Then & Now: A History of Rice County, Faribault & Communities

. . ,·.

©Copyright 1976 by the 

Rice County Bi-Centennial Commission

Preface & acknowledgetnents 

A worthy project 

People are people, and where they settled in the 

mid-1800s when vast, spacious midwestern and 

western states became the mecca for adventurous, 

ambitious colonists; what they believed in, what they 

said and what they did, all became a part of recorded 

history. 

Happenings, events, incidents, official records, 

concerned people of a century ago and they concern 

Rice County now because we are the inheritors of their 

actions, projects and accomplishments. 

That is the chief purpose of this Rice County 

Bicentennial Book - to relate the story of their 

projects, ambitions and achievements and compare it 

to what is happening in the same county now. 

This has been a great Bicentennial Year - the 

official anniversary of 200 years of American 

statehood. 

The anniversary has been observed on a national 

scale - a gigantic speechmaking, bell ringing, 

patriotic celebration was held on the July 4 weekend at 

Washington, Philadelphia and other cities. 

Recognition also was given in Minnesota and other 

states of the union and by the Rice County Bicentennial 

Commission, official sponsor of this book, ''Then and 

Now." 

It is with a feeling of pride and dedication that this 

book has been published. It has not been an easy taskthe 

area includes all of Rice County, its two large 

cities, four villages, 14 townships and a dozen 

unincorporated communities - but it has been an 

enjoyable assignment and a rewarding one due to the 

excellent cooperation all of us have received from 

interested people in all sections of the county. 

We have endeavored to create and assemble a 

book which will be attractive, readable, full of 

accurate information, illustrated with pictures of 

bygone and present days. 

We are aware that there have been some omissions 

and some iamilies and individuals probably have not 

been recognized. But this has not been intentional. We 

have tried to do the best job possible within the limited 

time allowed us. 

That this history book is faultless, we do not intend 

to presume. It is probably not within the power of man 

to arrange a work of this sort without mistakes of one 

sort or another; that it will meet with the unqualified 

approval of all, we dare not expect but we trust that the 

merits of the history chronicled will overbalance any 

shortcomings that may be observed. 

The Rice County Bicentennial Commission and the 

staff of this book are deeply appreciative of the 

financial assistance and loyal cooperation given by the 

Rice County Board of Commissioners, the Faribault 

City Council, the Northfield Council and the village 

councils and township boards which made this project 

possible. 

L. E. Swanberg, Editor 

i

tllen ~§Vow 

Minnesota American Revolution 

Bicentennial Commission 

Lt. Gov. Rudy Perpich, Chairman 

Lois Pollari, Executive Director 

John Whalton, Director of Bicentennial 

Applications 

George L. Clark, chairman of the Rice County 

Bicentennial Commission, sponsor of this 

book. 

Sen. Clarence Purfeerst 

Rep. Robert 

Vanasek 

· Rep. Orville 

Birnstihl 

Legislative Cooperators 

State Senator Clarence Purfeerst, Route 1, 

Faribault, District 24 

State Representative Robert Vanasek, New 

Prague, District 24A 

State Representative Orville Birnstihl, Faribault, 

District 24B 

Rice County Board of Commissioners 

Martin Hachfeld, Cannon City, Chairman 

Charles Miller, Northfield 

Lawrence Valek, Webster 

Daniel Minnick, Faribault 

William Wells, Faribault 

Ervin Boelke, administrator-auditor 

Rice County Bicentennial Commission 

George L. Clark, Faribault, chairman 

M. E. Jarchow, Northfield, vice chairman 

Mrs. John G. (Mary) Parker, Secretary 

Gilbert Koester, Route 1, Northfield 

Wayne Eddy, Northfield 

Richard Nicoli, Lonsdale 

Henry Albers, Route 3, Northfield 

Ted J. Skluzacek, Route 4, Faribault 

Edward Brown, Route 4, Faribault 

Mrs. Walter Kroenke, Faribault 

Mrs. Ann Schmidtke, Morristown (deceased) 

Dawn Covert, Route 1, Faribault 

Leonard Schulz, Route 1, Faribault 

John Almendinger, Route 2, Faribault 

Mrs. Walter Wetzel, Route 2, Faribault 

Lester E. Swanberg, Faribault 

Donald Remund, Morristown 

Stanley Burmeister, Faribault 

Calvin Kuhnau, Northfield 

Mrs. Lester Bursik, Faribault 

John J. Carroll, Faribault 

Mrs. Winston Johnson, Faribault 

Virgil R. Koberstein, Faribault 

Robert Thorson, Faribault 

Faribault City Council 

Robert Larson,.Mayor 

Arthur Hopke 

Gary Kindseth 

Paul Muellenmeister 

Harlan Pettipiece 

Eugene C. Wieneke, administrator 

City of Faribault Bicentennial Commission 

John Messerli, Chairman 

Mrs. Robert Speckhals, Secretary 

Dr. Asa Graham, Treasurer 

Mrs. Kay Janky 

Mrs. Bernice Duncan 

Charles Turnbull 

Douglas Olson 

George Wickstrom 

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City of Northfield Bicentennial Commission 

Lee Fossum, Chairman 

Peter Linstroth, Vice Chairman 

Alma Gaardsmoe, Historian 

Heritage Projects - Clifford Clark and Kirk 

Jeffrey, Co-Chairmen; Historical Publication - Lynn 

Carlin; Log Cabin Restoration- Charles E. DeMann II, 

Al Houston; Scriver Building Acquisition and 

Restoration- Fred Gonnerman, Maggie Lee, Mary Lou 

Street, Larry Karbo; Bicentennial Minutes - Marston 

Headley, Marjorie Neuhaus; Bicentennial Calendar - 

Fred Gonnerman, George Soule, Marston Headley; 

Historic Tape Recording- Marvin Festler. 

Festival Events - Gary Flaa, Tom Blaisdell, Dale 

Erickson, Co-Chairmen; Fourth of July Festival - 

Committee; Defeat of Jesse James Days - Bernard 

Hughes. 

Horizon Projects - Marie Sathrum and Joan 

Halverson, Co-Chairmen; Seminars ''The 

Presidency" - Clifford Clark, Carleton College; 

Symposia, Seminars, Performances on "Native 

American Values" - St. Olaf College, David Wee; 

Bicentennial Sculpture Project - Dixon Bond, 

Margaret Bundgaard, Mac Gimse, Chris Hager; 

Original Musical on Northfield History - Northfield 

Arts Guild. 

Lonsdale Bicentennial Committee 

Mrs. James F. (Dorothy) Palma, Chairman 

Richard Nicoli 

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Vosejpka 

Mr. and Mrs. Al Kaderlik 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert'Pinc 

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Sticha 

Mrs. Elmer Vikla 

David Vikla 

Mr. and Mrs. Francis Novak 

Mr. and Mrs. Francis Palma 

Leonard Malecha 

Donald Novak 

Mrs. Roman Ceplecha 

Reynold Sticha 

Joseph Daleiden 

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Daleiden 

Mrs. Thomas Pumper 

Mrs. Delores Roberts 

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Valek 

James F. Palma 

Morristown Bicentennial Celebration Committee 

Wayne Merritt, Chairman 

Harold Kuball, Vice Chairman 

Leona Ellingsworth, Secretary 

James Senne, Treasurer 

Committee Members, representing eight 

organizations- Morristown Gun Club- Keith Remund, 

Wayne Merritt; Morristown Jaycees - James Senne, 

Brad Sammon; Morristown Commercial Club - Ivy 

Hoffman, Mary Ann Churchill; Morristown 

Community Club - Mrs. Kenneth Schmidtke, Martin 

Wagner; American Legion Post - Harold Kuball, 

Phillip Wegner; Legion Auxiliary - Darlene Spitzack, 

Dorothy Walburn; Village of Morristown - Donald 

Remund, Jack O'Rourke; Morristown Public Schools - 

Frank H. Duncan. 

Preface & acknowledgements 

Finance Committee James Senne, Keith 

Remund, Jack O'Rourke 

Publicity Committee Ivy Hoffman, Leona 

Ellingsworth, James Hermel 

Nerstrand Bicentennial Committee 

Barbara Sahl 

Louise Flom 

Barbara Haase 

Grace Kispert 

Paul Shelstad 

Ronald Haase 

Robert Larson 

Jean Kolling 

Staff of "Then and Now" 

George L. Clark, Chairman of Rice County 

Bicentennial Commission, Book Chairman 

Mrs. Lester (Martina) Bursik, Librarian of 

Buckham Memorial Library, Publisher 

Lester E. Swanberg, Editor Emeritus, Faribault 

Daily News, Editor 

Acknowledgements 

We are grateful to the following persons for their 

important specific contributions: 

Research: Mrs. Lester (Martina) Bursik; Mrs. 

Elmer (Dorothy) Deming; Robert L. Kaupa; Mrs. 

Lawrence (Bernice) Knutson; Mrs. Aaron (Mildred) 

Lenmark, all of Buckham Memorial Library Staff. 

Miss Emily Mae Buth, Curator of Rice County 

Historical Society. 

Typing: Mrs. James (Le Ann) Dean, Buckham 

Memorial Library Staff. 

Robert Norman, Oskar Teisberg, Ralph Merrill, 

Mrs. Charlotte Knoss, Mrs. Inez Sweet, Mrs. Mildred 

Lieb, Mrs. Walter Lentz, Glenn Cramer, Mary Carey, 

Mrs. Erich Krenz, Francis J. Lockwood, Mrs. Esther 

McKellip, George L. Clark, Wesley Lauritsen, Douglas 

Olson, Mrs. Eva Gallagher, Mrs. Louise Lick, Mrs. 

Clem McCarthy, Charles Roehrick, Lyle Schreiber, 

Miss Hannah Meyer, Mrs. Charles Robilliard, Miss 

Laverna Saufferer, Mrs. Dorothy Meyer, Mrs. Clara 

Nuetzman, Mrs. James J. Kolars, Mrs. Marge Neuhas, 

John Almendinger, Mrs. Catherine Spartz, Craig 

Keller, Donald Remund, Leona Ellingsworth, Ivy 

Hoffman, Ronald Schwartz, Mrs. Alvin Kolars, Mrs. 

Betty Polson, Frank Chappuis, Mrs. Donald O'Neil, 

Mrs. Dorothy Palma, Mrs. Alvin Kolars, Mrs. Elmer 

Vikla, Mrs. LeRoy Pumper, Lee Fossum, Charles 

Carr, Bette Polson, Floyd Hammond, Paul 

Muellenmeister, Mrs. Harriet Steppan, Esther Reinke, 

Zita Kasper Taylor, Ira Harger Jr., Nerstrand 

Centennial Book Committee, Mary Heggedal, Ozzie 

Osmundson, Ambrosia Osmundson Ruble, Norma 

Bohn, Wilmer Schmidtke, Shirlie Reed, Tom West, Art 

Johnson, Louis Rud, Wilbert Meinke, Len Friedges, 

Mrs. Harold Voesjpka, Mrs. Charles Daleiden, Mrs. 

Leonard Daleiden, Mrs. Mary Landa, Edith Kampf, 

Mrs. Harold Moser, Mrs. Edgar Mentz, Thomas 

Vogelsberg, Carl Bartness, Thomas Gagnon and 

Norton J ohn·son and members of the Faribault Daily 

News Production staff. 

iii

~en ~§Vow 

L. E. Swanberg (right) and other members of 

the news staff of the Faribault Daily News, 

circa 1934. Swanberg, who edited "Then & 

Naw", has been with the Daily News for 48 

years, as reporter, city editor, managing 

editor, executive editor and editor emeritus. 

He's still active, and works daily in his office 

at the newspaper. 

About the editor 

L. E. Swanberg, the editor of this volume, has lived 

in Rice County for a half-century. 

He came to Faribault in 1926, after graduating with 

honors from the University of Minnesota's College of 

Education. He taught history, sociology and economics 

at Faribault High School from 1926 to 1928. 

In 1928- one day after the last class of the school 

year at Faribault High School - Swanberg started 

work as a reporter for the Faribault Daily News. He's 

be~n with the ~aily ~ews ever since, as reporter, city 

editor, managmg editor, executive editor and editor 

emeritus, his current title. 

. Ex~ept for those two early years of teaching, 

JOurnalism has been Swanberg's life. It's a rare 

veteran Minnesota newsp perman who doesn't know 

"Swannie." He is a past president of the Minnesota 

Associated Press, has been active in the Minnesota 

Newspaper Association and is a member of the 

Southern Minnesota Chapter of Society for 

Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi. 

He's always been active in local civic affairs. For 

48 years he's been a member of the Faribault Lions 

Club and Faribault Masonic Lodge No. 9 AF & AM. His 

Lions Club involvement includes 46 years as secretary, 

one year as president and several years in various 

district cabinet posts. 

He's been a member of the Rice County Free Fair 

board for 38 years, and a member of that body's 

executive committee. · 

He helped organize the Faribault Jaycees, and in 

1933 received the Jaycees' coveted Gold Key award for 

community service -the second Faribault resident to 

get the award. Several years later he received the 

Jaycee Scroll Award for outstanding service by a 

person over 35 years old. He's the only Faribault 

resident who's been awarded both the Gold Key and 

Scroll by the local club. 

Swanberg is a member of the Faribault Civic 

Music Association, and once served as its president. He 

is active on the publicity committee of the Faribault 

Golden Age Club. For several years he was a member 

of the vestry of the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, 

and is the author of a book about the historic Cathedral. 

He was a member of the Boy Scout Troop 301 

iv

Preface & acknowledgements 

committee for 30 years, and served on the Wacouta 

District Boy Scout Council. He has received the 

Council's prestigious Silver Beaver award for service. 

He's also a live master of ceremonies and song 

leader at frequent Rice County social events. 

Swanberg's journalistic desires first were whetted 

in Worthington, Minn., where ie was born Jan. 25, 1903. 

As a 14-year-old pressman-reporter for the 

Worthington Glove, he reported births and deaths, 

wrote about tea parties and made certain the Globe 

went to press on time. After a year as the Globe's 

"utility man" -at age 15 - his finger was smashed in 

a press. The injury temporarily cost him his job, but it 

didn't diminish his love for newspapers. 

Swanberg graduated from Worthington High 

School in 1921 and from the University of Minnesota in 

1926. 

At the University he was president of the 

All-University Council, was chosen "representative 

Minnesotan" among college and university students 

and was an athletic team yell leader (before the advent 

of female cheerleaders). 

He was active on the University student newspaper 

and yearbook staffs, and was a member of the Iron 

Wedge honor society. 

He graduated from the University's College of 

Education, but after two years of teaching, he "felt like 

a square peg in a round hole." He decided to try 

journalism, and joined the Daily News. 

He's been with the Faribault newspaper since that 

time. Although semi-retired, he's in his Daily News 

office every weekday, almost every Saturday and an 

occasional Sunday. His knowledge of Rice County's 

past - its people, places and events - is appreciated 

by his Daily News colleagues, who rely on Swan bert as 

the newspaper's ''historian-in-residence.'' 

Swanberg has looked at hundreds of pages of copy, 

read hundreds of thousands of words and examined 

scores of photographs in editing "Then & Now". But 

his work would have been fruitless without the help of 

the dozens of volunteers who did research, wrote 

articles and provided photographs. Their efforts, 

combined with Swanberg's expertise, make this book a 

truly countywide Bicentennial project. 

Mrs. Lester 

(Martina) Bursik 

publisher, 

''Then and Now'' 

Book is her idea 

Mrs. Lester (Martina) Bursik, librarian of the 

Buckham Memorial Library, Faribault, is credited 

with the idea of having a Rice County History Book as a 

fitting project for the county Bicentennial 

Commission's observance of the nation's 200th 

birthday. As long as a year ago she interested county 

and Faribault city officials in the project. She has 

served as publisher of the book, ''Then and Now,'' and 

has spent countless hours to assure fulfillment of her 

idea. 

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Table of contents 

Chapter I 

How It All Began - Rice County now 121 years old 

- Early beginnings of Faribault and Rice County - 

Pictures and stories of Henry M. Rice and General 

James Shields - History of railroads in county 

(Milwaukee, Rock Island, Dan Patch) - Interstate 

Roads, County Roads - Jefferson Bus Lines, local bus 

lines, telephone history, aviation history - County 

park system, county landfill operation- First county 

board - Mystery of Metropolisville - Pictures of old 

county court house - Pictures of lake scenes - Story 

of M. F. McGlinnen, Erin pioneer now 96- Pages 1 to 

36. 

Chapter II 

Story of Faribault, its government and its people 

Individual pictures of city council members with story 

on council achievements and future projects - History 

of early Faribault government - History of Faribault 

fire department and station (with pictures) - History 

of post office - History of Faribault churches, 

illustrated by pictures.- Pages 37 to 70. 

Chapter III 

Schools of Faribault, their founding and 

development - Public, parochial, Whipple and state 

schools - Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple, Mrs. 

Cornelia Whipple - Special education stories, Joseph 

Grebner, Mrs. Charles MacKenzie, Heinz Bruhl, 

Wesley Lauritsen - illustrated by pictures. - Pages 71 

to91. 

Chapter IV 

Faribault industries and business firms - They 

make the city "tick" - Stories of two groups of 

business firms, those established before 1920 and those 

after that date to the present time- stories illustrated 

by pictures. -Pages 93 to 134. 

ChapterV 

The people of Faribault and their way of life - 

Organizations, hobbies, special interests, sports - 

History of nursing homes and hospitals - Special 

stories on individuals in the limelight- Those engaged 

in professional life - Brief items about people, taken 

from newspaper files - All illustrated by pictures. - 

Pages 135 to 174. 

Chapter VI 

Rice County, Northfield and the county's villages 

- Story of county board, its achievements and future 

plans - City of Northfield, history and development 

History of Morristown, Morristown Township, Dundas, 

Lonsdale, Nerstrand, Dennison and Veseli - All 

illustrated by pictures.- Pages 175 to 242. 

Chapter VII 

Rural life influential in Rice County - Townships 

welcome settlers in 1850s, same time as Faribault and 

Northfield- Histories of Cannon City, Wells, Walcott 

and Forest Townships - Illustrated by pictures. - 

Pages 243 to 255. 

Chapter VIII 

More glimpses of Rice County rural life - 

Histories of Warsaw, Erin, Shieldsville, Richland and 

Wheeling Townships - Illustrated by pictures. -Pages 

257 to279. 

-Chapter IX 

Farm life pays many dividends - Histories of 

Wheatland, Webster, Bridgewater and Northfield 

Townships- Illustrated by pictures. - Pages 281 to 302. 

Chapter X 

Wrapping it all up- Odds and ends of interest 

Brief sketches of individuals in the news- Obituaries 

of prominent people- Illustrated by pictures.- Pages 

303 to 346.

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Chapter I 

How it all began 

County now in 12lst year 

Rice County, scenic, prosperous with fertile lands 

and busy industries, is now in its 12lst year as a 

governmental unit. 

The county, named after Henry M. Rice, first U.S. 

senator in congress from Minnesota, was established 

officially in 1855 - three years before Minnesota 

became a state - but actual steps toward officially 

designating this county were begun two years before, 

in 1853. 

Thus it can be seen, in this 1976 U.S. Bicentennial 

year, that Rice County ·has gained recognition 

throughout the state as one of Minnesota's pioneer 

counties, rich in agriculture, industrial and civic 

resources. 

This Bicentennial book will relate the factual, yet 

dramatic story of the founding of each of Rice County's 

two cities, four villages, 14 townships and 

unincorporated communities. 

The trials of the hardy, rugged pioneers who came 

from eastern states and foreign lands to stake claims, 

clear the land and raise crops on the fertile soil will be 

described in this Bicentennial souvenir book. 

Oldtime pictures of pioneer men and women, the 

communities they settled and outstanding events 

which happened are scattered through this book. 

The county's 14 townships were all officially 

organized at annual meetings, held in accordance with 

an order from the Minnesota State Legislature on May 

11, 1858, the date when Minnesota officially was 

admitted into statehood. 

Rice County, early day historical accounts disclosed 

in 1853, took in about two-thirds of the present 

platted city of Faribault, large portions of Morristown, 

Warsaw and Walcott Townships and small portions of 

Wells, Cannon City and Richland townships. It 

included the four eastern townships in Waseca County 

and all but the four western townships in Freeborn · 

County. It also took in practically all of Mower and 

Steele counties, about one third of Dodge, a very small 

portion of Fillmore and Goodhue and possibly a few 

sections in Olmstead county. 

So Rice County, in the early 1850's, actually 

comprised a large share of southeastern Minnesota. 

Boundary Lines Designated 

An influential group of Faribault citizens had 

definite ideas as to what the county's boundaries 

should be. They prevailed upon the influence of Gen. H. 

H. Sibley, who had been elected as a representative in 

the State Legislature from the Faribault district, to 

have the legislature enact a measure which designated 

the boundary lines of the county in accordance with the 

wishes of the Faribault group. The bill also empowered 

the first county board to establish the county seat. 

The new boundaries conformed to the present 

boundary lines of Rice County with the exception of 12 

sections in the northern part of Bridgewater and 

Northfield townships, later taken from Greenvale, 

Waterford and Sciota townships in Dakota County. 

Thus the county proceeded to organize officially. 

Governor William A. Gorman, early in 1855, appointed 

a provisional list of commissioners who, it was said 

were friendly to the Messers Sears who in 1854 had laid 

out the village of Cannon City, three miles northeast of 

Faribault. Cannon City was designated as the county 

seat by the commissioners. 

In the fall of 1855, however, the county proceeded 

to organize by an election under the act that had 

defined the county's boundaries. 

There were three voting precincts, one at 

Faribault, one at Cannon City and the other at 

Morristown. Walter Morris, founder of the latter 

village who at first had located in Faribault, 

apparently held the balance of power. 

Elected county officers in November, 1855 were: 

Isaac Hammond, register of deeds; Charles Wood, 

sheriff; Isaac Woodman, judge of probate; F. W. 

Frink, Andrew Storer and George F. Pettit, 

commissioners. Faribault was selected as the county 

seat. The first elected commissioners held their initial 

meeting on Jan. 7, 1856 in the office of Berry and 

Batchelder attorneys. 

When Minnesota was admitted to statehood in 1858, 

Rice County began an era which continued but two 

years, in which the county government was 

administered by a board of supervisors composed of 

chairmen of the various town boards. The first meeting 

of this countywide township system board was held on 

Sept. 14, 1858 in Faribault and was called to order by J. 

A. Starks. 

Commission Form Adopted 

On Jan. 7, 1860, the last meeting of the township 

county board was held and the county then adopted the 

commission form of government, a system which still 

prevails. 

1

Old court house and soldier statue, Faribault 

In January, 1860 the county was divided into five 

commissioner districts, each being entitled to one 

representative on the county board. The boundaries of 

the districts today are similar to the original ones 

although there have been some changes. 

The newly elected board met May 15, 1860, the 

following commissioners representing the various 

districts: J. H. Parker, G. H. Batchelder, S. Webster, 

C. Clopson and William Thorp. J. H. Parker was 

named chairman and G. H. Batchelder was appointed 

to serve as county auditor until the next election, his 

bond being set at $5,000. His salary was set at $400 per 

annum. The only records state: "Nothing more of 

importance came before the board and the balance of 

the time was spent discussing the road and school 

districts, together with routine business.'' 

The year 1826 is notable in the history of the City of 

Faribault as the date of the coming of Alexander 

Faribault to the site of the place which now bears his 

name. Accompanied by his young wife, he established 

his trading post at the junction of the Straight and 

Cannon Rivers in what is now known as North 

Faribault. The banks of the Straight River were chosen 

for his first camping place. 

Alexander Faribault was a lover of nature; and as 

his eye swept over the unbounded prairie to the south, 

the Big Woods and silver lakes to the west and to the 

meeting of the Cannon and Straight (Owatonna) 

Rivers, it was indeed to him a paradise; yet he knew 

the white man and realized, with a sigh, its future and 

destiny. 

In reading about Alexander Faribault, the eldest 

son of Jean Baptiste Faribault, we find a life 

interwoven with the development of the Great 

Northwest almost as closely as his father. 

Born in 1806 

Alexander was born June 22, 1806, at Prairie du 

Chien, then within the Louisiana Purchase, and was 

founder and principal proprietor of the city which 

bears his name. Because of a modest and retiring 

nature, much of his early life never will be known. 

About the year 1820 we find him on the banks of St. 

Peter (now Minnesota) River, and the following year 

located permanently at Mendota, then in the territory 

of Michigan, as a United States licensed trader, having 

outposts throughout the territory. 

It was at this time that he improved the 

opportunity to cultivate his English studies through the 

courtesy of the United States officers at Fort Snelling. 

~ He was married Nov. 1 1825, to Mary Elizabeth 

Graham, the daughter of Capt. Duncan Graham. 

She was born July 15, 1805, and died April8, 1875 at 

the age of 69 years, at Elizabeth, Ottertail County. He 

became the father of ten children namely, George H., 

Agnes, Emely, Daniel, Catherine, Philip, Julia, 

Nathalie, William Richard)and A. Leon. The spring 

2


following his marriage, while with voyageurs visiting 

the outposts on the upper Minnesota River, an Indian 

gave his life to rescue Faribault and his young wife and 

companions. 

During 1826 to 1829 Faribault traded on the Cannon 

River, under a license from the American Fur 

Company, successors of the Northwest Fur Company, 

and established a post at Lake Sakatah, near the site of 

the town of Waterville, and in 1831 he located at what is 

now Morristown. The following year he moved to a 

point between Wells and Cannon Lakes. The country 

was then peopled by the Dakotas, who called what is 

now known as Cannon Lake, Me-da-te-pe-tonka (Lake 

of the Big Village. 

In 1834 he influenced the Sioux to move to the site of 

the present city of Faribault. They occupied all that 

tract between and Fourteenth Streets on the west side 

of Straight (Owatonna) River, and the plateau was 

covered with the picturesque encampment of bark and 

buffalo-skin tepees. 

Log House Built 

In 1835 he built a log house on the east side of the 

Straight River, northeast of the Front Street bridge, 

and several log houses on what later was known as the 

Travis farm, on the road to Cannon City. This tract was 

then covered with a dense growth of maple which 

afforded an abundance of sugar. The frist regular 

trading post was of logs, built the same year, midway 

between the Straight River stone mills and the Front 

Street bridge. These buildings were afterward 

occupied by Peter Bush and family and as a 

blacksmith shop and was later known as "Hotel Bush." 

This humble building gave shelter to early settlers, 

among them several of our most distinguished citizens. 

In the winter of 1853 Faribault built a log house on 

the southeast corner of what is now Third Street and 

First Avenue east, while the first frame house in 

Faribault and Rice County, surrounded by a stockade, 

was being erected on the northwest corner of First 

Avenue east and Division Street, which was completed 

in 1853. The materials for this structure were hauled 

from St. Paul and Hastings. The Rice County 

,Historical Society, as a special project, has restored 

this city's first frame house and it is annually visited 

by out of town and local residents, tourists and 

historians. 

The early territorial settlers will recollect the 

sturdy pioneers, Jim Mabon, Jean Cluckey, St. L'Ous, 

Craidgie, St. J armont, Payne, Howard, Wilson, 

Beaupre, McBeal, Louis Demara, Pierre La Point and 

others who assisted the construction of these notable 

and historic structures. 

In 1851, Mr. Faribault was one of the official 

interpreters at the St. Peter (Traverse-de-Sioux) 

treaty when the Indians relinquished to the 

government 45,000 square miles lying on the western . 

side of the Mississippi. He also reported Little Crow's 

speech at the second treaty of 1851 at Pilot Knob, near 

Mendota. 

He was a member of the legislature from the 

Seventh District in 1851 and a witness, with General 

Sibley and others, before the United States Court, 

Alexander Faribault 

concerning charges of fraud in Indian affairs. He was 

among the first to offer inducements to Dr. Breck and 

Bishop Whipple, to whom he gave ten acres of land for 

their schools, contributing liberally in money and land 

afterwards. 

Mills Established 

Straight River mills were commenced by Mr. 

Faribault in 1858 and the Le Croix brothers came to 

Faribault from Montreal to superintend the 

construction, also that of the mill on Cannon River, 

known as the "Polar Star Mill," together with the mill 

on Straight River near Fourteenth Street. 

As early as 1837 Mr. Faribault visited Washington 

with Major Taliaferro, General Sibley and a delegation 

of _Indians to conduct treaty negotiations 

with the government. He was one of the memorialists 

to congress in connection with the organization of the 

Minnesota Territory, and a charter member of the 

Minnesota Historical Society. With General Sibley he 

was a principal stockholder in the Borup and Oakes 

Bank and was associated with General Sibley and 

William R. Marshall in organizing a bank in St. Paul in 

1855. He was with General Sibley in the Sioux War of 

1862 until the release of the white captives at Camp 

Release, near the town of Montevideo, Minnesota and 

was among the few fortunate ones who escaped alive at 

the Battle of Birch Coulee. 

Until 1852, Alexander Faribault maintained his 

family home at Mendota, where also resided his father 

and family at the stone house built by the latter in 1826, 

I 

3

Faribault, about 1874, looking east from old courthouse r oof befor e Third Street bridge UXJS built. 

which is still standing. 

He built the first Catholic Church in Faribault in · 

1855, for the Rev. George Keller- a frame structure 

which was burned in 1855. He was a generous donor of 

the site of the present church, and gave at a cost of 

$3,000, the first bell for the Church of the Immaculate 

Conception, the church which now stands on the site of 

the church burned in 1857. This bell was destroyed 

when the building was partially burned, June 30, 1903. 

Mr. Faribault also is to be credited with many liberal 

gifts to the St. Paul and Mendota churches. 

In 1856 Mr. Faribault built his last home at 

Faribault- his early camping ground on the Straight 

River bluffs, now crowned with magnificent 

institutions, overlooking the site of his pioneer trading 

post. In 1873 he sold his home to the State of Minnesota 

and the building is still being used by the Minnesota 

Braille and Sight Saving School. 

After a long and eventful life Alexander Faribault 

passed away on Nov. 28, 1882 at Faribault, and was laid 

to rest in Calvary Cemetery with his kindred and other 

pioneer neighbors - that hilltop where once flashed 

the red signal fire of "alarm" to the Big Village 

braves. 

1853 Settlement Date 

Although this city's fifst trading post was 

established by Alexander Farib

Disastrous Faribault fire which occurred on 

June 18, 1878. Pictured is the building at 

Central Avenue and Third Street NW, site 

In tpe same season of the year came James Wells, 

"Bully" Wells, as he was called, who opened a farm on 

the Cannon bottoms, just above the city. 

Pioneers Listed 

A little party spent the winter of 1853 in the embryo 

village, awaiting the opening of the spring which would 

bring a new influx of settlers, and new supplies and 

provisions. According to an article written by Luke 

Hulett, shortly before his death, the residents of 

Faribault in the winter of 1853 were: Alexander 

Faribault and family; Luke Hulett and family; James 

Wells and family; Frederick Faribault and family; 

Edward J. Crump and wife; Peter Bush and family, 

Mr. Sprague and wife; Mr. Springer and wife and the 

following young unmarried people, Norbert Paquin, 

Smith Johnson, Orlando Johnson, John Hulett, Hugh 

McClelland, Mark Wells, A. McKenzie, Robert Smith 

and Theodore Smith. 

The spring and summer of 1854, according to the 

same authority, brought the following accessions: 

John Morris, who subsequently laid out Morristown, 

Major Babcock, Truman Bass, Mr. Tripp who was the 

first to settle on East Prairie, Dennis O'Brien, Mr. 

Travis, J. R. Parshall and James and Henry Scott, who 

built the first saw mill in the town. The Searses, father 

and son, located in Cannon City in the fall of 1854 and 

became formidable competitors for the county seat 

designation. Judge Woodman came about this time and 

now occupied by the Masonic building, which 

UXLS destroyed by fire. 

also William Dunn, who secured a claim east of Cannon 

City. Mr. Drake and others settled near Northfield. 

According to available records, Alexander 

Faribault, Peter Bush and Luke Hulett should be 

considered as the founders of the first settlement in 

Rice County. 

The history of the towns and villages of Rice 

County begins at an early date. Faribault, Northfield, 

Morristown and Cannon City were surveyed, platted 

and recorded in the order named. 

Town Plat Is Filed 

Alexander Faribault, F. B. Sibley, John W. North 

and Porter Nutting filed the plat of the town of 

Faribault in the office of the register of deeds of 

Dakota County, to which Rice County was then 

attached for judicial purposes, Feb. 17, 1855. Previous 

to this date, however, a preliminary survey had been 

made and Walter Morris afterward owned the share 

represented by John W. North. 

In August, 1955, Mr. North, having disposed of his 

interest in Faribault while searching for another 

promising location, selected the site of the present city 

of Northfield, and on March 7, 1856, filed the plat in 

office of the register of deeds of Rice County, which 

was then an office a little more than two months old. 

A plat of Cannon City had been made almost as 

early as that of Faribault, but owing to the fact that the 

plat had been made without the usual formality of a 

5

Faribault in 1890, looking west from Second St. on east side 

preceding survey, it was thought best by the 

proprietors, after a vain attempt to harmonize 

conflicting interests caused by conflicting boundary 

lines, to have a survey made. The plat of this survey 

was not filed for record until the eleventh day of 

November, 1856, but previous to that date it was a town 

of sufficient force to give Faribault a lively race in a 

contest for the location of the county seat. 

On April 1, 1856, Mrs. Sarah Morris, mother of 

Walter Morris, one of the first proprietors of the town 

of Faribault, and widow of Jonathan Morris, one of the 

first settlers of Morristown, filed and recorded the plat 

of Morristown. 

These were the first born towns of Rice County, but 

speculators had dreams of more communities and 

these were added to the list. Numerous additions were 

surveyed and added to towns already recorded. The 

new towns of Wheatland, Wedgewood, Warsaw, 

Walcott, Shieldsville, Dundas, Millersburg,· East 

Prairieville and Lake City were added to the list. Of 

these some are still in existence and others are just a 

memory. 

Production Grows 

While settlement in towns and villages continued to 

grow, so did agricultural production. Official census 

figures showed that in 1860 in Rice County 18,000 acres 

were under cultivation in various fruits and grains with 

a production of 260,000 bushels of wheat. By 1872, there 

were 56,672 acres under cultivation and 548,000 bushels 

of wheat produced. 

Rice County's population also grew steadily. In 

1855 the population was estimated as between 1,500 and 

2,000; In 1860, 7,866; in 1865, 10,966; in 1870, 16,399 and in 

1880, the official census report showed a county 

population of 20,622. 

As the figures indicate, settlement of Faribault 

and other communities in the county steadily 

increased. Schools and churches were established, 

various organizations were formed, new business 

firms and industries were established and agricultural 

production increased. 

Although settlement of the City of Faribault began 

as early as 1853, Faribault was not incorporated as a , 

municipal government until 1872 when a new city 

charter was adopted and the Hon. George W. Tower 

was elected this city's first mayor. He was inaugurated 

as mayor on April9, 1872 with pomp and ceremony. 

Other city officers elected in 1872 included: 

Aldermen: C.D. Ham, J.H. Harding, S.C. Dunham, 

L.C. Ingram, J.H. Winter, T.H. Nutting, W.L. Turner 

and H. E. Barron. Barron was elected president of the 

board and Henry E. Some was appointed clerk. 

Justices of the Peace named were: Joseph C. Mold, 

O.F. Perkins, J.B. Quinn and J.F. Smallidge. 

The mayor appointed and the council affirmed 

officers as follows: Moses Cole, chief of police; James 

Hunter and Charles Kiekenapp, policemen; Gordon E. 

Cole, city attorney; R. H. L. Jewett, city surveyor; 

William Dickinson, street commissioner; Henry 

Dunham, assessor. Mr. Cole declined to accept the 

attorneyship and J. C. Morrow was appointed. A. W. 

McKinstry was appointed city printer. 

Disastrous Fire 

Historical records disclose that on June 18, 1878 one 

of this community's worst fires occurred. Almost an 

entire square was consumed including two banks and 

10 stores. Losses were estimated at $125,000 and many 

people suffered because of the conflagration. 

6

1885 Faribault scene, old Rice cirunty CoUrthouse and old Central School, a block away. 

Rice - versatile leader 

Henry M. Rice, for whom Rice County was named, 

was a distinguished man of public interest who was 

born in 1816 in Vermont, came to Minnesota in 1839, 

became a representative of Indian tribes and for more 

than 20 years played an influential role in Minnesota 

politics. 

He served as delegate to congress when Minnesota 

was a territory, was among the first 12 Regents of the 

University of Minnesota and was one of the first two 

U.S. Senators elected from Minnesota when it became 

a state in 1858. The other was General James Shields, 

also a Rice Countian, who held the distinction of being 

the only person to serve in the U.S. Senate, from three 

different states-Illinois, Missouri and Minnesota. 

William Watts Folwell, eminent historian, former 

president of the University of Minnesota, and author of 

the book, "Minnesota, the North Star State," wrote this 

about Rice: 

"After Henry M. Rice came to Minnesota in 1839, 

he was employed by the Chateaus of St. Louis, who took 

over the business of the American Fur Company, to 

manage their Winnebago and Chippewa trade from 

Prairie Du Chien. In 1847 he became a partner in the 

business and removed to Mendota, a place much too 

strait for two such men as himself and Henry Hastings 

Sibley, his arch political rival. 

Made Many Friends 

"Established in St. Paul, Mr. Rice threw himself 

into every movement and enterprise projected for the 

development of the town. He generously shared his 

gains with the public. His personal qualities were such 

that he could not help desiring public employment and 

obtaining great success in it. 

"His manners were so gracious and yet not 

patronizing, that he made friends with all sorts and 

conditions of men. He divided with an unerring instinct 

the motives of men and parties and knew when and 

how by appropriate suggestion to let them apparently 

move themselves toward his desired ends. 

"An early example of Mr. Rice's influence and 

success may be found in a contract which he obtained 

in 1850 for collecting vagrant Winnebagoes and 

returning them to their reservations. The Winnebagoes 

were a powerful Wisconsin tribe when the white man 

came, and long after. The government persuaded them 

to vacate first their mineral lands and later all their 

lands in Wisconsin, and move to the so-called ''neutral 

ground'' in Iowa. This was a strip of territory some 

twenty miles wide, starting from the northeast corn~r 

of Iowa and running south and west to the river. 

"The generous presents and annuities required to 

7

~en ~8/ow 

Henry M. Rice (1817-1894) 

U.S. Representative from Minnesota 

Territory (1853-57), U.S. Senator from 

Minnesota and the man for whom Rice 

County was named. 

effect the sale and removal were the ruin of the 

Winnebagoes. They became idle, dissolute, 

mischievous. The white settlers could not endure them, 

and the Indians themselves tired of their confinement 

to a narrow area. 

"Accordingly in 1846 a treaty was effected for 

exchange of the neutral ground for a reservation of 

800,000 acres in Northern Minnesota. A tract lying 

between the Watab and Long Prair,fe Rivers, west of 

the Mississippi, was obtained from the Chippeways for 

this purpose. But this plan did not work out, the 

Winnebagoes were disgruntled and unwelcomed by 

others and the tribe eventually disintegrated. 

Elected Congressman 

' ' Rice continued his fur trading, Indian 

commissioner and political activities. Henry Sibley 

served through the Thirty First and Thirty Second 

Congresses with admirable efficiency, and Rice, a 

Democrat, did not oppose him. Mr. Sibley was 

permitted to return to private life at the close of his 

second term and devote himself to closing up . his 

relations with the American Fur Company, of which he 

had remained the head. Mr. Rice was elected to 

succeed him by a three-fourths majority vote over 

Alexander Wilking, his Whig opponent. 

"The Minnesota legislature met December 2, 1857, 

and in joint convention, by a close vote of 59 to 49 

decided to recognize Samuel Medary, formerly of 

Ohio, as Governor. In his message he recognized the 

body as a state legislature. Still there was doubt about 

the legal status of the houses, and there was little 

desire to undertake business which might turn out to be 

illegitimate. 

''The Republican members entered formal 

protests against any legislation. There was, however, 

one bit of business which the Democratic majority felt 

could not be postponed and that was the election of two 

United States Senators. That was virtually settled in 

caucus. Henry M. Rice, as everybody expected, was 

nominated without opposition. The second place, for 

the short term, went, after several ballotings, to 

General James Shields of Shieldsville, Rice County, 

who was a newcomer and little known in Minnesota. 

"He had served with distinction in the Mexican 

War, filled many offices in his former State of Illinois, 

and served a term in the Senate of the United States. It 

was a bitter pill for such Democratic wheelhorses as 

Sibley, Brown and Gorman to swallow. Franklin 

Steele, one of the first University of Minnesota Regents 

and a donor of Minneapolis real estate to the 

University, never forgave Rice for failing, as he 

claimed, to throw the election to him. Shields was 

everybody's second choice and the expectation was 

that his personal influence would procure many good 

things for the state.'' 

Shields - triple senator 

By CATHE RINE E. SPARTZ 

General James Shields, who left his name on Rice 

County in the early days, was one of the most colorful 

men in all of American history. Usually remembered 

as the only man ever to be a senator from three states, 

he had a much more brilliant and exciting career than 

that special achievement. 

He was born the son of Charles and Katherine 

McConnel Shields in County Tyrone, Ireland, in May 

1806 or 1810 (there is some controversy over the exact 

date) in County Tyrone, Ireland. 

Education, even of the most rudimentary sort, was 

impossible for hundreds of families in Ireland at that 

time, but James was ambitious and lucky. He received 

his education (and it was an excellent one) from those 

of knowledge with whom he came in contact: old 

veterans of the Napoleonic wars; a retired priest from 

Maynooth College; an uncle, Patrick Shields, who had 

taught in America, fought in the American Revolution 

and in the War of 1812. And Patrick Shields, the soldier, 

encouraged James to seek his fortune in America. 

He left Ireland (some historians say at age 16) 

sailing from Liverpool, destination Quebec, but during 

a violent storm off the Scottish Coast the ship sank with 

all hands lost except the captain of the ship, a sailor 

8


) 

and James. 

After an interval of teaching in Scotland and 

adventure on the high seas, he landed in New York 

Harbor, then settled in the old French town of 

Kaskaskia, Illinois, where there was ample 

opportunity to further his ambitions. He taught French 

for a living while he studied law, then fought as a 

lieutenant in the Black Hawk War. In 1832 he was 

admitted to the bar. 

Elected to Legislature 

He was elected to the Illinois Legislature in 1836 

where he served with a most remarkable group of men 

such as Abraham Lincoln, Steven A. Douglas, Edward 

D. Baker, John M. Palmer and Lyman Trumbull, all 

later United States Senators. 

"Shields," says Henry A. Castle in his biography of 

the general, "easily took his place on terms of equality 

in this distinguished company. His personal 

appearance and manners were engaging. He was five 

feet-nine inches tall, of fine figure and graceful 

bearing. His voice was well modulated, his speech 

frank, clear and resolute. He was prominent in debate 

and influential in council. It was a critical time in the 

affairs of Illinois, the inauguration of a policy of 

extensive public improvements, in which the youthful 

legislator bore a progressive part.'' 

Later as State Auditor he helped straighten out the 

disordered finances of Illinois on the verge of 

bankruptcy, and in 1842 he became Associate Justice of 

the Supreme Court. 

Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer, and other great 

lawyers of Illinois and the nation appeared before that 

tribunal. 

Castle also had this to say: ''An eminent Minnesota 

lawyer of a later generation has carefully studied the 

decisions of Judge Shields as recorded in the Illinois 

Supreme Court reports, and testifies that they bear 

conclusive evidence of a legal erudition and 

discrimination rare in that period." o 

In July 1846 he was appointed Brigadier General of 

Volunteers to serve in the Mexican War and was 

assigned to the command of the Illinois regiments. 

Space does not allow the recording of all his heroic 

feats in the war. Suffice it to say for his gallantry at 

Cerro· Gordo, where he was wounded twice, Shields 

was brevetted Major General and was widely 

acclaimed as a hero. The more serious of the wounds 

was caused by a cannon grapeshot an inch and a third 

in diameter entering Shields' right lung which then 

passed out near his spine. 

"Brigadier General Shields, a commander of 

activity, zeal and talent, is, I fear, mortally woulded," 

was the message Winfield Scott dispatched to 

Washington. 

General's Life Saved 

However, a pfisoner surgeon was allowed to 

administer to the general. He drew a handkerchief 

with the aid of a ramrod through the wound. Whether 

his purpose was to clean the wound or to stop the flow 

of blood, his act was credited with saving the general's 

life. 

Four months later he was in battle again, leading 

the well-known charge . of the Palmettos of South 

General James Shields 

Carolina and the New York Volunteers· at Cherubusco. 

It was his command, too, that led the advance troops 

into Mexico City and planted the Stars and Stripes on 

the halls of Montezumas. 

As a result of Cherubusco the State of South 

Carolina presented him with a diamond-hilted sword 

costing $5,000, and for his services in the Mexican war 

as a whole, Illinois responded with another sword at a 

cost of $3,000. After the general's death in 1879 these 

swords were purchased for $15,000 by an act of 

Congress f~r the War Department. 

After the war President Polk appointed him 

governor of the Territory of Oregon. He resigned the 

appointment and the state of Illinois elected him 

United States Senator where he served six years with 

some of the greatest: Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, 

John Caldwell Calhoun, Thomas Hart Benton, Steven 

A. Douglas, etc. 

When the Whigs took over in Illinois Shields left for 

St. Paul and then Faribault, where he became one of 

the owners of the Faribault Townsite Compally and 

was their agent and attorney. 

Establishes Shieldsville 

During this involvement, Shields drove out of town 

about 10 miles to a little settlement situated on the 

Dodd Road, a military highway between Fort Snelling 

and Fort Ridgely. He bought 282.42 acres from a bois 

brule by the name of Moses Latourelle and established 

9

~en ~c;Now 

the village of Shieldsville. He took steps to induce Irish 

settlers to come to the vicinity, including the nearby 

township of Erin. That area became known in the early 

days as the General Shields Colony. By 1856 the town of 

Shieldsville was well established and most of the better 

government land taken. 

The seventh Territorial Legislature of Minnesota 

granted a charter, approved March 1, 1856 for a 

railroad from the Iowa State line to follow the Straight 

River valley and push through the "big woods" to 

Minneapolis, a distance of one hundred miles. 

General Shields, along with General H. H. Sibley of 

Mendota, Franklin Steele of Fort Snelling, F. Pettitt, 

Judge Alanson and B. Vaughan, was a commissioner 

for opening subscriptions and making arrangements 

for the permanent organization of. the Minneapolis 

Cedar Valley Railroad. They secured stock 

subscriptions to the amount of $200,000 and held a 

meeting at the office of Shields & McCutchen in 

Faribault on January 28th, 1856. However, it took an 

act of Congress in 1862 to allow construction. The 

railroad got as far as Rochester in 1864. It was linked to 

Faribault by a stage route. By 1865 it became the 

. Minnesota Railway Co. and had gotten as far as 

Northfield. 

Helped Faribault Grow 

During the spring and summer of 1856 there were 

few buildings in Faribault but largely through the 

efforts of General Shields, by fall there were more than 

250 units and the population had grown to 1,500. 

Estimated improvements to the city that year 

amounted to $100,000. According to Neill's History of 

Rice County ''The residences of General Shields, J. 

Cooper, N. Paquin, J. H. McClelland, F. Faribault, 

Rev. L. Armsby, S. Barnard, Mr. Humphrey, H. 

Riedell, J. Gibson, and Messrs. Decker, Alby, Lines, 

Whipple, & Co., averaged about $2,000 each.'' 

General Shields, according to a few old timers still 

around, resided for at least a short while in 

Shieldsville, but he owned this imposing residence in 

Faribault and lived in Rice County for probably three 

years. 

Shields returned to politics and before the state of 

Minnesota was even recognized as such was elected 

United States Senator along with Henry W. Rice. After 

his term in office he returned to San Francisco, where 

in 1861 he married Mary Ann Carr, the daughter of an 

old friend. 

The couple settled in Mazatlan, Mexico, where 

Shields was involved in mining. When the Civil War 

broke out, he sold out his interest in the mines and 

offered his services to Lincoln. 

On August 19, 1861, he was appointed Brigadier 

General of Volunteers, and on March 7, he defeated 

Stonewall Jackson, the only man ever to do so. 

President Lincoln appointed him a major general but 

the senate did not confirm the appointment and Shields 

retired from the army on March 28, 1863, to return to 

San Francisco where he was appointed a state railroad 

commissioner. Finally his wife persuaded him to buy 

an estate in Carrollton, Missouri. 

Elected Senator Again 

In 1874 the Democrats of Carrollton County 

nominated him for the legislature. He was elected and 

served two terms. In 1878 he was elected United States 

Senator from Missouri to served out an unexpired 

term. Later he served as state railroad commissioner 

of Missouri. 

He spent the remainder of his life on his farm and 

on lecture tours. He died suddenly while on one of these 

tours at Ottumwa, Iowa, June 1st, 1879 from the effects 

of a wound he had received at Cerro Gordo. 

He was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in 

Carrollton, Missouri, where in 1910 a statue was 

erected to his memory. In 1893 his statue had been 

placed by the state of Illinois in Statuary Hall in the 

National Capitol. In 1914 Minnesota placed a statue of 

the general in the rotunda of the State Capitol. 

The Coat of Arms for the family name of Shields 

bears the motto, "Omne Solum Forti Patria," which 

translated means, "A brave man finds every land a 

fatherland.'' 

It would appear to be a fitting motto for General 

James Shields who was indeed a man at home in many 

places. 

First county board 

The first Rice County Board appointed by 

Territorial Governor Gorman on Jan. 2, 1855, one 

hundred twenty one years ago, was composed of three 

members, Halsey M. Matteson, Isaac N. Stater and 

Luke Hulett, all prominent names in early county 

history. 

At an election held in November of 1855, three new 

members were elected, Frederick W. Frink, George F. 

Pettit and Andrew Storer, equally prominent in the 

county's development. 

In the spring of 1856, the county was divided into 14 

townships and the three man board was done away 

with. The chairman of each township board became a 

member of a new board to be known as the Rice County 

Board of Supervisors. The board had its first meeting 

on Sept. 14, 1856 and it was composed of the following 

people: G. L. Carpenter, Webster, L. Barlow, 

Richland, Daniel Bowe, Northfield, W. A. Pye, 

Wheeling, Isaac Woodman, Walcott, J. A. Starks, 

Cannon City, B. Lockerby, Bridgewater, Miles 

Holister, Wheatland, Tom Kirk, Wells, E. F. Taylor, 

Forest, Isaac Hammond, Morristown. J. Hagerty, 

Shieldsville, John Conniff, Erin, G. W. Batchelder, 

Warsaw. 

The above type of Board of Supervisors continued 

until Jan. 7, 1860 when it adjourned, never to meet 

again. Sometime between Jan. 7, 1860 and May 15, 1860, 

a new board was elected or appointed, which was 

composed of five members. The new five man board 

had its first meeting May 15, 1860 and was composed of 

J. H. Parker, G. H. Batchelder, S. Webster, William 

Thorp and C. Clopson. However, C. Clopson was not 

present for the first meeting. At this meeting the board 

10


I 

These are the members of the Rice County 

Board of Commissioners in June 1940, 36 

years ago. Left to right, front row: Stephen 

Pittman, Morris town, fourth district; Charles 

Zimmerman, Northfield, second district; 

Fred W. Chester, Cannon City, first district; 

Clem L. McCarthy, Faribault, then county 

auditor. Top row: George L. Clark, Faribault, 

then assistant county engineer; Emil 

Machacek, Lonsdale, fifth district; Thomas 

Donohue, Faribault, third district; Tom 

Murphy, William H. Ziegler Co. All are 

deceased except McCarthy and Clark. 

established five commissioner districts Number 1, 2, 3, 

4, 5. 

lOOth Year Observed 

On January 7, 1955, 100 years after the first three 

man board convened, the five man Rice County Board 

of Commissioners met with the following as members: 

George Pofahl, Walcott, First District; Ernest 

Schroeder, Bridgewater, Second District, board 

chairman; John R. King, Faribault, Third District; 

Archie Devitt, Shieldsville, Fourth District; Emil 

Machacek, Lonsdale, Fif~h District. 

On Jan. 5, 1976, the present county board of 

Commissioners met. The board members included: 

Martin Hachfeld, Cannon City. First District, board 

chairman; Charles Miller, Northfield, Second District; 

William Wells, Faribault, Third District; Daniel 

Minnick, Faribault, Fourth District; Lawrence Valek, 

Webster, Fifth District. 

Boom town fades 

Cannon City, one of Rice County's oldest 

communities, back 121 years ago was a bustling 

community with ambitious developers formulating 

grandiose schemes to sell scores of lots and homesites 

on the shores of Crystal Lake and to build the 

community into a dazzling metropolis. Actual 

construction of residences and commercial and service 

building had begun. 

The hopes of the ambitious developers went 

sky-high in the spring of 1855 when the newly organized 

county board designated Cannon City as the Rice 

County seat. New settlers began arriving, more lots 

were sold, town growth prospects seemed rosy. Within 

six months the expansion balloon burst. 

An election was held in November, 1855 and 

Faribault, not Cannon City, was named county seat. 

Residents of the new "boom town", as well as the 

11

Hause of Dr. Jackson, corner Second St. and Second Ave. NW (early days) 

developers, were not happy with the sudden change in 

county seat designation. They were incensed. 

Gradually, Cannon City's planned growth diminished. 

Many settlers moved away. 

Although the town failed in its bid for greatness, its 

fame still lives on because of a widely read pioneer 

days novel, "The Mystery of Metropolisville", written 

by Edward Eggleston, an Indiana Methodist Church 

leader who also wrote ''The Hoosier Schoolmaster''. 

La Vern J. Rippley, writing in the "Golden 

Nugget", published in Northfield, reviewed the 

"Metropolis" book. He comments: 

Similarities Recalled 

"Nowhere in the novel does Eggleston specifically 

equate Cannon City with Metropolisville but the 

historical facts are only thinly veiled. For example, a 

boating accident occurred on Crystal Lake at Cannon 

City on July 4, 1857, taking the lives of four people. As 

preparations for the funeral were made, it was 

discovered that the regular minister was out of town so 

a 20 year old man by the name of Edward Eggleston, 

who had studied for the Methodist ministry, 

volunteered his services. In the novel, only two persons 

drowned and the incident does not happen on Crystal 

Lake but on 'Diamond Lake'.'' 

Referring to the change in county seat designation 

in 1855, Eggleston, in his novel, tells it this way: "If this 

were history I should feel bound to tell of all the 

maneuvers resorted to by Metropolisville to get the 

county seat removed from Perri taut (Faribault).'' 

"A dedicated Cannon Citian, Eggleston wastes no 

chance to slam Faribault, always, of course, in the 

guise of Perritaut. 'I couldn't stand the climate at 

Perritaut' and 'Perritaut was named for an old French 

trader, who had made his fortune by selling goods to 

the Indians on its site, and who had taken him an 

Indian wife- it helped trade to wed an Indian- and 

reared a family of children who were dusky! ' 

·''To be sure we never see the Cannon River in the 

novel but who can doubt what Eggleston meant by 'The 

Big Gun River' and when the fictional characters visit 

Glenfield, it is obvious that in fact they were coming to 

Northfield. Red Wing was called Red Owl by 

Eggleston.'' 

Came Here for Health 

"It was for the reasons of health that in the spring 

of 1856, the 18-year-old Eggleston, convinced by 

brochures and advertisements that Minnesota was the 

healthiest state in the union, decided on Minnesota as a 

last resort. Born in Virginia, Eggleston for some time 

had lived in Vevay, Indiana, but the climate there had 

gotten to him. 

"His health was in a shambles, lungs 

hemorrhaging, consumption eating its way through his 

vital organs, he seemed destined for an early death. By 

the end of the summer of 1856, Eggleston found his 

health so dramatically improved by his stay in Cannon 

City that he walked nearly 400 miles to Galesburg, 

Illinois. He returned to Cannon City a year later and 

was given new Methodist church assignments. 

"Though published in 1873, Eggleston's book opens 

as if it were yesterday. 'Metropolisville is nothing but a 

memory now - the last time I saw the place the grass 

grew green where once stood the City Hall, the corn 

stalks waved their banners on the very site of the old 

store - I ask pardon, of the Emporium of Jackson, 

Jones and Co., and what had been the Square, flanked 

by a white courthouse, not a Temple but a Barn of 

Justice, had long s.ince fallen to base uses. The walls 

which had echoed with forensic grandiloquence were 

12

Barron House, early day Faribault hotel 

now forced to hear only the bleating· of silly sheep. The 

church, the school house and the city hotel had been 

moved away boldly. The village grew, as hundreds of 

other frontier villages had grown, in the flush times. It 

died, as so many others died, of the financial crash 

which was the inevitable sequel and retribution of 

speculative madness.''' 

History of railroads 

Transportation, including railroads, bus lines and 

county, state and interstate highways, has played a 

vital role in the development of Rice County from its 

beginning to the present time. The following articles 

were written for this book by George L. Clark, for more 

than 20 years Rice County Engineer until his 

retirement in 1973 and now chairman of the Rice 

County Bicentennial Commission. 

MILWAUKEE ROAD 

Byron Kilbourn and associates obtained a charter 

in 1847 that granted them rights to build a railroad 

between Milwaukee and Waukesha, Wisconsin; a 

distance of 20 miles. Later the charter was amended so 

that the railroad could be extended to the Mississippi 

River. 

On May 19, 1849, Kilbourn was elected president of 

the new railroad and it was named the Milwaukee and 

Waukesha Railroad Company. This was the beginning 

of what is now known as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. 

Paul and Pacific Railroad, later the Milwaukee Road. 

In 1850 the name was changed to Milwaukee and 

Mississippi Railroad Company because their plans 

were to build to the river. 

The city of Milwaukee issued $100,000.00 in bonds to 

get construction of the line between Milwaukee and 

Waukesha started. 

On Sept. 12, 1850, they laid the first rails and by 

November had five miles completed. The twenty mile 

section of railroad was completed in early 1851, and on 

February 25, 1951, the first train operated over this 

section of railroad. The above date, February 25, 1851, 

is the date that the Chicago, Milwaukee and Pacific 

Railroad operated its first train; now the Milwaukee 

Road. 

The railroad continued on west and on April 15, 

1857, the first train entered the city of Prairie du Chien, 

Wisconsin. 

New company Organized 

In 1860, the railroad went bankrupt and on January 

18, 1861, the road was sold and a new company, with the 

name Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien, was organized. 

In 1863 the railroad was merged with another 

railroad and on May 5, 1863, a new company was 

formed and named the Milwaukee and St. Paul 

Railroad: After several mergers, the railroad 

construction was completed in 1867 to Minneapolis and 

St. Paul. 

In 1874 the name was changed again to Chicago, 

Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway and later the Chicago, 

Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and now 

known as the Milwaukee Road. 

The Minneapolis, Faribault and Cedar Valley 

Railroad was incorporated in March, 1862, and 

changed its name to Minnesota Central in 1864. This 

13

l/len ~ cfNow 

House of Alexander Faribault as it was when used for the Minnesota School for the Blind 

(Drawing by Jeff LaRoche) 

railroad's first track was built between Mendota and 

Wescott, now known as Radio Center, in 1864 and from 

Mendota to Minneapolis in 1865, and also between 

Westcott and Faribault in 1864. The first train into 

Faribault over the Minnesota Central was in 

September of 1865. This road was built by Donald 

Grant, a Faribault railroad contractor. 

The Minnesota Central became a part of the 

McGregor Western Railroad in 1867 and the McGregor 

line also became a part of the Milwaukee and St. Paul 

Railroad, now known as the Milwaukee Road, in 1867. 

The first Milwaukee train to operate into Faribault 

· was in August, 1867. Between 1905 and 1915 the 

company operated three passenger trains per day in 

each direction, plus one branch line trair ..;dCh way on 

the Faribault-Wabasha branch line, which we will 

discuss later. 

Passenger Business Declines 

Tom Murphy, Frank Baker, Steve Ames and Joe 

Elm were the passenger train conductors which 

operated trains through Faribault in the late 1920's and 

1930's until mainline passenger service ended. Tom 

Murphy was raised in Northfield, Frank Baker in 

Waterford, Joe Elm in Dundas, and Steve Ames, not 

known. 

The passenger business began to decrease and the 

company continued to take passenger trains out of 

service. On June 30, 1952, the last passenger service 

through Faribault came to an end. 

The construction of a new grade between Faribault 

and Cresco, Iowa was constructed in 1866 and 1867 by 

Donald Grant, a Faribault railroad contractor. History 

is not clear, but there are indications that the 

Milwaukee started operating over the Faribault 

Cresco section in late 1867 or early 1868. 

The first branch line to be built in Rice County by 

the Milwaukee was built in 1882 between Northfield and 

Cannon Falls. This connected at Cannon Falls with a 

branch which had been built a few years before, from 

Red Wing to Cannon Falls. This line operated six days 

a week, and the trains operated were mixed passenger 

and freight, between Northfield and Red Wing. This 

daily operation continued until April 1918 when the 

service was reduced to three days a week: Tuesday, 

Thursday and Saturday. The line was abandoned in 

December of 1918. 

The line between Faribault and Zumbrota was 

constructed in .1903 by Donald Grant, a Faribault 

14


railroad contractor. The line connected at Zumbrota 

with the Milwaukee branch from Wabasha to 

Zumbrota, which had been constructed by the 

Minnesota Midland Railroad in 1877 and 1878; which 

became a part of the Milwaukee in 1883. 

One passenger train each way operated between 

Faribault and Wabasha until November 14, 1926, when 

full fledged passenger service on this line was 

discontinued. 

Portion Abandoned 

The Zumbrota Falls to Wabasha portion of the line 

was abandoned in May or June of 1934, and from 

Zumbro Falls to Zumbrota a few years later. 

After November 14, 1926, the company operated a 

mixed train for some years but sometime in the 1940's 

the mixed service was reduced, to a straight freight 

line. The line now operates a three day a week service· 

from Austin to Zumbrota. · 

The Milwaukee built a branch line between 

Farmington and Mankato in 1903, which passed 

through Webster and Lonsdale, located in Rice County, 

which connected with a line, built in 1874, between 

Mankato and Wells, Minnesota, by the predecessor 

company, Central Railroad of Minnesota; later t.aken 

over by the Milwaukee. · · 

Passenger and freight trains operated over the line · 

between Wells and Farmington via Lonsdale and 

Webster until January 1, 1951 when all passenger 

service was discontinued over this line. The freight 

trains continued to operate, but during the past few 

years the freights operate three or four times a week 

on this line. 

The Milwaukee Road probably operated the 

greatest number of passenger trains over the entire 

system in 1928. It can be said that during the 

immediate post World War II years, the company 

operated the greatest number of streamlined trains 

and the fastest, in the history of the railroad. 

DAN PATCH RAILROAD 

The construction of the Dan Patch Railroad was 

started prior to 1910 and the President M. W. Savage 

had planned to build from Minneapolis through 

Northfield and Faribault and thence on to Dubuque, 

Iowa. 

The railroad was named after a race horse, owned by 

M. W. Savage, Dan Patch. M . . W. Savage, a 

Minneapolis manufacturer and sportsman, was also 

owner of the M. W. Savage Catalog House, a firm 

similar to Montgomery Ward Co., only smaller. Mr. 

Savage purchased Dan Patch a stallion and pacer, 

from Dan Messner, the first owner, for $60,000. 

The great Dan Patch broke a world record on 

September 8, 1906, on the Minnesota State Fair 

Grounds by pacing the mile in one minute and 55 

seconds. The event took place at about 5 p.m. when 

there was no wind and this record stood for many 

years. After the record was set, Mr. Savage was 

offered $180,000 for Dan Patch, which he turned down. 

Mr. Savage continued to race Dan Patch for many 

years and on July 11_, 1916, Dan Patch died. Mr. 

Savage, who was not too well at the time his horse died, 

died the next day, July 12, 1916, due to shock and poor 

health. 

Mr. Savage had visions of a Gas-Electric railroad 

between Minneapolis and Dubuque, Iowa. 

Built Amusement Park 

Mr. Savage, while building his railroad to the 

south, also constructed Antlers Park near Lakeville, 

Minnesota, as an amusement park on Lake Marion. 

Antlers Park was considered one of the outstanding 

parks of its kind at that time. 

Mr. Savage had visions of people coming from the 

Minneapolis-St. Paul area and all along the line from 

Dubuque, Iowa, to the park for outings. 

The line was completed in 1910 between Minneapolis 

and Northfield and the first passenger train operated 

from Minneapolis to Antlers Park, which was along 

one side of the park, on July 4, 1910. The first passenger 

train to arrive in Northfield was on December 10, 1910. 

Mr. Savage continued to build on south through 

Dundas to Faribault but stopped further construction 

of the new grade near the now Mike Karp farm 

northwesterly of Faribault. The reason for not 

continuing the construction operations was that the 

Faribault City Council refused to allow the railroad a 

right-of-way through the city and the end result was 

that the road was never build from the present ending 

near the Karp farm on south to Dubuque and no 

trackage was ever laid south of Northfield, Minnesota. 

Trackage rights were obtained from the Chicago 

Great Western Railroad between Randolph and 

Mankato, and in late 1910 eight passenger trains were 

operating between Minneapolis, Northfield, Randolph 

and Mankato. 

The Dan Patch railroad built up several small 

crossing stops along the way to pick up milk, poultry, 

dressed veal, and some dressed hogs. One crossing 

. stop south of Dundas was called "Clarks Crossing" 

:near where I lived on a farm untill918. 

Road Reorganized 

After the death of Mr. Savage in 1916, the railroad 

began to slip and in 1918, the road was reorganized and 

given a new name, the Minneapolis-Northfield and 

Southern. 

The Minneapolis-Northfield and Southern stopped 

operating trains over the Chicago Great Western to 

Mankato in 1930. However, they still operated 

passenger trains to Faribault until 1931, when 

thereafter the road operated only to Northfield, 

Minnesota. 

The road continued to operate passenger trains on 

the line for several years between Northfield and 

Minneapolis, but toward the end, operated only two 

passenger trains, one up in the morning and one back 

in the evening. On April 30, 1942, the last passenger 

train to operate, pulled into Northfield with only eight 

passengers. 

The M.N.S. built a connection in 1929, in Northfield, 

with the Chicago Milwaukee and now is one of the most 

profitable freight lines in the country and control is 

held by the Pence Family of Minneapolis. The road 

also connects with the Chicago Northwestern at 

Randolph and is now a competitor to the Minnesota 

Transfer line in the Twin Cities area. 

15

Early days LeSueur House, corner 4th St. and Third Ave. NW 

CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC 

What is now the Rock Island System first came 

under discussion in June, 1845. 

By a special act of the Illinois Legislature, the 

Rock Island and LaSalle Railroad company was 

incorporated on February 27, 1847, but raising money 

to build the line was difficult because people had little 

faith in a railroad that merely connected two 

waterways, the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. 

However, the organizers decided to petition the 

legislature to build all the way into Chicago rather than 

just between Rock Island and LaSalle, Illinois. The 

amended charter was approved by a special act of the 

Illinois Legislature on February 7, 1851 and the name 

changed to Chicago and Rock Island Railroad. 

On October 1, 1851, the first spade of dirt was 

turned on 22nd Street, the southern limits of Chicago, 

and the official construction of the railroad began. 

On October 10, 1852, a gaily painted little engine 

called the Rocket, with six sparkling new yellow 

coaches started the first passenger run of the road 

between Joliet and Chicago, a distance of forty miles. 

The trip took two hours. There was no turning facilities 

at Joliet so the train had to back up all the way back to 

Chicago. 

During 1853-1862 the road continued to push further 

westward. 

On April 22, 1856, the first train operated between 

Rock Island and Davenport and two weeks later, the 

Effie Afton, a steamboat, hit the new bridge over the 

Mississippi and burst into flames and destroyed the 

draw portion of the railroad bridge. A historic action 

was started · against the steamboat owners and 

Abraham Lincoln was the attorney for the railroad. 

Court litigation continued for several years and 

Lincoln argued the case before the Supreme Court and 

in 1862, an opinion was handed down in favor of the 

railroad. 

The line kept coming west and on July 9, 1886, the 

name was changed to Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific 

Railroad. 

In 1885, the Rock Island purchased the majority of 

the outstanding stock of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids, 

and Northern Railroad. 

Grant gets contract 

The Burlington-Cedar Rapids awarded a contract 

to Donald Grant, a Faribault railroad contractor, to 

build the grade from someplace south of Faribault to 

Comus, a junction point with the Chicago and 

Milwaukee Railroad. The Burlington then continued to 

operate over the Milwaukee to Rosemount and then on 

its own line to South St. Paul, and on to St. Paul and 

Minneapolis. The Straight was moved to the east and 

all the area from the present post office in Faribault 

was filled in. The Burlington Depot was opened in 

January, 1902. 

On June 1, 1902, the Burlington-Cedar Rapids and 

Northern leased its property to the Rock Island for 999 

years. The June 1, 1902 date would be the date of the 

first Rock Island operated train through Faribault. 

16


The Rock Island operated eight passenger trains 

through Faribault for many years, four south and four 

north. It was then reduced to six trains per day as the 

local, as it was called, because it would make stops 

along the line, was removed from service. 

About this time they put on six new type passenger 

trains and removed the old steam engines, which were 

replaced with diesel engines and streamlined stainless 

steel coaches, sleepers, diners, and parlor cars and 

called them the Rockets after the name of the road's 

first passenger engine to operate October 10, 1852. 

Passenger trains disband 

The line _operated one fine train each day to 

California and one to Minneapolis from California 

known as the Mid-Continent Special. This was a real 

high class passenger train. You could get on in 

Faribault and never leave the car until you arrived in 

California. Also, a "Twin Star Rocket" ran each way 

between Minneapolis and Kansas City which were also 

fine trains. 

Also, a "Burlington Zephyr Rocket" ran each way 

between Minneapolis and St. Louis, Mo., which were 

fine trains. 

The passenger business kept going down and the 

last passenger train to operate through Faribault was 

·the northbound Twin Star Rocket from Kansas City to 

Minneapolis which made its last run on July 28, 1969. 

Some freights still operate through Faribault and 

the depot was closed shortly after the last passenger 

went through July 28, 1969. 

It just doesn't seem possible that all these fine 

trains are gone, but they are, and perhaps, forever. 

CHICAGO, GREAT WESTERN 

The beginning of the Chicago Great Western 

Railroad was the issuing of a charter on March 4, 1854 

to the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad 

Company. Nothing was done with the charter for thirty 

years until a man by the name of A. B. Stickney 

acquired it and started construction of a line from St. 

Paul to Lyle, Minnesota in September of 1884 and was 

completed in 1885 and put in service October 2, 1885. 

On August 1, 1887, the Minnesota and Northwestern 

opened their line between Chicago and the Twin Cities 

and through train operations took place shortly 

thereafter. 

On December 8, 1887, the Chicago, St. Paul and 

Kansas Railway purchased all the railway and 

property of the shortlived Minnesota and Northwestern 

Railroad. 

On January 16, 1892, in a complex financial 

maneuver, the Chicago Great Western Railway was 

incorporated, and thus the beginning of the Chicago 

Great Western Railroad and for serveral years was 

known as the Map_le Leaf system due to the fact that a 

map of the system looked like a maple leaf; due to the 

fact other small railroads were taken over by the 

Chicago Great Western. 

Chrysler Was Superintendent 

The superintendent of Motor Power for the Maple 

Leaf system was a young man by the name of Walter 

P. Chrysler. Chrysler was in charge of the railroad's 

main shops at Oelwein, Iowa. In 1908, Walter P. 

Chrysler attended Chicago Automobile Show, which 

changed the future course of his life. 

He saw a white Locomobile Automobile trimmed 

with red; Chrysler bought the car for $5000.00 right on 

the spot and became very interested in automobiles 

from then on. 

A few years later, Mr. Chrysler left the Chicago 

and Great Western and went to work for the American 

Locomotive Company and, in 1912, entered the 

automobile industry with Buick and later formed the 

Chrysler Corporation, which made Chrysler cars. 

On September 1, 1909, the. railroad was sold at 

foreclosure and conveyed to new ownership and the 

Chicago Great Western name retained, but added 

"Corn Belt Route." 

Fancy Train Names 

Many fine passenger trains were opera ted over the 

main line through Nerstrand, Minnesota for a number 

of years. The names of famous trains which operated 

through Nerstrand were: The Great Western Limited, 

The Corn Belt Special and two non-stop trains between 

the Twin Cities and Rochester known as the ''Red 

Bird," and the "Blue Bird," which made their run 

between the Twin Cities and Rochester in three hours 

and 25 minutes. 

The Great Western profited little from World War 

II and passenger business for the Great Western main 

line started down hill and the last passenger train to 

operate on the main line was through Nerstrand on 

September 30, 1965. 

On Apirl 27, 1967, the Interstate Commerce 

Commission approved a merger of the Chicago Great 

Western and the Chicago Northwestern and on July 1, 

1968, the Northwestern took over the operation and the 

Chicago Great Western Railroad became history. 

Chicago Great Western Branch Line 

Between Red Wing, Through Northfield 

And Faribault and Mankato 

When Minnesota was still a territory, the 

Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad was 

incorporated under a special act of the territory of 

Minnesota on May 23, 1857. It appears to be the first 

company havirig anything to do with the construction 

of a railroad between Red Wing and Mankato, a little 

later on. 

Another company which had much to do in forming 

the future Chicago Great Western was the Cannon 

River Improvement Company, incorporated in the 

State of Minnesota February 16, 1865. The purpose of 

the Corporation was to construct canals, locks, dams, 

and in a general way construct slack water navigation 

from the Mississippi River via the Cannon River and · 

the lakes connected therewith; thence via Lake 

Elysian to the Minnesota River near Mankato. The 

plan was not practicable and no work was ever started. 

After some study the company evidently concluded 

that a railroad would be cheaper to build and better, so 

on February 28, 1872, the Articles of Incorporation 

were amended to read "and also to construct and 

17

~en ~d:Jlow 

Luke Hulett House, 7th St. and Lincoln Ave. (early days, still standing) 

operate a railroad." 

Franchises Consolidated 

The Cannon River Improvement Company and the 

Minnesota Central Railroad Company had been given 

land grants and on March 10, 1983, the legislature 

passed a special act providing for the consolidation of 

the franchises and land grants of the two companies. 

The consolidation was effected December 3, 1878 and 

then the Minnesota Central built a line from Red Wirtg 

through Northfield and Faribault to Waterville, 

Minnesota, completed in 1882. The towns of Red Wing 

donated $50,000 toward the construction of the line; 

Cannon Falls, $10,000; Northfield, $10,000; Faribault, 

$50,000 and Morristown, $10,000. After the line was built 

the Minnesota Central had no money to buy equipment 

and was operated from January 1, 1883 until June 30, 

1884 as the Cannon Valley Division of the Minneapolis 

and St. Louis Railway. 

On August 14, 1883, the Minnesota Central name 

was changed to the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific 

Railway Company and the line extended from 

Waterville to Mankato and construction was completed 

in 1887. 

The company went into receivership and a new 

company was incorporated under the source name and 

sometime in 1892 leased the property to the Chicago 

Great Western Railway Company. 

The faribault Depot at first was located someplace 

on or near 12th Street NW, but later a new depot was 

built in downtown Faribault after a line was built to 

downtown Faribault a point near the present location 

of the Faribault Canning Company. 

Chicago Northwestern Railroad 

(Company now known as the Northwestern 

Transportation Company) 

On July 1, 1968, the Northwestern Transportation 

Company started to operate freight trains between Red 

Wing and Mankato, through Northfield, Dundas, 

Faribault and Morristown on to Mankato and 

connected at Mankato with another Northwestern line 

from the Twin Cities to Winona. In about 1973 the line 

between Faribault and Morristown was taken up; and 

also between Waterville and Mankato was taken up. 

The section of line between Morristown and 

Waterville is still operated on a once in awhile basis, so 

that the Morristown Creamery can get carload lots of 

fertilizer transferred from the old Minneapolis and St. 

Louis in Waterville, now owned by the Northwestern 

Transportation Company, to Morristown. 

In the winter of 1975 the line between Northfield 

and Faribault could no longer be used; only as far as 

Dundas, which is still used some by backing the train 

from Northfield to Dundas, and then back to 

Northfield. 

18


From trails to highways 

By George L. Clark 

Section A 

No one knows who were the first people to live in 

the area that is now Minnesota, but it is certain that 

people have lived here for a long time, probably 

thousands of years. Not long after the last great glacier 

melted away northward, certain Stone Age hunters, 

probably from Asia, found their way into what is now 

Minnesota. 

The early explorers of America and what is now 

Minnesota and Rice County, had no roads to follow and 

their maps were incorrect and based on guess work. 

Therefore they usually decided to follow lakes and 

rivers, using them as highways into unknown country. 

In 1849, the year of its organization as a territory, 

Minnesota was mainly a wilderness, a hunting grounds 

for the Indians. Rice county was created by an act of 

the Territorial Legislature on March 5, 1853. Rice 

County was one of the earliest, best settled and 

prominent counties of Minnesota. 

The only semblance of any road in Rice County or 

around Faribault was a rough trail worn by the carts of 

Alexander Faribault in his fur trade with the Indians. 

The first County Board of Rice County was a three 

man board appointed by the Territorial Governor 

Gorman, and consisted of three members. They were 

appointed on January 2, 1885 and did meet, but there is 

no record of what they may have done. 

In November of 1855 a new three man board was 

elected and held their first meeting January 7, 1865 in 

the law office of Berry and Batchelder in Faribault. 

The board's third item of business at this meeting was 

a petition to designate a present road or trail as a 

County Road. The board took no action on the petition 

at their first meeting but would meet again on 

February 9, 1856 and consider the petition for action. 

On February 9th the Board designated the road as 

described in the petition as a County Road. The action 

the board took was the beginning of the Rice County 

Road system and the first road to be designated as a 

County Road in Rice County. 

The Territorial Legislature authorized a road from 

Read's Landing on the Mississippi River westerly 

through the towns of Kenyon and Faribault to a point 

on the Minnesota River opposite St. Peter. However, 

there are not very good records that this road was 

built. 

Road Viewers Named 

On February 11, 1856, the Rice County Board met 

again and received another petition for a County Road. 

About this time the county was experiencing an 

increased land boom, which started in 1855, and along 

with the boom Faribault and the County became a 

headquarters for a floating population. 

The County Board at the February 11th meeting 

could see that more roads would be needed and 

requested, so they appointed road viewers who would 

in turn advise the board of future requests for 

designations and damages to land used for roads. The 

board also set up road districts and district road 

supervisors. 

In the spring of 1856, the county was divided into 

townships who in turn were governed by a Township 

Board. The township then began to lay out roads, 

within the township, which were called Town Roads. 

The year 1856 was the beginning of Town Roads in Rice 

County. 

The county continued to designate county roads, 

but didn't, however, do much maintenance work, as 

they didn't have the necessary funds. This kind of road 

program continued until about 1864. 

The Minneapolis and Cedar Valley Railroad had 

been building south from Mendota for some time and 

reached Faribault, through Northfield, in September 

1865 and regular service was established in the middle 

of October 1865. This was the first railroad to operate in 

Rice County. Later, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. 

Paul Railroad secured control of the Minneapolis and 

Cedar Valley Railroad. 

Due to the railroad reaching Faribault, the County 

Board, for the next twelve years, designated many 

miles of county road and were forced to do some 

maintenance on the roads, even though not very much. 

First Map Published 

About this time W. M. Lawrence of Dundas 

published a county map of Rice County which was the 

first published map of Rice County. 

From 1865 to 1907, the County Board continued to 

designate more county roads and maintain them the 

best they could, which wasn't very good. 

The County Board in January 1907, appointed one 

of its members, John Finley, to be in charge of road 

and bridge construction throughout the county. Mr. 

Finley was to advise the board as to what was going on 

in regard to county road work. 

In 1908, the Dunn one-mill tax was enacted by the 

legislature. This was a state tax on real estate and was 

allocated back to each county on a formula basis. It 

was to be used for county road and bridge construction. 

In April of 1908, the County Board decided there 

was just too much work for their one member who was 

appointed to look after the county road work. The 

County Board decided to appoint Surveyor C. A. Reed 

as a kind of overseer over the county roads. This was 

the first time in the history of the county road program 

that someone who knew something about roads was put 

in charge of the program. One July 8, 1908, the first 

Road and Bridge Fund levy in the county was made by 

the County Board in the amount of $8000.00. 

By 1914, the Rice County Board was aware of the 

fact that most of the railroads had been constructed 

and that road construction would be starting in a big 

!way, and they would no longer be able to handle the 

work themselves and that professional help was an 

absolute necessity. At the January 1915 meeting, the 

County Board, composed of H. H. Helberg_, Willia 

Ebel, J. N. Williams, Frank Wilkowske and Frank J. 

Parkas, appointed R. W. Hosfield, who was an 

engineer, the County Surveyor and County Ditch 

Engineer, as Supervisor of County Roads. The 

19 

FAR\BP~ULT 

ELEMENTARY PUBLIC SCHOOL 

LIBRARY.

Rice County court house staff in early 1900s 

First row, left to right: Lucius A. Smith, 

Charles Ebel, Charles Sayles, Frank 

Wilkowske (Morristown), James McMahon, 

James Trenda. Second row: James Flynn, Ed 

Kelly, Judge A. B. Childress, John Milligan, 

Frank Kaisersatt, Andrew Murphy, Bill 

Geiger, H. H. Heberg, Walter N. Nutting, 

Frank Parkos, William Edel (Northfield), 

Peter F. Ruge, unknown, Ella Healy (Mrs. 

Lucius A. Smith). 

appointment of Mr. Hosfield was the beginning of the 

Rice County Highway Department. 

Engineers Named 

The County Engineers, starting with Mr. Hosfield 

and up to the present time are as follows: 

R. W. Hosfield, Jan. 15, 1915 to Jan. 20, 1916 

(Hosfield left in 1916 to become Steele County 

Engineer); W. P. Chapman- Jan. 20, 1916 to April 6, 

1920; P. L. Hogard- April6, 1920 to March 9, 1921; J. C. 

McElheme- March 9, 1921 to Feb. 1, 1926; C. E. Stahl 

Feb. 1, 1926 to April 1, 1928; Russell Norton - April 1, 

1928 to July 31, 1930; A. W. Bedell- July 31, 1930 to Sept. 

8, 1930; C. W. Squires - Sept. 8, 1930 to Feb. 1, 1933; 

Russell Norton - Feb, 1, 1933 to April 1, 1933; George 

Thorne- April1, 1933 to July 16, 1935; C. E. Stahl- July 

16, 1935 to Jan. 1, 1938; George L. Clark (acting 

engineer)- Jan. 1, 1938 to May 1, 1938; A. R. Taubman 

May 1, 1938 to May 1, 1943; George L. Clark- May 1, 

1938 to Dec. 31, 1973; Arthur Storhaug- Jan. 1, 1974 to 

Many things took place during the following years, 

but due to book space it cannot be put" in this history. 

However, George L. Clark, retired County Engineer, 

wrote a ''History of Rice County Roads and Highway 

Department Under the Jurisdiction of the Rice County 

Board between 1&55 and 1974" which is on file in the 

Faribault and Northfield Public Libraries and also 

with the Rice County Historical Society. This history 

goes into detail in regard to county roads between 1855 

and 1974. The County Board continued to designate 

more roads over the years. 

255.3 Miles System 

In 1957, it was necessary to designate a new County 

State Aid Highway System, due to legislative changes 

in county highway laws. After several months of study, 

the county engineer, George L. Clark, presented a 

county State Aid System to the Board for the approval. 

On August 7, 1957, the County Board adopted a 

resolution designating a new County State Aid System 

of Highways for Rice County as presented by the 

Engineer. Members of the board at that time were: 

Emil Machacek, Ervin Ackman, John King, Clarence 

Albers, and Anton Helberg. The new system as 

designated at that time contained 255.3 miles. Later the 

mileage was increased due to some trunk highway 

tumbacks to the county. 

The County State Aid Highway System as of 

January 1, 1976, contains 280.42 miles and is composed 

of the following types of surfaces: 

Concrete Surfaced - .65 miles; Bituminous 

Surfaced - 199.84 miles; Gravel Surfaced - 79.93 miles 

for a total of 280.42 miles. Bridges on the system - 38. 

On December 5, 1957, the County Board designated 

a new County Road system which included roads not 

designated in the County State Aid System, which 

contained 210.60 miles of road. 

During the past years some changes were made in 

the County Road system and, as of January 1, 1976, 

there is 199.76 miles in the sy~tem and is composed of 

the following types of surfaces: Bituminous surface - 

25.23 miles; Gravel surface -174.53 miles; Bridges- 24. 

The total county mileage, including both systems 

is composed of 480 miles and 62 bridges. 

The county constructed a new highway shop which 

included the county engineer's office in 1975. It is 

located on NW 20th Street. The engineer's office, which 

was located in the Rice County Courthouse, and the 

shop located in the old shop building on the Rice County 

20


fairgrounds, were both moved into the new highway 

building in the latter part of 1975. 

Section B. 

The early roads in Minnesota were, for the most 

part, county roads and township roads. There was 

considerable agitation around the state and also in the 

legislature, before 1900 that there should be a state 

system of roads under control of the state. It was felt 

that the county and townships should be feeders to a 

state system, which, in turn, would make railroad 

facilities more accessible for the movement of freight 

throughout the state, especially to towns and rural 

areas not located on a railroad. 

After several attempts, a constitutional 

amendment was adopted in 1898 which permitted the 

legislature to set up a state system of roads. It appears 

from the records that the legislature, for some or many 

reasons, didn't warm up to the idea of a state system. 

However, the legislature finally, in 1905, passed some 

·legislation for setting up a State Highway Commission. 

In 1917, a State Highway Department, with a single 

commissioner as its head, was authorized and three 

years later, in 1920, the "Babcock Amendment" was 

adopted which launched the modern system of State 

Trunk Highways in Minnesota. Charles M. Babcock 

was appointed the first Commissioner of Highways in 

Minnesota by the governor of Minnesota. 

The amendment named specific designated routes 

as "Constitutional Routes," written with a provision 

which prohibited the legislature from adding 

additional routes to the State Highway System until 

after 75 per cent of the designated Constitutional routes 

had been constructed and permanently improved. 

The Constitutional ·Routes, as designated in the 

amendment, which pass through Rice County are as 

follows: Trunk Highway No. 1 from St. Paul through 

Rosemount, Farmington, Northfield, Dundas, 

Faribault, Owatonna and on south was established by 

Commissioner order No. 1337 on May 25, 1921; later 

the number was changed to No. 218 and then to No.3. 

At the present time No. 3 runs only as far as Faribault. 

The balance south has reverted back to the cities and 

counties. This was due to the construction of Interstate 

No. 35, north and south of Faribault. The portion of 

trunk highway No. 3 between Faribault and the Steele 

County line was reverted back to Rice County and this 

section of road is now designated County State Aid 

Highway No. 45. 

TH 21 Established 

Trunk Highway No. 21 between Faribault and 

Montgomery was established by Commissioner order 

No. 1479 on June 1, 1921. 

Trunk Highway No. 60 from Faribault to Kenyon, 

and on east, was established by Commissioner order 

No. 1479 on June 1, 1921, and from Faribault west 

through Morristown was established by Commissioner 

order No. 1538 on June 20, 1921. 

The following routes were authorized by the 

legislature after 75 per cent or more of the 

constitutional routes were improved. Trunk Highway 

No. 19 from north of Red Wing through Northfield, 

Lonsdale and on west was established by 

Commissioner orders No. 8633 and No. 8664 on 

December 28, 1933. Trunk highway No. 99 from a point 

on Trunk Highway No. 21, northwesterly to Shieldsville 

and thence on west was established by Commissioner 

order No. 8654 on December 28, 1933. Trunk Highway 

No. 165, known as Lyndale Avenue, from a point on 

Trunk Highway No. 21, near the location of the present 

Faribault Airport, thence north through Hazelwood 

and Minneapolis, was established by Commissioner 

order No. 8669 on December 28, 1933. 

After I terstate No. 35 was built and open to 

traffic, north of Faribault, all of former trunk highway 

No. 165 was reverted back to Rice County and is now 

County State Aid Highway No. 46. 

Trunk Highway No. 246 from Northfield through 

NerstraNd and thence east and southeast to the 

junction' of Trunk Highway No. 56, north of Kenyon, 

was established by Commissioner order No. 19513 on 

June 20, 1949. 

Interstate Road Designated 

Interstate No. 35 from the north line to the south 

line of Rice County, which is 25.14 miles in length, was 

designated by sections, as described in the following 

numbered Commissioner Orders: 

Order No. 3115, dated 2-14-61; Order No. 29993, 

dated 4-21-60; Order No. 30921, dated 1-5-61; Order No. 

36922, dated 2-17-65; Order No. 32678, dated 4-24-62; 

Order No. 32142, dated 11-2-61. 

Orders No. 41025 and 41026, dated 5-4-67, which 

established the center line location does not include the 

Faribault by-pass, which was constructed last, and 

open to traffic the latter part of 1975. The Faribault 

by-pass orders are to be written in the near future. 

All of the above described Trunk Highways have 

been constructed and hard surfaced on parts of old 

location and the balance on new locations, excep·t that 

part of Trunk Highway No. 246, between Nerstrand and 

Trunk Highway No. 56, which is still a gravel surface. 

The viaduct over the Straight River and the 

Chicago Rock Island and Chicago Northwestern 

Railroad tracks, located on Trunk Highway No. 60 in 

the city of Faribault, was constructed in 1937. The 

Minnesota Department of Highways bridge engineer at 

that time was M. J. Hoffmann, who became 

Commissioner of Highways in 1938. George Flynn Sr., 

now retired and living in Farmington, was the Project 

Engineer in charge of the construction of the viaduct. 

Total mileage of designated Trunk Highways in Rice 

County as of January 1, 1976, is 128.82 miles. The total 

miles of Interstate Highway in Rice County as of 

January 1, 1976, is 25.14 miles. 

21

~en &-'


cetits a ride every day of the week. 

Eugene Wieneke, city administrator, disclosed 

that although total figures have not yet been compiled, 

there has been an increase in ridership since 

December. The number of people riding the bus since 

then has been going up slightly but steadily, Wieneke 

said. At present, there are two buses in operation with 

two full time bus drivers and four part time drivers. 

Hotels and later the Faribault also, and then only at the 

Brunswick until 1974, when they started using their 

own depot on 4th Street, near the Milwaukee tracks. 

Some of the buses in operation do not come by the 

way of Northfield but come directly to Faribault from 

Minneapolis over Interstate Highway No. 35, since I35 

has been open to traffic. 

Jefferson lines 

In the early part of 1919 three men, Emery Bryant, 

Theodore Ansell and Stanley Smith, started operating 

a small bus line between Minneapolis, St. Paul and 

Owatonna, through Faribault. However, it appears 

that the service between the Twin Cities and Owatonna 

by the way of Northfield, Dundas, and Faribault, was 

first inaugurated in 1920, probably using the name 

Jefferson Bus Company. 

The company at that time operated three buses in 

each direction and later expanded to as many as nine 

in each direction. One of the early buses operated was 

"The Round Top," assembled and fabricated in their 

own shop by their body men. It carried 13 passengers. 

In the early days the highways were not plowed 

and buses had a snow plow mounted on the front of the 

bus. They also carried three or four shovels on each 

bus, and if the need be, the passengers would get out 

and help shovel. 

In 1922 a number of the small bus companies 

operating at that time decided to merge and have only 

one company. On July 24, 1922, a new bus company was 

incorporated under the name of ''Jefferson Highway 

Transportation Company." The incorporators were E. 

L. Bryant, I.D. Ansell, N. L. Rogers, R. S. Dimmick, 

Clifford Schultz and Harry W. Davis. The company 

was incorporated under the laws of Delaware and the 

corporation was authorized to do business in Minnesota 

on Oct. 20, 1922. 

Zelle Gains Control 

On July 1, 1925, Edgar F. Zelle acquired all of the 

Class C voting stock of the original holders of the stock, 

which gave him control of the company. Mr. Zelle sold 

off all the line operated by the Jefferson Company, 

except the southern routes, which were: Twin Cities to 

Rochester and Twin Cities to Northfield, Faribault, 

Owatonna, and Albert Lea, Minnesota. 

Mr. Zelle became president of the company in 1925, 

and continued as president until1950. 

In the late 1920's, the bus line was extended to 

Mason City, Iowa, and later extended to Des Moines, 

Iowa, and on to Kansas City, Missouri. 

In 1968, final approval was secured from the 

Interstate Commerce Commission to merge the 

Jefferson Transportation Company and the Crown Bus 

Company and is now called ''Jefferson Lines.'' 

When the line operated into Faribault in the early 

years, their depot was at the Arlington and Brunswick 

Aviation history 

There was very little aviation around Faribault or 

Rice County before the late 1920's. Jules Teske was one 

of the early aviators around Faribault and may have 

been the first one. Dale "Red" Jackson, who was 

raised in Faribault, did a lot of flying around St. Louis, 

Missouri, and other parts of the country and with 

Forrest . O'Brien established a new world's plane 

endurance record- 64 hours, 28 minutes, 30 seconds in 

July, 1929. He was killed Jan. 6, 1932, in plane crash at 

Miami, Fla. 

There were no airports in the early days of aviation 

in Rice County. The planes landed in farmers' hay 

fields wherever the pilots could find landowners who 

would allow it. However, they used to land out on a field 

west of town, ·near the old location of Trunk Highway 

60. Other places were on the Van Horn farm, located 

west of the St. Lawrence Cemetery and on the Dr. P. A. 

Smith farm about where the Control Data building now 

stands, in the Faribault Industrial property. 

About 1931, the Faribault American Legion Post 

rented 80 acres from Mrs. Crossett. She, at that time, 

operated the Blue Bird Inn, located along the east side 

of the then, Trunk Highway No. 1, now County State 

Aid Highway No. 45, south of Faribault. This was just 

south of the present location of the Spitzack Farm 

Service, Inc. The Blue Bird building stood about where 

the present Spitzack home now stands. 

The Legion never did any work to develop the field. 

A few early aviators, however, did use it. In 1934, the 

Legion gave up the field and Lawrence Merrill and Bill 

Lawless did some flying there before the Legion gave it 

up. 

Flying Field Established 

About this time Lawrence Merrill and Lloyd 

Schreiber rented a piece of land from Mrs. Crossett 

which had an east-west width of 1320 feet and a 

north-south length of 2640 feet. They put in two 

runways, built a hangar and thus established the first 

flying field located near Faribault. They bought a used 

plane and flew mostly for themselves, but did a little 

commercial flying. 

They had a few air shows and Max Conrad of 

Winona, now known as the "Flying Grandfather" 

aviator, used to stop in when the shows were held. They 

continued to operate until1940, when the Faribault Sky 

Club was organized. 

The original club had about ten members, among 

whom were: Henry Voegele, Fred Grothe, Gib Green, 

23

~en ~t]Vow 

George W. Batchelder House, E. Division Street (early days) 

George Luedke, Ralph Temple, Stewart Shaft, 

Lawrence Merrill, Lloyd Schreiber and James 

Burmeister, Burmeister had a share in the club, but 

never did any flying. The field instructor, at that time, 

was Neil Sorenson who now lives in Minneapolis. 

This field was used until the City of Faribault built 

the present airport along the south side of Trunk 

Highway No. 21, northwest of Faribault. The City of 

Faribault bought the Henry Johnson farm property, 

described as follows: the S E lf4 section 14, Wells 

Township that lies South of the Shieldsville Road which 

contained 90 acres more or less, on July 1, 1944. The 

city developed the 90 acres into an airport in 1946 or 

1947. 

On April15, 1948, the city secured theSE 1f4 of S.W. 

114 Section 14-TllON-R21W, 40 acres, from Cora Ryan 

and others. The City made further improvements to 

the airport and it now has a 3000x75 foot paved runway 

and a 2600 x 200 foot sod runway. 

There has been a number of hangars constructed 

over the years and several local and out of town people 

keep their planes there. 

Air Festival Held 

An Air Festival, reflecting increasing interest in 

aviation, was held at the Faribault Municipal Airport 

on August 19, 1954, attracting several thousand 

persons. 

Twenty-five planes flew in from the surrounding 

area to participate in the first event of the day, a 

breakfast flight event sponsored by the Junior 

Chamber of Commerce. 

Oldest pilot was 39 while the youngest flier was 

22-year-old Ken Wyhre of Austin. Oldest plane was a 

1946 Taylor Cub piloted by Fred Lockwood, 

Minneapolis. The pilot traveling the greatest distance 

was Barney Weber of St. Paul who also flew the 

smallest plane, a Mooney Mite. 

Feature of the Show was a new Navy helicopter 

flown by Lt. Molder of the U.S. Naval Station, 

Minneapolis. The plane was used in a Civil Defense 

demonstration. A unique flight of progress was staged 

with a 1941 model Waco and the new Beechcraft 

Bonanza being used to show relative speeds of old and 

new aircraft and changes in design. All speakers of the 

day stressed the importance of the airport to civilian 

and military needs. 

The Faribault improved airport officially was 

dedicated on July 26, 1959 with 500 fliers in 161 planes 

and hundreds of local residents participating. State 

Senator A. 0. Sundet of Faripault was the speaker at 

the dedication ceremonies. 

A novel Penny-a-Pound airlift was conducted from 

1 to 8:30 p.m. Proceeds were to be used to furnish a 

room at the new Rice County District One Hospital. 

Fifteen planes gave rides affording passengers a 

graphic birds-eye view of Faribault. 

Improvements made at the airport include: 

addition of 1,000 feet of hard surface runway; 

installation of running lights; rotating beacon; lighted 

wind sock; safer blacktop taxiways. All improvements 

were approved by the Federal Aviation Agency. These 

24

) 

I 

new improvements open the way to night flying in the 

Faribault area. 

Manager Is Named 

Since October 1965, management of the Faribault 

Airport has been in the hands of Gilmore J. P. 

Lundquist, retired Air Force colonel. 

Lundquist was welcomed to Faribault at a dinner 

party held December 12 for some 60 Faribault area 

pilots. As an Air Force colonel he was chief of photo 

reconnaissance. He told his welcomers "We want to 

stimulate flying here from the ground level, starting 

with the boy." 

When Lundquist arrived in Faribault, the airport 

was a one man, two plane operation. Lundquist 

expanded facilities and, in addition to managing the 

airport for the City of Faribault, is also 

owner-president of Eagle Aviation, Inc. Operation has 

increased to an eight man, four plane business. 

The city maintains two hangars, aT hangar and a 

multiple hangar which can hold seven planes. There 

are 22 private hangars. Many pesons having business 

in Faribault arrive and leave at the airport. 

Eagle Aviation, Inc., itself is a major business. 

Lundquist has introduced flight training, an aircraft 

maintenance shop and radio shop and aircraft sales. 

The company has four planes available for a variety of 

services including training, student pilots, charter 

services, air ambulance and aerial photography. 

Telephone history 

By RONALD A. SCHWARTZ 

According to an article in the Faribault 

Republican on Wednesday, May 22, 1878, the first two 

telephones in Rice County were installed in Faribault 

on the previous Monday, May 20. 

The paper reports that two telephones were 

installed connecting the insurance office of Pratt and 

Robinson with the telegraph office located in Crackers 

Drug Store. 

This was less than two years after Alexander 

Graham Bell first successfully transmitted the human 

voice over a wire. 

On March 10, 1876, Bell uttered the now famous 

words, "Come here Mr. Watson I want you." 

A patent for the new device was issued and a public 

demonstration held on May 10, 1876. The 

demonstration did not receive much publicity and few 

people outside of the Boston area were aware of the 

existence of the telephone. 

Installing two telephones in a community, such as 

in Faribault, was common throughout Minnesota and 

elsewhere in the early days of telephony. The new 

instruments were used to connect offices with homes, 

doctors' offices with drug stores, railroad depots with 

hotels and livery stables with hotels and depots. 

The interest established by connecting one 

business with another or a business and a home 


eventually led to the establishment of a Central 

switching office which made it possible to interconnect 

telephone users. 

Phones Described 

The first two telephones in Rice County were 

described in the Republican as a couple of black walnut 

boxes, one with two bells on it, the other with a funnel 

which served both as a "speaker and trumpet." There 

was a knob on the box with the bells to signal the other 

phone. The article states it was not necessary to speak 

loudly but rather to speak distinctly. 

The second pair of telephones were placed in 

service in April of 1879. The Republican reports that 

Judge Scrandrett erected a telephone line connecting 

his office with that of the Judge of Probate. He then 

stated prophetically, "It will prove quite a 

convenience.'' 

Later that year, in September, a third pair of 

phones was placed in service linking Loyhed's 

Hardware Store with the Hazen Wind Mill Company. 

It didn't take the citizens of Northfield and Dundas 

long to see how advantageous the telephone would be in 

their lives. 

The Rice County Journal, a newspaper published 

in Northfield, reported August 26, 1880, that a Mr. 

Fryer had put in a telephone system linking the Ames 

Mill with the Dundas Mill and the residences of Mr. 

Ames of Northfield and Mr. Archibald of Dundas. 

Early in 1881, the Journal reported that a pair of 

telephones was in service linking the First National 

Bank of Northfield and an un-named location in 

Dundas. 

Exchange telephone service was established in 

Faribault in 1882 by the Northwestern Telephone 

Exchange Company, forerunner of Northwestern Bell. 

The Company's first central office was installed in 

what was then known as the Theopold Building. Later 

it was moved to the Deike Building, then to the Kaul 

Building and from there to its present location. 

Exchange Established 

In November of 1883 a telephone exchange 

operated by a Mr. J. B. Neal was placed in service to 

serve 30 customers in Northfield and Dunda~. Among 

the first customers was St. Olaf College. :~ 

In 1883, a long distance telephone line was 

constructed linking Northfield, Dundas, and Faribault 

with Minneapolis and St. Paul as well as Hastings, Red 

Wing, Lake City, Wabasha, Winona, Farmington and 

other points. 

The advent of long distance service caused the 

Faribault Republican to write, "If the telephone 

system works well to distant points it will likely 

become a popular means of communication, being 

cheaper and quicker than the Telegraph.'' 

In 1893 the first Bell patent expired. This made it 

possible for other companies to compete in providing 

telephone service in many communities. 

In 1897 the Northfield Telephone Company was 

formed to compete with the Company formed by Mr. 

Neal and took over that company in 1902. In turn, the 

Northfield Telephone Company was purchased by the 

Northwestern Telephone Exchange Company in 1904. 

25

~en ~c?-low 

Faribault Opera House, burned in 1928 

The Tri-State Telephone and Telegraph Company also 

provided service in Northfield but the exact date that 

service was established is not known. However they 

did operate at least one long distance station in 

Northfield in 1904. 

In 1905 the Rice Rural Telephone Company was 

formed to operate in Faribault in competition with the 

Northwestern Company. 

Competing telephone companies did not 

interconnect with each other. As a result, for a 

customer to have complete telephone service it was 

necessary to have service from both companies. This 

meant two telephones sometimes side by side on the 

wall, two directories and, of course, two telephone 

bills. 

Territory Divides 

The problem of competition was solved in 1918. At 

the urging of the public and Railroad and Warehouse 

Commission, the Tri-State and the Northwestern 

Company agreed to divide the territory they served. 

The Northwestern Company was to serve Minneapolis 

and the Northern portion of the state and the Tri-State 

Company, St. Paul and southern Minnesota. 

On January 1, 1921 the Northwestern Telephone 

Exchange Company was merged with Iowa Telephone 

Company and the Nebraska Telephone Company to 

form Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. In 1942, 

the Tri-State Company was merged with Northwestern 

Bell. 

From the two telephones installed in Faribault in 

1878, the number of customers served by Northwestern 

Bell in Rice County has increased to more than 12,000, 

and the number of telephones in use to over 23,000. 

In addition to Northwestern Bell, there are four 

other independent telephone companies that provide 

telephone service in Rice County. They serve the 

communities of Kenyon, Lonsdale, Montgomery, and 

Morristown. 

Telephone war erupts 

All was not quiet in the late 1870's and the early 

1810's in Faribault after the new talking miracle - the 

telephone - came to this community. In fact, there 

was a Telephone War. The Faribault Republican of 

August 8, 1883, had this to say: 

''A small degree of excitement has existed during 

the past week on account of conflict between certain 

members of the City Common Council and the 

Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. As was stated 

last week the council had refused to grant a petition to 

allow the erection of telephone poles on Main Street, 

although they were willing to allow the use of all other 

streets. 

"The objection to using Main Street was that in 

case of fire the wires would be in the way and would 

hinder the use of ladders and other fire apparatus. As 

most of the patrons of the telephone exchange are on 

Main Street, the company was desirous of placing the 

26


} 

poles where they would be most convenient to all 

concerned. 

''The objection on the part of the company to 

placing them on Elm Street was that there are so many 

trees along the street as to interfere with the wires. 

Besides, it would be necessary to string a great many 

wires over roofs of buildings, which is one thing that 

businessmen object to and why they petitioned for 

having the poles. 

"W. G. Cox, who is in charge of the telephone 

exchange, acting under authority of a resolution 

passed by the Common Council in December, 1879, 

proceeded on Saturday last to distribute the poles. 

When Alderman Wachlin, wishing to enforce the action 

of the council at its meeting last week, ordered Cox to 

desist and the latter not complying, Wachlin called up 

Chief of Police Delaney to arrest him. 

"As he considered that Cox had as yet committed 

no offense, the chief refused to arrest without a 

warrant. The City Justice also refused to issue a 

warrant without a complaint being filed by the City 

Attorney. And the City Attorney, for the same reason, 

perhaps, deeming the resolution of the Common 

Council in December 1879 sufficient authority to 

warrant the company in erecting the poles, did not file 

a complaint. 

"Meanwhile, Cox, being assured by legal advice, 

was busy and while the council slept he had a force of 

men at work, and on Sunday saw a line of poles along 

the west side of Main Street. 

''The resolution of 1879 is as follows: 'The Common 

Council of the City of Faribault do resolve that 

permission be granted the Northwestern Telephone 

Company to erect poles and wires thereon in the streets 

of the City of Faribault under the direction of the City 

Council, provided that said City should at all times 

have free use thereof for fire alarm and other 

purposes.' Ayes - Cavanaugh, Crocker, Kaul, 

Mortenson, Mullon and Spencer. Nayes- None. 

''The opposing members of the council, 

maintaining that the telephone company did not 

consider the above resolution as of force or they would 

have presented a petition subsequently, and in any 

event the poles were to be erected under the direction 

of the City Council, and that the company violated the 

spirit of the resolution by getting the poles in opposition 

to the wishes of the majority of the Council. It is 

intimated that the end is not yet, and that the poles will 

have to come down." 

But succeeding issues of The Republican and other 

local papers emphasized that into 1900 the poles were 

still up. Later, in keeping with technical advances, the 

poles eventually came down and the wires were strung 

underground. So the Telephone War simmered out. 

County parks developed 

By GLENN D. CRAME R 

Rice County Park & Recreation Supervisor 

The Board of County Commissioners of Rice 

County, Minnesota acted on July 10, 1962 to establish 

the Rice County Planning Advisory Commission. The 

planning commission aided in establishing the 

eligibility of Rice County for certain federal and state 

grants to acquire and develop areas for recreational 

purposes. 

In 1966 the Rice County Board of Commissioners 

decided that there was a need for a Recreation & Parks 

Committee. The Park Committee shall act as an 

advisory group to the Rice County Board of 

Commissioners. The Park Committee among other 

things shall study and make recommendations on Rice 

County Parks system, maintenance and use. Between 

the years of 1966 to the present 1976 Rice County has 

acquired 1100 acres of county park property, consisting 

of six county parks and one bird sanctuary. 

Albers Park consists of 7 acres and is located 11 

miles north of Faribault, Minnesota. Albers Park was 

purchased by Rice County in 1967. Albers Park has a 

beautiful picnic pavilion and modern toilet facilities. 

The park is used as a picnic area in the summer time 

and a rest stop for snowmobilers in the winter time. 

McCullough Park consists of 104 acres and is 

located approximately two miles west of Shleldsville, 

Minnesota. McCullough Park was purchased by Rice 

County in 1968. The McCullough area will be developed 

into a year around recreation facility for family 

recreation, with summer picnic area, playground and 

campground. 

Heron Island is the bird sanctuary within the Rice 

County Park system located on General Shields Lake, 

The island was purchased by Rice County in 1969. This 

island is especially significant because it is one of the 

largest nesting areas for the Blue Heron in the upper 

midwest and is one of the only breeding grounds for the 

American Egret. 

Shager Park is located on the southeast shore of 

Cannon Lake. The park consists of seven acres and was 

purchased by Rice County in 1968. The park has a 

swimming beach which is heavily used during the 

summer months; it also has a small picnic area and 

primitive toilet facilities. 

Falls Creek Park is located one mile east of the 

Faribault City limits. The park consists of 61 acres and 

was purchased by Rice County in 1970. Falls Creek is 

mainly a wooded area with about 3000 feet of creek 

frontage. The park has a natural camping area divided 

by stone and sumac, limestone bluffs for fossil hunters 

and wilderness area for a natural wildlife 

habitat. Since Rice County purchased Falls Creek a 

self -guided nature trail has been brushed which 

includes 29 points of interest and a mile and a half of 

trail. A primitive campground and a picnic area have 

been established. A tree nursery was started consisting 

of 4000 trees. 

The Cannon River Wilderness Area consists of 

27

CDVT!?Al .4v£/ F4RIBA!JL~ !rJ/1'/l( 

Early day Faribault street scene 

approximately 850 acres and is located midway 

between Faribault and Northfield along the Cannon 

River. The Wilderness Park was purchased by Rice 

County in 1972. So far development in the Wilderness 

Area has consisted of approximately 5 miles of hiking 

and cross country ski trail. During the fall of 1975 a 

primitive type toilet building and picnic pavilion was 

constructed. A bridge across the Cannon River was 

dedicated in September, 1976. 

The final piece of ground the Rice County Park 

system purchased is Hirdler Park. It is located on the 

west side of Lake Mazaska in the Village of 

Shieldsville. The park was purchased in 1974 and is 

planned to serve as a lake access and picnic area. 

County landfill 

Prior to 1965 Rice County, like most counties in the 

United States, was plagued with private and township 

dumps plus roadside litter areas, according to Merton 

Hoover, Rice County Sanitarian. 

The most used area for dumping was owned and 

operated by the City of Faribault and was near 

completing the area that could be used for dumps 

purpose. 

In July 1965 a Special Use Permit was isssued by 

the Rice County Planning & Zoning Commission to the 

Northfield Disposal Service to operate a landfill in 

Section 29 of Bridgewater township. The area to be 

used was an abandoned gravel pit. In the early days of 

landfills gravel holes were used as they are usually in 

need of some kind of fill to remove a scar to the earth's 

surface. This, however, is not good fill for gravel pits 

due to moisture in garbage seeping into the water 

strata. 

By 1972 the area in the gravel pit had been filled to 

normal grade and another landfill site needed to be 

acquired. New Minnesota Pollution Control regulations 

for landfills required that the country draw a plan 

stating where and how solid waste was to be disposed 

of in the entire county. A consulting firm was hired and 

a plan for both pickup and disposal of solid waste was 

drawn up. 

A landfill site of 206 acres was purchased in 

Bridgewater township, section 33. The consulting 

engineer, through the cooperation of county officials, 

determined the soil suitable and ground water and rock 

formations would not be affected by leachates from 

garbage and other solids. 

The location of the landfill area determined that a 

heavy tonnage road be built to the site. This was done 

by the Rice County Highway Department. 

The county then purchased an office building, built 

a garage, fenced the office area and purchased 

necessary equipment to operate a landfill and started 

the operation in 1973. 

Part of the plan for county service was a container 

system for pickup of waste generated in the townships. 

Containers of 8 to 10 yard capacity are stationed at 

strategic points in each township, thereby shortening 

the travel distance by township residents. The number 

of containers and the frequency of pickup by a county 

truck is governed by routes and need. 

The present Rice County Solid Waste program is 

estimated to last at least twenty years. In the 

meantime programs are being studied in the area of 

resource and energy recovery to make better use of 

lands and provide energy by burning and generating 

28


} 

electrical power or heat. 

Progress and technology in the field of solid waste 

generation and disposal will change at a more rapid 

pace in the next few years than ever in the past. 

Agents aid farmers 

Rice County, recognized as one of Minnesota's top 

producing agricultural areas, for more than 50 years 

has been the recipient of highly valuable professional 

agricultural, agri-business, home economics, 4-H and 

economic advice provided by state and federal 

extension services. 

Records of the various county extension agents, 

their assistants, home economists and 4-H agents who 

have provided important advice and counseling 

services to Rice County farmers, their sons and 

daughters and the general public as well, have been 

kept in this county since 1923. The list includes: 

Agricultural Agents 

A. A. McPheeters 1922-1924, Paul A. Johnson 

1924-1926, Harry A. Haas 1926-1933, Otto J. Hill 1933 

(emergency agent), Don Marti 1934-1945, Edward 

Slettem 1946-1952, Warren F. Liebenstein 1951. Frances 

Fruth 1944-45 War Food assistant; M. 0. Fruvag 

1944-45 War Food assistant. 

Home Economists 

Gwendolyn Watts 1927-1932, Elaine Trygestad 

1954-1956, Olive Ness 1956-1959, Mary Lu Luetke 

1959-1961, Carolyn (Opjorden) Tande 1963-1967, 

Kathleen (Lagerstrom) Ross 1967-1972, Carol Kelly 

1972-1973, Yvonne Steinbring 1973-. 

4-H Agents and Summer 4-H Assistants 

Irma Reineke 1934, Elvira Weum 1934, Shirley 

Emerson 1935, Marie Hoffmann 1936-1937, Aurelia 

Haugerud 1938, Marie Hoffmann 1939, Edith LaBonte 

1940-1941, Mildred Trottner 1942, Wilma Wiechmann 

1943-1944, Belinda (Flom) Carlson 1945-1947, 

Patricia Thurston 1948, Jeanne Gontarek 1949, 

Rosemary Conzemius 1950-1953, Gwen Willmsen 1954, 

Katherine Hawkins 1956, Milan Reed 1956, Arvy Larson 

1958, Joanne Honken 1962. 

Assistant County Agents 

Gene Williams 1959-1963, John Stone 1964, John 

Halvorson 1967, Marvin C. Lee 1967-1974, Michael 

McCorvel1972, Arthur L. Madsen 1974-. 

Rice is county of lakes 

ROBERDS LAKE 

Many an old timer can remember Roberds Lake as 

THE Saturday night and Sunday afternoon spot of the 

area. The old Brown and Bennett Hotel has been 

replaced by the Roberds Lake resort store. An integral 

part of Roberds Lake is Manley Park, now called the 

Manley Park Association. 

Manley Park was built about 1875 as a huge farm 

estate by Sylvester Manley Pye, an English gentleman 

and New York businessman. Pye bought the land 

section by section and the estate eventually totaled 102 

acres. After four generations, small portions of the 

land were leased to people who built cottages along the 

shore. These owners became known as the Manley 

Park Association. The lake was named for William 

Roberds, an original log cabin settler from North 

Carolina who built a grist mill in the first lake 

community (which eventually became Manley Park). 

William Harkins, member of the Wells Township 

Board, operates the popular Roberds Lake Resort and 

Millstone Trailer Park. Carlyle Beaupre operates the 

Shady Acres Resort on Roberds Lake and the Stump 

Restaurant. 

LAKE MAZASKA 

Lake Mazaska is the only lake in Rice County 

which borders on four townships: Wells, Forest, Erin 

and Shieldsville. A colorful history of this 

Irish-Catholic community tells of lake monsters, 

driving a horse and cutter across the lake in winter 

when roads were blocked, and pioneer families who 

built up the village of Shieldsville. It is also rapidly 

growing cottage-wise and has a number of resorts. 

GENERAL SHIELDS LAKE 

General Shields Lake, named for a Mexican war 

hero, General James Shields, who was an original 

proprietor of Faribault and the man who organized 

"Shield's Colony" which is now Shieldsville, is split in 

the middle by townships Erin and Shieldsville. The 

lake is the origin of the Cannon River. Its island, in the 

northwest corner, is known for its herons and 

American egrets, wading birds that nest there in the 

spring. Orwin Rustad has written several articles on 

his studies of the birds there. The island is known as 

Bird Island, Wood Island and Heron Island. 

CANNON LAKE 

Cannon Lake is not only Rice County's largest 

. lake, but is rapidly becoming the most popular. 

Resorts, places of entertainment, beaches, and over 50 

year around residences make up the Cannon Lake 

community. An old legend from the History of Rice 

County text tells how the lake got its name. 

CEDAR LAKE 

Cedar Lake's historical past cannot be overlooked 

today. Families of original pioneers still remain in the 

homestead community, such as the LaCanne and the 

LeMieux families. Dr. Harry E. Whitney, headmaster 

at Shattuck for more than 50 years, owned the largest 

island on Cedar Lake and used it for a summer school 

camping grounds about 1917. (Mrs. G. R. Kingham is a 

daughter of Dr. Whitney). 

FRENCH LAKE 

Rice County's deepest lake is French Lake. It has a 

gay history of old summer homes owned by pioneer 

Faribault families. In 1891 a group of 20 Faribault 

29

Early day Dudley's and Kelly's Lake scene. 

families decided to take advantage of the scenic lake's 

facilities. They organized the French Lake Club, 

bought a house, and agreed each family would use the 

house for two weeks of the summer. Donald Grant, 

prominent railroad contractor, built Scottish Heights, 

a summer home, just before the French Lake Club was 

organized. The huge house was built on four acres of 

land overlooking the south shore. The house was sold in 

1928 and burned shortly after that. 

CIRCLE LAKE 

Circle Lake, with its 98 acre island, is one of the 

county's largest and one which can best illustrate the 

effects of the times. 

A long-time Circle Lake-Millersburg area resident 

recalls hearing about the Dundas Archibald Mill which 

had flowage rights on the lake. Located in Dundas on 

the Cannon River, the mill could regulate its power by 

adjusting the dam at Wolf Creek on Circle Lake 

because of the connection with the river. 

Today, the old timer said, two of the biggest 

problems are the changing level of the water and 

keeping fish in the lake. 

''There are just a few planks in the dam now,'' he 

said. 

The island was at one time dense with maple trees, 

but these were cut down by the island's owner at the 

time, W. W. Grant. The island has also been a golf 

course. Owned by Sherman and Coss, a realty 

company from Minneapolis, it was part of a mainland 

resort which had cabins, resorts and a pavilion. 

In its prime time during the '20s, the resort hosted 

many knickered golfers driving their high-wheeled 

vehicles from all parts of the midwest. 

During the depression, the resort quieted to 

nothing but unpainted buildings with squeaking doors 

and sagging roofs. 

Today Circle Lake is still quiet mainly because of 

the water level which seems to constantly change. 

''Seeing a boat is an occasion now,'' said one man 

who is building a permanent home near the lake. 

KELLY DUDLEY 

Kelly and Dudley Lakes, just off highway 21 - 

named for Patrick Kelly, who settled here in 1863 and 

Robert Dudley, in 1855 - are actually two small twin 

lakes but are considered one. Miss Rose Shields stated 

that the lakes at one time were separated and a 

pontoon bridge was built enabling people to cross from 

one to another. An island in the middle of one of the 

lakes is now connected to the mainland and is being 

divided into lots and sold. James Clarkin, veteran of 

the Mexican War with General Shields, settled on a 

farm north of Kelly in 1857. 

30


''We've had boats for nearly 80 years,'' said Harold 

Brazil, whose family homesteaded there in 1864. He 

now has about 160 acres including the lake shore. 

"We've got two cabins now and places to add another 

or two. The lake's mainly for fishing." 

There are 196 acres to both lakes. 

FOX 

South of Union and Circle Lakes is Fox Lake. 

Having a public access a few miles off old Highway 65. 

it is stocked by the state department of conservation 

and has several cottages. 

RICE 

Rice Lake is on the pasture of Leo and Tom 

Murphy's farm near Kilkenny. The Murphys 

homesteaded here in 1858. Leo Murphy seined the lake 

for rough fish for 40 years and then turned over the task 

to his son, Tom. 

UNION LAKE 

Union Lake is north of Circle, close to old highway 

65. It has many cottages and an old dance pavilion 

which belongs to Mrs. Emma Camp of Northfield. 

My husband and I built the pavilion in 1924," Mrs. 

Camp said. "We don't use it anymore." 

Un.painted now, the building is on the hill behind 

the two buildings near the highway. Faded red crepe 

paper still drips from the aging rafters probably a 

wedding dance decoration. 

Camp Dean was at one time near this schoolhouse. 

Owned by the Congregational Church of Northfield, it 

was used mainly for church organizations. Its 

buildings have been tom down. 

Oldtimers Andrew Cleland and William Wyman, 

who have lived near the lake most of their lives, have a 

collection of Indian relics found while working in the 

fields of the farms. Cleland has a couple of flat edged 

rocks with smooth, rounded holes for mixing war paint. 

He has collected a full little wooden box of arrowheads 

and has some crude axe heads too. 

Wyman who lived in Northfield said his father 

homesteaded near Union Lake right after the Civil 

War. 

OTHER LAKES IN RICE COUNTY 

Other lakes in the county are Cody and Phelps near 

Wheatland, Sprague, Weinberger, Crystal, Wells, Mud 

and Little Mud, Willing, Hunt, Malaga and Twin Lakes. 

All but two of the county's lakes are located near 

highway65. 

Two families, pioneers in this community, are the 

Healys and the Dudleys. Both Irish families, their 

names are associated with General Shields Lake, near 

Shieldsville. Sarah Dudley was the first white child to 

be born in Erin Township and Mrs. John Healy was the 

first school teacher there. The Healy home was 

considered the "mansion of the community." 

In their pasture was a dance pavilion where many 

good times were had by the people of that community. 

Pioneer women saluted 

Anna Mallory Buckham died in 1935 at the age of 96 

at the home of her nurse, Mrs. Howard Ulvenes. She 

was the widow of Thomas Scott Buckham, who she 

married on Nov. 28, 1868. She was identified with the 

church (Congregational), social and civic life of 

Faribault for many years. Following the death of her 

husband, who had been Rice County Supt. of Schools, 

Judge of the District Court, and Faribault's second 

mayor, 1872, Mrs. Buckham expressed a desire to 

bequeath some memorial to the city which would be 

symbolic of Judge Buckham's distinguished career 

and which would be of practical use to the residents of 

Faribault. 

A few months later Mrs. Buckham, in a letter to 

the city council, made known her plans for a beautiful 

memorial library to be located at the foot of Central 

Avenue on a site in front of the Buckham home. She 

purchased the Winkley property at a cost of $20,000 for 

this purpose. Mrs. Buckham stipulated that she had 

decided to erect a memorial library at a cost of 

approximately $100,000 "that shall be a benefit and 

pleasure to those now living here and those who shall 

come after them. The only conditions for acceptance 

were that the city accept the library as a memorial to 

Thomas Scott Buckham and the assurance that this 

memorial will be suitably and adequately 

maintained." 

The council quickly accepted the generous bequest 

and work on the structure, designed by Mrs. 

Buckham's nephew, Charles Buckham, distinguished 

Vermont architect, was begun. The cornerstone was 

laid Sept. 22, 1929, by Mrs. Buckham and the library 

was dedicated on July 20, 1930, with another nephew, 

Rev. John W. Buckham, D.D. of Berkeley, Calif., 

giving the address. 

The beauty and design of the Buckham Memorial 

Library proclaim Mrs. Buckham's vision and love for 

the generations to come. . 

Excerpts from a letter written by .Miss Carolyne 

M. Murray, who died in 1949 (age 91), told that she and · 

her mother, Mrs. Thomas M. Murray, who had been 

shopping in Northfield, heard a burst of shooting. As it 

turned out, they were witnesses of the James-Younger 

Bank Raid, Sept. 7, 1876. She recalled men o·n 

horseback rode madly up and down the block by the 

bank, shouting at people who quickly got out of sight. In 

a few minutes the shooting ceased and the men on 

horses rode hurriedly away. She and her mother 

hastened to the bank comer from where they saw two 

dead men and a dead horse. She wrote, "Tension 

heightened because of fear that the bandits might 

return any minute for revenge. In the meantime, 

Henry Wheeler, who had taken a leading part in the 

gun battle, and others immediately organized a posse 

and started out in pursuit of the bandits, who, on 

fasthorses, had already outdistanced them.'' 

Agnes Faribault Haskell (Mrs. Wallace) of 

Faribault was born at Mendota, Minn., Nov. 11, 1858. 

Her father, Frederick Faribault, was Alexander 

31

~en 8? §Vow 

Faribault's youngest brother. She was baptized in 

Mendota but received her education at Bethlehem 

Academy in Faribault. Her sister and she owned a pair 

of fine sorrel ponies and many of the older generation 

remembered them for their skill in riding. Some of you 

might have heard of her daughter, Valerie (Mrs. O.C. 

Olson) and Valerie's son, Norbert C., both of Faribault. 

Miss Lillie Clara Berg from whose writing "Early 

Pioneers and Indians,'' some of the material was 

received, was born on a farm in Bridgewater 

Township, Rice County, April 16, 1891. She graduated 

from the State Normal School at Mankato and taught in 

the elementary schools of Minnesota, Washington and 

California until her retirement in 1946. Her 

grandparents settled in Rice County, thus she had an 

interest in tracing her family and others here. 

Evangeline Whipple. Bishop Whipple had reached 

the age of 74 years the fall of 1896 when he left on 

unexplained business. His parishioners were all 

surprised when he wired home in October that he had 

just been married to Mrs. Evangeline Simpson of 

Boston. She had been a widow, owner of a beautiful 

estate worth a half-million dollars. She was charming 

and friendly but much younger (35 years) than the 

Bishop. People wondered if the marriage could be a 

success. 

Feelings gradually changed when she used some of 

her money to enlarge the Bishop's house, providing 

him with a big library facing the Cathedral. He filled it 

with treasures he had received from many sources - 

Indians, honorary degree hoods, books, pictures, etc. 

Evangeline displayed her art treasures from Europe in 

another room, of which the Bishop was proud. She 

enlarged and beautified the entire house with her 

wealth. Before they left for Florida in the winter, 

Evangeline gave many gifts to those who needed them, 

among which was a sleigh presented to the principal of 

St. Mary's Hall. 

They traveled to England to attend the 4th 

Lambeth Conference in London. In her purple velvet 

gown, she received almost as much attention as her 

famous husband. 

Together they visited the Indian homes and 

mission schools. She was received kindly and with 

honor. She donated $50 so one of the teachers could take 

an Indian girl to a conference to show others how to 

make delicate bobbin lace. They made lace bedspreads 

at the mission schools for Mrs. Pierpont Morgan and 

Mrs. Vanderbilt, receiving several hundred dollars for 

each one. 

On Sept. 16, 1901, Bishop Whipple died. Evangeline 

had been his wife for five years. After spending the 

winter in Florida, she returned to Faribault because 

plans were underway to build a tower on the Cathedral 

in memory of the Bishop. She found the loneliness of 

the big house more than she could bear. 

Receiving a call to come to France because of a 

brother's illness, she closed the house, leaving Major 

Milligan in charge, keeping the Bishop's rooms and 

library exactly as he had left them. The house stood 

empty for many years. Evangeline Whipple never 

returned. She died in Europe. Her portrait hangs in 

Saint Mary's Hall, also. 

Grace E. McKinstry, daughter of A. W. McKinstry, 

Editor of the Faribault Republican, came 

to Faribault in 1865 as a child. She studied art in 

America, France, Spain, and Holland and is listed in 

"Who's Who in America, 1936" as one of America's 

outstanding portrait painters and popular lecturer on 

art and travel topics. The Travelers Club of Faribault 

was founded by Miss McKinstry, who died in 1936. 

There are water color and oil paintings painted by Miss 

McKinstry in the gallery on the museum floor of 

Buckham Memorial Library. There are portraits of 

Mrs. Mattison (mother of Flora Mattison Sheffield, 

owners of the flour mill which recently burned), Harry 

Whitney, Headmaster of Shattuck from 1874-1926, A. 

W. Stockton, and two unidentified Indians. 

Miss McKinstry exhibited her art work in many 

cities in the United States and Europe. She was 

appointed as teacher of painting at Carleton College in 

1887 and opened an art studio there in 1898. She was a 

member on the governing board of the Minnesota Art 

Association and recording secretary of the Minnesota 

State Art Society in 1910-12. 

She painted a great many portraits including one 

of Governor Johnson of Minnesota and several staff 

members at Carleton College. She received much 

recognition for her work. 

Miss Martha Watts was born Feb. 23, 1857 in 

Vermont. She, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert 

Watts, one sister and two brothers, came to Rice 

County in 1859, where they lived on a farm in Sec. 27, 

Northfield township two miles from Dennison. She 

taught in rural schools several years. One of her pupils 

was Thomas Bunday, who passed away in Northfield in 

1954 at the age of 90. Miss Watts also was deputy 

secretary to a Register of Deeds in N.D. for four years. 

Miss Watts recalled the days of the Sioux Massacre 

when the New Ulm settlers passed their farm in 

covered wagons, fleeing from the Indians. 

Elsie Meyer Kiel (Mrs. A. L. Rustad) of Faribault 

said regarding her grandmother Mrs. William T. 

Meyer's account of pioneer life: "In the early days of 

1855 before Faribault was settled, the Wheeling 

township pioneer's nearest market was Hastings, 

Minn. By ox team and lumber wagon, grain and other 

produce were taken to that town. Grandmother and 

Grandfather Meyer slept overnight in the wagon box. 

The next morning flour, sugar, and other supplies were 

purchased and the trip was made back to their farm. 

After the Faribault trading post was established, 

grandmother walked from the farm in Section 29, to 

Faribault where she sold her eggs at 7 cents per dozen 

and their butter for 11 cents per pound. Indians camped 

in the densely wooded area but were friendly. They 

knew Saturday was bread-baking day at 

grandmother's and would walk right into the log cabin 

and help themselves. To show their gratitude, though, 

they brought her wild game in return. About the time of 

the New Ulm Indian Massacre, Wheeling settlers were 

much concerned about the Chippewas living around 

but they proved to be friendly. However, the pioneers 

never went to bed without bolting their cabin door 

32


securely and seeing that the old musket was near the 

bed." 

Mary Ripley Mott. Louise Mott, youngest daughter 

of Rodney and Mary Mott, wrote a paper about her 

parents for the Rice County Historical Society in which 

she said: Mary Ripley was born in Marlboro, 

Connecticut in 1825. Her father, a zealous missionary, 

brought his family to Will County, Ill. where she met 

Rodney Mott. She taught school for $2.00 per week and 

"boarded around." She married Rodney Mott Aug. 17, 

1852. They came to Faribault in covered wagons in 1856 

because there was so much malaria and typhoid fever 

in Crete, Ill., where they lost two children. Mrs. Mott 

was in the Ladies Bible Class of the Congregational 

Church, the teacher of which was Mrs. Henry Riedell. 

Mr. Mott was the teacher of the Hulette and Faribault 

children and then became the editor of the Rice County 

Herald and later its owner when Fred Frink sold it. Mr. 

and Mrs. Mott were intensely interested in public 

affairs, ardent Republicans, out to stop slavery. Louise 

says her mother was always busy, but not too busy to 

read to the girls. She was never afraid of anything, 

including Indians or floods which forced the Motts to 

move their home to higher land several times when the 

river overflowed its banks. She lived to be 99 years of 

age. 

Mr. Mott, in his Feb. 17, 1858 issue of the Faribault 

Herald wrote under the heading "Common Schools" 

about the following two woman teachers, Miss Mary 

Fisk and Miss Parish: Seldom has our pen been 

exercised to make a more pleasant and satisfactory 

report than that which comes under the above head. 

The money panic pouncing upon us at a time when the 

district was considerably involved in consequence of 

the purchase of a lot and the building of a first class 

school house, etc. has made the duties of the trustees 

arduous and thankless. 

Sometime in November last, three teachers were 

employed and a partial but imperfect system of 

grading effected. Miss Mary Fisk taking charge of the 

primary department in Crump's Hall, and Mr. Fish 

and Miss Parish, each occupying a room in the school 

house, superintending the higher departments. These 

schools closed last week. We have visited them from 

time to time and now propose to give others the benefit 

of our observation. 

Miss Fisk has had under her tuition in number 

from 40 to 50 scholars, generally of the younger class. 

The feature in this school most striking to a casual 

observer has been the perfect system attending every 

exercise; the best order uniformly prevailed and so 

perfect was the teacher's self government that not a 

word or gesture seemed to escape her without bearing 

a §ignificance which the pupils readily understood. In 

fact, we have no hesitation in pronouncing it for system 

and good manners the model school. 

Many of the scholars were backward for their age, 

yet their reading, spelling, and mental arithmetic 

recitations were full of interest, especially .... we were 

pleased with their prompt recitations of passages of 

scripture, common tables and their vocal music. 

Miss Parish came among us last fall a stranger, 

but her reputation as a teacher which she had 

established in Vermont had preceded her. Of superior 

education, clear and pointed in her explanations, 

beloved of her school, were she but a little more 

thorough in her government we could find no point to 

criticize. Besides the tuition of about 50 pupils, 

comprising her department of this school, Miss Parish 

has superintended a class in algebra and one in 

astronomy from the other department both of which 

have made excellent improvement, considering the 

number of classes she has heard, and the double 

amount of labor performed, she has certainly achieved 

great success. 

We want to give no undue praise to these teachers, 

and if we could not truthfully have spoken well of them 

we should probably have said nothing. But it is 

apparent to those who have visited our schools that 

under many difficulties these teachers have done for us 

this winter a noble work, and we should not withhold 

that reward so dear to every teacher's heart and yet 

the last to be conferred vis: appreciation. 

Active nonogenerian 

In addition to being an active nonogerian - he 

celebrated his 96th birthday with members of his 

family on June 10, 1976- John E. MCGillen, resident of 

Faribault Manor and former Erin Township resident, 

is a versatile individual of many talents and interests. 

During his long life, McGillen who is still spry and 

vividly recalls many standout events of his more than 

nine decades of living has been a farmer, livestock 

raiser, horse handler, co-op member and officer, 

musician, baseball player and avid sports fan. 

Born in New Zealand, the son of Patrick McGillen 

and Margaret McMann McGillen, on June 10, 1880, he 

has lived in this country most of his life. His parents 

came to New Zealand, known then and now as ''the 

land of opportunity" from Ireland. Settling in the 

Christchurch community, they farmed and raised 

20,000 sheep. 

Then they decided to join the steady migration of 

people of many lands to the United States, the 

midwestern and western section of which were being 

rapidly settled in the 1880's, 1890's and early 1900's. 

While John was still a youngster they came to Rice 

County, Minnesota and settled first with Patrick 

McKenna who lived on the southeast corner of Lake 

Mazaska in Shieldsville Township. Later the McGillens 

moved to an Erin Township farm four miles east of 

Montgomery, a farm on which John McGillen and his 

wife, who died in 1932, lived for many years. 

Helping to celebrate his 96th birthday were · 

McGillen's three sons, Edward of Kilkenny; Gregory 

of Mankato and Kevin of Le Center and their wives; 

two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Chet Borozak (Phyllis) of 

Fridley and Mr. and Mrs. John Oliver (Margaret) of 

Robbinsdale; 13 grandchildren and three great- 

33

Second Regiment, Minnesota National Guard camp at Faribault, June 24, 1888. 

grandchildren. 

Of his farming days, he has many memories - 

primitive farming methods later giving way to 

mechanized machinery, using oxen for farm work at 

first, then horses and later tractors- becoming a firm 

believer in agricultural co-operatives and serving as 

president of the Montgomery Livestock Shipping 

Association C(}-op for 40 years, prompting a 

congratulatory letter for his contributions to the C(}-Op 

movement from Lyle Lamphear, director of public 

relations for the Central Livestock Association, South 

St. Paul, and recalling zestfully the day many years 

ago when he entered a prize team in the under 3400 

pounds event of a Le Sueur County Fair horse pulling 

contest and "stole the show" by capturing top honors. 

McGillen also recalls, with a happy twinkle in his 

eye, the days when the Foley-McGillen Orchestra (he 

was a mandolin player) played for well-attended 

dances at Franta's Hall, Montgomery. The band also 

played for "400 Club" dances once a month. Members 

of the popular musical ensemble were: Frank Kubat, 

Martin Willaby, Bart Foley, William Foley, John 

Murphy and McGillen. · 

The nonegerian's greatest memories, though, are 

of his baseball days in the early 1900's. A catcher, he 

played on Erin Township, Shieldsville and Kilkenny 

teams. He remembers the stars who played on the 

championship Fleckenstein Brewery baseball teams 

which met all comers in successful style. He, too, 

remembers pitcher McCleary who chalked up an 

imposing five year record of 160 games as pitcher for 

Lake Benton and Waseca, winning 149 of the games 

and losing but 11. 

He also has fond memories of George Barton and 

Halsey Hall, Minneapolis sports writers, and followed 

closely the baseball careers of Jimmy Pofahl, now of 

Owatonna but formerly of Faribault who played for the 

Washington Senators, and Hudson "Hockey" Mealey, 

Faribault, of Southern Minnesota League and 

University of Minnesota baseball fame. All these years 

he has kept extensive batting, pitching and fielding 

records of many diamond stars. 

On his 96th birthday, versatile John McGillen 

received many congratulations. He took it all in stride 

like the true trooper he is. 

183 die in wars 

Hundreds of Rice County residents served their 

country, for the past 115 years, in United States Wars, 

including the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World 

War I, World War II, Korean Conflict and the Vietnam 

War. 

During that service, 183 war veterans from this 

county paid the supreme sacrifice by giving their lives 

in four wars, Vietnam War, Korean Conflict, World 

War II and World War I, according to figures supplied 

by Charles Fleckenstein, Rice County Veterans 

Service Officer. Figures were not available for 

Spanish-American War and Civil War casualties. 

34


There were nine Gold Star Veterans from Rice 

County in the Vietnam War; 13 in the Korean Conflict; 

116 in World War II and 45 in World War I. The list of 

Goid Star Veterans who died in the service of their 

country includes: 

VIETNAM WAR 

Edward Francis Braunger, Faribault; Sgt. David 

Gerald Bultman, Faribault; PFC Gary L. Burke, 

Faribault; Capt. Michael D. Burmeister, Northfield; 

Pvt. Thomas Dell Eastman, Kenyon; Major Robert F. 

Grundman, Faribault; PFC William Hering, 

Northfield; Kevin Patrick Shields, Faribault; SP 4 

~raid F. Tracy, Dennison. 

KOREAN CONFLICT 

Roy Harold Bailey, Faribault; Cp. Donald Richard 

Bremer, Faribault; · PFC Robert Barry, Faribault; 

PFC Francis W. Coleman, Faribault; Fireman 2nd 

Class John Charles Doyle, Faribault; Pvt. Edwin C. 

Erickson, Northfield; Cpl. David W. Kaul, Faribault; 

Pvt. Paul Lidstrand, Faribault; Sgt. Lawrence D. 

Johnson, Faribault; Pvt. Harvey B. Mosher, 

Faribault; PFC 1-c Harvey L. Pedersen, Faribault; 

Sgt. Donald Ponto, Faribault; Cp. Robert E. Weber, 


WORLD WAR II 

PFC Edward Allen, Faribault; Lt. J .G. Elliott 

Anderson, Northfield; Lt. Arthur Bestul, Dennison; 

Pvt. Palmer Bollenbach, Owatonna; Pvt. Oliver 

Boucher, Faribault; S1-c Evan Brekken, Dennison; 

MM1-c Albert Bremer, San Diego, Calif; F1-c Theo. 

Ceplecha, Lonsdale; Sgt. Dean Christensen, 

Northfield; Sgt. Marlow Christenson, Faribault; 

Pvt. Carson Cole, Faribault; S-Sgt. Raymond 

Corbesia, Faribault; Sgt. John Cross, Faribault; Pvt. 

Rudolph David, Kilkenny; Sgt. Harold Davidson, 

Oelwein, Iowa; Lt. Carl J. Degen, Los Angeles, Calif.; 

Pvt. Charles De Mott; S 1-c Robert De Wolf, 

Northfield; Cpl. Walter Drevlow, Faribault; Lt. 

Stanley Edwardson, Northfield; Pvt. Herbert 

Ellerbusch, Faribault. 

Pvt. Daniel K. Flom, Kenyon; Pvt. Edward Fuller, 

Faribault; T-5 Philip Gannon, Northfield; Pvt. 

Leonard Golden, Faribault; Pvt. Melvin Gordon, 

Faribault; Pfc. Elmer Graves, Faribault; Lt. Robert 

Graves, Minneapolis; Pfc. Elmer Grohman, 

Faribault; Pvt. Warren Grunert, Northfield; Lt. 

Donald Habein, Morristown. 

Lt. Lyle Hanson, Northfield; Pvt. Berchard, Hanson, 

Mankato; SK1-c Paul Haefemeyer, Faribault; Thomas 

Russel Haugen, Dennison; Pvt. Bennett C. Hellam, 

Minneapolis; T2-c Robert J. Hellam, Minneapolis; 

Staff Sgt. Charles Patrick Henry; Pfc. William Hille, 

Webster; Pfc Hubert Hostetter, Faribault; S-Sgt. 

Alfred Howland, Faribault. 

Pvt. Buddy Louis Hering, Faribault; Cpl. Frank 

Hruza, Faribault; Capt. James K. Hunter, Northfield; 

Pvt. Howard Jandro, Faribault; Seaman Martin 

Jensen, Northfield; T-Sgt. Roy Johnson, Northfield; 

T-Cpl. Noel E. Jones, Dundas; Lt. George E. Kaul, 

Faribault; S-Sgt. Leonard Kern, Faribault; S-Sgt. 

Raphael King, Faribault. 

MM Carl Krauseman, Faribault; Pvt. Henry 

Krause, Minneapolis; PFC Arthur Kreitz, Northfield; 

AM James H. Krenske, Faribault; T-4 Vernard 

Kuhlman, Faribault; PFC Warren Lambert, 

Faribault; Pvt. Herman Lerdel; Lt. James Lippert, 

Northfield; S-Sgt. Laverne Lowe, Northfield; Pvt. Olaf 

Q. Lium. 

Lt. Frank Manz, Northfield; PHM 1-c Clarence 

Mathis, Faribault; Franklin Juel Madison, Faribault; 

Cpl. Matthew McGuiness, Faribault; T -Sgt. Ralph 

Miller, Faribault; Cpl. Francis Miller, Owatonna; S1-c 

James Morris, Dundas; PFC Gordon Nelson, 

Faribault; PFC Stanley Nelson, Faribault; PFC 

Robert O'Brien, Faribault. 

T-Sgt. Russell Olson, Faribault; PFC Jack 

Ostrom, Faribault; Pvt. Clarence Overby, Little 

Chicago; Pvt. Arthur Pagel, Kenyon; T -5 Arthur 

Paquette, Faribault; PFC. Robert Peterson, 

Faribault; Lt. Albert Peterson, Northfield; Cpl. Paul 

Pickering, Minneapolis; Lt. Noel Pineur, Robbinsdale; 

A-c Charles Popelka, Faribault. 

Lt. Clyde Rasmussen, Minneapolis; Harlan E. 

Rasmussen, Faribault; Capt. Luther Ranum, 

Faribault; A-c Arnold Reed, Morristown; WAVE 

Shirley Riach, Faribault; Sgt. Rodney Root, 

Faribault; PFC Mark Rosenqvist, Nerstrand; PFC. 

Leland R. Rowberg, Northfield; Cpl. Thomas Savage, 

Dennison; Lt. Herman Sahli, Lonsdale. 

A-S Jerome Schuck, Faribault; Matt Schmanske, 

Medford; PFC. Bernard Shea, Faribault; WT1-c L. W. 

Siemer, Faribault; Sgt. Charles Snell, Faribault; PFC. 

Edward Sobrak, Faribault; Pvt. Arthur Steinberg, 

Faribault; Lt. LeRoy Sullivan, Faribault; Pvt. Gerald 

Titman, Faribault; Lt. James Tripp, Northfield; Lt. 

Eugene Truax, Faribault. 

Pvt. Earl Truman, Faribault; Lt. Edward Tuma, 

Lonsdale; Lt. Erwin Tyler, Northfield; PFC George 

Van Ryn, Faribault; Lt. Robert Viall, Northfield; Lt. 

Forrest Von Ruden, Faribault; PFC. Clarence 

Wanous, Medford; Ensign Vernon Wegner, Faribault; 

Lt. Roger J. Weum, Kenyon; PFC John P. Weed. 

Homer Howard Wilson, Faribault; Sgt. John Wolf, 

Faribault; Pvt. Floyd Workman, Faribault; Pvt. 

Douglas Workman, Faribault; PFC Dean C. Wood. 

WORLD WAR I 

Walter J. Albers, Northfield; William Ashley, 

Dundas; Thomas Ausems, Faribault; Peter J. Braun, 

Faribault; Guy Edson Bruce, Elysian; Wilber 

Bultman, Kenyon; Samuel Cowden, Dundas; Roy 

Collins, Faribault; Charles Cross, Faribault; Frank 

Czaplewski, Winona. 

Herman Dammeier, Faribault; Andrew DeMars, 

Faribault; Arthur Drewitz, Faribault; Leo Ferstler, 

Northfield; Theo Fornier, Northfield; Albert Fossum, 

Lonsdale; Frank Gibney, Faribault; William Griffin, 

Lonsdale; Herman Haefemeyer, Faribault; Arthur, 

Hanson, Faribault. 

Harry Hatfield, Faribault; Wilfred Jeno, 

Lonsdale; Roy Keller, Faribault; Harold Kenny, 

Faribault; Fred Larson, Faribault; Norman Larson, 

Faribault; Louis Moreau, Faribault; Frank Novak, 

New Prague; Edward Orcutt, Faribault; Edward 

Olson, Faribault. 

35

Herman Ottem, Faribault; Cyril O'Connell, 

Faribault; L. C. Prentiss, Faribault; Frank St. 

Anthony, Faribault; Harvey Schreiber, Faribault; 

George Schuenke, Faribault; Daniel Schuette, 

Morristown; George Sheeran, Faribault. 

Louis Sherwin, Nerstrand; Henry Treka, 

Montgomery; John Trenda, Webster; Edmund Varley, 

Faribault; Theo Willing, Faribault; Herbert Zabel, 

Northfield; Edward Zeamann, Faribault. 

36

• 

Chapter ll Story of Faribault 

Council is busy 

The Faribault City Council, in charge of 

conducting the government of the City, is composed of 

five members, all elected by the citizens of the city at 

large- and not by wards. 

Members of the Council include: Mayor Robert 

Larson; Councilmen: Paul Muellenmeister, Gary 

Kindseth, Harlan Petti piece and Arthur Hopke. 

Two of the council members are· seeking 

re-election- Larson and Kindseth. Petti piece has filed 

for mayor. Muellenmeister and Hopke are holdover 

members. 

But two more council members will be chosen 

during the 1976 Primary and General Elections. In 

accordance with the new Faribault City Charter, 

adopted by Faribault voters in a special election held 

on Dec. 10, 1975, the council membership will be 

increased by two, a total of seven, all elected at large. 

Under provisions of the newly adopted charter, the 

mayor and councilmen no longer have assignments as 

commissioners of specific departments. These 

departments are now under the supervision of a City 

Administrator, Eugene Wieneke, who assumed his 

duties~ upon appointment by the council, on Sept. 1 

1974. 

Wieneke, who is pleased by the cooperation he has 

received from the .officials and citizens of Faribault, 

has been in the city and county administrative business 

for nearly 10 years, including eight in Galena, Ill., and 

at Dunn County, Wisconsin. 

Although the members of the present council have 

expressed individual opinions during council meetings 

on specific issues, differing from each other, it can be 

said that, on the whole, the council is in total 

agreement on two basic subjects - citizen 

involvement in public affairs and the dire importance 

of each agency, organization or group seeking 

appropriations from the council to establish priorities 

for their requests. 

Councilman Paul Muellenmeister commented "In 

this Spirit of 1976 year I offer a few words for the next 

generation -If you wish to keep America great and 

free, get involved in city, county, state and federal 

government. Don't sit back and say 'let someone else 

do it'." 

The city council, in January 1976, passed an 

ordinance which created a new city office- Director 

of Public Safety. The office combines the duties of the 

chief of police and the fire department chief, offices 

which no longer exist. Chosen by the council to assume 

this post is Ronald Drew, who formerly held a similar 

post in New York State and Bethlehem, Pa. 

Under provisions of the same ordinance, the office 

of Director of General Services was created, including 

accounting, bookkeeping and personnel ·duties 

formerly carried out by the city recorder and city 

treasurer, two offices which no longer exist. The new 

post is held by Bruce Nelson. Purpose of these changes 

was to improve administrative efficiency without 

increasing the number of employes. 

Much has been accomplished by the council during 

the past two years. Now under construction - and 

expected to be completed by February 1977 - is the 

enlargement of local sewage plant facilities including 

installation of a different type of sewage treatment. Of 

the $4.3 million project cost, 75 per cent will be paid 

through federal aid, 15 per cent through state aid and 

10 per cent by the city. 

Another major project has been more efficient 

utilization of Municipal State Aid. Prior to adoption of 

the project, this type of state aid was used on a 

piece-meal basis. Under the new plan, half of the 

county's overall annual share for 10 years is being used 

for street improvements and the other half for 

maintenance and payment of bonds. 

Another commendable project has been 

construction of curb and gutter, sidewalks and street 

surfacing work on a special tax assessment basis with 

Faribault taxpayers giving excellent cooperation. 

What are the major projects facing the council in 

the future? Wieneke sums them up as the following: 

As soon as a studies report is received from the 

state a major decision will have to be made by the 

council on the future of the City of Faribault's Airport. 

The council is faced with three decisions- merge with 

the City of Owatonna Airport -leave the present local 

airport as it is - or resolve to enlarge the ·present 

Faribault Airport. 

The City of Faribault will have to face up to the 

need for construction of a major sanitary sewer along 

the southern border of the city due to residential 

development pressure. 

Construction of a new Industrial Park, now 

underway north of the city limits by a local private 

developer, John Heselton, is under council supervision. 

Recently, the city of Faribault received a $350,000 

community development grant from HUD (Federal 

Department of Housing and Urban Development) and 

city planning is underway for the project. Faribault's · 

grant is the second largest from HUD in this area. Half 

of the money will be used for construction of three 

37

~en ~c:Now 

First council met in 1872 

Robert Larson 

(Mayor) 

Gary Kindseth 

Arthur Hopke 

Harlan Pettipiece 

Paul Muellenmeister 

Eugene Wieneke 

short water and sanitary sewer lines in three small 

locations in the city. The other half will be used for the 

start of a city housing inspection program. The bulk of 

this share of the money will be used for housing 

rehabilitation. 

So, under the city council direction, Faribault is 

forging ahead, not standing still. 

By LYLE SCHREIBER 

(This history of the city of Faribault has been 

compiled by reading the official minutes of the council 

meetings. The routine matters of business, on which 

any council must spend a great deal of time, have been 

omitted. Also, some major items are omitted because 

they will be covered in other chapters by other 

writers.) 

An act to legalize the act to authorize the 

incorporation of the city of Faribault was approved 

February 29, 1872. It provided for the first election to be 

held on the first Tuesday of April in 1872. H. M. 

Matteson, B. F. Straub and Ernst Fleckenstein were 

designated as inspectors of elections and the board of 

canvassers. The population of the city was given as 

5,000, of which 1,000 were voters. There were 612 pupils 

enrolled in the city schools. 

The charter meeting was held in Central Hall with 

a capacity audience. Dr. L. W. Dennison was elected 

chairman. F. W. French, Esq. explained the charter. 

Other prominent citizens who spoke were Luke Hulett, 

Esq., the Honorable G. E. Skinner, the Honorable 

Gordon E. Cole and R. A. Mott, Esq. 

The first election was held on April2, 1872. Friends 

of the charter rejoiced by firing salutes, and the 

Faribault brass band played in honor of the event. 

"The election under the new charter resulted in a 

clean Republican sweep with the exception of one 

justice, J. B. Quinn, Esq., who was personally quite 

popular and whose Republican opponent refused to 

run." 

The total vote cast was 846. There were 555 votes 

for the charter and 291 against. Officers elected were: 

Mayor, George W. Tower; Recorder, H. P. Sime; and 

Treasurer, James A. Winter. 

A paragraph from the Mayor's address, given at 

the first meeting of the Common Council on April 9, 

1872, shows that politics has not changed a great deal: 

"And now, Gentlemen of the Council, let me urge. 

upon you the strictest economy in public expenditures 

compatible with the public interests. Remembering 

that we are trustees of the purse of our constituents, let 

no unnecessary officers be appointed, no salaries paid 

but for corresponding efficient services, no 

improvements made at public expense merely for local 

or personal ends; and above all, let us avoid debt as we 

would a pestilence or famine.'' 

The newly elected council took its work seriously, 

for their second meeting was held the next day. They 

met 32 times from the first meeting in April through 

the end of December. 

Pound Master Appointed 

One of the first items of business was the 

appointment of Pound Master Reuben Rundell. Mr. 

Rundell served for many years and his duties covered 

all animals. He once had a bull in the pound which had 

to be sold to pay for the pound fees. One of the first 

ordinances pertains to cattle running at large. Public 

opinion was about equally divided on this issue. At one 

38

I 

meeting a petition would be presented to have cattle 

confined and at the next meeting a remonstrance 

petition would be brought in for the cattle to run at 

large. 

At the July 8th meeting the pound master was 

given a fee of fifty cents for each dog killed and buried. 

At the June 20, 1881 meeting it was decided to require 

licenses for dogs. The collection of the fee was on a 

percentage basis with the pound keeper getting a 

larger percentage as the number of licenses increased. 

Horses were an important part of early Faribault. 

In 1873 the first publicly maintained watering trough 

was built. November 15, 1875 the council was 

concerned about loose signs that were frightening 

horses on bridges. December 13, 1880 a petition was 

presented to allow the driving of sleighs and cutters on 

Seventh Street at a speed exceeding ten miles per hour. 

On August 1, 1911, 125 additional hitching posts were 

purchased. Resolution 374 on June 27, 1910 prescribed 

the areas where hitching posts and curb rings could be 

installed. On September 12, 1916, the council authorized 

a payment of $4.50 for buggy shafts broken when a 

horse was frightened by a sprinkling wagon. 

Horses were used by the fire department until1924 

even though the first fire truck had been acquired in 

1919. A by-product of the use of horses was that in 

March 1917 it was advertised that manure was 

available for fifty cents per load delivered. 

Fires were an ever present danger in the new city. 

Most of the buildings were of wood construction, 

heated with woodburning stove or fireplaces. The city 

did have a volunteer fire department, but they had only 

buckets or a hand operated pump to work with. At the 

November 23, 1872 meeting of the council a petition was 

presented asking the council to investigate the 

purchase of a steam fire engine. The report was 

favorable, and on Debember 9th it was voted to buy a 

steam engine for $5,000 and two hose carts for a total of 

$7,750. With the salary of the Chief of Police at $50 per 

month, it is quite evident $7,750 was a large amount of 

money and is an indication of the seriousness of the fire 

hazards. 

Water Is Problem 

The riew engine arrived in February of 1873 and 

was put into service. To be useful, the new engine 

required a good source of water, and without a water 

system, this was a problem. The first solution was to 

build platforms at the river's edge, but this could not 

take care of the buildings farther from the river. A 

series of huge cisterns were built throughout the 

business district and these were filled with river water. 

To add to the fire danger, many of the fires were 

incendiary in origin. At the April 22, 1874 council 

meeting, a reward of $250 was offered for the capture 

of arsonists. 

On March 17, 1882 a fire-started in the kitchen of 

the Barron House. The volunteers started to fight the 

fire but soon found that the water from the hoses has 

become a mere trickle. Sand had been drawn into the 

cylinder of the pump and so the Barron House was 

destroyed. The engine was sold to Belle Plaine, 

Minnesota in 1894 for $1,100. 

The council had to deal with many subjects in 

First Faribault House 

Story of Faribault 

addition to the more routine matters such as approving 

the laying out of streets, building bridges, making 

assessments for street sprinkling and other 

housekeeping details. Incidentally, the cost for a 

sidewalk (wood) for the width of one lot was $16.25. 

By January 1876 the council felt that it should have 

a regular meeting place, so a room was rented in the 

Masonic Building for $150 per year. 

When the county built the court house, the citizens 

of Faribault decided there should be a clock in the 

tower but the county officials were reluctant to spend 

county money for a clock that would mostly be 

beneficial to Faribault residents. On December 14, 1874 

$500 was voted for a clock by the council. Provision was 

made for someone to wind the clock and maintain 

it. This position was continued for many years. 

One hundred years ago the Common Council voted 

to spend $400 for the Centennial observance if the 

citizens would raise an equal or larger amount. 

Bond Issues Popular 

Bond issues were more popular a century ago than 

they are now: November 3, 1874 $5,000 at 10 per cent 

interest were sold to build the engine house and a 

cistern; August 25, 1877 $8,000 for constructing the 

Third Street bridge; and May 15, 1879 $50,000 for the 

Minnesota Central Railroad. The later issue was 

approved 410 to 111. A large issue was also sold when 

the water system was bought by the city. 

The city was growing so on October 17, 1881 the 

Philadelphia plan of street numbering was adopted. 

·This provided for odd numbers on the east and south 

lines of the streets and even numbers on the north and 

west sides. One number was provided for each 

twenty-two feet of frontage and the house number was 

determined by the location of the front door. On March 

8, 1897 an ordinance was adopted which changed the 

designation of avenues from tree names to numbers. 

This was more practical but less picturesque. 

At the June 11 meeting in 1894, a representative of 

the Mutual Benefit Insurance Company offered to build 

a city hall costing up to $30,000 if they could sell $700,000 

39

~en~§Vow 

worth of insurance. The offer was accepted by the 

council. The building was constructed during the later 

months of 1894 and 1895. At the April 13, 1896 council 

meeting, Frank Little, the representative of the 

insurance company, said that his company had spent 

over $20,000 and asked for help in completing the 

building as he had not sold as much insurance as he 

hc.dhoped. 

Before the building of the City Hall, the library had 

been housed in the court house. On April30, 1896 R. A. 

Mott and John R. Parshall, representing the Library 

Association, offered to turn over their library 

materials to the city. State law provided for a one mill 

levy for the support of libraries. Support for the library 

was voted at the election on April 12, 1897 by a vote of 

547 to 222. 

Gives New Library 

In addition to the gift of the city hall building, 

Faribault was fortunate in receiving $100,000 for a 

library building and $20,000 for land to build it on from 

Mrs. Anna Buckham as a memorial to her husband, 

Thomas S. Buckham. The gift was announced at the 

September 11, 1928 council meeting. 

The summer of 1929 saw one of Faribault's sons 

become world famous. Dale "Red" Jackson and his 

partner, Forest O'Brien, set the world's record for 

non-stop flying. They flew their plane for 420 hours 212 

minutes without landing, or 173 hours and 37 minutes 

longer than the previous record. Later this same 

record was broken by Jackson and 0 'Brien. The 

council sent a telegram of congratulations on July 23, 

1929. 

On two occasions the business of the council was 

interrupted to listen to important news events. On June 

22, 1937 the council recessed to listen to the returns of 

the Louis-Braddock fight, and on December 9, 1941 it 

recessed to hear Franklin D. Roosevelt's report to the 

nation after Pearl Harbor. 

The Board of Health was created by the council 

December 1, 1881. One of the first actions by the board 

was the providing of a Pest House where persons with 

contagious diseases could be cared for. The board also 

enforced quarantine regulations. In January 1890 a city 

doctor was appointed. Dr. Seeley's salary was set at 

$60 per year or fifty cents per call. This fee was to 

include the cqst of any necessary medicine. 

In 1899 Captain James Hunter approached the 

council with an offer to sell Hunter's Hospital (now the 

Evergreen Knoll) to the city. 

The offer of the German Evangelical Deaconess 

Society to build a hospital was presented to the council 

October 24, 1907. This offer specified that the building 

should not cost more than $35,000. The city was to 

contribute $10,000. Beds would be provided for thirty 

patients. Because of the contribution by the city, it was 

agreed that people for whom the city was responsible 

would be cared for at the rate of $1 per day. After 

several years the hospital asked for an increase to $2.40 

per day. This was refused. The $1 per day rate was still 

·in effect in 1953 when the board of directors of the 

hospital petitioned for an increase. 

During the Spanish flu epidemic it was necessary 

to provide additional hospital space, so Hunter's 

Hospital was again used as an emergency hospital and 

Resolution 708A was passed to pay the bills for those 

unable to do so. 

In 1912 the Visiting Nurse Association requested 

the council to appropriate $75 to have a bathtub 

installed in the basement of the City Hall for the use of 

poor children. 

At the second meeting of the Common Council on 

April 10, 1872 two policemen were hired for a salary of 

$40 per month. Later in the year one of the men was 

designated as chief and his salary increased to $50 per 

.month. 

It may be difficult to think of Faribault as needing 

an ordinance to prohibit Houses of Ill Fame, but the 

council passed such an ordinance June 5, 1874. 

Generally laws are passed to meet a need. 

Prisoners not Coddled 

The Common Council could not be accused of 

coddling prisoners in the city lockup. In 1876 they 

approved a diet of bread and water for prisoners and in 

1896 provided a rock pile for tramps to earn their keep. 

The broken up rocks went to the street department for 

repairs. Action against law violators was swift. At the 

February 18, 1874 council meeting a complaint was 

registered against Wattles' Saloon in the Barron 

House. It alleged that the saloon had become a "haunt 

for little boys" and that gambling, smoking and the 

serving of liquor to minors were allowed. A hearing 

was held at which several boys were questioned under 

oath by the cityattorney. The following day the council 

met and revoked the license. 

Control of saloon licenses seemed to be a major 

function of the council. There was a large turnover of 

ownership and each change had to be approved. Many 

pages of the official minutes are devoted to these 

actions. In 1917 Ordinance A47 was adopted, setting the 

hours for opening and closing saloons and prohibiting 

girls and women from entering saloons. In 1913 

Ordinance A35 had been passed forbidding free lunches 

in saloons. 

With the advent of prohibition, law enforcement 

problems changed but did not decrease. Now the police 

had to see that the so-called "soft drink parlors" did 

not do a little "bootlegging" on the side. One dealer 

evolved a plan whereby liquor was kept in the 

basement and if a reliable customer wanted something 

stronger than pop, a bucket was let down through a 

hole in the floor to get it. In time, the police interfered 

and the dealer had to sell his business. 

November 28, 1922 a delegation of ladies came to 

·the council meeting to ask that Prohibition be 

enforced, that matrons and chaperones be provided at 

all public dances and that windows in places where soft 

. drinks were sold be curtained and those curtains 

drawn. The council's decision was not to require the 

drawn curtains. 

The council called for bids for a police car 

November 27, 1928. Bids were received for a Buick, 

Hupmobile, Chandler, Hudson, Oakland, Dodge, 

Oldsmobile and Graham-Paige. 

"Tiny" Retires in '56 

On December 26, 1956 one of Faribault's dedicated 

40


Alexander Faribault House on First Avenue 

NE (near Division Street) as it looks today 

after being restored by Rice County 

policemen in the person of Lawrence F. Abelman 

retired. "Tiny," he was over six feet tall, had almost 

become a landmark. He was good natured and friendly 

but his stature awed little boys and a word of 

admonition from him carried weight. He was Faribault's 

motorcycle patrolman for a number of 

years having gained experience in riding a motorcycle 

during World War I. On Saturday nights he would be 

stationed at the Third or Fourth Street and Central 

Avenue intersection operating a battery lighted 

Stop-and-go sign. He once received a letter from 

someone who had passed through town addressed to 

"The Tall Cop in Faribault." On his retirement, the 

council voted also to retire his badge- Badge No.1. 

Progress in the form of the coming of the 

automobile had its effect on city government. In 

August 1907 Ordinance 150 set the speed limit on 

Faribault streets at eight miles per hour. By 1910 it was 

decided to pave Central Avenue from Division to Sixth 

Street N.W. 

Even before the automobile, street work, street 

surveys and the sprinkling of streets took much of the 

council's time. In 1914 $250 was appropriated to 

experiment with using oil on the streets to control the 

dust. April 27, 1915 Fred R. Kummer , Buick dealer, 

appear ed r equesting permission to install an 

underground gas tank at Fifth Street and Central 

Historical Society. Home was built in 1853 and 

was the first frame building in Faribault. 

Avenue. The Buick Garage was located where the 

Hotel Faribault is now. 

The first motor . truck was purchased from the 

Anderson Motor Company in May of 1919 for $782.96. 

The first motorized fire truck was also purchased in 

1919. By 1921 the council spent $62 to have streets 

marked for parking. 

In the fall of 1937 at the September 14 meeting, the 

council discussed the desirability of purchasing the 

Caron property for a park. On October 26 Councilman 

Herbert H. Meyer moved that the Caron property be 

purchased for $150 per acre. The motion passed 

unanimously. On December 20 the council voted to buy 

all of the property for $13,000 with a life lease to the 

Carons for the residence. During this period no 

objections to the action were brought fo the council. In 

the election of April 1939 all of the council members 

were defeated, mostly because of the park purchase. A 

visit to Alexander Faribault Park on any evening or 

weekend now is vindication for the council members 

who did what they considered right but lost their jobs 

fo~ doing so. 

Before the days of organized charities, Faribault 

proved its compassion by officially contributing to 

areas that experienced disasters. In August 1883 the 

Common Council voted $2,000 for the Rochester, 

Minnesota tornado . victims, in April 1886 $500 for 

41

~en ~§Vow 

cyclone damage at Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud, and in 

September 1894, $800 for survivors of the Hinckley fire. 

The history of Faribault in this Bicentennial year 

covers more than 125 years. To deal with it fully would 

take many volumes and much additional research. The 

preceding covers some incidents that seem to be 

noteworthy, but is in no way an exhaustive treatment 

of the history of Faribault and the activities of its 

government. 

Fire department 

is Ill years old 

By CHARLES ROEHRICK 

Former Fire Chief 

This is a "chronological" history of the Faribault 

Fire Department with major improvements of 

equipment, personnel changes, major fires and other 

fire prevention advancements throughout the years. 

During the 111 years the department has been in 

existence, 18 persons - including 14 children - lost 

their lives because of fires. 

In 1864 the department consisted of four volunteer 

companies, Excelsior Hook ' & Ladder Co., Straight 

River Hose Co., Young America Hose Co. and the 

Phoenix Hose Co. To call these companies into action a 

steam whistle at the Hill's Furniture Factory would 

blow notifying the people in town there was a fire. This 

was used until about 1870 when a large bell was placed 

in the tower at the fire hall. This was used until 1940 

when it was removed for safety reasons and it was 

stored in the basement of the fire hall untill967 when it 

was placed in a special bu.ilt niche in the new fire 

station on Second Street NW. 

In February of 1870, a fire destroyed three business 

places. This fire was fought by a bucket brigade; 

Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co. using hooks to pull down 

the building and keep the fire from spreading; ladders 

which had arrived just two weeks before from Chicago 

and the bucket brigade, no engines. Later, a pair of 

wheels was procured by the bucket brigade. The men 

manned the ropes and made a tour of the village, 

stopping at every shop and store to seize buckets which 

they hung upon their primitive truck and thus the first 

extinguishing apparatus was secured. 

The City Council, in the spring of 1870, purchased 

land on Third Street Northwest between First and 

Second A venue Northwest for a future fire hall. Two 

major fires occurred that year, including November 

22, the Hill's Furniture Factory, $25,000 loss and 

November 28, the Seabury Hall, $20,000 loss. 

January 1, 1873 the City Council reorganized the 

fire department with a total of 123 members into four 

companies - Engine Co. No. 1, 40 men; Excelsior 

Hook & Ladder Co., 40 men; Niagara Hose Co., 20 men; 

and the Straight River Hose Co. , 20 men. Chief 

Engineer was C. P. Pike, 1st Assistant J. R. Parshall, 

2nd Assistant H. P. Sime. On February 7, a steamer 

engine arrived in Faribault after being on the road for 

60 days. April 10, a major fire destroyed six business 

places. 

Fire Hall Built 

In 1876 a new fire hall was built at the cost of $7,300. 

Ground floor was the equipment floor and horse bam, 

second floor was the firemen's hall and city offices and 

in the basement was located a large cistern for the 

storage of water to help fight fires. December 8, Bean's 

Flour Mill burned, $25,000 loss. 

The most disastrous fire that ever happened in 

Faribault was on June 17, 1878. Almost the entire block 

was destroyed, including two banks and ten stores, loss 

$125,000. This block was between Central and First 

A venues and Third Street and Second Street 

Northwest. 

January 11, 1882 H. P. Sime resigned as Chief of the 

fire department. March 17, the Barron House Hotel 

burned, $34,000 loss. 

September 4, 1894 a new chemical engine was 

purchased, this engine and the other chemical engine 

were pulled to fires by horses. These horses were 

owned by different men in town, they were also used to 

pull the sprinkler wagons to sprinkle the streets and 

when an alarm was sounded they would go to the 

station and hook on to the chemical engines and go to 

the fire. The City also owned some horses, they were 

kept in the back part of the fire hall. 

May 3, 1895 the Faribault Rattan Works burned, 

$30,000 loss. August 15, the Far ibault Fire Department 

Relief Association was organized for the firemen who 

were sick or injured on duty. Chief was John H. Detert 

and Joseph Brandis was Assistant Chief. 

January 1998, the Young America Hose was 

disbanded, 21 members. July 20, the old fire hall 

located on First Avenue Northwest between Third and 

Fourth Street Northwest was torn down. 

In 1910, E. F. Kelley was appointed Fire Chief. 

May 12, residence of E. H. Sperry was burned, with 

Mrs. Kellogg, Mr. Sperry, two sons and one daughter 

losing their lives. In 1918 C. W. Aberle was Fire Chief 

and H. H. Aberle was Assistant Chief. 

In April, 1919 Jack Duchene was appointed Fire 

Chief, replacing C. W. Aberle. Department had four 

paid men plus the Chief. August 4, City Council 

purchased the first motorized chemical truck from the 

American LaFrance Co. , arrived November 25. 

On March 23, 1923 Sacred Heart Church burned, 

$15,000 loss. November 27, City Council purchased a 

Dodge truck from John Langer for $1,495, the firemen 

helped John Langer build the truck body and tanks. 

December 7, City Council approved $500.00 more to 

finish the truck. Department had six paid men and 

sleepers, they were men who were hired to sleep at 

night at the fire hall. 

Last Horses Sold 

March 21, 1924 the last horses used by the 

department were sold at an auction. June 12, City 

Council looked at the new style pumpers. On August 5, 

Saint Mary's Hall was struck by lightning, total loss 

$100,000. August 12, bids were advertised for a pumper 

42

Old Faribault fire station and horse drawn fire tvagons 

and ladder truck. August 24, American LaFrance 

Truck Co. was awarded the bid for a 750 gallon pumper 

and a front wheel drive 65' wooden ladder aerial truck 

to be delivered in 150 working days, cost for the 

pumper was $14,784, ladder truck was $14,700 less 

$1,500 for the old horse drawn ladder wagon. This 1924 

wooden ladder aerial truck is still in the department. 

On October 8, Marven Morgan was appointed Assistant 

Chief. 

January 31, 1925 Farmer's Merchants Bank 

burned, $13,000 loss. Department had eight paid men 

and five night sleepers. January 9, 1927 Vaux Canning 

Factory burned, $37,500 loss; November 28, 1928 

Bundy's Shoe Store burned, $26,000 loss, three men 

injured; January 31, 1929 Grand Theatre burned, total 

loss $200,000. April 10, Marven Morgan was appointed 

Fire Chief. 

In 1931 there were three major fires- February 

25, Rice County Courthouse burned, total loss $100,000; 

May 7, Brand's Nursery burned, $14,700 loss; 

September 28, Mee's Studio burned, $19,000 loss. 

In 1932 the department had four trucks - Dodge 

Chemical, American LaFrance Chemical, 750 gallon 

American LaFrance pumper and 65' American 

LaFrance ladder. There were nine paid firemen plus 

Chief Morgan and Assistant Chief Frank Boldt. 

February 7, Emery Book Store burned, $19,720 loss; 

August 7, Rice County Grandstand burned, total loss. 

February 28, 1933 Sacred Heart School burned, 

total loss; April 1, Daisy Woodcraft burned, $17,000 

loss; January 27, 1936 Maison Ritz Bar burned, $15,000 

loss; August 29, Hutchinson Dry Goods Store burned, 

$44,000 loss. Department had nine paid men and two 

part time men. January 18, 1937 Faribo Liquor Store, 

Evans Cleaners and Schultz Restaurant burned, 

$17,500 loss, all occupied the same building. 

1938 Firemen began to fix toys for the needy 

children, this was continued until 1967 when the 

department moved into the new station. May 1, 

department was changed to shifts of 24 hours on and 24 

hours off to shorten the work week. There were six men 

to each shift plus the Chief and Assistant Chief. 

January 21, 1940 Jim & Joe Clothing Store burned, 

$39,900 loss. 

Fire Hall Criticized 

August 8, 1941 Grand Jury criticized the condition 

of the fire hall and demanded immediate action. 26 

years later a new station was built. October 29, Rice 

County Rural Cooperative Fire Protection Association 

was organized, including Wells, Cannon City, Walcott 

and Warsaw Townships. 

May 23, 1942 City Council approved $4,000 to repair 

the fire hall. Wooden floor was replaced with concrete 

and steel rods were installed through the building to 

hold it together. Bids were awarded to Paul Schroeder 

and Benson Brown. 

October 18, 1943 Shattuck School Clock Tower 

burned, $150,000 loss. Four men -were injured- Chief 

43

~en ~c!fiow 

Ruins from disastrous Faribault fire June 17, 1878. Looking north on Central Avenue 

Morgan, Fred Achilles, William Fihn, Charles 

Roehrick- and a student from Shattuck. 

March 12, 1944 Frank Boldt Assistant Chief died, 

was with the department 39 years. December 31, Henry 

Felix died, was the first paid truck driver in the 

department in 1919. 

May 1, 1945 Edward Behlke was appointed 

Assistant Chief. May 16, Mrs. Edward Duchene and 

seven children died in a house fire. 

February 1946 City Council approved one more 

fireman to fill in for the day off a month the Council 

granted the firemen. April 7, Commander Elevator 

burned,· $75,000 loss, one fireman injured. August 20, 

Civil Service was approved for the fire department 

personnel. 

March 15, 1947 new 1,000 gallon Seagrave pumper 

delivered to the department. It will replace 1919 

American LaFrance Chemical truck, cost $13,077. 

Pension fund was established for the firemen. June, 

Edward Behlke was promoted to First Assistant Chief 

and Lawrence Svien was promoted to Second Assistant 

Chief. November 21, six members of the William 

Brooks family were injured in house fire. 

January 16, 1948 First Rural fire truck purchased 

by the Rural Fire Association to protect four 

townships, Cannon City, Wells, Warsaw and Walcott. 

Cost $8,121.34. February 12, Rural truck made first fire 

run. 

January 23, 1953 K. & G. Manufacturing Co. 

burned, $30,000 loss. March 3, new 1,000 gallon 

American LaFrance pumper arrived, cost $17,481.36. 

The money for this truck came from the tax refund on 

cigarette and liquor from the state. This truck will 

replace the 1924 750 gallon American LaFrance 

pumper. October 18, State School Dairy Barn burned, 

$200,000 loss. May 30, 1954 Sacred Heart Church 

burned, $36,000 loss. 

1955, firemen were granted two days a month off to 

shorten work week. November 19, Stoeckel's Cities 

Service Station burned, $50,000 loss. August 30, 1956 

Fred Silvernagle and three children died in house fire. 

September 23, 1958 the last of the wooden block 

floor in the fire hall was replaced with concrete, this 

section was the old horse barn. 

City Proposal Defeated 

January 14, 1962 Shamrock Bar burned, $40,000 

loss. February 23, City Council purchased the Edgar 

Mentz house for the future site for a proposed 

Municipal Community Building. September 11, bond 

issue was voted on and was defeated, 3,726 "no," 1,084 

"yes," for the Municipal Community Building for the 

Fire, Police and City offices. October 11, Daniel 

Muchow daughter died in house fire. 

January 12, 1963 Parker Auto Body Shop burned, 

$10,000 loss. June 25, Marven Morgan notified the City 

Council of retiring September 1, as Chief of Fire 

Department, forty-one years in department, 34 as 

Chief. August 24, new GMC fire truck, with a high 

pressure pump, for the Rural Fire Association was 

delivered, it replaced the 1948 Dodge truck, cost 

$5, 784.95. October 24, City Council appointed Ervin 

Venera Fire Chief effective November 1, 1963. 

May 25, 1964 State School Haven Building burned, 

$15,000 loss. December 23, City Council allowed the 

position of two Captains to be created in the 

department. 

January 1, 1965 Charles Roehrick and Eugene 

Gallagher were appointed Captains to fill the positions 

44

Faribault fire scene, March 9, 1884. M. P. 

Holman Saloon destroyed, A. W. Tenney Feed 

created in department. February 9, . City Council 

discussed plans for a new fire station. AprillO, Sacred 

Heart Church burned, $50,000 loss. Owatonna Fire 

Department was called for mutual aid. May 1, Charles 

Roehrick was promoted to Assistant Chief to replace 

Lawrence Svien who will retire May 30, Alva Hallanger 

was promoted to Captain to replace Charles Roehrick. 

February 8, 1966 City Engineer was authorized to 

draw specifications for two new fire trucks. February 

22, City Council met with architects for fire station. 

February 24, architect was hired. March 2, Foldcraft 

Factory burned, $30,000 loss. During the ensuing 

months a number of meetings were held by the Council 

and architect on the plans for the new fire station and 

property was purchased for the location for the new 

fire station. November 11, bids for two new fire trucks 

were opened and on December 13 they were awarded to 

the American LaFrance Truck Co. December 13, 

Council approved plans for fire station. December 23, 

Paul Gray was awarded general contract bid of 

$152,500, Larson Electric $32,750 and Capital Plumbing 

$73,784, total bid $258,998less cost of property. 

January 24, 1967 bond issues for $430,000 were sold 

for the new fire station. February 1, Assistant Chief 

Edward Behlke retired, thirty years in department. 

February 28, Captain Alva Hallanger promoted to 

Assistant Chief and Donald Erickson was promoted to 

Captain. March 28, authorized City Engineer to 

process an order on construction of fire station. April1, 

one day a week off was granted to the firemen to 

shorten the work week and change to two shifts with 

nine men to a shift. December 18, moved into new 

station. 

January 12, 1968 new 1250 gallon American 

LaFrance pumper arrived, cost $37,250. April 1, new 

85' steel ladder aerial American LaFrance arrived, 

Store, damaged. North side of Third St. NW 

between Central Avenue and First Avenue. 

cost $51,900. April 20, open house was held at the new 

fire station. May 25, Cook's Paint Store burned, $30,000 

loss. August 27, old fire hall was sold to Rice County for 

•· $3,000. October 8, Ervin Venero resigned as Chief due 

. to health, effective November 1, 1968, seventeen years 

with department. 

Roehrick Named Chief 

February 11, 1969 City Council appointed Charles 

Roehrick Fire Chief effective February 16, 1969. March 

.16, Donald Erickson promoted to Assistant Chief. May 

11, Segar Grocery Store burned, $11,000 loss. July 8, 

Dodge van was purchased for use as a rescue truck, 

this will be the first rescue truck for the department, 

cost $2,748. During the following months the firemen 

built storage cabinets in the truck for first aid supplies 

and rescue tools. November 21, rescue truck was put 

into service. 

November 25, City Council established through 

streets on Second Street Northwest to Eighth A venue 

Northwest and Second Avenue Northwest to 

Fourteenth Street Northwest as emergency routes for 

the fire department. 

January 1, 1970 City Council granted holiday and 

overtime pay for the firemen. March 10, City Council 

approved the purchase of a slide and movie projector 

for the department to use for public fire prevention 

programs and training within the department. March 

24, station wagon was purchased to be used for fire 

inspection and fire prevention work. July 22, Lawrence 

Svien, former Assistant Chief died, thirty six years 

with department. 

August 25, City Council adopted a fire prevention 

code, Ordinance A389. November 1, Victor Moravec 

and William Borwege were promoted to Captains. 

November 6, Bliss Motors burned, $25,000 loss. 

November 12, cornerstone and slide pole, used to get 

45

~en E;?cfNow 

Godfrey Fleckenstein Brewery taken from the bluff 10 days after 1891 fire. 

1919 American La France Chemical Truck, 

first motorized unit of Faribault Fire 

Department. In front of truck are Buck Haupt 

(in suit), Dan Savage, Ferdinand Behlke in 

uniform, driver in uniform Jack Duchene, 

Chief Carl Aberle (in suit), Frank Boldt on 

running board, Henry Felix in uniform by 

back wheel, Lard Alm (in suit), back man on 

step, Hoger; front man, Alfred Taubman. 

46

-"· . , I· 

Dolly and Button, owned by J. Warmington, 

and their fire rig, and local firemen, in front 

DoLLY - ,..~ 

of the Faribault Fire Station in 1895. 

from the second floor to the first floor when a fire 

alarm was received, were removed from the old fire 

hall and stored in new fire station. 

February 23, 1971, City Council approved four 

more firemen. March 1, four men were added to. the 

department to shorten the working hours and to have 

three shifts with six men and a Captain on each shift 

for a 56 hour week, plus the Chief and Assistant Chief. 

March 5, City Council passed ordinance banning open 

burning in city. August 1, Sellner Manufacturing 

burned, $80,000 loss. October 6, new cornerstone for the 

new station was laid and also the 1876 cornerstone from 

the old fire hall. 

July 1, 1972, fire inspector was hired for the new 

Fire Prevention Bureau to enforce Fire Code. 

November 28, new fire district ordinance was passed, 

dividing the city into three fire zones. November 28, 

emergency telephone number "911" was brought 

before the Council for a discussion by Manager Donald 

Furlong, Northwestern Bell Telephone, and Chief 

Roehrick to install the emergency number "911" for 

the Fire, Police, Sheriff and Ambulance. December 22, 

Country Club burned, $45,000 loss. 

February 28, 1973, station wagon purchased for 

Fire Inspector. April 1, Gerald Eul promoted to 

Captain. July 4, Mr. Quick Restaurant burned, $32,000 

loss. 

"911' Number Adopted 

March 2, 1974, Donald Erickson, Assistant Chief, 

retired, 22 years with department. May 28, new rescue 

truck bid awarded to Bliss Motors. June 9, Shattuck 

School Ice Arena burned, $50,000 loss. 

September 23, Emergency number "911" was put 

into service for the Fire, Police, Sheriff and 

Ambulance. October 28, old fire hall was demolished to 

make way for the new Rice County Law Enforcement 

Center. December 3, new rescue truck chassis arrived, 

it will replace the 1970 Dodge van, because of the 

increase of rescue service. The following months the 

firemen drew the plans for the body to be installed on 

the new chassis, after many hours of work the plans 

were finalized, bid was awarded to the Truck Utilities 

Co. to build the body. Cost, truck and body, $11,500. 

February 16, 1975 City Council promoted Victor 

Moravec from Captain to Assistant Chief to replace 

Donald Erickson who retired March 2, 1974. April 2, 

new rescue truck was put into service. This truck is 

equipped with an electric winch, latest rescue 

equipment, oxygen therapy equipment and radio 

facilities to communicate with the ambulance and Rice 

County Hospital. May 8, City Council appointed 

Francis Herda Captain to replace Victor Moravec who 

had been promoted to Assistant Chief. 

June 7, City Council approved the purchase of 

better safety equipment for the firemen including fresh 

air masks, new style fire coats, not rubber, and new 

style helmets. The old helmets have been used for 40 

years. 

June 19, King Mill and Warehouse office and three 

garages were destroyed, $450,000 loss. Fought fire for 

14 hours with help of the Owatonna and Northfield Fire 

Departments. This historic mill was an old landmark 

47

Ultra-modern new Faribault Fire Station, 

Second Street and Second Avenue, with 

unique hose tower and historic fire bell. 

for many years in the western section of Faribault. It 

was built in the early 1800s. 

November 4, Chief Charles Roehrick notified the 

City Council of retiring on January 2, 1976 as Chief of 

Fire Department, 32 years with department. 

The department now has the following equipment: 

1924 American LaFrance 65' wooden ladder truck, 1947 

1,000 gallon Seagrave pumper, 1953 1,000 gallon 

American LaFrance pumper, 1963 GMC high pressure 

pump, 1964 International tanker, 1,200 gallon - these 

two trucks are owned by the Rural Fire Association- 

1968 1,250 gallon American LaFrance pumper, 1968 85' 

steel ladder aerial truck, 1970 Dodge van backup 

rescue unit, 1973 station wagon for inspection work and 

1975 Ford rescue truck. All these trucks are radio 

equipped, except the 1924 ladder truck, and all carry 

the latest fire fighting equipment. There are 23 paid 

men now in the department. 

New fire station functional 

Faribault's modern municipal fire station, located 

at 122 NW Second St. (in the City Hall block) on the site 

of the Mrs. P. Theodore Olsson home which had been 

acquired by the city through condemnation 

proceedings, was declared ready for occupancy by the 

Fire Department on Dec. 13, 1967. Moving day for 

firemen was held Monday, Dec. 18, 1967. 

The attractive, well-planned new building was 

evaluated.as "very functional and effectively designed 

for community fire protection." Representatives of 

other fire departments in the state have visited the new 

station and praised its design, equipment and 

functional adaptability. 

At a city council meeting held November 23, 1966, 

the council, by a 4-1 split vote, authorized construction 

of the proposed new fire station on the new site as soon 

as possible. Councilmen Thomas Dillon, Richard 

Ostrom, Lawrence Thompson and William Anderson 

voted in favor of the project and Mayor Clarence Miller 

voted "no." 

On Jan. 24, 1967, at a special meeting, the city 

council opened bids and awarded contracts for the 

building. The Paul Gray Company, Faribault, was 

awarded a general contract on a bid of $142,623.76. The 

mechanical contract (plumbing and heating) was 

awarded to Capital City Plumbing and Heating Co., St. 

Paul, on a bid of $64,787.60. The electrical contract was 

awarded to Larson-Roberts Electric Co., Faribault, on 

a bid of $30,445. 

Building Described 

The building, of face brick and cast or natural 

stone, is 90'x98' in size. Exterior doors and frames are 

of hollow metal. Windows are of fixed steel and glazed 

with gray glass, translucent in the dormitory, 

transparent elsewhere. 

The building is one story high in the apparatus 

48


section and one story and a basement in the dormitory 

section. A special feature is a niche in the building 

which contains the historic bell used for years at the 

old city fire station which was constructed in 1876 and 

later torn down. Another unique feature of the station 

is a 14'x8'x35' high inside hose drying and training 

tower. 

Architects who planned the attractive new building 

are Raugland, Entriken, Domholt and King, Inc., 

Minneapolis. 

General approval of the new, long-needed 

structure was given by the general public and visitors 

from throughout the state at an official Open House 

held April 20, 1968. Firemen conducted guided tours. 

Two new American La France fire trucks, a 1250 gallon 

per minute pumper truck and an 18 foot aerial ladder 

were on display. 

The ''Minnesota Fire Chief, ' ' official publication of 

the Minnesota Fire Chiefs Association, in its 

March-April, 1968 issue, devoted several pages and 

pictures to Faribault's new station. The Faribault Fire 

Department now has a personnel of 23 men. 

Faribault's 100-year-old fire station (built in 

1876) which was razed to make room for the 

new county-city Law Enforcement Center. 

First post office here in 1853 

By LYLE SCHREIBE R 

The Continental Congress established postal 

service for the North American Colonies by an act 

passed on July 26, 1775, superceding, even before the 

Revolution, the comparable service operated under the 

British Crown. 

The service was authorized in the Constitution in 

the single sentence, "The Congress shall have power 

... to establish post offices and post roads. The first 

United States postal act was passed in 1789 and 

Benjamin Franklin was appointed by George 

Washington as the first Postmaster General. He had 

been Deputy Postmaster General for the Colonies 

under British rule so was well qualified for the position. 

Postal service in Faribault started with the arrival 

of the first mail in 1853. Just how this mail was 

addressed or how it could reach Faribault, we do not 

know because the city as such did not exist. The mail 

probably came from St. Paul and was addressed to 

some well known person in the area. 

It was fitting that the first postmaster of Faribault 

should have been Alexander Faribault. In 1854, 

Edward J. Crump was appointed Faribault's deputy. 

The post office was a log cabin located about where the 

Hotel Faribault now stands. It didn't have to be a very 

large building as some weeks the total mail for the city 

was Luke Hulett's New York Tribune. 

In 1855, Crump completed that famous Faribault 

landmark, Crump's Hall. This building was to serve as 

the first meeting place of many of the city's 

organizations. It also served as the post office from the 

time of its completion until the death of Mr. Crump in 

1856. 

At this time, mail was received weekly from a 

route between St. Paul and Owatonna. 

In 1855, the postal service made prepayment of 

postage on mail mandatory. Prior to this 

uncertainty of delivery made it customary to collect 

the postage at the time of delivery. This method 

encouraged some mailers to use prearranged codes on 

the outside of the envelope so that the addressee could 

get the message without paying for the letter. 

Seal Is Sacred 

From the very inception of the postal service, 

Benjamin Franklin had insisted on the policy of the 

freedom and sanctity of the mail. The seal on an 

envelope was sacred and inviolable. No person 

regardless of his rank or position could legally open a 

letter addressed to another. This policy has continued 

to the present. To further enhance the prestige of the 

mails, the registry system was also started in 1855. 

This meant that not only was the mail confidential, it 

was safe. 

After the death of Crump, a Mr. Young was 

appointed acting postmaster. The office was moved to 

the Moses Cole store building on the east side of First 

Avenue east and south of Division Street. Young was 

an unsatisfactory postmaster as he was too lazy to get 

up from his chair to give out the mail. He was removed 

49

~en~8'/ow 

in 1857 and replaced by George S. Skinner. 

Part of the pay of the postmaster was the rental of 

space and equipment for the office. This meant that, 

whenever there was a change in postmasters, there 

would also be a change in the location of the office. 

Often this was not convenient for the public. 

With the appointment of George Skinner, the office 

moved to the present location of the Hallmark store. 

Daily mail service between Faribault and Hastings 

was started, and service from St. Paul increased to 

thrice weekly. Volume in 1857 was between 1800 and 

2000 pieces per week. 

The Faribault Herald for September 24, 1857 had 

an article "Our Post Office". "At the request of a 

number of our prominent citizens we glady give 

expression to the full and entire satisfaction given by 

Mr. Skinner and his clerk, Mr. Pettier, in the 

management of the Post Office. Their arrangements 

are excellent, and they have been faithful and 

accommodating in the discharge of their duties. With 

pleasure we become the organ of the community in 

giving this evidence of our appreciation.'' Receipts for 

letters alone in the first quarter of that year were $246. 

This time, without changing postmasters, the 

location of the office was changed to the east side of 

Central Avenue about the present location of Karp's 

Shoe Store. Mails to Hastings and the East were 

received daily and dispatched three times weekly. 

They were dispatched South daily via Owatonna. 

Pony Express Begins 

Though it had no application to local mail service, 

it was in 1860 that the Pony Express was started. It 

operated for only eighteen months, but during this time 

traveled 650,000 miles and delivered 30,000 pieces of 

mail. 

From the first Pony Express notice: "Wanted: 

young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18. Must be expert 

riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. 

Wages $25 per week.'' 

To its carrying of Lincoln's inaugural speech and 

the news of the firing on Fort Sumter and the 

declaration of war in 1861, the Pony Express was one of 

the most colorful chapters in post office history. 

Postmaster Skinner was replaced in 1861 by James 

Gibson. Total receipts for the first quarter in 1861 were 

$270.88. In 1862 for the same quarter receipts $331.07 

and for 1863, $412.35. Pieces of mail handfed for the 

first quarter vf 1862 were 8,083 and for the quarter in 

1863, 10,242 pieces. 

Postmaster Gibson advertised 47 letters as 

undelivered. This was a customary procedure as some 

people forgot to pick up their mail or, for various 

reasons, did not want to receive it. A fee of two dollars 

was charged when an advertisement letter was 

delivered. 

On June 5, 1861 the schedule of arrival and 

departure of mail was published. Eastern mails 

arrived on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 

departed on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. 

Southern mail, via Owatonna, arrived daily, except 

Sundays, at 5 p.m. and departed daily, except Sunday, 

at4 a.m. 

During the term of Mr. Gibson trail service was 

established. However, the transport of the mail was 

still difficult because of problems caused by the 

weather. In 1865, because of bad storms, there was no 

mail from the East for eleven days between January 20· 

and 31. In May 1866, a flood in Wisconsin delayed the 

trains so that no mail was received from there for two 

weeks. 

The following notice appeared in the weekly paper 

December 4, 1867: 

"We learn that the Milwaukee and St. Paul 

Railway have determined to put a mail car from 

McGregor, Iowa to St. Paul, Minnesota. The mail for 

Minnesota will be distributed while the car is in 

motion, this facilitating delivery and transmission of 

mail matter." The "railroad post office" had been 

inaugurated by the Postal Service on August 24, 1864. 

City Delivery Started 

On July 1, 1863 a few hundred postal carriers, not 

yet wearing uniforms but with letter pouches slung 

from their shoulders, set out to revolutionize city 

delivery of mail in the 49 largest cities. Local post 

offices were authorized to employ carriers only if their 

revenues were sufficient to support such free service. 

In Faribault, city delivery was to start January 1, 1892. 

With thousands of men in the army wanting to send 

money home to their families, there was a great need 

for a means of doing this. The registered mail systems 

could not meet the need because of the paper work that 

it entailed. As a result, the looting of soldiers' mail 

became a national scandal, .and the Money Order 

system was created on November 1, 1864. In a notice 

published in the Central Republican July 18, 1866 it was 

noted that "money orders may be issued for any sum 

not exceeding $50. The fee for an order not exceeding 

$20 is 10 cents, over $20 the fee is 25 cents. 

A mail route was established between Faribault 

and Cannon City on November 13, 1867. The route 

operated three times a week. The first railway post 

office was started on the Milwaukee and St. Paul 

Railway in December of 1867. Outgoing mail from 

Faribault averaged 320 letters per day. 

J. S. Fuller was appointed postmaster on May 19, 

1869. The location of the office remained the same, but 

the increase in business necessitated an enlargement 

in the office. The building was extended twelve feet in 

the rear and 200 new boxes were added. In May of 1871 

a daily mail route was established between Waterville 

and Faribault. 

In 1872 charges of irregularities were brought 

against Postmaster Fuller by a former clerk, F. A. 

Robertson. These charges concerned the unauthorized 

opening of mail by the postmaster and the improper 

use of postal funds. The charges were not proven. 

Eden N. Leavens succeeded J. S. Fuller as 

postmaster on June 11, 1873. W. H. Howard was made 

clerk and assistant postmaster. The following 

appeared in the Republican in speaking of Mr. 

Leavens: 

"Mr. E.N. Leavens, our new postmaster, has 

entered upon the discharge of his duties and nods to his 

acquaintances through the official window with an 

easy dignity and complacency that indicates 

satisfaction and his belief that he has been put where 

50

Crews at work on Aug. 1, 1911, at site for Faribault's Post Office 

he will do the most good. May he live long and 

prosper.'' 

Postal Card In Debut 

On May 1, 1873 the postal card made its debut. The 

first postal cards had imprinted on them a replica of a 

one cent stamp. The uniqueness of the card was that 

the customer paid only for the stamp and got the card 

free. Postal cards became very popular. 

With the increase in business, a new office was 

needed. Special Agent W. W. Huntington stated the 

terms he was authorized to offer, which provided for a 

fireproof building of either brick or stone, 35 by 90 feet 

on the ground floor and 15 feet in height, furnished with 

a vault and $2,500 worth of fixtures including 1,000 

number one call boxes, 200 number one Yale lock boxes 

and 36 lock drawers. The building should have gas 

fixtures and would preferably be on a corner. For this 

the government would pay $600 annual rent. 

Warren Allen offered to erect a building on the 

comer of Elm (First Ave. NW) and Third Street for 

$600. H. M. Matteson offered to build on the northeast 

corner of Third and Willow (presently Depot Square). 

J. H. Staley offered to build on the corner of Fourth and 

Main (Central Ave.). Both of these bids were $550. H. 

E. Barron offered the north room of the Barron House 

for $100 per year. This offer was accepted in spite of a 

petition from businessmen for a Third Street location. 

The office was moved to the Barron House on April 

16, 1877. In the new office 1,000 call boxes, 400 Number 

one Yale lock boxes and 30 Number three lock drawers 

were installed. The office also contained a fireproof 

vault and was lighted with gas. The location at the 

extreme end of the business section was unsatisfactory 

to many. To answer some of the objections, 

Postmaster Leavens erected two letter collection 

boxes in the northern part of the business district. Mail 

was collected from these boxes three times each day. 

Unwise Decision 

The decision to accept the Barron House bid, 

though it was the lowest, proved to be unwise, not only 

because of the location, but because the building was 

not fireproof. On March 17, 1882 the Barron House was 

destroyed by fire. The fire started in the kitchen about 

noon. To fight the fire, water was pumped from the 

river. Sand got into the pumping cylinder and soon the 

firefighters had only a trickle of water coming from the 

hoses. It was evident that the entire building was 

doomed, so an organized effort was made to save the 

mail and fixtures of the post office. This was 

accomplished with little or no loss. The removal of the 

post office to the S. P. Wall building on Third Street 

between Main and Elm (now a parking lot) was so well 

51

~en G?§Vow 

conducted, that it was open to deliver mail that 

evening. The vault was opened and everything was 

found to be in good condition. 

On July 1, 1882 Faribault became a second-class 

office. On September 1 orders for changes in service 

were received. Service to Shieldsville, Prague and 

Wheatland was curtailed to once a week. Service from 

Lester to Montgomery and from Lester by Angheim 

and Wheatland to Montgomery was also cut to once per 

week. The locations of Lester, Angheim and Wheatland 

have disappeared. 

On Saturday evening August 25, 1883 the post office 

was moved from the Wall building to the stone building 

of Main and Third owned by F. A. Theopold. 

John R. Parshall was appointed to succeed 

Leavens on June 1, 1885. Postal receipts for 1885 were 

$9,543.65. 3,813 money orders were issued. On October 

1, 1885 special delivery service was begun. The charge 

was ten cents per letter. 

Postmasterships were political appointments. 

With a change of administration, E.N. Leavens was 

again appointed postmaster October 1, 1889. 

Business continued to increase so that, by 1881, 

Faribault was eligible for city delivery service. 

Citizens were requested to put numbers on their homes 

and businesses. The Philadelphia plan of street 

numbering had been adopted earlier by the Common 

Council. Even numbers were on the north side of the 

street and odd numbers on the south side of the street. 

Each 22 feet of frontage was represented by one 

number. Three letter carriers, Charles D. Pike, John J. 

Van Sann and Peter M. Stone, were appointed for the 

service which started on January 1, 1892. 

Haven Is Postmaster 

On January 15, 1884 Alfred E. Haven succeeded 

Leavens as postmaster. Haven was the owner of the 

Faribault Democrat and in 1876-78 had been county 

superintendent of schools. 

William Kaiser was appointed postmaster 

February 15, 1899 from a field of nine candidates. The 

Faribault Republican had this to report: 

"At last William Kaiser has received the 

appointment of postmL;:;ter fur 'Faribault and will 

succeed Mr. Haven, who will have held the office, upon 

his retirement, about a year and two months beyond 

the time for which he was appointed. Mr. Haven has 

been an efficient officer and gives way to the unwritten 

law of politics.'' 

The Post Office Department, in 1899, requested 

bids for a building and this time specified that, in 

addition to the fixtures, heating and lighting be 

furnished. The bid of Donald and A. J. Grant was 

accepted and the office was moved on May 1, 1899 to 

Central Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets. The 

personnel of the office at this time were William 

Kaiser, postmaster; E. N. Leavens, assistant 

postmaster; Mrs. Nellie Bemis, money order clerk; 

Samuel A. Metcalf, mailing clerk; Edwin J. F. 

Kiekenapp, stamp clerk; E. J. Healy, Jr., John J. Van 

Sann and Peter M. Stone, carriers. William P. 

Townsend became a clerk August 3, 1899. 

James W. Parshall became the first rural carrier 

on June 4, 1900 at an annual salary of $400. The length 

of the route was twenty-two miles and ran east through 

Cannon City and Wheeling Townships. The population 

served was about 500. 

On September 1, 1899 an additional city carrier was 

allowed and service was extended to the east side of 

town. The Rural Free Delivery route had proved so 

successful that on February 15, 1901 five additional 

routes were authorized. 

By the year 1900, post offices had been established 

at Moland and Richland. Daily Star Route service was 

maintained with those offices and the office at 

Shieldsville. 

The salary of rural carrier in 1900 was increased 

from $400 to $500 per year. Routes averaged 

twenty-five miles in length. Postage for delivery on a 

rural route was two cents. 

Gross receipts for the year 1901 were $18,210.00. On 

October 15, 1901 the office at Richland was 

discontinued. The schedule for the Moland Star Route 

allowed five hours for the trip which was made by way 

of Eklund. 

School Postal Station 

A postal station was authorized at the School for 

the Feeble Minded on April 1, 1902. All of the services 

offered at the main office were provided at the station. 

This year also saw the installation of the first telephone 

in the post office and an electric motor for the 

cancelling machine. Pay records show that one carrier 

was paid $13.33 for eight days work. The basic salary 

was $600 per year. 

The failure of the First National Bank occurred on 

January 3, 1905. There were $1629.90 of postal funds on 

deposit at the time. Postmaster Kaiser was held 

responsible for the funds and made good the loss. The 

failure of the bank caused several other local businesses 

to fail and hurt business in general in the city. 

Eden N. Leaven, who had served as postmaster for 

sixteen years and as an assistant to Mr. Kaiser since 

1899, was compelled to resign on July 1, 1909 because of 

ill health. At the time of his resignation he was 

82 years of age. 

On February 12, 1910 the post office was again 

visited by fire. The fire was discovered at 11:10 in the 

evening. By the time the firemen arrived, the entire 

back of the building was burning. After a two hour fight 

the flames were subdued and clean up began. 

Fortunately very little mail was damaged, but much of 

it had gotten wet. The fire had started on Saturday 

night so the postal employees had Sunday to dry out the 

mail and clean up. The Sunday mail was delivered as 

usual, but it took over a month to get the office back in 

shape. 

In 1908 Congressman C. R. Davis succeeded in 

getting a bill passed by Congress appropriating $50,000 

for a new building. The property was purchased for 

$9,000. In 1910 an additional $20,000 was appropriated. 

Ground for the new office was broken on July 24, 

1911 and work progressed during the summer and fall 

until October 26, 1911 when the cornerstone was laid. 

The contractor for the building was William O'Neill 

and Sons Company. 

The cornerstone laying ceremonies began with a 

52


This was the type of transportation used by 

rural mail carriers when the Rural Free 

Delivery Service started in 1901. The buggy 

had a small stove inside. 

dinner for visiting dignitaries at the Brunswick Hotel. 

This was followed by a parade in which fraternal 

organizations of the city, the Shattuck and St. James 

Cadet Corps and the fire department took part.. The 

day was cold, dark and gloomy. The cornerstone laying 

ceremony was conducted by Faribault Lodge No.9 AF 

& AM. The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of 

Minnesota, Elmer A. Kling of Little Falls, was in 

charge. The address was given by Congressman C. R. 

Davis. After the ceremonies the guests were given a 

tour of the city in automobiles which had been loaned 

by leading citizens. In the evening a banquet was held 

in the Gallagher-O'Neill Hall with 500 attending. 

Speakers were James J. Dow and the Rev. F. L. 

Palmer. 

Parcel Post Service 

Service from the new building was begun 

December 15, 1912. On January 1, 1915 parcel post 

service was begun by the Post Office Department. The 

weight limit on parcels was eleven pounds. One pound 

could be sent fifty -miles for five cents. Eleven pounds 

to the eighth zone was $1.32. The eighth zone from 

Faribault includes Alaska and Hawaii. With such 

favorable rates the volume of parcel post grew rapidly. 

The Faribault office had been designed before parcel 

post was a part of the service, so from its beginning the 

office was crowded. It took over fifty years to get the 

building enlarged. 

John Kasper was appointed postmaster in 1916 to 

succeed Mr. Kaiser. 

During World War I the Post Office Department 

was faced with the task of providing mail service to the 

men at training camps and later for the American 

Expeditionary Forces. Provisions were made for 

mailing of parcels at a rate of twelve cents per pound 

with a maximum of twenty pounds. Mail from the 

soldiers could be prepaid at domestic rates or letters 

could be sent without postage and collected for from 

the receiver. Magazines could be sent for one cent, not 

to an individual, but to the AEF for delivery to men in 

uniform. 

May 15, 1918 marks the beginning of air mail 

service. The first air mail rate was twenty-four cents 

per ounce. This included ten cents for special delivery 

service at the destination. Later the rate was reduced 

to six cents and the special delivery was eliminated. 

Regular postage at this time was two cents per ounce. 

The two cent rate continued until the '30's when it was 

increased to three cents for letters going to another 

office and two cents for letters for local delivery. 

October 1, 1935 was important to all postal 

personnel because on that date the forty hour week 

became law. This meant much rescheduling and, for 

most employees, two full non-work days each week. 

In 1936 postage meters for the payment of postage 

were introduced. Use of meter impressions eliminated 

the need for cancellation. For the mailer it meant time 

saved and better control of postal funds. 

Seed Firms Busy 

During the thirties the Ideal Life Insurance 

Company and the Farmer Seed and Nursery were the 

big mailers in Faribault. Ideal Life notices were 

mailed monthly. In spring the office reeked of onions 

and oinion sets mailed by Farmer Seed. Other large 

seasonal mailers were Andrews Nursery, the Brand 

Peony Farms and Lehman Gardens. 

In time the volume of these mailers became so 

great that it was necessary to start making distribution 

in the plant. As long as there was rail service, the 

Farmer Seed and Nursery mail was loaded into a box 

53

lilen ~§Vow 

car spotted beside their building. This worked very 

well with one exception. The railroad lost one of the 

cars and didn't find it until more than a month later. 

In 1924, with the change of administration from 

Democrat to Republican, N. S. Erb was appointed 

postmaster. He served until1934 when Mr. Kasper was 

again appointed to the position. 

A Civil Service examination for the substitute 

clerk-carrier position was given in April1936. Over one 

hundred and twenty people took the examination. The 

beginning salary at that time was sixty-five cents per 

hour. 

World War II took several of the employees from 

the Faribault office. Some of them worked in the Army 

Postal System. The army postal service was better 

organized then it had been for World War I. Among the 

innovations was V-Mail. For this service a special form 

was obtained at the post office on which the message 

was written. This was sent to New York, San Francisco 

or Seattle where it was opened and photographed on 16 

mm film. The film was sent by air to points overseas 

where the prints were made from the film These prints 

were sent to the addressee. This system greatly 

reduced the volume of the mail and resulted in faster 

service. 

With the war over, business returned to normal but 

was constantly increasing. This meant that the 

building was getting more crowded. Walter Brucher 

had become postmaster in 1938 upon the death of John 

Kasper. He started to work for an addition to the office. 

Several times it seemed hopeful, but the building didn't 

materialize. 

Meanwhile, the department experimented with a 

feeder air route serving Faribault. Air mail was 

dispatched from the Owatonna airport to 

Minneapolis-St. Paul or Omaha. This service started 

October 26, 1949. The advantages did not warrant the 

cost, so it was soon discontinued. 

Zip Code Program 

July 1, 1963 was a major landmark in the history of 

the postal service, for it was on that day that the ZIP 

code program was started. Received somewhat 

skeptically at first, it has proved its worth. Because it 

lends itself to mechanization, it has made it possible to 

move today's mass of mail. It would be impossible to 

do so without ZIP code. 

Finally, in 1963, it was announced that the 

Faribault post office was to be enlarged more than 

double in size. Work was started in 1964 and continued 

through the winter. Regular postal service was 

continued while the building was being built. 

Employees learned to wear heavy underwear and 

jackets to work as canvas and plastic do not make 

weatherproof walls. 

September 24, 1965 the new half-million dollar 

addition and renovated building was dedicated. As at 

the cornerstone laying in 1911, the day was dark, cold 

and gloomy. The Bethlehem Academy band played for 

the occasion at which Walter "Bill" Hogan of the 

Minneapolis Regional Office was the speaker. A 

luncheon, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, 

was held at the Hotel Faribault. Tickets were $1.50 for 

a menu of fish or ham with mashed potatoes, peas, jello 

salad, rolls, coffee and chocolate cake topped with 

whipped cream. 

With the enlarged facilities, the Faribault Post 

Office is now one of the finest in the state. Parcel post, 

both incoming and outgoing, has greatly decreased in 

volume. Gopher Shooters Supply is the largest year 

round mailer and Andrews Nursery and Colonial 

Hatcheries are the large seasonal mailers. Semi-truck 

loads of nursery stock and baby chicks are dispatched 

daily during the spring season. 

Postmaster Walter Brucher died in the spring of 

1968. Lyle J. Schreiber was appointed postmaster 

October 4, 1968. He was the first career Faribault 

postmaster, having been in the postal service for 

thirty-one years before becoming postmaster. He 

retired July 1, 1974 and was succeeded by Harold S. 

Berg. 

In preparing this history much credit is due to the 

former postmaster William Kaiser who had written a 

history in 1910 to be included in the. two volume History 

of Rice and Steele Counties compiled by Frank 

Curtis-Wedge and a History of Rice County by the Rev. 

Edward D. Neill. 

Faribault's mother of the year, 

Adeline Heyer Ballenthin 

ADELINE HEYER BALLENTHIN 

(1972 Minnesota Mother of the Year) 

"Concern for the welfare of her family and 

dedication to the welfare of others has led Adeline 

Heyer Ballenthin down many paths of life, both as an 

influential leader or a commendable follower.'' 

So stated a letter written in behalf of the Owatonna 

Hospital Auxiliary, co-sponsor with the Faribault 

Welcome Wagon, in nominating Adeline Ballenthin for 

1972 Minnesota Mother of the Year, a nomination 

resulting in her selection by a state committee. 

Adeline became Rice County's first State Mother, 

selected for her contributions on a local, district and 

state level in religious and civic activities and for her 

homemaking talents and on the high character a~d 

achievements of her four children. 

They are: Kathleen, B.A; M.S; Valparaiso 

University, Indiana, a teacher in Caracas, Venezuela, 

S.A.; Richard, Master in Divinity, Concordia 

Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.; now a pastor in Chatham, 

Ontario, Canada; James, juris doctor, Phi Beta 

Kappa, University of Minnesota, law partner of Rosen, 

Kaplan and Ballenthin, St. Paul; John, graduate of the 

Institute of Technology, Tau Beta Pi; University of 

Minnesota and now working for his Doctorate in 

Physics. 

James and John were each National Merit 

Scholarship Finalists and all four children were honor 

graduates at the high school and college levels and are 

54


active in church and extra-curricular activities. 

Adeline was born May 21, 1918, in Faribault to Otto 

and Elsa Lieder Heyer, the second oldest child and 

oldest daughter of 14 children, 10 of whom are still 

living. Her brother, Robert, was named National 

Teacher of the Year in 1975. 

Reared in the depth of the depression with the 

family struggling to make ends meet, her father, 

skilled in cabinetmaking and carpentry, was not above 

taking any type of work to earn money to support his 

growing family. 

Class Valedictorian 

After attending Trinity Lutheran School for eight 

years, she graduated valedictorian of her class of 136 

from Faribault High School in 1936. The school selected 

her as the first recipient of the DAR "Good Citizenship 

Award," and the "The Good Citizen" was the topic of 

her valedictory address and this objective has been 

striven for in the ensuing years. She was elected to the 

Junior and Senior National Honor Society and to Quill 

and Scroll, journalistic Nati~nal Honor Society. 

Even though awarded several scholarships, 

because of family need, she returned to high school to 

enroll in business courses and at a time when jobs were 

hard to come by, T. M. Power Wholesale Co. hired her 

as their first bookkeeper and secretary, a position she 

held until marriage in 1940 to Willi E. Ballenthin, who 

had come in 1930 to Rice County from Pomerania, 

Germany. 

Full Circle Made 

For the next 15 years they lived in Cambridge 

where Willi was an engineer at the Cambridge State 

Hospital. In 1955 the family moved to Owatonna where 

Willi was chief engineer of the Owatonna State School, 

and in 1969 they returned to Faribault where he 

became the chief engineer of the Minnesota School for 

the Deaf. Adeline had made full circle, returning to her 

birthplace, to live out the remainder of her life. 

From the time the children were born, Adeline 

assumed presidencies, chairmanships and committee 

posts of virtually every organization with worthy goals 

of which she became a member and her husband 

encouraged her to do this. 

Mrs. Ballenthin, in the span of 36 years, lived with 

her busy and cooperative family in three different 

cities - Cambridge, Owatonna and Faribault -when 

her husband assumed new power engineering 

positions. 

In all three cities and their counties - Isanti, 

Steele and Rice - Mrs. Ballenthin became an admired 

leader for her zeal, enthusiasm and unflagging work in 

pushing beneficial projects for the Isanti County 

Library, serving until 1955 as board chairman; for the 

Isanti County Water Safety and Swimming Program; 

for the Minnesota Federation of Women's Clubs; for 

the Cambridge and Owatonna PT As; as a chairman for 

six meetings on "Home and Family Life," conducted 

by the Minnesota Council on Family Life; as organizer 

and first president of the Owatonna City Hospital 

Auxiliary; as District "F" president of the Minnesota 

Hospital Association Auxiliary with an area spanning 

22 counties, including Rice County; serving as the first 

Mrs. Adeline Ballenthin 

(Mother of the Year) 

woman appointed to the Owatonna City Planning 

Commission; for her leadership of many Faribault 

organ ~zations. 

Through the years, she has been a faithful and 

active member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri 

Synod, holding many offices and chairmanships and 

last year became one of the first seven women in 

Trinity Lutheran Church in Faribault to be taken into 

voting membership. 

A year after becoming State Mother, she assumed 

the presidency of the Minnesota American Mother's 

Committee, Inc., which annually conducts the search 

for State Mothers, and became state Bicentennial 

Biographical Project Chairman for the book ''Mothers 

of Achievement in American History, 1776-1976" in 

which Minnesota has 10 biographies included. This is 

an endorsed project of the American Revolutionary 

Bicentennial Committee and is partially funded by it. 

Husband, Children Pay Tribute 

Perhaps the greatest tribute of the Faribault born 

daughter is that which comes from a husband who 

shared his wife's interest and gave his support and 

encouragement and that which comes from the 

children as represented by the letter from Rev. 

Richard Ballenthin supporting his mother's 

nomination for 1972 Minnesota Mother of the Year. 

"In thinking back, I knew that my mother gave a 

great deal of time and effort for the good of the larger 

community, but it impresses me that she did it in such 

a way that our home life was never deprived," he 

wrote. "In fact, my offhand impression is that she was 

always home doing the things a fulltime mother would 

be doing. 

"Our lives were impressed in the most subtle way 

by the values and feelings and nature of a mother who 

has always put all of herself into everything she did. 

"She rarely raised her voice but effectively she 

raised us. Her moral and spiritual values were held 

highly and instilled in us effectively. We grew up with a 

strong faith in God, a vibrant concern for the greater 

community, and a personal drive to develop our own 

abilities to the absolute fullest. 

"Our love and respect for our parents couldn't be 

55

~en l!?cfNow 

higher and a strong family built upon love and sharing 

stands as the cornerstone in our own lives as the key to 

the strength of ourselves as individuals and our 

community and our nation." 

"In this our Bicentennial year, we need a 

reaffirmation of Christianity emphasizing the 

importance of the family as the cornerstone of our 

community, state and nation, instilling children with 

Christian and moral values and their responsibilities 

toward themselves and others.'' 

Girl Scouts active 

According to a Faribault Daily News story in the 

issue of Oct. 16, 1929, 200 Faribault girls on that date 

were enrolled in scouting. 

"This year," the item stated, "there are five active 

troops of Girl Scouts, according to the local scouting 

committee. The Congregational, Methodist and 

Immaculate Conception Churches sponsor Girl Scout 

troops while active organizations have been 

established at the Minnesota Braille and Sight Saving 

School and the Minnesota' School for the Deaf. One 

Campfire Girls troop is active in Faribault, sponsored 

by the local Episcopal Church (Cathedral of Our 

Merciful Saviour). Among the members of the local 

Camp Committee are Mrs. Henry Voegel and Mrs. E. 

A. Gruss." 

The Immaculate Conception Church Girl Scout 

troop was organized in the spring of 1929. Troop 

organizers included: Mrs. Henry Voegel, Mrs. E.A. 

Gruss, Mrs. Zita Kasper Taylor and Mrs. Charles 

MacKenzie Jr. Committee members active in Girl 

Scout work for the troop were Miss Lillian Wall and 

Mrs. John Winkley. 

Sewage plant vital project 

There was a city wide meeting held on October 18, 

1954 to hear plans about the proposed sewage disposal 

plant. "The State of Minnesota has ordered the city of 

Faribault to construct an approved sewage treatment 

plant as a health measure. The city cannot add to its 

sanitary sewer system unless steps are taken to 

comply with this order." 

The foregoing quote was taken from a brochure 

that went on to say that the city council considers the 

construction of a sewage treatment plant an absolute 

necessity and it proposes to construct such a plant. 

Engineering for the project is in charge of the firm 

of Toltz, King and Day of St. Paul. They described the 

work needed: 

Sewage and industrial wastes of the city of 

Faribault are discharged to the Straight and Cannon 

Rivers without treatment. The sewage from the 

institutions of the state of Minnesota are discharged in 

part of the city sewers and in part to an old obsolete 

state sewage plant. 

This sewage seriously pollutes the Straight and 

Cannon Rivers. This project to be constructed jointly 

by the city and state, contemplates connecting existing 

sewer outlets at a common point on the east side of the 

Straight River just below 14th Street. At this point, a 

modern treatment plant will be constructed to treat 

sewage adequately. 

Sewage Treated 

The treatment plant will screen and settle the 

sewage, treat it further on trickling filters and provide 

for chlorination to disinfect the sewage, prior to its 

discharge to the river. The solids removed from the 

sewage will be disgested and vaccum filtered for 

ultimate disposal on land areas as a soil conditioner. 

Industrial wastes from Faribault Canning 

Company will be disposed of separately by land 

irrigation at a site north of the city. 

Total cost of the project is estimated at $1,250,000. 

Of this amount 22 per cent will be paid by the state and 

$375,000 will be available from the city. The amount 

left, $875,000 will be financed by the city. 

The council plans to finance the project under 

provisions of Chapter 398 of the Laws of Minnesota, 

1953. Under this law part of the cost will be assessed 

against the benefited property. The Council has 

decided the most equitable method of assessing is on a 

parcel basis. Basic assessment will be $150 for each 

parcel to be paid at $7.50 per year for 20 years, plus 4 

per cent interest on unpaid installments. On unplatted 

land the council proposes to establish a connection 

charge of 150 dollars, so that wherever these acres are 

platted that charge will be made for each sewer 

connection. So owners of new platted property will pay 

the same as present owners of platted property. A bid 

of $909,003 for the construction of the sewage disposal 

plant was approved by the City Council. Submitting the 

low bid was Steenberg Construction Company of St. 

Paul. 

Ten Acre Site 

Ground was broken on April 20, 1955 on a ten acre 

site on the east side of the Straight River just below 

14th Street for Faribault's Municipal Sewage disposal 

plant. 

As members of the city council, city officials and 

representatives of the contracting and engineering 

firms watched, Mayor Frank Duncan and John Dusek, 

commissioner of water and sewer, turned shovelfuls of 

dirt, officially launching work on the project which will 

now get underway on a large scale. 

Other city officials participating were: 

Councilmen Phil McCarthy, William Korff, and Vince 

Pluemer; City Engineer Ted Olsson, City Water Supt. 

George LaRoche, City Recorder, Roland Kruger. 

The project is to be completed by June 8, 1956 with 

60 men on the crew. This site was purchased by the city 

council in 1933 at a price of $3,000 from the late Dr. P. 

A. Smith. It is ideal for the purpose for which it is to be 

56

Faribault in 1874, looking north from old court house 

used. 

In 1934 a city election was held to determine 

whether residents would approve the issuance of 

bonds, contingent on a PWA grant for the construction 

of a disposal plant. It was decisively defeated. Since 

then several city councils have discussed the plant and 

developed steps towards it eventual attainment. 

Plant Being Enlarged 

Consistent use of Faribault's Sewage Disposal 

plant increased steadily. Fourteen years after the 

plant began operation (1956) city officials became fully 

aware of the need for plant expansion. On Sept. 13, 1970 

an engineering agreement for a complete remodeling 

and overall improvement project of the plant was 

approved by the city council. It was estimated the 

project would cost about $4,000,000. 

Study of the project continued and on May 24, 1972 

an application was submitted by the council to the US 

Federal Government for federal fund assistance. 

Bids for the improved and expanded plant were 

opened on Jan. 8, 1975. On March 7, 1975 the 

construction contract was awarded the Lysne 

Construction Co., Blooming Prairie on a bid of 

$3,436,000. The four top bids submitted each were 

within $2,000 of each other. The completion date was 

set for Oct. 1, 1977. Construction of the plant is now well 

underway. The new addition will utilize newest 

methods devised in the treatment of sewage. 

The engineering firm of Ricke-Carroll-Muller 

Associates, Hopkins, previously had been hired to 

make detailed plans and studies. For its services the 

firm was paid $220,000. 

One of the features of the enlarged plant is that it 

will have its own standby generator, valued at $120,000 

so that in case of a NSP power failure, the plant could 

continue operation. State and federal requirements 

also stipulated that while the plant is being remodeled, 

sewage waste cannot be further polluted. 

Under the agreement with federal and state 

officials 75 per cent of the total cost will be paid by the 

federal government, 15 per cent by the state and the 

rest by the City of Faribault. 

Parks provide fun, 

recreation, quietness 

After the city acquired the Caron Farm in 

Faribault's north side section for park purposes, 

nothing was done for a few years because of World War 

II. During that time the city built a new dam on the 

north branch of the river. Paul Schroeder Company 

constructed the dam on a cost plus basis. Later in Oct. 

1945 a walkway was constructed across the dam. 

May 1946: Most of the farm was rented to B. F. 

Kaul for agricultural purposes; Hugh Vincent Feehan, 

57

(/len ~§Vow 

a landscape architect from Minneapolis, was 

employed to make an overall plan of the park layout; 

July 22, 1947: City Council awarded a bid to build and 

repair a fish rearing pond in Slevin Park. 

July 22, 1947: The City Council accepted a bid from 

the Tuma Construction Company for grading 

Alexander Faribault Park. The amount of the contract 

being $10,336.50; Oct. 7, 1947: The City Council 

accepted a bid of $8500 from the Faribault School 

District for lands for an athletic field. This included all 

lands within the perimeter of Memorial Drive; 

March 23, 1948: The Baseball Association asked that 

Bell Field be built and a grandstand be erected. 

Aug. 12, 1948: Lighting Contract for Bell Field was 

awarded to the Minnesota Valley Electric Company. 

Nov. 1948: Bid let for grandstand to Kratochvil 

Construction Co. for $28,978.64; Jan. 25, 1948: School 

Board submits plans for bathhouse and swimming 

pool; 1950: Paul Schroeder Construction Co. 

constructed bath house. 

At that time Faribault belonged to the Southern 

Minnesota Baseball Association and continued to draw: 

capacity crowds. Later the city erected bleachers at 

both ends of the grandstand, this continued for a few 

years and finally ended. After the Southern Minnesota 

Baseball Association folded a new sport, softball 

became popular. 

The city converted most of a park area south of 

Bell Field to several lighted softball diamonds. 

In recent years the city has acquired a tract of land 

on the South bank of the river. This area contains 20 to 

30 acres of land. The city hopes to develop this in the 

near future and is to be known as Alexander Park 

South. 

There are 15 city-owned parks within Faribault. In 

addition, the recreation facilities at six private schools 

and one public school-owned facility are available for 

public use. Furthermore, the city has an agreement 

with the School District for joint use of skating 

facilities at four of the public schools. The Rice County 

Fairgrounds are also located within the community. 

While Faribault does not have a recreational 

classification system as such the following 

classifications were developed by city staff to 

generally categorize existing facilities. 

Play Lot: The smallest of the park units, 

characterized by specialized facilities that serve a 

concentrated or limited population. 

Playfield: Somewhat larger area for intense 

recreational activities such as field games, court 

games, crafts, apparatus area, skating, and 

neighborhood centers. 

Community Park: Community parks encompass a 

large area usually designed for community-wide social 

and recreation functions. Community parks are noted 

for activities such as picnicking, walking, swimming 

and active games. Lighted areas for evening games 

are typically provided. A portion of the area is left in 

the natural open state. 

Special Facility: An area providing specialized or 

single purpose recreational activities such as golf 

courses, swimming pools, picnic areas or arenas. 

From the map it is evident that a number of areas 

within the community are not being adequately served 

by the existing park system. Notably, the area west of 

Highway 65, the area east of the Straight River, and the 

area south of Highway 60 between Highway 65 and the 

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad 

tracks are all total'.y or severely lacking in. available 

recreational facilities. Areas which are adequately 

served by the existing park system are also hampered 

however, on the basis of access. In many instances, 

man-made and-or natural barriers restrict access to 

park facilities. It should also be noted that three 

city-owned parks are as yet undeveloped. In the case of 

Alexander Park South and Slevin Park, once 

developed, access will likewise be a problem. 

Coordination and cooperation between city parks 

and schools at the present time is somewhat limited. 

With the exception of two schools which are located 

adjacent to parks (Garfield school - Wapacuta Park 

and Jefferson School-Jefferson Park), cooperation is 

limited to joint use of warming house facilities at four 

public schools. 

Data on Faribault Parks 

Rice County Fairgrounds-Second A venue and 

20th Street_N. W ., Special Facility. 

Alexander Faribault Park - Second Ave. N.W. 

and Cannon River, Community Park. 

Slevin Park - Second Ave. N.W. and Cannon 

River, City. 

White Sands-T.H. 65, Special Facility. 

Alexander Park-South- Seventh Ave. and 12th St. 

N.W. 

McKinley School - Fourth Ave. and Ninth St. 

N. W., Playfield. 

McKinley Recreation Center - First Ave. and 12th 

St. N.W., Special Facility. 

Shattuck Golf Course - Shumway and Parshall, 

Special Facility. 

Lincoln Park - Lincoln and Seventh St. N.W., 

Playfield. 

St. Lawrence School- Second Ave. & 8th St. N.W., 

Play Lot. 

Sacred Heart School- Third Ave. and Seventh St. 

N.W., Play Lot. 

Central Park - Third Ave. and 5th St. N.W., 

Community Park. 

Trinity Lutheran School- Sixth Ave. and Fourth 

St. N. W., Play Lot. 

Faribault Junior High School- Fourth Ave. and 

Fifth St. N.W., Playfield. 

Washington School, Shumway and T.H. 60, 

Playfield. 

Immaculate Conception School- Second Ave. and 

First St. S. W., Play Lot. 

Bethlehem Academy - Second Ave. and Second 

St. S.W., Playfield. 

Peace Park- Park Place and Division, Special 

Facility. 

Meder Park - Third Ave. N.E. and Division, 

Special Facility. 

Rye Park - Institute and Division, special 

Facility. 

Tepee Tonka Park - Third Ave. N.E. and 

58


Faribault is noted for its many, well-kept 

parks and playgrounds. The map shows the 

designated numbers of the 27 parks and 

playgrounds located in all sections of the city. 

Division, community Park. 

Conliffe Park - Conliffe and Prairie, Special 

Facility. 

Faribault Senior High School- Prairie and Third 

St. S.W., Playfield. 

Wapacuta Park- Second Ave. S.W. and Tower 

Place, Community Park. 

Hartman Park - Lind and Francis, Special 

Facilty. 

Jefferson Park- Ninth Ave. and Tenth St. S.W., 

Playfield 

Southern Park- Westwood Drive, Playfield. 

59

Buckham Memorial Library 

Library idea born in 1856 

Early in 1856 a Dr. L. W. Leighton located here and 

opened his office, carrying a few staple drugs. In those 

days there was little business for a doctor and Leighton 

eked out his rather slender income with a circulating 

library. There was a brisk demand for the few books he 

was able to keep. He left the state in 1859. 

Then an organization was formed known as the 

Brotherhood of the Good Shepherd and a free reading 

room was opened. About 1500 volumes were secured as 

gifts from Faribault citizens. Later the Faribault 

Library Association was formed and given a place in 

the Commissioner's Room in the Courthouse. The 

Faribault Public Library as a tax supported institution 

dates from 1897. 

In 1896 the library occupied rooms provided in the 

new city building. Money was needed for books, 

equipment, etc., and the energetic people of Faribault 

held strawberry festivals, a minstrel show and kept a 

box on the desk for contributions. 

In 1897 the Library was taken over by the city and a 

board of nine members was appointed: Thomas S. 

Buckham, President and board members: J. J. Dow, 

E. N. Leavens, B. B. Sheffield, R. A. Mott, H. C. 

Theopold, A. D. Keyes, M. M. Shields, A. E. Haven. 

The library continued to grow and its quarters 

were being enlarged but soon its quarters became too 

small. 

Memorial Library Given 

Mrs. Anna Buckham gave to the city of Faribault a 

most generous gift - a library - in memory of her 

husband. It is known as the Thomas Scott Buckham 

Memorial Library. It was dedicated on July 20, 1930. 

The architect was Charles Buckham of Vermont, 

4 nephew of Judge and Mrs. Buckham. 

5224 Blocks Used 

The building is constructed of dolomite limestone 

quarried near Kasota, Minn. To some it will be 

interesting to note there were 5224 blocks used in the 

structure. The cost of the building, lot and extras was 

$239,000. 

Because Judge Buckham was an avid Greek 

scholar with a particular interest in the arts, Mrs. 

Buckham chose Greece as a central theme for the 

library. 

The Greek window at the center of the main 

reading room was designed and made by Charles 

Connick of Boston. It uses the gods, heroes, poets and 

60


philosophers to present the glory that was Greece. 

On the walls of the upstairs reading room are four 

panels which interpret the contribution of Greece 

toward what is beautiful and permanent in the modern 

world. The period pictured is that of the fourth century 

B.C., the age of Pericles, when Greek culture reached 

its height. 

These Greek murals were painted by Artist Alfred 

J. Hyslop, a former professor of art at Carlton College. 

It is his intent that the colors remain intense and bright 

through the years, which they have. They were hung in 

1930. 

On this floor is Judge Buckham's personal library. 

Many volumes are in the Greek language. 

The music room is a gift from the ''Friends of the 

Library.'' 

On the third floor is the museum belonging to the 

Rice County Historical Society. 

The library has 50,000 volumes available to its 

patrons, as well as eight newsp~pers, 125 periodicals, 

recordings, 8mm and 16mm films. The library has 

Faribault newspapers dating back to 1856 up to the 

present time. 1856-1859 are on microfilm and from July 

1950 to present. 

-Librarians who have been in ~harge since the 

organization of the library are, in the order of their 

service: 

Mrs. Cynthia G. Davis, Miss Sarah LeCrone, Miss 

Julia Fink, Miss Mildred Methven, Miss Florence 

Love, Miss Esther Reinke, Mrs. Mildred Lenmark 

(acting librarian), Norwell Leitzke, Gerald Stading, 

Mrs. Lester Bursik (Martina) 

The present staff (1976) of the library includes: 

Mrs. Dorothy Deming, Mrs. Florence Cates, Robert 

Kaupa, Mrs. LeAnn Dean, Mrs. Jackie Jones, Nancy 

Brandt and Joseph Charlton; Custodian is Otto 

Sunvold. 

Robert Norman, former superintendent of 

Faribault Public Schools, is chairman of the library 

board, Other members include: Alfred Crossley, vice 

chairman; Miss Emily Mae Buth, secretary; Mrs. A. 

M. Hanson, Mrs. Layton Hoysler, Mrs. Walter Lentz, 

Dr. C. F. Robertshaw, Mrs. A.W. Nuetzman and 

Arthur Hopke, city council representative on the 

board. 

Water fluoridated 

Fluoridation of the city's water supply was 

approved by the city council on December 9, 1952. The 

council voted unanimously to go ahead with 

fluoridation proposal which calls for addition of 

fluoride to the city's water supply as a measure to 

combat dental decay. 

Speaking in favor of the proposal were: Frank 

Duncan, Byron Berhow, Karl Reinke, Dr. E. E. 

Luhring, Mrs. William Behlke, Dr. Robert Reed, and 

Ed Silvis. Speaking in opposition were Marie Voegel 

and Layton Hoysler. 

New reserve center 

The 1958 Memorial Day observance in Faribault 

was highlighted by the dedication of the $238,000 new 

Army Reserve Center in West Faribault. The center is 

located near the intersection of Highway 60 and 

Western Avenue. Work was started June 15, 1957. The 

center houses the city's two reserve units, the 328 

Ordnance Company and the 483rd Transportation 

Company. The principal speaker was Brig. General 

Briard P. Johnson, commanding general of the XIV 

U.S. Army Corps, Reserve. 

Deaf group formed 

Faribault Division No. 101 of the National 

Fraternal Society of the Deaf was organized on Dec. 6, 

1924 with eleven charter members. Now it has more 

·than 50 members. 

The Society was founded in 1901 to provide life 

insurance for deaf men as insurance companies then 

thought that the deaf were poor risks and would not 

issue them policies. 

Now the Society has more than 12,000 members 

and assets of more than $6,000,000. 

The Society offers life insurance and sick and 

accident insurance to deaf men and women. It also 

promotes their social welfare. 

Wesley Lauritsen, the only surviving charter, 

member, is the 1976 president of the Faribault division. 

Churches community · asset 

Fourth Avenue 

United Methodist Church 

Five families, three couples and nine unmarried 

men had stayed in Faribault through the winter of 1853. 

Religious services - with no_ thought of creed or 

denomination - were held in Crump's Hall, or in 

homes, even out-of-doors. 

In 1855, seven people met in the Faribault house 

(more often called Nutting's Hotel) and organized the 

class that became the First Methodist Church of 

Faribault. Truman Nutting and his wife Mary; the 

Reverend Mr. Morgan Noble and his wife; James M. 

White (operated a shingle mill); Harvey T. Rawson 

(kept a general store); and Edward J. Crump (the first 

school teacher) - these were Faribault's original 

Methodists. The Nuttings were hospitable people and 

61

often kept the minister and his family in their hotel 

when there was no way to pay a salary. Mr. Noble was 

the first minister whose ordination was recorded in 

Rice County- he was ordained in Peoria, Illinois and 

transferred to this county. 

By 1856, the still-small group decided to start 

building a church on a lot that Truman Nutting had 

secured as a gift from General Shields. 25x36 feet was 

the size of the first church; there was no vestibule so 

the double doors opened directly into the sanctuary. To 

the left and right of the entrance was a wood stove. On 

the platform was a chair, a table with a Bible on it and 

a few chairs for the choir. Oil lamps hung from the 

ceiling. 

By 1860, there were 62 members with 55 in the 

Sunday School. Value of property was $800. A twenty 

foot addition to the rear in 1865 made the Little White 

Church adequate for another ten years. 

May 17, 1875 this news item appeared in "The 

Faribault Republican": The old Methodist Church on 

the corner of Third and Cherry Streets was purchased 

by Hatch and Dibbold, Contractors, and moved back 

sufficiently to have site clear for the new building. The 

new edifice will be of wood veneered with brick. 

Dedication of this structure was in 1877. 

Years later, they were able to afford pews and 

sidewalks and the church was debt-free. A fire in 1901 

caused extensive damage, but repairs were made and 

the building was used until1915. It was then, during the 

ministry of Anthony J. Allen, that work was begun to 

remove the old church - and a contract signed for the 

building of the present sanctuary. The new building 

was dedicated December 9, 1915. The German 

Methodist Church across the street opened its doors to 

the congregation during the months when it was 

without a home, and the next milestone was the merger 

of these two churches in 1924. 

The records seem to give credit to the women's 

organizations for the raising of $8,000.00 for the 

installation of the Reuter Pipe Organ in 1923. 

But to all members of the church must go credit for 

its latest great achievement - the building of the 

Educational Unit. Three well-planned finance 

cr~sades, over a ten-year period, made possible the 

building of this $190,000 facility. The cornerstone was 

laid September 6, 1964 and the mortgage was burned 

May 21, 1972. Once more, the church was debt-free. 

The church, now known as the Fourth A venue 

United Methodist Church of Faribault following action 

by the General Conference in Dallas which united 

Methodists and Evangelical United Brethren into one 

effective denomination, has built three parsonages. In 

1914, the lot south of the church was purchased and a 

parsonage built. In 1928, the Harkins property on the 

NW comer of Third Street and Fourth A venue was 

purchased for a parsonage and on October 6, 1963, 

Consecration and Open House was held at the new 

ranch-style parsonage at 621 Olander Street in 

Southern Heights. The Rev. Charles Nelson family 

were its first residents. 

Up to mid-1976 the pastor was Lewis F. Allin, who 

came in 1969. He is a native of Hill City, a graduate 

of the University of Minnesota with a degree in 

Chemical Engineering, and of Drew Theological 

Seminary, Madison N.J., with a Bachelor of Divinity 

degree. He served during World War II as a 

communications officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 

with overseas duty in China, Burma, India and Europe. 

After graduation from the U of M, Mr. Allin worked for 

one year as a petroleum engineer in Venezuela before 

entering the ministry. He served pastorates in Delano, 

Rockford, Princeton, and South St. Paul before coming 

to Faribault. Mrs. Allin (Joyce) is also a graduate of 

the University of Minnesota. Present pastor is the Rev. 

Rex Logan. 

Congregational Church 

The Congregational Church found a place in the 

early history of Faribault, when, in the summer of 

1855, regular services were conducted by various 

ministers who happened to be in town. When no 

clergyman was available, Dr. Charles Jewett, 

remembered as an "apostle of temperance," led the 

services. 

On the third Sunday of May, 1856 a church was 

formed. Thirty members made up the new 

congregation. The first minister was the Reverend 

Lauren Armsby who came here from New Hampshire. 

He served until 1861 when he became chaplain of the 

8th Minnesota Regiment in the Civil War. 

The church building was bought in 1856 for $1,000. 

It was dedicated on January 7, 1857. "It was the first 

church edifice built and completed in Rice County and 

was located on Third Street. Later, the building was 

enlarged and sold to the Trinity Lutheran 

Congregation, now First English. 

In 1864 a Second Congregational Church was 

provisionally organized; this was called Plymouth 

Church and was formally organized on January 25, in 

the year 1866. The cornerstone was laid in the building 

on September 11, 1867. The church was built from stone 

quarried near Faribault. The location was the comer, 

or intersection of Maple and Third Streets where the 

church still stands today. 

The two churches merged in 1874, using the 

Plymouth Church and adopting the name The 

Congregational Church of Faribault. 

The Rev. Rankin Shrewsbury is the pre sept 

minister of the Congregational Church. 

(Some of the above material quoted from bulletin 

prepared for the Open House of the Historical Room.) 

Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour 

The Cathedral of Our Merciful Sa vi our was 

established in June of 1862. It was the first church to be 

built as a cathedral in the American Episcopal Church. 

The Rt. Rev. Henry Benjamin Whipple D.D., LL.D., 

62

Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, First 

("nt~-~dral in American Episcopal Church, 

Sixth Street and Second Avenue NW, as it 

looked when completed in 1868 (without 

tower). 

first bishop of Minnesota, built it as his own church. 

In 1859 when Bishop Whipple came to Faribault he 

found that the Rev. Lloyd Breck, D.D., and the Rev. 

David P. Sanford had built a parish church, the Ch4rch 

of the Good Shepherd, two blocks west of the present 

t5en ~§Vow 

''Brief Story of the Cathedral'' : 

Practically no changes were made in the building 

until 1902 when the tower was completed in Bishop 

Whipple's memory, a year following his death. The 

Chimes, which are played regularly, were given by the 

s~cond Mrs. Whipple, the first Mrs. Whipple having 

died some years before. The lectern was a memori~ll to 

the first Mrs. Whipple, ''The sainted Cornelia.'' 

The Bishop's Cathedra or chair is in the sanctuary 

just north of the altar. During the seventies, August, 

1874, the Bishop was almost murdered while seated in 

this chair during a Sunday morning service. The 

would-be assassin was a disaffected and disturbed 

seminary student who had previously been advised by 

the bishop that he could not be ordained into the 

ministry. While people in the church and choir stood 

transfixed with horror, this student strode from the 

back of the church, through the nave chancel with 

pistol leveled. The only one who took action was Bishop 

Whipple. He leaped over the altar rail, pinning the 

man's arms to his side and rendering him helpless. 

Peace Lutheran Church 

Three hundred twenty-nine men, women and 

children were released from Trinity Lutheran Church 

on October 27, 1947, and on November 10 were 

incorporated as Peace Lutheran Church of Faribault, 

Minnesota. The first worship service for the new 

congregation was held at Ephphatha Church for the 

Deaf on November 23, 1947. During its months of 

formation Peace congregation was ably served by 

Pastor Herbert Burgdorf of Morristown, assisted by 

retired Pastor Carl Albrecht. 

The Rev. Lawrence Gallman was called to be the 

con~re~ation's first resident pastor and was installed 

on Aprilll, 1948. By summer of 1948, all transfers from 

Trinity had been processed and the congregation 

numbered 447 men, women and children. 

Witness to the crucified Christ of Calvary was 

given to the community as Peace congregation began 

sponsoring a down-town Good Friday Service at the 

Village Theater on April 15, 1949, and has done so ever 

since that time. Faribault area pastors and the choirs 

of Peace and Trinity congregations participated in this 

annual remembrance of our Lord's death. During the 

same year, Easter Sunrise services were begun. 

Plans for permanent facilities for the church and 

school were made as the congregation was formed. 

The first unit of our present structure, the school, was 

dedicated to the Glory of God on May 7, 1950. Besides 

the class rooms, an assembly hall was also provided in 

this building. The first worship service was held here 

on the following Sunday - Mother's Day - May 14, 

1950. That fall, a two manual Allen Electronic Organ 

was purchased by the Ladies' Guild for the 

beautification of our worship. 

The need for larger worship facilities was 

apparent even as the first unit was dedicated. 

Authorization for the preparation of preliminary plans 

for construction of the new church were begun in 1952 

and were brought to completion with the Dedication 

Octave December 14-21, 1958. The cost was $263,000.00. 

Members and friends worshipped during the 

Dedication Services around the themes that reminded 

all of how a church is dedicated to God and what this 

meant for the world, the community and the 

individual. 

All appointments in the church, including the altar, 

pulpit, communion rail, lectern, and the credence table 

(made of mild steel and white oak), the baptismal font, 

baptismal lights, processional cross, processional 

candle standards, candelabrum and hymn boards were 

designed by Pastor L. Gallman and made by members 

of Peace Church, Bernard Niner, Harold Kenow, 

Edgar Kenow, James Kenow and Barney Kalow. 

The church is quite distinct and in many ways 

different. New and striking features have been 

included in the construction of the church. 

After a 22 year _ministry at Peace, Pastor 

Lawrence Gallman retired in January 1970. Pastor 

Ronald Michel came from Indiana and was installed as 

our second pastor on August 2, 1970. After 10 months of 

joyful beginnings, the congregation was saddened by 

the sudden death of Pastor Michel on June 15, 1971. 

Pastor Ruclare Pauling of Warrenville, Illinois, was 

installed as the third pastor of Peace congregation on 

October 17, 1971. He resigned from Peace congregation 

on April 9, 1975. The congregation then was served by 

vacancy pastors O.H. Cloeter and Edgar Eifert of 

Trinity congregation, Faribault. On Aug. 29, 1976, the 

Rev. Silvester Robeset of Hodgkins, Ill., was installed 

as pastor. 

A great part of God's activity in Peace 

congregation over 29 years does not involve dates, 

buildings, and great crowds of people. Much of it goes 

unnoticed because it isn't publicized and involves only 

a few people. It involves a pastor bringing a forgiving 

or comforting work from God to persons troubJp£i .l- ::.. .• 

sin, sickness, or the loss of a loved one. It is a teacher 

glancing in love and concern to a child striving to learn 

more of the love of Jesus. It is the individual Christian 

living and speaking the Christian message to those 

with whom he lives and works. The history of Peace 

Lutheran Church has been written best by those who 

have brought that word of Jesus written over our 

church door to people: 

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you 

... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be 

afraid ... I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no 

man cometh into the Father, but by Me.'' 

Trinity Lutheran Church 

On January 1, 1970, Trinity Lutheran Church of 

Faribault marked the 100th year of its existence. The 

story of Trinity congregation of Faribault reaches 

back to the time when Minnesota had not yet taken its 

place among the states of the Union. 

In the summer of 1856 the Reverend Ferdinand 

64

Faribault in 1874, looking west from old courthouse 

Sievers, mission director of the Missouri Synod, 

surveyed the mission possibilities in Minnesota. In 1869 

the Reverend Christian Krause moved to the city of 

Faribault and by January 1, 1870, had gained sufficient 

strength to organize a regular congregation. This 

organization took place in the Metropolitan Hall on the 

aforementioned New Years Day, 1870. That marks the 

birthday of the Trinity congregation. 

Reverend August Zip pel came next to Trinity. By 

September 18, 1871 the group planned to build a church 

that fall. 

1874 brought the Rev. John Hertreck to Trinity. 

Within a year's time he became the father of Trinity's 

Christian Day. School. This combination 

school-parsonage was built. 

The cornerstone of Trinity's present church was 

laid on September 2, 1900. The church was dedicated on 

November 10, 1901. 

The Reverend 0. H. Cloeter is presently serving 

the congregation as head pastor. 

First English Lutheran Church 

The First English Lutheran Church on the corner 

of Second Avenue and Second Street held its first 

service in its new church on Christmas Day, 1931. It 

was at that time, too, that the congregation approved 

the name First English Lutheran church so all would 

know that English was the preferred language. 

With the pastorate of Arthur L. Rustad in 1933 

expansion of the congregation's ministry without 

regard to national heritage was begun. There was no 

longer a Norwegian worship service. Today a vestage 

of the Scandinavian heritage remains in the church 

decor, the hymnals and the lutefisk suppers that are an 

annual event. 

During his 25 year pastorate, the Rev. Rustad 

carried on an active ministry among young people and 

adults and was active in many organizations and 

official bodies of the American Lutheran Church. 

The men who decided for the Christian ministry 

when he was pastor were: David Lee, Harvey Grote, 

David Carlbom, John Peterson and Richard Grow. 

Under his leadership a new parsonage was built in 1937 

(depression year) and in 1953 a new parish house, 

involving a cost of $165,000 was constructed. Mortgage 

burning took place in the year 1955. 

For eight years he served as gratis editor of the 

Messenger of the Lutheran Orient Mission and he 

raised the money that enabled the church to start a 

Christian Hospital in non-Christian Iran. 

He found time, too to be active civically in many 

different ways in Faribault. He was active in Faribault 

American Legion Post 43 and served as post, district, 

state and national Legion chaplain. Whe he resigned as 

pastor in 1958 the parish had grown from 350 members 

to more than 2,000. 

In the spring of 1959 Gerhard H. Huggenvik 

accepted the pastorate. In 1966, Donald T. Hanson was 

installed as Senior Pastor. 

When the congregation reached 2, 700 members it 

65

~en ~8-/ow 

was decided to divide the congregation. This was when 

Our Savior's was established. 

There was a new pastoral staff installed in the 

seventies. Duane C. Hoven was installed in July, Paul 

0. Monson, January 1971, and Hjalmar F. Hanson 

installed in a vistation ministry in June 1971. Since that 

time much effort has been spent on establishing a 

youth ministry, a senior fellowship and a couples 

fellowship. 

''First English Lutheran has begun to show signs 

of increasing concern to minister to the community. 

Space has been provided for a daily class for pre-school 

retarded children, young people from the Rice County 

Activity Center have used the church for weekly 

religious education classes, a variety of YMCA 

programs have been held here. The Pastors have been 

involved in leadership in civic and county 

organizations with the church on a conference and 

district level, and with Luther Theological Seminary in 

St. Paul." · 

(Last paragraph quoted from church bulletin of 

April1974). 

Our Saviour's Lutheran Church 

A service of groundbreaking took place on the site 

of the new Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Prairie 

Avenue South on July 27, 1969. The Rev. David R. 

Vaaler, pastor of Our Savior's, conducted the service. 

Present for the groundbreaking were members of the 

new congregation. This new group, consisting of sixty 

six families, transferred from the First English 

Lutheran Church because of crowded conditions there. 

Services were conducted in the Faribault Senior High 

School until the church was completed. The first 

services were held in the present building February 8, 

1970. 

Rev. Vaaler who serves Our Savior's Lutheran 

church in Faribault is a native of Willmar. He came to 

Faribault after having served parishes in' Houston and 

Fort Worth, Texas, and most recently, Waukon, Iowa. 

There are now 175 families in Our Savior's 

congregation and 725 baptized members. 

Bethel Lutheran Church 

Bethel Lutheran ·Brethren church is a member of 

the synod, The Lutheran Brethren Church of America. 

The Reverend Joseph Aarhus, who was a pastor in 

Kenyon, formerly came to Faribault to conduct 

meetings. From these meetings grew the present 

Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church. 

Twelve pastors have served the church in 

Faribault, from Reverend Aarhus, the first pastor, to 

Reverend Dale R. Hanson, the present pastor. 

Charter members of the congregation were Mr. 

and Mrs. Lloyd Orcutt and Audrey, Mr. and Mrs. 

Albert Simonson, Mable Simonson, Vernon Simonson, 

and Mr. and Mrs. Morris Simonson. 

In April of 1949 the cornerstone was laid for a new 

church at Lincoln Avenue and Northwest Sixth Street. 

In July the building was dedicated. 

An addition was added on the same location in the 

. year 1967. The ground breaking ceremony was held on 

July 30, 1967. The first service was held in it on April 7, 

1968. 

The present elder board consists of: Hilmar 

Albrecht, vice chairman, Howard Barrett, Henry 

Evert, Harvey Zicafoose, chairman. 

Those serving on the trustee board are: Sidney 

Jenson, Clarence Kloster, Wayne Neuhaus, chairman. 

Officers of the church include: Ebert Bauer, 

treasurer, Mrs. Edward King, secretary, and Mrs. 

Ebert Bauer, Sunday School Superintendent. 

First Baptist Church 

The earliest record referring to Baptist work in 

Faribault is found in Frink's Short History of 

Faribault: "In 1855 there were no church edifices in 

Faribault, but religious services were held every 

Sunday in unfinished buildings ...'' The second sermon 

heard in Minnesota was in Crump's Hall. _ 

From an article in the Faribault Republican we 

learned that the early settlers of this city were largely 

from New England, were descendants of the Puritans 

and brought with them a love for church and schools. 

Five years after the first log cabins were built in 

Faribault, the first churches were organized. Three 

churches were organized in 1856: the Congregational, 

the Baptist and the First Methodist. 

When the Faribault Baptist church was organized 

there were only six Baptist churches in Minnesota. 

Twenty charter members united with the church 

on September 6, 1856. Rev. Timothy R. Cressey was the 

first pastor of the church. The group met in Phelps Hall 

and subsequently in Metropolitan Hall which they 

rented for three years. In 1862 the first church building 

was erected; this church was dedicated February 4, 

1863 during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Hazen. 

The second church was built during the pastorate 

of Rev. A. E. Kelley, who prepared and drew the plans 

for the building. This year 1920 was an important one 

as it was at that time that the church building was paid 

for in full. 

The Rev. Glenn E. Saunders was pastor when the 

present church at 1108 Westwood Drive was built. This 

was on September 19, 1971, when the dedication 

ceremonies were held. 

The present pastor is Rev. Bruce Pickell who came 

to Faribault from Silver Bay, Minnesota in July of 1974. 

66

Early day Faribault scene 

Immaculate Conception Church 

In 1855 a group of settlers of various creeds and 

ethnic backgrounds and nationalities came to this 

territory. The Catholics, as well as other incoming 

religious groups, wanted their own house of worship. 

Alexander Faribault gave one thousand dollars to help 

with the building of a church. This was the Mr. 

Faribault, a fur trapper,. after whom Faribault was 

named. 

Father Augustin Ravoux, a remarkable 

missionary priest, was the first priest to say mass in 

Rice County- in Alexander Faribault's log houseand 

was instrumental in getting the first church 

planned and built. This church, called St. Anne's, was 

ready in June of 1856. This, the first church of any 

denomination, was burned to the ground the following 

October. This was generally thought to be the work of 

an arsonist. 

Father George Keller of Alsace, France was the 

first resident priest for Immaculate Conception parish. 

He served that church, with missionary zeal, . for 12 

years. In 1870 he was transferred to northern 

Minnesota for further missionary work. 

Between Father Keller and Father Genis there 

were two priests, Father Renveille, whose pastorate 

was a little over a year, and Father Scheve, who served 

for two years. Father Renveille died from yellow fever, 

Father Scheve, not in robust health, served but two 

years and died at the age of forty-six. He is buried here 

in Calvary Cemetery. 

Father Claude Genis, also born in France, came to 

Immaculate Conception parish in October of 1874. 

Under his direction the church tower was completed, 

the sanctuary was extended east and a sacristy was 

added. 

In 1878 the French and Belgian members of the 

parish petitioned for a parish of their own. In answer to 

this, Bishop Grace gave the choice of retaining 

Immaculate Conception and shouldering the financial 

burden of $12,000.00, or of leaving this to the Irish - 

assets and liabilities - and organizing their own 

parish. They chose the latter and organized the Sacred 

Heart parish in 1879. 

There have been many sincere and hardworking 

priests who have served with distinction in 

Immaculate Conception parish. One of the most 

beloved priests was Father John Foley a native of 

Prince Edward Island. He knew the meaning of 

"ecumenism" and practiced it. He made many friends 

throughout the entire Faribault community. He served 

Immaculate Conception as a pastor for 36 years, 

guided the parish to financial stability and was a model 

of spiritual leadership. 

67 

/

St. Lawrence Church 

At the time of the first settlers in Rice County 

Catholic Church mission activities began. Father 

Ravoux celebrated Mass at the house of Alexander 

Faribault in 1&53. Father Ravoux came to Faribault as 

often as he was able - he had such a large mission 

area - and continued to conduct Mass in Mr. 

Faribault's home. 

When Father George Keller came in 1859 he 

continued to use Mr. Faribault's house to offer Mass. 

As the number of Catholics grew, they wished to 

have a place of worship of their own, and in 1860 they 

built a frame structure on a site donated by Mr. 

Faribault, Mr. Paquin and General Shields. 

Immaculate Conception Church is located on this site 

today. Father Keller was in charge of this par .is~, 

which took in all the Catholic people of the town, 1t 1s 

said that each Sunday he preached in French, German 

and English so all might understand. 

In 1869, Bishop Grace gave the German Catholic 

people of Faribault permission to sta~t their . o~n 

parish. Twenty six families ~ere act~ve m ?rgamzmg 

this new church, the first pansh meetmg bemg held on 

September 19, 1869. They selected a site for a new 

church, and the plot of ground on Fourth Street, 

between First and Central A venues was bought. Here a 

small frame church was built. First Mass was held on 

February 2, 1870. 

Soon the parish felt the need of a different location 

and on August 26, 1872, they bought the present site 

where St. Lawrence stands today. 

Many hard working and inspired priests h~ve 

served St. Lawrence parish, Father Fredenck 

Tschann had the longest administration. He was a good 

financier. He said that his job in a Northfield bank gave 

him a good head for figures. Father Tschann's 

retirement was in 1969. He left the parish with a sizable 

savings arid debt free. 

Father Francis Pouliot is the present pastor of a 

congregation which numbers over 400 families. 

Sacred Heart Church 

The three Catholic Churches in Faribault share a 

common heritage. Mass was offered for the first time 

in Rice County by the Reverend Augustin Ravoux in 

the lob cabin of Alexander Faribault, a fur-trader after 

whom Faribault was named. This was in the year 1848. 

In 1&56 the first Catholic church in Rice county was 

built on the present site of the Immaculate Conception 

church. Alexander Faribault donated one thousand 

dollars towards its construction as well as the whole 

block on which it stood. It was named St. Anne's in 

honor of the patron saint of Canada. Many of the first 

settlers here were the French-Canadians. The 

following year this church was destroyed by fire. This 

tragic happening was thought to be the work of 

arsonists. 

The first resident priest in the county was the 

Reverend George Keller who was appointed pastor in 

1&58. His parish extended from Rosemount on the north 

to Blooming Prairie on the south, from Pine Island on 

the east to Kilkenny on the west. He named the church 

which replaced St. Anne's in honor of the Immaculate 

Conception. It is said of Father Keller that on 

Christmas day he used to say his first Mass in 

Faribault, the second in Shieldsville, the third in 

Kilkenny, traveling by horse and sleigh. At his Sunday 

Masses in Faribault he regularly made the 

announcements and preached in English, French and 

German. 

Because of the rapidly increasing Catholic 

population groups were desirous of starting their own 

churches. The Germans organized their parish. In 1879 

the French parishioners withdrew from the 

Immaculate Conception parish and built the Sacred 

Heart church. 

Father Payette was the fi rst pastor; he was soon 

succeeded by Father Joseph Leonard who sang the 

first High Mass in the new church on June 22, 1879. The 

first baptism was that of Joseph Hautelot, the first 

marriage that of Augustin St. Martin and Delphine 

Favrault, the first funeral that of Etienne 

Archambault. 

Father Leonard was succeeded in 1880 by 

Reverend John Van Leent during whose pastorate the 

parish was organized as a legal corporation. 

The funeral of Alexander Faribault was held 

during Father Van Leent's pastorate. Mr. Faribault 

had transferred from the Immaculate Conception 

parish ''to which he had contributed so generously to 

worship with his fellow Frenchmen at that time in a 

church of their own.'' 

A number of well-remembered priests served 

Sacred Heart parish. Among those who served were 

Father Monge, Father Domestici, Father Durand, 

Father Guillmette, Father Moorman, Father Roger 

Blais, Father Joseph Schobert, Father Sterns, Father 

Cecil Houle and the present priest, Father John Brown. 

It was during the pastorate of Father Domestici that 

the present building was erected. The cornerstone was 

laid on May 28, 1922. 

Ephphatha Church 

For more than three quarters of a century the 

Ephphatha Church located at 16 Sixth Ave. NE has 

been serving the deaf and the blind of Faribault and 

vicinity. 

The first inter.est in the religious instruction of the 

deaf and of the blind dates back to the year 1898 when 

G. H. Bakken, pastor at Faribault, and Professor Olav 

Lee of St. Olaf College recommended to the convention 

of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church that a 

mission among the deaf and the blind be started at 


A committee was appointed to study the matter 

and in 1900 this committee recommended to the annual 

convention that a pastor be called to do the work, 

dividing his time between the Lutheran children at the 

\ 

I 

I 

68

'- 

Faribault in 1887, looking north on Central Ave. from Second St. 

state schools in Faribault and similar schools in other 

states. 

The Rev. C. M. Larson was chosen to be the first 

pastor to the deaf and the blind. He was familiar with 

the language of signs as he had a deaf brother, Lars M. 

Larson. It is interesting to note that the latter was 

instrumental in founding the schools for the deaf in 

North Dakota and New Mexico and later settled down 

to spend his sunset years in Faribault. 

Pastor Larson was succeeded by the Rev. B. J. 

Rothnem. He served the church for six years, from 

1913 to 1919. 

Up to this time the work had been conducted in a 

church in the city. This was not a very good 

arrangement as the children at the School for the Deaf 

and at the School for the Blind had to cross railroad 

tracks and go through town to attend services. The 

viaduct had not been built. 

In 1919 the Rev. Henry 0. Bjorlie, who had 

previously started the work among the deaf in Sioux 

Falls, S.D., was called to the Faribault field. 

Pastor Bjorlie at once put his whole heart and 

soul into the work. He saw the need for an edifice for 

the exclusive use of his flock and purchased, on his own 

account, an old two-room school house that he had 

remodeled into a church. 

Under the direction of Pastor Bjorlie the work 

flourished. Every Sunday his little church on the hill 

was filled. The need for a larger church in which to 

minister to the deaf and the blind was evident. 

Pastor Bjorlie, his devoted wife, Mrs. Lorraine 

Bjorlie, and loyal friends worked tirelessly for a new 

church and on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1941, the new 

Ephphatha Church for the Deaf and the Blind was 

dedicated. It stands as a monument to the Rev. Henry 

0. Bjorlie. 

For six years Pastor B jorlie carried on his 

ministry in this fine edifice, the finest church for the 

deaf in the world. Then the Master called Pastor 

Bjorlie to His heavenly home. Mrs. Bjorlie has been a 

faithful helper and pianist at the church for more than 

a half century. 

The Rev. Stewart Dale served as pastor from 1948 

to 1953. In 1950 a new parsonage adjoining the church 

was erected and dedicated in conjunction with the 50th 

anniversary celebration of the work. 

In 1953 the Rev. Ingvald Thvedt took over as pastor 

and chaplain, ably assisted by his wife, an experienced 

parish worker. In 1968 the Rev. Gordon Long joined the 

staff and worked with Pastor Thvedt. This was a period 

of great growth in the work. 

Pastor and Mrs. Thvedt left in 1972 to take up work 

among the handicapped and aged in Tucson, Arizona. 

The Rev. Gordon Long has been carrying on the 

work in Faribault alone since that time. 

The Ephphatha Church is sponsored by the 

American Lutheran Church and deaf and blind 

students attend services. All protestant students are 

welcome and the church also ministers to an adult 

congregation. 

The above history was written by Dr. Wesley 

Lauritsen, former longtime member of the Minnesota 

School for Deaf faculty, a 54 year member of 

Ephphatha Church and president of the congregation. 

69

Hope United Methodist Church 

The Hope United Methodist Church, located at 

Fifth Avenue and Sixth Street, N.W., in Faribault, is 

now in its 98th year of Christian service and grew from 

a class organized in 1878 by the Rev. G. W. Sydow. 

Originally the church's name was Zion Church of 

the Evangelical Association of North America. In the 

early 1930's the name was changed to First 

Evangelical. With the union with the Methodist Church 

in 1968 the name Hope United Methodist was adopted. 

The first building was constructed in 1878 on the 

present site. It served until 1907 when the present 

building was erected. An addition was built in 1956. 

The Sunday School was organized at about the 

same time as the church. About ten years later, special 

emphasis on young people's work was stressed. The 

Woman's Missionary Society, an active and 

constructive church organization for 63 years, was 

formed in 1913. 

During the active existence of Hope Methodist 

Church, the congregation served as host to the annual 

Conference in 1907, 1917, 1928 and 1938. 

The church through the years, has shown an 

intensive, constructive interest in sociological, 

cultural, educational and economic problems of the 

Faribault community, in addition to carrying on a full 

religious program for all ages. 

As a result, the church's pastors during the past 45 

years, including the Rev. A. B. Utzman, who was 

active in the Faribault American Legion Post and later 

served a congregation in St. Paul; The Rev. Edwin 

George Moede; The Rev. B. C. Siewert, who was active 

in scouting and served a church in Brainerd; the Rev. 

Darwin Miller, who also was community-minded; The 

Rev. Dave Schneider, who was active with young 

people, foreign groups and the local Civic Music 

Association, and the present pastor, the Rev. Melvyn 

Budke, formerly of Lake Elmo, who definitely is 

community-minded and is an active member of the 55 

year old Faribault Lions Club, all have succeeded in 

increasing the church's membership. 

St. Luke's Church of Christ 

St. Luke's United Church of Christ held its first 

service of worship in its new church on May 17, 1970, at 

10:30 a.m. That same day there was a brief closing 

service at the old church at 9:30a.m. 

The congregation held a groundbreaking service 

on May 4, 1969. Construction began May 12, 1969. 

Members of the congregation worked with the 

contractor during the last year of building. They 

estimated that they donated 5,000 hours of time. 

There is room to seat 400 people in the nave of the 

new church and 50 people in the balcony area. There is 

church school space for 200 children. The 

multi-purpose dining room will seat about 350 people. 

The entire building, which consists of 18,000 square 

feet, provides ample space for the office and library. 

The building project took place during the 

pastorate of the Rev. A. M. Guthmiller. Reverend 

Guthmiller's replacement began to serve at St. Luke's 

in February. He is Reverend James Laak. 

Many members worked on the building project 

along with the regular building committee: Walter 

Koopmans, chairman; Paul Hachfeld, Marvin 

Bauernfeind, Mrs. ·Kenneth Dean, Mrs. Arnold 

Hafemeyer, Mrs. Edward Nems. The finance 

committee consisted of: Warren Matthies, chairman, 

along with Willis Hafemeyer, Gordon Reineke, Mrs. 

Werner Helmer, Mrs. E. J. McCormick. 

St. Luke's new church is located at 1100 Ninth 

Avenue South West, on the edge of Faribault. 

Seventh Day Adventist Church 

The Faribault Seventh-day Adventist church of 

Faribault was founded by R. F. Wolcott and Louise 

Wolcott. The Minnesota Conference of the Seventh-day 

Adventists of Minnetonka are owners of the church. 

R. F. and Louise Wolcott, together with seventeen 

charter members, organized the Seventh-day 

Adventist Church in Faribault on August 24, 1929. For a 

time the congregation was housed in the Wolcott home. 

In 1930 the group bought a church building that was 

located at Cannon Lake. This building was moved to 

Faribault and was placed on a lot located on Lincoln 

Avenue and First Street. 

It was in 1970 that the group bought the brick 

structure that was formerly the First Baptist Church. 

This building, which is situated on the corner of Third 

Avenue and Fifth Street North West, in Faribault is the 

present location. 

The school had its beginning in the home of R; R. 

Randall in the year 1923. In 1930 it was moved to the 

Church on the corner of Lincoln A venue and First 

Street, which, in turn, was moved to the Church's 

present site. · 

One charter member, Mrs. Iva (Wolcott, Everett) 

Kisor, is living in the country near Faribault. 

A fourth generation of the Wolcott family Janna 

(Kisor) Borg is a member of the Faribault Church. 

The present pastor, Ernest Dobkins, came to 

Faribault in 1972. Through his efforts and leadership 

the church has established a health food store, 

"Nature's Nook," on Third Street North West in 


The Seventh-day Adventist Church School was 

organized in 1923. It had its beginning in the R. F. 

Wolcott home, one of the charter members. 

In 1930, when the first Seventh-day Adventist 

Church building was purchased and located at Lincoln 

Avenue the school was established there. 

In 1970 the Church purchased property at Third 

Avenue and Fifth Street, NW and the School was 

located there. 

Eight grades are taught in the school together with 

classes in music, choir, and band. There is a 

Pathfinder's Club, similiar to Boy Scout organization. 

When the students graduate from the elementary 

grades they go on to an Academy of their choice. Also 

they choose their college in the same way. 

70

Chapter m Faribault, City of Schools 

Public schools 

began here in 1856 

By ROBERT NORMAN 

The first school in Faribault, established in 1853, 

was privately supported by Alexander. Faribault and 

Luke Hulett for their own children. The teacher was 

Edward Crump. Faribault School District No. 1 was 

created by the County Commissioners on January 7, 

1856. The first legal meeting of the school board was 

held on January 31, 1856. Members present included R. 

A. Mott and George Batchelder. An assessment of $600 

was voted for a school building. In the school year 

1857-58 three teachers were employed from November 

through February. The reason for the short term was 

the depression of 1857. The Faribault School District 

was . made a corporate body by an Act of the 

Legislature in 1864, under the control of a school board 

of five members. The first school building of any size 

was the Old Central School, built in 1867, and was 

located on the site now occupied by the Faribault 

Junior High School. A lot was purchased from General 

Shields, who donated the adjoining lot. 

High School subjects were gradually introduced into 

the curriculum, and were taught by the superintendent 

with the help of upper elementary teachers who 

happened to have free time. The Faribault High School 

became fully organized as such in 1878 under 

Superintendent Pratt. In October 1878, the school board 

instructed him to procure a teacher of high school 

subjects. On November 5, 1878, R. A. Mott, Clerk of the 

School District, advertised through the newspapers 

that an examination for ·admission to the high school 

would be held at Central School Hall on November 16, 

1878, and all pupils passing the examination would be 

admitted to the high school tuition free. The course of 

.study was three years. High school classes were 

conducted in the Old Central School Building. The first 

class was graduated on June 20, 1879 and consisted of 

Mary E. Howard, Mary N. Howe, and Rebecca 

Mortenson. Miss Howe was presented with a medal 

donated by Mr. H. H. Herbst of Faribault for standing 

highest in the class in scholarship and deportment. 

Four Divisions Created 

'"In 1880 the school system was divided into four 

divisions: Primary, Intermediate, Grammar, and 

High School. There were 1,198 pupils and 20 teachers. 

Besides the Old Central School, there were four 

buildings on the west side of Faribault, each with 50 

pupils, and one building on the east side for 100 pupils. 

The annual school meeting of October 5, 1885 instructed 

the Board of Education to prepare plans for a new 

school building. The building was built on Block 16, 

which is now the junior high physical education field. 

The cost was $28,000. The land was purchased from the 

Seabury Mission for $5000 with the stipulation that the 

block was to be used forever for educational purposes. 

In 1906 the Faribault High School was accredited 

by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools 

and Colleges. Faribault High School was one of the first 

high schools in Minnesota to be so accredited. 

The Old McKinley Elementary School was built at 

the turn of the century, and on the assassination of 

President McKinley was named after him. It served 

until 1957 when it became the headquarters of the 

Community Recreation Program. Other elementary 

schools were built as follows: Lincoln 1905, Washington 

1906, Garfield 1913, Jefferson 1954, New McKinley 1957. 

Additions were built to these schools in 1913, 1925, 1954, 

1961, and 1968. In 1914 a new high school building was 

constructed on the site of the Old Central School, which 

was demolished. The old high school was converted 

into the Central Elementary School. In 1938 a 

substantial addition was built to the high school. 

In 1938, the high school enrollment in grades 7-12 was 

1,068. Of these 192 were non-resident pupils. Only 50 per 

cent of eighth grade graduates in the county entered 

high school, and only 65 per cent of these graduated. 

1ndependent District 

In 1950 the Faribault School District became an 

Independent School District. This change in 

classification made the organization of the district 

similar to that of other school districts in Minnesota 

and gave the school board more authority in operating 

the school system. 

In 1960 a new Senior High School was completed on 

38 acres in southwestern Faribault. It has a capacity of 

800 students. The old high school became the Faribault 

Junior High School. 

In 1962 the Faribault School District became a 

Consolidated School District and an extensive 

transportation system was established. The area of the 

School district is 220 square miles. 

In 1964 the Faribault Area Vocational School was 

built at a cost of one million dollars, with a capacity of 

300 post secondary school students in 16 trades and 

occupations. It is an outstanding school. 

In 1971 the reorganization of the Faribault School 

District was completed with the addition of the last 

rural school district to the Faribault District. All the 

rural schools were closed and the pupils transported to 

71

~en 8?8/ow 

Faribault Senior High School complex 

including swimming pool, tennis c.ourts and 

class buildings as well as Faribault Area 

Vocational Technical Institute buildings (at 

left) both in southwestern section of city. 

Faribault except the eight teacher school at Nerstrand, 

the three teacher school at Warsaw, and the one 

teacher school at Shieldsville. 

In 1972 the Faribault Area Training and Education 

Center was established. The Faribault School District 

was given the responsibility of educating the trainable 

retarded children at the Faribault State Hospital. 

The Faribault School District, in its 120 years of 

active existence, has developed into one of the State of 

Minnesota's leading districts offering a wide variety of 

courses in excellent facilities. In December of 1975, 

members of the Faribault Education Association, 

composed of public school faculty members, called a 

strike during negotiations for a two year contract. 

The strike lasted for 45 days, including the entire 

month of January with teachers daily walking the 

picket lines. After several strike truce negotiation 

sessions a settlement was reached and regular classes 

were resumed in public schools in early February. 

Elementary schools built 

By CHARLOTTE 0. KNOSS 

Soon after the turn of the century, Faribault 

citizens were busily providing public Elementary 

schools for their children. Most of the people favored 

the neighborhood plan for providing schools, the school 

being easily accessible to the pupils and their parents 

in a close relationship. Strong loyalties were built up 

toward the neighborhood schools which have persisted 

to this day. 

Washington School, on Shumway Avenue, on the 

east side of town, was built in 1905. In the same year, 

Lincoln Elementary School was constructed on the 

west side of Lincoln Avenue. Following the 

neighborhood trend, Garfield was built on Third 

Avenue in Southern Heights in 1912, on a site on which 

many Indian relics were found at the time of the 

72

City of schools 

in 1962-63. Both Lincoln and Jefferson added two-story 

units in 1969. There has been quite a transformation 

over the years in the Elementary system, going from 

the four or six room structures to schools which house 

four sections of each class, kindergarten through grade 

six, plus facilities for physical education, music, art, 

audio-visual, library, and food services. 

Elementary school enrollment was constantly on 

the rise from 1956 when there were 1042 students until 

1974 when the enrollment reached 2326 children. The 

latest figure, obtained in 1976, was an Elementary 

public enrollment of 2225 students. It seems likely that 

the enrollment will not drop appreciably in the near 

future. Conditions seem to indicate this trend. 

Faribault education plan 

Old Central School, Faribault 

excavation for the basement. It most likely was a part 

of Tepee Tonka settlement. 

These schools became too small to handle the 

enrollment so additions were in order. The first of 

these was at Garfield in 1925. Washington and Lincoln, 

which were built somewhat larger than Garfield, 

originally, received their first additions in 1954. 

McKinley and Central, the earliest schools, 

became known as "old" McKinley and "old" Central. 

Central School was razed to make room for an athletic 

field for the Junior High School Physical Education 

program. A new school, named Jefferson School was 

built on Home Place in Southwest Faribault in 1954. 

The pupils who had attended Central were distributed 

among Garfield, McKinley, and Jefferson Schools. 

"Old" McKinley was replaced with a new McKinley 

School, on a different location, on Fourth Avenue 

between Ninth and Tenth Streets in 1959. Old 

McKinley, although condemned as a school, was used 

by the city recreation program for office space and for 

some of their activities for several years. It was razed 

in the summer of 1976. 

Still later additions to Elementary school buildings 

were occasioned by rising enrollments when thirteen 

·rural districts were required, by law, to close because 

they did not have grades one through twelve in their 

buildings. At this period, Garfield received an addition 

In 1891 Rev. James J. Conroy proposed to the 

Board of Education of Faribault a plan as a solution of 

uniting the parochial schools of the Catholic Church 

with the public school system. The plan was sanctioned 

by Bishop Ireland before Father Conroy proposed it to 

the Board of Education. 

The sisters teaching in the parochial schools of the 

Immaculate Conception parish qualified as public 

school teachers and were employed by the Board of 

Education. The plan was adjusted and the "Hill 

School" became part of the public school system. 

The Faribault Plan soon became a matter of 

comment and interest and created world wide 

discussion. The press, both religious and secular, and 

the pulpit of every Christian denomination in the U.S. 

and Europe became involved in the spiritual 

controversy. Archbishop Ireland supported the plan 

vigorously, but was opposed by several Bishops of the 

Church. The matter was finally taken to Pope Leo XIII 

and he held that the Faribault Plan should be tolerated 

by the church. 

History of school districts 

By ROBERT NORMAN 

Rice County was detached from Dakota County 

and organized into a new county by the Minnesota 

Territorial Legislature in 1855. The first election was 

held in November 1855 and F. W. Frink, Andrew 

Storer, and George F. Pettit were elected county 

commissioners. At the first meeting of the 

commissioners on January 7, 1856, the first business 

was the creation of School District No. 1 which 

embraced most of the incorporated limits of the City of 

Faribault. Also organized were school districts 2, 3, 4, 

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Thomas S. Buckham was appointed the 

73

~en ~


Lonsdale, Medford and Owatonna areas. The Academy 

is incorporated by the State and is a member of the 

following organizations: State of Minnesota, North 

Central, National Catholic Educational Association, 

Archdiocesan Educational System, and the 

Independent Private School Association. 

The growth and development of the Academy has 

closely paralleled the growth of education in the city of 

Faribault. The Sisters continued in the desire of their 

precedessors, to bring and continue a solid Christian 

education on the secondary level where values can be 

shared and affirmed so that all students will be led to 

appreciate the good, the true and the beautiful in the 

light of the Good News and the teachings of the 

Catholic Church. 

Centennial Observed 

Months of careful planning went into the 

observance of the Academy's Centennial in 1965 and 

the Centennial anniversary of the establishment in this 

community of the Sinsinawa Wisconsin Dominican 

Sisters. The Centennial committee was headed by 

Sister Regina, OP, then principal of Bethlehem 

Academy as coordinator and Thomas Dillon as general 

chairman. 

One of the highlights of the Centennial observance 

was the presentation of a three act Pageant entitled 

"Framing a Century" - the history of the local school. 

It was written by Sister M. Caitlin of the Bethlehem 

Academy faculty with a cast of 400 persons. 

Academy graduates from its beginning held 

reunions in various establishments in Faribault. The 

weeklong observance ended with the commencement 

exercises for the graduating class of 1965. 

One of the highlights of the Centennial year was 

groundbreaking exercises on April 25, 1965 for the new 

convent of the Dominican Sisters of Faribault. The 

weatherman provided a menu of snow and rain but the 

ground breaking ceremony was held in spite of this. 

Participating in the ceremony, each equipped with 

a golden spade, were Mother Mary Benedict, OP, 

Mother General of the Sinsinawa Dominicans; Sister 

Regina, principal of Bethlehem Academy; the Very 

Rev. Mark Farrell, pastor of Immaculate Conception 

Church; the Rev. Cecil Houle, pastor of Sacred Heart 

Church; and the Rev. Frederic Tschann, pastor of St. 

Lawrence Church. Also participating _were Anthony 

Reuvers, church official, and the Rev. Donald 

Tomlinson, assistant pastor of the Immaculate 

Conception Church. 

Immaculate Conception 

school history 

With the advent of the first railroad in October 1865 

many new families arrived. Soon it was evident that 

the two class rooms could not accommodate the new 

students and Sister Gertrude came from the Academy 

and taught classes in the afternoon. Her class room 

was a space between two rows of cordwood in the 

basement of the church. Later another class room was 

fitted up and Sister Angela was assigned to teach full 

time. 

The parish school was financed by the parents who 

paid one dollar per month for each child, plus the 

necessary books and supplies. For four years the 

sisters made their way through the sunshine and 

showers of summer and the blizzards and cold of 

winter from the Academy to the parish school - a 

distance more than a mile. In 1868 the Berglehner 

residence was purchased and this became the home for 

the sisters. 

The parish school became crowded and the 

Academy was well attended for those days. Father 

Clement Scheve, who arrived in 1871, immediately 

planned a new school and made house-to-house 

canvass of the parish for funds. This drive was 

successful and the new school was ready for the 

opening in September 1872. This was a two-story 

structure with four class rooms, a cloak room and a 

hall on each floor. Three rooms were furnished for 

immediate use with Sisters Veronica, Damien and 

Matthias in charge. Four years later another room was 

furnished and the faculty included Sisters Damien, 

Sadoc, Calascanta and Alphonsa. 

In 1876, the new Bethlehem Academy on its present 

site was opened with Mother Gertrude, Superioress, 

which post she held until 1892. She was assisted by 

Sister Bertrand as Prefect, Sister Imelda, Directoress 

of Music, and Sister Margaret in charge of the 

household. 

On Salary Basis 

In the parish school Professor Reid was engaged in 

1880 to teach the bigger boys and the following year 

Professor Cleary came. Shortly after this a change was 

made in financing the school by putting the sisters on a 

salary basis. The parish sponsored fairs, bazaars to 

raise the one thousand dollars needed annually to pay 

the four sisters, each twenty-five dollars a month, for 

the ten-month school year . This system continued until 

the pastorate of Father Danehy put in the tuition plan. 

In 1890 Father Conroy came and one of his 

immediate problems was the school. Tuitions were 

insufficient to meet the expenses. It was at this time 

that Martin M. Shields, who had been superintendent of 

schools in Scott county before coming to Faribault, 

suggested that it might be feasible to do here what had 

been done in Scott county. The plan was to have the 

sisters teach in the parochial school under public 

school auspices. After many conferences the proposal 

was accepted by the Board of Education August 26, 

1891, and was put in effect that same year. This, the 

so-called "Faribault Plan" received wide publicity. 

The school was known as the "Hill School." Attendance 

increased but the experiment was short-lived. 

In the spring of 1893 opposition developed and the 

Board of Education wrote the Mother General at 

Siqsinawa to ascertain whether the Sisters could wear 

other garb than the religious. This request being 

refused the lease was closed and the Immaculate 

75

Conception was no longer a public school. 

The School was reopened in September 1893 as a 

parish school. The experiement was most interesting 

and according to the Faribault Democrat, September 

15, 1893, the school ''had been among the best in the 

city,'' but the general public was not ready to accept it. 

The school continued to function under the 

direction of the Dominican Sisters and the old stone 

school of 1872 served the parish well. But as time went 

on the attendance grew and it soon became imperative 

that better facilities had to be acquired. Many 

unavoidable ci~cumstances delayed the building of a 

new school. However, when Father Dolphin came he 

made it his first order of business and the new school 

was completed and ready for use in the fall of 1925. This 

is the school we have today. It was built with foresight 

and despite its crowded condition it is doing excellent 

work. History repeats itself. It is again too small. It 

seems inevitable that the near future will see an 

addition to the Immaculate Conception School. 

This is an excerpt from the pamphlet "Highlights 

of the Immaculate Conception Parish during its first 

one hundred years 1856-1956" 

St. Lawrence School 

The history of the school connected with St. 

Lawrence Catholic Church dates back to 1871, when it 

was decided to conduct school in the church. John 

Vogelsberg was chosen to be the instructor. 

Father J. Van Leent served the French and 

German parishes from 1881 to 1886. During this time 

the first parish school was erected and the Dominican 

Sisters were secured to take charge. The hardships and 

sacrifices which they endured were many. Their daily 

walk from the convent down to St. Lawrence and back 

again through all the rough winter weather showed 

courage and zeal in their great work. They were truly 

pioneers. Sisters Hildegard, Gertrudis and Sister 

Katherine were remembered for a long time. 

Father John Pavlin succeeded Father Van Leent in 

1886, and remained until his death in 1896. His many 

kind acts endeared him to his parishioners. His 

greatest interest was in his school, and he made many 

personal sacrifices to furnish the necessary 

equipment. 

His successor, Father Frederick Elshorst also had 

a very keen interest in the parish school. Daily, he 

conducted classes in German and other studies. His 

keen foresight prompted him to purchase the property 

across the street north of the parish for a new school. 

At a meeting of the parish on October 7, 1912, it was 

decided that the old school house behind the rectory 

was inadequate to accommodate the growing needs of 

the parish and a building committee, consisting of P. 

H. Donkers, Peter Lonien, S. Kern, John Endres and 

Nick Becker was appointed to take action toward the 

completion of a new school. It was completed for the 

opening day of school in the fall of 1913. The 

approximate cost was $30,000.00. 

On February 16, 1913, the house and lot, north of 

the school were purchased for the Sisters residence. In 

1921 the old residence was sold and moved and the 

present convent built at an approximate cost of $8,000. 

Another landmark in the history of the school is 

1969 when Father Tschann inaugurated the new 

Catholic Consolidated School System. The three 

parishes in the city amalgamated the parish schools 

into one big school operation, with one acting principal 

and with a shared budget. 

Sacred Heart School 

The history of the parish school connected with The 

Sacred Heart parish dates back to 1886. In that year 

Father Van Leent served as pastor of both the French 

and German parishes and had erected a two-story 

frame schoolhouse, one room for the German pupils 

taught by Sister Hildegarde and the other for the 

French in charge of Sister Joseph, both Dominicans. 

Father Van Leent resigned in 1887 and soon after, the 

bi-lingual school, having proved unsatisfactory, the 

French withdrew. 

Father Monge's long cherished dream of a 

parochial school became a reality in 1916 when the W. 

M. Reid mansion was bought for $12,500. It was 

remodeled to fit the needs of a school and staffed by 

four Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters with Sister 

Esperance as Superior. The first eighth grade 

graduation took place on June 1, 1917, when the 

following pupils received their diplomas: Mary 

Louise La Rose, Theresa Le Blanc, Adelphine Le · 

Mieux, Roland Paquette, Hubert Plaisance, Dorothy 

Roell and Laura Tousignant. French was taught in all 

grades in addition to the usual subjects. 

Sister Esperance remained in charge only one 

year and she was succeeded by Sister Rodolpha for the 

usual six year term. Sister Eunice held the office for 

the next twelve years, to be followed by Sister Valerie 

who stayed only one year. Then followed each with one 

term: Sisters Venantia, Letitia, Herbert, Georgine, 

and the present Superior, Sister Lourdine. 

· A new school was built in 1933 to replace the one 

destroyed by fire on February 28, 1933. 

While Father Schabert was pastor, he realized that 

the inadequate facilities of the parish school would not 

be able to take care of the ever increasing number of 

children seeking Catholic education. He talked up the 

idea of a new school and began monthly Building Fund 

collections for that purpose. 

Property Acquired 

In the midst of the program of repairs to the 

buildings, Father Houle kept working on the idea of a 

new school building and taking practical steps to its 

achievement. The large porch on the convent, now 

badly dilapidated and no longer safe, was taken down. 

76

S1WW storm hits Faribault in January, 1886. Looking north on Central Ave. from Second Street 

A new and larger water intake was piped into the 

school. An opportunity awaited to purchase more 

property. 

All those who were thinking about the school 

problem realized that to expand the present school it 

would be necessary to have more property for the new 

building itself and for more playground space which 

had always been inadequate from the beginning. 

During the summer of 1952 it became possible to 

purchase the two large lots directly south of the school 

on which was located the Petteys apartment building 

for the sum of $23,500. 

With the approval of His Excellency Archbishop·· 

Murray, the actual transaction was made on 

November 1, 1952. A group of men solicited funds from 

the parishioners at the rate of $100.00 per family and 

that drive plus the annual profits from the apartment 

rentals had reduced the debt on the new property to 

$11,000 (1956 figures). 

At the beginning of the 1954-55 school year, it 

became apparent that a new school building had to be 

provided for the following year or some pupils would 

have to be turned away. 

Plans Drawn Up 

In January of 1955, Father Houle, Arthur Dube, and 

William Anderson made a trip to St. Louis, Mo. to 

investigate a new type of building which would be 

faster and more economical, Penn metal construction, 

a light weight steel, fire-proof type of construction. 

In early February, Allen J. Ross, an architect from 

Mankato, was asked to draw up plans for a new 

building which would provide three new classrooms, a 

principal's office, new toilet facilities, a large 

multi-purpose room which could be used for hot 

lunches, recreation, parish activities, etc, with a 

kitchen and food and chair storage rooms. 

To finance the new school, the pastor himself 

undertook in January, 1955, the task of calling on all the 

families of the parish, gathering census information, 

and asking each family to donate $400.00 more if 

possible, or less, according to circumstances, with a 

down payment in cash and weekly, monthly, or yearly 

installments until the entire amount would be 

contributed. 

Work on the new building progressed rapidly with 

only minor delays in spite of the fact that this was the 

biggest year of construction in the history of the U.S. 

Many parishioners were able to obtain work on the 

project since the pastor acted in the capacity of the 

general contractor and some of the important 

sub-contractors were members of the parish. The new 

building was ready to be occupied in early March of 

1956 and was blessed on Sunday, March 4, by 

Archbishop John Gregory Murray, S.T.D., the 

77

~en &?cf}low 

Archbishop of St. Paul, assisted by a large number of 

clergy, parishioners, people of the city of Faribault and 

friends of the parish. The attractive school and church 

social center has been popularly used in the years 

following and the parish school has held class sessions 

each year. 

Trinity Lutheran School 

Trinity Lutheran School began in 1875 in a 

combination school-parsonage building which still 

stands on the church premises at 521 NW Fifth Street. 

The Rev. John Hertrich, pastor at that time, also 

served as teacher for the school. 

In 1881 Rev. Henry Schulz took over as teacher and 

in 1883 a one-room frame school building measuring 45 

by 26 feet was erected. By this time, there were one 

hundred children enrolled in the school. 

The first full-time teacher and principal of the 

school, Martin Kirsch Sr., came in 1884. Martin Kirsch 

taught for 29 years, until 1913. During this period, 

religion classes and many language arts classes were 

taught in the German language. 

Continued growth crowded the school so that in 

1902, the one-room building was sold and moved off the 

premises. The old church building was then remodeled 

into a two-room school. This building was used until 

1915 when the congregation built a four-room brick 

structure, with a basement assembly room. This 

building is now part of the present structure. 

The addition of three classrooms and a principal's 

office was begun in 1952 and dedicated in 1953. In 1959 

an auditorium-gymnasium, two additional classrooms, 

locker and shower rooms, fellowship rooms, kitchen 

facilities, and church offices were added, completing 

the present facilities. 

Trinity School has an enrollment of 200 students 

served by 10 teachers. 

P eace Lutheran School 

Being highly concerned with the Christian 

education of their children, the members of Peace 

Lutheran Church opened its Christian Day School on 

September 14, 1948 with 68 pupils enrolled in grades one 

through eight. Classes were conducted in rooms at the 

Ephphatha Church for the Deaf, Division Street and 

Sixth A venue East, until the completion of the ranch 

house school. This was being constructed at the corner 

of Third Street south and Eighth Avenue S.W. The 

ranch house style residence was adapted to provide 

two emergency class rooms for the Christian Day 

School of the congregation. It was dedicated on Oct. 

31,1948. When the school was completed, the ranch 

house was completed as a residence. Eugene Vetter 

was the first teacher and principal with Miss Ruth 

Severson teaching the lower grades. 

Ground breaking ceremonies for the construction 

of a parish school were held on Sunday, July 24, 1949. 

The first unit of ow present structure, the school, was 

dedicated to the Glory of God on May 7, 1950. Three 

classrooms and an assembly hall, which served as the 

chapel, were provided in this building. There are now 

five classrooms, a library and church and school 

offices. 

A kindergarten in the school was inaugrated on 

September 2, 1952. Peace school now offers complete 

grade school education from kindergarten through the 

eighth grade in all required subjects, meeting the 

standards of the State Board of Education, all being 

taught from a Christian viewpoint. Hot lunch program 

is offered by the school. 

On September 16, 1974, a pre-school nursery 

program was opened. The program is licensed by the 

State Department of Public Welfare. This program 

differs from many in that it provides the setting for the 

child to work and play in a Christian atmosphere with 

children of his own age. The multi-media, 

non-denominational materials stress the presence of 

Jesus in the child's home, in his play activities with 

friends, and in nature. Mrs. Margaret Beseman is the 

head teacher of the nursery school with Richard 

Timm, the director. 

Peace School has sponsored Talent shows, Science 

and Art Fairs, annual Operettas since 1959 in which all 

the children in the school participate. 

The first winterim mini-courses were completed 

February 20, 1976. "We wanted to give the students an 

opportunity to break from the routine," Richard 

Timm, principal of the school said. ''For three days, 

students .were able to choose from thirty or more 

winterim mini-courses, such as indoor gardening, ice 

fishing, painting, embroidery, woodworking, ice 

cream making, candy making, baking and a number of 

other activities. The goal of winterim is to spur 

students' interests in areas which are not dealt with by 

academic classes. 

School principals who have served Peace School 

are Julius Wantoch, Paul Groenke, Stuart Firnhaber, 

Paul Obst, Robert Koring, Willard Kniep, and Richard 

Timm from 1970. Teachers who have taught in our 

school beside the principals are Arthur Nitschke, 

Mabel Harris, Mrs. Paul Groenke, Martha Knutsen, 

Arlene Rehwaldt, Peggy Wiedenheft, Marlys Gehrke, 

Eleanor Mueller, Mrs. Viola Musegades, Mrs. LeRoy 

Drier, LeVana Knehans, Mrs. Edith Glende, Mrs. 

Randall Beinhom, Mrs. Clarence Spitzack, Milton 

Kuball, Mrs. Eugene Blaker, John Briggs, Mrs. 

Bernice Griggs, Carol Wackier, Mrs. Beata Borchert, 

Mrs. Lois Gramse, Patricia Schaper, Janet Schrimper, 

Mrs. Esther Burgdorf, Cleo Splinter, Mrs. Sherry! 

Kniep, Mrs. Cheryl Carlson Lindner, Sally Hoffmann, 

Mrs. Margaret Beseman, Mrs. Mary Sanborn, Mrs. 

Betty Lindemeier Velzke, Mrs. Marlyss Wagner, Mrs. 

Kay Cram and Allen Zum Hofe. 

78

Early day view of the Minnesota State School for Deaf on the Straight River bluffs in Faribault 

School for Deaf 

113 years old 

By WESLEY LAURITSEN, L.H.D. 

1917 Graduate of MSD 

The 116-acre campus of the Minnesota School for 

the Deaf is located on the hilltop on the east side of 

Faribault. A state representative recently said that the 

campus was one of the most beautiful in Minnesota. 

The School was established by an act of the 

Legislature in 1858 and opened in 1863 with eight pupils. 

The current enrollment is around 200. During the past 

113 years more than 3,400 students have entered the 

school. 

The School is an educational institution in every 

sense of the word. For years it has been run under the 

direction of the Department of Welfare, but a recent 

act of the Legislature placed the school under the State 

Department of Education. 

The School has a staff of about 30 certified 

academic teachers and a dozen qualified vocational 

teachers. These teachers give the deaf youth a 

well-rounded education that will enable them to 

continue their education in post secondary schools or 

colleges, or to step into positions in their home town 

communities. 

Despite salaries that have not always been 

attractive, the School has been fortunate in having a 

staff of dedicated teachers, houseparents and 

employees. They have helped to make the School one of 

the outstanding schools for the deaf in the United 

States. 

The School has always been out of politics. 

Through various forms of state administration the 

superintendent has always been appointed on merit 

and knowledgeable persons say that in each case the 

best man available was always chosen to head the 

school. 

The School has had eight superintendents and 

three acting superintendents. The latter served during 

emergencies for a year or less. 

Happy Students 

In the early days children usually entered the 

School at the age of eight, but now the entry age is 

usually around five. This gives the child a good start on 

his educational journey. 

Many young children entering the School do not 

know their own names or that they have a name. Yet 

under the direction of competent teachers they are 

able to get a well-rounded education, preparing them 

to live a full life. 

The children attending the School are a very happy 

group. Most live in the dormitories under the care of 

understanding houseparents. There are a few day 

students whose parents live in Faribault and vicinity. 

In the early days of the school children came in the fall 

..md usually went home for a short Christmas vacation. 

After they returned, they would stay until school closed 

in the spring. In those days vocational classes were 

held on Saturday and there were many events during 

the weekends to keep them busy. 

With improved transportation facilities, many of 

the students now go home weekends and the school is 

closed during the Thanksgiving and Easter vacation 

periods. 

The Minnesota School for the Deaf now uses what 

79

~en~§Vow 

Minnesota School for Deaf gymnasium 

is called the Total Communication Method of Teaching 

the Deaf. This includes child devised gestures, speech, 

formal signs, finger spelling, speech reading, reading 

and writing. Every child is provided the opportunity to 

learn to use any remnant of residual hearing he may 

have by employing the best possible electronic 

equipment for amplifying sound. 

Vocational Training 

So that students may take their place as 

self-supporting citizens in their home communities 

upon leaving school, vocational training is begun early 

at the Minnesota School for the Deaf. The girls learn to 

prepare meals and they also learn to sew and make 

their own dresses. Following recent trends the girls are 

now also found in graphic arts classes and home 

mechanics classes. 

The younger boys are taught sloyd in a 

well-equipped shop. Older boys learn cabinet making, 

upholstering, printing, linotyping, and all phases of 

offset printing. 

Art, typewriting, photography, assembly, crafts, 

sheet metal and welding are also offered students. 

Driver training classes are open to all boys and girls of 

legal driving age. A certified driver training instructor 

is in charge and most students leaving school have a 

state driver's license. 

The Minnesota School for the Deaf is a member of 

the Minnesota State High School League and both boys 

and girls participate in a full schedule of sports. 

Besides competing in regular conference schedules, 

the football, basketball and track teams often meet 

teams in nearby schools for the deaf. This offers the 

students fellowship with deaf students in other states. 

In 1938 the School basketball team won the Midwest 

Schools for the Deaf tourney and drove to New York to 

play in the National Schools for the Deaf Tourney. 

There are a number of student organizations that 

give the students an opportunity to serve. The Boys' 

Athletic Association, now in its 54th year, helps sponsor . 

the athletic program and student officers are 

responsible for many projects. The student treasurer 

handles up to $5,000 a year. His books are regularly 

audited by staff members. A faculty adviser meets 

with the boys regularly. 

Professional Organizations 

To keep up with the ever-changing conditions, the 

teachers are members of a number of professional 

organizations. They have their own Minnesota School 

for the Deaf Education Association, are members of 

the Minnesota Education Association, and many are 

members of special groups promoting the education of 

the deaf. 

Graduates of the School are succeeding in 

practically all walks of life. They are employed as 

printers, linotype operators, bakers, cabinet makers, 

farmers, teachers, college professors, ministers, and 

business men. 

That the State of Minnesota has a good investment 

in the Minnesota School for the Deaf is at once 

apparent when you learn that almost 100 per cent of its 

graduates are self-supporting. And the School is proud 

of the fact that not a single graduate has been 

convicted of crime and sent to prison. 

Graduates of the School are an integral part of the 

economic, industrial and spiritual society of our great 

state. Graduates have happy families. They fulfill 

their citizenship duties. They ask no favors - want 

none. 

The eight superintendents who have given the 

School outstanding leadership are: Roswell H. Kinney, 

1863-1866; Jonathon L. Noyes, 1866-1896; James N. 

Tate, 1896-1923; Elwood A. Stevenson, 1924-1928; Victor 

0. Skyberg, 1928-1932; Leonard M. Elstad, 1932-1945; 

Howard M. Quigley, 1945-1966; Melvin H. Brasel, 1967- 

Credit should also be given to James L. Smith, 

Nannie A. Pollard and Albert C. Esterline who served 

. as acting superintendents for a year or less during 

emergencies. 

School for blind established 

As early as 1863, a State Commission for the 

Education of the Deaf and Blind had been created, but 

only sufficient funds had been appropriated to finance 

the opening of the Department of the Deaf. 

In 1866, through the efforts of Miss Harriet Tucker, 

a Department for the Blind was opened in connection 

with a School for the Deaf and Blind. Both schools were 

quartered in private residences until 1868 when a 

building large enough to house both Departments was 

erected on the heights east of Faribault. 

In 1873, the Department for the Blind graduated its 

first class of four students. At this time, students 

between the ages of 10 and 25 years were admitted. 

It had long been felt that the close association of 

blind and deaf students worked hardships upon both 

groups. In 1874, a new location for the School for the 

Blind was acquired and the school is still located there 

today. This change marked the beginning of 

independent work in the education of the blind in 

Minnesota, and by 1879 the two departments had been 

completely separated. James Dow was named 

Superintendent of the School for the Blind. 

In 1884, Dow Hall was built to house the school. The 

80


First State School for Blind, Faribault 

curriculum included reading, spelling, arithmetic, 

music and broom and mattress making. By 1886, the 

curriculum had been expanded to include a three year 

high school course and the enrollment had risen to 50 

students. Miss Ella Hofner was very instrumental in 

the development of the curriculum during this period. 

Soon several changes were made in school buildings: a 

hospital, a school superintendent's home, an industrial 

building and by 1898 a south wing was added to Dow 

Hall for dormitory, library and music facilities. 

At the turn of the century, the teaching staff 

consisted of 12 persons and in addition there were 

supervisors and other employes. Eighty five students 

were enrolled in a complete 12 year course, including 

the grades and high school. Optional courses also were 

offered in musical and industrial fields. Two new 

dormitories for boys were built about this time. 

Summer School Established 

By 1907, Dr. Dow began a summer school for men 

who had become blind in later life. This school was the 

first of its kind in the country, aimed at social 

readjustment as well as industrial rehabilitation. In 

1913, a summer school for blind women was opened. 

Later the two sessions became a summer school for all 

adult blind and the age limit for students attending 

regular school was lowered to 21 years. Dr. Dow 

retired in 1920 and his sister, Julia Dow, became 

superintendent for two years. 

Joseph E. Vance became the next superintendent 

in 1922. Under Superintendent Vance, a Department of 

Sight Conservation was begun in 1925. In place of 

Braille used elsewhere in the school, children in the 

Sight Conservation Department used Clear Type 

materials. 

When Superintendent Vance resigned in 1930, 

Mendus R. Vevle became the new superintendent. 

Through Mr. Vevle's efforts the School Library was 

made a distributing center for the Library of Congress 

Books for the Blind. The school became the first state 

institution to have a degree librarian. Supt. Vevle also 

combined the music, industrial and academic 

departments into one comprehensive program under 

one principal. 

John C. Lysen became Supt. of the Minnesota 

School for the Blind in 1934 and remained at the school 

until1965. Under his tenure, the enrollment rose to 140 

students, some of whom were day students. Three new 

buildings were added during the era, the Industrial 

Arts Building in 1942, the Activities Building in 1957 and 

the Regional-School Library Building in 1959. 

Meanwhile, existing structures were rehabilitated and 

modernized. In 1953, the name of the school was 

changed to the Minnesota Braille and Sight Saving 

School in order to convey to the public a true concept of 

its activities and the double purpose of the School. 

New teaching methods 

In 1965, the new superintendent, C. E. Ronayne, 

introduced a new philosophy of education of the blind. 

81

~en &?§Vow 

He initiated the integration of senior blind students in 

the Faribault Public Schools. Also, under Supt. 

Ronayne, many more multiple handicapped students 

were enrolled in the school. The population of the 

school dropped considerably, with many students 

returning to their home communities to attend school. 

Melvin Voxland became superintendent in 1967. 

The activating of a Deaf-Blind Department took place 

while he was in charge. The Department undertook to 

educate students who are both deaf arid blind. By 1974, 

the Deaf-Blind Department had reached an enrollment 

of 22 students. 

In 1972, Vincent F. Svaldi replaced Supt. Voxland. 

Under Supt. Svaldi, an off-campus co-ed Independent 

Living House was established for older students. 

Melvin H. Brasel became superintendent in 1976. 

He serves as superintendent of the Minnesota School 

for Deaf as well as the Minnesota Braille and Sight 

Saving School. The two schools are situated on 

separate campuses. The total school population at the 

Minnesota Braille and Sight Saving School is 

approximately 60 students. 

The future role of the school in these times of 

changing emphases is difficult to predict. For blind 

people, as a whole, this school has made it easier to live 

useful, happy lives in home and community. 

Faribault State Hospital 

Faribault's three state institutions, the Minnesota 

School for the Deaf, Minnesota Braille and Sight 

Saving School and the Minnesota State School were 

founded as one school in 1863. 

By an act of the State legislature, approved August 

11, 1858, Faribault was designated as the location for a 

state school for deaf mutes, on the condition that the 

citizens of Faribault donate forty acres of land for a 

site. 

In 1863, the Deaf School was established in a 

building originally built for a store. In 1866 a blind 

department was added to the school and the combined 

school was known as the "Institution for the Education 

of the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind.'' After a few years trial, 

it was found that educating the blind and deaf under 

one roof was detrimental so in 1874, a separation was 

made. The legislature of 1881 established a permanent 

school at Faribault for idiots, imbeciles, and the feeble 

minded, and thus three separate and distinct 

institutions, each with its own superintendent and 

employees, but all under the same board of directors 

were established under the title of "Minnesota 

Institute for Defectives." 

Land was purchased above the bluffs east of the 

Straight River. The Legislature provided $25,000 for 

the construttion of new buildings. 

An act of the Legislature of 1879 established a 

commission to visit the hospitals for the insane and to 

select feebleminded persons found there and turn them 

over to the trustees of the blind and dumb and deaf 

institution. They were to establish a school for their 

training. This school was spoken of as the 

Experimental School. It was organized by Dr. Henry 

M. Knight, a veteran in the care and training of the 

feebleminded. His son, Dr. George H. Knight was 

elected superintendent on June 1, 1879. Fourteen 

children -nine boys and five girls- comprised the 

students at that first school. 

New Building Authorized 

In February of 1882, a new building was ready for 

the care and training of the feebleminded. Another act 

of the legislature of 1884 provided more money for 

additional building and there was now room for one 

hundred children. 

In April, 1885, Dr. Knight resigned and Dr. A. C. 

Rogers became superintendent in September 1885. He 

pioneered programs for the mentally retarded. 

Since 1885, each succeeding session of the 

legislature has provided in part to meet the large 

demand for admission to the Institution. In 1890, a farm 

of 190 acres, known as · the Gilmore farm was 

purchased. In 1894 "Sunnyside" was built, and 1896 

found Skinner Hall being constructed. In 1900 a 

building just for epileptics was built. In 1909 another 

farm was purchased. Through the years new buildings 

have been added: Rogers Building in 1959, 

Administration Building in 1958, Linden Building, a 

living unit for residents, was built in 1964. 

The school has had a number of name changes: 

1905, School for Feebleminded and Colony for 

Epileptics; 1949, Minnesota School and Colony; 1955, 

Faribault State School and Hospital; 1969, Faribault 

State Hospital. 

Superintendents who have served: 

Dr. H. M. Knight - 1879-1885; Dr. Arthur C. 

Rogers- 1885-1916; Guy C. Hanson; Dr. J. Moorhead 

Murdock - 1927-1937; Dr. Edward J. Engberg - 

1937-1969; Harold Gillespie - 1969-1973; Charles 

Turnbull-1974. 

Population: 

Low: 21 residents, 1880; High: 3252 residents, 1956; 

1976: 1025 residents. 

Bishop Whipple, man of action 

It has been said repeatedly by men. accustomed to 

a judicious weighing of words that ''no bishop of the 

church ever has given more striking evidence of the 

fact that the highest order of the ministry of Christ 

belongs not to a diocese alone, but to the whole Church 

and to the Commonwealth, than the Right Rev. Henry 

Benjamin Whipple, First Episcopal Bishop of 

Minnesota." Faribault was chosen by him as the See 

City of the Diocese. 

Henry Benjamin Whipple was born in Adams, N.Y. 

Feb. 15, 1822. The character of the man and the 

preparation of his life of service to thousands began 

82


Nov. 10, 1859, immediately began missionary work 

among the Indians who became his staunch and loyal 

friends and held his first service in the wooden chapel 

in Faribault; Feb. 19, 1860. For 42 years as bishop he 

gained national and world recognition for his dynamic 

service to mankind. 

His many projects, building the Cathedral of Our 

Merciful Saviour, Faribault; founding the Whipple 

Schools, Shattuck, Saint Mary's Hall and St. James 

Schools in Faribault; building the Diocese of 

Minnesota into an influential force for Christianity 

earned worldwide acclaim. 

He died Sept. 16, 1901 after being stricken with 

pneumonia. His funeral, held at the Cathedral in 

Faribault, was impressive with its sincere, eloquent 

tributes to a man who lived a most purposeful life. 

Mrs. Cornelia Whipple 

Right Rev. H. B. Whipple, D.D. L.L.D. 

several hundred years before this in the lives of his 

ancestors and their descendants, who were among 

some of the most honorable families of our country. 

He was educated in private schools in the state of 

New York and later attended Oberlin College, Oberlin, 

Ohio, where he lived with his uncle, the Rev. George 

Whipple, who was professor of mathematics. 

His student life was interrupted by a severe illness. 

In the weeks of enforced seclusion a vision of the needs 

of perishing humanity took possession of him. Every 

other consideration paled in the light of this great 

vision. It was his clear perception of the highest values 

of life which led him to decide what his life work should 

be - 

the Christian Ministry. 

He received his theological training under that 

eminent scholar, the Rev. Dr. W. D. Wilson of Cornell 

University, N.Y. On August 26, 1849, he was ordained 

Deacon by Bishop De Lancey, his loyal friend and 

religious guide and in February, 1850 he was ordained 

priest. His first call was to Zion Church, Rome, N.Y. 

where he built up a large parish and erected a new 

church. He then was called, in 1856, to the newly 

organized "Free Church of the Holy Communion" in 

Chicago. 

Because of his phenomenal work there he was 

elected to the Episcopate in 1859 in St. James Church, 

Richmond, Virginia, at the session of the General 

Convention. He was the youngest of all the Bishops. 

He held his first service in Minnesota at Wabasha, 

Scriptural praise from the Book of St. Mark, 

chapter 14, verse 8, "She hath done what she could," 

voiced by the Rev. John S. Kedney, D.D., in a 

memorial sermon before mourners who overflowed the 

historic Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, Faribault, 

Minnesota, eulogized the memory of Mrs. Cornelia 

Whipple. 

Mrs. Whipple, the wife of the Rt. Rev. Henry 

Benjamin Whipple, first Episcopal Bishop of 

Minnesota, died on July 16, 1890 following earlier 

injuries received in a Georgia railway accident. 

Her death, mourned by thousands in all sections of 

this country and abroad, marked the close of a life 

steeped in Christian unselfishness and piety. Her 

constructive life was devoted to helpful service to the 

poor and suffering, to the grateful Indians and to her 

husband, the Bishop, who frequently mentioned that 

Mrs. Whipple "was his right hand in all good work," 

particularly in laying the foundation of Faribault's 

famed Episcopal Schools. 

Mrs. Whipple was the eldest daughter of the Hon. 

and Mrs. Benjamin Wright and was born in Adams, 

Jefferson County, N.Y. Educated at Mrs. Emma 

Willard's celebrated Troy Female Seminary, she 

taught several years in South Carolina and provided 

largely the means to educate her brother who became 

a faithful minister of the church. 

Married in 1842 

In 1842 she was married to Henry Benjamin 

Whipple, then engaged in the mercantile business in 

New York. She led him to the Church and as they were 

connected with the Parish of Zion Church, Pierrepont 

Manor, her husband became a lay reader and held 

services in the Adams Academy. 

In 1847 Mr. Whipple became a candidate for Holy 

Orders and was ordained Deacon by Bishop DeLancey 

in 1849 and accepted the charge of Zion Church, Rome, 

83

~en ~8/ow 

Scandrett of St. Paul and Brigadier General C. H. 

Whipple, USA. 

The impressive funeral service for Mrs. Cornelia 

Whipple was held in the Cathedral of Our Merciful 

Saviour on July 19, 1890 and was a sincere, eloquent 

tribute to her constructive, unselfish life of service to 

God. Truly, she exemplified St. Mark's words "She 

hath done what she could.'' 

Shattuck School 118 years old 

Bishop Whipple's Residence 

N.Y., on Advent Sunday. 

Husband Elected Bishop 

In 1857 the Whipples moved to Chicago to take 

charge of a Mission Free Church. In 1859 her husband 

was elected the first Bishop of Minnesota. They moved 

to Faribault, in the spring of 1860 where she lived for 30 

years, beloved by all who knew her. 

Bishop Whipple, whom the Indians called 

"Straight Tongue" because they believed in him and 

his spiritual teachings and completely trusted him, 

became one of the greatest leaders and preachers of 

the American Episcopal Church, renowned in this 

country and abroad. He died Sept. 16, 1901 and his 

death was mourned by thousands of his and other 

faiths. 

Friend of Indians 

During her residence in Faribault, Mrs. Whipple 

was the devoted friend of the poor Indians and they 

returned her love. She was an invaluable aid to her 

husband in the establishment and operation of 

Shattuck School and Saint Mary's Hall. 

She received needy students in her home and for 

many years served as House Mother of Saint Mary's 

Hall when the school was located in her own home. 

Through the spirit of generosity and spirit of Christian 

dedication she graciously performed many acts of 

kindness for hundreds of persons who gratefully and 

emotionally accepted them. 

In spite of her busy daily schedule and 

responsibilities, Mrs. Whipple was a loving, devoted 

mother to their six children, Mrs. Cornelia Rose, John 

Hall, Mrs. Frank C. Craw, all of Faribault; Mrs. 

Charles A. Fninu of Philadelphia; Mrs. H.A. 

Founded in 1858, Shattuck was the first school of 

the Episcopal Church to be established west of the 

Alleghenies. The previous year, the Rev. James Lloyd 

Breck, pioneer missionary and educator, had come to 

Faribault with the plans to establish the Bishop 

Seabury University, which was to also include primary 

and secondary schools for boys and girls. 

On June 3, 1858, a worship service attended by 15 

day students, in a one-room rented building opened the 

Mission School from which developed Seabury Divinity 

School (now Seabury Western Seminary in Evanston, 

Illinois), Saint Mary's Hall, Saint James School, and 

Shattuck. 

In the fall, the school moved into its own building 

which had been constructed from funds secured by Dr. 

Breck. In 1864 the grammar school boys and the 

divinity students moved across the Straight River into 

Seabury Hall which had been completed on the present 

Shattuck Campus. 

Two years later the cornerstone was laid for 

Shattuck Hall, the first building intended exclusively 

Shattuck Hall, Faribault (early days) 

84


for the use of the grammar school. In 1865, the trustees 

of the Mission organized the academic department 

under the name Shattuck Grammar School, in honor of 

Dr. George C. Shattuck of Boston, an early benefactor 

of the school. 

The Reverend James Dobbin was appointed 

Shattuck's first Rector. The two schools shared the 

same campus until1872, when Seabury Divinity School 

moved to its own campus two miles south. 

The Right Reverend Henry Benjamin Whipple, 

consecrated the first bishop of Minnesota, in 1858, was 

largely responsible for the early growth of Shattuck. 

Military Training Begins 

Military training had its beginning in a way that 

was almost accidental. Thomas C. Crump, a student in 

the divinity school, in 1866, provided the grammar 

school boys with sticks for muskets and proceeded to 

drill them. The drill was so successful that in the 

following year, the Board of Trustees passed a 

resolution requesting Bishop Whipple and Dr. Breck to 

adopt a uniform dress for the boys. The Bishop realized 

that drill was good for the boys and if properly 

managed, would "develop manly bearing, precision in 

movement, personal neatness, and the spirit of 

leadership." He secured, in 1868, the appointment of 

Major Alfred E. Latimer as professor of military 

science and tactics. The major was the first regular 

army officer to be detailed for that purpose in any 

secondary school. This marked the beginning of the 

Department of War's ROTC program in secondary 

schools. Shattuck's famous Crack Squad was not a part 

of the ROTC program. In 1883, this name was first used 

in connection with a drill team. The Crack Squad 

symbolizes excellence to which all Shattuck boys 

... , . ·-· ... '), ... ..... .. ~ _: . 

Phelps Library at Shattuck 

.l \' • 

Whipple Hall at Shattuck (early days) 

aspire. 

Buildings on the 250 acre wooded campus form a 

circle with the main group of buildings facing south 

toward Whitney Memorial Arch at the main entrance 

to the campus grounds. The center area has been used 

as a baseball field and ROTC parade ground. The 

buildings, of English architecture, are constructed of 

gray limestone from nearby quarries. 

The oldest stone building on the campus is the 

Memorial Chapel of The Good Shepherd, given in 1872 

by Mrs. Augusta Shumway of Chicago. Shumway 

Administration Hall was built from another bequest 

from Mrs. Shumway. As a memorial to Samuel S. 

Johnson of California, the Armory was funded by his 

widow and two sons. Two dormitories, Breck and 

Whipple, and a science hall named in honor of George 

Richard Kingham, longtime head of the Science 

Department, were built by Alumni and patron's gifts. 

The Arch was erected in memory of Harry E. Whitney, 

a master at Shattuck from 1874 to 1926, from stones 

taken from the old Whipple and old Shattuck 

dormitories, which were razed in 1926. 

In 1964 there were 260 boys in four classes called 

forms, which included ninth through twelfth grades. 

Although Shattuck has adopted its course of study to 

meet changing requirements throughout the years, 

class sections have been kept small and the ratio of 

masters to boys has remained at about one to 10. 

Initially, English, mathematics, history, and language 

formed the core of the curriculum. 

It has always been a Shattuck principle that all 

boys take part in some kind of exercise. At first, simple 

gymnastics were insisted upon, but after the turn of the 

century, the idea of intra-murals teams, in addition to 

varsity teams, was developed. Each boy selected a 

85

l/len ~ cf!Vow 

sport according to the season. 

The school offers its students a balanced education 

at the secondary level which gains them entrance into 

college as well as preparing them to be intelligent 

citizens. 

Centennial Observed 

On June 6, 7, 8, 1958, Shattuck School celebrated its 

100th anniversary, with a down-town parade, the 

dedication of the Seabury University marker, located 

opposite the Alexander Faribault House and near the 

location of the building in which Reverend James 

Lloyd Breck opened classes on June 3, 1858, and a 

program on the school campus green. 

With the election, in 1915, of Charles W. Newhall as 

Headmaster, Shattuck School was under lay 

lea


Seabury Divinity School in Faribault for many years was a leading 

Theological Seminary of the American Episcopal Church training 

many ministry candidates who later became rectors and bishops. In 

the early 1930's the school was merged with Western Seminary and 

moved to Evanston, Ill., where it still functions as Seabury-Western 

Divinity School. Johnson Hall on the Seabury campus, now the site of 

Rice County District One Hospital, is the sole remaining Seabury 

building and is used for nursing classroom instruction. 

classes in language, science, and mathematics, 

Shattuck and Saint Mary's became fully coordinated. 

In November, the Saint James faculty and students 

moved on to Shattuck Campus and the three schools 

began full coordination then and are now known as The 

Bishop Whipple Schools. 

Rev. Cannon Allen F. Bray III was installed as the 

first rector and headmaster on Sunday, September 24. 

Enrolled are boys, grades 5-12 and girls, 7-12 with the 

girls living at Saint Mary's Campus and the boys at 

Shattuck Campus. Classes are held on both campuses. 

St. James School 

dates back to 1901 

Saint James was founded in 1901 by the Rev. 

James Dobbin, then rector of Shattuck School. Rev. 

and Mrs. Dobbins decided to enlarge their "Manney 

Hill" home, which still stands on Saint James Campus, 

and convert it into a school for young boys with Mrs. 

Dobbins as_ tutor. Originally known as "Lower 

Shattuck," it was established in response to requests 

for an Episcopal School for boys too young to enter 

Shattuck. 

Mr. F. E. Jenkins was selected as headmaster, 

with Mrs. Jenkins as the other teacher and 

housemother: Enrollment was limited to 20 boys. Over 

the years additions were made to the home and by 1909 

there were 31 cadets enrolled in the school. That year it 

was incorporated as Saint James School, a name 

chosen by Mrs. Dobbins to honor her husband whose 

Christian name was James. Within a short time 

enrollment increased to 44 students. Several teachers 

were added, including Mr. William L. Crandall, who 

served as assistant headmaster for 24 years. He taught 

what was called the "little room" for the younger boys. 

The work was on an individualized basis with special 

emphasis on reading. Each boy progressed at his own 

rate. 

In 1921 the school was purchased from the Dobbin 

family but the name remained the same. The 

purchasers were Mr. F. E. Jenkins, Mr. B. B. Sheffield 

and Mr. C. S. Batchelder, with Mr. Jenkins continuing 

as headmaster. 

The campus and farm acreage had been acquired 

piece by piece by the Dob~n family. In 1924, 65 acres 

were purchased from th 1 

Eberhardt Kaul estate, 

making a total of 198 acres. 

Mr. Jenkins served as headmaster of Saint James 

for 41 years, retiring in 1942. Rev. Osborn R. Littleford 

instigated reorganization of the school and it was 

purchased and re-incorporated as the St. James 

87

~en &-'§Vow 

Military School, becoming a direct Diocesan Episcopal 

School. 

Mr. Marvin Horstman became headmaster in 

September, 1944. He followed the same principles and 

traditions established by Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, but 

with streamlining to meet the current needs of modem 

education. Instead of a "lower" and an "upper" room, 

the boys were placed in selected classrooms, with the 

three upper grades being completely 

departmentalized. The ratio of teachers to boys 

became one to seven. Women teachers for the primary 

and intermediate grades were employed, as well as a 

housemother and a secretary, providing a more 

balanced home atmosphere for the young boys. 

The building was completely remodeled in 1944 and 

enrollment was raised to a maximum of 54 boys. From 

1944-1951, Saint James embarked upon further 

expansion and growth with the construction of a new 

dormitory for older boys, named Hull Hall. This 

building accomodated 64 cadets and had six faculty 

apartments. The Armory, a wooden structure, was 

used for physical education and military drill. 

Saint James had grown from a small little known 

school to one of the leading elementary schools in the 

Midwest. 

In September, 1971, the school faculty and students 

moved onto the Shattuck Campus and was coordinated 

along with Shattuck and St. Mary's Hall into the Bishop 

Whipple Schools. 

St. James School Chapel 

An historic church, formerly Church of the 

Ascension (Episcopal) at Kenyon, which was 

consecrated by Rt. Rev. Henry Whipple, First Bishop 

of Minnesota 1875, 101 years ago, and later moved to 

Campus of St. James School was dedicated Oct. 17, 

1965. 

Taking part in the dedication were Rt. Rev. H. H. 

Kellog, Bishop of Minnesota, Very Rev. John H. 

McNaughton, Rev. John A. Holmen, Marvin 

Horstman, School Headmaster. 

The new Chapel was dedicated in memory of Mr. 

and Mrs. Frederick E. Jenkins, first headmaster of St. 

James School, Sept. 1901 - date of its founding - to 

1942. 

W. Roby Allen School 

trains deaf 

In 1923 Mr. and Mrs. W. Roby Allen opened a 

private school which bears their name, for deaf 

children in their family home at 525 East 5th Street in 


Mrs. Allen, nee Bessie Blaker, was the daughter of 

deaf parents. Her father, James M. Blaker, was 

deafened at the age of nine by a sickness called brain 

fever, probably a form of meningitis. Her mother, 

Emma Charping Blaker had lost her hearing at the age 

of five following an attack of Scarlet Fever. The 

father had attended the Louisiana and Mississippi 

Schools for the Deaf, but her mother had been educated 

at home by private tutors. 

Mrs. Allen had taught in the Florida and Mississippi 

State Schools for the Deaf prior to her marriage in 1901. 

In 1914 the family, ronsisting of grandparents, parents, 

and six daughters moved to Faribault where Mrs. 

Allen joined the faculty of the Minnesota State School 

for the Deaf. 

At that time there were no facilities for deaf 

children under the age of seven or eight years. This 

troubled Mrs. Allen for she felt that these early years 

of a deaf child's life were crucial. She was one of the 

earliest advocates for the education of pre-school age 

children. 

She knew the extent to which the lack of hearing and 

inability to communicate normally with others could 

and did isolate many deaf people; her parents had been 

the only deaf people in their home town of Kosciusko, 

Mississippi. She became an ardent supporter of 

oralism, teaching lip-reading and speech to deaf 

children at as early an age as possible, preferably 

before the age of three. 

She felt that these young children also needed as 

normal a home life as possible. They needed love, 

happy memories of normal childhood and identification 

and participation with peers who had normal 

hearing. With these early advantages, she hoped 

that deaf children might attend regular school classes 

with hearings children as soon as they had a foundation 

in language skills, the ability to communicate in 

spoken English, a social awareness, and an 

educational background to make normal progress in 

their school group. 

In 1923 these were not accepted goals nor m~thods 

but advocated by one who had known the segregation of 

deaf adults in a hearing world, Mrs. Allen was very 

much the realist rather than the idealist. 

Upon the death of Mrs. Allen in 1931 her goals were 

carried on by her six daughters. Eventually two 

daughters, Faye and Dena continued the direction of 

the school. In 1933 students began attending regular 

classes on the elementary and junior high level in local 

schools, continuing their high school work and 

graduating from Bethlehem Academy as full time 

members of their classes. 

Many have continued their education in colleges 

and graduate schools, earning advanced degrees, 

always using their speech and lip reading as their only 

means of communication. 

Enrollment at the W. Roby Allen School is usually 

about twenty boys and girls who come from all parts of 

the United States and Canada. A desire for an oral 

education to enable a child to take his place in a world, 

made up for the most part, of people with normal 

hearing, and the ability to profit by this kind of 

education are the pre requisites for admission. 

88


Wilson Center newest school 

In 1971, with the cooperation of the Right Reverend 

Philip McNary, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of 

Minnesota, the Board of Trustees of Shattuck and Saint 

James School and Saint Mary's Hall, the Cook 

Foundation of Memphis, Tennessee, established the 

Constance Bultman Wilson Center. 

The Center is located on the former 160 acre 

campus of Saint James, which moved to Shattuck 

School in November, 1971. The school operates a 

residential treatment program for 30 adolescents, age 

15-22, as well as an out-patient program for all ages. 

A non-profit institution, it has three main objectives: 

(1) the delivery of psychiatric clinic services, (2) 

education of mental health professionals, and (3) 

research. 

Hull Hall, a recently constructed dormitory 

provides room for students and some trainees. Also 

located here are the dining, kitchen, and lounge areas 

as well as four faculty apartments. "Old Main" is the 

site of clinical offices, academic rooms and 

administrative research facilities. 

The Horstman Memorial Athletic Building, 

dedicated in 1971, has a gymnasium, theatre stage, and 

assembly hall. 

There are approximately 60 persons on the 

permanent training staff at the Center. The object of 

the Center's programs for students is to free them from 

educational, vocational, or emotional handicaps. Dr. 

Robert Wilson is the president and director of the 

school. 

meet his future and to hold his own in it. 

Dr. Pletcher sees no change in boys of 50 years ago 

and those of today. Boys are the same in likes and 

dislikes, proud to do good work and glad of the work to 

do. There still are many who must be coaxed and some 

who simply don't like to work. 

Dr. Pletcher recalls times going with boys on a 

"sand and gravel" party- a hike with a quarter and a 

tin cup. The quarter would buy steak to cook over an 

open fire and the tin cup would hold coffee brewed in 

the same way. 

Nub a Pletcher was born in 1880 at Hooperston, Ill., 

the son of David S. and Elizabeth Pees Pletcher. He 

graduated with a BA degree from the University of 

Illinois in 1901 and received a Masters degree in 1903. 

He attended Heidelberg University, Berlin Germany 

and received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1907 

from Columbia University, N.Y. 

He served as an instructor in Syrian Protestant 

College, Beirut, Syria; as a high school teacher at 

Westfield, N.J. and as an associate professor at Alfred 

University, Alfred, N.Y. He came to Shattuck School in 

1908. 

He was married to Jean Hutchinson. They have 

three children, David M., professor of history, Knox 

College, Galesburg, Ill.; Charles, vice consul, US 

Embassy and Ellen. 

When Dr. Pletcher came to Shattuck there was no 

running water, no hot water and Greek was still taught 

to boys. 

In his book, built around Shattuck Schools, he 

relates the history of 100 years of a settlement, a town, 

a school and 50 years of the life of an educator. 

Dr. Nuha Pletcher - 

topnotch educator 

Dr. Wesley Lauritsen 

age can't stop him 

One of the leading educators, speakers and writers 

in Faribault's history was Dr. Nuba M. Pletcher, AB, 

MA, Ph.D., for more than 50 years a member of the 

Shattuck School faculty and a leader in Faribault 

community life. 

The Faribault Daily News, in its issue of Sept. 9, 

1955, published this story about Dr. Pletcher: 

Author of a nascent history of Shattuck School and 

its surroundings, Nuba M. Pletcher will celebrate the 

three quarter century mark of his life, Sept. 10, 

Shattuck School will enter its centennial year of 

existence in 1958 and Dr. N. M. Pletcher will have been 

an integral part for 50 years. 

For the major part of his life, Dr. Pletcher has 

been an educator of boys, aiding not only in their 

understanding of history but also of themselves. The 

vital thing a Shattuck boy learns at that school is the 

responsibility of taking care of himself. He is helped to 

One of the local, state and national leaders of the 

Deaf lives in Faribault, is energetically active in many 

organizations and in his own printing and supply 

business and at the age of 78 still is going strong, busy, 

busy, busy every minute of the day. 

He is Dr. Wesley Lauritsen, a graduate of the 

Minnesota School for Deaf in Faribault in 1917 and a 

graduate of Gallaudet College, Washington, D.C. in 

1922 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. 

Dr. Lauritsen came to Minneapolis from Denmark 

at the age of five. He completed a six year term as a 

Minneapolis newsboy in 1912. He then entered South 

High in Minneapolis and shortly afterwards became 

totally deaf as the result of a fall from the roof of a 

house. He entered the Minnesota School for the Deaf in 

1915. 

Following his Gallaudet graduation, he accepted a 

position at the Minnesota school as English teacher 

and athletic director. He remained in that dual post for 

89

{§en G? c:,Now 

Exceptional teacher 

Dr.Wesley Lauritsen 

more than 40 years until his retirement in 1962. 

Of his years at the Minnesota school he commented 

"For 40 wonderful years I worked with the deaf youth 

of Minnesota. I saw my old students fill positions in the 

Minneapolis Star and Tribune Production Department. 

Others became teachers, college professors, ministers 

and succeeded in almost all walks of life." 

Active in church work 

Following his retirement, he continued his interest in 

religious service by accepting a position as staff 

assistant for the Ephphatha Missions of the American 

Lutheran Church. During the summer he was dean of 

boys at the church's summer camp in Northern 

Minnesota. As staff member he became a lay 

preacher, teacher of religious classes and visited the 

sick in Southern Minnesota. He has been so active in 

the work of the Ephphatha Church for the Deaf and 

Blind in Faribault that it is said he performed all duties 

from janitor to preacher with the glad joy of one 

devoted to the Lord. 

As athletic director, Dr. Lauritsen took action that 

led the Minnesota State High School League to admit 

the Minnesota School for Deaf as a member and for 37 

years he handled all connections with the league. He 

was awarded the Minneapolis Star Quarter Century 

Citation for service to high school athletics. In 1973 Dr. 

Lauritsen, the only deaf man in the world with a 

doctorate and state building (Lauritsen Gymnasium on 

the Faribault School campus) named after him was 

inducted into the National Fraternal Society Hall of 

Fame and in 1974 he was inducted into the American 

Athletic Association of the Deaf Hall of Fame. 

Other honors he has been awarded include: 

president of Gallaudet Alumni Association; life 

member and officer for 28 years of Minnesota 

Association for Deaf; life member and committee 

chairman of National Association for the Deaf; 

member of National Fraternal Society for Deaf for 43 

years - holds the 34th degree, the highest; one of the 

five trustees of the Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, 

clubhouse for the deaf in St. Paul; editor of the 

Companion, official organ of the Minnesota School for 

21 years. He has written many a rticles and books and is 

in nationwide demand as a speaker. 

Faribault's "Mrs. Mac" or Mrs. Charles 

MacKenzie, paints verbal pictures for blind children 

helping them to better understand and mentally 

visualize the things of nature, according to a Faribault 

Daily News article of Jan. 6, 1962. 

"Mrs. Mac" came to the Minnesota Braille and 

Sight Saving School in 1939 and became a pioneer in her 

field. At the time the article was written she headed the 

Junior Audubon Chapter at the school, the only active 

unit of this type in the country. She has now retired 

from teaching but still maintains a keen interest in 

nature's creatures and the outdoors. 

How would you paint a verbal picture of a tree? 

"Mrs. Mac" does it this way. "Put your right elbow on 

the desk, with your forearm straight up," she says. 

"Now feel the base which is the thickest part and 

represents the base of the tree. Roots go down from 

here holding the tree upright and feeding it. The arm 

tapers off at the wrist and so does the tree top. The 

fingers represent the branches.'' 

Mrs. MacKenzie was a patient, wise, diplomatic 

and dedicated teacher, working in a highly specialized 

field. She had the love of her students. 

Grebner - 

successful teacher 

Franz Joseph Grebner, long time resident of 

Faribault, was known for his musical ability, his skill 

in piano tuning, and his work in teaching blind students 

at the Braille School, despite his own handicap. 

Mr. Grebner was born at Ridgeway, Wisconsin on 

September 8, 1895 to Franz Joseph and Sarah Short 

Grebner. As a child, he moved with his family to 

Barneveld, Wisconsin. He attended the Wisconsin 

School for the Blind at Janesville where he completed 

the regular high school curficulum arid also the train_- 

Joseph Grebner, member of the State Braille 

School faculty for many years; Mrs. Grebner, 

and members of their family. 

90

Chapter IV 

Industries, businesses 1nake Faribault 'tick' 

Firms from 1856 to 1920 

Brewery founded here in 1856 

The ability to lay the foundation for a business that 

began in 1856 is a tribute to Ernst Fleckenstein, the 

young man from Bavaria, Germnay. Scenic beauty of 

Faribault, the wooded hills, winding paths and narrow 

roads were reminders of an old world charm. So it was 

along the banks of the Straight River he turned to his 

master art of brewing good beer. In the year 1577 th~ 

Fleckenstein family of Hoerstein, Germany, began to 

brew beer. 

Here in American, Ernst Fleckenstein, founder of 

the company, decided that the community of Faribault 

had an abundance of choice grain at hand, as well as a 

plentiful supply of finest pure artesian well water. He 

noted also the citizens of Faribault had a thirst for good 

beer such as he had been taught to brew. 

Ernst Fleckenstein came with his brothers, 

Godfrey, Joseph and Paul, from Hoerstein, Bavaria, 

Germany to Faribault in the late 1850s. 

Fleckenstein was attracted by the natural aging 

facilities of the sand -rock caves north of Eighth Street 

near the Straight River. The caves were enlarged by 

digging by hand to provide "lagering" rooms. Over 

65,000 cubic feet of sand rock was removed by 

tunneling. So it was here the brewery building was 

built. 

This original building was destroyed by fire in 1888. 

The stone walls were used in constructing a new 

building, and in 1917, fire again destroyed the entire 

plant except the office. The later structure was built in 

1918. 

Aiding the founder, who retired in 1900, were four 

sons: Alfreq, Edward, William and Henry, all of whom 

are deceased. Later the firm was managed by four 

grandsons: Boots, Alfred, John and Charles 

Fleckenstein. 

In 1862, county historians point out, three 

breweries existed in Faribault: Brandts, located on 

Willow Street near Langevin Grocery; Godfrey 

Fleckenstein's brewery, which made Godfrey beer, 

located where Treasure Cave Cheese Co. now stands; 

and the Ernst Fleckenstein Brewery, known as the 

lower Fleckenstein brewery (Godfrey's was the 

upper). 

In 1902, carbonated beverages were added to the 

line of Fleckenstein beverages. In that year a bottling 

house was built. Beer was sold for 90 cents a case in 

those day, with no deposit on bottles. 

In 1964, the personal properties of the Fleckenstein 

Brewery were sold for $20,000 to over 100 buyers from 

several states. "Fleck's Beer" was popular throughout 

this area and in summer months the tap room in the 

cool caves was popular. 

Woolen Mills Ill years old 

The oldest industry in Faribault, The Faribault 

Woolen Mill Co., dates back to 1865 when Carl H. 

Klemer set up shop at the intersection of Fourth Street 

and Second Avenue NW. It was the second industry in 

Faribault when it opened in June of that year. Klemer, 

a German immigrant, had arrived in Faribault in 1857 

to farm. He then turned to cabinet making, his former 

profession, until an English carder advised him to start 

a carding mill because of the abundance of wool in the 

locality. 

The firm carded wool for most area sheep growers 

and the business -grew. The absence of wool in the 

winter and the unheated building limited the 

production to the summer months. The mill began 

weaving in 1877 with the installation of four looms. 

·Flannel blankets were among the first products of the 

firm. In an 1878 advertisement in the Faribault 

Republican, the mill was first called Faribault Woolen 

Mills. In 1882 Klemer built a new plant by the Straight 

River, making possible better water power. There 

were then six employes, with the most ·skilled earning 

$7.50 for a .60 hour week. Fire destroyed the main 

mariufa.c:'t'uring business in 1892, resulting in a loss of 

$24,000. 

Plant Relocated 

The plant was then relocated on the banks of the 

Cannon River, where it is presently located. The new 

mill was two stories tall with a one story addition. It 

employed 30 people, including salesmen who toured 

93

Original Faribault Woolen l~ill (arrow) Fourth St. and Second Ave. NW 

Minnesota and neighboring states to peddle the firm's 

products. During slack periods, the company operated 

a grist mill to utilize the water power. 

By 1903, 117,000 yards of cloth were woven each 

year. Men's pants and wool shirts were also included 

as part of the line. 

Carl Klemer died in 1904. The company was then 

incorporated as the Faribault Woolen Mill with 

Ferdinand Klemer, president; Henry F. Klemer, vice 

president; and Henry's son Frank Klemer, secretary. 

During World War I, the company was contracted 

by the U.S. government to manufacture 100,000 military 

blankets. During the 1920s and 1930s, the firm 

developed its specialty blanket lines, selling to some of 

the nation's biggest department stores. During World 

War II it produced 250,000 wool military blankets and 

continued to manufacture civilian blankets, though 

these were now devised with a rayon content due to the 

wool quotas. 

Walter F. and Frank H. Klemer died in the early 

1950s, and Robert W. Klemer, the son of Frank H., 

assumed the presidency. Robert E. Johnson, the son of 

Edward A. Johnson who had entered the business in 

1914, served as vice president until his death early in 

1976, and Robert Klemer's younger brother, Richard, 

is plant superintendent. Today, the company sells to 

schools, hotels, industries (for business gifts or sales 

incentives), banks (for giveaways to increase 

deposits), stamp companies and airlines as well as 

department stores- which comprise 40 per cent of the 

firm's business. 

First mill built in 1862 

The first mill on the King Mill site was built in 1862 

by Alexander Faribault and Andrew Melhorn. It had 

two run of stones driven by two wheels and eight feet 

head of water (later there was greater fall). 

Not long after it was built, the mill was sold to 

Sater & Bangs. Sater subsequently sold his interest and 

Mr. Bangs converted it into a five-run mill. In 1867, it 

was sold to Bean Brothers & Tennant, and they 

operated it until it was burned on Dec. 9, 1876, at a loss 

of $25,000. 

Soon afterward, a three-story brick building with 

stone basement, 60 x 62 feet, was built in the same 

place. At first it had seven run of stones, and later two 

were added. In addition to water power, a steam 

engine of 125 h.p. was put in. The mill was built by a 

stock company, who ran the mill until1878 when it was 

leased to Bean & Tennant. 

In 1880, M.B. Sheffield purchased the old mill at 

Walcott for his son, B. B. Sheffield, and also purchased 

the Bean & Tennant mill. It was transformed into a 

roller mill with the ability to deliver 325 barrels a day. 

In 1898, an elevator was moved near the mill site and a 

brick office building was constructed. The cooper shop 

was built in 1901. Quite a colony grew around the mill 

including a hotel, store and houses, some of which had 

been moved from the Walcott site after a fire in that 

mill. 

The company was incorporated under the name of 

Sheffield King Mill in 1901. A few years later, B. B. 

Sheffield disposed of his interests and it became the H. 

H. King Flour Mill. In the early 1900s, the company 

94

) 

employed over 100 men and had a capacity of 2,800 

barrels per day. The mill closed in November, 1956, 

For many years G. H. Buth served as local manager. 

(He was employed 1910-1953). 1 

The mill was purchased later by George Johnson 

and Elwood Gilbertson, who operated a grain storage 

business in the elevator section which they called the 

King Grain Co. and rented out the buildings across the 

street where the power plant was located. A fire 

destroyed much of this building in 1974 (Aug. 28). The 

mill was completely destroyed by a spectacular fire 

Thursday evening, June 19, 1975. 

Alexander Faribault also had a mill on the Straight 

River which was established in April, 1862, and later 

bought by Greene & Carufel, Emily Mae Buth, 

daughter of the late G. H. Buth, and curator of th~ 

County Historical Society Museum, recalls. 

. A~cording .to Loui~e ~ott, the first mill began 

grmdmg flour m 1856 m this area. She states that iri 

1880 there were at least 15 mills between Faribault and 

Northfield, and that Cannon Valley flour commanded 

the highest prices on the London and New York stock 

exchanges · because of its high quality. In 1865 

Alexander Faribault imported two French millers and 

a special process for milling hard wheat which was 

very successful. For a decade, the Cannon River 

Valley reigned supreme as a flour milling center, but 

eventually the Washburn Mills in Minneapolis were 

able to obtain the secret and patent it. The Bean or 

H. H. King Mill was the last to keep operating in this· 

area. 

Most of this information came from "O'Neill's 

History of Minnesota" and Faribault Daily News 

articles of Aug. 29, 1974, Aug. 18, 1875 and June 20, 1975. 

Century-old peony farm 

Brand Peony Farm, located at 927 E. Division, 

dates back over 100 years to its founding in 1868. The 

founder, Oliver F. Brand, who established the 

Faribault Nursery, now known as the Brand Peony 

Farm, came to Faribault from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 

in the summer of 1867. Walking most of the 

way, he represented an eastern nursery and sold stock 

to farmers on the way. In the fall of 1870, he purchased 

the property where the office and storage buildings of 

the nursery are now located and the business has been 

operated from this as a headquarters ever since. In the 

early days the main business of the nursery was the 

supplying of apple trees, small fruits, evergreens, and 

forest trees to the farmers who placed a high priority in 

starting a family orchard and a deciduous windbreak. 

About 1894, Oliver Brand became intensely 

interested in the peony. Probably the fact that it was so 

hardy and gave so little trouble in the exacting climate 

of the middle northwest endeared it to him and in that 

year, he began to build up here at Faribault one of the 

world's largest collections of the flower. In the fall of 

1899, the son, Archie M. Brand, entered the business. 

Industries, businesses 

They worked together in the improvement of the peony 

through 1911, when Oliver F. Brand retired. During 

those years, they produced many new fine varieties of 

peonies. Many fine varieties were produced by Archie 

Brand in subsequent years. 

In the fall of 1918, Miss Myrtle Gentry joined the 

firm, now renamed Brand Peony Farms. She was a 

former school teacher, but had quite a "green thumb," 

becoming a partner in 1919. By 1920, shipments were 

being made to all parts of the world and Faribault had 

become known as the "Peony Capital of the World." 

1 

French Lilacs Developed 

Over 40 years ago, the firm became interested in 

French lilacs and they became another specialty. A. 

M. Brand passed away in 1953, leaving Miss Gentry the 

sole owner. In January, 1956, two local flower lovers, 

R. W. and A. P. Tischler purchased the firm. A. P. 

Tischler recently retired from active connection with 

the firm. 

Throughout the United States the Brand Peony 

Farm's plants are noted for their quality and beauty 

and their entries are ''perennial'' winners at various 

National Peony Shows. 

The first Peony Festival was held in Faribault in 

June of 1927. There was a parade of floats, autos, and 

horse drawn vehicles, all profusely decorated with 

peonies. Several bands also participated, as well as a 

cavalcade of women and men mounted on gaily 

decorated horses. Prizes were given for the best floats 

in different divisions. The Parade ended at Central 

Park where the Peony Queen was crowned. 80,000 

peony blooms were contributed by the Brand Peony 

Farms for floats and window decorations. 

While the Peony Festival has been discontinued, 

an annual free peony show has been held at the nursery 

for about ten days at peony blooming time in June. An 

outstanding display of peonies attracts many visitors 

each season. The peonies are displayed indoors in a 

show room and can also be seen in a show garden. 

Power firm began in 1872 

In 1872, the ·Faribault Gas Light Company was 

incorporated and was granted a 40 year franchise with 

a 20 year renewal privilege for the manufacture and 

distribution of gas. Officers of the new company were 

prominent citizens of the community including: J. L. 

Noyes, vice president; A.W. McKinstry, secretary and 

treasurer; D.W. Deike, L.C. Mueller, J .C. Morrow and 

F. A. Theopold, directors. Construction of a gas plant 

was started in June, 1873, on a three-quarter acre tract 

situated at Ninth and Willow Streets. The original 

installation was a naphtha oil gas plant. Office space 

was ren,ted in the Barron House block and a stock of 

gas lighting fixtures was purchased. 

During the same time, the laying of gas mains was 

started by a local contractor, C. H. Nash, who 

employed a crew of 50 men. The first gas main was laid 

on Main Street, now Central Avenue, from Ninth Street 

to Third Street and laterals were laid on the cross 

95

~en G?c!Jlow 

streets. The gas main was known by the impressive 

name of Wyckoff Imperishable Gas Pipe. It was made 

of wood and was in the ground for several years, but 

leakage through the wood was considerable and it was 

later replaced with cast iron pipe. 

An interesting sidelight on the development of the 

system at this time was a story which appeared in the 

"Faribault Republican" on June 18, 1873. The article 

said, in part: ''The work of piping buildings is also 

proceeding actively and the company has received 

orders much faster than they can accept the work. Our 

contemporary, the 'Faribault Democrat,' rejoices in 

being the first establishment piped. There has been no 

lack of gas there before, but unfortunately it has not 

been of the illuminating kind.'' 

The first gas was turned into the mains on October 

3, 1873, and the customers were permitted to try out the 

new illuminant without expense. The lighting was 

described as brilliant, although only open gas jets were 

available at that time. 

In March, 1877, the gas works and distribution 

system were leased to J. H. Walker and Sons, of 

Milwaukee. The first gas street lights, eight of them, 

were installed in October, 1879. 

Franchise Granted 

On March 6, 1885, the Faribault Common Council 

passed an ordinance granting to Charles P. Merriam 

and Company an electrical franchise for 10 years, 

provided the company was ready to begin service 

within a year. This group organized the Faribault 

Electric Light Company. The first plant was installed 

in the engine room of Hill's Furniture Factory, where 

power was obtained from the existing engines. This 

building was the site of the Shaft-Pierce Shoe Factory. 

The first generators, or dynamos, as they were called 

at that time, were two 12-light Thomson-Houston 

machines. These machines were designed primarily 

for arc lighting but banks of incandescent lamps were 

sometimes used on the same circuits. 

The business of the company grew at such a rapid 

pace that immediately after the first installation 

additional equipment was ordered and it was 

necessary to move the plant to a new location at the 

Flint Furniture Factory. In the second order for 

equipment there were two new generators. 

"The Faribault Democrat", in its issue of Januar y 

22, 1886, published the news that electric lights had 

been turned on in Faribault on the previous Saturday 

evening, which was January 16. It spoke of the new 

light as "exceedingly clear, soft and steady, quite the 

equal to daylight within the buildings in which it was 

placed, and streaming out across the streets, lighting 

them more efficiently than possible with gas lights 

outside." 

On September 27, 1889, it was· announced that The 

Faribault Gas Light Company and the Faribault 

Electric Light Company had been purchased by a 

group of St. Paul men and incorporated as a single 

company called The Faribault Consolidated Gas and 

Electric Company. Some time after the consolidation 

the company moved its electric plant to a building 

adjacent to the gas plant at Ninth and Willow Streets. 

By 1890, electricity had made great strides 

throughout the country. The Westinghouse alternating 

current system had been introduced several years 

earlier. Electric transit systems were replacing horse 

cars and the use of electricity for power purposes had 

proved its practicability. 

During the last two decades of the 19th century, 

C.A. Coffin purchased control of the Faribault 

Consolidated Gas and Electric Company. He was at the · 

same time combining interests he had in the East to· 

form the General Electric Company. 

New Company Formed 

About 1894 the former owners of the Faribault 

Consolidated Gas and Electric Company, after selling 

out to Coffin, organized a new company which became 

the Polar Star Electric Company. Incorporators of this 

company were James Hunter, Robert Weatherstone · 

and J.F. Hughes. The First National Bank of Faribault 

and its president, T.B. Clement, apparently had a large 

financial interest in the company. Their first plant was 

in the King Mill, a short distance to the west of 

Faribault. A year later they moved to a factory 

building on Fourth Street and a few months later a 

plant adjacent to the Green Mill at the foot of First 

Street, South, near the Straight River. 

In 1898 the mill was sold to the Polar Star Electric 

Company by T. B. Clement who took $30,000 in bonds 

issued by that company and received as part of his 

compensation 25 per cent of the stock of the company. 

The intense competition between the two 

companies and the effect of a damage suit brought 

against the Faribault Consolidated Gas and Electric 

Co. by an individual named Schultz, because of alleged 

injuries, forced that company into receivership. 

This event occurred in 1901 and in that same year Mr. 

Coffin sent B. W. Cowperthwait, a young man from 

Danbury, Conn., to take over the management of the 

company. Mr. 

Coffin deeply resented what he 

considered a violation of business ethics by the former 

owners of the Faribault Consolidated Gas and Electric 

Company in organizing the competing Polar Star 

Electric Company. Rivalry between the companies at 

times became bitter and resulted in the removal of 

each other 's meters, taking over customers of the 

other company and in altercations betwe~n employes. 

Witli the coming of Mr. Cowperthwait, competition 

between the companies became keener and in 1903 the 

Polar Star Electric Company went into receivership. 

Coincident with this receivership came the failure of 

the First National Bank, of which T. B. Clement was 

president. 

During 1903 the receivership on the Faribault 

Consolidated Gas and Electric Company was lifted, 

and the company was reorganized as the Faribault Gas 

and Electric Company. The receivership of the Polar 

Star Electric Company continued until 1908. 

Companies Merge 

Electric companies had also been formed by this 

time in Northfield, and Cannon Falls. In 1909, H. M. 

Byllesby and Company began negotiating fo r the 

purchase of the Faribault Gas and Electric Company, 

the Polar Star Electric Company the Northfield 

Light, Heat and Power Company, the 

Cannon Falls Electric Ser vice Company and the 

96

Faribault Woolen Mill and employes (about 1895) 

Cannon Valley Power Company. Negotiations were 

pretty well completed by the end of 1909. These 

companies were incorporated into the Consumers 

Power Company as of February 26, 1910. B. W. 

Cowperthwait remained as manager of the new 

company and Edward Chappuie became its general 

superintendent. H. C. Cummins became assistant 

manager at Faribault in 1911 and local manager at 

Northfield in 1912. J. F. McQuire was the new business 

manager at Faribault in 1912. 

The new company lost no time in modernizing 

these properties. A 33,000 volt transmission line was 

built from Faribault to Cannon Falls by way of 

Northfield. Construction work was started 

immediately on a dam and power house at Cannon 

Falls. Despite the fact that hand labor with picks, 

shovels, and wheelbarrows was used for excavation, 

and hauling was done with horses and wagons, a crew 

of 500 to 600 men living in a camp near the site 

completed the job in the remarkably short period of 

one year. 

After completion of the 33,000 volt line to Northfield 

and Cannon Falls, and the construction of the Cannon 

Falls power development, the Faribault Gas and 

Electric Company steam plant and the plants at 

Northfield and Cannon Falls were removed. Shortly 

after the Consumers Power Company took over the 

Faribault property it replaced the water gas set with a 

coal gas plant. 

At the same time that the Faribault company was 

purchased, the Consumers Power Company also 

purchased the Mankato Gas and Electric Company 

and built a dam and power house at Rapidan. The 

construction period was practically identical with that 

at Cannon Falls. 

The Consumers Power Company by this time 

owned properties at Stillwater and St. Paul, besides 

those at Faribault and Mankato. It was the 

objective of the management to integrate these 

properties into one system and for this reason 

transmission lines began to sprout in all directions. 

Communities serviced included: Zumbrota, 

Waterville, Waseca, Janesville, Morristown, Elysian, 

Madison Lake, Lakeville, Eagle Lake, Goodhue, 

Hampton, Rosemount, Pine Bend, Hastings, Kasson, 

Mantorville, Pine Island, St. Claire and West Concord. 

On April 1, 1916, the Consumers Power Company 

became the Northern States Power Company 

(Minnesota.) 

(Information taken from article written by 

Herbert W. Meyer, Statistical Engineer for Northern 

States Power Company) 

Elevator idea created in 1870s 

Seth King Humphrey, the inventor and founder of 

the Humphrey Elevator Company (now Humphrey 

Elevator and Truck Company) conceived his original 

idea for an elevator while working in a flour mill 

during the 1870's. He felt the need for a slow moving 

97

~en ~§Vow 

endless belt type elevator with platforms at different 

levels and pulleys, top and bottom, that could raise 

men several floors without climbing stairs, and would 

thus, decrease employee fatigue and increase 

efficiency. 

With this in mind, Mr. Humphrey finished his first 

elevator in 1887, and it was sold and installed in the 

Walcott Mills of M.E. Sheffield in Faribault. He was 

granted a patent on his invention on December 20, 1877. 

His elevators were manufactured by the F. W. Winter 

Foundry, Faribault, from that time until 1910, when 

Nutting Truck Company (now Nutting Truck and 

Caster Company) took over the manufacturing. Mr. 

Humphrey and E. G. Nutting were good friends. 

In November, 1953, A.B. Morris, who had been 

General Manager at Nutting Truck and Caster 

Company, resigned and acquired most of the 

Humphrey Elevator stock. He purchased the W. 0. 

Herrstrom property on the south shore of Cannon 

Lake, Warsaw Township. The plant was ready for 

business in 1954, and has grown steadily since. At that 

time the Officers were: Adwell B. Morris, president; 

Ida Morris Nutting, vice president; Janet Morris 

Favro, secretary, and Mertis Bryant Morris, 

treasurer. 

Many safety devices have been added to the 

elevators as well as other general improvements. 

Besides the elevators being shipped all over the 

United States and Canada, many are being shipped to 

foreign countries such as Australia, Saudi Arabia, 

Africa, Spain, Japan, South America, and others. 

The present officers are: Mertis Bryant Morris, 

president; Warren J. Matthies, vice president and 

general manager as well as sales manager; and Janet 

Morris Favro, secretary- treasurer. 

The founder, Mr. Seth Humphrey, wrote several 

books, among which were: "Following the Prairie 

Frontier," "Loafing through the Pacific" and 

"Loafing through Africa''. He was born in Faribault on 

August 5, 1865 and died in Boston in 1931. 

The presidents of Humphrey Elevator and Truck 

Company have been: Seth K. Humphrey, 1887-1910; 

Elijah G. Nutting, 1910-1922; Walter M. Nutting, 

1922-1940; Adwell B. Morris, 1940-1975; Mertis B. 

Morris, 1975-. 

i 

n! l 

I 

! 

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utJ 

'! 

' l 

tl 

! I 

' - ; 

Jim and Joe Clothing Store, Faribault's oldest 

store in continuous family management, first 

started as the Faribault Clothing Co. in 

pioneer days (with Jim and Joe on the 

window). A big good-luck horseshoe was at 

the entrance. 

father of Jim, and Harry Bachrach, father of Joe. The 

present Jim and Joe Bachrach took over the store in 

1950. 

The store moved to the present location in 1936 

following a fire next to Bachrach's in the Mammoth 

Department Store. The Mammoth was owned by the 

Hutchinson family and never reopened after the fire. 

The store was the victim of a fire in 1940. 

Oldest store 99 years old 

Ochs store started in 1886 

The Bachrach Clothing Company, presently 

located at 316 Central Avenue, was first established on 

March 17, 1877, 99 years ago. The original location was 

described as Case's Block, Main Street. The business 

was originally the sale of men's clothing as it is now. 

The original founders were James Bachrach and 

Joseph Kahn, the husband of Mr. Bachrach's sister. 

The business was passed to the fathers of the present 

owners in the early 1900's. They were I. A. Bachrach, 

Ochs Department Store dates back to 1886 when 

Albert, J. Antone, and Otto H. Ochs founded their store 

at 12 NW Third St. in Faribault. The business later 

moved to a location between Second and Third Streets 

and finally to the present address at 414 Central Ave. 

Stores were also established in Waseca, Rochester, 

Austin and New Ulm. 

In 1909 Albert Ochs purchased the stock of the 

main store located in Faribault and continued as 

98


AlbertOchs 

president of the business until he died in 1922. 

Mrs. Albert Ochs, Alfred L. and Donald F. Ochs 

and Cela Ochs were owners until Mrs. Ochs died in 

1937. At that time Alfred Ochs bought Cela's shares and 

Alfred and Donald continued with the business as 

partners. Donald Ochs passed away in 1952, leaving 

Alfred Ochs as head of the corporation and Mrs. 

Donald Ochs half owner. 

In 1958 Alfred Ochs bought the interest of Mrs. 

Donald Ochs and sold one-fourth of the shares to Vema 

Love Ochs and one-fourth interest to D. W. Kaufman. 

Mrs. Alfred Ochs was elected president upon the death 

of Alfred L. Ochs and is three-fourths owner of Ochs 

stock. D. W. Kaufman is one-fourth owner and Lucius 

Smith has one share. The store, in the 90 years of its 

existence, has been a leader in local retailing and 

business development activities. 

Canning company founded in 1888 

Alfred L. Ochs 

DonOchs 

One of Faribault's oldest industries is the 

Faribault Canning Company, 128 NW 15th St., which 

when organized in 1888 was known as the Northwestern 

Canning Company. In 1895 it was re-incorporated 

under the name of Faribault Canning Company. 

Early officers of the firm were Dr. R.N. Jackson, 

president; J.P. Andrews, vice president; A.M. Hatch, 

secretary-treasurer and H.E. Vaux, manager and 

processor. 

On Dec. 5, 1916, ownership was changed to F. W. 

Douthitt, Big Stone City, S.D.; L.B. Douthitt, 

Faribault, and A.G. Douthitt, Kenyon. A change of 

ownership also occurred in January 1917 to A.R. 

Vandever, Laura Reid Vandever and C.A. Vandever, 

all of Minneapolis. 

Present owners of the company, which processes 

corn and peas with a national distribution, according to 

Stanley L. Grannis, executive vice president, are: 

Helen T. Vandever, Minneapolis; Virginia Vandever 

MacDonald, San Francisco, Calif.; and Reid, Sidney, 

Edmund B., Jr. and Helen MacDonald, all of San 

Francisco. 

Seed firm 88 years old 

Ochs Department Store 

The Farmer Seed and Nursery Co., now located at 

818 NW Fourth St. , originated in 1888 on Van Buren 

Street in Chicago. It moved to Faribault in 1893. The 

founders were Otto Koglowski and William Kueker. 1 

The firm sold only grass seed originally, but in 1903 1 

started growing and marketing garden and nursery: 

seed and stock. 

The first catalog was a four page edition published 

in 1903 in both German and English languages. By 1909, 

99

~en ~c?/ow 

the catalog's circulation had jumped from 1,000 to· 

10,000 and soon afterwards the German language; 

edition was dropped. · 

In 1909 Kueker became president and E. J. 

Kiekenapp, now 94 and one of this community's top 

citizens, joined the firm as advertising manager. 

Kiekenapp organized an in-house print shop and a 

national advertising campaign which put Farmer Seed 

on the map. 

In 1913 a "seed case" distribution system was 

developed whereby Farmer Seed representatives kept 

racks filled with seed in area stores. A fleet of Model T 

Fords, one of the first automotive fleets in the nation, 

was used to service the seed cases. Some o'f the people 

who drove the old vehicles were: Maynard Siemers, 

Richard Peavey and Milton Boock. 

In 1927 Kiekenapp and N. C. Bieter purchased the 

company's stock. Kiekenapp became president and 

Bieter vice president. Kiekenapp purchased Bieter's 

stock in 1950 and retired as president, turning the reins 

over to his son, R. J. Kiekenapp. In 1963, the younger 

Kiekenapp became chairman of the board and Kenneth 

E. Relyea became president. 

One of the company's major innovations came in 

1936, when Robert Bieter, son of N. C. Bieter, 

inaugurated hybrid com. 

On Sept. 30, 1975, the entire stock holdings of 

Farmer Seed and Nursery Co. were purchased by 

Rauenhorst, Bellows and Associates of Olivia, Minn. 

Relyea continues his position as treasurer and 

president, George L. Wiberg as executive vice 

president and secretary, and Roy Mews as vice 

president. In addition to its expansive mailorder 

business, the firm has retail stores in Faribault, Le 

Center, St. Cloud, Breckenridge, Bemidji, Newport, 

Rochester, Fairmont, Mankato, Pequot Lakes and 

Windom. 

Grand pianos made here 

The Schimmel and Nelson piano firm 

manufactured 12 upright grand pianos, Verti Grand, 

during the 1890s here in Faribault. Five of these 

beautiful and rare pianos were destroyed by a fire in 

Saint Mary's Hall years ago. There are only three 

remaining that can be accounted for. One is in 

Minneapolis, one in California, and the third in 

Braunscheweig, Germany. The latter was sent to 

Germany in 1967 to the Schimmel family who still 

reside there, by the owner The Congregational Church, 

in exchange for a new piano from the Schimmel piano 

firm there. 

Joe Grebner, a piano tuner in Faribault, 

commenting on the Schimmel pianos, remarked "You 

practically had to stand on your head to tune it because 

of its construction.'' 

Brunswick Hotel, Faribault 

120 year old hotel 

Founded in 1856, The Brunswick Hotel is located at 

111 Central Avenue, its · location since its 

establishment. It was formerly called the Barron 

House, in accordance with its founder, Horace E. 

Barron. The first hotel on this site was the victim of a 

fire. There have been many owners since Horace 

Barron. The present owner is Thomas M. Mahoney. 

Wood carver started Nutting firm 

The origin of the Nutting Truck and Caster 

Company dates back to 1891 when its founder, Elijah 

Nutting, was laid off from his job at the F.W. Winter 

Foundry because of a seasonal business lag. A 

wood-carving pattern maker, he found a job at a local 

furniture factory during the layoff and it was then he 

noticed the clumsy way in which wood and furniture 

were being transported from place to place within the 

plant. The floor trucks being used were the "old type," 

carts with a wheel at each corner. Such trucks require 

a turning radius at least the length of the cart. Nutting 

developed a cart which would ''turn on a dime,'' one 

with a wheel at the halfway point of each side of the 

truck, making the turning radius half the length of the 

cart. · 

A portion of the F. W. Winter Foundry was 

obtained to produce and sell, with the help of several 

furniture salesmen, 600 of the trucks. Most were sold to 

furniture manufacturers. 

In 1901 the firm moved from the Winter foundry to 

a small factory behind the Nutting family home. The 

home was used as the company office and no longer 

stands but the factory, known then as the Nutting 

Truck Works, still survives on the same location. 

Elijah's. son, Walter , joined the company in 1892, 

and worked with his father for 31 years, until Elijah 

died in 1922. Walter took over management of the 

company and products and distribution were expanded 

markedly. -Walter Nutting died in 1940, on the eve of the 

100


Birds-eye view of Nutting Truck and Caster Co. as it looks today. Inset shows plant in 1961. 

company's 50th anniversary. Mrs. Walter Nutting 

served as active president for 20 years after that and 

management continued under the Nutting family. 

Mrs. Nutting died in 1960, and W. S. Shaft, Mrs. 

Nutting's son-in-law, became president. Mrs. Shaft, 

the former Ruth Nutting, became active in the firm in, 

1967. She still participates in the company, serving as 

vice president. 

During this period· several expansion programs 

were initiated. A 40,000 square foot caster production 

facility was added in 1968, and additional 

manufacturing machines and systems were installed 

throughout the plant. 

In 1969, Stewart Shaft, the great-grandson of Elijah 

Nutting and son of W. S. Shaft, was elected president. 

W. S. Shaft remains active as chairman of the board. 

Ruth Nutting Shaft is currently serving as vice 

president and Carol Shaft Pacolt serves as secretary. 

The company has expanded from its original 

production of a furniture material handling floor truck 

made primarily of wood to a wide range of standard 

steel, aluminum and wood frame floor trucks for all 

segments of material handling requirements including 

custom designed material handling trucks for specific 

and unusual needs. Also produced is a complete line of 

industrial duty wheels and casters. 

The company has been the recipient of many 

awards and citations: Service rendered for YMCA, 

Operation Council Association of American Trucking 

Outstanding Participation in Exhibitions, Faribault 

Industrial Corporation A ward, Minnesota Safety 

Council Inc. Occupational Safety Record, American 

Legion National Employment Committee Outstanding 

Achievement in providing employment for the Older 

World, Faribault Jaycees Outstanding Boss, 

Distinguished Service A ward from the Minnesota 

Society for Crippled Children; 

The company is now the largest exclusive floor 

truck manufacturer in America. 

101

Old Security Bank Building, Central and Third, Faribault 

Northwestern Bank founded in 1894 

Located at 25 NW Fourth Street, the First 

Northwestern National Bank of Faribault was 

originally established on June 18, 1894, and known as 

the Security National Bank. It first occupied a small 

room in one corner of the Faribault Opera House, 

which is now known as the Paradise Theatre. The first 

Board of Directors included: Donald W. Grant, B.B. 

Sheffield, Samuel Grant, Henry F. Kester, Henry C. 

Bull, Joseph Roach and Cassius M. Buck. The original 

officers were: Samuel Grant, president; B. B. 

Sheffield, vice president; C.M. Buck, cashier, and A. F. 

Keusman, assistant cashier. 

In 1899 the Security Bank leased the building now 

known as the Security Building, which was originally 

built in 1871 by Theopold-Reid Company, a wholesale 

First Northwestern National Bank, Fourth Street and First Avenue NW 

102

P. J. Gallagher, one of Faribault's most 

prominent businessmen, head of P. J. 

Gallagher and Sons Plumbing and heating 

firm, which completed major contract jobs in 

Minnesota, North and South Dakota, 

Nebraska and several other states. Mr. 

Gallagher, in the picture with a group of 

grocery firm. In 1909, the bank purchased the building 

'\ and in 1914, added the fourth story. In September, 1929, 

\ the Security National Bank of Faribault became 

affiliated with the Northwest . Bancorporation of 

Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

. In July, 1966, the Security National Bank and Trust 

\ ,. Co., moved into the new ultra-modern building at 25 

\ Northwest 4th Street. This had once been the site of an 

\old landmark called the McCarthy Building, built in 

\1915. The architects of the new building were Hickey 

a11d Little of Minneapolis. On October 1, 1973, the name 

o~ the bank was changed to the First Northwestern 

Nahonal Bank of Faribault. 

1'"'he Security National Bank, now known as First 

Northwestern National Bank of Faribault has had a 

presidel').t from the Peavey family for three generations: 

, The late Lynn Peavey became president 

of Securitjv National Bank and Trust Company of 

Faribault on .August 31, 1905. 

He continh ed as President until 1938, when his son, 

Roger Peavey,\ who now resides in Florida, became 

president and ~erved until 1956. Roger Peavey's son, 

Richard,'U,f. Peavey, became president on April1, 1956, 

and is/still serving in that capacity. 

/ he present officers are : Richard W. Peavey, 

/ president; William M. Wise, Burl A. Leo, Alton J. 

Deney, Weldon H. Reineke and George F. Evers, vice 

/ 

presidents; Robert L. Gilkes, Lowell Kuntze, .Harvey 

Harger and Joseph J. Byron, assistant cashiers. The 

present directors are: Joseph-H. Bachrach, Albert C. 

Batchelder, Roger M. Erickson, D.W. Kaufman, 

Robert W. Klemer, Richard W. Peavey and Bruce A. 

Purdie. 

friends, is standing in the second row, third 

from the right. At the extreme left in the same 

row is Mr. Irvine, next to him is Jim Flynn, 

popular mailman, and next to him is Tom 

Lynch. Second from right is John Lynch. 

Those in the front row were not identified. 

Maybe you can recognize some of them. 

Gallagher firm plumbing leader 

One of the best known and highly respected 

business firms in Faribault, active for more than a half 

century, was the P. J. Gallagher Plumbing Co. 

The firm, which handled plumbing contracts in all 

sections of the country, was founded in 1895 by Patrick 

J. Gallagher, a native of Tubbercurry, County Sligo, 

Ireland, who established his residence and business 

.firm in Faribault after working for plumbing firms in 

Milwaukee and Minneapolis. In 1896 he became 

naturalized as a citizen of the United States. 

The local plumbing and heating firm expanded 

steadily due chiefly to P.J. Gallagher's mechanical 

versatility and business skill, a rare combination. 

In the more than 50 years of its existence the firm 

handled scores of major contracts and employed 

hundreds of skilled men and never was involved in a 

labor disturbance. This was regarded as a distinct 

tribute to "P.J. 's" business methods. 

At the state convention of the Minnesota Pipe 

Trades Association held in Faribault in the late 

thirties, union leaders paid a glowing tribute to 

Gallagher's business methods. 

The company's first "big job" in Faribault 

included a building on the Shattuck School campus at 

the time Dr. Dobbin was rector. Since then, Gallagher 

handled many projects at the local state institutions, 

private schools and industrial plants and business 

buildings here. He also developed extensive interests 

in Faribault. 

In 1926, two of his sons, Luke and Robert 

103

~en~~ow 

Gallagher, both graduates of the University of 

Minnesota, became associated with him as partners 

and the firm became known as P.J. Gallagher and 

Sons. Later, another son, Edward, became associated 

with the firm. 

Major plumbing and heating contracts were 

satisfactorily executed by the company in a dozen 

different states. The firm handled contracts for the 

states of Michigan, North Dakota, Iowa and 

Minnesota. It handled work for three University of 

Minnesota buildings, the athletic building, music hall 

and the administration building, two University farm 

school buildings and seven buildings on the Carleton 

College campus in Northfield, as well as buildings at 

many other institutions. The company handled 

contracts for hundreds of school buildings throughout 

the northwest. 

The firm had the plumbing and heating contract 

for the federal penitentiary at Sandstone, Minn., the 

State Hospital at Moose Lake and the Federal 

Narcotics Hospital at Lexington, Kentucky. 

During the forties, the company had several 

important war contracts including plumbing and 

heating work at Camp McCoy, Wis., Camp Ellis, Ill., 

and the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming 

as well as a 650 apartment defense housing project in 

Louisville, Ky. At the time of his death in May, 1942, 

Gallagher was president of the Hotel Faribault 

Corporation. Later, the company was discontinued 

after an amazingly successful business record. 

Foundry established 

The firm of Axel Anderson was founded in 1900 

when Axel Anderson took Andrew Rawson as his 

partner. 

In 1905 Axel Anderson bought out R. Rawson. In 

1910 George and David Anderson purchased Axel 

Anderson's interest. The firm then was known as Axel 

Anderson and Sons Machine Shop and Foundry. 

In the early Thirties there was a fire in the 

foundry. The foundry then was rebuilt and made much 

larger. 

In 1944, David Anderson bought George Anderson's 

share, In 1946 the foundry was sold to a Mr. Hawkinson. 

About four years later, Hawkinson sold the building to 

the Farmer Seed and Nursery Co. which firm built an 

addition to the greenhouse. 

Clarine's sold flowers 

The Clarine Brothers Greenhouse was established 

sometime before 1900 on leased land across from its 

present site at 1003 N.W. 7th Street. The founders were 

Nels, August and Carl Clarine, immigrants from 

Sweden. Carl was married to Marie Beyer of 

Faribault. The business was moved across the street in 

1902. 

The business has been the victim of two fires, a 

burglary, and a hail storm in 1924 which resulted in a 

total loss of stock. The business had at one time, 14 

agents in neighboring towns (undertakers or funeral 

directors) who took flower orders. These orders were 

then shipped by train or truck. The agents were in the 

following towns: Morristown, Waterville, Lonsdale, 

Mazeppa, Wanamingto, Kenyon, Le Center, Northfield 

and others. Cut flowers were also shipped wholesale to 

St. Paul. 

August Clarine was a partner for about 4 years 

before Nels and Carl bought out his interest in the 

greenhouse. Nels died in 1928 and Carl purchased his 

share from the heirs. Carl passed away about 1960 and 

the business was operated by Herbert, Donald and 

Esther Clarine until 1968, when Esther passed a way 

and the business was sold out of the family. It has now 

been discontinued. 

Pioneer grocery 

0. A. Brekke, prominent Third Street grocer for 50 

years, began working for the A. Christensen Grocery in 

1898. In 1903, he and Mr. Gunder Bakken established 

the grocery firm of Brekke and Bakken, which 

continued to do business until Mr. Brekke bought Mr. 

Bakken's interest on December 31, 1919. 

Mr. Brekke established a record held by only a few 

business men, that is 45 years of continuous business in 

the same building. This is the building now owned and 

occupied by the Salvation Army. 

When the Salvation Army moved into the building. 

Mr. Brekke moved his business to 9 Third Street, a 

building owned by the Masonic Lodge, where he 

continued to serve the community in the grocery ' 

business until his death, March 23, 1946. His daughter, 

Mildred Brekke, who had been associated in the 

business with her father, continued the operation of tbe 

store for 4-12 years. The business was closed in Augu.st, 

1950. 

Vogelsberg's quality grocf'.;ry 

Anthony J. Vogelsberg, born and raised in 

Faribault, started in the grocery business for himself 

after having worked in the A. J. Grant, g_rocery for a 

number of years. 

He started on Oct. 8, 1901 with George Deverey as a 

partner and this partnership was dissolved about thrt'8 

months later and "A. J." (as he was known to his 

friends) continued to run it until May 1, 1928 when he 

took in as partners his three sons, Francis, Thomas, 

and Robert, and the name became A. J. Vogelsberg & 

Sons, still at the same location as it was in 1901, 216 

Central A venue North. 

Francis left the partnership after about three 

104

} 

months to join a construction firm, William O'Neil & 

Sons. Thomas and Robert continued with their father 

until Robert joined the U.S. Army and served under 

Gen. Patton in the 90th (Texas and Oklahome) division 

overseas and was discharged in July 1945. He stayed 

with the firm for a very short time and joined as a 

salesman with the Phillipi-Murphy Co., who 

distributed heavy road machinery. 

Thomas and his dad continued until his dad retired 

a few years later, 1952. Thomas continued with the 

grocery business until 1955 when due to his health he 

had to give it up and he has since been doing 

accounting work at Shattuck School, Schreyer Motor 

and B. H. Heselton Co. 

The firm was always considered a store of quality 

and had as their main brand the "Ferndell" line of 

Sprague Warner & Co. of Chicago. They also had a 

unique idea on May 1, 1930 and bought a small truck to 

go to the Twin Cities markets and personally choose 

the fine vegetables and fruits they were noted for and 

also had a very fine display of these items all year 

around in their windows, kept fresh with constant 

spraying so it was hard to pass them by. 

This proved to be such a success that their third 

truck was a large van type, frost proof and Bob made 

semi-weekly trips to purchase these items. They used a 

community delivery service for many years but finally 

had their own private delivery service. 

Complete Food Line 

The "Femdell" label was a complete line of fine 

foods including a full line of jams, jellies, fruits, 

vegetables, fancy pickles and preserves, coffee and 

teas, and to the last they served the people with the 

finest foods available. 

In the beginning "A. J." had his own private 

delivery service and kept five horses at his own barn on 

his property at 127 Fourth Ave. SW. This later was 

converted to house his trucks. 

After Bob and Tom joined the partnership they 

tried to change things and did some remodeling and to 

their surprise they found under several layers of wall 

paper that there were many paintings, done by Mr. 

Fink, of local scenes on the walls above the shelving 

and when it was removed they had a very nice painting 

of the Chapel at Shattuck School and another one of 

Cannon Lake. Many others covered the walls from 

about seven feet from the floor to the ceiling. 

At one time Mrs. A. J. Vogelsberg made potato 

chips in her basement to sell at the store giving them a 

very fresh supply about three times per week or 

oftener if necessary. If you chanced to go past their 

front door at the store very early in the morning you 

might see the American Express man delivering 

several boxes of "TZER" bread, a private label made 

by the same bakery that now makes "Taystee" bread. 

The store also had a "Mrs. O'Grady" bread and 

something you now never see was a "twin" loaf of 

white bread, which was very popular at the time even 

though it was not wrapped in a cellophane wrapper as 

we how have it, but had to be wrapped, before leaving 

the store, by the clerks. 

Fridays were an especially busy day with sacking 


A view of cans piled in pyramids at the 

Vogelsberg Grocery Store in Faribault's 

earlier days. The cans are full cans, not 

dummies, and were used both for display and 

also an indication of the large stock carried of 

the "Ferndell' brand. Note the gas lamps for 

light. 

up sugar at 10 to 15 lbs. for $1.00, for Saturday's 

business which was the busiest day of the week at that 

time. 

Shoe factory employed 700 

The Shaft Pierce Shoe Company, Faribault's 

largest industry in terms of employment, flourished 

from 1903 to 1934, when it became a casualty of the 

difficult economic period following the great 

depression, according to Francis J. Lockwood who was 

employed in the office from 1924 to 1934. 

At its peak production in the early 1920s there were 

over 700 employes, and as many as 7,000 pairs of shoes 

per day being shipped to cities throughout the United 

States. 

Willis S. Shaft, an expert shoe man, with ten years 

of experience in his shoe factory in Minneapolis, 

moved his plant to Faribault in 1903. Very high grade 

children's and growing girls' shoes were made here 

under the patented "Acrobat" and "Balancer", and 

were sold in the finest shoe stores in the country. 

Less expensive shoes were made in "Turn" and 

"Stitchdown" departments and were sold in large 

volume mostly to jobbers such as Sears, Wards, 

Wear-u-well, M.W. Savage, Grimsruds and 

International Shoe Co. 

The original factory was a large four-story brick 

structure (since demolished) located at the corner of 

Fourth Street and First Avenue East, just north of the 

local post office. As the business grew additional space 

was required and in 1911 the Hill Furniture Factory 

105

~en ~8'/ow 

buildings were purchased. The only one still standing 

now is the furniture store just south of the post office. 

The other was just south of the furniture store building. 

The three buildings housed the office as well as the four 

factories, each making a different type of shoes, all 

connected by a tunnel with conveyor tracks, still in 

evidence under the sidewalk on the west side of First 

Avenue East. 

W. S. Shaft was the majority stockholder but some 

s~o.ck was also owned by employes and by local 

citizens. 

Fine furniture made 

The Peterson Art Furniture Co. was founded in 

1905 at 708 NW Fifth St. by John Peterson and his wife, 

Grace Goodwin Peterson. Holding stock in the new 

company were employes and local people who were 

interested in Faribault's future. 

~he Peterson Art Furniture Co. gradually 

acqmred other local furniture factories, such as the 

Daisy Woodcraft, North Star Furniture Co., Waterville 

Furniture Co., Peterson Woodcraft Inc. and the 

Faribault Furniture Co. At one time manufacturing 

was done at six locations, four in Faribault and two in 

Waterville. Later, all were moved to 28 NE Fourth St. 

in Faribault. The present location of the Treasure Cave 

Cheese plant was at one time the Peterson Art 

Furniture's lamp factory. This was the first factory to 

manufacture table lamps as we now know them. At the 

time of a fire the lamp industry had changed from 

wood to metal so it was not reopened and the property 

was sold to Felix Frederiksen. 

T. P. Peterson, the son of John Peterson, became 

president about 1945 and managed the business until it 

was discontinued in 1960. For many years, another son, 

Jack G. of Faribault, was an officer and salesman for 

the firm. 

Meat packing plant 

The Kiekenapp and Carver brothers began to 

operate a small meat packing plant about 1907. The 

plant employed 19 men and butchered 25-30 hogs per 

day on the average. The plant stood at the corner of 

11th Street and Fourth Avenue and had a capitalization 

of $450,000. It was closed for a period of two years, and 

then reopened in November of 1911 as the Chase 

Packing Plant. 

. In 191?, A. G. Chase announced he was expanding 

his operatiOn. The Chase Packing Plant would form the 

nucleus of a new plant which would be financed by an 

issue of $350,000 in preferred stock at 7 per cent 

guaranteed dividend plus $150,000 in common stock. 

On Jan. 3, 1917, the plant opened. There were three 

smokehouses with a capacity of 120,000 pounds of meat 

each day. The building had a bridge between its two 

sections where the carcasses would be cooled before 

passing to the cooler building where the temperature 

was from 38 degrees to -20 degrees. Three and one half 

mo~ths later M. E. Brooks, the general manager, 

resigned and the plant closed temporarily. In 

September, 1918, the building was leased to the 

Waterloo Creamery Co. and converted into a milk 

condensery. 

On Nov. 7, 1919, Wilson and Co. leased the cold 

storage part of the building with Ben R. Ferris in 

charge. Thus began their long occupancy of the 

building which ended when they offered it to the city 

rather than let it go for taxes. The magnificent visions 

that the former stockholders had of the World War I 

era of a magnificent packing plant were dashed long 

ago. 

Karp starts store 

The Karp Shoe Store was established in 1907 at 315 

Central Ave. by A. W. Karp and his wife, Elsie Endres 

Karp. There have been no changes in location of the 

business. Originally, the shoes occupied only one half 

of the store. The other half, owned by Mr. Karp's 

brother; specialized in coffee. After one year, A. W. 

Karp took over the whole store with his shoe business. 

A. W. Karp's father was a shoemaker in Faribault 

prior to the opening of his son's store. A. W. Karp died 

in Faribault in the spring of 1976 at the age of 91. 

At one time the business suffered extensive 

damage as the fire in the former Grand Theater spread 

to the shoe store. 

Fifth Street furniture factory of Peterson Art 

Furniture Co., Faribault 

A .. W. Karp sold the business to S. J. Dix, his 

son-in-law. S. J. Dix, in turn, sold the business to his 

son-in-law, Daniel Culhane Jr. 

106


Coughlin Drug Store popular 

The D. D. Coughlin Drug Store was established 

about 1912 on the site where its successor, Poirier 

Drug, now stands - the corner of Third Street and 

Central A venue. 

This building at 230 N. Central had been the early 

site of First Citizens National Bank until about 1904. 

The bank failed at that time due to excessive 

investments in bonds of various South American 

countries. There had been three or four steps leading 

into the building, but after the failure, the floor level 

was reduced to the sidewalk level. 

Frank Glotzback opened a drug store on that site in 

about 1904. He was a State of Minnesota Senator and 

his official duties required him to spend much time 

away from the drug business. Mr. Coughlin had a six 

foot metal soda fountain in the front of the store. His 

equipment consisted of a large mirror to the rear of the 

fountain, fountain tables with marble tops and heavy 

gauge wire supports. The chairs consisted of the same 

wire support with a wooden seat attached. The average 

price of soda fountain items varied from five to ten 

cents. An elite order, the "banana split," cost fifteen 

cents and was a popular item with a swain. 

About 1912 Coughlin took over the store. In 1916 the 

soda fountain was discarded and proprietary items 

plus family medicines and animal and veterinary 

products were added. 

Practically all of the prescriptions of those days 

required compounding, such as extracts, fluid 

extracts, pill rolling, ointment and various percolation 

filtrations. Many medications required individual 

weighing when placed in capsules, also folding powder 

of medicals. Prescriptions were usually written in ink, 

in Latin also, and both systems of measurement were 

used, metric and apothecary. 

The depression of the 1930s was a very traumatic 

time. As many as 20 or 30 people a day would come in 

and ask for handouts, such as a small piece of soap, an 

old razor blade, or a sample of medicine. These victims 

of unemployment were not bums. Mr. Coughlin did not 

reduce . the wages of his employes during the 

:depression. He maintained that if all employers kept 

the help on the payroll, the depression would be over 

soon. He kept his store open 98 hours a week. 

Earl Poirier served as the pharmacist from 1926 

until 1940 at which time he purchased the store from 

Mr. Coughlin. 

Firm makes ice cr eam 

The Voegel Ice Cream Company, founded in 1912, 

was originally a butter plant. It has since shifted 

emphasis to the production of ice cream and the 

processing of milk. Its products are distributed within 

a 100 mile radius under 10 different private labels as 

well as under Voegel's name. 

The Voegel Ice Cream Company story started in 

the late 1800's, when Henry Voegel's father made the 

rounds of area farms with his wagon and team of 

horses, collecting cream for creameries. Henry took 

the cream route from his father, and eventually 

started making regular pick-ups for the Faribault 

butter plant. In 1915, Henry Voegel purchased the 

plant. 

The plant produced only butter until 1922, but then 

it started manufacturing ice cream from a family 

recipe. In 1932 the firm started processing and bottling 

milk. Henry Voegel semi-retired in 1946, selling part of 

his interest in the business to his brothers, Bill and Al 

Voegel. In 1956, Henry retired, selling the rest of his 

interest to his brothers. Henry died in the mid-1960's 

and, in 1971, Bill retired from the business, selling his 

interest to Al. 

Daily News began in 1914 

The Faribault Daily News, first established on 

December 1, 1914, at Second Street East between 

Central and First Avenues, is now in its 62nd year. The 

founders were Howard Bratton and Helen Leonard 

Bratton. Both served as publishers of the paper as did 

C. J. Hunt, John I. Gagnon and Thomas Bratton 

Gagnon, present publisher and general manager. 

The Daily News was moved to the Arlington Hotel 

building, Central Avenue and Fifth Street NW during 

the 1920's. It was later moved to a building at 514 

Central Avenue, its present location. In 1951 this 

building was enlarged and remodeled. 

In 1930, shortly after a new duplex press had been 

installed, fire broke out in the press room, and the 

press was extensively damaged. The printing process 

has now been changed from letter press to cold type 

photo composition and offset printing. 

During the more than 60 years of continuous 

publication, the Faribault Daily News has received a 

great many plaques, citations, certificates, and letters 

of commendation from local, county, state, national 

and international organizations, praising it for 

efficient journalistic service to this community. 

Famed Tilt-A-Whirl made her e 

The producer of the world-famous "Tilt-A-Whirl" 

is the Sellner Manufacturing Company, founded in 

Faribault in 1914 by Herbert W. Sellner. The firm 

originally operated out of the back yard of Herbert 

Sellner's father's home in Faribault, manufacturing a 

"small line of furniture, kitchen sets, lamps, etc." 

In the early 1920's, Herbert Sellner, who was an 

107

~en ~c?/ow 

inventor at heart, decided a "water toboggan slide" 

would be popular as a means of summer recreation on 

Minnesota's thousands of lakes. The device consisted 

of a slide suspended over water. A person would climb 

to the top of the slide, seat himself in a toboggan-like 

sled, zip down the slide on the toboggan and shoot 

across the water. The slide soon became the firm's 

main project. 

Not long after the slides became popular, Herbert 

Sellner invented another water-oriented recreation 

product - the water wheel. The wheel was used 

primarily as a diving platform at lake beaches and, 

like the slide, could be found at many Minnesota lakes, 

including Roberds in the Faribault area. 

Invents Popular Ride 

In 1926 Herbert Sellner came up with an idea for a 

new amusement ride - the Tilt-A-Whirl. The 

proprietor of White Bear Lake's Wildwood Amusement 

Park had been impressed with Sellner's toboggan slide 

and water wheel, and he told Sellner the park would try 

out a Tilt-A-Whirl prototype. Since then more than 700 

of the rides have been made in Faribault. 

The ride is big (with a 42 foot diameter platform) 

and heavy (24,800) pounds, so in 1926, Sellner 

Manufacturing moved from the backyard of Herbert 

Sellner's father's home to a building on Fowler Street, 

where the plant is situated today. 

Herbert Sellner devised one other ride, "The 

Swooper'' before he was stricken with leukemia and 

died at 42 in 1930. The "Swooper" didn't prove 

successful, however, because it was too bulky - as 

large as a ferris wheel. 

Herbert's brother, Martin Sellner, took over as 

general manager in 1930 and continued in that position 

until he retired in 1961. Art became manager in 1961. 

Walter, another brother, retired from the firm in 1973. 

The present management includes: Art Sellner, 

general manager; Bruce Sellner (Art's son), vice 

president; Warren Chamberlain, secretary; A.A. 

Ludwig, factory superintendent, and John Voracek, 

purchasing agent. 

The Tilt-A-Whirl entertains audiences throughout 

the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America 

and Europe. They can be found not only in carnivals, 

but at some of the nation's top amusement parks: 

Coney Island in New York, Wildwood in New 

Hampshire, Ocean City in Maryland, Daytona Beach 

in Florida, Belmont Park in San Diego, Calif.; Knott's 

Berry Farm in California, the Wisconsin Dells, Paul 

Bunyan Land near Brainerd and Como Park in St. 

Paul. 

Pioneer hardwareman 

The March 6, 1916 issue of the local Daily 

News-Republican announced a new partnership in a 

pioneer Faribault hardware store between E. L. Frink 

and Fred Kiekenapp through Mr. Kiekenapp's 

purchase of Mrs. M. H. Keeley's interest in the 

Cavanaugh and Frink establishment. 

The business was begun by a Mr. Earing during 

the early life of Faribault. Later Captain D. 

Cavanaugh purchased an interest in the business. In 

1879 Mr. Frink and J. G. Schmidt bought out Mr. 

Earing's interest and the firm became known as 

Cavanaugh, Frink .md Schmidt. Mr. Schmidt sold out 

about ten years later and the firm of Cavanaugh and 

Frink was formed. The business continued under this 

name although Mrs. Kelley, a sister of Captain 

Cavanaugh, had inherited his interest at the time of his 

death. 

The March 27, 1934 issue of the Faribault Daily 

News carried the account of Mr. Kiekenapp's purchase 

of the Frink interest in the store, marking 60 years in 

the hardware field by Mr. Frink, 55 of them in this 

same location. 

On January 2, 1939 a partnership was announced 

between Fred Kiekenapp and his son, Gilbert. This 

association was continued until the building was sold to 

Earl Else Hardware in July, 1957, and the Kiekenapps 

conducted a closing-out sale of their stock in August, 

1957. At this date 214 Central Avenue had been a 

hardware site for 80 years. 

Mr. Kiekenapp's experience in the hardware field 

at the time of his retirement totaled 70 years. Previous 

to purchasing an interest in the Cavanaugh and Frink 

establishment in 1916, he had been employed for 11 

years with the firm of Careful and Reed who dealt in 

furnaces, plumbing and hardware, and for 18 years 

with the Loyhed Hardware Store, 15 of them as store 

manager and buyer. 

At the fifty-second annual convention of the 

Minnesota Retail Hardware Association on January 18, 

1949, Mr. Kiekenapp was honored by being presented 

with a 50-year membership certificate. The May, 1949 

issue of Hardware Trade featured an article on his 

many years in the hardware business. 

George Ellis - billiard ace 

When George Ellis, native of a village in Greece 

near Athens, came to Faribault in May, 1916 from 

Minneapolis where he had lived since coming to this 

country in 1911, to start a pool parlor he discovered 

there already were six other pool halls and parlors in 

operation. 

But that didn't deter him from going ahead with his 

plans. He rented space in a building at 313 Central 

Ave., where he has been in the same location for 60 

years, owned by Henry Peltier. He called his new 

establishment the American Billiard Academy and 

that's what the business is known as today. 

The Academy consisted of seven tables for 

recreation, five pool tables and two billiard tables. 

Both sports had many devoted followers in Faribault in 

those days, Ellis recalls, and the top players were A. K. 

Woods, local telephone manager; Jim Logue and 

Harry Rollie, both cigar makers noted for their 

108


I 

t 

George Ellis, who started the American 

Billiard Academy in Faribault in 1916 and 

aperated it for several years before retiring, 

is shown standing at the right in this photo of 

the interior of the academy,. holding a pool 

cue. At the left are Clarence Davis and Al 

Mentz, both in the restaurant business at that 

time. The academy is now operated by 

George's son, Bill Ellis. 

"Thelma" and "Wanda" brands. Ellis, himself, also 

was an accomplished player and still is and often 

captured top honors in matches with challenging 

strangers. Business was so good in the first few years, 

Ellis disclosed, that he added 35 feet to the building and 

installed three more tables. 

In 1921, his longtime friend, John Andrews, also 

from Greece, came to Faribault and he and Ellis 

formed a partnership in operating the business, a 

partnership which continued for 30 years. In 1946 

Andrews, who had been active in community affairs, 

was killed in an automobile accident in Wisconsin 

enroute to Chicago. 

In 1960, George Ellis decided to take it easier and 

his son, William, who now operates the business, joined 

him in the firm. George now says he is retired but he 

goes down to the familiar billiard parlor about every 

day. Ellis was married to the former Irene Perron of 

Faribault, who passed away in 1970. 

State Bank's growth is solid 

The State Bank of Faribault, as it is now known, 

was licensed by the state of Minnesota to operate a 

bank in Faribault in 1919. The bank, which originally 

was known as the Faribault State Bank, opened for 

business in the Masonic Building. Members of the first 

board of directors were John W. Boock, William L. 

Kueker, Henry W. Wolf, James M. Ford and B.E. Orr. 

The 1919 year end Statement of Condition showed 

capital structure of $60,500 and total resources of less 

than $100,000. 

Mr. Boock resigned as president in 1922 and A.B. 

Larson was elected president. In January 1923, the 

following stockholders were elected to the board of 

directors: A. B. Larson, M.L. Daily, William L. 

Kueker, B. E. Orr, Clyde L. Chadwick, Lucius A. Smith, 

who is still a member of the board, and John E. 

Greenville. 

The January 1928 stockholders' meeting elected 

the following directors: A. B. Larson, John Greenville, 

109

~en ~8'/ow 

Old Arlington Hotel, at Central Avenue and 

Fifth Street NW, now the site of the new State 

Bank of Faribault, before it was torn down in 

the late 1950's 

Lucius A. Smith, B.E. Orr, P.H. White, Dr. S.B. 

Haessly and P.J. Gallagher. 

A special stockholders' meeting in January 1930 

voted to amend the Articles of Incorporation of the 

Faribault State Bank by changing the name of the 

corporation to the Faribault State Bank and Trust 

Company. 

In 1930, the bank acquired a vacant bank building 

on Central Avenue and Third Street NE and occupied 

that building until June of 1959 when it moved to the 

present location. Consideration was $26,000 including 

furniture and fixtures. Year end Statement of 

Condition showed capital of $71,000 and total resources 

. of $883,000. 

In Apri11938, A.B. Larson, president and director, 

died. In September 1938, John Carlander, then chief 

examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank in 

Minneapolis, was elected director, president and chief 

executive officer. The adjusted Statement of Condition 

at that time showed capital structure of $85,400 and 

total resources of $790,000. Directors were John 

Carlander, P.J. Gallagher, John Greenville, Herman 

Keirn, Lucius A. Smith and Elmer E. Westerman. 

In January 1939, the bank surrendered its trust 

powers and became The State Bank of Faribault. 

Director P.J. Gallagher died May 11, 1943, after 

serving as a director since 1928. Robert E. Gallagher 

was elected a director to succeed his father. 

Property Purchased 

In the meantime, the bank purchased the property 

occupied by the Arlington Hotel and the Matejcek 

Implement Company where the bank is now located. 

Buildings were razed on the property and the new 

banking house was erected providing the first walk up 

window and the first drive up window in the area plus 

parking space for the customers. The building was 

completed and occupied by the bank on June 1, 1959. 

Total capital structure at the 1959 year end Statement 

of Condition was $620,000 and total resources of 

$7,200,000. 

Growth demanded more space so a new addition 

was added to the banking house in 1965. Again it became 

necessary to acquire additional space, so, in 

November 1967, the bank purchased property on the 

comer of First Avenue and Fifth Street NW. A new 

motor bank was erected in 1971 providing three remote 

drive in units connected by an underground tunnel to 

the main bank with provisions for additional units 

when required. 

Again in 1974, the bank required more space so 

another addition was added to the original building 

providing for an automated teller known as "Teller 24" 

which operates 24 hours a day every day of the year 

and four walk up windows for faster customer service. 

Total capital structure as of September 30, 1975 is 

$2,471,270 and total resources of $31,400,000. The 

directors are John Carlander, Richard J. Car lander, 

Clarence W. Berg, R.E. Gallagher, Allan Landkamer 

and Lucius A. Smith. The officers of the bank at the 

present time are: John Car lander, chairman of the 

board; Richard J. Carlander, president; Clarence W. 

Berg, executive vice president; Lucius A. Smith, vice 

president and general counsel; R.E. Gallagher, vice 

president; Thomas J. Laughlin, vice president; Robert 

J. Trench, vice president; Willis Hafemeyer, assistant 

vice president; Gerald A. Heyer, cashier; Hartley W. 

110


I " ... 

! 

State Bank of Faribault and Drive-in Bank, Central Avenue and Fifth Street NW 

Schendel, assistant cashier; Arthur L. Meland, 

assistant cashier; Ruth McCormick, personal banking 

officer. 

Since 1938, the bank has been under its present 

management. Since the bank's inception, the bank has 

been locally owned and managed. The bank's policy is 

constantly updating the operation to provide the 

community with the most complete banking services 

keeping pace with an ever changing economy. 

John Carlander, chairman of the board, was 

president of the Minnesota Bankers Association in 

1947-1948 after serving as a member of the Council of 

Administration for many years. He also served as a 

member of the Executive Committee of the American 

Bankers Association from 1948-1951. In addition, 

Carlander was a member of the Administrative 

Committee of the American Bankers Association. 

carlander also served as a commissioner of the State 

of Minnesota Efficiency in Government Commission. 

Woolworth store 

The Woolworth store in Faribault was established 

in 1915 at 410 Central Ave. on the site of its present 

store. With its purpose set as being a complete variety 

store, it has continued in that purpose ever since, 

expanding in 1942 and remodeling in 1959 and 1969. 

Parker Funeral Home 

The Parker Funeral Home had its ongm in 

Faribault in 1876 - 100 years ago - at which time 

David H. Ray, the grandfather of the present owner, 

began work in funeral service. 

Ray was born in Canada in 1851 and came with his 

family to Richland Township at a young age. As a 

young man he had studied embalming (a relatively 

new technique at that time) in Chicago and in 1876 

joined A. L. Hill, a pioneer furniture manufacturer, in 


Ray's duties were the management of the retail 

furniture sales and the opera house and conducting the 

funeral service which Mr. Hill included in his business 

interests. 

Ray bought the funeral and retail furniture 

interests from Hill in 1890 and operated those business 

interests until his death in 1935. He first was located on 

Central Avenue, moving then to the old armory 

building which he acquired around 1912. He was joined 

in business by his son, Roy L. Ray, and his daughter, 

Flora Ray Parker. 

In 1941 the firm moved to its present location at 607 

Second Ave. NW, the site of the Bishop Whipple home. 

Mrs. Parker's son, John G. Parker, joined the firm in 

1941 and is now the present owner. 

111

Faribault, 1890, Godfr ey Fleckenstein 

Brewery, located on Third St. NE where 

Treasure Cave Cheese Co. is now located. 

Firms from 1920 to the present 

Faribault Federal - 

home institution 

Originally known as the Faribault Building and 

Loan Association, this financial institution was 

incorporated in 1920 as a service organization. Those 

serving as the originators were: E.J. Kiekenapp, John 

W. Boock, Benson Brown, John A. Foster, E.H. Gipson, 

Matt Hintsala, F.B. Lockwood, John Peterson and 

F. M. Pierce. They organized as a non-profit 

organization "to help the poor man buy a home of his 

own.'' 

No office was maintained for many years and local 

businessmen such as D. D. Coughlin served as 

secretary without pay. Mrs. Alelia K. Johnson 

collected payments on loans at the former Coughlin 

Drug Store. Ultimately, records were kept at the 

Charles Sayles law office, then moved to a private 

office in the Security National Bank building where 

Leo Shandorf, then serving as president, operated the 

association. Funds were accepted only as needed for 

New Faribault Federal Savings Building on Fourth Street and Fifth Avenue NW 

112


Gerhardt Mentz (white shirt) still in the local 

laundry business after 52 years and Herb 

Heine (at washing machine) at work in 

extension of home loans. 

In 1960, Charles J. Popelka was elected 

secretary-manager, and the association was moved to 

a ground floor location in the Brunswick Hotel. Then, in 

order to obtain Federal Savings and Loan Deposit 

Insurance, the firm moved to exclusive quarters 

provided by Paul Schroeder, one of its officers, at 22. 

NW Third Street. 

On October 1, 1965, Lester L. Bursik was elected 

secretary, and on January 1, 1966, was elected 

president. On April1, 1966, the association was granted 

a federal charter by the Federal Home Loan Bank 

Board and was renamed Faribault Federal Savings 

and Loan Association. In December, 1974, the 

association was moved to its new facility on Fourth 

Street and Fifth Avenue. 

Its current board of directors include: Robert R. 

Bjork, chairman; Lester L. Bursik, president; Alvin F. 

Burkhartzmeyer, secretary-treasurer; Rodney A. 

Mahler, Arthur L. Pykles and Arthur M. Sellner, vice 

presidents. 

Domestic Laundry, 112 Central Ave., 

Faribault, in 1924. 

54 year old laundry busy 

In 1922 Gerhardt Mentz left his job at the Shaft 

Pierce Shoe Factory and established a laundry. At that 

time there was only one other laundry in town, the New 

Process Laundry. Over the years, four other laundries 

came and went, including a Chinese laundry located in 

the rear of what was the Montgomery Ward store. 

At first the lailndry handled 300 pounds of clothes 

per day. Mentz recalls after paying the help, the first 

week, there wasn't enough money remaining to buy a 

pair of badly needed shoes. He was 19 at the time. 

Before long the volume increased, forcing them to 

move into the whole building they occupied. 

In 1947, the laundry moved into a building south of 

the original location on Central A venue, which had 

once housed the Plaskett Garage. Gerhardt Mentz's 

brother, Edgar, joined him in the laundry business 

from 1923-1926. The Domestic Laundry handles a ton of 

laundry a day and still serves some of its original 

customers. 

113

~en ~c!:Now 

Leader Store history 

In 1923 Ethel and Louis Himmelstein bought the 

Leader Store from Mr. Himmelstein's brother and ran 

it as a small department store, carrying ladies', men's 

and children's clothing. It was located at 206 Central 

Ave. 

In 1948 Leah and Irving Levy purchased The Leader 

and continued at the same location with children's and 

ladies' clothing. 

In 1960 they moved The Leader to its present location 

at 421 Central and continued operation with only ladies 

clothing until 1968 when they sold the store to their 

daughter and son-in-law Joy and William Hacker who 

continue The Leader today as a leading women's 

clothing store. 

grocers like Kiekenapp with potatoes as well as green 

vegetables. Then his territory enlarged. 

Now associated with him in the business, which 

has been prospering for more than a half century, are 

three sons, Gordy, Gene and Howard. From one 

vehicle, a 1924 Ford roadster with a 14 bushel capacity, 

the Hunt fleet has expanded to three semi-trailers, 

three straights and a panel. Company drivers make 

regular trips to the Red River Valley potato 

warehouses and bring back many varieties including 

reds and russets. The business is not limited to 

Minnesota but accounts are served as far east as La 

Crosse, Wis., and as far west as Yankton, S.D. 

This Bicentennial year is particularly significant 

to the Hunts because it was in the 1850's that Ed's 

grandfather, Bernard Hunt, came from Ireland to 

Shieldsville and settled on a farm adjacent to a lake 

that bears his name, Hunt Lake. 

Boston Cafe 

Women's store 54 years old 

The Boston Cafe, (formerly located at 327 Central 

Ave. N.) dates back to January 17, 1924. It was 

established by Thomas G. Matakis Sr. and his wife 

Marie C. Swain Matakis. The Matakises had arrived in 

Faribault in November of 1923, having come from 

LeMars, Iowa, where they had been in the restaurant 

business for four years. They established their 

restaurant in a building that was empty at the time, the 

Albert Grau Building at 416 Central A venue. They 

rented that site for 15 years before moving the business 

to the Gallagher Building at 410 Central A venue, where 

they remained for ten years. 

In 1949 the cafe was moved to the Mary Bloxane 

Building. In 1969, the Boston Cafe went out of business 

when that building was sold. The Matakises then 

bought the Buelers Meat Market, which was in the 

same building, at 327 N. Central A venue. 

Chance remark sells potatoes 

A chance remark to his wife in December, 1925, 

that "I had better go find some potatoes, we're all out" 

led to the establishment of a successful Faribault 

business firm, Ed Hunt and Sons Potato Company, that 

has been in business for 51 years. 

After making the remark Hunt, who from 1927 to 

1950 served as engineer at the Minnesota Braille and 

Sight Saving School, went to Owatonna to visit a friend, 

Barney Resler. On his farm, Hunt found potatoes 

stacked to the ceiling in a storage shed. He 

convinced Resler to sell a large amount to him at $3.60 

cash, and a new Faribault business firm was begun. 

Hunt began trucking potatoes on a gradual scale 

and later expanded widely. At first he supplied local 

The Champagne and Grant, a dry goods store, was 

established in 1924 by B. E. Orr and Company. Later, it 

was acquired by William J. Champagne and Katharine 

A. Grant who formed a partnership and operated the 

store at a location on Central A venue between 2nd 

and 3rd Streets. Ms. Grant sold her share to Mr. 

Champagne about 1932. In 1935, Champagne sold the 

business to Clarence Schmaus, who continues to 

operate a women's clothing store in this location. 

Boldt Funeral Home 

The Boldt Funeral Home dates back to 1927. It was 

first located at 25 2nd Street NW, when it was founded 

by Edgar W. Boldt. The location was changed in 1941 

when Edgar Boldt built the first facility exclusively 

designed for funeral service in Faribault. The new site 

was 118 6th St. NW. In 1969 the ownership was 

transferred to David E. Boldt. 

Founded in 1925 

The Dandelet Brothers Jewelry store was 

established in 1925 at 227 Central A venue, the site 

where the business has remained ever since. It was 

founded by Chauncey and Arthur Dandelet. It is now 

operated by Michael Dandelet and his wife, Cheryl 

Alley Dandelet. 

114


Lord Studio 

Lord Studio founded in 1928 

The Lord Studio opened in 1928 above the Mentz 

Cafe across from the old Grand Theatre. The founder, · 

Donald J. Lord, had served apprenticeships under 

Joseph Fritsch and Al Savoie at Janesville, Minnesota. 

In 1929 the business was moved to larger quarters 

above the Maison Ritz at 307-A in the Donahue 

Building. 

The founder's brother, Vivian, joined the business 

in 1932, forming a partnership. Donald Lord attended 

an advanced school of photography in Winona Lake, 

Ind., in August of 1934. The Lord's sister, DeVage, 

joined the staff about 1940 as a receptionist and 

colorist. The Lord Studios moved to their present 

location at 604 Central Avenue in 1946, in one of the 

three original Saint Mary's Hall buildings. 

During the long and respected history of the studio, 

the Lords have received many honors for their 

photography, with their prints having been chosen for 

display in the National Loan collection. 

Bill Pirkl, prominent Faribault resident, 

sports leader and longtime businessman, is 

pictured as he was all dressed up for 

Faribault's "Days of '49" Parade. 

International Harvestor equipment. With his 

partnership in 1932 with Mr. Lynch, he became 

affiliated with the John Deere Implement Company. 

Pirkl Implement Co. 

Gopher Shooter's - 

growing firm 

Before becoming the Pirkl Implement Company, 

the business was known as Lynch and Pirkl and was 

located on First Street, east of the Elks building. 

Musegades and Lynch were the original founders some 

time before 1930. The firm was known as Lynch and 

Pirkl from 1932 until1941 when Mr. Pirkl put up a new 

building at 19 North Central A venue. From then on it 

was Pirkl Implement Company. The business was sold 

in 1966 to Ivan Hale and Arnold Swenson. 

William J. Pirkl's connection with the implement 

business dates back to 1913 when he joined with the 

Virtue and Pound Co. in Owatonna selling 

Though not officially established as a business 

until later, Gopher Shooter's Supply can be traced back 

to 1925 when Clarence E. Purdie came to Faribault to 

teach high school mathematics. He taught for 24 years 

but also set up a reloading shop in his basement - a 

hobby shop that eventually became Gopher Shooter's 

Supply. 

While teaching, C.E. Purdie started rifle clubs for 

both students and townspeople, butft>und it hard to find 

suppliers for their needed equipment and supplies. Mr. 

Purdie began ordering these things as a courtesy to 

club members. This grew into a small business which, 

115

~en 8?8'/ow 

Gopher Shooter Supply and Bonanza Sports 

Manufacturing Co. management in action: 

Bruce Purdie, C. E. Purdie, Keith Purdie, 

Dean Purdie. 

in 1949, outgrew_ 5h~ cupboards and closets of his home. 

A move was made to 11 West Third Street in the 

summer of 1948. Mr. Purdie taught until June of 1949, 

and then retired to devote full time to the growing 

business. More growth necessitated owning a building, 

and this was built at 21 NE Tenth Street and moved into 

in the spring of 1955. Three additions were built at that 

site. In order to further expand, a new facility was built 

in 1973 on Western Avenue, complete with a modern 

warehouse and office complex. 

In 1965, C.E. Purdie retired from the business, 

leaving it in charge of his three sons, Keith, Dean and 

Bruce. After his retirement, C. E. Purdie perfected the 

Bonanza line of reloading tools, which is now being 

Gopher Shooter Supply Building on Western Avenue 

116


manufactured by Bonanza Sports Manufacturing 

Company, a subsidiary of Gopher Shooter's Supply and 

also located on Western Avenue. 

Irene Dow Purdie, wife of C.E. Purdie has been 

very active with the company since its establishment 

in their home. She was the main office staff for many 

years and has always kept complete records as the 

company's "historian." 

his father since that time. 

In its 47 years of successful operation the company 

has completed more than 200 jobs for factories, 

commercial businesses and homes. The firm installed 

the Bell Field lights in Faribault and has handled jobs 

in Northfield, Owatonna, Montgomery and Waterville. 

50 year old store 

Treasure Cave Cheese - 

major industry 

The Faribault Montgomery Ward store first 

opened in 1926 at a location on 3rd Street. This was the 

3rd retail store that Ward's opened in the United 

States. The company has since moved to 502 Central 

Avenue and in 1974, changed from a retail store to a 

catalog appliance store. The firm moved to its new 

building, constructed because of business expansion, 

on May 20, 1976. 

Lenmark Funeral Home 

The Lenmark Funeral Home, established in 1925 in 

the former H. C. Theopold residence, 29 First St. SW, 

by Aaron and Mildred Norris Lenmark, was a business 

in Faribault for 40 years until 1965. In 1939 the firm 

bought the residence at 214 NW Sixth St. and 

extensively remodeled it. 

Electric firm busy 

Larson Electric was started by Oliver N. Larson, 

in the spring of 1929. He got his schooling at Dunwoody 

Institute, in Minneapolis. His business was first located 

at 1929 N. Second Ave. 

In 1939, Oliver was married to Ruth A. Braaten, 

who has been the bookkeeper in the business since they 

have been married, and is still working in the office. 

They have two sons, Larry of Minneapolis, and Oliver 

Jr. of Faribault. 

In 1955 the state asked the firm to move, as a new 

road was going through the property, so a new home 

and shop was built at 1955 S. Willow in Faribault. 

In his years of business, he did electrical 

contracting, and in 1938 he also went into the appliance 

business selling Westinghouse appliances and Magic 

Chef. In 1953 he sold out his appliances, and stayed in 

the electrical contracting business, which he is still in 

at this time. 

A son. Oliver C. Larson Jr., worked during the 

summers of 1958-59-60. In 1961-63 he went to Dunwoody 

and graduated in 1963, and has been in business with 

The home of Treasure Cave Blue Cheese was built 

on the ruins of the old Fleckenstein Brewery. Felix 

Frederiksen bought the property in 1935 and work was 

begun on transforming it into a modern factory to 

make blue cheese which is made of cow's milk - 

unlike the Roquefort of France, which is made of goat's 

milk. At that time there was just one cave and the old 

stone brewery factory building. He first got milk from 

four farmers by the names of Durante, Bongers, 

Hubers and Friesen. 

The first blue cheese was made in February 1936. 

It was decided to have as the trade mark a picture of 

"Long John of Treasure Island" with his wooden leg 

and the patch over his eye. 

Felix Frederiksen, the owner, went down to the 

factory every night to turn the cheese. The first man to 

work in the factory was Martin Beneke. Mr. 

Frederiksen toured the surrounding country in his old 

Rockne in order to sign up more farmers for milk and 

to secure markets. 

After two years, the "great depression" came and 

forced the factory to stop making more cheese. Felix 

and Martin took care of the factory by themselves. 

By 1940, times were better and the factory was 

running again and taking on more men and getting 

more milk. 

Then World War II came and blocked the seas and 

the importing of foreign type cheese to the United 

States, so Treasure Cave was the only producer at that 

time. During that period a ton of cheese was sent to 

Hong Kong. Cheese was also sent to Honolulu, Hawaii 

and to Alaska. Martin Beneke and Art Melgaard 

enlisted as Sergeants and Ray Falk, the first 

superintendent, returned. 

Arthur Melgaard and Martin Beneke returned 

after the war and things began to be back to normal 

again, with Martin in charge of selling and Art in 

charge of manufacturing. A highlight at that time was 

an article in National Geographic on Minnesota, with a 

full page illustrations of one of the factory's caves. 

They were especially busy around Christmas time. 

The cheese maker won various blue ribbons at the 

on different years. There have been visits of women's 

groups or clubs and classes of school children who 

came out holding their noses and remarking that the 

cheese tasted better than it smelled. Robert Pye was 

bookkeeper and at his death was succeeded by Carl 

Larson. 

At the time of the 25th anniversary of Treasure 

117

~en ~§Vow 

Cave Cheese there were a hundred or more· farmers 

bringing in milk and taking home whey for their pigs. 

Cheese was sold in every state in the union, 

including Alaska and Hawaii. 

The business was sold in December, 1963. Several 

parties had wanted to buy the plant, but the owners 

waited until the right one appeared, someone who 

really understood the art of making cheese and would 

retain the old employes. The plant is now owned by 

Swift & Co. with Beneke as manager and Melgard 

superintenden~ of manufacturing. 

In December, 1965, a farewell dinner was given for 

the Frederiksens and a plaque presented. It was not a 

company, but was owned by the Frederiksens, with no 

other investors. It was organized as a partnership for 

awhile. The name and founders and owners were Felix 

M. and Dorothy S. Frederiksen. 

Noted for 'mums' 

The world famous Lehman Gardens were 

established in October of 1931 by Mr. and Mrs. Edgar 

C. Lehman (Ruth A. Smeby) and Mr. and Mrs. Walter 

W. Lehman (Irene Thibault Lehman). The original site 

was 428 NW Fifth St., Faribault. In 1942 the business 

was moved to its present location, 420 SW lOth St. In 

1946 Edgar C. Lehman and his wife Ruth became the 

sole owners. The Lehman Gardens originated as a mail 

order business for hardy garden plants and garden 

chrysanthemums. In time, Edgar Lehman earned the 

reputation of being one of the country's leading 

authorities on chrysanthemums. Thousands of visitors 

came to appreciate the gardens every fall during the 

famous mum show. 

K and G diversified firm 

Harry Kane and Sidney Gerbig started K & G in 

1937 as an automobile replacement parts outlet and 

machine shop. In 1941 K & G began manufacturing 

military components for the war effort, and after the 

war put the shop equipment to use by manufacturing 

small air compressors for use on farms. 

Soon after that, in 1947, K & G Manufacturing Co. 

was incorporated by Kane and Sidney Gerbig. The 

incorporation created two distinct companies - the 

auto parts dealership on the one hand and the 

machined parts firm on the other. Both firms exist 

today. 

In 1950 Sidney Gerbig acquired 100 per cent 

ownership of K & G Manufacturing and Kane took over 

K & G Auto. K & G Manufacturing set up shop at 226 

Park Ave., building two large quonset huts for the 

manufacture of "Farmair" compressors and some 

government parts. In 1948 K & G Manufacturing began 

building wagon unloaders, and in 1950 the firm got into 

full production. 

During the early 1950's K & G developed and began 

manufacturing an ice machine, but that business was 

soon sold. On Jan. 28, 1953, the quonset huts were 

gutted in an all-night fire that changed the course of the 

company. Several months later Sidney Gerbig moved 

his firm into the old Anderson Foundry building, and in 

the spring of 1954 the firm completed and moved into a 

concrete building built near the gutted quonset huts. 

The wagon unloaders quickly became the firm's main 

product along with some air compressors, job work 

and tool work. Such were the firm's products until 

Sidney Gerbig's death on Aprill5, 1966. 

His son, Tom Gerbig, who had graduated from 

Iowa State University and had worked at IBM, came 

home and became president of K & G Manufacturing. 

He sold the air compressor manufacturing portion of 

the business, phased out the wagon unloaders and 

began soliciting contracts for precision machined 

parts. Since then the company has grown and now 

employs over 25 people. 

Today K & G provides precision machined parts 

for several Faribault firms, including Mercury 

Minnesota, Humphrey Elevator and Truck Co., 

Nutting Truck and Caster Co. and Sellner 

Manufacturing Co. It also supplies such out of town 

firms as IBM, Honeywell, Ford Motor Co., Case 

Tractor Co., Owatonna Tool Co. and Owatonna 

Manufacturing Co., as well as many others. 

Founded in 1933 

Chappuis Jewelry was started by Ernest Chappuis 

in 1933. The store was first located in Arcade, which is 

now the Candy Cane building. In approximately 1936 

the store was relocated to the building where Ochs 

Children's Store is now. In 1940 he moved to 413 Central 

Ave. where the store is presently located. 

Ernest Chappuis died on Dec. 28, 1972. His son, 

Patrick Chappuis, after studying at the St. Paul 

Vocational Technical School and in Neuchatel, 

Switzerland, learning watchmaking, came back and 

now owns and operates the jewelry store. The store has 

been completey remodeled. Patrick Chappuis is 

assisted in the store's operation by his mother and his 

wife. 

Burkhartzmeyer Shoes 

Burkhartzmeyer Shoes was founded by J. Ferdie 

Burkhartzmeyer and Martha Krinz B urkhartzmeyer 

in the fall of 1938. He was born in Odessa, Russia and 

came to this country at an early age. He had worked at 

the Shaft Pierce Shoe Company. He taught his three 

sons how to make shoes, repair and sell shoes. 

Burkhartzmeyer's Shoes originated as a shoe 

118


I 

I 

repairing and harness shop when it opened in the fall of 

1938, buying out John Reimke's business. It was 

originally located at 310 1st Ave. N. 

In 1949 the store was moved to 228 Central A venue 

in the Masonic Building, and in 1951 to 3 NW 3rd Street, 

next to Poirier Drug Store. In 1969 the business was 

moved to 130 Central Avenue, and its present address 

is listed as 128 Central Avenue. 

The present owners of the store are the three sons: 

Alvin, Walter and Donald. 

Schuehle Drug Stor e 

The Schuehle Rexall Drug Store dates back to 1931 

when it was founded at 309 Central Avenue. Chris 

Schuehle and his wife, Lyle Grace Nelson Schuehle, 

purchased what was formerly the Mollison Drug Store. 

At the beginning it was strictly a drug store. Later the 

business was moved to 419 Central A venue where gifts, 

cards, and many other products were added. 

The owners of the store at this new location were 

Chris Schuehle, William L. Schuehle and Robert C. 

Schuehle. The drug store was the victim of two 

robberies at the 419 Central Avenue location. The first 

occurred about 1970 when robbers came through the 

sky light at night and took cash and many drugs. The 

second robbery took place in 1973 around five o'clock in 

the afternoon. The druggist, clerks and customers 

were held at gunpoint while the robbers took an 

undetermined amount of cash and many drugs. The 

robbers in both situations were apprehended. 

The Schuehle Drug Store is no longer in existence, 

since it was sold in January, 1975. 

Roth Printing Co. 

The Roth Printing Company, offering all types of 

business and personal printing needs, was organized in 

1932 by Edward D. Roth and his wife, Emma. Mr. 

Roth, a veteran printer and editor, had begun his 

career at the age of 16 when he became shop foreman 

for the weekly "Faribault Republican," published by 

A. W. McKinstry, a job he held for 26 years. In 1910 Mr. 

Roth became editor for the Faribault Journal Printing 

Company, owned by William Kaiser (then 

postmaster.) In 1932 the Journal was sold by Alice 

Kaiser, widow of William, to Rollie and Harvey Kelly. 

This was when Mr. Roth began his venture into his own 

business. 

In 1943, the Roth's daughter Evelyn, a former 

teacher (now Mrs. Harvey Knauss) joined the business 

in the active operation of the shop until 1948, when ill 

health of Mr. Roth caused his retirement. The business 

was sold to Dan Deney. 

S and L Stor es 

The S & L Stores, a retail chain owning stores 

throughout the upper midwest, opened their branch in 

Faribault at 224 Central Avenue in 1936, January 1. S & 

L Stores are owned by Salkin and Linoff and based in 

Minneapolis. The current manager is Otto Wangsness. 

Previous managers have been Vic Mock, Jimmy Dike 

and Ron Vadnais. 

Auto parts supply 

The origin of the Auto Truck and Tractor Parts 

Supply can be traced to the Storm Reboreing Service 

which was established on January 1, 1933, at 28 NW 3rd 

Street, by Paul N. and Mary J. Muellenmeister. 

The name was subsequently changed to Paul's 

Reboreing Service and Parts, and then in 1960, to Auto 

Truck and Tractor Parts Supply. The company has 

withstood three attempted robberies and the actions of 

vandals. The firm is presently located at 18 NW 2nd 

Street in Faribault. 

Chris Schuehle, longtime local druggist, and 

friends in front of store during "Days of '49" 

celebration. 

Mahler's Hardware 

Donald Mahler founded Mahler's Hardware in 

February of 1934 at 219 Central A venue, Faribault. In 

1949 the business was moved to its present location at 

208 Central Avenue. In 1962 the store was expanded 

also to 210 and 212 Central Avenue. On the third floor of 

119

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the present building occupied by Mahler's, there was 

at one time the first headquarters of the YMCA in 

Faribault. The third floor also housed a dance hall, 

Knights of Columbus Hall, and, at one time, the 

Wearwell Garment Factory. 

In 1962 the firm changed from Mahler's Hardware 

to Mahler's Hardware Incorporated. Rod Mahler is the 

current president and his wife, Jean Mahler, serves as 

vice president. 

Matejcek Implement 

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matejcek founded this 

implement company in 1934 at a location on First 

Avenue. It has the distinction of holding an 

International Harve.1ter dealership for 46 years. Other 

locations of the business have been 9 Fifth Street and 

1747 Grant Street. The present owners are Mr. and 

Mrs. Edward Matejcek. 

Manthey TV and Radio 

The Manthey Radio and T.V. originated on 

November 22, 1933, in the basement of the home of L. C. 

Manthey Sr. and his wife, Alice. It later moved to the 

barn in the back of their home, and in 1944 moved into a 

new block building at the present location of 513 1st 

Street NE. An addition to this building was constructed 

in the 1950's. 

Sorgatz Furs 

Julius F. and Marie Krueger Sorgatz established 

their fur shop in the basement of their home at 737 

Willow Street in 1938. They built a separate place of 

business at 739 Willow in 1947. The firm specializes in 

the manufacture, restyling, repairing, cleaning and 

glazing of fur coats. 

Warmington Repair Shop 

Harry W. Warmington and his wife, Hilda E. Glende 

Warmington founded the Warmington Repair Shop in 

1935 to service American cars. The original site, as 

well as the present site, though now greatly expanded, 

was 1720 NW 5th Street. The firm now services foreign 

cars as well as American. The business is now being 

managed by Warmington sons, Laverne A. and Dean 

H. Warmington. 

Tischler Shoes 

Archie and Bob Tischler, in 1936, bought from Matt 

Offerman, half interest in the Offerman Shoe Store. On 

October 4, 1938, they purchased the remaining half 

interest in the store from the Offerman estate. The 

store then became known as Tischler's Shoe Store. The 

store remained in operation until late 1955, at which 

time the merchandise was sold out, and the brothers 

purchased the Brand Peony Farm. 

Gift and Art Store 56 years old 

LaVerne Warmington) Faribault) built the 

two small cars shoum in the picture. The 1934 

Ford belonged to his son-in-law) Richard 

Litsheim J deceased. Warmington Garage is in 

the background. 

The Gift and Art Store was opened in May of 1920 

by Mr. and Mrs. Beryl Korff and George Murphy Jr. 

The first Gift and Art was located at 406 Central, part 

of Woolworth's present location. The original store. 

carried such things as small gifts, school supplies, 

films, cameras and phonographs, and cut flowers and 

plants. 

Murphy sold his interest to the Korff's in 1922, and 

under their management the store continued to grow, 

expanding into such lines as wallpaper and paints, 

glassware, dinnerware, greeting cards and plants. 

The business continued to grow at the original 

location until1939, when Woolworth's expansion forced 

Gift and Art to move into the Gallagher Building at 301 

Central. The business expanded into many new gift 

lines, continuing its growth at the new location. 

Mr. Korff died unexpectedly in 1947, leaving Mrs. 

120


Korff to manage the business alone for a few months 

until their son, William and his wife, lone Swanson 

Korff, moved to Faribault from St. Paul to help 

manage the business. 

Mrs. Beryl Korff remarried in 1948, becoming Mrs. 

Charles Domiden. She returned to the business 

following the death of Mr. Dorniden in 1952. Mother, 

son and wife then formed a partnership until 1967 at 

which time they incorporated. The store moved for the 

third and last time in 1967, to 303-305 Central, which 

more than doubled their space. The House of 

Hallmark, located across the street, had also become a 

part of the corporation, in March of 1968. Recently, the 

store was sold to James Hammond, Northfield. 

Dusek's Bakery 

Dusek's Bakery, now located at 223 Central was 

originally located at 217 Central Avenue when it was 

founded in March of 1932. It was founded by Joseph A. 

Dusek and Martha Matejcek Dusek. On May 14, 1938 it 

was moved from this location in the Donahue Building 

to its present site. It is now owned and operated by 

Lawrence Becker. 

Carl Dingmann (Dingmann Motors) dealing 

with Tom Jirik. 

Dingmann Motor Sales 

Bauer Disposal Service 

The Bauer Disposal Service was established in 1939 

by Alvin H. and Annie Gustafson Bauer. Since its 

founding, the business has been located at various 

addresses: Route 5, Faribault, 531 Willow Street, 610 

Fowler Street, and the present address of Route 2, Box 

27, Faribault. 

At first the business handled rubbish removal on 

Saturdays only. Then, as business grew, they 

,established routes for every day except Monday; 

Monday being wash day with clothes on the lines so 

ashes could not be dumped. The present routes are 

covered on Monday through Saturday. 

The disposal service started hauling with a 1936 

Dodge f>ickup truck, and at times with a team of horses 

and a wagon. That mode of hauling was succeeded by a 

car and trailer, and eventually by using a loose fill 

truck, as all garbage was burned at the city owned 

incinerator. In 1962 the first compaction type packer 

was used. The incinerator was discontinued and a city 

owned landfill was used. Now refuse is hauled to the 

county owned Sanitary Landfill north of Faribault. 

The business has grown from a family work force 

to seven employes, and from one vehicle to five 

vehicles in service six days a week. 

The ownership was transferred to Alvin C. Bauer 

and Mabel Irving Bauer in 1960. 

Carl Dingmann, owner of Dingmann Motor Sales, 

came to Faribault March 15, 1948, when he purchased 

the Dodge Agency and Garage from the Henry Van 

Houdt Estate. Mr. Van Houdt had operated the garage 

for several years in different locations, one of which 

was on Central Avenue prior to the Red Owl Store 

locating there. Leach Lumber Co. then built a building 

for the Van Houdt Agency on Fifth Street about 1940. 

The Garage and Dodge Agency operated there, 

when Dingmann purchased it in 1948, until 1961 when 

Dingmann bought the Westerman Lumber Company 

property on Fourth Street. 

This property was remodeled and a new modem 

shop replaced the lumber sheds. Dingmann also 

included a service station selling North Star products, 

operated for many years by Ordean Reveland. A few 

years later Dingmann purchased the Marigold 

property next door, retaining part of it, but selling an 

office building on First A venue to L and S Sign Co. and 

a portion of it to Continental Oil Co. 

A few years later Rice County purchased part of 

the remaining property for the new County Public 

Services and Law Enforcement Center on Third Street. 

After 28 years as the Dodge dealer in Faribault, the 

business was sold in August, 1976, to David Heskett and 

Lloyd Nelson. 

121

~en G?t;Now 

Turkey plant 

The New Richmond Farms turkey processing 

plant, a part of the agriproducts division of Domain 

Industries, Inc., dates back to 1940 when the plant was 

started as a co-op arrangement among several 

farmers. These founders included Howard Holden and 

Sam Haugen of Northfield; Howard Welsh of Dodge 

Center; and Jack Tallman of Salt Lake City, Utah, 

formerly of rural Faribault. 

A major addition in 1956 tripled the size of the plant 

and in 1964 Domain Industries purchased the Faribault 

facility, along with another turkey plant in Madelia. 

The Madelia plant was closed and its production was 

transferred to Faribault. 

Now the firm owns DoBoy animal feeds, the 

Faribault turkey plant, a turkey hatchery at Rochester 

and several turkey growing farms. 

Degen Insurance 

The Fred G. Degen Insurance, Real Estate and 

Income Tax Preparation Service was established in 

1938 at 324A Central Avenue North, in Faribault. 

Mr. Degen had rented the office at the Central 

Avenue location. In 1959 he purchased the former 

Fritsch Photography Studio building on Third Street 

and moved his agency there. 

The Fred G. Degen Agency was sold to F.A. 

Schrader on October 1, 1974. Mr. Schrader continued to 

operate under this name until April 1, 1975, when he 

moved the agency to the present site and it became the 

Hart-Schrader Agency, joining the agency already in 

operation at this location, 16 NW 4th Street. 

Seeks industries 

The Faribault Industrial Corporation was 

incorporated in 1945, the result of a dream of three 

local citizens, the late Luke Gallagher, the late Donald 

Ochs, and the late Ruge Fleckenstein. These men, and 

others who have served on the FIC, worked hard in 

their respective businesses and also spent much time 

with this organization because they were deeply 

concerned with the sound growth of Faribault. 

One of the first official acts was the purchase of the 

first industrial tract, a 15 acre site, in 1954. In August of 

1956, construction was started on an 18,000 square foot 

building. It had not been spoken for when it was built, 

but became the home of Mercury, Minnesota, Inc. 

In September, 1958, FIC bought another seven acre 

site, and in August, 1959, a building 10,000 square feet 

was constructed. Faribo Manufacturing occupied this 

building. In April, 1963, this building was sold to Faribo 

Manufacturing, who put on an additional10,000 square 

feet. 

In 1961 FIC purchased another 30 acre site and also 

acquired another seven acre site and sold it to the 

Pettipiece Radiator Shop for an expansion program. 

Through the years, the FIC has found sites for 

Burman-Faribault Plumbing Company, Randy's 

Meats, Southern Minn. Lithographic Firm, and Mill 

Products firm. They have brought together buyers and 

sellers which resulted in expansion for a local 

warehouse. They found land suitable for the United 

Parcel firm which set up business in this communtty. 

Beltz Co. 

The Beltz Company was founded in 1941 at 324 

Central Avenue by Joseph T. Beltz. It was originally 

concerned with office supplies and equipment and no 

changes in that focus have been made. The location 

was changed, however, to 419 Central Avenue, in 1975. 

·Other locations included 19 NW 3rd Street and 129 


In 1951 the company's ownership shifted to Staupe, 

Zimmerman and Bjork. In 1955, Robert R. Bjork 

became president and treasurer, and Ruth A. Raker 

Bjork became vice president. 

Ostrom Agency 

The Ostrom Agency, specializing in insurance and 

real estate, was established on August 9, 1947, at 420 

Central Avenue. The founders were Irwin E. Ostrom 

and Merlin W. Ostrom. In 1949 the firm moved to its 

present location at 510 Central A venue. The present 

owners are Richard P. Ostrom, Bill R. Ostrom and 

Terry L. Kielmeyer. 

Woodcraft firm 

Southern Minnesota Woodcraft was founded by Art 

and Elsie Lehman at 413 7th Ave. NW and called 

Lehman Woodcraft. A partnership was formed in 1949 

by Howard Seifert, Robert J andro and James Glynn 

and the firm's name changed to Southern Minnesota 

Woodcraft Inc. Jim Glynn had begun working for Art 

Lehman in 1944. The firm is located at 820 NW 5th 

Street, Faribault. The firm specializes in custom wood 

work. James P. Glynn is president. 

122


Mether Studio 

Rachel L. Mether established the Mether Studios 

Music Center in December, 1947 at 618 Central Avenue. 

Formerly a country school teacher, Miss Mether had 

returned to Faribault to care for her mother. She 

taught sewing and did office work for seven years for 

the Singer Sewing Machine Company. In 1947 she 

purchased the property at 618 Central A venue from the 

Kaul Corporation. After completely remodeling the 

premises, she began selling pianos and organs. In 1960 

the firm was moved to its present location at 914 

Central Avenue. That location was also remodeled and 

the upstairs developed into apartments. Miss Mether 

has been active in civic and religious groups and is a 

past president of the Faribault Business and 

Professional Women's Club. 

KDHL Radio 

KDHL dates back to 1948 when it was established 

at 213 Central Avenue by Palmer Dragsten, John Hyde, 

and Herbert Lee. The three initials were chosen as the 

call letters of the new station. In 1957 Herbert Lee sold 

out to Dragsten and Hyde, and in 1973, Dragsten sold 

out to John Hyde. In 1968 KDHL increased its power 

from one kilowatt to five kilowatts to give five times 

the coverage. In 1969 the station moved from 213 

Central Avenue to 601 Central Avenue. Recently the 

station's power has greatly increased. The station 

covers a wide area of communities. 

Land O'Lakes 

The Faribault Land O'Lakes plant dates back to 

1948 when the local plant was built as a cheese factory. 

In 1953 it was converted to processing butter and dried 

milk products, and in 1970 it was purchased by Land 

O'Lakes from the Minnesota Milk Producers' 

Association. Since 1970 the butter and Grade A milk 

portions of the plant have been expanded. 

The Land O'Lakes milk processing plant at 

Faribault runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 

days a year, making butter and numerous varieties of 

dried milk products for distribution to grocery stores 

and other manufacturers throughout the country. 

Schreyer Motor Co. 

The Schreyer Motor Company has operated from 

the same location, 5 North Central Avenue, Faribault, 

since its establishment in 1937 by Mel Schreyer and 

Edna Saffert Schreyer. It has always been a Chrysler, 

Schreyer Motor Co. 

Plymouth, and GMC Truck dealer, and has been the 

site of a Texaco gas station for over 30 years. In 1973 

the son, Don Schreyer and his wife, Ger:tldine Strahl 

Schreyer, took over the management of the business. 

Dienst Music Shop 

The Dienst Music Shop, owned and operated by 

Walter E. Dienst and Ella Saufferer Dienst, purchased 

the stock of merchandise of The Music and Candy Store 

in the Arcade at 318 N. Central Avenue, Faribault on 

April 9, 1936, which had been owned and operated by 

Helen and Burdette Wendt, both now deceased. 

A complete line of sheet music both classical and 

popular was carried, also musical instruments, 

supplies and accessories were kept in stock. A repair 

and reconditioning department on musical 

instruments was maintained. Phonograph records of 

all popular and classical record companies were kept 

in stock. 

Lydia Darrah and Julia King lines of candy were 

sold for some years. 

In July 1936 the business was moved to 420 N. 

Central Avenue in the Building owned by John Snyder, 

where it was located until 1944, when the building was 

purchased by Ochs Bros. Co., now their Children's 

Department. 

Later the firm was located at 7 West Third St. in 

the Masonic Building where the business was 

continued until June 10, 1960, when Raymond Eastman 

took over the ownership, when the owners retired. 

The Diensts appreciated the business of the entire 

community. 

Burman Plumbing 

Gordon S. Burman founded his wholesale 

plumbing, heating, and air conditioning and well 

supply business in 1958 at 1330 Willow Street. 

123

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Modern TV 

Cannon Products 

The Modern TV Service was founded in November 

of 1954 at 209 NW 12th Street by Earl F. Pofahl and 

Norma Tuter Pofahl. It has remained in the television 

sales and repair business, but is now located at ll05 

Central Avenue. 

Hammer Publishing 

Hammer Publishing Service Inc. was organized at 

710 Central, Faribault, Minnesota in December 1949. It 

developed from a small business, operated by C. V. 

Hammer, assisted by his wife Margaret, and his son, 

Dean, to proportions requiring expansion. 

Accordingly, in order to provide the best possible 

service, an addition to the original establishment was 

built to include a Printing Plant. Six salesmen were 

employed to sell advertising, working through 

one-hundred-twenty-two Independent Telephone 

companies in the middle west. Nine office employees 

checked and compiled manuscript, and thirty-nine 

plant employees printed and assembled the books, 

which when completed were delivered to the telephone 

companies in cars or trucks. 

Hammer National Yellow Pages Inc., a subsidiary 

company, dealt with other Telephone Companies and 

Agencies also, in conjunction with servicing the 

one-hundred-twenty-two regular customers. 

Hammers' business was sold in 1962. Mr. and Mrs. 

Hammer retired, and began traveling, for several 

years, in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, various areas of 

The West Indies, and also in Canada. They now reside 


The Cannon Products, Inc. dates back to February 

1, 1963. The firm began in the old Williams Body Shop 

near the Northern States Power Company substation. 

The firm then produced only pool cues and production 

lasted only six months each year. For four years 

Cannon Products produced pool cues mainly for the 

Wyllis Company in Farmington. 

Then, in early 1967, fire struck the old body shop. It 

was destroyed, along with much of the equipment. 

Shop was temporarily set up in a hog house operated by 

Gary Nichols, son of the firm's president, Robert 

Nichols. The building that burned was insured for less 

than half its value, but Nichols, determined that his 

firm could make it, began arranging for construction 

of what is now the Cannon Products plant, a neat 

looking, 6,400 square foot building on four and a third 

acres of the old city dump, in northeast Faribault. 

The firm moved into the new building in June of 

1967. Added to the firm's products at that time was the 

"Featherlight" canoe paddle. 

Jensen Grocery 

V. Jensen purchased the grocery and meat 

business in 1949 from Otto Frenzel, who in turn had 

purchased it from Hilary Walsh. The location of the 

store is 1112 Second Ave. NW, Faribault. The business 

underwent extensive remodeling in 1963 when all new 

fixtures were installed and a new addition made the 

building twice as large. The business was sold in 1968 to 

Country Boy, and later sold by them to Paul Bunyan 

Stores. Now it is known a~ Red's Fairway Store. 

Folsom's 

Mercury Minnesota 

Civic enterprise and sports interest were 

combined, according to a July 19, 1957 Daily News 

article, at Faribault's Bell Field to give impressive 

recognition to this city's then newest industry, 

Minnesota Mercury. 

More than 1,450 baseball fans joined in the 

"welcoming tribute to the local firm." The firm is a 

subsidiary of Mercury Aircraft Corporation, with 

headquarters in Hammondsport, N.Y. Minnesota 

Governor Orville Freeman presented to company 

officials keys to the new plant which had been leased 

from the Faribault Industrial Corporation. 

"The new plant, located on Hulett Avenue, will be 

ready for production in August and the Mercury firm 

already has started its training classes. The Mercury 

firm manufactures prefabricated metal castings and 

will employ about 60 persons initially.'' 

Present general manager is Albert Herbert. 

Donald E. Folsom established his retail radio, 

television sales and service, at 413 Central Avenue in 

January of 1950. During the 1950's, the firm also had a 

limited manufacturing of TV antennas and 

accessories. In 1952 the firm was moved to 16 NW 4th 

Street in Faribault. In 1964 it was moved to its present 

location at 2205 West Fourth Street. 

The firm became a corporation in 1957 with Donald 

Folsom as president, John M. Moede, vice president 

and Marion Folsom, secretary-treasurer. The latter 

was succeeded by Carol B. Moede in 1971. 

Chandler Vault Co. 

Wesley Chandler and his wife, Lucy, of St. Paul, 

established the vault company in September of 1959, at 

the address Route 4, Box 2. Burial vaults are 

manufactured. 

124


Faribo Plaza showing the Tempo portion of the mall building. 

Faribo Plaza opened 

here in October, 1963 

Thirteen years ago, Faribault's business 

community was dramatically expanded. 

On October 17, 1963, with public dignitaries, 

merchandising leaders and shoppers in attendance, 

impressive dedication ceremonies were held in 

connection with the Grand Opening of the Faribo Plaza 

- the Upper Midwest's first closed-in Mall Shopping 

Center outside the Twin Cities. 

The 11-store Plaza, located at 111 S.W. Trunk 

Highway 65, on Faribault's west side, is within easy 

reach of noon-time shoppers as well as the evening 

family shopping from home. Over the years it also has 

been successful in attracting bargain-seeking shoppers 

from several area communities as well as those from 

outside the area. 

This city's popular Plaza came into existence after 

many months of intensive planning ~ Principals at the 

Dedication ceremonies in 1963 were: AI Bergerud, then 

president of Red Owl Stores, Inc., a St. Olaf College 

graduate and football, basketball and baseball 

letterman and a former Minnesota legislator, and 

Leslie F. Crews, chairman of the board and chief 

executive officer of the Western Land Co., a 

Minneapolis firm which has had great success in 

developing malls similar to Faribault's in Minnesota, 

Michigan, Illinois, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. 

General contractor was the Crawford-Merz Co., 

Minneapolis. 

The 200 feet long, 25 feet wide Plaza Mall - air 

conditioned throughout the year and protected from 

heat, cold and rain and snow - met with instant 

response from local and area shoppers and many 

shoppers take advantage of the comfortable benches to 

meet their friends and enjoy chatting. 

The Plaza has its own merchants association 

which, cooperatively, boosts projects and community 

development. Present president is Arlene Gabbert. 

Plaza stores which daily welcome and serve 

shoppers include: Hertsgaard's Ben Franklin; 

Faribault National Bank; Gabbert's Fabrics; Pako 

Filmshops; Rose's Flower Cart; Tempo Department 

Store; Red Owl Family Center-Snyder Drug; Plaza 

}3arbers; Plaza Beauty Salon, Dusek's Cake and 

Pastry Shop; Plaza Laundry. 

McQuay - 

major industry 

McQuay Inc., and its subsidiary, American 

Automatic Ice Machine Company, was founded in 1949. 

The firm manufactured portable air conditioning units 

and crystal tips ice making machines. 

·McQuay itself is a division of McQuay Perfex Inc., 

a manufacturer of heating and cooling equipment for 

business and industry. The local McQuay plant is one 

of 10 manufacturing facilities in the McQuay-Perfex 

Inc., operation, headquartered in Minneapolis. 

McQuay and Perfex were independent corporations 

until they merged in 1971. Perfex, which makes 

radiators, oil cooling coils and heating exchange 

equipment for industry and heavy vehicles, has six 

plants throughout the country. The McQuay division, 

which manufactures air conditioning, heating and 

ventilating, products, has four plants, including the one 

at Faribault. 

McQuay's Faribault history dates back to 1949 when 

the firm built a plant on the site of the present Crown 

Cork and Seal building. Coils and ice making machines 

were the major products manufactured by the 25 

employees at that time. In 1967 McQuay moved into its 

new plant on Hwy. 3 and the building has been 

expanded twice since then. 

125

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Faribo Manufacturing 

Eastman Music., 

In 1959, when Faribo Manufacturing started 

making plastic products, there were four employees. 

The company's first products were food trays and 

waste containers for airlines. These containers are still 

major products but the plant has expanded 

since 1959 into many other plastic lines. One of these 

lines is the plastic globes for outdoor lights, which 

stands today as the firm's main line. 

The plant's first addition came in 1963, when 

Faribo Manufacturing went into a new concept of 

molding. Another addition in 1966 brought a tool room 

and another large production machine. In 1969, when 

Anchor Hocking purchased the parent company, 

Faribo Manufacturing added a warehouse area. 

Star Tailors 

Star Tailors was originally established in 1950 at 

317 NW 1st Avenue in Faribault. It then, as now, 

specialized in alterations and custom suits. Previous 

owners have been: Mr. Cederberg, 1950-1952, Charles 

and Rose Kubista from 1952-1965, and the present 

owners, James and Norma Malterer since 1965. In 

June, 1967 the firm moved to its present site, 214 


Erickson Furniture 

Always dealing in furniture and carpeting, the 

Erickson Furniture was established in Faribault at 129 

Central Avenue in 1956. It was founded by Roger M. 

Erickson and L. Jean Erickson (Benson). The business 

has since moved to 30 NW 5th Street, a move made in 

1971. From 1965 until 1971 it was located at 417 NW 1st 

Ave. 

White Sands Pool 

A dream came true, when, on July 1, 1965, the 

White Sands Pool was opened. The pool is the size of 

two football fields and lies on the west side of 

Faribault. It is a glistening body of one and a half 

million gallons of crystal clear water. Surrounding the 

pool on three sides is an apron of pure white sand, ideal 

for sunbathing. On the fourth side is a grassy area. The 

pool, originally constructed by Martin Schroeder, was 

purchased after a successful fund raising project and 

is now operated by the City of Faribault Department of 

Community Services. 

Raymond F. and Mildred M. Eastman established 

their music business in 1960 at 9 NW 3rd Street in 

Faribault. In 1965 the fixtures and inventory were 

moved to 311 Central Ave. Then in 1972 the firm was 

incorporated and moved into its present location at 303 

Central A venue. The business was the victim of a 

burglary in 1970 when $7,500 worth of merchandise was 

recovered before the robbery could suc.cessfully be 

accomplished. 

Bob and Don's Auto 

The founders of Bob and Don's Auto Company 

when it started on October 1, 1959, were Donald and 

Elnor Thompson Reineke and Robert and Marlys Van 

Thomme. It was originally located at 1801 Grant Street 

but moved, in September of 1961, to 2001 Grant Street. 

A garage was built in 1962 and the show room for their 

Jeep sales and service in 1964. 

Control Data 

Established in Faribault in 1965, Control Data first 

occupied a building at 17 NE 3rd Street. A new facility 

was built and occupied in 1966 in the Faribault 

Industrial Park in north Faribault. Due to a sharp 

dropoff in computer orders, the business in Faribault 

was clos~d on April24, 1970. 

Fette Electronics 

Established as an electronic sales and service 

business in 1962 by Richard Fette, Fette Electronics' 

has since moved from its original location at 116 

Central Avenue to its present location at 205 Central 

Avenue. The original site had previously been occupied 

by Brodie Hardware. 

Faribault Pharmacies 

The successor to Coughlin Drugs, Poirier Drugs 

and the Paul Onkka-Lester Bursik partnership in the 

drug business was the Faribault Pharmacies, Inc. The 

firm became a corporation in 1965 and is now headed 

by Paul W. Onkka. It is also affiliated with the 

Faribault Medical Center Dispensary. 

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I 


' 7~---c. 

1 

First Federal Savings and Loan at Fourth 

Street and First Avenue NW was established 

in Faribault in March, 1966, as a branch of the 

First Federal Savings and Loan of Albert 

Lea. John P. (Rip) Farry is chairman of the 

board. Keith Miller, former manager of the 

Northfield branch, has been manager of the 

Faribault branch since 1973, succeeding Phil 

Winship, now manager of the Owatonna 

branch. 

Hour Glass Cleaners 

Located in the old State Bank building at 229 

Central Avenue, Faribault, is the Hour Glass Cleaners. 

This business was purchased in October, 1972 by the 

proprietors, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Matejka. 

George's Standard 

Located at Highway 65 and Bradley Road, George 

Noterman, Inc. was established in 1962. The 

incorporated business dates to 1968, before which it 

was a single ownership. 

County Veterinary 

Located at RR 5 on Western Avenue in Faribault is 

the Rice County Veterinary Clinic, first opened June 5, 

1972 by Dr. Jerry D. Olson and Patricia N. Schultz 

Olson. Their services deal with medical care and 

preventative care offered to pets and livestock. 

Ritter Beauty College 

Founded by George W. Ritter in 1967, the Ritter 

Beauty College is located at 306 Central Avenue, 


Credit Bureau 

The Credit Bureau of Faribault has been located at 

409 A Woolworth Building in Faribault since its 

establishment in the early Thirties. h was founded by 

Bernard Krueger and his wife, Frieda Prybl Krueger, 

as a service business in reporting credit and 

collections. The firm was incorporated in 1951 under 

the name Credit Bureau of Rice County. 

In 1964 Frieda Krueger sold her shares to Mrs. 

Lenore A. Erie and Robert L. Roemhildt. In 1969, the 

name was legally changed to Credit Bureau of 

Faribault, Inc. In March of 1970, Bernard Krueger sold 

his interest to Mrs. Lenore A. Erie and Robert L. 

Roemhildt. 

The Credit Bureau of Faribault is strictly a service 

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business, operating two separate departments. The 

Credit Reporting Division is operated and managed by 

Mrs. Lenore A. Erie. This department maintains files 

on individuals living in Rice and LeSueur counties. 

It gathers credit information from ledger 

experience and records this on individuals' files. This 

information is used to issue reports to members and 

other credit bureaus when requested for extending 

credit. The collection division, operated and 

managed by Mr. Robert Roemhildt, attempts to collect 

'delinquent accounts turned in by businesses who have 

been unsuccessful in collecting these debts. There are 

eight people employed by this organization. The 

officers are: Mrs. Lenore A. Erie, president and 

secretary, and Robert L. Roemhildt, vice president 

and treasurer. 

Barta Heating 

George J. and Margaret Ford Barta founded this 

heating and air conditioning company on August 1, 1969 

at 326 SW 3rd Avenue. In 1971 the firm moved to 1008 W. 

Division Street, the previous location of Roach's 

Grocery Store for over 20 years. 

Faribo Rental 

Formerly A to Z Rental, the Faribault Rental 

Equipment can be traced to September, 1970 at a 

location of 321 NW 8th Avenue. The firm then moved to 

119 Irving Avenue, and finally, to its present location of 

728 N. Lyndale. The firm was concerned with the rental 

of small tools and the sale of motorcycles. In 1971 the 

motorcycle sales were discontinued to allow more 

emphasis on rentals. The current proprietors are 

Herbert R. Booe and Richard W. Booe. 

Crown Cork and Seal 

The Faribault plant is one of 22 in the United States 

owned by Crown Cork and Seal, the third ranking can 

manufacturer in the nation, whose headquarters are in 

Philadelphia. 

The Faribault plant opened in 1969 after Crown 

purchased the property and building from McQuay, 

Inc. Since that time three additions have been matle, 

bringing plant square footage to 160,000. The local firm 

produces aerosol cans, regular cans, and bottle caps. 

Leo Tedamonson is the local plant manager. 

Labor unions form assembly 

Labor in Faribault and surrounding area consists 

of Local Unions, Building Trades Council and the 

Faribault Trades and Labor Assembly. 

The Faribault Trades and Labor Assembly was 

chartered in 1957. The charter delegates were: Fred 

Howie, Joe Rossez, Charles O'Conner, Francis 

Moreau, Gordon Shevlin, Paul Krupp, John Hanlon, 

Donald Berghoff, Nick Gretz, Jerry Burgess, Francis 

Molloy. 

The present Faribault Trades & Labor Assembly 

consists of 15 Local Unions covering Rice County with a 

total membership of 2,224. Delegates from these locals 

meet monthly. Objective is to promote unionism, 

political participation, and to take part in civic affairs. 

The present officers are as follows: S.C. Dornberg, 

president; Ed McCusker, vice president; Tom 

Kotnour, secretary-treasurer; Ray Flom, Miriam 

Drake and Dwight Hildebrandt, trustees. 

The affiliated locals and their charter dates are as 

follows: International Brotherhood of Electrical 

Workers (Const) No. 110, 1912; United Brotherhood of 

Carpenters & Jointers No. 1840, 1914 to 1929 and 

rechartered 1937; International Brotherhood 

Electrical Workers (NSP) No. 949, 1933; International 

Union of Operating Engineers No. 806, 1934 and merged 

with No. 34 of Minneapolis; Plasterers & Cement 

Masons No. 801, 1937; American Federation of State 

County & Municipal Employees No. 607, 1937; 

Faribault Fire Fighters Association No. 665, 1940; 

Sheet Metal Workers International Association 

(Production) No. 480, 1967; Sheet Metal Workers 

International Association (Construction) No. 76, 

Laborers International Union of North America No. 

154, Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher 

Workmen No. P-6, Communications Workers of 

America No. 7213, Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry 

of USA and Canada No. 556, Textile Workers Union, 

No. 1481, Faribault Federation of Teachers No. 1806, 

Charter dates are unknown for the last seven unions 

listed. 

Foreign student 

program backed 

A group of representative citizens interested in the 

furtherance of better American-European relations 

met in 1954 to decide to have a teenage student enrolled 

in regular classes in 1954-55 in the Faribault High 

School. The program is sponsored by the American · 

Field Service. 

Citizens who took part were Mrs. Lewis C. Beebe, 

Mrs. E. J. Engberg, Supt. C. W. Cross, Robert Cosgriff, 

Laurence Wendt, Herbert J. Cook, Palmer Dragsten, 

Robert Martin and L. E. Swanberg. 

The program is designed to promote better 

understanding between countries. Students from 

128


Europe who have been in the program say they now 

understand America, its customs, problems, and 

objectives more than they formerly did. The first 

student was Douglas Falk of Haisingborg, Sweden, 

sponsored by the American Legion Post and living with 

Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Purdie. 

Faribault planned mall 

back in 1960 

Major steps in a pedestrian mall for downtown 

Faribault were achieved when Gov. Karl Rolvaag in 

1963 signed officially into Ia w a bill enacted by the 

House and Senate of the Minnesota Legislature, 

authorizing the city of Faribault to designate certain 

streets in the central business district as a mall for 

pedestrian use on April25, 1963. 

Faribault is the first city in the state to have 

authority for the creation of a pedestrian mall, a 1963 

Daily News article stated. The next legal step will be 

adoption of a city ordinance by the city council. The 

mall would extend from Second St. N.W. to Fifth St. 

NW on Central Avenue. Lucius Smith, Faribault 

attorney was active in formulating the mall project 

and winning enactment of the bill. Senator A. 0. 

Sundet, Faribault and Rep. Robert Kucera co-authored 

the bill. Present at the signing in addition to the above 

were: D. W. Kaufman, Vince Pluemer, Charles Cook, 

Vern Haase, Ellard Pexa, Tom Taylor and William 

Pepper. 

The Faribault Mall idea began in 1960 when the 

firm of Nason, Law, Wehrman, and Knight of 

Minneapolis were hired to conduct a survey of 

Faribault's Downtown district which would offer a 

solution for commercial expansion and traffic parking. 

August, 1963: Faribault downtown Business 

Council reports that approximately 73 per cent of the 

lineal footage for the mall area has been given signed 

approval. Five mer:nbers of the city council went to 

Pamona, Calif., to inspect their nine block mall. Their 

mall greatly impressed our council members. Plans 

are to incorporate some of its features in the proposed 

mall for Faribault. 

Mall Proposed 

A survey concluded by the firm of Nason, Law, 

Wehrman and Knight on Aug. 17, 1963 proposed a 

pedestrian mall from Second Street to Fifth Street on 

Central Avenue; a traffic belt around the Central 

business district and increased auto parking facilities. 

Immediate action was hoped for. The cost of this mall 

was suggested to be provided by the combined effort of 

building owners. 

City officials visited the mall of Atchison, Kan. , 

where they found civic leaders proud of their project. 

At a Chamber of Commerce meeting in September 1963 

a resolution was passed, with no dissenting votes, 

authorizing the Chamber of Commerce Board of 

Directors to take the leadership in promoting the mall 

project so that it can be carried out to completion. 

Studies have been made of the Kalamazoo, Michigan, 

and Grand Junction, Colo. malls. 

One of the largest ''town discussion meetings'' was 

held on Feb. 25, 1964 at the Faribault Junior High 

School, when 1150 people gathered to hear the reading 

of the city ordinance A328 to provide for the 

establishment of a Downtown Mall on Central A venue 

from Second to Fifth Street NW. 

A meeting that lasted for four hours included 

speeches by the opposition, which included members of 

the Faribault . Taxpayers Association, and the 

proponents. Following this was a lively question and 

answer period. Opposition speakers included Urban J. 

Steimann, C. J. Bud Hendrickson, John Hyde, and 

Martin Schroeder. Proponent speakers were: D. E. 

Kaufman, Lucius A. Smith, Clarence Lokken, Ed 

Peterson, James McRaith, Les Bursik, Dennis 

Grebner and Frank Duncan. Following this meeting, 

Faribault's "mall project" gradually faded away. In 

recent months, versions of the mall plan have been 

revived. 

Early day and present 

insurance agents noted 

By RALPH MERRILL 

My first knowledge of insurance in any form was 

hearing my folks talk about it. In the early days when 

anyone mentioned insurance it generally referred to 

fire insurance. 

There was very little life insurance at the turn of 

the century and what little there was, like the fire 

insurance, was the fraternal type. Most of it was 

written by clubs or lodges. Most of them had regular 

dues payable monthly but many were of the 

assessment type. By that, I mean, whenever a member 

of the lodge or club suffered a loss that was to be paid 

by the association, the loss was divided between all the 

members and an effort was made to collect the money. 

I say "an effort was made to collect the money" 

because that, in most cases, was what it amounted to. 

If everybody didn't pay up then the claim was paid only 

in proportion to the amount collected and the members 

that failed to pay were dropped from the membership. 

However, that method didn't help the party that 

thought he was insured and it was no punishment to the 

fellow that failed to live up to his part of the contract. I 

remember that when I was young each year the folks 

would get a notice of assessment for their share of the 

losses for the past year. This type of insurance, 

whether life or fire, was so unsatisfactory that there 

became a clamor for a more reliable plan. 

Now in the big cities and business centers of the 

east they already had the Old Line companies for both 

fire and life protection. In fact, there is a record that 

George Washington had a policy for a small amount 

with the Philadelphia Fire Insurance Co. The "Old 

Line companies," as they were always referred to, 

tried to run their business on a sound basis and always 

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'{5en ~§Vow 

set their annual premiums sufficiently high to be sure 

they had the money on hand at all times. 

This money was invested in safe securities and 

earned interest which cut down the size of the 

premiums or could be left as interest with the company 

in order that in later life the insured would not have to 

pay any more premiums. This arrangement was 

mostly with Life Companies. These few comments will 

give you an idea of insurance of all kinds in the early 

days of the country. 

Peter Ruge Was Pioneer 

Now I will try and give a bit of more personal 

history of the insurance business as it grew and 

developed and name the early pioneers of this business 

which has grown to be one of the biggest and safest 

businesses in the United States. The first man I can 

remember who advertised the insurance business was 

also the first mayor of Faribault that I can remember. 

His name was Peter Ruge. He had come here from 

Germany long before my time of remembering 

anything. He was followed by a Mr. Carufel. Both these 

men wrote all kinds of insurance and so far as I can 

remember, never failed to meet the obligations of their 

policy. 

The business grew rapidly after 1900 and the city 

had many honest men representing reliable, 

trustworthy companies. For fear of not doing justice to 

some good man or company I will refrain from 

mentioning the names of any of the companies. I can, 

however, mention the names of those early men who 

devoted their lives and efforts to helping their 

fellowmen in the hour of their greatest need by being 

properly insured. 

Many of the men and women in the early days were 

what present day insurance people refer to as ''part 

time agents" that meant that they had another 

business that they really worked at and the insurance 

business was of that nature, "part time." 

The earliest people that could really be called full 

time insurance people were such men as John Kasper, 

onetime postmaster of Faribault and a highly 

respected insurance man. Then, as I remember, we 

had John Foster. He combined his insurance business 

with real estate business. In fact, that type of 

combination was considered full time for both 

businesses. Foster wrote a general business, life and 

casuaity. By casualty insurance we mean every type of 

coverage not necessarily meaning the loss of life, but in 

many cases did protect against the loss of human life. 

Following John Foster was Wm. (Bill) Ruge, the 

son of Peter Ruge referred to earlier. Bill later took in 

his nephew, Ruge Fleckenstein. It would be impossible 

to name all the insurance men and women who soon 

built good businesses and were all reliable. In the early 

days a lot of insurance was written by our banks and 

some of our early attorneys also wrote insurance. 

John Grant Early Agent 

The first contact I had with a full time insurance 

man was in about 1912. John Grant called on me when I 

was employed at the State Hospital in the engine room. 

After World War I, George Redman associated with 

John and they carried on for many years. 

I will now try and name other insurance people 

who came into the business with the passing of time. 

Most of the big life companies have a man or woman 

who gives his full time to their line entirely. We always, 

as long as I can remember, had men representing the 

Prudential and Metropolitan companies. Some of the 

others, a few of whom are still active in the business 

were: Paul Mueller, now deceased; Craig Calkins, I 

took over his agency; Kenneth Agerter, who gave up 

his agency and went to Shattuck to teach. Then there is 

"Bill" Ebel, who has been here a long time and enjoys 

a good business. 

As I write this I realize it will be impossible to 

name all the agencies in Faribault so will not try, only 

to say we have many good companies represented h~re 

in Faribault. I will name a couple of the older agencies 

-Walt Huber, general insurance; Francis Lockwood; 

The Ostrom Agency which was established at the close 

of WW II, general agents. I took over Craig Calkins 

agency in 1934, but have not been active for the past 10 

years. Dean Cates took over my agency which was the 

New York Life. 

I might add that there has been a healthy increase 

in fraternal insurance in the past 10 or 15 years. I 

understand they all write on what is known as "The Old 

Line Basis." These companies .serve a large group of 

people through their various churches. 

Insurance Agents 

Following is a list of insurance agents who are 

active in Rice County in 1976 and who have been 

actively engaged in the business for a period of five or 

10 years. The list may not be complete due to lac~ of 

information or membership in the respective 

associations. 

Life and Health- William J. James, Marshall F. 

Kreger, Don Stepan, William F. Ebel, Dean P. Cates, 

Rex M. Germond, James R. Herreid, Lawrence D. 

Christie, Donald Wolter, David E. Budahl, Francis J. 

Lockwood, Luverne J. Malecha, George Wickstrom 

Jr., James R. Christensen, Ronald A. Duncan, George 

0. Farmer, Thomas E. Jandro, Loren J. Lee, Gene F. 

O'Brien, David A. Risser, Sidney W. Sorbo. 

General -James W. Burns, Leon Warnemunde, 

Maurice W. Vandeputte, W. T. Nelson, Stuart 

Thibodeau, Ray Budenske, Ralph Palmer, Jerry R. 

Nelson, Francis Horejsi, Gerald Cornell, F. A. 

Schrader, John Heine, Walter Huber, Bill R. Ostrom, 

Richard P. Ostrom, Don Quinnell, Elden C. Quinnell, 

Gene Severson, Terry L. Kielmeyer. 

Commercial Hotel once 

was social center here 

Wrecking of one of Faribault's "early day" 

pretentious buildings, the old Commercial Hotel on 

Third Street NW near First A venue, in September 1973 

brought back nostalgic memories to many oldtimers 

130

Commercial Hotel on NW Third Street was a 

business and social center for local residents 

and visitors back in the 1880s. In the 1970s the 

building was razed and is now the site of the 

new Rice County Law Enforcement center. 

who recall the days, in the 1880s, when the three story 

structure was a business and social center. 

Site of the historic building is now occupied by the 

new Rice County-City of Faribault Public Service 

Center and Law Enforcement Center. The property, as 

well as adjacent property to the north, had previously 

been purchased by the Rice County Board of 

Commissioners for the new Public Service Center 

opened earlier this year. 

The property involved has historic implications. 

The abstract shows that on Feb. 16, 1855, Alexander 

Faribault, Porter Nutting and Frederick B. Sibley 

officially were empowered to negotiate, bargain, sell 

and convey by deed or otherwise all of the real estate 

or lots in the town of Faribault in the County of Rice 

and the Territory or Minnesota. 

Later the property came under the control of the 

Faribault Mutual Loan and Building Association. On 

Oct. 6, 1884, Francis Crieman and his wife, Louise, 

received a mortgage deed from the association for the 

following property: Lot 8, Block 44 of the City of 

Faribault and part of Lot 9 of Block 44. The mortgage 

was satisfied July 19, 1893, with payment to the 

Faribault Mutual_Loan and Building Association. 

Another abstract entry shows that, following her 

husband's death, the property was sold by Louise Alice 

Crieman to Daniel J. Leary and Nellie Leary on July 

19, 1909. 

The abstract further shows that on Sept. 14, 1910, 

the Learys sold the Commercial Hotel property to 

William C. Mentz and Stella Mentz, who operated the 

hotel for more than 30 years. 

Following Mr. Mentz's death, his son and 

daughter-in-law, the late Edgar Mentz and Stella 

Schularecki Mentz, took over management of the hotel 

which had 20 transient rooms and 20 three and four 

room apartments, on April 2, 1942. They operated the 

hotel until the property was sold to the county. Edgar 

Mentz, who also served as Faribault Legion Post 43 

Adjutant and Rice County Service Officer, was 

associated with the hotel for 51 years. 

At the time it was erected, 94 years ago, the 

Commercial Hotel was one of Faribault's most 

imposing buildings. Adjacent to the large lobby was a 

pool table room which attracted good patronage. The 

hotel also was the center of many early day social 

activities. 

Hotels plentiful 

in city's earlier days 

The first hostelry, known as the Hotel Faribault, 

was owned by E.J. Crump, early settler, in 1855. Later 

it was sold to Thomas McDermott. In October, 1884, the 

hotel, located at Fourth and Maple Streets, was sold to 

P. H. Martin of Shieldsville, according to official 

131

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records, for $3,500. 

The modern day Hotel Fariibault, located at Fifth 

and Central Ave. NW, was built in 1929 with Thomas 

Harvey, former Breckenridge railroad man, as the 

owner. Steinberg Construction Co., St.. Paul, was the 

general contractor, and the plumbing and heating 

contractor was P. J. Gallagher and Sons, Faribault. 

The hotel was acquired by the Gallagher firm in 1931. 

Walter Brucher, later postmaster, was the first 

manager; a Mr. Scott followed him. Also managers 

were Harvey Smith from the Roberts Hotel Chain and 

Louis J. Wilt of Lamberton. In recent years, the hotel 

has been owned by Thomas Gallagher, Minneapolis, 

with Eva Clarine Gallagher serving as manager. In 

June, 1976, Gallagher sold the hotel to Attorney 

Thomas Dillon, Faribault. 

The hotel besides having 76 rooms and a 

manager's apartment originally had six bowling 

alleys, a billiard room, barber shop, cocktail lounge 

and two restaurants. In recent years several rooms 

have been converted into apartments. The US Army, 

US Navy and US Marine Corps have maintained 

recruiting offices in the hotel. 

During the nearly 50 years of its existence, many 

notable persons have been guests. Former Minnesota 

Governor Floyd B. Olson spoke at a Junior Chamber of 

Commerce banquet in the hotel and movie star Ingrid 

Bergman was a hotel guest during World War II when 

she appeared in Faribault to sell US War Bonds. 

Barron House Preceded Brunswick 

The Brunswick Hotel, 111 Central Ave., now owned 

and operated by Thomas Mahoney, is the fourth hotel 

constructed and operated on the same site. The present 

building, which for many years served as Faribault's 

bus station, contains several apartments. 

The first hotel on the site was known as the Barron 

House. Operation of the hotel was taken over in 1861 by 

Mr. White, Northfield; improvements to building and 

changes in service were made. In 1878 H. E. Barron 

leased the hotel to Albert Roper, St. Paul. On March 22, 

1882, the Barron House burned to the ground. 

On April5, 1882, it was announced that the Barron 

House was to be rebuilt at an approximate cost of 

$30,000 by Messrs Pratt, Cole and Wheeler. New hotel 

to be known as Brunswick House. The grand opening of 

the new hotel, described as "very lavish," was held on 

May 2, 1883. The hotel changed ownership several 

times, was popularly patronized by tourists, 

convention guests and excursion groups. R. P. Dorgan 

bought the hotel in March 1913 and on April 19, 1918, 

George M. Murray replaced W. H. Owens as manager. 

The Murray family operated the Brunswick Hotel for 

many years. 

Operation of the Sherman House, Fifth and Main, 

began July 15, 1871. On Jan. 8,. 1873 the hotel was 

reopened by D. P. Smith under the name of the 

Arlington House. The hotel continued operation for 

several years under many different owners. The A. W. 

Mentz family operated the downtown hotel for many 

years. 

The American House on Four th Street was sold in 

February 1884 by S. H. Jay to James Haggerty for 

$3,000. Other early day hotels in Far ibault, owner and 

date of opening included: City Hotel, Andrew Knudson, 

June 1, 1870; Central House, West side of Elm and 

Fourth, 1884; Eagle House, George H. Kennerson, Dec. 

7, 1881; European Hotel, near R.I. R.R. station, F. S. 

Bryant, Nov. 13, 1878; Evans House on Second St., 

formerly Ogden House, R.M. Evans, April 9, 1884;_ 

Faribault House J. B. Cooper, May 28, 1857, name later 

changed to Pavilion Hotel. 

Hotel Names Changed 

Gorman Hotel, Faribault - building became 

warehouse for pump and windmill business of P. J. 

Moran, Dec. 12, 1900; Jordan Hotel, name of Arlington 

Hotel changed to Hotel Jordan, Jan. 30, 1889, J. F. 

Jordan, later changed back to Arlington; Le Sueur 

House, destroyed by fire July 18, 1888; Park Hotel, 

formerly LeSueur House, leased by W. G. Elliott, July 

12, 1905; National Hotel, formerly called "Temperance 

House," Dec. 3, 1857, Mr. Gifford, landlord; reopened 

by Joseph Reichert, July 8, 1874; New England House, 

Faribault, sold by O.R. Ingram to Isaac Hamlin of 

Prairieville March 24, 1875; North Star Hotel, 

purchased and reopened by G. W. Kelderhouse March 

26, 1873; Northwestern Hotel, John Gorman leased 

hotel to Thomas Purcell of Kilkenny, Dec. 30, 1882; 

building built by E. J. Crump in 1856; Norsk Hotel, 

Fourth, between Chestnut and Elm, October 1884. 

Ogden House, R. M. Evans opened an addition to 

the Ogden House, formerly owned by J. D. Shipley, 

April27, 1881; St. Paul House, Main Street, owned by J. 

H. Stehley, Sept. 9, 1922; Scandinavian Hotel, Messrs 

Cavanaugh, Smith and Frink purchase Scandinavian 

Hotel of Mr. Knudson March 22, 1882; Superior Hotel, 

sold to E.W. Vevea May9, 1900; Union Hotel, sold by F. 

Dittes to O.R. Ingram, name changed to Ingram 

House, April15, 1856; U.S. Hotel, Faribault, located on 

Main and Willow Streets near W. L. Turner's flour mill, 

March 24, 1875; Jacob Stehley took over lease of 

Bernard Schmidt May 7, 1883. 

Faribault's first hotel 

was termed 'primitive' 

Faribault's first hotel, the Nutting House, located 

at the northeast intersection of Central A venue and 

Third Street NW, on a site now occupied by the 

Gallagher building and housing the Sherwin-Williams 

Paint Store, opened on May 8, 1855, was operated by 

Truman Nutting, one of this community's earliest 

settlers. 

An interesting paper, read at the annual meeting of 

the Rice County Historical Society by Einar 0. 

Hammer , then city editor of the Faribault Daily News, 

held at the Congregational Parish House, a description 

of the hotel provided by papers written by Elijah 

Graves Nutting, son of Truman, Walter Nutting, 

grandson and Miss Stella Cole, writer of a special 

sketch, was given. Excerpts from the papers include: 

132


) 

The lobby of Faribault's Commercial Hotel is pictured with proprietor Mentz and others 

"The Nutting House, the Hotel De Bush as we 

derisively called it, was the first of many in Faribault. 

It may be called a frame house by courtesy, rather 

than technically, as it was made by placing boards 

vertically side by side, battened together by a third 

board. On the first floor were the family apartments, 

separated from the dining room and the "office" by 

partitions of cotton cloth hung on wires. The office, 10 

feet by 12, boasted an improvised desk, a stool and a 

candle. 

"The second floor was called the 'school section,' a 

large apartment filled with bedsteads rudely made of 

boards and supporting straw, hay or coarse grass 

ticks. Here the fortunate early bird took his rest, fully 

-clothed even to his boots, protected from the snow 

which blustered in at the unglazed windows, by his 

horse blankets. Late comers took possession of the 

straw ticks on the floor and made no complaints the 

next morning when, after a breakfast of salt pork, 

black tea with brown sugar and butter so strong that it 

could seldom be eaten, they were presented with a bill 

of$2. 

Bridal Chamber 

"In one comer of this 'school section' was a tiny 

enclosure screened with a cotton cloth partition, 

containing a bed and two soap boxes, one for a dressing 

table and the other for a chair. This was called the 

'bridal chamber' and was to be had, at a suitable price, 

by those seeking greater privacy. We had bread and 

pork for breakfast, pork and bread for dinner and some 

of both for supper. 

''A large sheet iron stove downstairs was kept 

red-hot in the winter · and a man was employed to 

prevent people coming in from the icy out-of-doors, 

from rushing too near to its heat and thus suddenly 

thawing out their frozen ears, cheeks or noses." 

Such was the picture which Faribault's first hotel 

presented to the boy that spent at least three years of 

his youth within its walls and who often recalled other 

incidents which took place there. 

Truman Nutting, Faribault's first landlord, came 

from Old South Amherst, Mass. With his family he 

began moving west early in the 50s, stopping for a year 

at Olean, N.Y., before going to St. Anthony Falls, 

Minnesota Territory, where they arrived in 1854. 

During the first months there, Mrs. Nutting died. 

At St. Anthony Falls, Mrs. Harry C. Nutting was 

living when they arrived. Her husband, Freeman 

Nutting, a brother of Truman Nutting, had died Dec. 7, 

1853, at St. Anthony Falls. On Dec. 25, 1854, she 

married her husband's brother and they moved to 

Faribault early the next spring, 1854. Elijah G. 

Nutting, one of the sons of Truman Nutting, was the 

father of Walter M. Nutting. 

Registry Names Listed 

They came to Faribault from the East and had to 

ford the river, which is those days was quite a 

respectable stream. The men made their way across 

133

~en ~§Vow 

with the horses as best they could, while Mrs. Nutting 

and the children were ferried across in a dugout canoe 

operated by Charles Wood, the grandfather of Mayor 

C. W. Turner, on his mother's side. The name of 

Charles Wood afterwards appears once or twice in the 

register of the Nutting Hotel. 

Mr. Hammer, in his paper, referred frequently to 

the original Nutting Hotel register which also served as 

an account book, in which day by day receipts and 

expenditures were recorded. The last entries, to put 

the cart before the horse, are made Thursday, Sept. 30, 

1856. The last registration is worthy of note. It reads: 

"F. W. Frink commenced boarding without lodging." 

Mr. Frink, it is recalled, was the father of E. L. Frink 

of Faribault. He was the first historian of Rice County 

and the publisher of the first newspaper issued within 

its limits, the "Rice County Herald." 

Among the first names on the hotel register were: 

General James Shields, 75 cents for drawing one load 

from the mill; C. G. Howe, husband of Emily Nutting; 

Dr. M. M. Bemis, J. Whipple, Berry and Batchelder, C. 

C. and 0. F. Perkins, Dr. Lewis Bemis, Alexander 

Faribault, Preston H. Carver, founder of Prairieville 

and father of Clarence and George Carver; C. G. Roth, 

S. F. Case, F. S. Judd, Thomas Rogers, F. S. Harris, S. 

K. Willis, Doc Jewett, Charles Jewett, Nathan 

Whitney, Franklin Kelly, F. S. McCulloch, John Willis, 

J. N. Treadwell, J. W. North (founder of Northfield), 0. 

Frink, A. Winders, Levi Nutting, J. G. Hatfield and N. 

Hatfield. 

134

I 

Chapter V 

Faribault people 

and their way of life 

I 

I 

I 

Opera House for years 

was cultural center 

In the fall of 1892 plans were inaugurated for the 

construction of a building to be used as an Opera 

House. A committee was organized. After selecting a 

site, now occupied by the Paradise Theater, 

excavation began in May, 1893. L. Cromer was 

contracted for the masonry work and W. N. Cosgrove 

to supervise the carpenters. Bricks for the walls were 

obtained from Menominee, Wisconsin, and Chaska. 

After completion in early 1894 a grand ball was 

given to raise funds for the furnishings. 

Charles E. White was selected as the first 

manager. Formal opening was held March 14, 1894, 

with the presentation of the comedy "Gloriana," seats 

selling from $1.00 to $2.50. An orchestra had been 

organized with GeorgeS. Whitney as director. 

The ground floor was leased for use as stores and 

offices. Total cost of the building was approximately 

$40,000.00. 

In November of 1895, the Faribault Opera House 

Orchestra, composed of 13 members, gave a benefit 

ball to raise money to buy new instruments. In the · 

winter of 1896 a fire in the basement, caused 

considerable damage. 

One of the early performances at the newly opened 

Opera House was "The Bohemian Girl," in May, 1894. 

The gross proceeds for the three performances were 

$833.00. In the fall of the same year a Shakespearean 

Recital was given and early in 1895 the Gilbert and 

Sullivan opera "The Mikado" was presented. 

Companies which made several appearances at 

the Opera House were: Andrews Grand Opera 

Company, Schuman Grand Concert Company and 

William Whiteside Company, the latter presenting 

several of Shakespeare's plays. 

Governor Speaks Here 

Lecturers were also included in the programs over 

-the years, two being Robert S. Ingersoll in 1895 and 

John A. Johnson, Governor of Minnesota, in 1908. 

Alfred Dickens, son of Charles Dickens, the famous 

English author , gave a lecture on December 6, 1911. 

The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestr a made several 

appearances at the Opera House in the early 1900's. 

Local talent presented plays, minstrel shows, and 

135 

musicals on many occasions. Stereoptican lectures 

were also favorite attractions. 

In 1899, Jack Hoeffler of Mankato leased the Opera 

House for three years. By 1899 financial difficulties had 

beset the Board of Directors. At a meeting of the 

stockholders in early 1900, a new company was 

organized, with a capital stock of $30,000. D. D. Ward 

and J. T. Arthur became co-managers in November, 

1900. Later, in 1906, management was placed in the 

hands of an incorporated firm, the Arthur Dilley 

circuit. 

A moving picture machine was installed in 

January, 1908 by L. H. Dibble who was appointed 

manager. Prices of admission were 15 and 25 cents. 

Three years later a talking moving picture machine 

was acquired and the name was changed to the 

Faribault Theater and the building was used as a 

Grand Theatre fire) late 1920s

{ffen &? 8'/ow 

Actors in the home talent play "Colleen 

Baum" in 1914 included Ralph Merrill as 

"Kyrile Daily" and Peter Donkers as leading 

man, "Hardress Creagen". Actor at far right 

is not identified. 

actors and actresses, singers, Bands, and even 

magicians who appeared here, but no Ballet groups. 

Perhaps it was because the town was small and the 

Ballet was appearing in just the large cities at that 

time." 

Dancing in Faribault started with Ballroom, or 

Social Dancing, as it was called in those days, and it 

was a most personable and vivacious lady, Mrs. 

Charles Watson Newhall, wife of the Headmaster at 

Shattuck School, who opened the first classes in 

Ballroom dancing. 

It was around the year of 1910, and the classes were 

held in one of the buildings on the Shattuck campus. 

There was a course of 12lessons with approximately 12 

boys and 12 girls in the class. The end of the course was 

a festive affair called "The Germans," to which the 

parents were invited. 

In later years, Mrs. Newhall presented programs 

at each Episcopal bazaar, and she used home talent for 

these programs. The dances were of a classical nature 

moving picture house. William J. Glaser assumed 

management in February of 1912 and in 1915 the 

building was renamed the Grand Theater. 

Two Theaters acquired 

The Sun, a popular theater during the 1920's and . 

1930's, was acquired by Glaser and operated by him 

until it was closed on July 31, 1935. 

On a cold night in the winter of 1927, the Grand 

Theater was completely destroyed by fire. The 

following year it was rebuilt and for a time was called 

the Paramount, later the name being changed to the 

Paradise. An attempted robbery in the late 1930's 

caused damage to the safe but no money was obtained. 

In 1946, Glaser purchased and completely 

remodeled property on Secopd Street Northwest and 

built a second theater, called "The Village." A grand 

opening was held December 6 with the theater being 

considered the finest in southern Minnesota. 

The two theaters were acquired by Dick 

Feichtinger in 1956, with extensive remodeling being 

done to the Paradise in 1965 and to the Village in 1971. 

These theaters continue under his operation today. 

Dancing in many 

forms encouraged 

"I can recall some of the professional programs 

that were presented on the stage of the old Faribault 

Opera House which was located on Central Avenue 

where the Paradise Theatre now stands," recalls Mrs. 

Ray (Mildred) Lieb. "There were some well-known 

Raymond Endres, former city assessor and 

secretary of Faribault Elks Lodge, as he 

looked as one of the actors in a 1915 St. 

Patrick's Play. 

136


J 

Don't think for a moment that Faribault, back 

64 years ago, didn't have diversified talent 

and those who possessed it weren't eager to 

display it. A cast of more than 50 persons, 

back in 1912 at the Faribault Opera House, 

presented a smashing, well-received home 

town production "Whirl of the Town". The 

picture above is from the prized collection of 

the late Frank Snell of Buffalo, formerly of 

and the routines were original. They were presented on 

the stage of the Guild House. 

When the Opera House was converted into the 

Grand Theatre by owner-manager William Glaser, 

Mrs. Newhall was often asked to stage home talent 

musicals which consisted of songs, Folk dances and 

Classical dances. These programs were so popular that 

there were few vacant steats at the performances. 

Dance Themes Used 

It was in 1915 that a girl's Physical Education 

teacher, Miss Evelyn Oster, carried out dance themes 

in her programs in the gymnasium of what is now 

the Junior High School. She used Elementary School 

children for Folk Dancing and High School girls for 

Mazurkas and Classical dancing. 

And, then, came the big event of the year, the 

Peony Festival. It took place in -June, and, again, Mrs. 

Newhall was the director. I remember that in order to 

make it as economical as possible the costumes were 

made of crepe paper, and, believe it or not, they were 

very effective. 

In 1924, approximately, Rosalie Lyga Lemke, a 

sister of Mrs. Charles MacKenzie, Jr. was the Physical 

Faribault, who for many years was 

Faribault's unofficial but admired historian. 

Included in the cast were the town's leading 

citizens. Also participating in the successful 

production were members of the 

Fleckenstein-Steppan orchestra, who 

appeared as the "Fuzz Town Band" in action. 

The picture belonged to Joe Steppan, one of 

the musicians. How many can you identify? 

Education teacher at Saint Mary's Hall, and it was she 

who started the first dancing classes for girls. It was 

Interpretive Dancing and the classes were held at 

Saint Mary's Hall. 

It was in 1928 that Lillian Wass was the instructor 

at Bethlehem Academy, and she staged dances and 

precision numbers using the pupils of the school. It 

was also in that year that Carol Cotton came to 

Faribault- as the Girl's Physical Education Director 

for the Faribault School System, and she opened 

classes for children which were held in the Masonic 

Hall. At the end of each season, she would have a 

recital which was costumed. 

When Miss Cotton left to teach in New York, Mrs. 

Lieb came to town and opened a studio. The first 

classes were held in Ochs Hall which was above Ochs 

Store. The classes were composed of children from the 

ages of four and up, and the fundamentals of Ballet 

were taught along with some tap dancing which was 

just starting to make its-appearance. Soon, that type of 

dancing began to sweep the country and there was 

~ great demand for it. Adeline Fleckenstein Conlan 

taught tap dancing at the State School when she was 

137

~en ~8'/ow 

the Physical Education instructor there, and she had a 

group of tap dancers whose line work was so 

outstanding that it was almost professional. 

Ballet Interest Grows 

Slowly, the interest in Ballet began to develop 

among the children who were taking lessons and, as 

they practiced and learned the fascinating technique of 

ballet, their mothers became interested and wanted 

them to continue until we were eventually able to carry 

it to a fairly advanced degree. 

Recitals were held at the end of each season which 

were presented on the stage of the Junior High School. 

They were made as theatrical as possible with colored 

lights and beautiful costumes. 

Jan Workman Windt continued with the dancing 

lessons at the Recreation Center when Mrs. Lieb 

retired, and she was followed by Jan Bursik St. Ores 

who is teaching there at the present time. 

In the Faribault High Schools today, Square 

Dancing and Social Dancing are taught with Folk 

Dancing being taught in the Elementary Schools. 

The city has a very active Square Dancing club 

and the members also dance in other towns. The 

traditional Square Dancing costumes are worn. 

The professional Dance Groups that the Civic 

Music Association bring to Faribault help to contribute 

to the appreciation and enjoyment of the Dance as an 

art. 

"In summarizing, I would say that Faribault is a 

city with an interest in Dancing as an Art so that it 

holds a definite place in the artistic atmosphere of this 

community," Mrs. Lieb commented. 

Music group boosted 

choirs and orchestras 

A new Faribault music group - the Faribault 

Choral Club -dedicated to the purpose of providing 

local residents with good music, and at the same time 

enriching talents of the individual members, presented 

its .first concert May 15, 1934. 

Mrs. Florence Poling Deters of Mankato was the 

director. Members of the group included: Mr. and Mrs. 

Lyle ~iller, Dr. and Mrs. E.E. Luhring, Mr. and 

Mrs. C.C. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Cross, Mr. and 

Mrs. Lester Nichols, Mrs. Stowell Leach, Mrs. Jessie 

Gaard, Mrs. L.M. Ellingson, Mrs. AI Hanson, the 

Misses Alice Medhus, Ruth Racine, Esther Packard, 

Dorothy Van Buren and the Messrs Karl Reinke, Harry 

VonSeggern and Ralph Kling. 

In the months following World War I, the Musical 

Arts Society was organized in Faribault, Mrs. Inez 

Sweet recalls. 

Anyone who could play an instrument or give 

readings, could become a member. The Musical Arts 

Society flourished for some time. 

Then, a member of the Society and also a very 

good violinist thought an orchestra would be a good 

thing to have.This man was Roy Graves and he set to 

work making an orchestra from the material at hand. 

He was so successful that other eligible people wanted 

to join the orchestra, and it wasn't long until the 

orchestra had doubled in size. It went by the name of 

Musical Arts Society as long as it existed but it 

diminished and finally disbanded. 

The orchestra had grown to around 30 or 35 

members and they wanted a name of its own. They 

decided on "Faribault Little Symphony" and it was 

known by that name from then on. 

Soon, it was realized, money was needed for music 

and incidentals, so it was decided to give a concert. 

That proved so successful that during the following 

years several concerts were given and the orchestra 

played for many events. Also the orchestra was invited 

to help out twice at Kenyon and once at Morristown. 

During this time, Roy Graves remained the 

director and manager of the orchestra and the music 

played was mainly from operas, semi-classical and 

popular. 

However, in the early 1900s, because of many 

reasons, the orchestra was forced to break up. Ill 

health was one reason and another was that some of 

the younger members moved out of town. 

So that was the regretted end of Faribault's "Little 

Symphony" and now it is almost forgotten, but 

nostalgia among the oldtimers lingers. 

Faribault Band 

is famed for concerts 

The band as a concert organization reached its 

height in the latter part of the nineteenth and the first 

part of the twentieth centuries. The development of 

modern band instrument technology inspired great 

conductors like Gilmore, Pryor, Sousa and others to 

organize superb touring bands. Professional, 

semi-professional and amateur bands flourished in 

most cities and towns across the country. 

About the time of World War I many state 

legislatures, Minnesota's among them, ·passed "band 

laws" authorizing municipalities to levy a small tax, 

generally one mill, to pay for musical entertainment to 

be provided by the park, or town, band. 

The city of Faribault levied such a tax and used the 

money to contract with the Faribault Municipal Band 

Association to play summer concerts in the park, 

recalls Oskar Teisberg, former municipal band 

director. The Municipal Band Association used 

the money in turn to hire a director; pay players' 

expenses; and buy music, uniforms and an occasional 

instrument. The band manager was also allotted an 

annual fee, but most managers preferred to consider 

the band management as a community service and 

declined payment. 

In the Twenties the concerts were very popular. 

138

) 


Back in early days, the Fleckenstein-Steppan Band marched during a gala parade . 

. Concerts in Faribault were said to have attracted from 

2,000 to 3,000 people at some times. The local programs 

were patterned after Sousa's. Each comprised a small 

number of substantial and challenging compositions 

and a number of "encores." Frequently soloists or 

groups added variety to the evening's entertainment. 

Community singing rounded off the program. 

Excellent Acoustics 

The Central Park band shell was the site of the 

concerts. The building was known to bandmen in other 

parts of the state for its excellent acoustics. 

Ice cream socials added to the fun and community 

spirit of the occasion. 

Members of the band were adults from Faribault 

and surrounding towns and rural areas. 

The popularity of town bands led to the growth of 

school bands. As the latter increased in skill, the better 

players were asked to play with the Municipal Band. 

Eventually the school band directors and their 

students came to dominate the organization. 

Back in the Forties the band was directed by 

Ingram Brusletten and managed by Dr. Donald 

Chatham. Brusletten drove down from Minneapolis 

every Thursday night to direct the concert and then 

repaired with the band members to the high school 

band room to rehearse the next week's concert. Dr. 

Chatham was succeeded by Fern Hatfield, Dr. 

Robertshaw, and Aaron Lenmark as managers. 

Brusletten was succeeded by Fern Hatfield, Oskar 

Teisberg, Roger Behlke and William Krinke as 

directors. 

The Faribault Municipal Band is one of a few in the 

country with a continuous record of concerts up to the 

present. Many of the bands which disappeared with the 

advent of mechanical music and spectator sports are 

being revived. If the Bicentennial spirit continues our 

band will be joined by many others across the country. 

Fleckenstein -Stepp an 

band in big demand 

The Fleckenstein-Steppan Orchestra is 

remembered by local oldtimers as one of the 

community's most talented and most admired musical 

organizations. 

This orchestra served the Faribault community. 

All members were talented men of music. The 

orchestra played at the Grand Theatre during the 

silent film days. Barn dances, held in the hay mow, 

were frequent to help the farmer pay for his barn - so 

they played for an entire area. 

Often times, they drove across the lake in the 

winter time instead of using the road. The Hotel 

Faribault would engage the popular band for New 

Year's Eve and the gala parties of the year. The men 

139

(5en G?§Vow 

also played in churches. 

A story is told about Martin Steppan (a Beethoven 

Conservatory graduate) who played for a dance until4 

a.m. and then was-to play for Mass at the Immaculate 

Conception Church in Faribault at 5:30a.m. He left the 

dance and went directly to the choir loft in church and 

went to sleep. Someone found him asleep and 

awakened him to start playing violin music for the 

service. 

Members of the band included: Ed Fleckenstein, 

clarinet; Alfred Fleckenstein, cornet; Joe Steppan, 

trombone; Wesley Steppan, violin and any instrument; 

Martin Steppan, violin and any instrument. Piano 

players were Rose Fredette, Ed Meyers and Dwight 

DeLong. 

Art Centerwhere 

ideas flourish 

Kitchens can produce many delightful things. A 

few early dedicated ladies met in their kitchens once a 

week to paint, an idea blossomed and a product was 

born now known as the Faribault Art Center, Inc. 

More art-minded people became interested and the 

entire group met in the fall of 1957 in the Arlington 

Hotel lobby to organize the Faribault Art Center. 

The first officers elected included: Mrs. V. A. 

Mulcahy, president; Mrs. A. Harold Keller, vice 

president; Mrs. Donald Lord, secretary; and Mrs. Dan 

Coughlin, treasurer. Chairmen included: Mrs. Homer 

Larson, membership; Mrs. Edgar Mentz and Mrs. 

Harry Zaske, refreshments; Mrs. N.C. Van Guilder, 

exhibits; and Mrs. John Bertram for posters. 

The first teacher for adult classes was Miss 

Fanchon Sellner and Mrs. Jack Klinekauf for the 

children's classes. Adults and children's classes were 

organized and a membership drive conducted. This 

was a big job for 15 members. Classes began in 

January 1958. 

Progress demanded that the center move to the 

hall over Ochs Store and again to the third floor of the 

City Hall. Professor Dean Warnholtz from the Carleton 

College Art Department in Northfield became the next 

teacher. Professor Wamholtz, nationally known as an 

artist of renown and an exhibitor, organized the art 

center on a firm foundation through his valuable 

experience and knowledge of art as well as teaching 

the members the basics and love of art. 

On. Jan. 7, 1959, the art center became associated 

with the Faribault Recreation Department and moved 

to the second floor of the old McKinley School which 

became known as the Recreation Center. Because the 

old McKinley School, the center headquarters since 

1959, had been condemned the Faribault Art Center 

this summer moved to new quarters in the basement of 

the Security Building, Central A venue and Third Street 

NW. 

With a membership of 90 and still growing the art 

center bravely embarked upon a schedule of adult, 

teen-age and children's classes in all mediums, 

exhibits in the Rice County Fair Building, the 

Buckham Memorial Library, the New Prague Library, 

the Rochester Art Fair, Minneapolis Art Shows as well 

as other area exhibits with many members winning 

ribbons, and gained the support of Art Patrons. The 

State Bank June Patio Show and the Northern States 

Power Fall Show became annual exhibits. Silk screen, 

ceramics and woodcarving were added to the program 

and all under the guidance of excellent art instructors. 

In January 19tH the art center members undertook 

the renovation and painting of an empty room upstairs 

at the Buckham Memorial Library and converted it 

into the Little Art Gallery for the enjoyment of the 

Faribault area. It was officially opened on Feb. 5, 1961, 

and 400 invitations were sent out to art lovers and 

boosters to attend a Sunday afternoon Preview and Tea 

featuring a showing of 39 outstanding original prints 

from the Kilbride - Bradley Art Gallery in Minneapolis 

and a talk by Dr. Wilhelm us B. Bryan, president o_f the 

National Association of Schools of Art and director of 

the Minneapolis School of Art. 

Space will not permit the enumeration of the 

center's many accomplishments through the years 

including our association with events with the Friends 

of the Library and the Rice County Historical Society, 

the cleaning of paintings at the library, helping the 

Faribault post office workers combat mail order 

obscenity on the local level with a series of original 

posters by art member Marian Matchitt, arts and 

crafts teacher at the Minnesota School for the Deaf, 

and the promotion of cultural programs for the 

enjoyment of everyone in our community. 

The center gives a scholarship to a deserving 

student from the Faribault High School and Bethlehem 

Academy for classes for a year at the art center 

annually. The Faribault Art Center, Inc., was 

incorporated under the guidance of Attorney Urban 

Steimann and is a non-profit organization. 

The present roster includes: Mrs. A. Harold 

Keller, president; Mrs. S.J. Dix, vice president; Kenn 

Kroska, treasurer; Mrs. Roger Kubinski, secretary. 

Directors are: One year - Mrs. Ann Fager, Mrs. 

Edgar Mentz, Mrs. Donald Lord, Mrs. V.A. Mulcahy. 

Two years- Kenn Kroska,'Richard Kirschner, Mrs. 

Edwin J. Nelson, Mrs. James Cooley. Three years 

Mrs. Marvin Campbell, Mrs. Patrick Donahue, Mrs. 

Ervin Boyer; Mrs. Alfred Severson, Donald Folsom, 

Ivan Whillock. 

Committee chairmen are: Bicentennial, Donald 

Folsom; Publicity, Mrs. V.A. Mulcahy; Historian, 

Mrs. Donald Lord; Scholarship, Mrs. Allen Van Lear; 

Communication, Mrs. Marvin Campbell and Mrs. Pat 

Donahue; Patio Show Exhibit, Mrs. S.J. Dix; Fall 

Exhibit, Mrs. A. Harold Keller. Instructors are: Spring 

and Summer Studio Course, Donald Folsom; 

Ceramics, Ivan Whillock; Fall Drawing and Painting 

Course, Charles Murphy. 

Past Presidents are: Mrs. V.A. Mulcahy, Mrs. A. 

Harold Keller, Mrs. W.D. Pickell, Mrs. Leonard 

Daleiden, Mrs. Donald Lord, N.C. Van Guilder, Mrs. 

ioe Bachrach, Mrs. Beth Lee and Mrs. Marvin 

Campbell. 

140


History Society brings past alive 

The constitution establishing the Rice County 

Historical Society was adopted at a meeting held in the 

courtroom of the courthouse at 8:00 p.m. March 19, 

1926. The society was an outgrowth of the Old Settlers' 

Association, formed in 1874. 

The object of the organization was, and still is, the 

discovery, preservation, and dissemination of all 

knowledge of history of the county, such as pictures, 

pamphlets, relics, maps, charts and newspapers; to 

preserve historic buildings and to arouse an interest in 

the history of the past. 

Mrs. Howard Bratton served as temporary 

chairman of the organizational meeting, with H. F. 

Buck as secretary. Mrs. E.H. Gipson called the 

meeting to order before Mrs. Bratton was elected as 

chairman. After the constitution was adopted, the 

following officers were elected: Dr. Francis Palmer, 

president; Prof. C. A. Duniway, vice president; C. N. 

Sayles, recording secretary; Walter Nutting, 

treasurer; Mrs. Charles Bierman, corresponding 

secretary; Mrs. Charles Batchelder, Miss Laura 

Nutting and Judge M. M. Shields, directors. 

Originally, the meetings were held quarterly. At 

the present time they are held twice a year, the fall 

meeting in Faribault and the spring meeting in various 

locations in the county. Most meetings are dinner 

meetings. Honorary membership was extended at first 

to anyone who lived in Rice County or the area covered 

by Rice County, prior to its admission as a state. 

Faribault House 

The most important project of the Society - the 

one which has involved the most time, effort, money 

and county-wide effort - was started in November, 

1945 when a movement was made to save the Faribault 

House. On May 22, 1945, the Society formally accepted 

the building from the Faribault Foundation. Serving on 

the Restoration Committee were Guerdon Allen, Mrs. 

Charles Batchelder, Mrs. H.C. Theopold, Charles 

Popelka, Dr. Paul Weaver and Fred Degen. 

The house was in good condition except for the rear 

portion. This was torn down and rebuilt by the 

Faribault Manual Training classes under the direction 

of John Hielsberg, instructor, and Paul Schroeder, 

general contractor. Work started in the fall of 1952, and 

by July the house was almost ready for Mr. and Mrs. 

John Hoban to move in. In October, 1953, just one 

hundred years after the house had been built, the 

public was invited to visit. 

Refurnishing the rooms proved to be the most 

difficult problem of restoration and took many years of 

dedicated work. Help was received from two classes at 

St. Olaf College. 

The house was opened to the public on May 1, 1958, 

with a 25 cent admission charge. A pamphlet 

describing the house and restoration was published in 

1957, written by Dr. Kenneth Bjork. 

The fall tea at the Faribault House has become a 

tradition. The first Silver Tea was held at the Buckham 

Memorial Library on October 30, 1952 through the 

generosity of the Ochs Brothers Department Store 

which, in observance of their 66th anniversary, 

presented the Society with a check in that amount. 

The early 1970's saw extensive repairs and 

changes to the house. The area over the resident's 

quarters was completely remodeled for use as a 

museum, with new ceiling, paneling, lights and 

carpeting installed. The outside of the house was 

painted light yellow ochre, a color the State Historical 

Society considered to be more authentic than white, 

and a new roof was put on. The inside of the house was 

painted, a new furnace installed, a portion of the 

basement finished off for use of the resident, a tree 

which had been damaging the foundation was 

removed, additional support for the house was 

provided in the basement, and storm windows were 

purchased. 

John Hoban, after twenty-three years of faithful 

and conscientious service, retired in 1975, and Mr. and 

Mrs. Edward Hopke were hired as resident historians. 

Museum 

After formation, Society members immediately 

started to collect papers, photographs, and records of 

the pioneers. Soon they were searching for storage, 

and were gratified when Mrs. Buckham offered space 

in her new library building. The Society took 

possession of the room in the fall of 1930. 

Two years later, Mrs. Theopold, curator, with the 

aid of a typist, began to catal9g and bring order to the 

collection. Help came in 1935 in the form of five WPA 

workers, whose first project was to index county 

newapapers. Later the work was expanded to gather, 

catalog, and display museum material. This work 

continued intermittently for five years, with from one 

to five people working on the project. 

In 1949, Miss Brigid Coughlin succeeded Mrs. 

Theopold, who died in 1947. Miss Emily Mae Buth was 

named curator in 1973. 

In the 1960's, many hours were spent by members 

of the Faribault Art Center to restore oil paintings. The 

museum was cleaned and redecorated, and the 

paintings displayed at a special tea held November 7, 

1965. 

During the fall of 1971, a robbery occurred at the 

museum. Many items of antique and historical value 

were taken including a Joe Brown pike, powder flasks 

used by Col. George Whitney, two drill team swords, a 

musket picked up at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, 

ebony cane presented to the first mayor of Faribault, 

German style helmet worn by Henry F. Klemer, and 

Indian pipes from the Bishop Whipple collection. 

Fortunately, an inventory had been made of the 

collection during the previous summer, and it was 

possible to get a fairly accurate list of the missing 

items. Although there was insurance coverage, these 

items could never be replaced, and it was a great loss 

to the community. 

Four new display cases were purchased in 1974 and 

1975, two for the purpose of displaying the Indian 

collection of Irwin Smith, on loan to the Society. 

Because most of the items came from Rice County, this 

141

{?llen ~ 8'/ow 

collection is of particular value. 

Fairground Buildings 

In 1955, the Pleasant Valley schoolhouse of District 

22 was purchased by the Fair Board for the purpose of 

preserving a one-room schoolhouse and to serve as a 

museum for the Historical Society. A new roof was put 

on the building in 1970. Efforts were also made to 

secure a log cabin, and in the early 1960's, the Society 

moved one to the fairgrounds. Built in 1856 by Sever 

Holgrimson Vold, a series of people lived in it untill953 

(almost one hundred years). The cabin was donated by 

John 0. Rudningen; his son, Arnold J. Rudningen; and 

grandson, John William Rudningen. 

The historic Episcopal Cannon City Church of the 

Holy Innocents, built in 1871, was moved to the grounds 

by the Society in 1959. Extensive repairs were needed, 

and restoration became a major project of the Society 

for many years involving much time, effort, and 

money. The church was formally dedicated June 7, 

1970. The newest project of the Society is conversion of 

the County highway building at the fairgrounds into a 

museum. This was vacated in the fall of 1975 and 

turned over to the Society by the commissioners in that 

year. An architect has been hired, plans drawn up, and 

the building cleaned. In 1976, contracts were awarded 

by the Society's Board of Directors for transforming 

the Highway Building into an attractive museum. The 

Society's museum project, in 1975 officially was 

designated by the Rice County Bicentennial 

Commission as its heritage project. 

Northfield 

At the October 24, 1975 annual meeting of the 

Society, members approved amendments to the 

constitution to provide for affiliated chapters or 

members. The first affiliated chapter is the Northfield 

Historical Society, which was incorporated in June, 

1975 and held their first annual meeting in the fall of 

1975. This society has purchased the Scriver Block 

Building on the corner of Bridge Square and Division 

Street for a museum. They intend to restore the bank 

which the James gang robbed in 1876, and later hope to 

develop other parts of the building for museum and 

community rooms. 

General 

The First District Historical Assembly met 

September 16, 1972, at Saint Mary's Hall, with the local 

Society serving as hosts. 

The first newsletter was sent to members in 

October, 1973. It is published semi-annually and 

represents an attempt to inform the membership and 

avoid lengthly reports at the dinner meetings which 

are held only twice a year. 

Progress has been made on the various projects 

through the years only through the dedication and 

tireless effort of many, many local people and the 

support of the Rice County Board of Commissioners. 

list of Presidents of 

Rice County Historical Society 

Dr. F.L. Palmer, 1926; Dr. C.H. Duniway, 1926, 

1927, 1928, 1929, 1930; Dr. F.F. Kramer, 1931; Dr. C.H.' 

Duniway, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937; Charles N. 

Sayles, 1938,1939, 1940; C.L. Weicht, 1941; 

F.E. Jenkins, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945; Dr. Nuba M. 

Pletcher, 1946, 1947, 1948; A.A. Rowberg, 1949; Miss 

Julia Beaumann, 1950, 1951; Dr. Carleton Qualey, 1952; 

R. L. Kramer, 1953; 

Dr. Kenneth Bjork, 1954, 1955; Guerdon Allen, 1955, 

1956; Miss Agnes M. Larson, 1957; Harry Berg, 1958, 

1959; Kermit Wolf, 1960, 1961; Ralph Merrill, 1962; A. 

0. Sundet, 1963, 1964; 

Mrs. V.A. Mulcahy, 1965, 1966; Mrs. Kermit Wolf, 

1967, 1968; Mrs. Oliver Larson, 1969, 1970; N.C. 

VanGuilder, 1971, 1972; Robert Warn, 1973; Mrs. Glenn 

Nauman, 1974, 1975. 

Rosary Society - 

women who work 

From the organization of the Immaculate 

Conception Church in 1856 with Father George Keller 

the first pastor, there are no authentic records 

available to trace the present Rosary Society until 

1877, when it was cannonically established after a 

meeting of a number of housewives of Faribault and 

vicinity with Father Genis and Mother Gertrude, 

according to Mrs. Clem McCarthy, long time member. 

It was primarily intended to be an altar society to 

procure a sufficient supply of linens and other supplies 

for the altar. From its inception, the Rosary Society 

became a valuable financial aid to the parish. 

In the early years a Fair later called a Bazaar was 

held every year. The goal was to raise one thousand 

dollars for the salary of four teaching sisters. When the 

first Fair was held, the women took charge of 

refreshments and fancy work table. They went into the 

country soliciting funds - a dollar or a sack of wheat 

being the usual donation. The farmer who helped the 

solicitors around with his team and lumberwagon 

brought the wheat to market and the money secured 

served as a nucleus for the running expenses of the 

Fair. 

Another venture was to sponsor a St. Patrick's Day 

dinner. The women brought their own dishes, silver 

and linens - meat, bread, cakes and pies were 

prepared in the homes. Potatoes tea and coffee were 

prepared on a wood stove in the basement of the church 

where the dinner was served, for fifty cents a plate. 

Dinners served under such handicaps would have 

daunted any but these intrepid pioneer women. 

In 1901 the church was destroyed by fire. The work 

of furnishing the altar and sanctuary was gone. Times 

had changed in the passing years - more and better 

furnishings could be obtained. Bazaars, picnics, 

socials and card parties were conducted to help defray 

expenses. Finances warranted purchasing dishes in 

1918 - for a number of years the Faribault merchants 

had been generous in lending the necessary dishes for 

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these affairs. 

(These are excerpts from a Parish History by 

Johanna O'Leary, written in 1938) 

Since the beginning each generation has taken part 

in remarkable achievements. Circles were formed 

with fifteen members and a promoter appointed. Study 

clubs were organized, mission sewing circles, bazaars, 

auctions, bake sales, dinners, wedding 

receptions and parish dances are included in the 

activities. 

The primary purpose of the Rosary Society is 

spiritual development. There are approximately 800 

active and inactive members. 

Officers for 1976 are: Co-Presidents: Mrs. Dave 

Reuvers, Mrs. Ordean Reveland; 1st Vice President, 

Mrs. Eugene Stinson; 2nd Vice President, Mrs. 

Luverne Bauer; Secretary, Mrs. Stanley Kaderlik; 

Treasurer, Mrs. Joseph Byron. 

YMCA ·reestablished here· 

The YMCA originally started in London, England, 

in 1844. By 1851, the Boston YMCA conducted the first 

programs in the United States. Thus begins the 

Faribault YMCA story. 

The Citizen's Republican newspaper reported that 

on January 22, 1868, the Faribault YMCA board of 

directors was organized with G. F. Batchelder 

becoming the first chairman and C. W. Andrews the 

first director. 

On February 12, 1868, a reading room was secured 

over the store of F. A. Theopold. One year later, the 

first official board of directors was elected by the ·· 

YMCA members. From that time until 1871, the 'Y' 

history is sketchy, but it was in December of 1871, that 

the Sixth Annual Minnesota YMCA convention was 

held in Faribault. Evidently the 'Y' of Faribault 

dwindled after 1875, because in 1886, the Faribault 

Republican newspaper reported that it was decided to 

organize a YMCA. 

On June 2, 1886, the old Mueller Building was 

rented, in part, to provide a reading room, a large hall 

accommodating 300 persons, a lecture room, and office 

space. By October, the YMCA had a membership of 125 

persons. It was at this time that the Faribault 

Republican announced the "First Annual Meeting" of 

the "Y" and that "The members of the association 

have succeeded far beyond their most sanguine 

expectations . . ." 

Programs Established 

However, the neighboring communities of Dundas 

and Northfield were also conducting "Y" programs. 

The Dundas YMCA began operations in 1889 and 

Northfield in 1878. The Northfield ''Y'' prospered and 

in 1885 built the first YMCA building in the state of 

Minnesota. The cost was $8,000 and included a gym on 

the first floor, offices, reading rooms and lecture room 

on the second floor, and~ large auditorium on the third 

floor. The Northfield "Y" gym was described as being 

". . . equipped with all the modern appliances for 

physical culture." 

In 1888, the Faribault "Y" opened its gym, and in 

1890 described some of its programs as "drawing class, 

study night for Sunday School lessons, Bible training, 

singing classes, and physical culture." The "Y" 

seemed to move from place to place during this time, 

with offices over Pettitt's grocery store, McDaniel's 

grocery store, and finally, the Case Building in 1894. 

The present YMCA, Faribault Area Family 

YMCA, is the result of the dream of four men: -Elton. 

Peterson, Dr. Richard Huston, Richard Graf, and 

Melvin Brasel. In September of 1969 these men began 

the organization of the third YMCA to be developed in 

Faribault. Soon after William Hacker joined this 

group. 

The first National YMCA Charter was received 

April 29, 1972, in Omaha, Neb., at the Mid-American 

Region Assembly by Dr. Richard Huston and Stewart 

Shaft. 

the YMCA is governed by a local Board of 

directors, thus making each YMCA locally operated 

and autonomous in the direction of its programs. Prior 

to receiving the national Charter the first Provisional 

Board was developed. This Board was made up of: 

President Dr. Richard Huston; Vice-President, 

Mavis Nienow (Mrs. Dean); Secretary, Elton. 

Peterson; Treasurer, Vance Williams. 

Members: Melvin Brasel, John Heselton, Roger 

Keller, Albert LaCanne, Shirley Searl Kaiser, Rev. 

Thomas Hughes, Robert Burke, William Hacker, 

Richard Graf, Douglas Johnson, Stephen Dokken, 

Kathryn Gallagher, Robert Klemer, Stewart Shaft, 

Rod Mahler, Bruce Purdie, Irene Hoysler, Kevin Allin, 

John Almendinger, Father John T. Brown, Oliver 

Larson Jr., Lisa Larsen, Peggy Bertram, Richard 

Carlander, Mary Kay Jandro, Burl Leo, Jack Hyde, 

William Main, Arthur Straub, Lester Swanberg. 

Executive director hired 

The first Executive Director was hired October 1, 

1972. He was James C. Egbert, who had previously 

served in YMCA's in Flint, Michigan, Milwaukee, 

Wisconsin, and Fort Dodge, Iowa. 

The first office was located in the old Marigold 

building at 308 N.W. First Ave. On August 1, 1974, the 

office was moved to 16 South Central A venue. 

The First elected Board of Directors was: 

President, Dr. Richard Huston; Vice-President, 

Mavis Nienow; Treasurer, Douglas Johnson; 

Secretary - Elton Peterson; Executive Committee - 

Robert Klemer; Executive Committee, Stewart Shaft. 

Members: Kenneth Agerter, Father John Brown, 

Richard Carlander, Gregory Carlson, Michael Cooper, 

Dean Curtiss, Stephen Dokken, David Franze, Kathryn 

Gallagher, John Heselton, Beth Hoven, Shirley Kaiser, 

James Kohl, Oliver Larson Jr., Burl Leo, Shirley 

Little, Kenneth Maas, Rodney Mahler, Wayne Nelson, 

Dr. Robert Olson, Bruce Purdie, Rev. Rankin 

Shrewsbury, Vincent Svaldi, Henry Velzke. 

The election of the first Board of Directors took 

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{§en ~tfiow 

place May 7, 1974, at the First Annual Meeting held at 

the Lavender Inn. 

The first program was Men's Physical Fitness, led 

by Alono (Lonnie) Nelson, at Sacred Heart School 

gymnasium. FollowiJ!g was Women's Physical Fitness 

held at the Army Reserve Building, and led by Judy 

Lee. Other programs beginning early in 1973, were 

Indian Guides, Indian Princesses, and Swimming 

instruction led by Linda Gragg. 

The first member of the present YMCA was Elton 

Peterson, followed by Dr. Richard Huston. The 

youngest member to first join was Jennifer Egbert, 

one month old. 

AAUW active here 51 years 

The Faribault branch of the American Association 

of University Women is a member of a national 

organization of over 178,000 women graduates of 

regionally accredited colleges and universities. The 

association was founded in 1882 for the purpose of 

enrolling women in prep schools so that women would 

be accepted into colleges and universities. AAUW is 

also vitally concerned with "concentrating and 

increasing the influence of women in the community 

for the solution of social and civic problems.'' 

The Minnesota Division (our State organization) is 

composed of 5,300 women organized into 53 branches. 

It publishes the Minnesota Pine four times a year. It 

also votes on a legislative study-action program at the 

state level during the annual convention to which the 

branch sends voting delegates each year. The state 

organization also sponsors workshops throughout the 

year and submits names of women qualified for public 

services to the governor. 

The Faribault Branch was organized in 1925 at 

which time a charter was drawn up, the purpose of 

which was to unite the college and university women of 

the vicinity in promoting the improvement of 

education through legislation and other means. 

Accomplishments of the local branch included: 

The establishment of a local youth commission which 

helped take care of youthful delinquents, headed by 

Edna Severson who taught at the Braille School. She 

was one of many who helped with a Faribault project 

sending goods to Wurzburg, Germany, to help reclaim 

the part of the city destroyed in World War II. Mrs. 

Severson was honored as an outstanding member of 

the Faribault Branch. Mrs. Wayne Van Kirk was one of 

the sponsors of the "Friends of the Library" Club in 

Faribault. Mrs. Felix Frederiksen contributed many of 

her works of poetry to the Faribault community. Faye 

and Dena Allen contributed much to the Faribault 

community with their services for the deaf. Caroline 

Perkins, former faculty member at St. Mary's, is 

credited with much work with the senior girls. Harriet 

Steppan, teacher at the Braille School, was an 

outstanding member of the AA UW. Leah Morehouse 

was honored as having contributed much in 

international relations. 

In 51st Year 

The Faribault Branch now has over 100 members. 

It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1975. It sponsors a 

Fall Book sale, encouraging the recycling of reading 

material and uses the funds for fellowship. It has study 

groups where members become aware, involved, and 

active in implementing study topics and areas of 

continuing interest. It publishes a monthly bulletin of 

events and news. The local branch also sends 

observers to the school board, city council and other 

decision making bodies' meetings. It has presented a 

play ''Pioneers in Progress' which depicted 

historically significant women, to many organizations, 

schools, churches, and other groups. It donated a 

special fund of $150.00 raised in the honor of the 

Faribault Branch's 50th anniversary, toward a 

historical sign for the Faribault area. The group is now 

in the process of creating a Bicentennial quilt. Another 

project is the allocation of a $150 fellowship designated 

the Cora Trae Fellowship, for the aid of educators in 

furthering their education. Interesting and informative 

monthly meetings are held on four new study-action 

topics: World Pluralism, Economic Facts of Life, 

Society and the Jndividual, and The 21st Century. 

The Faribault Branch of the American Association 

of University Women is a member of the International 

Federation of University Women, which unites 

associations of women in 54 nations. 

Golden Age Club 

keeps seniors· busy 

The Faribo Golden Age Club is a legally 

established organization. It was incorporated under 

the Minnesota statues and received its Charter on 

August 3rd, 1970 from Secretary of State, Joseph L. 

Donovan. 

The organization provides a program for the 

betterment and enhancement of older adults for the 

social, educational and recreational needs. 

April 1, 1976 marked the sixth anniversary of the 

day when senior citizens decided to form an 

organization of their own. The three seniors who 

thought there was a possibility of forming an 

organization were: Adeline Meillier, Beatrice 

Christensen and Louise Lick. Little did they dream 

that, some day, the organization would be one of the 

largest of its kind in the entire state. 

With the cooperation of the Faribault Community 

Services, a meeting was held on June 5, 1970 at the 

Knights of Columbus Club Room. At this meeting, the 

election of a board of directors and four officers took 

place. A generous attorney from Faribault, Eugene 

Crosby, volunteered as legal advisor. On September 9, 

1970, a meeting was held at the Sacred Heart School 

144


and at this meeting, the By-Laws were adopted by the 

members. 

The title of the organization was chosen on 

Wednesday, July 8, 1970 at the Trinity Lutheran 

Church. The title selected was ''THE F ARIBO 

GOLDEN AGE CLUB." It was suggested by the Rev. 

A. L. Rustad, the present chaplain of the club. 

One of the seniors involved in organizing the group 

stated that it was a real pleasure to find so many senior 

citizens who were willing to cooperate. The 

organization, still in its infancy, had no finances, no 

committees, no workers in the field. 

The Organization has prospered and now is one of 

the largest in the State of Minnesota. 

· Committees Active 

During the course of six years, over 150 Golden 

Agers have been appointed on Committees. The largest 

group is the Hostess Committee with 50 members. The 

present chairlady is Elinor Howe. The Program 

Committee is headed by Clara Thompson. Myron 

Palmer is in charge of the Travel Committee and 

Beatrice Christensen is chairlady of the Sunshine 

Committee. Earl Poirier is chairman of the 

Membership Committee. The Pool Committee has 

Arnold Reuvers as its chairman, Esther Roepke is in 

charge of the Publicity Committee and the Men's Host 

Committee has Arthur Techau as chairman. 

The Golden Age Club has a Men's and a Ladies' 

Chorus. The Men's Chorus, or Knights of Harmony, 

has the Rev. E.H. Eifert as its director. The Ladies 

Chorus or Golden Notes, has Lorraine Bjorlie as its 

director. Pianist is Catherine Zuehlke. 

The Correspondent for the Daily News is Esther 

Roepke. Esther is also Historian for the Club. Earl 

Poirier is Promoter for the organization. 

Various activities are scheduled for each month at 

the St. Lucas Recreation Center where all members 

are welcome. To carry out these activities, the Club is 

privileged to use the facilities as the St. Lucas 

Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday 

through Friday. 

The various churches are hosts at the general 

meeting each month. These meetings are held either in 

the church hall or at the Knights of Columbus Club 

Room. 

Diversified Activities 

Activities at the Center include: Card Games, 

Cribbage, Bingo, Pool Games for men and ladies, 

Knitting and Crocheting Classes and Shuffleboard 

Games. The men's and ladies' choruses have their 

rehearsals at the Center. An annual picnic is scheduled 

for the month of August at the Alexander Faribault 

Park. Croquet games are played in the summertime in 

Central Park whenever the weather is favorable. 

An Annual Pool Tournament is held each year for 

the men and ladies at the Center. Another activity of 

the Club is to visit and entertain the shut-ins at the 

various nursing homes. Trips to places of interest for 

the members are also part of the program. Helen 

Thorpe and Olga Brayton are the supervisors. 

Just recently, a new committee has been 

established. the committee called "We Care" is doing 

an outstanding job of bringing cheer to the lonely, the 

sick, the sad and the depressed. 

The sociability you find among the members is the 

main and most needed part of the program. The club 

also offers an educational program as well as 

entertainment at our monthly meetings. 

The beauty of the organization is that not one of our 

workers receives any compensation for his or her 

services. It is people helping people. 

Attendance at the activities has been exceptionally 

good. The highest attendance on record was in October 

1975 when it went over 1300. 

Presently the Club is governed by eleven directors 

and five officers who are also directors. The members 

serving on the Board of Directors for 1976 are: Stephen 

Benjamin, Myron Palmer, Arnold Reuvers, Reinhart 

Kiekenapp, Joe Nelson, Rolf Hammer, Edward E. 

Peterson, Earl Poirier, Fred Dawson, Helen Thorpe 

and Louise Lick. 

Current officers include: Louise Lick, President; 

Steve Benjamin, Vice President; Stella Leahy, 

Secretary; Eva Kroger, Financial Secretary and 

Helen Thorpe, Treasurer. 

Membership for 1976 is still increasing. At present 

it stands at more than 1,000. 

FF A promotes agriculture 

The Faribault Chapter of the Future Farmers of 

America (FFA) was organized for Faribault High 

School students of vocational agriculture in the late 

1930s. Courses in agriculture had, however, been 

offered at the high school for many years before this 

time. The national organization had been founded in 

November, 1928, and the Minnesota Association 

received its charter in 1930. 

The FF A was originally formed as an organization 

for boys studying vocational agriculture in public 

secondary schools but it has evolved into an 

organization for both boys and girls who are interested 

in careers in a wide variety of agricultural occupations 

including agricultural production, supplies, 

mechanics, processing, resources, horticulture, 

forestry and other agricultural occupations. The 

FFA is an extra-curricular organization of voluntary 

membership for students between 14 and 21 years of 

age, who are or have been enrolled in a vocational 

agriculture class. High school teachers of vocational 

agriculture serve as advisors to the organization, 

which is open to students and former students. 

The purpose of the FF A is to assist students in 

preparing for careers through the development of 

leadership abilities, good citizenship and 

agriculturally-related competencies. A system of 

recognition awards at the local, state and national 

level provides incentive for excellence in individual as 

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{§en ~8'/ow 

well as chapter activities. 

Varied Contests 

Contests in the many areas of agriculture have 

been participated in through the years by hundreds of 

members of the Faribault Chapter. Today, some 

twenty contests are open to FFA members in such 

areas as public speaking, parliamentary procedure, 

dairy cattle judging, crops judging and identification, 

general livestock judging, meats judging and 

identification, farm management and farm 

mechanics. 

In the area of community service, the Faribault 

FFA has been recognized nationally by the FFA 

Organization for its work in safety promotion, 

specifically related to the chapter's safe harvest 

program where chapter members contact area 

farmers and discuss the hazards of machinery 

operation and for the work the chapter did in designing 

and installing the system of fire call numbers used in 

the four townships surrounding the city for identifying 

the location of rural homes and farmsteads in times of 

emergency. 

Several local businesses have provided 

outstanding cooperation and support for the local 

chapter by sponsoring local awards and assisting with 

various projects. Ronald Sommers is the current 

faculty advisor of the chapter. Many members of the 

Faribault FFA have gone on to become outstanding 

Farmers in the Faribault area or entered other 

agriculturally related careers. 

Since the Chapter was organized 167 members 

have been awarded the State Farmer degree: 47 have 

been presented gold watches and 20 have been 

awarded The American Farmer degree. 

FHA boosts homemaking 

The Faribault Chapter of Future Homemakers of 

America (FHA) was founded in 1948. The advisors at 

that time were Mrs. Thurston and Mrs. Rickner, who 

were responsible for the beginning of the Faribault 

Chapter. Before this time there was a Home 

Economics club but it didn't have National ties as does 

the FHA. 

In 1948 the Chapter had 40 members. It now has 36 

members, a slightly decreasing group although 

nothing extreme. The FHA includes the group of eight 

members at the Braille School, advised by Mrs. 

Freund. Several activities in social work are sponsored 

including: 

(1) Easter Baskets, given to the Braille School (2) 

Valentine Party (those youngsters of Welfare families 

are invited for this party.) (3) Visits to the local rest 

homes. During Christmas cookies are taken to them 

and the joyous carols are sung for the residents. 

The FHA has eight purposes : 

(1) To make our homes, communities, nation and 

world a happier place in which to live. 

(2) To provide opportunities for self-development 

and preparation for family and living and for 

employment. 

(3) To strengthen the function of the family as a 

basic unit of society. 

( 4) To encourage democracy through cooperative 

action in the home and community. 

(5) To institute programs promoting greater 

understanding between youth and adults. 

(6) To provide opportunities for decision-making 

and for assuming responsibility. 

(7) To become aware of multiple roles of men and 

women in today's society. 

(8) To develop interest in home economics, home 

economic related careers, and occupations. 

Activity Center helps many 

The Rice County Activity Center began scheduled 

activities in September, 1963 starting with 22 students 

covering nearly all ranges of retardation and 

emotional and physical disorders. 

The first facility consisted of 2 basement rooms in 

an old school building without furnishings. There were 

2 paid staff and 2 volunteers. The operating budget in 

1963-64 was very low, less than $6,000. The existence of 

the program has always depended largely on 

donations, private and organizational, as it does to this 

day. 

The fall of 1965 found the Activity Center in a 110 

year old building. That facility was owned by the City 

of Faribault rent free to the Activity Center. 

A pre-school program began in 1970. Due to the 

lack of room in the Activity Center building, the 

pre-school class was held in a room in a nearby church. 

A total of 13 children were in the pre-school program. 

In 1972 a number of changes began to take place 

with work activity greatly increasing under a job 

agreement with a Northfield firm. It kept a large 

number of students busy in the shop, and was the 

beginning of an income and much incentive for many 

of the students. Other additions have been the 

organization of a band which at present numbers 28 

persons. We have an 18 member performing choir. 

Training in physical fitness, begun in 1971, greatly paid 

off with one of our boys taking third place in the 

International Special Olympics Competition, at Los 

Angeles in 1972. 

In 1974 the Activity Center acquired the former. 

Gopher Shooters building on lOth Street NE and after 

extensive remodeling the new facility was ready for 

classes to begin in September, 1974, with 55 adult 

students and a homebound program serving 12 

pre-schoolers. 

The purpose of the Rice County Activity Center is 

to: MEET the needs of our pre-school and post-school 

retarded and HELP them to become acceptable 

members of the community; TRAIN in daily living and 

146


work skills: ASSIST each individual in achieving these 

goals and in DEVELOPING to their greatest potential. 

GOALS FOR THE RETARDED ARE: To learn to 

keep healthy and clean; To learn to live safely; To 

learn to get along with others; To learn to manage 

one's money; To learn to use leisure time; To learn to 

enjoy life through music and art; To learn to 

communicate one's ideas; To learn to be able to travel 

by oneself; To be as self-sufficient as possible and to 

understand oneself. For many years the center has 

been in the charge of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dienst, 

assisted by many volunteers. 

$9,000 was accumulated and donated to the Faribault 

Youth Service, In., after its formation. Mrs. Layton 

Hoysler was the first director and secretary of the 

corporation. 

500 evergreen trees and 50 lilac bushes were 

donated by Brand Nursery. 

Plans call for a permanent shelter house, a well, 

flush toilets, and a sanitary disposal system. Bennett 

Olson, treasurer of the corporation, said "Faribault 

Youth Service, Inc., was incorporated under the laws 

of the state of Minnesota as a non-profit organization." 

Providing and building the youth camp is the first 

project to be undertaken by the group.'' 

Rotary Club founded in 1920 

The charter for the first Faribault Rotary Club was 

issued on May 1, 1920. The first meeting place was the 

Blue Bird Inn. It began with 22 charter members and 

had grown to 35 members by the end of the first year. 

Frank W. McKellip was the first president of the club 

from 1920 to 1921. The first board of directors 

comprised Frank W. McKellip, John A. Foster, Dr. 

S.B. Haessley, Rev. Frank Zoubek and William 

Pearce. 

The organization has met over the years at the 

Blue Bird Inn, the Faribault Hotel, Evergreen Knoll, 

the Country Club, and presently holds its meetings at 

the Lavender Inn. 

An accomplishment of the club was the purchase of 

land from Charles N. Sayle on shore of Cedar Lake and 

the establishment of the Rotary Youth Camp which 

includes buildings, a dock for swimming, and lighting, 

electrical water pumping equipment. The camp is used 

year around, especially in the summer months by 

youth groups. There is no charge to any group or the 

general public desiring to use the facilities. Each year 

the organization sponsors a Faribault Youth Concert, 

and also awards four music scholarships each year. 

The organization has attendance requirements, in 

that its members must attend 60 per cent of all 

meetings. The club meets weekly the yectr around. 

Faribatift's ~Rotary ci'ub in 1961 made plans for a 

natural wilderness camping area for all organized 

groups of boys and girls for outdoor camping. The 

camp is located on the Northeast shore of West Cedar 

Lake. 

A corporation chartered in August of 1960 and 

sponsored by the local Rotary Club as a non-profit 

organization is called Faribault Youth Service, Inc. 

Members of the board of directors, headed then by Dr. 

C. A. Bell as president, have held meetings planning 

development of a site. The funds needed to provide 

facilities will be donated by local Rotarians and others 

interested. 

The need for such a camp was recognized by 

certain citizens and a fund was started years ago by a 

committee of women interested in promoting Girl 

Scout activities. Through generous contributions, 

Lions Club 55 years old 

The Faribault Lions Club was organized December 

1, 1921. It originally held meetings at the Hotel 

Faribault, and now meets Thursday noons at 

Evergreen Knoll Supper Club. 

It is a service club affiliated with Lions 

International with more than a million members 

belonging to 29,800 clubs in 149 countries. Major 

projects are support for Lions Eye Bank, Children's 

Eye Clinic and six other sight saving projects. 

Thirty business and professional men of Faribault 

were club charter members. The first 

president was Joseph M. Foss Sr. The present 

president is Lawrence E. Merrill. Up to the present 

time the club has been served by 54 presidents. Former 

club member, Terry Peterson, served as district 

governor. Carl Dingmann has also served as district 

governor. 

The Faribault club is one of the largest and most 

active in District 5M-6, with 121 members. The club has 

won many honors for projects, membership strength, 

activities and furtherance of Lionism. The 50th 

anniversary was observed at a dinner at the Eagles 

Club on December 2, 1971. Attorney Lucius A. Smith is 

the only surviving charter member. The club each 

January, as a fund raiser, holds a pancake and sausage 

feed which attracts 2,000 persons. 

Sertoma Club helps others 

The Sertoma Club of Faribault was chartered on 

June 7, 1969 as an organization committed to the 

objectives of promoting fellowship and providing an 

opportunity for community service. The club was 

chartered with 25 members and currently maintains a 

roster of 55 members. Charter members currently 

active within the local organization include: Gerald A. 

Heyer, Douglas H. Johnson, John P. Johnson, Burl A. 

Leo, Dr. Robert D. Olson, Donald Roosmalen, Charles 

Umbreit. 

Current club members in addition to the above 

charter members include: Clarence W. Anderson, 

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~en &?cfNow 

Richard H. Berge, Robert C. Bliss Jr., Gil L. Carlson, 

G. Charles Champlin, Dr. L. A. Chamstrom, Warren 

M. Dietsch, Stephen I. Dokken, George F. Evers, 

Donald P. Finnesgard, Marvin Goede!, Thomas H. 

Greeney, Daniel E. Hall, Richard A. Hansen, David 

Hartman, Jay D. Henningsgard, Dr. Glenn C. Holman,_ 

Jr., R. K. "Pete" Johnson, Richard E. Jones, James R. 

Keating, Arthur G. Kuhlman, Oliver Larson, Jr., Dr. 

Edward J. Ludlam, Roy Mews, Paul Miller, Leonard 

E. Monke, James Nelson, Wayne M. Nelson, Lowell 

Nomeland, Glen Norgaard, Walter J. Otte, Douglas E. 

Pagel, Leonard A. Pankow, Michael W. Phillips, John 

Regitschnig, David L. Ring, Richard Rost, Willis 

Schoeb, Frank V. Schmanski; 'F.A. "Woody" Schrader, 

Donald Schreyer, Gene Severson, Roger E. Storey, 

William Tartagolia, Gilbert Truax, Darrell Walker, 

Thomas B. Waarvik, George Wickstrom. 

The Faribault Chapter is an active organization 

that holds regular Tuesday morning breakfast 

meetings throughout the year except during the month 

of July. 

The Sertoma Club holds one major fund raising 

activity each year with the proceeds allocated to the 

support of community services and programs. Annual 

sponsorships of the club include the promotion of 

Freedom Week in the public and private schools of our 

community. The activities center around the week in 

which February 22 falls, and involves an essay contest 

for fifth graders on the theme "What Freedom Means 

to Me." The Club has annually presented copies of the 

Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights to 

participating students as one means of helping remind 

students of their responsibility of preserving freedom. 

Each year the Sertoma Club of Faribault has 

recognized an outstanding citizen in the community for 

humanitarian, civic or other type of service to his 

community, by awarding that citizen, man or woman, 

with the Service to Mankind award. This award is 

given to a community member who does not belong to 

the Sertoma organization. The club has recognized 

such outstanding community citizens as: 

1970, Mrs. Samuel Upin; 1971, Dr. Wayne D. 

Pickell; 1972, Arthur Johannsen; 1973, Ms. Marie E. 

Carlson; 1974, Oscar Olin; 1975, Orwin A. Rustad; 1976, 

Sister Eleanor Pielemeier. 

Legion Post active 57 years 

American Legion Post 43 was chartered in 1919. 

The first commander was John J. Lieb. (Second 

Commander elect- A. G. Thonet, 1920, is still alive and 

residing in St. Paul, Minn.). 

The American Legion was created following World 

War I, as a fraternity devoted to God and Country and 

based upon comradeship dedicated to equitable 

treatment for all veterans, particularly the disabled, 

their widows, and their orphans. Of equal concern, and 

still ideals of the American Legion are National 

Three Faribault soldiers, Ralph Merrill, 

Henry Van Lear and Charles Haight, are 

pictured with a Yucca plant while at Camp 

Deming in New Mexico in 1918. 

Security, promotion of patriotism and the combating of 

materialistic and totalitarian ideologies which 

recognize neither the honor nor the dignity of the 

individual. 

Faribault Post No. 43 has been active in 

community and civic affairs since its inception, with 

heavy emphasis on child and youth activities. In 

addition to making financial contributions to various 

youth oriented city projects (example: White Sands 

swimming pool) it sponsors and supports many . 

projects of its own. These include the school safety 

patrol program, Boys State, Youth County 

Government Day, Legion Baseball, Legionville Camp, 

selected scholarships and school awards. 

Additionally, it sponsors and administers the 

annual 4th of July activities for the city of Faribault 

and is a contributor to the annual Memorial Day 

program. 

It also provides social recreation activities for its 

148


members, and guests. 

On a national basis, the Post contributes to 

programs and projects related to health (Cancer, 

Heart) and Veterans Welfare (Legislation, Education 

and employment). 

Membership has exceeded 600 since World War II, 

with 52 World War I members still on its rolls. 

One Faribault member , Rev. A. L. Rustad, has 

achieved national prominence in the American Legion 

by being elected national chaplain, serving in 1946-47. 

In 1947, Rev. Rustad founded the National 

Conference of American Legion Department and Past 

National Chaplains. The conference sent out guidelines 

to all American Legion Posts in the country for 

religious activities. These guidelines became the 

foundation for the "Back to God" Program of the 

American Legion. In addition to serving as Post 43, 

Third Distr ict and State of Minnesota Department 

Legion Chaplain, Rev. Rustad also served as National 

Chaplain of Veterans of World War I. 

Current officers include: Commander , John 

Stoltz; 1st Vice Commander, Don Clarkin.; 2nd Vice 

Commander, Arnold Swenson; Adjutant, Chuck Carr; 

Finance Officer, Howard Nelson; Chaplain, Rev. D. 

Vaaler; Har lan Nordhausen, past commander. 

The 2nd Faribault Drum & Bugle Corps was formed 

following World War II, averaging 35 members. Its 

reputation became statewide, consistently scoring 

high in all competitive events, including numerous 2nd 

place State Champion ratings. For many years it was 

the official state corps for the Legion 40 et 8 honor 

organization. It was known for years as the Faribault 

"Good Will" Ambassadors with its active statewide 

activities. Maynard Flom was its Drum Major for the 

majority of its years, being ranked super ior in all 

competition. The Corps remained active until 

the mid-sixties. The local Legion post sponsors a n active 

clown club, originally started here by AI Frei, which 

appe·a r s at local and neighbor ing community 

celebrations. 

GAR group inspired 

Legion Drum Corps 

By RALPH ME RRILL 

We have very little knowledge or history of the 

early Fife and Drum Corps, started by the GAR soon 

after the return of the men from Civil War duty. This, 

of course, was before American Legion 43 was even 

dreamed of. However, our first Drum Corps was 

founded on the memory of that first Fife and Drum 

Corps. Personally, I can only remember seeing and 

hear ing the Corps a few times in the early 1900s. My 

inquiries from people who knew a few of the members 

were not too fruitful as it was a case of very young 

people remembering the activities of very old men. 

The Walrod Brothers of Cannon City were 

mentioned as promoters of the Corps. Also, Wm. Jones 

of Morristown, a good snare drummer, was active. 

Mrs. Mark Sweet told me she could remember "Uncle 

Billie" Jones getting up about 4 a.m. on July 4th and 

getting on top of a high building in Faribault and 

beating the long roll untp everybody in town was 

awake. 

Miss Nellie Schultz also told me how she 

remembered some of the men in Cannon City going to 

the cemetery out there on Memorial Day and playing a 

few of the old Civil War tunes. She said she thought 

they were also heard from on July 4th. However, again 

it is the case of a young girl trying to remember things 

that happened many years ago. 

No matter how much or how little is remembered 

of the Corps, enough of it carried over to inspire and 

promote the forming of the famous Post 43 American 

Legion Drum Corps. If the old men of "98" and "61-65" 

did no more than to leave enough of a memory and 

desire among their sons and grandsons to keep alive 

their memory and that of their children of the great 

moments in our history, they did a lot. 

I found that much of the history of Drum Corps has 

been lost due to the fact that none of the various 

organizations that has risen and fallen in the past 100 

years ever had a historian as one of their organization 

officers. 

I visited with several of the older men who had 

been members of the Drum & Bugle Corps, many 

claiming to have been charter members, but no two 

agreed on the year it was started so many of these 

dates will be approximate, as near as they could be 

agreed upon. My two best sources that I interviewed 

were Don Lewis and Lester Nichols. I will not quote 

them individually on anything from here on. 

It was generally agreed that the Corps was 

organized in 1926 and the first Drum Major and 

instructor was Aaron Lenmark. All agreed that he 

worked hard with the members and really produced an 

outstanding musical and marching unit. The Corps 

attended every state convention of the American 

Legion from 1926 to its breakup. Again the year is 

uncertain but is thought to be in the very late 1930s. 

Following is a schedule of dates the Corps attended 

various state conventions as near as could be 

ascertained:. 

1926, Brainerd; 1927, Austin, 1928, no place agreed 

upon; 1929, Winona. This is a debatable date as two 

dates each had about the same support, 1929 and 1932. 

Whichever year it was, the Corps won the state 

championship and went on to Louisville and placed in 

the top 10 out of 50 corps competing. No matter the 

. exact year it was a great organization and brought 

much honor to Faribault. 

In the early days the corps traveled by special 

train and the train would be parked on a switch-track 

and used for sleeping quarters for the members. 

Their next big trip was to Crookston, probably in 

1930. They went from there on a goodwill trip to 

Winnipeg where they paraded and, in general, gave a 

very good impression of themselves; 1931, not certain 

of the convention city; 1932 Bemidji; 1933 to St. Cloud 

149

'"alen ~§Vow 

t 

Faribault American Legion Post 43 World War I Championship Drum and Bugle Corps, 

Aaron Lenmark, drum major 

where Ralph Merrill was a candidate for State 

Commander. The corps worked hard but he was 

defeated by Mike Murray who was a wonderful State 

Commander. In 1934 the convention was in Duluth · 

where the corps again helped in the election and this 

time Merrill was elected State-Vice Commander. No 

one could agree on just where the convention was in 

1935, and, some thought it was here in Faribault in 1936. 

There also were conventions in Rochester and 

Minneapolis but the dates could not be agreed upon. 

One highlight mentioned often was about Fred 

Emge, a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He 

went with the corps most every convention and always 

stayed with the parked train and watched it when the 

Corps was in action or on liberty. In connection with 

the conventions there was always held a bugle 

competition and Jack Glassco always brought that 

honor back to Faribault, besides winning a couple of 

silver bugles. 

There also was a convention at Hutchinson in the 

1930s. Jack was so good that he won the contest there 

even though he forgot his bugle. 

VFW Auxiliary active 

Rice County Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary to 

Post 1562 was issued its charter on Aprilll, 1930 with 33 

names on charter. There still are six charter 

members: Valerie Olson (Ole), Faribault; Clara 

Frydenlund (Albert), Faribault; Alice Grant 

(Malcolm), Faribault; Merle Kelly (T.M.), Los 

Angeles, Calif.; Harriet Eastling (Wm.) now Arendts 

of Owatonna; Elizabeth Meier (Alvin), Faribault. 

Present membership is 189. 

On Nov. 11, 1975 the Post and Auxiliary held its 46th 

annual Gold Star Veterans' Day Banquet. The banquet 

honors mothers and fathers of boys who left from Rice 

County and gave their lives serving our country. In 

1975, 42 invitations were sent to parents of World War I, 

World War II, The Korean Conflict and Vietnam War. 

In 1944 Mrs. C. C. (Bea) Hedges started a 

Memorial Gold Star Book listing names and pictures of 

boys from World War I and II. Later the names from 

the Korean Conflict were added. 

Mrs. Peter (Irene) Schafflhuber is now adding 

names from the Vietnam War. When completed this 

150


book will be given to our library. 

Each year since 1957 we have bought the trophies 

and certificates for the Elementary School Field Track 

Day. 

Once a year since 1958 a general clinic sponsored 

by the auxiliary and Crippled Children Services, 

Minnesota Department of Health, is held. This clinic is 

for any Minnesota child under 21 years of age with a 

history of delayed speech and-or language 

development, cystic fibrosis, convulsions, mental 

retardation, cerebral ·palsy, club feet, scoliosis, or 

other physical handicaps. Each child who attends the 

clinic is examined by a pediatrician or an orthopedist, 

depending on the problem. For the past several years 

these clinics have become so large that we now sponsor 

them twice a year. 

During the years many American flags have been 

given to schools, Cub Scout Packs, Brownie troops, Boy 

Scout troops, Girl Scout troops, nursing homes, Future 

Farmers, Willing Workers group, Future 

Homemakers and Rice County Activity Center. 

In 1960, 31 members assisted with the United Fund 

residential solicitation drive. 

Naturalist Club formed 

In October, 1973 FACE-Q (Faribault Area 

Committee for Environmental Quality) was 

re-organized as the Faribault Naturalist Club. The 

Naturalist Club is an organization of professionals and 

amateurs devoted to the study of nature and 

conservation. It fosters the study and interpretation of 

natural history, aims to create and increase public 

interest in natural history, and encourages the practice 

and philosophy of conservation through education. It 

promotes the preservation of wildlife and natural 

habitat and adheres to the principle that habitat 

improvement is the key to wildlife abundance. 

These aims are carried out through four program 

meetings a year, conducting field trips throughout the 

year, and sponsoring and encouraging the 

preservation of natural areas. Families are 

encouraged to participate as well as individuals and 

students. 

Charter board members and officers of the 1973-74 

season are: rotating board - Miss Kyle H. Barnes, 

Greg Carlson, Bob Koehler and Orwin A. Rustad; Tom 

Guy, president; Mrs. Michael Banashek, secretary; 

Mrs. Helen Struck, treasurer; Mrs. Kay Janky, 

publicity; Helen Struck and Kay Janky, 

co-membership chairmen. 

The first news letter of the club called "The May 

Apple" was issued March 8, 1976 (spring issue). The 

editor is Tom Guy. 

FA CE-Q was formed in the spring of 1970 by a 

concerned group of area residents. Its stated purpose 

was ''to preserve and protect the natural resources of 

the Faribault area through education and action and 

generally safeguard the quality of life." 1970-71 officers 

were: president, Art Johannsen; vice president, 

Francis Minnick; second vice president, Bette Kaul; 

secretary, Kay J anky; treasurer, Bob Leonard; 

publicity, Helen Struck and Dee Monson; student 

representative, Lisa Larson. 

Tom Weaver was one of the prime organizers and 

was instrumental in establishing the Life Quality 

Library located in Buckham Memorial Library. 

This organization remained active until the fall of 

1973. It spearheaded an annual clean-up campaign, 

established a glass recycling center, drafted an 

Environmental Bill of Rights for Faribault which was 

passed by the city council, and in general took an 

active part in creating community awareness of the 

natural resources in Faribault. 

Masonic Lodge 119 years old 

Faribault Lodge No. 9 A.F. and A.M. was 

established officially on February 7, 1857, a year before 

Minnesota was admitted to statehood. 

Faribault, in 1857, had 2500 people, 23 stores, 4 

hotels, 2livery stables and three steam mills. Property 

valuation was $600,000. Among the citizens were a 

group of men who had known the joys of Masonic 

fellowship in their previous homes and petitioned the 

Grand Lodge ·of the Territory of Minnesota to form a 

new lodge known as the Faribault Lodge. 

Charter members were C. A. Cottrell, who 

operated a hardware store; John Cook, general store 

operator and state legislator; Gen. James Shields, U.S. 

Senator; John C. Ida, Representative to the State 

Legislature; Charles Wheeler, one of the organizers of 

Rice County; James Tower, general store owner and 

host in his store for the lodge meetings; Leonard 

Flanders, stone mason; Edward C. Hinde, store 

owner; Erastus Hathaway, farmer; Samuel Keller, 

brick layer; 

The Lodge grew rapidly, and on February 7, 1857 

the Faribault Lodge No.9 was duly constituted. 

For some unknown reason, breaches of the rules 

resulted in internal dissension. On September 1, 1863 

the charter was arrested. In October of 1864 the charter 

was restored. In June of 1865 the charter was 

surrendered. A petition for a new lodge was made and 

granted on June 7, 1865. There were now 90 members. 

The Lodge grew and prospered. New quarters 

were found in a new stone building owned by George 

Batchelder. 

Soon members decided they should have a building 

of their own. A building was erected on its present site 

and dedicated on February 22, 1876. The structure was 

destroyed by fire on June 28, despite the heroic efforts 

of Master A. E. Haven and others who saved some of 

the records and the charter. 

By December of 1878 the building was rebuilt. 

The Lodge celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 

151

{lien &? §Vow 

February of 1906. 

In 1938 the Lodge Hall was renovated and in 1940 a 

pipe organ was installed. This organ had been in the 

Congregational Church. More remodeling and 

renovating was done and completed in 1956. 

Appendant Masonic organizations which extend 

the work of the Lodge include: Athens Chapter No. 82 

Order of the Eastern Star, Tyrian Chapter No.6 Royal 

Arch Masons, Faribault Commandery No. 8 Knights 

Templar, A.D. Keyes Chapter Order DeMolay, Bethel 

No. 57 International Order of Job's Daughters. 

Old settlers meet 

The organizational meeting was held Jan. 24, 1874, 

in the office of the county auditor. Luke Hulett was 

appointed chairman, F. W. Frink, secretary and E. N. 

Leavens, John Mullen and G. M. Gilmore, a 

committee on organization. The constitution was 

adopted Feb. 4, 1874. 

Purpose - "To bring together the old settlers, to 

perpetuate the memories of 'Auld Lang Syne', to 

collect and record traditions, reminiscences, hopes 

and fears, facts and fancies of our early history.'' 

Membership - Settlement in Minnesota prior to 

July 31, 1857 and the payment of one dollar in dues were 

the qualifications. 

Original Officers - president, Luke Hulett; vice 

presidents, S. L. Bushnell of Northfield, J. S. Archibald 

of Bridgewater, Isaac Amy of Cannon City, Oliver 

Tripp of Walcott, Wm. Close of Richland, H. C. Kolling 

of Wheatland, H. M. Matteson of Faribault, J. Buck of 

Morristown, J. W. Cowan of Wells, Peter Bush of 

Warsaw, Patrick Murphy of Shieldsville, Chas. 

McBride of Erin, Ferris Webster of Webster, John 

Dunkam of Forest; secretary, F. W. Frink and 

treasurer, James Shonts. 

Meetings- At the third reunion in 1876, Hon. H. M. 

Rice and Bishop Whipple were the speakers, with 300 

present. This was apparently a high point in the years 

of meetings. There is no record of any meeting after 

May 5, 1897, when 100 attended a dinner at the armory. 

The above information was taken by Emily Mae Buth 

from a report prepared by Brigid A. Coughlin. Other 

meetings are described also. 

WRC oldest group 

The Woman's Relief Corps is the oldest service 

organization in the country, being organized after the 

Civil War, as auxiliary to the Grand Army of the 

Republic. It had its first National Convention in 

Minneapolis in 1883. 

The local Corps was chartered in 1889 in the home 

of Mrs. Mary E. Leavins, who became its first 

president. In 1895 she was Department president. In 

1968 Mrs. Clara Christenson was elected Department 

president. 

In Faribault, as in the entire nation, the W.R.C.'s 

survival measure has been to change their allegiance 

from Civil War Veterans to all veterans of all wars. 

They no longer require that members be relatives or 

descendants of Civil War Veterans but are open to any 

patriotic women of good moral character. 

All Corps are named for a local war hero. Michael 

Cook Corps was named for Michael Cook. He was the 

first state senator from Rice County. He was an 

architect as well as a skilled workman and constructed 

many buildings in Faribault. He enlisted while senator 

elect, in the army, and as a major was killed at the 

battle of Nashville. His body was brought back to 

Faribault and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery. His 

most enduring monument is Michael Cook Post and 

Relief Corps, named in his honor. 

The Civil War Monument on the lawn of the Rice 

County Courthouse is a reminder of the historic 

importance of the Grand Army of the Republic and its 

auxiliary, the Woman's Relief Corps. 

"You will find a very good story about this 

monument and W.R.C. in the Faribault Daily News of 

Thursday, March 15, 1973," Mrs. June Raihl, 

president, commented. 

KC Council chartered in 1904 

The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic Fraternal 

organization, was founded by the Rev. Michael J. 

McGiveney on March 29, 1882 in New Haven, Conn. The 

Faribault Council 889 was instituted on May 5, 1904. 

There were 49 charter members. Edward F. Kelly was 

elected the first Grand Knight of the Council. 

In the early part of 1929, the Council lost all of its 

assets plus the records of the Council in the fire which 

destroyed the Grand Theatre building in which the 

Council at that time had its meeting rooms. The 

theatre stood on the site where the present Paradise 

Theatre is located. The Council undertook the task of 

recovering from the disaster. In 1957 the Council 

purchased the Dr. E. K. Clements property on Second 

Avenue and First Street NW, their fi rst piece of 

property. This was later sold to Bob Cashin who 

constructed the Heritage Apartments on the site and 

the Council bought the Crabtree building on East Third 

Street. 

On March 22, 1966, a remodeling committee was 

named and work proceeded on the complete 

remodeling of the building, which at one time had been 

a garage and later the training center for Control Data. 

A large meeting hall, bar, lounge and card room, a 

modern kitchen, and other facilities were made 

available. The club rooms were dedicated February 5 

& 6, 1967. Grand Knight Heyer presided at the ribbon 

152


~~tting. The building and its facilities were blessed by 

Father Kenney of IC Church. Since then an addition 

has been built. The spacious quarters are in popular 

use and demand by KC's, other organizations and for 

community events. 

as well as sick and spiritual benefits for the members. 

The local circle has hosted the State convention in 

1949, 1955 and again this Bicentennial year of 1976. 

Daughters of Isabella 

On August 9, 1932, a group of 19 women met at the 

Faribault Hotel for the purpose of organizing a local 

chapter of the Daughters of Isabella to become a unit of 

the National organization, founded in 1897 with 

headquarters in New Haven, Conn. First conceived as 

an auxiliary to the Knights of Columbus it later 

became an independent order establishing units 

throughout the U.S., Canada and the Philippines. 

The local chapter was organized with a charter 

group of 37 members in November, 1932, and became 

known as Our Lady of Victory Circle No. 559 and is one 

of the 24 circles in the State of Minnesota. The 

Minnesota Daughters of Isabella State Circle was 

organized that same year and the Our Lady of Victory 

Circle was the fifth circle to be organized in the state. 

The first initiation was held in Ochs Hall and from 

the original group of 19 the membership now has grown 

to over 300 Catholic ladies. 

The work of the organization has been spreading of 

Catholic literature and assuming diversified tasks 

identified with the spread of Christianity. 

The altar of St. Elizabeth at the National Shrine of 

Immaculate Conception at Washington, D.C. is a gift of 

the Daughters of Isabella in memory of Queen 

Isabella. 

The Daughters of Isabella Our Lady of Victory in 

Faribault have been unceasingly active in spiritual, 

charitable, social and civic affairs. In 1943 the Circle 

established a portable altar at the Cannon Falls 

Sanitorium making it possible for the patients to hear 

Mass. In 1945 a statue of the "Prince of Peace" was 

erected in the Faribault city park in honor of the men 

and women in service from Faribault. Scholarships 

were awarded to outstanding students at Bethlehem 

Academy. A generous contribution was made toward 

the Bethlehem Academy Building Fund and also the 

furnishing and equipping of the Home Economics 

department in the new building and in 1973 a gift to the 

Rice County District No. One Hospital of a Directional 

Doppler. This instrument assists physicians to diagnose 

circulation problems and determine treatment. 

Parties were sponsored by the Circle for 

Minnesota Braille and Sight Saving School and also 

holiday social events for the young people of Faribault. 

Outstanding work has been accomplished in 

spreading Catholic action. Part of the spiritual work is 

the constant recitation of the Rosary and annual 

reception of Holy Communion in a body followed by a 

breakfast. The Circle also promotes a mortuary fund 

Book Club active 

The Contemporary Review Club is the outgrowth 

of two other literary organizations, 

The Beta Delphian Chapter was founded in 1924. 

Programs were based on a special set of books with 

study guides, and in 1930, when this course was 

completed, the group continued to meet as the English 

Review Club with Lissie Kiker (Mrs. Russell Kiker) as 

the first president. In November, 1932, the name was 

changed to the name it now has, the Contemporary 

Review Club. 

Originally, meetings were held in Mrs. Agnes 

Klemer's room in what is now the Junior High School. 

For many years the club met at the school, but recent 

meetings have been held in homes. 

In the early days, a favorite place for dinner 

meetings was the Bluebird Inn, just south of Faribault. 

Two members of the original group are still active 

in the club. Miss Lavema Saufferer and Miss Ethel 

Saufferer. 

Welcome Wagon Club 

The Faribault Welcome Wagon Club was 

established on September 30, 1964 at the home of the 

Welcome Wagon hostess, Mrs. Alice Kvale. The 

purpose of the club stemmed from the duties of the 

hostess, which is to call on new people moving to 

Faribault and welcoming them with free gifts from 

sponsors (various businesses in town.) The new 

residents are then invited to join the club to meet other 

residents of Faribault. The club offers many special 

interest groups, such as cards, bowling, handicrafts, 

etc. 

Originally, a group of 13 interested women wanted 

to organize a Welcome Wagon Club: Mrs. Harvey 

Anderson, Mrs. Robert Clark, Mrs. Kenneth Diercks, 

Mrs. George Hammer, Mrs. Donald Haugum, Mrs. 

Richard Huston, Mrs. Don Johnson, Mrs. Vercoe 

Jones, Mrs. Robert Leonard, Miss Edna Meshke, Mrs. 

A. W. Ostberg, Mrs. Harvey Schuldt and Mrs. Layton 

Zimmerman. 

Once a year a Christmas party and a summer 

picnic for a group of residents of the State Hospital are 

given. At the end of the year, any money taken in to the 

club is returned to the community by donating it to 

various organizations needing the money. 

After a business has been a sponsor for five, ten, or 

fifteen years, it is presented with a certificate of 

recognition. 

153

~en &-'8'/ow 

Eastern Star Chapter 

Located in the Masonic Temple at 7 NW Third 

Street is Athens Chapter No. 82, instituted March 12, 

1895, assisted by the Sheba Chapter No. 73 of 

Northfield. The group was constituted on May 31, 1895. 

It is a fraternal organization for women and men 

through Masonic affiliation. 

The charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles 

McDaniel, Mr. and Mrs. S.F. Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. J.S. 

Bachrach, Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Straub, Mr. and Mrs. 

Jacob Fink, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Van Saun, Mr. and 

Mrs. John Van Saun, Mr. and Mrs. William Morris, Mr. 

and Mrs. Henry Pierce, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Puffer, 

Mr. and Mrs. Angus Grant, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman 

Hawley, Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. 

William Day, Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Senne, Mr. and Mrs. 

D.F. Munro, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kahn, Mr. and Mrs. 

Charles Gale, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Birch, Mr. and Mrs. 

William Hawley, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Davis, Anna 

Thomas, Mary A. Grant, Hattie Van Emon, Elda 

Leasure, Edward Salter, Elford Bassett, Sarah 

Shepley, Addie Cadwallader, H.R. Luther, Grace 

Davis, Caddie Beecher and Mary Rogers. The first 

Worthy Matron was Mrs. Louisa Gale and Walter 

Birch was the first Worthy Patron. Mrs. Oliva Morris 

was elected Associate Matron to succeed Mrs. Gale. 

The Golden anniversary of the Athens Chapter was 

celebrated in October, 1945, with a program and tea. 

Mrs. Lydia McCormick was Worthy Matron and James 

H. Caswell was Worthy Patron that year. 

The 75th anniversary was held in November, 1970 

at Shattuck School Refectory with a dinner and 

program. The Grand (State) Officers were special 

guests. Jeanice and Donald Purrington were Worthy 

Matron and Worthy Patron. 

The Athens Chapter was honored during the years 

by three Grand Chapter appointments: Olivia Morris 

and E. Mae Shaft as Grand Esthers and Florence 

Anderson as Grand Chaplain. Our highest honors were 

two elected Worthy Grand Patrons- P. H. White and 

F. E. Jenkins. · 

Star members contribute yearly to many 

worthwhile projects. Two important ones ·are for 

salaries and equipment for Cancer Research, and 

Estarl, which is money for scholarships for young 

people who wish to enter religious leadership training. 

They need not have any Masonic affiliation but receive 

awards on merit and need. 

Newcomers Club 

Mrs. Ralph (Emily) Raymond, Minneapolis, 

organized Newcomers Clubs in several states 

especially in the midwest. A City Hostess was selected 

by civic-minded merchants who represented their 

stores by presenting each new resident of the city with 

a complimentary gift. 

After one visit by the City Hostess to the school, 

home, business or church where the individual worked 

or resided, the newcomer was invited to the club. 

If you are a newcomer to the community you are 

eligible to join the club. Mrs. William (Tess) Johnson· 

preceded Mrs. Martin (Harriet) Steppan as City 

Hostess. Mrs. Steppan held this office for 14 years. 

Several women in the community have served this 

organization. 

Eagles build clubrooms 

"Local Eagles have a new building on Highway 60 

west of Faribault, the Faribault Daily News stated in 

1965. The 92'xll4' structure cost the local Eagles 

$140,000 and they are proud of it. The new building is on 

a lot 330 x 850 feet with parking for 300 cars. A special 

Eagles park is at the rear. 

Gordon Reichert was the 1965 president. Lyle Zick 

was chairman of the building committee. 

The Faribault Eagles Aerie started in 1908 grew to 

a membership of 700 in 1965 and has increased steadily 

each year. The local aerie, recognized as one of the 

largest and most active in the entire state, sponsors 

many worthwhile charity projects. The spacious 

clubrooms are used extensivly for aerie and 

community social events and meetings. 

Flag presented 

1959: "The first flag in the history of the Rice 

County jail was presented by the officers of the Rice 

County Post 1562, VFW, on behalf of the post to Sheriff 

Charles Carver .. Members of the presentation 

committee were Ed Caron, commander; Jack Kenny, 

Del Caron, Francis Sammon, Roy Flom and John E. 

Roell." 

United Fund formed 

The effective manner in which the Faribault 

United Fund organization operates in order to prove 

the truth of the slogan "One drive at one time the 

United Fund Way" was demonstrated in an 

announcement in 1956 by the Rev. Sidney Goldsmith 

president of the United Fund. 

' 

The United Fund board of directors had authorized 

issuance of a check of $520 to the Rice County Chapter 

of the American Red Cross to make unnecessary a 

154


special emergency Red Cross drive for Hungarian 

Relief requested by President Dwight Eisenhower. 

President Eisenhower, in an appeal, had urged all 

Americans to generously support the special Red Cross 

Disaster appeal for $5,000,000 to aid in emergency 

relief both in Hungary and to the Hungarian refugees. 

Robert Gilkes, president of the Rice County Red 

Cross Chapter commented "It is wonderful to have a 

successful United Fund. People of Faribault can be 

justly proud." 

In 1957 Faribault's first United Fund campaign for 

the support of 23 welfare, character building and 

charitable agencies was an outstanding success and 

went over the top by a margin of $4,109. $53,849 was 

raised. The original budget called for $49,740. Rev. 

Sidney Goldsmith then . was president of the United 

Fund. Earl Else was chairman of the drive. 

In succeeding years the United Fund has 

conducted successful drives supporting a large 

number of public service, charitable and character 

building agencies. 

Monday Club 

The Monday Club was organized by Mrs. Pratt 

about 1878 and was originally called the Ladies 

Literary Club. The name was changed to the Monday 

Club in 1897. The object of the club was the 

enhancement of member's knowledge of literature, 

history and art. The membership is limited to 35. The 

club meets twice a month October through May. 

Hospital Auxiliary 

St. . Lucas Hospital Auxiliary was organized 

November 6, 1950. Mrs. Calvin Franz, now of Shannon, 

Ill., was the first president. At the first organizational 

meeting, 24 women indicated an interest in an 

auxiliary. From that nucleus the present day 

auxiliaries of St. Lucas and District One Hospital have 

developed. 

Mrs. Dan Coughlin was the second president 

serving in 1952 and 1953; Mrs. Frank Below in 1954 and 

1955; Mrs. Rueben Schwert in 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959. 

The Pink Ladies were started in 1958. 

In 1959 the St. Lucas Auxiliary was asked to also 

serve District One Hospital. Then it became Women's 

Hospital Auxiliary, and continued to function as such 

until March 1972, when the present St. Lucas Auxiliary 

was organized. Mrs. Eldon Elthon was the first 

president, followed by Mrs. Wilford Bultman, Mrs. 

Wendline Wagner, Miss Hannah Meyer and Mrs. 

Kenneth Poirier, who is the current president. 

Live Topics Club 

The organizational meeting of the Live Topics Club 

was held in the home of Mrs. Brower in Faribault on 

Friday, December 11, 1908. The club was formed for 

general culture and the discussion of current subjects. 

The purpose remains the same today. Topic 

assignments are handled by members. In later years 

there has been one subject, plus possibly a five-minute 

"host's topic," in an evening. Mr. and Mrs. Ernst 

Taylor are considered the founders. Mrs. Taylor was 

the first president. 

The Midwinter dinner is always a highlight of the 

year. On one memorable occasion, a whole pig, 

complete with apple in the mouth, was served. The 

final meeting is the spring picnic. In days past these 

were often held at the Gipson cottage, and one year the 

large, rather stately superintendent of schools, Mr. 

Pike, fell in the water and to the amusement of those 

present, spent the evening in a suit belonging to his 

somewhat small host. These and other stories of the 

club were recounted at the 51st anniversary dinner 

held February 10, 1960, at the Hotel Faribault. 

DA V is active 

The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20 

received its charter on June 30, 1947. Thirtytwo 

disabled veterans were the original members. 

There are now 172 members. 

The D.A.V. is a very exclusive group. In order to be 

a member you must have been injured in the service of 

our country. 

The duties of the organization is to assist the 

veterans and their widows and children. Also, each 

chapter partakes in community activities. The present 

chapter 20's home is at the VFW clubrooms. The 

present commander is Robert J. Endres. 

Legion Auxiliary active 

Faribault American Legion Auxiliary Unit 43 was 

chartered December 14, 1920. The charter members 

were Mrs. John L. Lieb, Mrs. William P. Townsend, 

Mrs. William H. Rumpf, Kathryn Loyhed Pye, Frances 

E. Blodgett, Mrs. D. W. Grant, Mrs. E. H. 

Loyhed, Mrs. D.A. Loyhed, Mrs. W. Geiger, Mrs. W.T. 

Mollison, Mrs. R.T. Mollison and Mrs. M.B. Sweet. 

Mrs. Sweet is the only surviving .charter member. Mrs. 

Lieb was the first president. 

In its first full year - 1921 - the uriit had 110 

members. Today, there are 276 members. The unit is 

active in nearly all programs of the·American Legion 

155

Auxiliary, but puts particular emphasis on the children 

and youth and community service programs. 

Members of the Faribault unit have been active in 

the district and state organizations, too. Three of them 

have served as president of the Third District - Mrs. 

A.L. Rustad, Mrs. W.M. Balfour and Mrs. Elizabeth 

Roberts. Faribault has been host to five district 

conventions - 1926, 1943, 1955, 1963 and 1973 - and 

three department (state) conventions- 1923, 1943 and 

1947. 

the first resident pastor appointed to Faribault in 1858. 

During his twelve years as pastor he laid firmly the 

foundation of the Immaculate Conception Church. 

There were 18 charter members with Mrs. Clem 

McCarthy the first president and Mrs. Molly Dugan 

Coughlin, secretary. Both are still active members: 

The present membership is 27. Officers are Mrs. 

Rodney Mahler, president; Mrs. Robert Healy, vice 

president; Mrs. Mary Kay Alexa, secretary; and Mrs. 

Luke Gallagher, treasurer. 

BPWC active here 

The history of the Faribault Business and 

Professional Women's Club dates back to 1920. 

The organization holds birthday dinners each year 

to celebrate its establishment. It also observes 

Business & Professional Women's Week every 

October. Members attend state and district meetings 

and the winter and spring board meetings. 

The organization has given $300 to the YMCA and 

recently presented a check to be used for Little Sisters 

and Brothers. Money is also donated to a scholarship 

fund. 

One of the outstanding members, who also 

received state recognition, is Miss Lydia Pettijohn, 

now residing in Northfield. 

Travelers Club 

This was one of the Federated Clubs and was 

organized in 1892. In earlier years this was the most 

prominent club in the city in social circles. It is unique 

in that men belong to the club, although the club is 

affiliated with the Women's Federated Clubs. Its 

membership is limited to 32. 

Keller Study Club 

Keller Study Club was sponsored by Mrs. James 

O'Neil in 1934 for the purpose of studying the Bible, 

church history, personalities, other religions, and book 

reviews along with many outstanding speakers, 

Catholic and non-Catholic. 

Also exchange students from other countries were 

invited to give a glimpse of their way of life. 

Using the dues and the individual contributions at 

each meeting, the group has participated in many 

charitable projects. 

The name was chosen for Father George Keller, 

Faribault Woman's Club 

The Faribault Woman's Club was organized in 

December, 1904. Sixteen women met at the home of 

Judge R.A. Mott and took steps preliminary to the 

organization of a Literary Club. On January 11, 1905, 

the organization was completed and called the 

Samovar Club. In 1906 the Samovar Club became a 

member of the Minnesota Federation. The club is also 

a member of the National Federation of Women's 

Clubs. 

The first officers of the club were: Mrs. W. H. 

Robilliard, Mrs. George Weinberger, Mrs. Walter 

Oliver, Mrs. Walter Kilpatrick, Mrs. Wm. Grant and 

Mrs. Walter Adams. 

In 1916 the name was changed to "The Woman's 

Club". 

Although the club was organized primarily as a 

literary club, it has contributed to many civic projects, 

both by money and service. 

Friends of Library cooperate 

The establishment of a ''Friends of the Library'', a 

new organization sponsored by the Faribault AAUW 

branch in 1959, was announced by Mrs. G.M. Cook, 

chairman of the special AAUW committee. 

The purpose of the organization is to offer services 

which will aid the social and cultural life of this 

community. The Buckham Memorial Library has fine 

backing of the city council and excellent work done by 

the staff, but there are some basic needs which can be 

supplied only through community interests and 

community financial support. 

Following is a plan formulated by the Faribault 

branch which seems to be the one which can assure 

some services not now possible under present revenue 

regulations: To enlist concerned members in an 

organization to be called Friends of the Library; to 

elect from this organization when the number has 

reached 60 members, a board of directors to collect 

annual dues, to keep interest of old members and to 

solicit new members; to ask Faribault Foundation, a . 

156


non-profit holding company, to administer the funds of 

"Friends of the Library" at the discretion of the 

Buckham Memorial Library board. 

Members of the AAUW committee were: Mrs. 

G.M. Cook, chairman; Miss Lucille Berglund, Mrs. 

Harold Carey and Mrs. Alfred Crossley. 

Lawyers make 

many contributions 

The legal profession in Rice County, according to 

existing records, has made many contributions to the 

county's growth and consistent development. 

Among the early lawyers who came to the county 

in its formative years in the 1850s, '60s and '70s who 

exerted much influence in the formation of city, village 

and county governments, who represented clients in 

court and who helped in many ways to assure 

Faribault's growth were George F. Batchelder, who 

also served as state senator; R.A. Mott, who did much 

to bring to Faribault its three major state institutions 

- the Minnesota .School for the Deaf, the Minnesota 

Braille and Sight Saving School and the Faribault State 

Hospital, and Gordon Cole, also a community leader. 

Dean of present day lawyers is Lucius A. Smith, 

Faribault, who has been practicing law in this 

community for more than 60 years and is still active in 

the profession. 

Since the 1900s there have been many lawyers and 

judges who have been active in this community 

including: James MacMahon, Judge M. M. Shields, 

Judge Francis J. Hanzel, Judge James Caswell, Judge 

Murray Stockton, John E. Coughlin, Koppel Hallock, 

John Le Crone, Thomas H. Quinn, Ray Moonan, 

Charles N. Sayles, Judge A.B. Childress (active in both 

Faribault and Northfield), Herbert J. Cook, Judge 

Everett F. Malluege, Judge Urban J. Steimann, Judge 

Robert Martin, Winston Johnson, Bennett Olson, 

Thomas Dillon, Ralph Keyes and Patrick Leavitt. 

In the past 10 years, several younger attorneys 

have established law practive in Faribault. They 

include: Eugene J. Crosby and Stephen I. Dokken, both 

of whom came here in 1966; James R. Keating, in 1969; 

James R. Korman, now county attorney; Gregory 

Carlson and James Martin, in 1970; Judge Gerald J. 

Wolf, in 1971; and Gary M. Peterson, assistant county 

attorney, in 1975. Arthur Pearce, now of Rochester, 

also practiced law here. 

Early day Northfield lawyers included William W. 

Pye Sr. and William Watts Pye, Charles Pye, FrankL. 

Clark, A. B. Childress and Burton Sawyer. 

Present day Northfield attorneys include: Osmund 

Aase, War ren Bauer, Bernard Borene, James 

Caulfield, Lee Fossom, Marvin Grundhoefer, J. Lance 

Jacobson, William A. Johnson, Robert C. Kucera, 

Robert Lampe and Peter J. Schmitz. 

Members of Rice County World War II 

Rationing Board are pictured here. Seated, 

left to right: D. D. Coughlin, Ralph Merrill, 

Harry Millis of Northfield, Don Marti, county 

agent; standing: Frank Storch and Bert Kaul. 

Dentists leaders in health care 

Rice County, noted for its health care services and 

hospitals, cherishes the reputation of having had 

available excellent dental health care for the more 

than 100 years of its existence. 

In the earlier days dentists settled here and 

established practices. Some left and others came. One 

of the best known of the pioneer dentists was Dr. E.K. 

Clements who graduated from the University of 

Michigan, practiced for a short time in Ontario, 

Canada, and then in the late 1880's returned to 

Faribault and practiced dentistry with his father. In 

active dental practice more than 60 years, he was one 

of the state's oldest practicing dentists at the time of 

his death in 1955. 

He was a member of the State Board of Dental 

Examiners and a graduate of Shattuck School. For 

many of his years of practice, Dr. Clements worked 

without the use of glasses. 

Another Faribault pioneer dentist was Dr. George 

W. Wood, a graduate of the University of Chicago who 

practiced for many years until his retirement in 1934. 

He also was active in community, social, cultural and 

professional affairs. Another pioneer dentist was Dr. 

Anderegg. 

Other earlier day Faribault dentists included: Dr. 

W.F. Bettschen, Dr. Paro, Dr. Joseph Hanson, brother 

ofDr. A.M. Hanson, a physician; and Dr. C.W. Passer. 

Three dentists, in active practice for many years, 

Dr. Arthur H. Cox, Dr. Leonard C. Brusletten, and Dr. 

D. E. Hogan established Faribault's first dental clinic. 

157

~en G?cfNow 

Dr. Brusletten gained fame also for his interest in 

horses and music. Dr. W. A. Altermatt started practice 

in Faribault in 1912 and was a nature enthusiast and 

avid sports fan. Dr. Brusletten and Dr. Hogan were 

charter members of the Faribault Lions Club. 

Dr. Robert M. Reed practiced dentistry in 

Faribault for many years. He is a past president of the 

Faribault Rotary Club, a perennial Rotary convention 

participant and held offices in affiliated Faribault 

Masonic bodies. 

Establish practices 

Dr. Elwin E. Luhring established a dental practice 

here in the early 1920's following his graduation from 

the University of Minnesota. He was an accomplished 

music enthusiast. Also practicing in the same era was 

Dr. W. E. Barsness, a U of M graduate who began 

dental practice in 1925, continued for many years and 

is now retired, now residing in Tuscon, Arizona. 

- 

Dr. A. W. Goblirsch came to Faribault in 1929. 

Following his graduation from the University of 

Minnesota in 1927, he held a two year fellowship at the 

Mayo Clinic Dental Department, Rochester. He is a 

member of the Pierre Fauchard Dental Academy and 

was a charter member of the Faribault Junior 

Chamber of Commerce, serving as its president. He 

has two brothers who are dentists and a third brother 

who is a physician. 

Dr. Horace Brayshaw graduated from Faribault 

High School and after college graduation returned to 

Faribault to practice dentistry. He then served in the 

U.S. Army Dental Corps. He is now retired and lives in 

Denver, Colo. 

Practicing in Faribault, beginning in the 1940's 

were: Dr. Wayne D. Pickell, Dr. 0. C. Stabbert, Dr. 

Vincent Mulcahy, Dr. Leonard Hugunin and Dr. 

Charles Robertshaw. Arriving soon after were _ r. 

Vincent Paul, active in school affairs; Dr. Howard 

Sauer and Dr. Arthur Daleiden. 

Dr. Pickell is a veteran member of the Board of 

Education of Faribault Independent School District 656 

and for many years served as board president. A 

graduate of the University of Minnesota, he is a World 

War II veteran and a past president of the Faribault 

Lions Club. 

Dr. Hugunin for several years was a member of 

the dental staff of the Faribault State Hospital. Dr. 

Stabbert was active in church, professional and 

community affairs. 

Other dentists still in active practice here are Dr. 

Warren Johnson, a South Dakotan who practices with 

Dr. Goblirsch; Dr. Robert Olson; Dr. James Mulcahy, 

son of Dr. Vincent Mulcahy; Dr. Stephen Spring~eyer 

and Dr. Ted Erickson. Drs. Wayne Smith and Alan 

Fogerson are members of the dental staff of the 

Faribault State Hospital. 

Optometrists serve public 

Twelve optometrists have served residents of the 

Faribault community in a 67 year span beginning in 

1909. They include: Dr. Harold Eggelston, 1909-1959; 

Dr. Donald Chatham, 1904-1963; Dr. Ernest H. 

Kiekenapp, 1922-1936; Dr. Walter Nordin Sr., 1921-1928; 

Dr. Eleanor Beinhorn, 1925; Dr. Selma Johnson, 

1936-1952. 

Optometrists still in practice here and the year 

they began practice include: Dr. Mark McKee by, 1947; 

Dr. Hugh Hanlon, 1952; Dr. Richard Hillesheim, 1955;. 

Dr. Roy Anderson, 1963; Dr. Ed Ludlam, 1971. 

Dr. Kiekenapp served as secretary of the 

American Optometric Association for 35 years and was 

a member of the State Board of Optometry. He also 

edited the American Optometric Journal for 28 years. 

Dr. Nordin served on the State Board for 20 years, 

and held many offices, in the State Association 

including the presidency. 

Dr. Chatham was treasurer of the State 

Association for a number of years. 

Four physicians on 

Central Clinic staff 

Dr. Steven B. Haessly (Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat 

specialist) opened an office in 1910 in Faribault for the 

practice of medicine in the Ochs Building. 

Dr. Carl A. Traeger and Dr. Adolph M. Hanson, 

both internal medicine specialists, joined Dr. Haessly 

in 1914 and the medical firm became known as the 

Haessly, Hanson, Traeger clinic. 

In 1917, the three doctors closed their doors and 

went into World War I Army Service. 

In 1919, the war over, they were united and 

resumed their clinical practice of medicine and 

surgery. At that time they had their offices in the 

O'Neil building which later became the Montgomery 

Ward building. 

In 1928, the three doctors moved onto an attractive 

new building they constructed on Central A venue 

between Fifth and Sixth Streets and the firm was 

called Central Clinic. The building is now occupied by 

Faribault American Legion Post 43. 0. F. Zimmerman 

was the building contractor, P. J. Gallagher and Sons 

Plumbing and Heating and C. W. Turner, Electrical 

contractors, were sub-contractors. 

Wives of the doctors also were active in the clinic's 

operation. They included: Mrs. Haessly (Effie 

Johnson); Mrs. Hanson (Lucille Boxrud) and Mrs. 

Trager (Ruth Hertzler). 

Enters Research Work 

In the spring of 1934 Dr. A. M. Hanson left the firm 

to do research work. 

In 1920 Dr. Hanson established a research 

158


laboratory in his home while continuing his work as a 

surgeon and his research studies included work on the 

parathyroid, thymus and pineal glands and in 1927 he 

was given a prize for research in clinical medicine by 

the Minnesota Medical Society of Internal Medicine. In 

1933 he was awarded a gold medal by the Minnesota 

Medical Association for his discovery of the active 

principal of the parathyroid gland and isolating its 

hormone. In 1935 he was elected an honorary member 

of the Minneapolis Academy of Medicine and received 

one of the first honorary scrolls to be given by the 

Junior Chamber of Commerce of Faribault. 

His war service included serving as a 

neuro-surgeon on five fronts in World War I and 

activating the 76th Station Hospital in World War II. In 

1943 he received an honorary Doctor of Science degree 

from St. Olaf College where he had earned a B·.A. 

degree in 1922 and an M.A. in 1923. All the publications 

and notes pertaining to his research are now housed in 

The Owen H. · Wangenstein Historical Library of 

Biology and Medicine. 

In the fall of 1934, Dr. Arthur W. Nuetzman, joined 

the Central Clinic as a staff member, succeeding Dr. 

Hanson. His wife is the former Clara Engelbretson. 

In 1939 he established his own practice in an office 

in the Ochs building, later moving to the Security 

National Bank building. From 1935-1969 he served as 

school physician at the Minnersota Braille and Sight 

Saving School; from 1941-1969, a period of 28 years, he 

served as Rice County Coroner; from 1942-1969 He was 

physician at the St. Lucas School of Nursing. In more 

recent years he was physician of the Rice County 

District One Hospital School of Nursing. 

Meyer Clinic 

Dr. Paul F. Meyer came to Faribault to practice 

medicine in the fall of 1925 from Belle Plaine. His office 

was located in the Security National Bank Building. 

In 1952, when his son Robert joined him, the Meyer 

Clinic building, 414 NW 3rd Avenue was completed and 

father and son, both of them physicians and surgeons, 

practiced together. 

Robert P. Meyer and Richard H. (younger son) 

studied Pre-Medicine at Harvard Medical School, 

Dr. A. W. Nuetzman 

Dr. Paul F. Meyer 

Doctors go to war- Dr. S. B. Haessly, Dr. 

Carl Traeger, Dr. Joseph Hanson (dentist) 

and his brother, Dr. A. M. Hanson in U.S. 

Army uniforms. Drs. Haessly, Hanson and 

Traeger founded the Central Medical Clinic, 

Faribault, and served in World War I. 

Medicine at the University of Minnesota and obtained 

surgical training at St. Luke's Presbyterian Hospital in 

Chicago. 

In 1954, Dr. Robert P. Myer spent two years in the 

Armed Forces Hospital in North Carolina. In 1969 he 

went to Afghanistan to instruct students of that country 

in surgery. 

Dr. Richard joined his father and brother at the 

Meyer Clinic in 1961 where he practiced until1975 when 

he left to join the Vascular Surgery department of 

Mankato Clinic. All three performed surgery in 

Northfield City Hospital as well as Rice County District 

One Hospital in Faribault. 

Paul Frederick Meyer, the son of the Rev. William 

H. and Johanna Jense Meyer, was born in Sedalia, 

Missouri, on Dec. 17, 1896. In 1908 he moved with the 

family to Faribault, where his father was instrumental 

in the founding of St. Luke's Hospital and St. Luke's 

Evangelical and Reformed Church. 

Paul attended the public schools in Faribault, 

following which he attended the University of 

Minnesota College of Medicine, receiving the degree of 

Doctor of Medicine in 1922. On November 6, 1921, he 

was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Hollister of 

Minneapolis. Upon completion of his internship, which 

159

{§en ~§Vow 

he had served in Minneapolis, he and Mrs. Meyer made 

their home in Belle Plaine, Minn., where Dr. Meyer 

first established his practice of medicine. In 1925 they 

moved to Faribault where Dr. Meyer was engaged in 

the general practice of medicine and surgery for 

nearly 50 years. Later he was joined in practice by his 

two sons, Drs. Robert and Richard Meyer. 

Prominent Professionally 

Professionally and civically, Dr. Paul F. Meyer 

was prominent in Faribault community life. He was a 

member of the American Medical Association, 

Honorary lifetime member of the Minnesota State 

Medical Association, member and past president, Rice 

County Medical Society; member of the American 

Academy of Family Practice; member and past 

president of the medical staff of Rice County District 

One Hospital, Faribault; school physician for St. 

James School, Faribault; county physician for Rice 

County; member of the board of trustees of St. Lucas; 

former member, board of trustees, Shattuck School; 

member of the Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior and 

former member, Cathedral vestry; member and past 

president of Faribault Lions Club; member of 

Faribault Elks Lodge No. 1166; member of the 

following Masonic Bodies: Faribault Lodge No.9, A.F. 

and A.M.; Tyrian Chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Masons; 

Faribault Commandery No.8, Knights Templar. 

Dr. Paul Meyer passed away at St. Joseph's 

Hospital in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 13, while 

visiting his daughter. He is survived by his widow, 

Dorothy, his daughter, Jan, his two sons, Robert and 

Richard; by 13 grandchildren; by two sisters, Mrs. 

William Rieman (Frieda) of Madison, Wisconsin, and 

Miss Hannah Meyer of Faribault; by two brothers, the 

Rev. Karl Meyer of Forsythe, Mo., and Elmer Meyer 

of Minneapolis; and nieces, nephews and other 

relatives. 

Faribault Clinic was 

started here in 1918 

In 1918 Dr. William H. Rumpf and Dr. Walter H. 

Robilliard each had sons arriving in Faribault in a 

short time to practice medicine. 

The fathers were interested in providing good 

offices for them. So with Dr. C. J. Plonske and Dr. Fred 

U. Davis, they rented the upper floor of Farmers and 

Merchants Bank (later Payant's Drug Store) for 

offices. Dr. Charles M. Robilliard came in 1920 and Dr. 

C. Walter Rumpf came in 1922. 

Doctors who joined the Faribault Clinic later were: 

Dr. Paul Weaver in 1938; Dr. Frank W. Stevenson in 

1940; Dr. Burton A. Orr in 1952 and Dr. Paul Bauer in 

1953. 

Dr. William H. Rumpf (wife, Ethel Gusty) was a 

physician and surgeon. Besides giving distinguished 

service to the practice of medicine and surgery, he 

Dr. W. H. Robilliard 

Dr. W. H. Rumpf 

Dr. C. M. Robilliard 

Dr. C. W. Rumpf 

served as physician at Shattuck School and Saint 

Mary's Hall. He graduated from Polytechnic College in 

Brooklyn N.Y. and completed graduate work at Yale 

University. His medical training was acquired in 

German at the University of Berlin in 1901. He came to 

Faribault in 1902 to practice general medicine and 

surgery. He passed away in 1949. 

Dr. C. Walter Rumpf came to Faribault with his 

parents- in 1902. He graduated from Shattuck School 

and from the University of Minnesota in Medicine and 

surgery with honors and a Phi Beta Kappa key which 

he never displayed. He was distinguished in surgery 

and pediatrics and was the physician at Shattuck 

School and Saint Mary's Hall until his retirement. He 

was a colonel in the Medical Reserve and served in the 

second World War in France and also in the Korean 

War. 

Dr. Walter H. Robilliard (wife, Eudora Hauser) 

graduated from Lawrence College, Appleton, 

Wisconsin and received his medical education at Rush 

Medical College, Chicago. After practicing in Iowa 

and Colorado he came to Faribault in 1896. He was 

physician for the Minnesota School for Deaf for 35 

years. He also was president of the Faribault Board of 

Education until his retirement in 1931. He always was 

160


generous and public spirited in his work for community 

progress. He passed away in 1931. 

Practiced at Morristown 

Dr. Charles M. Robilliard (wife, Virginia Schutt) 

followed his father in the medical profession. He 

graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1913 

and, after interning at St. Barnabas Hospital, 

Minneapolis, practiced in Morristown, Minn. for three 

years. He enlisted as First Lieutenant in the National 

Guard Medical Corps and served in France in World 

War I until August, 1919 when he was honorably 

_discharged. · 

Before starting practice in the Faribault Clinic, he 

took Post Graduate work at Harvard Medical School in 

Boston, studying internal medicine and cardiology. In 

February 1920 he returned to Faribault to practice with 

the Faribault Clinic. He served as physician for the 

Minnesota School for Deaf for 29 years and as 

president of the School Board for 14 years. He was a 

charter member of the Faribault Lions Club and of 

Faribault American Legion Post 43. In 1910 and 1911 he 

played on the University of Minnesota Basketball 

team. The team won the Big Ten championship in 1911. 

Each player was awarded a gold basketball. He was a 

member of the Grey Friars, an honorary society 

concerned with the welfare of the university. During 

World War II he served on the Rice County Selective 

Service Board. He retired in 1959 and passed away in 

May, 1961. 

Dr. Fred U. Davis (wife, Erna) came to Faribault 

in about 1905. He graduated from the University of 

Minnesota where he received his medical education. 

He served as city health officer until 1935 and was 

physician for the Minnesota Braille and Sight Saving 

School until 1935. During World War II he served as 

chairman of the Rice County Selective Service Board. 

Rotary President 

While attending the University of Minnesota he 

was manager of the university football team and 

received an "M" for his services. He was a charter 

member of the Faribault Rotary Club of Faribault: 

organized in 1920, and was a member continuously 

until his death. He was the second president of the club, 

serving in 1921-22. He passed away in Jan. 1959 after 

several years of retirement. 

Dr. C. J. Plonske (wife, Marion Clarke) gave distinguished 

service to his profession as an eye, ear, nose 

and throat specialist. He graduated from Rush Medical 

College in Chicago. He had a skillful method of 

removing tonsils and performed many operations in 

the clinic's surgical room. He passed away in May, 

1940 

Dr. Paul H. Weaver (wife, Margaret Glessner) came 

to Faribault in June, 1939 and joined the Faribault 

Clinic as a general practioner. He graduated from Ohio 

State University with B.A. and M.D. degrees. He 

became health officer of the City of Faribault in 1941, 

an office he held for 35 years. He also was physician for 

the Whipple Schools and the Minnesota School for 

Deaf. He retired from active practice early in 1976. For 

many years he was a member of the Faribault Lions 

Club. 

Dr. Frank W. Stevenson (wife, Esther) came to 

Faribault in 1940 after receiving his medical education 

as an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist. He was very 

skillful in his profession. He passed a way suddenly in 

December 1956, just a short time before moving to the 

new Faribault Clinic building on Faribault's east side. 

Dr. Burton A. Orr (wife, Rita Bondy) returned to 

Faribault in 1952. He graduated from Leland Stanford 

University but received his medical and surgical 

training at the University of Minnesota. He has 

distinguished himself as a skillful surgeon. With the 

help of his father, Burton Orr, a prominent business 

man of Faribault, and the other doctors of the clinic, a 

new Faribault Clinic was built in 1956. He is a member 

of the Faribault Rotary Club and also a past president. 

Dr. Paul Bauer (wife, Marilyn Strahl) came to 

Faribault in 1953. He was graduated in medicine at the 

University of Minnesota, receiving his MD degree in 

general practice. He was very popular and successful 

in his career. He moved into the new clinic with the 

other doctors but after a few years moved with his 

family to Phoenix, Arizona where he is still practicing 

medicine. 

Dr. William Furlow, now of the Mayo Clinic at 

Rochester, was not a member of the original clinic but 

joined the doctors in the new Faribault clinic. 

Assistants Praised 

The clinic employed many fine young women for 

receptionists and doctors' assistants. There are three 

who remained the longest and all three moved to the 

new clinic. 

Miss Laverna Saufferer started work at the clinic 

in 1921 when she graduated from high school. Dr. 

Walter H. Robilliard taught her the fundamentals of 

laboratory work and operation of the X-ray and 

Fluroscope as well as other equipment. She was a very 

apt pupil and the doctors too saw to it that she attended 

meetings to learn her trade until she became a 

registered technician. She went to the new clinic when 

it was established in 1957 and became head of the 

medical laboratory and X-ray department until her 

retirement in 1970. 

Miss Loyola Bieter started work for Dr. C. Walter 

Rumpf in 1937 as office assistant. Later she worked for 

both Dr. Rumpf and Dr. Charles Robilliard. She went 

to the new clinic when it opened in 1957 as an assistant 

to Dr. Rumpf and is still working in the clinic office. 

Mrs. Pearl Nordgaard started work at the clinic in 

1947 as a receptionist. She managed steering all the 

patients to their right doctors without mishaps. She 

went to the new clinic in 1959 where she worked as 

office assistant for Dr. Charles Robilliard. When he 

retired she worked as office assistant for Dr. Robert 

Speckhals. Later she worked in the records 

department until her retirement in 1974. 

Ten doctors now comprise the staff of the 

Faribault Clinic. They include: Dr. B.A. Orr, surgeon; 

Dr. Robert Speckhals and Dr. B. N. Merrild, both 

internal medicine; Dr. Asa B. Graham. Dr. R. H. 

Good, Dr. B. W. Gutzmann, Dr. S. F. Ogle, Dr. B. M. 

Tuma, Dr. T. E. Nealy and Dr. William E. Hall. 

161

l/len ~8'/ow 

Dr. Donald J. Studer 

Dr. Donald J. Studer has been engaged in general 

practice in Faribault for 33 years, since 1943. 

He graduated from the University of Minnesota 

Medical School, receiving a B.S. degree in 1937, an M. 

B. degree in 1938 and an M.D. degree in 1939. At the 

University he was a member of Nu Sigma Nu, medical 

fraternity and Mu Chapter of Psi Upsilon, social 

fraternity. 

From 1938 to 1940 he was on the staff of the 

Minneapolis General Hospital. He was surgeon and 

medical officer in charge of Fort Peck Hospital, 

Montana, 1940-42 and was a member of the Abbott 

Hospital staff, Minneapolis from 1942-1943. 

In 1936 he was united in marriage to Marguerite 

Armitage of Minneapolis. They had six children, John 

Armitage, Donna Mary, Marguerite Ann, Elizabeth 

Jane, David Edward and Daniel James. Marguerite 

Studer died in December, 1963. Dr. Studer then, in 1972, 

married Gloria Smith, whose husband, All-American 

Bruce Smith, had died in 1957. She had four children, 

Bonnie, Barbara, Bruce and Scott. 

Dr. Studer's first Faribault office was above Ochs 

store from 194345. He then moved to the Security Bank 

building. In 1948. he moved to his present office, 19 

West Division Street. 

The Studers reside at 510 Fourth Ave. SW, in a 

home built by the late H. P. Leach, prominent 

Faribault lumberman. 

Dr. Studer is a member of the American Medical 

Association, Minnesota State Medical Association 

Rice County Medical Society and Southern Minnesot~ 

Medical Society. He is past chairman of the Rice 

County Heart Association and the Rice County Cancer 

Society. 

He is a member of the Immacaulate Conception 

Catholic Church, a life member of the Rice County 

Historical Society; a life member of Faribault Elks 

Lodge; Past president of Faribault Rotary Club; a 30 

year member of Faribault Council 889, Knights of 

Columbus and a member of General Shields Assembly, 

Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus; a member of the 

Fari ba ul t Industrial Corporation; Chamber of 

Commerce for several years; past vice president of the 

Faribault Golf and Country Club; a committee 

member of Valley County, Montana, Boy Scouts and a 

past chairman of the Rice County Tuberculosis 

Society. 

Dr. J. J. Kolars 

For more than 40 years Dr. James Joseph Kolars 

was engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in 

Le Center (from 1927 to 1943), in Fayetteville, Ark., for 

three years and for more than 25 years in Faribault 

(from 1947 to a few years before his death on Oct. 17, 

1974). 

Dr. James J. Kolars 

He was born Sept. 18, 1900, in Montgomery, Minn., 

to Andrew and Theresia Vanek Kolars. He graduated 

from the Montgomery High School, took his 

pre-medical school degree from the University of 

Minnesota and graduated from the Creighton 

University Medical School in Omaha, Neb., in 1926.· He 

interned at St. Mary's Hospital, Minneapolis, and also 

in Vienna, Austria. 

Dr. Kolars was a member of the American 

Medical Association, the Minnesota Medical 

Association, a life member of the AMA of Vienna, the 

Faribault Exchange Club and the Izaak Walton 

League. 

He was a highly skilled and proficient physician 

who practiced here in the days when only the most 

serious cases went to the hospital. Dr. Kolars was a 

dedicated person who answered his calls regardless of 

the hour, day or night, traveling difficult roads in all 

kinds of weather to serve his patients. He was a 

community-minded person and an ardent 

conservationist. 

Dr. Kolars is survived by his widow, Irene; one 

son, Dr. James Kolars Jr. of Fargo, N.D.; three 

daughters: Mrs. Kenneth E. (Kathleen) Goebel of 

Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mrs. Randy (Terry) Ferlic of 

Omaha and Mrs. Mick (Sharon) Mullen of Moorhead; 

and 17 grandchildren. 

District One Hospital 

opened here in 1960 

Rice County District One Hospital in Faribault was 

born of necessity and made possible through the hard, 

exacting work of many citizens desirous of having the 

best in health, medical and nursing care. 

St. Lucas Deaconess Hospital, founded here in 

1908, had furnished the surrounding area good health 

care for many years. But the hospital by 1950 had 

become obsolete and needed extensive alterations 

162


District One 

Hospital after completion of new addition, Johnson Hall shown at left. 

which could hardly be met without an entirely new 

facility. 

After several meetings by concerned persons, it 

was decided a new hospital would have to be a 

community project. In this way Hill-Burton funds 

could be made available f

Crowd at entrance to Rice County District One Hospital at first Open House. 

Brentlinger, Nerstrand and R. W. Hafemeyer, 

Wheeling. 

The new 72 bed hospital was opened in May of 1960. 

Ronald J. Glodfeltz, then 8 years old, was the first 

patient to be served breakfast in bed at the new 

hospital. Mrs. Alice Luxem was the first patient to be 

admitted to the hospital. She was a nurse and had been 

promised to be the nurse to admit the first patient to 

the hospital, but a fractured hip made her the first 

patient instead. 

A few years later more changes were required and 

the hospital was completely air conditioned and a new 

heating plant installed. 

New Addition Constructed 

Then, in 1971, an attractive new 31 bed addition 

gave the hospital many modern facilities, including 

private rooms, enlarged x-ray and laboratory 

facilities, expanded emergency room and many other 

features which make the Rice County District One 

Hospital one of the finest hospitals of its size in the 

entire state. The medical, nursing, X-ray, laboratory 

and therapeutic staffs all are of exceptionally high 

caliber. 

Members of the board of trustees for the planning 

and building phase of the new addition from 1966-1972 

included: Walter Brucher, Walter Budde, George 

Freeborn, Mrs. Layton Hoysler, Raymond Kern, 

Frederick Kovatch, Leonard Murphy, Dean Nienow, 

Ralph Palmer, David Redfield, Donald Remund, 

Charles Rose, Raland Tebo, Robert Wagner and Henry 

Wegner. The administrator was Donald Bjorlin and the 

architects were: Herty, Elving and Associates, Inc. 

The present 1976 administrative head of the hospital is 

Gaylord Bridge. 

The hospital also serves as a clinical facility for 

Faribault Area Vocational Technical Schools in 

practical nursing and medical laboratory assistants. 

There were so many people who worked on 

committees and gave so much time and effort to this 

project that it would be impossible to name all of them 

over so many years. 

There is no doubt that it was one of the greatest 

community projects in the county which reflected the 

community spirit and an accomplishment by so many 

people and organizations. The hospital has served and 

will serve the community for years. 

Woods family has 

operated three homes 

The Woods family has operated three successful 

nursing homes in Faribault for the past 45 years. They 

include: · 

Woods Home No. 1, 214 Park Ave. (former address 

- 1706 NW 4th St.) Bought in fall of 1931 by 

Ernest and Laura Woods of the Prairieville community 

from the Hattie Parmenter Estate. Mrs. Woods began 

caring for old people there in 1932. In 1942 it was 

licensed by the State of Minnesota as a Nursing Home, 

as the state began licensing nursing homes then. She 

164


was assisted by her daughter, Therle, who graduated 

from the Vocational School of Practical Nursing in 

1940. She continued to administer the home until her 

death in 1958, after which Therle continued to operate 

it. In August, 1970, it became a licensed boarding care 

home. At present it is a home for retarded persons, 

many of whom attend the Rice County Day Activity 

Center. 

Woods Home No. 2, 216 N. W. 7th St. was bought by 

Mr. and Mrs. Woods in 1951 from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph 

Legare who had operated it as a nursing home for 

about two years. Mrs. Woods and Therle continued to 

operate the home as a licensed nursing home from 1951 

- 1957. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Polson served as 

house-parents for several of those years. 

Mrs. Frank (Margaret) Shaske, another daughter of 

the Woods', took over the operation of the home in 1957, 

and continued to operate it as a nursing home until 

March, 1973 when it became a licensed boarding care 

home for geriatric residents under her ownership. She 

graduated in the first class for Practical Nurses that 

St. Lucas Hospital conducted. (1958) The home has a 

capacity of 19, and accepts both men and women. 

Buckeye Manor, 124 SW 1st Ave. was bought in 

December, 1970 by Margaret Shaske and Therle 

Woods. For many years it was called Buckeye Hall and 

was a residence or school for severely retarded 

persons. It was conducted by Mrs. Ruby Anderegg for 

many years, and later by Mrs. Arthur Bell. Mrs. Bell 

and Mrs. Lucille Harkins Haugh converted it to a 

nursing home about 1956. The new owners ( Shaske and 

Woods) operated it as a boarding care home for elderly 

persons from 1961-1975. At present, it is a group home 

for boys under the direction of the Rice County Court 

Services. 

St. Lucas in care 

business since 1908 

St. Lucas Convalescent and Geriatric Care Center, 

a medicare and skilled nursing home, had its beginning 

in 1908, starting out as a Deaconess General Hospital. 

The Rev. William Henry Meyer, along with his wife 

Hannah, was the founder and first superintendent of St. 

Lucas Deaconess Hospital. 

Rev. Meyer and a group of pastors and laymen, 

members of the Minnesota District of the Evangelical 

Synod of North America, organized a Deaconess 

association which was incorporated under the State 

Laws of Minnesota. This is the present United Church 

of Christ. The purpose of this association was to build 

and operate an acute, general hospital in Faribault. 

Mrs. Sarah B. Wilson donated the attractive site 

and with the aid of the City of Faribault, plans were 

developed. The cornerstone was laid October 4, · 1908, 

and the hospital opened May 16, 1909, with an 

impressive dedicatory service. 

St. Lucas was for 51 years the only acute, general 

hospital in Faribault, serving all, regardless of race, 

creed or color. Its contribution . to the health and 

welfare of the community is a living memorial to the 

dedication of the founders. 

Equally important has been the institution's 

contribution to nursing education. Until1920, a training 

school for Deaconesses only was maintained and 12 

Deaconesses were consecrated. After 1920, for 38 

years, St. Lucas operated an accredited, diploma 

school for registered nurses and graduated hundreds of 

professional nurses (RN's) many of whom continue to 

serve the community today. There are three 

deaconesses today, retired, living at the home now. 

When the need for a completely new, modern, 

general hospital, designed to meet today's standards of 

medical care became evident, St. Lucas, its staff and 

sponsors, joined whole-heartedly in the effort which 

made possible the beautiful, new Rice County District 

No. 1 Hospital. 

On April 20, 1960, St. Lucas wrote "finis" to its long, 

exciting, hallowed past and converted its facilities to 

long term care. Most of the patients came from the 

hospital it:~to our large Medicare section for 

convalescence. There are four floors to separate 

patients into different categories of care. 

A member of the council for Health, and Welfare 

Service of the United Church of Christ, St. Lucas is 

owned and operated by St. Luke's Health and Welfare 

Association, a non-profit Minnesota corporation. 

St. Lucas is licensed by the Minnesota Department 

of Health as a "Convalescent and Nursing Care Unit" 

which simply means that there is a physical connection 

with a general hospital, making diagnostic services 

regularly and conveniently available. Also available 

are the special equipment and trained personnel to 

render intense nursing care when needed. St. Lucas 

was remodeled in June, 1957, and this brought the bed 

capacity to 84. 

On Februaiy 8, 197i, St. Lucas added 64 beds in its 

new $430,000 addition. to make a total of 148 beds 

available. Present administrator is Donnelly 

Martinson. 

Pleasant Manor is 

modern nursing home 

Pleasant Manor, a 63 'bed nursing home located at 

27 Brand Avenue, on Faribault's east side, has been in 

operation since July 13, 1964. 

The attractive one story Manor, filling a definite 

need for the "highest quality care at most economical 

cost"- one of the prime objectives of the institutionwas 

incorporated in September, 1963. The 

incorporators were: William Anderson, plastering 

contractor; Lester Lovold, farm store owner; Ferdie 

Burkhartzmeyer, shoe store owner; Joanna Valentyn, 

former board and care home owner and Robert 

165

~en &? c:Jiow 

Jandro, realtor. 

First and present administrator of Pleasant Manor 

is David Meillier, past president of the Minnesota 

Nursing Homes Association and a·ctive on several 

committees of the state and national organizations. 

First director of nursing, who served in that post until 

her retirement this year, was Mrs. Elsie Villwrx:k, 

R.N. 

Changes in management include the following: On 

March 4, 1964, Robert Cashin, contractor purcfiased 

the stock of Lester Lovold. In June, 1967, Bernard 

Buchanan bought the stock from Robert Jandro. In 

June, 1967, Meillier and Buchanan purchased the stock 

of the other three ·incorporators-stockholders. In 

October, 1971, Meillier purchased the stock of Bernard 

Buchanan and became sole owner of Pleasant Manor. 

The Manor has four classifications of residents: 1. 

Private Pay; 2. Medicare; 3. Medicaid (welfare) 4. 

Veterans Administration (by special contract). 

Professional nurses are on duty around the clockj a 

policy which was established when the Manor began 

operation. Physical Therapy was added in September, 

1966 and the home was approved for Medicare Services 

in Jan. 1967. 

Faribault Manor was 

opened in May, 1965 

Faribault Manor opened its door to the public in 

May of 1965. The nursing home was built by Como 

Corporation and M & M Enterprises was the owner. 

Originally a non-profit corporation proposed to build 

the nursing home and construction was started in 1964. 

Subsequently financial arrangements could not be 

made and so Ray Mealey and John McKellip went 

ahead and built the nursing home as planned. Since the 

building was constructed on land owned by M & M 

Enterprises, they felt obligated to carry through the 

project. 

The nursing home is a 94 bed facility and it was 

originally intended to be a nursing home and 

convalescent unit. It began with four services: the 

services of the nursing department, dietary 

department, a physical therapy program, and a 

laundry, to take care of both the needs of the nursing 

home and the patients' personal clothes. M & M 

Enterprises did not intend to operate the nursing home 

from the very beginning. In 1966, after filling about 80 

beds, they decided to dispose of the property. 

In 1966, Rev. Lester L. Mann and his associates, 

who were his family, decided that they wanted to get 

involved in the nursing home project. Since the family 

was medically orientated, two of the sons being M.D.'s 

and 3 other members of the family being R.N.'s a 

formal organization was effected and in June of 1966 a 

non profit corporation of the family was consummated. 

During the next few months negotiations were made 

with M & M Enterprises. 

In September of 1966 Lester L. Mann came to 

Faribault to be the administrator of the nursing home. 

One of the first things that became necessary was to 

enter into the Medicare agreement with the United 

States Social Security Administration. This required 

many documents and many hours of work to get the 

facility and the documentations so they would meet the 

requirements of Medicare. 

During the course of the years since then, many 

added services have been established. An activity 

department was started with Mary Kietrich as the 

head. It has come a long way in meeting the needs of 

the patient in the area of social activities. The nursing 

home also saw that there was a need of social services, 

so six years ago a social service department was 

organized with a part time director. Mrs. Barbara 

Meyer is the present director. Although there was a 

physical therapy department in the beginning, 

continually work as been done to improve this 

department. At the present time there is a physical 

therapist who is a member of the staff and two trained 

aides who carry on the program seven days a week. 

In developing the Manor services the management 

was led to see the need of education and it plays an 

important role in development of personnel and the 

program for the benefit of the patients in the nursing 

home. The nursing supervisor, Mrs. Dorothy Brodie, is 

the third nurse in the state of Minnesota to be certified 

as a ''geriatric nurse.'' In 1968 the Manor began having 

patient care conferences in which the nursing staff, 

with heads of various departments and a number of 

aides, would talk over the needs of the various patients 

and make plans for their care. 

In January of 1975, Faribault Manor saw the 

advantage of having a medical director as part of the 

staff. Dr. B. W. Gutzmann is fulfilling that position. He 

meets with the staff once a week in various committees 

we have, and also to give the over-all direction for the 

nursing care of the facility. 

A team of physicians, Dr. R. H. Good, Dr. D. J. 

Studer and Dr. B. W. Gutzmann, are functioning as our 

medical review team. They meet once a month to 

assertain the needs of the patient on the medicare and 

medicad programs. This function is also necessary so 

that we know whether the patient can stay on these 

programs. 

In 1972 life safety code equipment was installed, 

such as smoke detectors in the halls, automatic door 

closers and an auxiliary electrical unit. This resulted 

in Faribault Manor being able to pass life safety code 

without a deficiency. And we were the first nursing 

home in the state of Minnesota to pass these 

regulations. The staff continually works at up-grading 

the facility as well as the services. In 1976 management 

installed air conditioning to be used throughout the 

facility. 

The staff is grateful that the ministers of the 

Faribault area serve our people in regard to their 

spiritual needs. There are six Protestant churches that 

alternate in having worship services on Tuesday 

morning. The Catholic church also has a Mass on the 

166


first Tuesday afternoon of the month. Clergymen are 

welcomed and are encouraged to come and visit their 

parishioners and to assist them in any need which the 

patients may have in a spiritual nature. 

Mennonite Care Centers, through its administrator 

Rev. Lester L. Mann, are happy to serve those who are 

in need in the Faribault area. Our philosophy is not · 

only will there be safe, clean surroundings and the best 

possible nursing care, along with an outstanding 

dietary department, but that every patient that comes 

to Faribault Manor should live to his or her fullest 

potential while at the Manor. 

Bruce Smith 

Verna Ochs 

works for community 

.serving as president of Ochs Corporation, one of 

Fanbault's oldest family enterprises, is Verna L. 

Ochs, widow of the late Alfred Ochs. 

Being president of a corporation that operates the 

largest department store in Faribault is only one of the 

occupations of this busy lady. Her advice, influence 

and energy are used by many organizations. 

Before coming to Faribault in 1944, Mrs. Ochs was 

secretary to the Archbishop of the St. Paul Diocese of 

the Catholic Church. 

In Faribault, she has been active in the Council of 

Catholic Women, serves on the Board of Directors of 

the Faribault Community Concert Association and has 

been an active member of the Rice County Historical 

Society. For many years the Ochs Department Store 

on its anniversary, has sponsored a silver tea for th~ 

benefit of the society. 

?~e of her greatest interests has been the Hospital 

Auxiliary. She has served as president of the local 

auxilia~, on the Board of Directors, and as president 

of t_he ~mnesota State Hospital Auxiliary. She is also 

active m hospital organizations on a regional and 

national level. 

She is a member of the Board of Advisors of the 

Patricia Stevens School in Minneapolis. 

Bruce Smith hailed 

as city.,s top athlete 

Bruce Smith, who was born Feb. 8, 1920, and 

passed away on Aug. 28, 1967, was a winner of 14 

varsity letters in football, basketball and golf while he 

attended Faribault High School in the 1930s. Bruce then 

went on to the University of Minnesota, where he was 

captain of the 1941 national championship Gopher grid 

squad. He was also a member of the Minnesota team . 

which won the crown in 1940. He was honored by nearly 

every All-American team, being selected to 13 in all as 

a halfback. 

He was then named the winner of college football's 

most coveted award, the Reisman Memorial Trophy, 

for being the outstanding college football player of the 

year, 1941. He is the only Minnesota player so honored. 

In the 1942 College All-Star game against the then 

professional world champions, the Chicago Bears, 

Bruce was named the game's most valuable player. 

Smith then entered the service but continued to 

play football and to gain accolades as a brilliant 

halfback, being named 1942 service football player of 

the year by the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club, 

halfback on the '42 G.I. All-American team, and 1942 

halfback by Grantland Rice on his all-time 

All-American team. In 1943 Bruce was named left 

halfback on Associated Press' service All-American 

football team. 

After leaving the service, he played professional 

football with the Green Bay Packers in 1945, '46, '47 and 

a portion of '48. He was also with the Los Angeles Rams 

in 1948. 

Named to Hall of Fame 

Bruce Smith was nominated to the National 

Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1970. To be 

nominated to the Football Hall of Fame, two matters 

are important: (1) How great a player the person was, 

and (2) how good a citizen he was after college. He was 

nominated by Mike Chupich, who came to know Bruce 

when Chupich did graduate work at the U of M after 

World War II. He was officially inducted in New York 

City in January 1971. 

Bruce Smith will continue to be a legendary sports 

hero, not so much because of his outstanding sports 

achievements, but the skilled, efficient, fairminded 

way in which he performed them. 

Memorial Night Held 

Bruce Smith Memorial Night was conducted by the 

Faribault Jaycees, Lions, Rotary and Exchange Clubs 

at the Village Theater Nov. 14, 1967. 

Proceeds from the event were to go to build a 

trophy case to house Bruce's trophies and placed at 

Faribault Senior High School and also that an award 

would be annually given to a local high school 

student -athlete. 

167

Dick Wildung, a teammate, said "Bruce was the 

finest running back I have ever seen. He was an 

inspirational leader, a leader by example.'' 

Bernie Bierman said, ''A Bruce Smith very seldom 

comes along. He was one of the greatest of all times, a 

great ball carrier, but also a fine passer and blocker.'' 

Film clips were shown of games and also the movie 

"Smith of Minnesota" which he went to Hollywood to 

make in 1942. 

The Faribault High School athletic field was 

dedicated as the Bruce Smith Memorial Field during 

halftime ceremonies of the Faribault-Owatonna 

football game in 1968. The field was so named in honor 

of Faribault's all time great athlete, the late Bruce 

Smith. The dedication was sponsored by the Faribault 

High School senior class and the student council at 

Faribault High. 

Starred In Film 

Bruce Smith was born Feb. 8, 1920, the son of 

Emma E. and Lucius A. Smith. He attended Garfield 

grade school and was a member of Ann Anderson's 

Garfield Drum Corps. In 1938 he graduated from 

Faribault Senior High School with a National Honor 

Society A ward and the American Legion Honor Society 

Award in scholarship and athletics. Bruce Smith 

passed away Aug. 28, 1967, at Alexandria, Minn., where 

he was in business. 

His father, prominent Faribault octogenarian 

attorney and still in active practice here, also was a 

University of Minnesota football line star, playing 

tackle on the same team with Bernie Bierman. 

Murphy developed 

ace Legion teams 

A prized possession of James Murphy, retired 

postal worker, prominent Legionnaire, avid sports 

fan and manager-coach for many years of American 

Legion Post 43 Junior Legion baseball team, is an 

historic issue of the Chicago Tribune. Under Murphy's 

guidance, many diamond stars were developed and 

one of them, Jimmy Pofahl, now of Owatonna, made it 

in the big leagues. Murphy is also a skilled craftsman, 

specializing in the making of handsome gavels. 

The Chicago paper is a facsimile of 16 historic front 

pages published by the Tribune from April19, 1861 to 

November 8, 1933 when the headline read "Prohibition 

is Voted Out.'' 

The top news story in the 1861 paper read: ''Fort 

Sumter, S.C., has surrendered The Confederate flag 

floats over its walls. None of the garrison or 

Confederate troops are hurt.'' 

In the same issue was a story on President 

Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation which read: 

"Whereas, the laws of the United States have been, and 

are now, violently opposed in several states by 

combinations too powerful to be suppressed in the 

ordinary way, I, therefore, call for the militia of the 

several states of the United States of the Union, to the 

aggregate number of 75,000 to suppress said 

combination and execute the laws. I appeal to all loyal 

citizens to facilitate and aid in this effort to maintain 

the laws and the integrity of the National Union." 

Baseball Lakers 

won diamond glory. 

1948 - The Faribault Lakers was the name by 

which Faribault's Southern Minnesota Baseball 

League team was to be known during the coming 

baseball campaign. The board of directors of the 

baseball association decided at a meeting that the 

name "Lakers" was as an appropriate a nickname as 

any previously suggested. The name was picked not 

because of, but in spite of the fact that Minneapolis 

professional basketball team was also known by that 

name. 

Tommy Barrett, the Laker's manager, was 

basketball coach at Bethlehem Academy. 

Most of the pre-season drills were held at Tepee 

Tonka. The League games were played at the 

fairgrounds. Southern Minnesota inaugurated its first 

28 game schedule. Night games began in June. 

The baseball field did not have lights. 

Preliminary plans for the construction of a 

proposed new lighted baseball park at Alexander 

Faribault Park were approved by the city council. This 

action gave new impetus to the Faribault Baseball 

Association's drive for adequate baseball facilities 

here. 

New Facilities Urged 

The baseball association urged immediate council 

action so that the baseball field would be ready for use 

next year (1949) and cited the fact that Faribault did 

not have suitable facilities for night baseball and had to 

have them by next year if Faribault was to continue as 

a member of the Southern Minnesota League. 

The total estimated cost of the items included in 

the modified preliminary plans was $38,499. This 

included $13,000 for lights and $20,000 for the 

construction of a permanent grandstand with the 

remainder for grading and seeding inside and outside 

of the playing area. 

1949 - Faribault's magnificent new municipal 

baseball park was dedicated and put to use for the first 

time on May 25, 1949, when Faribault's Lakers of the 

Southern Minnesota League met the Springfield Tigers 

of the Western Minnesota League in an exhibition 

game under the lights. A ''first nighter'' crowd of 

approximately 2,000 fans, including members of the 

American Legion Knothole Gang, were in attendance. 

The Lakers defeated the Tigers of Springfield 13 to 5 

with a 15 hit attack including two home runs by 

168


manager Ole Lucken. 

Named Bell Field 

The baseball park was dedicated as Bell Field in 

honor of the late Hadley P. Bell, former Faribault 

mayor. Mr. Bell served several terms as mayor and 

was mayor when the city council purchased the 40 acre 

tract west of the fairgrounds which has been developed 

into the Alexander Faribault Park recreational and 

athletic area. Mr. Bell was long interested in baseball 

and was instrumental in acquiring the site for the 

purpose of a community wide recreational area, 

including a baseball park. 

Mrs. Bell was in attendance at the game and was 

introduced by Mayor Andrew Keller, who presided at 

the dedication ceremonies. Mayor Keller, the first 

manager of a Faribault team in the Southern 

Minnesota League and also a member of the council 

which purchased the site, threw out the first ball. He 

still had the ball used in Faribault's first Southern 

Minnesota game and used it as a part of the 

ceremonies. 

1953- The Lakers' Adrian Thompson, Pete Deem 

and Herb Chmiel have won Southern Minnesota 

League All-Star honors and will be among 28 players 

representing all of the circuit's eight clubs who will 

appear in the annual All-Star Game on July 15. 

1956 - The Faribault Lakers captured the 1956 

Southern Minnesota League championship by 

defeating the Austin Packers 7-5. It was the first 

championship since 1931. The Lakers ended the season 

with nine straight wins. Members of the team were: 

equipment boy, Tom Hartman; bat boys: Pete Deem 

Jr. and Bob Kenow; manager: Pete Deem; Players: 

Howie Schultz, Vern Edmunds, Jerry Ackerman, 

Buster Radebach, Wayne Davis, Fred Boiko, Hockey 

Mealey, Dick Kaess, Glenn Novack, Joe Hutton and 

Dick Hoeksema. 

1969 - After several years of inactivity, the 

Faribault Lakers were re-organized in 1969 and joined 

the Four County League along with teams from 

Owatonna, Waseca, Waterville, Morristown, Elysian 

and New Richland. 

The team has made three trips to the State 

Amateur Baseball Tournament since then, the last 

time in 1975 when they were eliminated in the second 

round. 

The Lakers play about 20 home games a year in 

Bell Field, which they share with the local American 

Legion and VFW Midget teams. 

The present board of directors includes Leo Brand, 

Bud Meshke, Lowell Nomeland, Jim Tetzloff, Chuck 

Madson, Jim Reichert, Bob Burke, LeRoy Rockman 

and Nort Johnson. 

Sports facilities in 

park proved asset 

Back in 1937 and 1938 the late Hadley P. Bell, and 

other members of the city council conceived the idea of 

developing a public park within the city limits which 

could provide recreation for old and young, picnic 

grounds, baseball diamonds, football fields, tennis 

court, softball diamonds and parking facilities. 

The council agreed to purchase 140 acres of the 

George Caron farm located just south of the Rice 

County fairgrounds. The council knew that such a large 

recreational area would require several years for 

completion. 

The public reaction to purchase such a large 

acreage by public monies during the Depression years 

was not favorable. There were many voters who 

thought the council used poor judgment. They didn't 

see any need of any long range park development 

plans. As a result, every council member except 

Andrew Keller was defeated at the next election. 

Meanwhile, the council had gone ahead with its 

plans. Work progressed so satisfactorily that in 1939, 

the first large picnic, sponsored by the Faribault 

Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, was held in the 

new area which officially was given the name 

"Alexander Faribault Park" in honor of the city's 

founder. 

When Mayor Bell was again elected, he wasted 

little time in going ahead with park development plans. 

Driveways were constructed, picnic benches and 

tables were installed, outdoor fireplaces were built and 

playground equipment purchased. 

Recreational Area 

Members of the Faribault Board of Education 

realized the value to the city of this central 

recreational area. They purchased for $1.00 several 

acres of land in the central part of the park. In the 

middle 40s they proceeded to build a new lighted 

regulation football field with adjacent practice field 

flanked by outdoor tennis and volleyball courts. 

They next constructed a $60,000 field house which 

serves as a dressing room center for local and visiting 

teams. 

The next development at Alexander Park was the 

construction of Bell Field in the northwest corner of the 

park with a grandstand and bleachers providing 

seating capacity for 3,500 people. Construction of the 

grandstand was started in 1948 and was ready for use 

in 1949. 

In 1950 permanent bleachers were constructed 

with Frank McKellip, Ralph Frederickson and Francis 

Ford in charge, aided by Andy Keller. Tom Rezac, city 

superintendent of parks was also named Bell Field 

groundskeeper and proceeded to build a grass diamond 

and outfield which is regarded as one of the best in the 

state. 

At Mayor Keller's suggestion, the field was named 

in honor of Hadley P. Bell, who had done so much to 

169

~en &?c?/ow 

make Alexander Faribault Park and the new baseball 

field possible. In appreciation of the honor paid her 

husband, Mr. Bell's widow presented the present press 

box dugout communication system. 

Diamondball 

In 1930 on Labor Day the Faribault baseball 

team, known as the Acrobats, defeated Investors 

Syndicate of Minneapolis 8-4 in the final 

game of the 1930 State Diamondball tournament held in 

Crookston. Weir McQuoid was the team manager. He 

explained how diamondball differed from what is now 

called fast pitch su~i.ball. Each team had 10 players. All 

positions were tne same except there were two 

shortstops, one playing right behind second base which 

enabled a team to have five infielders. He was called 

right shortstop. Other than this the game was 

comparable to fast pitch softball. 

The games were played at Tepee Tonka Park and 

crowds would number about 500 people. It would be so 

crowded at most of the games you couldn't move along 

the third base line. 

One of the players on that team, Gil Aase, was 

unable to make it that weekend as he was called to 

tryout for the Philadelpha Athletics. Joe Dee had 

sprained his ankle and was unable to play. Fred Degen, 

Walter Eigenbrodt and Cal Knapp were the winning 

pitchers. 

Hundreds of fans watched the progress of the 

Acrobat Shoe ten through the medium of the bulletin 

board of the Hurryback Cigar Store. 

1951 baseball 

Faribault will be the baseball capital of Minnesota 

for 10 days in September 1951 as the 28th annual State 

Amateur Baseball Tournament opens at Bell Field. 

40,000 fans are expected from as far north as Warroad. 

Bell Field will be the scene of baseball activity 

every afternoon and evening throughout the 

tournament. Thirty one teams will compete in three 

divisions vying for championships in their respective 

classes. 

Faribault Sports, Inc., is the official sponsor of the 

tournament. Officers and members include: C. J. 

Hunt, president; Ruge Fleckenstein, vice president; 

Charles McKenzie, secretary; John Carlander, 

treasurer; Iver Johnson, Del Mills, Charles Popelka, 

A. B. Morris and John E. Coughlin, directors. 

White Sands pool 

The pool opened July 1, 1965. The pool is the size of 

two football fields, and lies on the west side of 

Faribault. It is a glistening body of one and a half 

million gallons of crystal clear water. Surrounding the 

pool on three sides is an apron of pure white sand, ideal 

for sunbathing. On the fourth side is a grassy area. 

The man behind all this was Martin Schroeder, 

owner of the Lyndale Motel. Schroeder said at the 

opening of the pool, "This is what I have built for the 

young people of Faribault and surrounding areas." He 

was president of the White Sands Corporation. The pool 

was purchased by the city of Faribault in 1972. 

1965 basketball 

For the first time in 20 years, Faribault Senior 

High Falcons made their way to the Minnesota State 

Basketball Tournament. They won the Region One 

Tourney by defeating the Austin Packers 61-55. 

The coach for the team is Al Wold and the assistant 

coach is Clyde Newton. The players are: Jim Ohnstad, 

Tom Weaver, Todd Andrews, Fred Zahn, Paul 

Dragsten, Jim Wilson, Tom Kuntze, Sam Wunderlich, 

Gary Kindseth, Jim Rehnke, Mike Graham and Harlan 

Han dahl. 

The first game resulted in Faribault beating 

Virginia 60-55 with Tom Weaver, known as "Jolly 

Green Giant" tossing in 30 points. 

The second game resulted in another victory for 

Faribault, beating Luverne 57-50. 

Faribault lost the championship game to 

Minnetonka 71-60. Faribault received the runner-up 

trophy and were welcomed home by over 1700 cheering 

fans who gathered in the Senior High Auditorium on 

Sunday afternoon. 

Golf course 

1954- Members of the Faribault Golf and Country 

Club voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new golf club 

proposal. The old golf course in Southern Heights was 

to be disposed of and a new course constructed in the 

west section of the city on 30 acres of land lying in the 

city limits and 90 acres lying outside; the west 

boundary to be Western Avenue, the east boundary 

new Highway 165, the south boundary the Grant farm 

and the north boundary, 1 mile north of Evergreen 

Knoll. 

A nine hole golf course was to be constructed first, 

with future plans for 18. The present club house was to 

be moved to the new site and the nine greens 

"stripped" to be used as base for new greens. 

Members of the board included Directors Jim 

Bachrach, Jim Warren, Tom Kaul, Maynard Siemers, 

Art Sellner, Jack Hyde, Mrs. P. F. Meyer, Boyd Sartell 

170


and Lucius Smith. 

1955 - The Faribault Golf and Country Club 

approved the sale of its property in Southern Heights. 

The property consisting of 35 acres of land was sold to 

Botsford Lumber Co. to be developed as a home 

building project. The firm, headquartered at Winona, 

took control of the entire property on Oct. 1, 1954. The 

purchase price was $43,000. 

The new course, located on a north side 128 acre 

plot, known as Beaumann, Molloy, Bieter property, 

was nine holes at the start with plenty of room for 

expansion. Later, when demand for an additional nine 

holes to make a challenging 18 hole layout became 

acute, the new nine hole addition was authorized by the 

board. 

When completed in the mid-1960s, the new 18 hole 

course totaled a rugged, 6,782 yards with par at 

36-37-73. The Country Club's new nine hole course 

opened for play on Saturday, April28, 1955. 

The greens for the new nine hole course were 

stripped from the old Southern Heights site and moved 

to the new location. The old club house was moved to 

the new site. The club was in operation at the former 

site for 50 years. Rising taxes were the reason for the 

move. At that time there were about 450 members of 

the club. Arthur Sellner was president when the new 

course was established. 

Leonard J. Plotnik 

Leonard J. Plotnik was named president of the 

Southern Minnesota Baseball League for 1954. He 

was a member of the board of directors of the 

Faribault Baseball Association for six years, and a 

league representative for a similar period. Plotnik 

came to Faribault in 1942 when he joined the Faribault 

High School faculty after teaching at Canby and 

Benson. He taught and served as assistant football 

coach unti11946 when he left teaching to take a position 

with the Landkamer Furniture Store. He was a 

prominent football and basketball official. He later 

returned to teaching and since has retired. 

First county fair 

was held in 1873 

Another successful Rice County Free Fair and 4-H 

Club Exposition has been completed at the 

Fairgrounds in Faribault, a six day fair held from 

Tuesday, July 27 through Sunday, Aug. 1. 

The fair is sponsored by the Rice County 

Agricultural Society and the Rice County Board of 

Commissioners. From the standpoint of total 

attendance, quality and number of exhibits, total 

Employes of Burmeister Pure Oil Service 

Station, corner of Central Avenue and Sixth · 

Street, now the Merrill Service Station, as 

they appeared during Faribault's "Days of 

'49" celebration. From left to right are: Clyde 

Para, Joseph Burmeister (deceased), Lloyd 

(Cy) Schultz (deceased), and L. E. (Abe) 

Merrill. 

exhibit premium money paid, available facilities, 

quality of grandstand attractions, Midway attractions 

and special features, the Rice County Free Fair and 

4-H Club Exposition ranks among the 10 largest and 

best in the State of Minnesota. 

Present officers of the Agricultural Society and 

Fair Board include William Korff, Faribault, 

president; Harold Paulson, Northfield, first vice 

president; Dean Curtis, Faribault, second vice 

president; Waldo Broberg, Faribault, Treasurer; 

Frank H. Duncan, Faribault, executive secretary and 

Warren Liebenstein, Forest, recording secretary. 

More than 30 residents from all communities in the 

county serve on the Fair's board of directors and 

annually more than 100 volunteer workers contribute 

their services to assure a successful fair. 

County Fairs have a long exposition history in Rice 

County. In fact, county fair interest dates back 118 

years, to February, 1858, according to official records. 

Fairs were held in Northfield and Faribault and at one 

time three different fairs were held in the same week. 

On Feb. 8, 1858, the Rice County Agricultural and 

Mechanical Association was organized at a meeting 

held in Crump's Hall, Faribault. First officers elected 

included: J. W. North, Northfield, president; Levi 

Nutting, Faribault, first vice president; T. H. Olin, 

Northfield, second vice president; I. N. Sater, Cannon 

City, third vice president; L. A. Fish, Faribault, 

recording secretary; R. A. Mott, Faribault, 

corresponding secretary; J. B. Cooper, Faribault, 

treasurer; General committee: 0. F. Pettit, 

Faribault; N. A. Swarthout, Cannon City; W. E. 

Mansfield, East Prairie; John B. Way, Northfield; 

Ferris Webster, Minnemedah; Mr. Bunnel, 

Wheatland; Allison Houck, Forest; Isaac Hammond, 

171

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Houston; John Tufts, Shieldsville. 

Organization Revived 

This association was resuscitated on the 25th of 

June 1870, the last meeting being held in May 1863. The 

officers elected were: Charles Wood, president; J. G. 

Scott of Morristown, Benjamin Odgin of Northfield and 

T. G. Adams of Walcott, vice presidents; R.A. Mott, 

Faribault, recording secretary; H. C. Whitney, 

Faribault, corresponding secretary. In September of 

that year the third fair was held in Northfield. 

Also, according to official records, the Cannon 

Valley Agricultural and Mechanical Association was 

organized in 1872. This institution seems to have 

supplanted all previous societies of a like character in 

the county, except local town associations, wherever 

they existed. 

The first fair was held in 1873, which was the only 

one ever conducted by the association that was a 

financial success, although a number afterwards were 

held. The corporation was formed as a joint stock 

company; $15,000 was subscribed and $10,000 actually 

paid in by about 70 members. The first officers of the 

association were: President, John Harding; treasurer, 

Z. S. Wilson; secretary, Hudson Wilson. 

The fair grounds were purchased from Randall 

Fuller and about $5,000 in improvements were made. 

The grounds embrace a half-mile track, stand, covered 

seats, and conveniences for exhibitions. The property 

finally reverted to Mr. Fuller in satisfaction of a 

mortgage he held. The last fair was held in 1876, and 

the year following the association formally disbanded. 

Six Sponsoring Groups 

A study of the records shows that fairs and special 

expositions were held in Rice County for more than the 

a century under sponsorship of six organizations: 

Rice County Agricultural Society; Rice 

County Agricultural and Fair Association; Rice 

County Agricultural and Fair Association; Cannon 

Valley Agricultural and Mechanical Society; 

Northfield Agriculture and Industrial Association; 

Faribault Driving Park and Agricultural Association 

and Cannon Valley Driving Park and Agricultural 

Association. 

Events involving various fairs in Rice County 

between 1862 and the 1920's, in chronological order, as 

listed in newspaper reports include: July 1862, 

premium list and committees listed for fourth annual 

fair at Faribault - October, 1872, Rice County horse 

fair held at Faribault Driving Park, park and 

fairgrounds located a half-mile west of railroad - 

September 1874, Cannon Valley Agricultural and 

Mechanical Association fair held, premiums listed - 

September 1975, account of fair held by Rice County 

Union Agriculture Society indicates exhibits were 

small and attendance poor - September, 1876, Cannon 

Valley Fair held- October 1880, Rice County Fair big 

success- September 1879, Rice County Union Fair not 

a success - September 1896, successful Rice County 

Fair held - July 1903, Driving Park Association 

sponsors horse racing at local driving park - Farmers 

Clubs of Rice County and Co. Supt. of Schools J. H. 

Lewis sponsor projects for school children- July 1909, 

exhibits shown at fair - County school fair held, Oct. 

1909, winners named - October 1911, group of 

Faribault men sponsor Boys and Girls Fair, lease 

Cool's pasture south of Division Street between 

Straight River and Rock Island Railroad (now site of 

Tepee Tonka Park) for use as fairgrounds. 

Street Fair Held 

October, 1910, exhibits at street fair and harvest 

festival held at Northfield - October 1911, Boys and 

Girls Fair held at Northfield- July, 1913, Rice County 

Agricultural Society, Northfield, awarded the whole 

appropriation for agricultural advertising - October 

1911, Rice County Fair Association, Northfield, 

organized as stock company, leased land and laid out 

race track - August 1912, another successful county 

fair held at Faribault -March, 1913, plans outlined for 

fair by Rice County Agricultural Association 

Faribault Fair Association awards contracts for 

construction of new barns on fairgrounds to Henry 

Mosher - county commissioners readjust previous 

action so as to allow Faribault $750 of the agricultural 

funds. 

August 1913, Rice County Fair Association divides 

funds between Faribault and Northfield for each to 

hold a county fair - successful fairs held in Faribault 

and Northfield in 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 - 

November 1919, annual meeting of Faribault 

Agricultural and Fair Association, debt reduced from 

$4,300 to $1,300. 

The practice of holding separate fairs in both 

Northfield and Faribault continued to the 1920's. 

Eventually it was decided to discontinue the fair at 

Northfield so for more than 40 years there has been but 

one annual fair, held in Faribault. 

During a period of more than five decades there 

have been but five secretaries -William Musegades, 

Dr. Carl Hansen, Henry Adams, C.C. Adams and 

Frank Duncan - the latter serving for the past 30 

years. 

During a century of fair history in Faribault the 

fairgrounds have been located in various sections of 

the city, near the west end railroad tracks, near the 

area now occupied by Lincoln School; at Tepee Tonka 

Park, and at the present fairgrounds, the former Caron 

Farm in Faribault's north sections. 

Flame of Freedom 

A "Flame of Freedom" was dedicated in 1969 on 

the lawn of the Rice County Courthouse. The eternal 

flame was, according to a spokesman for American 

Legion Post 43 of Faribault, a gift to Rice County and 

its youth by Legion Posts of Rice County on the 

Legion's 50th anniversary. Principal speaker of the 

dedication ceremony was Congressman Clark 

McGregor, of the Third Congressional District from 

Minnesota. James Finnegan, member of Post 43 and 

Vietnam veteran, lit the flame. 

172


Faribault Business and Professional 

Women's Club members, all dolled up in 

"Yesteryear garb" enjoy a horse and wagon 

Selective service 

Rice County's first contingent of draftees, under the: 

Selective Service Act, left in 1940 for a year's training, 

at Fort Snelling. The group of four were all volunteers 

and included George J. Jindra, Lonsdale, Route 1; 

Joseph Manley Bouchey, 730 Willow Street, Faribault; 

Herbert Joseph Caron, 333 N.W. 14th Street, Faribault; 

and Ralph E. Lukensmeyer, Arlington Hotel, 

Faribault. Lukensmeyer was leader of the group and 

Caron was assistant leader. 

Scott"s Mill 

Faribault Izaak Walton Chapter dedicated a 35 · 

acre tract of land at the Scott's Mill area in 1961 in 

honor of Ed Chappuie, a nature lover and long time 

employee of NSP. This tract of land was a gift to the 

Chapter by the Northern States Power Company. The 

chapter will keep this tract in its natural state. 

ride during Faribault's "Days of '49" 

celebration parade back in 1940. 

Mrs. Jane Hutson 

is local composer 

Mrs. William (Jane) Hutson of Faribault heard the 

St. Olaf Women's Chorus sing "Peace and Joy", a 

Christmas Carol she had written in 1966. Her reaction 

was, "It seemed like a miracle to me that music that 

had existed in my mind should one day fill a hall with 

beauty." 

She took piano lessons as a child and did some 

accompaniment work later. She played bassoon in the 

band. 

After she was married and while living in Brooklyn 

Center, she had a teacher who started teaching her 

improvisation. Her interest in music composition 

began. She wrote "Peace and Joy" for the Brooklyn 

Center Women's Chorus for whom she was the 

accompanist. Because the chorus director became ill, 

they never sang the Christmas program that included 

her song. 

"Peace and Joy" is written for a three part 

women's chorus. The words, which Mrs. Hutson wrote 

with her daughter's help, begins "Angels sing of peace 

and joy; Sing of the birth of a baby boy.'' 

173

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Senior citizens saluted in 1958 

In keeping with the state-wide project suggested 

by the Governor's citizen's council on Aging, the 

Faribault Daily News in 1958 published a series of 

"Senior Salutes." Each typified the many others in the 

area who, like the ones selected, were as inspirational 

and as young in spirit, but time and space did not 

permit the telling of their story. The series was written 

by H. Woody Bailey, Daily News staff writer. 

(1) The Most Rev. Monsignor John P. Foley, 81, 

pastor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. 

(2) Burton E. Orr, 86, businessman; operates Orr's 

Ladies and Children's Ready to Wear which he began 

atage63. 

(3) Miss Mary Buchanan, 92, teacher; 

remembered and loved by hundreds as "their favorite 

teacher." 

(4) Mrs. L. W. (Pauline) Donner, 90, housewife, 

mother of six children; a generous spirit and pleasant 

disposition; "star" of her family. 

(5) Carl Clarine, 90, Clarine Greenhouse, 1895; still 

turns in a full day's work in the greenhouse; family, 

church, hobbies keep him "young in heart." 

(6) Dr. F.R. Huxley, 84, served the Faribault and 

Rice County area for nearly 60 years; his humble 

manner and genuine love of people has won for him a 

host of friends, young and old. 

(7) Mrs. William (Louise) Fehn, 92, housewife, a 

hard worker; giving of herself to help others, her 

family, enriched her life_. 

(8) Mrs. Katherine Schneider, 95, caring for the 

sick and serving as a midwife for early day farm 

mothers brought Mrs. Schneider times of greatest joy. 

(9) Mrs. Minnie Bieter, 89, arrived in Faribault at 

the age of six, with pioneer spirit inbred. At the age of 8 

she began to pick out melodies on the piano. Music has 

been her love all her life and she is a self-taught 

pianist. 

10) Bert Chappuie, 86, remembers when he would 

go down where the Woolen Mill now stands and catch 

fish with his hands. You could hook a pickerel as long 

as your arm without half trying. Mr. Chappuis, in his 

early years, worked for a company that manufactured 

baby carriages. He worked for Northern States Power 

Co. for many years; 

(11) Charles Peasley drove the fi rst railway 

express truck in Faribault. That was in 1928. Previous 

to that time three horse-drawn wagons were used to 

deliver packages. He drove one of those too. When he 

was 19 he delivered three carloads of feeder cattle to S. 

L. Bean of Larimore, N.D. There he stayed for two 

years but he decided Minnesota was fo r him. He 

farmed in the Richland Township area, finally going to 

work for the express company. Retirement came in 

1936, but his determination to learn always stayed with 

him. He taught himself to type on his portable 

typewriter. 

Leach stock sold to 

lumber dealers 

The entire stock of lumber and building materials 

owned by the Leach Lumber and Coal Company, an 

important industry in Faribault for 91 years, was sold 

to the four other lumber dealers in Faribault. The late 

Charles Dillon, who started working for the firm in 

1909, sold all his stock and retired from the lumber 

business. 

One of Faribault's pioneer industries, the company 

was founded in 1857 by L. C. Ingraham as a sash, door 

and blind factory, using a windmill for power. It was 

purchased by E. M. Leach in 1866. Its capacity for 

business was enlarged. In the wood-working 

department, over 80 men were employed. There also 

was a feed mill operated in connection with the 

wood-working establishment and the lumber yard. 

In 1907, a new store was erected fronting on Fourth 

Street. The same year the company was incorporated 

by E. M. Leach and his two sons, Herbert P. Leach and 

Albert R. Leach. Herbert was named vice president 

and Albert was named secretary-treasurer. Herbert 

became president in 1909. 

Stone industry in early 

days important 

The stone industry is one of the oldest in and 

around Faribault. When the earliest settlers reached 

Rice County, quarries were opened to furnish stone for 

the foundations of their buildings and to build some of 

the most substantial of the buildings themselves. 

One of the earliest in Faribault was the Mike Doyle 

Quarry, opened in 1856 on the site of Wapacuta Park, 

Another was the Phillip Cromer Quarry which 

was started in 1865 but was not worked much until1867. 

In later years the Lieb family operated the 

quarry. Faribault marble is susceptible of a fine 

and uniform polish, has a compact texture and gray 

color when polished. Quite a quantity of marble was 

cut and polished for table tops and mantles. The Rice 

County Courthouse in Faribault has the Faribault 

marble sawed for the trim stone. 

174

Chapter VI 

County board, 

Northfield and villages 

County board completes 

projects, faces more 

The Rice County Board of Commissioners is 

responsible for conducting Rice County's government. 

Comprising the board are: Martin Hachfeld, Cannon 

City, chairman; Daniel Minnick, Faribault, vice 

chairman; William Wells, Faribault, former 

chairman; Charles Miller, Northfield, former 

chairman; Lawrence Valek, Webster. ·- 

Many problems have confronted this and 

preceding county boards. Every effort has been made 

to keep the public informed. One of the board's major 

responsibilities is the levying of taxes. Projects 

achieved by the board, problems solved and problems 

seeking solution in the future are discussed by each 

commissioner in special statements for this 

Bicentennial Book: 

Chairman Hachfeld, First District: 

Congratulations to each of you for being residents of 

one of Minnesota's outstanding counties this 

Bicentennial Year. You have distinguished yourselves 

by being hard working, industrious, forward-looking, 

honest and sincerely friendly. Farms and business are 

flourishing. Your homes are beautiful. 

Rice County's government also is progressing. In 

recent years, we have constructed many miles of 

bituminous roads, new bridges mark the landscape, a 

new County Law Enforcement Center, costing 

Rice County Board of Commissioners - left 

to right, sitting: Daniel Minnick, Faribault; 

Martin Hachfeld, Cannon City; chairman; 

Mrs. Lorraine Nelson, board secretary. 

Standing: Lawrence Valek, Webster; Ervin 

Boelke, auditor-administrator; Charles H. 

Miller, Northfield; William Wells, Faribault. 

175

Official Bicentennial Flag in Courthouse 

Rotunda. Members of county board, William 

Wells, Ervin Boelke, Daniel Minnick, Charles 

Miller, Martin Hachfeld and Lawrence Valek, 

admire it. 

$1,300,000 has been built as has a new County Highway 

Building, costing $425,000. Remodeling of the old 

county jail and the present courthouse, projects now 

underway, will give us excellent facilities. 

All this has been and is being accomplished on a 

pay-as-you-go basis. There is no bonded indebtedness 

against property for these improvements. Other 

service improvements include: 1. Established County 

Park System involving 1,000 acres; 2. Planning and 

Zoning; 3. Board of Health; 4. Modernized Assessing; 

5. Computerizing Tax Billing; 6. Expanded Correction 

Program; 7. Established Group Home for Boys. 

Looking to the future we see a great need for: 

Continued Openness in Government; Welfare Reform; 

An effective Land Use Policy; Expanded Programs for 

Conservation of Soil, Water, Wildlife; A hard look at 

and changes in all Social Service Programs which will 

meet the needs of all of our people without undue cost. 

Thank you for the opportunity of serving you, the 

citizens of Rice County. 

Vice Chainnan Minnick, Fourth District: I feel the 

future holds some very tough decision making in the 

field of finance, especially in the many programs being 

returned to local and county governments by state and 

federal governmental units. I feel that we, as a board, 

will have to make very definite decisions to bring these 

new programs and services in line with our structure, 

thus not to place too much of an added burden on 

county taxpayers. 

Commissioner Wells, Third District: The future 

priorities of Rice County will change from time to time. 

Ordinances will need to be improved and rewritten as 

people demand more and better services from the 

county. Some of the immediate needs for the county 

that will have to be taken care of in the not too distant 

future ·are: the replacement of several very old bridges 

on our county road system (work already has been 

started by the present board on needed bridge 

176

County board, Northfield & villages 

Rice County's imposing courthouse, built of limestone rock, and historic soldier statue. 

projects); more space is needed for the Judicial 

System and office staffs in the courthouse (plans for 

this project already have been drafted). 

The Rice County Board will have to continue to 

review its spending priorities from time to time as the 

need arises. 

Commissioner Valek, Fifth District: In the past, 

greater emphasis has been put on the use of land in 

Rice County. In August of 1975, a new zoning law went 

into effect to conserve our precious agricultural land. I 

feel this was a great step forward in preserving the 

land for future generations. 

In the future, I can see county government working 

more closely with the state in setting new policies. Our 

state officials are recognizing the need for more local 

input from the counties. 

My term in office as commissioner from the Fifth 

District of Rice County began in January of 1975. It has 

been my privilege to serve in this office through the 

200th birthday of our nation. As commissioner, it was 

one of my duties to appoint several members to the 

county Bi-Centennial Commission. It has been through 

the commission's unselfish efforts and many hours 

spent, that this fine book is made possible. The 

commission members are to be commended for it. 

In my particular district, I have been working 

closely with the Department of Natural Resources in 

preserving our Wildlife Resources. I feel this is very 

important to the future generations. 

In closing, I would like to comment on the good 

working relationship this county board has. This is 

vital for equality for all of the taxpayers in the county. 

Commissioner Miller, Second District: As a 

member of the Rice County Board for several years, I 

definitely am aware of the increasing number of new 

problems confronting local, county, state and federal 

governments. 

Within a comparatively short time our way of 

living has been affected by rural-urban problems; by 

sociological and psychological changes and attitudes; 

by a growing demand for new public services; by a 

growing demand on the part of the public for full 

information as to how elected officials are spending the 

taxpayers' money and if monies appropriated for 

specific projects are justified. 

I think this new change in public attitude is 

commendable. As a commissioner I pledge to do all in 

my power to see that specific priorities - listed in 1, 2, 

3 order are enumerated by boards, agencies, 

organizations and societies seeking appropriations 

from the county board. If this is done, the county board 

can act justly and fairly with the interests of the entire 

county in mind. 

I feel that our county board has accomplished 

many projects for the betterment of the county. We 

have many more problems and projects confronting us 

in the future, such as construction of new road bridges, 

remodeling the county jail and courthouse offices and a 

thorough look at all county public services. 

It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as 

county commissioner during this Bicentennial Year. 

177

'li1en ~ c?/ow 

District, county courts 

have excellent records 

The administration of policies and regulations in 

governing Rice County is in charge of the Rice County 

Board of Commissioners. 

Present chairman is Martin Hachfeld of Cannon 

City. Other members include William Wells, 

Faribault; Charles Miller, Daniel Minnick, Faribault 

and Lawrence Valek, Webster. 

Elected county officials include: Ervin L. Boelke, 

county auditor and administrator; Anna C. Cate, 

county treasurer; Ralph E. Brown, register of deeds; 

William A. Stransky, sheriff; James Korman, county 

attorney; Urban J. Steimann, judge of district court; 

Gerald Wolf, judge of county court; Thomas Taylor, 

county surveyor; Asa B. Graham. M.D., county 

coroner. 

County appointive officers include: Roger Story, 

county assessor; Arthur Storhaug, county engineer; 

Barbara Moebius, public health nurse; Chester 

Pearson, welfare director; Planning and Zoning 

administrator, William Gill; sanitarian, Merton 

Hoover; parks and recreation, Glenn Cramer; county 

extension director, Warren Liebenstein; assistant, 

Arthur Madsen; County home agent, Yvonne 

Stein bring; veterans service officer, Charles 

Fleckenstein; civil defense director, Palmer Dragsten. 

Ray Sanders is clerk of district court and also 

serves as clerk of county court, an appointment he 

received in 1975. He is the 16th person to have held that 

office in this county. He assumed the post in 1964 and is 

now in his 12th year of service. 

Preceding clerks of court included: H. M. 

Matteson, 1&56-58; J. Ezra Buck, 1858-1860; Miles 

Hollister, 1860-1864; C. C. Perkins, 1864-1869; James S. 

Shonts, 1869-1873; C. A. Bailor, 1873-75; James G. 

Shonts, 1876-1877; C. T. Palmer, 1877-1889; C. 0. 

Kleven, 1889-1895; George D. Reed, 1895-1905; Charles 

F. Ebel, 1905-1921; Robert Sime, 1921-1926; Helen Sime, 

1926-1931; John Nitcher, 1931-1933; Elmer N. Heck, 

1933-1964. 

Sanders was born in 1928 in Goodhue County and 

graduated from Faribault High School in 1946. From 

1946-64 he was employed by Nutting Truck and Caster 

Company as district and regional sales manager. He 

served in the US Army-Korean War 1951-53. He was a 

member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce for 12 

years, in 19t:il receiving the Gold Key for distinguished 

community service. A member of Faribault Post 43, 

American Legion for 23 years he was designated 

Legionnaire of the year in 1967. 

In 1970-71 he served as president of the Faribault 

Lions Club and served as president of the United Fund 

in 1969-70 and as president of the Booster Club in 1971 

and 1972. He served as trustee chairman of Trinity 

Lutheran Church in 1974 and 1975 and a community 

service board member in 1975 and 1976. He was elected 

to office in 1964 as clerk of district court and was 

reelected without opposition in 1968 and 1972. He is 

married to the former Mary Ann Velzke. They have 

five children. 

In the past 119 years Rice County has been served 

by eight judges, according to official records of Rice 

County Clerk of Court Ray Sanders. 

The Hon. H. M. Donaldson served as district judge 

for 14 years, from 1857 to 1871. The Hon. Samuel Lord 

served nine years, from 1871 to 1880 and the Hon. 

Thomas S. Buckham, served for 30 years from 1880 to 

1910. The Hon. A. B. Childress was on the county 

district court bench for 13 years, from 1910-1923. The 

Hon. Fred W. Senn served 18 years from 1923 to 1941, 

the Hon. Axel B. Anderson served 16 years from 1941 to 

1957 and the Hon. John Cahill was district court judge 

for 12 years, from 1957 to 1969. 

Current head of Rice County District Court is the 

Hon. Urban J. Steimann, who was appointed to the post 

in 1969, following Judge Cahill's death. 

Judge Steimann, who for many years practiced 

law in Faribault, was born in 1908 in Sherburn, Minn. 

He graduated from Sherburn High School in 1926. He 

graduated from St. Thomas College (BA degree) in 

1930; from Minnesota College of Law (LL.B) in 1934 

and received a JD degree from William Mitchell 

College of Law in 1969. He was engaged in general law 

practice in Faribault for 32 years, from 1937-69. 

His public service record includes: former Rice 

County Court Commissioner (1938-43); Acting Rice 

County Attorney (1943-46) Faribault City Attorney 

(1947-48) Rice County Attorney (1948-59). 

Named Judge in 1969 

He was appointed Judge of Rice County District 

Court on January 29, 1969 and was elected to a full term 

without opposition on Nov. 3, 1970. 

Judge Steimann is a member of the Faribault 

Lions Club; Faribault Elks Lodge No. 1166; Faribault 

Knights of Columbus Lodge No. 889; General Shields 

Assembly, Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree; Isaak 

Walton League; local state and national Bar 

Associations; American Jurisprudence Society, 

member, board of directors of Faribault Art Center; 

Opus Sanct Petri, Archdiosean Bureau of Catholic 

Charities. 

Judge Steimann was the recipient of the 

Archdiocesan Distinguished Service Medal in 1959 and 

the Faribault Junior Chamber of Commerce Honorary 

Life Member and Distinguished Service A ward in 1971. 

Judge Steimann married Dorothy M. Glancy in 1950. 

They have six children. 

The Faribault Municipal Court, according to 

official records, was served by four judges, Mike 

Donahue, Justice of the Peace and judge prior to 1925; 

Murray Stockton, 1925-1939; James Caswell, 1939 to 

1963; Everett Malluege, 1963-1971. 

Four Probate Court Judges 

There have been four Rice County Probate Court 

Judges, George L. Smith, 1906-1914; Martin Shields, 

1914-1936; Francis Hanzel, 1936-1955; Robert Martin, 

1955-1971. 

Since establishment of the Rice County Court there 

have been three judges, Robert Martin, who served 

178


from 1971-75; Gerald Wolf, elected in 1975 and who 

currently is serving a six year term and Everett 

Malluege, who has been serving as Court Judicial 

Officer since 1971. 

Judge Gerald Wolf was born in 1939 at Esmond, 

North Dakota. Graduate Esmond grade and high 

school (1957), North Dakota State University (1961), 

Moorhead State BA Degree (1967), University of North 

Dakota School of Law (1970); North Dakota and 

Minnesota Law diploma; General law practice and 

ass't. county attorney (1971-1975); member local, state 

and national bar associations and Rotary Club; elected 

Rice County Court Judge Nov. 1974, took office Jan. 

1975, married Mary Bakken in 1965, two children. 

Judicial officer Everett Malluege was born 1905 in 

Faribault, graduated Faribault High School 1924, 

Minnesota College of Law graduate 1929; general law 

practice 1929-1976; municipal judge 1963-1971; judicial 

officer 1971 (presently serving); local, state and 

national bar associations; married Florence Olson in 

1940. 

Northfield., city of fine 

homes., colleges., progress 

By MRS. MARGE NEUHAUS 

Northfield, the second largest city in Rice County, 

is located at the junction of the Northfield-Bridgewater 

township line and Dakota County. The Cannon River 

flows diagonally through the city northward to join the 

Mississippi River at Red Wing. 

This was the land of the Whapekute, a tribe of the 

Sioux Nation, intent on fishing and hunting in the ''Big 

Woods" to the west and the prairies to the east. They 

marked trails from Faribault to St. Paul, Hastings and 

Red Wing. 

Daniel Kirkendahl, in 1854, followed one of the 

trails and staked a claim on the future site of Carleton 

campus. Within a few weeks, he was joined by 

Alexander Stewart, James Alexander, Herman 

Jenkins and T. H. Olin. N. B. and T. R. Coulson arrived 

to build a store. The Rev. Cressey, a Baptist minister, 

stopped weekly to hold services. 

Lo! a settlement. 

Down the road from St. Anthony Falls, came John 

W. North headed for Faribault to look at land. He 

paused to visit with the Alexanders and made note of 

the available water power, the abundance of timber, 

and the promise of the fertility of the soil. When 

Faribault proved to be a disappointment, North 

returned to the claim of the Alexanders and purchased 

320 acres from Kirkendahl, Jenkins and Turner. He 

was pleased to find a congregation of 

Congregationalists had been founded. 

North commenced work on a dam and a saw mill 

that was ready for operation in December, 1855. The 

saw mill worked day and night to produce the lumber 

that was needed to build the houses, shops and the 

school building. North built a house for his wife, Ann 

Loomis North, and their three children on the east side 

of the river adjacent to the present Central building. It 

was a small four room frame house with the inside 

walls made of muslin tacked to the studding. It was 

heated by four large and hungry stoves that did little to 

reduce the chilling temperatures of the Minnesota 

winter. Although the house was small and crowded, 

there was room for Ann's piano, the first such musical 

instrument in the state. The family moved into their 

new house on a cold and windy day, January 3, 1856. 

John North, late of New York state and St. Anthony 

Falls, lawyer, abolitionist, temperance, politician, and 

one of the founders of the University of Minnesota, now 

became a proprietor of a town. He surveyed the town, 

platted the streets, and sold lots with the provision that 

no liquor be sold on the property. 

School Is Opened 

Herman Jenkins built a hotel on the S.E. corner of 

5th and Division. Hiram Scriver, late of New York, a 

young man in search of his fortune, bought the Coulson 

store and moved it south one lot so a square could be 

formed. A school with 25 pupils was opened. A lyceum 

was established and a reading room was opened over 

the Scriver store. The post office was moved in from 

Fountain Grove, south of town, and the Episcopalians 

were holding church services in the homes. By the end 

of 1856, forty families were comfortably established in 

Northfield. 

In spite of the depression of 1857, the town kept 

growing. John North built the American House, an 

elaborate stage coach hotel and relay station with a 

stable in the basement, on the corner of Washington 

and 3rd Streets. Traces of the driveway can still be 

seen. A lyceum building used for the village hall, 

reading room, library, debates and lectures was built 

by North. (It is now the offices of Dr. Elvin Heiberg). 

Dr. Scofield, who founded the Methodist meeting in 

Fountain Grove, two miles south on TH 246, built a 

house and drugstore next to the Jenkins hotel. Scofield 

was joined by Dr. Hanchet. 

Mr. Kimball built the Mansion House, a hotel and 

saloon on the west side of the river beyond the 

jurisdiction of Mr. North. Or so he thought. Some of the 

gentlemen from the east side donned masks and raided 

the Mansion saloon and destroyed all the fiery spirits in 

the establishment to demonstrate that no liquor means 

no liquor. 

The Methodist congregation laid the foundation for 

a church building on 6th street, under the consecrated 

leadership of Rev. McKinley who later rose to the 

highest pastorates and position in the conference. 

Because everyone was poor and money scarce, the 

building was not completed until1859. 

Buys North Interests 

During that summer, Mr. North found himself over 

extended on his loans. He appealed to his friend, 

Charles Augustus Wheaton, a lawyer in Syracuse, New 

York. Wheaton, a recent widower with grown children, 

came to Northfield to visit the Norths. Whether it was , 

the business opportunities or the talented and lovely 

Martha Archibald Wegner that caught his eye, is not 

179

~en &-'§Vow 

known, but he bought out all of the N orths' interests, 

married Martha and settled down to raise a family of 

12. John North and his family moved to the West where 

he was employed in various government agencies. 

While the Civil War raged in the south and the 

Sioux were raiding along the Minnesota River, 

volunteers from Northfield enjoined the battle on both 

fronts. The women formed Soldier Aid societies, 

spending hours making quilts, pillows, bandages, 

shirts, drawers, and stockings. The Congregationalists 

built their first church on the corner of 4th and 

Washington. 

When the boys came marching home, they found 

the Minnesota Valley railroad, later absorbed by the 

Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, in operation. And 

they cheered the Northfield "Silver Stars" at the first 

baseball game played in the state of Minnesota. And 

they cheered and cheered. The Silver Stars were state 

champions for a time. 

Captain and Mrs. Jesse Ames moved to Northfield 

from a farm near Cannon City. The captain, an old sea 

dog, had been owner as well as captain of a fleet of New 

England clipper ships. The farm had been the idea of 

Adelbert, their son, who thought the peace and 

tranquility of the rural scene would bring serenity to 

his parents' sunset years. But the rolling prairie was 

not the rolling sea and Cannon City was not the 

Captain's idea of an exotic port of call. Adelbert, now a 

general in the U.S. Army, holder of the Congressional 

Medal of Honor, had another battle on his hands. It was 

the fall of 1864 before Adelbert was able to visit with his 

restless parent. Hoping that the Captain would be 

happier running a tighter ship, Adelbert bought the 

North mills from C. A. Wheaton for his father. Now 

Captain Jesse Ames, mill proprietor, had a solid 

wooden deck beneath his feet. He built a mansion on 

Division street, helped found the First National Bank, 

and became one of the most active leaders in the 

community. 

Governor Joins Father 

General Adelbert Ames was elected governor of 

post war Mississippi. Northern administrators were 

hated by the defeated South and Ames was no 

exception. Mississippians tried to have Ames 

impeached but he was cleared of all charges by a 

congressional committee. Resigned to the situation, 

the General moved to Northfield and joined his father 

in the mills. 

As the membership of the Congregational 

churches in the state of Minnesota grew, so did the 

yearnings for a church school. Northfield was chosen 

for the site. In 1867, Northfield College opened in the 

American House with 23 students. Horace Goodhue 

was the first principal. Hiram Scriver, one of the board 

members, donated an old store building that was 

moved just north of the present library and used for a 

boarding house for the male students. The boys did 

their own cooking, mostly pancakes. Hence the name 

''Pancake Hall.'' 

Two blocks south, All Saints Episcopal church was 

built in the Gothic Revival style, at a cost of $1,620. It 

was consecrated in 1867 by the Rt. Rev. Henry B. 

Whipple. The structure is still standing. 

In 1868, the cornerstone of Willis Hall was laid, 

signaling the beginning of the Carleton campus. 

Completed in 1872, it housed classrooms, chapel and 

the men's dorms. Willis Hall was named after Susan 

Willis, a most generous benefactor. Despite a few 

modifications and over a hundred years of continual 

use by an ever increasing student body, it is in good 

condition and remains an excellent example of 19th 

century stonework. Willis Hall has been nominated to 

the National Historic Sites Registry. Although dwarfed 

by new buildings, and half hidden by lovely old trees 

and aged vines, it remains the hub of campus life 

containing the student union, book shop and snack bar. 

The First Baptist Church in Northfield was 

formally organized in 1856, but it wasn't untill868 that 

they were able to build a house of worship on the 

southeast comer of 4th and Washington under the 

leadership of "Domine" Wilcox who also served as a 

missionary to other congregations in the area. In 1922, 

the Baptists joined the Congregationalists for services 

and use of the church building. 

Catholic Parish Founded 

The pioneer Roman Catholics in Northfield were 

Irish and German immigrants. They were few in 

number, poor in wordly goods, but rich in faith, hope 

and charity. Like most of the early congregations, they 

held services in the home, administered to by a 

traveling priest from Faribault. In 1867, the Catholics 

in the community requested they be established as a 

parish under the patronage of St. Dominic. So be it, 

said Bishop Grace. The first church building, a small 

frame building with a little wooden cross its only 

decoration, was built in 1869 and dedicated by Bishop 

Grace. The present church was built in 1913 and 

dedicated in 1914 by the Most Reverend Archbishop 

Ireland. · 

The Norwegian Lutherans established a 

congregation in 1869 under the benevolent care of Rev. 

B. J. Muus from Holden, but they were a small and 

struggling. group until the establishment of St. Olaf 

School. 

The Protestant Germans in the Prairie Creek 

district were the leaders in the organization of the 

Moravian Church in 1869, under the direction of C. L. 

Reinke of Chaska. A tiny white frame church was built 

on the comer of 8th and Division and consecrated in 

1873. The present structure was built in 1952. 

The Congregational state board decided the ever 

expanding Northfield College needed a president. In 

selecting the Reverend James Strong of Faribault, 

they chose wisely. Following Strong's inaugural 

address, the board voted its readiness to change the 

name of the college in case of a gift as large as $50,000. 

President Strong found William Carleton of 

Charlestown, Mass. With this grant, the newly named 

Carleton added a college department. 

The village government was formed in 1871 with P. 

S. Stewart as president of the council. Serving with him 

were E. Lathrop, H. Scriver, F. A. Noble and E. Hobbs. 

Other officers were Lewis Goodsell, Fred Goodsell, 

Chas. Wheeler, 0. M. Reade, F. 0. Rice and A. F. 

180


Kingman. 

The First National Bank of national fame was 

organized in 1872 and located in the back of Scriver's 

store, facing Division Street. That same year, Mr. 

Wheaton began publishing the Rice County Journal. 

The newspaper was located above the post office at the 

present site of the Northfield National Bank. It was a 

frame building with an outside stairway. Wheaton had 

trouble with the town loafers who squatted on the steps 

and carved their initials in the side of the building. 

Influential Voice 

Although Wheaton had no great experience in 

journalism, the Rice County Journal became a very 

influential voice of the Republican party. For the 

non-political readers, the Journal commenced 

reporting sermons upon the ground, editorially stated, 

that many of its readers ''who are not very good church 

goers will get some glimpse of gospel from reading the 

Journal." He wrote his obituaries with fitting epitaphs. 

Of Mrs. Charles Fuller, he remarked "she bade adieu 

to earth and its scenes" noting there were 50 teams in 

the funeral procession. Of Mrs. Luce, ''There is rest for 

the weary and she has found it. We give the mourning 

friends our warmest sympathy but we would have felt 

better satisfied if the burial had been delayed a day or 

two.'' 

He also attended the most fashionable weddings 

both as a guest and a reporter. At the Cruttenden-Orr 

nuptials, he reported "the bridesmaids were followed 

by the mother with the bride leaning upon her arm, 

advancing to their assigned position under the unique 

horseshoe wreathed in beautiful flowers, to receive the 

finishing touch in the process of welding two fond 

hearts into one." Wheaton scanned the gift table, 

noting the gifts, who they were from and how much 

they cost. At the Andrews-Ruby wedding, the bride's 

father gave her a fistful of greenbacks. And at the 

Phillips-Whitford reception, there was a towel rack 

with no card. 

Wheaton also reported on the offerings at the 

Lockwood Opera House. The modestly designed hall at 

419 Division had a small stage with rio distinctions to 

separate the audience. If the opera house was meager, 

the audiences were not. Lectures, plays, musicians, 

traveling shows, and divertisements entertained 

enthusiastic crowds every night. 

Mr. Wheaton died in 1882. The paper was bought by 

Joel Heatwole and Mr. Minder who consolidated the 

Journal with the Northfield News. 

The Ames family, sparked perhaps by the Captain, 

built a stern wheeler in an attempt to win a prize for a 

craft that could be used on the Erie Canal without 

eroding the banks. The little craft, the General Butler, 

made a successful trial run to Dundas in July of 1873. 

Carleton's First Class 

The first graduation at Carleton was held in June 

of 1874 with two graduates, one man and one woman. 

They were married two weeks later. Mr. and Mrs. J. J. 

Dow started a tradition. 

The Norwegians of Lutheran persuasion became 

interested in having a school of their own 

denomination. On November 6, 1874, the Reverend B. 

J. Muus, Harald Thoreson, a businessman; 0. K. 

Finseth, K. P. Haugen and Osmund Osmundson, three 

local farmers, signed the articles of incorporation of 

St. Olaf School. The board bought two buildings on 

Union Street, the present site of the Congregational 

Church, vacated when the public school moved across 

the street. St. Olaf School opened on January 8, 1875 

with 36 students. 

Down on the square, civic-minded citizens 

organized a society for the protection against horse 

thieves. Mr. Wheaton reported "We have been 

requested by a party who feels an interest in the 

morals of the rising generation, to hint that it is not 

good manners or good morals to run races or play ball 

on the Driving Park grounds or any grounds on 

Sunday. We were surprised to hear that this was 

done." 

In the spring of 1875, a city government was 

established under a special law passed by the 

legislature the previous winter. Hiram Scriver was 

elected Mayor. Aldermen were Charles W. Mann, C. S. 

Farrell, J. C. Nutting, Harald Thoreson, and 0. S. 

Taylor. A. P. Stewart was elected president; W. H. 

Norton, recorder; Charles Taylor, city attorney; 0. M. 

Meade and C. A. Wheaton, justices of the peace; J. I. 

Heywood, treasurer; and Elias Hobbs, chief of police. 

City Hall Built 

To provide meeting space for the council, the town 

offices and the fire equipment, a city hall was built on 

Third and Division in 1876. Judge Meade, who presided 

over the courtroom, had a standard method of dealing 

with paternity cases. The mother-to-be would complain 

that the father of her unborn child refused to marry 

her. A warrant for his arrest would be sworn out and he 

would be hauled into court. If he pled guilty to the 

charge, the judge would recess the court, send the 

fellow downstairs, escorted, to obtain a marriage 

license. Upon the prospective bridegroom's return, the 

judge would perform the marriage ceremony, 

reconvene the court, and dismiss the charges. 

The hall now houses the 3 Acre Antique shop where 

the original flooring and walls peek through 

furnishings of the Victorian era. 

Bank Is Raided 

On September 6. 1876, about 1:30 in the afternoon, 

Henry Wheeler, a medical student from the University 

of Michigan, was lolling in a chair in front of his 

father's drug store, across the street and a little south 

of the First National Bank. He had watched General 

Adelbert Ames with his daughter, come out of the bank 

and stroll toward the mill. Now he saw three men 

ride up the street, tie their horses, and go into the bank. 

Two more men rode up and stopped in front of the 

bank. One of them dismounted and looked in the bank 

door, but didn't go in. 

Henry got suspicious. He got out of his chair and 

moseyed up the street until he was directly opposite the 

bank. He saw J. S. Allen enter the bank but was hit by 

the horseman. 

Henry shouted "Robbery, they are robbing the 

bank.'' The man in front of the bank shot at Henry but 

missed. Henry ran back to the drug store for his gun. 

181

~en &?8/ow 

Captors of the Y aunger Brothers near 

Madelia. 

Not finding it, he ran out of the back door, up the alley 

to the Dampier hotel on the corner. Tearing through 

the lobby, he grabbed the clerk's rifle and ammunition 

and bounded up to a third floor window. 

He saw three men on horseback galloping across 

the bridge, firing their guns. Henry aimed at the leader 

of the trio and pulled the trigger. The shot went wild. 

Then he fired at the man in front of the bank. Henry got 

him in the chest. A. R. Manning, from around the 

corner, shot one of the horses and a man. A robber 

bolted out of the bank shooting at Manning. 

Henry, with his last bullet, shot at the robber, 

hitting him in the elbow. He watched two robbers tear 

out of the bank, jump on their horses, and gallop away 

with the others, leaving two of their comrades dead in 

the street. Everyone rushed into the bank to find the 

clerk, Heywood, dead, killed by a bullet in the head. 

The vault door was closed. Someone in the crowd 

identified the robbers as Jesse James and the Younger 

gang. The list of the dead were Joseph L. Heywood, 

Nicholas Gustafson, an innocent bystander, and 

William Stiles and Clel Miller, members of the gang. 

Mr. Heywood was buried with all the honors 

accorded a hero, the Younger brothers were captured 

and sent to Stillwater, Frank and Jesse James 

escaped, and Henry went back to medical school. 

Dr. Henry Wheeler returned to Northfield and took 

offices over his father's drugstore where he could keep 

an eye on the bank. 

James Archer built the Archer House, now the 

Stuart Hotel in 1877. It is a French second empire 

building with a Mansard roof. Henry Kahler took 

possession in 1889 having sold the Merchants Hotel in 

Dundas. Although the Kahlers sold the Archer and 

moved to Rochester, this building has the distinction of 

being the first Kahler hotel still standing. 

Observatory Gives Service 

The Goodsell observatory and its department of 

astronomy, one of the outstanding features of Carleton 

College, sent out the first electric time signals. Nearly 

all the railroads in the Twin Cities were run on 

Carleton time. The . next year, the government 

furnished a regular observer which was the first of 

such state services thus adopted in the United States. 

For residents planning on going gold prospecting 

in the Black Hills, the foundry of Mr. Fox displayed a 

model of a quartz mill or stamping machine that could 

jam gold out of almost anything. 

St. Olaf moved to its permanent campus on the 

. west side. The first building, an imposing four-stor-y_ 

brick building with banner held on high still stands 

atop the highest hill like a figurehead on the bow of a 

conquering Viking ship. "Old Main" was dedicated on 

November 6~ 1876. 

Across town the people, following the precepts of 

John W. North, formed the Women's Christian 

Temperance Union. And as the decade of the '70s came 

to a close, a bitter debate raged on the square, wooden 

vs. cement sidewalks. 

Northfield entered the 1880s with a population of 

2,300. Plank sidewalks were being laid. Telephones 

were being installed by Mr. Fyre. The first line 

connected the Ames mill and residence with the 

Archibald mill and residence in Dundas. 

The Congregational Church on Fourth and 

Washington burned to the ground. While the members 

of the church were holding services at Willis Hall on 

the Carleton Campus, construction crews were 

erecting a building on the corner of Third and Union, 

complete with stained glass windows. One window is in 

memory of C. M. Goodsell, founder of Carleton College 

and another is in memory of Joseph L. Heywood, hero 

of the bank raid. The pipe organ was installed two 

years later. 

The Lutheran Norwegians, under the leadership of 

Theodore N. Mohn, president of St. Olaf, bought the 

burned out property from the Congregationalists and 

built the first St. John's Lutheran Church. The church 

was a white frame building with a steep shaped roof 

with a sharp steeple. The little porch roof above the 

front door was carved with gingerbread trimmings. 

Both houses of worship were dedicated in 1881. 

Rail Bonds Voted 

When the Minnesota Central railroad, Cannon 

Valle::i line from Red Wing to Mankato, was proposed 

to the communities along the prospective route, 

Northfield citizens voted a $10,000 bond issue. When the 

circuit was complete, it was sold to the Chicago, Great 

Western railroad. 

Dr. H. L. Cruttenden, the Northfield dentist who 

had a nickel plated showcase containing specimens of 

his work in his office, invented the Cruttenden Cement 

Syringe. This gadget was made of gelatin, big at one 

end and pointed at the other. The syringe would be 

filled with cement which would be squeezed into the 

cavity, pushing out the air. When empty, the syringe 

could be thrown away. The articulator, as it was 

called, was the forerunner of the disposables used in 

modern dentistry. 

Genevieve Tucker, M.D., graduate of the 

Homoepathic Department, University of Michigan and 

the first woman doctor to practice in Northfield, 

opened offices at the Bingham House. She specialized 

in the treatment of women and children. 

In 1885, the Young Men's Christian Association put 

182

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A graphic woodcut, published by the 

Northfield News, of the historic 1876 raid of 

the Northfield National Bank by the Cole 

Younger-Jesse James gang. Bodies of animal 

and human victims are strewn on the street 

as gun/iring continues. 

up the first out-state YMCA building in Minnesota at 

3rd and Division. The building, which has housed the 

Northfield city offices since the end of World War I, has 

a Merrie Olde England flavor with the two story oriel 

window trimmed with timber and curved lights in the 

sashes of the second story windows. 

And over on the west side, the public school was 

finished and St. Olaf added a college department. 

The close of the decade brought electric lights to 

Northfield. Powered by the Ames mill, 67 electric 

lights were installed in the community. It can be 

assumed they were' used in the Ames mill and 

residence, the city hall, the downtown stores, and the 

residence of John C. Nutting. 

Imposing Mansion Built 

Nutting, president of the First National Bank at the 

time of the raid, built the brick mansion at 217 Union 

Street. A magnificent example of architecture beloved 

of the 19th century lumber barons, it contained the 

most modern gadgetry available and electric lights 

were gadgets. The house from the outside seems large 

and roomy, when in fact, the rooms are small and 

crowded. The two uppermost floors are attics, one 

above the other. Looking out of the uppermost window 

on the west, one is on eye level with the high rise dorms 

at St. Olaf. Placed on the national registry of historic 

sites, it is now the residence of the president of 

Carleton College. 

The 1890s opened with the news of the death of John 

W. North in California. In the spring, there were three 

men in the first graduating class from St. Olaf. 

While the citizens rejoiced over the acquisition of 

the west side park across from the depot, they were not 

very happy with the new fangled electric lights. When 

electricity was available, it was substandard. Hoping 

to alleviate the problems, Mr. Hibbard, owner of the 

light plant, proposed the town buy the operations. The 

Northfield Power and Light Company was formed and 

service improved. 

Advocates of cement sidewalks laid a walk on 

Division street between 4th and 5th streets. The 

experiment was successful, but the citizens still laid 

plank sidewalks in front of their houses. 

The Central Block with its fascinating steeple and 

intricate metal and brickwork was put up in 1893. The 

entire third floor was the home of the Northfield Odd 

Fellows. A department store and a drug store were on 

the street floor. 

Lutherans of Danish descent organized a 

congregation in 1893. First called the Danish 

Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Northfield and 

Environs, it was soon changed to the more manageable 

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran. Several women 

served on · the first' church council, certainly a 

broadminded attitude for that generation. Their first 

church, on Third Street, a former German Methodist 

church building, was built in 1876. It is now the center 

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for the Northfield Arts Guild. 

The city council of 1894 called for a bond issue for 

the waterworks. The issue passed and the waterworks 

were built on the corner of Fifth and Water. The 

council also had the square cleaned up after the hay 

and wood market had left, and had a horse drinking 

fountain installed. 

Miss Laura Baker established a private school on 

the east side for the mentally retarded children, the 

first school of its type in the United States. 

Builds Horseless Carriage 

And down on the clean, brightly lighted square, in 

Lambert Spears bicycle shop, a young mechanic, Line 

Fey, worked on a horseless carriage. When it was 

finished in 1898, Line took it out for a test run. He 

recounts "On account of frightening horses and 

receiving unjust comments from illiterate bystanders, 

the machine was not taken out till 12 o'clock at night. 

The carriage was pushed over to the horse drinking 

fountain and water tank filled, the engine started and 

away we went with a lantern tied to the front of the rig 

as a head light." Line sold the machine to Fred Bates 

for $170. Bates modified the machine and drove it for 

seven years. If Fey had been able to get financial 

backing, Northfield might be as big as Detroit. 

The Northfield Public Library was organized that 

same year and was located in the YMCA building until 

the Carnegie Library was built in 1910. 

The present site of the Minnesota Odd Fellows 

Home, donated by the citizens of Northfield, was 

accepted by the Home Corporation and the state home 

was established here. 1899 saw the April ground 

breaking ceremonies and in June the laying of the 

cornerstone. The building, demolished in 1974, was 176 

feet long and 64 feet deep made of bricks from the 

Northfield Brick Company that was located at the site 

of the Mount Vernon apartments. It was a handsome 

building with the rosy bricks trimmed with white 

locally quarried stone. 

For the first time in the history of the board of 

education, a woman was elected to membership. 

Margaret J. Evans, Dean of Women at Carleton, 

represented the First Ward. 

The Ware Auditorium, built by A. K. Ware, (the 

Grand Theatre) was opened in 1899 with Walker 

Whiteside in the "Red Cockade." It was a gala first 

night worthy of Broadway. Seats sold for five dollars in 

the parquet. 

And as the century drew to a close, the city council 

decided to forego the luxury of 32 candle power lights 

for the city hall and to return to the former economy of 

16 candle power ( 40 candle power is 50 watts). 

New Century Welcomed 

Bells pealed at midnight to usher in the new 

century. The first decade saw the organization of the 

Northfield National Bank. Fifty representative 

businessmen and citizens met in Fireman's Hall to 

organize the Commercial Club, forerunner of the 

Chamber of Commerce. More and more telephones 

were installed with the numbers published in the 

newspaper. 

Thomas C. Hough, a daring young man, broke the 

record for automobile traveling between Northfield 

and Minneapolis. He made the drive in a seven 

horsepower gasoline car in two hours and 43 minutes, a 

distance of 51 miles over rough roads. 

Down along the banks of the Cannon River, people 

were digging for clams. The shells, when cleaned and 

dried, were sent to Iowa to be made into pearl buttons. 

The decaying clams at the river's edge gave Northfield 

a certain air, causing many complaints to the board of 

health. Most vocal were the residents using the Cannon 

as a recreational area. 

There was a fleet of boats alongside the banks. 

These boats made trips up the river to the island for 

picnics and parties. One of the largest of the fleet, 

made by the Blodgett Bros., was 20 feet in length, 

capable of carrying 10 to 14 people. Some of the young 

men raised enough money by subscription to erect a 

bath house on the west side of the river near 5th Street. 

During the winter, race tracks were laid out on the ice 

and horse races were held every afternoon as long as 

the ice held. 

In 1908, Col. Marion Savage of Minneapolis, owner 

of the famous race horse Dan Patch, was granted a 

railwa,y right-of-way from Minneapolis to Northfield. 

The first of the Dan Patch railcars, a one unit car using 

gasoline to generate electricity · to turn the wheels, 

arrived in Northfield on December 3, 1910. Although 

the railcars proved to be faster and cheaper than 

steam locomotives for moving freight and passengers, 

the company didn't seem to make any money and went 

into receivership. It was bought by the Minneapolis, 

Northfield and Southern Railroad. The Dan Patch 

cars, a boon to commuters, were in operation until the 

1940s. 

Congregation Formed 

A group of young Norwegians from the Christiania 

and Trondhjem Lutheran congregations who moved to 

· Northfield to find employment, held evangelistic 

meetings in the YMCA. They formed the Bethania 

congregation. When the congregation was 

incorporated, they built the Bethel Lutheran Free 

Church on First Street. Several years ago, the present 

Bethel Church was built on Cedar Avenue, just north of 

the city. 

The Northfield Light, Heat and Power Compnay 

had expanded their steam plant in Northfield and 

water power in Waterford. As the supply of electricity 

became more dependable, the citizens indulged in 

shopping sprees for electric appliances. 

As the 1800s drew to a close, the Northfield 

Improvement Association urged the city to put a park 

in Bridge Square. 

As the population grew, so too, did the need for 

hospital facilities. Nursing care had been extended by 

the hospital unit of the Odd Fellows Home, but the plan 

was becoming impractical. A group of citizens 

organized the Northfield Hospital Association and then 

bought the house on the corner of 8th and Water. 

During the 1930s, the association sold the hospital to the 

city. In 1938, the city built the hospital on 2nd Street. 

The Dilley Wing, a memorial to the H. 0. Dilley family, 

184


Old Main at St. Olaf College- entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 

was added in 1963. 

St. John's Lutheran congregation was not only 

outgrowing its church building, but wanted to be closer 

to St. Olaf for the convenience of the students. In 

1913, the cornerstone was laid for St.John's, a beautiful 

Tudor-Gothic edifice on the corner of 3rd and Poplar. 

1915 brought terror and tragedy to Northfield akin 

to the bank raid of 1876. Patterson's Trained Wild 

Animal Show came to town featuring Major Dumont 

and his ferocious black-maned Nubian lions. During 

the afternoon performance the Major was locked in the 

lions cage in the main arena. The lions were then let 

into the cage through a trap door. As Romeo, a big 

male lion, was coming through the trap door to join his 

mates, the sliding door dropped on his tail. Enraged 

with pain, the lion seized the Major by the thigh and 

threw him to the floor. Smelling blood, the other lions 

joined in the kill. Show people grabbed guns, shooting 

at the beasts. Romeo was killed, the others retreated 

to the corners in fear. The spectators, horrified, 

scrambled for the safety of the out-of-doors. Dr. I. F. 

Seeley and Frank Babcock rushed to the aid of the 

victim and transported him to the hospital. The Major 

died at 3:30 the next morning. And the Patterson's Wild 

Animal Show moved on without their star attraction. 

Strict Movie Rules 

The Grand Theatre opened for business in 1917 in 

the old Ware Auditorium with "Still Waters" a moving 

picture with super stars. Townspeople became 

concerned about the effect of the movies on the morals 

of the younger generation. The Grand management 

had to establish restrictive codes. One stated flatly, 

"No St. Olaf students or Carleton women students 

would be allowed to attend.'' And no Sunday movies. 

The keepers of the morals of the young had more 

than darkened theatres to worry about. The 

automobile was coming into its own. The state highway 

department laid out Jefferson Highway Trail through 

downtown Northfield giving the motorists better 

access to the Cities and hidden country lanes. Traffic 

ordinances had to be set up for persons driving 

automobiles, Fords, and other vehicles. The first 

experimental star route established by the post office 

department in the Northwest went through Northfield. 

Curb lightposts in the business section were painted 

black and held Jefferson Highway Trail markers, bars 

of blue and white. And most of the store fronts on 

Division got a coat of green paint. 

Across the river, the Ames milling company was 

sold to the L. G. Campbell Milling Company of 

Blooming Prairie and Owatonna which made 

Malt-0-Meal, a high grade farina cereal with rich malt 

flavoring, invented by John Campbell of Owatonna. 

West of the Malt-0-Meal plant, the Northfield Milk 

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Products Company built the first completely equipped 

milk canning factory in Minnesota. These two plants 

worked overtime to help feed the troops fighting 

overseas in World War I. 

On the home front, the Northfield Chapter of the 

Red Cross was formed and military training was 

instituted at Carleton and the high school. The home 

guard was established with the men wearing khaki or 

olive drab coats, pants and shirts, canvas leggings and 

campaign h_?ts with no cords and no insignia. 

Young men and women were leaving daily to do their 

part to save the world for democracy. To replace the 

ag teacher, the school board hired Miss Blanche 

Corwin. 

Soldiers Note Changes 

By 1919, most of the boys had come back home. 

They found prohibition the law of the land, automobiles 

had to be registered, Doctor Babcock had installed an 

x-ray machine in his office, the Grand Theatre had a 

Wurlitzer pipe organ-orchestra, the Northfield Iron 

Company was making Jiffy tractors, airplanes were 

flying overhead on peaceful missions, the boys could 

get an electric hair trim at the Sunnyside Barber Shop 

and the girls could have their hair done at Lollys 

Beauty Shop. 

They heard the bells ring and saw the flags flying 

in celebration of the victory for women's suffrage. In 

1921, the first opportunity came for women voters. In 

the first ward, they outnumbered the male voters by 

three-to-one. A monument in honor of the men who died 

in the Civil War was erected in Bridge Square. The 

necessary $4,000 was raised by the school children. The 

first cement paved highway in Minnesota was 

completed, running from Northfield to Faribault. The 

dedication services were held on the lawn of the Little 

Prairie school, the halfway point. Long stretches of 

this road are still b_eing used. 

The Northfield Foundry and Machine Company 

started in 1921, founded by Mike Machacek. Beginning 

with the manufacture of castings, they branched into 

the making of woodworking machines. The same year 

saw the formal openings of the Twin City Milk 

Producers plant and the Farmers Co-op Elevator. 

Radio-phone and wireless broadcasting had caught 

the interest of the Carleton and St. Olaf students. 

WCAL, the voice of the St. Olaf department of physics, 

aired their first broadcast on May 19, 1922 featuring a 

talk by President Boe. A year later, the radio 

programs were being heard in 35 states. 

Construction of Rosary School was begun in 1926 

and opened the next year with 75 students, staffed by 

the Sisters of Notre Dame. The sisters also conducted a 

boarding school for boys of the Archdiocese of St. Paul. 

Due to the decreasing: enrollment, the boarding school 

was terminated in 1946. 

Lutherans of German descent formed the Trinity 

congregation in 1929. They bought the old Baptist 

Church on Washington Street (the Salisbury 

Apartments) which they dedicated in 1931. In 1958, they 

built a beautiful grey limestone church at 8th and 

Winona. 

Population Hits 4,149 

And down on the square, the city council worried 

about the welfare of 4,149 people. 

The line of the unemployed grew longer and 

longer. The city had to cut back on street lighting, tax 

delinquent sales doubled, teachers took drastic cuts in 

salaries, the county extension program came to an 

end, and the postal workers had payless vacations. 

There was no money to buy a much needed squad car. 

And to add insult to injury, Northfield was omitted 

from the 1933 state highway map. 

Northfield bought 10 acres of timberland south of 

town and hired the men aided by the city to cut it. The 

woodlot yielded 300 cords of fine oak along with loads of 

firewood. When the national government put together 

plans for recovery, Northfield received grants for the 

sewer systems, hospital, post office, and the cleaning 

of the Cannon River and the parks. Various civic 

organizations held money raising events to earn the 

price of a squad car. 

There were a few bright spots. The Colvill 

Memorial Highway, named in honor of Col. Wm. 

Colvill, Civil War hero, was designated to go through 

Northfield. To celebrate the George Washington 

Bicentennial in 1932, the D.A.R. presented a tree, an 

offspring of the Washington elm under which George 

Washington took command of the Continental Army, to 

be planted on the library lawn and the Northfield 

Improvement Association planted elm trees on both 

sides of E. Fourth Street between Prairie Street and 

the township line road. Sunday movies were allowed as 

well as 3.2 beer and baseball games wen! played under 

lights. A bond issue for a new school was voted, school 

buses were making their first runs and adult education 

classes were added to the school program. 

And up on the hill on the Carleton campus, 1500 

lilac bushes were planted. 

An item in the Northfield News stated that 

Northfield owned the greatest number of automobiles 

per capita in the state. So why wasn't Northfield on the 

1942 state map? 

But the citizens had more important matters to 

deal with. The young men and women had marched off 

to war. Those left behind had to register for ration 

books, cut their speed limit to 40 miles an hour, and 

"Make Do or Do Without." The businessmen donned 

overalls to help harvest the crops, the school kids built 

model airplanes for the federal government and Mom 

wrote to her boys. 

Mom and Her Boys 

Mom was Nellie Phillips, a reporter for the 

Northfield News. She sent a message, via the paper, to 

all the Northfielders in the service. Mom would write to 

them, if they wrote to her. The letters poured in from 

every comer of the world, the sky above, and the sea 

beneath. These letters published in the paper forged a 

strong bond between the "at-wars" and the 

"back-homes". Mom personally answered every 

letter. When most of the Gis had come home, the 

mayor proclaimed "Mom's Day." The newly 

organized Veterans of Foreigns Wars Post held a 

banquet in her honor. With affection and appreciation, 

186


\ 

they presented Mom with the Good Citizenship Medal, 

noting that she had kept in touch with over 800 men and 

women throughout the war with her newspaper 

colums, personal letters and furlough visits. Just 

before her death, she presented all the letters to the 

VFW for their archives. 

Mom always had news to write. Carleton College 

bought some land at Stanton for an airport, the 

Northfield Alliance congregation was formally 

organized and was building a church on Water street, 

Northfield had its first black-out, the memorial cannon 

from World War I on Bridge Square had gone to the 

scrap drive, the rural kids were getting hot lunches in 

school, a victory ship had been named for Carleton 

College, St. Olaf was building a chapel, Nerstrand 

Woods had become a ·state park, the Northfield 

Improvement Association was raising funds to buy 

street signs and Marie Piesinger had become the first 

woman to serve on the Northfield City Council. 

Miss Piesinger owned the Piesinger Drug Store 

where McKenzies is now. She was a registered 

pharmacist and was the first woman to serve on a state 

board of pharmacy in the United States. Devoting her 

years to her church and her community, she well 

deserved the accolade, Minnesota's Senior Citizen of 

the Year 1965. One of her many community projects 

was starting the tradition of the nativity scene in 

Bridge Square at Christmas time. 

As Marie looked out of the drug store window, she 

could see the town loafers hanging on the newly 

installed parking meters. Most likely, talking about the 

D.P.'s. 

Displaced Persons Helped 

Northfield was the center of one of the largest 

community displaced persons resettlement programs 

in the state. Through the efforts of an 11-man 

committee, hundreds of people from the devastated 

countries in Europe were welcomed to Northfield with 

jobs, homes, food, and furnishings. 

The schools and churches set up classes in English 

and citizenship. Residents gave of their time and 

money to help the newcomers in every way to adjust to 

their new life of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

There were some, however, who felt threatened by the 

influx, but these fears soon faded away as the exDPs 

became an integral part of an already cosmopolitan 

community. 

Wm. F. Schilling, prime mover of the Holstein 

Breeders Association, reporter, columnist and world 

traveler, moved to town from Springbrook Park. He 

collected mementoes of Northfield's history, art 

objects from foreign lands, and anything else that 

caught his fancy. To house his vast collection, he built a 

museum on Poplar Street and opened it to the public. 

One of the most outstanding exhibits is a grouping of 

furniture formerly owned by the Rt. Rev. H. B. 

Whipple. 

On a Monday afternoon of 1951, the Northfield 

business places closed when the National Guard unit 

activated to the regular army, marched from the 

armory to the Milwaukee depot, the first leg of the 

journey to Korea. Mom Phillips, over at the News 

Historic Willis Memorial Union on the 

Carleton College campus, Northfield, one of 

the early buildings on the school's campus. 

The picture is the property of Carleton 

Archives. 

office, was again writing to her boys. 

The News, celebrating its diamond anniversary, 

published a series of articles honoring residents 75 

years or older. Among those recognized were Effie 

Stranahan Santino, the first woman to hold the job of 

city treasurer, and Dr. A. T. Lincoln, a retired 

chemistry professor who invented the Lincoln Plastic 

Plant Markers. 

Centennial Celebrated 

Headlines were made when General Dwight D. 

Eisenhower on the 1952 campaign trail, came to 

Northfield. Riding bareheaded in an open touring car 

on his way to Laird Field, he smiled and waved to 

10,000 cheering fans. Two years later, the crowds again 

lined the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of Haile 

Selassie, King of Ethopia. But the biggest crowd of all 

helped Northfield celebrate its centennial on July 7, 8 

and 9, 1955. A pageant "The Genesis and Rise of 

Northfield" was presented all three nights at Laird 

Field by a cast of Northfielders. Among the many 

events were parades, fireworks, horse shows and 

dances. 

While all the whoop-de-doo was going on down on 

the square, the Northfield Industrial Corporation - a 

group of serious minded citizens - persuaded G. T. 

Schjeldahl to move to town. 

Beginning in small quarters, the Schjeldahl 

Company manufactured packaging machinery and 

experimented with balloons. They built Echo 1 and 

187

Echo 2, satellite balloons, pioneers of today's space 

age. 

Over on the west side, on Water street, the $600,000 

highway relocation program was begun. 

The 1960s saw the building of the Methodist 

Church, the swimming pool, the senior high school, the 

Cannon Valley Retirement Center and the park along 

the river. 

Karl Rolvaag, a native son, became the 31st 

governor of Minnesota, later to be appointed 

ambassador to Iceland. 

Northfield entertained Hubert H. Humphrey, then 

vice president of the United States; His Royal 

Highness Crown Prince Harald of Norway; and His 

Majesty Olav V, King of Norway. 

In the basement of St. Dominic's Church, women 

from all the churches gathered together to make 

clothes and bedding to be sent to the victims of the 

Vietnam War and the proverty stricken people of 

Appalachian area. As the activities of Northfield 

Ecumenical Sewing Group enlarged, other 

communities became interested in forming similar 

societies. To coordinate their production, Operation 

HOPE (Help Other People Everywhere) was 

established and now has chapters all over the United 

states with headquarters at Northfield. 

Group Studies Problems 

Downtown, the Community Development Program 

(CoDeP) was designed to give Northfield a well 

organized means of dealing with community problems. 

This group of over a hundred people works in close 

association with the planning commission and aids in 

its efforts. 

Another movement in Northfield is the ABC 

Program. A Better Chance for minority teenagers to 

receive a good education was organized by the Human 

Relations Council through Carleton and the Northfield 

school system, the first program of its kind in 

Minnesota. 

Housewives Alert to Pollution in Northfield, soon 

shortened to HATPIN, was started. HA TPIN has been 

very active in preserving nature areas. Through their 

combined efforts with the Northfield Community 

Memorial Fund, they purchased 5lf2 acres of 

marshland on the southeastern edge of town for a 

nature study area. 

Other citizens turned to river beautification. The 

walkway from the back of the Northfield National 

Bank to the river was a gift from the bank to the city. A 

garden terrace was built along the east bank of the 

river just north of the 4th Street Bridge. A metal 

sculpture, INY AN BOSNDA T A, the Indian name for 

the Cannon River, was erected along the west side of 

the river between the 2nd and 4th Street Bridges. 

Storeowners spruced up the riverside of their shops. 

The library board was busy, too, spendiJ?.g 

memorial money from the estate of W. W. Pye, a well 

known Northfield lawyer. The result: the Pye Room in 

the library basement devoted to books, archives, and 

records pertaining to the history of Northfield and the 

State of Minnesota. Bound copies of the Rice County 

Journal, the Northfield News and the Northfield 

Independent have been indexed and are available for 

research and browsing. 

And down on the square, the history buffs got 

together to form the Friends United To Undertake 

Restoration Efforts, Inc. In 1975, FUTURE became the 

Northfield Chapter of the Rice County Historical 

Society. The first step has been the purchase of the 

Scriver Building on the square and in the process of 

restoring the bank robbed by Jesse James. 

As Northfield stands on the brink of the third 

century of America, the residents are trying to 

preserve their heritage while looking forward to a 

better place to live. 

City of Northfield officials: Mayor, Keith Covey; 

Councilmen: Robert Baker, William Bierman, William 

Nelson, James Herreid, Otto Pankow, Arnold Nelson; 

City Administrator, Peter Stolley. 

121 year old Morristown 

first settled in 1853 

By DON REMUND 

LEONA ELLINGSWORTH 

IVY HOFFMAN 

Morristown is the southeastern corner township of 

Rice County. It borders on LeSueur County on the west 

and Waseca County on the south. It is comprised of 36 

sections or 23,040 acres. Nine hundred acres are 

covered by lakes and by far the largest part of its area 

is under cultivation today. 

In a book called "The History of Rice County," the 

following information is given concerning Morristown 

in its earlier years: Cannon River crosses the township 

from west to east and seems to divide the different 

classes of land. The land north of the river is covered 

with timber of common varieties while the south is 

principally prairie land with groves of timber, fine soil, 

excellent water, and water flowers which soon 

attracted those seeking homes. 

Cannon River has its beginning in Lake Sakatah 

in sections 19 and 20. A mineral spring bubbles up on 

the south side of the lake which is supposed to be! 

valuable for medicinal purposes. Sprague Lake is a 

small body of water in sections 28 and 29. Pat's Lake 

lies nestled in the midst of the timber in the 

northeastern part of the township. Mormon Lake, so 

called because in an early day the Mormons used it for 

baptismal purposes, occupies a few acres in Section 12. 

Boneset Lake lies just north of it. Devils Creek rises in 

Mud Lake and flows southward. It is joined by several 

small steams before it joins Cannon River. Dixion's 

Creek finds its source south of the boundary and winds 

a northern course joining the Cannon River in Section 

23. Horseshoe Lake infringes on the township in the 

northwestern part and is the source of a small stream 

which connects it to the Cannon River by way of 

Section 17 and 18. Besides the taxable land, the 

188


Overall view of Morristoum, taken in 1951. 

remaining land was divided thus: about 900 acres in 

lakes-five in number, 80 acres in unsold school lands, 

427 acres of railroad land, 360 acres belonging to the 

State University, and 320 acres still belonging to the 

government. 

Unimproved lands of either timber or prairie were 

held at prices ranging from $5.00 to $15.00 per acre. In 

1860 the population of Morristown was 438, in 1865 it 

was 822; in 1870 it was 1,084, and in 1880 the population 

was 1,939. In 1880, 517 people lived in the village and 

1,422 people lived iri the township. The values in the 

village of Morristown as assessed for 1882 were real 

property, $43,100 and personal property, $24,546. The 

Cannon River Railroad line had been surveyed through 

the town, but nothing was done until 1882. At the time 

the above book was published, the line was finished 

except for the laying of the iron. 

Early Settlers 

The earliest settlers were John Lynch and Henry 

Masters who came from St. Paul in a buggy in the fall 

of 1853. They erected a log house and took claims in 

Section 23 and 24 just east of the village. Masters, who 

was originally from Illinois, went back the next spring 

and brought back a team. In January, 1855, he was 

joined in wedlock to Miss Anna Randahl by Walter 

Morris. This was the first marriage in the township. In 

1865 Masters went to Kansas to live. John Lynch was a 

bachelor of Irish descent. He lived on Section 14 all his 

life. 

In the spring of 1854, Andrew Storer, his wife and 

son Charles, who was four months old, came to 

Morristown. Mrs. Storer was the first white woman to 

set foot in this settlement. They took a claim in Section 

22. On the 21st of August, 1855, a daughter Ellie was 

born. Ellie Storer and Clarissa Dixion, daughter of 

Joseph Dixon who was born Aug. 24, 1855, in John 

Lynch's cabin, were the first two white children born in 

Morristown. 

William Riley Soule was born in New York in 1837. 

In 1848, after the death of father and husband, Mrs. 

Soule and the family moved to Watertown, Wisconsin. 

Two boys remained in New York another year then 

they too came to Wisconsin. William went to Iowa and 

in August, 1854, he and his brother Bartemus K. Soule 

189

{§en &?§Vow 

The home of the original Morris Family in the early 1850's.· 

came to Morristown. They were brothers of Mrs. 

Storer. William staked out a claim in Section 23, but 

was too young to hold it, and it was bought by Mr. 

Morris in 1885. He was offered $200 for it and 

improvements which consisted of some house logs, 

4,000 rails and ten acres broken. In 1855, he went to 

Section 33 where he lived. He went to Wisconsin to get 

his mother, brothers, and sisters. He enlisted in 1865, 

was in several skirmishes, received an honorable 

discharge and came home. In 1880 he married Miss 

Mary E. Veal. His mother died in July, 1876. Bartemus 

had a claim in Section 34 and lived there until 1861 

when he enlisted and went to war. When he returned he 

settled in Chippewa County, Minnesota. 

In September 1854, three brothers, John, Marshall 

and C. M. Benson from Vermont, came to the 

township. Marshall made a home in Section 21 where 

he remained until he moved to Waterville in 1865. John 

settled in the southwest corner of Section 21 where he 

lived 10 years before going to Idaho. C. M. settled in 

Section 23, but because he was too young, the claim 

was jumped. When he became 21 he made another 

claim in Section 10. He enlisted in 1861, served three 

years, was in 30 battles, and was shot in the last one. 

The ball entered his left side, passed through him and 

lodged in his knapsack. Receiving an honorable 

discharge, he came home and married Miss Ann Eliza 

Pool. 

Self-Educated Pioneer 

J ohnthan Morris, early pioneer of the township 

bearing his name, was a man of note in various places 

before coming west. He was born on January 9, 1804. 

His father died when he was only four years old. His 

mother and family moved to Ohio in 1809. Educational 

means were limited and he barely knew his letters 

when he married, but because he possessed a natural 

ability for learning and by studying hard, he acquired a 

general idea of the common branches of education. He 

became a minister of the Disciple or Christian Faith 

and preached for twenty-five years through the states 

of Indiana and Ohio. 

In 1853, with his son Walter he came to St. Paul. In 

the spring of 1854, he came to Faribault and purchased 

an interest in the town site. The following spring they 

followed the Cannon River in search of ;;t mill stream. 

They followed the river as far as Waterville. They 

returned to Mr. Storer's place where they stopped and 

were treated to pioneer hospitality. They found that 

nature had provided splendid water power and because 

of this and the fact that they liked the area they decided 

to stay. They located in Section 23 and the Village of 

Morristown was brought into existence. In a few days 

they erected a log cabin near Mr. Hershey's house, 

which is Arnold Schroeder's home today. In 

a very short time, they had a saw mill in operation 

which they completed the same fall. J ohnathan Morris 

decided to lay out a portion of his claim into village 

lots, but due to hard work and exposure became sick 

and died on Nov. 27, 1855. His death was the first in the 

community. He left his wife and seven children to 

mourn his loss. After his death, Mrs. Sarah Morris filed 

upon the tract of land she and her husband had settled 

190


The Dorn and Aldrich Store, July 1, 1894. This 

building is now the Bartz Apartments. Left to 

right, Henry· A. Dorn, William R. Aldrich, 

on and in the winter of 1856-57 went to Winona and 

pre-empted it. The following spring she had C. C. 

Perkins survey a portion of her claim into town lots. 

Settlers Make Claims 

During the summer of 1855, Isaac Hammond, 

Reuben Morris, Daniel Wilkins, Richard Miller, 

Harrison and Jackson Willis, Thomas and James 

Sprague, Coleman and Hinton Bloomer, and several 

others came to the township and made claims which 

made quite a little community. They were followed by 

Robert Pope of Canada, a Mr. Wilson, and Joseph 

Ladaux of France who took a quarter of section in 

number 30. He died in 1856. His family went to Utah in 

1857. David Springer and family came and stayed a 

year then returned to Pennsylvania. Joseph Dixion and 

family and father-in-law came about the same time. 

About this time, Thomas Dexter moved into town 

and put up a small frame house called the Delaware 

House which was the first hotel in Morristown. Mr. and 

Mrs. Dexter had a flourishing trade for several years. 

In the spring of 1857, Messrs. Locke and Pope started 

building a large hotel called the Eagle Hotel. This hotel 

Harry Dorn, Edna Dorn Aldrich, Clyde Dorn, 

Archie Aldrich and Mrs. Henry Dorn. 

was one of the largest in the country at the time and 

had good business until a road was opened on the north 

side of the river which changed the travel so much that 

it affected the business. It changed hands several 

times, and in 1882 had no tenants. In the sum.ner of 

1855, Walter Morris built a small log building near 

where Mr. Hershey's mill stood (The Morristown Feed 

Mill.) He started a store which he had until the fall of 

1856. He then sold out his stock to Locke and Pope. 

In the fall of 1856, Mr. Collins came from Hastings 

and opened a store on the comer where Mr. Crawford's 

blacksmith shop stood. He was not too successful and 

the store passed into the hands of Adams and Allen. 

Mr. Adams took charge of the store, but sold out to 

Reuben Morris taking in exchange Mr. Morris' claim 

of 160 acres lying immediately west and joining the 

original survey of the village. The value of the 160 

acres was estimated at about $1,600. Lewis McKune 

purchased an interest in the store, and in the winter of 

1857 sold the stock to Hayden & Graves. In January of 

1857, Mr. Charles Adams returned to Morristown, 

brought goods with him, and again opened a store in 

191

~en ~c!:Now 

Osterhout's H eadling Factory, situated on the 

Cannon River bank at Morristown near where 

Sam Downhour' s little house stood. The logs 

for headlings had to be in the water. Men in 

picture, left to right, are: Fred Osterhout, 

sitting; Jim Osterhout, Jim Hershey, Morris 

Dickson, John Murphy, Dave Hershey, Frank 

Johnson and Peltier. Man in overcoat is 

unidentified. 

the Collins store. 

In the fall of 1857, Mr. Adams built a large store 

and moved into it. This was in what is 

known as the Adams and Allen's Addition. In 1882, it 

was used as a tenement house. This appears to be the 

Milan Bartz home today. Mr. Adams had the store for 

many years then Dorns purchased it. About 55 or 65 

years ago it was completely remodeled into 

apartments so today it would be 119 years old. 

Saw Mills Busy 

The first steam saw mill in this part of the country 

was started in 1856 by Webster and Norton. During 

1858, H. H. Osterhoudt settled in the village and put up 

another steam saw mill. This made one water and two 

steam saw mills in town. There were also a cooper 

shop, cabinet shop, and two blacksmith shops. 

Cyrus C. Aldrich of New York, born 1833, married 

in 1854 to Amanda Chapin, came to Wisconsin then to 

Faribault and came to Morristown in 1859 locating in 

Section 7. He enlisted in 1861, but was wounded in the 

battle of Altonna and was discharged for a disability. 

Unable to do heavy work, he went into sorghum 

manufacturing and bee culture. Two years after the 

village was incorporated he became a councilman. 

Mr. John Hile of Pennsylvania was born in 1828 and 

in 1844 he went to Michigan with his parents. In 1853 he 

went to California via ox team. He worked in mining 

and lumbering until 1859 when he returned by way of 

the Isthmus of Panama. He married Miss Sarah Jane 

Reed in November, 1859. They had three children. She 

died April 8, 1864. Mr. Hile enlisted and served in the 

Civil War until July 1865. After returning home, he 

married Henrietta E. Vincent. Shortly after this, the 

family came to Minnesota and bought land in Section 

17. This is the Zielske farm today. They had four 

children. He served as supervisor, assessor and was on 

the school board of District number 89. 

C. B. Jackson was born in Indiana in 1842. Two 

years later the family went to Webster County, Iowa, 

and in 1856 came to Waseca County, Minnesota. In 

April, 1861, he enlisted for a month in Company G of the 

First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and then 

re-enlisted in the regular army for three years. After 

he was discharged, he re-enlisted and in February, 

1867, was promoted from Sergeant to Commissary of 

the regular army. He was discharged on Sept. 25, 1868. 

192


I. 

f 

Old Morristown School 

At the close of the war he had been in twenty-two 

battles. It was stated by one of his comrades and 

attested to by Sergeant C. C. Parker and many others, 

that in the Battle of Gettysburg h.e took forty prisoners 

single handed. 

On November 22, 1865, he was married to Miss 

Mary Donaldson. After the war, they came to 

Morristown where he was employed in a mill for two 

years. This work was not good for his health so he 

rented a small building and opened a tin shop, 

employed a tinsmith, and learned the trade. He served 

as Justice of the Peace from 1877 until he resigned in 

1882. 

Aaron Kiser of Ohio was born in 1833. When he was 

ten years old, his parents moved toLe Sueur County, 

Minnesota. He married Miss S. G. Dunlavey of New 

York City in 1855. They had eleven children, ten of 

whom lived, eight boys and two girls. In 1875, they 

moved to Morristown township and settled in Section 

15. Kisor served as village treasurer and as supervisor. 

John Larson of Norway was born in 1830. He was 

married in his native land in 1858 to Miss Anna 

Anderson. They had five children, two boys and two 

girls, one of whom died in 1871. Larson came to 

America in 1869. He stayed in St. Paul one year earning 

money so he could send for his family. Soon after, he 

bought land in Morristown. 

Versatile Career 

Walter Morris was born in Ohio on Jan. 12, 1833. He 

was the son of J ohnathan and Sarah Morris. He 

assisted Alexander Faribault in getting 500 Indians 

across the Redwood to receive their pay. Walter 

Morris married Anna Chilstrum on July 4, 1857. She 

died on June 17, 1858, leaving one child. On the 18th of 

September, he married Salina McGindley. Two of their 

four children died. In 1855, Morris was appointed 

Justice of the Peace by Governor Gorman and 

afterward was elected to the office for four terms. In 

1861, he moved to Owatonna where he was County 

Auditor and Register of Deeds. He resigned in 1863 and 

went to Colorado where he was engaged in farming for 

two years. He moved to Mason, Mo. where he was 

Deputy Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds until1870. 

He then went to St. Louis and in 1875 returned to 

Morristown and made his home. He worked in the 

mercantile business and was town clerk and 

postmaster. 

In the year 1852, the Remund family bade farewell 

to their many friends and relatives in Berne, 

Switzerland, and sailed for the United States of 

America. They settled in J oiliet, Ill., where they had 

relatives. Christ Remund and his wife began the trip to 

Minnesota in the spring of 1854 in a covered wagon 

drawn by oxen. 

After a long and tiresome journey, they arrived in 

Blooming Grove and located on the farm now owned by 

Glenn and Burch Mahler. In the fall of 1855, the rest of 

the Remund family began the trip from Joliet to 

Minnesota. They arrived shortly before Christmas. 

The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Remund, John, 

193

~en &?8-fow 

Morristown School and pupils in late 1880's. 

Samuel, Albert, Rudolph, and Lena. They came to 

Blooming Grove to settle as farmers and to battle with 

pioneer hardships. When the mission was started in 

Christ Remund's home in 1857, this Remund family did 

everything in their power to help maintain it and 

enlarge it. In a short time they were able to build a 

small church in this neighborhood. This church 

became known as the Remund Methodist church. Soon 

they became prosperous enough to support a resident 

minister. 

Mr. and Mrs. William Hershey lived in a log cabin 

on the west side of Section Four. He was a blacksmith 

by trade. Besides his blacksmith shop, he also owned a 

store, feedmill, sorghum mill and cooking equipments. 

He also operated a woods a w powered by a treadmill 

which was run by two horses. He would often saw as 

many as 20 cords a day. All of these buildings have 

been tom down and the land, now owned by Ewald 

Spitzack, is under cultivation. In the 1890's, he moved 

to town and for forty-five years operated a blacksmith 

shop and a feedmill. His place of business and his home 

were located on the comer of West Second Street and 

Franklin. Today, this is where Gust Ahlman's home is. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hershey played the viloin and organ for 

dances. William Hershey died on January 22, 1937. 

Floyd Hershey, son of William Hershey was a painter. 

Ben Hershey, father of William Hershey, lived on the 

farm now owned by Emil Spitzack. He was one of the 

first officials on the school board of District 89. 

Doctor John Darga vel came to Morristown around 

1890. He received his general education in Scotland. He 

taught school there until he saved some money. He 

then journeyed to Toronto, Canada, where he received 

his medical degree from McGill University. After he 

had finished school, he came to Faribault where his 

brother William was living. He then came to 

Morristown. 

Dr. Dargavel and his wife were married in 

Morristown the same year the world's fair was held in 

Chicago, Ill. They spent their honeymoon attending the 

fair and seeing the sights of Chicago. They had four 

sons, John William, James Bergess, Warren Crawford, 

and Chester Arthur. All four were registered 

Pharmacists. John managed the Morristown baseball 

team for a number of years. He sold Ben Sheffield the 

idea of buying uniforms and equipment for the team as 

an advertising medium for Big Diamond Flour Mill. 

Chapman Takes Claim 

Because all the land around here had been taken, 

Thomas R. Chapman took a claim in Wilton. Sam 

Chapman, son of Thomas R. Chapman, rented the 

Deney Farm south of town where Charles Fausch now 

lives. He then rented the Adams place south of town 

and later the Singenstruce place. They moved onto 

their present farm which they rented for 12 years 

before buying it. The Chapman place was pre-empted 

in 1854 by Andrew Storer. The Storer's left in the latter 

sixties to live in Kansas. They sold the place to Dan 

Scott. This man never farmed it, and sold it after a few 

years to I. B. Spencer from whom the Chapmans 

bought it in 1882. The entire farm was comprised of 480 

acres. They sold 160 acres to Lester Kisor. Mr. and 

Mrs. T. Rollie Chapman built a new home about 

twenty-five years ago. This is the third generation on 

the farm. 

On July 4, 1855, two weary travelers first set foot on 

194


I 

Morristown Band as it was in 1895; In the band 

stand, from left to right: James Crawford, 

Willard Crawford, Charlie Christian and 

Conrad Wilkowske. Drum Major, Byron 

Hollister. On the ground, left to right: Bill 

Temple, Emma Shank, Emery Bloomer, 

Vernon Temple, Fred Flatz and William 

Schneider. 

a bit of land that must have been pleasing to the eyes 

for one of them called it Pleasent Ridge. They decided 

that this was the spot they would claim and make their 

homestead. For over 100 years the farm has been home 

to his family and is still operated by Coleman's 

grandson, Harold Bloomer. The original owner, 

Coleman Bloomer, and his brother, Hinton, came here 

from Indiana. They were the sons of William Bloomer, 

a direct decendant of Robert Bloomer (1628-1730) who 

came to America in 1642. Coleman Bloomer was born 

at Fayette County, Ohio, on March 16, 1834. He staked 

his 1 claim in the N.W. ~of Section 34, Rice County. The 

patent on the farm, still in the possession of the owner, 

was signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1861. Coleman 

married Lydia Poole, on Dec. 22, 1859, and to this union 

one daughter, Florence, was born. They lived on the 

farm and built a small home somewhat to the east of 

the present farm site. 

They worked diligently at clearing the land, 

especially of rocks which are an ever present problem 

here, raising crops, and taking pride in producing the 

best crops possible. On Sept. 28, 1859, Coleman 

received a certificate from the Rice County 

Agriculture and Mechanical Association for the second 

best acorn squash exhibited at the county fair. 

Early in 1864 Coleman joined the Union Army as a 

member of Company E of the 8th Minnesota regiment 

and took part in putting down the Indian uprising in the 

Dakotas and later was in Sherman's march to the sea. 

In 1886, his wife passed away leaving the small 

daughter. Sarah Russell was born on April18, 1845. She 

came to Morristown from Illinois. She was the 

daughter of Edward and Patience (Newel) Russell, 

who settled on a farm two miles east of Morristown 

which today is the home of Floyd Kratt. At the age of 

16, she married Newton Soule and at 19 she was 

.195

• ~ -. - , > 

~en &?§Vow 

Bill Hershey's Blacksmith Shop in Morristown, located where Gus Ahlman's house is now. 

widowed and left with two small sons, Alfred and 

George. ~ 

On Oct. 24, 1867, she married Coleman Bloomer. To 

this union five children were born, Olive, Emery, Lee, 

Jesse and Lloyd. In 1887, Olive, age 18, and Jesse, age 

7, were victims of severe cases of quinsy and passed 

away 18 days apart. Because there was no Methodist 

Church in the vicinity, the family started what was 

known as class meetings. These meetings were held in 

the cabin of Coleman and Hinton Bloomer. 

In 1856, Rev. A. V. Hitchcock organized the Society 

of Methodists with eight members present. Edward 

Russell, father of Sarah, was the first class leader. 

Church Organized 

The society met at Pleasant Ridge for two years 

until the Methodist church of Morristown was 

organized. In 1862, he was hard pressed for cash and 

sold the south 80 acres for $235. Lloyd C. Bloomer 

always wanted to see the homestead back in family 

ownership so, in 1947, he purchased it for $13,000. 

Coleman Bloomer passed away on Feb. 9, 1914. His 

wife Sarah passed away Jan. 11, 1936. Little remains of 

the original appearance of the farm as Pleasant Ridge 

looked on July 4, 1855, but the natural timber line and 

Sprague and Hand Lakes to the west perhaps have 

changed the least in the past 100 years. 

The influx of people became great and the prairie 

land was rapidly taken. The first township meeting 

was held on May 11, 1858, at the Delaware House. 

James R. Davidson was appointed moderator and 

William P. Heydon was appointed clerk. Town officials 

elected for the following year were: Supervisor, Isaac 

Hammond; Chairmen, Henry Basset and John D. 

Bernson; Clerk, Charles D. Adams; Assessor, JohnS. 

Pope; Collector, D. G. Wilkins, Overseer of the Poor, 

Reuben Morris; Justices of the Peace, Walter Morris 

and Willard Eddy; Constables, William P. Heydon and 

Samuel Clark; and Overseers of Roads, 0. K. Hogle 

and Nathan Morris. All of these officers qualified 

exceptS. Clark and JohnS. Pope, but thfir places were 

soon filled. 

In 1874, steps were taken to have Morristown 

incorporated. It embraced a territory two miles square 

including all of sections 22, 23, 26, and 27. This met with 

196

Early day M orristoum threshing scene. 

considerable opposition and dissatisfaction. Faribault, 

a much larger place, was still under township 

government and was progressing in a most satisfactory 

manner. The two-mile tract incorporated in 

Morristown took in a large agricultural district and 

many farmers had been included in the limits most 

unwillingly. Therefore, a measure was introduced in 

the legislature of 1879, by Seth H. Kenny, to annul the 

incorporation. 

The conditions, however, changed in the next 

decade or so, and in 1892 measures again were taken to 

have the village incorporated. This was done April26, 

1892, with the present limits, one mile square, a 

quarter section taken from sections 22, 23, 26, and 27. 

The first meeting under the new charter was held 

June 3, 1892. Those present were: President C. D. 

Adams; councilmen, Robert Fehmer and A. J. 

Speckeen; recorder, Cyrus C. Aldrich. 

The Indian tepee had been replaced by a thriving 

village. Where but a few years ago the wigwam of the 

untutored savage stood, it had, by the hand of industry, 

been transformed into a thriving village containing 

schools, churches, stores, mill, hotels, and in short, all 

the conveniences of civilization. 

Morristown's Industries, Businesses, and Homes 

The first log house and log store were erected near 

the Morristown Feed Mill. Most of the buildings were 

one block south. The Delaware Tavern was on the 

corner of First and Main. This is where Mrs. Les 

Lieder now lives. It was operated by Mrs. Philip Smith. 

Crawford's Blacksmith Shop was across the street ana 

his first house was on the next corner south. At the 

time, there were other small shops along Main Street, 

such as Mrs. S. B. Cob's Millinery Shop. 

Division Street was a slough. A creek came 

through where H. D. Schmidtke's blacksmith shop 

stands. It was later ditched to run along Division Street 

and had board walks across it. The center block of 

Division Street was made passable by means of a 

corduroy road, that is, logs were piled parallel several 

feet thick and covered with dirt. 

An incident is told about the brook on the above 

corner. A man by the name of Gilroy had a little house 

on this corner. He would sit on a stool and fish from his 

door. He would then hand the fish to his wife to dress 

and clean and prepare for a meal for his family of 

seven or eight children. 

In the vicinity of the Morristown State Bank, there 

used to be a small pond where Mallard ducks nested 

and hatched. Later, John Molm hauled load after load 

of sawdust into the place to fill it. John Molm was a 

tanner who had a number of vats on the west side of 

Division Street and he also had a shoe shop. Later a 

shoe repair shop was run by Mr. Hofmeister and later 

by Fred Voge. It was bought by Herb Plaisance who 

combined the shoe repair shop with a harness shop. He 

moved the little building from Division to Main. Ben 

Wiese was a shoe repairman for many years. He also 

oiled, cleaned and repaired harnesses. 

Mr. J. Morse was Morristown's photographer for a 

197

Morristown and Faribault Orchestra (active 

in earlier days). Members pictured include: 

Tessie Goar (Mrs. Arrwld Wilkowske), 

Margaret Goar (Mrs. Donald Weinberger), 

Evelyn Goar, Ruby Goar, Jasper Goar, Ed 

Goar. 

number of years. He later moved to the west coast. 

Jim Crawford moved his blacksmith shop from the 

corner of First and Main to Division Street. This is part 

of the property that is today owned by Nordmeier 

Brothers. Mr. Crawford later sold his business to the 

Wobbrock Brothers. After a few years, Wobbrock sold 

the shop to Harry Hershey who remodeled it into a 

theater. About a year later, an explosion occurred in 

the projection booth which killed Harry Hershey and 

Leonard Witter. 

Thomas Dartnall erected the building which later 

became a drugstore owned and operated by K. W. 

Montgomery. For many years, it was a saloon. In 1917, 

H. F. Bluhm opened a drug store in the building. 

Mr. Stroberger, who lived on South Division, 

made cigars in his home. 

The old Dargavel Building, home of the 

Morristown Press until it burned in 1953, was once a 

grocery store. Patrick Healy was once a storekeeper 

there and it was later owned by John Meehl. Mrs. 

Maud Dargavel had a drugstore there and Dr. and 

Mrs. Dargavellived upstairs. The old Legion Hall was 

an ice cream parlor operated by Mrs. Maud Dargavel. 

After the Dargavels left, it served as a millinery store. 

For a numbers of years Ralph Molm had the 

Morristown Press in it. He later moved to Portland, 

Oregon. 

Erick Kilns Among the early industries in 

Morristown, were several brick kilns located between 

the farms now owned by Alfred Kalien and Ed Morgan. 

The Morgan Kiln was still being worked at the turn of 

the century. C. D. Adams owned a kiln on the property 

now owned by Mrs. Sam Tramel. Jack and Ezra 

Peltier had a kiln about 50 or 60 rods east of Herb 

Krause. 

The Seth Kenney Sorghum Factory-The Seth 

Kenney Sorghum Factory was located on his farm in 

the northwestern part of the township in Section 6. He , 

started the business in 1860 with two wooden rollers 

and with a yoke of oxen. He turned out 32 gallons of 

Portrait of Dr. John William bargavel, 

former Morristoum druggist, who was 

horwred by Parke, Davis and Co. in 

September, 1959, after serving for 25 years as 

executive secretary and general manager of 

the National Association of Retail Druggists. 

He also was a physician. 

198


Ruins left by Morri~toum cyclone in the fall of 1900. 

sorghum a day. A few years later, he purchased an iron 

mill and began running it with horse power. This 

doubled the capacity. During the Civil War, his 

sorghum was selling at $1.00 to $1.25 a gallon. In 1866, 

he put in a 12 horsepower engine and began turning 

out 12 barrels a day. This was the first mill of this 

nature run by steam in the state. In the fall of 1868, 

the mill was destroyed by fire. It was replaced by two 

mills which were operated by horsepower. In 1879, a 

15 horsepower engine was purchased. In 1882, the factory 

had a five-ton mill, a storage and granulating 

house that was 30x40 feet, was three stories high, and 

had a storage capacity of 16,580 gallons. He also had an 

engine house, 22 x 26 feet; a mill house, 30 x 62 feet; a 

boiling house, 16 x 30 feet; a refinery mill, 20 feet deep; 

and a centrifugal pump which was used for draining 

the sugar. The new addition cost him $5,000. 

This was a costly outlay, but at the time was the 

finest and best managed mill in the state. The pump 

was purchased in Germany for $500. The mill was able 

to produce 700 gallons of sorghum and 600 pounds of 

amber sugar a day. Its products were shipped all over 

the United States., Seth H. Kenney was president of the 

Minnesota Amber Cane Association. Many people were 

employed at the mill. In fact, Kenneyville was quite a 

village. Seth Kenney built houses and as the German 

immigrants arrived he alloted them a small patch of 

land so they could raise potatoes and vegetables. He 

also had acres and acres of apple and other fruit trees. 

Around the last decade of the 19th Century, the 

popularity of sorghum began to wane and Kenney 

discontinued operations. The large boilers were sold 

and moved to Faribault, and the many houses were 

tom down or moved away. Mr. and Mrs. Seth H. 

Kenney remained on their farm until their death in 

1917. A granddaughter, Olive Purrington, lived with 

them during their last years. She passed away the 

same year. Otto Villwock owned the original Seth 

Kenny farm and William Hagel lived in one of the older 

homes. 

Durrin Saw Mill-In 1856, Messrs. Norton and 

Webster came from California and erected the second 

steam saw mill in the country. A cousin of Norton's ran 

it for a time, but it finally became the property of E. P. 

Durrin who moved it to Section Three of Morristown 

Township. 

The mill was burned by fire in the early seventies, 

but it was soon replaced with a building 18 x 26 feet with 

a 52 inch circular saw and a 32 horsepower engine 

which gave it a capacity of producing 6,000 board feet 

per day. The majority of it was furniture lumber. A. L. 

Hill, of the furniture factory in Faribault, purchased 

most of the output of the furniture lumber. The old, 

round-back kitchen chair was the main product. 

199

Emma Shank, Morristoum's highly versatile 

UX>man. She met all passenger trains, 

aperated a livery stable and also played in the 

band. 

The neighborhood around the Durrin Saw Mill was 

closely settled. Many men found work there, especially 

German immigrants. 

The Hershey Grist Mill was begun in 1855 when 

Johnathan and Walter Morris erected a saw mill. Due 

to some flaw in the foundation, the water found its way 

under it which resulted in the destruction of the mill. 

Walter Morris began construction of a new mill which 

he completed in the fall of 1856. Ag_ain the 

manufacturing of lumber began and continued until 

June, 1858, when the dam was washed away. 

The damage was repaired and m the fall of 

1858, Nathan Morris purchased the property and 

operated the mill. In 1860, Mr. Hershey purchased it 

and erected a two and a half story building. He added 

one run of stones, the necessary flouring machinery, 

and began grinding. 

In 1877, it was remodeled and a wooden reaction 

water wheel was installed. The mill had a capacity of 

producing 100 barrels in 24 hours. The mill was owne


Herb Plaisance in his Morristown Shoe Shop with his daughter, Harriet. Jim Goar in 

background. 

steam engine. They began manufacturing lumber at 

the rate of 8,000 board feet per day. In1870, they sold 

the business to Mr. Danile Scott. In 1816, it was sold to 

Mr. Elijah Spaulding. In 1878, Mr. Spaulding installed 

headlining machinery and built an addition. After a 

short time, he sold the business to H. H. Osterhoudt and 

Company who manufactured hea(,ijng and curved head 

lining. In 1882, the company employed 'Jline· men and 

was using four teams. 

The Hopkins Head Lining Factory - In 1869, 

Seth Kenney and E. Hopkins decided a saw mill 

would be more profitable than a sorghum mill. They 

operated a saw mill until it was destroyed by fire in 

1870. In 1872, J. B. Hopkins and his brother bought the 

machinery which had not been destroyed and moved it 

to the village. They turned out lumber with a 45 

horsepower engine until1877. They manufactured 4,000 

board feet per day. 

In 1878, J. B. Hopkins had 15 people working for 

him. They shipped their products all over the country 

with over 4 million board feet being shipped to St. Louis 

each year. 

The timber north of the Cannon River furnished 

the material for this operation, and it was one of the 

best and most valuable industrial interests in the 

county at the time. 

The First Blackmsmith Shop was opened in 1857 in 

a 16 x 20 foot log building owned by W. S. Crawford. 

After a fire destroyed his shop, he built a shop on the 

corner of East First Street and Main. Later the 

Crawford Brothers owned a blacksmith shop on 

Division Street. 

Wooden Pumps- Another family industry was the 

making of wooden pumps. This was done by Thomas R. 

Chapman, grandfather of Roy and T. R. Chapman. 

They made the wooden pumps from logs. First they 

peeled the bark, then reamed and augered a hole in the 

center. In a shallow well, one of these logs was enough, 

but for a deeper well, two were needed. A handle, 

called a shanghai, was used to lift the water. The 

special tools used to make these pumps are still in the 

possession of the Chap mans. 

Hotels - One of the first hotels in Morristown was 

the North Star Hotel on Main Street located where the 

Chester Meschke home is today. Down the street near · 

W. B. Schmditke's house was the Deney Hotel. The 

Brown Hotel was on Division Street where Vern's Food 

Market now stands. The Centennial Hotel was a large 

hotel on the corner of First Street and Franklin. It was 

called the Centennial Hotel in honor of the nation's 

centennial year, 1876. It was built by C. D. Adams. 

Later it was used as apartments and offices until it was 

201

~en ~c!JVow 

Inside of Paul Borchardt Store - in what is 

now city hall- in year 1918. Paul Borchardt 

destroyed by fire in 1915. 

The Morristown Post Office was established in 1856 

with Walter Morris as postmaster. He was to appoint a 

carrier at an expense not to exceed the net proceeds of 

the office. Dr. Ward took the contract and carried the 

mail from Faribault until a route was established. 

Charles Adams was postmaster until 1879. Walter 

Morris was then reappointed postmaster. He moved 

the post office to his store on Division Street. Money 

order business was installed in the post office on Aug. 

2, 1880. 

In 1882, the mail would leave Morristown at 8 a.m. 

and would arrive in Faribault at 11 a.m. It would leave 

Faribault at 1 p.m. and would arrive in Morristown at 4 

p.m. Charles Dolan was the contractor and driver. 

On July 15, 1883, the store and post office, with 

fixtures and records, were destroyed by fire. The post 

office was then moved to the Morristown Meat Market 

which was located on the corner of Main and Division 

Streets and which was owned by a brother of Walter 

Morris. In November, 1883, Walter Morris resigned 

and A. H. Ridgeway was appointed postmaster and 

moved the office to his store on Main Street. On March 

1, 1887, Charles Bird was appointed postmaster and 

at desk, Elsie Wegner as clerk. 

moved the post office across the street. It was located 

there until July 1, 1889. 

J. A. Russell was then appointed postmaster and 

moved the post office to the west side of Division Street 

where it was located until Oct. 1, 1891. F. W. Ridgeway 

Early day Wilkowske Hard'Ware Store, 

Morristown 

202


Paul Borchardt Store in 1911, which is now 

Gill Furniture Store in Morristown. Shown in 

was appointed postmaster and moved the post office 

into his store on Main Street until Oct. 1, 1893. 

Charles Bird was reappointed postmaster and 

moved the post office to the east side of Division Street. 

After a short time, he moved it to the west side of the 

street to where the Morristown State Bank now stands. 

It remained there until Oct. 16, 1897. 

J. P. Temple was appointed postmaster and moved 

the post office into the furniture store of Mr. 

Bowe where it remained until it was destroyed by fire 

on Jan. 29, 1900. He then moved the post office into A. J. 

Speckeen's store on South Division. It remained there 

until November, 1901, when he moved the post office 

into his building on the corner of Franklin and Division. 

On April 1, 1903, William L. Eddy was appointed 

postmaster. 

Safe Robbed 

On Dec. 5, 1904, the safe in the office was blown 

open and robbed of $129.12 in cash and of stamps that 

were valued at $370.50. 

In July, 1905, the office was moved to C. E. Dorn's 

grocery store on the west side of Division Street. On 

June 10, 1907, it was again moved to the east side of the 

street. In 1914, P. W. Gorrie replaced Mr. Eddy 

and was postmaster until 1934. The office was then 

moved into the building which had been F. Turek's 

picture are Mr. and Mrs. Paul Borchardt, Ben 

Borchardt (child) and clerks. 

Meat Market. 

On March 3, 1934, Paul M. Saemrow was appointed 

postmaster. He was postmaster until his death in April, 

1953. In 1946, the post office was moved to the Darga vel 

building and was there until it was damaged by fire on 

May 6, 1953. It was then moved to South Division in 

what is now the Community Hall. 

Mrs. Carl Young was postmistress until October, 

1954. At that time, Siegfried Schmidtke, our present 

postmaster, was appointed. 

Herb Hein erected a building on the east side of 

Division Street which he leases to the Postal 

Department, and where the present post office is 

located. 

Business had increased from receipts of $534 in 

1888 to $1,600 in 1909. Rural Free Delivery routes were 

established in the county in the fall of 1902 and service 

began in 1905. Carriers for the rural route were: A. M. 

Jackson, Keyes Swift, Erwin Temple, William H. 

Dean, and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Soule. Our present rural 

route carrier is Albert Thiel bar. · · 

The Railroad- The Chicago and Great Western 

Railroad, then the Cannon Valley Railroad, began 

operation through Morristown in 1882. The route was 

surveyed in the late 1870s, but actual work was not 

begun until 1882. At that time, there was rivalry 

203 

I

tilen ~8'-Jow 

Don Weatherhead and Harold Buscho with 

mules and covered wagon in Morristown's 

between two railroad companies, each trying to reach 

Northfield first. 

Morristown issued $10,000 in bonds to assist the 

railroad. Four passenger trains came through 

Morristown daily. One came from the east at 8 a.m. 

and went west at 11 a.m. Another came from the east at 

5 p.m. and went west again at 5 p.m. At the tum of the 

century there were also several freight trains that 

went through daily. 

The railroad had good business before the 

75th anniversary parade Aug. 16, 1930. 

automobile came into existence. Shanks Bus and Dray 

Line could be seen almost any time of the day. Shanks 

Livery Bam was located on the property where Mrs. 

Paul Strehlo now lives. Shanks Bus met every 

incoming passenger train. 

Today, most of the track has been removed and an 

occasional freight train is the only indication of the 

busy railroad. 

The Morristown Messenger was established in 1878 

by H. S. Barlow. It was a five column paper, 14 x 24 

Lawrence Weinberger and Carl Meschke 

(Bill Meschke's grandfather) shown in 

covered wagon in Morristown's 75th 

anniversary parade in August, 1930. 

204


inches and was printed on a wooden press made by the 

publisher. In a few months it passed into the hands of 

Dr. S. B. Coe. The latter changed the name of the paper 

to the Cannon Valley Messenger. He soon sold it to A. 

E. Verity who published it for a short time. 

On Aug. 28, 1888, J. A. Russell, B. L. Hollister and 

H. L. Hollister began printing a newspaper called the 

Morristown Rustler. All three men had learned their 

trade as printers in the office of George W. Benedict, 

one of the pioneer newspaper men in Minnesota. The 

Morristown Rustler was a seven column folio. After 

about a year, Russell, who had been appointed 

postmaster, sold his interest to the Hollister Brothers 

and they continued the paper for another year. They 

then moved the plant to Minneapolis where they 

started the South Minneapolis Tribune. 

Morristown was without a newspaper for about one 

year after the Rustler was discontinued. 

In 1890, Willis J. Ward began printing a paper he 

called the New Era. He sold the paper to a stock 

company. The paper continued for about a year. It was 

then sold back to B. L. Hollister. The name of the paper 

was changed to the Morristown Press. An engine and 

two power machines replaced the old hand press. In 

the winter of 1899-1900, a fire destroyed the press and 

nearly all of the principal business places of the 

village. The Press was then printed at the office of the 

·Faribault Republican. It was sold to E.L. Peterson. 

Mr . Peterson made a success of the Press and printed 

it until Jan. 1, 1905, when he sold it to J.C. Temple and 

Son. 

On Sept. 1, 1910, J. C. Temple and Son sold the 

business toW. S. Farrington, son of S. H. Farrington, 

Three Morristown veterans - Sam Chapman) 

Lawrence Weinberger and Carl Meschke - 

taking part in Morristown)s 75th anniversary 

celebration Aug. 16) 1930. 

Lawrence Weinberger and Sam Chapman at 

Morristown)s 75th anniversary celebration in 

August) 19 30. 

publisher of the Waterville Advance. Farrington sola 

the Press to Ralph Molm who later sold the Press to 

Frank Putz of New Ulm. After a number of years, he 

sold it to Scott Laird. A considerable part of the plant 

was destroyed in a fire on May 6, 1953. Jean Molm, with 

the assistance of Scott Laird, printed the Press for 

awhile in the city pump house. In December, 1953, it 

was sold to Robert Miller of LaCrosse, Wis. He had 

been publisher of the Welcome Times in Welcome, 

Minn. 

News items from days gone by: 

1890 - Census enumerator for Morristown, Cyrus 

C. Aldrich. Morristown Rustler discontinued 

publication, Aug. 26. 

1892 - March 1, Cooper shops at Morristown 

burned. June 10, First number of New Era of 

Morristown issued. 

1895 - May 24, Census enumerators for state 

census, appointed for township and village, A. J . Eddy. 

1897 - July 6, Storms passed over county doing 

much damage to crops. Freight train ditched near 

Medford, many bridges in both city and county carried 

away. 

1899 - Jan. 11, Captain Henry Platt, age 70 died. 

1900 - Jan. 29, Fire destroyed a larger part of the 

business section of Morristown. Twenty buildings 

including the bank, post office, printing office and hotel 

were in ashes. Losses were placed at $35,000. Feb. 4, 

Mrs. Sarah Morris Poole died at Flemming Colo. April 

25, Laufenbergers and Ebels Store were burned at a 

loss of $10,000. Adjoining buildings were severely 

damaged. May 2, The Chicago Great Western Depot in 

Warsaw burned. Sept. 24, a destructive cyclone wiped 

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~en ~§Vow 

W. B. Schmidtke, Morristown, with two-row cultivator in earlier days. 

out a portion of the village of Morristown. There were 

few people on the streets at the time and those that 

were hurriedly sought shelter in a one story brick 

building on Division Street. The structure was in the 

direct path of the cyclone and it was leveled to the 

ground burying 11 persons. Seven were killed and the 

rest were seriously injured. Sept. 26, Baltus Soule, age 

71, died at the Soldier's Home. He settled in 

Morristown in 1&54. 

1901 - March 7, the Merchants Hotel in 

Morristown opened. Dec. 4, the post office was robbed. 

1906 - Feb. 28, Wilkowske and Wolf's Store in 

Morristown was destroyed by fire. 

The Big Diamond Mill - For many years, the 

major industry in Morristown and the source of 

employment for many residents was the Big Diamond 

Milling Company. The mill was started as the 

Morristown Mills in 1876 by a stock company of which 

Cycling was a popular sport in Morristown's 

earlier days. Pictured is a group, young and 

old, all set for a bicycle outing. 

206


Big Diamond Mill, once Morristown's major industry, looking south. 

A. E. Barkley was president and C. D. Adams, William 

Shaw, Tobias Ohler and Christian Remund were 

directors. A mill was erected on the south bank of the 

Cannon River. It was a four-story frame building with 

a stone basement and an engine house and was built at 

a cost of about $43,000. 

In 1880, George W. Newell purchased the property 

and in 1881 made many improvements. From time to 

time, other alterations and additions were made, 

including the erection of a new elevator in 1909. The 

elevator was 87 feet high and had a capacity of 40,000 

bushels. The name was changed to Big Diamond on 

Jan. 1, 1909. In February, 1932, in sub-zero weather, the 

mill, then owned by the Big Diamond Milling Company 

of Minneapolis, was completely destroyed by fire. The 

mill was not rebuilt and a major industry was lost to 

Morristown. 

Morristown Greenhouse - Around 1925, Otto 

Mielke came to town to live with an uncle, Albert 

t3orchardt. He persuaded his uncle to build a 

greenhouse and lay out gardens. This he did on the 

west side of First Street. After a few years, Mielke left 

town and Borchardts had the greenhouse. They sold 

the property on the west side and moved on the east 

side and erected a greenhouse and a small house. Mrs. 

Borchardt had plants, potted plants, perennials and all 

sorts of garden plants. After Mr. Borchardt's death, 

Mrs. Borchardt carried on alone until her death in 

February, 1949. 

The Ideal Equipment Company - In 1926, Frank 

H. Alman invented a frost and leakproof valve for his 

water bowl and a salt cup for cattle. These products 

were sold all over the United States as well as in many 

foreign countries. The company contracted with such 

May, 1953 fire of Dr. Dargavel Drug Store 

building, Morristown. Building at that time 

'UXIS occupied by Morristown Press. It is now 

site of Morristown American Legion Post. 

207

~en ~§Vow 

Morristown Creamery (earlier days) 

companies as the Northern Malleable Iron Company in 

St. Paul and the Louisville Pottery Company in 

Louisville, Ky., to produce the items that could not be 

made in their own shop. 

In the early years, Frank and his sons- Arthur, 

William and M. J. "Cap" - spent much time 

introducing these products to the dairymen. 

Four County Agricultural Services - The 

Morristown Creamery Association was organized in 

the spring of 1896, and the cost of the original plant was 

Four County Ag Service, Morristown 

$2, 773.31. The first officers were: president, J. P. 

Temple; treasurer, L. M. Hollister ; secretary and 

manager, J. W. Jackson; directors, M. S. Randall, 

George Molm and S. J. Chapman. 

The first year's business was $7,171.84, and the 

average price paid patrons was 16lf.i cents per pound 

for butterfat. In 1907, a new brick plant was built and 

new machinery was added. 

In 1910, the plant, together with the house, 

storeroom and grounds, was valued at $10,000. The 

business transacted in 1909 amounted to nearly $60,000. 

Julius D. Plonty had been the buttermaker for the 

past 10 years. At the Pan-American Exposition in 

Buffalo, he received the second highest score for the 

quality of his butter and the quality of his product was 

such that Morristown Creamery received a 3 cent 

premium above the New York quotations for its butter. 

Awards and high ratings have been in order time and 

again. 

The peak in the volume of business transacted in 

the creamery department came in 1963 when there 

were 260 patrons delivering milk, and the total volume 

of milk for the year was 30,405,296 pounds. The 

increased popularity of bulk handling of milk and the 

fact that many farmers quit milking spelled out the 

beginning of the end for small creameries in general, 

and there was a steady decline from that time on in the 

volume of milk products handled by the Morristown 

Creamery. Even though the creamery department 

volume was dec!"easing the Ag Service Department, 

which was started in 1950, was continually increasing. 

Because of the likelihood that Morristown would 

soon lose its railroad and to strengthen the cooperative 

with greater volume, the Morristown Creamery 

208


I 

Original First Baptist Church, Morristown 

Cooperative acquired the Ag Service Department of 

Land O'Lakes at Faribault on Jan. 1, 1971. 

In September of 1971, the stockholders adopted 

new articles of incorporation and by-laws which were 

necessary to allow the cooperative to adapt to the 

change in times and circumstances. 

" Four County Agricultural Services" was the new 

name chosen to replace the name " Morristown 

Cooperative Creamery Association" which was no 

longer descriptive of the cooperative, since the Ag 

Service Department was rapidly becoming the largest 

enterprise. 

At this time, the trade area of the cooperative 

covered parts of Rice, Waseca, Le Sueur and Steele 

counties. Although the term cooperative was dropped 

from the name, the organization remains a 

cooperative. 

In 1973, more facilities were added when the 

fertilizer plant at Waterville owned by Gulf Oil 

Company was purchased by Four County Ag. 

As of Nov. 1, 1974, Stan Peroutka resigned as 

general manager after serving the co-op in that 

capacity for over 29 years during which time it 

sustained most of its growth. At that time, Sherman 

Burns was hired as the general manager, and he is still 

in that position. 

Currently serving on the board of directors are 

Marvin Kanne, Burch Mahler, Lester Schulz, Henry 

Melchert, Vincent Schwartz, Harlan Spitzack, Walter 

Wetzel, Gordon Keirn and James Fuchs. 

The firm employs a total of approximately 30 full 

time employes at its three locations of Morristown, 

Faribault and Waterville with 16 of them employed at 

Morristown where the main office is located. 

At this time, the biggest year in dollar volume was 

1974 when the total dollar volume amounted to 

$3,521,250. However, that included $804,039 from milk 

sales. The creamery department was closed in October 

of 1974, so looking at it from that standpoint, the last 

fiscal year of 1975 could be considered the largest year 

with a total dollar business of $3,063,520 derived from 

the Ag Service Department. Products included are 

feed, seeds, fertilizer, herbicides, TBA items, 

equipment, custom spraying and other services. 

Reinhardt Melchert is the branch manager at 

Morristown, Ken Gregor is the branch manager at 

Faribault, Gerald Kokoschke is the head of the 

fertilizer department for all locations, and Clarence 

Spitzack is the office manager. 

MORRISTOWN'S CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS 

One hundred years ago the most popular way of 

going to church was to walk. It was not uncommon for 

people to walk two to five miles to church. Ox teams 

became a means of transportation, but because these 

animals were not very speedy, and because there were 

no lines by which to guide them, people often preferred 

to walk. Next came the lumber wagon with one or two 

spring seats. Many times the night was so dark that the 

driver could not see the road and depended entirely on 

the horse to bring him safely home. 

About 75 years ago, the three seated buggy with 

springs came into existence. Everyone felt they had 

209

Old Morris town United Brethren and 

Evangelical Church and adjoining house. 

found a means of transportation that could not be 

beaten. People were as happy at the acquisition of a 

new buggy as they are now of acquiring a new car. 

The first religious service was held in 1855 by Rev. 

Jonathon Morris at his home. He organized a church of 

the Disciple faith. In 1856, a frame church, which could 

seat 150 people, was erected at a cost of $350. It was 

New First Baptist Church, Morristown 

Congregation now merged with United 

Methodist Church. 

destroyed by fire in 1874. 

United Brethren Church - The United Brethren 

Church was organized in the summer of 1867 at the 

home of Hiram Erickson. The first service was held 

with the Rev. Daniel Reed officiating. There were 14 

members and services were held in private residences 

until 1870. At that time, a log church was constructed 

on the shore of Horseshoe Lake in Section 7. This 

church cost $150. In 1882, Rev. Uriah Cook was the 

minister. This church is no longer in existence. 

The Congregational Church- The Congregational 

Church of Morristown was organized May 5, 1878, and 

was incorporated on Aug. 5 of the same year. Early 

services were held in Coe's Hall. Rev. W. L. Sutherland 

was the first pastor and preached his first sermon on 

June 23, 1878. 

A church was built and was dedicated on Oct. 1, 

1879. This church and its bell was a landmark. The bell 

was mounted on a square building possibly 6 x 6 feet at 

the bottom and perhaps 10 feet high off the ground. 

The membership of the church dwindled, and 

around 1921 the building was given to the Roy Lieder 

Post No. 149 of the American Legion. In 1931, it was 

sold to Mr. and Mrs. John Meehl. They remodeled it 

and later Mrs. Meehl converted it into a maternity 

home. 

Peace United Methodist Church- The Morristown 

Methodist Church was organized in 1854 by Rev. A.V. 

Hitchcock at the home of Hinton Bloomer. Charter 

members were: Coleman Bloomer, Hinton Bloomer, 

Elisabeth Carter, Mr. and Mrs. Mill, Mrs. Minerva 

210


Bassett, Mr. and Mrs. Hezekiah Poole, Mr. and Mrs. 

Henry Soule, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Russel, Mr. and 

Mrs. John Russel and Mrs. Jane Soule. 

Services were held in the Disciple Church until it 

burned in 1874. At that time, they began building their 

own church in the village on East Second Street. In 

1916, a new church was built on Division Street at a cost 

of$16,000. 

On June 18, 1967, the last step was completed to 

bring about the merger of the First Evangelical United 

Brethren Church of Morristown with the Morristown 

Methodist Church to create Peace United Methodist 

Church. Truit F. Nordstrom is the present pastor. 

First Baptist Church- The First Baptist Church 

of Morristown began when Elder Gale preached to the 

people of that faith who had settled here. In the fall of 

1888, a church was built and it was dedicated the 

following spring. On Jan. 23, 1928, a rededication 

service was held after the building had been improved 

and enlarged. In August, 1968, a new church was 

erected. It was dedicated on April20, 1969. A parsonage 

was built just north of the church in 1975. Rev. Donald 

F. Vietz is the present pastor. 

Trinity Lutheran Church - Trinity Lutheran 

Church is located in Section 4 of Morristown Township, 

about five miles north of Morristown. This 

congregation had its beginning in 1868 when the Rev. C. 

G. T. Krause of Faribault came on horseback to the 

John Weber farm and announced that he would hold 

services for anyone interested in attending. 

In 1877, under the leadership and guidance of the 

Rev. J. S. Herterich, a congregation was organized and 

became known as Trinity Lutheran Church. The first 

members were Carl Wagner, Nathiam Bauer, John 

Weber, Jack Weber, Christ Weber, Gottlieb Oehler, 

Gerhard Newbell, all of Morristown; Leonard 

Kruetzer of Kilkenny and August Spitzack of 

Shieldsville Township. 

The first confirmation service was held on April20, 

1881, with four people being confirmed. 

John Weber donated a piece of land and a log 

church was erected at cost of $300. It was dedicated in 

1882. In 1882, there were 13 voting members. On Oct. 11, 

1885, the congregation was incorporated. Many new 

families had come from Germany and settled in the 

vicinity. In 1887, there were 30 members or families, 

and the log church was getting too small. The 

congregation purchased two acres of land from 

Charles Wagner for $52.50 and a new frame church was 

built at a cost of $2,409.48. On Oct. 14, 1888, the new 

church was dedicated. The old log church served as a 

parochial school. On Aug. 14, 1892, Rev. August 

Zitzman was ordained and installed as pastor of 

Trinity. He served the congregation for 48 years. 

In 1893, a parsonage was built. In 1895, the church 

became affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri 

·Synod. On Oct. 9, 1898, the new school was dedicated. 

In 1910, 12 members branched off to form 

Bethlehem Lutheran congregation. 

On March 22, 1938, a bolt of lightning struck the 

steeple and the church was burned to the ground. Plans 

were made to build a new church and on June 26, the 

New Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Morristown 

cornerstone was laid and on Oct. 16, 1938, the new 

church was dedicated. 

Today there are 225 communicant members. 

Trinity also has a parochial school for grades 1-8 with 

37 students attending. Rev. Gerald Raedeke is the 

pastor and Howard Bunge is principal of the school. 

Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Bethlehem 

Lutheran Church is the daughter congregation of 

Trinity Lutheran, Morristown Township. The first 

service was held on Pentecost, Monday, May 15, 1910. 

On May 29, Bethlehem Lutheran Church was organized 

with eight voting members and 33 communicant 

members. Charter members were: Paul Borchardt, 

Friederich Geisler, Emil Schmidtke, Jacques Mueller, 

Albert Meschke, William Zimmerman, Albert 

Borchardt and August Buerger. 

For the first few years, services were conducted in 

the Episcopal Church and the Baptist Church. In 

August, 1911, they voted to buy land and build. Four 

acres of land were purchased for $150 per acre. The 

congregation incorporated and Articles of 

Incorporation were filed in Rice County courthouse on 

Aug. 25, 1911. On May 25, 1913, the cornerstone was laid 

for the new church. Rev. August Zitzman delivered the 

German address and Pastor H. Schultz of Faribault 

spoke in English. The completed building measured 28 

x 43 feet and cost $3,800. Dedication services were held 

Oct. 26, 1913. On Sept. 1, 1922, Rev. H. Winter and 

family of Waterville moved to Morristown and became 

the first resident pastor. 

A parsonage was built east of the church and 

dedicated in a special service on Oct. 17, 1923. 

On April 2, 1923, it was decided to become a voting 

member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of 

Missouri, Ohio. Walther League and choir began in 

1922. In 1924, trees were planted on the church grounds 

to make a park. In 1925, a new organ with an electric 

blower was installed at a cost of $415. 

On July 9, 1925, it was decided to enlarge the 

church and on Nov. 8, 1925, the new addition was 

dedicated. The church now measured 28 x 73 feet. 

211

~en G?c!JVow 

Morristown Residence View, Division Street 

Voting members had increased to 60 in 1931. 

In 1938, the 25th anniversary of the dedication of 

the church was celebrated. 

In 1953, the Q.1embers of Bethlehem Church decided 

to erect a new church. The ground breaking ceremony 

took place in 1956. It was dedicated on Feb. 24, 1957. 

Bethlehem Church now has 512 baptized members. 

Rev. Franklin Hoffmann Jr. is the present pastor. 

Morristown Public School - The first class was 

held in the winter of 1855-1856 in the village in a little 12 

x 14 foot log shanty. Twelve students were registered 

and classes were taught by Isaac Hammond. In 1857, a 

24 x 40 foot frame schoolhouse was erected at a cost of 

$800. This building was used until1873 when a two story 

building with a seating capacity of 120 was built. This 

building cost $2,000. Another one-story, 2 room building 

was added later. In 1904, the school house was sold to 

Hoyt D. Widrick who moved it to the corner of Main 

and Division where it was used as a blacksmith shop. 

The one story building was sold to Jim Crawford who 

moved it to Division Street. It later became the town 

theater. 

School rooms were also located at the corner of 

Franklin and Second Street where the Rasmussen 

Mobil Station now is, and in a building between 

Franklin and Main. Mrs. S. B. Coe taught a private 

school on the comer of Franklin and Second Street. The 

first school officers were Andrew Storer, Levi Coon 

and Hilton Bloomer. 

In 1904, the first part of the present school building 

was erected at a cost of $10,000. It included six rooms 

and a library. An addition was added and boilers for 

steam heat were installed. 

In 1954, a large addition was added at a cost of 

$90,000 which included a music room, home economics 

room, and a first and second grade room. A large bus 

garage, which had been built in 1952, was remodeled 

into an industrial arts shop. 

In 1962, a music room, science room, offices and a 

gymnasium were built. Three hundred seventy-eight 

students are presently enrolled in grades 

K-12. John -Oyes is the superintendent, Ronald Bruer, 

principal, and Mrs. Dorothy Walburn is teaching 

elementary principal. _ 

Fire and Cyclone - The year 1900 was marked by 

two unforgettable disasters. The first was a fire which 

wiped out two thirds of the business district and caused 

more than $35,000 in damage. The blaze started in the 

back room of G. R. Filmer's drug and jewelry store. 

With a strong southwest wind behind it, it was soon 

past control. Faribault and Waterville were wired for 

assistance and they began work to save what they 

could. Twenty buildings, with the greater part of their 

contents, were destroyed. 

On Sept. 24, 1900, a devastating cyclone struck 

Morristown which killed seven residents, injured four 

and caused widespread property damage. A 

newspaper report stated that the ''cyclone came from 

the southwest and did not seem to be of large 

proportions to be of much danger, but as it struck town, 

the first building in its track, Dr. Darga vel's barn, was 

completely wrecked and portions of it were scattered 

and swept all over town. The funnel-shaped cloud then 

lifted and swept over the houses on either side of Main 

Street causing considerable damage, breaking 

windows, tumbling down chimneys, uprooting trees, 

and staving in the siding and roofs of buildings that 

happened to be struck by flying boards and timber. It 

212


then swooped down onto Gatzke's saloon and crushed 

the 20 x 60 foot brick structure as if it were an egg shell. 

The cyclone continued on its way wrecking more · 

business buildings, farms, barns, granaries and other 

structures." The storm did about $6,000 damage. 

Our Own Hardware - The oldest continuous 

mercantile establishment in Morristown, the F. H. 

Wilkowske, Inc., Hardware and Implement business, 

also known as Our Own Hardware, was purchased 

from the Soule Brothers on Feb. 19, 1894, by Frank 

Wilkowske. 

Conrad Wilkowske was partner with his brother 

the first year, as Frank wanted to continue his studies 

at St. Paul College. On Feb. 22, 1905, the establishment 

consisting of two warehouses and a store, was 

destroyed by fire. Business was then conducted in an 

old house located at the rear of the present site. That 

summer, using a wooden box for a desk, an empty nail 

keg for a seat and an older binder canvass for a door, 

Frank carried on his business. In the fall there was no 

building to be leased, so a church was moved into town, 

remodeled and leased to Mr. Peake, who ran a harness 

shop. He shared this building for four years with Frank 

Wilkowske, who loaded his stock in a wheelbarrow 

when he moved into Peake's harness shop. In 1909, Mr. 

Wilkowske moved his stock into the new location which 

is now occupied by Rasner's Barber Shop. In March, 

1912, he was notified that the building he had leased 

had been sold to the Fleck's Brewery and that he would 

have to vacate by July 1. He began to build and on June 

30, 1912, he moved his stock to the new store. 

For many years, the store was owned by his son 

Everett. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Schwartz are the 

present owners. 

The Rutz Shoe Store- On March 13,1866, DavidS. 

Bellis and his wife Margaret purchased Lots 6, 7 and 8, 

in Block 16, Original Town, as surveyed by C. C. 

Perkins. It was purchased for $200-$100 to be paid in 

six months and $100 in 12 months. On March 15, 1888, 

Old Ben Wiese Slwe Shop on Morristoum's 

Main Street, next to Post Office. Building has 

been "facelifted" and is now occupied by 

Arnold Rutz Shoe Shop. 

Ahlman Gun Shop 

David and his wife sold the east half of lot six and all of 

lots seven and eight in Block 16 to George Walrath. 

On July 25, 1888, George and Lydia Walrath sold 

the property to Oscar Gree, a single man. "Os" was a 

tinsmith. He did much work for the "Big Diamond" 

flour mill. He later married, and he and his wife, Clara, 

occupied the living quarters adjoining the tin shop. 

On Aug. 1, 1940, Ben and Ann Wiese purchased the 

Green property from the heirs of Os and Clara Green. 

Their children are: Irene, Mrs. Lawrence Gehrke; 

Dorothy, Mrs. Ruel Palmer; Frances, Mrs. Arnold 

Rutz; Ben Jr. (deceased) and Richard. 

Ben and Anna converted the tin shop to a harness 

and shoe shop. They cleaned, oiled and repaired 

harnesses and did a lot of canvas repair also. About 

this same time, Herb Plaisance, the local shoe repair 

man, decided to move to another state. He sold Ben and 

Anna his machinery and helped them learn the trade. 

As business progressed they took on the selling of 

men's work shoes and rubber footwear. They later 

began selling women's and children's shoes also. 

Anna, a marvelous seamstress, did sewing for 

others and also made "machine made" buttonholes for 

many people. Ben was the town marshal for a number 

of years. 

On Oct. 14, 1962, Ben suffered a fatal heart attack, 

and Anna was left alone. She carried on for a few years 

with the help of their son, Ben Jr. When she could no 

longer handle the business the store was closed for a 

year. 

On June 6, 1968, Arnold Rutz and his wife Frances, 

purchased the property and equipment. They were 

open part-time as Fran worked in Faribault and 

Arnold farmed and was in the sand and gravel 

business. Finding their services were in demand, Fran 

quit her job, sold their share of the farm and sand 

business, and on Aug. 1, 1968, began opening the store 

213

~en ~8/ow 

Timm' s Garage, Morristoum 

full time. They had their "grand opening" in October of 

the same year. They sell shoes, rubber footwear, 

hosiery and drug supplies. They also do shoe repair. 

The photo is the way the building looked when it 

was purchased from Os Green by Ben and Anna Wiese. 

Ben is on the steps. 

Ahlman's Gun Shop- Ahlman's Gun Shop was 

started over 30 years ago by M. J. "Cap" Ahlman. In 

1955, he was one of 57 master gunsmiths in the United 

States. He not only repaired guns, but also made them. 

The business is now owned and opera ted by his son 

Larry, who has been in the business for over 10 years. 

Ahlman's Gun Shop not only buys, sells and trades 

guns, but also carries gun related equipment, archery 

equipment and operates a highly heralded gun repair 

shop. 

Timm's Trucking Service - Timm's Trucking 

Service was started in 1954 when Howard was 

discharged from service and he decided to start up a 

business of his own. The gravel pit was already on his 

dad's farm. He built his shop in 1963. A big shed was 

added in 1970 and the bus garage was built in 1971. In· 

1973 an office was built to handle the business. Howard 

also took over his dad's farm in 1971. Besides 

delivering gravel, excavating, grading roads, etc., he 

is in the lime spreading business, as of this past year. 

He has eight employes plus several part-time 

employes. 

Cannon River Speedway is owned and operated by 

Jim Hermel. It was built in 1972.-Racers from all over 

the midwest compete on the % mile dirt track. 

Bev's Beauty Shop located on Division Street was 

originally begun by Jackie Bertram. In October, 1972, 

it was purchased by Bev Rutz. She also purchased 

Judy's Beauty Salon in west Faribault and operates it 

under the new name "Hair Swing - Unisex Salon for 

both men and women.'' 

Hoffman Electric is owned by Laverne Hoffman 

who has a shop at his residence on Bloomer Street. He 

has had a class A license since 1947 and does 

residential and commercial wiring. 

American Legion Roy Lieder Post No. 149- The 

present building was constructed in 1969. The previous 

Legion building had, at one time, been the post office. 

The property and building which formerly was the 

Schwartz Hatchery has been purchased and future 

expansion is being planned. There are 111 members 

and 97 auxiliary members. There is also a junior 

auxiliary and a Sons of the American Legion 

organization. 

Dr. D. W. Francis - On Dec. 26, 1925, Dr. D. W. 

Francis came to Morristown to practice medicine. His 

first office was located in the Dargavel building. In 

1942, he moved his office to the newly remodeled 

Ridgeway building. He has delivered several thousand 

babies in this area. He still goes to his office every day 

as well as makes calls at the hospital in Faribault. In 

1971, a community celebration honoring 46 years of 

dedicated service was held. 

Sanitary Sewer System - In 1967, the village 

council began taking steps necessary to install the 

present sanitary sewer system. Council members 

were: mayor, Don Remund; councilmen, Chester 

Meschke, Herb Schroeder, Herman Schlie, Lloyd 

Rasmussen; clerk, Donald Gill, and treasurer, Jack 

Schwichtenberg. Bids were called for three times. In 

1971, a bid of $615,000 was awarded to Marsgo Inc. The 

project was completed on Aug. 13, 1973, at a cost of 

$610,000. A grant of $386,000 was received from the 

Farmers Home Administration. The system handles 

from 80-160 thousand gallons of sewage a day, 

recycling and mixing it with air to produce pure, clean 

water which is then discharged into the Cannon River. 

The water is almost 100 per cent pure when it is 

discharged into the river. A dedication ceremony was 

held on Aug. 12, 1973. 

Clean Water Sign at Morristoum 

214


J 

Archibald Mill, Dundas, as it looked when in full operation back in the 1850's. 

Dundas once was top 

mill center in state 

By MARJORIE E. NEUHAUS 

Dundas was founded in 1857 by John Sidney 

Archibald, his brother, Edward, and their cousin, 

George Archibald of Ontario, Canada. They bought 

1400 acres along the Cannon River, a saw mill, a log 

cabin, and the water rights from H. Matteson, John 

Hoyt, J as. Smith, and Mahlon and Lucy Lockwood, for 

$15,000. John called the site Dundas after a Canadian 

county near his birthplace. 

John built a grist mill on the east side of the 

Cannon (the island was formed in 1860). Built of locally 

quarried limestone and native lumber, it was three 

stories high with a basement. It had numerous 

windows for light and ventilation. As near as can be 

determined, this was the first stone mill in Minnesota 

territory. Inside the mill, John installed the most 

modern equipment available. He ordered his 

grindstones of French-like quartz from the quarries in 

Ohio where they were ground to his specifications. 

Because the quartz was so hard, the stones had to be 

cut in panes and bound with iron hoops. 

The sets or pairs of stones were installed in a series 

of four operations. In the first set, the precleaned 

wheat berries were cracked, then moved to the next set 

where more pressure was applied, and so on to the 

fourth run. Yards of silk were used to sift and sort. The 

flour produced was clean, soft, white, and finely 

textured. The bakers of that era called it the Doctor 

because they used the flour to doctor up the inferior 

and cheaper flours from other mills. It was also a good 

sailor for it did not get lumpy on the trip overseas. 

Research indicates that this mill was the first to use 

the slower, more deliberate method of milling. 

It was these careful, scientific methods and 

watchful management that made Archibald Extra 

famous in Boston, New York and England. The 

Archibalds could demand and get a dollar or two more 

per barrel than the market price. 

The mill operation began in 1858 during a severe 

depression. The wheat crop was poor, the 

transportation was primitive and money dear. But the 

Archibalds were a stubborn lot. By late 1859, they were 

in full operation. When the cupola mill was built 

across the river in 1870, this stone mill was used for 

custom grinding, storage and a carpenter shop. It was 

gutted later when the entire milling complex went up in 

flames. Relics of the mill can be seen on the south end 

of the island. 

The cooper shops were north of the mill. In those 

days, flour was packed in barrels made of red oak 

staves bound with hickory hoops. The kids used to earn 

spending money gathering hickory saplings. These 

switches were soaked in the river until they were 

pliable enough to be formed in hoops. They were split 

in half, nailed around the staves, and allowed to dry. 

One of the barrels survives and can be seen in the 

Schilling Museum in Northfield. 

Miller Builds Home 

John Sidney Archibald built his house, the first 

frame residence in Dundas, in 1858 on First Street 

between Bridge and Hamilton. Constructed of sturdy 

215

~en ~cf}low 

timbers with red cedar siding, it had 12 rooms in the 

English style with dressing rooms attached to the 

bedrooms, a huge kitchen, two stairways and rambling 

porches. He called it Nine Oaks. The house and 

outbuildings are still standing although the house has 

undergone intensive remodeling and bears little of the 

grandeur of the middle 1850's. 

When a vein of clay containing red oxide of lead 

was discovered on the west side, John established a 

brickyard. The bricks proved to be of excellent quality 

but were too costly to compete with the more readily 

available lumber and limestone. John sold the venture 

to Wm. Blackman who built a house of solid brick to 

demonstrate the beauty and durability of his product. 

After a hundred years, the house still stands as it was 

built. 

East of the mill was the old business district. The 

stone store was built in 1866 for Edgar Ault, an 

Archibald cousin. He carried a full line of fine 

furniture, drugs and a few staples. The front upstairs 

room was the town library. H. W. Lawrence, owner, 

editor and publisher of the Dundas News, rented office 

space from Ault until the newspaper was sold and 

incorporated into the Northfield News. Nearby were 

Thielbar's Mercantile Store, Ed Slocum's shoe store, a 

hotel and restaurant, Charley Deller's saloon and the 

Village Hall. Except for the empty stone store, all the 

buildings are gone, victims of fire and the wrecker's 

ax. 

Following the end of the Civil War, the Minnesota 

Railroad - later absorbed by the Chicago, Milwaukee 

and St. Paul RR- was graded and put into operation. 

A depot and elevator were built trackside. Power for 

the elevator was generated by a blind horse walking 

around in a circle. 

The Church of the Holy Cross was a gift to God 

from John Sidney Archibald. 

John donated the land. He wanted the church 

designed by Jacob Goodman of Cannon City, in the 

rural English tradition. It was to be built of native 

limestone and local lumber by William Cleland. Bishop 

Whipple, first bishop of Minnesota, proposed a less 

costly building, but John was firm. He told the bishop, 

"I want the church to be built to last and to do its work 

long after I'm gone." 

Started in 1867, the building was finished in 1870 at 

a cost of $7,000. The large stained glass window was 

imported from England, as were the bell and the altar 

which contains an altar stone, a rarity in a Midwest 

Episcopal church. These, too, were given by John. 

The choir room was added in. 1900. The parish hall, 

completed in 1964, was named Archibald Hall in honor 

of the founding family who remembered the church by 

will and deed. 

Plaques Honor Family 

On the inside walls of the church are plaques made 

of Vermont marble and given in memory of the 

Archibald family. John S. Archibald (1814-1875), 

proprietor of Dundas and benefactor of all the people; 

William McAlpine Archibald (d 1874), adopted son of 

John and Catherine, died, unmarried, at age 24. He was 

the first Archibald to be buried in the churchyard; 

Catherine Elizabeth Archibald nee Miller ( d 1890), was 

the wife of John; Cyril Archibald (1837-1914), half 

brother of John, was a lawyer who took care of the 

legal affairs of the family and the Milling Co.; Edward 

Tracy Archibald (1827-1913), brother and partner of 

John in the Dundas Milling Co.; Mary Jane Morse 

Archibald (d 1882), was the first wife of Edward and 

the mother of Frank and John Morse Archibald; Frank 

Archibald (d 1881), was the younger son of Edward and 

Mary Jane. He died at the age of 30, unmarried; John 

Morse (d 1883), older son of Edward and Mary Jane. In 

1875, at the age of 26, he was the youngest man to serve 

in the state senate; Allice Cynthia Archibald 

(1880-1964), only grandchild of Edward and only child 

of John Morse. She established a $25,000 trust fund for 

the church, the interest to help defray the salary of a 

resident priest; Mary Greene was the mother of the 

Rev. Wm. J. Gold, first rector and priest of this parish. 

John Sidney Archibald paced out the churchyard 

and called it "God's Acre". It was to be under the 

shadow of the church so that all of those who came to 

sing and pray would be reminded of their last resting 

place. But the board of the Bishop Seabury Missions 

directed that only members of the Archibald family 

could be buried in the churchyard. The last burial, 

Bessie Graham Low, was in 1917. 

The John S. Archibald plot is a fine example of 

Victorian Cemetery Art. The fence with the Gate of the 

Weeping Angel, the cast aluminum statue of Willie's 

little dog, and the torturous wrought-iron furniture are 

characteristic of the lavish sentimentality of the late 

19th century. 

In June, 1975, on the. 100th anniversary of the death 

of John S. Archibald, members and friends of the 

parish of the Church of the Holy Cross gathered to pay 

tribute to their founding father. They were living proof 

that the church had been built to last and had done, and 

was still doing, its work, 100 years after he was gone. 

The house across the street from the church was 

built in 1860 by Lorenzo Hamblin. The Edward 

Archibald family lived here from 1867 to 1885. In 1975 it 

was added to the National Historic Sites registry in 

tribute to Edward Archibald's contribution to the 

flour-milling industry. 

New Mill Built 

As the fame of the Archibald Extra flour spread 

through the land, the demand was more than the stone 

mill could supply. The Archibalds decided to build a 

mill across the river. The new mill was four stories 

high with a cupola, built of the finest lumber available. 

A rat-proof basement was laid on the bedrock of the 

river. At an overall cost of $40,000, it was the largest 

mill in the state. 

But it was the milling process that was important, 

not the building. 

Up to this point, the middlings, the coarser part of 

the ground wheat, were discarded or sold for animal 

feed. When it was discovered that the middlings 

contained gluten, the nutritious substance that gives 

dough its tough elastic quality, the millers began 

experimenting to reclaim the middlings. Edward 

Archibald designed a series of silk screens of varying 

216


Holy Cross Church and addition, Dundas 

meshes that were placed horizontally and shaken from 

side to side. Intermittent air blasts removed the chaff 

and sediment. When the middlings were cleaned and 

purified, they were ground with the flour to produce a 

patent or premium flour. 

In 1870, when this mill was operational, John and 

Edward produced and marketed the first patent flour 

in America. 

In 1879, the mill was enlarged and the Hungarian 

Process installed. This process, imported from 

Hungary, used porcelain rollers in place of the quartz 

millstones for the cracking and grading stages. It took 

40 men six months at a cost of $100,000 to complete the 

task. In January of 1880, the first Hungarian roller mill 

in the United States was put into operation. 

The little school on the east side was full to 

overflowing. There was a demand for a new school. 

The site chosen, across from the new mill, was donated 

by John S. Archibald. A two room building made of 

bricks from the local brickworks was built in 1868. 

When the school census reached 204, two more rooms 

were added. When the school burned down in 1914, the 

present structure was built. In 1968, the school district 

closed the school and turned the building over to the 

Dundas Village council who rent it to a dealer in used 

and rare books. 

Population Grows 

By 1880, the population of Dundas had reached 

1,000. There were five churches, the Episcopal, the 

German Lutheran, the Presbyterian, the Methodist 

and the Plymouth Brethren. The business district with 

its merchantile stores, restaurants, hotels and 

blacksmith shops had moved to the west side. 

The village had been organized in 1879 with E.T. 

Archibald as president of the council. Also serving on 

the board were C.W. Brown, R.E. Hutchinson, J.F. 

Thielbar, Fred Shandorf, D.W. Markell, E.G. Ault, 

· J.R. De Cousins and C. Runnels. The demand for 

barrels called for the hiring of six more coopers. 

Wooden sidewalks were being built. A telephone line 

connecting the Archibald mill with the Ames mill in 

Northfield was installed. Tracks for a spur line from 

the Archibald mill to the main line was laid. 

And still the town grew. Henry Kahler, who with 

his son started the Kahler Corporation of Rochester, 

bought the Merchants Hotel on West Avenue near the 

tracks. The Minnesota Central RR, later sold to the 

Chicago, Great Western, laid tracks right through 

downtown Dundas. The Dan Patch railcars, the first 

trains in the United States to use gasoline to generate 

electricity to tum the wheels, went over the rails on the 

way to Mankato. The cars were discontinued in 1943 

and the tracks abandoned in 1975. Edgar Ault built the 

stone store building on the corner in 1882 and rented out 

the front upstairs rooms for doctors' offices. Sam 

Luckert built his saloon, now the A & M Bar, in 1882. 

On New Year's Eve in 1892, most of the citizens 

were whooping it up at Empey's Hall, a block south of 

217

~en ~t/Vow 

the mill. A late-comer, on his way to the festivities, 

noticed smoke coming from the mill. Soon the flames 

were shooting hundreds of feet in the air. Sparks 

jumped the river and set the island mill ablaze. The 

Northfield Fire Department and neighbors for miles 

around came to help put out the raging inferno. By 

morning, the great milling complex was a smoldering 

ruin. Only the engine house was saved. 

The Archibalds did not rebuild the mill. The 

patents held by the company were sold to what is now 

General Mills and the site sold to Palon and Watson, 

local elevator operators. 

Today, the milling industry uses the same basic 

methods introduced by the Archibalds. In recognition 

of their contributions to the food industry, this site has 

been added to the National Historic Sites Registry. 

Mill Rebuilt 

Palon and Watson rebuilt the mill and operated it 

for several years. Since then, the ownership passed 

through many hands and many bankruptcies until the 

1920's, when operations ceased entirely. The property 

is now owned by Jerry Adams, owner of the Corner Bar 

who with the help of James Dougherty, local 

contractor, has renovated the old engine house and 

cleaned up the site. 

After the Archibald mill burned out, the fortunes of 

Dundas waxed . and waned, depending whether or not 

the current mill owner was open for business. The 

German Lutheran Church moved to Northfield and the 

Presbyterian Church closed. In 1897, a telephone line 

was installed with the exchange in the back of Ault's 

Store. The island became an outdoor recreation center 

with a pavilion for dancing and with room for picnics, 

celebrations, and revival meetings. Henry F.C. Albers 

built a farm equipment store, now John and Lil's, in 

1912. The store was enlarged and run by his son, Kar l, 

until the early 1970's when the business was sold to 

B&G Implement who also bought the old blacksmith 

shop and the DeMann garage, one of the first Chevrolet 

dealers in the state. 

In 1912, Frank Shandorf built the Dundas State 

Bank. Bought by James Burns around 1960, it was the 

scene of a daring daylight robbery in 1964. Two bold 

robbers tied up the luckless cashiers, a few customers, 

and cleaned out the bank vault during the lunch hour. 

They were captured the next day with the $20,000 loot 

intact. The bank has since moved out on Hwy. 3 and CR 

1 and the only valuables in the old bank vault are cases 

of cold beer. 

The Hummel Church or Gospel Hall, built in 1880, 

was a meeting place for the Plymouth Brethren. They 

closed their doors in 1930 and sold the building to 

Bridgewater Township for a town hall. 

The old stone store served the community as a 

grocery store until the 1970's when it was purchased by 

Gerald Rahmann for an antique store. 

By 1949, the population of Dundas had dwindled to 

450. As the population declined, so too did the 

congregation of Dundas Methodist Church. The 

congregation, one of the first Methodist societies in 

Rice County, was formed in 1857. In 1966, when it 

became painfully apparent the church could no longer 

operate financially, the church was closed and the 

congregation dismissed. The church building put up in 

1882, unique with the steeple attached to the church at 

an angle and peaked windows, is now an artists' studio. 

But in this bicentennial year, there are signs of 

rejuvenation. Young couples with small children and 

big dogs are moving in and taking an active interest in 

the community. More small shops are moving in the 

shopping center next to the bank on Hwy. 3. And the 

"Old Guard" is even more alert to the danger of urban 

sprawl ruining the village, an island of peace and 

tranquility. 

Railroad reason for 

Lonsdale's 1902 start 

By MRS. JEAN PALMA 

Begin with a basic mixture of facts from previous 

written accounts. Mix in some current information and 

spice it up with personal memories recalled by some of 

our early settlers. That will be the history of Lonsdale, 

1976. 

Lonsdale will be incorporated for 75 years in the 

year 1977, for it was founded in 1902. The Chicago, 

Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad was the reason for 

the early settlement and it still has a usable track in its 

original directions. Trains had traveled northwest 

to Far mington and southwest to Wells. Passengers 

commuted to and from Minneapolis on a regular 

schedule. The depot that had received early 

passengers and merchandise has been sold and is now 

in the Prior Lake Mall. Freight trains now roll through 

about twice daily. The railroad had purchased the land 

from the Wilbys - John, Pat, Martin and Tom - and 

platted about 400 acres of the land. Many homeowners' 

abstracts verify the ownership of the Wilbys or the 

railroad. Some of the original plats were used as 

farmland until about 1970 to 1975 when much of it was 

annexed and is being developed. 

Early settlers speak of Lonsdale as being a low 

slough area. Streets were low and muddy and elevated 

board walks served as sidewalks around the business 

places. As cars and trucks entered upon the scene, the 

streets were filled two to three feet. Evidence of this is 

still seen in the Jos. Benes and Jos. Cervenka homes 

which are still below street level. Tons of fill has been 

brought in through the years so few low spots remain. 

The Myles Smisek property, including two homes, a 

car wash and four-unit apartment building, is built. in 

what had been a weedy, low area. The low area to the 

south of town was filled by garbage dump, but is now 

leveled and closed. Currently George Novak operates a 

garbage pick-up service in town. The sewage system 

has been rebuilt completely and holding ponds, lift 

stations and a roadway are current additions. 

More than any other review, a look at the business 

places of Lonsdale shows its diversity and growth. In 

218

Overall view of Village of Lonsdale 

1902, the original business places were a hotel, saloon, 

harness shop, lumber yard, grocery stores and 

blacksmith shops. 

The M. J. Benzicks moved here from Lexington 

and saw a need for a hotel to accommodate the 

salesmen who would come to town by train to sell their 

wares in nearby areas. Therefore, they first built a 

livery bam and it housed the family for the first 

summer. This livery provided 14 horses, buggies and 

drivers if they were needed. 

Mrs. Benzick was the first and only woman here, 

so she took over the job of cooking meals and providing 

beds for the salesmen and travelers and the hotel 

business began. It operated for some 30 years on 

property which is now the Mike Tikalsky grocery store. 

Bank Established 

The first bank building was a very small frame 

structure next to what was Herda's Harness Shop. It 

was later dismantled and in 1908 Sam Waters built the 

bank building where Milton Bastyr now lives. The 

present bank was built in 1954. In 1975, the bank bought 

the H. E. Westerman Lumber Co. property and 

planned new building and parking facilities there. 

Arthur and John Suel started the Lonsdale Times 

newspaper in 1917 as an extension of the New Prague 

Times. The press was moved out of the basement in 

1921 and the paper was consolidated into the New 

Prague Times as it is today. 

What is presently the post office building housed 

first Geo. Hovorka as druggist in 1912. Later John 

Lepeska Grocery, Charles · Schultz Grocery and Albert 

Smisek Furniture Store were there. Pumper's Barber 

Shop was Kohout's Harness Shop at one time. Frank 

Pumper has been trimming hair in that location for 5 

decades. 

The present bank site was part of the John P. Vikla 

property, which housed a photo studio, general store, 

etc., and was later dismantled. 

Hlavac Drug Store was originally built by Ben J. 

Shimota from Veseli for a general store. The talented 

Mr. Shimota served as county commissioner and was 

instrumental in the routing of Colvill Memorial 

Highway (Hwy. 19) through Lonsdale. Later this 

building was converted into office space and half was 

and is Hlavac Drug Store. Lonsdale was fortunate in 

having the early services of Dr. Wm. Finley, Dr. S.T. 

Kucera, Dr. L.J. Kucera and Dr. Louis Kucera, Dr. 

Kurtin, Dr. Lehrer and Dr. Daly. Currently Dr. E. 

Pexa has dental offices there and a real estate office 

and attorney's office are located there. 

Dory's Cafe has been an eating establishment for 

about 73 years. In 1905 it was Vorlicek's Confectionery 

and many owners have served home-cooked meals 

there since. Among them were George Nohava and 

Fred Mathis. Francis Duban used a part of it for 

his barber shop in recent years. Another cafe was next 

door and on dance nights in Lonsdale they were both 

full. Charles Schultz, John Vosejpka and Bill Skulzacek 

were some of the owners. Now this place is Kadrlik's 

Bowling Alley. 

Dr. Lexa's father, Mike Lexa, built a brick 

building on main street for a home. In the front, Tom 

Cecka had a grocery store and for some length of time 

it was used as a post office. Later various businesses 

operated there while the back and upstairs were living 

quarters. 

Rezac Furniture was a two story building built by 

Albert Flicek for a funeral home, furniture and living 

quarters. This building was destroyed by fire on Jan. 

31, 1949. At that time it was owned by John Rezac. He 

rebuilt it as it is today- a modern one-story building 

- Rezac Furniture Store. The Mathias and Frank 

Nohava Hardware Store was in buildings just ahead of 

the present Wm. F. Nohava home. 

Diversified Businesses 

Frank Topic built the V-Store building. It housed a 

millinery shop and barber shop. Ed Barta purchased it 

later. He sold and repaired watches and jewelry and 

had a garage business in the back. He was a good 

mechanic for the first model T's and was Father 

Tomek's chauffeur for many funerals. Later James 

Palma took over the watch repair and jewelry business 

219

~en ~§Vow 

Old Lonsdale Public School 

and sold clothing in partnership with Wm. Kalal!. A 

grocery store was operated by Francis Palma for a 

time after the building was enlarged and rebuilt. 

Presently it is Palma's V-Store. Mr. Topic also built 

the next door building which is Kelly's Bar. At one time 

it contained a barbershop and pool hall operated by 

Walter Frejlach. William Uhlir constructed the 

building which is now Vosejpka Electric for a 

supermarket. 

Sew or press your clothes - there was a tailor and 

drycleaning shop in the home now occupied by Mrs. 

Ida Hirdler. It was owned by Louis Snorek and later 

rebuilt into a home. Jos. Cervenka's home was first 

owned by Frank Pexa and many a gal bought her new 

Easter hat in the front porch millinery shop. 

Charles Barta and Frank P. Chlan tuned up the 

Overlands, Durands, Stars, Fords and Chevrolets in 

the building which later housed Fr. M. Valek 

Implement. It is now owned by Smisek Plumbing & 

Heating and used for storage. The telephone company 

building now owned by Robert Novak formerly was 

Charles Mechura Confectionery and General Store. 

Many additions were attached to the building through 

the years and "Hello" has been said there for about 50 

years, first by the Frank Novak family and later by the 

Robert Novak family. 

Mr. Ninneman, a school teacher, built a smalf 

frame structure for a general store where Albert 

Smisek's funeral home is now. Tom Voracek enlarged 

this place and also operated a general store. Clothing, 

yard goods and shoes were sold in most of these 

general stores for it was "unthinkable" to drive further 

for these needs. Crackers, coffee, dried fruits, rice, etc. 

were in huge bulk containers, each customer 

specifying the quantity which always had to be 

weighed. Coffee beans only were sold, each housewife 

grinding her own supply fresh for each meal. Also a 

company named Jewel Tea and Coffee Co. sent 

salesmen around the countryside selling their products 

and offering premiums with . a large purchase. 

Farmers brought in their eggs in pails or baskets and 

took out groceries in return; no money was exchanged. 

Albert Smisek further enlarged this building. Up to 

1946, wakes were held in the homes and later in the 

building behind Rezac Furniture. Out-of-town 

embalmers were employed until Albert Smisek trained 

for the work and established a large, comfortable 

funeral home. 

Mike Sirek, J os. Kalal and John Tyra hammered 

at the forge and shod many horses in the town's 

blacksmith shop in the early years. J os. Cihla has 

continued and so the same kind of work has been 

carried on in the same location for about 65 years. 

Sawdust on the Floor 

Fresh sawdust on the floor, huge hooks to hang 

meat quarters, the knives and the enormous wood 

block - that was Chlian's Meat Market. The butcher 

bought the animal from the farmer and stored the 

quarters in the walk-in cooler. As the customer asked 

for various cuts of meat, they were sliced off the 

quarter. Old timers remember buying 25 cents worth of 

steak for a meal or two rings of baloney for 25 cents. 

Along with the butcher shop, Thomas Chlian built a 

garage next door and sold Plymouth and Dodge cars. 

His sons later converted this garage into a Red Owl 

Store and still process and sell meat and groceries. The 

old butcher shop was dismantled, but the steps still 

remain on the lot. 

Frank Sticha built the dance hall and saloon and 

Jos. Pumper, Jos. Hajney, Jos. Frejlach and Jerry 

Herrmann, in years past, have continued this social 

gathering place now owned by Francis Nohava. 

Because there wasn't a church hall, all school events 

such as graduation, plays, programs were held on the 

stage upstairs. Also for this reason the Rosary Society 

and other organizations held their socials and parties 

there bringing in tables, food, stoves, hot water and 

other supplies. A Bohemian Dramatic Club put on 

performances regularly. Wedding meals were served 

at home and the wedding dance was usually held at the 

hall. Later when Herrmanns purchased the place, they 

installed a kitchen, dining room and larger living 

quarters and also enlarged the hall. Homemade 

chicken noodle soup, three meats, salads, kolacky, 

rolls, vegetables, pies, cakes were some of the good 

food served at those Lonsdale weddings, thanks to 

Mary and her "crew". 

The year 1903 is still visible on the Herda Harness 

Shop building where years of leather service and 

repair were provided by father and son- the Wencel 

Herda's. The upstairs of this building housed Dr. F. J. 

Lexa's medical practice for many years. Dr. Lexa was 

one of the practitioners who was his own accountant, 

nurse, and janitor along with his medical and surgical 

tasks. His earlier house calls were made via horse and 

buggy with his destinations often halfway to New 

Prague or Montgomery. Babies were delivered at 

home, very often at night, for the sum of $15. One night 

Doc Lexa delivered Ray Kallal at the farm home about 

three miles south of town, then a Pivec baby about four 

miles farther south of there and also Francis Stepka in 

Veseli. That was all part of a doctor's night in those 

years. The Herda building was used by Jerry 

Herrmann for storage for a time and recently was 

purchased by the City of Lonsdale. 

Yet another general store flourished where the 

220


,--·· 

r--·---- 

,.--·-------- 

Lonsdale Public School, class of 1921 

Municipal Liquor Store is now. Valesh and Kabes, Ben 

Shimota and Frank Smisek were owners at various 

times. Mrs. Frank Lexa, the doctor's wife, was a 

registered pharmacist and operated an extensive drug 

store and prescription service in the building for many 

years. Dr. George Tuma had dental offices upstairs 

until his retirement a few years ago. A library was 

located in the back for a time. 

Coast to Coast was originally a small building 

housing Lepeska's General Store and later Charles 

Schultz had a store-cafe combination there. James and 

Francis Palma have enlarged and remodeled the 

building through the years. First they operated a 

Federated Dry Goods Store and now an appliance sales 

and service with a Coast to Coast dealership. Jim 

Palma will still repair your watch or fine jewelry, his 

original sideline. 

Hotel Dismantled 

The old hotel was dismantled and Frank J. 

Skulzacek bought the area and built a general store, 

which they operated for some time. Tikalsky's later 

took in farm produce and sold groceries and dry goods. 

In the fall of 1975 it was remodeled again. 

Lonsdale Oil Co., where Robert and Lawrence 

Skluzacek conduct business, had originally been a 

small frame building owned by J os. Bendzick. He sold 

the first Fords in town. Then Frank Pexa built a brick 

building on the location. The first Municipal Liquor 

Store was a small room in this building with Frank 

Pexa as bartender. In the rear, the O'Leary and Nelson 

Creamery took in cream which farmers had separated 

at home. They made butter and shipped it out in tubs 

by train. In a room off the alley, Thomas Turek had a 

shoe repair business. Now Jos. Trenda Jr. is 

conducting that type of business there. 

Jim and Danny McFadden were among the town's 

first Irish settlers. They built a small frame structure 

for a saloon where Our Own Hardware is now. That 

building was moved and converted into a home. The 

present building was built by the McFadden's in 1917. 

When prohibition went into effect, the taverns were 

closed. Christ Daleiden bought the building in 1918 and 

it has been a hardware and appliance store since then 

with Leonard and now Joseph in partnership. 

''Leased for 99 years from the railroad'' - the 

wording of the agreement on property belonging to 

Turek Implement, originally Jos. and Ed Douda's 

Standard Oil Station. 

Martin and John Wilby first bought grain brought 

into town by wagon trains to the elevators to be sold or 

ground into flour in Minneapolis. The original buildings 

still stand, one used for storage and the other, still 

active, concerned with grinding and mixing feed 

besides storage. It was once called Commander 

221

~en ~8/ow 

Lonsdale school room and class of 1924 

Elevator and is now GT A with Frank Hruby as 

manager. 

An open cattle yard for animals the farmers or 

truckers brought was in the area where Skluzacek's 

gasoline storage tanks are now. Ole Docken helped 

load the cattle onto trains bound for the South St. Paul 

stockyards. 

Operate Creamery 

Wester and Richter operated a creamery which 

churned butter sold locally and also shipped out by 

train. Then Carnation Co. of Northfield built a new 

building and took in farm milk brought in cans to be 

processed in Northfield. In Later years Dvorak's Egg 

Produce collected eggs by the casefuls in that location. 

Local help cracked, separated and froze the eggs in 

large containers which were trucked out. The building 

burned in about 1965 and will be demolished soon. 

What is now the small park on the west side of 

town, was called Barretts Park by early settlers 

because Wm. Barrett was mayor when the park was 

established. Dismantled was a frame dancehall with a 

bar and small shop below built by Jake Schultz. In 1975 

and 1976 the park's furnishings have been painted red, 

white and blue and when the Bicentennial flag is 

waving there, it will be a welcome sight as travelers 

come into town from the west. 

H. E. Westerman Lumber Co. was here in 1903. 

Somewhat smaller perhaps, but thriving. In the fall of 

1975 they opened their large and modern facility for 

every building and remodeling need on the east side of 

town. Skluzacek Bros. Lumber Yard was across the 

street in the area now occupied by the Ed Douda home. 

The business terminated about 1936 and Dr. S. T. 

Kucera built a new home there. 

The street running north and south past the Douda, 

Chlian and Pexa homes was the town's first Main 

Street. Early businesses were Minar Photography, 

Barrett's Telephone Service, Rimnac Tin Shop and 

Drozda's General Store. 

He used a foot operated dental drill for 50 years of 

dental service to the community. That was Dr. Henry 

Richter, serving our needs in his home office until his 

death a few years ago. 

George Malecha removed a barn to build a small 

gas station in the late 30's. He is still in business there 

with many additions put on to the original building 

through the years. Jos. and Don Smisek have also 

expanded the Home Oil Co. business formerly owned 

by J os. R. Trnka. 

Many local contractors helped in the construction 

of buildings and homes in Lonsdale. There have been 

three generations of J asons involved, two generations 

of Vosejpkas, three generations of Kodadas, Jirik and 

Skluzacek, Simon Bros. and Hruby painters. 

Industry Flourishes 

The area is fortunate in having a new thriving 

222


Daleiden Hardware Store in 1930 

industrial business on the south end of town in a large, 

modern building. It is Lonsdale Tool & Mfg. Co., 

operated by Robert Pint, manufacturing various 

plastic and metal tools and equipment. 

Other current businesses serving Lonsdale are Dr. 

Komarek, vetemarian; Geo. Pumper Trucking; 

Dwayne's Auto Body Shop; David Jirik's Repair Shop 

and Ben Malecha Insurance. Hair styling for the guys 

and gals is done by LaVerne Duban, Mary Kay 

Getting, Fran Sticha and Ann Pint. 

From all directions children walked as much as four 

miles to the little frame schoolhouse on a wooded area 

where Terrance Sadowski's home now stands. The 

building was later moved and converted into a home 

now owned by Mrs. Mary Vavra. Piles of wood were 

carried in to keep the jacketed pot belly stove going. 

Water for drinking was in a pail, emptied every day for 

it would freeze overnight. A new supply had to be 

brought in everyday from the Tom Malecha farm 

almost a half a mile away. Usually two students were 

sent and they arrived back at school, after taking their 

time, with much less than a full pail. For other needs, 

there was an outdoor, cold, partitioned, small building 

- no indoor plumbing. Therefore, it was a vast 

improvement when a new two story building was built 

in 1910. It still stands in the southwest end of town. It 

boasted a basement furnace, eliminating much of the 

mess and work and orovided a more constant heat. A 

deep well on the property was another convenience. 

However, there still wasn't any indoor plumbing. The 

school was big. Enrollment was as high as 40 students 

and two teachers - one upstairs and one downstairs. 

Former students admit that you might still find a "spit 

ball" in some of the cracks or someone's carved 

initials in an inconspicious spot. Its use was 

discontinued about 30 years ago when buses started 

coming to town to take students to New Prague or 

Montgomery. 

School Built in 1912 

The present parochial school was built in 1912 

opening with 63 pupils. In its early years it also 

boarded out of town students in some of the upstairs 

rooms. The nuns, School Sisters of Notre Dame, also 

lived there for many years until the present convent 

was built in 1959. 

The school building was enlarged in 1923 and for 

some years it even included a four year parochial high 

school. The first high school graduates were Margaret 

Pumper, Martha Smisek and Lawrence Skluzacek who 

graduated in 1940. Currently there are upper grade 

students in the school as part of the Lonsdale-New 

Market-Veseli Area Consolidated School. 

In 1903, under the direction of Father Robert 

Polasek, about 80 families decided to build a church in 

Lonsdale. The land was donated by the Wilbys. Father 

Polasek died in 1904 and Father Francis Bouska was 

223

sent here to continue. There was no rectory, so the new 

pastor made his home with Albert Flicek until May, 

1907 when the present rectory was built. The second 

resident pastor was Father J os. Tomek, who arrived in 

1921. In 1935 Father Albert Ziskovsky came to replace 

Father Tomek, who was transferred. Father Ziskovsky 

stayed one year then was sent to Marystown, so Father 

Robert Bastyr became the fourth resident pastor in 

1936. Later pastors were Rev. Stanley Skluzacek, Rev. 

Charles Jirik, Rev. Robert Dobihal, Rev. Otto 

Neudecker and currently Rev. Gerald Schunk. A 

parish council was established in 1968 to help the pastor 

in decision making. It consists of 11 couples who 

represent 11 districts into which the parish area is 

divided. A church directory of 1902 lists 3 Malecha 

families in the new parish. There are now 37 Malecha 

families in the church roster of 1975. Many of them are 

related. There were nine Skluzacek families and now 

27 are listed. Matej Smisek was the only Smisek family 

listed here, the other Smiseks were in the Veseli 

parish. Lonsdale now has 21 Smisek families in the 

parish. It would be much the same with most of the 

family names listed as first parishoners, they are still 

in the locality. There is a total of about 430 families in 

Immaculate Conception parish at the close of 1975. 

Almost every nationality is represented now compared 

to when the first parishioners were all Czech. 

In 1902, farmers from as far as six miles in any 

direction walked or drove a team of horses to attend 

chur ch or to shop in Lonsdale. The sons very often 

married the next door farmer's daughter. When a son 

wished to establish a new home, the father bought 

additional land close by. Help to put up )the buildings 

and clear the land was always available. What there 

was of machinery was often shared. 

A homeowners abstract shows that 80 acres of land 

was bought from the Railroad's holdings for $240 in the 

year 1880. In 1892 the same land resold for $2,000. 

Inflation and improvements escalated the price to 

$60,000 paid for that land in 1972. Some late quotes for 

80 acres of land go up as high as $80,000 to $90,000. A 

1902 Sears catalog furnishes these interesting pricesa 

bautiful hardwood, carved 3 piece bedroom set for 

$15; an ornate, metal kitchen stove for $24; a tufted 

leather couch for $14; a treadle sewing maching for 

$15; a roll top hardwood desk for $15; a hay loader with 

laths for $33; dump rake for $17; an 11 ft. grain seeder 

for $11; windmill with 40 ft. tower, $38; a two-seated 

canopy top surrey, $65. Income was correspondingly 

low. A building contractor worked for 40 cents to 65 

cents an hour as late as 1939. In 1901, market quotes list 

eggs at 18 cents a doz.; hogs, 5 cents a lb.; butter, 16 

cents lb.; wheat, 66 cents a bu.; oats, 45 cents bu.; 

steers and market cows, 3 to 5 cents a lb. A record 

shows a 148 lb. beef quarter selling at 8 cents a lb., 

bringing in $11.49 in the year 1922. A receipt shows 

$147.15 paid for hind beef quarter weighing 138 lbs. in 

Aug., 1975. During the winter months many farm 

families took in a relative or friend to help with 

clearing land, putting in a wood supply and other 

difficult jobs - just for room and board, no salary 

involved. Through the years the farmer progressed, 

clearing more tillable land, buying machinery to 

replace hand labor, tiling low land, building 

convenient, larger barns and modern homes. 

The town in its early years saw some 

well-constructed, beautiful homes built. Martin Wilby 

built the Dr. Lexa home; John Wilby built the Leonard 

Malecha home by the railroad tracks; Pat Wilby built 

the Jos. J. Skluzacek home; Tom Wilby the Mrs. Emily 

Novak home; John Barrett constructed the AI Hanek 

home; Wm. Benzick built the Jos. Benes home. These 

homes were built for about $2,000. In 1940, a 3 bedroom, 

two-story, modern home cost $4,400. About 1970 to 1975 

a 3 bedroom rambler with 2 car garage averaged 

$32,000 or more. 

New Homes Built 

City records of January, 1976 show the population 

of the town at 823. The Planning and Zoning Board, 

established in 1969, has records showing 73 new homes 

built since the permit system has been in effect. Also, 

since that time, the areas developed adjacent to the 

city are Sunrise Addition on the east, Oak Ridge Park, 

Grand View Park and Wm. Skluzacek addition on the 

west. 

Current gathering place for events such as 

weddings, graduations, showers, funeral lunches and 

meetings is the American Legion Hall. From 15 to 39 

dozen of the delicious prune kolacky are baked for each 

wedding meal. "Rohliky" or rolls and homemade rye 

bread are also featured. The American Legion Post 586 

was established in 1946 with John Rezac, Jr. as 

commander. In 1972 a new addition was built. Current 

commander is Leonard L. Malecha. The American 

Legion Auxiliary was organized in 1950 and Mrs. Elgin 

Cihlar was the first president. Mrs. Roman Ceplecha is 

president now. 

The church's ladies organization is the Rosary 

Society concerned with supplying sanctuary and 

kitchen needs and mission work in the parish. The first 

president listed is Mrs. Marie Bastyr in about 1905. 

Now the organization has 250 members and Mrs. 

Edward Sirek is president. The KD or Catholic 

Workman is currently headed by Ray Jirik and has 

insurance benefits. St. Ludmilla's Society has been in 

the parish since its beginnings. Current president is 

Mrs. Ludmilla Skluzacek. Men from the area belong to 

the New Prague or Montgomery Councils of the 

Knights of Columbus. 

The Lonsdale Volunteer Fire Department was 

organized in January 1908. The first officers were J.E. 

Bendzick, chief; Albert Flicek, assistant chief; M. W. 

Lepeska, treasurer and J. A. Kaisersatt, secretary. 

The department has always been composed of 25 men. 

The present officers are Harold Vosejpka, chief; 

Donald Jason, assistant chief; Donald Smisek, 

treasurer and Myles Jason, secretary. 

Baseball Popular 

Baseball has always been a favorite sport for 

young people in this area. The first ball games were 

played in the Jos. Skluzacek pasture west of town with 

neighboring teams. A need was seen for a ball park 

closer to town so under the leadership of Ben J. 

Shimota, a ball field was established where the park is 

224


Championship Lonsdale baseball team of 1969 

- First row, left to right: Jim Daleiden, 

pitcher; Fritz Novak, shortstop; Joe Cihla, 

second base; Marv Malecha, utility; Dave 

Flicek, third base; Bernie Kubes, right field; 

John Cihlar, right field; Jim Hintges, pitcher. 

Back row: Fritz Vosejpka, manager; Tom 

Nohava, first base; Dick Schmitz, pitcher; 

Jim Kubes, catcher; Bill Turek, center field; 

Steve Flicek, third base; Joe Daleiden, 

catcher; Lew Malecha, coach; Ray Kupacek, 

coach; Jim Streefland, catcher; L. Daleiden, 

business manager. Wayne and Darrel 

Vosejpka are the bat boys. 

located now. Trees were planted in the north bank for a 

spectator area. The park was dedicated to the memory 

of John Trenda, the first local casulaty of World War I. 

It has been expanded and improved. J os. Svoboda 

established the Town & Country League which works 

with the younger boys and if they have proved 

themselves as valuable players, they go on to the more 

competitive adult Dakota-Rice-Scott (DRS) team. The 

town has been proud of DRS achievements, for they 

have wo_n top place in the league many times. 

The Jaycees are the town's newest organization 

having been established in 1974 with J os. Daleiden as 

first president. They are concerned with civic projects 

currently under the direction of Gerald Smisek. 

Lonsdale has always had a mayor-council form of 

government. Wencel Vita was the first mayor. In 

Mayor John Barrett's administration, the streets were 

blacktopped. That was the year 1936 and the project 

has held up with minor repair until the recent sewer 

construction, which made its complete removal 

necessary. In 1976, the town will again be dust-free 

when new blacktop is installed. Currently Albert 

Kadrlik is mayor and council members are Harold 

Vosejpka, Donald Sticha, Gerald Smisek and Robert 

Pint. City clerk is Francis Duban and treasurer is 

Robert Trnka. Others who have served as mayor in the 

past years have been Ed Douda, Jim Kubes, Robert 

Schultz~ Frank Hruby and Robert Novak. 

Cooking - customs - cliches - also a part of the 

history which can be recalled and perpetuated through 

225

~en ~


Corner Store under construction, now Lonsdale Municipal Liquor Store 

of God. The congregation's first treasurer was Oluf 

Stratte and the following list of men signed the 

constitution as charter members: Peder 0. Berg, E. 

Skauge, Johannes Fossum, E. Stratte, Ole Ryg, Lars 

Berg, 0. Anderson, Danielsen J. Danielsen, H. Olsen, 

Ole Matsen, Herman Lyng, Bertinus Nilsen, H. Grotte, 

Ole Skauge, Ingebrigt Skaug, P. Olsen, Jens Nyhus, 

Olug Stratte, A. Guttormsen, Ole Hanson, Amund 

Fossum, E. Nilsen and Guttorm Nilsen. 

The congregation continued to grow as more 

immigrants settled in the community. Worship 

services had to be held in nearby homes until 

1878 when the first church building was erected. Erling: 

Nelson, son-in-law of Johannes Fossum, gave the land 

for the church for a $10.00 bill. 

The baptized membership of the congregation for 

its first five years of existence was as follows: 

1875-53; 1876-82; 1877-77; 1878-79; 1879-118; 1880-134. 

The first pastor was N.E. Wikre, who served from 

May, 1876, to Sept., 1881. It might be well to mention 

that Trondhjem's pastor also served the Christiania 

Lutheran Church near Farmington, Minnesota. The 

first pastor was provided with an 80 acre farm and log 

log cabin parsonage. Trondhjem agreed to pay Pastor 

Wikre an annual salary of fifty dollars a year plus 

four offerings at Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and 

Confirmation. The pastor also served the Chrisdalla 

Swedish Lutheran Church every other Sunday. The 

Chrisdalla congregation agreed to pay the pastor five 

dollars per family a year. The records are incomplete 

as to how long the supply preaching at Chrisdalla 

continued. In the ensuing years the pastor's salary was 

raised from fifty dollars per year to one hundred 

dollars. 0. M. Norlie mentioned that in 1914 the salary 

was two hundred dollars. During the period from 1913- 

1914, the farm was sold and a forty acre farm near 

Christiania was purchased. A large parsonage was 

built for five thousand four hundred and thirty dollars. 

The first property acquisition was in 1876 when 

Johannes Fossum donated the north east corner of his 

land to the church for a graveyard,. The first church 

·was built in 1878. Its dimensions were thirty feet by 

twenty-six feet with fourteen foot studdings. The front 

part was to be sixteen feet by sixteen feet and twelve 

feet high. This building was considered satisfactory 

until 1898 when the congregation decided to either 

remodel or rebuilt .. The disagreement as whether to 

remodel or rebuild continued from October, 1898, to 

227

~en ~8'/ow 

March, 1899, when the congregation finally agreed on 

tearing down the old church and rebuilding. The new 

church was to be four feet wider and six feet longer, 

and a steeple was to be added. The church was 

completed sometine during the fall of 1899 and with the 

exception of a few minor improvements is still the 

same building today. 

Because of the many new families moving out to 

·the country to live, Trondhjem Lutheran Church is 

again growing. Once more the congregation has the 

building of a new church in sight for the near future. 

Osmund Osmundson founded 

busy Nerstrand in 1885 

The busy village of Nerstrand, located in the east 

central part of Rice County, a short distance from the 

Goodhue County line, owes its existence to the 

foresight and business initiative of a venerable 

pioneer, Osmund Osmundson, who, before settling in 

Wheeling Township in the 1850s, had been a successful 

gold prospector. 

Two of Mr. Osmundson's _grandsons, Osmund and 

Leonard, and a granddaughter, Ambrosia Ruble, still 

reside in Nerstrand. Leonard and his sister still live on 

the attractive homestead, with its large brick home, on 

the eastern outskirts of the village. Their father, 

Milton, who died in 1936, also farmed the original 

Osmundson farm. 

Osmund Osmundson was born in Norway in 

Nerstrand (near the strand) near the city of Stavanger 

on March 7, 1826. He attended school in his younger 

years and afterwards was engaged in the carpenter 

trade. He then took to the sea for five years. 

In 1850 he emigrated to America, landing in New 

York on the 29th of June. Then he went by steamer to 

Albany, from there on the Erie Canal to Buffalo and 

Birthplace of Osmund Osmundson in 

Nerstrand, Norway. 

Osmund Osmundson, founder of Nerstrandtaken 

April 14, 1899, by 0. E. Mosing, noted 

Nerstrand artist-photographer. 

thence by steamer to Milwaukee, Wis. He was in Rock 

County one year and then moved to Walworth County 

in 1853, where for three years he was engaged in 

mining in Nevada County. 

Successful in this venture, he returned to Wisconsin 

and, in the fall of 1856, was married to Miss 

Alma Benson, the ceremony taking place in Houston 


When Mr. Osmundson, who played a prominent 

role in Nerstrand village and Rice County civic, 

business and church affairs, serving as a courity 

commissioner and for two terms in the state 

legislature, first came to Wheeling Township in 

pioneer days, he took out a claim in section 14. Later he 

bought 240 acres in Section 11, site of the village. He 

lived in a log cabin until1861, then built a frame house 

and in 1880 erected the commodious brick home in 

which his grandson and granddaughter now reside. 

"Carved" His Way 

His grandsons recall their father, Milton, telling 

them how their grandfather literally "carved" his way 

through the dense woods which covered the entire 

228


Osmund Osmundson's white brick residence, 

one of Nerstrand's earliest homes, located on 

eastern edge of village. 

members still live in it. 

Some 

region to the site of the new present village. 

Actually, there was commercial activity on the 

present village site about 10 years before Nerstrand 

was platted. Sometime in the 1870s John Nelson 

erected a blacksmith shop and in 1877 Osmund 

Osmundson erected a store on what later became the 

right of way of the Chicago, Great Western Railroad, 

located about a mile south of the present village site. 

The real beginning of the village was in 1885 when 

the Chicago, Great Western Railroad was laid through. 

A station was built then, too, and also two grain houses, 

one by W. E. Luce of Red Wing and the other by the 

Vandusen Grain Co. Both of these buildings, as well as 

the station, were on the east side of the tracks. The 

village was platted at once on Mr. Osmundson's land 

and rapidly grew on the west side of the tracks. The 

first train through Nerstrand brought lumber from 

Eau Claire for a store which Osmund Osmundson 

erected on Main Street and rented for various 

purposes. 

The store was conducted for several years by Mr. 

Osmundson and H.N. Hegnes. Later John G. 

Osmundson ran the store for several years. 

When the question of a name for the postoffice was 

considered, it was desirable that one be selected which 

would be distinctive and at the same time acceptable to 

the authorities in Washington. Mr. Osmundson 

suggested the name of Nerstrand- his home village in 

Norway- and the suggestion was accepted. 

In Nerstrand's earlier days some of the business 

establishments included: Nerstrand Hotel, Fred 

Hecht, proprietor; two general stores owned, 

respectively, by F. R. Koffman and John G. 

Osmundson; a hardware store owned by Herman C. 

Held and Andrew Larson; a meat market owned by 

William E. "Butch" Roth, who for 57 years was 

actively engaged in operation of the business; a 

harness store owned by Theodore Sherman; a wagon 

repair shop, operated by John Larson; a restaurant 

and barber shop owned by Charles Radtke; a 

blacksmith shop owned by M. L. Chapman; and a 

photograph gallery conducted by Oscar Mosing, who 

purchased the home of his fatherS. 0. Mosing, a noted 

artist and violinist whose works still exist in the 

Nerstrand community. Oscar Mosing bought the home 

in which he was born and returned to Nerstrand to 

spend the remainder of his life. 

The Village of Nerstrand was incorporated in 1897. 

On Jan. 30 of that year an election was held on the 

question of incorporation and passed, 15 for and nine 

against. On Feb. 20, 1897, an election was held with the 

following officers elected: Charles Bollenbach, 

president; John G. Osmundson, J. L. Wing, Andrew 

Engsetter, trustees; M. S. Osmundson, treasurer; W. 

H. Helberg, treasurer; T. E. Bonde and John Helberg, 

justices of the peace; William Roth and H. C. Held, 

constables; M. Baker, marshal and P. J. Ivig, street 

commissioner. Seventeen votes were cast. 

In more recent years, four mayors have headed 

Nerstrand's municipal government - Dr. H. 0. 

229

~en ~c?/ow 

-, 

Nerstrand Main Street, looking west, in 1910. 

Elthon, Osmund (Ozzie) Osmundson, Paul F. Kolling 

and David C. Redfield. 

Present officials of the Village of Nerstrand 

include David Redfield, mayor; Barbara Sahl, clerk; 

Louise Flom, news reporter; Walter Budde, Paul 

Shelstad, Manford Isaacson, Ron Haase, councilmen; 

Curtis Glor, water commissioner. 

Post Office Established 

The Nerstrand Post Office was established in 1878 

and Augen Brokke was appointed postmaster. He 

conducted the postal business in a corner of his 

mercantile store. The post office was moved from 

place to place during the years. Most often it was 

placed in the corner of a grocery and mercantile store, 

but at one time it was situated in the first village hall. 

In 1881, Henry Hegnes was appointed postmaster. 

In 1885, when the Chicago Great Western railroad was 

built through Nerstrand, the village was given mail 

service twice a day. 

In 1901 rural free delivery service was established 

with two routes. Charles Radtke served the one route 

for 33 years. Julius Radtke served the route for 28 

years. 

Postmasters since 1902 have included: Henry 

Hegnes, W. F. Boelter, F. R. Kaufmann, Garfield 

Hildebrandt, Roy Knauss, A. C. Jenner who served for 

37 years, and Lester Larson, who was appointed 

postmaster in 1858 and still holds the post. Besides 

Lester Larson and Victor Radtke, rural carrier, the 

post office personnel includes: Clara Berntson, clerk, 

and Wally Budde, substitute rural carrier. 

Previous to the organization of the village school, 

the children of the vicinity attended a school a mile to 

the north of the village. A meeting was held on May 14, 

Early day view of Nerstrand Meat Market 

with Roth Brothers in front. 

"' 

230


Early day scene in pioneer Nerstrand Meat Market. 

1887, at the store of Hegnes and Osmundson to organize 

a school district No. 111. The district was duly 

organized and a committee including S. A. Vesledahl, 

H. N. Hegnes (treasurer), T. E. Bonde (clerk), Messrs. 

Osmundson, Vesledahl and Bonde were appointed as a 

building committee and a site on Second Street was 

selected. On June 2, 1887, bonds in the amount of $880 

were issued to the state. The building was completed in 

the summer of the same year. An addition was built in 

1895. The Nerstrand Public Schools are now a part of 

Faribault Independent School District 656. School 

sessions are held in both communities. 


A contract for Nerstrand's attractive city hall was 

let July 18, 1907, to A.F. Kuehl at $4,240 and the 

building was completed Dec. 11, 1908. It is an attractive 

brick structure two stories high, capped with a tower 

and a large fire bell. The lower floor housed the village 

council rooms, the fire fighting equipment and the jail. 

Since that time the fire fighting equipment has been 

moved to the fire hall adjacent to the city hall. The jail 

is no longer in use for that purpose, and a library has 

been added, which originally was taken care of by Mrs. 

H. 0. Elton and more recently under' the supervision of 

Mrs. Gary (Nadeen) Thielbar. The upper floor was 

used for recreational community affairs for many 

years until the present community building, now 

widely used for a variety of activities, was constructed. 

Realizing the importance and necessity of having a 

village fire department, a committee of three- H. C. 

Held, Charles Bollenbach and Ben Lechelt- on May 8, 

1901, were appointed to go to St. Paul and examine a 

steam fire engine. The engine, along with 700 feet of 

fire hose, was purchased on May 30, 1901, for $1,800. 

The following day it was voted to dig a well and build a 

reservoir with a storage capacity of 2,500 barrels of 

water at a cost of $500. In July, 1901, a stone engine 

house was erected alongside the reservoir. This engine 

house can still be seen behind the city hall building. 

The engine was a 30 horsepower steam power and 

was capable of ·developing water pressure to 150 

pounds. This pump and engine later were replaced by a 

one cylinder gas power engine which was cranked by 

spinning large fly wheels. This engine was used with a 

hose cart that was reeled from the engine house to the 

fire. This system remained as the main source of water 

for fighting fires until the present system was 

installed. 

Department Organized 

Up to the spring of 1902, there was no organized fire 

231

lffen &? §Vow 

Louis Roth, behind counter, in early days at 

Nerstrand Meat Market. Remodeled store 

and plant now operated by Heggedahl family, 

Clyde, Mary, Neil, Avis, assisted by longtime 

meat man, "Ole" Heggedahl, the "Dad." 

department, everyone turning out to fight fires as 

occasion required. On May 14, 1902, the city trustees 

were notified that a fire department had been 

organized with the following prominent men as 

members: 0. N. Hegnes, A. H. Hensler, Ben Lechelt, 

Otto Loges, Louis Larson, K. Synstegard, J. C. Bauer, 

H. C. Held, S. J. Boelter and W. E. Roth. The first fire 

chief of the department was H. N. Hegnes. Later 

serving as fire chief was the late A. B. Larson, former 

Nerstrand businessman and later Faribault banker. In 

its early days, Nerstrand had three serious fires 

including two fatalities and extensive property 

damage. 

In 1944 the Wheeling Mutual Fire Insurance Co. 

purchased a used fire truck from the Kenyon Fire 

Department with the understanding and agreement 

that the village house, maintain and operate it for the 

protection of the village and surrounding territory. 

During this time a fire bell hanging in the steeple on 

City Hall was used to summon the firemen. 

In 1950 the Nerstrand Rural Fire Association was 

organized. Shares were sold, donations were taken and 

the present rural fire truck was purchased with the 

same-utilization agreement. 

The Nerstrand school and the village combined 

efforts to build the present fire station and the school 

buses were housed in the station also. 

In 1973, two trucks were purchased. A used 500 

GPM pumper was secured by the village, and a new 

water tanker was purchased by the rural fire 

association. 

Throughout the years, Nerstrand always has had a 

volunteer fire department and interest in it has varied. 

In recent years the citizens have come to realize that 

the only way to insure proper fire protection is to 

attend schools and drills as well as helping to maintain 

the equipment. 

At the present time there are 24 men in the 

department. The officers are: Chief - Lester "Bob" 

Larson; Assistant Chief - Curtis Glor; Secretarytreasurer 

- Paul Shelstad; Training officer - Ron 

Haase. 

Churches Established 

Nerstrand's present day churches stem from 

earlier congregations established by pioneer Wheeling 

Township settlers. The present Methodist Church had 

its beginning in the German Methodist Church 

organized at a meeting held in Jacob Blank's house in 

section 22, Wheeling Township, in the '50s with the Rev. 

232


William "Butch" Roth on job at Nerstrand 

Meat Market in pioneer days. Market, famed 

for its ''Nerstrand bologna'' and other meats, 

Zollman serving as the first preacher. 

The Evangelical and United Brethren Church 

originally was the Salem Church which held its first 

services in Paul Wolf's house in section 14 in 1856 with 

Rev. Andreas Tumuter as the officiating minister. 

The Norwegian Lutheran Church originally had 

two congregations near the site of the village of 

Nerstrand. The congregation was started in the late 

'50s in a farm house near the "Grove." A stone church 

soon afterwards was erected. In 1894 two churches 

were erected, exact duplicates. One was near the old 

stone church and the other on Second Street in the 

village. 

For many years, the Nerstrand Cooperative 

Creamery established in 1893, was one of the leading 

commercial firms in Nerstrand. The peak business 

volume year was 1961-62 when assets totaled $43,371.57. 

The creamery that year had received 12,491,460 

pounds of milk, 15,560 pounds of cream and had paid 

$396,782.46 to its patrons. Total returns from dairy 

products service and other charges were $425,944.99. 

But then a decline started and in 1970 only seven 

million pounds of milk were received. The board 

recognized this decline as a coming trend and called a 

meeting of the patrons. It was decided to discontinue 

all operations and to liquidate all property. The 

creamery was closed on Sept. 30, 1970. 

The building currently is being used by Marty 

is one of few complete meat stores in this 

area. 

Dettling for a garage and repair shop for his milk 

trucks. He runs several units and employs as many 

drivers on his daily milk routes throughout the area. 

Present business firms in Nerstrand include: 

Nerstrand Farmers Mercantile and Elevator Co., 

which also operates a fertilizer plant; Farmers State 

Bank; Nerstrand Meat Market, started in 1885 and the 

oldest place of business in the community still 

operating; Isaacson Service and Sales Co.; Isaacson 

Transit Co.; Kielmeyer Construction Co., Inc.; Kolling 

Construction Co., Inc.; Larson Hardware Co.; 

Nerstrand Oil Co.; Steidley Service; Wally's Food 

Store; Hansen Woodcraft; Thiel bar Garage and Body 

Shop; Castle's Nerstrand Cafe; Eckert Trucking; 

Arthur Gess, painting, decorating. 

The Nerstrand Commercial Club (also known as 

the Community Club) was organized on March 25, 1930. 

The general purpose of the club was - and still is - to 

promote the commercial interests, the moral, 

intellectual, social culture and the good will and 

fellowship of its membership and of the community. 

The first board of directors and officers were: Guy 

W. Brentlinger, president; Lester Larson, vice 

president; Rev. A. F. Wiuff, secretary; P. P. E. Berg, 

treasurer and Charles Radtke, director. 

For many years the organization served a 

luncheon to the creamery patrons at the creamery's 

annual meetings. The organization also sponsored the 

233

lllen ~§Vow 

View of interior of pioneer Osmundson-Hegnes Nerstrand Store in the 1880's. 

first local Boy Scout troop and for several years 

sponsored an annual com show. The club has donated, 

over the years, a great deal of money to various 

community improvement projects such as lights for 

the softball diamond, Christmas street decorations, 

police radio, youth activities and recently has taken on 

the responsibility of remodeling and maintaining the 

Community Hall. · 

The present club officers are: Clyde Heggedahl, 

president; Don Knopf, vice president, and Ron Haase, 

secretary-treasurer. 

Two lifetime residents of the Nerstrand 

community, "Ozzie" Osmundson and Melvin 

Bollenbach, still continue an active interest in 

Nerstrand community affairs. 

Osmundson, as mayor, took the leadership in 

making several improvement projects and still 

maintains a constructive interest. For many years he 

lived in the stately white brick house of his 

grandfather, Osmund Osmundson, whom he 

remembers as "a dignified upright person with much 

ability who knew what he wanted and got it," on the 

east side of the village. His brother, Leonard and 

sister, Ambrosia Ruble, still live there. "Ozzie" and his 

family live in a palatial home near the village water 

tower. 

Melvin Bollenbach, a spry 87 and still regularly 

employed as a sand pit truck weigher, was born in 1889, 

four years after the village of Nerstrand was founded, 

on the farm of his father, Gustave, a mile south of the 

present village site. He still lives on the farm where his 

sons operate a salvage yard. Five years before Melvin 

was born, there was a store across the street, one of the 

community's first commercial businesses. When the 

railroad came to the village, the Osmundson offer of a 

site a mile to the north was accepted and a station was 

erected. The first store was on the railroad right of way 

and had to be moved. 

He finished his schooling when he was 15 years old 

and started working on a threshing machine crew 

operated by a number of different owners. For 25 years 

he had his own threshing rig. He was in the threshing 

business for 51 years. He farmed 100 acres of land for 

60 years. His family consists of four sons and a 

daughter. 

He remembers well the steady growth of the 

village and one of the first village stores, operated by 

John Osmundson and 0. N. Hegnes. Other commercial 

businesses gradually began to be established. He 

described the people of the community as friendly and 

234


Attractive Nerstrand business corner on 

Main Street including: Larson Hardware Co., 

which plans rerrwdeling to conform to 

adjacent buildings; Nerstrand Meat Market, 

recently remodeled; Nerstrand Fire 

Department and attractive, cupola-topped 

City Hall. 

agreeable and hard workers. He recalls that in the 

earlier days there was a "gentlemen's agreement" 

between the two largest nationality groups. It was 

agreed that no people of German descent could build on 

the north side of the village and no people of Norwegian 

descent could build on the south side. This agreement 

was respected for several years and then was 

discarded. 

As a boy, he remembers that one of the most 

imposing and busiest places in the village was the 

Nerstrand Hotel operated for a while by Ed McLain. 

One of the jobs he still remembers was as a worker 

on the construction of the imposing Nerstrand City 

Hall, built in 1907. He believes he is the only surviving 

member of the original construction crew. In those 

days bricks and other materials were unloaded from 

box cars by hand. "I think we did a good job," he 

commented. ''The building still looks good.'' 

The friendly, busy spirit of a thriving community 

still pervades Nerstrand. Many former community 

residents frequently return to visit old friends and 

' relatives. 

In June of 1976, the Nerstrand Bicentennial 

Observance Committee staged a successful three day 

celebration which attracted large crowds, including 

many oldtimers. 

Highlights of the big event were: a children's pet 

parade; a "humdinger" of a ball game; a Bicentennial 

program and gigantic ice cream social in the 

Community Building. The Bicentennial Committee 

also published an attractive book about the Nerstrand 

community. Some of the material in this article was 

taken from the book. 

Dennison, in two counties, 

named after early settlers 

Although Dennison Village, part of which formerly 

was located in Rice County, is now officially a 

governmental unit of Goodhue County, its founding and 

development have been of much interest to Rice 

Countians. 

That portion of the village, platted in 1884, west of 

the Chicago, Great Western railroad tracks, originally 

was in Rice County, with the remainder of the 

community in Goodhue. A few years ago the Rice 

County portion of the village became a part of 

235

~en ~§Vow 

Northfield Township, Rice County. 

For many years, Dennison has served as the trade 

center for many Northfield Township residents as well 

as for residents of nearby Goodhue County townships. 

With many new changes in business ownership and 

management the last few years, Dennison still 

continues to be a bustling commercial center. With two 

modern taverns in daily operation, much of the town's 

social and entertainment life is centered around them. 

Mrs. A. J. Bestul, for many years a resident of the 

Dennison community, always had been interested in 

gathering historical data pertaining to the village. She 

prepared a detailed history of the village and entered 

in a contest sponsored by a St. Paul newspaper. From a 

field of 10,000 entrants Mrs. Bestul's paper was 

awarded first prize. Through her cooperation the Daily 

News published the paper in its special Territorial 

Centennial edition on Aug. 9, 1949. 

Dennison was named after Morris P. Dennison, 

pioneer settler, who was born in Windham County, 

Vermont, on Feb. 7, 1817. In the spring of 1849 he came 

to Minnesota which was then known as a part of the 

Louisiana Purchase Territory. 

Mr. Dennison was the first man to come to the area 

which later was the village that bears his name. He 

was out on a land seeking expedition but at that time 

the fertile lands were only a wilderness and did not look 

very promising, so he soon returned east. 

But four years later he returned with his family, 

traveling on foot through the wilderness. There were 

neither roads nor bridges and the newcomers had to 

find their way by compass, crossing rivers on rafts, 

sleeping under the stars and living mainly on milk and 

roots found along the way. Minnesota was still a 

territory and the land was unsurveyed. Mr. Dennison 

later discovered that the farm he had picked out was 

located in two counties. 

Log Cabin Built 

In 1856 he built the first log cabin on the site where 

later the Dennison Lumber Yard was established. In 

1858, the same year that Minnesota was admitted as a 

state of the union, he filed a claim. A company from St. 

Paul surveyed through what is now known as Goodhue 


As Goodhue County originally was the home of the 

Dakota Indians, a tribe which fought for the English 

during the French and Indian Wars, part of the county 

long remained their reservation. At that time the 

Indians were roaming over these plains and many of 

the Indian mounds have been found scattered over the 

country west of the village. 

No history of Dennison could be complete without 

some mention of the iron rails. There were many 

exciting times in the village when, in 1884, a company 

from St. Paul resurveyed and the work of construction 

began. A. B. Stickney and Ex-Governor William R. 

Marshal held the offices of president and vice 

president of the then-called Minnesota and 

Northwestern Railroad. 

The railroad was opened for a distance of 100 miles 

from St. Paul and the first construction train came 

through in 1880. 

Henry M. Slee, a son-in-law of Mr. Dennison, and 

founder of the village of Dennison, was born in 

Delaware County, N.Y., Feb. 12, 1832. 

Through his efforts the first station was built in the 

year 1885 and located on the site where the creamery 

now converted into a locker plant, now stands. The first 

depot was a wooden structure erected on the east side 

of the tracks east of the present depot and Thomas 

Garvin was the first depot agent. The railroad yards 

and side track at that time extended from the stock 

yards to the north of the depot. 

Name Officially Given 

When the station was built, the railroad company 

was in want of a name. The people of the village 

wanted the new community named after Mr. Dennison 

and the railroad company wanted the station named 

Spring Creek. In 1885 the post office was established 

and the official name was designated as Dennison. 

In 1884 the town was pia tted and the pia t of the 

original town includes the tract of land lying between 

the right of way and the easterly line of Thorpe Street. 

At the time of its establishment the post office was 

then located where the A. T. Austin son Hardware Store 

was located and was the first building erected on Main 

Street. 

Gunder Bonhus was appointed the first postmaster 

of Dennison and he also built the first postoffice. Later 

the following served as postmasters: C. A. Bonhus, 

Andre K. Lockrem, J. A. Wallen, Ingval Flaten and W. 

W. Bunday. 

In 1885, Mr. Louis, a missionary from Red Wing, 

organized the first Sunday school in the village. In the 

same year, John W. Downing from Avon, N.Y., in 

partnership with J. P. Gibbin of a lumber company in 

St. Paul, started the first lumber yard on the site of the 

Farmers Elevator and Lumber Yard. 

As there was no church in Dennison at that time, 

the Sunday school was held in Mr. and Mrs. Downing's 

home. In the autumn of the year 1885 a Presbyterian 

missionary from West Alexandria Seminary, Pa., 

came to Dennison and conducted services, also in the 

home of Mr. Downing. 

A year later, the Rev. T. A. Anderson, also of the 

Presbyterian Church, came and settled in Dennison. 

Largely through his efforts the first church was built. 

In the spring of 1886, Rev. Anderson, in cooperation 

with Mr. Louis, successfully struggled to build a 

church where the Methodist Church was built. This 

church was built in the first part of August and the first 

service was scheduled to be held on the first of 

September~ 

Tornado Strikes 

But on Aug. 21, 1886, the new small town was badly 

wrecked by a tornado and the newly completed church 

was totally demolished. But although the people were 

disappointed and discouraged over the sudden 

destruction of their new church, they, in a short time, 

made a second attempt at building a church. Later the 

Methodist congregation occupied the church edifice 

completed at that time. 

In the year 1885, Michael McDonald arrived in 

236

County board, N qrthfield & villages 

Dennison from Detroit, Mich., and he built the home 

that Thomas Bunday bought and lived in for many 

years. Mr. McDonald started in Dennison as a section 

hand on the railroad and later became roadmaster for 

the St. Paul division of the Chicago, Great Western 

Railroad. In the earlier days the railroad was known as 

Minnesota and Northwestern and then the Chicago, St. 

Paul and Kansas City Railroad before assuming its 

present name. 

The first residence erected in the town was built by 

John Nelson and later became the home of Erick Kass. 

Thorpe Street was named after one of the pioneer 

settlers, a Mr. Thorpe, better known as "Uncle Bill" 

Thorpe. 

The first store erected in the new village was 

operated by C. Bonhus. The second store, established 

in 1886, was under the management of Grey and Shiels. 

C. Shiels was the first grain buyer. 

V eseli was by-passed 

by railroad, still thrives 

VESELI 

By MRS. ELMER VIKLA 

Veseli is located on Section 10 of Wheatland 

Township, which occupies the northwest corner of Rice 


The founders of the village envisioned a booming 

community and drafted an elaborate large plat with 

streets named after three presidents (Cleveland, 

Harrison and Washington). 

Before the 1900s, Veseli was a booming town, but 

when the railroad missed it by four miles the village of 

Lonsdale was established and Veseli declined 

commercially, but not agriculturally and religiously. 

Shares were bought in the Electric Short Line Railroad 

by prominent residents and businessmen like Joseph 

Valesh; however, the railroad went defunct and 

consequently never materialized and, likewise, the 

money invested was lost. 

According to history, the first permanent settler in 

Veseli was Blaze Stepan. He was born on Feb. 3, 1814, 

in Strebrecim, Czechoslovakia, but his tombstone in St. 

John's Cemetery in Veseli reads 1804. Mr. Stepan came 

to America in 1862 and courthouse records at Faribault 

show he recorded his claim on July 22, 1862. The 

following year his son, John Stepan, joined him as did 

another son, Frank, in 1872. They acquired several 

tracts of land, amounting to approximately 520 acres in 

Sections 4, 11, 13 and 14. However, since these sections 

are located outside of the town of Veseli, it is more 

likely that the following settlers who arrived in 1863 

were probably the first to settle in the area where the 

town is now located: John Pavek, John Ziska, John 

La pic and Joseph Trnka. 

This area of Wheatland Township had the heaviest 

timber and meant a lot of hard work to clear the land to 

start farming. They used the timber for building homes 

and the forest offered protection against the cold wind. 

However, they perhaps selected the area because 

where they had come from, there were no forests and 

only the nobility had vast estates with dense woods. 

Imagine writing relatives back home in their native 

country and describing the forest covered plantations 

they now owned in Golden America! 

Veseli pioneers were very devout Christians and on 

Sundays walked to New Prague, 8 miles, to attend 

M~ss at St. Wenceslaus Church there. There were only 

paths through the dense woods so they always carried 

hatchets to mark the trees so they could find their way 

home again. 

Own Parish Established 

By 1874 there were 20 families in Veseli so Father 

Povolny of New Prague urged them to establish their 

own parish. Accordingly, on Feb. 8, 1874, the following 

settlers donated land for that purpose: John Ziska - 15 

acres, Thomas Lapic - 15 acres, Albert Lamac - 5 

acres, and Joseph Trnka - 5 acres. Permission was 

granted from Bishop Thomas L. Grace, and on March 

1, 1874 the parish of the Most Holy Trinity of Veseli 

officially came into existence. 

The next step was the erection of the building 

which meant a lot of hard work as the land had to be 

cleared first and the settlers could not agree on a 

location. They appealed to Father Povolny, who chose 

Five Veseli band members from early days: 

Joseph A. Valesh, sitting; left to right, Martin 

Vanek, Ben J. Shimota, Mathias R. Vikla, 

Charles La pic. 

237

{Jlen ~c?/ow 

the location. The construction was done by the settlers 

under the supervision of Albert Barta, and it took 4 

years. to complete the frame building. Up to 1877, 

Veseh was a part of St. Wenceslaus parish of New 

Prague but then it was designated as a mission to 

Heidelberg. Father Francis J. Simonik, the Heidelberg 

pastor, took over the mission on Aug. 1, 1877, and 

served as pastor until July 31, 1881. 

After the church was established, Veseli was the 

name given to the place before any village was formed 

around the little church on the hill. It was Vacla v 

Smisek (who lived to be 90 years old) who gave the 

name of Veseli to the settlement. The majority of them 

had come from Veseli or its vicinity in Czechoslovakia. 

The . name Veseli means "hilarity, cheerfulness, 

happmess, contentment." The name was popular in 

Czechoslovakia where apparently several towns there 

bore this name. However, the Veseli from which our 

pioneers arrived was on the Luznice River and was 

famous for its Holy Cross Church that was built in 1363. 

Shortly after the church was established some 

businesses came into existence with the fir~t ones 

being operated by Story and Hoefs, Shimota and 

Maertz, and Charley Mosher. 

The village was platted in 1880 and in a short time 

the population was nearly 400. In 1881 the first resident 

pastor arrived on Aug. 7, the person of Father Francis 

Pribyl. The first rectory was not yet completed at that 

time. His first project was the building of the first 

school. 

Veseli's business district grew rapidly and on 

March 23, 1889, Father Pribyl, W. T. Shimota and 

Albert Vosejpka petitioned for organization of the 

vil~age and its incorporation according to law. First 

officers elected were: president, W. T. Shimota; 

recorder, Rev. F. J. Pribyl; treasurer, Frank 

Chalupsky. First council members were Joseph 

Pavek, Albert Vosejpka and Frank Bartos. 

Many of the early business establishments in 

~eseli we~ recalled by Mr. and Mrs. John Stepka, 

lifelong residents of the town, and Louis Shimota who 

resides in Minneapolis. 

' 

Saloo~s played an important part in early history 

and Veseh had several of these, some of which were 

owned by Math Trenda, John Topka, Frank Chalupsky 

and Joe Vrana. All saloons had big barns where 

farmers left their horses when they came to town or 

church. 

. The first hardware store was owned by Ben 

Shimota and Joe Valesh which was located across from 

the church. Some early blacksmiths included John 

Tomek, John Machacek and John Hertaus. There was 

a meat market, hotel and livery stable operated by 

Thomas Lapic. 

A confectionary store was operated by Mrs. Joe 

La pic while Mrs. Frank Topic had a millinery, with 

Anna Shimota taking that over later. The furniture 

store was owned by Jacob Rimnac, who was the 

undertaker and had the first horse-drawn hearse. Jim 

Cecka was an expert watchmaker in early Veseli. 

Frank Pavek had a wagon shop and two paint shops 

were run by Joe and Jom Topic and Jim Vanek. 

Shoemakers were Mr. Palma and Frank Topic. 

The creamery was operated by Joe Rachac, with 

Mike Smisek as buttermaker. Also, a brewery was 

located on the north side of town and was owned and 

operated by Joe Pavek. 

Busy General Stores 

Of course, every town had general stores and 

Veseli was no exception as it boasted three. Their 

operators were W. T. Shimota, Frank Rachac and J. 

Drozda. All sold mixed and stick candy, licorice and 

gum. Since there were no bifocal lenses made yet, all 

sold magnifying glasses for 55 cents to use for reading. 

Another prominent business was a drug store of which 

Mr. Mozer was proprietor. However, all the general 

stores also sold patent medicines. Severa's Cough 

Syrup was the most common cure back then. 

The first building contractor was Joseph A. 

Vale~h, wh~le Jacob Novotny was in the building 

movmg busmess. Then there was a Herda Brick Yard 

to provide building materials. 

Apparently no doctor ever located in Veseli, but it 

was recalled that a Mr. Malecha took care of 

emergency dental work. It seems he would pull teeth, 

when necessary, with a pair of pliers and, as a 

convenience, would do this even on Sunday mornings 

for people going out of church and right in front of the 

church. In the absence of doctors, two able mid-wives 

assisted in births. These were ''grandma'' La pic and 

Josephine Trenda. · 

Tragedy struck in about 1890 when there was a 

serious diphtheria outbreak and many children and 

adults died in the epidemic. 

Joe and Frank Topic were the first barbers, while 

James Topic was the policeman. Also, a jail was built 

by Jacob Korbel. However, Francis Novak of Veseli 

recalled the story he had heard about Mr. Korbel also 

being the first J)erson to be· locked up in the jail. .It 

seems he was so happy he was done building it that he 

celebrated too much and it was necessary to 

incarcerate him! . 

Entertainment was necessary to the well-being of 

the community and three or four dance halls were 

operated there. Albert Stephan owned one which 

remained standing until the mid 1960s. Another was 

o~ed by Joe Trenda, and a third by John W: Topka. 

This one was later run by Frank Ziska, who passed it 

down to his son, John Ziska, who now lives in 

Montgomery. All dance halls had pool tables and there 

was a bowling alley outside next to Topka's Hall. Also, 

ice was available at the dance halls. It was cut out of 

Hatch Lake,just west of town in winter and stored in 

big blocks between sawdust in a special ice house in 

back of the halls. 

There were two bands to provide music, however, 

practically everyone was a musician of some sort. The 

most prominent were the Drozda and Smisek bands. 

The Smiseks consisted of a family group-Albert and 

his sons Frank, Mike and Jim, and their sons Jim Jr. 

and Frank. Veseli was always a place of merriment. In 

later years a dramatic club was formed under the 

leadership of J. J. Rachac. 

The more athletic type belonged to the Veseli 

238


~~~ 

·41 8287 ~~ ; 

-~ ·J.'t 

EIJECTPJC SHOR1\LINE Pu\ILWAYCOMPANY. 

__ .. ~. -· .. -,,- 

COMMON STOCK 

Three share stock certificate, $100 a share, 

issued by the Luce Electric Short Lines 

Railway to Joseph A. Valesh, Veseli, April13, 

1915. Stocks later proved worthless when R.R. 

failed. 

Brewers baseball team, so named because they were 

sponsored by the Veseli Brewery. The earliest players 

included Joe Rachac, pitcher; Jim Drozda, catcher; 

and Frank Tomek, infield. In 1905 the team won 21 of 22 

games. Players on the team were Joe Tomek, pitcher; 

Jim Trenda, catcher; Joe Valesh, first baseman; John 

Topka, second base; Frank Machacek, third base; 

Frank Kaisersatt, shortstop; Albert Wagner, right 

field; Ben Shimota, center; and John Jirik, left field. 


The Veseli City Hall was built in 1903, and there 

was a well-organized volunteer fire department in the 

town. Firemen had blue uniforms with red trim which 

were worn in parades such as on the Fourth of July. An 

18-foot high water tank was set on top of an 80-foot 

tower. The firehouse was made of brick. The 

department had a hand-operated pump about as long 

as a car with handles the length of the body, one on 

each side, that were operated up and down by as many 

as 8 men on each side. This threw a stream from a 

3-inch hose 75 feet up. There were cisterns with water, 

which were locked for protection of people, from which 

water was pumped on the fire. They had a horsedrawn 

cart and 500 feet of the 3-inch hose. 

It was during this rapid growth of Veseli, in 1902, 

that the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad 

extended its tracks and missed Veseli. Rev. Alphonse 

Kotouc became pastor of the church on June 1, 1904, 

and realized because of the railroad, the new mission 

at Lonsdale would grow into a large parish and Veseli 

would decrease, so he immediately began to plan for a 

new church to replace the original log one. Building 

started on April 19, 1905, and the cornerstone was laid 

on June 4 of that year. 

The style of the building is the Roman Basilica and 

is modeled after the St. Paul Seminary Chapel. The 

location selected was on the cemetery grounds, next to 

the log church, making it necessary to exhume the 

dead and move them to the new cemetery on the hill 

west of town. The church was constructed of bricks 

239

~en ~§Vow 

from the Herda Brick Yard at a cost of $30,000. The 

first Mass said in the new church was the Christmas 

Eve Midnight Mass in 1905. Marie Shimota and Joe 

Valesh were the first to be married in the new church 

on Jan. 23, 1906. 

The Veseli Post Office didn't come into existence 

until 1908. The original post office was established in 

July, 1879, however. The postmaster at the time was 

Albert Vosejpka, who delighted in translating 

Bohemian names to English and the closest he could 

come to Veseli was "Wesely." When the village was 

incorporated under the name of Veseli, it wasn't 

recognized officially by postal authorities so it became 

quite confusing. Therefore, in 1908 th.e people 

petitioned Washington to have the name changed to 

Veseli. Apparently officials were really efficient since 

this request was granted within a week. That was 

before Zip code, too! The postmasters since Mr. 

Vosejpka were Frank Vita, Joseph Topic, W. T. 

Shimota, J. J. Smisek, Jacob Rimnac, Marie Valesh 

and the present postmistress is Marian Valesh. 

The Veseli School District 108 was likely the 

"University of the Wheatland Town School System." 

There were two departments in the school, and in 1904 

it became semi-graded, enabling it to get state aid. It 

was organized as a parish school with the building 

being erected in the 1870s and then rented for public 

school purposes for at least 10 years at $10 a year. 

In 1894 a public school was built and the old 

building used solely as a Catholic school. The first 

teachers included J. J. Rachac, principal, Joe Matyas 

and J. C. Drozda. Mr. Rachac was only 18 years old at 

the time. He instituted better teaching methods and the 

school was firmly established under him. He is 

credited as aiding tremendously to the excellent 

education the school offered. He taught in the system 

for 10 years. 

Some of the teachers through the years were Mr. 

Valenta, Mr. Zika, Mr. Topka, Ida Bartos, Marie 

Shimota, F. M. Kaisersatt (a principal), Elizabeth 

Pechousek, Anna Shimota, Emilia Nestaval, Joseph 

Pavek, Martin G. Vikla (a principal). Catholic school 

teachers included John Hovorka, Cecelia Kovarik, 

Anna Hovorka, Mr. Kuchta and Mr. Vojta. Some of the 

public school teachers recalled in later years were 

Jerry Bednar, Sidona Kopet, Bessie Chemal, Miss 

Caron, Miss Hawk, Bohumil Lapic, Eleanor Topic, 

Helen Meshkan, Elsie Smisek and Ella Krocak. 

Because the community consisted almost entirely of 

Catholic people, more and more pupils attended the 

Catholic school. When enrollment declined to only a 

few students, the public school was closed in 1945 and 

the remaining children bussed to New Prague. 

Around 1910 there still remained two large grocery 

stores, two saloons, two blacksmith shops, a hardware 

store, confectionery, barber shop, meat market, shoe 

shop and furniture store. 

The village had its own waterworks complete with 

tank and tower erected at a: cost of $2,000. 

First Car Recalled 

Joe Valesh and Mrs. Emma Kokes of Veseli recall 

that their father, Joseph Valesh, had the first car in 

Veseli. It was a 1914 Overland. Mr. Valesh knew how 

much gasoline was necessary to travel to various 

places and would measure out only that amount into 

the gasoline tank. For instance, he knew it took seven 

gallons to go to Hopkins and back so this is the amount 

he put into the tank. The cost of a car was 

approximately $200 to $300. It was believed Jacob 

Rimnac owned the second car in town. Another means 

of transportation was the first motorcycle owned by 

Ben J. Shimota and Frank Valesh. 

In 1912, Father Wenceslaus J. Jiracek brought in 

the School Sisters of St. Francis from Milwaukee to 

teach in the parochial school. Prior to that time, all had 

been lay teachers. In 1916 the present parochial school 

was built at a cost of $10,000. Father Joseph J. Bouska 

became pastor at Veseli in September, 1921 and the 

next year he built the present rectory at a cost of $9,200 

and in 1926 he built an addition to the school to serve as 

a convent at a cost of $7,200. 

Electricity came to town in 1924 serviced by 

Gunderson Brothers from Kenyon. The church was the 

first to be wired and businesses followed. However, the 

village had only $200 in its treasury at the time and 

couldn't raise the amount needed to bring in this 

service so it was necessary to borrow $600 from the 

Murphy Brothers of New Prague, who were in a 

position to make loans. This was quite a large sum in 

those days, and since the town was indebted to these 

people, it was known as "Murphy Town" for a time. 

Northern States Power took over the service in 1929. 

In 1925 the incorporation of the village was 

dissolved since it seemed the two sides of town could 

not agree on issues. 

The Joseph Valesh household was the first to have 

indoor plumbing and a bathroom in 1927. This was 

because Albert Valesh of Hopkins was a plumber arid 

did the installation. Needless to say, this was quite a 

luxury! 

That same year there was a serious fire when the 

Ziska's Dance Hall burned to the ground. Firemen 

worked hard to save the church and school from 

destruction. 

Throughout the years various other businesses 

flourished for a time, including the tailor, James 

Topic; two feed mills owned by Thomas Tomek and 

Joe Trenda, and Jim and Albert Katra. There was also 

a furrier and Ed Tuma's flour mill in the 1930s. Three 

threshing rigs were operated by Albert Zelenka, Mike 

Lapic and John Pivec and Frank Jirik and Emil Lapic. 

A hotel was operated by John Pivec before World War 

I, a harness shop by Frank Bartos, barber shop by Joe 

Topic, bowling alley by Topkas, and a clay pigeon 

shooting club and skating rink club were also 

organized. 

From 1934 to 1942 Frank E. Malecha operated a 

turkey farm llh miles west of Veseli, where he raised 

5,000 turkeys. In the 1940s several residents started 

milk hauling businesses, including Ernest Valesh, 

Frank Hanek, John M. Horejsi, George Trnka, Bisek 

Bros. (William and Bob), George Novak, Leonard 

Novak, William Turek and Leonard Tupy. Road 

contractors from 1946 to 1952 were Turek and Kucera. 

240

Veseli Fire Department in the earlier years of 

the community's founding, is picture here. 

Arrwng those shoum here are: John Stepka 

Sr., Paul Sticha, John Ziska, Mr. Vrana, John 

In 1948 there were two garages in town owned by 

Francis Novak (who also did welding) and James 

Shindelar. Vencl Machacek was the first to own a 

television set in Veseli. 

Young People Settle 

According to Mrs. Evelyn Novak of Veseli, before 

1950 most of the town's population consisted of retired 

persons. However, since then, many young people have 

settled here, raising their families and commuting to 

work- many to the Twin City area. Since 1950, 33 new 

houses were built in Veseli and the approximate 1976 

population is 160. 

In 1950 William Turek donated land for a ball park 

on the west side of Veseli. There are currently two 

baseball clubs in the area using the facilities. They are 

the Town and Country League, whose members 

include grade and high school boys, and the DRS 

((Dakota-Rice-Scott) League, which are older boys. 

According to manager and pitcher Don Dvorak, the 

1975 DRS team was in the playoffs for the first time 

since 1954 by finishing in fourth place with a record of 7 

Machacek, Joe Rachac, W. T. Shimota, 

Charlie La pic, Jacob Rimnac Sr., John 

Korbel, Joseph Valesh, Joe Pavek, James 

Vanek, Frank LapicandJoe Topic. 

wins, 10 losses and 1 tie. Doug Zimanske and Bruce 

Meger were the best hitters; Billy Bartusek and Mike 

Rezac, best pitchers; also, Roger Chlan is a 

left-handed catcher, very rare in baseball. 

Other players besides these included Charle Sticha 

(junior coach), Mark Simon, Francis Smisek, Dave 

Smisek, Robert Brezina, Ken Kalina, AI Bisek, Marvin 

Simon, Rick Pavek, Rick Kadrlik, Fritz Sticha, Don 

Mushitz, Marvin Ceplecha, Fritz Ceplecha and Kevin 

Adamek. The Town and Country League has two 

divisions, for older and younger players. They were 

managed by Milton Simon and Billy Turek. These 

included: Dan Simon, Kevin Simon, Dale Simon, Roger 

Novak, Mike Novak, Rick Burns, Steve Vikla, Dave 

Vikla, Bernie Cervenka, John Havlicek, Dan Smisek, 

Dave Malecha, Chris Hertaus, Carl Hertaus, Bill Kes, 

Steve Kes, Nate Girard, Jim Bartusek, Rick Bartusek, 

Jim Turek, Doug Simon, Mike Ceplecha, Kenny 

Schanus, ·Craig Hertaus, Russell Sirek and Jerry 

Skluzacek. Rick Burns died in a fire at his home on 

Nov. 1, 1975, and Roger Sirek, a former player, was 

241

~en ~8/ow 

killed in an automobile accident in January, 1975. 

In 1967 Father Richard Skluzacek, pastor of the 

Church of the Most Holy Trinity, initiated the first 

"Ho-Down" in the community. This has been carried 

on every year since. Approximately 10 bands from the 

area come and s·et up on the church grounds for an 

afternoon of entertaining people from near and far 

with their old-time, country western and modem 

music. The bands donate their time and music and 

several thousand people attend the event annually. 

There is dancing in the street by the St. Paul Czech 

dancers and a good time had by all. 

Schools Consolidated 

In the late 1960s it was realized the facilities at the 

Most Holy Trinity School were not adequate for present 

day education. Since two neighboring parish schools 

were faced with the same situation, it was decided the 

best thing to do would be consolidation of the three in 

order to keep Catholic education available for this 

strong religious community. In the fall of 1969, the 

Lonsdale-New Market-Veseli Area School opened its 

doors to 342 students, with the primary grade children 

from all three parishes being taught in the Veseli 

building, the intermediate in New Market, and upper 

grades in Lonsdale. In the 1975-76 school term there are 

282 enrolled in the Area School. Richard Nicoli is 

principal with the following staff: Sisters Joanne 

Dehmer, Jean Therese McMahon, Catherine Mary 

Schulte, Mrs. Evelyn Vlasak, Mrs. Mary Kay Welle in 

the Veseli building. Sisters Joann McMahon, Jonelle 

Rein, Mrs. Viola Diesen and Mrs. Margaret Maxa in 

the New Market building. Sister Mary Ann Kuhn, Joan 

Spillman, Joan Welhelmy, Dan Shetka, John Welle, 

Mark Conway and Alice LaPierre are in the Lonsdale 

building. Dianna Braem is a special education teacher 

and Tanya Anderson is speech therapist. 

The Church of the Most Holy Trinity celebrated its 

centennial in 1974 with a concelebrated High Mass and 

afternoon entertainment provided by school children 

on June 9. A dinner was served at noon to the many 

visiting clergy who took part in the celebration. Right 

after that, Rev. Alphonse Kubat became the new 

pastor of the church. He is a native of Czechoslovakia 

and is the present pastor. 

The Veseli parish has been blessed with the 

following who became priests: Rev. M. T. Sevcik, Rev. 

Joseph Tomek, Rev. Albert Ziskovsky, Rev. Francis 

Tomek, Rev. George Ziskovsky, Rev. Charles Jirik, 

Rev. Joseph Tupy and Rev. Alvin Simon. Also, the 

following became nuns: Elizabeth Skluzacek, 

Josephine Tupy, Dorothy Tupa, Elizabeth Sirek, Rose 

Trenda, Bernice Simon and Kathy Trenda. 

In 1976 the present businesses are: Smisek's Store, 

owned and operated by Elsie and Frank Smisek and 

their sons Dan and Randy; Fierst's Tavern, owned by 

Mahlon Fierst; Francis Novak's Garage and welding 

shop; and Rodney Fierst operates Rod's Auto Body 

Shop. Leonard Novak is a milk hauler and George 

Novak owns a disposal service. 

The oldest business place standing in town is 

Fierst's Tavern, which originally was a furrier 

building. The oldest home is located on the west edge of 

town and is owned by Mrs. Mayme Palma. 

Among the oldest living Veseli natives are Mr. and 

Mrs. Frank Hanek, Mr. and Mrs. John Stepka and Mrs. 

Mary Valesh, who are lifelong residents. Mrs. Rose 

Navara, another native, is an invalid in a nursing home 

at present. Also, Joe La pic, Charlie La pic and Albert 

Valesh now reside in Hopkins. Emmanuel Shimota and 

Louis Shimota live in St. Paul. 

Needless to say, these people have seen many 

changes in their little town. 

(Information for this history was gathered by Mrs. 

Elmer Vikla from the ''History of Rice and Steele 

Counties" and from Veseli residents Mr. and Mrs: 

Joseph V. Kokes, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Novak, Mr. 

and Mrs. John Stepka, Joe Valesh, and Louis Shimota 

of St. Paul and Don Dvorak of New Prague). 

242

Chapter Vll 

Rural life influential 

in Rice County 

Cannon City, one time 

boom town, holds ·.its own 

Cannon City community, back more than 120 years 

ago was boomed as a possible big city and Rice County 

seat, but the grandiose plans for "Metropolisville" 

never materialized and the community reverted back 

to being its own self again. It's still a busy community, 

though, located as it is adjacent to Faribault and in the 

center of a prosperous agricultural and commercial 

area. 

Present members of the Cannon City Town Board 

responsible for operating a government in an area with 

rural-urban problems predominant, include: John 

Karl, chairman, Dale Borgstahl, recorder, George 

Parkos, treasurer, Elmer Covert, Jr. and Robert 

Wagner, supervisors. For many years the Crystal 

Co-operative Creamery, housed in an imposing 

building, was the leading commercial industry in that 

community. 

Bounded on the west by Wells Township and the 

City of Faribault; on the north by Bridgewater 

Township ; on the east by Wheeling and on the south by 

Walcott Township and Faribault, Cannon City 

township is the smallest in the county from the 

standpoint of acreage, embracing 19,840 acres. The 

City of Faribault takes from its southwest corner 3,200 

acres or sections 29, 30, 31, 32 and the southern half of 

sections 19 and 20. 

The early settlers of Cannon City found both timber 

and prairie land. The entire western portion originally 

was covered with timber, in places heavy and again 

light interspersed with meadow and timber openings. 

The eastern and northeastern parts, ·extending from 

the north to the south line of the township, is a rolling 

prairie and there are fine groves of timber. 

This originally was called East Prairie - and 

many of the residents still stick to that name - for the 

reason that it lies east of the Cannon River timber. 

Little Prairie is a small prairie in the township's 

section four. The township's soil is rich and well 

adapted to a wide variety of agricultural crops. A dark 

loam is the covering of the prairie land and as one 

approaches the timber a lighter nature of soil is visible 

with a tendency to clay and sand. 

Soil Conservation Practices 

Along the Cannon River, which enters the township 

from Faribault and crosses the western part in a 

northerly direction, the surface is more or less broken 

and in some places enough so as to be termed hilly. In 

recent years many Cannon City farmers have 

successfully adapted modern day soil conservation 

practices in operating their farms and have obtained 

successful results. 

Early day settlers of the township found an 

abundance of limestone in various localities in the 

western portion. Several burned kilns with satisfactory 

results. Much of the stone, too, was used for building 

purposes. 

The town is well watered but does not have as many 

lakes as the surrounding townships, just north of the 

village· of Cannon City. Prairie Creek and the Cannon 

River are the other main water arteries. 

There is considerable doubt in the minds of many 

as to just when and by whom the township first was 

settled. Early day records are vague and in conflict 

and some "old timers" engaged in heated arguments 

as they vehemently claimed the honor for various 

individual pioneers. 

An early day historian states that the actual 

settlement of Cannon City commenced 122 years ago - 

early in 1854-and it is claimed there were one or two 

arrivals late in the year previous but early day 

historians were unable to confirm this. 

Among the first to locate was John Corsett, a 

native of Ohio who arrived in the town in the spring of 

1854 and took a claim in section 35. He built a little 

shanty covered with what he called "shakes" and at 

once commenced putting up hay, succeeding in 

harvesting 20 tons. After he had been there a short 

time, a number of others, · all from Dunkirk, Wis., 

swelled the settlement in this part of of the township. 

But most of them stayed but a comparatively short 

while. 

Owens Family Arrives 

William N. Owens and family were natives of New 

York, having left that state early in the 1840's, moving 

to Dunkirk, Wis., where they remained for 10 years. In 

1854 when the Minnesota fever first began to find root 

in the minds of the eastern people, they decided to join 

the throng. A number of them came, among whom 

were: Isaac Hamlin and parents; George Marks and 

his family; John Pratt and family; Samuel Howe; 

John Ralier; A. Renslow and others who took claims in 

adjoining townships. 

The hardships of frontier life engulfed these early 

243

~en ~§Vow 

settlers from the early beginning, according to an 

early day historian. As they came straggling on their 

way to the Cannon Valley, they encountered near 

tragedy at the Root River in Fillmore county in the 

southeastern part of Minnesota. Typhoid fever gripped 

some members of the Owens family and he was 

detained there some time, Mrs. Owens being confined 

and delivered a child during the detention. 

Others in the party, however, moved on to Cannon 

City and made a preliminary investigation. The Owens 

family arrived in East Prairie on Oct. 1, 1854, finding 

conditions more desperate than they had anticipated. 

Mr. Owens made Mr. Corsett an offer of $250 for his 

claim and his hay. The offer was accepted and Owens 

moved his family into Corsett's floorless and 

doorless cabin. This was soon remedied by making a 

floor out of slippery elm bark and a door of slabs. The 

roof of the cabin was very poor as it was made of clap 

boards and Mr. Owens stated that often he heard the 

children in the night, "Mama, it's snowing in my face." 

He was determined to fix it so he went out on the 

prairie, cut sod and packed it in layers on the house 

roof. This kept the snow out of the children's faces but 

when the spring came and the drenching rains washed 

crevices through the sod, great haste was required in 

shoveling it off the roof to prevent the shanty from 

being transformed into a mud hole. The Owens family 

remained in the township, however, and for many 

years he operated a tavern in section 35. 

Other Settlers Arrive 

About the time that Owens settled, a few more 

made their appearance. These included M.N. Pond and 

wife, Prof. Ile, his father-in-law and Mrs. Ile and their 

two daughters. After going at first to Faribault, they 

cut a pathway through heavy and tangled woods to 

East Prairie. When they arrived they discovered 

someone had come ahead of them for, on a stake 

conspicuously planted, appeared these warning words: 

"6,000 acres of this land is claimed by Tripp, Boss and 

Co." 

The sturdy pioneers allowed these early 

"monarchs-of-all-they-survey" to claim the huge 

acreage and proceeded to settle on the best farms they 

could find. Mr. Pond took a claim in section 33 and 

Prof. Ile in section 35 where the village later was laid 

out. 

Several more settlers arrived in the same year, 

settling in the southern part of the town and some 

pushing on into Walcott. Among these were George 

Marks, Mr. Emerson, Oliver Tripp, W. L. Herriman, 

Truman Boss, M. C. Sweatt and H. C. Tripp. 

John Thompson, a native of Scotland, arrived in 

1855 in Cannon City township and assisted in the 

settlement of East Prairie and East Prairie Village by 

aiding in the erection of a steam and grist mill. He was 

the father of George W. Thompson, prominent East 

Prairie and Faribault resident who served as a state 

legislator, Rice County register of deeds and a member 

of the Faribault City Council. 

Others settling in 1855 included: E. B. Orcutt and 

Joseph Covert, native New Yorkers who settled in 

section 25, Roswell Bryant, section 25, and H. A. 

Swartwoudt, sections 26 and 27. Among the first 

settlers in the northern part of the township were Caleb 

Closson and his sons, J. Clark, Joseph, Amasa and 

Schuler who arrived late in the year 1854 and took 

claims adjoining in the northeastern corner of the 

town. The "Closson" settlement is still often referred 

to by the old pioneers. John Dungay, a native of 

England, took out a claim in section five, built a house 

and later settled in 1862. Another early settler in the 

northern part of the township was William Dunn, who 

also arrived in 1854. 

Early Settlers Named 

Other early settlers of the township, many 

descendants of whom still are engaged in active 

farming in the township, include: Thomas Van Eaton, 

section 26; John Jepson, section 14; S. J. Clemans who 

first settled in Warsaw; Thomas Gallagher, section 

seven; F. Strunk, Joseph Fancher, J. and Elson 

Emerson, sections three and eleven and Thomas 

"Deacon" Bowles, a brother-in-law of the Sears 

Brothers, who took a farm near the village in 1855. 

Among the prominent early day settlers of Cannon 

City was Peter Greenville, whose son, John, for many 

years was actively engaged in farming and was 

prominent in several business interests. Mr. 

Greenville's father, a native of Karlsue-on-the-Rhine, 

Germany, arrived in Rice County in 1854 from New 

York state where he had first settled after coming to 

this country. 

Peter Greenville came to Rice County with another 

family, Frank Farankop, who was one of the early 

settlers of Northfield Township, later taking a claim 

near Dennison. The new arrivals at first settled at 

Hazebrush Prairie which later became a part of 

Bridgewater Township. Mr. Greenville pre-empted the 

land where Henry Albers, one of the early Bridgewater 

pioneers, later settled, and then came on to Cannon 

City, settling on land which later became a part of the 

Cannon City village limits. Land also was acquired in 

other sections of the township. 

John Greenville liked to recall the pioneer days 

and remembered vividly early day events and 

incidents. He never had trouble finding listeners .. He 

remembered his father telling him of the 

establishment of the Village of Cannon City, in the fall 

of 1855, by the Messrs. G. A. and J. D. Sears from 

Michigan, in section 15 of the township. The village site 

was laid out in an area two miles square, including 

Crystal Lake, was incorporated and, technically, Mr. 

Greenville emphasized, it is still a village as the 

incorporation action never has been changed although 

the community today is a far cry from the bustling 

village its founders had hoped it to be. 

Give Up Village Plans 

The village founders had hoped that their new 

village would become the permanent county seat 

instead of Faribault. But, in a celebrated "election 

steal," say the Cannon Citians, which was one of the 

county's most dramatic historical happenings. 

Faribault became the county seat instead of Cannon 

City. The Sears Brothers then gave up their village 

plans, pulled stakes and the village gradually declined 

from a commercial standpoint. Historically, however, 

Cannon City has retained top importance in the county, 

244


as a whole. When the village project was abandoned 

the lots were sold for taxes. 

John Greenville, who was born Sept. 3, 1865 in the 

same home in the village limits in which he lived until 

his death, remembered when the flourishing village 

comprised two hotels, three churches, three blacksmith 

shops, a couple of grocery stores, three saloons 

and several other establishments. 

Mr. Greenville remembered vividly, too, when a 

small boy noticed four horseback riders, wearing 

linen dusters who stopped at the village's Gordon 

Hotel. They seemed to be courteous travelers and gave 

Mrs. Gordon, wife of the hotel proprietor, a set of solid 

sliver knives and forks. The next day the travelers 

journeyed on to Northfield and staged the historically 

famous Northfield bank raid which eventually ended in 

their capture. The travelers were members of the 

Younger Brothers gang. 

Among the prominent pioneer families of Cannon 

City was that of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Mulliner who came 

to the township from Michigan in 1856. They secured 

land in Cannon City, section three, where he was a 

prominent man and a most successful farmer. He 

served in 1862 in the First Minnesota Calvary and the 

Six Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. 

The Mulliners had three children, Mrs. Abe 

(Jeanette) Philman, Mrs. Ben (Mathilda) Polson and 

Louis Mulliner. He also was the great grandfather of 

Bette Polson, who still resides in Cannon City. 

Recalls Warning 

The Mulliners were in Cannon City during the 

Indian Outbreak and the Indians gave this warning: 

"Before green grass grows and water runs, there will 

not be a white in this settlement.'' 

Many of the settlers would gather in one home at 

night and the men would guard and keep night vigil. 

The women would use the strings from their night caps 

and would make waddings using ,gun powder for .the 

muskets. 

Several Cannon City residents have been 

prominent in public life. Fred Chester was elected to 

the county board in 1932 and served until 1940. Martin 

Hachfeld was elected county commissioner in 1960 and 

is now serving as board chairman. Homer Covert was 

elected state representative in the legislature in 1934 

and later was elected to the state senate. In earlier 

years, Walter McGloughlin served as state 

representative. 

Nauman Store History 

Clarence and Harold Nauman known as the 

"Nauman Bros." moved to Cannon City in 1913. They 

purchased a 200 acre farm and established purebred 

herds of Red and Polled cattle and Duroc Swine, selling 

and shipping breeding stock throughout the Northwest. 

In 1925 they started selling heavy implement and 

farm equipment. 

The first grocery store and machine shop was built 

in 1929. In 1934 a larger store and machine shop was 

constructed. The old store buildings were then used as 

a barber shop and apartment for hired help. The 

grocery business continued until1944. During this time 

many exciting events were held such as movies, 

fireworks and band music most every week. The band 

Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Mulliner, pioneers and 

community leaders of Cannon City. They 

settled in that township in 1856. 

was composed of the Nauman family only. 

The old store and shop buildings were razed in 1975 

and a new storage building constructed for the sale of 

farm supplies. 

Glenn, son of Clarence, and his wife, Beverly still 

operate the gas station and farm supply store. The 

farm has a village appearance. The old Cannon City 

Town Hall, built in 1894 and situated in the village of 

Cannon City was purchased in 1970 by Glenn Nauman 

and moved to the farm for restoration also a log cabin 

built in 1855 was purchased and moved in 1974 and 

completely restored. This cabin was the original house 

on the John Holmes farm in Bridgewater township. 

The large barn was built in 1865 and houses many 

buggies, surreys, sleighs and other artifacts. 

The entire family is very much interested in 

preserving the history of Rice County and Mrs. Glenn 

Nauman is the 1975-1976 President of the Rice County 

Historial Society. ·. 

First religious services in the township were held 

in 1855 by the Rev. T. R. Cresy, first Baptist missionary 

in Rice County. He settled in Cannon City township that 

year and for many years carried on church and gospel 

work. 

Cannon City Christian Church 

Following a meeting in the school house at Cannon 

City, Minn. in October 1868, by Elder W. A. Taylor of 

Ohio, who was there on a visit, a church was organized 

Nov.17, 1868with22chartermembers. 

A church building was built and completed and the 

first services were held in it Dec. 18, 1870. 

The first regular minister of the church was hired in 

Nov. 1872 with services held every other Lord's day at 

a salary of $500.00 per year. The Cannon City Christian 

Church as it was called was incorporated under the 

laws of the State of Minnesota Feb. 23, 1876. After 

service of 74 years in this little country church, it was 

245

{§en ~§Vow 

decided to sell the Cannon City property and move to 

Faribault. The property was sold and is now the 

Cannon City Community Church where services are 

still held each Sunday. 

The congregation of the Cannon City Christian 

Church then purchased the building belonging to the 

Christian Science group at 609 N.W. Fourth Ave. where 

worship services changed after the move to Faribault 

and is now known as Faribault Church of Christ. 

Among the first marriages in the township was 

that of Elson Emerson to Charity Judd in 1856 or 1857 at 

the residence of John Emerson. The first township 

officers were elected on May 11, 1858 at a meeting held 

at the home of I. N. Sater with Thomas Robinson as 

temporary chairman. They included: Supervisors, 0. 

R. Hawley, chairman, Jesse Carr, J. A. Starks; Justice 

of the peace, William N. Owens; clerk, C. Smith 

House; assessor, J.D. Carr; constable, John Casey. 

One of the best known residents of Cannon City was 

Michael A. Walrod, who first came to Cannon City with 

his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Walrod from 

Elby, Wisconsin in 1866 when he was but a year and a 

half old. He attended the village school in Cannon City, 

attended Faribault High School, worked at the H. L. 

Hill furniture factory in Faribault for eight years; 

opened up a general store in partnership with C. J. 

Mulliner at Springfield but sold out his partnership in 

two weeks. 

For the next three years, he was engaged in 

irrigation work in Nevada for his uncle, returning tb 

Faribault to accept a position with a Mr. Miller .who 

then operated what was known as the George Lyons 

Livery barn. For four years he was employed by the 

Hutchinson and Stockton Store. 

Oldest Mail Carrier 

On Sept. 1, 1901, soon after the introduction of rural 

mail carrier service in Faribault, he went to work for 

Uncle Sam as a rural mail carrier. He faithfully served 

Faribault rural free delivery route 6 from that day for 

31 years until July 10, 1932 when he was retired under 

government regulations. At the time of his retirement 

he was the county's oldest rural carrier. He cherished 

the title his fellow carriers gave him "Dean of the 

Carriers." They always considered him as "one of the 

boys." 

During the 1930's, more than 500 rural carriers 

from all over the state were in attendance at the state 

Rural Letter Carriers convention held in Faribault and 

"Mike" had a great reunion with "all the boys." 

Following his retirement he puttered around the 

house at 722 NW First St. where he and his wife the 

former Mattie L. Hammond. had lived for many years. 

He also served as caretaker of the Cannon City 

cemetery. 

Snowshoe Thompson 

famed as mountain mail carrier 

A Norwegian relative of Mrs. Axel Wahlstrom, 

former Cannon City resident and now living in 

Faribault, gained fame as the ace mail carrier for 20 

years across the West's Sierra Mountains. His name 

was John "Snowshoe" Thompson and the story of his 

mail exploits is highly interesting and has inspired 

hundreds. The Wahlstrom family has a copy of a letter 

written by "Snowshoe, then residing in California, on 

Jan. 2, 1873. 

When a boy of 10, John Thompson came to America 

from the mountain district of Telemarken, Norway, 

where his family had lived for generations. In 1851, 

when he was 24 years old, he and several other 

Norwegians went to California to seek their fortunes. 

John Thompson didn't find his and so he quit digging 

and began to farm. 

In 1855, the authorities of California advertised for 

someone to carry the mail back and forth across the 

mountains during the winter. The advertisement 

caused much amusement however, because the 

Sierras during winter -well, no fool, however crazy, 

would care to tackle the job. 

Only one applicant showed up, a light-haired gian_t 

of a Norwegian; that man was John Thompson and he 

got the job. He made himself a pair of skis- heavy, 

clumsy things they were, weighing no less than 25 

pounds. 

The distance, about 90 miles which he had to cover, 

stretched from Hangtown, California to Carson Valley, 

Nevada. The whole region was an inhospitable 

wilderness, with not a human habitation to be found. 

'The eastward journey, being the steepest, was the 

hardest to make, and would take him three days, but 

for the return trip, the precipices of the Sierras making 

dandy ski slides he would need only two! 

Blizzards Held No Terror 

For more than 20 winters this man formed the only 

connecting link between California and the East. And 

he never failed! His story reads like some grotesque 

tale from the Old Norse mythology. To him, a trip 

across the inhospitable mountain region, in the dead of 

winter, with storms howling and blizzards raging, held 

no terror. The trips had to be made. He had taken the 

job and anyway, the scenery was grand. 

On his trips he carried no other baggage than the 

mail bag, which would weigh from 60 to 100 pounds; not 

a blanket to roll in at night, now even an overcoat to 

protect him from the piercing cold. His food consisted 

of crackers and a piece of dry bread. These he would 

munch while gliding across the snowfields then pick up 

a handful of snow with which to quench his thirst. 

At night he would kindle a fire and go to sleep by it, 

peacefully and without fear, as if he had lain snugly in 

his own bed at home. But on nights when blizzards 

raged, he would find some exposed rock which the 

storm swept clean and pace up and down on it until 

p 

246


morning broke and the storm subsided. 

On his journeys he saved the life of many a man 

who, foolhardily, had tried to cross the wilderness and 

had lost his way. Once he came upon a rickety cabin, in 

which he found a man with both feet frozen. For 

several days, this ill-fated human creature had no 

other food than flour, which he ate uncooked. When 

Thompson found him, he had decided to cut off both 

legs with an axe. Thompson told him that if he would 

leave the operation for a while longer he would try to 

get help, and immediately set out for Genoa, Nevada. 

There he secured six pairs of skis and next six men to 

run on them. 

Late the following night they were in the cabin and 

at once set to making a sleigh. By the next sundown 

they had brought the man to Genoa. But the doctor was 

helpless - he had no chloroform. Again Thompson 

jumped on his skis and he ran to Sacramento, a 

distance of 150 miles. In an incredibly short time he 

had returned with the necessary anaesthetic. The 

amputation was performed successfully and the m.an 

lived for many years afterwards. 

Some day there will be a fine monument erected to 

the memory of "Snowshoe" Thompson. Not that his 

memory needs it. But the nation needs constantly to 

remind itself of the glorious strength it possessed in the 

days of its youth! 

Township named after 

'Bully' Wells in 1853 

Back 123 years ago, in 1853, when James "Bully" 

Wells, arrived in section 35, Wells Township, and 

became that thriving township's third settler, little did 

he realize that the township named after him would 

become the center of a bustling commercial, residential 

and resort activity, because of its proximity 

to the county's largest city, Faribault; its scenic 

cottage-lined lakes and its beautiful urban-type homes 

and fertile farms. 

In fact, as far as Faribault is concerned, Wells 

Township begins at Western Avenue on the western 

outskirts of the city. The rural-urban relationship 

between the township and the city residents is cordial 

and constructive and that's the way it should be. 

The township board, responsible for the town 

government, has wrestled with many major problems, 

such as road building, utilities regulation, property 

zoning, etc., which many townships do not have to 

contend with and its members have done a good job in 

meeting their responsibilities. 

The township board is composed of William 

Harkins, popular resort operator, chairman; Myron 

Gudknecht, clerk; Irvin Langer, treasurer and Walter 

King and David Tousignant, supervisors. 

Mark Wells, a native of Massachusetts, came to 

Wedding picture of Vincent and Pelagie 

Chappuis, parents of Frank Chappuis, Wells, 

and Mrs. Madeline Schwab, Faribault. 

Faribault with Luke Hulett, Faribault pioneer, in 1853 

and is credited with being the township's first settler, 

filing a claim in section 35. Shortly afterward, a Mr. 

Standish of Massachusetts took a claim in section 35. 

James "Bully" Wells also arrived the same year 

and took a claim in section 15. These three settlers 

considered this southeastern part of the town as the 

most enticing part to settle because this was prairie 

land. "Bully" Wells was a brother-in-law of Alexander 

Faribault, and established a trading post on his claim 

in section 34 and had a profitable business after he 

turned to farming. He was mysteriously murdered in 

1863, supposedly by a Sioux Indian. Wells for many 

years served as an Indian scout for Genera! Sibley. 

Hoosiers Settle 

In 1855, several Hoosier families came to Wells 

Township and settled around Roberds Lake. William 

Roberds pre-empted the farm later owned by Robert 

Pye, John Cowan settled the farm later owned by 

Henry Von Ruden, and Charles Plummer and John 

Cowan settled in section 22. Simon Von Osdal also filed 

a claim. 

Thomas B. Owings took a claim north of Roberds 

247

{~len ~8Vow 

Lake. He later moved to section 22. John H. Passon, a 

millwright by trade, settled in section 10. John L. 

Squire selected a claim on the prairie land of section 

34. Other early settlers included: Thomas Kirk, 

sections 14 and 34; William Pease, section 21; William 

R. Brown and John Plummer. For many years this 

farm was occupied by Charles Plummer, Isaac 

Anderson and George Rossy. 

Michael Brazil, a native of Ireland, came to Wells 

Township in 1&54. He pre-empted a claim in section 9 

where family descendants still reside. He lived there 

long enough to get a title to his farm and then went to 

California to seek gold. He obtained a quantity of the 

valuable metal and in 1856 he and Robert Dudley came 

to Wells Township and remained. Soon many of their 

relatives followed them and they are all settled in the 

northern part of the township. The first cookstove in 

the township was purchased by Michael Brazil from 

Captain Cavanaugh's Hardware Store in Faribault. Six 

men carried it to the Brazil farm. 

Other Irish settlers of the township included: 

Joseph Byrnes, Robert Dudley, Peter Dunn, Patrick 

Kelly, Daniel 0' Brien, John Hayden, Thomas Casey 

and John and Timothy Casey and John Manahan. 

James B. Clarkin, a veteran of the Mexican War, 

filed a farm claim in the township. Mrs. John B. 

Shields, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Clarkin, 

resided on the section 4 farm for many years and was 

the only member of the first Wells Town families 

residing in the township. 

Norwegians Arrive 

Three Norwegian settlers came to the township in 

1855. They were John and Thomas Johnson and 

Andrew Frederickson. John took land in section, 

Thomas in section 11 and Andrew in section 3. 

Several Belgian · families settled around French 

Lake in 1856. They were the Ferdinand, Jack, Flore 

and Leonard Duchene families; the Corbesias; 

J oachims; · Chapdelains; Kings, Busheys and 

Mahagnouls. About 1870 a number of thrifty Germarf 

families came to Wells Township and settled in the 

southern part. They were the John and Henry Bultman 

families, Kaliens, Bartletts, Diensts, Brauns, 

Salzwedels, Lemkes, Borcherts, Wohlers, Degens, 

Regers, Goffriers, three Lieb families and Celestine 

Rossez. They were very thrifty and built good, 

comfortable homes. 

The first white child born in the township was 

Elizabeth Kirk, daughter of Thomas and May Kirk. 

She was born in October, 1855. The following were born 

in the early days of the township: John Owens, son ofT. 

B. and Elizabeth Owens, May 22, 1856; Elias Anderson, 

born to Isaac and Lydia Anderson, Feb. 4, 1857; John C. 

O'Brien, born to Patrick and Margaret O'Brien, Feb. 8, 

1857; Maria Dunn, born to Peter and Bridge Dunn, 

March 2, 1857; and Lenora Passon, born to Mr. and 

Mrs. John P. Passon, May 19, 1857. 

The first log school house was established in 

, district No. 18, known as the Roberds Lake district, in 

1856. The school house was built on the Thomas Kirk 

farm and the first teacher was Enoch Cowan. He was 

·the first graduate of Seabury Mission. The second 

school district to be organized was District No. 39, 

known as the Dudley Lake School. It was organized in 

1858 and a log school house was built on land donated 

by Michael Brazil. Isaiah Roberds of the Roberds Lake 

community was the first teacher. 

First Church Built 

The first church was built in 1875 on the John 

Cowan farm. This was an Episcopal Mission and 

Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple laid the cornerstone. 

Rev. Osborne, a Seabury Mission student, organized 

this mission. 

The first threshing machine in the township was 

owned and operated by John L. Squier. It was a 

chaffpiler and was run by three horses in a tread 

. power. 

William Roberds erected the first sawmill. It was 

run by horse power. William Roberds also built and 

operated the first blacksmith shop in 1855 in section 22. 

John Cowan brought horses with him in 1855 and 

for many years raised very fine Morgan horses. He 

sold a team to Alexander Faribault and Mr. Faribault 

drove them to St. Paul and back in one day. 

Roberds Lake was named after William Roberds, 

great-grandfather of Ed Chappuie, for many years a 

prominent Faribault resident. The first postmaster 

was Robert Smith, his district extending from Hulett 

Avenue to French Lake. 

The first marriage in the township was that of 

Martha Roberds and J.S. McCartney. They were 

married by E. J. Crump, Esquire, at the residence of 

the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Roberds, in 

section 22. 

Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Roberds, parents of Mrs. 

William Brown of Faribault, were married at Roberds 

Lake on July 16, 1857. They took up their residence on 

the north shore of Roberds Lake on a farm known as 

"The Pines". Joseph Byrnes and Alice O'Brien were 

married in October, 1856. They took up housekeeping in 

section 4. 

Thomas Owens was one of Rice County's first 

commissioners and Charles Wood of Wells Township 

was Rice County's first sheriff. He was elected in 1856. 

Roberds Lake was called Lake Che-de-we-ta by the 

Sioux Indians. Ginseng and maple sugar were the first 

products from which the early settlers obtained 

money. 

Town Officers Elected 

The first township meeting was held on May 11, 

1858, in the log school house in section 14. The township 

was organized and the following officers were elected: 

Thomas Kirk, William McCalla and Patrick O'Brien, 

supervisors. Thomas Kirk was named chairman. 

Other officers chosen included: T.B. Owens, assessor; 

S.P. Case, clerk; J.W. Cowan, collector; William 

Roberds and Timothy Casey, constables, and S.C. 

Dunham, overseer of the poor. 

The early Hoosier pioneers were not lacking in true 

patriotism and valor, for when the Civil War broke out 

in 1860, many of them enlisted to help preserve the 

union. 

Frank Chappuis, former Rice County supervisor of 

tax assessments, resides on the same farm in section 

248


17, Wells Township, that his father, Vincent, and his 

grandfather, John, lived on. John Chappuis moved to 

the Wells farm in 1868 and started a sorghum plant that 

same year. He brought the plant with him from 

Prairieville, Missouri, and before that from France. It 

took three months for John Chappuis to make the trip 

from France to America on a sailing boat. 

Bill Miller started a resort at Roberds Lake about 

where the present Roberds Lake Resort is, in 1903. 

Then later Bultman and Bennet built a hotel on 

Roberds Lake in 1918. The resort later was run by 

Sherman Fee and is now operated by William Harkins. 

Donald Grant, early day prominent railroad 

contractor, built a hill home on the south side of French 

Lake and entertained famous people, among whom 

was James J. Hill, the St. Paul railroad tycoon. 

The Chappuis family has in its possession a copy of 

a program presented on June 2, 1903, by pupils of 

French Lake School District No. 57, Wells Township. 

The teacher was Isabel Gilmore. School officers 

included: Joseph Joachim, clerk; T. J. Declusin, 

director; Louis Chappuis, treasurer. 

Walcott dates back to 

1853; mill big industry 

By JOHN ALMENDINGER 

With the Straight River as the dividing line, 

Walcott Township offers an interesting study in 

contrast. 

On the east side of the river, which does not adhere 

to its name as it flows through the township, it is noted 

East Prairie, with its black loam from 18 inches to two 

feet in depth and with a blue clay subsoil. The land 

level is so low that, in many cases, it has been 

necessary to resort to artificial drainage. 

On the west side of the river the soil is sandy, with 

a gravel subsoil in what is known as the low prairie 

which extends west three-fourths of a mile and north 

from the southern line about three and one-half miles.' 

The rest of the township is known as High Prairie or 

West Prairie, which is a tableland with a black loam 

and clay subsoil which is highly productive. 

Walcott, one of Rice County's southern tier of 

townships, is surrounded by Richland Township on the 

east, Cannon City and Faribault on the north, Warsaw 

The school pupils included: John, Nellie, Peter, 

Alex, Albert, Eugene, Clement, Victoria, Lucy and 

Alvina Chappuis; Agnes, Joseph, Elias, Josephine 

and Alex Coron; Genevieve and George Chapdelaine; 

Edward, John L., Felix and Joseph Declusin; Albert 

Duffenie; Oliver, Ferdinand and Freddie Frechette; 

Ellen, George, Mabel and Walter Joachim; Joseph, 

Anna, Alphonse and Louise Emma Forcelle; Mary 

Louise, Anna Theresa, Laura Isabel, Joseph E. and 

Philip L. King; Mayme Florence Richie; John 

Mahagnoul; Albert Barry; Paulina Kitzman; Charles 

Fabian Joachim; Minnie C. Bushey; Emma and John 

Corbesia and Edward Kransky. 

The third and fourth generations of many of the 

early families still reside on the old homestead. Some 

of these families were: the Varleys, Ryans, McShanes, 

Dillons, LaCroixs, McKennas, Brazils, Rossezs, 

Misgens, Meilliers, Shields', Plummers, Diensts, 

Duchenes, Fredericksons, Borcherts, Goffriers, 

Kellys, Powers and Malloys. 

Some of the persons who resided 70 or more years 

ago in the township were: William McShane, Ed 

Rossez, Jerome Chevez, Mrs. Alphonse LeMieux, Miss 

Cora Ryan, August Dienst, George Misgen, Jeremiah 

Mulcahy, William R. Brown, Mrs. John Bultman, 

Rudolph Borchert and Charles Plummer. 

Mr. Plummer's father, John, served on the Wells 

Township Board of Supervisors from 1875 until his 

death in 1923. His son, Charles, was elected to fill his 

place and served on the town board for many years. 

Class of 1932-33, Walcott School, with Marie 

(Sanborn) Palan, teacher. 

249

First car bought by Ralph Harkins, Walcott . . 

on the west, and Steele County on the south. 

The first settler in the township was Edward H. 

Cutts, who came from Vermont. His first visit here was 

in December, 1853, when he obtained a claim in 

sections 20 and 21. Late in February, 1854, he returned 

with Jacob Chesrown and another man by the name of 

Roupe, both of whom were hired by Mr. Cutts. 

They started from Hastings with a yoke of oxen, a 

cow and a pony, and with supplies on a sled. The first 

day they had a good many snowbanks to shovel 

through. When 12 miles out they lost the trail so they 

sent one of the men ahead to a piece of timber to build a 

fire and prepare supper. The next day the ground got 

bare and the sledding was difficult. The next night the 

camp was on the prairie and by picking up every stick 

they could find and using what they could spare of the 

end of the sled stakes, they built a good fire. 

They also ran out of hay and in the night the cattle 

took off and Mr. Cutts had to gallop the pony 6 miles to 

get them. Before the men reached Faribault, they had 

to obtain a wagon in place of the sled. He then got his 

things on his place and began to build. His cow had a 

calf and one night a wolf tried to carry it off, but Mr. 

Cutts drove it off and took the calf inside. Then a 

snowstorm came and he only had the lee side of the 

cabin so he had to take the cow inside until it ended. 

Built First Cabin 

Mr. Cutts built the first log cabin in the town and 

the first frame house. The first house was burned in the 

winter of 1855-56. The next winter he went to get 

married. He brought his wife as far as Illinois and then 

returned, having trouble getting through. When at last 

Mrs. Cutts came he went to meet her in an ox cart. She 

had to make part of the journey on foot, stopping at an 

early day noted sod tavern where they met Dr. Jewett, 

another Rice County pioneer who also had been to meet 

his family. 

The town received a few more settlers in 1853. 

Nathanial Meyers, a native of New York, came with 

his family and located in Section 28. John Luther 

Cabot, from New York, also came at that time. He 

remained here for a few years, then moved to Goodhue 


The spring of 1854 brought a few more 

venturesome individuals, among whom should be 

noted Richard Jones of New York. Joseph Richard, 

also a New Yorker, came that year as did George W. 

Marks, who obtained a place in Section 11. George 

Dorrance, another native of New York, settled in 

Section 23. 

In 1855 the town was well filled up, some of the 

claims having been entered the fall before. Among the 

pioneer settlers who arrived in Walcott that year to 

establish a permanent home was Samuel Harkins, who 

came from Pennsylvania. Of an original family of nine 

children there are no longer any survivors. 

Booming Mill Village 

Eugene Harkins had told about the days when the 

"village" of Walcott was started and when the 

booming flour and cooper mills made the township a 

bustling community. He also told the many stories his 

pioneer father told him about the hazards of pioneer 

life, the experiences- fortunately friendly - with the 

hundreds of Indians who camped in all sections of the 

township and of the hard-working women who made 

clothes and stockings for all members of the family 

through the day and late into the night, working by 

candle and later by lamp light. · 

One of the oldest family residents, from the 

standpoint of continuous residence in the township, is 

the Andrew Kenney family. Andrew was born on the 

original farm established by his father, John Kenney, 

in 1856. 

For nealy 80 years, Andrew Kenney had farmed in 

the township and had been prominently identified with 

governmental and civic activities in the town. For 43 

years he served as township assessor. 

John Kenney, who was born in Ireland in 1837, 

came to this country in 1848, when he was 11 years old 

and at first stayed in the East. In 1856 he went to 

Dubuque, Iowa, by stage coach and then came to Rice 

County, settling in Walcott. He followed the traditional 

pioneer custom of living in a log house and using oxen 

for farm purposes. 

Mr. Kenney told his son of the rugged pioneer days, 

of life with the Indians, of use of the river for water 

power to run the historic mills at Walcott, of the 

continuous settlement in the early days of township 

farms by residents from New England, and by settlers 

of Irish, Dutch and German descent, many of whom 

have relatives still in active operation of Walcott 

farms. 

Through his long service to the township as 

assessor, Mr. Kenney preserved valuable records. One 

of his prized possessions was the record book of Isaac 

Hammond, then Register of Deeds for Rice County, 

Minnesota Territory, dated, August 1856. 

One of the records in the book stipulates the county 

tax levy, approved by the county board of 

commissioners for the county. The record says: 

"There shall be levied three-fourths of one per cent for 

contingent expenses of the county; one-fourth of one 

per cent for school purposes and one-third of one per 

250


Horsedrawn grain binder, used in cutting grain on Harkins farm, Walcott Township. 

cent for road purposes. The whole amount of taxes for 

the county and school shall be $5,966.61. 

Historic Store 

One of the oldest continuously operated 

commercial enterprises in the township is the Eklund 

Store, located just across the Richland township line. 

This store was established by an early day Walcott 

resident, Nels Kvernodden, and was under the active 

management of Mr. Kvemodden's daughter and 

son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Voke Nissen. 

The township was named in honor of Samuel 

Walcott from Massachusetts. But he did not stay long~ 

In 1858, he proceeded to plat a village which was given 

the name of Walcott. The location involved parts of 

sections 20, 21, 28 and 29; but it did not progress far 

enough to be recorded. A single house was built and 

that was a hotel by Charles Smith. There was a steam 

saw mill with a 25 horsepower engine ready to cut 

lumber to build the prospective city. This was owned 

by E. H. Auldon and run for a while, but was later 

_moved to Shieldsville. 

Early in the '70s a mill was constructed by Grant 

and La May as a feed and flouring mill. It embraced 

two stories and a basement and was 36 x 46. It was 

located on the Straight River in section 16. At first 

there was a 10 foot fall and afterwards was increased to 

12. In 1874 the mill was bought by M. B. Sheffield, 

George E. Skinner and Henry Chaffee (father of Fred 

Chaffee of Faribault) under the firm name of the 

Walcott Mill Company. A 90 horsepower steam engine 

was put in and great improvements made to the extent 

of $24,000. 

In 1881 Mr. Sheffield became the sole proprietor 

and he extensively improved and enlarged it with an 

additional expense of $27,000, transforming it into a 

first class roller mill with five floors and daily capacity 

of 250 barrels. It gained statewide recognition as a 

Minnesota patent process mill. 

The firm also operated its own cooperage works to 

provide barrels for the flour it made. For many years 

the cooper works was operated by Pat Deverey, 

well-known Faribault resident of early days. The 

Walcott mill, then under the management of B. B. 

Sheffield, was destroyed by fire in 1896. 

In 1856 the Emerson & Company saw mill was 

established on the Straight River in section 3. But the 

project proved financially too burdensome and was 

abandoned in 1858. Later the building was moved to 

East Prairieville for use as a barn. A steam mill had 

been started before this one by Samuel Walcott in 

Section 33. It was of 25,000 horsepower and could cut 

4,000 feet a day. It was on the land of Lewis Howard but 

in about a year it was dismantled and taken to 

Owatonna. 

Saw Mill Built 

Thomas Harlow built a saw mill in section 4 on the 

Straight River. This was described in the early days as 

a ''good mill'' run by an overshot wheel, and could rip 

out 8,000 feet a day. In 1857 it was burned and again 

built up, but at the end of a year the dam was washed 

downstream by the flooding river. The dam was 

reconstructed and the mill started again, only to be 

again abruptly closed by the washing away of the dam 

for the second time. 

The first religious exercises were held by Elder 

Crist, a Methodist minister, in 1855 in the spring at a 

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~en ~c?-/ow 

Walcott rural school class in early 1900's. 

private house owned by Mr. Richardson in section 32. 

One of the earliest births in the township was that 

of Laura E., daughter of George and Hannah M. 

Dorrance, in section 22 in a log cabin. The first 

marriage remembered was on the 25th of December, 

1856, when Edward Beach and Elizabeth Beardsley 

were united in marriage. 

The first death was that of Mrs. Jones, wife of 

Richmond Jones, who was struck by lightning on the 

4th of July, 1854, while in their tent in section 29, in the 

presence of her husband, two children, her brother and 

John Luther Cabot. 

The two oldest school districts in the township were 

organized in 1856. District 12 was organized at the 

home of Edward Jones in 1856 in section 24 and in the 

spring of 1857 a log house was built in the same section, 

with two half windows for light. The first teacher was 

Armita Newcomb. District 17 was organized in 1856 in 

the house of Isaac Woodman. The first teacher was 

Susie Frisbeg. 

The first railroad survey was made through the 

town in 1858, but it was not until1868 that the rumbling 

of the cars was first heard. The first blacksmith shop 

was erected in 1860 in section 36 by Mr. McLaughlin 

who wrought the iron and steel for two years, when he 

packed up and moved out west. In 1881, Hans Floom, a 

Norwegian, established a shop in section 24. Samuel 

Livingston, from 1860 to 1867, was known as the 

"Walcott Lime Burner." He obtained his rock from the 

bed of the Straight River. E. S. Lord succeeded him 

and he took the stone from the bank of the river. 

The first and only postoffice in the town was 

established in 1855. It was in the northwest quarter of 

section 33 with M. Richardson as postmaster. In 1858, 

William Babcock was appointed. The mail was brought 

by a stage which ran between Faribault and Owatonna. 

In 1862, the office was discontinued. 

Organizations Formed 

There were several pioneer organizations 

established in the early days. These included: The 

Straight River Grange, organized on Sept. 5, 1872, with 

70 charter members, and disbanding in 1881; The 

Hunters of the Prairie, organized in 1860 and actively 

maintained for 10 years. The purpose of the 

organization was to carry on a war of extermination 

against the predatory animals in the vicinity. Two 

captains chose their respective followers and the whole 

community was thus divided into two clans. Thousands 

of animals were killed. 

The Redfield Old Settlers Association was 

organized in the schoolhouse of district 50 in 1858, 

meetings being held annually. All were admitted - 

men, women and children regardless of age- who had 

come from the township of Redfield in New York state. 

Members were eligible from any portion of Rice 

County. In 1868, the last meeting of the society was 

held, the membership having dwindled to 10. 

The first town meeting for the election of officers 

was held at the house of Jacob Chesrown on May 11, 

1858. The moderator was Isaac Woodman and the clerk 

was Isaac R. Pentz. An assessment of $200 was paid for 

town expenses; what should constitute a lawful fence 

was agreed upon. It was voted that horses and cattle 

could run at large from November to the first of April, 

and that sheep and hogs be prohibited from running at 

large. At the second town meeting, held at the home of 

James Williams, the following officers were elected: 

Supervisors- Isaac Woodman, Chairman E. P. Jones 

and D. C. Hunkins; assessor - James Denison; 

collector - Elijah Austin; clerk - Isaac R. Pentz; 

justices of the peace - William Kester and George 

Dorrance; overseer of the poor - Isaac Woodman; 

constables - Jacob Chesrown and Charles B. 

Kingsbury. 

In the early 1950s, people began building homes in 

the northwest corner of the township. This 

development was given the name of the Glynnview 

Addition. It now has very many homes along with. a few 

problems. A large problem they are now trying to solve 

is that of sewage disposal. 

The price of farm land has risen greatly in the last 

few years. To buy farm land now, it would cost between 

$1500 and $2000 an acre. 

Part of the northwest corner has been rezoned so 

that it is in the city limits. School District No. 656 ·has 

purchased land in the northwest of the township for the 

purpose of building a new school sometime in the 

future. 

Forest Township, noted 

for timber, now is farm center 

The 122 year history of Forest Township - this 

community first was settled in 1854 - is an interesting 

story of rugged, hardy pioneers who conquered scenic 

and dense timber lands- that's how Forest Township 

got its name - of the emergence of fertile, well 

equipped farms, of the enjoyable, as well as practical, 

use of easily accessible lakes and a new challenge 

confronting present day residents due to the land 

demand resulting from outward expansion of the Twin 

Cities Metropolitan area. 

The northern portion of the 36 section, 23,040 acre 

township is less than 30 miles away from the 

252


Minneapolis suburbs of Burnsville, Bloomington, 

Richfield and others. Forest Township, because of its 

location, steadily is getting to be one of the major focal 

points for new settlement by suburban residents as 

well as those from Minneapolis and St. Paul eager to 

live "further out in the country but not too far away 

from it all.'' 

In recent years, several Forest farms have been 

sold to Metropolitan area people, some of whom are 

airline pilots, some business or professional men and 

others just as investors. It has been reported that land 

which formerly brought $700 an acre now commands 

as much as $1,500 or $2,000. 

Members of the Forest Township Board, 

responsible for the town's government, are: Donald 

Ross, chairman; Stanley Burmeister, clerk; Howard 

Sanford, treasurer; Joseph C. Trnka and Max Salaba, 

supervisors. 

The township located in the northwestern part of 

Rice County is bordered by Webster on the north, Wells 

on the south, Bridgewater on the east and Erin on the 

west. The township originally was made up of rolling 

and, in some places, hilly, timber land, interspersed 

with spots of prairie and natural meadow. 

The soil is mostly black loam with a clay subsoil. 

There is hardly any sand or limestone in the township. 

An early day record disclosed that good clear water 

could be obtained easily within from 12 to 15 feet. The 

heavy timbered land which suggested the township's 

name was cleared by the early industrious settlers, 

and, as a result, attractive, well-kept farms have 

materialized. 

Circle Lake is the principal and the largest lake in 

the township. It is located in the geographical center of 

the township and takes its name from the fact that it 

makes a complete circle, leaving an island of 97 acres 

in the center. Other lakes include: Fox Lake, 

embracing about 200 acres; Union Lake which extends 

into the northeast corner of the township; Lake 

Mazaska which floods about half of section 31 and a 

smaller body of water, "Mud" Lake in section 11. 

Big Fish Catches 

According to early day historical accounts, the 

Indians fished extensively in the lakes and succeeded 

in getting big catches of pickerel, pike, bass, etc. In 

those early days the Indians, in camping in the vicinity 

of these lakes, made their permanent camping grounds 

upon land later owned by J. W. Thompson and they had 

opened and had under a fair state of cultivation a five 

acre Indian corn field. Originally, in sections six and 

seven, wild cranberries abounded and many of the 

early pioneers availed themselves of this luxury. 

According to the "History of Rice County" written 

by the Rev. Edward D. Neill, published in 1882, ''when 

the first explorers of this township made their 

appearance, they found the hills and interspersed 

prairie spots covered with wild game and the wild 

aborigines. The timber land was a forest in the 

strictest sense of the word, and was almost 

impenetrable, making the progress of the introducers 

of civilization very tedious and even dangerous. Too 

much cannot be said of the heroic manner in which the 

hills and prairies were transformed into the beautiful 

and fertile farms which now dot the entire township." 

A large timber area, known as "O'Grady's Woods," 

still exists in the township. 

First settlement in Forest Township was made by 

William Henderson, originally from Maine, who 

arrived in October of 1854. Henderson made his way on 

foot from St. Paul and when he came to consider that 

he was "monarch of all he surveyed" he made up his 

mind to avail himself of the opportunity and take his 

"pick" of the farms in the township. He located in the 

northeastern part of the township in section two, at the 

outlet of Union Lake. He at once put up the frame of a 

small log shanty and without completing it, remained 

to hunt and trap until he was frozen out when he 

"pulled up stakes" and went to St. Paul for the winter. 

The habitation he put up is hardly deserving of the 

name of shanty, being more after the fashion of a 

"pen" but this served as shelter so long as the elements 

confined themselves to ''horizontal'' work as he was 

protected by the sides of the pen - which had three or 

four logs for sides but no roof - when the elements 

resorted to "perpendicular" measures, Henderson had 

to make for the woods or get wet. 

He went to St. Paul and a year later returned with 

his wife and her sister, an ancient maiden lady, and a 

load of furniture. He took the claim he had selected and 

commenced opening a farm. Here he remained for 

about five years when he left for parts unknown. 

The next to cast his lot among the lakes and timber 

land of Forest was George Eaton, described as a young 

man of grit and enterprise who arrived a couple of 

months later than Henderson and began calling the 

southwest quarter of section 11 "home." He put up a 

small hewn log hut and commenced trying to farm but 

succeeded better at trapping. 

More Settlers Arrive 

In the fall of 1855, three more settlers, Mr. Hill, 

John Parker and William Palmer, arrived with their 

families and at once erected hewn log shanties. All 

three located on or near section nine, one mile west of 

the places settled by Eaton and Henderson. Also 

arriving in 1855 to stake out claims in the township, 

according to early day historical records, were 

Leonard and Joseph Bay let, Joseph and Elijah Houck 

and John Craven, all of whom took their claims near 

Millersburg. Zebulon Jones and Sargent and John 

Jones came afterward and located in section 27. They, 

in common with the rest of the hardy pioneers, 

commenced Minnesota life in log huts. 

A few days after the arrival of these settlers there 

appeared three Norwegian families on the scene, 

names of whom apparently escaped early day county 

historians, fresh from Wisconsin pioneer life and 

traveling in covered wagons. As the season was getting 

late and they had their stock with them, as the story 

goes, they concluded to put up hay to last through the 

winter before they erected their cabins. This they did 

and while they were at work in the hay field the wife of 

one of the emigrants was taken sick and there, in the 

covered wagon, was delivered of a baby girl. Both 

mother and child lived. This was reputed to be the first 

253

~en &-'§Vow 

birth in the new township. 

In 1856 another Forest Township pioneer, John W. 

Thompson, who had twice before been through the 

newly settled township, effected a permanent 

settlement. Mr. Thompson, with his brother Joseph, 

had come from Wisconsin to Hastings, built a log house 

on claims they had staked about two miles from the 

present city of Hastings. But the Indians finally 

became so troublesome and the brothers became taken 

so badly with ague they decided to leave and look for 

"pastures fresh." John W. moved to Forest Township 

and Joseph returned to his former place of residence in 

New York. 

To Forest, John W. brought with him some 

furniture and at once commenced putting up a small 

shanty. He sold his pioneer farm near Hastings for 

$283, he recalled. A few years later the same farm was 

sold for $12,000 an indication of the rapid rise in 

improved land values even in pioneer days. 

More Pioneers Arrive 

Other pioneers who settled in Forest in 1856 

included: Albert Fillmore and family, H. A. White and 

James Fitzsimmons. All settled near Millersburg and 

they then commenced laying plans for the once 

flourishing Village of Millersburg, north of Fox and 

Circle Lakes. Other Millersburg community settlers 

arriving the same year were: George and Milo J. 

Sellon, John Wood and E. F. Taylor, all of whom were 

brought in by John W. Thompson. August, William and 

Christian Demann, three brothers, took claims in 

section 20 in the same year and their descendants are 

now active farmers in the township. 

Timothy O'Grady, a native of Ireland, was born 

June 15, 1837, and made his home with his father until 

his death. In 1855, Timothy came to Rice County and 

staked out a claim in section one, Wells Township. 

Then he returned to Illinois and in 1856 came to Forest 

where he pre-empted land in section 22. He afterward 

gave the land to his father and after his death it 

became Timothy's. In 1860 he purchased more land in 

the township and carried that on in connection with the 

old homestead. Much of this land was heavily timbered 

and a large portion of it, intriguingly scenic, is still 

known as "O'Grady's Woods." Timothy O'Grady was a 

member of the county board of commissioners, served 

as chairman of the township board of supervisors six 

years and assessor one year. 

According to early day historical records, the 

richest man who ever lived in the pioneer town made 

his appearance in the latter part of 1856 in the person of 

Frederick Fisher of Milwaukee. He brought with him 

41 head of stock and two wagon loads of furniture and 

goods. 

It being late in the season he decided to follow the 

example of the Norwegians in the fall before and put up 

hay for his stock before he erected a cabin. Later he 

erected a substantial house. Here he lived for several 

years but was very unfortunate in almost all his 

undertakings, according to early day accounts. His 

wife was burned to death a few years after his arrival 

by the explosion of a kerosene lamp- such a thing as a 

lamp at that time being a novelty and curiosity. He 

expended all his. means in a few years and removed to 

parts unknown. 

The year 1856 was followed by a period when the 

rush to Forest Township became a sort of stampede 

and so it is impossible to record all the names of the 

settlers who came from that date on. Many of those 

families are still engaged in farming in the township. 

The story of the founding of the Village of 

Millersburg, the only pioneer day village in the 

township, which now is but a small settlement 

clustered around the town hall and a store, vastly 

different from the bustling community hoped for by its 

founders, is interesting to old timers and young timers 

alike. 

The first settlement on the village site commenced 

in 1855 when James Fitzsimmons came and 

pre-empted 160 acres where the village is and operated 

it as a farm. In the spring following, he sold it to 

George W. Miller, who also took up some other land. 

Mr. Miller soon afterward, in 1857, platted the 

village and recorded it as Millersburg. He also put up a 

mill and a hotel known as the Millersburg Hotel. Next 

a store was started by Albert Fillmore just out of the 

village limits. The next store was started by Thomas 

Adams in the fall of 1858 who opened a building 

opposite the hotel and put in a stock of groceries and 

general merchandise. Both grocery ventures proved 

unsuccessful after about a year and a half of business. 

In 1857 the first blacksmith shop was started by 

Mr. Sellon in the same building that later was 

converted into Adams' store. It was operated as a 

"bellows and anvil" shop for about a year when Mr. 

Sellon retired. Later three more blacksmith shops 

were started by Elof Johnson, James Strange and a 

Mr. Anderson. The oldtimers recall that the latter 

insisted upon retaining the good old-fashioned way of 

shoeing horses in which each man who wanted a horse 

shod was required to hold the foot up while the 

"smithy" drove the nails. 

The Millersburg post office was established in 1859 

and was located in that village. George W. Miller was 

the first appointed to handle the mail. He held the 

office for a number of years and was succeeded by his 

son, George A. Miller. 

The only saw mill ever operated in the town of 

Forest was started at Millersburg in 1856 by James 

Fitzsimmons. In 1862 it was sold to George w·. Miller 

who operated it until 1875 when it was sold to a Mr. 

Robbins. In 1880 the mill was moved to Montgomery. 

The Forest Township government was effected on 

May 11, 1&58, at the residence of James Fitzsimmons, 

later known as the Millersburg Hotel, made famous by 

the notorious Younger Brothers gang. 

First township officers elected included: 

Supervisors - Elias F. Taylor, Zebulon Sargent and 

Charles Brand; Clerk - Alexander Smith; Assessor - 

Joseph L. Houck; Justices of the Peace- George Miller 

and John Bartlett; Constables - Milo J. Sellen and John 

W. Sargent; Overseer of the Poor- John Jones. J. F. 

Donaldson served as clerk of the meeting and S. A. 

Henderson as moderator. 

First churches organized in Forest included the 

254


Methodist, established in 1857 with a worship service 

being held by a pioneer minister from Faribault in a 

hewn log church on the south shore of Circle Lake in 

section 27, and the German Baptist, founded in 1858, 

with services held in the district 66 school house by the 

Rev. August Stegner. In 1860, an American Baptist 

Church was started with services being held in district 

19 schoolhouse. 

In 1856, George M. Miller, a brother of the founder 

of the "Millerites" sect, came to town and began to 

preach the doctrine that the world was coming to an 

end. He extended his preaching throughout the state 

but the sect soon died out in Millersburg. In 1877 a 

Swedish Lutheran congregation was established and a 

neat church, 34 x 60 feet in size, was erected at a cost of 

$1,000 in section nine. 

Four school districts were established in the 

township in 1857 as follows: District 19, section 26, 

Elijah Houck first teacher; District 20, in the Village of 

Millersburg, Ellen Cress first teacher; District 29, 

section 25, Mrs. Crosby first teacher and District 66, 

section 17, Miss Murdock first teacher. 

255

Chapter Vm 

More gli~npses 

of county rural life 

Warsaw township is noted 

for 5-6 generation families 

Noted for its lakes, its fertile farms and its 

historical importance as one of the areas in which 

Alexander Faribault, founder of the City of Faribault, 

carried on his extensive trading activities more than 

120 years ago, Warsaw Township is one of Rice 

County's oldest townships from the standpoint of 

settlement and development. 

The township lies along the southern boundary of 

the county and is bounded on the west by Morristown 

Township, on the north by Wells, on the east by Walcott 

and on the south by Steele County. The Chicago, 

Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R. passes through two 

sections in the northeastern part. In the northeastern 

part, the city limits of Faribault embrace the north 

half on section one, leaving 22,720 acres to comprise the 

area of the township. Of this, about' 2,000 acres are 

covered by water. 

Because of its proximity to the City of Faribault on 

the east and the Village of Morristown on the west 

Warsaw residents definitely have a strong rural-urban 

complex. The township and municipalities have 

worked cooperatively to solve residential, 

agricultural, property zoning, utility regulation and 

other problems which have developed. 

The Warsaw Township Board long has been 

cognizant of the rural-urban relationship nature of the 

township. The board includes: Donald Michel, 

chairman; Paul Albers, clerk; Herb Meschke, 

treasurer; Dennis Krenz and Milton Plaisance, 

supervisors. 

- Electric power transmission is an important 

industry in the township. The Northern States Power 

Co. substation was built in 1954 and the REA substation 

in 1970. 

Cannon Lake, the largest lake in the county, four 

miles long and a half mile to one mile in width, covers 

about 1,451 acres and extends almost across the 

northwest corner of the town embracing portions of 

sections 34, seven, eight, nine and 10. The lake, from 

pioneer times to the present, abounds in varied species 

of fish. 

Hunting, Fishing Grounds 

In the early days this was made regular and often 

frequented hunting and fishing grounds by the Indians 

which were numerous throughout the locality. Many of 

the old settlers called to mind occasions when there 

were as many as two hundred tepees on the shores of 

the lake while the Indians laid in their winter supplies. 

The Cannon River winds its course diagonally 

through the northwestern part of the township, 

entering from Morristown through section 18 and 

flowing northeasterly to form Cannon Lake, leaving 

the town by way of section four and entering Wells. 

McKenzie's Creek, named in honor of Alex McKenzie, 

an early settler, finds its source south of the town line 

and winds its way northward through the center of the 

township until its waters mingle with those of Cannon 

Lake. 

The soil of the township is mostly a dark loan of 

about two feet deep, and a yellow clay subsoil of about 

four feet, beneath which is a clay of bluish color. This 

pertains particularly to the timbered portions of the 

town. The prairie land is made up of a dark loam from 

eight inches to a foot in thickness with a yellow clay 

subsoil, under neath which is a bed of gravel or sand. 

The earliest infringement by settlers in this 

township took place in 1853 and when settled its 

development was rapid and constant until all the 

government land within its borders was taken. When 

the first exploration by white men took place it is 

impossible to state, as this had been the pathway and 

trading land of the Faribaults for years before the 

advent of actual settlers. 

It is said that in the fall of 1826 Alexander Faribault 

established a trading place at the foot of Cannon Lake 

in Warsaw township. Nearly 10 years afterwards this 

trading point was removed three miles eastward and 

established at the present site of the City of Faribault. 

From this year, 1836, until early in the 1850's this 

neighborhood was without a settler. 

Bush First Settler 

In 1852 Alexander Faribault was in St. Paul on a 

business trip and met Peter Bush, a Canadian 

Frenchman who was a blacksmith, and hired him to go 

to Faribault and work. Bush accepted and at once 

came to Faribault and Rice County. He remained in 

Faribault the following winter, at work for Mr. 

Faribault. In the spring of the next year, 1853, he 

decided to obtain a claim and finally made his way into 

Warsaw and selected one of the finest farms in the 

county, in section three, at the foot of Cannon Lake. 

257

~en 8?§Vow 

Here -he remained for several years and became 

prominent in the early settlement of the county. 

Also, in 1853 N. N. Graves made his appearance 

and took out a claim one mile and a half west of Bush's. 

The next year, however, the beauties and advantages 

of the Cannon River country began to be heralded 

abroad and the prospective settlers began to file in 

slowly and in succeeding years steadily. 

Early 1854 arrivals included: Edward Hollister, 

Henry Daws and Peter Dalcour, all settling near 

Cannon Lake. 1855 arrivals included: J. B. Waitt, J. 

F. Weatherhead, Dr. Charles Jewett, physician, 

temperance worker and teacher from the east; 

Thomas Sprague first came in 1854 and returned the 

next year. But he took sick on the road and his death in 

the spring of 1855 was the township's first. 

Other early day settlers of the township some 

descendants of whom still are actively engaged in 

farming, include: Orlin A very, George W. Aldrich, 

Josiah Bailey, J. P. Bush, P. Griffith, Elias Gilhousen, 

Christian Low, Lorenzo Jackson, Mosses F. Depati. 

Jr., D. C. Coates, Franklin Austin, H. A. Ackerman, 

James A. Morgan, John Nusbaum, Howard Rand. W. 

S. Synder, H. Sanborn and W. S. Weatherson. 

From 1858 to 1864 the township was named Sargent, 

at the suggestion of Dr. Jewett but when promises of 

money and gifts didn't materialize the name of 

Warsaw, after a town in New York from which many 

early settlers had come, was adopted. 

The first birth in Warsaw occurred Nov. 24, 1854, a 

son, William H., being born to Thomas and Desire 

Blackborn. The first marriage solemnized was on Aug. 

26, 1855, when Sarah Ann Gilhousen became the bride 

of Alexander McKenzie. 

The town's permanent form of government was 

effected at a meeting held at the Turner House in the 

Village of Warsaw on May 11, 1858. The following 

officers were elected: supervisors: Miles Hollister, 

chairman, Augustus Johnson and D. W. Woodworth; 

clerk, John McDonald; assessor, John Goldthwait; 

collector, George W. Frink; overseer of the poor, 

Philander Griffith; justices of the peace, J. F. 

Weatherhead and Charles Jewett, Jr.; constables, 

James 0. Lamb and J. H. Maine. The board, at the first 

meeting, voted $75 to defray town expenses during the 

first year. 

In 1856, two school districts were established - 

District No.14 in the Village of Warsaw, Edwin Darling 

the teacher, and District No. 55 in section 12, in a house 

owned by Dr. Jewett. The first teacher was Miss Lee. 

Warsaw village was platted in 1857 by J. Freeman 

Weatherson, C. Hershey and A. Law in sections 17 and 

18 on the banks of the Cannon River just west of the 

head of the lake. Dreams of the village founders did not 

materialize but an active settlement still remains on 

the site. 

Lake City, now nothing but a memory, was platted 

in 1853 by Peter Bush, the township's first settler, in 

section three at the foot of Cannon Lake. 

There are several Warsaw Township multigeneration 

families still engaged in farming homestead 

farms which have been in family ownership 

for more than 100 years. Detailed chronologies of some 

of the families, compiled by Mrs. Donald O'Neil, 

follow: 

John Murphy Family 

Mr. and Mrs. John Murphy left Wexford County, 

Ireland, with their family of six bound for New York in 

the year of 1850. Mrs. Murphy died and was buried at 

sea on their way to America. Arriving in New York the 

family was out of funds and each member was 

required to get out and work. 

No record is available of what work they did or 

their travels other than James Murphy, one of John's 

sons, who followed the railroad construction to the 

west. James Murphy married and settled in Steele 

County Minnesota in 1857. In 1864 he, his wife and 

family of three moved to Rice County where six more 

children were born on a farm in Warsaw township. In 

1868 he purchased 80 acres in section 23. In years 

following he expanded his land holdings to 340 acres. 

He died May 16, 1901. 

One of James Murphy's sons, Frank Murphy, was 

born Oct. 4, 1867. Frank Murphy married 

April 26, 1904 and carried on the farming of 180 acres. 

He had three sons, Leonard, born in 1906; Sylvester, 

born in 1910, and Bert, born in 1911. Frank Murphy died 

June 11, 1949. 

Leonard married in 1932 and carried on with 

the farming operation of the home place. This 

homestead had been in operation by descendants of 

this five generation family for 112 years. He had 

four daughters and two sons, James and John. John 

died in infancy. James married in 1957 and has five 

sons, Shawn, Kevin, Timothy, Brian and Daniel. they 

live in Faribault. 

Sylvester married in 1941 has two daughters, all 

living in Minneapolis. Bert, of Faribault, married in 

1936 and has two daughters and two sons, David and 

Robert. David of Stillwater, Minn. married in 1967 and 

has one son, Alexander. 

James Murphy, 

son of John Murphy 

Frank Murphy; 

son of John Murphy 

258

More glimpses 

Bert J. Murphy, 

son of Frank Murphy. 

Sylvester Murphy, 

son of Frank Murphy 

Alexander Murphy, 

bornMarch26, 1975 

David Murphy, 

son of Bert J. Murphy 

Robert Murphy, 

son of Bert J. Murphy 

Three generations of original John Murphy 

family, Warsaw Township, are pictured here. 

Leonard Murphy, son Frank Murphy (John's 

son) is shown at extreme right and Leonard's 

san, James, is at extreme left with his five 

sans. 

Christian Low Family 

Christian Low was born in Germany on Feb. 2, 

1838, and in 1852 emigrated to Wisconsin. On 

the 2nd of February, 1864, he married Hannah 

Guitchel. A daughter Caroline was born at Watertown, 

Wis. in 1865. Following the death of his first wife he 

came to Minnesota and purchased a farm in 1867 in 

Warsaw township .. This farm is presently owned by his 

grandson. Christian Low's father, Henry Low also 

farmed in Warsaw township. Henry died Jan. 4, 1885, at 

the age of 74. His wife, Doares, died October 27, 1894, at 

the age of 80. 

Christian Low and Wilhelmina Goetschel Low had 

seven children. The oldest was Joseph H., born June 14, 

1868. On November 3, 1897, he married Minnie Witt. 

They also farmed near the homestead and raised three 

children Herbert, Warren, and Mabel. Joseph Passed 

away on October 29, 1941. 

Charles Low was born on Feb. 28, 1872. He lived on 

the home place until his death on Dec. 19, 1956. 

The youngest son, George, was born Aug. 24, 1876. 

George was also a farmer in Warsaw Township. He 

married Jessie E. Culbert, a rural school teacher, Nov. 

20, 1912, in Faribault. They had one son Clarence and a 

daughter Alice. The GeorgeLows retired from farming 

in 1943 and moved to Faribault His farm is presently 

being farmed by his son. George passed away on May 

21, 1961. 

Anna Low, the eldest daughter, was born May 16, 

1890, and died December 10, 1951. Alviena was born in 

1874 and passed away at the age of two years. Minnie 

Low was born on Mary 10, 1878, and died in Faribault 

on August 18, 1958. Sadie, the youngest child, was born 

April 10, 1881, and passed away at the age of nine 

months. 

Mrs. Wilhelmina Low passed away at the family 

farm in the spring of 1899. In September, 1913, 

Christian Low passed away at the home of his daughter 

Caroline (Lina), a Faribault seamstress. Caroline 

lived until May, 1947. 

The Christian Low farm has been under family 

ownership for 109 years. When the children were young 

259

~en ~§Vow 

the school house for old District 95 was on one corner 

and a creamery on part of the land across the road. 

Clarence still has to farm around the well at the old 

crearrieryTocation.: For the past eight years the main 

homestead has been rented by Dennis C. Thorn. Dennis 

is the nephew of its owner Clarence Low and his wife 

Olive Thorn Low. 

John J. Carroll Family 

On May 16, 1867, John J. Carroll purchased an 80 

acre tract of land in section 22, Warsaw Township, Rice 

County. He and his wife, Anna Connors Carroll raised a 

family of five boys and four girls. Thomas E. Carroll, 

being the eldest of the children, was born Oct. 19, 1870. 

Thomas Carroll and his wife, Rosella McDonald 

Carroll moved on the farm in 1902, purchasing it from 

his mother after the death of his father in September of 

1900. 

They resided on the farm raising a family of three 

boys and three girls. Thomas Carroll died in October of 

1953 and Rosella died in December of 1970. 

Arthur Carroll and his wife, Evelyn J andro Carroll 

moved on to the farm in 1933, later purchasing it from 

his parents. Arthur and Evelyn raised a family of one 

daughter, Sharon, now Mrs. Ronald Salaba, and one 

son, Patrick. They replaced all the buildings on the 

farm with the exception of the house which was 

remodeled. Part of the house is still the original, over 

100 years old. 

Patrick Carroll and his wife, Julie Mogren Carroll, 

purchased the farm in 1972. They have two daughters, · 

Roberta and Shannon. Arthur and Evelyn live in a 

second home on the farm. 

This farm has been in the Carroll family for four 

generations, covering a span of 109 years. 

Frank Joseph Voegele Family 

In 1867 Frank Joseph Voegele and Marie Susanna 

Pothen Voegele came from St. Paul to establish a farm 

in section 15 of Warsaw township. F. Joseph Voegele 

was born in Beilfinngen, Baden, Germany on October 

2, 1836, and Susanna Pothen Voegele was born on Feb. 

28, 1842, in Hennigen, Germany. 

Mr. Voegele was the son of Karl Theodor Voegele 

and Theresia Grim Voegele, one of Minnesota's earliest 

settlers. The elder Voegels built a yellow 

sandstone home that served as a fortress at 1524 St. 

Anthony Ave. in St. Paul. When danger lurked Mrs. 

Voegele or one of her daughters would ring the large 

bell that sat above the roof to call the men from the 

fields on the farm which ran from Marshall A venue to 

Minnehaha and Snelling to Hamline. The 1853 brick 

home was removed for Interstate 94 in the Midway 

district many years ago. In the 1860's Karl Voegele and 

his wife moved to a farm in St. Joseph, Minn., and his 

son, F. Joseph, came to Warsaw Township. 

Mrs. F. Joseph (Marie Susanna) Voegele came to 

America at the age of 10 and lived on her father's 

(Hubert Pothen) farm on Raymond A venue where the 

U. of M. farm campus is today. Susanne was married 

to F. Joseph Voegele on Jan. !4, 1863. 

F. Joseph Voegele and his wife Susanna had eleven 

children. Gregor, the oldest son, was born in St. Paul in 

1863 and married Bertha Langer in Farmington on 

May 25, 1897. Gregor farmed near the homestead and 

with his brothers John and Peter ran a steam threshing 

machine for area farmers. Gregor and Bertha Voegele 

had six children: Mrs. Nicholas (Mary) Kern, Joseph 

Sr., Rose, twins Edmund and Raymond, and Francis. 

Gregor passed away Jan. 17, 1919. His sons Joe passed 

away on Nov. 25, 1974, Raymond on Aug. 7, 1943, and 

Francis died as a teenager due to a horse runaway. 

Frank Xavier Voegele was born Sept. 6, 1865, in St. 

Paul. Frank married Anna Mullenmeister on Sept. 10, 

1889 in Owatonna. Frank like his brother farmed near 

the homestead. Frank also had a rural cream route 

and later was a hauler for his eldest son, Henry's 

creamery in Faribault. Later all of his sons became 

affiliated with this creamery. Today it is known as 

Voegel Ice Cream Co. and the youngest son, Aldon, is 

still with the ~ompany. 

Frank and Anna Voegele had nine children. They 

included: Henry (deceased 1967), Mrs. Frank (Adele) 

Wagner, Mrs. Thomas (Melda) O'Conner, Mrs. 

Charles (Laura) Glynn, Mrs. John (Irene) Thorn, Mrs. 

Thomas (Evelyn) Vogelsberg, William, Mrs. Leo 

(Florence) Plaisance, and Aldon. Frank X. Voegele 

passed away on July 13, 1955, in Faribault. His wife 

Anna preceded him in death on AprilS, 1952. 

Mrs. Michael (Mary Voegele) Hayden was born 

August 30, 1867 in St. Paul. She was the mother of 

Marie, Walter, and George Hayden. On July 16, 1944, 

she passed away in St. Paul. 

John P. Voegele Sr. was born Aug. 1, 1869, and 

married Valeria LaRoche on October 1, 1901, at the 

Sacred Heart Church. John farmed east of the 

homestead and served as clerk of School District 103 

for 37 years. This was the same school his parents 

helped organize in 1877. John Voegele Sr. was also a 

Warsaw townboard member for many years. John and 

Valeria Voegele had four children. They are Mrs. 

Walter (Marcella) Krenz Sr., Mrs. Orrie (Alice) 

Johnson, John Jr. and Clarence (deceased June 25, 

1966). John passed away on Aug. 9, 1952. His farm is 

presently being farmed by his son John Jr. 

Peter Voegele Sr. was born Oct. 6, 1871, and 

married Anne Rother in Hampton, Minnesota on Oct. 

20, 1903. Peter farmed his father's farm in Warsaw 

township and served as a Rice County Commissioner 

for several years. Peter and Anne Voegele had six 

daughters and six sons. They include: Arthur, Mrs. 

Basil (Susan) Heselton (deceased), Mrs. H. A. (Lucile) 

Brayshaw (deceased), George, Margaret, Donald, 

Carl, Peter, Mrs. Lawrence (Veronica) LaCanne, Mrs. 

Herbert (Mildred) Cook, Lawrence (deceased 1976), 

and Mrs. Earl (Donna May) Nye. Peter Voegele died 

April 22, 1962, in Faribault and his wife Anne followed 

him in death on Aug. 12, 1964. 

Mrs. Albert J. (Catherine Voegele) Payant was 

born in Warsaw township on Nov. 23, 1873. She lived in 

Faribault and was the mother of Victor Payant and 

Mrs. Ernest (Margaret) Goulet. Mrs. Payant passed 

away in 1945. 

On April 26, 1876, twin girls were born to F. Joseph 

and Susanna Voegele. The girls were named Rose and 

Rosalia. Rose passed away in infancy. Rosalia (Rose) 

260

More glimpses 

went to Mankato Teachers College and taught school in 

Rice county. She later was a clerk and buyer at Ochs 

Dept. Store. Rosalia (Rose) died on Sept. 1, 1968. 

Louise M. Voegele was born November 12, 1878 in 

Warsaw township. She lived in Phoenix, Ariz. for 40 

years. In 1947 she returned to Faribault and lived with 

her sisters. Miss Voegele passed away on Jan. 13, 1966, 


The youngest son Joseph was born in 1882 and died 

the next year. The youngest daughter Elizabeth was 

born on April14, 1884. Elizabeth worked as a clerk in 

dry goods stores. She died March 29, 1974, at the age of 

89years. 

The homestead of F. Joseph Voegele was in the 

Voegele name for about 90 years. Several years ago it 

was sold and now is a vacant farm one mile south of 

Cannon Lake on the road known as Voegele's Hill. Mr. 

Voegele died at his farm on July 13, 1901. His wife 

remained on the farm for 10 more years. She moved to 

910 Second Ave. in Faribault where she lived until her 

death on Jan. 30, 1914. 

Morrissey Generations 

There have been five generations on the Morrissey 

homestead in Warsaw Township since Edward and 

Jane (McCormic) Morrissey settled on West Prairie 

(in Warsaw) in 1870. 

Edward Morrissey was born in Ireland in 1838. 

Mrs. Jane (McCormic) Morrissey was born in 1850. 

Mrs. Morrissey died in 1916 and Mr. Morrissey in 1926. 

Their family of six sons and four daughters consisted 

of: John, Charles, Edward, William, Fred, George, 

Mary, Kate (Mrs. Andrew Lambert), Jane, and Anne 

(Mrs. William Matthes). All are deceased except Fred, 

who was the second generation who lived on the 

homestead. · 

Fred married Alma Weber of Steele County and 

they have eight children, three of whom are deceased. 

Their family of three sons and five daughters are: 

Clarence (deceased), Raymond, Robert, Marian, 

Helen (Mrs. Stanley Nusbaum), Ethel (Mrs. Melvin 

Warnemunde) deceased, Ruth (Mrs. Tom Comstock), 

and Laura (Mrs. Harland Peterson), deceased. Their 

son Raymond and his wife Florence (Sartor) 

Morrissey now live on the home farm and are the third 

generation. Their family of four daughters and one son 

are: Barbara, Judy, Sharon, Kay and Donald. 

Raymond now operates the farm along with his son 

Donald. 

Donald and his wife Mary (Aube) Morrissey 

(fourth generation) have two sons, Todd and Scott 

(fifth generation), and they also live on the homestead. 

Five generations of Morrisseys have lived on the 

Morrissey homestead within the past 106 years. 

Frederick Witte Family 

Frederick and Frederika Witte, natives of 

Germany settled in Warsaw Township, Rice County, in 

1873. Family descendants still are active in farming 

the 103 year old homestead. 

The Wittes had five children, three sons and two 

daughters. August C. F. Witte, who married Martha 

Wendt; Herman married Margaret Peters; William, 

who was wed to Kathryn Englar; Ida, who married 

Carl Wendt, and Anna, who was wed to Andrew 

Englar. 

The August Witte's had 11 children, six daughters 

and five sons. They include: (Spouses are listed in 

parentheses) Lydia E. (George R. Timm); Lucetta, 

(August Maas); Albert A. (Caroline Koptis); Helen C. 

(Herman A. Rissman); Frederick F. (Selman 

Piepho) ; Herbert, deceased; Mary Anna who married 

William Reihbine, and who is now deceased; Benhard 

B. (Alice Gunther); Robert L. (Gertrude Minks); 

Irene C. (William Maas); Martha, deceased. 

Frederick Michel Family 

Frederick and Louisa Michel bought the Warsaw 

Township farm in July, 1883 from Alson and Mary A. 

Blodgett. 

In Sept. of 1889, Frederick Michel was killed while 

drilling a well on the farm. A man drilling the well went 

down into the well and didn't come back. So Mr. Michel 

offered to go down to see about him and he never came 

back. They found they were both overcome by gas 

fumes. 

Louisa Michel continued to farm with a son, Paul, 

who was 13 years old at the time. In 1900, Paul Michel 

and wife, Minnie Michel, bought the farm from Louisa 

Michel. They farmed until 1940 when their son, Gordon 

, Michel and his wife, Vivian, bought the farm. 

In 1975 Richard Michel and his wife, Marjean 

Michel, purchased the farm, making the fourth 

generation to ~ork the same farm. Another son, 

Donald Michel and wife, Jeanne, also farms in Warsaw 

township. Paul Michel passed away in 1944 and Mrs. 

Paul Michel died in 1957. 

Carl F. Rissman Family 

Carl F. Rissman and Emialia Drewitz Rissmann 

came from Germany in June, 1884 and settled on a 

farm in Warsaw Township. 

They raised a family of five sons and two 

daughters. 

Frank Rissman married Martha Drewitz and they 

had a son, Edgar, deceased. August Rissman is 

deceased. Charles Rissman is another son. Herman H. 

Rissman married Helen C. Witte. They had two 

children, Otto, who married Helen Thurke, and Mabel. 

Fred Rissman married Ellen Elfrink and they had a 

daughter, Leona, who married Harland Sauser. The 

Sausers have four children, Robert, Mary, Don and 

Jon. 

Emma Rissman married Frank Drewitz. They had 

one son, Henry, deceased. Minnie Rissman marriedS. 

P. Andersen and they had three children, Edward, 

Ruth and Grace. 

Irish settlers came to 

Erin township in 1855 

Located on the western border of Rice County, 

adjacent to Le Sueur County, is Erin Township. The 

very mention of the name "Erin" indicates that the 

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early day settlers of 121 years ago - 1855 is the date of 

the first recorded settlement - were Sons of old 

Ireland. That indication definitely is correct. 

In recent years, the growth of canneries and other 

industries in nearby Montgomery and other 

communities has made an impact on Erin Township 

development and business activity. Its farms continue 

to be as productive as ever with emphasis on the 

growing of new-type crops. 

Township board members, entrusted with the 

responsibility of governing their six mile square 

domain in accordance with new county and state 

regulations - vastly different from those of pioneer 

days - include: Henry Krocak, chairman; Arthur J. 

Jindra, clerk; Alois Trcka, treasurer and Supervisors 

- Robert M. Foley and George Sirek. Names of the 

officials show that there has been a definite change in 

the township's original All-Irish complex. Alvin 

Kolars, former county commissioner, for many years 

was a town board member and active in the county 

township officers association. 

The soil of Erin Township is mostly a rich, dark ' 

loam with, however, a frequent tendency to a lighter 

nature and sand. The soil is well adapted to varied 

grain crops and rich for all varieties of grasses for 

grazing. The entire township, with the exception of a 

few natural meadows, originally was forest, the noted 

body of timber known as "The Big Woods" claiming 

the greater portion of the territory. 

The earliest actual settlement of the township was 

commenced in the year 1855 and was, therefore, a little 

behind the majority of towns, as most of them received 

a settler or two in 1854. As the name of the town implies 

there were none but the descendants of the Emerald 

Isle to be recorded on the pages of its early history and, 

in fact, for a number of years until a good share of the 

government land was taken, there was not one resident 

of the township of other than Celtic origin. In fact, it is 

said, the arrival of pioneers of other nationalities, with 

a view of obtaining homes was regarded by many of 

the citizens of Erin Township as an encroachment upon 

their rights and domain. 

In recent years, however, other nationalities, 

particularly Czechs, have settled in the township. 

"Backwoods Country" 

In the spring of 1855, a party of pioneers from 

various directions reached the town in the 

southeastern part with the determination to obtain 

homes and promote civilization. The balance of the 

county already had received a number of settlers. 

Faribault at that time was quite a hamlet and near 

it already was heard the sound of the water wheel and 

the buzz of the saw. But Erin was yet considered 

backwoods and no pioneer had consent to accept the 

hardship, privation and toil the opening of the timber 

would necessarily cause. The first party of settlers to 

arrive consisted of Jeremiah Healy, Sylvester Smith, 

John Burke, James Cummings, John Cummings and 

Owen Farley, most of them bringing their families. 

About the first of this party to locate and select a 

claim was Jeremiah Healy. He located in the southern 

part of the township and put up a log shanty, 16x24 

feet, the first in the township. After Healy had located, 

Sylvester Smith was the next to select a place which he 

did, in sections 25 and 36. 

He was a native of Ireland and had stopped for a 

time in Iowa, getting into Rice County with a yoke of 

oxen and immediately erecting a log shanty. 

Soon after his arrival he managed to obtain a 

grindstone and for a number of years the settlers for 

six miles around would come to his place to sharpen 

their knives and farming cutlery. He also was 

fortunate to obtain the first grain cradle in the 

township. When he first arrived with his family, 

consisting of his wife and two children, there were but 

three houses between his place and the town of 

Faribault. John Burke took out a claim in the township 

but remained only a few years. James Cummings next 

obtained a place in section 27 and put up a small log 

shanty at once. 

John Me Manus, a single man, took a claim in the 

southern part of the township near his fellow 

countrymen. He was married shortly afterwards, in 

1857, to Eliza Kelly, the nuptial ceremony being one of 

the first in the township. An amusing account of an 

incident at the wedding, which took place in the Village 

of Shieldsville, was written by an early day historian. 

He wrote: 

Resourceful Minister 

"After the couple had taken the floor preparatory 

to listening to the last words of the ceremony, it was 

discovered there was no ring to place on the bride's 

finger. As this article was indispensable in the code, for 

a moment it looked as though the young couple was 

doomed to single life for a little while longer until the 

needed finer ornament was brought forward. 

"Happily, the officiating minister conceived an 

idea that he at once executed, which relieved them of 

the difficulty. He took the key from the door and, 

placing it upon the bride's finger, pronounced them 

man and wife." 

The last member of the original settlers, Owen 

Farley, settled in section 26. The entire pariy came in 

with ox teams and all settled in the south and 

southeastern part of the township. 

In the same year, a little later in the season, the 

southwestern comer of the town received a settler, 

James McBride, who settled in section 31 and 

commenced building up a neighborhood as efficiently 

as the southeastern part. He brought in considerable 

stock and commenced pioneer life by building a log 

shanty. Shortly after McBride entered in the fall, E. 

Clarkin located in section 30. Mrs. Thomas Clarkin, the 

former Mary Hickey, lived to be 100 years and one 

week old, passing away in December, 1958. The four 

generation farm, which she and her husband helped 

clear and on which they settled, is now being farmed by 

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Kolars. 

This was the extent to which the township was 

settled in 1855, carrying the settlement up to the winter 

of 1855-56 which proved a very trying and severe one to 

the meager settlement as they, as yet, had no time to 

prepare for it. 

The next year the settlement became more rapid 

and all parts of the town received a share of the 

262

More glimpses 

newcomers. Charles McBride arrived in 1856 and 

located in sections nine and 10. Andrew Kelly located in 

section 25. He came with his brother, Frank Kelly, who 

took a quarter section adjoining his farm. Frank was 

married at an early age and lived there until1862 when 

he mysteriously disappeared. 

D. and John Calihan came in 1856. J. O'Reilly and 

father came about the same time. Thomas and Peter 

Ash, brothers, also arrived. Section 33, in the southern 

part of the town was settled by T. Flannagan and about 

the same time of the year 1856 Henry Smith obtained a 

home in Section 27. Four Mulcahy brothers, Patrick, 

Timothy, Daniel and Dennis, natives of Ireland, put in 

an appearance the same year and took farms near 

each other in about section 29. Edward P. Carrol took 

the northeast and Patrick Sheehan obtained the 

southwest quarter. Just south of these parties in 

section 17, B. Foley and Andrew Devereux each took 

claims on 160 acres. 

More Irish Arrive 

John Doyle, originally from Ireland, settled on an 

80 acre piece of land in the southern part of section 5. 

Hugh and Patrick McEntree, father and son, 

came in 1856 and the former took a place in section 24. 

Later Patrick married and purchased a place in 

section 10, E. Kiernan pre-empted a place in 1856. 

There were many arrivals in 1856 besides those noted 

already, among whom may be mentioned John 

Gorham who remained on his farm until1870 when he 

.moved to Faribault; the O'Sullivan Brothers, Patrick, 

John and James; James Warren who died in 1873; 

Dennis Dooley, Michael Richardson, Charles Maguire, 

M. Kallaher, John Quinlan. E. Maher and T. McBreen, 

all of whom settled in 1856. 

This carries the settlement up to the time when the 

influx became so rapid and constant that it is 

impossible to note the settlers in sequence. In 1860 the 

population of Erin had grown to 306 and almost all of 

the government land was taken. 

It should be noted in this connection that General 

James Shields, the founder of Shieldsville, had a great 

deal of influence in developing the township and 

especially the tide of Irish incomers can be attributed 

to him, as he had located just on the line dividing Erin 

from Shieldsville. His advertisements in eastern 

papers inviting others to join him attracted the 

attention of his countrymen and they thronged in. 

The first child born in the township was a daughter 

of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Healy, in the latter part of 

1855, in the southern part of the town. The child was 

christened Sarah and she afterwards married John 

Dudley. The next event of this kind was in 1856 when a 

child named Catherine was born to Mr. and Mrs. John 

Burke. Another early birth was that of James, a son of 

Mr. and Mrs. E. Clarkin. Matthew Smith was born in 

Erin in pioneer times. 

In the line of marriages the township has a 

peculiar history, one, which in fact, is almost without a 

parallel. It is that from the original settlement of the 

town in 1855 up to 1878 only one marriage took place 

within the limits of the town. On that occasion George 

LeVoy and Annie Berry were united in marriage by 

Father Robierrie. The bride was the daughter of John 

Berry. The first marriage of residents in the town 

occurred in the winter of 1856 at Faribault and the 

participants were John Quilland and Bridget Martin. 

The ceremony was performed by Father Ravoux. 

The first precinct election ever held embracing 

Erin was held at Shieldsville in 1855. The precinct 

comprised what is now known as Erin, Shieldsville, 

Wheatland and part of the towns of Forest and Wells. 

Among the first to build a log cabin in the newly 

established township in 1855 was Jeremiah Healy. 

Amidst the trials and privations of pioneer life he 

succeeded in preserving a few seed potatoes and 

planted them near his cabin. Soon afterwards, Father 

Ravoux, the first missionary in this part of the country, 

came traveling along on his Indian pony and, 

discovering this cabin with its occupants and a few 

scattering neighbors, he concluded to stop and hold his 

first service there. 

Officers Elected 

The township was organized in common with the 

balance of the townships in Rice County when the 

Minnesota Territory was made a state. The first town 

meeting was held on May 11, 1858 at the residence of R. 

Ryan. The meeting was called to order by Chairman 

Thomas Flannagan and William Kerrott was chosen to 

serve as secretary. 

A motion was then made by D. Dooley, according 

to the minutes, to name the town "McBride" and 

another motion made to change it to "Healy" in honor 

of Jeremiah Healy but both of these motions lost. A 

motion was made next by John Gorman that the 

township should be called Erin in honor of the settlers' 

nativity and this motion was carried by a majority of 

seven. 

The following officers then were elected: 

Supervisors, John Conniff, chairman, Timothy Foley 

and Sylvester Smith; Assessor, Dennis Dooley; 

collector, John Gorham; Justices of the Peace, 

Thomas Finnegan and B. Foley; Constables, Michael 

Richardson and Jon Smith; Overseer of the Poor, 

Charles McBride; Overseer of Roads, Patrick Ryan, 

Martin Duffy and Edward Clarkin. 

The now defunct Barlow post office was 

established in 1856 with Bartholomew Foley as 

postmaster and the office at his home. Later 

postmasters included: S. Smith, Charles Cooke, Bert 

Tague, Edward Carroll and Ed Kiernam who held that 

office until the postoffice was discontinued in 1886. 

The first school district organized in the township 

was district 46 when a log school house was erected in 

1857 in the southeastern part of section 15. Early 

teachers included: Miss Powers, Miss L. Dooley, Miss 

Anna L. Kiernam. Other districts in the township 

included district 49, district 68, district 69 and district 

98. 

263

~en ~8'/ow 

Shieldsville once was 

booming, is still busy 

The township of Shieldsville, one of the Rice 

County townships in the western tier, bounded on the 

south by Morristown, on the west by Le Sueur County, 

on the east by Wells and on the north by Erin, as well as 

the community of Shieldsville, owe their names to the 

only U.S. resident to become elected as a U.S. Senator 

from three different states- Minnesota, Illinois and 

Missouri-General James Shields. 

A persistent organizer and colonizer, the General, 

a native of Ireland, in 1855, more than 121 years ago, 

laid out the Village of Shieldsville and at once took 

steps towards collecting his Irish countrymen about 

him. 

To the early day settler, one historian wrote, 

Shieldsville Township presented at once a picturesque 

and challenging picture. ''To the eye the township 

presented a view of undulating surface, with here and 

there a tendency to hilly, timber, marsh and meadow 

land. The wild forest, with groves of oak and all sturdy 

varieties of timber interspersed with maple and walnut 

and the tranquil and glassy lakes embedded in the mist 

of the hills, combined to make Shieldsville a pleasant 

and picturesque spot.'' 

Comprising 36 sections including a total of 23,040 

acres, the township is abundantly blessed with lakes, 

there being eight either wholly or in part within the 

township comprising a total of more than 2,500 acres. 

Largest of the lakes is Cedar, in the southeastern 

portion of the township covering parts of sections 25, 

26, 28, 34, 35 and 36. A number of islands dot this lake. 

Other sizable bodies of water include: General Shields 

Lake in the northern part of the township, Rice Lake in 

Sections 16 and 17, Hunt Lake in Section 15 and Lake 

Mazaska which covers the northeastern part of the 

township as well as infringing on territory in the 

townships of Erin, Forest and Wells. 

As in Erin township, the early settlement of 

Shieldsville was due almost entirely to the descendants 

of Ireland and was known in the early days as General 

Shields Colony. 

The General, after laying out the Village of 

Shieldsville in 1855, retraced his steps to St. Paul, 

returning the same year with a number of Irishmen, 

many of whom settled in Erin and were identified with 

the early settlement and growth of that community. 

Irishmen Respond 

Through Shields' intensive advertising campaign 

in eastern U.S. newspapers, it was not long until 

settlers of Irish descent began crowding in on foot, by 

horse, ox and cow teams and taking farms until, by the 

fall of 1856, the township was pretty well settled and the 

government land, of the better quality, was scarce. 

John Nagle, another native of Ireland, had arrived 

in America in 1848 and located in New York state 

where he remained until 1855. In that year he came 

west and arrived in Shieldsville at the time the first 

settlement was made in Erin, in 1855. The majority of 

the party he came with located in that township but 

Nagle made his way to section 11 in Shieldsville 

township. He held various township offices, played a 

prominent role civically and was one of the very first 

settlers of the township. 

Bernard Hunt, another Irishman, had stopped in 

Illinois for a time and in June, 1856, made his 

appearance in Shieldsville and pre-empted a place. He 

remained for about a year and then settled in the 

southwest quarter of section 14. The lake, to which his 

farm was adjacent, was named by the Indians as Eagle 

Lake. Later it was changed to Hunt Lake by common 

consent. Among others who came in 1856, Michael 

Gavin and family were prominent and settled near 

Hunt Lake. 

James Murphy and several sons, James 

Carpenter, J. Roach and Mr. Gillespie all came, took 

farms, erected log cabins, remained a short while and 

then moved to other portions of the northwest. Michael 

Delaney came in the spring of 1856 and obtained a 

habitation in section 10. Roger Madden arrived about 

the same time and commenced a settlement in the 

eastern part of section 21. Thomas Menton took 160 

acres adjoining in the same township. Patrick Hagerty 

and William Mahoney each took a farm near Cedar 

Lake in sections 23 and 27. Thomas O'Donnell joined 

this settlement and took 160 acres in section 20. Patrick 

Smith located a couple of miles west of these settlers, 

in section 29, and Patrick Murphy helped close up the 

gap by taking a farm in section 22. 

Many Settlers 

John Fitzgerald carved a place for settlement 

from the woods, in section 8. Thomas Roach came into 

section 17 the same year (1856) and remained a short 

time. Daniel Savage located near Rice Lake and 

remained there until his death, his sons succeeding 

him in occupying the farm. John Buckley also made a 

claim at the same time near the same lake. Daniel and 

David Gonsor made their appearance and took 

pre-emptions east of Hunt Lake, the latter going into 

Wells some years later. James Murphy located in 

section 10. Other early settlers included: Thomas 

Coleman, James Finley and Patrick McKenna. 

Descendants of these early settlers still are actively 

engaged in operating Shieldsville Township farms. 

Among the early settlers of Shieldsville Village 

was Timo-thy S-hields who arrived in the newly 

colonized community in 1854 and who for many years 

·operated a combination store, hotel and saloon in 

Shieldsville and was prominent in civic and business 

affairs. 

Timothy Shields came to Shieldsville as one of the 

early settlers attracted by General Shields. Born in 

Ireland, he came to Rice County from Milwaukee. 

After establishing himself commercially in 

Shieldsville and becoming prominent in civic and 

school district affairs, Shields settled on a far m in 

section 15 on the shores of Hunt Lake and decided that 

of his large family his son, George, would prove to be 

the best farmer. Apparently the decision was a wise 

one for George, who served on the township board for 

264

More glimpses 

14 years and also for many years was a member of the 

board of School District 84, lived on that same 194 acre 

farm for many years. In later years he was assisted by 

his son, Joseph, in operating the farm. 

During the "pioneer days" of the Township, 

George Shields readily recalled the frontier days when 

Indians were numerous, the historic Dodd Road from 

St. Peter to St. Paul was nothing but an Indian trail and 

later was modernized, when Faribault's 

buildings were all frame and wooden sidewalks were 

the rule not the exception, when farm plowing was 

done by walking behind oxen and when much of the 

township was covered by timber, the hardy pioneers 

being forced to grub and clear the land. 

- - Bustling Community 

Shields remembered, too, when the Village of 

Shieldsville was "quite a bustling community" with 

three or four blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, a 

couple of weaving establishments, three grocery 

stores, seven saloons, a flour mill and a furniture 

factory. He also recalled the pioneer log shanties which 

dotted the rolling land of Shieldsville. 

According to historical records, "the oldtimer" 

recalled, with a twinkle in his eye, of the days when the 

Indians were more numerous than the whites. He 

remembered one time when his brother, John, who was 

a great favorite with the Indians, asked his mother if 

he couldn't stay with an Indian friends' family for a 

few days. The mother was a bit reluctant but finally 

consented. The boy stayed three days and came home, 

happy, thrilled and covered with beads the Indians had 

made for him. 

The first birth in the township, as far as officially 

can be determined, took place in 1856 in the log cabin 

of Bernard Hunt in section 22 when John J. Hunt was 

born on July 28. D. F. Hagerty was born early in 1857 in 

section 22 and lived there for many years. The earliest 

marriage of parties from the township occurred in 

Hastings in 1857 when Michael Gavin and Miss Mary 

Ann Rogers were united in marriage. Another early 

marriage was that of James Carpenter to Ellen 

McCohey of St. Paul, the ceremony taking place in that 

city in 1857, the bridegroom meeting the bride there. 

The happy couple then returned to Shieldsville to make 

their home. 

The township's form of government was effected 

permanently on May 11, 1858, the same date that other 

townships in the county organized in connection with 

Minnesota's entrance into statehood. At the meeting, 

held in the village of Shieldsville, the following were 

·elected officers: Joseph Hagerty, chairman, board of 

supervisors; Patrick Conniff and Patrick Smith, 

Constables; Michael Hanley and Patrick McKenna, 

constables; Timothy Doyle and James Roach, justices 

of the peace; John Finley, assessor and John H. 

Gibbons, town clerk. It was voted, with a slight show of 

enthusiasm, according to an early historian, that the 

town should be named Shieldsville in honor of General 

James Shields. Money then was voted to defray 

expenses for the coming year. 

Incorporated In 1877 

In the census of 1880 the village population was 118. 

St. Patrick's Church, Shieldsville 

Shieldsville was village incorporated March 12, 1877. 

At the first election the following officers were chosen: 

Joseph Hagerty, president; Thomas Coleman, 

Christopher Knutson, E. B. McCann, trustees; William 

O'Connell, recorder; Patrick Hanlon, treasurer; 

Patrick McKenna, justice of the peace; and P. C. 

McCann, constable. 

Oldest school district in the township, known as the 

Shieldsville school because it embraces the village and 

the immediate surrounding country, was District 32. 

In Shieldsville it has been the tradition to have a 

picnic on the last day of the school year with very few 

exceptions, wrote Catherine Spartz, well known 

Shieldsville resident, in the Faribault Daily News Aug. 

7, 1972. 

First known as District No.3 in 1855, when the Rice 

County Court transacted its first business, the school 

was opened with an appropriation of two dollars per 

pupil (this was done throughout the county). 

A log school was the first built by James Tuft on an 

acre of land thought to be donated by Gen. James 

Shields. James Bentley was the teacher. About 25 of 

the 85 children in the district attended. First officers 

were James Hegerty, Patrick Hanlon and Tim Shields. 

In 1865 a new log schoolhouse was built with Mr. 

265

~en ~c!Now 

Rev. John J. Molloy 

Altar, St. Patrick's Church, Shieldsville 

Wall as teacher. Pupils (120) ages ranging from 4 to 20 

years attended. In 1881 a frame school was built, 20 by 

40 feet, at a cost of $1,000, one of the better and larger 

rural schools of that time. 

The building remains with an addition built on in 

1962. The new structure provided "adequate 

instructional facilities for 20 pupils of grades 1 through 

6" at the cost of about $20,000. 

This rural school, one of the few remaining open, 

now is part of the Faribault School District. Currently 

there are about 20 pupils attending the Shieldsville 

school. 

For about five years after the addition was built, . 

there were two class rooms. The teacher of one was 

Mrs. Edward Brown, followed by Mrs. Thomas 

Hagerty. Margaret Oppegard taught in the new class 

room. The new addition now is the only class room and 

Margaret Oppegard is the teacher. Mrs. Oppegard was 

teaching in the old school at the time the new room was 

added. 

For many years the school was known as Rice 

County District No. 32, then 1788. Now it is part of the 

Faribault School District 656. 

St. Patrick's Church of Shieldsville, established 121 

years ago in 1856, is one of the oldest churches in Rice 

County still in an active, flourishing condition. The 

church has served the spiritual needs of parishioners in 

the .townships of Shieldsville, Erin, and a portion of 

Wells and Forest and, because of its historic heritage, 

has been visited by many from nearby and distant 

communities. 

The parish, served by the Rev. J. J. Molloy as 

pastor for many years, was the subject of a book 

published in 1940, written by Mary L. Hagerty under 

the title "Meet Shieldsville, The Story of St. Patrick's 

Parish.'' The book is filled with interesting facts 

concerning the church and the village. In 1857 the first 

building was erected at a cost of $1,200 which lasted 

until1878 when a stone edifice was constructed. Shortly 

afterwards, this church was gutted by fire, but the 

foundations remained. Another stone church was 

constructed on the same site and is now St. Patrick's 

Church of Shieldsville, an imposing structure 

dedicated to spiritual service. 

Celebrates Golden Jubilee 

Father Molloy celebrated his Golden Jubilee 

as a priest July 9, 1941. He celebrated a Solemn High 

Mass and was assisted by Rev. Vincent Dudley, former 

parishioner, and by Rev. Patrick Ryan. Rev. Joseph 

Quinlan, one-time member of the parish, was master of 

ceremonies. The Most Rev. John Gregory Murray, 

Archbishop of St. Paul, preached the sermon. Among 

other priests at the altar were Rev. Dominic 

Roymane, Chaplain of Villa Maria at Frontenac, who 

was ordained with Father Molloy in Ireland and Rev. 

Alphonse Carey, a graduate of the same college in 

Dublin. 

The Very Rev. John P. Foley, pastor of 

Immaculate Conception parish in Faribault, was 

toastmaster at the dinner that followed. A special 

feature of the occasion was the publication ofthe book, 

"Meet Shieldsville," written by the late Mary L. 

Hagerty, one of Father Molloy's parishioners. 

Later Father Molloy celebrated his Diamond 

Jubilee, and on Aug. 16, 1969, he was honored for his 50 

years as pastor of St. Patrick's. 

In June 1961 Father Molloy, who was the oldest 

priest in the St. Paul archdiocese and the one with the 

longest service, noted the 70th anniversary of his 

ordination. 

The next Jan. 29, (1962) Father Molloy passed 

away at the rectory of St. Patrick's Church at the age 

of 95. He was buried in the church cemetery. 

An article published in the Faribault Daily News 

Oct. 7, 1969, stated that the Rev. John E. Joyce, pastor 

of St. Patrick's, observed his 25th anniversary as a 

priest by offering a Mass of Thanksgiving recently in 

the parish church and by a Concelebrated Mass at the 

266

More glimpses 

St. Paul Cathedral Parish in St. Paul the same 

morning. 

Father Joyce came to St. Patrick's in 1944 to assist 

Father Molloy for a few weekends. In 1951 he returned 

as assistant and has been there since, becoming pastor 

after Father Molloy's death. 

Father Joyce directed extensive repair to the 

church, refurbishing it in a modem design. 

When the stone church was built in the old days 

many donations were given and the names of some of 

the donors are spelled out for all to see. Every window 

has the name of an esteemed contributor preserved in 

writing. 

When Father Joyce repaired and remodeled the 

church many donations were also given, some of them 

even anonymously as the request of the givers. 

Now there is a new altar at St. Patrick's as a result 

of the Vatican Council of 1960. The altar was used for 

the first time with the priest facing the congregation 

when Father Patrick Griffin, son of Mr. and Mrs. John 

Griffin of the parish, said his First Solemn Mass at St. 

Patrick's on Sunday morning, Feb. 19, 1967, at 11 

o'clock. 

Lake Resort Center 

Because of its many area lakes, Shieldsville has 

been popularly known for its lake resorts. Pat 

McKenna sold his resort on Mazaska Lake to Albert 

Frana who operated Frana's Resort for several years. 

Now Albert's son, Tom and his wife, run the resort 

under the same name. 

James K. McFadden built a gasoline station in the 

village about 1931. In 1935, his son, James V., got a 

license to sell 3.2 beer as part of the business at the 

station. In 1943, James K. McFadden bought the resort 

Camp Winona on General Shields Lake from Frank 

Rose of St. Paul. The McFaddens lived there when they 

operated the resort. At one time Mr. and Mrs. Ted 

Hirdler operated the resort. Camp Winona is now 

operated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert (Gert) Harmel. 

In 1950 James K. McFadden passed away and, 

soon after, the license for the business was turned over 

to Henry and Catherine Spartz, who operated the 

business (with an addition to the building in 1957) until 

1969 when they retired, but still live on the premises. 

Sometime in the late '30s, James V. McFadden 

built an ice house on the premises in the village from 

which he sold ice and he also had an ice route selling 

ice to farmers, individuals, and beer taverns in small 

towns who cooled their soft drinks and 3.2 beer with ice 

in those days, rather than with electric refrigeration. 

At one time Louis Frandsen and Frankie Uhlis 

operated a garage in the north end of the village. Uhlis 

sold out to Frandsen, who also established a resort on 

Mazaska and eventually closed the garage business. 

He and his wife, Mildred, operated the resort for a 

number of years. After his wife's death, Frandsen sold 

his home and resort to George Ceplecha who sold to 

Richard Malecha, who sold to the Flemming family, 

who are now operating the resort. 

Joseph Hagerty opened up Camp Hagerty several 

years ago offering overnight camp grounds 

(primitive). Rainbow Island camp grounds are located 

on General Shields Lake. 

The former Pat McKenna tavern in Shieldsville 

was just a tavern at first. McKenna built the tavern 

using lumber from the old Boyle building in the village. 

This building had been put up by Matthew Browne. At 

the present time there is no building where the old 

Matthew Browne store was located. It is just a bare lot 

and is now for sale. 

Pat McKenna sold the tavern to George Ceplecha, 

then Joe Hadec bought it, then it went back to George 

Ceplecha, who sold it to Ray Fitzpatrick in 1957. 

Fitzpatrick got a liquor license and started a supper 

club. He sold it to Richard Brown, who now has the 

liquor license and a supper club. The tavern and 

supper club is a Shieldsville social center for lake 

residents, tourists and many Faribault people. 

County Park Is Established 

In July, 1973, the old building that once housed a 

general store operated by Edmund Hagerty, was tom 

down for the purpose of clearing the landscape for a 

park. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hirdler owned and made 

their home there. They acquired the property during 

World War I, when they converted it into a residence. 

For some years the building was vacant until it 

was demolished. Now Shieldsville has a beautiful Rice 

County park and approach to Lake Mazaska. It is 

called Hirdler Park. 

One of the interesting stories about Shieldsville, 

written for the "Golden Nugget", Northfield, by 

Catherine E. Spartz on June 7, 1972, concerns the 

achievement of Michael M. McMahon, former 

Faribault and Shieldsville wagon maker, a man of 

invention and vision, who is credited by some as laying 

the groundwork for present day "flying machines" and 

airplanes. 

· In fact, following publication of his pamphlet, ''The 

Perfection of Aerial Navigation," in 1894, there were 

some people who insisted that McMahon was ahead of 

the Wright Brothers in United States aviation history. 

Born in County Clare, Ireland, McMahon came to 

the United States with his family when he was 14, first 

settling in Steubenville, Ind., and then moving to 

Faribault in 1857 where he learned the wagon making 

trade and opened his own shop. 

Later he started a wagon shop in St. Peter where, 

he wrote "I invented a machine for fitting wagon axles 

for the skein. I got a patent but it did not secure my 

invention. The Studebakers of South Bend, Indiana, 

created a machine for the same purpose and with my 

invention they were rich and I was poor and I could do 

nothing. At the same time I had a vision of flying 

machines. I saw nine of them in the air- one large 

one, four a little small and four still smaller - making 

a circle around the large one. I told them (the people) 

what it represented, but they wouldn't believe me and I 

quit telling anything. 

McMahon moved to Shieldsville in the early 1880's 

and started a wagon shop. Some found him a "strange 

man" as most creative people are thought of. He was a 

diminutive, unobtrusive little man with a full black 

beard, who was to be found most of the time working in 

his shop. School children sometimes climbed up to 

267

~en 8?8/ow 

peek through the high windows of this strange man's 

shop where so many mysterious goings-on excited 

their imagination. 

In later years, old timers told that he had a 

"machine in the air" that he "flew some object with a 

dog as passenger" that "he had a model plane flying, 

before the Wright brothers flew their plane.'' 

Old timers also were credited with saying that 

McMahon should have the honor of being first with a 

practical idea for flying, but it was thought that 

someone saw his machine and stole the idea. 

Finally McMahon left Shieldsville and lived in 

Minneapolis until his death in 1929. In March, 1912, in 

Minneapolis he announced that he had perfected an 

aeroplane and was ready to give the world the benefit 

of hisyears of labor. He was then 71 years old. 

Easter Celebration 

History also records a big celebration at 

Shieldsville on Easter Sunday, 1917. The following 

news story explained: 

"The postponed St. Patrick's day celebration at 

Shieldsville will take place next Sunday, Easter. 

Following the 10:30 Mass, the ladies of St. Patrick's 

parish will serve dinner in the hall. At 2:30 in the 

afternoon and at 8:00 in the evening the members of the 

Shieldsville Dramatic Club will present at St. Patrick's 

hall the play, prepared for St. Patrick's day, a comedy, 

'Captain Racket,' in three acts. 

"Taking part are James Kelly, Frank Gibney, 

Anthony Dooley, Emmett Minton, Arthur Mahoney, 

Kate Leadon, Mary Shields and Winifred Mahoney.'' 

Shieldsville in the old days was noted for its home 

talent plays. This was one of them. 

One of the community's civic and political leaders 

was Archie Devitt, who was the first county 

commissioner (old fourth district) elected from 

Shieldsville in 50 years. Elected in 1954, he served 26 

months until his death while in office, in 1957. 

At the primary election in 1974, Shieldsville 

residents for the first time cast their ballots in the 

Shieldsville school house rather than in the town hall as 

previously. 

Town meetings and voting polls have since been at 

the school house, which building now belongs to the 

township. 

Bids were offered for the old town hall at the May 

township meeting this year (1976). It went to the 

highest bidder, Kenny Ceplecha, who owns property in 

the township in Section 15. 

Present members of the Shieldsville Township 

Board are: John Pesta, chairman; John Kotek, George 

Morris, Catherine Madden and Clarence Kosanda. 

Shieldsville is a unique, intriguing, non-static 

community and it doesn't take a back seat to anyone, 

not even Scotland and its legendary "Loch Ness 

Monster." Shieldsville has its own "monster" and 

there are many rabid residents who staunchly believe 

in "the Lake Mazaska Monster." 

In a Faribault Republican article of Aug. 4, 1875, it 

was reported "Shieldsville has a sensation in the shape 

of an aquatic monster that inhabits the lake, whether 

sea serpent, devil-fish, alligator or some monster yet 

new to naturalists, is to be determined. The monster 

was reported sighted by Dennis McEvoy, proprietor of 

the Shieldsville mill, and Michael McMahon, 

Shieldsville wagon maker and plane inventor.'' 

On Jan. 25 of this year (1976), area snowmobilers 

who call themselves "Lake Mazaska Monsters" staged 

a big "Monster Vigil" on the lake, attracting a crowd of 

more than 4,000 curious people who saw the "monster" 

emerge from the lake. So the legend lives on. 

Richland, named 

after soil, founded in 1854 

By JOHN ALMENDINGER 

Richland township is well named because of its 

variable soil. All 36 sections are a soil of loam with clay 

and sand mixture and in some places a black muck. It 

is deep and highly productive. Richland occupies the 

southeast corner of Rice County bordered by Goodhue 

County on the east, Dodge and Steele Counties on the 

south and Walcott Township on the west and Wheeling 

Townsh~p on the north. 

Topographically, Richland has flat prairie as well 

as rolling land and its average elevation above sea 

level - 1,175 feet- is the highest in the county. The 

township is well watered by small streams which 

merge in the interior of the township to form the north 

branch of the Zumbro River. 

Richland's history of early colonization is a story 

of hardy, adventurous Norwegian, Irish and German 

immigrants and natives of eastern states who had 

come to Minnesota to earn a living through tilling of the 

fertile soil. It is also a story embracing 95 years of 

consistent development. 

The township was first settled, according to 

available records, in 1854 when four Norwegian 

immigrants who had stopped a short time in Wisconsin 

came to Richland in the spring of this year. They were 

Halver Halverson, Erik Gunderson (more commonly 

known as Gunhus), Ole Larson and Osten Olson. The 

new arrivals settled chiefly in section 12, a timber 

section which was given the name "Norwegian Grove" 

because people of that nationality obtained possession 

of it when first in the market. 

In the fall of 1854 more settlers arrived including F. 

W. Frink, J. Kinnison, Ozro Carter and Willard Carter, 

Edward and Sumner Beach, H. F. Smith and H. M. 

Beardsley. In 1855 new settlers included J. M. Strunk of 

Chatauqua County, N.Y., who lived in his wagon and 

then in bark shanty until he could get up his log cabin, 

Edwin Wheeler and William Close, a native of Ohio. In 

1856 John Close, originally from Ohio, came to 

Richland from Iowa where he had been for a year. He 

came across the country with an ox team. Historical 

records show a distance of more than 300 miles through 

a trackless and bridgeless country. 

During the first two or three years of the early 

268

More glimpses 

settlement of the township there were quite a number 

of the "Sons of Ireland" who established homes in 

Richland, all settling in the same part of the township 

and playing a prominent role in the town's 

agricultural, political and social development. Well 

known to Richland residents are such Irish names as 

Molloy, Gallery, Moore, Coleman, Nolan and others. 

The colonization continued at a brisk pace in 1856 

and 1857 with the arrival of John G. Miller from 

Germany, Nathan S. Wheeler and his son George H. 

from New York, John A. Mather, Frank Gowen of 

Maine, Washington Tarr, Moses C. Peasley and 

Andrew and Enoch Story. Later more settlers 

including August Wasboe of Norway arrived. 

Descendants Still Farming 

Descendants of several of these early Richland 

settlers still reside in the township and operate its 

productive and diversified farms. Typical of these are 

Lloyd and Andrew Story. 

The Story farms, located on highway 60, are 

among the township's show places. Their grandfather, 

Andrew Story, was a shipbuilder originally from 

Hamilton, Mass. While in this business he built as 

many as 13 schooners in one year. In 1857 he came west 

on a prospective tour with two young men who were in 

his employ. During that summer Mr. Story purchased 

land in Richland in section 2 and the other two men 

made claims in section 2 and 3 which he later 

purchased. He returned to Massachusetts and in May, 

1861, launched his last vessel. Then, with his family, he 

moved to a place on section 3, Richland township, 

where he established a farm of 400 acres. 

Believed to be the earliest marriage in the 

township was that of E. L. Beach and Elizabeth 

Beardsley in the year of 1856. First birth was that of 

Halver Austin Olson, son of Osten Olson, who was born 

on Jan. 14, 1856. He died on AprillO, 1876. 

Richland cemetery was laid out in 1873 and the 

first burial was that of Herbert Stickney. The cemetery 

embraces one acre of land which was purchased from 

Alonzo Stickney and is in section 30. The Catholic 

cemetery was platted in 1874 and embraces three acres 

of land in section 16, donated by S. G. Nolan. 

The first postmaster was T. Latson who also 

opened a store in section 21 in 1878 which was sold to S. 

G. Nolan in 1881. A store previously had been started in 

section 36 in 1875 by Nils N. Kvernoden which he sold to 

Haggen 0. Naeseth in 1879 who then sold it to Peter 

Lund in 1881. The Richland postoffice was established 

under the name of Mayland and mail was delivered 

twice a week from what was then known as Dodge City. 

School Is Opened 

Richland's first school district was No. 12, 

organized in 1856 and a school was opened and presided 

over by Mrs. Edwin Wheeler at the house of her 

husband. The schoolhouse was built the same year on 

Section 12. When it was resolved to build, the farmers 

all turned out bringing logs and material and soon 

compieted the structure. 

Early churches in Richland included: Norwegian 

Lutheran Church, meetings being held as early as 1855 

in the house of Halver Halverson in section 13 with Rev. 

Nils Brandt as the missionary; Methodist Episcopal 

Church, the Rev. William McKinley preaching the first 

sermon in the residence of John Close in the winter of 

1856; Catholic Church, Mass being first said in Mr. 

Moore's house in section 22 in December, 1858, Father 

G. Keller serving as the officiating priest; The 

Evangelical Association-Ebenezer Church, the first 

meeting being held in Mr. Jenkins' house in section 3 in 

1863, the Rev. William Stegner officiating; Bethel 

Methodist Episcopal Church, the first meetings being 

held in 1868 in the schoolhouse in section 26, the Rev. 

Mr. Richardson being the first preacher; the first 

meeting of the (Lutheran church) being at the 

schoolhouse in District 51, the Rev. Mr. Muus 

officiating. 

The first town meeting was on May 11, 1858, at the 

house of R. W. Mathews. John A. Mather was the 

moderator and Samuel Gowan was the clerk. First 

officers of the newly formed town government 

included: supervisors - Lafayette Barlow, chairman, 

John A. Mather and E. S. Stafford; town clerk - F. 

Mathews; assessor - George W. Fox; collector - 

William Close; justices of the peace- J. M. Strunk and 

Josiah H. Gale; constables- Charles Birge and James 

Stevens. 

In the '60s and '70s, a steady stream of settlers 

from Norway, Germany and other nations and from 

different states of the union flowed into Richland and 

the descendants of many of these pioneers - most of 

whom arrived by the traditional ox cart and covered 

wagon route-are still farming in the township. 

Families Cited 

It is impossible to name all the various families 

which have built Richland into one of the county's most 

prosperous townships. Some of them include: the 

Floms, Underdahls, Dyrdahls, Zabels, Wasboes, Story, 

Hildebrandts, Weums, Strandemos, Schwakes, 

Logghes, Knolds, Marcusons, Hortops, Eastmans, 

Skinness, Stoos, Heglands and Hofdahls. 

One of the older families are the descendants of 

Elling Flom whose father was a township pioneer. 

Elling Flom was the eldest son of Erick Flom, who 

came from Norway as a young man to establish a farm 

in Richland. His son, Edwin H., was born on that 160 

acre farm. Erick Flom was a shoemaker by trade and 

for many years, while engaged in farming, found time 

to make shoes for his entire family. 

Another pioneer farm was the 160 acre farm 

operated by Albert C. and Thomas Wasboe. The farm 

was established by August and Johanna Wasboe, 

natives of Norway. Mr. Wasboe came to the United 

States from Norway when he was 15 years old with his 

mother, two brothers and a sister. Mrs. Wasboe came 

to this country when she was 13 and established a home 

in Richland township. 

Albert and Thomas Wasboe had never had an 

auction on the farm during its 74 years of existence and 

had insisted on operating a strictly horsepower farm 

until 1948 when they acquired a tractor for the first 

time but kept five horses busy on the farm. The 

brothers were "standpatters" when it came to 

allegiance to the old fashioned threshing rig. They 

269

~en ~tJiow 

thought the new method of combine harvesting, 

although quick, did not do as thorough a job as the 

threshing machine method and resulted in a big 

disadvantage to the farmer using a combine because of 

the absolute lack of straw- a necessity on any farm. 

The two Wasboes had a brother John of Faribault, 

formerly employed at the Shattuck l~undry, and a 

sister,Anna (Mrs. Julius Larson), also of Faribault. 

"Weaver Lady" Busy 

Ivor and Lena Knold were also pioneer residents of 

the township. Mr. Knold worked as a farmer and a 

handyman and Mrs. Knold's skill as a carpet and rug 

maker won her the title, "the weaver lady." She 

worked from dawn to dusk on her vari-sized rugs which 

were sold throughout the township and at Broin's 

Grocery Store in Kenyon for the amazingly small price 

of 10 cents a yard. Mrs. Knold, who sold her rugs to 

practically every home in Richland, died in 1939. 

Another prominent family in the township is the 

Underdahls. The Underdahl farm at one time 

contained 1,160 acres of land, with four brothers 

sharing. Lars had 400 acres, Ole 280 acres, Martin 280 

acres and Hans 200 acres. In 1949 the farm was 

operated by Henry Underdahl, son of Lars and Thea 

Underdahl. Coming from Dane county, Wis., Mrs. 

Underdahl was 18 years old when she married Lars 

Underdahl in 1893. In recalling the early days on the 

farm, Mrs. Underdahl had reported that in 1897 a 

hailstorm struck the neighborhood and destroyed 

everything. 

Gilbert Strandemo, former Rice County 

Representative in the State Legislature, was a 

prominent resident of Richland for more than 70 years. 

Born in Dodge County he came to Richland at an early 

age and became active in farming and business 

ventures. With his brother, George, he operated the 

Strandemo Brothers Store at Moland for 29 years and 

carried such a . complete stock that it was said 

customers could buy anything from a ''pin to a 

binder." 

In the last couple of years, the price of farm land 

has risen greatly. It is now selling for between $1500 

and $2000 an acre. 

Fertile Wheeling township 

was settled 12 2 years ago 

By CRAIG A. KELLER 

Wheeling township, located in the eastern tier of 

townships in Rice County, consists of some of the most 

prime land in the area for agricultural purposes. Soil 

conditions range from the very rich, dark, loam with a 

clay base in the southern portion of the township, to the 

quite light sandy conditions with a sand base in the 

more rolling section of the northern part. 

The township of Wheeling contains the famed 

"Nerstrand Woods State Park" and the village of 

Nerstrand. Wheeling is bordered by the townships of 

Richland to the south, Cannon City in the West, 

Northfield to the north and the County of Goodhue to 

the east. 

Originally the township consisted of 2,000 acres of 

timberland of which many early settlers staked for 

themselves woodlot claims. Most of the woodland was 

contained in sections 9, 16, 10 and 6. Also the township 

in the early days boasted two limestone quarries out of 

which many early settlers built their homes. The one 

quarry in section 3 is very well known yet today as 

many yards of rock are hauled out each year by the 

present owner, the Kielmeyer Construction Company. 

Early Settlers 

According to official records, the township of 

Wheeling was settled 122 years ago on June 15, 1854. On 

that date a party of Germans who had stopped for a 

short time in Illinois, arrived via ox team after four 

weeks on the road. The party consisted of Henry 

Bultman and family, Jacob Blank and family, Louis 

Helberg, Friederich Hogrefe, and John George Veeh. 

The first to stake claim and make settlement in 

Wheeling township was Jacob Blank. He drove stakes 

in sections 15 and 22 and immediately started making 

improvements. He erected a hay shanty for temporary 

living quarters. He brought with him two steers and 

two cows. In the fall of 1854 he built a log house. Mr. 

Blank did all of the work himself, using an axe he split 

oak for the roof and used bass wood for the flooring. He 

cut small trees, converting them into laths, nailing 

them inside and then plastering with clay. Jacob Blank 

lived here until October of 1878 when he retired and 

moved to Faribault. Today many old timers may recall 

this homestead as the Frank Kolling place or the John 

Bauer place. Now it is owned by Paul John Bauer. 

John George Veeh, father-in-law of Jacob Blank, 

was the second to stake claim in the township. 

This was in section 21, on which he lived and improved 

the land for about three years at which time he sold 

out. He then made his home with his daughter and 

son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Blank until his death 

Feb. 22, 1873. This place may be recalled as the Jacob 

("Jac") Bosshardt place or the Henry Mueller farn:t. 

At present, during this Bicentennial year, the farm 1s 

owned by the August Mueller family. 

The third person to settle was Louis Helberg. He 

staked claim also in section 21, where he improved the 

land and built a good set of buildings. Mr. Helberg lived 

there until his death in August of 1879. This farm was 

owned for many years by the Ihlow's, then Rosalind 

Ihlow Keller and at present it is owned by Wilmer 

(Pete) Keller. 

Henry Builtman and family were fourth to stake 

claim which they did in section 17. He built a hay 

shanty also to live in for a short time, then he built a log 

house using fence rails for flooring. After a few years 

he built a frame house. This remained a Bultman farm 

for many years and is now owned by Wilfred Sartor. 

Fifth to stake claim in Wheeling was Friederich 

Hogrefe in section 17 and 8. He was engaged in farming 

a few years and then entered the ministry, and served 

for several years as a preacher in Rochester, Olmsted 

270

The Jacob J. Bosshart Homestead 

(Wheeling) in family oumership since farm 

UXIS homesteaded in 1856, 120 years ago, now 

owned by Amanda Bosshart. 

County. Some of the old timers recall this as the 

Steierberg farm. Presently it is owned by Robert 

Morelan. 

In August of 1&54, two more German settlers made 

their way to Wheeling township. Henry C. Kolling 

came also from Illinois and selected land in section 21. 

He went back to Illinois to get his family and then lived 

in the winter months with his brother-in-law Louis 

Helberg. In 1855 he built a 16 x 22 log house and in 1865 

he built a frame house, which is still part of the present 

house which is used today by the owner of this farm, 

Elwood Lips. · · 

Builds Log House 

Henry Grote, also a German, came from Illinois 

and settled in section 17. In the spring of 1855 he built a 

log house which is still used today. Some owners of this 

farm have been Carl Ihlow, William Keller, Merle 

Bosshardt, and at the present time is owned by the 

Babcock Bros. 

It can be noted here that the early German settlers 

staked out claims along the route of a creek bed. This 

creek bed is actually a branch of Prairie Creek which 

touches the northwest quarter of Wheeling as it passes 

along from Cannon City Township to Northfield. 

In 1855 a group of Norweigians came to Wheeling 

from Wisconsin where they had stopped a short time. 

Elef Trulson made a claim in section 3 where he 

opened a blacksmiths shop. He remained there until 

1872. The present owner of this farm is Musehl 

Brothers. 

John Olson staked claim in section 6 where George 

H. Mohn Jr. is the present owner. For many years this 

was a H.J. Hellerud place and later. Oscar Hellerud 

owned it. 

Other Norweigians to come in 1855 were Truls 

Erlandson who took claim in section 6, Andrew Olson 

who staked claim in section 5 as did Seavor 

Halgrimson. Elling Johnson, a native Norweigian, 

came from Iowa and staked claim in section 8. Hans 

Anderson also came and took claim in section 7. 

Einar (Ever) Bonde, a native of Norway came 

here from Iowa where he had spent a year. He settled 

in section 11 on June 9, 1855 and lived his entire life 

there. Mr. Bonde built the stone house in which Earl 

Bonde and family now live in 1875. Present owners are 

Earl and Harold Bonde, great-grandsons of Einar 

Bonde. 

Ole Sherven came to Wheeling township and 

secured a place in section 18. The present owner is 

David Drentlaw. 

More Germans arrived in 1855 also. Paul Wolf was 

one who came and took claim in section 14. Mr. Wolf 

was killed by an accident in the timberland on Feb. 21, 

1857. Dr. Lowell Gess is the present owner. He is the 

great-grandson of Mr. Wolf. Mr. and Mrs. Delmar 

Zimmerman and family occupy the building site. 

Christian Erb took for his farm, land in section 23, 

which was owned by Walter Dierking for many years 

and is presently owned by Melvin Dierking. Mr. Erb 

moved to Cannon City township after a few years. 

Adam Knopf took claim in sections 22 and 23. The 

old Knopf place in section 23 was owned for many years 

by Henry Buchta and is now owned by Roger Keller. 

Death is Mystery 

Augustus Meyer was another settler of the time, 

but only after two weeks in the township he lost his life. 

,271

~en~cfNow 

Mrs. Amanda Bosshart, oldest lifelong 

resident of Wheeling Township. 

His death still remains a mystery as he left hom·e one 

Sunday morning to check out a road or passage-way to 

haul logs back to his farm and he never returned. Some 

18 months later his remains were found in section 16. 

Jacob J. Bosshart arrived here in July of 1855 after 

two years of exploring the new country. He was a 

native of Switzerland and took claim in section 27. His 

father, Mark Bosshart also from Switzerland arrived 

in 1856 and staked claim in sections 22 and 27. Jacob 

built a log house on section 27 which burnt in a prairie 

fire. He then erected the present frame house in 1867 

and 1876. Mark built his log house on section 22 which 

later moved next to the present frame house in section 

Tl. After Mark's death, Jacob owned the total claim of 

280 acres which later was owned by Mr. and Mrs. 

Frank J. Bosshart and presently owned by Arnold and 

Elsie Bosshart Keller. 

Watts Pye, an Englishman, came to Wheeling and 

settled in section 18. Ole Benson, a Norweigian, staked 

claim in section 10. Hans Rinde, another native of 

Norway, settled in section 2. For some years this was 

owned by the Piepho's and also by former state senator 

A. 0. Sundet. Presently the building site is owned by 

Kenneth Sahlin. Hugh McDurland came from 

Pennsylvania and took claim in section 30. This farm is 

now owned by Richard Knott. 

Friedrich Helberg, a German, was also among 

those to settle land in 1855. He claimed land in section 

29, but then bought land in section 28. For many years 

Anton Helberg owned this farm of his grandfather. 

The present owner is Walter Meyer. 

1856 brought still more settlers. Ole Fingalson 

settled in section 2. Erick Erickson Rood . came and 

took claims in sections 5 and 6. Present owners of this 

farm are the Dwight Johnson's. Also John Thompson 

came and settled in section 2. 

Syver Aslakson, a native of Norway, came here 

from Houston County in 1856. He settled in section 10. 

As happens in many families the name was changed to 

Vesledahl and so the farm remains in the same family, 

now being owned by Isabelle Radtke. 

Hans 0. Stenbakken settled in section 12. The 

present owner of this farm is Floyd Covert. William 

Frederick came and took claim in section 28. William 

Bernstein owned this for many year s and is now owned 

by Elwood Lips. 

William Grote took claim in sections 26 and 27. This 

land was also owned by Henry Grote and then Fred 

Grote. Presently the land is owned by Donald Grote 

with the exception of 80 acres in section 26 which is 

owned by R. W. Hafemeyer. 

Frederick Knaus came and settled in section 23. 

Mrs. Sophie Larson owns this farm now. 

A well known native of Norway, Osmund 

Osmundson, came to Wheeling from California. He 

made claims in sections 14 and 11. He built a frame 

house in section 14 where Ossie Osmundson now lives. 

He also built a brick house in section 11 where Lenord 

Osmundson lives. 

Jacob J ellum was another early settler in section 4 

of Wheeling. He donated land from his farm for the 

Valley Grove Church and Cemetery. This farm is now 

owned by Ove Hellerud. Jacob's son, John, lived across 

the road where Howard Segestrol!l now lives. 

A few other well known settlers arrived the next 

few years. In 1857, William Bultman, a German native 

arrived and staked claim in section 25. This place has 

been in the family for 100 years and is presently owned 

by Delbert Bultman. 

In 1858, Peter H. Odegard settled in Wheeling on 

section 36. This is presently owned by Ellsworth Buan. 

Christian Dieke came in 1859 and claimed land in 

section 32. Today this farm is owned by Marvin 

Chmelik. In 1860, Henry Achterkirch, a German, 

arrived and settled in section 21. This is where the 

Linneman Bros. now live. 

These farms were all settled from 1855 to 1860 and 

recorded in an early history book of Rice County, dated 

1882. Many farms of the township are not listed in this 

update either because they were settled after 1860 or 

they were not recorded in the early history book. 

Century Family Farms 

During the Centennial of Minnesota in 1958, many 

farm families were honored at the state fair for 

keeping their farms within the family for a 100 years or 

more. Wheeling Township was privileged to have six 

farm families receive this honor. They include: 

Einar Halvorson (Ever) Bonde who staked claim 

272

More glimpses 

Plwto of the original Farm Home of J. J. Bosshart, Wheeling. 

in section 11 in June of 1855. The farm has since been 

owned by Tosten, Oscar, and at present it is owned by 

Earl and Harold Bonde. Earl and Harold also owned it 

during the state's centennial and are great-grandsons 

of Einar. 

Jacob J. Bosshart's farm in section 27 also was a 

century farm. It was settled in July of 1855 and has 

been in the family ever since. Owners include Frank J. 

and his widow Amanda M. who owned it during the 

state's centennial. Presently Arnold and Elsie Keller 

own it, and Elsie is a granddaughter of Jacob. 

Friedrich Helberg's farm in section 28 remained in 

the family for over a century also. During the 

centennial of Minnesota the farm was owned by Anton 

Helberg, a grandson of Friedrich. Presently it is owned 

by the Walter Meyer's. Mrs. Meyer (Elnora) is a 

great-granddaughter of Friedrich. 

The farm of Osmund Osmundson also qualified for 

a century farm. This farm was owned in 1958 and also 

at the present by a grandson by the same name, 

Osmund Osmundson. 

Halvor H. Quie staked claim in Section 1 of 

Wheeling Township prior to 1858. The Quie farm has 

also been in the family for over 100 years. At present as 

in 1958 the farm is owned by the Hon. Albert H. Quie, 

First District U.S. Congressman. This farm is the 

Northeastern most portion of Wheeling township. 

The Paul Wolf place in section 14 has also 

remained in the family for over 100 years. In 1958 it was 

owned by Dewy Wolf and at present is owned by Dr. 

Lowell Gess. Dr. Gess lives in Alexandria, Minn., and 

for many years was a missionary-eye surgeon in 

Africa. He is a great-grandson of Paul Wolf. 

It is interesting to note that all these farms have 

since 1958 (Minnesota's centennial) still remained in 

the family of the first owner prior to 1858. 

Wheeling Township Churches 

The township of Wheeling originally had four 

churches, of which today only one remains active. 

One of Rice Counties' finest and most active rural 

church is that of St. John's United Church of Christ, 

located in section 28. The congregation of St. John's 

was organized in 1856. In the early days it was known 

as the German United Evangelical St. John's congregation. 

It is the oldest Evangelical church in the 

state of Minnesota. The founders of the church were: 

Jacob J. Bosshart, William Grote, and John George 

Veeh. A constitution was drawn up, and at a meeting in 

December of 1856 it was adopted and signed by 33 

members. 

A log church was built in 1857 measuring 22' x 26', 

and it was dedicated in September of the same year. In 

1858 a parsonage was built and attached to the log 

church. 

The first pastor was Rev. Karl Theadore August 

Braemer. He served for one year and 10 months. For 

the next two years the congregation was without a 

regular pastor. In 1861, Rev. Sebastian Weiss became 

pastor and was then succeeded in 1867 by Rev. Samuel 

Lang. As members came to worship on Reformation 

Sunday, October 30, 1869, they saw their log church in 

273

{¥en ~c:Now 

Pump House and Barn of J. J. Bosshart farm, Wheeling 

flames. 

The congregation did not give up hope in the future 

of their church and decided to build another church, . 

but this time of stone. On April 29, 1870, the corner 

stone for the new church was laid. Men of the church 

worked hard bringing large quarry rock, putting them 

in place to form a new church structure. The work was 

done before winter set in and on the first Sunday in 

December, 1870, the church was dedicated. 

In 1873, a separate school house was built to the 

east of the church. Rev. J.D. Berges became pastor in 

1875, and served the next 9 years. During this time a 

group of pastors met at St. John's to form the 

Minnesota district of the Evangelical Church. Rev. H. 

Rahmeier served the church from 1886-1895 and from 

1895-1903 the Rev. G. A. Neumann served as the pastor. 

In October of 1899, the present chancel of the stone 

church was dedicated. The school house was also 

enlarged during the year of 1899. 

From 1903-1944, Rev. William Koring served as 

pastor of the church. During his pastorate, several 

remodeling jobs were done to the church and 

parsonage. A kitchen was added to the school house 

and a new barn was built after the old barn burned 

down Jan.17, 1929. 

The German language was used in all services 

until 1918, and German was alternated with English 

from 1918-1944. Since then, English ·has been used 

constantly. The Rev. William Reiman, a son of St. 

John's Church, was ordained into the ministry in 1913. 

The Rev. Victor Grupe assumed pastoral duties 

Jan. 5, 1945. The church interior was remodeled in 1948 

and the exterior of the parsonage was redone in 1950. In 

1951, a new Wicks Pipe Organ was installed in the 

church. 

The Rev. John G. Siegle began his ministry at St. 

John's on June 16, 1953. St. John's Evangelical and 

Reformed Church celebrated its 100th anniversary 

June 17, 1956. On October 12, 1958, a ground breaking 

service was held for the new educational unit and 

parish hall. This structure was dedicated Aug. 23, 1959. 

On Jan. 21, 1961, Rev. Walter C. Rasche assumed 

duties as pastor of St. John's. Ground-breaking for a 

new parsonage was held on Easter Sunday, April 14, 

1968. The new parsonage was dedicated January 19, 

1969. 

Aug. 31, 1969 was the date the Rev. Frank B. 

Harcey arrived at St. John's. On May 17, 1970, a special 

service was held to commemorate the 100th 

anniversary of the stone church. Tragedy struck the 

congregation on March 15, 1971, as their pastor was 

killed in an auto-pedestrian accident in Mason City, 

Iowa. 

The present pastor, the Rev. Valerius G. Schultz 

assumed pastoral duties July 1, 1971. The steeple was 

repaired and shingled in 1974 and the stained glass 

windows of the church were repaired and protective 

glass lnstalled in 1975. The current membership is 250. 

"The Old Stone Church of Wheeling" as it is many 

times called, has become a landmark in the 

community and will continue to be a useful landmark 

by serving as a meeting place for the worshipers of 

274

More glimpses .r · 

God for future generations of people who will continue 

to uphold and improve their church as their forefathers 

have done. 

Beautiful Setting 

In section 4 of Wheeling township one can see 

amongst a beautiful setting, the Valley Grove · 

Lutheran Church. 

Early settlers in the northern portion of the 

township began conducting worship services in private 

homes as early as 1855. In 1856 organization began of 

the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church which 

located in Goodhue County (Holden Church). Rev. Nils 

0. Brandt and Rev. A. C. Preus were pastors who 

preached in private homes during the early years. 

In 1858, Rev. P. L. Larson baptized some 33 

children in an open air service in the south-west portion 

of section 4 known as John Hanson's grove, which is 

now OWf!ed by AI Severson. 

In the 1860's a need was felt to have a church 

building in their own community. So the stone church 

of "Tyske Grove" was built in 1862, and from then on 

operated as an independent church in the Norweigian 

Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Rev. N. A. Quammen 

was the first pastor of the independent Tyske Grove 

Church. 

The Church changed its name from Tyske Grove to 

Valley Grove in 1870. In 1874 the church bell was bought 

and installed. 

In 1894 a new white frame structure was built and 

dedicated on Nov. 8, 1894. Also in 1894 a new church 

was built in Nerstrand. 

Rev. Sven Berven was called to serve as pastor in 

1908 and in 1910 moved into a new parsonage built in 

Nerstrand owned jointly by Valley Grove and Little 

Cannon churches. 

In 1911, a beautiful, one manual, five rank 

"tracker" pipe organ was installed at the cost of 

$1,000. It was crated and shipped from St. Louis, Mo. by 

train to Nerstrand and delivered to the church by 

sleigh. 

Rev. B. A. Johnson became pastor in 1917 and in 

1921 Rev. Rolf Rosenquist was called as pastor. He 

served until his death on May 22, 1946 and is buried in 

the Valley Grove Cemetery. Rev. Chester A. Olson was 

then called and served until 1948. Dr. G. M. Bruce 

served for one year and then in 1950, Rev. T. H. Rossing 

was installed as pastor. Rev. Rossing served the 

congregation until 1957. From 1957-1969 ministers 

included the Rev. 's 0. M. Hanson, David Lovass, Clyde 

Holte, Omar Otterness, and Wallace Hustad. In 1961 a 

redecorative program began in preparation for the 

Centennial observance of th~ church in 1962. 

The last pastor of the church was the Rev. Jacob 

Enderson who served from 1969-1972. With church 

membership declining, it became harder and harder 

for the congregation to keep going. Finally it was 

decided to disband as a congregation and the last 

service of the Valley Grove congregation was held 

Easter Sunday, Aprill7, 1972. 

Both the old stone church and the white frame 

church are listed in the National Register of Ii1storical 

Sites and Places. The stone church is being 

' 

A• .\; 

- ~ , '~ 

·~ . ...~ . 

Two Nerstrand State Park scenes 

~- 

275

t¥en ~8/ow 

!_{ept up by the Valley Grove-Grace Cemetery Ass'n 

and the white frame structure is being cared for by the 

Society for the Preservation of Valley Grove Church. 

The two buildings will hopefully remain as landmarks 

to the community. 

- Another church to take organization in 1856 was the 

German Methodist Church. The first services were 

held in the home of Jacob Blank and 1862 it was decided 

to build a church in the north-east quarter of section 25. 

The church remained on this site until1908 when a new 

church was built and located in the village of 

Nerstrand. The first minister was Rev. Zollman, with 

Rev. F. Grochtenmire, Rev. G. Siebrasse, and Rev. 

William Pagenhart each serving terms as pastors. 

The Salem Evangelical Church held informal 

services as early as 1856 in Paul Wolf's home with Rev. 

Andreas Tamutzer officiating. Officially the church 

was organized Aug. 9, 1857. Early families included: 

Adam Knopf, Paul Wold and Christian Erb. In 1862, it 

was decided to build a log church and on April 9, 1865 

the dedication service was held. The location was on 

~ction 24 where the Evangelical Cemetery is now 

located. In 1889 as a new church was erected, a white 

frame building at the same site. The Salem Church was 

a parent church for the Prairieville, Faribault, 

kenyon, and Zion Evangelical Churches. The first 

minister for the church in 1862 was the Rev. John 

Hammeter. On Sept. 12, 1907, the congregation 

celebrated its 50th anniversary. In 1916 the church was 

moved to Nerstrand and became known in later years 

as the Nerstrand Evangelical United Brethren Church. , 

Wheeling Township Education 

Wheeling township had organized a total of six 

school districts. First to be organized was District No. 

27 in section 17. A schoolhouse was built in 1857 with a 

new structure built in 1867. The school house today is 

still located in section 17 and has been made into a 

home by Phillip Warneke. 

District No. 41located in section 4 was also erected 

at an early date. In the early 1960's the school house 

was moved to Nerstrand and now used for a home for 

Ron Haase and family. 

In 1859, school district No. 43 was organized in 

section 11. This district was later relocated in section 

36 of Northfield township. 

School district No. 61 was organized in 1860 and 

was located in section 14 on the farm now owned by 

Allen Wille. 

In 1861, School District No. 5 was organized in section 

26. In very early days this school was used for 

only the five winter months as the strict religious 

Germans in the area sent their children to a parochial 

school located at St. John's church in section 28 also for 

five months of the year. 

District No. 72 was organized in 1867, and a school 

house was erected in section 31. 

All these schools were annexed with the Nerstrand 

School District 658 during the 1950's.:- 

Govemmental Organizations 

The first town meeting was held May 11, 1858 in the 

District No. 27 school house. Officers elected were: 

Supervisors, Watts A. Pye as chairman, Christian Erb, 

and Lewis Everson; Clerk, Augustus Sickler; 

Assessor, Ole Sherven; Collector, Louis Helberg; 

Justice of the Peace, Joseph Covert and Henry C. 

Kolling; Overseerer of the poor, John Brown; and 

Constables, George Fogg and Jacob J. Bosshart. 

Town meetings continued being held in private 

homes and the school house until 1870. At that time a 

frame meeting hall was built at a cost of $600 and 

located in the northeast quarter of section 21. 

The present 1976 officers of the Wheeling township 

. board include: three supervisors, Everett Hamann, 

Donald Kispert, and Richard Knott; clerk, Paul John 

Bauer; and Treasurer, Harold Wagener. 

The budget of the township for 1976 was set at 

$29,000. 

Early mail service for the township was centered 

at the parsonage of St. John's church with Rev. 

Sebastian Weiss as the first postmaster and Jacob J. 

Bosshart was the mail carrier. At that time mail 

arrived only once a week from Faribault. Later Jacob 

J. Bosshart was both postmaster and mail carrier, 

getting mail three times a week from Faribault and 

operating out of his own home in Section 27. Mail 

service on the township basis was then dropped and 

operated out of the village of Nerstrand. 

Wheeling Businesses 

Early township business mainly included syrup 

manufacturing, blacksmiths' work, and general 

stores. 

The syrup mills were a big success in the 1880s. 

One owned by Roth & Lips was located in section 22. In 

1880 they produced 966 gallons of syrup. In 1881 it 

became property of Lips Brothers and was relocated 

on their farm in section 15 and produced 1300 gallons of 

syrup that year. 

Michael Knopf also had a syrup mill in section 23 and 

in 1881 manufactured 2400 gallons of syrup. 

The first blacksmith shop was owned and operated 

by Elef Trulson in section 3. He remained in business 

until1872. 

George Knopf erected a blacksmith shop in 1880 on 

Section 13 and sold out to William Friday in 1881. 

In 1877, Osmund Osmundson erected a general 

store in section 14 and Henry Knopf built a general 

store in the northeast quarter of section 23 in 1880. 

The oldest business in the township and operating 

stronger than ever is the Wheeling Mutual Fire 

Insurance Company. The company was organized 

April 6, 1876. The board's first officers were: president, 

Christian Dieke; secretary, Tosten E. Bonde; 

treasurer, Michael Knopf; and directors, Halvor H. 

Quie, Henry Bultman, Henry Grote and John Hanre. A 

total of 38- policies were issued the first year to the 

amount of $38,000. The first policy was issued to Carl 

Ihlow in the amount of $2400. The first loss occurred in 

1883 when lightning caused damage to lightning rods on 

the Jacob J. Bosshart farm to the extent of $7.50. 

The insurance company observed its 100th 

anniversary February 14, 1976. At present the 

company has 30 million dollars of insurance in force 

with over 700 policyholders. Present board members 

include: president, Harold Bonde; vice president, 

276

More glimpses 

Robert Meyer Sr.; Secretary-treasurer, Arnold 

Keller; directors: Walter Budde, Donald Kispert, 

Richard (Dick) Miller and Walter Krenz Jr. 

The Kielmeyer Construction Company is a modern 

day big business in Wheeling township. The office work 

is done from the Douglas Kielmeyer home in 

Nerstrand, but the actual crushing and other related 

work is done in section 3 and 10. The company provides 

employment for many individuals in the area. Crushed 

rock and road construction is a service provided for a 

very wide geographical area as well as providing the 

necessary gravel for local roads and farmers. 

"Nerstrand Woods State Park" 

The Nerstrand Woods State Park attracts many 

visitors to the Wheeling township area each year. 

Guests in 1975 totaled nearly 65,000. 

The park was organized in the early 1930s, mainly 

as just a small picnic area. There is nearly 1200 acres 

at present which make up the park, including picnic 

area, natural woodland, and camping area. 

In 1961 a picnic shelter was built. 1962 brought the 

present day campsites into the picture, with 62 modern 

camp sites installed. Today there is also an area called 

Pioneer Village, a primitive camping area for boy and 

girl scouts. 

The present park managers, Mr. and Mrs. Ray 

Habben, have been here since 1968. The park employs 

one full time and three part-time helpers. 

Prairie Creek and the beautiful falls along with 

scenic "Big woods" has also helped create a big 

interest in the park. With the present day enthusiasm 

of family camping and group outing, the park is filled 

every weekend in the summer. With the addition of 12 

miles of hiking trails, the park has become a place to 

enjoy the outdoors in the winter as well as in the 

summer. 

Just completed of 1976 is a "wheel chair trail." 

This will make it a great deal easier for the 

handicapped to enjoy the "Big Woods". With more new 

programs and continued growth in both size and in 

the number of visitors, the Nerstrand Woods State 

Park will continue to be the leading recreation spot not 

only of Wheeling township but the whole upper 

midwest. 

Historic Items of Interest 

The first birth in the township occurred October 2, 

1854. The baby, a girl named Caroline, was the 

daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Blank in section 22. 

The second birth was of Halgrim, son of Seaver and 

Christine Halgrimson. He was born on Jan. 20, 1855. 

The third child born was that of Julia, daughter of 

Truls and Annie Erlandson, born in the fall of 1855. 

The first marriage of Wheeling Township was that 

of Louis Helberg and Wilhelmina Meyer on November 

5, 1855. The next wedding was that of Friedrick 

Hogrefe and Dorothy Fischer in December of 1855. 

Jacob Johnson and Cecelia Evanson was the third 

marriage, which took place in the spring of 1856. 

Important People 

The township of Wheeling is extremely proud to be 

the home of the Honorable Albert H. Quie. 

Congressman Quie was elected at a special election 

Albert H. Quie, 

U.S. Congressman 

Feb. 18, 1958 to hold the position of United States 

Representative from the first district in Minnesota. He 

has continuously served this position through the 

present time. Congressman Quie is a ranking member . 

of the House Education and Labor committee. 

One lady that Wheeling township is also very proud 

of is Mrs. Alfred (Gladys) Severson. She and her 

husbarid reside on a farm in section 4. Mrs. Severson 

was chosen Minnesota Mother of the Year in 1975. 

Our Golden Age Club 

The oldest resident living in Wheeling Township is 

Mrs. Herman (Louise) Budde. Mrs. Budde was 91 on 

April 13, 1976 and lives in section 21. She was born in 

Long Prairie, Minnesota and came to Wheeling upon 

her marriage to Herman Budde, Nov. 19, 1908. 

The oldest lifelong resident of Wheeling township is 

Mrs. Amanda M. Bosshart. She was 90 on Aug. 24, 1916. 

Mrs. Bosshart was born in section 33 of Wheeling and 

after her marriage to Frank Bosshart June 23, 1900, 

lived in section 27, where she continues to make her 

home. She has never lived outside the township. Mrs. 

Bosshart did much of the early historic recollecting for 

this Wheeling Township chapter, especially of the 

German settlement. 

Another golden-ager is Mrs. Halvor Quie. She now 

lives at the Northfield Retirement Center but was 

always quite closely associated with Wheeling 

township residents. She was born in section 4 of 

Wheeling in 1883, commencing her 93rd year in June of 

1976. Mrs. Quie was born, Mar grit J ellum, daughter of 

Mr. and Mrs. John Jellum. Mrs. Quie provided much 

information on the northern settlements in early 

Wheeling township history. 

Mr. Henry Wille is another elder citizen formerly 

of Wheeling. He was 89 on Jan. 9, 1976. Mr. Wille 

farmed for many years in section 35 and later moved to 

Kenyon upon his retirement and now lives in the 

Kenyon Sunset Home. 

Still another elder resident living yet in the township 

is Melvin Bollenbach. Mr. Bollenbach is 87 since the 

13th of January, 1976. He lives in section 14 of 

Wheeling Township. 

277

~en ~c!Jtlow 

The longest married couple residing in Wheeling 

township are Mr. and Mrs. Milton Bollenbach. They 

celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Sept. 23, 

1974. They are now married 62 years. Mr. and Mrs. 

Bollenbach still live on their farm in section 13 of which 

part is actually included in the city of Nerstrand 

boundaries. 

Another couple, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Hafemeyer 

were married 55 years May 11, 1976. Mr. and Mrs. 

Hafemeyer live on their farm in section 26. 

A long time, well-known Wheeling township farm 

couple, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Helberg were married 58 

years on Nov. 1, 1975. Mr. and Mrs. Helberg were long 

time farmers in section 28, but have in their retirement 

made their home in Faribault. 

Mrs. Gladys Severson is 

named '7 5 mother of year 

In the spring of 1975, for the second time in three 

years, Rice County gained widespread recognition for 

having, as one of its residents, Minnesota's Mother of 

the Year. Mrs. Gladys (Alfred) Severson of Rural 

Nerstrand, Wheeling Township, won that coveted 

designation from an official state committee. As 

Minnesota Mother of the Year she went to New York 

City in May, stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and 

met distinguished Mothers from other states. "It's an 

experience I'll never forget,'' she commented. 

In 1972, Mrs. Willi (Adeline) Ballenthin of 

Faribault was named Rice County's first "Mother of 

the Year." An article about her also appears in this 

Bicentennial History Book. 

Mrs. Gladys Kjeldahl Severson was born April27, 

1912, at Belgrade (Stearns County) the daughter of 

Gusta Moen Kjeldahl and Ole Wilhelm Kjeldahl. She 

attended a one room country school and the Belgrade 

Mrs. Gladys Severson 

(Mother of the Year) 

High School. To satisfy her lifelong interest, she 

studied art at Art Instruction, Inc.; Minneapolis 

College of Art and the Minneapolis Art Institute. 

Versatile in talent and interest, she also has written 

poems and articles published in ''Scope'' and farm and 

art magazines. 

Mrs. Severson, 63, is married to Alfred Severson, a 

retired farmer from the Nerstrand area. The couple 

have five children: two daughters, Dorothy Jarvey, a 

nursing supervisor in Minnetonka, and Hazel 

Mummah, director of a convalescent home in Whittier, 

Calif.; and three sons, Alson Severson, a sales 

representative in Nerstrand; Paul Severson, senior 

vice president of Rio Control Corp., Houston, Texas, 

and Dale Severson, an employe of Dow Chemical in 

Spokane, Wash. Besides the five children the 

Seversons are now enjoying their 11 grandchildren. 

Children Praised 

The people of their home community praise highly 

all five of the children the Seversons have raised and 

comment extensively on what a wonderful mother she 

has been. This same opinion is repeated by the children 

themselves. 

Grace Lutheran Church, Nerstrand, where the 

Seversons have been active members for many years, 

sponsored Mrs. Severson in the state contest. The 

church people felt she was highly deserving of the 

honor and were proud to claim her as an active 

member. Many, many people from the community 

wrote letters expressing their admiration, and the 

reasons for their admiration of Mrs. Severson and her 

accomplishments in the community. 

One· friend said: ''Everything she has done has 

been 'for the Glory of God'." Another talked about the 

beautiful mosaics she has made, many of which have 

won state and national awards. The themes for her 

works of art, both mosaics and poetry, are taken from 

the Bible or nature. 

First District Minnesota Congressman Albert 

Quie, a neighbor, wrote to American Mothers, Inc., 

supporing Mrs. Severson. "I can think of no one who 

could be more deserving of this honor than Mrs. Gladys 

Severson," he wrote. 

Probably the most in1pressive thing about the 1975 

Minnesota Mother of the Year is her effect upon 

people, commented a neighbor. "Everyone who meets 

her, even for a short time, is left with a happy feeling 

and feel she is a "pleasant person to meet." Everyone 

in her community unanimously agrees that "knowing 

Mrs. Severson and her family and being in the same 

community with them has been wonderful.'' In 1975 she 

also was presented the WCCO Good Neighbor Award. 

As an artist, a field in which she has gained 

enviable and flattering recognition, her original 

medium has been stone mosaics. She also paints with 

oils, acrylics and watercolor. She has art work on 

exhibition in 16 states and three foreign countries 

Wins Awards 

Among the distinguished awards she has received 

for her art work are: First visitor's choice and first 

jury Choice at the Religious Art Festival, St. Paul; flrst 

in mosaics, Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, 

278

Women from 10 dubs from LeSueur to Red Wing were 

completely enthralled with her talk at the convention. 

According to others who have heard her before, this is 

the normal effect she has on her audiences. 

Down through the years, Mrs. Severson has 

enjoyed living on the farm, believing that farm life was 

more conducive to a close family life than any other. 

Quite typically, if one child joined 4-H, the whole 

family became.involved in 4-H, she explained. 

"Farm children are kept so busy all the time they 

don't have time to be bored," she said. "I think that 

children should feel that they are worth something.'' 

Pioneer pastor sells 

shoes to get to church 

Prize-winning mosaic art design by Mrs. 

Gladys Severson, Wheeling, Minnesota 

Mother of the Year. 

British Columbia (viewed by 150,000 people); Madonna 

Festival Award, Los Angeles, Calif.; Purchase Award, 

Luth Brothers, Minnea-polis (now part of traveling 

exhibit). 

_ Mrs. Severson has participated, with much 

favorable comment, in various art shows at Bottega 

Galleries, Minneapolis; Sons of Norway, Minneapolis; 

Fairview Hospital, Minneapolis; Lutheran 

Brotherhood Building, Minneapolis, and St. Olaf 

College Student Center. 

For several years Mrs. Severson taught classes at 

the Faribault Art Center for children and adults and 

taught art in grades 1-8 at the Nerstrand Elementary 

School. She has been art project leader for Rice 

County 4-H clubs several times. In 1976 she is serving 

as state chairman of the Minnesota Mothers Art 

Committee. 

Gladys Severson is an excellent speaker in her own 

right. She has spoken at conventions, conferences, 

retreats and banquets, including mother-daughter 

dirniers. In the last year and a half she has fulfilled 

over 50 speaking engagements. In 1975 she spoke at the 

Memorial Day Services at Kenyon (the first woman 

who had been given this honor). 

She makes "chalk talks" at many club and group 

meetings which are a favorite among the people. She 

spoke to the women of the Third District Minnesota 

Federated Women's Clubs and held them spellbound. 

June 28, 1858, was an exciting day for the people 

who had gathered at the John Hanson farm in Wheeling 

Township. Here they were awaiting the arrival of the 

young Norwegian Missionary Pastor Lauer Larsen, 

according to the 1936 nook, "Lauer Larsen, Pioneer 

College President,'' by Karen Larson, then professor of 

history at St. Olaf College. 

Some of them had come from many miles away 

(distances of 15 to 20 miles) in horse-drawn vehicles. 

Pastor Larsen, in response to many ·written 

requests from these pioneers, (who wanted to worship 

and have their children baptized in their native 

language), came from Wisconsin, traveling by boat, 

horse and also much of the way on foot. 

When he arrived in Kenyon his shoes were literally 

worn off his feet. The new pair he had purchased in 

Stillwater for $3.00 had been sold again for $2.50 (when 

he found that his resources had dwindled to $1.03) and 

he needed funds for food, lodging and transportation. 

In Kenyon, -he found a generous friend, who gave him 

food, lodging and a pair of shoes. Pastor Larsen 

arrived there on a Saturday night and the only pair of 

shoes available for Sunday was a pair that had been 

made for a woman. 

It is interesting to think of this man, who later 

became the first President of Luther College, wearing 

a woman's shoes! ! 

When Pastor Larsen arrived at the Hanson farm 

the children, who were by then busily playing in the 

woods and meadows, had to be rounded up, washed, 

combed, clothes smoothed and brushed to look as nice 

as possible for the baptism ceremony. This was the 

reason they had come, and, thirty-three children were 

baptized in the shade of a huge oak tree. 

One hundred seventeen years later, Sarah Ann 

Severson became the thirty-fourth child to be baptized 

under the old tree. 

The Hanson farm is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Al 

Severson. 

279

Photo DieDiories of the past 

. / • 

Five Faribault Police Officers in 1943, Jack Stearns, Ernest Aberle, 

Lawrence (Tiny) Ableman, William Mullenmeister, Fred Heath, 

Chief, in front of courthouse

Old Immaculate Conception School 

Having fun at Misgen's Bay, Roberds Lake

First Rosary Society of Sacred Heart Catholic Church 

Edgar "Dick" Lehman at work in Mum field, 

1956 

County Agent Warren Liebenstein and the 

late Tess Rowley mapping project plans

Faribault Girl Scout Troop in early 1950's 

Float in Faribault Peony Parade in 1920's

Early day fountain in Central Park, Faribault 

Indoor showroom of mums at Lehman Gardens, 1954

State Braille School Girl Scout Troop's display of World Gift Badge 

at Faribault Girl Scout Fair 

Peony Parade Float in 1920's

Forty Troop 36 Boy Scouts (Immaculate Conception Church) en route 

to Tomahawk Scout Reservation Camp, Wisconsin, for camping. R. 

Dietz, D. Van Orsow, leaders. 

Vacation Reading Club at Buckham Memorial Library, 1935

A group at Cromer's Falls in earlier days. 

Allen Meschke with his champion 4-H lwrse at 

1942Fair 

Don Lashbrook grooming his fair entry

Interior view of St. Paul Clothiers Store, 220Central Ave., Faribault, 

one of six stores in company founded in 1921 by Charles J. Upin and 

Simon Lasker in Albert Lea. Firm currently headed by Alan Upin. 

Faribault store manager is Sam Upin. 

Big Star 4-H float in 1926

Alfred L. Ochs, AlbertOchs, French Aviator, Father Monge and first 

plane to land in Faribault at fairgrounds (then at Tepee Tonka Park) 

Up and Doing 4-H Club on tour in 1927. Lincoln Paulson (with hat) in 

front

"Women's Land Army" working at World War II Victory Gardens 

Girl Good Grooming award winners of 

Meadow Lark 4-H Club, 1950's 

Boy Good Grooming Award winners of 

Meadow Lark 4-H Club, 1950's

• r:~ 

i .....___ -·~ - s ~ 

Three progressive Dairy Calf Club members 

of Warsaw 4-H Club (1927) 

County ASC Committee of earlier days, F.A. 

Schrader, Joseph Machacak, Otto Musegades 

Morris L. Derscheid, Richland, Richland 1932 

corn husking contest champion. Wagon driver 

UXLS Fred A. Schrader.

Former County Agent Ed Slettom enjoys fresh bread 

The former W.F. Schilling Spring Brook Dairy Farm near Northfield

Happy Hustlers 4-H Club on tour at V.A. Hurlbutt farm, July 22, 1945 

Mrs. Ray Erb, Cannon City, happy over 

electricity on the farm in the 1940's 

Dorene Smith and Irma Reineke, "Ice Cream 

Making" demonstration team which won 

grand championship at Minnesota State Fair 

and first place at National Dairy Show (1930)

, 

Young and old having fun at county 4-H picnic in 1950's 

There's something funny in the sky. Guess who's at the mike.

Buckham Memorial Library 1931 Vacation Reading Club 

4-H Club tour at Herb Miller farm, Northfield, 1930's

Chapter IX 

Farm life pays 

Dian y dividends 

Wheatland started as 

village., now a township 

By MRS. ELMER VIKLA 

Wheatland Township is located in the northwest 

corner of Rice County and consists primarily of rolling, 

agricultural land. At one time, this entire area was 

covered with heavy timber stands and was known as 

the "Big Woods" region. The woods held fascination 

and soon settlers began to stake their claims to the land 

in this area, as was being done in the rest of Rice 


Wheatland Township contains three lakes plus part 

of Phelps Lake which extends north from Erin 

Township. COdy Lake, named after Patrick Cody, is on 

the north side of Phelps Lake and was sometimes 

called Wheatla nd Lake. Metoggha Lake is in Section 

20. It was later named Bushman Lake, Rezac Lake, 

an_d. Kocina Lake, but is now generally known by its 

ongmal name_ Hatch Lake is in Sections 16 and 17 and 

was formerly c alled Cook Lake, but in the 1850s Zenas 

Y. Hatch settled on a farm on the shore of this lake in 

Section 16 and it was renamed after him. Several 

artificial mounds were visible on the east side of Hatch 

Lake in the e a rly 1900s. They were rather small, not 

exceeding two feet in height. 

The first settlers who took up claims in Wheatland 

were three Czechs- John Bot set, Raymond Pacovsky 

and John Mar kovsky. This was at the time the town 

was surveyed by Hardin Nowlin, deputy surveyor, in 

1854. These rn.en sold out their claims shortly after. 

Arriving right after them were Joseph J. Frazier, John 

P. Cook, Da id S. McCormick, Jeremiah Wilson, 

Mathew Ever son, Thomas Lambert and Louis 

Plaisance. 

The first PErmanent settler in the area was Joseph 

J. Frazier, wb.o was of Indian and Scotch descent and 

settled in the c:trea in 1855. Prior to that time, he had 

paid a visit to "the Turpins and other part-Indians who 

had a settleme:nt on the shore of Rice Lake in Le Sueur 

County only t~o miles from Phelps Lake. 

Through e friendship of Gen. Henry H. Sibley, 

Frazier came on a hunting and trapping expedition 

with him, ther-eby acquainting himself with the entire 

~rea. of Rice L-ake, along with Phelps and Cody Lakes 

m Rice Count~ . At that time these three lakes were 

practically one. This area was ideal for Frazier and 

consequently he made a claim in 1855 to Section 32 on 

the neck of land stretching between Phelps Lake and 

Cody Lake. He was remembered as a noted hunter and 

Indian warrior and as being brave and good-hearted. 

Jack Frazier was at Fort Ridgely when it was 

invaded by savages and he broke through the lines of 

the enemy to give alarm at Fort Snelling so help would 

be sent. He was greatly attached to General Sibley, 

who undoubtedly recognized his abilities and force of 

character. In 1861 he married and a year later he and 

his wife, Jane, sold all their land to Henry H. Sibley fo_r 

$200. However, they continued to live on the claim unttl 

his death on Feb. 23, 1869. In memory of his friend, Gen 

Sibley placed a slate at the head of his last resting 

place in the French Catholic Cemetery in Section 29. 

His widow married again to Eli Clouthier and in 1869, 

General Sibley sold the land back to her for $1,000, a 

fair profit in a short time! 

Thomas Lambert also arrived in 1855 and staked a 

claim in Section 29 but returned to Mendota a year 

later. However, in 1857 he came back and selected a 

place in Section 32 where he remained until his death 

on March 16, 1881. 

Louis Plaisance, a French Canadian, staked a 

claim in Section 29 in 1855 but sold out in 1858 and 

retumed to Mendota, where he remained. 

Early Settlers Named 

Principal settlers of the town and those who laid 

the foundation of it were the ones who came in 1856 and 

1857, including: David S. McCormick, John F. Cook, 

Mathew Everson, Jeremiah Wilson, Patrick Cody, 

John Clouthier, Thomas Browne, James Lynn, Henry 

Belland John Faulkner, David Valentine, Charles 

Smith, 'John Taylor, Thomas McCormick, Titus 

Bunnell, Nelson P. Marsh, Barnabus Durham, 

Augustus Martin, Peter O'Bryan, Thomas Barrett, 

Patrick Quirk, Lewis Martin, Andrew Thompson, John 

Lynch, Joseph Martin, John Brown, Octave 

Caron,Joseph Kartak, John Lapic, James P_a':'ek, 

Joseph Kutak, Elaire Legree, Henry Bilon, W~ll1a~ 

Quinn, John Berry, John Irvin, John Cook, BenJamt_n 

LeDuch Flavian Benjamin, John Faulkner, Loms 

Martin, 'Joseph Martin, Augustus Martin, Paul Martin, 

Zenas Y. Hatch, John Lynch, Peter Campbell, Charles 

Orr Richard Brown, William and James Wilson, 

Ja~es Thompson, Michael Fitzpatrick, Omisine 

Barrie Thomas Lawler, John Barrett, William 

Barrett, Patrick Littleton, Thomas Riley, Thomas 

2Bl

Log house post office in Wheatland's early 

days. 

Kilroy and James Giblin. 

Arriving in 1858 and 1859 were Murdoch 

McLennon, James Willoughby, Jabez W. Flavel, John 

Montour and Thomas Horner. 

There were two separate settlements at first. The 

first was the Scotch settlement founded by Frazier and 

his friends in Sections 32, 13 and 14. The second was the 

French Canadian founded by Louis Plaisance, Baptiste 

Bushman and Thomas Lambert in Sections 21, 20 and 

19. Shortly after that, some Irish settled in Sections 20, 

31, 33,17 and 6. 

The people of Wheatland planned a town site, 

which was filed at the court house. The names of the 

founders of this village were all worn off from the plat 

and unrecognizable, but it is surmised that the same 

people who settled here must have been the founders. 

It was named the Village of Wheatland in the territory 

of Minnesota and located on the south shore of 

Metoggha Lake, lying in Sections 19, 20 and 29. The 

name Wheatland was undoubtedly derived from the 

summer residence of President Buchanan, which bore 

this name. It contained 61 full blocks, one of which was 

an admirably located public square. The streets were 

numbered beginning with one and lettered from A to K. 

There were 11 cross streets. This was an ideal spot for 

a town, so ideal that even in later times when there was 

not the slightest trace of it ever having been laid out for 

a town, it was given the name Willow Grove in 1902. 

The platted town never amounted to more than a name 

and no buildings were ever put up. The expected 

railroad did not go through and the foundation for 

Wheatland was shifted south toward Cody and Phelps 

Lakes, where equal disappointment awaited the 

unfortunate venture. 

A few businesses did try to establish in the south 

location but did not exist long. The first store was 

opened by Peter O'Bryan but he kept it only a few 

years. In 1858 he sold his stock to Joseph Kartak, who 

moved the goods to Section 16, but he was forced to 

suspend operations soon. 

Thomas Lambert opened a store in Section 32 in 

1874 where he kept a general stock of groceries, dry 

goods, boots, shoes and liquors. In a short time, he, 

likewise, had his fill and closed up. 

Napoleon Begin put up a building in Section 33, 

stocked it with goods, and kept it up for about a year. 

He then sold it to C. A. Remillard who prospered for a 

time. He then sold it to Peter Fabre, who continued 

operations for awhile longer. 

Post Office Established 

The post office for Wheatland was established in 

1857 with Peter O'Bryan as the postmaster, operating 

from his store in Section 19 for two years. Then Patrick 

Cody served as postmaster until 1876 in Section 32. 

Thomas Plaisance took the office to his place in Section 

20 and handled the mail until George E. Bates was 

commissioned in 1890. He kept it one year when C. A. 

Remillard took it over and moved it to his store in 

Section 33. Peter Fabre was the next postmaster and 

Frank Barrett the last. When the county system or 

rural free delivery was established in Rice County in 

1905, the office was discontinued and patrons were 

served by the Lonsdale post office. Lawrence Sirek, 

who lives in Section 20, remembers his father telling 

that the post office was located in the old log house on 

their farm in which the Sireks were living before they 

built their new house. This was at the time Thomas 

Plaisance was postmaster, and mail was brought in by 

horses once a week from Faribault and settlers would 

gather around awaiting the mail. 

In 1858 nearly 60 people were permanently settled 

there when a French Missionary, Father Augustine 

Ravoux, received a donation of 10 acres of land from 

Thomas Lambert in Section 29 and the first church in 

the town was built. It was the second Catholic Church 

built in the entire county. The original building was all 

of native timber, being of logs and finished with lumber 

which was shipped in from St. Paul. Father Keller of 

Faribault was the first priest and served until 1869. 

Then Father Lieb was pastor of the church for many 

years, followed by Father Fleming and Father Slevin. 

Frank A. Skluzacek, native of Wheatland Township 

now living at the Little Sisters of the Poor Home in St. 

Paul, was born in 1885 and remembers that Father 

Slevin used to come to say Mass at the church. 

Skluzacek said the church remained open until after 

1910, after which it was taken down. 

The first meeting for organization of the town of 

Wheatland was held at the house of John B. Bushman 

on May 11, 1858. Titus Bunnell received 26 votes for 

chairman of supervisors. Barnabas Durham was 

elected supervisor along with Augustus Martin. 

Patrick Cody was elected justice of peace, as was John 

Taylor. Peter O'Bryan became town clerk; Patrick 

282


Quirk, assessor; and Lewis Martin, overseer of the 

poor. Thomas Riley was elected constable, with John 

Lynch, James Wilson, Joseph Martin as overseers of 

roads. Also elected but declining to take office were 

Lewis Pleasant, collector; Andrew Thompson, 

constable; and John Brown, overseer of roads. Later 

Caleb Vincent was appointed to be collector in place of 

Pleasant and J. W. Flavel was appointed constable. 

One of the first duties of the supervisors was to lay 

out roads. Their first meeting was held at the house of 

Peter O'Bryan where they made final road orders and 

approved the surveyor's reports. The first road 

petitioned for was named the Wheatland Lexington 

Road and another retained the original designation: 

the Scotch Settlement Road. Two more roads laid out 

were the Wheatland & Northfield Road and the 

Wheatland & Shieldsville Road. 

In 1864 land clearings on the average did not 

amount to more than about 10 acres per farm. Octave 

Caron, a French Canadian, had the largest clearing of 

the pioneer settlers as he had over 20 acres then. When 

the Czechs began· to settle the area, they seized the 

opportunity for hard work and diligently continued to 

clear the land. 

In 1865, John Ceplecha was elected to the office of 

overseer of road district No.3 and has the distinction of 

being the first of the Czechs to hold office in Wheatland. 

In 1866, Joseph Kartak was elected supervisor of the 

town and Blaze Stepan became Justice of the Peace. In 

1869 the Czechs gained control of the town politically, 

electing all members of the board from their own 

nationality. However, the French and Irish still ruled 

the town until 1878 when the Czechs gained complete 

control. 

School District Formed 

The first school district to be established was District 

59, next to the French Church and cemetery 

in Section 29. The school was built of logs. Ann Cody 

was the first teacher at an annual salary of $30. Nancy 

Patterson and Jane Young followed. In the 1870s the 

school burned and a new one was built in the northwest 

quarter of Section 29. Some of the teachers were Albert 

J. Skluzacek, John P. Vikla, Thomas Hovorka, Joseph 

Rachac, John Skluzacek, Martin Vikla and J osephirie 

A. Pavek. This was always a progressive district 

offering very good education and turning out many 

successful persons. 

District 76 was located in the house of James 

Willoughby in Section 26 with Miss Larkins as first 

teacher. In 1879 a more suitable building was put up 

nearby. Other teachers in the system were Miss Lee, 

Albert Skluzacek, Joseph Matias, John Vikla, Marie 

Shimota, Martin Vikla, Frank Ninnerman and J. A. 

Kaisersatt. After the establishment of the Lonsdale 

village, a new school building was put up. 

District 45 was organized in 1863 in Section 11. 

Teachers included Maggie Morrisey, Miss Landa, 

Marie Shimota, J. J. Rachac, Jas. W. Trenda, Matt G. 

Vikla, Lewis Shimota and Joseph J. Brom. 

District 107 came into existence in 1881 with 

Richard Lynch as the first teacher. 

District 108, the Veseli School, was organized in 

Picture of old auto oumed by Vikla brothers of 

Wheatland, 1911, out for a spin with a merry 

gang of four. In the picture are: Martin Vikla, 

Mathias Vikla, driver, Joseph Topic and 

Joseph Simon. 

1894 with a new building after having rented space in 

the Catholic School for a number of years. 

District 125 was the last to come into existence in 

Wheatland Township. Some of the teachers in early 

times were: Miss Hovorka, Miss Nestaval, Mr. 

Hovorka, Thomas Hovorka, Mr. Vrtis and John Vales. 

In 1874 the Church of the Most Holy Trinity at 

Veseli was established and the village settled shortly 

after that. When the railroad came through Wheatland 

Township, the new village and church at Lonsdale 

were established in 1902. 

Frank A. Skluzacek recalled some businesses 

in Wheatland at the time he was growing up. There 

were two general stores, one owned by a Caron and the 

other by Fabre. A saloon was owned by Mr. Nohava, 

who was the father of the Nohavas that later had the 

hardware store in Lonsdale. Mrs. Barnett had a saw 

mill and dance hall. Blacksmiths were Mr. Cihla and 

Mr. Schultz. Mr. Cihla also made wagons, and Mrs. 

Schultz's descendants had a candy store in Lonsdale. 

These were all located near Cody Lake in the vicinity of 

the Louis LaPierre farm. 

Quoting an article written in the 1950s on the early 

days in Wheatland by the late Martin G. Vikla (now in 

the possession of Helen Vikla): "The Village of 

Wheatland was a thriving village with one or two 

general stores, a saloon, drug store, saw mill and a 

flour mill. Also a blacksmith and boot maker. Half a 

mile west, one of the Tousignant boys made sorghum 

syrup for the neighborhood and also made some for 

sale. Half a mile west of the church and south of the 

present James Kocina farm was a row of Irish settlers 

running up to Cody Lake. Among them were three 

Cody brothers who were the first to have a threshing 

rig run by steam. Skluzacek brothers, however, were 

the first to do threshing here by means of horse 

power." He also recalled how old Mr. Simon (a boot 

283

ti"en 8? 8'/ow 

maker) walked to Faribault to buy his leather, which 

he carried under his arm, and made the trip in one day. 

Also, how the land had to be cleared and the men had to 

work in the Rosemount area so they could make 

payments on their land, etc. They made their wooden 

sleds and wagons, rakes, hay forks and shoes. They 

raised a patch of flax to make their own thread for 

sewing and yarn for knitting socks. They fenced their 

fields with a rail zigzag fence and pastured the cow, 

when they had one, out in the woods, which was 

no-man's land. They raised corn, potatoes, beets, 

turnips and pumpkins for themselves and· their 

livestock. They cut hay in marshes after freeze up, for 

the animals. When they had enough field for small 

grain, they sowed it by hand, dragged it with a branch 

of a tree and cut it with a hand scythe. They took their 

wheat to the mill where they got 30 pounds of white 

flour and some brown flour and bran for every bushel 

of wheat. Mr. Vikla also wrote about gathering maple 

sap for syrup and vinegar, which was an important 

industry and especially pleasant for the boys. He also 

stated the LaPierre family is the only one left of the 

original French settlers. 

The Vikla Brothers (Mathias, Martin, Vencl and 

John) operated a nursery business from 1921 to 1941. 

Nursery stock was grown on the Vikla farms and 

packed for shipping to various parts of the United 

States, mostly to Czech customers. Prior to that time, 

John Vikla worked for Brand Nursery in Faribault and 

had his own nursery in Lonsdale, which he started in 

1902. In addition, he had a photographic studio and was 

Justice of Peace for many years. Mathias, Martin, 

Albert and John Vikla were school teachers and taught 

for many years in area schools. Also, Mathias Vikla 

started keeping bees when he was 15 years old in 1895, 

and this enterprise is still being carried on by his son 

Elmer along with his sons Steve and David. Currently, 

the Viklas operate about 100 colonies of bees in addition 

to farming. As with nursery stock, honey has been 

advertised throughout the years in a Czech newspaper, 

Hospodar, and is shipped by mail to many parts of the 

United States. 

One of the pioneer Czech settlers of Wheatland 

Township was Joseph F. Skluzacek Sr., who settled in 

Section 18, having bought his land from Patrick Cody. 

The Skluzacek farm has been farmed continuously for 

four generations, having been taken over by Joseph F. 

Skluzacek Jr., then by George Skluzacek Sr., and 

presently is owned by Myles Skluzacek and his wife 

Marian, and their 14 children. 

Some names from the county plat between 1856 and 

1870 whose descendants are still engaged in farming in 

the area are: Sticha, Franek, Cervenka, Sirek, Novak, 

Ziskovsky, Simon, Machacek, Skluzacek, Teply, 

Smisek, Peterka, Hertaus, Douda, Havlicek, Trenda, 

Kalina and Adamek. 

Population In Decline 

As the years went by, the village of Veseli declined 

in population while Lonsdale grew, and the town of 

Wheatland became extinct. More and more land was 

cleared for farming and a county ditch made it possible 

to drain out low land, so the township is primarily 

agricultural today. However, the rolling terrain had 

made good conservation practices such as contour 

strip cropping necessary on most farms. For a number 

of years, a Conservation Farmer of the Year was 

chosen in Rice County as representative of the many 

good farming practices which were being carried out. 

Many of these were from Wheatland Township and 

included: James Douda, Daniel Sticha, Myles 

Skluzacek, Charles Shimota, Elmer Vikla, Walter 

Simon, James Kocina, Myron Zimanske, Carlton 

Miller, Edwin Kalina and John Skluzacek Jr. 

About the only thing remaining of early Wheatland 

is the French Catholic Cemetery in Section 29 and the 

old school building across the road. Many 

distinguished pioneers are buried in the cemetery, 

including Joseph J. Frazier (first permanent settler), 

Patrick Cody (first Justice of Peace and after whom 

Cody Lake is named), Amabe Chrispan (Company M. 

Second Minn. Cavalry), and Thomas Lambert (who 

donated land for the church and was one of the first 

permanent settlers). Other grave markers have the 

names of Patrick Cody's wife Sarah in 1885, Ambrose 

Juaire in 1895, Catherine Mulhall, A. and J. Remillard, 

Stephen Bengeman, Clara Fabre, Marguarite DeMars, 

Elmire Odette, Mary Gabrio, Angeline Martin, 

Domathild Montour, Augustin Plaisance, Antoine 

L'Heureux, Caroline LeMay, Margaret Berry (wife of 

C. A. Remillard) and Alexander Perron. 

Other cemeteries in the township are the two 

belonging to the Veseli parish, one for the Lonsdale 

parish and a National Czech Cemetery on the north end 

of Lonsdale, which was incorporated by a Bohemian 

Society known as the Western Brotherhood. 

Wheatland Township officers as of Jan. 1, 1976, 

are: Bernard Tupy, chairman of supervisors; William 

Kes and Milton Sirek, supervisors; Lawrence Sirek, 

clerk; Ben Fisher, treasurer; and Bernard Novak, 

constable. 

In 1888 land was valued at about $50 an acre. In 

1976 farm land is being sold for between $800 and $1,000 

an acre, with some going as high as $1,200. The last 

10 years have seen a number of people buying small 

farms or just a parcel of land to build a house. These 

people have full-time jobs, mostly in the Twin City 

area, and commute to their jobs every day. Many of 

the smaller farms are still diversified in their 

operations, however, more farms are increasing in size 

and many are specializing in one or two areas. Prices 

being received for farm goods at the beginning of 1976 

are: Corn - $2.38; Soybeans - $4.44; Oats- $1.35 (all per 

bushel). Eggs bring 45 cents a dozen for large, while 

good and choice steers sell for as much as 35 to 38 cents 

a pound. Milk brings about $9 per hundred. In contrast, 

an average-size tractor for the a rea would be about 80 

hp. This would cost about $13,500, which would come 

equipped with a cab. 

Information for history was gathered by Mrs. 

Elmer Vikla from the "History of Rice and Steele 

Counties" and from Mrs. Ray Simon, Helen Vikla, Mr. 

and Mrs. Lawrence Sirek and Mrs. Oscar Schneller, all 

of Wheatland Township, and Frank A. Skluzacek of St. 

Paul. 

284

View of Webster as it looked about 1900 

Webster township first 

was settled in 1855 

By MRS. LEROY PUMPER 

Webster Township containing 23,040 acres is 

bounded on the north by Scott County, on the east by 

Dakbta County and Bridgewater township, on the south 

by Forest and on the west by Wheatland. 

The soil is variable, the hilly portions being 

somewhat clayey, while the rolling and bottom lands 

are made up of a dark, rich loam with a clay or sand 

subsoil. The southwestern part of the township is very 

rolling in some places, enough so to be termed hilly, 

which gradually becomes more level as one advances 

to the north. 

The area originally was covered with fine timber 

such as oak, walnut, maple and basswood, but within a 

few years after the township's settlement most of it 

was cut down and used for building and other purposes. 

The very first person to settle in Webster Township 

was an Irishman by the name of Martin Taylor. He 

settled here and worked the land in November of 1855, 

over 120 years ago. Arriving shortly later in the same 

year Ferris Webster and his sons, S. J. and Chalmer, 

settled in Webster Township. Because of Ferris 

Webster's prominent role in the township's 

development, it was decided to name this township in 

honor of him. Of course, other names had been 

bestowed upon the area before this decision was made. 

Webster Township was originally named 

Minnemanda by the government surveyors, and 

somewhat later it was known as Carroltown - not bad 

names for the area. But probably the name most 

people are interested to learn the history about was the 

name Pigtown. Now this had nothing to do with how the 

people acted or appeared to others, but where the town 

is situated today stood Magnus Olson's pig farm. He 

had hundreds of pigs, with huge pens both on the north 

and on the south side of the road. He owned more than a 

Theodore Snesrud family in Webster's early 

days. Elliott, George, Henry in back, Mr. and 

Mrs. Snesrud, Art, Harry, Melvin in front. 

285

lJ'en &? §Vow 

Doumtown Webster as it looked in early 1900s 

Early day school picture of Kinsella School 

No. 42. Among tlwse shown are: Louis, 

Alfred, Alpha, Mabel Rud; Joe, Lillian, Mary, 

Rose Valek; John, Lee, Mary Brodereith and 

Helen Kinsella. 

section of land and was considered very wealthy. So it 

is not hard to understand why everyone called the area 

Pigtown; the odor of all those pigs probably had 

something to do with it! 

Many Early Settlers 

Other settlers started moving into the township 

and among them were Harry Humphrey, Thomas 

Keegan, James McCabe, Jacob Camp, William Sabry, 

John Gleason, John and Ephraim Dilly, Billing Benton, 

John Kiley, John McGuire, whose son John Jr. was the 

first white child born in Webster on March 18, 1857. 

Also among the first in the area was Ransom F. and 

Oscar Webster, E. C. Knowles, John Cole, Cornelius 

Denman, Ola Elstad, Edward Elstad, Nels Haagenson, 

J. 0. Larson, G. Christopherson, M. Christianson, and 

many more too numerous to mention. 

For all interested women, the first female child 

was born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Camp in January 1858. 

Also in 1858 a nine pound child was born to Mr. and 

Mrs. Salmon Webster and in December a son to the 

first pioneers in the township, Mr. and Mrs. Martin 

Taylor. 

The first marriage ceremony in the township 

occurred in June, 1856 and joined as man and wife 

286


Early pioneers of Webster, the Snesrud family 

Salmon Webster and Fannie Humphrey. 

Things began to get busy in Webster Township and 

in 1860 Ferdinand Butzke opened the first U.S. Post 

Office and store in his log cabin situated one mile west 

and one mile south of where Webster stands today. Mr. 

Butzke would drive to Northfield once a week for mail 

and everyone would then call for it at his home. Before 

this a post office was established near Union Lake by 

Henry Humphrey in 1856 and in 1857 J. W. Doyle 

organized the Hazelwood post office. J ohans Thompson 

was the first rural mail carrier, he began this position 

in 1903. In 1909 William Meinke became rural carrier, a 

pbst he held for approximately 40 years. Emil Meinke 

then was appointed rural mail carrier, a post he still 

holds today. It should also be mentioned that Mrs. 

Helen Horejsi is presently the town's post mistress, a 

post she has held for the past 35 years. 

Industry, so to speak, began in Webster in the year 

1887 when the first creamery was built. The farmers of 

the area got together and formed this Co-op west of 

Olson's homestead on a nice rise with good drainage. 

The prime founders of it were Ole Skiple, Magnus 

Olson and his son, Ole, who was the first buttermaker. 

The first creamery building was made of wood and it 

burned down in 1895. A brick structure was built, but it 

Webster's school pupils of 1951 - Rodney, 

Doris, Stanley, Betty, LeRoy, Jim, Tom 

Johnson; Jerald Gusse; Kenny German; 

Marlyn and Wallace Snesrud; Charles Rud; 

Sandy Pasek; Henry Rud and Mrs. Swenky, 

teacher. · 

287

~en ~cfNow 

First Sprain Store in Webster, with a bunch of customers outside 

Webster Creamery chimney and lumber yard 

in1942. 

was built poorly and had to be torn down in 1921 and 

replaced with part of the present structure. This 

creamery grew until at one time and for many years it 

was the largest co-operative creamery in the county 

and in southern Minnesota. With the coming of the 

Chicago-Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad in 1900, the 

creamery shipped regularly to the Twin Cities and 

even to Milwaukee and Chicago. Skimmeries were 

established also at Trondhjem, Hazelwood, Greenvale, 

Little Chicago and Eiswold. 

Starts First Business 

Finally in 1894 the store was moved from two miles 

out of town to directly across the street from the 

creamery. Henry Sprain built the store and this was 

the first business in Webster. Mr. Sprain also became 

the postmaster and a mailcarrier brought mail in 

everyday from Northfield. His store burned down and 

in 1905 he built the brick store and house that stands yet 

today. The Sprains, incidently, had the first 

switchboard installed in their store in 1902. For over 

forty-three years, Mr. Sprain was a merchant in the 

town of Webster. 

Other businesses soon opened in the thriving 

community and among them were blacksmith shops, a 

machine and implement shop, barber shop, a saloon, a 

288


Playing pool at Friedges Barber Shop-Pool 

Parlor) Webster -In the picture are: Len 

Friedges) Bill Gusse) Joe Rezac) Alfred 

hardware store and a lumber company. Webster 

Bank opened for business in 1913 and for many years 

the community was very proud of its bank. However, in 

the late twenties, the temptation to make extra quick 

money with depositors' money was the downfall of the 

bank. Employees of the bank did not turn the money 

into the regular banking channels. They did not intend 

to steal, but simply to make extra profit both for the 

bank and for themselves. As the depression continued, 

these schemes failed and money was lost. The books 

were checked and in 1930 bankruptcy was declared and 

the bank was closed. This happened just at the time of 

the year when people wanted to draw from their 

savings to pay their property taxes and auto licenses. 

Suffering was great and many injustices occurred. 

Another community in Webster Township which 

played an important role was Little Chicago. The 

original owner of the land was a settler by the name of 

Berg. In the 1880's he opened a little general store, just 

off the road crossing his farm - which made it handy 

for the settlers of the area. Some years later Barney 

Hanson opened a blacksmith shop south of the road, 

and, around the turn of the century, a skimmery was 

built as a branch milk plant for the Webster Creamery. 

Jacobson) Albert Wegener) Charlie 

Hirschman) Bill Horejsi) John Horejsi and 

Ferdinand Dodes. 

There was also a little implement and tool shop. All this 

time the locality had the name of Berg, adopted from 

the original owner. However, the Bergs sold out and 

moved away. An enterprising individual by the name 

of Martin Elyward built a saloon and operated a 

wide-open liquor business. 

The live spot was Elyward's saloon and it was at 

first jokingly stated that just as the "Big Chicago" was 

wild, windy and wide open, so too Martin was running 

his saloon. The nickname "Little Chicago" began to be 

attached to the place and Berg was forgotten. 

"Little Chicago" stuck, and even though it was 

some years until Elyward sold out and moved out 

West, the name has remained ever since. With the 

coming of better roads and the big boom in Lonsdale 

after the coming of the railroad early in 1900 - as well 

as the coming of the automobile, which made the trip to 

Lonsdale and Northfield easy- business melted away 

and "Little Chicago" receded. A small general store 

with a bar still continues to operate in Little Chicago 

today and was just recently re-built, because of an 

explosion. 

For many years Sigurd Sjulstad of the Township 

and a former student at Red Wing Seminary, operated 

289

tlien ~ tftow 

St. John's rural church near Webster 

the Little Chicago Store, from 1910, which was the 

business center of the community. 

Organized in 1858 

The township's permanent form of government was 

effected on May 11, 1858 at a meeting held at the 

residence of Ephraim Dilly. Michael O'Mara served as 

chairman and S. S. Humphrey as clerk. Officers 

elected included were supervisors: George Carpenter, 

chairman, R. H. Dilly and James Kiley; Clerk: J. J. 

McCabe; collector: Timothy Gleason; Justices of the 

peace: Ephraim Dilly, S. Webster and Ferris Webster; 

constables: William Dilly and Elisha Fitch; and 

overseer of the roads: William Dilly. 

The first religious services held in this township 

were in the summer of 1856 by Elder R. C. Cressey, a 

missionary of the Congregationalist faith, in the house 

of Ferris Webster. After this, services were held at the 

John Campbell home once in two weeks. This was 

continued until Mr. Campbell moved out of the 

township in 1860 and since that time there have been no 

regular services, as the Congregationalists never had 

had an organization. 

Several other churches were organized in the old 

pioneer days. The Baptist Society held services in the 

old school house of district 33 with the Rev. Mr. Galte 

as minister and a church building was erected in 1873. 

The German Lutheran church named St. John's was 

founded in 1865. The first services were held by Rev. 

Julius Wolf at the Henry Kinker residence. The first 

church building was erected in 1872 and almost all the 

manual labor was done by church members. Later, in 

1891 a larger structure was built on the same land. In 

1950 it was tom down and a new church was built in the 

town of Webster, where it is still situated today. · 

In 1972 the parish of the Annunciation of Hazelwood 

celebrated the llOth anniversary of the building of the 

first church on its present location. In the autumn of 

1861 the newly arrived settlers met to formulate plans 

to obtain property and to build a church for Catholic 

worship. The meeting had taken place in the log cabin 

of John McCabe, located on the then recently built 

Dodd Military Road of Webster Township. Most 

accounts state that McCabe donated 20 acres of his 

land, a strip about 300 feet in width among the entire 

south boundary of his quarter-section. Already that 

winter a selected site was cleared of timber and brush; 

trees were felled and hewed with broad axes into sills, 

joists, beams and frames for the new church. 

Solar Church Founded 

Still another church was organized in 1876 named 

Solor Lutheran Church and was founded by the 

Norwegian nationality. The first building was erected 

in 1878 on the present site. It burned down in 1920 and 

the present church was then built the same year. 

However, before the building of the first church, 

services were held at the home of Magnus Olson. The 

first pastor to serve Sol or Lutheran Church in 1878 was 

the Rev. 0. A. Bergh. 

With the growing population and concern for 

education, three pioneer school districts were 

established in Webster by settlers. In the summer of 

1857 school classes were held at the residence of 

Salmon Webster with Mrs. Frances Webster as the 

teacher. In the fall of 1861 a log school house was built, 

followed later by a more pretentious building. 

School district 42 was organized on June 5, 1858 

with Samuel Dilly, R. H. Dilly and John Gleason as 

school officers. A log school house was built soon 

afterwards. In 1872 a new building was constructed. 

District 52 in Webster Township was soon 

organized. The first school house was built in 1889. 

Some years later, approximately 1920, the district was 

split. District 127 was formed and the brick structure 

still standing in the town of Webster was built. The 

school building was closed in 1963 and District 127 

merged with Northfield School District No. 657. Today 

I 

290


Len Friedges, Webster, shown cutting Fred Sandaman's hair 

the brick structure that many of us went to school in is 

being used as Webster Township's Town Hall. 

Blacksmiths Important 

Blacksmith shops were opened by a Mr. Palmer in 

1856 and Gilbert Christopherson in the same year. In 

1874 Nels Olson opened his blacksmith shop for 

business. Today in the townsite of Webster a 

blacksmith shop still remains open for business by Mr. 

Walter Schmidtke, who has been here for 

approximately 50 years and is presently one of the 

remaining oldest merchants in the township of 

Webster. The oldest merchant still operating his 

business is Leonard Friedges, barber, who began 

barbering in Webster in 1921. 

Henry Schultz, 84 years of age, who has spent most 

of his lifetime in Webster, came to Webster Township 

as a teenager to work for Henry Sprain in his store. Mr. 

Schultz then worked for Knute Leidal in his hardware 

store. When the Adams Lumber Company started up in 

Webster, Mr. Schultz was employed by them and 

managed the company for some of those years. In 1930 

Mr. Schultz opened his own lumber company and a few 

years later he erected a building and opened a grocery 

and produce for business. Mr. Schultz retired in the 

early 1960's and we all know him today as the oldest 

Martin Ulrich and his first blacksmith shop in 

Webster 

~1

~en ~ §Vow 

~, · 

Sprain House and Store,l 910 - 

Henry Schultz in fr ont with team of horses and buggy. 

surviving native of Webster. 

Webster was considered a growing, thriving town 

in the 1950's because of the Webster Co-operative 

Dairy. Lloyd Johnson came to Webster in 1947, and 

under his able management, the co-op grew in many 

areas. First of all, they bought the elevator for the 

purposes of the extention of .the co-op. They then went 

on and bought the lumberyard building and 

incorporated it into office space and storage. Also the 

Webster's corking good baseball team of 1951 

garage was merged into the business. As many as 50 

people were employed at the Webster Co-op and the 

annual meeting and oyster stew drew as many as a 

thousand people - it was considered the big event in 

Webster! Mr. Johnson was employed as manager for 

the co-op for 17 years. Because of the lack of interest in 

the dairy business in the area, the Webster Co-op Dairy 

was closed on January 1, 1970. It was the same year 

Webster Agri-Service was formed and this included the 

elevator feed business and the Cenex Gas Station and 

Farm Store. The present structure that was used for 

the creamery is now owned by a plastic firm. 

One of Webster's most loved businessmen was Joe 

Rud, who ran a small gas station and shoe repair shop. 

Old and young alike will always agree that Mr. Rud 

aJways had time to talk and to take the time to stitch up 

their shoes. 

Supper Club Popular 

Webster still has a small grocery store today 

owned by Carl Williams and a produce run by LeRoy 

Pumper. However, the big attraction in Webster these 

days is the Ranchero Supper Club. The restaurant was 

built by Mr. and Mrs. Erving Ulsrud in 1970 and later 

sold to Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Ettlin. People come from 

miles away to enjoy the cozy and out of the way 

atmosphere one can find at the Ranchero. 

Leonard Horejsi, who at one time ran the gas 

station and garage, now is owner of Horejsi Meats in


Webster. Many people in the area compliment Mr. 

Horejsi on his delicious homemade sausages and 

bologna. 

A few years ago Webster also added to its 

community Sky Harbor Air Park. Originally the area 

was owned by William Haefs and now Don Haugo has 

set up a housing development and airport for the 

convenience of its residents. 

Webster's social clubs, other than those involved in 

church activities, began in 1951 with the organizing of 

the Webster Mother's Club. Mrs. Milo Swenke, then a 

teacher at the local school, founded the club. The club 

originally was set up for the purpose of a 

parent-teacher organization. Soon all the mothers of 

the community were joining the club for the benefit of 

their children and the activities they engaged in. Five 

or six years later the Webster Mother's Club joined the 

Home Extension group, and today, 25 years later, they 

still exist for the purpose of entertaining children and 

working on projects. 

The Webster Baseball Club was also organized in 

1951. Louis Rud, one of the founders, leased land from 

Frank Rezac to provide the boys with an adequate 

baseball field. 

The Webster Lions Club has just been organized in 

the last few years along with New Market and Elko. 

Also for many years there have been several 4-H 

clubs in the area, which many of the children have 

benefited from. 

Therefore, Webster has always remained a 

friendly, cooperative and spirited township, and 

because of this, there has been a tremendous growth in 

population in the last few years, even though the 

village was never incorporated. It still satisfies the 

local needs with a number of . good business 

enterprises, social clubs, church and most important, 

country living and lots of fresh air·. 

Trondhjem flourished as 

village up to the 1900s 

Trondhjem, Minnesota, was a little village that 

flourished in the late 1860's and up until the early 

1900's. It was located in Webster Township, Rice 

County, Section Thirty (30), and situated one and 

one-half (11f2) miles East of Lonsdale on Highway No. 

19. At one time, it had three (3) stores, a post office a 

creamery, and a blacksmith shop. 

A large number of the settlers in this community 

came from Trondhjem, Norway, so they decided to call 

this new village after their homeland. Just to name a 

few of the old settlers, there were several Berg 

families, Fossums, Johnson, Walstad, Thornby, Rudy, 

Haugen, Ryg, S. Myre, 0. Schirle, Mellom, 0. Husby, 

Storlokkn, Skauge, 0. Hansen, A. · Grove, Strate, H. 

Paulson, Hauge, 0. Docken, Quinnells, Halverson, 

Chesness, Lockrems Tharaldson, Thorseth, Solberg 

families, and Ole Christ Johnson Luken, a bachelor 

who never married. However, the community was not 

all Norwegians. There were also some Danish 

families : Paulson, Madson, Jepson, Peterson and 

Anderson; and Irish families: McGuire, Riley, Lynch, 

Shea, and McFadden. Some of the very first settlers in 

Webster Township were Irish and English. They were 

M. Taylor, F. Webster, Jacob Camp, Cleland and 

others. 

The people all settled ori small tracts of land 

consisting of 40 to 80 acre farms. The land was quite 

hilly and was covered with brush and timber which had 

to be cleared and the stumps removed. All this was 

done by hand labor and hard work with the use of an 

ax, saw, and grub hoe. The lowland and swamp holes 

were drained by digging ditches and laying drain tile. 

Pete Anderson had a small home and in it he had a 

small section where he sold groceries and had a post 

office. The mail was brought to his house by a 

horseback rider or horse and buggy from Northfield 

every Wednesday and Saturday around four o'clock. 

Then the settlers would come and pick up their mail 

and perhaps a few groceries. Usually they would walk, 

some as much as two or three miles to get their mail. 

Pete's house would become a swarming meeting place 

for many neighbors on these days. 

Before the train brought the mail to Montgomery, 

and then later to Lonsdale, men were needed to ride 

into Northfield on horseback and bring the mail into 

Trondhjem. These men were Olaf Thornby, Mads 

Anderson and Ames Clark. 

Mr. and Mrs . .John Danielson owned another larger 

store in Trondhjem where they sold groceries and dry 

goods. 

But after a few years Danielson sold the store to 

Gilbert Kasa who operated the store for several years. 

And now another place of business was built by Herm 

Larvik, who opened up a Blacksmith Shop and sold 

farm implement. This added a lot to the village of 

Trondhjem. 

The store was later sold to Lyder Hauge, who also 

ran the creamery. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tharaldson 

bought the store from Lyder Hauge. Mrs. Tharaldson 

operated the store and Mr. Tharaldson ran the 

creamery until it closed. In 1920, Mr. and Mrs. John 

Gorder from near Dickinson, North Dakota, bought 

the store and ran the business for three years when it 

closed permanently. 

The creamery was first operated by Peter 0. 

Berg,in 1898, who later moved to Canada. The farmers 

brought their milk into the Trondhjem Creamery. The 

milk was separated there and the cream was taken to 

Webster Co-op Dairy and the farmers took the skim 

milk home and made it into cheese and sold it to Kaasa 

in Trondhjem or H. Sprain in Webster. The creamery 

operator took the cream to Webster until the farmers 

got their own cream separators and separated their 

milk at home. The milk or cream was then picked up 

by haulers and hauled to Webster. A few of these 

haulers were Peter 0. Berg, Louis Fossum, Olaf 

Hanson, Dan Shea, Thorn Tharaldson, Ansgar 

293

'G1en ~§Vow 

Sjulstad, and many others. 

A third store was opened on the edge of the village by 

Hogan Olson, the sole owner and clerk of this store, 

which was on his own property. With this addition to 

the growing village, it also added competition between 

the stores. In his store, Olson sold overalls, work gloves 

C!lld the like. There wasn't any electricity in 

those days so the only light they had was kerosene 

lamps. 

Since the community was growing so fast, a new 

and larger church was built in 1898. 

Demand For Lutefisk 

Oliver Berg, a son of Lars Berg, who lived % mile 

North of the Trondhjem Village knew that there was a 

big demand for lutefisk among the Norwegian settlers 

and an opportunity for going into the lutefisk business. 

This he did -he went to Minneapolis and opened up a 

wholesale fish store. He then imported dry cod fish 

from Norway, set up big tanks or vats filled with water, 

lye, and what have you. He would then put the dry cod 

fish in this wonderful solution and leave them there to 

soak for days, and perhaps weeks, until the fish 

returned to their original size. Oliver was doing a good 

job and as the word got out that he had good Lutefisk, 

and no ill effects had been reported, he did a stroke of 

business in Minneapolis and the surrounding 

communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

The downfall of this Trondhjem Village started 

about 1905 to 1908. 

After progress in the railway system, the mail 

came on the train through Montgomery and Lonsdale. 

The railroad by-passed the village of Trondhjem about 

1 Y2 miles to the west. The Bohemian settlement of 

Lonsdale then developed because of the railroad. They 

would bring the mail and all other items of necessity 

just west of Trondhjem to Lonsdale, and Trondhjem 

became listed as a rural route in about 1909. 

Trondhjem had already lost two stores, the blacksmith 

shop and the post office. 

Veterans of World War I, 1914-1918, were Albert 

Fossum, William Fossum, Orvil Johnson, Ole Berg, 

Gust Lockrem, Hans Lockrem, Arnold Quinnell, and 

Peter Paulson. Albert Fossum contracted a flu and 

pneumonia and died while in camp. 

Some of those men that were shipped over seas did 

get in the front line of battle. Ole Berg for one, who 

fought in the front lines in the Argonne Forest, got shell 

shocked and spent several months in the hospital in 

France. 

Since World War I, there have been several boys 

from the Trondhjem congregation who served in the 

U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, the Korean War 

and Vietnam. 

In about 1908 to 1911, there was a major stir among 

the people of the community. Many Norwegian 

families sold their farms to Bohemian families and 

moved elsewhere. The Trondhjem congregation lost 

almost half its members in two or three years time. 

Westward Fever 

Several families got the westward fever as they 

were lured by prospect of free land available for 

homesteading at Camrose, Alberta, Canada. Others 

went to Rhame, North Dakota, some followed Rev. E. 

M. Hansen to New London, Minnesota, and some sold 

their farms and moved to Northfield. Now this left 

Trondhjem as a very small congregation. But thanks to 

the Christiania congregation, who for many years 

showed interest in Trondhjem and was willing to share 

their pastor with them. With this arrangement it was 

possible for the congregation to continue and kept the 

church from closing its doors as it was once proposed. 

Some of this old history and information 

concerning the pioneer settlers and the community 

came from some records that Helga (Mrs. Theo. 

Johnson) had once written, perhaps for the future 

generations, which is very helpful at this time. 

Early Norwegians liked 

friendliness of Webster 

The following article, written by Ludvig Broten, 

Minneapolis, is an excerpt from a series of articles in a 

booklet, ''Pioneer Sketches from Webster, Rice 

County, Minn.", written in 1947 by N. N. Ronning, of 

which Broten was the publisher. A copy of the booklet 

is included in the historical collection of Northfield 

Attorney Lee L. Fossum, chairman of the Northfield 

Bicentennial Commission, who is a native of the 

Webster community. Broten's article in the booklet 

was headed "I Never Knew Nicer People." 

When my father, Matthias Braaten, had to make 

good a note he had signed for a neighbor, he was forced 

to sell his farm at Eidsvold, Smaalenene amt, Norway, 

and was left with only a small sum of money and a few 

cows. He wanted to go to America but mother held 

back. They conducted a store in Oslo for about a year 

but made only about enough for father's passage to 

America. He went, leaving behind him mother and four 

children, ranging from two to nine years of age. 

We had a hard time of it. I remember that a cold 

potato tasted very nice. 

Father went to Kenyon, Goodhue County, Minn., 

and worked for one Mr. Finseth until he could pay our 

passage to America. 

We met him in Faribault. I shall never forget our 

first meal there and how I stared at people with all the 

food in front of them. I was at first afraid of father; he 

had raised a beard. He hired a team and a lumber 

wagon and drove us to our new home, the shanty on the 

Finseth farm. On the road we picked up an old stove by 

the wayside. One Sunday, coming home from church, 

we found the stove broken in two and fire scattered 

over the floor. The building was fireproof as walls and 

floor were made of earth. 

We were terribly frightened at night when 

lightning flashed and thunder crashed. When the 

weather grew colder we moved into a dugout near the 

top of the hill. For light there was half a window in the 

294


door. While the shanty was being fixed up, we lived in 

Rev. 0. A. Bergh's house. We upstairs, another family 

downstairs. Rats were running up and down between 

the furring and the stone walls. The two boys 

downstairs succeeded in putting a bell, made of a 

thimble, on one of the rats. What boys can't do! In the 

dead of the night we could hear the tinkling of the bell. 

In the fall of 1872, when our house was ready, we moved 

in and lived there two years. Before moving to Webster 

father sold the house for fourteen dollars. 

Rev. Osten Hanson's church was about a mile to 

the south. There my parents found a church home to 

their liking. Prayer meetings were held, sometimes 

also in our home. Brotherly love was much in evidence, 

but not much love was wasted between the members of 

Rev. Hanson's congregation and those of Rev. B. J. 

Muus' congregation. 

Favorable Webster Report 

How did we come to know about the Webster 

settlement? One day Mr. Johan Hammerness visited 

our home and gave a very favorable report of 

conditions at Webster, Minn. It had advantages over 

the prairies, he pointed out, with their storms in winter 

and grasshoppers in the summer and prairie fires in 

the fall. 

Father and Ole Larvig started off for Webster and 

bought land. Father paid $360.00 for his land and 

Larvig paid $600.00 for his. 

Father decided to move his family to Webster at 

once, and then return to Kenyon for the harvest. He 

bought a team of oxen and a lumber wagon which was 

turned into a covered wagon, and we started off with 

Mr. Larvig going ahead in his covered wagon, the few 

head of cattle following behind. We passed through 

Faribault at dusk that evening. When we got outside 

the town, it began to rain. We stopped near a 

schoolhouse, gathered our herd together and camped 

there that night. In the morning father came carrying 

a new-born calf and deposited it in the wagon. 

We started off again and finally reached the 

homestead of Lars Erickson at the north end of the 

Webster settlement. We received a royal welcome. 

After resting a bit we had to see our land. We climbed a 

high hill. It was a bare country with high hills and 

swamps and groves of trees. The neighbors had set fire 

to the grass in early spring to provide good grazing for 

their cattle. 

We stayed with the Erickson family until father, 

with the help of Lars Erickson, had built our shanty. 

The Erickson family treated us in such a fine, 

hospitable manner that we never forgot it. 

Our new home was about 12xl6 feet, built on the 

side of a hill. Three sides were of log, the lower side of 

lumber. There was one door and half a window in front. 

There was one fairly big bed, and a smaller bed made 

of four pieces of board. The mattresses were filled-with 

straw. The stove stood in a corner near the bed and 

could be loaded from there. Two chairs, a stool and a 

table completed the furniture. The table was a few 

boards nailed together, hinged to the wall under the 

window. There was one leg on the table to keep it up. 

When not in use, the leg was kicked under, leaving the 

table hanging on the wall. The house was lighted for the 

most part with candles. 

Many an evening we children would huddle 

together at the window and look down to the slough 

where numberless fireflies were flitting back and forth 

in what appeared to be one mass. It was to us a strange 

and fascinating site. 

Horseback on Broomsticks 

Father cleared about four acres of land and did 

some work for a German man in exchange for timber 

land. At harvest time we moved back to Kenyon and 

lived in the same house together with Mrs. Sigrid 

Larson and her two children, Peter and Gertine, or 

Anna, as she later called herself. Peter and I played a 

good deal together. He was full of tricks. We rode 

horseback on broomsticks. Peter was away working 

part of the time but he made up for it when he was at 

home. One day we got hold of a calf and tied tin cans 

and other junk to its tail and chased it around 'til 

mother saw us. We did not play any more that day. 

Peter, who was older, was to plow with oxen for 

father and I was to drive the oxen. Sometimes it would 

be on a run and then not at all. 

One day Gertine lay down on the bed to sleep, and 

when she woke up there was a snake in the bed with 

her. Later we found a nest of snakes under the eaves. 

Later in the fall we went back to Webster to settle 

for good. Father had to make a stable for the stock. He 

went to the woods for light timber and to the swamp for 

hay. He drove two rows of stakes in the ground, nailed 

on rails and filled in coarse hay for walls. Timbers 

were thrown across from wall to wall and covered with 

hay for a roof. 

Next spring father seeded the four acres of the land 

which had been cleared, then went back to Kenyon to 

run the Bye farm. 

I was now the man in the family and I was proud of 

it. At harvest time we had expected a German to come 

with his reaper but he did not come. Fortunately J ens 

Hille, who had moved to Webster from Cottonwood 

County, Minn., where he was driven away by the 

grasshoppers, came to our farm and offered to cut our 

grain with his reaper. We were expecting another 

German to do the threshing, but he, too, disappointed 

us. In December John Blaker came eight miles and did 

the threshing. Father returned from Kenyon when 

through with his work. 

Once a month Rev. O.A. Bergh came and 

preached, usually in Magnus Olson's large house. 

Everybody attended the services. Father would hitch 

up his team of oxen, fill the box with hay for us to roll 

in and for feed for the oxen. The service was long and 

very tiresome to us children. There was not much in 

the line of amusement for us youngsters, but we 

enjoyed getting out-doors, driving or walking along the 

meadows and through the woods. Sometimes we would 

scare up a deer. How we enjoyed seeing the deer 

running through the woods, spreading the branches 

with its horns. 

One time when Larvig, father and I returned from 

Northfield, we were caught in a heavy rain storm. One 

of us with a lantern led the horses along the cut-away 

295

~en ~§Vow 

which was winding like a snake. Another time, after 

having gone to Northfield with a load of grain, we ran 

into a snow storm. It turned very cold. To keep warm 

we had to run behind the sled most of the time and often 

had to push the sled through the snowdrifts. 

In the spring father was taken seriously ill. We 

waited a day to see if he was not going to get better. By 

night we had to send for a doctor in Northfield, fifteen 

miles away. He was awakened at midnight, got his 

horses and with a man to help him arrived at our home 

next morning. 

Schooling Not Compulsory 

Schooling was not compulsory. The only school 

was the German Catholic School at New Market and of 

course we could not go there. Finally, when I was 

fifteen years old, a school district was organized in our 

community. I attended one month. In writing one day I 

misspelled forty words. In the parochial school it was 

different. The teacher was paid seventy-five cents a 

day. The school was moved from home to home. We 

children sat around a table and read our lessons aloud. 

We kept on 'til we had committed our lessons to 

memory but we did not understand much of what it 

meant. Once a storm raged for a week and we children 

had to stay in the home where the school was held until 

the men in the community could dig their way through. 

I later attended school in Northfield and studied some 

at Red Wing Seminary. 

When Rev. O.A. Bergh resigned in 1887 as pastor of 

Solor congregation at Webster, a congregation in 

Faribault, and one near Kasson, he was succeeded by 

Rev. H.N. Ronning who had just graduated from Red 

Wing Seminary. He immediately won the confidence 

and love of old and young. As soon as he could possibly 

do so he visited each family in the congregation. His 

short, simple and helpful sermons were appreciated 

not least by the young people. Rev. Ronning resigned in 

1891 and went to China as a missionary. 

Other ministers who served the congregation were 

0. A. Ostby, K. C. Holter, R. C. Chelman, Carl 

Nordberg, Gabriel Olson, S. E. Hanson, C. Hinderaker 

(student), and A. E. Windahl. The present pastor is 

Thorbjorn Hanson. 

The pioneers helped each other in every possible 

way. In closing I must say that I never knew finer 

people than the pioneers at Webster. 

Bridgewater was first 

settled 124 years ago 

By MRS. MARJ ORIE E. NEUHAUS 

Bridgewater, the second largest township in Rice 

County, is located in the northeastern quarter of the 

county. It is bounded on the north by Dakota County, 

east by Northfield Township, south by Cannon City 

Township and the east by Forest Township. 

The terrain in the western part is nearly-level to 

gently rolling pratnes with small limestone 

out-croppings and steep slopes in some areas. East 

Bridgewater is moderately sloping with a few long 

ridges formed by glacial drift. The Cannon River 

bisects the township from southwest to northeast, fed 

by Wolf and Heath creeks and numerous small 

unnamed streams that rise in the western section of 

Bridgewater. Before the coming of the settlers, the 

"Big Woods", a dense forest of hardwood, nut and fruit 

trees, covered the land from the west bank of the 

Cannon to the Minnesota River Valley. Traces of the 

woods can be seen in the more sparsely populated 

areas. The east side of the Cannon is lined with ridges 

interspersed witq prairie land. This was one of the 

favorite hunting spots of the Whapekute Indians, a 

lower tribe of the Sioux Nation. 

According to early records, the first claim seekers 

were Albon and John Hoyt of New Yor k who came to 

the Upper Cannon Valley in 1852. They staked out a 

section of prairieland between the rapidly flowing 

Cannon River and the forested ridges to the east. Along 

this section was the Fort Snelling-Far ibault Indian 

trail, a very busy highway indeed. 

$1.25 An Acre Land 

When the Indian treaties were ratified in 1854, the 

Minnesota triangle was thrown open for settlement. 

Land at $1.25 per acre was a bargain. The settlers, the 

Americans, the Canadians, the Germans, and the 

Scandinavians came by covered wagons, oxcarts, 

horseback, and on foot. Among the early a rrivals in 

Bridgewater was C. C. Stetson who settled on Section 

24 and opened a blacksmith shop. Edwin Larkin 

arrived too late in the fall to build a cabin so the family 

spent the winter in a covered wagon. In the spring, they 

built a log house on the Stetson claim. Job Chester 

settled to the south of Stetson and the Drakes to the 

nor th. Jacob Emery took up Section 28, 100 acres of 

clear land in the Big Woods, while Fred and Henry 

Albers settled on 300 acres in the northwest corner of 

the township. 

To handle the influx of immigrants, two stage 

roads, St. Paul-Iowa and Hastings-Faribault were 

established with the junction at Northfield. 

Fountain Grove, a small settlement and way 

station (corner of CR 1 and 246) founded by Dr. John 

Scofield, had the first school in Bridgewater and the 

first post office. The first church services were held in 

the Larkin cabin led by Doctor Scofield, an ordained 

Methodist minister. 

As time flew by, the hardy pioneers prospered. 

They raised 40-45 bushels of wheat to the acre. There 

was plenty of timber for building and fuel, the woods 

were full of food: wild game, fruits, nuts. The Cannon 

River teemed with fish. 

And there were hardships. Until the grist mills in 

Dundas and Northfield began operating in 1858, grain 

had to be hauled to Hastings by ox cart, a two day trip. 

The pioneers had to wear stout boots, a protection 

against rattlesnakes; they had to be watchful of 

Indians with taking ways, and on many a Sunday they 

had to gather together to bury a relative or friend who 

had been stricken with comsumption, cholera, or some 

296


other long forgotten disease. 

Sad Story Related 

The saddest funeral they attended was recorded by 

the Rev. W. J. Gold, rector of the Church of the Holy 

Cross, Dundas. He writes: July 27, 1873- Buried from 

the Church of the Holy Cross, Mrs. Alfred Hoyt. 

Baptized at the same time, the mother's dying wish, 

William, Albon Edward, Charlotte, and Charles Hoyt. 

"The above records embody part of a very sad 

story. This woman, Mrs. Hoyt, was married 18 years 

ago to Alfred Hoyt, she being at that time but 15 years 

old. Seven years ago, her husband brutally murdered 

his next neighbor, Stanford, for which he was 

sentenced to be hanged, but the sentence was 

commuted by the governor to imprisonment for life. 

Afterwards Hoyt was transferred to an insane asylum 

where he is supposed to be at present. Thus the poor 

woman was left at the age of 26 with a family of nine 

·children, worse than a widow. Two years ago the oldest 

child, a girl of 16, committed suicide to escape 

disgrace. She took poison. Last fall, 1873, the third 

child, also a girl, was shot dead, under circumstances 

which left it doubtful whether it was a case of murder, 

suicide, oran accident. 

"She was living alone with an aunt, a woman of 

ugly and violent temper, upon whom a great deal of 

suspicion has fallen. From this last shock, the poor 

mother never recovered. She took to her bed and 

wasted away with quick consumption. Thursday 

morning she sent for me, being then evidently near her 

last breath and, after due examination, at her request I 

gave her the Holy Communion and commended her 

soul to God. She died Friday morning. Her last request 

was that her children should be baptized at her 

funeral.'' 

For socializing, there were church socials, 

weddings, barn raisings, quilting bees, dances and 

horse races. 

Panic Brings Depression 

The panic of '57 brought depression to the people of 

Minnesota as well as the rest of the nation. The price of 

wheat fell, land values dropped, and immigration, with 

new money, ceased. To earn cash for store-bought 

necessities, the families near the Big Woods dug 

ginseng, a root highly prized by the Chinese for its 

medicinal properties, and sugared-off the maple trees. 

Residents of Bridgewater formally organized the 

township in 1858. Jacob Emery, J.A. Upham and B. 

Lockerby were chosen as supervisors with Lockerby to 

serve as chairman. C. C. Stetson was elected clerk, 

with Royal Esterbrook as assessor; Fernando 

Thompson, collector; James Gates, overseer of the 

poor; George Barton, David Hatfield and W. B. Taylor, 

justices of the peace, and Charles Drake and Fernando 

Thompson as constables. Total vote cast, 59. 

The Minnesota Valley Railroad, later absorbed by 

the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul RR, was 

chartered in 1857 to go from St. Paul to the Iowa 

border. After many delays caused by the depression, 

bankruptcies, and the Civil War, the tracks were 

finally laid. In 1865, the first cars began running loaded 

with products for the Twin Cities and returning with 

Little Prairie United Methodist Church 

homesteading immigrants. By · this time, the 

population of Bridgewater had reached 1,683. 

In 1882, the Minnesota Central RR laid tracks from 

Red Wing to Mankato, crossing Bridgewater from 

northeast to southwest, following the course of the 

Cannon River. This line was sold to the Chicago, Great 

Western who leased the trackage rights to the Dan 

Patch Line, the first railroad in the United States to use 

gasoline powered electric cars. 

Brickyards Established 

Among the early settlers were skilled brickmakers 

who found the Bridgewater clay-veins to be easily 

adapted to their methods. Brickyards were established 

on the eastern township line on the Edwin Drake farm 

and in Dundas. The bricks were too costly to compete 

with the more readily available lumber and limestone 

and the projects were dropped. The old Drake 

farmhouse on CR 22, now owned by W. D. Warnholz, is 

an excellent example of the durability and beauty of 

the bricks. 

Little Prairie, where Jacob Emery had settled, 

needed a church. The Methodist Society had gathered 

at the Emery cabin, but had soon outgrown the rooms. 

The school house, too, was soon filled to overflowing. In 

1897, it was decided to build a church even if the 

treasury was low. Mr. A.D. Ackely donated the land 

and Ezra Ennis laid the foundation. The other 

materials were donated by the folks in the area. The 

first service was held the following year. In 1919, the 

church was hit by lightning and destroyed. More land 

was donated by Mr. J .C. Hatfield and the present Little 

Prairie Methodist Church was built and dedicated in 

1920. 

D. W. Islley of Bridgewater was the first road 

commissioner of Rice County. According to him, the 

roads in the Little Prairie region just happened and 

nothing was done to maintain them. The Ladies' Aid of 

'lfj7

{lien ~§Vow 

the Little Prairie Church was provoked that the road 

past the church was impassable for more than half of 

the year and going to church was a great undertaking. 

In 1904, the plucky ladies solicited donations of cash 

and labor and sponsored the grading and graveling of 

one mile of road. Evidently gravel was a new-fangled 

innovation because no one would drive on the loose 

stuff. Finally, a long barrier was placed at both ends 

where the gravel began, preventing the drivers from 

going through the fields to avoid "that stuff." When the 

gravel had settled and proved itself to be a splendid 

road surface, other roads were graded and graveled, 

again by popular contribution, until a county highway 

department was set up. 

Ford's Referendum 

Up the road from the Little Prairie Church is a 

large rambling house built by Edwin B. Ford, one of 

the most controversial figures around the turn of the 

century. 

Mr. Ford was a newspaper reporter for the 

Faribault Jeffersonian and later, editor of the 

Referendum. In his zeal to attract readers, his articles 

became more and more libelous by the issue. He 

accused a Northfield alderman of embezzeling part of 

the July 4th fireworks money. Among the Faribault 

citizenry, he wrote about a doctor at the state school, 

the owner of one of the flour mills, the owner of the rug 

factory, and one of the Faribault school teachers. He 

was arrested, tried and found guilty of all five counts of 

criminal libel. He forfeited hundreds of dollars and 

spent 90 days in the county jail. In 1900, E. B. Ford and 

his wife, Elizabeth, sold the house and moved to 

Faribault where he continued to write slanderous 

stories and to appear regularly in court on charges of 

criminal libel. As most of his articles were of a political 

nature, one wonders if he was a hero or a fool. 

As the 20th century neared, the prospects of a 

healthy future in agriculture looked bleak. Competition 

from the vast wheat ranches in western Minnesota, 

depletion of the soil, repeated attacks of grasshoppers, 

chinch worms, and wheat diseases forced the 

Bridgewater farmer to look reluctantly at 

diversification. 

W. F. Schilling of Springbrook Farm, editor of the 

Northfield News, advanced the idea of breeding and 

raising dairy cows, especially the highly efficient 

Holsteins. He maintained that if the city slickers in 

Northfield could make money breeding horses, why 

couldn't the farmers do the same with cows. 

He wrote thousands and thousands of words 

extolling the virtues of the countryside with its rolling 

prairies, good water, and well-drained soil that was 

natural for forage crops and pastureland that would 

sustain large herds. 

He lectured endlessly about the ready markets in 

the nearby Twin Cities with their growing population. 

The Northfield Community Club, a group of 

well-informed and interested citizens, liked the idea 

and encouraged the farmers in their endeavors. Slowly 

the idea took hold. Farmer's Clubs were organized to 

promote better methods of breeding, producing, and 

marketing. 

By 1916, dairying had become a thrifty, profitable 

farming industry. At the close of World War I, there 

were 300 herds of purebred Holsteins within a 15 mile 

radius of Northfield. Northfield became the Holstein 

Capital of the World. 

Cooperative For med 

To get a better price for their milk, the farmers 

organized a cooperative, the Twin Cities Milk 

Producers Association. The Northfield Milk Products 

Company, the first completely equipped plant for the 

canning of milk to be built in Minnesota, became an 

important industry for town and country. 

Breeding and raising fast race horses was also a 

successful commercial venture besides being fun. The 

Alacantra Stock Farm and race track was located on 

top of a hill two miles south of Northfield where the 

township blends with the city. Named after the prize 

stud horse, the farm and track were the most popular 

of the five tracks in the area and drew horse racing 

fans and stockmen from all over the midwest. Races 

were run almost daily. In the winter , the track would 

be flooded with water and the ensuing ice would be 

scrapped down to where the horses could race without 

slipping. The Archibald race track and breeding 

stables were located east of Dundas on CR 23 and 

Highway 3. Relics of the track can still be seen. 

In the intervening years, the hardy people of 

Bridgewater have weathered depressions, war , 

inflation and bad weather. And now another battle 

must be fought. As the field mice nibble away at the 

farmers' corn, so the housing developers nibble away 

at the farmland. But then, who can blame the urban 

residents for wanting to move to Bridgewater , in the 

beautiful and bountiful Cannon Valley. 

Northfield township 

noted for its farms 

By MARJORIE E. NEUHAUS 

Northfield Township, located in the extreme 

northwest corner of Rice County, is bounded on the 

north by Dakota County, on the east by Goodhue 

County, on the south by Wheeling Township, and on the 

west by Bridewater Township. The town was organized 

in 1858, becoming politically separate from the Village 

of Northfield. 

The contours of Northfield Township vary from 

wild, woodsy ravines to gentle sloping hills that lord 

over thousands of acres of rich productive farmland. 

Sleepy Prairie Creek rambles through the southwest 

corner towards the Cannon River on the north. 

This was Wahpekute territory. Roving between 

Kaposia and Faribault, the Indians camped at a spring 

about one-half mile north of the present Northfield 

Township Hall. Nearby, a pile of boulders atop a 

windswept hill served as their lookout. From this 

vantage point, they could see the Cannon River and the 

298 .


The Northfield farm where the DeLanceys raised horses 

"Big Woods" beyond. The Indians looked for signs of 

game, scanned the skies for weather changes, and 

eyed any human activity. 

In 1855, they saw the first white settlers stake their 

cla.ims along the Cannon River, claims that were later 

incorporated into the town of Northfield. As more and 

more covered wagons and ox carts invaded their 

hunting grounds, the further west the Indians moved. 

The government established a stage road from 

Hastings to Faribault, cutting across the northern 

section of Northfield Township to join with the St. 

Paul-Iowa stage line at Northfield, making the area 

more accessible for the pioneer settlers. 

These immigrants tended to settle in clusters. J.D. 

Jones, a Scot, was the first settler in the southeastern 

section of the township by the side of Prairie Creek. He 

was soon joined by some of his countrymen. Another 

good Scot was Charles Stewart who laid out the first 

roads in the county. 

The Norwegians arrived in 1855, spilling north 

from Wheeling Township and settling near the Scots. 

Settle in Groups 

The Germans also settled in groups. The Biermans 

and the Prehns were near the Drentlaws, the Millers, 

and the Sommers' on Prairie Creek just north of the 

Scots. School was held in the Corburn cabin during the 

day for the children, and in the evening, for adult 

English classes. German Methodist services were held 

in the homes until they could afford to build the Prairie 

Creek Church on what is now 246. (The church was 

moved to Nerstrand in the 1930's). Other German 

families organized into a Moravian Church in 

Northfield. For socializing, they gathered at the Orr 

cheese factory where they put on home talent shows 

and musical programs. To relieve the starkness of the 

Tom DeLancey 

APercheron 

pra1ne, they planted trees on their farms and 

roadways. During the Sioux uprising, they fed and 

sheltered the refugees from the Minnesota Valley. 

One of the pioneer farms in Northfield Township is 

that of Mr. and Mrs. Myron Sommers who have lived 

on that farm, and operated it for many years. The 

homestead farm, located near the Northfield Town 

Hall, was pre-empted by Frederick and Rosine 

Sommers, who came to this country in 1855 from 

Germany, 120 years ago. Before they could fully decide 

to leave their homeland and relatives, their first child, 

Frederick, was born. After coming to America, they 

lived for three years near Joliet, Ill., and there, a 

second son, John, was born. By the spring of 1855 their 

plans were well laid, and they set out for this area in a 

covered wagon. 

In their caravan there also were the families of 

299

~en~§Vow 

Phillip Miller, John Drentlaw, Stephen Krantz, all born 

in Germany, Gottlieb Lechelt (no information) and 

Gottlieb Prehn, grandfather of Art Bierman. 

The Myron Sommers have two daughters, Mrs. 

Robert (Adair) Dwyer and Mrs. Charles (Lynne) 

Mulliner, Mankato; and a granddaughter and a 

grandson, children of Mr. and Mrs. Dwyer. 

Thomas Lawler, an Irishman with a wife and 50 

cents in his pocket, settled in Wheeling Township and 

then bought a farm on the Wall Street Road. He, too, 

was joined by some of his countrymen, spilling into 

Goodhue County. The Irish did not stay long in Rice 

County. They sold their land to the Czechs and moved 

on. The last Irish settlement was Fegan's Station, a 

depot and stop-off point for "Milk Shake", the train 

that carried farmers and their produce to St. Paul from 

Kenyon. 

Most of the Americans were from New England. 

Morris Dennison arrived in 1857 after almost drowning 

in the Mississippi when he fell overboard weighted 

down by the gold coins sewed in his homespun vest. He 

broke the first sod where Dennison is now. John Way, 

arriving in 1855, brought Vermont Morrill, the first 

Morgan stallion in Minnesota. At the same time, 

Charles Whittier settled on his claim. He was a charter 

member of the Northfield Baptist Church and served 

as deacon. 

Another of the first settlers in the township was 

David H. Orr. He bought 200 acres in sections 14 and 15. 

Some of the acreage was planted in hops and barley, 

the first such crops in the state. He also experimented 

with raising apples, unsuccessfully. In 1871, he built the 

Prairie Creek cheese factory, the first such factory in 

the area. He made excellent cheese, proved by the 

many blue ribbons from the state fairs and the 

American Institute of New York. Locally he had a 

reputation of being a fine poet and gave many readings 

before the Old Settlers Association. 

Breeds Draft Horses 

Tom DeLancey, late of New York, came to 

Northfield about the same time and bought a 240 acre 

farm in section 2. After many years of clearing lands, 

building railroads, and a stint as Rice County Deputy 

Sheriff, he went into the business of breeding draft 

horses on his township farm, the Rolling Prairie Stock 

Farm. Choosing the Percheron breed for its stamina, 

gentle disposition, and beauty, Tom and his sons 

imported breeding stock from the registered strains of 

France. Most of them weighed a ton or more. 

As the fame of the DeLanceys and the Percherons 

spread, more and more buyers from the Midwest came 

to see and buy the kings of the draft horses. It was not 

unusual for horse breeders to pay $5,000 per head. 

Buyers from the cities liked the Percherons for pulling 

street cars and fire apparatus. Most of the sales were 

in gold coins and not much paper work, bringing good 

business to the local lawyers. 

Other successful horse breeders were F. L. 

Koester, C.B. Crandall, H.C. Senn, Leonard Johnson, 

Isaac Lenout and Wells Blackman. Some of the 

stockmen bred and raised Morgan horses, but that 

breed did not reach the popularity of the Percherolli. 

Many of the breeders also raised fast, high-spirited 

trotting horses who worked out daily on the private 

race track on the DeLancey farm. 

As progress came to the land in the form of the 

gasoline engine, the horses were put out to pasture, to 

end their days as family pets. Descendants of the great 

horses can still be seen in action every fall at the horse 

pulling contests on the Eugene Schrader farm on the 

Wall Street Road (CR79). These displays of strength, 

stamina, and power draw thousands of horse lovers 

from all over the Midwest, participants and spectators 

alike. The events are sponsored by the Rice County 

Sheriffs Posse. 

Northfield Township has a ghost town. Old records 

reveal in 1899, a post office was established at Tenod 

near the Severson· farm. An old map indicates that 

Tenod was on CR30 on the floor of the valley. The post 

office was abandoned in 1901, leaving no visible traces. 

In 1908, just east of Northfield, C.O. Nichols and 

0. V. Sherpy, old settlers, founded the Northfield Seed 

Company. They built a small seed corn drying plant 

and contracted with a few of the farmers to grow 

seed com. Within four years, the company had 

incorporated, acquired 37 acres of nursery stock, 100 

acres of growing stock, a 12,000 bushel capacity seed 

com drying plant and a packing house. In addition 

there were contracts with local farmers for 500 acres of 

seed corn along with acreage for onion sets, onion 

seeds, garden and field peas, beans ~nd sweetcom. 

These arrangements were a profitable side line for the 

farmer with a few extra acres. 

By 1913, the company had a retail store in the 

remodeled old St. John's Lutheran Church on the 

present site of Benson's mortuary. They employed 25 

agents and serviced 200 dealers throughout the state. 

The seed com was sold under the "Northfield 

Pede grade'' label and the highest grades of clover and 

grass seeds were labeled "Carleton" and "St. Olaf". 

Once called the big noise on the square by a 

newspaper wag, the firm went out of business in the 

'30's. 

The Northfield Township farmer along with his 

neighbor in Bridgewater depended upon · the queenly 

Holstein for most of his income, and he had precedent. 

The first man in the Northfield area to own a purebred 

Holstein was Isaac Lenout: He showed the cow at the 

1889 fair. Ten years later E.P. Miller had a small herd. 

Other Holstein owners were Nickols, Lamberty, 

Goodhue, and Hunter. So when W.F. Schilling began 

campaigning for the Holsteins Breeders Association, 

the Northfield farmers were ready. They 

whole-heartedly joined the Farmers Clubs and Milk 

Cooperatives, adding to the luster of Northfield, 

Holstein Capital of the World. 

In this time of specialization, the number of 

Holstein herds are reduced. Taking their place are 

turkeys, pigs, beef cattle, and sheep. Winners all, in the 

market place. 

300


Miller family lives on 

same farm for 116 years 

This is the story of a prominent Northfield 

Township family, that of Phillipp and Mary Mueller 

later changed to Philip Miller), members of which 

have lived on the same farm since 1860--a total of 116 

years. For many years the farm, recently sold, has 

been operated by Charles H. Miller, member of the 

Rice County Board of Commissioners, and former 

board chairman. This is the chronological account of 

this well-known family: 

PHILLIPP MUELLER 

1832-1905 

AND DESCENDANTS 

Phillipp Mueller was born Oct. 5, 1832 at 

Dorn-Dirkheim, Germany, the son of farmers. There 

he grew up and learned farming from his parents. 

When he was about nineteen years of age, his parents 

died, and shortly after that he and his sister, tog~ther 

with other friends from the community set sail for 

America. Everyone provided for his own needs for the 

lengthy crossing. The sailboat landed at New Orleans, 

and the party made its way up the Mississippi River 

and settled near Monee, Ill., about 1852. (This town is 

no longer shown on maps.) 

The sister's name was Emily, and she died at 

about the age of thirty, but it is not known where or 

when exactly. While living at Monee, Phillipp met 

another immigrant, also from the village of 

Dorn-Dirkheim, a Miss Mary Appelona Bishman, and 

after a courtship they were married at Monee. They 

farmed there for a short time, and after the birth of 

their first child, Mary, the family left by ox-team and 

covered wagon for Minnesota. 

After a long and tedious journey, they settled at 

Otisco, near Waseca, Minn. Here George Louis was 

born June 2, 1859. About one year later they again 

packed the covered wagon and hitched up an ox and a 

horse and made their way to the Northfield community 

to join former friends. It was on this move that the iron 

rims on the wagon wheels wore out, and the remainder 

of the journey was made with the wooden rims. In the 

Northfield community they bought a farm about six 

miles southeast of town in Section 21 (last known as the 

J. W. Crouch place) where they farmed and raised 

their family. They were often helped by friendly 

Indians. Phillipp and neighbors -would drive by 

ox-team to Hastings, Minn., to have a load of wheat 

milled into flour for the winter. Phillipp and Mary were 

among the families who built the first Prairie Creek 

church. The story has been passed down that George L. 

and Edgar P. as young men were out by the side of the 

road and were asked by members of the Jesse James 

gang whether they were on the right road to Northfield. 

In 1882 Phillipp and Mary moved into Northfield and 

lived out the remainder of Phillipp's life in a home on 

St. Olaf Avenue, near the intersection of Linden and 

near the present Catholic church. 

Shortly after coming to the Northfield commu~ity, 

Phillipp Mueller and his wife became naturahz~d 

citizens of the United States, and being proud of his 

new land, adopted the Americanization o~ his name, 

legally changing it to Philip Miller. The children from 

then on carried the name of Miller. 

Philip Miller was a man about 5'10" with brown 

eyes and curly hair which was white at the age of forty. 

In later life he wore a long beard. He was a man of 

hasty temper, but fond of a joke. He was hard worki~g, 

God-fearing and very religious. There was family 

prayer in the home and the reading of a chapter o.f the 

Holy Bible at breakfast each morning. Mary A .. Miller, 

his wife, was a lady about 5'2", blue-eyed, with long 

heavy brown hair. She was a quiet person devoted to 

her home and family. She was an excellent 

housekeeper and an artist in needle work, knitting and 

crocheting. 

To the union of Philip and Mary Miller were born five 

children: 

Mary A. at Monee, Ill., Nov. 27, 1855; George Louis at 

Otisco, June 2, 1859; Edgar Philip at Northfield, Aug. 

16, 1861; Caroline Ann at Northfield, Jan. 29, 1864; 

Matilda Elizabeth at Northfield, Nov. 6, 1874. 

Philip Miller died May 15, 1905 at the age of 72 years 

and his wife Mary A. Miller died July 18, 1918 at the ~ge 

of 86 years. Both were buried in the Northfield 

cemetery. - 

Resume of the children of Philip and Mary A. 

Miller: 

Mary A. Miller, married Frederik Sommers and 

after his death was again married to Philip Bishman, a 

cousin. The Bishman family lived at Waseca, Minn. 

Mary's children were: Clara Sommers, Julius 

Sommers, Benjamin Bishman. 

George Louis Miller (see information given later) 

Edgar Philip Miller married Dora Ebling on Sept. 

27, 1881. Their children were: Hattie, (Schollej~erdes 

by marriage); Phillip; Alice, (Hoyt by marnage); 

Cora, (Bissell by marriage); Herbert G. . 

Dora died April 12, 1899 and Edgar Marned Susan 

Buchman who lived only two years, with no children 

born. 

Edgar again married, this time to Emma 

Zimmerman on Dec. 30, 1902 Their children were: 

Virginia E., (Day by marriage); Stanley E. 

Edgar died May 12, 1920. The following is cop~ed 

from his obituary: "Mr. Miller was a progressive 

farmer. He was one of the first to introduce purebred 

Holstein cattle into the Northfield community. He was 

quick to see an opportunity and has rendered great 

service in agriculture. He was a hard worker and kept 

his farm in the best of condition. He had a careful 

religions training in childhood and was brought up in 

the Prairie Creek Sunday School and Church. He was a 

regular reader of the Bible and learned the law of God 

from His word.'' 

Caroline Ann Miller married Charles Bierman Sept. 

10 1884 in Waseca. They moved to Lynd, Minn. to farm. 

Their children were: Anna (Haas by marriage); 

Eddie, Nettie B. (Stelter by marriage) Caroline died 

Nov. 23, 1931 (the year is not certain). 

301

~en ~§Vow 

Matilda Elizabeth Miller, the youngest of the 

family, was married to William H. Holden October 1, 

1902. Their children were: Carroll W., Howard F. 

As a young lady before her marriage Matilda 

made her home with her parents at the St. Olaf Avenue 

home. She was unusually skilled as a dressmaker and 

the majority of the bridal gowns of the period at the end 

of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century in the 

Northfield community were her creations. She was 

also ~alented as a painter and a musician until arthritis 

in her hands curtailed this interests. However, she 

continued her interest and activity in needlework until 

her death on Sept. 28, 1951, the last of the five children 

of one of Minnesota's pioneer families, German 

immigrants named Mueller, who in the country of their 

adoption became Miller. 

George Louis Miller was born at Otisco, Minn. on 

June 2, 1859. He grew up on his parent's farm in the 

Prairie Creek community. He attended the Prairie 

Creek school. On Sept. 21, 1880 he married a neighbor's 

daughter, Miss Stephana Bickel. His father Philip 

brought eighty acres in sections 17 and 18, and George 

and Stephana lived on that farm when they married. 

Three children, Clara, George Harry and his father, 

Philip, had farmed. Three more children, Lizzie, 

Charles H. and Frank B. were born there. In 1894 he 

purchased 160 acres in section 7 and farmed there until 

1912 when he and Stephana moved into Northfield to 

live out his remaining years in a house on Division 

Street. 

George was also much interested in cattle, and 

became the first president of the first Holstein club in 

America, formed in Northfield, March 6, 1903. From 

his obituary the following is copied: 

"He was one of the first breeders of purebred 

Holsteins in the community and with his brother, E. P. 

Miller, was a pioneer in developing the industry here. 

Always interested in co-operative marketing and 

movements for improving agriculture, Mr. Miller took 

an active part in this work here and was the first 

president, from 1906 to 1910, of the Farmers' 

Co-operative Creamery ... Mr. Miller was devoted to 

his home and children, and known throughout the 

community for his friendly cheerfulness and goodwill. 

"Among the many expressions of sorrow at Mr. 

Miller's death and of appreciation for his good 

citizenship in this community was the following 

statement by W. F. Schilling, an associate in the 

Holstein industry here: 

'In the death of George L. Miller the Northfield 

community has lost one of its very best and most useful 

citizens. He was one of the first farmers who I met here 

when I came over thirty years ago and in all my many 

years of acquaintance and dealings with him I never 

saw him do one small thing.' '' 

Being only 53 years of age when he moved from the 

farm to Northfield, he continued to help his sons 

Charles and Frank on the home farm and also his son 

George on his farm. He and his three sons operated a 

threshing rig during the harvest season, moving the rig 

from farm to farm among those in the ring. He would 

appear at five in the morning to build up the steam in 

the coal burning steam engine which operated the 

threshing rig. 

George and Stephana opened their home to several 

grandchildren who stayed with them during the winter 

months while attending school in Northfield. They 

were loved and respected by their six children and 

eighteen grandchildren. George died in 1929, Stephana 

in 1943. 

The children of George Louis and Stephana Bickel 

Miller were: 

Clara, July 2, 1881- Jan. 22, 1965; George H., Oct. 

17, 1882- Sept. 15,1972; Emma, Dec. 20, 1883- Feb. 14, 

1945; Lizzie E., Sept. 6, 1886; Charles H., Feb. 12, 1888- 

March 14, 1964; Frank B., Nov. 12, 1889- July 1, 1963. 

Grandchildren: Clara and Hyland Taylor, Lester, 

Jan. 1905; Robert, Nov. 1906; Harold, Jan. 1910. 

Emma and George Taylor, Irene, April 15, 1909; 

Hazel, Feb. 13, 1912; Merle, Nov. 3, 1914; Marie, April 

18, 1917. 

George and Jeanie, Agnes, Oct. 10, 1907; Clair, 

March 1, 1909; Helen, Aug. 23, 1911; George Jr., June 

29, 1917; Isabel, Nov. 23, 1918. 

Lizzie and Hans Petterson, Lucille, April3, 1916. 

Charles and Alice, Gertrude, April 1909; Marion 

A., died as infant 1917; Charles, August 5, 1918; Paul 

G., Aug. 13, 1920. 

Frank and Blanche, Martha, Feb. 12, 1916; Marion, 

Aug. 6, 1918; Ruth, July 9, 1919. 

302

Chapter X 

Wrapping it all up 

Former Faribault doctor 

benefactor of U of M 

A former Faribault physician, Dr. Frank Warren, 

and his daughter Alice, both deceased, are benefactors 

of the Minnesota Medical Foundation, research group 

affiliated with the University of Minnesota School of 

Medicine, which esteems them highly and never will 

forget their generosity. 

The January 1976 issue of the Minnesota Medical 

Foundation Journal commented: "Before 1908 the 

Minnesota Medical Foundation had never heard of Dr. 

Frank S. Warren. By the end of 1975, the Foundation 

had spent nearly $200,000 of his money on medical 

research- but Dr. Warren remains mostly a mystery. 

This interesting disclosure of the generous Warren 

bequests was made known to the editor of this Rice 

County History Book by John G. Boosalis, former 

Faribault resident and businessman who is now 

owner-operator of a successful restaurant - golf course 

-swimming pool complex in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Dr. Nicholas Boosalis, a brother, is on the mailing 

list of the Minnesota Medical Foundation Journal. John 

Boosalis before going to Fairmont, where he operated 

a restaurant, and then to Lincoln, was in business with 

his brothers, William and George, in the Olympia 

Restaurant in Faribault, still operated by George and 

Bill. Their mother, Mrs. Mary (Gus) Boosalis, resides 

at 622 Central Ave., Faribault. 

When the Minnesota Medical ·Foundation first 

learned in 1968 that it was a beneficiary in the will of 

Alice Warren, Dr. Warren's daughter, few people 

around the Medical School had even heard his name. 

U of M Graduate 

That wasn't too surprising. He graduated from the 

U of M Medical School in 1896. He had a successful 

practice in Faribault until about 1932 when he went to 

Washington, D.C. He died in 1945. He left a sizable 

estate - and a good deal of investment knowhow- to 

his daughter. 

The move to Washington was prompted by his own 

heart condition and his daughter's multiple sclerosis. 

He never took out a medical license in Washington, 

instead devoting his time to research in multiple 

sclerosis. Alice lived until1968 with the disease, largely 

due to what her father had learned about the care of 

M.S. patients. 

Alice met Ralph E. "Jeff" Harmon, an 

experienced investment counselor, at a time when she 

was trying to decide what arrangements to make for 

the distribution of her estate after her death. 

Fortune smiled doubly on the Minnesota Medical 

Foundation in the person of Jeff Harmon. First, he 

suggested a bequest for research at Dr. Warren's 

Medical School, which led to the Minnesota Medical 

Foundation. Second, he was named Trustee of the 

resulting Warren Fund and proved to be an 

exceptionally successful investor on behalf of the trust. 

The bequest was to be invested for 20 years, with 

annual earnings going to MMF for research. At the end 

of the 20 year period, the principal of the fund will be 

divided equally between the foundation and the 

Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, Episcopal, in 


Through Harmon's successful investment 

program $251,080 had been added by the end of 1974 to 

the original principal of $364,308 through realized 

capital gains and more than $180,000 distributed to 

MMF for its research programs. Harmon says his goal 

is to provide a half-million dollars each to MMF and 

the Episcopal Cathedral when the principal is divided. 

He hasn't given anyone any reason to doubt his 

ability to do it. 

Converted Savings Into Cash 

The medical Foundation Journal went on to report 

some interesting things it had heard about Dr. Warren 

while researching the Warren story: He made a lot of 

his money on American Tobacco and was a 

non-smoker -prior to the crash of the stock market in 

1929, he converted all his holdings to cash and 

transferred the money to a safety deposit box. Then he 

took an ocean cruise, where he expressed amazement 

at the number of people who didn't see the financial 

disaster coming- He personally operated on his wife 

and daughter. When colleagues questioned this he 

said: ''They deserve the best, and by God, I am the 

best ..." 

Among the research grants from the Warren Fund 

were: Dr. Sheldon B. Sparber, assistant professor, 

Department of Pharmacology, ''Biogenic Amines in 

Developing Fetal Brain", $7,500; Dr. Yusuf Abul-Haij, 

assistant professor, Department of Pharmacgonosy, 

Reductase Activity in Liver with Various 

Hepatomas, $2,500; Dr. Milton Alter, professor, 

303

{!ffen ~§Vow 

Department of Neurology, "Multiple Sclerosis and 

Childhood Infections", $2,500. 

Dr. Wesley D. Anderson, assistant professor, 

Department of Anatomy, "A Study of ~he 

Vertebral-Basilar and Internal Carotid Arterial 

Systems of the Brain of Dog in Relation to the 

Intracranial Arteries of Man", $2,500; Dr. James F. 

Berry, Department of Neurology, "Lipid Metabolism 

in Experimental Demelination", $1,500. 

Oscar Palrud., former 

resident., is railroad huff 

According to St. Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch 

columnist Gareth Hiebert, New Ulm native who writes 

his daily column under the pen name of "Oliver 

Towne," one of the leading candidates for the title of 

"America's Travelingest Railroad Buff" is Oscar 

Palrud of Cannon Falls, former Faribault resident. 

Hiebert wrote of Palrud's unusual and fascinating 

railroad experiences in a recent column. 

"I guess I've been a rail riding nut for 50 years," 

Palrud told the columnist. Since he climbed aboard the 

old Milwaukee local from his home town of Faribault 

at the age of 5 and rode all the way to Zumbrota, 

Palrud estimates he has ridden three million miles on 

passenger trains. 

Palrud doesn't live far from Faribault now. He 

operates Little Oscar's Cafe on U.S. Highway 52 at 

Hampton and lives at Cannon Falls eight miles away. 

He is, in fact, so devoted to trains that, he told 

Hiebert, it disturbs him every time he has to make the 

eight mile trip by car. 

Running a restaurant hasn't kept Palrud from 

thinking about railroads. Next to his place of business 

is his own private railroad yard. He has his own 

railroad station - the former Webster, Rice County, 

Great Western depot which he moved to Hampton, 

Northern Pacific little red caboose, section shed, 

outhouse, track, semaphore. On the depot is a sign 

which reads: "Oscar's Junction, Chicago and Great 

Oscar Railway." 

likes Traveling Alone 

The former Faribault resident travels alone on his 

rail trips because his wife and five children don't like 

trains. But they've learned to live happily with their 

"traveling man." In fact, Palrud was quoted as saying, 

"I don't mind going alone ... I like to be loose ... 

ready to change my mind ... and I don't get lonesome 

being by myself . . . just give me a nice compartment 

on an air-conditioned train, with a good diner and club 

car and that click of the wheels. That's all I need. I can 

stay on that train a month.'' 

In the summer of 1975, Palrud embarked on his 

greatest and longest train ride - a 6,800 mile train trip 

from Vienna, Austria, across Czechoslovakia, Poland, 

Russia, Siberia to the far, far East and then across 

Japan by rail. 

"What set me off in this journey," he said, "was a 

book on the construction of the Trans-Siberain 

Railway. I just had to take that trip. The only part I 

didn't like was having to fly the Atlantic. You know, I 

was an Air Corps Transport Pilot in World War II ... I 

almost washed out on my final check because I spent 

too much time chasing passenger trains across Texas 

from the air." 

Little Oscar boarded the Chopin Express in Vienna 

on the night of May 5, 1975, rode through 

Czechoslovakia, spent three days in Warsaw, then rode 

the train into Moscow, spent three days there and 

started over 6,000 miles of travel aboard the 

Trans-Siberian Russian Express Russia Express. He 

rode first class all the way. 

"I don't know how many other Americans have 

made that run," he said. "I was the only American on 

the train and I saw no others until I got to Japan. And 

still, nobody seemed to wonder why an American 

would be traveling all alone across Russia with no 

apparent mission, no business, no briefcase." 

Comfortable Sleepers 

The Russia Express, he said, is an all new train, 

built in East Germany and if you ride in the soft class 

sleeper, those with upholstered seats, it is very fine and 

pleasant. He had a compartment for two, all to himself. 

Every three days, he left the train and stopped 

overnight at some hotel in a large city to take a bath 

and clean up, including his wash and wear clothes. 

In-Tourist had booked him into these pauses. 

''The farther you got from Moscow,'' Oscar told 

Heibert, "the less choice there was at mealtime. 

Roughly, it would be eggs for breakfast, borscht for 

dinner and poultry for supper. My taste doesn't run to 

sour dough bread, yogurt on cucumbers and sour 

cream in soup, but some foreigners and Russians liked 

it fine. I finally settled down to a diet of a bottle of red 

wine, some white cheese and a big dill pickle each 

meal." 

The railroad buff said there was a samovar in each 

sleeper and coach, keeping water hot for tea that 

women attendants served 24 hours a day. "I sort of 

hated to get off that train after 12 days . . . actually 

nine on the rails," he was quoted as saying ... "but I 

still had one ride to look forward to - the Yokohama 

Bullet ... you know, from Tokyo to Yokohama it goes 

130 miles an hour ... and so smooth that a can of beer 

I had on a window ledge didn't even shiver.'' 

He has a library of more than 5,000 slides on trains 

he has ridden. He has made four trips to Europe to ride 

on trains and usually maps one major trip a year some 

place by train. In 1974 he rode the fiction-famous Train 

Bleu (Blue Train) from Paris to Nice and Monaco, the 

train which is a setting for one of Agatha Christie's 

mystery stories. 

Oscar's ''training'' in America has been wherever 

they still go. He's gone on the Amtrak Montrealer four 

times, from Boston to Montreal and return, ridden the 

Amtrak Broadway Limited, the North Coast Limited, 

Empire Builder, Panam Limited, the Eskimo Express 

to Vancouver, B.C., and .. . well ... that's just a 

sample. 

304

Wrapping it up 

Faribault authors 

gain recognition 

(Partial list of Faribault authors, compiled by 

Buckham Memorial Library staff) 

Emma Babcock - Life's Golden Cup, Rainbow 

Trails (poems); 

Lillie Clara Berg - Early Pioneers And Indians of 

, Minnesota and Rice County, (early history); 

Alfred Hoyt Bill - Astrophel, or The Life And 

Death of The Renowned Sir Philip Sidney; 

Beleaguered City; Campaign of Princeton; Red 

Prior's Legacy; Rehearsal for Conflict; Ring of 

Danger; Valley Forge; The Clutch of The Corsi cal; 

Highroads of Peril; Alas, Poor Yorick; The Wolf in The 

Garden (early history); 

Frank Brandenburg- Making of Modern Mexico; 

Canon Allen F. Bray- The Return of Self-concern 

(psychology) ; 

George L. Clark, - History of Rice County Public 

Roads System. 

James Cook, Articles published in Sports Afield, 

Outdoor News, and Ducks Unlimited (conservation); 

Gloria Dapper - A Guide for School Board 

Members, Public Relations for Education, School 

Volunteers and What They Do and How They Do It, 

How To Organize Volunteer Groups, (education) 

Wilson Dietrich - Powee in Valentine Land, 

Powee's Jack-0'-Lantern, Create With Paper Bags, 

(children's books); Star Flight, Cattle King, Time 

Machine, U.S.A., Super Pilot, Top of The World, 

Search For Pre-historic Monsters, (children's 

educational games); 

Judith Ann Duncan - The Book of Jonah, 

(calligraphy); 

Helen Farnham,- Let's Make a Puppet, (crafts); · 

Dorothy Frederickson- Early Crocus, (poems) 

Eugenia Gipson - Article in Magazine ''Prairie 

Schooner", (short story); 

Rollo Handy - Methadology of The Behavioral 

Sciences, The Measurement of Values, Value Theory 

and The Behavioral Sciences (psychology); 

Seth Humphrey- Following the Prairie Frontier, 

(early history); 

Mary Karp- Creative Cooking; 

Wesley Lauritsen - History of The Minnesota 

School For The Deaf; 

Agnes McCarthy - Prose and Poetry of America, 

Prose and Poetry of England, Prose and Poetry For 

Enjoyment, Adventures in Prose And Poetry, 

Journeys, Appreciation, (education); 

Ralph Merrill- I Can Remember, (reminiscenses 

of a lifetime spent in Faribault); 

Dr. David M. Pletcher- Awkward Years, Major 

aspects of International Politics, Rails, Mines and 

Progress, (early history); 

Orwin Rustad Genealogies of the 

Rustad-Sparstad-Kvernbraaten Families, Thirty-two 

Articles on Geology; 

G. Slade Schuster - The ABC's of William 

Shakespeare, (theater); 

Travis Thompson - Behavioral Modification of 

The Mentally Retarded (psychology) ; 

Bishop Benjamin Whipple - Bishop Whipple's 

Southern Diary, Five Sermons, Lights and Shadows of 

A Long Episcopate (early history); 

James Kenneth Winjum - The Role of Accounting 

In the Economic Development of England 1550-1750; 

Charles A. Winkley - Raised In A Barn (story of 

his father's livery stable in Faribault). 

Three pastors serve 

more than 25 years 

Three Faribault church pastors, prominent in their 

own denominations and each a distinguished 

community leader gaining recognition for their 

unselfish and humanitarian efforts to help others in 

need and to make Faribault a better city in which to 

Msgr. John P. Foley 

Rev. Frederick Tschann 

Rev. A. L. Rustad 

305

~en ~cf!Vow 

time were abundant in the community. Beautiful 

stairways of black walnut helped to make it a place of 

beauty. The home was located on a hill near the 

entrance to the Peony Farm grounds. The Peony Farm 

is now operated by Archie and Robert Tischler. 

Faribault Daily News, Oct. 13, 1956. 

SUNDET ADDITION 

An attractive development on Faribault's West Side 

provides perment home sites for mobile homes. 

Senator A. 0. Sundet, owner, has spent considerable 

time over the past four years in developing the 15 acres 

into a beauty spot. The Sundet Mobile Home Addition is 

not only the first in this community but is thought to be 

the first of its kind in the entire northwest. The 

residents enjoy paved streets, curbing, gutters and city 

sewers.- Faribault Daily News, August 29, 1967. 

Prince of Peace Statue, continually 

reminding viewers of Christ's teachings, 

which stands in a small park adjacent to 

Buckham Memorial Library and was 

dedicated in the 1930s. The statue, contributed 

lJy Our Lady of Victory Circle Daughters of 

Isabella, has prompted many compliments 

from Faribault visitors as well as local 

residents. 

live, each served their own church more than 25 years. 

One is deceased and the other two are retired. 

They are: The Rev. Arthur L. Rustad, former 

pastor of the First English Lutheran Church, 

Monsignor John P. Foley, for many years pastor of 

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, who passed 

away in 1964, and the Rev. Frederick Tschann, former 

pastor of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, who died Sept. 

15, 1976. 

Through their ecumenical leadership they did 

much to insure success of the Faribault Ministerial 

Association and to create cooperative understanding 

among the pastors of Faribault's more than 20 

churches and schools. 

News tidbits 

OLD HOUSE TORN DOWN 

One of the Faribault's first frame houses, believed 

be at least 100 years old, is being torn down at the 

Brand Peony Farm, 927 E. Division St. It was built by 

Judge Perry, one of the first judges in the community 

in the 1850's. 

' 

In 1868 the house and 40 acres of land surrounding 

were purchased by the late 0. F. Brand, founder of the 

famed Brand Peony Farm which has brought national 

and international recognition to Faribault. 

The home was built of natural woods which at that 

ARLINGTON HOTEL 

Located at Central Avenue and Fifth Street, the 

Arlington Hotel opened Nov. 17, 1880. Three stories 

high, the building was built of brick and extended for 56 

feet on Main Street (to Fifth Street). It was regarded 

as one of Faribault's most imposing structures. The 

hotel was owned for a long time by the Cosgrove family 

and presently by Mrs. Alfred W. Mentz. In 1953 the 

exterior was fuse-painted in a coral color scheme. A 

booklet published in 1884 describes the Arlington House 

"as beautiful and affording accommodations to either 

permanent or transient guests." - Faribault Daily 

News, July 13, 1953. 

LANDMARK FALLS 

Another of Faribault's rapidly diminishing 

landmarks has fallen. The two story frame building 

originally known as the Milwaukee Depot Hotel was 

located at Second Street adjacent to the Chicago, 

Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific R.R. The long frame 

building had a huge porch which ran along the entire 

front. Along the front of the hotel was a beautiful flower 

bed which furnished an attractive setting for the hotel 

and the busy railroad tracks. John Rosen ran the hotel 

from 1942 until a few years ago. - Faribault Daily 

News Feb. 22, 1952. 

Items of interest in the news 

BRUHL, HEINZ 

Dr. Heinz Bruhl's studies in PKU are showing 

results. Dr. Bruhl, retired medical director of the 

Faribault State School and Hospital, is happy about the· 

progress of a three year old patient afflicted with a 

congential error in body chemistry. The affliction, 

phenylketonuria (PKU) is caused by specific enzyme 

deficiency in the liver and usually results in severe 

mental retardation. Dr. Bruhl says the patient, a little 

306


This historic Faribault building, located on 

the northeast corner of Third Street and First 

Avenue NE, has been thoroughly rejuvenated 

and reconstructed and is naw known as Depot 

Square with modern dental, insurance, state 

agency, accounting and other offices already 

occupied. It is anticipated by Depot Square 

Projects, a partnership composed of 

corporations and individuals working as 

partners, which operates the building, that by 

November 1, it will have 75 per cent 

occupancy. The partnership has acquired a 

200x130 feet lot north of First Avenue, near 

the building, which is being developed into a 

parking lot. The Depot Square 

projectoriginally was launched by Descon, 

Northfield, composed of Dave Medin, 

Gaylord Underdahl and Dyrol Jackson, and 

refinancing was obtained. The three are now 

partners in Depot Square Projects. The 

building for many years housed the 

Theopold-Reid Company, pioneer Faribault 

wholesale grocery firm and later housed the 

Western Grocer Company and the Hunt 

Potato Company. (Photo by Donald Lord, 

Lord Studio) 

rural Faribault girl, is one of the lucky ones in that her 

disorder was discovered soon after birth. Under a 1965 

law, all newborn babies are tested for PKU. Dr. Bruhl 

has been working on a special diet for PKU patients for 

thirteen years at Faribault. 

Dr. Bruhl placed the youngster on a low PA died 

consisting of Lofenalac, an artificial low P A milk, and 

vegetables and fruits and other dishes made with low 

PA materials. The PA level of the patients blood is 

checked each month. 

She will be kept on special diet until she reaches at 

least school age. At that point, when her brain has fully 

developed, a high PA level does not seem to affect the 

brain, Dr. Bruhl said. 

CARLANDER, JOHN 

John Carlander, board chairman of the State Bank 

of Faribault, became a member of the Minnesota 

Banker's Association Pioneer Club in 1970. He has been 

in banking for 50 years. 

Carlander has been associated with the State Bank 

of Faribault since 1938. Before moving to Faribault, he 

was chief examiner of the Federal Reserve Bank in 

Minneapolis. 

307

'@len ~§Vow 

the top of the bunker and threw three hand grenades 

into the aperture. His fearless actions caused the 

enemy to leave the bunker and surrender, enabling 

Elthon's platoon to continue its vital mission." 

ELVERUM, JEAN 

Miss Jean Elverum was Miss Minnesota of 1960. 

Miss Elverum was soloist with the St. Olaf Choir. She 

sang with the Choraliers when they participated in the 

International Music Festival in Wales. She appeared in 

Wales, London, and on the British Broadcasting 

Corporation. In her interview by Fred Waring, she was 

asked to ander all kinds of questions about almost 

every phase of music. The Tour with Fred Waring will 

include engagements on radio, television, and live 

shows in every state. 

Faribault's old Third Street Bridge, now 

replaced by a new bridge. 

Over Carlander's 50 years of service banking 

methods and systems have changed. Accounting has 

gone from pen-posting to computers, the efficiency 

achieved has been fantastic. Under his chairmanship 

the bank's physical plant, facilities and volume of 

business has improved greatly 

. CROSS, RICHARD 

Residents of Faribault and surrounding area had 

the opportunity to hear one of Faribault's former 

students in concert through membership in the 

Faribault Community Concert Association when 

Richard Cross, a bass-baritone, appeared with his 

wife, Doris Yarrik, soprano, in joint recital. 

Cross grew up in Faribault, attended the public 

schools and graduated from Faribault High School in 

1953. This was followed by four years at Cornell College 

at Mount Vernon, Iowa, with further study and training 

and auditions with the Metropolitan Opera. 

He has appeared in Europe, the Brussels World's 

Fair, in Canada, in Mexico, and with major U.S. 

companies - America Opera Society, the NBC 

touring and television opera companies. He recently 

toured Australia with the Joan Sutherland Company. 

ELTHON, ELDON J. 

Sgt. First Class Eldon J. Elthon is the recipient 

of the nation's second highest award - The 

Distinguished Service Award. This award is 

considered second only to the Congressional Medal of 

Honor. He was presented the award for heroic action 

during the closing days of the Korean War in the 

vicinity of Pau-goi, Korea. 

The citation reads in part: "that after his platoon 

leader was wounded Sergeant Elthon directed the 

advance of his unit, until it was halted by heavy fire of 

enemy troops in a bunker. Unable to call in artillery 

fire because of lack of communication, he crawled to 

GOLDSMITH, SIDNEY 

Dr. Sidney Goldsmith became a part of the 

Faribault Community in 1950. Three years later he was 

selected as Faribault's outstanding citizen and 

awarded the Gold Key for distinguished service. He 

brought about understanding and cooperation between 

Shattuck and the community. 

He was the first president of the Faribault United 

Fund. In 1960 he was named president of the Faribault 

Youth Coordinating Council. He served as a member of 

the Faribault Citizens Committee on Human Rights 

and the executive committee of the Faribault 

Ministerial Association. 

"Mr. G's" deep seated philosophy touched and 

influenced hundreds of young people around the world . 

Boys who were "Shads" found a friend in Mr. 

Goldsmith. 

The Faribault Community joined Shattuck School 

in a tribute to Dr. Sidney Goldsmith. 

GRAY, PAUL 

Mrs. Mae Gray flew to San Francisco to meet her 

son, Corporal Paul Gray, for 33 months a prisoner of 

the North Korean Reds, since Dec. 1950. 

The trip was made possible by local veterans 

organizations and individuals. Corporal Gray arrived 

in San Francisco aboard the hospital ship "Haven". 

He graduated from Northfield High School in 1945. 

He served in the army from 1948-1950. He was called 

back with the reserves to go to Korea. As a prisoner he 

lived in typical mud houses. He is now a Faribault 

contractor. 

HANSEN, DR. CARL 

The board of directors of the Security National 

Bank of Faribault paid tribute to retiring board 

member, Dr. Carl Hansen, who has served the Security 

Bank organization for 19 years. Dr. Hansen has for 

years been one of the most actively civic minded 

citizens, contributing freely of his time to numerous 

community betterment projects. He served ten years 

on the Board of Education, served on the Rice County 

Fair Board more than 20 years, 1~ of them as 

secretary- manager. Dr. Hansen retired as a doctor of 

veterinary medicine in 1967, having had one of the 

308


Former Faribault residents, back 38 years 

ago in 1938, get together in Compton, Calif., 

for an enjoyable reunion. Among those in 

picture are David Menard, who was plaster 

and cement man at the Faribault State 

largest dairy practices in the state of Minnesota. 

JOHANNSEN, ARTHUR 

Arthur Johannsen is a past president of the 

Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League. He 

joined the local Izaak Walton League in 1940 and has 

been very active in its affairs and has held offices. 

During his years with the Izaak Walton League in this 

area Johannsen has helped the league promote public 

hunting grounds such as Paulson slough, a mile west of 

Millersburg; recreation and park areas like the 40 acre 

Scott's Mill Park, deeded to Izaak Walton by Ed 

Chappuis and known as Ed Chappuis Park. For several 

years, Johannsen, a member of the Faribault Housing 

Board, served as manager of the Faribault office of the 

Minnesota Employment Service and has been 

prominent in community affairs. 

KIEKENAPP, E. J. 

E. J. Kiekenapp is a native of Faribault, son of Mr. 

and Mrs. F. H. Kieknapp, early settlers of East Prairie 

Hospital for several years. Also shown is his 

daughter-in-law, Mrs. James Menard. Maybe 

you can recognize others. The picture was 

submitted by Mrs. Edith Kampf, 800 Lincoln 

Ave.NW. 

community. 

As a young man Mr. Kiekenapp was a postal clerk 

at the local post office. In 1910 he became associated 

with Farmer Seed & Nursery Company. He became 

president in 1927, holding that position until1950, when 

he became chairman of the board. 

During the half century he was associated with the 

company retail dealers have increased from 900 to 

4,500, each featuring an attractive display case, which 

he helped design. The catlog press run is now over a 

half a million. 

Mr. Kiekenapp loves to play the piano and he was 

president of the First Community Music Association, 

forerunner to the Civic Music Association. 

He was married in Chicago in October, 1906 to 

Louise J ohl. They have three children: Ruth, Roger 

and Jeanne. Now in his nineties, he still maintains a 

lively interest in Faribault. 

KENNEDY, GEORGE JR. 

George Kennedy Jr., a native of Faribault and a 

graduate of the 1958 class of the Faribault Senior High, 

309

~en &?

l 


Bishop 

family to Faribault at the age of four. He opened his 

law practice in Faribault in 1912, and has become one 

of the area's best known attorneys. While at the 

University of Minnesota, he played football in the 

1910-1911 teams under Dr. Henry L. Williams. Coach 

Bernie Bierman was a classmate. 

After graduating, the young attorney returned to 

Faribault and went to work for a loan company while 

setting up his own practice. In 1914 he married Emma 

Healey. At various times he has been Faribault's city 

attorney, and Rice County attorney. 

He and his wife reared five children: George, Mrs. 

Olive Caron, Wayne, June, and Bruce. Faribault's and 

Minnesota's only All-American football player who 

received the Heisman Award. 

"Retire? I've been practicing law for a long time 

-and I do mean practicing. I'm inclined to keep on 

and become good at it.l've just tried it out so far," says 

Lucius Smith, who was 80 years old in 1970. His list of 

accomplishments and awards over the years would fill 

a book. 

STEIMANN, URBAN J. 

Urban Steimann was born in Sherburn, Minn., on 


September 16, 1908. He graduated from Sherburn High 

School as salutatorian in the class of 

1926. He attended St. Thomas College, St. Paul, 

graduating in 1930 and taking pre-legal courses till the 

following year. He completed his legal education at 

night at the Minnesota College of Law, receivmg his 

LLB degree in June, 1934. 

Mr. Steimann began general law practice in 

Faribault, Minnesota in May 1937 being associated 

with "Judge" A. B. Childress until 1939 when he 

established his own separate law practice in Faribault 

which has continued until the present time. He was 

elected and served as Court Commissioner for Rice 

County from 1938 to 1943. He was appointed and served 

as Acting County Attorney of Rice County from 1943 to 

1946, and city attorney of Faribault from 1947-1948; 

county attorney by appointment 1948-1950 and by 

election 1950-1958. He chose not to run again in 1958. 

In the past he has held various offices in Rice 

County and The Third Judicial District Bar 

Association. He has also served on many civic, 

religious, and cultural boards and organizations on 

both the state and local levels. In 1969 he was appointed 

by Governor LeVander to be the Judge of the Third 

311

'Glen ~§Vow 

Store operated by Ed and Jerry Healy, Third 

Street and First Avenue NW, Faribault. 

Judicial District. 

VAN ELSEN, MARIE 

Miss Marie Van Elsen's determination has helped 

to make her dream of raising Shetland ponies come 

true. She credits her father, John Van Elsen, for some 

of her horse education. During the past year of 

transition from dairying to the poultry ousiiless to 

Shetland ponies, John Van Elsen was willing enough to 

help but Marie was the one to shoulder the labor load in 

addition to her active church work including many 

years as a vocal soloist. A year ago she started with 

two Shetlands as a hobby. Now she has 23 plus many 

other Welsh ponies and saddle horses. 

VAUX, HAROLD 

Harold Vaux, prominent vo-ag teacher since 1946, 

was honored at a "recognition day" upon retirement. 

The Veterans training program, as developed by Vaux, 

enabled the young men in his classes to continue 

working their land while he kept them informed on 

latest developments and methods in farming. During 

the day Mr. Vaux went from farm to farm, visiting, 

helping, instructing "his men." Twice a w~k Har?ld 

met with his students in evening classes. He IS a native 

of the Faribault area and has been prominent in 

agricultural, church, educational and civic affairs. 

Brief Items about People, Groups, events taken 

from Daily News Files (figures indicate date of 

article) 

PEONY FESTIVAL 

Final -preparations were completed for Faribault's 

greatest civic pageant, the first annual Peony Festival 

and Flower Show. 200,000 peony blooms decked more 

than a hundred floats in the most magnificent and 

largest parade Faribault had ever seen. Miss Harriet 

Stoos was presented with the crown and became the 

Royal Queen of Faribault's first festival in Central 

Park. There were four sections of floats and prizes 

were awarded in each division.- 6-27-1927. 

EUGENE H. GIPSON 

An attorney, Eugene H. Gipson _ was one of 

Faribault's most influential citizens. He was born Aug. 

9, 1877 at Watertown, N.Y. and was two years old when 

his parents moved to Faribault. His record in the 

community was one of unselfish service. He was a 

member of leading civic, social and fraternal orders. 

He served as a public officer in various capacities 

including Rice County Attorney, 1905-1906 and several 

years later was named Faribault City Attorney. He 

had opened a law office in 1901 under the firm name of 

Gipson and Chapin but from 1904 on he was engaged in 

the practice of law alone - 12-11-29 and 1-29-30. 

NEW BANK OPENS 

Formal opening of the new home of the Citizens 

National Bank, Fourth Street and Central Avenue, was 

a huge success. Over 7,000 people, it was estimated, 

attended the Open House program. Attractive 

souvenirs were given to participants- 2-24-30. 

JAMES S. BACHRACH 

A pioneer businessman of Faribault, James S. 

Bachrach was a resident and civic builder here for 

more than 53 years. He was born in Camden, N.J., June 

12, 1853. In 1877, Bachrach, in partnership with Joseph 

Kahn, established "Jim and Joe Clothing Store," one of 

Faribault's pioneer retail stores. As a member of the 

board of directors of the old Rice County Fair 

Association, he stimulated the sport of horse racing. 

He was fond of baseball, basketball and other types of 

sports. Always interested in the civic development of 

Faribault he cooperated unselfishly in furthering 

projects that aided the city - 3-6-30. 

MRS. DONALD GRANT 

Mrs. Donald Grant, widow of the late Donald 

Grant, eminent northwest railroad contractor, quietly 

celebrated her 92nd birthday in the large home at 323 

NW Seventh St., in ,which she has lived for nearly 50 

years. Mrs. Grant, who in 1862 arrived in Faribault 

with her husband, always has led an active life - 

4-15-30. 

HERBERT SELLNER 

Herbert Sellner was the president of the Sellner 

Manufacturing Company of Faribault and one of its 

most unselfish and public-minded citizens. He was 

born in Faribault on Feb. 5, 1887 and has resided here 

his entire life. Sellner was the inventor of the 

"Tilt-A-Whirl" and the "Swooper," world-famous 

amusement park riding devices that have carried the 

names of Faribault and Sellner into every state of the 

union and into many foreign nations as well- 4-23-30. 

ISAAC VAIL 

Isaac Vail was one of Faribault's gallant Civil War 

veterans who for years had participated in the 

constructive advance of Rice County. He was a resident 

of Rice County for more than 76 years and was 

widely known throughout this section of the state. He . 

was born Jan. 2, 1842 in Darke County, Ohio, coming to 

Minnesota at the age of 12-6-9-30. 

GARFIELD SCHOOL DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS 

The 37 piece drum and bugle corps of Garfield 

School, in their uniforms of maroon and , gold, 

presented an enjoyable program under the direction of 

312



Miss Ann Anderson, their third grade teacher. The 

corps is composed of 18 buglers, 17 drummers, one 

bass drummer and one drum major. A cornet solo by 

Alvin Hamre, a member of the first drum corps at 

Garfield and now a member of the Faribault High 

School band, was one of the features of the evening. 

Robert Miller was the drum major. Officers were: 

Robert Schuehle, president Peggy Winkley, vice 

president; Wendell Miller, secretary; Audrey 

Kiekenapp, treasurer; William Robilliard, drum 

sergeant; Billy Thayer, quartermaster and Delta 

Larson, historian - 5-24-35. 

DR. P. A. SMITH 

Dr. Patrick Albert Smith, chairman of the Rice 

County Board of Commissioners and a prominent 

physician, passed away in Nov., 1935. He was born July 

27, 1866 at North Nation Mills, Quebec, Canada and was 

educated in Canadian schools. He received his medical 

degree from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, 

Pa., in 1893. Dr. Smith began his career as physician 

and surgeon in Dundas, Minn. In 1895 he moved to 

Faribault and practiced medicine in an office above 

Stevens Drug Store, Wolfe's Clothing Store (now St. 

Paul Clothiers) and then in the Security Bank Building. 

Dr. Smith is chiefly responsible for Rice County's 

magnificent courthouse. He tirelessly and 

energetically devoted his time to the erection of a new 

native-stone building after the old one burned, 

successfully winning over scores of obstacles, 

including litigation, labor troubles and factional 

disputes. - 11-27-35. 

EDWARD FLECKENSTEIN 

Edward Fleckenstein, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. 

Ernst Fleckenstein, was born Oct. 20, 1876 in Faribault. 

He followed in his father's footsteps, working in the 

family brewery and became president in 1936. He 

passed away in September of that year. He was a 

talented musician and played for 40 years with the 

Faribault Municipal Band. For many years he also 

was a member of the Fleckenstein-Steppan Orchestra 

and also played in the Little Symphony Orchestra. He 

married Telscha Ruge, Nov. 14, 1900. She died Oct. 6, 

1934.-9-3-36. 

ARMISTICE BLIZZARD 

An Armistice Day Blizzard swept down on Faribault 

Nov. 11, 1940, as a 50 mile an hour wind lashed sleet and 

snow after 54 hours of intermittent rainfall, smashing 

communications lines and making traffic conditions 

313

~en ~§Vow 

hazardous. It was an extensive, costly blizzard as 

telephone lines and even poles gave way, cutting off 

communications between Faribault and all points 

north shortly after noon. Whiie the storm was general. 

Faribault was one of the hardest hit sections of the 

state. Special crews were put to work in the city, 

digging out the business district, while snow plows 

were endeavoring to open isolated sections of the city. 

The sub-zero blast wreaked havoc among those 

unprepared for the premature winter. The steadily 

mounting list of fatalities from the storm showed 

Minnesota suffered the hardest. Some of the victims 

froze to death in stalled automobiles, others became 

exhausted while battling the blinding snow, and some 

died in traffic accidents. Many duck hunters drowned 

or died in the marshlands during the fierce storm. 

Livestock losses were reported heavy with thousands 

of turkeys and sheep frozen to death -11-12-40. 

DEMISE OF BIG TREE 

The "Big Elm" tree of Rice County, familiar 

landmark on the old Roberds Lake Road, two miles 

northwest of Faribault, w:as cut down since it had 

become a traffic hazard because of its location near the 

road. The tree measured six by seventy feet and 

recently was split practically in two from the top by a 

lightning flash. - 8-31-44. 

STATUE DEDICATED 

The Prince of Peace Statue, erected under the 

auspices of Our Lady of Victory Circle, Daughters of 

Isabella, was dedicated and presented to the City of 

Faribault. The cast stone statue, a life-sized figure of 

Christ, stands in the center of the triangular city park 

near the Buckham Memorial Library. The park in 

which the statue is located was originally a gift to the 

city by the founder of this community, Alexander 

Faribault. The statue project was sponsored by the 

local women's organization as a memorial to the World 

War II dead of Faribault and community. - 9-11-44. 

DR. FREDERICK F. KRAMER 

Dr. Frederick F. Kramer was a prominent 

Episcopal clergyman for nearly 50 years and active in 

Faribault church and civic circles since his arrival 

here in 1912. He was warden of Seabury Divinity School 

until his retirement in 1932. He was the author of 

several well-known religious works as well as a 

number of plays and novels. He served 18 years as 

president of the Buckham Memorial Library Board 

and was a charter member of the Faribault Lions Club 

-Jan., 1946. 

DR. WINFIELD S. NICKERSON 

Dr. Winfield Scott Nickerson was a former Rice 

County Coroner (1938-1944) and for 17 years was a 

pathologist at St. Lucas Hospital, joining the staff in 

1927. He gained outstanding recognition in this position 

including a listing in "Who's Who" - Jan. 1946. 

O.A.BREKKE 

0. A. Brekke was one of Faribault's most highly 

respected businessmen. He was born in Norway and at 

the age of six years, together with his parents and 

family, sailed to America, coming directly to 

Faribault. He was one of the oldest charter members of 

the First English Lutheran Church at the time of his 

death, having been a member for 60 years. Mr. Brekke 

established himself in the grocery business and 

operated a store on Third Street for about 50 years. He 

was one of the oldest grocers from the standpoint of 

service in the City of Faribault.- 3-23-46. 

THOMAS H. QUINN 

The sudden death of Thomas H. Quinn at the young 

age of 48 stunned residents of Faribault and 

surrounding communities. He was born on Nov. 16, 

1898 in Faribault and was graduated from the 

Faribault High School in the Class of 1916. While in 

High· School he starred on both the football and 

basketball teams. He attended the College of St. 

Thomas, St. Paul. graduating in 1918. He then attended 

the St. Paul College of Law, receiving his law degree in 

1919. As he still was under 21 years of age, he was not 

admitted to the Bar until after his 21st birthday. In 

1920, Quinn and Ray Moonan of Waseca opened the 

Quinn-Moonan Law Office in Faribault. He was elected 

Mayor of Faribault on April 5, 1921. His election drew 

statewide attention as he was the youngest mayor ever 

to be elected - 22 years of age at that time. He was 

elected County Attorney in November, 1926 and served 

in that capacity for 12 years. He also was active in 

many of Faribault's civic, professional and cultural 

organizations - 1-31-46. 

CALLED INTO SERVICE 

Capt. Joseph E. Hanlon, commander of 

Faribault's Company E, 135th Infantry, Minnesota 

National Guard, received orders that his Company will 

be inducted into federal service, Jan. 16, 1950. This is 

known as the Viking Division. Some of the members 

from Faribault were: Second Lt. Louis J andro, First 

Lt. Clarence Valentyn, T-Sgt. Eddie McCusker, Staff 

Sgt. Leonard Roosmalen, Sgt. George Morris, Master 

Sgt. John Schuldt. These orders were a part of the 

"speed up" of the nation's mobilization. -12-16-50. 

HONORED FOR SAFETY 

J. E. P. Darrell, traffic engineer for the Minnesota 

Department of Highways, presented the City of 

Faribault with an Honor Roll Certificate because of no 

traffic fatalities in 1949. He did, although rebuke 

Faribault for its "very, very, very bad double parking 

situation." The presentation was made at the local 

Toastmaster's Club Dinner meeting, Phil Day, 

president, presided. -9-14-50 

HEAVY SNOWFALL 

Nine more inches of snow during a weekend storm 

has raised to 77 inches the total amount of snow falling 

here this winter (1951). According to available records 

that's an all-time mark for this area. A record 27lj 2 

inches of snow has fallen so far in March, 1951. Both 

state and county highway departments were having 

trouble getting roads open because of high winds and 

continued drifting- 3-19-51. 

TORRENTIAL RAINS 

Torrential rains, which dumped a record 5.35 

inches of rainfall on the Faribault area in 

approximately four hours. caused considerable 

damage to crops and power and communication 

facilities, in addition to flooding numerous 

basements. -7-21-51. 

314



DAMAGING STORMS 

A series of heavy wind, rain, hail and electrical 

storms, causing thousands of dollars of damage, hit the 

Faribault area. Crops and farm buildings were 

destroyed; power and communication facilities were 

disrupted; streets and highways washed out and 

blocked and basements flooded. Winds of more than 60 

miles an hour wrecked farm buildings in a 12 mile 

stretch along the Rice-Steele County line between 

Medford and Morristown. Most of the damage in the 

City of Faribault was caused by rain and hail. - 8-8-51. 

MADE-IN-FARIBAULT FORUM 

More than 40 Faribault industries, manufacturing 

a variety of products, were honored at the annual 

Made-in-Faribault Forum, sponsored by the Faribault 

Chamber of Commerce. The Forum was originated in 

1926 as a method for showing public appreciation for 

the many contributions given to this community by its 

many diversified industries, the products of which are 

distributed and used in every state of the union and in 

many foreign countries. The Forum was the fourth to 

be held since 1941 when the event was interrupted by 

World War II -3-18-52. 

DIAL CONVERSION COMPLETED 

Dial telephone conversion for the Northwestern 

Bell Telephone Company in Faribault was completed 

and took place October 4, 1953. People who directed the 

conversion included Frank Prendergast, manager, 

Robert Kiscaden, wire chief, who received an 

electrical engineering degree from the University of 

Minnesota in 1949 and who, as wire chief, is responsible 

for operation and maintenance of all equipment, and 

Mrs. Pearl Lowe, chief operator, who came to 

Faribault in 1950. Cost of the improvement was 

$700,000. Chronology of events leading to the 

conversion: July, 1952, contract for construction of new 

telephone building awarded to John F. Hanson 

Construction Company, Albert Lea; October, 1952, 

project for improving rural telephone service in 

anticipation of changeover to dial; February, 1953, 

moved business office to new building; April 1952, 

installation of new dial switching equipment started, 

completed September 26, 1953; October 4, 1953, 

chang over takes place - 10-4-53. 

ROAD APPRAISERS REPORT 

Damages totaling $426,603.80 involving 128 parcels 

315

~en~8/ow 

of land in connection with the condemnation 

proceedings brought by the State of Minnesota for 

property needed for right of way and approaches into 

Faribault of TH165, 60 and 21 were filed officially in 

Clerk of Court Elmer Heck's offices. Total amount of 

damages including: property TH 165, $220,490 (64 

parcels of land); TH. 60, $205,323.80 (62 parcels of 

land); TH 21, $790, (2 parcels of land)- 7-2-53. 

ANNUAL EAST SIDE PICNIC 

The 1953 annual East Side Picnic, traditional event 

for local people residing east of the Straight Rjver to be 

held on the Minnesota School for Deaf Campus, is 

expected to attract more than 500 people. Features of 

the Picnic include: races for children, penny scramble, 

covered dish supper, introduction of East Side 

newcomers, movies, election of officers and a street 

dance -7-14-53. 

PET PARADE 

One of the community-wide summer activities which 

youngsters of the Faribault area and their parents look 

forward to is the Fourth Street Pet Parade, sponsored 

by Fourth Street Merchants and the City Recreation 

Department. The parade includes boys and girls and 

their pets, floats made by various city playgrounds and 

Faribault Exchange Club Clowns. This was started 

seven years ago to celebrate the completion of Fourth 

Street paving project. It has become so popular no one 

wants it discontinued. -7-21-53. 

FIRE AT STATE SCHOOL 

A huge dairy barn, 300x100 feet, was completely 

destroyed by fire Oct. 18, 1953. More than 150 tons of 

hay were lost as well as large quantities of grain and 

feed. The loss is estimated at $200,000. It is not covered 

by insurance as the State of Minnesota none on its 

buildings. 127 Holstein cows had just been taken into 

the barn from the pasture to be milked when the fire 

was discovered. They were all led to safety. In 

addition, all43 calves were saved. -10-19-53. 

DRUM CORPS WINS HONORS 

Faribault American Legion Post 43 World War II 

Drum and Bugle Corps tied for the first place at the 

State Legion Convention at St. Cloud. There were 100 

marching units. A crowd of 1,500 persons lined the 21;2 

mile parade route. The Faribault unit scored 92.1 

points to attain the highest score ever recorded in their 

honor-filled career. The 24 member Faribault Corps, 

Third District champions, also won first place in the 40 

and 8 Parade at St. Cloud and came within a 

heart-breaking two points from winning the state 

championship. President of the Corps is Art Kuhlman. 

Other officers are: Jim Glynn vice president; Frank 

Dunn, secretary-treasurer; Lyle Peterson, musical 

director. The Drum Major is Frank Westpfahl. - 

7-15-54. 

WURZBURG VISITORS SAY "THANKS" 

Voicing their sincere appreciation for the 

opportunity to visit the Minnesota city which officially 

"adopted" their own city during World War II, due to 

the efforts of General and Mrs. Lewis C. Beebe, and 

gave assistance when it really counted, seven 

distinguished leaders of Wurzburg, Germany, arrived 

in Faribault for an 11 day visit. They will visit local 

industries, schools and institutions, will make trips to 

Rochester and the Twin Cities and will learn about 

specific professional and business fields in which each 

of these people are engaged. Mayor Andrew Keller 

presented Karl Deppisch, leader of the group, with a 

"key to the city." Members of the group, in addition to 

Mr. Deppisch, include: Miss Gertrude Eller, language 

teacher; Dr. Max Herman von Fred den, museum 

director; Leo Malcherczyk, railroad union secretary; 

Paul H. Otte, city planner; Alfred Salomon, Bishop's 

representative and Dr. Hansjacob Stehle, Wurzburg 

newspaper editor. -10-11-54. 

ETCHING PRESENTED 

At & public meeting, Dr. Karl Deppisch of 

Wurzburg, Germany, presented to the City of 

Faribault an etching of Wurzburg, Germany as it 

appeared 300 years ago. "We from Wurzburg can 

never repay you wonderful people of Faribault for your 

boundless generosity and thoughtfulness to the people 

of our city," Dr. Deppisch said. "Your help came at a 

time when we needed it most and because of the uplift 

you gave us to our sagging spirits we were able to 

carry on the successful reconstruction and 

rehabilitation of Wurzberg." The etching of Wurzburg 

hangs in the Buckham Memorial Library, along 

with other materials from Wurzburg. - 10-20-54. 

CIVIC ORCHESTRA 

Housewives, doctors, educators, students- these 

are representatives of some of the various occupations 

represented in the Faribault Civic Orchestra which 

will present a concert in the Parish House of the 

Congregational Church on Sunday, February 24, 1957 

at 3:30p.m. -2-20-57. A later concert review praised 

the orchestra for its skilled performance. 

HOBBY PAINTERS 

The hobby painting group got its start when a 

small group of artists began painting last summer 

under the direction of Ben Abelson. The artists got a 

new incentive from the Hobbycraft Show last October. 

The group has grown as the winter progressed. One of 

Faribault's organizations has offered the use of its 

clubrooms as temporary quarters until a more 

permanent location can be found. The group riow meets 

at 316-A Central Ave. on Monday nights- 3-25-57. 

HOME DISMANTLED 

The Ernst Fleckenstein residence, located on NE 

Second Avenue, adjacent to the Fleckenstein Brewery, 

is being dismantled. For many years it was one of 

Faribault's "showpiece" homes. Much of the lumber in 

the home is of unusually high quality and is being 

salvaged. The home was built in 1896 or 1897. It 

contained 14 rooms, in addition to halls, bathrooms and 

closets. The home was noted for its carved woodwork, 

distinctive chandeliers and built-in sideboards. There 

were French mirrors, fireplaces, beautiful china 

closets. At the time the home was built, there were no 

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific R.R. tracks. Now 

they are a few hundred feet west of the house. The view 

at that time from the house was an extensive pasture, 

large shade trees down to the Straight River. Spacious 

grounds were used for family and community picnics. 

Two maids were employed in the home and all outside 

316


Rice County's new Law Enforcement Center, 

housing Rice County Sheriff and Faribault 

Police Departments and Civil Defense 

headquarters, on Third Street NW, Faribault. 

Old county jail building, being remodeled for 

welfare department, is at left. 

work was done by Brewery employes. Parties held in 

the big home were ''never-to-be forgotten parties, 

"Boots" Fleckenstein said. Special feature of the 

parties was presentation of music by the Fleckenstein 

Family Orchestra composed of Miss Emma on the 

piano, Edward, clarinet, William and Alfred 

cornetists. Later Edward and Alfred continued their 

music interest by playing with the famous 

Fleckenstein-Steppan orchestra. Ernst Fleckenstein 

passed away in 1901; Miss Emma died in 1910. The 

William Fleckenstein family lived in the home until his 

death in 1928. -11-26-58. 

GRANDTHEATRE FIRE 

Faribault's Grand Theatre was completely 

destroyed in a January 31, 1929 early morning fire, 

with temperatures 16 below zero. Estimated loss was 

$200,000. There were 3,000 feet of hose and four nozzles 

trained on the flames. Crews from Northfield and 

Owatonna came to help. The Grand Theatre was built 

by D. W. And Donald Grant. This site previously had 

been used for a high bicycle track. The Theatre was 

located on Central Avenue, between Third and Fourth 

Streets, where the Paradise Theatre now stands. Back 

in those times veterans of the American theatrical 

world in the days of the "Silent Screen Era" made 

special appearances on the stage of the Grand. Among 

the attractions were; Ed Wynn, Charles Winnegar, 

Walker Whiteside, Ben Turpin, Fisk O'Hara, John 

Howard, the song writer, and John Philip Sousa and his 

band. Manager at that time was Will Glaser. - 1-29-59 

("events of the past" story) 

MUSIC COMPOSER 

"In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree," written by a 

one time Faribault resident, Harry Williams, was 

heard on the Salute to Minnesota show aired by NBC. 

Perry Como was the vocalist. In the biographical 

volume of American Society of Composers, Authors 

and Poets, it states that Harry Williams was born in 

Faribault,> Feb. 29, 1879 and died at Oakland, 

California, May 15, 1922. He was educated in the public 

schools then joined a traveling circus. Edgar Van 

Alstyne was his song writing partner. Williams went to 

New York in 1902, joined the staff of a musical 

publishing house and wrote "In the Shade of the Old 

Apple Tree," "Good Night Ladies" and "Rose Room." 

-3-8-62 

TORNADO STRIKES 

Operation cleanup became a necessity after 

tomadic winds up to 65 miles an hour lambasted the 

Faribault community. One barn was down, trapping 40 

head of Holstein cattle on the Martin Stanton farm. A 

freight car was lifted right off the tracks at the 

Chicago, Milwaukee R.R. tracks. Many lake cottages 

were damaged and boats torn from moorings. A sail 

317

~en ~8'/ow 

boat was picked up from the lake and hurled over an 18 

foot high boat house, then crashed to the beach. A 

screen at a Drive-In Theatre was flattened. Many trees 

were split and uprooted.- 5-23-62. 

MEMORIZING BAND 

Faribault's "Memorizing Band," the Minnesota 

Braille and Sight Saving School Band, is under the 

direction of Wilho E. Korpinen. Korpinen, a master in 

his field, hums each individual part for the blind 

student or plays the part over once or twice or a hundred 

times as needed, with his "trusty" violin. The 

blind student repeats each note, each measure, each 

phrase patiently hour after hour until each selection is 

memorized. Then they move on to another selection. 

The band then goes to work on the dynamics, 

perfecting the crescendos, the attacks, the releases. 

Results of the music sends tingles up the spine of the 

music lover in the audience especially those who know 

the work that went on behind the scenes of this fine 

band. -1-20-64. 

FOREIGN STUDENTS VISIT 

Faribault opened its hearts and homes to 65 foreign 

students, studying at the University of Minnesota, who 

come from 23 different nations. These young students 

learned first hand what Americans really are like at 

the grass roots level. -5-18-64. 

MARCH BLIZZARD 

Faribault was "shut in" on March 17, 1965 by a 

raging March blizzard which started early in the 

morning and continued all day and into the night. 16 

inches of snow fell and with winds up to 75 miles an 

hour making drifts 25 feet deep, life in Faribault 

came to a standstill. For the first time in their history 

all public _schools were closed, as well as the 

parochial schools. Stores were closed and all meetings 

were cancelled. -3-18-65. 

NEW PARKING PROVIDED 

New parking for downtown shoppers was provided 

by tearing down three buildings on Third St. NW. The 

buildings include: the Wall Building, the former Beltz 

Office Supplies quarters and the Van Stratten Paint 

Store. The Beltz Store, in earlier days, housed the 

Faribault Journal. The Deike Construction Co. tore 

down the buildings for $7,500, hauled them away and 

filled the area with gravel. - 10-7-65. 

BRIDGE DEDICATED 

A new concrete bridge on SAR 11, just north of W. 

Seventh Street in Faribault near the old H. H. King 

Mill, was dedicated Nov. 3, 1965. This new bridge is the 

county's longest bridge. It is 240 feet in length, will 

carry 25 ton load capacity and cost $247,000. This 

bridge handles Roberds Lake area traffic. The first 

bridge was constructed in 1905, replaced in 1910 but on 

the original bridge abutments. Presiding at the 

ceremonies was William Pepper, manager-secretary 

of the Faribault Chamber of Commerce. Clarence 

Albers, chairman of the Rice County Board of 

Commissioners, cut the ribbon. Other commissioners 

participating included Robert Bjork, William Adamek, 

Martin Hachfeld and Ed Brown, as well as County 

Engineer George Clark. Albers paid tribute to the late 

County Commissioner Joseph Burmeister for his 

intensive efforts to make the bridge possible. 

Officially, the new structure is known as Rice County 

Bridge No. 66506. -11-4-65. 

PEONIES WIN AWARDS 

Peonies developed and raised in Faribault have 

received national awards. At the National Peony Show 

at Detroit, Michigan, peonies entered by Bob and 

Archie Tischler of Faribault won four first place 

awards. They had two entries selected for the coveted 

Court of Honor and another entry named best seedling 

of the National Show. It also was announced that a 

brand new variety, just developed has been named in 

honor of Dr. C. W. Rumpf of Faribault "as a living 

memorial of this man's contributions to the Faribault 

community over nearly a half century." - 6-24-67. 

COMMUNITY THEATRE 

In 1968 Community Theatre came to Faribault. 

Daphne Siegert, a native of Faribault and a St. Cloud 

College student along with James Shaffer, secured the 

use of the Village Theatre and found about 25 people 

interested in acting and learning theatre crafts, . 

"Harvey" was the first play to be presented. Ages of 

the performers range from 16 to 60. They include a 

salesman, a housewife, a psychologist. Benefits 

derived from community theatre are: learning human 

nature, forms of the theatre, different plays, how to 

control your body, your voice and making close 

friends. Community Theatre can be an economic boon 

to a city. A business firm may choose a city because it 

has an active Community Theatre. The first year plays 

presented were: "Harvey," "Dark of the Moon," 

"Tom Jones" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" 

- 7-11-68. 

SWEET ADELINES 

The Faribault Chapter of "Sweet Adelines" is a 

member of Sweet Adelines, Inc., an international 

group designed to promote harmony through music. 

The local Chapter is a part of Region Six and was 

formed in 1966. It all started when three Faribault 

members of the Waseca Chapter decided to form one 

here in town and set about recruiting members. 

Twenty members were needed to be accorded Chapter 

status. Norm Wolfe was the first · director. Mrs. 

Lorraine Mentz succeeded him. The group, according 

to regulation, must put on one show each year. They 

practice weekly and they are a busy group, making 

their own performance costumes. All their proceeds 

are donated to some Rice County activity needing 

funds - 9-13-69. 

PET PARADE 

Faribault's first summer Pet Parade, held on Aug. 

12, 1931 was called "the greatest thing ever done for the 

kids of this town." Now 38 years and 33 Pet Parades 

later (1969) the annual spectaular set many young eyes 

sparkling. At the first Pet Parade, little ones from all 

over Rice County paraded scores of dogs, cats, teddy 

bears and dolls before an estimated crowd of 10,000 

spectators. Jointly sponsored by the Faribault Daily 

News and the Retailers Division of the Faribault 

Chamber of Commerce, the Parade was a welcome 

and cheap diversion from the scourges of the Great 

Depression. -8-6-69. 

318

SNOWSTORM 

Faribault had snowfall for 16 continuous hours on 

January 3 and 4, 1971. The whole community was 

digging out after more than a six and a half inch 

snowfall and heavy winds up to fifty miles an hour. All 

schools were closed until noon and the Rice County 

Courthouse was closed until noon; the first time in 37 

years it was closed because of snow. Employes of 

stores and industries walked to work because of stalled 

cars in driveways. Some came to work in snowmobiles. 

-1-4-71. 

SPEAKS ON FAMINE 

Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, a 1970 Nobel Peace 

Laureate, spoke at Shumway Auditorium on the 

Shattuck School Campus on March 5, 1971, saying the 

war against world famine has just begun. Borlaug, a 

native of Cresco, Iowa and a graduate of the University 

of Minnesota, was awarded the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize 

primarily for his work and leadership in developing 

new, higher yielding strains of wheat in response to 

growing food shortages in many underdeveloped 

nations of the world. In a one and one half hour 

message directed primarily toward the youthful heart 

of an almost all-student audience, Borlaug encouraged 

the coming generation to consider careers in a wide 

variety of fields related to the horde of socio-economic 

and ecological problems facing mankind already. 

"The tremendous energy embodied in youth," he 

concluded, ''must be channeled to build a better world 

for us all." Dr. Borlaug's son was a 1965 graduate of 

Shattuck. - 3-6-71. 

EARLYDAYSRECALLED 

Lucius A. Smith, prominent attorney and longtime 

Faribault resident, spoke recently to the Rice County 

Historical Society recalling early days of Faribault. He 

said that in 1859 Faribault had about 2,000 residents. He 

noted that Alexander Faribault, who was known to all 

as an amiable and hospitable man, died in nearpoverty 

many years later. He listed businesses in 

early Faribault: two flour mills, two steel foundries, 

one furniture factory, two rattan factories, one piano 

factory, two carriage factories, five cigar factories, a 

brewery, several textile related industries, nine hotels 

and 15 saloons. World famous actors and actresses 

entertained at the local Opera House or Theatre 

including: Charlotte Greenburg, John and Lionel 

Barrymore and Ed Wynn. - 4-30-71. 

STUDENTS TOUR GERMANY 

Eighteen members of the Faribault Senior High 

School German class are on a bicycle brigade in 

Germany. Gary Browne, German instructor in FSHS is 

their leader. This group traveled 1010 miles in six 

weeks. Travel through rain, flat tires, bike repairs 

never daunted this group. Members of the group were 

amazed by the German peoples' honesty and respect 

for material possessions. The trip that these students 

took as a group was an eye opener for them because 

they found that people are really the same wherever 

you go.- 6-28-71. 

Biographies of 

Faribault 'doer' people 

ADAMS, CECIL C. 

Cecil C. Adams was for many years prominent in 

Faribault business, civic, church, cultural and 

community life. He served for several years as 

commercial sales manager of the Faribault division of 

the Northern States Power Company. For 20 years he 

was a member of the Rice County Fair Board, serving 

as fair board secretary for a period of time. He died in 

1968. 

ALLEN, FEBE ELIZABETH BLAKER 

Mrs. Roby Allen, resident of Faribault since 1914, 

passed away Dec. 13, 1931. 

Febe Elizabeth Blaker was born Feb. 7, 1879 at 

Kosciusko, Miss. She attended Ward Seminary at 

Nashville, Tenn. and the University of Vanderbilt, 

graduating from both. On June 10, 1902, she was united 

in marriage with W. Roby Allen. In 1914 they moved to 

Faribault where Mrs. Allen accepted a position as 

instructor in -the State School for the Deaf. For ten 

years she was a member of the school staff, winning 

recognition for her ability as a teacher. 

In 1924 she resigned from the State School for the 

Deaf faculty and established the W. Roby Allen School 

at the Allen Residence opposite the Deaf School 

campus. 

During her teaching career Mrs. Allen became 

intensely interested in the problem of educating deaf 

children of pre-school age. TheW. Roby Allen School of 

which she was the head, was founded for this purpose 

-of aiding deaf children of pre-school age in acquiring 

a sound fundamental background for later instruction. 

This school has gained national recognition for the 

success it has attained. It is now operated by Fay and 

Dena Allen. 

ALLEN, GUERDONS. 

Guerdon S. Allen was born March 18, 1904 at 

Cathay, North Dakota. Mr. Allen lived for many years 

in Faribault and was associated with Faribault Nutting 

Truck and Caster Company. At the time of his 

retirement he was executive Vice President. He was 

active in the community and served on the Buckham 

Memorial Library Board and the Board of the Rice 

County Historial Society. He was a member of the 

Rotary Club. He passed away in Seattle, Wash. on July 

Tl, 1971 at the age of 67. Mrs. Allen is the former Ada 

Nutting. 

ANDERSON, MISS ANN 

Miss Ann Anderson, daughter of Simon and 

Josephine Olsen Anderson was born near Wilmont, 

Minnesota. She was educated in the public schools of 

Worthington, and graduated from Mankato State 

College. 

Early in her teaching career, Miss Anderson came 

319


to Faribault and taught third grade in Garfield School. 

In her forty years of dedicated service as a teacher, 

Miss Anderson trained many of Faribault's leading 

businessmen, civic and industrial leaders and later 

their children. 

Her Garfield School Rhythm Band provided 

enjoyable entertainment for many Faribault 

organizations. The complete sincere dedication in all 

she did provided the guiding line for Miss Ann 

Anderson. She was conscientiously interested in each 

of her pupils. 

ANDREWS, CHARLES HOWARD 

Charles Howard Andrews, 1875-1951, lifelong 

resident of Faribault, was senior partner of the 

Andrews Nursery Co., one of the state's pioneer 

nurseries. For nearly 60 years, he was active in the 

management of the company founded by his father, the 

late John P. Andrews, and played a leading role in the 

development of the firm as an outstanding producer of 

hardy fruits and nursery stock. He held positions of 

trust and leadership in state and national nursery 

men's and fruit growers organizations. 

BACHRACH, I. A. 

Isaac A. Bachrach, son of James and Emma 

Bachrach, was born in Faribault August 30, 1881. He 

attended public school in Faribault and graduated with 

the Shattuck Class of 1900. For several years he was 

engaged in the clothing business in Owatonna. On June 

23, 1908, he married Mary J. Robinson of Owatonna. 

They moved to Portland, Oregon where he became 

engaged in the orchard business. 

In 1916 he returned to Faribault, at which time he 

became associated with the Jim and Joe Clothing 

Store, a pioneer Faribault business firm founded by his 

father the late James Bachrach. Mr. Bachrach was in 

partn~rship with his brother Harry for many years, 

retiring in the 1950's. Mr. Bachrach passed away 

March 27, 1970. 

BALLIS, GUS G. 

Gus Ballis was a resident of Faribault for many 

years and a well known member of the business 

community. Mr. Ballis, with his brother, Mike, 

founded the Busy Bee Shoe Repair and Dry Cleaning 

Establishment in Faribault in 1914. During World War 

I, Mr. Ballis and his brother closed the shop and both of 

them entered military service; serving for the duration 

of the war. He was a charter member of the American 

Legion Post 434 of Faribault and was also a member of 

the Legion's Last Man's Club of World War I. He came 

to the U.S. at the age of 16 from Greece with his brother 

Mike. He passed away in 1968. 

BATCHELDER, CHARLES SPOOR 

Charles Spoor Batchelder was born in Faribault on 

May 29, 1866, the son of George W. Batchelder and Kate 

Davis Batchelder. He died on Dec. 8, 1946. He attended 

Faribault schools, the University of Buffalo and 

Carleton College. Later he read law in the office of 

Batchelder and Buckham and was admitted to the bar 

May 16, 1889, after which he practiced law under the 

firm name of Batchelder and Batchelder until the 

death of his father G. W. in 1909. He continued his own 

practice until retirement in 1942. 

He married Miss Alzina C. Chase in Faribault on 

Sept. 1, 1892. 

BEAN, FRANCIS ATHERTON 

Francis Atherton Bean was born in Faribault on 

October 1, 1878. He gained national fame in building his 

father's business International Milling Company, 

makers of Robin Hood flour, into the second largest 

milling company in the world. 

Bean was instrumental in getting the first scout 

troop organized when he was a boy living in New 

Prague. He contributed the original land and buildings 

of the Fish Lake Camp, which for many years provided 

recreational facilities for girl and boy scouts of the 

Faribault area. He passed away on Aug. 20, 1955. 

BEEBE, LEWIS C. 

Faribault's most famous soldier, Brigadier 

General Lewis C. Beebe and his equally famous wife 

came home from Germany, this time intending to 

settle down for a long stay. He was commanding 

general of the Wurzburg Military Post and is now 

retired. During World War II General Beebe served as 

Chief of Staff under General Jonathan Wainright and 

was imprisoned with the famous general. They 

experienced tragic horrors of ill-fated Baa tan. 

While imprisoned he dreamed of coming home to 

Faribault, the nicest little city in the world. 

While the Beebe's were in Wurzburg, Mrs. Beebe 

organized the Wurzburg relief plan that resulted in 

Faribault adopting the German City and sending a ship 

load of much needed articles. The Committee in charge 

of this was headed by Mrs. E. J. Engberg. 

He was born Dec. 7, 1891 in Iowa. He served as 2nd 

Lt. in the Oregon National Guard in 1917. He served in 

the 30th Infantry in the first World War. He was 

assigned to the First Infantry in 1921. He attended 

Command and General Staff School. 

For six years he was professor of military science 

and tactics and commandant at Shattuck School. He 

attended the Army War College and in 1939 he was 

ordered to the Philippines. He served as Batallion 

commander in the 57th Infantry. He was promoted to 

Brigadier General after the start of World War II. 

Upon General MacArthur's departure to Australia, 

Gen. Beebe was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to 

General Wainright. Upon the fall of Corregidor on May 

6, 1942, he became a prisoner of war until Aug. 27, 1945. 

After the war he served as Chief of Staff to General 

Wainright at the Fourth Army at San Antonio, Texas. 

In 1947 he was assigned to the European Command. He 

had received the following awards: Distinguished 

Service Cross for Heroism in France, 1918; 

Distinguished Service Medal for Service in the 

Philippines, 1942; Purple Heart; French Croix de 

· Guerre. 

He died Dec. 17, 1951 and was buried in the 

National Cemetery at Arlington, Va., with full military 

honors. 

320

; 

f 

St. Mary's Hall as it looked on the east side 

bluffs before the 1900's. Note the old wooden 

bridge which crossed the ravine. The building 

later was destroyed by fire and replaced by 

the present school building and chapel. 

(Photo from Boots Fleckenstein Collection, 

Rice County Historical Society) 

BELL, HADLEY P. 

Hadley P. Bell was born in Warsaw Township on 

October 15, 1877, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. 

Bell. He attended Brown's Business College and 

graduated in 1897. In 1901 he entered business with his 

father in the Faribault Seed Co., and upon the death of 

his father, became owner and operator of-the business, 

changing the name to Bell Home Appliance Co. He 

served as mayor of Faribault for four terms. The Bell 

Athletic Field in Alexander Faribault Park is named in 

his honor. He died May 26, 1947. 

BEMIS, DR. NATHAN MARVIN 

He was born March 21, 1821 and came to Faribault 

in May 1885. He was the first doctor to come to Rice 

County and make his home here. Mr. Bemis was the 

grandfather of Mrs. Harry Smith of Faribault. He was 

a doctor in the county for 36 years, passing away in 

Faribault on June 29, 1891. 

A paper presented to a Rice County Historical 

meeting, prepared by Dr. Adolph Hansen and read by 

Mrs. Hanson, told of the hardships, and methods of 

travel in the early days when patients were visited in 

their homes usually in the country and when trips were 

made by horse and buggy. 

BENSON, CHARLES E. 

Charles E. Benson was City Editor of the Faribault 

Daily News for the years 1963-1969. He enlisted in the 

U.S. Army during World War II and served in the 

criminal investigation division on several U.S. 

assignments and in the European Theatre. Following 

his military service, he worked on the staff of the 

Minneapolis Tribune and prior to that had served on 

the staff of the Buffalo, N.Y., Evening News. He died in 

1969. 

BETISCHEN, WILLIAM FARNSWORTH 

Dr. William Farnsworth Bettschen was apracticing 

dentist for over 50 years. He was born in Berlin 

Township, Steele County, on February 28, 1877, the son 

of David and Mae Farnsworth Bettschen. He was 

married to the former Maude Condon of Boone, Iowa, 

in 1905. He moved to Faribault in 1912, and continued in 

his profession here. He died on November 18, 1952. 

BJORLIE, H. 0. 

Rev. H. 0. Bjorlie, son of Ole and Caroline Loberg 

Bjorlie, was born January 30, 1877, in Silver Lake 

Township, Iowa. He passed away on April3, 1947. 

He was married to Miss Lorraine Brekke on April 

29, 1925. He had graduated from Luther Seminary in 

June of 1910 and became a minister in the Lutheran 

Church. He was always interested in religious work 

among the handicapped. In 1919 he came to Faribault 

to enter full time work among the deaf at the 

Minnesota State Schools for the Deaf and Blind. There 

was no building suitable for mission work and no 

congregation. A year later he purchased a building on 

the East side and established Ephphatha Mission 

on March 21, 1920. Through his efforts money was 

raised by gifts and donations and the present 

Ephphatha Church was built and dedicated on April13, 

1944. Rev. Bjorlie saw his dream come true. 

321

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BOOSALIS, GUS N. 

Gus N. Boosalis, prominent in Faribault business 

and fraternal circles, was born in Greece and as a boy 

of 13 came alone to the U.S. He came to Faribault in 

1910 and for 48 years he was active in the management 

and operation, along with his sons, of the Olympia, a 

local cafe, ice cream parlor and confectionery store. 

His skill as a candy maker and restaurateur won for 

him recognition throughout the state and this section of 

the country. The "Olympia" corner for years has been 

a popular Faribault landmark. 

Boosalis died April19, 1958. 

BOUCHER, CHARLES 

1954: One hundred and one years old today (March 

18, 1954) is Faribault's Charles Boucher. He came into 

the world on the Irishman's Day of St. Patrick in 

Quebec, Canada, on March 17, 1853. The name Boucher 

was shortened to Bushey. 

He came to Faribault when he was 11 years old. 

There were just three houses here then. He was a 

relative of Alexander Faribault. His father farmed on 

French Lake. 

He remembers catching pickerel in French Lake 6 

feet long. He would get out of bed, run out of the house 

and jump right into the lake for a swim each morning. 

He remembers when the Younger Brothers and 

their gang went through Shieldsville. There were about 

25 men on horseback looking for the outlaws and the 

three robbers pretended they were a part of the crowd. 

Mr. Boucher learned the trade of a cook. At 19 he 

cooked for the Donald Grant railroad contracting 

companies in the Great Northwest, working at this 

trade for 20 years. In the winter, he cooked in lumber 

camps on the Big Flambeau River in Wisconsin. 

After his marriage to Alice Frechette, he gave up 

cooking and farmed and also worked on the railroad as 

a brakeman. He practiced fairness and honesty all his 

life. 

BRAND, ARCHIE 

Archie Mack Brand was born in Faribault on 

February 28, 1871. He passed a way on April30, 1953. 

The son of Oliver F. and Mary Mack Brand, he was 

educated at the Faribault High School and the 

University of Minnesota, graduating in 1895. 

He married Hansine L. Christianson on Oct. 4, 

1895. He practiced law from 1895-1898 in Graceville, 

Minnesota. From 1897-1899 he was the owner and 

operator of a general store and the postmaster at 

Linden, Minnesota. In 1899 he became a partner in his 

father's nursery business, established by the latter in 

1870. Brand Peony Farms was recognized as the 

outstanding peony breeding farm in the world. In 1933, 

one of Archie Brand's developed peony seedlings, 

named Hansine Brand after his wife, was awarded a 

gold medal at the National Peony Show in Chicago. 

BRATION, MRS. HOWARD 

Mrs. Howard Bratton, 1877-1951, was actively 

identified with the Faribault Daily News, which was 

founded by her husband, Howard Bratton, in 

December 1914. Following her husband's death in 

January, 1926, Mrs. Bratton became publisher and 

editor of the Faribault Daily News. She was active in 

civic, church, fraternal, and journalistic affairs. At the 

time of her death she was a member of the Faribault 

Library Board. She served for many years as vice 

president of the Rice County Historical Society which 

she helped organize, in 1926, under the leadership of 

Mrs. Charles Batchelder and her husband. Mrs. 

Bratton had relinquished the title of editor but 

remained publisher of the Daily News until her death. 

BRUCHER, WALTER M. 

Walter Brucher came to Faribault in the early 

1930's as manager of the Hotel Faribault. In the late 

1930's he was appointed Postmaster of the Faribault 

Post Office. He passed away April 9, 1968 at the age of 

65. He had been the Faribault postmaster for 30 years. 

He was prominent in Faribault civic, church, cultural 

and fraternal affairs. 

BREKKE, LEWIS A. 

Lewis A. Brekke passed away at the age of 80 on 

July 25, 1963. He was the oldest employe at Nutting 

Truck, having been there for 60 years. He served as 

foundry shop foreman and supervisor. He began work 

there when the company's founder, Elijah Nutting, 

was the firm's head. 

"Louie" Brekke possessed a rich bass voice and he 

loved to sing, singing with the choir at First English 

Lutheran Church, the Elks Lodge Chorus and the 

Lutheran Men's Chorus. 

BRUSLETIEN, LEONARD C. 

Dr. Leonard C. Brusletten, born April 23, 1889 in 

Kenyon, was a prominent Faribault dentist and civic, 

church and fraternal leader. During World War I he 

served in the U.S. Army and had been a successful 

practicing dentist surgeon in Faribault since 1920. Dr. 

Brusletten was a charter member of the Faribault 

Lions Club, organized in December, 1921. He was 

instrumental in the establishment of the Faribault 

Municipal Band and helped to raise funds for the 

construction of the Central Park band shell. He also 

directed the band for several years. 

Dr. Brusletten died Nov. 23, 1955. He also was 

prominent in activities of Faribault Lodge No. 1166, 

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. 

BURKHARTZMEYER, FERDIE J. 

Ferdie J. Burkhartzmeyer was a well-known 

Faribault businessman and community leader. He was 

born November 20, 1896, at Odessa, Russia, coming to 

the United States at the age of 16 years. 

Mr. Burkhartzmeyer was employed at the 

Shaft-Pierce Shoe factory for many years, and then 

opened a shoe repair shop. In 1949 he founded the 

Burkhartzmeyer Shoe Store, which he operated with 

his three sons, Alvin, Walter and Donald. He passed 

away on Nov. 21, 1974. 

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BURMEISTER, JOSEPH 

Joseph H. Burmeister was born in Winona on 

December 31, 1889, coming to Faribault as a young 

man with his parents. He served as bookkeeper for the 

Fleckenstein Brewing Company. Then he became one 

of the state's pioneer Pure Oil Company dealers, 

serving on the company's Board of Directors. For 

several years he also operated the Marshall Wells 

store with his son, James. He served for more than six 

years as a member of the Rice County Board of 

Commissioners. He was a · talented musician, being 

"star" fiddler at many local social functions. He died 

March 21, 1965. 

CARVER, CHARLES 

Charles Carver, former Faribault resident and 

Rice County Sheriff, went down in a plane over 

northern Minnesota in late Octobe.r, 1971. The plane 

was returning from Fowl Lake Lodge on the Canadian 

border, about 20 miles north of Hovland, enroute to 

Grand Marais. 

(Mr. Carver, a Faribault Senior High School 

graduate, was Rice County Sheriff from 1954 - 1966.) 

The plane Mr. Carver was in was a Cessna 185 float 

plane. Richard Ossana was the pilot. William Bushman 

was also on the plane. High turbulent wind is believed 

to have downed the plane. His body was not recovered. 

CASEY, THOMAS F. 

Mr. Casey was a skilled blacksmith, learning the 

art from his father at the "Casey Blacksmith Shop" on 

4th Street in Faribault's earlier days. One of Mr. 

Casey's proudest achievements was a record of 

excellent service for the world renowned Dan Gainey 

stable of Arabian Horses at Owatonna. 

He passed away March 18, 1965 at the age of 77. 

CASWELL, JAMES 

Judge James Caswell ''Judge Jim'' served for 24 

years as Judge of the Municipal Court of Faribault. 

The son of Sylvester and Ida Kipp Casswell, he was 

born in St. Paul on March 13, 1893. He grew up in 

Jordan, Minnesota. During World War I he served with 

the armed forces in France. Following his discharge he 

studied law at the Minnesota School of Law in 

Minneapolis. He was active in affairs of Faribault 

Legion Post 43. 

On March 7, 1920, he married Miss Betsy Wells of 

Minneapolis. In 1926, he came to Faribault and 

practiced law with Judge Childress. tn 1939 he 

assumed the duties of Municipal Judge. He died May 

29, 1963. 

CHAFFEE, FRED M. 

Fred M. Chaffee, 1874-1951, lifelong resident of 

Faribault, was engaged in the real estate and 

insurance business in Faribault for many years and 

was employed by the state auditor as a land and timber 

appraiser in Northern Minnesota for a number of 

years. Mr. Chaffee served as a member of the 

Faribault City Council and was an active member of 

the Faribault Library Board for 25 years. 

This building, located at the corner of 

Division and Main Streets NW, next to the 

National Guard Armory, was the city's first 

school house back in the late 1850's. (Photo 

from Mrs. A.B. Morris Collection) 

CHAPPUIE, EDWARD 

Edward Chappuie, a lifetime resident of Faribault 

died March 9, 1963 at the age of 88. He was one of the 

originators of the Polar Star Electric, a pioneer 

company in Faribault, which merged with Northern 

States Power Co. He worked in the electric power 

business for over 60 years. He was active in Boy Scout 

work, Cathedral of our Merciful Sa vi our and in many 

civic projects. 

CHAPPUIS, VICTOR C. 

Victor C. Chappuis, last of the Faribault G.A.R. 

veterans, passed away at St. Lucas hospital at the age 

of 97. Mr. Chappuis was born in Perryville, Mo. on Nov. 

26, 1842, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Chappuis. He 

came to Minnesota as a mill-right and was engaged in 

building the Archibald Mill at Dundas. He also took 

part in the construction of the Walcott Mill and was 

later foreman of the Sheffield mill. He passed away in 

June, 1940. 

CHATHAM, DONALD J. 

Dr. Donald J. Chatham passed away August 18, 

1963. He had engaged in the practice of optometry in 

Faribault for over 50 years. For 23 years he served as 

secretary of the Minnesota Optometric Association 

and was active in county and state better vision projects. 

He was vitally interested in church and civic 

organizations. For many years he served as manager 

of the Faribault Municipal Band. In appreciation of his 

long and faithful civic service he was awarded the 

Honorary Scroll for distinguished community service 

by the Faribault Junior Chamber of Commerce. He 

was an active member of the Faribault Rotary Club. 

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CLARINE, CARL 

Carl Clarine, was engaged in the florist business in 

Faribault for 63 years and was believed to be one of the 

oldest active florists in the entire state at the time of 

his death in 1958. He was born in Sweden and at the age 

of 19 came to the U.S. Mr. Clarine came to Faribault in 

1895 and established Clarine Brothers, Florists, a firm 

which grew steadily and comprised five greenhouses 

at the time of his death. Fond of sports of various kinds, 

particularly bowling, Mr. Clarine was a league bowler 

here for more than 60 years and was active in 

Faribault Bowling Association affairs. 

CLEMENTS, EDMUND K. 

Dr. Edmund K. Clements was the oldest practicing 

dentist in Minnesota at the time of his death. He was 

born in Napanee, Ontario on December 15, 1865, the son 

of Sydney T. Clements and Sarah Jane Keyes. He came 

to Faribault with his parents at the age of 16 years. He 

attended Shattuck School here and later received his 

degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from the 

University of Michigan. He practiced dentistry in 

Faribault with his father at first, and later on his own, 

for 68 years. He married Mary Wheeler on June 20, 

1892. He was an active member of the Lions Club and 

was prominent in civic, church, cultural and 

educational projects. 

COLE, KATE I. 

The death of Miss Kate I. Cole, in 1956 brought to a 

close the constructive and helpful contributions of the 

Gordon E. Cole family who for 100 years played an 

important role in Faribault's religious, educational 

and professional development. She lived to the age of 

97. She had served as secretary of the Buckham 

Memorial Library Board, taught school for several 

years and was active in Guild work of the Cathedral of 

Our Merciful Sa vi or. 

Her two sisters, Mrs. H. C. Theopold and Miss 

Stella Cole preceeded her in death. They distinguished 

themselves also. Mrs. Theopold served as curator of 

the Historical Society's Museum and Miss Stella Cole 

had won recognition for her skill in the art of 

illumination. All three sisters were active in St. Mary's 

Halls development. Their father was a pioneer 

Faribault attorney, a former state legislator, and a 

leader in the city's early development. 

CROMER, FERDINAND 

Ferdinand Cromer, son of Philip and Ottilla 

Cromer was born in Boston, Mass, in 1862. He came to 

Faribault with his parents where they settled in a place 

now known as Cromer's Quarry. He married Catherine 

Thomas on June 14, 1887. As a young man, Mr. Cromer 

was a stone cutter in his father's quarry and was 

known as one of the best stone cutters in the territory. 

Many of the buildings at St. Mary's, Shattuck and the 

State School for the Deaf, are built of stone cut by him 

from this quarry. He died Nov. 21, 1945. 

CROSBY, THOMAS H. 

Thomas H. Crosby was born in St. Paul. He was 

engaged in business for 30 years in Faribault. He was 

president of the Gopher Sales Company, Crosco Realty 

Company and the Tom Crosby Company. Gopher Sales 

Company was a distributer of amusement music and 

game equipment. Mr. Crosby was active in the 

complete improvement and beautification of Calvary 

Cemetery where he was buried after his death on April 

19, 1965 at the age of 67. 

COUGHLIN, JOHN E. 

Mr. Coughlin, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John P. 

Coughlin, came to Faribault in 1923 and joined Lucius 

A. Smith, Faribault attorney, in the practice of law. 

Mr. Coughlin graduated from Creighton University, 

Omaha, Neb. He served as state representative. 

During World War II he was in military 

government duty overseas from 1943-1948. Upon his 

return from the service he reestablished his own law 

practice in the community. Later he formed a law 

partnership with Thomas Dillon, a firm known as 

Coughlin and Dillon. His wife was the former Grace 

Kleven. He passed away Jan. 23, 1970. 

COUGHLIN, DANIEL D. 

Daniel D. Coughlin was born in rural Faribault on 

August 13, 1879, the son of Daniel and Ellen O'Mahoney 

Coughlin. He graduated from Faribault High School 

and Drew School Pharmacy in Minneapolis. He 

married Miss Blanche Abbey in 1904. From 1904 until 

1914 he was employed as a pharmacist at the M. L. 

Payant Drug store. In 1914 he established his own drug 

firm, Couglin Pharmacy, at the corner of 3rd Street 

and Central Ave., now Poirier Drug. He retired in 1940. 

On Aug. 12, 1947 he was married to Lucille Molone 

Dugan of Owatonna. 

A charter member of the Faribault Lions Club he 

was active in many civic organizations. He received 

the Junior Chamber of Commerce Honorary Scroll for 

distinguished community service. 

He passed away March 18, 1959. 

COUGHLIN, BRIGID . 

Miss Coughlin was the last surviving member of a 

pioneer Faribault and Waseca community family 

which made many contributions in the field of 

education, law, pharmacy, journalism, and religion. 

She taught for many years in the Faribault Public 

Schools and at the close of a working day, taught 

religion to residents of the Faribault State School and 

Hospital. 

From 1902 until 1916, Miss Coughlin was the 

teacher of religion in Sacred Heart Parish. Miss 

Coughlin did countless good deeds for others and 

inspired all who came in contact with her, making 

them want to be better persons. 

She passed away on May 5, 1967 at the age of 90. 

CROSS, C. WILLARD 

C. Willard Cross, the son of Rowland MacLean and 

Mary Weeks Cross, was born Aug. 18, 1892 at 

Fairmont. He was a graduate of Carleton College in 

Northfield and Union Theological Seminary and 

324


Picture shows the interior of Plante's 

Grocery Store in Faribault, about 1908. Those 

in the picture include Mrs. Plante (the former 

Mae Wall); Mrs. Prosper Soucy; 

Columbia University, both in New York. On Sept. 20, 

1919, he married Laura Linton Phelps. 

He came to Faribault in 1926 to accept the position 

of principal. In 1935 he was appointed Superintendent 

of Schools, a post he held with distinction until his 

retirement in 1960. At the time of his death he was 

serving as principal of the Minnesota Braille and Sight 

Saving School. 

He died Dec. 28, 1962. He was a builder, not only of 

educational physical plant facilities, but as a builder of 

character, a builder of an outstanding school system 

which has gained statewide and region wide 

recognition. 

CROSS, LAURA 

Mrs. C. W. Cross lived for more than 40 yars in 

Faribault. Her husband, C. W. Cross, was 

Superintendent of Faribault Schools. 

She was an educational and cultural leader, a Girl 

Scout organizer, and official. She was instrumental in 

the establishment of helpful ''Town Meetings'' at 

which speakers of national renown discussed issues of 

vital importance to Americans. 

unidentified, and J. A. Plante. (Photo from 

the Boots Fleckenstein Collection, Rice 

County Historical Society) 

She died at the home of her daughter in Santa 

Rosa, Calif. on March 13,1966. 

DANDELET, ARTHUR J. 

Arthur J. Dandelet was born February 22, 1902 to 

Mr. and Mrs. George Dandelet. On August 28, 1939 he 

married Elizabeth Calhoun in Deerfield. They made 

their home in Faribault where Mr. Dandelet owned and 

operated with his brother, Chauncey, Dandelet's 

Jewelry Store. He died Dec. 8, 1970. 

DANDELET, CHAUNCEY H. 

Chauncey Henry Dandelet, the son of George and 

Catherine Nolen Dandelet, was born April 8, 1893, in 

Faribault. He graduated from Faribault High School 

and was an expert watchmaker and gemologist and a 

partner with his brother in Dandelet's Jewelry Store. 

During World War I, he served for 2lf2 years with the 

U.S. Army, part of it in France and Germany. He 

passed a way April17, 1968. 

DAVIS, FREDERICK U. 

Dr. Frederick U. Davis, 1875-1959, was a native of 

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1 

Faribault. He served in the Spanish-American War 

following which he completed his study of medicine. In 

1906, Dr. Davis came to Faribault and established his 

practice, continuing here until his retirement in 1937. 

Dr. Davis also was a leader in the development of the 

Boy Scout movement in the Faribault area. He had 

served as health officer for the city of Faribault for a 

period of years. He married Erna M. Lossow of 

Mankato, Nov. 28, 1904. 

Dr. Davis, held distinction of serving on the 

selective service boards during World War I, World 

War II, and since the enactment of the present 

selective service law in 1948. He was honored by the 

Rotary Club and presented with a plaque on behalf of 

the Chamber of Commerce. 

He began his service board connection as an 

examiner in 1914. In 1940, at the start of World War II, 

he became a member of the board again and in 1948 he 

became board chairman. 

The original selective service was established in 

1863. In 1917 the selective service system was placed in 

the hands of civilians and 1,500,000 men were inducted 

into the service. During World War II, Rice County had 

2,692, men in service, 1728 of whom were inducted by 

selective service. 

Dr. Davis was a charter member of the Rotary 

Club, established in 1921. He was one of the city's first 

scouting leaders. He was a Spanish American War 

veteran. 

DENEY, WALTER E. 

Walter E. Deney, 1892-1955 was Rice County 

Treasurer from 1950 and a county official in varying 

capacities for a total of 26 years. His long, continuous 

experience as a county official gained him recognition 

for his knowledge of taxation and other county 

matters. 

Denney was born Dec. 25, 1892 at Morristown. On 

Sept. 23, 1914 he was married to Elizabeth Neubert 

Smith of Morristown. 

He passed away Dec. 17, 1955. 

DOKKEN, WALTER L. 

Walter L. Dokken, 1897-1958, served as Rice County 

Surveyor from 1926 continuously, with the exception of 

two years which he spent as a civilian employe of the 

Army Engineering Corps during World War II. In 1920 

he began work with the City of Faribault Engineering 

Office. He was vitally interested in Faribault's 

progress and played an important role, through his 

extensive and diversified engineering services, in the 

completion of many road, building, and lake 

improvement projects. 

DOMESTICI, I. 

Rev. I. Domestici, a native of the island of Corsica, 

came to the United States in 1906. For 31 years he was 

pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, contributing much 

to Faribault's spiritual and cultural growth. During his 

p>astorate at Sacred Heart parish, a new church and 

school building were constructed, and a full program of 

parish activity was carried out. Father Domestici also 

served for many years as a member of the Faribault 

Library Board. 

He passed away in New Canada, on Feb. 15, 1951. 

DONAHUE, THOMAS F. 

Thomas F. Donahue, 1875-1952, entered into a 

partnership in 1896 with the late John Devery in the 

hardware business. The firm operated continuously 

until April 1935 at which time Mr. Donahue retired 

from business. For the next nine years he served as a 

member of the Rice County Board of Commissioners. 

DONKERS, PETER H. 

At one time Mr. Donkers operated a commercial 

college in Faribault, which offered training in clerical 

and secretarial work. For many years he served as 

secretary and manager of the Faribault Cooperative 

Creamery. In this capacity he played an important role 

in the agricultural development of this community. He 

died May 28, 1967 at the age of 90. 

ELLINGSON, L. M. 

L. M. Ellingson, Faribault High School principal 

from 1942 unti11956, died suddenly a few hours after he 

suffered a coronary attack, in New Mexico. He had 

come to Faribault in 1931 as a teacher. Mr. Ellingson 

was prominent in education circles in the state and in 

civic and religious affairs. 

ENDRES, GEORGE L. 

George L. Endres, 1889-1950, served as county 

treasurer for 20 years, having been elected for five 

consecutive four year terms. At the time of his death he 

was a candidate for re-election. During his lifetime 

residence in Faribault, Mr. Endres, member of a 

pioneer Faribault family, was active in civic, 

fraternal, and church affairs and gave willingly of his 

time and energy to support projects he thought would 

make Faribault and Rice County better places in which 

to live. Talented in amateur dramatics he appeared 

in many local entertainment productions, several of 

which were staged as benefits for those stricken by 

polio. He was an active member of the Faribault Lions 

Club. 

ENDRES. GODFREY 

Godfrey Endres, 1864-1956, was a resident of 

Faribault more than 74 years and one of the 

community's pioneer cigar makers. Mr. Endres came 

to Faribault in 1881 and for several years was engaged 

in the cigar making business with the firm of Endres 

Brothers. He held the distinction of being a member of 

the Immaculate Conception Church Choir for 68 years. 

ENGBERG, EDWARD J. 

Edward John Engberg, the son of John and Hilda 

Johnson Engberg, was born in Minneapolis, on Sept. 

29, 1887. Dr. Engberg graduated from the School of 

Medicine of the University of Minnesota in 1913. 

On Jan. 22, 1917, Dr. Engberg married Miss 

Dagmar Larson. Dr. Engberg was in military service 

during world war I. In 1937 he became Superintendent 

• 

I 

326


of the Faribault State School and Hospital, a post he 

maintained with distinction until his retirement in 

June, 1968. 

Dr. Engberg is credited with many of the improved 

programs and concepts of the care and development of 

the mentally retarded. He passed away July 18, 1971. 

ENGBERG, DAGMAR E. 

Mrs. E.J. Engberg lived in Faribault for 30 years 

and during World War II she and Mrs. L. C. Beebe 

spent countless hours as co-chairmen of the unique 

"Faribault adopts Wurzburg, Germany" project in 

which tons of food, clothing and other things were sent 

to that war bombed city. Mrs. Engberg was one of the 

founders of the Faribault Civic Music Association. She 

passed away Dec. 16, 1967. 

MRS. HELEN FARNHAM 

The Faribault Daily News, in a story published 

October 10, 1957, told of the art achievements of a 

Faribault resident. The story: 

Mrs. Helen Farnham, local author and artist has 

written a book, "Let's Make a Puppet" published by 

Webb Publishing Company, St. Paul (no longer in 

print). 

When television was first introduced in Minnesota 

it was Mrs. Farnham's stories, acted out by her 

life-like puppet people, that were the most favored 

thing on the air waves with every youngster who could 

get a TV set. Children jumped for joy at the mention of 

the words "Merry Midgets," "Golly Gophers," "Looby 

Loo." Her playful puppets were as real as brothers and 

sisters. 

Mrs. Farnham was an instructor in the University 

of Minnesota Art Department. Here she created 

"Looby Loo," her most beloved cloth character. 

Reproduction rights were sold to an eastern buyer. For 

three years she worked for KSTP-TV, entertaining 

countless numbers of children of the Upper Midwest 

with her scripts and characters. 

She came to Faribault as the head of the handicraft 

department at the Faribault State School and Hospital. 

She taught weaving, painting, doll making and other 

crafts. She entertained many local groups with her 

puppets. 

FLECKENSTEIN, RUGE 

Ruge Fleckenstein was born in Faribault on 

December 12, 1902. He died September 10, 1952. He was 

the son of Edward and Telscha Ruge Fleckenstein. 

During his high school years he assisted his 

grandfather, Peter Ruge and his uncle, William Ruge, 

in their insurance business, later becoming a partner. 

He continued this work until 1933 at which time he 

became a member of the staff of the Fleckenstein 

Brewery, founded by his grandfather, Ernst, in 1856. 

Following his father's death in 1936 he was elected 

president of the corporation, a position he held until his 

death. 

The family had actually begun the brewing business 

in Germany in 1577. He served as vice president of the 

Minnesota Brewers Association. He was married to 

Orpha Zamboni on February 20, 1924. 

He had a keen interest in sports and served for a 

time as president of the Faribault Baseball Club and 

was its manager for several years. 

FLECKENSTEIN, ERNST (BOOTS) 

Ernst (Boots) Fleckenstein, was a lifelong resident 

of the Faribault community and was active in 

business, civic, fraternal, historical and church 

affairs. For more than 30 years Mr. Fleckenstein 

served as brewmaster of the historic Fleckenstein 

Brewery of which he had been an officer. He also 

followed a fascinating hobby of collecting historic 

pictures, data and documents about Faribault's earlier 

days and along with Frank Snell of Buffalo, New York, 

formerly of Faribault, had compiled a valuable and 

priceless collection of ·historical material pertaining 

to the "home town which meant so much to both of 

them.'' He passed away in December, 1968. 

FOSTER, ELLEN SOULEE 

Ellen Soulee Foster, daughter of John and Ade 

Wing Foster was born at Sandwich, Mass. on May 10, 

1869. She passed away December 28, 1967 at the age of 

98. 

She made her home in Faribault where her father 

taught Latin at Saint Mary's Hall when the school was 

located on Central Avenue. She attended school at 

Saint Mary's and a private school in Boston, The 

Edmund H. Sears Private school. 

Miss Foster returned to Faribault and was an 

instructor of first year Latin classes at Saint Mary's 

for several years. She traveled extensively throughout 

the country and spent a great deal of time in the New 

England States. She devoted much time to the work of 

the American Red Cross. 

(taken from Bethlehem Star, Aprill963) 

"Most people think the Alexander Faribault Home, 

built in 1853, is the only old home in Faribault, but the 

home of Miss Ellen Foster, at NW Seventh Street, was 

purchased by her father in 1867 (two years after the 

Civil War). 

The home had been built for several years befo~e 

he bought it. Miss Foster, who celebrated her birthday 

in May, is a living history book of Faribault. Here are 

some of the little-known facts she recalls - 

-Mr. Faribault's half-Indian wife used a tepee 

behind their home. They had nine children all of whom 

were sent East for college educations but never settled 

in Faribault. At the time of his death he was a very 

handsome-looking old man.'' 

-Many Chippewa Indian tepees were visible 

where the Braille and State School are now located. 

-There were boat races held on Sunday 

afternoons on the Straight River when the width and 

volume of the river was much higher. 

- Saint Mary's Hall was located on the block 

where Lord's Studio and Rasmussen's Oil Station standr 

today. 

( ' 

-The State School and Colony was located in the 

Gift & Art Building. 

I 

327

~en ~cfNow 

- Central Park and the land surrounding it was 

prairie land with only horse trails as roads. 

- Godfrey anci Ernst Fleckenstein came from 

Germany and built two breweries - one in the present 

location and the other where Treasure Cave Cheese 

Company is located. 

- The Rock Island tracks were laid and the course 

of the Straight River was changed. · 

- The Alexander Faribaults lived in the middle 

section of the present Braille School, after spending 

about three years in the frame house. 

Miss Foster's father was a graduate of Dartmouth 

college and ran a college prep school for boys in the 

East. However, when he contracted TV he decided to 

bring his wife to Minnesota, on account of its drier 

climate. When his good friend Doctor Tuck, ·the 

president of Dartmouth College, heard he was coming 

to Minnesota, he asked him to check on a land 

investment he had made in Faribault. The Fosters got 

to Chicago by train and then had to get to Prairie du 

Chien to take a boat up the Mississippi to St. Paul, 

which Miss Foster claims was no more than a 

"hitching post for boats" in those days. 

At first they spent some time living at the 

Merchants Hotel in St. Paul and then decided to check 

on Dr. Tuck's Land in Faribault- all on the present 

Shattuck School campus including the golf course. The 

town appealed to them so much they decided to stay. 

Her mother, Mrs. John Foster, returned East twice to 

have two of their children - Will, born in 1867, and 

Ellen, in 1869. George, the youngest of the family, was 

born at their home here. Mr. Foster was a Latin 

teacher at St. Mary's Hall and held this position until 

he retired. He recovered from his TB and lived to be 

over80. 

Miss Foster knew well the famous Bishop Whipple 

who was responsible for the raising of funds to build 

Shattuck and the Episcopal Cathedral. The beautiful 

church was built on property donated by Alexander 


She also knew well the Buckham family. Mr. 

Buckham donated the present library to the city. 

Miss Foster's home is filled with antiques from all 

over the world. Some of the more unusual include: a 

three section desk made in Plymouth, Mass. about 200 

years ago. There were no nails used in the construction; 

A Willard clock made in Boston __


One of the top features of Morristown's 

successful Bicentennial Day Celebration held 

July 16, 17, 18 was a 150 unit parade with 

participants from Faribault, Austin, 

Rochester and other cities taking part. Two 

beautiful floats, one sponsored by the village 

and the other by the Morristown Legion Post, 

attracted much attention. After the gala 

Morristown event, the floats went to 13 

different communities with parade features. 

A style show, pageant, canoe races, rope 

pulling contest, street and square dances and 

an antique show combined to make the 

celebration a memorable event. Photo above 

slwws the attractive Village of Morristown 

float. From left to right are: Florence 

Remund, Lloyd Hart, Ivy Hoffman, Dorothy 

Walburn and Emma Schroeder, all wearing 

bicentennial costumes. On top is Frances 

Rutz as Betsy Ross. 

Armed Forces in France as a first lieutenant with an 

artillery unit. Following the war, he studied the 

manufacture of cheese at the Pasteur Institute in 

Paris. 

On Dec. 30, 1922, he married Dorothy Sykes at 

Canton, N.Y. At that time he owned a cheese factory in 

Little Falls, N.Y., which made Camembert cheese. He 

' 

continued with the cheese factory in Little Falls for 

several years and then went into the printing business. 

Following that , he became a research chemist with the 

Pabst Corporation in Milwaukee. 

In 1935, while en route to St. Peter to make plans 

for establishing a "blue cheese'' processing plant in the 

Minnesota River caves, he drove on Faribault's 

329

~en ~§Vow 

Ravine street, noticed the limestone caves on the 

Straight River and the former Godfrey Fleckenstein 

brewery, investigated it and never finished the trip to 

St. Peter. He stayed in Faribault and started his 

successful cheese factory. 

The Faribault Plant was the first large volume 

producer of blue cheese in the United States. Mr. 

Frederiksen's belief that the quality blue cheese could 

be produced domestically proved true for the Treasure 

Cave plant has grown continually since its inception 

expanding its cave network and buildings several 

times. 

In 1966, Mr. Frederiksen sold his company to Swift 

and Company and then retired. Today Treasure Cave 

stands as one of Faribault's most unique industries. 

Mr. Frederiksen was active in civic affairs, was a 

member of the Faribault Rotary Club and was an 

ardent sportsman and naturalist. 

FREDERICKSON, PHILIP AUGUSTINE 

Philip Augustine Frederickson, the son of Ole and 

Caroline Walstrom Frederickson, was born in Forest 

Township on June 8, 1889. He attended school in the 

vicinity and as a young man came to Faribault to work 

at the Minnesota School for the Deaf. There he 

received his first training as a stationary engineer. 

Later he worked at the Faribault State School and the 

H. H. King Flour Mill. 

On November 22, 1911, he married Tena Dahl of 

Eklund. Mr. Frederickson served as engineer in 

charge of the Faribault Pumping Station for over 40 

years. His wife Tena died in 1957. In 1959 he married 

Ella Day Hatfield of Minneapolis. Mr. Frederickson 

retired in 1960. For many years Mr. Frederickson was 

the official weather observer and recorder for this 

area, providing daily and monthly records for 

Faribault Daily News. He passed away in August, 1969. 

FREDETTE, ADELE 

Adele Fredette, the last surviving member of the 

Alexander Faribault family, passed away at the age of 

82 . on July 25, 1964. She was a granddaughter of 

Alexander Faribault. Miss Fredette was a graduate of 

Bethlehem Academy in 1902. 

FREDETTE, ROSE M. 

Miss Rose M. Fredette was born December 1, 1882, 

to John and Mary McNamara Fredette of Faribault. 

She attended Immaculate Conception School, 

Bethlehem Academy and was organist and choir 

director at St. Lawrence Church for 60 years and a 

piano teacher for 68 years. 

Miss Fredette was a relative of Alexander 

Faribault, founder of Faribault. She trained hundreds 

of boys and girls to develop a love of good music. She 

died September 15, 1960. 

GOWDY, CHESTINE 

Miss Chestine Gowdy was one of Faribault's first 

public school teachers. She was born on July 29, 1860, in 

Chatteraugas County, New York. Her widowed mother 

came to Faribault to support her family. Little 

Chestine was a brilliant girl, graduating from Normal 

School at Winona at the age of 16. She returned to teach 

in Faribault, ~arrying the heavy program of many 

subjects that was expected of teachers in those days. 

She taught in Faribault High School in 1877. 

Later she went to Spearfish Teacher's College in 

the Black Hills of South Dakota. She taught in 

Minneapolis and completed work for her degree at the 

University. She started a series of grammars and 

English textbooks which were used as standard texts 

over much of the century. 

After 35 years in the classroom and with an income 

from her textbooks, Miss Gowdy and her mother came 

back to Faribault to live. She was active in the Monday 

Club, the Nature Study Club, and pioneered for women 

suffrage. She helped organize an active Faribault 

group of League of Women Voters. She died on May 20, 

1953, at the age of 92. 

GREBNER, FRANZ JOSEPH 

Mr. Grebner was associated with the Minnesota 

Braille and Sight Saving School in Faribault for 41 

years, where he served in the Industrial Arts 

Department, teaching piano tuning and other manual 

arts. He retired in 1962. 

Mr. Grebner had a keen appreciation of music and 

was an accomplished violinist. In spite of a visual 

affliction, he persevered and lived a constructive life 

which was a true inspiration to others. His skill as a 

violinist and piano tuner helped many Faribault 

families to have a greater appreciation of good music. 

He passed away on July 17, 1967, at the age of 71. 

GALLAGHER, LUKE 

Luke J. Gallagher was born in Faribault on July 

14, 1900. He was educated in Faribault and earned a 

degree from the School of Mines at the University of 

Minnesota. After graduation he joined the Faribault 

firm of P. J. Gallagher and Sons, and was associated 

with the firm for 40 years. This firm was nationally 

known for the quality of its contracts in the 

construction of public and business buildings, hospitals 

and schools. He died on Sept. 15, 1961. 

HANLON, ROBERT 

Robert Hanlon, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William 

Hanlon of Faribault, was born November 1, 1925. He 

graduated from Bethlehem Academy and St. John's 

University at Collegeville, Minn., and earned a 

master's degree in science from Mankato State 

College. 

He left his teaching position at Mankato for the 

Bahama Islands in late 1955 where he taught for 

several years at St. Augustine's Monastery as Science 

Mas-ter. He developed a great love for the Bahamian 

people and decided to devote his life to helping them. 

He was director of the Museum of Natural History in 

the Bahamas. He had just completed a text book on the 

natural history of the islands for the British 

Government, at the time of his death. He died Dec. 29, 

1964, in Nassau, Bahama Islands. 

330


HANSON, ADOLPH M. 

Dr. Adolph M. Hanson, 1888-1959, prominent 

Faribault physician, came to Faribault from Red Wing 

in 1912 and for 47 years practiced medicine here. His 

outstanding research work won for him many state and 

national prizes and awards. During the many years 

that Dr. Hanson conducted his practice in Faribault, he 

was associated with Drs. S.B. Haessley and Carl A. 

Traeger in the Central Clinic Building. He established 

the Hanson Research Laboratory, specializing in 

research of glands of internal secretion. He served in 

the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army in both World War 

I and World War II. 

He was united in marriage to Miss Lucille Boxrud 

at Red Wing on Nov. 26, 1914. 

Over the years he authored many articles for 

medical journals and was the inventor of several 

surgical instruments. For many years he served as a 

director of the Minnesota Public Health Association. 

He passed away Jan. 15, 1959. 

HANZEL, FRANCIS 

Judge Hanzel served as a probate judge for Rice 

County for more than 18 years, being appointed in 1936. 

Francis J. Hanzel was born on January 31, 1883 at 

New Prague, Minn., the son of Thomas and Barbara 

Kubat Hanzel. He received his LL.B. degree from 

Notre Dame in 1906. He married Charlotte M. Bolton on 

November 22, 1910. He opened his law practice in 

Faribault in 1925. 

He served as secretary and president and a 

member of the state Board of Directors of the Isaak 

Walton League and was active in county, district and 

state bar associations. He passed away in January, 

1955. 

HEATH, FRED A. 

Fred A. Heath, 1876-1951, was a member of the 

Faribault Police Department for more than 30 years 

and served as Chief of Police from 1941 until ill health 

forced his resignation in 1950. Before coming to 

Faribault in 1914, he served as a police officer at 

Kenyon. 

HOLMEN, CARL 

Carl Holmen, a proprietor of the Recreation 

Billiard Parlor and Bowling Alley on West Third St., 

held the cycling championship of Minnesota in 1896. 

In 1896, Faribault was a cycling hotbed. The track 

races were held at the Faribault Driving Park, now a 

part of the city. Endurance races were held on the 

Cannon Lake Road. 

July 4, 1896, the last big race was held in Faribault. 

There were 90 riders participating. The starting point 

was the Brunswick Hotel and the racers then went to 

Seventh Street and Central Avenue, then to Sheffield 

Mill and then south to Hunter Hospital corner, now 

Evergreen Knoll, where they hit Cannon Lake Drive. 

The remainder of the course carried the contestants 

over the south shore of the lake to Warsaw, around the 

west bay to the north shore, then back to Faribault. 

Mr. Holman won the race. It took him between 42 

and 46 minutes for the 18 miles. As a reward he 

received a diamond ring and a diamond stick pin. 

A 15 pound, truss frame bicycle with a small front 

wheel and a large back wheel was used by each rider. 

The rear wheel carried a gear on each side, a large one 

for road work and a small one for rapid track racing. 

Mr. Holmen died in 1947. 

HORSTMAN, MARVIN WAYNE 

Marvin Wayne Horstman, the son of Henry and 

Myrtle Yates Horstman, was born June 29, 1915, at 

Bigelow, Minn. 

He received his education at Mankato State 

College and the University of Minnesota. His teaching 

career began in the rural schools of Minnesota, then in 

Breck School, Minneapolis. In 1944 he came to 

Faribault at which time he reactivated St. James 

School, a military school for boys under the auspices of 

the Episcopal Dioceses of Minnesota. 

Mr. Horstman served as Headmaster of St. James 

for over 22 years and helped to make St. James one of 

the most highly respected schools of its type in the 

country. Mr. Horstman passed away April28, 1967. 

HUNT, CLAUDE J. 

Claude J. Hunt was the son of Madison and Emma 

Ellison Hunt. He was born August 11, 1884 near 

Mattoon, Illinois. He died February 19, 1962. 

He graduated from DePauw University in 

Greencastle, Indiana, in 1911. From 1911 until1931, he 

established an enviable football coaching record at 

Hillsdale College, Michigan, and Carleton College, 

Northfield. 

In 1931 he resigned from the , Carleton College 

faculty and accepted a position as general manager of 

the Faribault Daily News. In 1952 he became publisher 

and editor. 

He married Edith Louisa Leonard at Hillsdale 

College on August 12, 1912. 

HUNT, MRS. CLAUDE 

Mrs. Edith Louisa Hunt, widow of the late Claude 

J. Hunt, former publisher of the Faribault Daily News 

and a resident of Faribault for 36 years, passed away 

October 18, 1967. 

She was formerly an instructor in Latin and Greek 

at Hillsdale College in Michigan and resided in 

Northfield before coming to Faribault. 

Mrs. Hunt (Edith Louisa Leonard) was the 

daughter of a pioneer day Midwestern clergyman. She 

attended college at Western College for Women in 

Oxford, Ohio. She became the wife of an outstanding 

football coach, Claude J. Hunt, who some years later 

came to Faribault as publisher of the Faribault Daily 

News. · 

HUGUNEN, LEONARD S. 

Dr. Leonard S. Hugunen was born Aug. 8. 1910, to 

Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Hugunen of Waseca, Minn. 

He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1934 

with a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. On October 

25, 1937, he married Marie Hanzel of Faribault. He 

331

{/len ~c?/ow 

served with the United States Army from March 15, 

1941, until December 7, 1945, in the European Theatre. 

On his discharge he held the rank of Lt. Colonel, having 

entered with the rank of Captain. He was a member of 

the U.S. Army Reserves for 27 years and retired in 1961 

with the rank of Colonel. 

Dr. Huginen was head of the Dental Department of 

the Faribault State School for 30 years. He passed 

away January 29, 1967. 

HUTCHINSON, RALPH R. 

Dr. Ralph R. Hutchinson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. 

Robert R. Hutchinson, early settlers of Rice County, 

was born near Dundas, Minnesota, March 15, 1872. He 

graduated from Northwestern Dental College in 1898 

and established a dental practice in Faribault, 

continuing his practice for 36 years. 

Dr. Hutchinson was active professionally as well 

as in civic life, serving on many boards. He passed 

away in 1934. 

HUXLEY, FREDERICK 

Dr. Frederick Russell Huxley, the son of William 

and Martha Huxley, was born at Winona on October 28, 

1874. He studied medicine at the University of 

Minnesota and in England and Germany. He married 

Ada Daniels on January 8, 1902. He began his private 

practice in Faribault in 1902 and served on the staff of 

the Hunter Hospital and also St. Lucas Hospital. He 

died May 28, 1961. 

ILLSLEY, DAVID WALLACE 

David Wallace Illsley, 1864-1951, was a pioneer 

resident of Rice County and public official for many 

years. He served two terms as state senator, about 30 

years as assessor of Bridgewater Township, about 50 

years as a director of the school board in Pleasant 

Valley, District 22, and was supervisor of road 

construction for Bridgewater Township for a number 

of years. 

ILLSLEY, RALPH 

Rep. Ralph Illsley, Bridgewater, was killed in an 

automobile accident. He was the state representative 

from the 18th Legislative district, which included Rice 

County, for six years. 

He was born in Bridgewater Township on June 11, 

1896, and died October 16, 1952. The son of Mr. and Mrs. 

David W. Illsley, he attended rural and public schools 

and the Faribault Business College. He served with 

Company C, 124th Regimental Engineers during World 

War I. He farmed in Bridgewater. He married Alma 

Bartelt of Faribault on June 12, 1919. 

JENKINS, FREDERICK E. 

Frederick E. Jenkins, 1866-1956, was the first 

headmaster of St. James School (1901) and prominent 

for many years in Minnesota Masonic circles. 

Affectionately known as "Mr. Chips of Minnesota" Mr. 

Jenkins gained widespread recognition for his 

educational and character building work with the boys 

of St. James during the more than 40 years he was 

connected with the school. 

Mr. Jenkins was born Jan. 20, 1866, at Butler, 

Illinois. He was graduated from the Illinois State 

Normal College and also studied at the University of 

Minnesota. Prior to joining the Shattuck faculty in 

1894, he served as principal of several Midwest schools. 

He was prominent civically, having served as 

president of the Chamber of Commerce and received 

the Junior Chamber of Commerce scroll for 

distinguished service. 

He was marreid July 25, 1888, to Ella Mae 

Gregoire. His death occurred at the Minnesota 

Masonic Home, of which he had been president for 

several years, January 2, 1956. 

JOHNSON, EDWARD A. 

Edward A. Johnson, born August 5, 1881, was a 

long-time resident of Faribault and was prominent in 

business, civic and fraternal organizations. He had 

served as secretary-treasurer of the Faribault Woolen 

Mills for many years and had also served on the Board 

of directors. He was instrumental in the introduction of 

the Boy Scout movement in Faribault, having helped 

found the Cathedral Troup 301 in Faribault in 1921. Mr. 

Johnson was also instrumental in the early 

development of the Faribault Golf and Country Club. 

He died in September, 1968. 

JOHNSON, IVER F. 

Iver Johnson was chief engineer for Shattuck 

Schools, being employed there for 45 years. In earlier 

days, Mr. Johnson had been an outstanding baseball 

pitcher. His great love was baseball and he served as 

secretary-treasurer of the Cannon Valley Baseball 

League for 35 years. He was president of Faribault 

Sports, Inc., an organization which successfully 

conducted Minnesota Amateur Baseball tournaments 

at Bell Field. 

He passed away at the age of 64 in June of 1964. 

JONES, FRED C. 

Fred C. Jones was born October 16, 1893, in 

Faribault to John and Mary Nutting Jones, his father 

being the first principal at the Minnesota School for the 

Deaf. On October 16, 1916 he married Germaine 

Payant of Faribault. 

Mr. Jones was associated with the Faribo Woolen 

Mills for over 47 years, as foreman of the dye 

department. 

He passed away January 19, 1970, at the age of 76. 

KAISERSATI, FRANK MICHAEL 

Frank Michael Kaisersatt was born to Thomas and 

Katrina Havel Kaisersatt on January 12, 1880, near 

Montgomery, Minnesota. He taught school in Veseli 

and District No. 18 near Montgomery after obtaining a 

teacher's certificate in Omaha, Nebraska. He married 

Anna Nestaval in 1905 and became a widower 10 years 

later. In 1917 he married Elizabeth Nestaval. He was 

appointed Deputy Auditor of Rice County about 1909 

and moved to Faribault. He held offices of County 

Auditor, Deputy Register of Deeds and was Deputy 

332

Faribault as it looked in 1864. (Photo from Mrs. A. B. Morris Collection) 

Registrar of Motor Vehicles for 25 years. He died on 

June 21, 1960. 

KASPER, JOHN 

John Kasper was born in Faribault, February 13, 

1869, the son of Anton and Theresa Kasper, early 

settlers of the Faribault community. He was educated 

in the Faribault elementary schools and as a young 

man learned the cigar maker's trade. He founded the 

Kasper Cigar Manufacturing Company with factory 

and wholesale jobbing offices on Third Street. He was 

engaged in this well known local industrial activity for 

over a quarter century. He later engaged in the 

construction business, specializing in the construction 

of concrete bridges and culverts. 

On March 10, 1916, he was appointed by President 

Woodrow Wilson as Faribault Postmaster, serving 

until July 13, 1924. 

Following his retirement from the Post Office 

position he established the Kasper Insurance Co. with 

offices in the Security Bank Building. 

On June 24, 1933, he was named acting Postmaster 

for Faribault by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and 

on June 13, 1934, he received his regular appointment 

to that office, a position which he held at the time of his 

death. During this time he continued to operate his 

insurance office. 

From 1895-1911, he served as a member of the city 

council and was instrumental in the establishment of a 

commission form of government, here in 1911 and in 

the drafting and adoption of a new city charter. 

A life-long Democrat, he had been prominent in the 

city, county, district, and state political circles. He 

passed away on February 6, 1938. 

KAUL, BERTRAM F. 

Bertram F. Kaul was a lifelong resident of 

Faribault and prominent in local business, church and 

club circles. 

Bert Kaul was born in Faribault on May 10, 1880, 

the son of Everhart and Mary Misgen Kaul, pioneer 

settlers of the Faribault community. From 1919-1939 he 

operated the Kaul Grocery Store and from that time 

until his death was engaged in the management of his 

farms in the Faribault community. He served his 

community loyally and efficiently in many ways. 

During World War II, Mr. Kaul served during the 

entire war as chairman of the Rice County Rationing 

Board. He passed away December 1, 1949, at his home. 

KAUL, GEORGE E. 

For many years Mr. Kaul was in the banking 

business, being associated with the Security Bank from 

1902-1951. Mr. Kaul was widely known and respected in 

banking circles. He passed away April 20, 1970, at the 

age of 84. 

He was a member of the Buckham Memorial 

Library Board for more than 40 years. He also was a 

longtime member of the Faribault Lions Club. 

KELLER, ANDREW J. 

Andrew J. Keller was a Faribault mayor, 

councilman, business man, civic leader, and sports 

enthusiast. He was employed from 1904 to 1935 at the 

Shaft-Pierce Shoe Company as comptroller and buyer. 

From 1937 until his retirement in 1964 he operated the 

Keller Grocery Store on Central Avenue. He served 

three 2-year terms as mayor of the city of Faribault 

333

~en 1¥'§'/ow 

and four 2-year terms as councilman of this city. 

Mr. Keller is considered the "father of the 

Faribault City Park system'' as he was the prime 

mover in acquiring the property for Alexander 

Faribault Park. He was one of the organizers and 

active members of the Faribault Sports, Inc., which 

sponsored many athletic events in Faribault including 

the 1951 State Amateur Baseball Tournament at Bell 

Field. He was also active in the establishing of the 

Faribault Recreation Department. 

KIEKENAPP, FRED A. 

Fred A. Kiekenapp was born on March 21, 1871, in 

Wheeling Township. For a time he was employed on 

the farm of his grandfather, August Raakow. Later he 

was employed in a hardware store until 1916 when he 

purchased an interest in the Cavanaugh and Frink 

Hardware firm. In 1939 he and his son, Gilbert, became 

partners in the firm, the former partnership being 

dissolved. 

Mr. Kiekenapp was married on April 7, 1896, to 

Anna Haack at San Jose, Calif. He passed away Dec. 

22, 1959. 

KINGHAM, GEORGE R. 

George R. Kingham was born at Port Clinton, 

Ohio, on January 22, 1886. In 1909 he came to Faribault 

and joined the faculty at Shattuck School. During 

World War I he served as a captain with the 88th 

Division of the 351st Infantry Battalion in France. 

Prior to his return to Faribault, he studied at the 

Sorbonne in Paris under the tutelage of Mdme Curie. 

Upon his return to Faribault, he resumed his 

teaching duties at Shattuck, serving as head of the 

science department. He retired in 1948 following a 

distinguished career in education at Shattuck. Mr. 

Kingham served as president of the Buckham 

Memorial Library Board for 25 years. 

On December 25, 1913, he married Mary Whitney 

at Shumway Memorial Chapel at Shattuck. He passed 

away on August 29, 1975. 

He was the recipient of a citation from President 

Ford for his service in the field of education. 

KIRK, HAROLD H. 

Harold H. Kirk was born in Salineville, Ohio, on 

Oct. 30, 1888. He came to Faribault in 1924 and became 

superintendent of schools. He served in this position 

until1935. He passed away on March 12, 1968, at Fargo, 

N.D. 

KLEMER, FRANK H. 

Frank H. Klemer was a former president of 

Faribault Woolen Mills and a director of the company 

at the time of his death. 

He was born Oct. 24, 1878, the son of Henry F. 

Klemer and Katherine Roth Klemer. He died January 

6,1953. 

He -graduated from Faribault High School in 1897 

and from the University of Minnesota in 1902. He 

married Eleanor M. Jennings on October 16, 1907. He 

was employed as a draftsman for the St. Paul Foundry 

and then a civil engineer for both Chicago, St. Paul, 

Milwaukee and Pacific Railroad and the Northern 

Pacific Railroad. He joined his father in the 

management of the Woolen Mills in 1904. 

KLEMER, WALTER F. 

Walter F. Klemer was connected with the 

Faribault Woolen Mills all his life. He was born in 

Faribault on January 26, 1886, the son of Mr. and Mrs. 

F. L. Klemer. He attended Faribault High School and 

graduated from the Philadelphia Textile School. His 

specialty in the wool industry was wool buying. He was 

vice-president of the Woolen Company when he died, 

June 26, 1952. 

KING, JOHN R. 

John R. King, prominent civic leader, was a 

member of the Rice County Board of Commissioners, 

representing the third and fourth wards of the city of 

Faribault. Mr. King was one of the leaders, as a county 

board member, in the formation of the Rice County 

District One Hospital. During his residence here he 

was active in many different organizations and 

projects. 

KORFF, BERYL D. 

Beryl D. Korff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Korff, 

was born in Newton, Iowa, on January 17, 1895. He 

came to Faribault in 1912 with his parents. He was 

educated at Carleton College and the University of 

Minnesota. He served in World War I with the U.S. 

Army Air Corps. 

Following his return from service he established a 

Gift and Art Shop, a successful stationery and office 

supplies store which he operated with his wife for 27 

years. He married Miss Martha Schuette of Faribault 

in Marcllof 1920. He passed away February 19, 1947. 

KROSKA, ANTHONY J. 

Anthony J. Kroska was associated for many years 

with the National Tea Food Stores, and from 1934 to 

1958, owned and operated Tony's Jack Sprat Food 

Store at 219 Central Avenue. His store was one of the 

last of the "independents" on Central Avenue. 

He died in December, 1968. 

KUHLMAN, GUSTAV 

Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Kuhlman were fatally 

injured in a two car collision March 17, 1968 at Bradley 

Road and Highway 35W. Mr. Kuhlman founded the 

Kuhlman Jewelry Store in Faribault 45 years before. 

Mrs. Kuhlman was well known as a music teacher 

and taught music in the public schools and was music 

instructor at the Faribault State School. 

Gustav Henry Kuhlman, son of Henry and Caroline 

Grote Kuhlman, was born in Wheeling Township on 

May 5, 1889. He attended business college in Red Wing, 

following which he entered military service. He served 

in the Mexican Border campaign and in World War I. 

Following his discharge from the military he came to 

Faribault and established a jewelry store with his 

334


brother, Jack Kuhlman. 

Emma Marie Mickelson, daughter of Nels and 

Julia Johnson Mickelson, was born at Austin, Minn., on 

Sept. 10, 1893. She attended Northwestern University in 

Chicago, where she studied music. On July 14, 1921, she 

was united in marriage to Gustav H. Kuhlman in 

Austin. They made their home in Faribault. 

LEACH, ALBERT R. 

Albert R. Leach was a lifetime resident of 

Faribault and for many years prominently identified 

with this community's business, civic, and religious 

life. He was employed with his father in the operation 

of the E.M. Leach Sash and Door Mill and Lumber 

Company, a pioneer firm founded in 1857, during which 

time he learned from the "ground up" the business to 

which he devoted the greater part of his life. 

He was born in Faribault on July 2, 1869, the son of 

E. M. and Caroline Stowell Leach, Faribault pioneers 

who came here in 1855. For many years he served as 

secretary of the firm, assuming the presidency upon 

the death of his brother, H. P. Leach, in 1941. 

He passed away in Apri11944. 

LECRONE, SARAH E. 

Miss Sarah Elizabeth LeCrone, the daughter of 

William and Emeline Kagay LeCrone, was born at 

Effingham, Illinois on May 20, 1867. As a child she 

came to Faribault with her family. She attended public 

school here and later St. Mary's Hall. 

Miss LeCrone served for a number of years as 

librarian with the Faribault Public Library, and in 

1930, when Buckham Memorial Library was activated, 

she assumed duties as assistant librarian, which she 

continued until her retirement in 1941. Miss LeCrone 

made her home in Faribault for those many years with 

her brother, John LeCrone, and her sister, Nellie 

LeCrone. She passed away Feb. 10, 1968, at 100 years of 

age. 

LENDE, NORMAN 

Dr. Norman Lende was a longtime resident of 

Faribault and staff physician at the Faribault State 

School and Hospital from 1945-1968. Dr. Lende was a 

veteran of World War I, having served with the U.S. 

Navy. He was a member and a past president of the 

Rice County Medical Society. He was engaged in 

private medical practice in Faribault from 1930 until 

1941, following which he spent several years serving in 

the Panama Canal Zone. 

LEVY, IRVING 

In 1949 Mr. Levy assumed ownership of the 

"Leader" a woman's apparel store in Faribault. He 

was one of the originators of the Faribault Industrial 

Corporation. He passed away May 6, 1969. 

Irving Levy, the son of Sigmund and Henrietta 

Offer Levy, was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 

17, 1900. 

On March 6, 1923 he was united in marriage to Miss 

Leah Lefkow in Sioux City, Iowa. For a number of 

years they operated the Levy Store in Webster, S.D. 

In 1949 they came to Faribault and purchased the 

Leader Store from Louis Himmelstein and operated 

the store until Jan. 1, 1969, when he retired. 

LIEB, JOHN J. 

John J. Lieb was a former State Representative of 

Rice County. The son of Mr. and Mrs. George F. Lieb, 

he was born in 1892. He attended the U.S. military 

academy at West Point, where he was a classmate of 

President Eisenhower. Later he graduated from the 

school of engineering at the University of Minnesota. 

During World War II he was Colonel of Minnesota 

Defense Force, in charge of protection of the port of 

Duluth. He had operated stone quarries in Faribault 

and in 1936 had become engineer for the Minnesota 

Highway Department. He died in San Deigo, Calif. on 

July 24, 1960. 

LIEB, R.J. 

R. J. Lieb, Faribault's oldest merchant, had been a 

resident of this community since 1859 and has been in 

business here nearly all those years. After his arrival 

here he learned the shoemaker's trade and then opened 

a retail boot and shoe store. When he first began to 

operate his store, Mr. Lieb occupied a small frame 

structure on Central A venue between First and Second 

Streets, next door to the building now occupied by the 

Domestic Laundry. In 1882 the building on the corner of 

Central Avenue and Second Street was built and here 

Mr. Lieb continued his business. One of the familiar 

features of this building was the old sign which was 

painted years ago on the south wall by Jacob Fink. 

Mr. Lieb was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, on 

Feb. 5, 1842. When a boy of seven he came with his 

parents to live in the United States, the family living in 

Beloit, Wis. He lived on his father's farm until he came 

to Faribault, making the trip from Beloit in a wagon. 

He passed away at his home on Dec. 14, 1927. 

LIEB, THOMAS J. 

Thomas J. Lieb was born in Faribault. He 

graduated from Notre Dame University in 1923, where 

he was an All American football player at the 

University that year. 

In 1924 he was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team 

and held the world record for the discus throw. He died 

in Inglewood, California on April30, 1962. 

LOYHED, EDGAR H. 

Edgar H. Loyhed, pioneer Faribault merchant and 

civic leader, passed away Nov. 27, 1931. 

Mr. Loyhed was born in Faribault April 15, 1858 

and managed the T. H. Loyhed Hardware store for 38 

years. In 1888 he moved to Seattle, and came back to 

Faribault in 1893. He graduated from the University of 

Michigan Law School in 1881. He married Miss 

Frances Ames of Northfield in 1884. 

LUHRING, DR. E. E. 

Dr. Luhring, prominent dentist for nearly 50 years, 

was born on Oct. 5, 1901 in Good Thunder, Minn. He 

came to this city in Aug. 1925, following his graduation 

335

from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. 

He married Florence A. Anderson in Aug., 1928. 

During World War II, Dr. Luhring served in the 

dental corps of the U.S. Army in Alaska, retiring in 

1945 with the rank of major. He was an instructor in the 

Dentistry for Children clinic of the University of 

Minnesota in the 1950's. He was active in Boy Scouts, 

serving as Troop Scout Master and Committeeman. He 

was also active in both church and fraternal 

organizations. 

He passed away AprilS, 1973. 

LYONS, JOHN J. 

John J. Lyons was a former Faribault mayor and 

councilman. Coming to Faribault in 1913 Mr. Lyons 

became affiliated with the Shaft-Pierce Shoe Company 

as superintendent and buyer. He went into private 

business, the Lyons Brown Built Shoe Store, in 1929. 

He was elected councilman in 1932 and served three 

terms. In 1942 he was elected mayor, serving one term. 

He passed away Nov. 14, 1956. 

MCCARTHY, PHIL R. 

Phil R. McCarthy was a councilman for the city of 

Faribault for 22 years. He served as Commissioner of 

Streets and Alleys. He pioneered the efficient snow 

· removal and street maintenance system which 

Faribault has. After a heavy snowfall, Phil was always 

out to greet his crews and then help them on the 

important job of clearing the streets. He passed away 

February 3, 1967, at the age of 82. 

Phil McCarthy was born July 18, 1884, the son of 

Timothy J. and Anna C. McCarthy of Faribault. He 

attended Immaculate Conception School and then was 

employed in the retail granite business. On July 9, 1924, 

he married Gladys Gieger of Faribault. 

MCCORMICK, EDWARD 

Edward McCormick, the son of William and 

Christina Markuson McCormick, was born in 

Faribault November 2, 1897. As a young man he 

learned the meat cutting trade, serving his apprenticeship 

with the Remmey Meat Market. In 1919, 

he assumed the management of the meat department 

in the Kaul Food Market, later purchasing the business 

interest of the firm and continuing with that business 

until his retirement in 1961. 

On October 18, 1920, he was united in marriage to 

Lydia Rieman. 

Much interested in out-of-door activities, he at one 

time headed the Roberds Lake Improvement Club. He 

passed away Aprill, 1967. 

MCKINSTRY, GRACE 

Miss Grace McKinstry, who gained international 

recognition as a portrait painter, passed away in 

Minneapolis in November of 1936. She was born in 

Fredonia, New York and came to Faribault with her 

parents as a child. Her father, A. W. McKinstry, was 

publisher of the Faribault Republican. 

Displaying an early interest in art, she attended 

Minneapolis and Chicago Institutes of Art and studied 

in Spain and Holland. For many years she had a studio 

in Faribault and.did life portraits of many local people. 

Many of her prized portraits of Faribault people have 

been displayed in Buckham Memorial Library Art 

Gallery. 

The 1936 Who's Who lists Miss McKinstry as one of 

America's outstanding portrait painters. She has 

portraits on permanent exhibition in the Army and 

Navy Club in Washington D.C.; Beloit, Mich., College; 

Lake Erie College; Pamona College; University of 

Minnesota; Carleton College; Woman's Club, 

Minneapolis; and Shattuck School. 

Miss McKinstry was the organizer of the Faribault 

Travelers' Club. 

MOLLOY, REV. J. J. 

Rev. J.J. Molloy, honored for his 60th anniversary 

since his ordination into the priesthood, served St. 

Patrick's Church in Shieldsville for 42 years. 

Father Molloy was born in County Mayo, Ireland 

on June 20, 1866, and was educated in St. Patrick's 

College in Kildare. He was ordained into the priesthood 

on June 21, 1891 at Maynooth College, Dublin. 

Six months after his ordination, he came to 

America and became assistant pastor at St. Patrick's 

in St. Paul. He spent one year at St. Mary's in St. Paul 

and three years as assistant in St. Anthony's in 

Minneapolis. He served three years at St. Joseph's in 

Montevideo and St. George's Parish in Glencoe. For 

nine years he was resident pastor at St. Mary's in 

Willmar. In 1909 Father Molloy was assigned to St. 

Patrick's in Shieldsville. 

MA TAKIS, THOMAS 

Mr. Matakis came to Faribault in November 1923 

and in January 1924 opened the Boston Cafe, a well 

known Faribault restaurant which operated untill968. 

He passed away July 21, 1970, at the age of 75. 

MEALEY, CHARLES RAY 

Charles Ray Mealey, the son of Sidney and Hilva 

Peterson Mealey, was born at Ellsworth, Wis., on Sept. 

11, 1898. He came to Faribault as a young man with his 

family. For a short time he worked for the railroad, 

then he was employed by the Fanny Farmer Candy 

Firm in Minneapolis where he learned the candy 

making trade. For a number of years he was employed 

by Seaburg Restaurant and Candy Store in Faribault. 

On December 24, 1929, he married Alma Ashe of 

Faribault. For a time he worked at the State School 

and made and sold candy in his home. 

In January, 1947, he and his son-in-law, John 

McKellip, founded M and M Enterprises. From this 

organization which first consisted of the operation of 

concession wagons at· county fairs and other public 

functions, has come Mealey's Restaurant, and later 

Faribault Manor Nursing Home, and still the famous 

Mealey's candies. 

The Mealeys were devoted members of the 

Seventh Day Adventist Church. He passed away March 

6, 1970. 

MEE, GEORGE H. 

George H. Mee operated the Mee Photography 

336


This old fashioned . horse-drawn buggy 

brought back fond memories to watchers of 

Studio for many years. He was a skilled photographer 

whose pictures portrayed Faribault scenes, Faribault 

people and happenings, and enabled others to keep an 

accurate record of the city's consistent growth. George 

Mee was a man who liked people and had many 

intriguing stories of early Faribault days. He died at 

the age of 81 on November 20, 1962. 

MENTZ, ANNA MARGARET 

Mrs. Anna Margaret Mentz passed away July 2, 

1949. She was born November 21, 1869, in Hamburg, 

Germany. She came to America and to Faribault in 

1883 with her parents, Herman and Margaret Weiben. 

She was married on November 6, 1890 to William C. 

Mentz. 

In 1909 they purchased the Commercial Hotel, 

which she managed until her death. She also owned the 

Arlington Hotel, which was managed by her son, 

Alfred. 

MEYER, DR. PAUL F. 

Dr. Paul Frederick Meyer, the son of the Rev. 

Morristown's outstanding Bicentennial 

Parade July 18. 

William H. and Johanna Jens Meyer, was born in 

Sedalia, Missouri, on Dec. 17, 1896. In 1908 he moved 

with the family to Faribault where his father was 

instrumental in the founding of St. Lucas Hospital and 

St. Luke's Evangelical and Reformed Church. He 

attended the public schools of Faribault, following 

which he attended the University of Minnesota, College 

of Medicine, receiving the Degree of Doctor of 

Medicine in 1922. 

On Nov. 6, 1921, he was united in marriage to Miss 

Dorothy Hollister at Minneapolis. Upon the completion 

of his internship, which he had served in Minneapolis, 

he and Mrs. Meyer made their home in Belle Plaine, 

where Dr.. Meyer had established the practice of 

medicine. 

In 1925 they moved to Faribault where Dr. Meyer 

established a general practice of medicine and surgery. 

Later he was joined in practice by his two sons, 

Drs. Robert and Richard Meyer in the Meyer Clinic. 

Dr. Meyer passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital in 

Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1973 while 

337

~en~tJlow 

visiting his daughter, Jan. 

Dr. Meyer was a member of the American Medical 

Association; an honorary life member of the 

Minnesota State Medical Association; member and 

past president of the Rice County Medical Society; 

member of the American Academy of Family 

Practice; member and past president of the Medical 

Staff of Rice County District One Hospital in 

Faribault; school physician for St. James School and 

county physician for Rice County. 

He was a member of the Board of Trustees of St. 

Lucas; a former member of the Board of Trustees of 

Shattuck School; a member of the Cathedral of Our 

Merciful Saviour, and a former member of the 

Cathedral Vestry; member and past president of the 

Faribault Lions Club; member of Faribault Elks 

Lodge No. 1166; member of the following Masonic 

bodies: Faribault Lodge No. 9, AF and AM, Tyrian 

Chapter No. 6, RAM and Faribault Commandery No.8, 

Knights Templar. 

MILLER, BYRON M. 

Byron M. Miller was for nearly 25 years identified 

with the clothing business in Faribault and prominent 

in this community s business, civic, and American 

Legion Post 43 affairs. He was finance officer of the 

Post 43 at the time of his death in November, 1944. He 

owned and operated Miller's Men's Wear, 228 Central 

Avenue for several years. Mr. Miller was born in 

Faribault on July 17, 1898, and was a resident of this 

city his entire life. 

MILLER, OTTEM 

Mr. Miller became interested in electronics at an 

early age and became very proficient in this field. 

During World War II he was called to Knoxville, 

Tennessee, by the War Department to work as a 

supervisor of electronics equipment at the Oak Ridge 

Plant of the Atomic Energy Commission. After his 

return to Faribault he was in the electronic repair 

business and also a teacher of code to Faribault area 

residents enabling them to obtain their amateur radio 

licenses. 

He passed away February 2, 1971, at the age of 56. 

MORRIS, A.B. "ODD" 

A.B. "Odd" Morris became associated with 

Nutting Truck and Caster Co. in 1912. He served the 

company continuously except for a period spent on the 

Mexican border with the Second Regiment of the· 

Minnesota National Guard. For a short time he was 

manager of the Morristown Flour Mill. He retired 

October, 1953. 

His first position was a maintenance worker at 

Nuttings, and subsequently he became head of the 

accounting department. Then he served as purchasing 

agent, sales manager, vice-president and general 

manager. 

In his early years, he was quite an athlete, playing 

basketball and baseball in the Southern Minnesota 

League. An infielder by trade, one of his outstanding 

experiences consisted of participating in a triple play 

in which he was credited with two putouts and one 

assist. 

Mr. Morris assumed duties as president of the 

Humphrey Elevator Co. in 1953. In 1926 Mr. Morris 

married Mertis Bryant. 

Mr. Morris was born on January 28, 1896 to John B. 

and Minnie Mulvahy Morris. He died on March 6, 1975. 

He was a member of the Faribault Rotary Club. 

NAUMAN, CONRAD 

The Rev. Mr. Nauman was born Dec. 27, 1857 in 

Burean County, Illinois. He attended North Central 

College in Naperville, Illinois and entered the ministry 

in 1891, serving 12 years in the Illinois conference. 

Coming to Minnesota in 1906, he continued in the 

ministry of this state for the remainder of his life, 

preaching in the Evangelical United Brethren 

denominations. He moved to Faribault in 1932, where 

he continued to be active in church work, teaching a 

Sunday School class until he was 95 years of age. 

He died Nov. 12, 1955, having served in the ministry 

for more than 60 years. 

NUETZMAN, ARTHUR 

Arthur William Nuetzman, the son of William and 

Anna Heim Nuetzman was born at LaPorte, Indiana on 

March 8, 1903. After graduation from LaPorte High 

School he graduated from the University of Minnesota 

with a degree in medicine in 1931. 

On Jan. 2, 1931 he was united in marriage to Miss 

Clara Engebretson of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. 

In 1934 he came to Faribault and became affiliated 

with Dr. S. B. Haessley and Dr. Carl A. Traeger in the 

Central Clinic. For several years he maintained an 

office in the Ochs building and then in 1942 moved to the 

Security Bank Building. 

Dr. Nuetzman served as coroner of Rice County for 

over 20 years. He also was the school physician for the 

Minnesota Braille and Sight Saving School and for the 

St. Lucas School of Nursing for many years. He was a 

member of the medical staff of Rice County District 

One Hospital. He passed away May 24, 1969. 

NUTTING, WALTER M. 

Walter M. Nutting was president and general 

manager of the Nutting Truck Company and 

prominent in Faribault's business, civic, and church 

life. He received his education in the public schools of 

the city and graduated from the Faribault High School 

in the class of 1892. He joined his father in the business 

of the Nutting Truck Company, starting, as a partner. 

At the time of his death, he was also serving as 

president and general manager of the Humphrey 

Elevator Company, a subsidiary of the Nutting Truck 

company. In 1922 he was president of the Faribault 

City Park Board and was instrumental in locating and 

developing the Wapacuta Tourist Park. 

Mr. Nutting was born in Florence, Massachusetts on 

Feb. 14, 1874. He was the son of Elijah Graves Nutting 

and Emorette Pomeroy Nutting and came to Faribault 

with his parents at the age of six years. 

He was married to Ida May Morris on March 2, 

1899. He passed away Aug. 28, 1940. 

338


NUITING, IDAMAY MORRIS 

Mrs. Walter M. Nutting, the former Ida May Morris, 

was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Winburn, 

Morris. She was born May 5, 1878 on Wolfe Island near 

Kingston, Ontario, Canada. 

While a small child her family moved to Walcott 

Township. Her parents died when she was nine. so she 

then made her home with her brother, William Morris. 

She married Walter P. Nutting on March 2, 1899. 

She was a member of the Rice County Historical 

Society and was instrumental in the acquisition of the 

Alexander Faribault House and its subsequent 

restoration. 

With Mr. Nutting she gave to Carleton College the 

Nutting Memorial Drive and Bridge on the campus. 

She established the Abbie L. Nutting Music Award of 

Faribault High School. She assumed the presidency of 

the Nutting Truck and Caster Co. in 1940 when her 

husband died. She was active in the company for 59 

years. She died on May 17, 1960. 

OCHS, ALFRED LOUIS 

Alfred Louis Ochs was prominent in Faribault 

business, civic, cultural and social life during his entire 

lifetime. As a young man he became active in Ochs 

Brothers Store, founded in 1886 by his father, the late 

Albert Ochs, and his uncle. Mr. Ochs, who at the time 

of his death was president of Ochs Department Store, 

one of the oldest and largest department stores in 

Southern Minnesota, was president of the Ochs 

Building Corporation. He was connected with the Ochs 

store for nearly 50 years and was widely known in area, 

state, and national retailing circles. 

Mr. Ochs served on the Board of the Minnesota 

Retailers Federation and also had been a board 

member of the National Retailers Federation. He 

served as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps during 

World War II. 

Alfred Louis Ochs was the son of Albert and Alice 

Tetrault Ochs and was born in Faribault Aug. 6, 1901. 

He died May 13, 1969. 

. OCHS, MRS. ALICE 

Mrs. Alice Ochs was the widow of Albert Ochs and 

a prominent Faribault businesswoman. Mrs. 

Ochs was born Alice Catherine Tetrault, daughter of 

Mary LeClaire and Francois Tetrault, at Faribault on 

Aug. 17, 1876. She lived her entire life here, marrying 

Albert Ochs on Oct. 21, 1900, at the Sacred Heart 

Church. Mr. Ochs, founder of Ochs Brothers, the 

largest department store in Faribault, died on October 

22, 1922. 

Mrs. Ochs was vice-president of Ochs Brothers and 

was prominent in activities of the Business and 

Professional Women's Club. She died in December, 

1939. 

O'LEARY, JOHANNA MARY 

Miss Johanna Mary O'Leary, 1859-1951, was the 

author of the History of the Immaculate Conception 

Parish. It traces the history of the parish from the time 

the first mass was offered in the log house of Alexander 

Faribault in 1847 through the organization of the three 

Catholic parishes in the city. 

O'NEIL, MRS. JAMES 

Mrs. James O'Neil was awarded the Papal Medal, 

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice at the Archdiocese of St. 

Paul. Mrs. O'Neil was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and 

reared in Baltimore, Md. She was active in Catholic 

organizations throughout the state, the archidocese 

andthelocaldeanery. ~ 

She was President of the Minnesota Council of 

Catholic Women, a member of the board of the 

Archdiocesean Council for 12 years and President of 

the Faribault Deanery for 15 years. 

Mrs. O'Neil founded the Home and Teaching 

Association of Immaculate Conception Church and 

initiated the plans for encouraging public displays of 

Christmas Crib scenes in the stores. 

In memory of World War II soldiers lost in war, 

Mrs. O'Neil promoted erection of the Statue of Peace in 

the park adjacent to the Buckham Memorial Library, 

next to the viaduct bridge. 

She was a member of the Pere Monge Study Club 

for 35 years and for 15 years was vice president of the 

Faribault Chapter of the Red Cross. 

The Pontifical medal, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice 

was originated in 1888 as a memorial to the golden 

jubilee of Pope Leo XIII who bestowed it upon men and 

women who aided in making his jubilee and the 

Vatican Exposition successful. It has been continued 

by his successor in recognition of outstanding service 

to the Pope and to the church. Her husband, James E. 

O'Neil, was a successful Faribault building and 

highway contractor. He died Jan. 3, 1958 at the age of 

91. 

ORR, BURTON E. 

Burton E. Orr was born on a farm in Rice County, 

southeast of Northfield, on Dec. 23, 1872. He came to 

Faribault as a young man and established a retail 

store. A firm believer in advertising, he conducted 

intensive newspaper advertising campaigns for his 

small store. So successful was his venture that it grew 

into the Wonder Department Store of Faribault. He 

later sold the store and then operated Orr's Smart 

Shop, a ladies and children's ready to wear in 

conjunction with Orr's Beauty Shop. 

Mr. Orr helped to obtain a charter for the State 

Bank of Faribault. He was also engaged as an 

automobile distributor, operated a large farm, and 

engaged in real estate and stocks and bonds sales. He 

died on Oct. 2, 1960 at the age of 87. 

PARKER, FLORA ANNA RAY 

Flora Anna Ray, daughter of David and Catherine 

Whitney, was born in Faribault on Sept. 23, 1890. She 

attended public schools in Faribault and Bethlehem 

Academy where she studied music and became 

proficient in piano and taught piano for a number 

~f years. On April 22, 1915, she married John G. 

Parker, who preceded her in death. In 1929, Mrs. 

Parker enrolled in the Mortuary Science Course at the 

University of Minnesota and became a licensed 

mortician. She joined her father and her brother, Roy 

Ray in the family firm and after the death of her 

339

l¥en ~rfNow 

father, became owner of the firm. In 1946 she was 

joined by her son, John G. Parker, who later succeeded 

her. Mrs. Parker passed away May 13, 1969. 

PAVANT, GERVASE T. 

Gervase T. Payant, 1896-1958, was a prominent 

Faribault druggist and lifelong resident of this 

community. Following completion of his World War I 

service, he joined his father (Moses Payant) in the 

operation of Payant's Drug Store and for nearly 40 

years he was engaged in the drug business in Faribault. 

He was prominently active in various Faribault 

professional, sports, civic, and veterans organizations. 

PAVANT, MOSES L. 

Moses L. Payant was born in Faribault Jan. 2, 

1864. He passed away Sept. 19, 1931. Mr. Payant had 

operated the Payant Pharmacy since 1892. 

For ten years he was employed in a drug store 

owned by S. L. Crocker. While there he made a study of 

every department of the business, including filling of 

prescriptions. He went to Minneapolis to work and 

while there he attended the Minnesota School of 

Pharmacy, from which he graduated. 

While in business in Faribault, Mr. Payant saw the 

city's business district transformed from an area with 

muddy streets to an attractive business section with 

paved streets and electric lighting. His first store had 

gas lights. 

PEA VEV, L VNN 

Mr. Peavey was born in McGregor, Iowa on March 

23, 1865, the son of Louis and Mary Farrington Peavey. 

He married Elizabeth Harriet Weld on June 23, 1890. 

Mr. Peavey was educated in the Faribault Public 

Schools and was raised as a member of the Episcopal 

Church. He married Norma Williams of Little Falls, 

Minnesota on May 23, 1918. 

Mr. Peavey was president of the Security State 

Bank of Owatonna from 1902 until 1905. He was 

president of the Security National Bank and Trust 

Company of Faribault from 1905 until 1940. From 1940 

until 1956 he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of 

the Security National Bank and Trust Company of 

Faribault (now First Northwestern National Bank) He 

was widely known in banking circles throughout 

Minnesota as well as this section of the country. He 

passed away on April28, 1958. 

PETERSON, JOHN 

John Peterson, the owner of Peterson Art 

Furniture Company, was renowned as a designer of 

fine furniture. He was born Nov. 24, 1871 in Elsinore, 

Denmark, coming to America when he was 13 years 

old. He began work in Faribault in 1894 with the 

Hutchinson Furniture Factory, later founding his own 

firm in 1905. He passed away July 22, 1955. 

PETERSON, PETER N. 

Mr. Peterson was born in Sweden and came to 

America at the age of 18. He attended the Minnesota 

School for the Deaf at the age of 22, after attending 

public schools. He completed the four year course in 

two years. He attended Galludet College in Washington 

D. C. and came back to teach at the Minnesota School 

for the Deaf from 1899 to 1937. 

Known as "Mr. Chips" by the Minnesota School for 

the Deaf, Mr. Peterson passed away at the age of 95 on 

April 23, 1964. 

PLETCHER, NUBA 

Nuba Pletcher was associated with Shattuck for 58 

years and some 10,000 boys listened to this talented 

master bring alive history or make sense out of the 

tangled current events. This beloved master made 

facts stick by the use of dramatics in classes. He 

became known as quite an actor. His boys took notes in 

class- there was no dozing off. 

During World War I days he served as a news 

analyist for theater crowds during intermission. On 

stage at the old Opera House in downtown Faribault, 

Dr. Pletcher took the spotlight on Sunday evenings 

keeping the community informed. His Opera House 

appearances, as a four minute man, continued 

throughout the war. Until1964, he held regular Sunday 

night, after supper sessions at Shattuck, summing up 

the news of the week. 

He became a member of the Shattuck faculty in 

1908. He knew Shattuck when it had few comforts, little 

plumbing, not much hot water, planks for sidewalks, 

and no lamps around the campus. 

He said that it was on this campus football was 

introduced to Minnesota. He was the most loved 

history master at Shattuck. He walked tall among his 

fellow men at his school and in his community for more 

than half a century. He came to stay at Shattuck for 

one year- but he became part of Shattuck and stayed 

50 and loved it. He passed away Dec. 6, 1965. 

POPELKA, CHARLES J. 

Charles J. Popelka was born Dec. 9, 1892 to Joseph 

and Caroline Bedner Popelka of Glencoe, Minn. 

Mr. Popelka attended Mankato Business College. 

He was united in marriage to Gertrude Mape. He was 

employed in banking for many years and in insurance. 

For many year he was associated with Faribault 

Federal Savings and Loan. Mr. Popelka was also a 

member of the Buckham Memorial Library Board for 

31 years. 

He passed away Jan. 10, 1971. 

POFAHL, MILTON G. 

Mr. Pofahl was a Faribault native and was the 

owner of the Chandelier Room and Red Dog Saloon. 

Milt Pofahl entertained the 1964-1965 Faribault 

Senior High School Minnesota State Runners Up 

Championship basketball team at his plush Chandelier 

Room with a nine course dinner which included 

everything. He was a sports booster for Faribault and 

at one time was a star hockey player. He passed away 

Nov. 18, 1967 at the age of 51. 

PUFFER, JOHN NUTTING 

John Nutting Puffer, the son of Chester Puffer and 

340


The Straight River and Doumtoum Faribault in Faribault's early days. 

(Photo from Mrs. A.B. Morris Collection; 

Edith Jones Puffer, was born Aug. 14, 1914 and passed 

away Jan. 6, 1968 at Wayzata, Minn. He was the 

grandson of the late General Levi Nutting, one of the 

original founders of Faribault. 

·He was educated in the public school of Faribault 

and resided and worked here for 47 years. In 1960 he 

left Faribault to accept a position as general traffic 

manager of Tonka Toys, Mound. 

PYE, KATHRYN LOYHED 

Kathryn Loyhed Pye, the daughter of Edgar and 

Frances Ames Loyhed was born in Seattle, Wash. on 

March 31, 1892. As a small child she came to Faribault 

where the Loyhed family had long been established in 

the T.H. Loyhed Hardware firm. She graduated from 

the University of Minnesota, receiving a degree in 

Domestic Arts and Sciences. 

On June 4, 1917 she married Robert B. Pye. Her 

husband died in 1956 and she passed away on Nov. 23, 

1963 at the age of 71. 

QUINN, JOSEPHINE 

Miss Josephine Quinn was a member of the 

Minnesota School for the Deaf faculty for 51 years, 

serving as supervising teacher in the school's primary 

department. She was nationally known in her 

profession. She died on Sept. 8, 1955. 

QUINN, THOMAS H. 

Thomas H. Quinn, a prominent Faribault attorney, 

was the son of Thomas Quinn and Elizabeth Nolen 

Quinn. He was born in Faribault on November 16, 1898. 

He attended the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, 

winning recognition as an All-State center. Following 

graduation he attended the St. Paul College of Law and 

was admitted to the bar at the age of 21. 

In 1920, Mr. Quinn and Ray Moonan of Waseca 

opened a law office in Faribault. Later he entered his 

late father's law firm and re-established the firm with 

his brothers. He was elected Mayor of Faribault in 

1921, at the age of 22 years (youngest mayor in the 

city's history) serving two terms. In 1926 he was 

elected county attorney and served in that capacity for 

12 years. 

He was married to Elinor Foley of Aitkin, Minn., 

on Aug. 17, 1926. Mr. Quinn was instrumental in 

forming the Faribault Junior Chamber of Commerce 

and was a member of many important committees of 

the Minnesota Bar Association. 

He passed away Jan. 24, 1946, at the early age of 47. 

REINKE, KARL A. 

Karl A. Reinke, the son of Otto and Mary Maurer 

Reinke, was born in St. Paul, Minn., on Feb. 6, 1905. He 

grew to manhood in Fairfax, Minn., and graduated 

341

from Hamline University. In 1929 he came to 

Faribault, where he taught continuously for 34 years. 

On Aug. 14, 1930, he was united in marriage with Miss 

Dorcas Mekkelson of Amery, Wis. Mrs. Reinke also 

taught at the Faribault High School until the time of 

her death in May, 1962. 

With the help of several others, Mr. Reinke was 

instrumental in having Nerstrand Woods set aside as a 

State Park, and he was also instrumental in acquiring 

the access road at Cannon Lake by the state for use of 

the general public. 

He was much more than a teacher. He was 

interested in students as people. He was a true friend of 

every youngster in his neighborhood. He died August 3, 

1963. 

ROBILLIARD, C. M. 

The son of Dr. and Mrs. Walter Robilliard, C.M. 

was born in Liscomb, Iowa, coming to Faribault as a 

small boy. He was a practicing physician and surgeon 

in Faribault for more than 40 years. He attended the 

University of Minnesota and as a pre-med student 

played on the University basketball team in 1910 and 

1911. In 1911 the team was conference champion and he 

was rewarded with a gold basketball. He was 

recognized as one of the all-time Gopher basketball 

greats. 

He began his medical practice in Faribault in 1920. 

For many years he served as physician for the 

Minnesota School for the Deaf. He retired from 

medicine on Dec. 30, 1958. He died on May 7, 1961, at the 

age of72. 

ROBILLIARD, HAROLD S. 

Harold Shaw Robilliard, the son of Walter and 

Eudora Hauser Robilliard, was born in Liscomb, Iowa, 

on Oct. 12, 1889. He came to Faribault as a small child 

where his father, Dr. Walter Robilliard, had 

established a medical practice. He attended Faribault 

Public Schools and Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa, 

graduating with a degree in agronomy. 

Mr. Robilliard taught for several years in Tabor, 

Iowa, and Faribault. On June 29, 1918, he married Miss 

Grace Deney. 

Later Mr. Robilliard joined the Farmer Seed and 

Nursery Co. and in 1925 he purchased the nursery 

interests of the Brand nursery which he operated for 

several years. Later he operated the Kinney Nursery. 

For many years preceding his retirement he served as 

a landscape architect in Faribault and surrounding 

area. 

Mr. Robilliard passed away on December 7, 1964, 

at the Masonic Home in Bloomington. 

ROBILLIARD, WALTER HENRY 

Dr. Walter Henry Robilliard was born June 20, 

1861, at Racine, Wisconsin. He graduated from 

Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago in 1884 and in 

1887 married Miss Eudora Joette Hansen of Liscomb, 

Iowa. 

Dr. Walter H. Robilliard came to Faribault in 1896 

and for 35 years he was a prominent practicing 

physician and an outstanding leader in CIVIC and 

fraternal life. He was a member of the Rice County 

Medical Association, physician for the State School for 

the Deaf, and president of the staff of St. Lucas 

Hospital. He also served as a member of the Faribault 

Board of Education for 10 years, from 1911 to 1921, 

acting five years as treasurer and three years as 

president. Identified with all of the Faribault Masonic 

Bodies, Dr. Robilliard was actively interested in the 

work of these organizations. 

He passed away November 1, 1931. 

ROEDECKER, ERVIN B. 

Ervin B. Roedecker, associated with E.B. 

Roedecker and Son and their business in sheet metal, 

air conditioning and roofing, was killed in a drowning 

accident in Lake Pepin on May 2, 1953. 

He was born Dec. 27, 1903, at Waseca, Minn., the 

son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Roedecker. He married 

Bertha Thompson of Kenyon on March 18, 1925, and 

they came to Faribault in 1927. 

ROEHRICK, JACOB E. 

Jacob E. Roehrick was employed as an engineer at 

the Fleckenstein Brewing Co. for 43 years. He was a 

most able bowler, being a member of the famed 

Roehrick Brothers Bowling team, which took part in 

many state pin tournaments. 

He died Nov. 26, 1960, at the age of 78. 

RODEWALD, ALBERT 

Albert Rodewald operated the Rodewald Meat and 

Grocery Store for over 35 years and was a charter 

member of Peace Lutheran Church. He was the son of 

pioneer settlers, Diedrich and Ottilla Rodewald. He 

watched Faribault grow from a small city to what is is 

now and made contributions to that growth. 

He died on Aug. 4, 1962, at the age of 78. 

ROELL, MARY E. 

Mrs. Mary E. (Nicky) Roell lived to celebrate her 

100th birthday. She was born in Deerfield in 1870 in a 

log cabin built by her father. She resided in Faribault 

for her entire life, with the exception of five years when 

she lived with her daughter and son-in-law in 

Minneapolis. 

In 1970 Mrs. Roell was the last living charter 

member of St. Ann's and Altar Rosary Society of the 

St. Lawrence Parish. 

RUMPF, WALTER 

Dr. C. Walter Rumpf was for many years a 

prominent physician and surgeon in Faribault. He 

attended the schools in Faribault and graduated with 

distinction from Shattuck School. He served with the 

U.S. Army during World War I, following which he 

attended the University of Minnesota College of 

Medicine. 

Following his graduation from medical school he 

joined his father, Dr. William H. Rumpf Sr., and other 

doctors in the Faribault Clinic, with which he was long 

associated. During World War II he served in the 

I 

342


European Theatre as a corps surgeon in the field, 

attaining the rank of Colonel. During the Korean 

Conflict he again became active in the Army Medical 

Corps, serving in Korea. 

He always returned to Faribault and continued his 

practice of medicine. Dr. Rumpf had also served as 

school physician for Shattuck and St. Mary's Schools 

and had served as a member of the Board of Trustees 

for Shattuck. He was a member of the Rice County 

Medical Association. 

He passed away in August, 197~. 

SAVOIE, HOBSON 

Hobson Savoie was a member of the Faribault 

Daily News staff for 18 years. He passed away Aprill4, 

1936. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, July 9, 

1898. In July of 1918 he came to Faribault and joined the 

Daily News as a printer's helper. This was a stepping 

stone to a versatile career as a newspaper man. 

He served as news reporter, business manager, 

and advertising manager of the Daily News. 

Mr. Savoie was very talented as an illustrator and 

gave many "chalk talks" throughout southern 

Minnesota. He wrote the column in the Daily News 

called "Other People's Business" where he gave daily 

expressions to his keen observation about people and 

things. His column had a large following of readers. 

SAYLES, CHARLES NEHMIAH 

Charles Nehmiah Sayles, the son of Oscar and 

Phoebe Lovewell Sayles, was born at Genesse, Wis., on 

Sept. 6, 1878. He passed away July 30, 1963, at the age of 

84. 

Sayles grew to manhood at Boyne City, Mich. For 

several years he held a government position in 

Panama in the Canal Zone. Upon his return he came to 

Chicago where he spent many years as a court 

reporter. During this period he also studied law under 

the auspices of the Extension Division of the Harvard 

School of Law. 

He came to Minnesota where he passed his bar 

examination and was admitted to the practice of law. 

Mr. Sayles practiced law in Faribault and Rice County 

for over 50 years. His wife, the late Margaret B. Sayles, 

served as his law office assistant. Mr. Sayles gained 

outstanding recognition throughout the state as an 

authority on realty abstracts. 

SCHIMMEL, FRIDALIN 

Fridalin (Fred) Schimmel was born in Germany 

and came alone to America at the age of 13. He worked 

in a New York piano factory and was sent from there to 

Minneapolis to become a member of a plant staff. He 

worked in his leisure time to perfect his own ideas and 

completed his first Schimmel piano in a Minneapolis 

attic. He came to Faribault and established a piano 

factory on Fifth Street N. W. At the height of 

production, four pianos were produced a week, and 

22-26 workers were employed. 

World War I made it difficult to get necessary 

strings from Germany and the enterprise was brought 

to an end. He was successful in making an upright 

grand piano. Six were produced in the local factory and 

are now collector's items. 

He also made furniture and produced an 

outstanding sanding machine. 

He passed away in February, 1953, at the age of 87 

years. 

SCHROEDER, MARTIN H. 

Martin H. Schroeder operated the Lyndale Motel in 

Faribault for 13 years. He was a very civic-minded 

member of the community and for several years 

developed and operated the White Sands Swimming 

Pool, just adjacent to his motel. 

He passed away in March, 1969. 

SCHROEDER, PAUL M. 

Paul M. Schroeder was born Feb. 2, 1890, to 

Frederick and Emma Schroeder. He was educated in 

the Trinity Lutheran School, the Faribault Public 

Schools and completed his education with a special 

architectural course. He married Clara E. Woker on 

Nov. 25, 1915. 

Mr. Schroeder was a general building contractor 

for 30 years during which time he constructed many 

public buildings and private homes in this city. He was 

also a partner in the former Independent Lumber Co. 

He died Oct. 23, 1965. 

SEXTER, A.E. 

A. E. Sexter completed 50 years of service as a 

telegrapher and ticket agent for the Chicago, 

Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. He got his 

start on June 14, 1906, at Blooming Prairie, where he 

worked for a year. He was with the Faribault station 

for 35 years and at Owatonna for 14 years. 

In 1905 he obtained a job as a messenger with 

Western Union at Owatonna. A woman operator, Eva 

Perkins, taught him telegraphy as part of his job. He 

learned quickly and thoroughly, and on June 14, 1906, 

he began his long Milwaukee Road career as 

telegrapher at Blooming Prairi~. 

He had seen marked changes in the methods of 

sending telegrams and in the number of trains. In the 

old days there were 10 to 12 trains a day to take care of, 

later just two or three. 

In recognition of his 50 years of service he received 

a gold pass entitling him to ride free without restriction 

on the Milwaukee Railroad. 

SHAFT, WILLIS SHERMAN 

Willis Sherman Shaft, founder of the Shaft-Pierce 

Shoe Co., was born in Elmira, N.Y., July 15, 1867. In 

1892 Mr. Shaft moved to St. Louis Park from Aberdeen, 

S.D., where he engaged in the manufacture of shoes 

incorporating the Shaft Pierce Shoe Co. that sam~ 

year. 

In the early 1900's, Mr. Shaft moved to the factory 

at Faribault. He remained active in the management 

of the shoe firm untill933. During his long residence in 

Faribault, Mr. Shaft played a prominent role in the 

local, civic, fraternal, church and industrial activities 

of the city. 

At the time of his death he was president of the 

Perennial Shade Co., a firm which manufactured a 

new-type window shade which Mr. Shaft, himself; had 

343

~en ~c?/ow 

invented. HepassedawayNov.17, 1936. 

SHAGER, RONALD 

Ronald Shager served as Game Warden of Rice 

County for eight years, having served for a total of 22 

years with the Department of Conservation in the 

Game Warden service. He died as a result of injuries 

received in a car-train accident near the Rock Island 

depot in Faribault in February, 1967. Shager Park on 

the south shore of Cannon Lake was named in his 

honor. 

SHERIDAN, EMMETT 

For 42 years, Mr. Sheridan was a member of the 

mechanical department and a pressman for the 

Faribault Daily News. He joined the staff in 1914 when 

the News was founded, working first for the Faribault 

Pilot and Journal. He died June 27, 1965, at the age of 

73. 

SHIELDS, MARTIN M. 

Judge Martin M. Shields, editor, lawyer, and judge 

of Probate Court in Rice County for 21 years, passed 

away Oct. 15, 1936. 

Judge Shields was born in Whitewater, Wis., on 

Dec. 16, 1854, the son of Charles and Catherine 

(Muldown) Shields. In 1856 his family came to 

Richland Township. After his education, he taught 

school and served as principal in schools around the 

state. He was admitted to the bar in Shakopee in 1885. 

In 1888 Judge Shields came to Faribault and, with 

C. J. O'Brien, founded the "Faribault Pilot". 

SIEMERS, MAYNARD R. 

Maynard R. Siemers served as athletic director 

and football and basketball coach at Faribault High 

School from 1942 to 1949. One of his football teams won 

the Big Nine Conference (Fall-'45) and also his 

basketball team won the Region 1 championship and 

participated in the Minnesota State Basketball 

tournament. In more recent years he had been a 

member of the faculty at Shattuck School and also 

served as welfare director of the City of Faribault on a 

part-time basis. 

SMITH, GEORGE L. 

George L. Smith, 1917-1951, was a descendant of a 

family which has contributed much to Faribault and 

Rice County public, professional and fraternal life. Mr. 

Smith entered into active law practice with his father, 

Lucius A. Smith, in 1941; a practice which he resumed 

after active duty with the U.S. Navy in World War II. 

At the time of his death he was president of the Fifth 

Judicial District Bar Association and had been active 

in affairs of the Rice County Bar Association. 

SMITH, GEORGE L. 

George L. Smith passed away Dec. 16, 1931, at the 

age of 74 years. He was born on a farm in Forest 

Township. On March 17, 1884, he married Miss Olive 

Olson of Port Washington, Wis. During his life he 

served as mayor of Faribault for four terms, served as 

County Judge of Probate Court, Register of Deeds, and 

Deputy County Auditor. 

He and his wife were the parents of a son, Lucius 

Smith. 

George L. Smith was born Sept. 25, 1857. He was 

the son of Alexander Smith and Julia Ann Foster 

Smith. Mr. Smith was a very colorful man and a 

natural born story teller. He was popularly known as 

George L. 

Mr. Smith was politically active, and was 

considered not only a political fighter, but a warrior. In 

administration of public affairs, he was the champion 

of the common man. 

SMITH, HARRY B. 

Harry B. Smith was born May 1, 1877, in Lynn, Pa. 

He came to Faribault from Nebraska at the turn of the 

century, where he had graduated from Nebraska State 

University in 1901. He established an insurance 

business which he conducted for 57 years. He was 

interested in photography and compiled valuable 

scrapbooks about Faribault and the Episcopal 

Cathedral. On May 4, 1905, he was married to Ina 

Prescott of Faribault. He passed away Oct. 30, 1963, at 

the age of 86. 

SNELL, CHARLES EDSON 

Charles Edson Snell was born in Faribault on Nov. 

11, 1863, and passed away on May 21, 1953. 

Starting his career as a messenger boy for Western 

Union Telegraph Co., he devoted his entire life's work 

to the Western Union Co., retiring on Dec. 13, 1933, 

after 51 years of service. He was a skilled telegrapher. 

SNELL, FRANK MURDOCK 

Frank Murdock Snell, son of Charles and Lucinda 

Morris Snell, was born in Faribault on Feb. 22, 1891. He 

grew to manhood and served in the armed forces of 

World War I. 

On March 29, 1918, he married Miss Anna 

Thompson. Mr. Snell was employed by Northern States 

Power Co. In 1943 he moved to Buffalo, N.Y., where he 

joined the sales force of the Thomas Truck and Caster 

Co. He passed away Nov. 18, 1970, in Buffalo. Mr. Snell 

was known for his great interest in Rice County history 

and had many articles and photographs of early 

Faribault in his collection. 

STABBERT, CARL 

Dr. Carl Stabbert was a prominent Faribault 

dentist, who was active in local, professional, civic, 

fraternal, and church circles. He had practiced 

dentistry in Faribault for more than 20 years. He had 

been an active member of the Rice County Dental 

Society and of the Minnesota Dental Association. 

He passed away in September, 1957. 

STRANDEMO, GILBERT E. 

Gilbert E. Strandemo, a former Rice County 

legislator, was born in 1862 in Norway. He settled with 

his parents in Wheeling Township in 1872. He operated 

a general merchandise store in Moland for many years 

and also farmed in that vicinity until his retirement in 

344

I 

• 

l 

1948. He served three terms as Rice County 

representative in the state legislature from 1926 to 

1931. His wife was the former Gurine Gunkes, whom he 

married in 1897. 

He died Aug. 29, 1955, at the age of 86 years. 

STORCH, FRANK F., SR. 

Frank F. Storch, Sr. passed away July 24, 1963 at 

the age of 75. He had been employed at one time by 

Nutting Truck and Caster Co., but he later established 

his own woodworking business in the rear of his home. 

His skill as a craftsman won him recognition and 

scores of Storch-crafted installations in homes and 

buildings serve as flattering evidence of his 

workmanship. 

He was born in Faribault Sept. 9, 1887, the son of 

Frederick and Henrietta Schuenke Storch. He attended 

Trinity Lutheran School. On Aug. 31, 1911, he married 

Lucy Thatcher. 

He was an avid sportsman, participating in several 

sports including baseball, fishing and boating, for 

which he made his own boats. 

SVIEN, VELGJER NYSTUEN 

Mrs. Velgjer Svien was born in Valders, Norway, 

on Oct. 10, 1842. She came to the United States in 1854. 

Her family made their home in Madison, Wis., and 

then in St. Ansgar, Iowa, where, in February, 1860, she 

was married to Andrew Svien. They moved to Goodhue 

County, where they farmed. In 1876 they came to 

Northfield. 

She was able to read without the aid of glasses until 

the age of 104. She died Jan. 23, 1953, at 110 years of 

age. 

SWANBERG, LUCILLE DELAY 

Mrs. Lester E. (Lucille DeLay) .Swanberg was for 

more than 30 years a teacher in the Faribault Public 

Schools and active in local educational, professional, 

fraternal, church and cultural organizations. She 

became a member of the Faribault High School faculty 

teaching seventh and eighth grade English. She was a 

member of the Junior and Senior High School faculties 

and at the time of her death was head of the English 

department of both schools. Mrs. Swanberg was a 

member of professional education associations on the 

local, state and national level. 

TAOPI 

Taopi, a Christian Chief of the Dacotahs who saved 

several white persons during the 1862 Indian uprising, 

is buried in Maple Lawn Cemetery. He died March 5, 

1869, at the age of 56 years. Taopi first came to Bishop 

Whipple with the head chief of the Sioux, Wabasha, and 

revealed to him they had sold the government 800,000 

acres of their reservation for which they had been 

promised $8,000 a year for schools but the government 

had not paid them for their land nor did they have 

schools. 

On Aug. 18, 1862, . the Sioux Indians began a 

massacre which spread over the entire western border 

of Minnesota. 800 people were killed. Taopi and his 

band of men tried to stop the massacre, but when they 


found they could not they began to save prisoners 

instead, saving about 250 in all. 

Taopi was the chief of the Farmer Band and Good 

Thunder was his head soldier. After the massacre· the 

government confiscated all the lands and annuities of 

the Sioux and Taopi would have starved but for the 

care of Bishop Whipple and Alexander Faribault. 

When Taopi became very ill he sent for Bishop 

Whipple. In Bishop Whipple's words, "He looked up 

into my face and whispered, 'I am not afraid to go. 

Jesus has walked in this trail before me. I shall not be 

lonesome on the road.' '' 

THOMPSON, GEORGE W. 

George W. Thompson, 1863-1951, was born and 

raised in Cannon City Township. He held the distinction 

of being the first butter-maker of the Prairieville 

Creamery. For more than 20 years he served as Rice 

County Register of Deeds and also served as a member 

of the Faribault City Council. Earlier he was 

representative in the state legislature from Rice 

County. He was also engaged in the abstract business 

here. 

TRAEGER, CARL A. 

Dr. Carl A. Traeger, the son of Rev. William H. and 

Elizabeth Schneider Traeger, was born in 

Bloomington, Ill., on Aug. 5, 1889. Dr. Traeger was a 

graduate of Bradley University, Peoria, Ill., and of the 

University of Minnesota School of Medicine. He came 

to Faribault in the fall of 1914, joining the firm 

including Dr. S.B. Haessley and A.M. Hanson. On Sept. 

21, 1916, he married Ruth S. Hertzler at Burlington, 

Iowa. 

In 1917 the three local physicians closed their clinic 

and left to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during 

World War I. In 1919 they were reunited and resumed 

their clinical practices in Faribault. In 1929 they had 

their own building constructed on Central Avenue, 

which later became the property of the American 

Legion Post No. 43. 

Dr. Traeger was a practicing physician in this 

community for 49 years. He was a life member of the 

American Medical Association, an honorary lifetime 

member of the Minnesota State Medical Association, 

and a past president of the Rice County Medical 

Society. He was also a long-time member of the 

various veterans organizations. He was active in the 

Masonic Lodge and the Fourth Avenue United 

Methodist Church. He was the recipient of the Selective 

Service medal and Certificate of Merit presented to 

him by Congress for his service as a member of the 

Selective Service Board dur ing World War II. 

Dr. Traeger passed away Nov. 25, 1975, at the age 

of86 years. 

TRIPP, PAGE 

P age Tr ipp was prominent in investment 

securities business for Dempsey-Tegler Company. 

The son of Clarence and Eva Pike Tripp, he was 

born in Kenyon on July 10, 1888. He was the grandson of 

Oliver Tripp, a pioneer resident of Rice County who 

345

~en ~c?Jow 

came here in 1854. He was an outstanding athlete for 

Faribault High School and Carleton College, where he 

was a star basketball player. He married Miss Mary 

Phelps on July 3, 1920. He died Sept. 14, 1962, at the age 

of74. 

TZAKIS, PETER 

Peter Tzakis was the owner of the Modern Cafe. 

He came to the U.S. in 1911 and to Faribault in 1928. 

After coming to Faribault he entered into partnership 

with Gust Koutavas and George Tzakis in an enterprise 

first known as Coney Island Lunch. It later became 

Modern Cafe. 

He passed away in September, 1952. 

VANDERPOOL, C. M. 

C. M. Vanderpool was associated for many years 

with the Sellner Manufacturing Co. in Faribault, 

serving as factory superintendent and member of the 

Board of Directors until his retirement in 1958. He was 

an ardent conservationist, a believer in preserving our 

natural resources. 

He passed away in January, 1969. 

VOEGEL, HENRY 

Henry Voegel, prominent ice cream and creamery 

firm operator, was a pioneer leader in the 

establishment of the municipal airport. He was an avid 

and skilled flyer. For several years he had his own 

aviation firm at the Faribault Municipal Airport. 

his father, A. A. Winkley, in the operation of the 

Winkley Livery Stables, a pioneer business in 

Faribault. In later years, Mr. Winkley was a sales 

representative for heavy road equipment firms. 

His many friends thoroughly enjoyed his lively and 

picturesque stories of the Winkley Livery Stables when 

horses were the means of local transportation and 

automobiles were unheard of. 

Farnham Winkley was the son of Albert and 

Gertrude Farnham Winkley and was born Dec. 18, 

1886, in Faribault. On Sept. 6, 1916, he was united in 

marriage to Winifred Clinton of Faribault. He passed 

away April3, 1968, at the age of 81. 

WOLFE, FRANK W. 

Frank W. Wolfe, the son of Mr. and Mrs. August 

Wolf, was born in Aurora, Ill., on May 17, 1872. He 

came to Faribault as a young child. On Feb. 18, 1897, he 

was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Brekke. He was 

one of the earlier employes of Nutting Truck and 

Caster Co. He entered into the grocery and meat 

business and operated the Wolfe and Johnson Food 

Market. He retired in 1955 and passed away on April18, 

1962. 

WEST, MARGARET 

Margaret West was a member of a pioneer 

Faribault family, the daughter of Willis West, one time 

superintendent of schools in Faribault, and the 

granddaughter of Judge Rodney A. Mott, a pioneer 

attorney in Faribault and for many years judge of 

Probate in Rice County. Miss West had taught in 

schools in a number of Minnesota communities, 

including a number of years teaching at Marshall High 

School in Minneapolis. 

She passed away in January, 1969. 

WESTON, DONNA ISABELLE CLEMENTS 

Mrs. George A. Weston (Donna Isabelle 

Clements), 1867-1952, came to Faribault from Canada 

at an early age. Her father, Dr. Sydney T. Clements, 

was one of Faribault's early dentists. She took nurse's 

training at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth and graduated 

as a registered nurse. During World War I she was 

very active in Red Cross work. 

WIDMAN, ROY 

Roy Widman, 1894-1959, came to Faribault in 1937 

and worked for the rest of his life as the operator of the 

Sanitary Ice Co. Mr. Widman was greatly interested in 

the young people of the community. He was interested 

in the organization of an "East Side Picnic" and a 

community Easter Egg hunt and penny scramble for 

the children, adjacent to his ice house, where children 

won prizes delving through the huge sawdust piles. 

WINKLEY, FARNHAM H. 

In early years, Mr. Winkley was associated with 

346

Index 

Abelman, Lawrence F. (Tiny) 41 

Aberle, C.W. 42 

Aberle, H.H. 42 

Ackman, Ervin 20 

Adams, Cecil C. 319 

Airport, Faribault 23, 25, 37 

Ahlman, Frank H. 207 

Ahlman Gun Shop 213 (illus.) 214 

Albers, Clarence 20 

Albers Park 27 

Aldrich, Cyrus C. 192, 198, 200 

Allen, Dena 88, 144, 319 

Allen, Faye 88, 144, 319 

Allen, Feve Elizabeth Blaker 319 

Allen, Guerdon 141, 319 

Alexander, James 179 

Alexander Faribault Park 41, 169 

American Association of University Women 144 

American Billiard Academy 108, 109 (illus.) 

American Field Service 128 

American Fur Company 3, 7 

American Legion Auxiliary 155 

American Legion Drum Corps 149, 150 (illus.) 316 

American Legion Post 23, 148 

Ames, Adelbert 180 

Ames, Jesse 180 

Ames Mill 25, 183, 185 

Anderson, Ann 319 

Andrews, Charles Howard 320 

Andrews, John 109 

Andrews Nursery 53, 54 

Annunciation Church (Webster) 290 

Antler's Park 15 

Archibald, Edward 215 

Archibald, George 215 

Archibald, John Sidney 25, 152, 215, 216 

Archibald Mill215 (illus.), 216, 323 

Arlington Hotel23, 107, 110 (illus.) 132, 300 

Armistice Day Blizzard 313 

Army Reserve Center 61 

Arpan,, Narcisse 4 

Auto Truck and Tractor Parts Supply 119 

Aviation, Early History 23 

Axel Anderson and Sons Machine Shop and Foundry 104 

Bachrach, I.A. 320 

Bachrach, James S. 312 

Bachrach Clothing Company 98 

Baker, Laura 184 

Bakken, Gunder 104 

Ballenthin, Adeline Heyer 54, 278 

Ballenthin, Willi 55 

Ballis, Gus G. 320 

Banks (Faribault 102, 103, 107, 109, 112, 127 (illus.) 

Barlow, L. 10 

Barron, H.E. 5, 51 

Barron House 13 (illus.) 39, 40, 42, 51, 95, 100, 132 

Barta Heating 128 

Batchelder, Charles Spoor 87, 320 

Bathelder, Mrs. Charles 141 

Batchelder, G.H. 1, 2, 10, 71 

Batchelder, George W. 24 (illus.) 157 

Bauer, Paul (Dr.) 161 

Bauer Disposal Service 121 

Bean, Francis Atherton 320 

Beaupre, Carlyle 29 

Becker, Lawrence 121 

Becker, Nick 76 

Beebe, Lewis C. 320 

Beebe, Mrs. Lewis C. 128 

Behlke, Edward 44, 45 

Behlke, Roger 139 

Bell, Hadley P. 169, 321 

Bell Field 58, 169 

Beltz Company 122 

Bemis, Nathan Marvin Dr.) 321 

Bemis, Nellie 52 

Beneke, Martin 117 

Benson, Charles E. 321 

Benzick, M.H. 219 

Berg, Harold S. 54 

Berg, Lillie Clara 32 

Berg, (Town of) 289 

Berry and Batchelder Law Firm 1, 19 

Bethlehem Academy 74 

Bethlehem Academy Alumni Association 74 

Bettschen, William Farnsworth 321 

Bicentennial flag 176 (illus.) 

Bierman, Mrs. Charles 141 

Bieter, Loyola 161 

Bieter, Minnie 174 

Bieter, N.C. 100 

Bieter, Robert 100 

Big Diamond Mill206, 207 (illus.) 

Birch Coulee, Battle of 3 

Birnstihl, Orville 22 

Bishop Seabury Missions 216 

Bjork, Robert R. 122 

Bjorlie, Henry 0. (Rev.) 69, 321 

Blank, Jacob 270 

Bloomer, Coleman 195, 196, 210 

Blue Bird Inn 23, 153 

Bob and Don's Auto 126 

Boelke, Ervin 176 (illus.) 178 

Boldt, Frank 43, 44 

Boldt Funeral Home 114 

Bollenbach, Melvin 234 

Bonanza Sports Manufacturing 117 

Boock, John W. 112 

Boosalis, Gus N. 322 

Borchardt, Paul 202 (illus.) 203 (illus.) 

Bosshardt, Jacob J. 272 

Boston Cafe 114, 336 

Blucher, Charles 322 

347

Index 

Bowe, Daniel 10 

Brand, Archie M. 95, 322 

Brand, Oliver F. 95 

Brand Peony Farms 53,95 

Brasel, Melvin H. 82 

Bratton, Helen Leonard 107, 141, 322 

Bratton, Howard 107, 322 

Brazil, Harold 31 

Brazil, Michael248 

Breck, James Lloyd (Rev.) 3, 63 

Brekke, Lewis A. 322 

Brekke, O.A. 104, 314 

Breweries: Brandt's 93 

Breweries: Ernst Fleckenstein 93 

Breweries: Godfrey Fleckenstein 93, 112 (illus.) 

Brick Kilns 198 

Bridge Square (Northfield) 184, 187, 196 

Bridgewater (Township) 1, 10, 28, 32, 296 

Brown, Benson 112 

Brown, Ralph E. 178 

Brown and Bennett Hotel 29 

Brucher, Walter M. 54, 132, 322 

Bruhl, Heinz H. 91, 306 

Brunswick Hotel23, 52, 100 (illus.) 113, 132 

Brusletten, Ingram 139 

Brusletten, Leonard C. 322 

Buchanan, Mary 174 

Buckeye Manor 165 

Buckham, Anna 31, 40, 60 

Buckham, Charles 31, 60 

Buckham, John W. 31 

Buckham, Thomas S. 31, 40, 60, 73, 178 

Buckham Memorial Library 60 

Bultman, Henry 270 

Burkhartzmeyer, Ferdie J. 322, Shoes 119 

Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad 16, 17 

Burman-Faribault Plumbing 122, 123 

Burmeister, James 24 

Burmeister, Joseph 323 

Burns, Sherman 200 

Bursik, Lester L. 113, 129 

Bursik, Martina 61 

Bush, Peter 3, 4, 5, 257 

Buth, Emily Mae 95, 141 

Buth, G.H. 95 

Calvary Cemetery 4 

Camp, Emma 31 

Camp Dean 31 

Camp Release 3 

Cannon City (Township) 1, 10, 243 

Cannon City (Village) 1, 3, 5, 6, 11, 52 

Cannon City Christian Church 245 

Cannon Lake 3, 27, 29, 257 

Cannon Products 124 

Cannon River 2, 3, 28, 29, 30, 56, 179, 188, 257 

Cannon River Railroad 189, 203 

Cannon River Improvement Company 17, 18 

Cannon River Wilderness Area 27, 28 

Carlander, John 110, 307 

Carleton College 180, 187 (illus.) 

Caron Property 41, 57 

Carpenter, G.L. 10 

Carroll, John H. (Family) 260 

Carver, Charles 323 

Caswell, James 323 

Castle, Henry A. 9 

Cate, Anna C. 178 

Cates, Dean 130 

Cedar Lake 29 

Central Railroad of Minnesota 15 

Central School (old) 7 (illus.) 73 (illus.) ~ 

Chaffee, Fred M. 323 

Chandler Vault Company 124 

Chapel of the Good Shepherd 85 

Chapman, Sam 205 (illus.) 

Chapman, Thomas R. 194, 201 

Chappuie, Bert 174 

Chappuie, Ed 173, 323 

Chappuis, Ernest 118 

Chappuis, Victor C. 323 

Chappuis Jewelry 118 

Chase Meat Packing Plant 106 

Chatham, Donald J. 139, 323 

Chester, Fred W. 11 (illus.) 

Chicago and Great Western Railroad 203, 229 

Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad 16, 257, 288 

Chicago and Rock Island Railroad 16, 21 

Chicago Great Western Railroad 15, 17, 18, 182, 235 

Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway 13, 19, 216, 218, 

239 

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad 13, 239 

Chicago Northwestern Railroad Company 15, 17, 21 

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad 16 

Chicago, St. -Paul and Kansas Railway 17 

Childress, A.B. (Judge) 20 (illus.) 178 

Chippewa (Indian Tribe) 7, 8, 32, 63 

Christenson, Beatrice 144 

Chrysler, Walter P. 17 

Church of the Holy Cross (Dundas) 216, 217 (illus.) 

Churches (Faribault) Bethel Lutheran 66 

Churches (Faribault) Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour 62 

Churches (Faribault) Congregational 62 

Churches (Faribault) Ephphatha Church 68 

Churches (Faribault) First Baptist Church 66 

Churches (Faribault) First English 65 

Churches (Faribault) Fourth Avenue United Methodist 61 

Churches (Faribault) Hope United Methodist 70 

Churches (Faribault) Immaculate Conception 4, 67 

Churches (Faribault) Our Savior's 66 

Churches (Faribault) Peace Lutheran 64 

Churches (Faribault) St. Lawrence 68 

Churches (Faribault) St. Luke's Church of Christ 70 

Churches (Faribault) Seventh Day Adventist Church 70 

Churches (Faribault) Trinity Lutheran 64 

Churches (Lonsdale) Trondhjem 226 

Churches (Lonsdale 222, 223 

Churches (Morristown) 209 (illus.) 210 (illus.) 211 (illus.) 

Churches (Nerstrand) 232 

Churches (Northfield) 180, 182, 184 

Churches (Veseli) 237, 242 

Circle Lake 30, 31, 255, 253 

Citizens' National Bank 312 

Clarine, Carl104, 174, 324 

Clarine Family 104 

Clark, George L. 11 (illus) 20 

Clarkin, James 30 

"Clark's Crossing" 15 

Cleland, Andrew 31 

Clement, T.B. 96 

Clements, Edmund K. (Dr.) 157, 324 

Clopson, C. 2, 10 

Clothing stores 98, 114 

Cluckey, Jean 3 

Cody Lake 31 

Cole, Gordon E. 6, 38, 157 

Cole, Kate I. 324 

Cole, Moses 6, 49 

348

Index 

Cole, Stella 132, 324 

Colonial Hatcheries 54 

Colvill Memorial Highway 186, 219 

Commercial Hotel130, 131 (illus.) 133 (illus.) 

Community Theater 318 

Connick, Charles 60 

Conniff, John 10 

Conroy, Jam,es J. (Rev.) 73, 75 , 

Consumer's Power Company 97 

Contemporary Review Club 153 

Control Data 23, 126 

Cook, Charles 129 

Cook, Herbert J. 128 

Cook, Michael 152 

Cooper, J. 10 

Cornell, Ann 22 

Cornell, Clarence 22 

Cornell, Edgar 22 

Corsett, John 243, 244 

Cosgriff, Robert 128 

Cotton, Carol 137 

Coughlin, Brigid 141, 324 

Coughlin, Daniel D. 107, 112, 157, 324 

Coughlin, John E. 324 

Coughlin Drug 119, 324 

Coulson, N.B. 179 

Coulson, T.R. 179 

County Veterinary 127 

Cowperthwait, B.W. 96 

Cox, W.G. 27 

Cramer, Glenn D. 27, 178 

Credit Bureau of Faribault 127 

Crocker's Drug Store 25 

Cromer, Ferdinand 324 

Cromer Quarry 174 

Crosby, Thomas H. 324 

Cross, C. Willard 128, 324 

Cross, Laura 325 

Cross, Richard 308 

Crossett, Mrs. C.N. 23 

Crown Bus Company 23 

Crown Cork and Seal 128 

Crump, Edward J. 4, 5, 49, 61, 71, 131 

Crump's Hall 33, 49, 61, 66 

Cruttenden, H.L. (Dr.) 182 

Crystal Lake 11, 31 

Cutts, Edward H. 250 

Czech customs 226 

D.R.S. Dakota Scott Rice 225, 241 

Dakota County 1, 5 

Dakotas (Indian tribe) 3 

Dan Patch 15, 184 

Dan Patch Railroad (Railcars) 15, 184, 217 

Dancing 136, 137, 138 

Dandelet, Arthur J. 325 

Dandelet, Chauncey H. 325 

Dandelet Brothers Jewelry Store 114 

Darvagel, John (Dr.) 194, 198 (illus.) 

Dasher, Joseph 4 

Daughters of Isabella 153 

Davis, Clarence 109 (illus.) 

Davis, C.R. (Congressman) 52, 53 

Davis, Frederick U. (Dr.) 161, 325 

Degen, Fred 141 

Degen Insurance 122 

Deike Building 25 

DeLancey, Tom 299 (illus.) 300 

DeLong, Dwight 140 

Demara, Louis 3 

Deney, Walter E. 326 

Dennison, L.W. 38 

Dennison, Morris P. 236 

Dennison (Village) 235, 236, 237 

Detert, John H. 42 

Dickinson, William 6 

Dienst, Richard 147 

Dienst, Ruth 147 

Dienst Music Shop 123 

Dillon, Charles 174 

Dillon, Thomas 48, 75 

Dingmann, Carl121 (illus.) 163 

Dingmann Motor Sales 121 

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20 155 

Dobbin, James (Rev.) 85, 78, 103 

Dodge County 1 

Dokken, Walter L. 326 

Dolphin (Rev.) 76 

Domestic Laundry 113 (illus.) 

Domestici, I. (Rev.) 326 

Donahue, Thomas F. 11 (illus.)326 

Donkers, Peter H. 76, 136 (illus.) 326 

Donner, Pauline 174 

Dorniden, Mrs. Charles 121 

Dow, James 60, 80, 81 

Doyle Quarry 174 

Dragsten, Palmer 123, 128, 178 

Drew, Ronald 37 

Drug stores 107, 119, 126 

Dube, Arthur n 

Duchene, Jack 42 

Dudley, Robert 30 

Dudley, Sarah 31 

Duncan, Frank 56, 129 

Dundas (Village) 6, 15, 18, 23, 25, 215 

Dundas Mill 25, 30 

Dunham, Henry 6 

Dunham, S.C. 6 

Duniway, C.A. 141 

Dunn, William 5 

Durrin, E.P. 199 

Dusek, John 56 

Dusek, Joseph A. 121 

Dusek Bakery 121 

Eagle Aviation, Inc. 25 

East Side Picnic 316 

East Prairie 5 

East Prairieville 6 

Eastern Star Athens Chapter No. 82 154 

Eastman Music 126 

Ebel, Charles 20 (illus.) 178 

Ebel, William "Bill" 19, 130 

Edel, William 20 (illus.) 

Egbert, James C. 143 

Eggleston, Edward 12 

Eklund 52, 251 

Ellingson, L.M. 326 

Ellis, George 108, 109 (illus.) 

Ellis, William 100 

Else (Earl) Hardware 108 

Elshorst, Frederick (Rev.) 76 

Elthon, Eldon J. 308 

Elverum, Jean 308 

Elysian, Lake 17 

Emge, Fred 150 

349

Index 

Endres, George L. 326 

Endres, Godrey 326 

Endres, John 76 

Endres, Ray 136 (ill us.) 

Engberg, Dagmar 128, 327 

Engberg, Edward J. 326 

Erb, N.S. 54 

Erickson, Donald 45, 47 

Erickson, Roger 126 

Erickson Furniture 126 

Erin (Township) 10, 29, 31, 33, 261 

FACE-Q 151 

Falls Creek Park 27 

Faribault, A. Leon 2 

Faribault, Agnes (see also Haskell, Agnes Faribault) 2, 31 

Faribault, Alexander 2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 19, 31, 49, 63, 67, 68, 94, 

131, 257 y 

Faribault, Catheripe 2 

Faribault, Daniel 2 

Faribault, Emely 2 

Faribault, Frederick 5, 10, 31 

Faribault, George H. 2 

Faribault, Jean Baptiste 2 

Faribault, Julia 2 

Faribault, Mary Elizabeth Graham 2 

Faribault, Nathalie 2 

Faribault, Philip 2 

Faribault, William Richard 2 

Faribault Art Center 140 

Faribault Band 139 

Faribault Baseball Association 168 

Faribault Board of Education 169 

Faribault Business and Professional Women's Club 156 

Faribault Building and Loan Association 112 

Faribault Canning Company 18, 99 

Faribault Choral Club 138 

Faribault, City of, Board of Health 40 

Faribault, City of, Bond issue 39 

Faribault, City of, Bus Service 22 

Faribault, City of, Charter 6, 37, 38 

Faribault, City of, City Council 6, 15, 37 

Faribault, City of, City Hall 39 

Faribault, City of, Elections 6, 38 

Faribault, City of, Fire Department 39, 42-49 

Faribault, City of, Incorporation 6, 38 

Faribault, City of, Library 40, 60 

Faribault, City of, Parks 41 

Faribault, City of, population 38 

Faribault, City of, Post Office 49 

Faribault, City of, telephones 25 

Faribault, City of, utilities 25, 95 

Faribault Civic Orchestra 316 

Faribault Daily News 107 

Faribault Eagles Aerie 154 

Faribault Electric Light Company 96 

Faribault Federal112 (illus.) 

Faribault Federal officers 113 

Faribault Foundation, 156 

Faribault Gas Light Company 95 

Faribault Industrial Corporation FIC 122 

Faribault Golf and Country Club 170 

Faribault Industrial Park 23 

Faribault Lakers 168 

Faribault Lion's Club 147 

Faribault Little Symphony 138 

Faribault Mall129 

Faribault Manor 166 

Faribault Municipal Band 138, 322 

Faribault Opera House 26 (illus.) 102, 135 

Faribault Plan 73, 74, 75 

Faribault Pharmacies, Inc. 126 

Faribault Rattan works 42 

Faribault Sky Club, 23, 24 

Faribault State Bank, 109, 110 

Faribault State Hospital 82 

Faribault State Hospital-Superintendents 82 

Faribault Townsite Company 9 

Faribault Woman's Club 156 

Faribault Woolen Mills 93, 94, 97 (illus.) 313 (illus.) 

Faribo Plaza 125 (ill us.) 

Faribo Manufacturing 122, 126 

Farmer Seed and Nursery 53, 99, 100 

Farnham, Helen 327 

Farrell, Mark (Rev.) 75 

Fehn, Louise 174 

Fette Electronics 126 

Fillmore County 1 

Fires 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 (illus.) 47 

First Citizen's National Bank of Faribault 107 

First Federal Savings and Loan 127 (illus.) 

First National Bank of Northfield 25, 181 

First Northwestern Bank 102 (illus.) 350 

Fisk, Mary 33 

Flame of Freedom 172 

Fleckenstein, Alfred 140 

Fleckenstein, Ed 140, 313 

Fleckenstein, Ernst 38, 93, 317, 327 

Fleckenstein, Godfrey 93 

Fleckenstein, Ruge 122, 130, 327 

Fleckenstein family 93 

Fleckenstein-Steppan Orchestra 139 (illus.) 

Fluoridation 61 

Flynn, James 20 (illus.) 103 (illus.) 

Foley, John (Rev.) 67, 174, 266, 305 (illus.) 328 

Folsom, Donald E. 124, 140 

Folsom's 124 

Folwell, William Watts 7 

Ford, Edwin B. 298 

Forest (Township) 10, 29, 252 

Foster, Ellen Soulle 327 

Foster, John A. 112, 130, 147, 328 

Foundries 98, 100, 104 

4-H Clubs 29 

Fowler (Major) 74 

Four County Agricultural Services 208 (illus.) 

Fox Lake 31 

Francis, D.W. (Dr.) 214 

Frazier, Joseph J. 281 

Frederickson, Philip Augustine 330 

Frederiksen, Dorothy S. 118, 144 

Frederiksen, Felix 117, 328 

Fredette, Adele 330 

Fredette, Rose 140, 330 

Freeborn County 1 

French, F.W. 38 

French Lake 29 

Friends of the Library 156 

Frink, E.L. 108, 134 

Frink, Frederick W. 1, 10, 33, 73, 134, 152 

Fuller, J .S. 50 

Funeral Homes 111, 114, 117 

Furniture Factories: Flint's 96 

Furniture Factories: Hill's 42, 96, 105, 199 

Furniture Factories: Peterson-Art Furniture Company 106 

Future Farmers of America 145 

350

Index 

Future Homemakers of America 146 

Gagnon, John L. 107 

Gagnon, Thomas B. 107 - 

Gallagher, Edward 104 

Gallagher, Luke 103, 104, 122, 330 

Gallagher, Patrick J. 103 (illus.) 110, 132 

Gallagher, Robert 103, 104 

Gallagher Plumbing Company 103 

Garfield School Drum and Bugle Corps 312 

Geiger, Bill 20 (illus.) 

General Shields Lake 27, 29, 31 

Gentry, Myrtle M. 95 

Gerbig, Sidney 118 

German Evangelical Deaconess Society 40 

Gibson, J. 10, 50 

Gift and Art Store 120, 334 

Gipson, Eugene H. 112, 141, 312 

Girl Scouts 56 

Glaser, Will J. 136, 137 

Glassco, Jack 150 

Glynn, James P. 122 

Golden Age Club 144 

Goldsmith, Sidney ~ 

Goodhue County 1 

Goodsell Observatory 182 

Gopher Shooter's Supply 54, 115, 116 (illus.) 

Gorman, William A. 1, 8, 10, 19 

Gowdy, Chestine 330 

Graf, Richard 143 

Graham, Asa B. (Dr.) 178 

Grand Theatre 135 (illus.) 152, 317 

Grand Theatre (Northfield) 184, 185 

Grant, A.J. 52 

Grant, Donald W. 14, 16, 30, 52, 102, 312, 322 

Grant, W.W. 30 

Gray, Paul 308 

Grebner, Franz Joseph 90, 330 

Greenville, John 244 

Grocery Stores: A. Christensen Grocery 104 

Grocery Stores: A.J. Grant 104 

Grocery Stores: Brekke and Bakken 104 

Grocery Stores: Kaul's 104 

Grocery Stores: Vogelsbergs 104, 105 (illus.) 

Haase, Vern 129 

Hachfeld, Martin 11, 175, 176 (illus.) 

Hacker, William 114, 143 

Haessley, S.B. (Dr.) 147, 158, 159 (illus.) 331 

Hagerty, J. 10 

Hammer, C.V. 124 

Hammer, Einar 0. 132 

Hammer Publishing 124 

Hammond, Isaac 1, 10 

Hanlon, Robert 330 

Hanson, Adolph M. (Dr.) 158, 159, 331 

Hanson, Carl (Dr.) 308 

Hanzel, Francis J. 331 

Hardware stores 1~. 119 

Harding, J .H. 6 

Harkins, Eugene 250 

Harkins, William 29 

Harn, C.D. 6 

Hart -Schrader Agency 122 

Harvey, Thomas 132 

Haskell, Agnes Faribault 31, 32 

Hatfield, Fern 139 

Haven, Alfred E. 52, 60 

Healy, E.J. Jr. 52 

Healy, Mrs. John 31 

Heath, Fred A. 331 

Helberg, Anton 20 

Helberg, H.H. 19 (illus.) 

Helberg, Louis 270 

Henderson, William 253 

Heron Island 27, 29 

Hershey, Christ 200 

Hershey, William 194 

Hertrich, John (Rev.) 78 

Heselton, John 37 

Heyer, Robert 55 

Hielsberg, John 141 

Hill, A.L. 111 

Hintsala, Matt 112 

Hirdler Park 28 

Hoban, John 414 

Hogrefe, Freiderich 270 

Hollister, Miles 10, 178 

Hollister Brothers 205 

Holmen, Carl 331 

Holstein cattle 298, 301, 302 

Holy Cross Church (Dundas) 217 (lllus.) 

Hoover, Merton 28, 178 

Hopke, Arthur 37, 38 (illus.) 

Horstman, Marvin Wayne 331 

Hospital Auxiliary 155 

Hotel Faribault 131, 132, 139 

Hotels, Early 132 

Houle, Cecil (Rev.) 75, 76 

Hour Glass Cleaners 127 

Howard, Mary E. 71 

Howard, W.H. 50 

Howe, Mary N. 71 

Huber, Walt 130 

Housing and Urban Development Department of 37 

Hugunin, Leonard S. 331 

Hulett, John 5 

Hulett, Luke 4, 5, 10, 18, 38, 152 

Humphrey, Seth King 97, 98 

Humphrey Elevator Company 97 

Hunt, Bernard 114 

Hunt, Claude J. 107, 331 

Hunt, Mrs. Claude 331 

Hunt and Sons Potato Company 114 

Hunt Lake, 31, 114 

Hunter, James 6, 40 

Hunter's Hospital 40 

Huston, Richard 143 

Hutchinson, Ralph R. 332 

Hutson, Jane 173 

Huxley, F.R. (Dr.) 332 

Hyde, John 123, 129 

Hyslop, Alfred J. 61 

Ideal Life Insurance Company 53 

Illsley, David Wallace 332 

Illsley, Ralph 332 

Immaculate Conception School 75 

Insurance agents 129, 130 

Iowa Telephone Company 26 

Jackson, C.B. 192 

Jackson, Dale "Red" 23, 40 

Jackson Home 12 (illus.) 

James, Jessee 31, 181, 182, 183 

James-Younger Bank Raid, Northfield 31, 181, 182, 183 

Jefferson Bus Company 23 

351

Index 

Jefferson Highway Trail 185 

Jenkins, Frederick E. 87, 332 

Jenkins, Herman 179 

Jensen Grocery 124 

Jewett, R.H.L. 6 

Jim and Joe Clothing Store 98 (illus.) 

Johannsen, Arthur 309 

Johnson, Edward A. 332 

Johnson, Iver F. 332 

Johnson, Orlando 5 

Johnson, Smith 5 

Jones, Fred C. 332 

Joyce, John E. (Rev.) 266 

Junior Chamber of Commerce 24 

KDHL Radio 123 

Kaiser, William 52, 119 

Kaisersatt, Frank M. 20 (illus.) 240, 332 

Kand, G. 118 

Kane, Harry 118 

Karp, A.W. 106 

Karp Shoe Store 106 

Kasper, John 53, 54, 130, 333 

Kaufman, D.W. 99, 129 

Kaul, Bertram F. 333 

Kaul, George E. 333 

Kaul Food Market 333, 336 

Keller, Andrew 169, 333 

Keller, George (Rev.) 4, 142 

Kelley, E.F. 42 

Kelly, Patrick 30 

Kelly Dudley Lakes 30, 31 

Kennedy, George Jr. 300 

Kenney, Andrew 250 

Kenney, John 250 

Kenney, Seth H. 198, 199, 201 

Kern, S. 76 

Keyes, A.D. 60 

Kiekenapp, Charles 6 

Kiekenapp, Edwin J.F. 52, 100, 112, 309 

Kiekenapp, Fred A. 108, 334 

Kielmeyer Construction Company 277 

Kiker, Lissie 153 

Kindseth, Gary 37, 38 (illus.) 

King, John R. 11 (illus.) 20, 334 

King Mill 49, 94 

Kingham, George Richard 85, 334 

Kingham, Mrs. George R. 29 

Kirk, Harold H. 334 

Kirk, Tom 10 

Kirkendahl, Daniel 179 

Kirsch, Martin 78 

Klemer, Agnes 153 

Klemer, Carl H. 93 

Klemer, Frank H. 334 

Klemer, Walter F. 334 

Knight, Henry M. (Dr.) 82 

Knights of Columbus 152 

Kolars, James Joseph (Dr.) 162 

Knold family 270 

Korean conflict 35 

Korff, Beryl120, 334 

Korff, William 56, 121 

Korman, James 178 

Kramer, Frederick F. (Dr.) 314 

Krinke, William 139 

Kroska, Anthony J. 334 

Kruger, Roland 56 

Kuhlman, Gustav 334 

Kuhlman Jewelry Store 334 

Kummer, Fred R. 41 

Labor Unions 128 

Lake Mazaska monster 268 

Lake Sakatah 3, 188 

Lakes, Rice County 29 

Land O'Lakes 123 

LaPoint, Pierre 3 

LaRoche, George 56 

LaRose, Mary Louise 76 

Larson, Oliver N. 117 

Larson, Robert 37, 38 (illus.) 

Larson Electric 117 

Lauritsen, Wesley 89 

Leach, Albert R. 325 

Leach Lumber and Coal Company 174, 335 

Leader store, the 114 

Leavens, Eden N. 50, 52, 60, 152 

LeBlanc, Theresa 76 

LeCrone, Sarah E. 335 

Lee, Herbert 123 

Lehman Gardens 53, 118 

Leighton, L.W. (Dr.) 60 

LeMay, Edward 4 

LeMieux, Adelphine 76 

Lemke, Rosalie Lyga 137 

Lende, Norman (Dr.) 335 

Lenmark, Aaron 117, 139, 149 

Lenmark Funeral Home 117 

LeSueur House 16 (illus.) 

Levy, Irving 114, 335 

Levy, Leah 114, 335 

Lieb, John H. 335 

Lieb, R.J. 335 

Lieb, Mrs. Ray 137, 138 

Lieb, Thomas J. 335 

Lieb Stone Quarry 174 

Liebenstein, Warren F. 29, 178 

Lick, Louise 144 

Little Chicago 289 

Little Prairie United Methodist Church 297 (ill us.) 

Live Topics Club 155 

Lockerby, B. 10 

Lockwood, F.B. 112 

Lockwood, Francis J. 105, 130 

Lockwood Opera House (Northfield) 181 

Lonien, Peter 76 

Lonsdale (Village) 21, 26, 218, 219 (illus.) 220 (illus.) 227 

(ill us.) 

Lonsdale Baseball team 224, 225 (illus.) 

Lonsdale Church 223, 224 

Lonsdale, New Market, Veseli Area Consolidated Schools 

223, 240, 242 

Lonsdale School 221 (illus.) 222 (illus.) 223 

Lonsdale School (Parochial) 223 

Lonsdale village officers 225 

Lord Studio (Donald J. 115 (ill us.) 

Low, Christian (family) 259 

Loyhed's Hardware Store 25, 108 

Luhring, E.E. (Dr.) 335 

Lundquist, Gilmore G.P. 25 

Lynch, John 103 (illus.) 189 

Lynch, Tom 103 (illus.) 

Lysen, John C. 81 

Mabon, Jim 3 

352

Index 

McCarthy, Clem L. 11 (illus.) 

McCarthy, Mrs. Clem 142 

McCarthy, Phil 56, 336 

McCarthy building 103 

McClelland, Hugh 5 

McCormick, Edward 336 

McCullough Park 27 

McGillen, John E. 33 

McGregor Western Railroad 14 

Machacek, Emil 11 (illus.) 20 

McKellip, Frank, 147, 169 

McKenzie, A. 4, 5 

MacKenzie, Clara "Mrs. Mac" 90 

McKinstry, A.W. 6, 32, 95 

McKinstry, Grace E. 32, 336 

McMahon, James 20 (illus.) 

McMahon, Michael J. 267 

McMahon House 22 (illus.) 

McQuay Inc. 125 

Madsen, Arthur L. 29, 178 

Mahler, DOnald 119 

Mahler, Rod 120 

Mahler's Hardware 119 

Malaga Lake 31 

Malloy, J.F. (Rev.) 336 

Malluege, Everett 179 

Malt-O-Meal185 

Manley Park Association 29 

Manthey TV and Radio 120 

Martin, Robert 128, 178 

Masonic Building 109, 119 

Masonic Lodge 151 

Matejcek Implement 120 

Matakis, Thomas G., Sr. 114, 336 

Matteson, B.F. 38 

Matteson, Halsey M. 10, 178 

Mazaska, Lake 28, 29 

Mealey, Charles Ray 336 

Mee, George H. 336 

Mee Photography Studio 336 

Meillier, Adeline 144 

Melgaard, Arthur 117 

Mentz, Al 109 (illus.) 

Mentz, Anna Margaret 337 

Mentz, Gerhardt 113 (illus.) 

Mentz, Stella 131 

Mentz, William C. 131, 337 

Mercury Minnesota, Inc., 122, 124 

Merrill, Lawrence 23, 24 

Merrill, Ralph 129, 136 (illus.) 148 (illus.) 150, 157, 310 

Merrill and Wunderlich Bus Service 22 

Meschke, Carl 205 (illus.) 

Metcalf, Samuel A. 52 

Mether Studio 123 

Methodist Church 251, 255, 296, 297 

Metropolitan Hall 65, 66 

Meyer, Herbert H. 41 

Meyer, P.F. (Dr.) 159 (illus.) 337 

Meyer, Richard H. (Dr.) 159 

Meyer, Robert P. (Dr.) 159 

Meyer, Mrs. William T. 32 

Meyers, Ed 140 

Michel, Frederick family 260 

Mill Products firm 122 

Millard, Henry 4 

Miller, Byron M. 338 

Miller, Charles 11, 175, 176 (illus.) 177 

Miller, Clarence 48 

( 

Miller, Ottem 338 

Miller, Philip, family 301 

Millersburg 6, 254 

Milligan, John 20 (illus.) 

Milligan, Major 32 

Mills 93, 94, 95, 179, 191, 192, 199, 200, 201, 206, 215, 216 

Millstone Trailer Park 29 

Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad Company 13 

Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Railroad Company 13 

Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad 13, 14, 50 

Milwaukee and Waukesha Railroad Company 13 

Milwaukee Depot Hotel 306 

Milwaukee Road 13, 14, 15 

Minneapolis Cedar Valley Railroad 10, 19 

Minneapolis, Faribault and Cedar Valley Railroad 13 

Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railroad Company 

15, 184 

Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad Company 17 

Minnesota Braille and Sightsaving School 4 

Minnesota Central Railroad 13, 14, 18, 182, 217, 297 

Minnesota Midland Railroad 15 

Minnesota Mother of the Year (Faribault) 54 

Minnesota Odd Fellows Home 184 

Minnesota Railway Company 10 

Minnesota School for the Blind 14 (illus.) 

Minnesota Valley Railroad 297 

Minnick, Daniel11, 175, 176 (illus.) 

Modern TV 124 

Moede, John M. 124 

Moland 52 

Mollison Drug Store 119 

Molloy, John H. (Rev.) 266 

Monday Club 155 

Monge, Ernest (Rev.) 76 

Montgomery (City) 26, 34, 52 

Montgomery Livestock Shipping Association Co-op 34 

Montgomery Ward Store 117 

Moravian Church (Northfield) 299 

Morehouse, Leah 144 

Morgan, Marven 43, 44 

Morris, A.B. "Odd" 98, 338 

Morris, John 5, 6 

Morris, Jonathan 180 (illus.) 200, 210 

Morris, Sarah 6 

Morris, Walter 1, 5, 6, 193, 196, 200, 202 

Morrissey family 260 

Morristown (Township) 1, 10 

Morristown (Village) 1, 3, 5, 6, 18, 21, 26, 188, 189 (illus.) 

191 (ill us.) 192 (ill us.) 196 (ill us.) 197 (ill us.) 199 

(illus.) 204 (illus.) 206 (illus.) 212 (illus.) 329 (illus.) 

337 (illus.) 

Morristown and Faribault Orchestra 198 (illus.) 

Morristown Band 195 (illus.) 

Morristown Churches 209 (illus.) 210 (illus.) 211 (illus.) 

Morristown Messenger 204, 205 · 

Morristown School193 (illus.) 194 (illus.) 212 

Mortenson, Rebecca 71 

Mott, Louise 33, 95 

Mott, Mary Ripley 33 

Mott, R.A. 33, 38, 40, 60, 71, 156, 157 

Mower County 1 

Mud Lake 31, 188 

Mueller, Phillipp Family 301 

Mullenmeister, Paul N. 37, 38 (illus.) 119 

Mulliner, C.H. 245 (illus.) 

Murphy, Andrew 20 (illus.) 

Murphy, James 168 

Murphy, John (family) 258 

353

Index 

Murphy, Leo 31 

Murphy, Tom 11 (illus.) 31, 74 

Murray, Carolyne M. 31 

Murray, Mrs. Thomas M. 31 

National Historic Sites Registry 180, 183, 185, 218, 275 

Naturalist Club 151 

Nauman, Conrad 338 

Nauman family 245 

Neal, J.B. 25 

Nebraska Telephone Company 26 

Nelson, Mrs. Lorraine 175 (illus.) 

Nerstrand (Village) 17, 21, 228, 230 (illus.) 321 (illus.) 323 

(illus.) 235 (illus.) 

Nerstrand Meat Market 232 (illus.) 233 (illus.) 

Nerstrand School 231 

Nerstrand Woods 187, 270, 277 

Neuhaus, Marge 179, 215 

New Richmond Farms 122 

Newcomer's Club 154 

Newhall, Mrs. Charles Watson 136, 137 

Nickerson, Winfield S. (Dr.) 314 

Nichols, Robert 124 

Nordgaard, Pearl 161 

North, John W. 5, 179 

Northern States Power Company 97 

Northfield (City) 5, 10, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 31, 179-188 

Northfield (City) Officials 188 

Northfield (Township) 1, 10, 32, 236, 298 

Northfield Bank Robbery 31, 181, 182 (illus.) 183 (illus.) 

Northfield Churches 180, 182, 184 

Northfield City Hall 181 

Northfield Disposal Service 28 

Northfield Hospital 184 

Northfield Milk Products 298 

Northfield News 181, 186 

Northfield Power and Light Company 183, 184 

Northfield Public Library 20, 184, 188 

Northfield Telephone Company 35 

Northwestern Bell 25, 26 

Northwestern Telephone Exchange Company 25, 26 

Northwestern Transportation Company 18 

Nuetzman, A. W. (Dr.) 159 (illus.) 338 

Nursery Companies 95, 99, 104, 118 

Nutting, Elijah 100, 132 

Nutting, Ida May Morris 339 

Nutting, John C. 183 

Nutting, Laura 141 

Nutting, Levi 4 

Nutting, Porter 5, 131 

Nutting, Truman 132, 133 

Nutting, Walter N. 20 (illus.) 100, 133, 141, 338 

Nutting House 132, 133 

Nutting Truck and Caster Company 100, 101 (illus.) 338 

O'Brien, Dennis 5 

O'Brien, Forest 23, 40 

Ochs, Albert 99 (illus.) 399 

Ochs, Alfred Louis 99 (illus.) 339 

Ochs, Alice 339 

Ochs, Donald 99 (illus.) 

Ochs, Verna 99, 167 

Ochs Department Store 98, 339 

Ochs family 99 

Ochs Hall 153 

O'Grady, Timothy 254 

Old Settler's Association 141 

O'Leary, Johanna Mary 339 

Olin, T.H. 179 

Olmsted County 1 

Olson, Norbert C. 32 

Olson, Valerie Haskell 32 

Olsson, Theodore (Ted) 56 

O'Neil, James 338 

O'Neil, Mrs. James 338 

O'Neil, William 52 

Onkka, Paul W. 126 

Orchestra, Morristown and Faribault 198 (illus.) 

Orr, Burton A. (Dr.) 161 

Orr, Burton E. 174, 339 

Oster, Evelyn 137 

Osmundson, Osmund 228 (illus.) 229 (illus.) 

Osmundson, "Ozzie" 234 

Osmundson-Hegnes Nerstrand Store 234 (illus.) 

Osterhaudt, James 200 

Ostrom, Bill122 

Ostrom, Richard 48 

Ostrom Agency 122, 130 

Our Lady of Victory Circle No. 559 153 

Owens, William M. 243, 244 

Palma, Mrs. Jean 218 

Palmer, Francis (Dr.) 141 

Paquette, Roland 76 

Paquin, Norbert 5, 10 

Paradise Theater 136 

Parker, Flora Ray 111, 339 

Parker, J.H. 2, 10 

Parker Funeral Home 111 

Parkos, Frank J. 19, 20 (illus.) 

Parshall, John R. 5, 40, 42, 52 

Paulin, John (Rev.) 76 

Payant, Gervase T. 340 

Payant, Moses L. 340 

Peace Lutheran School 78 

Pearce, William 147 

Peasley, Charles 174 

Peavey, Charles 174 

Peavey, Lynn 340 

Peavey, Richard 103 

Peavey Family 103 

Peonies (Faribault) 95, 312 

Perkins, Caroline 144 

Pet Parade 316, 318 

Peterson, Elton 143 

Peterson, John 106, 112, 340 

Peterson, Peter N. 340 

Peterson Art Furniture Company 106 (illus.) 

Pettipiece, Harlan 37, 38 (illus.) 

Pettipiece Radiator Shop 122 

Pettit, George F. 1, 10, 73 

Pexa, Ellard 129 

Phelps Hall 66 

Phelps Lake 31 

Phillips, Nellie 186 

Photographers 115, 336 

Pierce, F.M. 112 

Piesinger, Marie 187 

Pike, C.P. 42 

Pike, Charles D. 52 

Pirkl, William J. 155 (illus.) 

Pirkl Implement Company 115 

Pittman, Stephen 11 (illus.) 

Plaisance, Herb 197, 201 (illus.) 

Plaisance, Hubert 76 

Plante Cigar Factory 310 (illus.) 

354

Index 

Plante's Grocery Store 325 (illus.) 

Pleasant Manor Nursing Home 165 

Pletcher, Nuba (Dr.) 89, 340 

Plonske, C.J. (Dr.) 161 

Plotnik, Leonard J. 171 

Pluemer, Vince 56, 129 

Pofahl, Milton G. 340 

Poirier, Earl 107 

Poirier Drug 107, 119 

Polar Star Electric Company 96 

Polar Star Mill 3 

Pool Halls 108, 100 (illus.) 

Popelka, Charles J. 113, 141, 340 

Pratt and Robinson Insurance 25 

Prince of Peace Statue 314, 338 

Puffer, John Nutting 340 

Purdie, Clarence E. 115, 129 

Purdie, Irene Dow 117 

Purdie Family 116 (illus.) 

Pye, Sylvester Manley 29 

Pye, W.A. 10 

Quie, Albert H. 277 

Quinn, J .B. 6, 38 

Quinn, Josephine 341 

Quinn, Thomas H. 314, 341 

Randy's Meats 122 

Rationing Board, World War II 157 (illus.) 

Ravoux, Father Augustin 67, 68 

Ray, David H. 111 

Ray, Roy L. 111 

Reinke, Karl A. 341 

Remund family' 193, 194 

Reuvers, Anthony 75 

Rice, Henry M. 1, 7, 8 (illus.) 10 

Rice County (Agricultural agents) 29 

Rice County (Appointive officials) 178 

Rice County (Board of Commissioners) 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 27, 

175 (illus.) 176 (illus.) 178 

Rice County (Board of Supervisors) 10 

Rice County (Court House) 2 (illus.) 7 (illus.) 20 (illus.) 177 

(ill us.) 

Rice County (Engineers) 20 

Rice County ( 4-H Agents) 29 

Rice County (Home Economists) 29 

Rice County (Judges) 178 

Rice County (Parks) 27, 28 

Rice County (Register of Deeds) 5 

Rice County Activity Center 146 

Rice County District One Hospital 24, 162 

Rice County Historical Society 3, 20, 141, 188 

Rice County Historical Society, Presidents 142 

Rice County J oumal 181 

Rice County Law Enforcement Center 131, 175, 317 

Rice County Planning Advisory Commission 27 

Rice County Planning and Zone Commission 28 

Rice County Recreation and Parks Committee 27 

Rice County Rural Telephone Company 26 

Rice Lake 31 

Richland Township 1, 10, 52, 268 

Riedell, Henry 10 

Riedell, Mrs. Henry 33 

Ritter Beauty College 127 

Roberds, William 29 

Roberds Lake 29 

Robertshaw, Charles 139 

Robilliard, Charles M. (Dr.) 160 (illus.) 342 

Robilliard, Harold S. 342 

Robilliard, Walter H. (Dr.) 100 (illus.) 342 

Rock Island and LaSalle Railroad Company 16, 17 

Rodewald, Albert 342 

Roedecker, Ervin B. 342 

Roehrick, Charles 44, 45, 48 

Roehrick, Jacob E. 342 

Roell, Dorothy 76 

Roell, Mary E. 342 

Rogers, A.C. (Dr.) 82 

Ronayne, C.E. 81 

Rosary Society 142 

Rotary Club 147 

Rotary Youth Camp 147 

Roth, Edward D. 119 

Ruge, Peter F. 20 (illus.) 130 

Rumph, C.W. 160 (illus.) 

Rumph, Walter H. (Dr.) 160 (illus.) 

Rundell, Reuben 38 

Rustad, Arthur (Rev.) 65, 305 (illus.) 310 

Rustad, Elsie Meyer Kiel32 

Rustad, Orwin A. 29, 148, 310 

Ryan, Cora 24 

S and L stores 119 

Sacred Heart School 76 

St. James School 87 

St. John's United Church of Christ (Wheeling) 273 

St. Lawrence School 76 

St. Lucas Convalescent and Geriatric Care Center 165 

Saint Mary's Hall 42, 86, 321 (illus.) 327 

St. Olaf College 25, 185 (illus.) 181, 182 

St. Ores, Jan Bursik 138 

St. Patrick's Church 260 

St. Peter (Traverse-de-Sioux) Treaty 3 

Salem Evangelical Church 276 

Saufferer, Ethel153 

Saufferer, Lavema 153, 161 

Savage, Marion W. 15, 184 

Savioe, Hobson 343 

Sayles, Charles 20 (illus.) 112, 141, 343 

Schabert, (Rev.) 76 

Scheve, Clement (REv.) 75 

Schilling, William F. 187, 298 

Schilling Museum 187, 215 

Schmidtke, W.B. 206 (illus.) 

Schimmel, Fridalin 343 

Schimmel and Nelson piano firm 100 

Schjeldahl, G.T. 187 

Schneider, Katherine 174 

School for the Blind 80 

School for the Blind-Superintendents 81, 82 

School for the Deaf 79 

School for the Deaf-Superintendents 80 

Schreiber, Lyle J. 54 

Schreyer, Mel123 

Schreyer Motor Company 123 (illus.) 

Schroeder, Martin 129, 170, 343 

Schroeder, Paul113, 141, 343 

Schuehle, Chris 119 

Schuehle Drug Store 119 (illus.) 

Schultz, Henry 291 

Schulz, Henry (Rev.) 78 

Schwartz, Ronald A. 25 

Scott's Mill 173 

Scriverll, Hiram 179 

Seabury Divinity School 42, 84, 85 

Security National Bank 102 (illus.) 340 

355

Index 

Selective Service - Frist Contingent 173 

Sellner, Herbert W. 107, 108, 312 

Sellner, Marsin 108 

Sellner Manufacturing Company 107, 108 

Sertoma Club 147 

Severson, Edna 144 

Severson, Gladys 278 

Sexter, A. E. 343 

Sewage Plant 56 

Shady Acres Resort 29 

Shaft, Stewart 24, 101 

Shaft, Willis S. 105, 343 

Shaft Pierce Shoe Factory 96, 105, 118 

Shager, Ronald 344 

Shager Park 27 

Shank, Emma 200 (illus.) 

Shaske, Margaret165 

Shattuck School 84, 103 

Sheffield, M. B. 94, 98 

Sheffield, R. A. 60 

Sheffield Mills 32, 94, 323 

Sheridan, Emmett 344 

Sherman House 132 

Shields, Charles 8 

Shields, James (General) 7, 8, 9 (illus.) 10, 29, 71, 134, 263 

Shields, Katherine McConnel 8 

Shields, Martin M. 60, 75, 141, 344 

Shields, Mary Ann Carr 10 

Shields, Patrick 8 

Shields, Rose 30 

Shieldsville (Township) 10, 29 

Shieldsville (Village) 6, 10, 21, 29, 31, 52, 264 

Shimota, Ben J. 219, 224, 238 

Shoe Manufacturers 105 

Sibley, F. B. 5, 131 

Sibley, H. H. (General) Henry Hastings 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 

Siemers, Maynard M. 344 

Sime, H. P. 38, 42 

Sioux (Indian Tribe) 3, 179 

Sjulstad, Sigurd 289 

Skinner, G. E. 38 

Skinner, GeorgeS. 50 

Skluzacek, Frank A. 283 

Slevin Park 58 

Smisek, Vaclav 238 

Smith, Bruce 167 

Smith, Ella Healy 20 (illus.) 

Smith, Harry B. 344 

Smith, George L. 344 

Smith, Lucius A. 20 (illus.) 109, 110, 129, 157, 168, 310, 319 

Smith, P. A. (Dr.) 23, 56, 313 

Smith, Robert 5 

Smith, Stanley 23 

Smith, Theodore 5 

Snell, Charles E. 344 

Snesrud family 287 (illus.) 

Solor Lutheran Church 290 

Some, Henry E. 6 

Sommers, Myron 299 

Sorenson, Neil 24 

Sorgatz Furs 120 

Sorghum factory 198 

Southern Minnesota Lithographic firm 122 

Southern Minnesota Woodcraft 122 

Spitzack Farm Service, Inc., 23 

Sprague Lake 31, 188, 196 

Stabbert, Carl 344 

Star Tailors 126 

Starks, J. A. 1, 10 

State Bank of Faribault 109, 110, 111 (illus.) 

State Bank of Faribault officers 110, 111 

Stater, Isaac N. 10 

Steele, Franklin 8, 10 

Steele County 1, 21 

Steimann, Urban J. 129, 178, 311 

Steinbring, Yvonne 178 

Stepan, Blaze 237 

Steppan, Harriet Noyes 144 

Steppan, Joe 140 

Steppan, Martin 140 

Steppan, Wesley 140 

Stevenson, Frank W. (Dr.) 161 

Stewart, Alexander 179 

Stone, Peter M. 52 

Storch, Frank F. (Sr.) 345 

Storer, Andrew 1, 10, 73, 189, 212 

Storhaug, Arthur 20, 178 

Story Family 269 

Straight River 2, 3, 4, 16, 21, 341 (illus.) 

Straight River Mills 3 

Strandemo, Gilbert E. 344 

Stransky, William A. 178 

Straub, B. F. 38 

Strong, James (Rev.) 180 

Studer, Donald J. (Dr.) 162 

Stump Restaurant 29 

Sun Theater 136 

Sundet, A. 0. (Senator) 24, 129, 306 

Svaldi, Vincent 82 

Svien, Velgjir N. 345 

Swanberg, Lucille D. 345 

Sweet Adelines 318 

Taopi (Dacotah Indian Chief) 345 

Taylor, E. F. 10 

Taylor, Martin 285 

Taylor, Tom 129, 178 

Teisberg, Oskar 138, 139 

Tenod (Ghost Town) 300 

Teske, Jules 23 

Theopold, F. A. 52, 95 

Theopold, H. C. 60 

Theopold, Mrs. H. C. 141, 324 

Theopold Building 25, 102 

Thompson, George W. 345 

Thompson, John (Snowshoe) 246 

Thompson, John W. 254 

Thompson, Laurence 48 

Thorp, William 2, 10 

"Tilt-a-Whirl" 107 

Timm's Trucking Service 214 (illus.) 

Tischler Shoes 120 

Tomlinson, Donald (Rev.) 75 

Tousignant, Laura 76 

Tower, George W. 6, 38 

Townsend, William P. 52 

Traeger, Carl A. (Dr.) 158, 159 (illus.) 331, 345 

Traveler's Club 32 

Travis Farm 3, 4 

Treasure Cave Blue Cheese 117, 328 

Trenda, James 20 (illus.) 

Trinity Lutheran School 78 

Tripp, Page 345 

Tri-State Telephone and Telegraph Company 26 

Trondhjem Lutheran Church 226, 294 

356

l 

Trondjhem village 293 

Tschann, Frederic (Rev.) 75, 76, 306 (illus.) 

Tucker, Harriet 80 

Turkey processing 122 

Turner, C. W. 134 

'Twin Cities Milk Producers Association 298 

Twin Lakes 31 

Tzakis, Peter 346 

Ulvenes, Mrs. Howard 31 

Underdahl family 270 

Union Lake 31 

United Fund 154 

United Parcel 122 

Vail, Isaac 312 

Valek, Lawrence 11, 175, 176 (illus.) 177 

Valley Grove Lutheran Church 275 

Van Elsen, Marie 312 

Van Horn farm 23 

Van Kirk, Wayne, Mrs. 144 

Van Leent, John (Rev.) 68, 76 

Van Sann, John J. 52 

Vance, Joseph E. 81 

Vanderpool, C.M. 346 

Vaughan, B. 10 

Vaux, Harold 312 

Venero, Ervin 44, 45 

Veseli (Village) 237 (illus.) 238, 239, 240, 241 (illus.) 284 

Vevle, Menus R. 81 

V.F.W. (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Auxiliary 150 

Vietnam Conflict 35 

Vikla Brothers 284 

Village Theater 136 

Voegel, Henry 23, 107, 346 

Voegel Ice Cream Company 107, 261 

Voegele, Frank Joseph (family) 260 

Vogelsberg, Anthony J. 104, 105 (ill us.) 

Vogelsberg, Mrs. A.J. 105 

Vogelsberg, Francis 104, 105 

Vogelsberg, John 76 · 

Vogelsberg, Robert 104, 105 

Vogelsberg, Thomas 104, 105 

Voxland, Melvin 82 

WCAL 186 

W. Roby Allen School 88 

Walcott (township) 1, 10, 249, 250, 251, 252 

Walcott (Village) 6, 251 

Walcott Mills 94, 98, 251, 323 

Wall, Lillian 137 

Wall, S.P. 51 

Walrod, Michael240 

Wapacoota Indians 179 

Warmington Repair Shop 120 (illus.) 

Warren, Alice 303 

Warren, Frank S. (Dr.) 303 

Warsaw (Township) 1, 10, 257 

Warsaw (Village) 6 

Washoe family 269 

Waseca County 1 

Waterville (Village) 3, 18 

Watts, Lambert 32, Martha 32 

Wearwell Garment Factory 120 

Weaver, Paul H. (Dr.) 141, 161 

Weber, Barney 24 

Webster, Ferris 285 

Webster, S. 2, 10 

Webster (Township) 10, 285 

Index 

357 

Webster (Village) 286 (illus.) 

Webster Cooperative 292 

Weinberger, Lawrence 205 (illus.) 

Weinberger Lake 31 

Welcome Wagon Club 153 

Wells, James 5, 247 

Wells, Mark 4, 5 

Wells, William 11, 175 (illus.) 176 (illus.) 

Wells (Township) 1, 10, 24, 29, 247, 248 

Wells Lake 3, 31 

Wendt, Lawrence 128 

West, Margaret 346 

Westerman Lumber Company 121, 219 

Weston, Donna I (Clements) 346 

Whapekute Indians 179 

Wheatland (Township) 10, 52, 237, 281 

Wheatland (Village) 6, 31, 284 

Wheatland Post Office 282 (illus.) 

Whaton, C.A. 180, 181 

Wheeler, Henry 31 

Wheeling (Township) 10, 32, 228, 270 

Wheeling Centennial Farms 273 

Wheeling Mutual Fire Insurance Company 276 

Whipple, Cornelia 64, 83 

Whipple, Evangeline Simpson 32, 64 

Whipple, Henry Benjamin (Bishop) 3, 10, 82, 111, 152, 180 

Whipple Home 311 (illus.) 

White, Charles E. 135 

White Sands Pool 126, 170 

Whitney, Harry E. (Dr.) 29, 32 

Widman, Roy 346 

Wieneke, Eugene 23, 37, 38 (illus.) 

Wiese, Ben Shoe Shop 213 (illus.) 

Wilby family 218, 221, 224 

Wilderness Park 28 

Wilking, Alexander 8 

Wilkowske, Frank 19, 20 (illus.) 

Wilkowski, Hardware Store 202 (illus.) 213 

Williams, Harry 317 

Williams, J.N. 19 

Willing, Lake 31 

Wilson Center 89 J 

Windt, Jan Workma 138 

Winkley, Farnham H\246 

Winkley Stables 31 \ 

Winter, James A. 38 

Winter Foundry 98, 100 

Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad 17, 18 

Witte, Frederick, family 260 

Wolf, Gerald 178 

Wolf Creek 30 

Wolfe, Frank W. 346 

Women's suffrage 186 

Wood, Charles 1 

Wood, George W. 157 

Woodman, Isaac 1, 5, 10 

Wood's Home 164 

Woolworth Store 111 

World War I 35, 94, 186 

World War II 35, 54, 94 

Wyman, William 31 

YMCA 143 

YMCA (Northfield) 183 

Zelle, Edgar F. 23 

Ziegler, William H. 11 (illus.) 

Zimmerman, Charles 11 (illus.) 

Zoubek, Frank (Rev.) 147

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Then & Now: A History of Rice County, Faribault & Communities

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