Trosky City

Trosky City

Of the seven incorp(]rateil municipalities of Pipestone county, Troskv is the least populous, the late census giving it a poinilation of 181 people. It is a .station on the I'lllsworlli-WaU'rtown extension of the Rock Island railroad, seven miiL-s southeast of Pipestone. The platted jjortion of Trosky is on section 21, Elmer township. It is the center of a limited but jirodiictive agricultural region and has tlic distinction of Ijeing one of the best grain markets of the county. It is a compactly Iniilt, neat appearing little village.

Trosky came into existence as a direct result of the building of the Burlington (now the Rock Island) railroad in 1884. The track was completed to the site of the future village in September and regular train service was established the next month. The road wa.s built through a territory that was rapidly filling with settlers, and the people of southern Pipestone county and northern Rock county heartily welcomed the new road, for with it came tlie possibilities of new towns ami nearer markets.

The work of platting and developing the new townsites along the Burlington extension was done by the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Land & Town Lot company, a corporation in close affiliation with the railroad company. The building of only one town on the line between Luverne and Pipestone entered into the original plans of the promoters, although two sites for stations were selected so early as September, 1884. One of these was at a point two miles north of Poplar creek in Pipestone county,'* where later Trosky was built, and the other was on the northwest quarter of section 2(1, Denver township, in Rock county. For awhile there was uncertainty as to which of the two counties was to be favored with the new town and much unreliable information was circulated concerning the choice, the people of northern Rock county petitioning to have the village founded at some point in Rock county.^' Before the close of September the town lot company began the work of founding the village on Pipestone county soil. The building of a town at the station in Denver

*8"A station, not yet named, has been located between Luverne and Pipestone, at a point about two miles north of Poplar creek, in Pipestone county." - Rock County Herald, September 12, 1884,

""It i.s stated on the authority of Mr. Ellswortli, of the Burlington town lot company, that the choice of a townsite on Poplar creei<. in Pipestone county, is not so fully determined but that it may yet be changed, and etfoi-ts

The Trosky townsite was surveyed September 23, 1884, by LeRoy Grant, and the dedication was made October 3 by S. L. Dows. president, and Jaiue.s B. Close, secretary, of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Land & Town Lot comjiany.-" Fifteen blocks were included within the original plat. The land on which the site was located was originally the property of Close Bros. & Co. and at the time was farmed by J. A. Griffin.

Although the plat was not surveyed until late in the year, several busine.ss houses were established before its close. The first building erected on the site was a little shack put up by M. Hackett, a one-legged man from near Spirit Lake, who opened a "blind pig" and sold his wares to the railroad workers. The initial business institution was short lived. A side track was laid at the new station October 10 and a box car stationed there to answer the ]iur|:)ose of a temporary depot. The same day the side track was laid carpenters in the employ of Ezra Rice, tlie Luverne grain dealer, began erecting a warehouse, and on the fifteenth of the month Mr. Rice's representative, Ed. Bane, began buying grain. In Octolier, also. Carman & Hornby erected a small office building and engaged in the luiidjer business, later dealing in fuel also. In December (). C. llilan moved from Eden township niid l)egan the erection of a store building. Bef(u-e the year was completed Finch & Ilnyward erected a second gi'ain wareare being made to have ,a town located on this side of the county line at some point nearly midway between Lu\'erne and Pipestone. This, it is understood, would be more satisfactory to the northern part of the county and is especially desired Ijy the people of Rose Dell and Springwater townships." - Rock County Herald, September 19, 1884,

Activity in ilic new town continued (hiring the winter months^ and the year 1885 witnessed the founding of several new enterprises. Early in January tiie postoft'ice was opened with L. G. Jones as postmaster.-^ Phillips & Chapin engaged in the hardware and implement Imsiness in February and completed their >linv liuilding in April. 0. C. Ihlan moved his family to the new town during llie winter and became the first established resident. About the first of March the linn of Ihlan & Olson opened the first general merchandise store, and the same month L. J. Pooler was granted license to operate a saloon. The pioneer saloon keeper was not long in possession of an unopposed field, for in September throe saloons were in operation, Ralph Jaybush having established the second and Olson & Faegre the tliird. Full & Adams engaged in tlie general merchandise business and erected a "^3x40 feet building. Arne Nelson put up a little building and opened a blacksmith shop. A hotel (on the site of the Hansen store building) was opened the first week in November by B. F. Smith, who sold out within a short time to William Denhait. who had succeeded Carman & Hornby in the lumber and coal Ijusiness.

-'Mr. Jones was postmaster of Trosky one \Har and was succeeded by Wilbur Shippey. Benjamin Wheeler was next in charge of the office, giving way in 1S94 to John Frahm. The postmaster from 189s to 1907 was Charles French. ITpon his retirement his daughter. Or- |iha FT-fticli, i-eceived the commission and has -iiice held the office.

--"L. P. Kenyon stopped off in Luverne Wednesda>' on his return from Trosky to Rock Kapids. Mr. Kenyon bought the section on which Trosky is located some time ago and tile investment proved to be a very prolitable one. He has already sold 150 lots and was

(). C. llilan continued the business. During the same season Wilbur Shippey succeeded to the hardware business of M. E. Phillips, xi bank was founded by J. C. Jonas, but had only a shoit life. William Denhart .sold the hotel property to Dr. W. N. Hake, a veterinarian, who took charge of the hostelry. In the fall J. W. Thomas erected a store building and engaged in the general merchandise business.

During the ne.xt few years there was little advancement in Trosky. The first two years of its growth had brought the village to a point sufficient to take care of the trade of the surrounding country, and beyond that point it did not go until the country from which it drew support had further developed. In 1890 the townsite was purchased by L. P. Kenyon, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and that gentleman undertook the task of building up the town. There was notable progress in the matter of building improvements during 1891. That year brought the building of the extension of the Rock Island road to the pink quarries near Jasper, which event added somewhat to the importance of the little village.

The year of greatest growth was 1893 and the advancement was brought about largely through the efforts of the townsite proprietor, who was busily engaged in the sale of town lots from early in the spring until late in the I'all.-- Both public and private improvements were under way the entire year. Several business blocks were erected and a uunilicr of inijHulanl

"Last week L. P. Kenyon sold thirteen lots in Trosky and has about completed contracts for the sale of twenty more. It seems that real estate in Trosky is in greater demand than wheat or any other property, notwithstanding the hard times. A town where lots will sell at the present time must have a bright future and will make an important business center. There is no safer place to make investments in property or business enterprises tlian in Trosky." - Trosky Advertiser, August, 1893.

enterpri.se.s established, among them a state bank with a capital of $27,000 and a newspaper, the Trosky Advertiser. In the spring the village was incorporated and the first law-nmking body undertook several municipal improvements. The streets were graded, sidewalks were built, trees were set out, and a spirit of enterprise prevailed. .\ business directory of the town, published November 2.3, 189.3, showed the following:

The first step toward securing' incorporation for Trosky was taken at a meeting of the citizens held at the village hall on the evening of April 18, 1893.. M. E. Templar, H. E. Denhart and 0. C. Ihlan were appointed a comitiittee to take a census of the territory proposed to be incorporated, and E. E. Brintnall was chosen t(] ilriifi a pctitidii. This ddcuineiit, addressed to the board of county commissioners, was given favorable action May 1. Till' tentli of June was the date set to vote on the incorporation cjuestion, and E. E. Brintnall, H. E. Denhart and Henry Ewoldt were named inspectors of the electiiiii. Tliirty-.-i.x ballots were cast and the

^Trusky was separated from Elmer towiisljip as a voting and assessment precinct as the result of a special election held April 27. liHiU, at which fifteen votes were cast, all favorable to separation.

"DurinsT five years of its corporate history Trosky wns a "dry" town, the license question having been submitted under the local option law each year from 1S94 to 1903, inclusive. Since the last named year license has regularly been granted. The vote on the question when It was submitted to the electors was as follows: vnte was unanimous in favor of incorporaliciu. The election to choose the first village officers was held September 11, and a week later the village government was in force. -^ Those who have been elected (1 (iff'ice under the Trc ment are as follows :-*

Scenes At Trosky

^"Resigned Apiil 17. 1902, on account of removal from the village and was succeeded bv L. K Lewis. M'-. Lewis resigned October 8, 1902, and was succeeded by B. A. Kettleson.

Following the few years of upbuilding connected with its early history, the growth of Trosky has not been great. The census of 1900 gave the village a population of 215 and that of five years later showed a population of 20(j. In 1910 there were 181 people living within the corporate limits of the town.

Tro.sky has had two fires in its history. 'IMie first of these came in the morning of March 14, 1903, when four buildings in the business part of town were destroyed, bringing a loss of about $6000. The con- Hagration originated in the Johannsen saloon and before the flames could be checked the saloon building, postoffice building occupied by Charles French, the barber shop of Guy Coon and Walter Morgan's blacksmith shop were entirely destroyed. The burnt district was rebuilt, but two years hiter, early in the morning of June 3.'!, 190,"), the same area was again burned over. Four buildings, a saloon, billiard hall, barber sliop and blacksmith sliop, were consumed.

The School

Until 188T the school population of Ti'osky was accommodated at the school in the Kurz neighborhood, one mile west of town. In the year mentioned a oneroom school building was erected in the village, and there Harry Denhart taught tlic first village school. The early day Ijiiilding was supplanted by the present neat and substantial two-room structure, which was erected in the fall of 1909 at a cost of $4400. Of this sum $2400 was realized from a bond issue and the balance c.ime from an accumulated building fund in the district treasury.

The Church

The Methodist is the only church society in Trosky. Tlie church home, 26x40 feet in size, was dedicated Sunday, October 2-i, 1897, by Presiding Elder Hanseom. The building cost about $1500. Rev. L. E. Shanks was the pastor at the time of building. The board of trustees, under whose direction the church was built, was composed of D. J. Denhart, A. J. Lowry, F. Kurz, William Johnson, J. N. Stuart and B. F. Wheeler.

The Lodges

Trosky Lodge No. 213, Independent Order Odd Fellows, was instituted November 17, 1893, with nine charter members, who had formerly been affiliated with Hope Lodge of Pipestone.'' At the time of organization eight new members were leceived.

Fire Department

Wild Rose Camp, Royal Neighbors of America, was organized November 2, 1908, by Mrs. T. W. Clayton, district deputy, with eighteen charter members.'^ FIRE DEPARTMENT. One Watrous engine, a hose cart and IDUO feet of hose constitute the fire fighting equipment of the Trosky fire department. 'I'he department was organized April i;i. 19i)S, when thirteen volunteers

^The first officers of Golden Rule Lodge were Mrs H E. Denhart. Mrs. Charles French, Molly Corey May Anderson. Emma Fi-ench, Miss Stahl Mr-< J A. Griftin, Nellie Griffm, Mrs. B F \Vheeier.' Mrs. Emma Polmateer. Mrs. Gertrude Kenyon. Mrs. Gertrude Denhart, Mrs. H. R. Johnson and Blanche Bassett.

The Bank

After a lapse of five years Trosky was again the home of a banking house. A private bank was established in April, 1901, liv interests connected with the First National Bank of Pipestone. W. C. Briggs was made president, and Fred Hanson, as assistant cashier, became the manager. A cjiange in the cuntrol occurred January 1. 1903, when J. C Marshall and his son, Samuel J. Marshall, became the principal owners and tlic latter lonk charge of the institution. The Marshalls sold to E. J. Feldman in 1905. On March 13, 1908, the bank was reorganized as the Citizens State Bank of Trosky witli a capital stock of $10,000. The first board of directors was composed of E. J. Feldman, Henry Kwiihll. (^ K. Ivie^cr. Charles (lottlob ami h. .1. Deiiluirt.

"The charter members were H. E. Denhart. "\V. C Evarts. Henry Ewoldt. C. H. Fields. Charles French. William French. M. J. Geary, H. R. .lohnson. J. C. Jonas. L. G. Jones. Q. E. Kiester, R A. Rogers. C. O. Solberg. L. T. Stewart, W. S. Stewart and B. F. Wheeler.

'^The first officers of Wild Rose Camp were Mrs Hattie Jones. Mrs. Martha Feldman. Mrs. Eva Wohlford. Mrs. Alzina Densmore. Mrs. El a Nilson Mrs. Alta Falkner, Mrs. Melissa French. Mrs Othilie Hansen. Mrs. Trena Foote. Mrs. Luella Mavnard. E. J. Feldman. Mrs. Dacy Denhart and Mrs. Pearl Wohlford.