Kasson Mantorville High School - Komet Yearbook (Kasson, MN)

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■ W' -- ■ I 'i i ifigi W0m H, mkt i s hSP'? vy ■'! i '■ ff Ft ' i T HUBBELL HOU: »m-r v of M. S. K.t —AT THE— Court ZIouso Hall, in Mantorvlllo, —ON— Tl iii‘gcUiy Kvcinng, ] ovcniber 23, 1833. Floor Managers: N. A.Crittenden, F.N. Adams, G.D. Shlutes. w Music by the Rochester Cornet Band. Supper at Hubbell House. Tickets, §2.00. J. F. WRIGHT, Proprietor. A Court House grounds for use as an office for the Registrar of Deeds. The building was never erected. 1871 May. The County Board raised the price of liquor license from $25 to $ 100. A few months later it was reduced to $25 again. September. The Court House was finished at a total cost of $15,000. October 13. The Mantorville Express of this date published the following telegra- phic news of the great Chicago fire: “Chi- cago is in ashes. Miles of business streets are turned into a smoking solitude. Over two thousand lives lost. Financial losses are estimated at over $500,000,000. Large quantities of shipping burned. 1872 January 22. The Mantorville High School opened in the two-story stone building. Prof. B.F. Jenness was principal. March 4. The number of children of school age in Dodge County at this time was 3,241. June 21. The current price for wool in the Mantorville market was 55 cents per pound. 1873 June 23. Capt William McMicken, of Man- torville, was appointed Surveyor General for Washington Territory by President U.S. Grant. Twenty-four miles from north to south and 18 miles wide, Dodge County is situ- ated in the southeastern part of the State of Minnesota. An early account says: The surface of the county in the northern and central parts is high and rolling, and well drained, being as well suited for grain raising as any land in the state; while the southern part of the county is rather flat and wet, and admirably adapted to grazing and stock raising. The soil is rich, dark loam, varying in depth from two to five feet, and yields large crops.. .There is con- siderable timber in the northern part of the county ... the southern townships are desti- ned to become the most fertile part in time. Dodge County has sand and rock for building purposes in plentiful amounts. The stratum of rock concealed in some of the townships in pioneer days lay open in such other town- ships as Wasioja, Canisteo, Milton and Man- torville. The Mantorville quarries have been of easy access, famed for their quality, and once were a considerable enterprise when large shipments were made to cities and other points of outside use. This stone was favored for its building and trimming qualities, was found in layers up to three feet thick and and any dimension desired. 1874 August 4. The First National Bank of Kasson was organized with a capital of $50,000. The officers were David Anthony, pres; E.E. Fairchild, cashr. Upon the death of David Anthony in 1877 Tcunis S. Slingerland suc- ceeded to the presidency and continued in that capacity until this bank was succeeded by the National Bank of Kasson in 1894, of which he was also chosen president. August 7. President Grant appointed Peter Mantor to the position of Registrar of the U.S. Land Office at Bismarck, Dakota Territory. September 11. Dr. Josiah R. Dartt, the first practicing physician to settle in Dodge Coun- ty, died at Mantorville, aged 50 years. Twelve hundred persons attended his funeral, which was held under the auspices of Mantorville Lodge No. 11, A.F. and A.M. 1875 March 9. The question of granting licenses to sell intoxicating liquors in Mantorville town- ship outside of the village was submitted to the people of the township and defeated by a vote of 138 to 118. 1876 March 6. Pioneers of Dodge County organiz- ed the Old Settlers Association. March 31. Curtis Ostrander published the first map of Dodge County. May 14. A cloud burst occurred at Mantor- villc, raising the Zumbro River to unprece- dented height, causing it to break through the dam and dyke, and inflicting much dam- age to roads, bridges and private property contiguous to the river. July 4. The Centennial celebration was held at Mantorville under the auspices of the Old Settlers’ Association. The attendance was one of the largest ever seen in the county, and though the exercises were somewhat long, all passed off without a jar, and it is seldom that so large a crowd holds together so well or gives such earnest heed to all that is said and done. Rev. Chas. Shedd of Waseca, formerly of Sacramento, one of the earliest pastors in the county and founder of three of its churches, acted as chaplain, Gen. Edgerton read the Declaration, and Miles F. Bancroft, eldest son of the pioneer editor of the county, 11

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closing the new Court House and to com- mence the inside work on the same. February 27. The total number of en- listed men from Dodge County during the War of the Rebellion was as follows: From Mantorville, 105; Wasioja, 104; Concord, 59; Milton, 58; Ashland, 40; Claremont, 38;Canisteo, 16; Ellington, 15; Ripley, 10; Vernon, 6; total, 451. April 1. Upon the death of her husband, Mrs. C.E.F. Bancroft took charge of the Mantorville Express. She was the only lady editor in the state. She successfully conducted the paper for upwards of three years. May 6. The Presbyterian Church at Kas- son was organized by the Rev. Sheldon Jackson and Elder Ncwhall, of Ashland Township. There were but three members -all females. The church was erected in 1867. July 21. The Baptist Church at Kasson was organized with a membership of eleven. The Rev. E. Wcstcott, pastor. The church was erected in 1875, and dedi- cated the first Sunday in March that year. October. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at Kasson was organized by the Rev. P.S. Ruth, rector. 1867 January 2. The County Board made an appropriation of an additional $ 1,000, to be used in the Court House building ex- penditures. March 11. It was voted by the commis- sioners to appropriate $1,007.61 with which to pay the indebtedness incurred in building the Court House, and C.S. Knceland and E.K. Proper were appointed a committee to expend $1,00.00 more toward finishing said building, provided said amount could be borrowed at 12 per cent. April 30. The first teacher’s institute in the county was held in Mantorville. Twenty-nine persons were present. May 3. The Dodge County Republican, a weekly newspaper, was established at Kasson by U.B. Shaver, editor and pro- prietor. The village of Kasson is located about six miles of the geographical center of Dodge County. It is surrounded by a beautiful and expansive prairie, gently rolling, checkered with dense groves and beauti- ful streams of pure water, adding beauty to the landscape and value to the county. It now contains of population of close to 400, and is rapidly increasing in size, wealth, and commercial importance. Choice farming lands can be obtained in the immediate neighborhood at reason- able prices. Village lots, though rising in value are not held at exorbitant prices. This is the shopping center for the county. It has a larger trade than any other town. $24,230.00 was used and 31 buildings were erected in Kasson-all residences but four. During the same year, a capital of $98,000.00 was employed in the mer- cantile, farm machinery and miscellane- ous branches of trade. The amount of wheat shipped during the year from Kas- son “foots up” on the railroad books to 250,000 bushels. Up to this time, Kasson never had a resident physician, but before the close of the year, a doctor, dentist, lawyer and printer arrived and the first drugstore opened. 1869 Kasson had a population of 800,of which 174 were between the ages of 5-20. There were the usual stores and dwellings, as well as two millinery shops, four hotels, three blacksmith shops, one plow, seeder and cultivator manufacturing company, three boot and shoe making establish- ments, one photo gallery, four whiskey saloons, one church (Presbyterian), two oyster saloons, one marble cutter, and a sash and door factory. March 22. A petition was presented to the County Commissioners and argued for the petitioners by R.A. Jones and CoL Stearns, of Rochester, and adversely by Messrs. S.L. Pierce, Samuel Lord, and Robert Taylor, asking for a division of Mantorville Township. The petition was granted, and the township of Kasson was formed, comprising Sections 23, 24, the south half of Sections 13 and 14, and the south one-third of the original township. An election was held and officers for the new town chosen, but the Supreme Court de- clared the action of the County Board r unconstitutional. July 30. The current price of No. 1 wheat at Kasson was $1.03 per bushel; barley, 80 per bushel. 1870 January 1. S.T. Jones was appointed to the office of County Superintendent of Schools. January 7. Five hundred dollars was ap- propriated to be used in finishing the rooms in the Court House. A resolution was also passed by the County Board au- thorizing the county officials to furnish the wood for their own offices. February 24. An act incorporating the Village of Kasson was approved. The ter- ritory embraced within the incorporated village covered one and one-half miles, the east half of section 32 and all of 33. In accordance with the act, an election was held under the supervision of Jona- thon Owen, J.H. Kasson, and John E. Bunker, on the first Monday in April, 1870. W.L. Dibble was elected president; A. Bryan, William Wheeler and Jacob Leut- hold, trustees; Libbens White, recorder. April 3. Two young ladies, Eliza Smith and Lucy Irish, of Mantorville were drowned in the river at that place by the overturning of a row boat in charge of S.W. Hickok. May 31. Special town meeting was held at the Court House in Mantorville and by a vote of 334 to 123 a proposition carried to issue 7% coupon bonds to the amount of $50,000 as a bonus to the Dubuque St Paul Railroad Company to build a pro- posed road through Mantorville. The com- pany failed to carry its project through. June 15. Camelia, aged eleven years, daugh- ter of A.R. Cohoon, of Mantorville, was killed in a runaway horse accident. June 17. The Grinnell Wilbur Drug Store at Mantorville burned with a loss of $6,000. June 30. The population of Mantorville village was 622, Kasson 515, Dodge County 8,599. September 7. The County Board voted to erect a suitable stone building on the 10

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as a poet of the day, furnished a poem entitled “Centennial Ode”. September 1. A time lock, costing $400, was installed on the safe of the First Na- tional Bank at Kasson. 1877 February 22. The “Blue Glass Fad” made its appearance in Dodge County. The pro- moters of the theory advanced the idea that invalids, by remaining in a room light- ed by blue glass windows, would speedily be cured of the diseases of which they were afflicted. Many residences in the county were equipped with this supposed curative appliance. May 4. Saloon licenses were advanced to $65 instead of $45, the generally prevail- ing amount required at that time. July 22. The farmers of Dodge County commenced the harvesting of a wheat crop that broke the record of all former years for quantity and quality. This bountiful harvest, however, was not an unmixed blessing, as many farmers, in- fluenced by the glowing prospects of fu- ture prosperity,launched into enterprises which ennumbered them with debts se- cured by mortgages on their lands. The crops of the immediate succeeding years being poor, these debts could not be dis- charged, and many homes were lost as a consequence. The County Commissioners authorized a bounty of 15 each on poc- ket gophers killed in the county. A short- hand writer was appointed by Judge Lord to report the proceedings of the District Court.The first windmill in Vernon Town- ship was invented and built by K.K. Thoe. 1878 The DODGE COUNTY REPUBLICAN reports: Two passenger trains each way daily now. Prairie schooners pass through the village almost every day enroute for western Minnesota and Dakota. Last Saturday we noticed eight covered wagons western bound. 1879 1879. By this time a definite denomina- tional picture could be seen in the county. There were then twelve churches. The more than 1700 church members belong- ed to following denominations, in order of membership totals: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Methodist Episcopal, Congrega- tional, Christian (Disciples of Christ), Presbyterian, Evangelical, Baptists, Pro- testant Episcopal. August. A new brick school house, cost- ing $15,000 was erected at Kasson. 1880 February 12. The Hon. Samuel Lord, Sr., Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of Minn, died at his home in Mantorville, age 49 years. His great ability as a jurist was generally acknowledged by the bench and bar throughout the state. July 12. Elbert, youngest son of Teunis Slingerland, was drowned while bathing in the Zumbro River near Sacramento village. Dr. Huntley, President of Law- rence University, from which the deceased had but recently graduated, officiated at the funeral. The whole class of which the deceased was a member was in attendance. 1881 January 1. The Federal census bulletins gave Dodge County a population of 11,344, divided as follows: as to sex, males, 5,947; females, 5,397. As to birth, natives, 8,867; foreign, 2,657. As to color, white, 11,337; colored, 7. March. Gen. A.J. Edgerton, of Mantorville, was appointed U.S. Senator by Governor Pillsbury, to fill the vacancy caused by William Windom’s appointment as Sec. of the Treasury, in the cabinet of President Garfield. April 4. The village of Mantorville held its first election under the amended charter, which allowed the question of granting liquor licenses to be voted upon annually. The result was a majority of sixty-nine in favor of granting license. August 2. The Kasson post office was burglarized by unknown robbers, who secured $3000.00 in currency and $500. in stamps. September 19. All the newspapers of Dodge County were dressed in mourning and devoted considerable space to the an- nouncement of the death of President Garfield. October 28. Marcellus Edison suddenly emigrated from this county, leaving his many friends and creditors behind him to mourn his absence. November 1. HA. Smith and C.L. Lorraine succeeded J.S. Shuck in the ownership and management of the Mantorville Ex- press. 1882 April 14. The construction of a new iron bridge across the Zumbro River, at Mantor- ville, was commenced. May 26. The School Board of Kasson awarded the contract for rebuilding the schoolhouse, lately gutted by fire, to Noonan Stallwag- ner, of Winona. 1883 July 21. A cyclone passed through this coun- ty, killing William Duntlcy,near Mantorville, severely injuring his wife, and destroying several thousand dollars worth of buildings and livestock. The court house was partially unroofed. August 21. At about 5 o’clock p.m. just a month after the above mentioned cyclone had created its havoc, a second cyclone, much more destructive than the first, passed through the townships of West field, Hayfield, Vernon, Ashland, and Canisteo. It seems to have started on Section 12, of Westfield Town- ship, and, rapidly increasing in violence, sped eastward, toward Rochester, Minn., where it practically destroyed that city. Farm build- ings, trees and fences went down before its onward sweep like grain before the reaper’s blade. Herds of cattle and other livestock, grain in the shock, and, in fact, everything movable or inanimate, were hurled through the air by the infuriated elements, and drop- ped to earth again far from their owner’s con- fines. Six lives were lost to this storm mon- ster in Dodge County, and so quickly was their taking off, that relatives with them at the time, could not determine the moment nor the method of their departure to the great beyond. The writer and a friend were at the farm of E.P. Candee, on Section 7, of Canis- teo Township, and were eye-witness to many of the incidents noted. The killed were Mrs. F. Helmbrecht, aged seventy years; Mrs. Ole Molde, aged eighty-two years; Mrs. Chris Ol- son and babe; Ole Johnson and Mrs. Knute Giristopherson. Many others were more or less seriously injured, and the property loss, in this county, was estimated at $100,000. The time consumed by the cyclone in passing through this county was about twenty minutes, and such a scene of death and destruction as lay in its track was never witnessed before in this region. 1884 In regards the geographical position of Dodge County is peculiarly interesting. In the first place it occupies a nearly central position in the triangle formed by the Iowa line, the Mississippi and the Minnesota Rivers, and which by its wonderful fertility and produc- tiveness, in the first quarter of a century of the history of the State, did more than all others to give Minnesota its worldwide fame as one of the great wheat graineries of human race. In the second place, Dodge County is, in a small way,a “Mother of Rivers”-the water shed for a large part of the interior of the above mentioned triangle. The Zumbro, the Root and the Cedar Rivers have their sources 12