Nobles County MN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XV Worthington's Enterprises 1908
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Book Title: An Illustrated History Of Nobles County

CHAPTER XV.



WORTHINGTON'S ENTERPRISES.





THE SCHOOLS.



  One of the very first institutions to be provided after the founding of a town

is the public school. While Worthington was founded in the fall of 1871, the

population during the first winter was so small (and included no children) that

no steps were taken to provide for a school. With the rush of settlers in the

spring and summer of 1872, however, the matter of providing a school became a

live issue.



  While preparations were being made to organize a public school a private one

was started in the summer by Mrs. M. B. Soule, who gave instruction to about

twenty students for a few weeks. Several public meetings were held during the

summer months, at which plans for the organization were talked over, and it

seemed to be the general desire that the new town should make liberal provisions

for its school. [1]



  A district school, No. 5, was organized, but it was decided to postpone the

erection of a building. In December, 1872, Worthington's first public school was

opened, and it continued four months. Seventy-five pupils attended, enrolled in

two grades. Major T. C. Bell was the principal and taught the higher grade; Miss

Kate Chaney (later Mrs. J. A. Town) was the teacher of the lower grade. The

school was maintained during the summer months and was attended by about forty

students. Miss Clara Horton was the teacher. In November, 1873, the school

opened again under C. C. Luckey and Mrs. Jenkins and continued about five

months, with an attendance of between seventy-five and eighty students.



  From the first it had been the desire and intention of the founders of the

town and leading citizens to establish a school of higher learning. On December

1, 1873, the organization of the Worthington Seminary association was perfected,

the object of which was "to establish a seminary of learning for the education

of persons of both sexes in science, languages, arts and useful and polite

literature." The first board of directors, chosen at the time of the

organization, was composed of Rev. B. H. Crever, R, F. Humiston, C. Z. Sutton,

Rev. J. W. Lewis, G. Anderson, Allen Chaney, H. D. Humiston, of Worthington;

Rev. J. E. Fitch, of Windom; Rev. Bronson, of Luverne; Rev. H. Webb, of Saint

Peter; Levi Shell, of Sibley. The association was incorporated on December 8,

[2] and it was decided to ask the Minnesota conference of the Methodist church

to assume the relation of patron, which was done. The seminary was established

and had an intermittant existence of a few years. Had it not been for the

disastrous times that came upon the country there can be no doubt that the

institution would have become a prosperous school.



  During the summer of 1874 the public school was again maintained and was

attended by sixty or seventy pupils. Mrs. Jenkins and Miss Ary Grant were the

instructors. Up to this time the schools had been maintained under the ordinary

district organization, but in the summer of 1874 the residents decided to adopt

the independent district plan, which had been provided for by the legislature of

1872. A petition was circulated, asking the electors to assemble at the school

room on August 12 to vote for or against the adoption of the new plan. [3] At

the election sixteen votes were cast in favor of the change and four against it.

On August 25 a board of six directors was chosen, as follows: R. F. Humiston, I.

N. Sater, Peter Thompson, C. Z. Sutton, M. B. Soule and J. A. Town. At the first

meeting of the board Mr. Humiston was chosen president; Mr. Thompson, treasurer;

and Mr. Town, clerk. The school under the new arrangement opened in October with

three departments and with 160 pupils in attendance. Miss Barbara Cosier was

principal and George M. Plumb and Miss Phila Rowell were assistants.



  For several years after the establishment of the school there was no public

school building, and it had been conducted in rented buildings, part of the time

at least in the famous Miller hall. The matter of erecting a building was taken

up in 1875, and at a special meeting of the electors on April 27 it was decided

to erect a school house at a cost of not more than $5,000. Specifications were

prepared and bids called for. A. C. Robinson was the only bidder, and he was

awarded the contract on August 25, on a bid of $4,888. By a vote of 20 to 5

bonds were voted August 23. Six thousand dollars worth of bonds were authorized,

but only, ^.YQ thousand dollars worth were issued. Mr. Robinson erected the

hexagonal building, which was in commission for so many years, and during the

first week in January, 1876, it was turned over to the school district, the

event being accompanied by a public demonstration. The block of land upon which

the school building was erected, and which is still used for school purposes,

was donated to the village of Worthington in an early day by the Sioux City &

St. Paul Railroad company and was later turned over to the school district, quit

claim deeds having been given to the school district early in 1882 by both the

village and the railroad company.



  Until the fall of 1881 the Worthington schools had been simply graded schools.

Application was made in October for state aid to the amount of $400, under a

legislative act for the encouragement of higher education, and on November 12

the organization in accordance with the regulations of the state high school

board was perfected. Since that date an excellent high school has been

maintained, from which have been graduated 181 pupils. [4] An alumni association

was formed in 1894, which has since held annual meetings.



  The old hexagonal school building was in service until 1889. At a school

meeting held August 20, 1888, it was decided, by a vote of 19 to 0, to erect a

new school building. That the cost thereof should not be less than $20,000 was

caried by a vote of 32 to 4 and was later made unanimous. The board of education

was also authorized to issue bonds for not less than the same amount, and

preparations for the construction of a suitable building were put under way.



  Architect T. D. Allen, of Minneapolis, furnished the plans, and the contract

for its construction was let to S. Hackett & Son, of South Dakota, December 4,

1888, on a bid of $25,990, not including the heating plant, which cost, $3,100.

Bonds to the amount of thirty thousand dollars were sold. April 3, 1889: the

corner stone was laid with ceremonies June 8, and the new building was accepted

October 25, 1889. The handsome structure has .been in use since. Every available

part of the building is in use and the schools are overcrowded. In the summer of

1907 bonds were voted to build additional school room, but a contest was

started, and it was found that the election was illegally held.



  From the little private school of twenty students in 1872 the Worthington

schools have advanced until today they rank among the best of the state. In the

high school are enrolled 117 students; in the graded schools, conducted by a

corps of thirteen teachers, are enrolled 555 pupils.



WORTHINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.



  During its history of thirty-seven years Worthington has not had a disastrous

conflagration. On three or four occasions fires have gained some headway, but

have generally been confined to the building in which they originated. The loss

at any one fire has never been over a few thousand dollars, and the total losses

from the fiery fiend have been as small as any town of the size and age in the

state. In the early days this was due more to luck than because of any organized

fire protection. After the water works system was installed, and the Worthington

fire department came into existence, the immunity was due to that efficient body

of fire fighters.



  Nearly every town and village takes more or less pride in its fire department,

and when writing of them it is customary to search a book of synonyms for

high-flown adjectives to properly describe the work of the department and the

heroism of the fire fighters. Sometimes such encomiums are deserved, and

sometimes they are not. It is because of this custom among newspaper writers to

write only pleasing things of local institutions and men, that frequently

sincere praise is taken with a degree of allowance. Let it not be so with regard

to the Worthington fire department. I desire to state that, from a personal

knowledge of the work of the department from the time of its founding, I know it

to be an exceptionally capable organization. Thoroughly organized and drilled,

it has always been able to control any situation that has confronted it. Scores

of times has the department been called upon to fight the "lurid leveler," and

on every occasion has it been victorious. It has fought fire in a systematic

way, and its work has been equalled by but few volunteer departments.



  At an early day steps were taken to provide fire protection. For several years

during its early history Worthington's buildings were constructed entirely of

wood. The danger from fire was realized, and in June, 1874, the first steps to

minimize the danger were taken. The village council provided for the building of

three cisterns on the court-house square, two on Tenth street, at the

intersection with Third and Fourth avenues, and one on Ninth street, where it

intersects with Third avenue. The cost of these cisterns was not to be over $36

each. Each was to be filled with water and kept so, that in case of fire a

supply would be always on hand. A bucket brigade was organized, but no cause

arising to give it employment, it soon went out of existence.



  The council again bestirred itself in December, 1875, when action was taken

toward providing means of fighting fire. The business men also took a hand, and

employed H. McMillen to act as night fire patrol. The cisterns, which had been

out of use for some time, were filled with water. A fire house, 24x30 feet, was

erected On the court house square, in which were kept a few ladders and buckets.

A wagon, upon which were barrels filled with brine, was for a time kept at the

fire house, to be used in case of fire. Of course the water froze in the winter

time, and the town would have been at the mercy of the flames had serious

conflagrations started. The futility of the fire fighting apparatus, as it was

in the early days, is shown by the result of the Miller hall fire in 1878, when

no headway could be made in controlling the fire.



  With this primative fire fighting apparatus the people of Worthington fought

their fires for many years. There was no regularly organized company, but the

buckets and ladders were kept on hand, and when a fire broke out they were at

the service of those who wished to use them. In the spring of 1889 an effort was

made to secure better fire protection. A meeting was called for March 9 to

consider ways and means, but no definite action was taken, and the village was

without adequate protection until 1891.



  When the water works system was under construction, during the year i891,

preparations were made for providing adequate fire protection. The village

council ordered 700 feet of hose, a hose cart and a hook and ladder truck, at an

expense of $855. It then asked the citizens to organize a volunteer fire

department, and late in August the Worthington fire department came into

existence with 38 active members [5] and the following officers: Jas. Manning,

chief; Frank Glasgow, assistant chief; H. C. Crawford, secretary; C. W. Smith,

foreman hose department; Jas. Mackay, assistant foreman hose department; M. A.

Nichols, foreman hook and ladder department; J. C. Durfee, assistant foreman

hook and ladder department.



  Shortly after its organization the Worthington fire department became a member

of the Columbian Inter-state Fireman association, an organization comprising

departments in parts of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. For several years the

Worthington department was represented by a team at the annual tournaments, and

distinguished itself by winning more prizes than any other team in the
organization.



  For many years the department was purely volunteer, and received no aid from

the village. Now the members receive nominal fees for attending meetings and

fighting fires. In the fall of 1906 the department gave $2,000 toward the

erection of the handsome city hall and fire station, which is now its home. The

total cost of the building was about $7,000. Elegant quarters, with bath and all

modern conveniences, have been fitted up, and the Worthington fire department

now has as fine a home- as any volunteer department in the state of Minnesota.



  Following have been the principal officers of the department since the

organization:



  1892--Frank Glasgow, chief; Robert Bibby, assistant; A. H. Palm, secretary; M.

P. Mann, treasurer.



  1893-H. C. Crawford, chief; R. H. Bibby, assistant; A. H. Palm, secretary; M.

P. Mann, treasurer.



  1894-A.- H. Palm, chief; Jas. Mackay, assistant; Vere Hurlbert, secretary; C.

H. Babcock, treasurer.



  1895-A. H. Palm, chief; R. H. Bibby, assistant; Harry S. Hobson, secretary;

Jas. S. Ramage, treasurer.



  1896-J. C. Durfee, chief; W. E. Madison, assistant; Harry S. Hobson,

secretary; Jas. S. Ramage, treasurer.



  1897-R. P. Free, chief; C. H. Babcock, assistant; Loren Town, secretary; Jas.

S. Ramage, treasurer.



  1898-Jas. Mackay, chief; A. L. Johnson, assistant; Harry S. Hobson, secretary;

Jas. S. Ramage, treasurer.



  1899-Jas. Mackay, chief; Harry S. Hobson, assistant; Arthur P. Rose,

secretary; A. R. Albertus, treasurer.



  1900--Jas. Mackay, chief; Harry S. Hobson, assistant; A. W. Fagerstrom,

secretary; A. R. Albertus, treasurer.



  1901-Jas. Mackay, chief; Harry S. Hobson, assistant; A. W. Fagerstrom,

secretary; A. R. Albertus, treasurer.



  1902-Jas, Mackay, chief; W. E. Madison, assistant; A. W. Fagerstrom,

secretary; A. R. Albertus, treasurer.



  1903, 1904 and 1905-Same as in 1902.



  1906-W. G. Ramage, chief; W. I. Humiston, assistant; A. W. Fagerstrom,

secretary; A. R. Albertus, treasurer.



  1907-W. G. Ramage, chief; W. I. Humiston and T. A. Palmer, assistants; A. W.

Fagerstrom, secretary; A. R. Albertus, treasurer.



MILITIA COMPANY.



  One of the institutions in which the people of Worthington take pride is the

militia company-company F, of the Second infantry M. N. G.-commanded by Captain

Stelle S. Smith.



  The preliminary steps towards organization were taken in the fall of 1905,

when those interested met and took the first steps necessary to bring about the

admission of a company to the Minnesota national guard. The village council, by

resolution of October 13, 1905, bound itself to furnish an armory building,

equip, light, heat and maintain the same. The company was quickly recruited, and

on November 22 Adjutant General Fred B. Wood issued special order No. 60,

directing Col. Charles A. Van Duzee, of the Third infantry, to muster in the

Worthington company on November 28. The company was mustered in as directed with

the following commissioned officers: Anton Schaeffer, of Rushmore, captain;

Stelle S. Smith, of Worthington, first lieutenant; Charles B. Ward, of

Worthington, second lieutenant. It was designated company F, of the Third

infantry, of which Col. Van Duzee was the commanding officer.



  Following were the enlisted members at the date of muster-in: Oscar B. Blood,

first sergeant; [6] Arthur Albertus, quartermaster sergeant; Ira P. Fox, Elmer

H. Bassett, Morrill Ramage, J. D. Matteson, sergeants; Robert Smith, Edward

Lawton, W. J. Dodge, Clyde S. Jones, Orville Tupper, J. M. Barron, corporals;

Carl A. Anderson, Charles Ashbaugh, David Bear, Arba S. Bedford, Earl Black,

Milton J. Black, Guy M. Borst, Bert B. Buck, Elmer Carlson, Charles M. Crandall,

George E. Cunningham, Fred J. Deuth, Joseph P. Derlin, Vergil Fellows, John F.

Glasgow, Fred O. Green, Charles H. Haggard, Albert E. Hayward, Ray Humiston,

Outhwaite Kumler, Sterling Lawton, Charles Loveless, Earl McBride, James McGee,

Bert Malmquist, Frank M. Manson, James G. Mott, Henry A. Nelson, Fred Wetter,

Arthur Nieman, Robert Oberman, Lloyd Patterson, John H. Peterson, Walter Pfeil,

Warren A. Rose, Thomas Rowe, John Seline, Orval W. Tupper, Henry M. Twitchell,

Claude White, Gould Wilson.



  At the request of the company, on December 9, 1907, Adjutant General Fred B.

Wood transferred the company from the Third regiment to the Second, the company

letter remaining the same, and it has since been a company of the Second regiment.



  Captain Anton Schaeffer resigned January 31, 1908, and on February 25 an

election was held to select a captain and to fill other vacancies. First

Lieutenant Stelle S. Smith was elected captain; C. B. Ward, first lieutenant;

Oscar F. Blood, second lieutenant. The annual inspections show the company to be

among the best in the state service. It attends the camps each year and has an

unexcelled rifle team.



BANKS.



  In Worthington are three banking institutions, one state and two national

banks. These are the State Bank of Worthington, Worthington National Bank and

Citizens National Bank.



STATE BANK OF WORTHINGTON.



  The oldest bank in Nobles county is the State Bank of Worthington, which was

founded as a private bank under the name Bank of Worthington by Elihu Smith and

his son, A. M. Smith, in 1875. The former was president of the bank; the latter

cashier. The Smiths sold the bank to Thos. H. Parsons July 16, 1881, at which

time C. T. Pope was installed as cashier. Mr. Parsons sold his interest in the

institution April 1, 1883, to Geo. D. Dayton, who operated it as a private bank

in connection with the Minnesota Loan & Investment company. Mr. Dayton erected

the brick block at the corner of Tenth street and Third avenue, which has since

been the home of the bank, in 1885.



  In 1893 Mr. Dayton incorporated the institution as a state bank, capital stock

$50,000, under the old name. In June, 1900, the name was changed from Bank of

Worthington to State Bank of Worthington. Mr. Dayton disposed of his interests

in August, 1898, when the present management took charge. The officers now are

Geo. O. Moore, president; Geo. W. Wilson, vice president; Ned Jones, cashier.



WORTHINGTON NATIONAL BANK.



  This institution is better known under the name of Nobles County Bank, as it

was only during the present year that the reorganization which made it a

national bank took place.



  The Nobles County Bank was organized as a private bank with a nominal capital

of $50,000 by Peter Thompson and Geo. J. Day in 1879, the doors of the bank

being opened on the first day of the year 1880. The institution was located in

what was then known as the McLaurin building, at the corner of Tenth street and

Third avenue, now known as the Thompson building. Mr. Thompson was president and

Mr. Day cashier. The latter had practical charge of the bank from the time of

founding until July, 1886, when he left to take charge of the First National

Bank, then just starting.



  After the departure of Mr. Day, Milton P. Mann became the cashier, in which

capacity he served many years. The final breakup in the partnership between

Messrs. Thompson and Day came February 13, 1888, and thereafter until 1894 Mr.

Thompson was the sole owner of the Nobles County Bank. The institution closed

its doors during the panic of July, 1893, but was later reorganized, and it paid

all liabilities.



  Mr. Thompson sold a half interest in the bank to W. M. Evans and E. A. Lynd

Nov. 1, 1894, and the following year the other half was purchased by the same

parties. Mr. Evans became cashier and manager, and has had charge of the bank

ever since. The new management erected the handsome brick block on Tenth street,

which has since been the home of the bank, in 1899, and it was occupied for the

first time on December 23 of that year.



  A reorganization was effected early in 1908, and the Nobles County Bank became

the Worthington National Bank. The capital stock is $25,000, all paid in, and is

owned by twenty stockholders, all of whom are residents of Worthington or the

immediate vicinity. The charter was dated Jan. 10, 1908, and the bank under the

new name began operations January 15. The first officers and directors were W.

M. Evans, president; Daniel Shell, vice president; A. W. Fagerstrom, cashier;

John A. Boberg, Stelle S. Smith.



CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK.



  The establishment of the Citizens National Bank was conceived in April, 1901,

when C. T. Tupper came to Worthington and succeeded in interesting J. D.

Humiston, Geo. W. Patterson, O. G. Grundsten and W. W. Loveless in the project.

Stock was subscribed by these gentlemen and by N. T. Burroughs, of Chicago, and

W. A. Sanford, of Cherokee, Iowa, who were president and vice president,

respectively, of the First National Bank of Cherokee. Application for the

charter of the Citizens National Bank, with capital stock of $25,000 ($10,000

paid in), was made, and the treasury department issued the document July 22, 1901.



  August 19 the bank opened its doors in a frame building, which was temporarily

located in Fourth avenue. A lot was purchased at the corner of Tenth street and

Fourth avenue, and in January, 1902, the present home of the bank, a handsome

brick block, was completed. The officers and directors at the time of founding

were Geo. W. Patterson, president; J. D. Humiston, vice president; C. T. Tupper,

cashier; W. W. Loveless, O. G. Grundsten. Mr. Loveless disposed of his interests

in 1903, and was succeeded on the board by John H. Scott. Mr. Humiston sold his

stock in 1904, and was succeeded by Frank Glasgow. Mr. Tupper sold in May, 1907,

and his place as cashier and director was taken by S. M. Stewart. The bank has

returned regular annual dividends since the date of organization.



OTHER BANKS.



  For over two years in the late eighties the First National Bank of Worthington

had an existence. The bank was opened July 1, 1886, with Geo. J. Day in charge.

Among the stockholders were Messrs. Mendenhall, of the Diamond State Iron Works,

of Wilmington, Del.; George W. Bush, president of a Wilmington savings bank;

Capell and Pennypacker, capitalists of Wilmington; and Anton Knoblauck, a banker

of Carver, Minn. In September, 1888, two of the principal stockholders appeared

in Worthington and closed the institution. The accounts and notes were placed in

the hands of Geo. O. Moore, of the Bank of Worthington, for collection, and

funds were left with the same gentleman to pay depositors. The affairs of the

institution were soon wound up.



  The Farmers and Citizens Bank was a private banking house managed by Geo. J.

Day for a short time during the nineties. It was closed as a result of legal

proceedings brought against Mr. Day.



WORTHINGTON DISTRICT FAIR ASSOCIATION.



  For nearly thirty years annual fairs have been held at Worthington, for many

years under the auspices of the Nobles County Fair association, but in later

years under the auspices of the Worthington District Fair association, which

took the place of the earlier organization.



  So early as 1876 the settlers of Nobles county decided to hold a county fair.

Early in the summer of that year the grasshoppers had not put in their annual

appearance, and hopes were entertained that they would not. It was then that an

agricultural society was formed, and a few determined to put forth efforts to

hold a fair that fall. On Monday, July 24, 1876, five members of the executive

committee of the organization met at the Worthington hotel to consider plans for

proceeding with the preparations. These gentlemen were C. A. Barrows, J. H.

Cunningham, J. P. Vail, R. B. Plotts and W. S. Stockdale. They decided to hold

the fair at Worthington on Thursday, September 7, and Messrs. Barrows, Stockdale

and Plotts were named a committee to prepare a premium list. For very good

reasons the fair was not held. Soon after the preparations were begun the

hoppers swooped down upon the country again, and all thoughts of a fair were

given up.



  After this failure no further steps were taken toward holding a fair until

1879. Then there was organized the Nobles County Fair association, an

organization which had a life of many years, and was only succeeded by the

Worthington District Fair association in recent years. A. L. Runyon was the

first president of the pioneer organization, and C. T. Pope was the first

secretary. The first fair was held at Worthington October 10 and 11, 1879. There

were no buildings, no race track. The fair was held in the open on grounds

between West Okabena lake and the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad tracks- about

where the Stoutemyer ice houses are now located. It was indeed a primative

affair. But while the exhibits were few and the attractions not many, everybody

took a deep interest in this first exhibition of the county's resources, and it

was a success. [7]



  This was a start. Thereafter annual fairs were held. The next year the fair

was spoiled by the terrible blizzard which swept over the country October 15.

Land was leased on the south shore of Okabena lake, buildings were erected, and

for many years the county fairs were held there, about one mile from the city.

The association was put on a business basis March 10, 1892, when the Nobles

County Fair Ground association was incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000.

The incorporators were W. E. Stoutemyer, Daniel Shell, John H. Denton, John H.

Scott, H. M. Palm, L. B. Bennett and J. W. Read, and the first officers were W.

E. Stoutemyer, president; J. B. Green, vice president; Frank Lewis, secretary;

H. M. Palm, treasurer.



  The annual exhibits were held on the fair grounds of the old association until

1902. In the summer of that year the Worthington District Fair association was

incorporated. The capital stock was $15,000, and the first board of directors

was composed of Geo. W. Patterson, E. A. Tripp, A. R. Albertus, H. Pfeil, G. T.

Bulick, H. N. Douglas and C. T. Tupper. Spacious grounds were purchased in the

north part of the city, suitable buildings were erected, and since that date the

fairs have annually been held under the auspices of the new organization.



WORTHINGTON CHAUTAUQUA ASSOCIATION.



  The Worthington Chautauqua association is a comparatively new organization,

but it has done more to advance the interests of the city in which it is located

than many an older organization. The association came into existence in March,

1906. Many Worthington people had realized for a long time that the city had

everything necessary to make a chautauqua a success. Among the culture loving

people the matter had often been discussed, but no action was taken to

crystalize the movement until one day in March, 1906, when Prof. C. H. Warne,

chautauqua organizer, of Waterloo, Iowa, arrived in the city, prepared to launch

the movement.



  The stock was readily subscribed, and on March 29 the stockholders met and

organized the Worthington Chautauqua association8 with the fololwing [sic]

officers and board of directors: A. T. Latta, president; J. S. Ramage, vice

president; A. R. Albertus, secretary; H. B. Lear, treasurer; Thos. Dovery,

William Chancy, A. J. Goff, S. S. Smith and Gust Swanberg.



  The beautiful city park on the north shore of Okabena lake was secured for the

chautauqua grounds, and a more beautiful place would be hard to find. Located on

the higher banks of the lake, it is a beauty spot. It is convenient to the

business center of the town, and affords unequalled opportunity for camping,

boating, bathing and fishing. The grounds are lighted by electricity, are

connected with the city by long distance telephone lines, and are supplied with

city water. There the first annual assembly was held August 6 to 14, and the

list of attractions was such that the chautauqua was a success from the start. A

permanent assembly hall was erected in 1907 at a cost of $2,500. The second

assembly was held July 4 to 14, 1907, and the association was then put on a

paying basis. The third assembly was held in July, 1908.



WORTHINGTON COMMERCIAL CLUB.



  An organization of great benefit to the city is the commercial club, which was

organized Jan. 15, 1907. The first officers chosen were A. R. Albertus,

president; A. T. Latta, first vice president; R. L. Morland, second vice

president; Ned Jones, secretary; Loren Clark, treasurer. The whole of the second

story of the Loveless block was leased, and the rooms were fitted up for the

convenience of the members; later quarters were established in the city hall.

The club takes an active part in the affairs of the village, and is a strong

organization.



CARNEGIE LIBRARY.



  The Carnegie Library was completed in December, 1904, at a cost of about

$13,000. Of this amount Andrew Carnegie gave $10,000; the balance was raised by

subscription. The city bound itself to expend $1,000 annually on its

maintenance. The library was opened March 4, 1905. Its management was vested in

a board consisting of C. M. Crandall, president; F. L. Humiston, F. M. Manson,

Frank Glasgow, A. T. Latta, John Ramage, secretary; C. T. Tupper, [9] C. P.

Dolan and R. L. Morland. Mrs. Emma Sibley served as librarian from the date of

opening until 1907, when she was succeeded by Mrs. Emma Mackintosh.



WORTHINGTON BATH HOUSE ASSOCIATION.



  This organization came into existence in 1905 with the following officers: J.

S. Ramage, president; A. R. Albertus, secretary; E. L. Nance, treasurer. The

association now has about ninety members, owns a bath house, toboggan slides,

boats, etc., valued at over $1,200. The present officers and directors are J. S.

Ramage, president; A. R. Albertus, secretary; W. M. Evans, treasurer; O. W.

Dieckhoff, Jas. Mackay.



BANDS.



  Worthington has two brass bands. The Worthington band was organized in 1906,

when Prof. Wilson Abbott became the leader. The band now has nearly fifty

pieces, and is one of the best bands in southwestern Minnesota. For many years

the Scandinavians of the city have maintained an excellent band-the Worthington

Concert band, Carl A. Anderson, leader.



WORTHINGTON GUN CLUB.



  The Worthington Gun club was organized in June, 1900, with about forty

members. Harvey Rew was captain of the club and O. W. Dieckhoff was secretary.

There have been several organizations since the first club started. For some

time the Mauga trap was used in the tournaments but in late years the club has

been using the expert system.



WORTHINGTON HOSPITAL.



  In the fall of 1906 Dr. F. M. Manson founded the Worthington hospital and has

since been its proprietor. The building is a two and a half story structure,

located at the corner of Fourth avenue and Eleventh street.



  The hospital is provided with all modern conveniences. It is perfectly

ventilated, heated by steam, lighted by electricity, and is furnished with sound

deadeners and electric annunciators.



  The arrangement of the building is admirable for the purposes for which it is

used. On the first floor are a large reception room, a private consultation

office, a dark room for optical work, a general practice office, a drug and

supply room, and a ward room, furnished with four hospital beds. All the

woodwork of the lower floor is of Antwerp finished oak.



  On the second floor are the nurses' room, an operating room, sterilizing room,

bath room, and private rooms for patients. All the woodwork of the second floor

is white finished. The third floor is fitted up into a large sun bath room.



  The institution has been liberally patronized since its founding and is one of

Worthington's enterprises which has been of great benefit to the community.



ENDNOTES



   [1] "So far as we can learn there is a very general expression among property

owners in favor of the erection of a school building for a graded school to cost

about $15,000. The meetings held upon the subject have been surprisingly

harmonious and unanimous upon the point that nothing which the community can do

to attract settlement and investment among us, and consequently, to facilitate

the rapid enhancement in the value of real property, will be so effective as

first class school advantages. The first step is to organize first class common

schools. In time, by which we mean in a few years at farthest, we feel confident

the efforts we are making to secure the location of a seminary of learning at

this point will be sucessful; meantime we shall have excellent common school

privileges. The best of talent can be secured to conduct the schools, and the

contribution of apparatus for illustrating physical science; which Professor

Humiston proposes to make to the public schools at a cost of $500 or $600, is

only one among many other features which will tend to make our schools first

class. The people who are settling here have been accustomed to such privileges

elsewhere, and to the manifestation of a liberal spirit, and they will have the

same facilities here."-Western Advance, Aug. 31, 1872.



   [2] The incorporators were the same as the first board of directors except

that I. N. Sater's name appeared in place of that of Allen Chaney.



   [3] The petition was signed by I. N. Sater, Daniel Rohrer, C. P. Stough, C.

B. Loveless, John W. Smith, Geo. O. Moore, L. F. McLaurin, J. A. Town, Daniel

Shell, Otis Bigelow, R. D. Barber, Benjamin F. Thurber, J. H. Johnson, W. S.

Stockdale, C. Z. Sutton, C. C. Goodnow, J. Craft and H. D. Humiston.





   [4] The graduates of the Worthington high school are as follows:



   1887-Jane Husselton, Alice Durfee.



   1888-None.



   1889-Dora Barber, Earl P. Free, Julia Hyland, Kate Hovey, Grace. E. Smith,

Julia Van Luven.



   1890-Alma Covey, Laura Bingham, Mary Humiston, Mary Mitchell, George Foster

Moore, Blanche H. Ramage, Winnifred Shell, Anna Wright.



   1891-Levi E. Covey, Ferne Bullis, Eva Oaks, Frank R. Pepple.



   1892-Jennie Covey, Nellie Stevens, Marguerite Wright.



   1893-Loren Clark, Lura Moberly, Martha Covey, William Thurber.



   1894-Stelle Smith, Carrie Allen, Arthur P. Rose, Isabel Shanks, Warren A.

Rose, Mary E. Moffat, Gertrude Oliver.



   1895-Mary Dobner, William V. Kennedy, Fred Bedford, Susan H. Chaffer, Charles

H. Ager.



   1896-Gertie Blair, Sadie Lewis, Susan Gibson, Jennie M. Beckley, Martin Edgar

Barnes, Eureka Sahlbom, Cora Covey, W. B. Stoutemyer, Jennie E. Torrance, Lulu

L. Putnam.



   1897-Mary L. Damon, Draper Dayton, Maud Forbes, J. Burr Ludlow, Russell B.

Moberly, Lee Shell, Robert R. Smith.



   1898-Alma Anderson, Irving Bedford, Ilma Cale, George M. Damon, Rosa Dobner,

Don Carlos Dow, Jessie Kerr, Leone McKeever, Louise Riley.



   1899-Raymond Peterson, George Hurd, Horace Peterson, George M. Cale,

Georgette Dow, Harold S. Tuttle, J. Manning Plotts, Harley Chaffer, Alta Beeson.



   1900-Eva Pearle Barnes, Besie Bedford, Mabel Bryden, Anna Erickson, Roy V.

Lewis, Byron E. Smith, Susan A. Stoutemyer, Jen E. Stoutemyer.



   1901-Maude Ager, Walter Ager, Jeanette Bliss, Frank Bryden, Nancy Clark,

Addie Crever, Edith Cale, Frances Clark, Carrie Dayton, Alice Firth, Neta

Harden, Dwight Harden, Florence Maxwell, John Mosher, Reuben Oakes, Jet

Smallwood, Prue Town.



   1902-Edna Goodrich, Eva Miller, Stella Wilbern, Ella Cloud, John Glasgow,

Robert Town, Fred Tripp, Harry Hawley, Elmer Johnson, Ella Wood, Amanda

Sundberg, George Wyckoff, Mattie Bryan.



  1903-Harris Darling, Alida Loveless, Harry Wilbern, Louis Jones, Pearl Luehrs,

Angie Erie, Clayton Bedford, Amelia Bliss.



  1904-Rosa C. Sather, Addie Ely, Nellie Lyon, Mary Ella Morton, Amy Darling,

Stella Anderson, Mae Tupper, Ray Hawley, Helen Ludlow, Clinton Mann, Luther M.

Ramage, Laura Pepple, Herbert Frank, Lillian Webb, Esther Harding.



  1905-Beulah Sain, Maggie Ackerman, Florence Lyon, Nettie Ely, Nellie Crever,

David Tripp, Clarence Pannell, Eva Darling, Stella Gray, Clyde McConkey, Orval

Tupper, Flora Buchan, Lillian Morton, Fanny Henricks, Cloyd Comer, Martha Kindlund.



  1906-Alida Bedford, Jessie Ager, Rensie DeBoer, Amy Forbes, James Mott, Edward

Lawton, Mabel Kunzeman, Emma Ferguson, Lloyd Patterson.



  1907-Vergil Fellows, Harry Gray, Nell Addington, Hazel Pepple, Arlouine

Loveless, Florence Lysle, Agnes Ryan, Charles Haggard, Ivan Pettit, Benjamin

Hilyard, Emily McConkey.



  1908-Oakley Tripp, Stanley Swanberg, Warner Hubbard, Jay Voak, Florence Webb,

Mabel Nichlas, Myrtle Turner, Anna Asman, Julia Town, Marjorie Shell.



   [5] The charter members were F. G. Martin, John Mackey, J. C. Durfee. F. J.

Straks, E. C. Wilson, M. A. Nichols, C. A. Covey. Geo. Shirck. C. W. Smith, Jas.

Manning. H. C. Crawford, H. H. Graham, Jas. Ramage, David Anderson, Jas. Mackay,

Ernest Perry, A. L. Johnson. F. L. Humiston, Henry Twitchell, w. E. Madison, M.

P. Mann, A. H. Palm, Will Wright, Merle Hurlbert, R. H. Bibby, Will Clippenger,

F. H. Day, Ray Humiston, Frank Glasgow, C. Lamb, C. W. Mitchell, W. S. Webb,

John Sahlbom, M. S. Smith, Will Post, Ira S. Mishler, R. P. Free and J. D.
Humiston.



  The following became honorary members at the time of organization: Daniel

Shell, J. P. Moulton, August Falk and Frank Lewis. The following have been

elected honorary members since organization: M. S. Smith, John R. Newton, L. E.

Covey, H. C. Crawford. Jas. Manning, Leon Morris, F. R. Durfee, L. L. McCartney,

Ray Humiston, Frank Glasgow. W.  B. Stoutemyer and J. C. Durfee.



   [6] The non-commissioned officers were appointed January 26, 1906.



   [7] A stock joke is to the effect that at this first fair the only exhibits

were a bull and a pumpkin; that the bull got loose during the night before the

fair opened, ate the pumpkin, died from the effects, and that the fair was

necessarily declared off.



   [8] Those who participated in this first meeting were J. S. Ramage, A. T.

Latta, H. R. Edwards, Geo. O. Moore, Ned Jones, Jas. Mackay, L. R. Gholz,

William Chaney, T. A. Palmer, H. Hawley, H. B. Lear and C. T. Tupper.



   [9] Upon the removal of Mr. Tupper from the city in 1907 his place on the

board was taken by C. J. Smallwood. Otherwise there has been no change.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:



AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY

MINNESOTA

BY

ARTHUR P. ROSE



NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY 

WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA 

PUBLISHERS

1908

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