people voted to issue $25,000 bonds for a new building, by a vote of 76 to 36. Owing to the financial stringency it was impossible to market the bonds at once, a dispute arose over the selection of a site, and in August the matter of issuing the bonds was put to a vote of the electors of the district. By a vote of 52 to 80 it was decided to postpone the matter.

In the spring of 1895 the people of Tracy decided to erect the building. By a majority of 257, at an election held April 23, the voters authorized the i>>uance of bonds to the amount of $30,000. The bonds were sold, the handsome brick school building was

13The Tracy High School has had only three superintendents. H. G. Klepper served from 1888 to 1891, G. H. Alden in 1891 and 1892, and Lee Swift from 1892 to the present time. Only two other high school superintendents in Minnesota have had charge of one school for a longer period than Professor Swift has been in charge of the Tracy school. One teacher, Blanche Grant, now Mrs. H. F. Seiter, taught in the Tracy schools twenty-three years.

The lower grades occupied the old building, known as the Central school, and the high school and higher grades occupied the new building. The Central school was destroyed by fire February 29, 1912, bringing a loss of $10,000, covered by $7000 insurance. The lower floor of Syndicate Hall or the Finch Building is now used for school purposes and plans are under consideration for the erection of a new school house.

The Tracy schools rank among the best in the state. The present enrollment is 550 and eighteen instructors are employed. The high school has a faculty of seven teachers. In addition to the regular high school course, normal, manual training, agricultural and commercial departments are maintained.

The Churches

tions in Tracy. They arc the Presbyterian, Methodist, Norwegian Lutheran, Catholic, German Lutheran, Swedish Lutheran, United Norwegian Lutheran and Episcopal. Nearly all of these are old societies and the organization of some of them antedate the founding of the village.

So early as the spring and summer of 1873 religious services were held at the home of E. L. Starr, adjoining the present site of Tracy, conducted by Rev. Ransom Wait, Presbyterian. In the fall of 1874 a Presbyterian church society was organized with Cyrus Clark. H. N. .Joy and Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Welch as members15 and Rev. Wait as pastor. When Tracy was founded the following spring among the first buildings put up was a Presbyterian church, which cost only a few hundred dollars. Rev. Wait was pastor of the church two

The Presbyterian church of Tracy increased in membership and in a few years outgrew the original edifice. In 1885 a new building, 36x48 feet, with a 19x24 feet addition, was constructed under the direction of a building committee of which George F. Bidwell was chairman. The cost was about $5000 17 and the new edifice had a seating capacity of 350. It was dedicated, free from debt, on March 7, 1886, by Rev. S. O. Anderson. A short time later a parsonage was built. The present membership is over 200.

1 Among the other early day members of the Presbyterian church were John L. Craig, John Ferguson, Mrs. Mary Jones, Mrs. Mary A. Louden, James Rose and Mrs. Alice Starr.

and Sunday School, the school being the first religious society in the village. It was organized at the home of J. M. Wardell in June, 1874, with twenty members and with W. S. Moses as superintendent. Rev. E. H. Alden, a Congregational missionary, conducted services in the vicinity in 1874 and a church was organized with seven members and with Rev. J. H. .Jenkins as pastor. A little church building was erected in the summer of 1875 and for several years the society was maintained. Rev. Philip Peregrine was the second pastor and Rev. H. C. Simmons the third. By the terms of an agreement between the Congregationalists and Presbyterians of Tracy and Sleepy Eye, the field at the latter place was left to the Congregationalists and that society withdrew from Tracy in favor of the Presbyterians.

Another pioneer church of Tracy is the Methodist. It was organized in 1875 as a result of preaching by Rev. Gimson in Tracy and vicinity. It was established with few members, and E. W. Healy, C. W. Coble and C. Arnoldt were the first trustees. For several years the Methodists had no church and worshipped every other Sabbath in the Congregational edifice. Rev. J. W. Powell succeeded Rev. Gimson and occupied the pulpit until 1882.

During the pastorate of Rev. Ff. J. Harrington,18 when the membership had reached about twenty-five, in 1882, a church building was erected. It was dedicated by Rev. Forbes. The Meththe Presbyterian church were the following: Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company and employes, $860; residents of Tracy, $1265; officers of the railroad company outside of Tracv, $2;{5; Laird-Norton Company, $100.

The Norwegian Lutheran church is one of the older religious societies of Tracy. In the early eighties services were irregularly held in the older church buildings and in private residences and there was no regular pastor. The church was organized February 11, 1883, with the following members: Jacob A. Jacobson, Paul P. Haugen, John Tweet, Iver H. Engen, Hellek Olson, Peter Olson, Bolette Olson, B. Peclerson, Kristine Pederson, Iver Olson Dahl, Joe Johannesen, Alek Lean, Karen Christenson, Karoline Christenson and Ole Ostensjoe.20 Kev. Askevold was the first pastor and served from 1883 to 1889; Rev. A. J. Nervig was pastor from 1889 to 1905: Rev. H. Magelsson, of AV;ilnut Grove, preached during parts of 1905 and 1906; and Rev. O. M. Gullerud, the present pastor, took charge in October, 1906. The society has a fine house of worship and a parsonage erected in 1907 at a cost of nearly $3000. Its present membership is 171.21

St. Mary's Catholic church of Tracy Mas established in 1884, but services had occasionally been conducted before that date. The first mass was held at the home of Pat Summers about 1880. The church edifice was started in the fall of 1884 and completed the followingyear. Father Edward Lee, of Minneota, was in charge of the church for a time

1,JThe present officers of the Methodist church are C. G. Porter, \V. W. Moses, H. W. Elliott, E. J. Ev.ins, E. Blettner, Fred Healy, Russell Donaldson, Carl Wamstead, George Donaldson and Mrs. C. G. Porter.

20The first board of trustees of the Norwegian Lutheran church was composed of Jacob A. Jacobson, secretary; Hellek Olson, treasurer; John Tweet, Paul Haugen and Iver Engen.

21 Affiliated with the Tracy church is the Holand Evangelical Lutheran church, about five and one-half miles southwest of Tracy. It has a membership of 1.55 and is ministered to by Rev. Gullerud. The Holand church was organized in 1878 by Professor John Ylvesaker with the following members: Andrew Johnson, Andrew Olson, Klemet Halleson, Hans Jacobson, Halvor O. Ericksrud, Henrik Pederson, and held services once a month. He was succeeded by Father Darche, the first resident priest.22 The present membership is about 200. The pastor of St. Mary's church also holds services at Walnut Grove.

Services by members of the German Lutheran faith were first held in Tracy in the fall of 1886. A church society was organized at that time with the following named gentlemen and their families as first members: John Reetz. William Wiecks, William Darger, William Schmidt, H. C. Heine, John Selck, William ( liffert and Charles Giese. From the date of organization until 1892 services were held once in three weeks in the Congregational church building, conducted by outside pastors. A church building was erected in 1892 and six years later a parsonage was put up, the value of both buildings being "about $2100. Rev. C. W. Heuer was the first pastor and served from 1892 to 1S(.)7. He was succeeded by Rev. Ahward, and the latter in 1909 by Rev. Tychsen, the present pastor. Services are now held every other Sabbath. The membership is about twenty-five.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Herlunda church of Tracy was organized December 11, 1888, with the followingfirst members: Peter Magnell and wife, Albert Hedenberg and wife, Samuel Reinhold and wife, Peter Swenson and wife and Charles Dahlin.23 The church was incorporated in 1889 as a member

"Resident priests in charge of St. Mary's church have been Fathers Darche, Mahoney, Sullivan, Smollein, John Gleason, John Byrne and George E. Carlin. The last named was assigned to the charge August 28, 1907.

"Others who joined the church before it was incorporated in 1889 were Christian Mohn, Sven J. Bjorkman, Anders A. Busk, Bengt Matteson, Peter Swanson, Swen Nelson and Swan Anderson and their wives. The first deacons of the church were Peter Magnell, Samuel Reinhold and Albert Hedenberg. The first trustees were Charles Dahlin, Samuel Reinhola and Peter Magnell.

of the Augustana Synod of North America. Prior to 1891 the pulpit of the Tracy church was filled by the Balaton pastor and ministers from oilier charges. The firs! residenl pastor, Rev. B. S. Nystrom, located in Tracy in 1891.24 A parsonage was built that year and the church was put up in 1892. The value of chureh property is $3000. The membership is now ninety-seven communicants and twenty-five children.2"'

The United Norwegian Lutherans have maintained an organization in Tracy since December, 1888. Among those instrumental in its organization were Bernt Johnson, ( He Johnson, Henry Olson and Charles Ostlund. The society has never had a resident pastor and is at present supplied by Rev. K. C. Henderlie, of Canby, who conducts services once every three weeks. The membership is between fifty and sixty.

St. Mark's Episcopal church of Tracy was organized by Rev. Arthur Chard in the late nineties. For a time services were held in the United Norwegian Lutheran church, but the society now has a chapel of its own. The first members of the Episcopal church were Dr. and Mrs. H. M. Workman. Morris Workman, Mrs. L. E. Harvey, M. D. Gibbs, Mrs. Minnie Wiley, Mrs. H. E. Blair, Mrs. Keller, Mrs. C. W. Marks. Mrs. Ralph Yates, Mrs. Fannie Morgan, Mrs. J. Q. McNally, Mrs. Lucy Warren

"Among the members of the Swedish Lutheran church, in addition to those mentioned, are John Peterson and wife, Nels E. Pehrson and wife, Andrew Martinson and wife, John August Anderson, Andrew S. Carlson and wife, Peter Neilson, Joel Nelson and wife, John A. Bowman and wife, John F. Fornquist, August Peterson and wife and Henry Peterson.

26Among the Episcopal ministers who have supplied the Tracy parish have been Revs. Arthur ('hard, TenBroeck, Charles F.uiar, J. Hoist, Richard Reade, John Plunkett and W. A. Dennis.

and Mrs. Charles Riegel. Owing to the small membership the church has never had a resident pastor.-'1 Services are now held the second Sabbath of each month by Rev. W. A. Dennis, of Worthington.

The Lodgks

Tracy is the home of a number of worthy secret and fraternal orders. They are the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Order Eastern Star of the Masonic orders, Grand Army of the Republic. Womens Relief Corps, Odd Fellows, liebekahs. Modern Woodmen, Knights of Pythias, Catholic Order of Foresters, Modern Brotherhood and Royal Neighbors. Besides these are two women's clubs - Current News Club and Sorosis Club.

Tracy Lodge No. 155, A. F. & A. M.. the oldest order in the city, was organized under dispensation in July, 1882, with the following first officers: W. M. Todd,-;W. M.; M. D. Gibbs, S. W.; and Anson Warren, J. W. The charter was granted January 10, 1883, to twelve members.27 The lodge has ever since been maintained and its membership is now seventy-four.

Late in 1883 members of the order in Tracy, Walnut Grove, Currie and Marshall asked the grand chapter for the establishment of a Royal Arch Mason Chapter at Tracy,28 and in April, 1884, the local order was organized under dispensation.29 The charter was

Frank E. Ketehum, Charles J. Gardner, Samuel S. Truax, James Thomson, Joseph Jones, Myron D. Gibbs and John H. Cutler. Only one of the number is now a resident of Tracy.

2SThose who signed the application for the dispensation for Bower Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, were John M. Moore, John Moore, Neil McKay, J. F. Remore, Frank Hooker, H. B. Gary, A. C. Forbes, M. E. Mathews, Squire D. How, C. L. Van Fleet, S. M. Gage, M. Sullivan, G. F. Bidwell, Neil Currie. A. T. Crowl, H. M. Workman, John G. Schutz, James P. Corbin, John R. Fitch, W. H. Owens. George W. Thomas, H. G. Humphries, Jr., and E. A. Gove.

Virginia Chapter No. 15, Order Eastern Star, was instituted February 3, 1885, by Grand Matron Mrs. H. A. Valentine, of Minneapolis, and Grand Patron Willis, of Farmington. It was organized with thirty-five charter members30 and its membership is now ninetysix.

The second oldest order in Tracy is Joe Hooker Post No. 15, Grand Army of the Republic. It was chartered August 8, 1882, with twenty-two members.31 The post was disbanded after a short existence, but was reinstated August 18, 1884. It was mustered in at that time by O. E. Gail, of Marshall.32 The post now has only a few members but an active organization is maintained.

For a time a Sons of Veterans post had an existence. It was formed in November, 1885, and its first officers were C. L. Bohannan, captain; .1. G. Willis, first lieutenant; O. J. Pea. second lieutenant.

I lie charter members of Virginia Chapter were Hat tie Bidwell, Eunice Blood, Lillian Blood, Jennie Densil, Louise Gibbs, Myrtle Gibbs, Blanche Grant, A.bbie Humason, Mary A. Jones, Louise Klepper, Hannah Lloyd, Evelyn Matson, Grace Nash, .Martha Pattridge, Alice Richard, Sarah Segur, Hannah Stafford, Emma Warren, Hannah I). Warren, Amelia Whiting, .Minnie Wiley, Josephine Yates, G. !-'. Bidwell, F. S. Brown, S. M. Gage, M. D. Gibbs, W. O. James, W. 1>. Jones, W. H. Little, O. L. Pattridge. W. J. Richard, .1. R. Segur, F. L. Warren, Homer Whiting, H. M. Workman and Mrs. Virginia Workman, who was the first worthy matron and for whom the chapter was named.

32The first officers at the time of reorganization were I. R. Wagner, W. H. Arnold, John Lloyd, M. D. Gibbs, .J. P. Davis. H. N. Joy, J. L. Craig, William Mesler, David Campbell and John Manuel.

Chosen Friends Lodge No. 100, Independent Order Odd Fellows, was chartered July 30, 1884. and was instituted August 18 by Past Grandmaster Fahrman, of Winona, ft began with six members1" and now has forty-seven. A Rebekah lodge, auxiliary to the Odd Fellows, also lias an active organization.

Tracy Lodge Xo. 96, Ancient Order United Workmen, was organized June 10, 1887. with only ten members.''15 It has increased until today it has the largest membership of any lodge in Tracy. About one hundred forty members belong to the local order. Its auxiliary. Tracy Lodge No. 8, Degree of Honor, was organized January 10, 1893, with ten members.38 Its membership is now 120.

Tracy Camp Xo. 1549, Modern Woodmen of America, came into existence August IS, 1891, with eleven members.37 The lodge has had a prosperous existence. It now has ninety-five beneficial and one social members.

36Charter members of the Degree of Honor lodge were Mesdames Eunice Clark, Minnie F. Pattridge, Francelia M. Huntington, Cora L. Thurin, Matilda Brauns, Lueinda Craig, Jennie Connie, Cora A. Hartigan, AnL'ie L. Musser and Delia Nichols.

"Charter members of the Woodmen lodge were W. R. Edwards, H. A. Bates, Swan Anderson, J. E. . Hennessey, W. H. Bohannan, Allen Bates, J. .1. Hartigan and C. L. Bohannan.

\\ . Michael Court No. LOO, Catholic Order of Foresters, was established August 9, 1899, with a small membership.39 Meetings arc seldom held now, although the charter is still retained.

A lodge of the Modern Brotherhood of America was organized December 21, 1899, and is still an active organization with thirty-five members. "'

A Royal Neighbors lodge was instituted March 10, L900, with a large membership. " It lias since held regular meetings and now has a membership of forty-five.

Both the Current News Club and the Sorosis Club are affiliated with the State Federation. The former has a membership of twenty-five and the latter of twenty. The Sorosis Club was organized in 1892 and became a member of the federation in 1900.4- The Current News dub was organized in 1893 and federated in 1895.43

The Library

The Tracy public library was established in the winter of 1880-81 and among the first members were F. S. Brown, John Lind, H. W. Little. G. H.

39The charter members of the Foresters lodge were John Wiesner, Henry Cain, J. C. Donovan, James G. Behan, J. M. McCabe, Peter Frederick, Frank Ford, Richard M. Hogan, James Donovan, B. W. Odekirk, Walter Dalton and Herman Farrell.

40The charter members of the Modern Brotherhood lodge were Joseph R. McElvain, Charlotte McElvain, William A. Dicks, Jacob J. Tofting, Charles P. Hewitt, Augusta A. Schumacher, Knute N. Nylin, Josephine Carter, William S. Carter, J. B. Bens, D. Alton Prouty, Dora Lehman, Nicholas A. Borger, John C. Bong, Henry Jones, John P. Larson, James L. Montgomery, Ida Lehman, Anna M. Hanson, William A. Carter, Peter A. Callahan, August S. Swenson, Swan Anderson, Nellie Nylin, Mary A. Jones, Floyd A. Schaffer, Nellie A. Hewitt, W. P. Newton, Nellie Narveson, Thomas Narveson, Elise Drury, Frank Gary, Elizabeth C. Allen, Delia M. Ray and Albert T. Goslee.

Jessup and others. It is now conducted in a loom in the city hall and comprises 1192 volumes. The library is open to the public on Saturday of cadi week. A fee of twenty-five cents pci- quarter is charged patrons.

The first steps toward the establishment of fire protection in Tracy were taken in 1885. There being no waterworks system at that time, the principal apparatus of the pioneer fire fighting company were a hook and ladder truck and accessories, which were purchased at a cost of $383. The hook and ladder company formed at that time was the nucleus of the present fire fighting organizations of Tracy. The members of the pioneer company were Martin Thurin, P. J. Tevlin, J. J. Hennessy, H. M. Workman, Dell Haines and Pearl Pea. Later August Peterson and Frank Blackman became members.

After the big fire of November,1891,and a waterworks system had been installed, a reorganization was brought about - in the spring of 1892. Besides the members of the old company there were admitted at that time John Jones and A. H. Rowland.

were Laura Berdan, Ellen Jensen, Hilda Johnson, William D. James, Emma H. Flatequal, Susie M. James, Mary J. Kahl, H. A. Bates, W. G. Menke, D. A. Prouty, Ella M. Stiles, Nellie Thurston, Hbnora Donovan, Louise Hennessy, Maisie M. Whitmore, Anna C. Parks, Dencie A. Bates, Elizabeth Dalton, Christina Flink, Marion A. Prouty, H. M. Workman, Ollie Elliott, Mary Burns and Harry Stiles.

42The members of the Sorosis Club are Mesdames H. M. Algyer, C. E. Bartlett, F. S. Brown, Don Casselman, C. W. Walbran, Cora Craig, G. W. Donaldson, W. R. Edwards, B. L. English, G. A. Fitch, G. H. Goodwin, Cora Gould, Mildred Hunter, W. D. James, J. J. Laughlin, W. H. Valentine, D. T. McArthur, G. W. Norris, C. B. Partridge, C. G. Porter, J. A. Rickert and T. H. Webb. The associate members are Mesdames Hoidale, Steel and Lien.

and thoroughly equipped. In its equipment are two hose carts, a hose reel, a hook and ladder truck, and nearly 3000 feet of hose. The department is maintained in the city hall. There are seventeen active members. The present chief is G. E. Schmidt.

The Tracy Firemans Relief Association has over $2000 in its treasury. H. M. Workman is president of the association, Jacob Rickert secretary, and A. H. Rowland treasurer.

The Banks

Three banking houses are conducted at Tracy, the First National Bank, Citizens State Bank, and Tracy State Bank. The first named is the successor of the old Commerce Bank; the two state banks are of more recent origin.

Tracy's first bank was a private institution, the Bank of Tracy, founded by G. H. Jessup in the early eighties. Later W. O. Musser became a partner in the business. The bank was a popular institution, built up an enormous business, and had a long life. Late in 1904 Mr. Jessup died, the affairs of the bank were found to be in a bad way, and the institution was closed. Upon its ruins a new bank was started, founded for the most part by depositors of the defunct bank.

The second banking house of Tracy was the Commerce Bank, established as a private institution in the eighties by J. E. Evans and J. P. Davis. The Commerce Bank was succeeded on August 1, 1891, by the First State Bank, it having been purchased by J. S. Tucker, D. T. McArthur, E. W. D. Holway and others. Upon the organization of the state bank Mr. Tucker became president and Mr. Holway vice president.

First National Bank. The organizerwere Martin Thnrin, John A. Hunter. John D. Owens, W. Pi. Edwards, Neil Finch, I). T. McArthur, Ben Bear. E. W. D. Holway, C. J. Weiser, Solomon Loeb and J. S. Tucker. The first officers were as follows: J. S. Tucker, president ; E. AY. D. Holway. vice president; D. T. McArthur, cashier: and L. J. Hunter, assistant cashier. Mr. Mi ..-Arthur became president in 1901 and was at the head of the bank until his death on August 26, 1911.

The First National Bank moved to its present commodious quarters at the corner of Main and Third Streets in April, 1898. From a small beginning the institution has worked its way to the front and is one of the prosperous financial institutions of Lyon county. It has a capital stock of $50,000 and a surplus of $1 0,000. In 191 1 the deposits averaged about $400,000 and the total resources were about a half million dollars. The present officers are C. J. Weiser, president; Ben Bear and E. Herzog, vice presidents; H. M. Algyer. cashier; L. Houston, assistant cashier.

The Citizens State Bank began business September 21, 1904, with the following first officers: J. M. Wardell, president; George E. Button, vice president; H. F. Seiter, cashier. The business is conducted in the building at the corner of Third and Morgan Streets formerly occupied by the Bank of Tracy. The bank has a capital stock of $25,000 and a surplus of $5000. From September, 1907, to September, 1911, the deposits increased from $77,033.02 to $248,453.25.

The present officers of the Citizens State Bank are J. M. Wardell, president: George E. Dutton, vice president; H. F. Seiter, second vice president; J. A. Rickert, cashier; L. F. Nelson, assistant cashier. The directors are S. I'. Hicks, George E. Dutton, II. J. Pattridge, J. M. Wardell, D. H. Evans, Neil Finch, II. F. Seiter, A. M. Nash and \Y. H. Valentine.

The Tracy State Bank opened its doors January '_', 1905, with a capital stock of $20, 000. It occupies a building put up for the purpose in the fall of 1904. D. A. McLarty served as presided during the first year of its existence. The present officers and directors are as follows: J. R. Fitch, president; I). A. McLarty, vice1 president; L. J. Fitch, cashier: A. Swoffer and C. S. Orwall.

An institution that has aided materially in the progress of Tracy is the Tracy Cement Tile Company, manufacturers of tile, building blocks and brick. It is the successor of the Tracy Cement Drain Tile, Brick and Block Company, which began business in 1905 and which was owned by H. F. Seiter, D. H. Evans, ( Me Ophiem, J. R. Segur and F. G.

Segur. The company was reorganized and incorporated, with ;i capital stock of $50,000, under the preseni name on January 1. 1911. The stockholders are the same as of the original company and the officers are D. H. Evans, president; 11. F. Seiter, secretary and treasurer; I Me Ophiem. manager.

F. M. Slover, a practical tiler, and a corps of surveyors are employed by the company. During the summer months between twenty-five and thirty men are employed and the plant is operated during the winter months with a reduced force. The capacity of the plant is from 2000 to 4000 tile per day, dependent upon the size. It is one of the largest cement manufacturing plants in the state and is equipped with modern machinery, being operated by elect licit v. A large stone crusher is operated and there are two live-steam curing tunnels. Besides the manufacturing department, another branch of the enterprise is contracting tile laying, surveying, etc.