Nobles County MN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XVIII Ellsworth 1908
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Book Title: An Illustrated History Of Nobles County

CHAPTER XVIII.

ELLSWORTH.



  In point of size Ellsworth is Nobles county's third town. As a business point

it also takes high rank, for, beyond question, it draws its trade from the best

farming country of Nobles county. It is located in Grand Prairie township and is

in the extreme southwestern corner of the county, the townsite being only one

mile from the Iowa state line and one and one-half miles from the Rock county

line. It is on the Rock Island railroad, of which road it is a division point,

and is the terminus of a branch line of the same railroad which runs to Rock

Rapids. The population of Ellsworth was 537 in 1905, when the last census was
taken.



  There is no town in Nobles county which has a finer site. It is laid out on a

piece of high level ground, and there is not a foot of wet or low land on the

whole plat. The founders of the town could not have chosen a finer location had

they the making of it themselves.



  While the history of Ellsworth village does not begin until the fall of 1884,

we must go back of that date several years to get a correct understanding of the

causes that led to the building of such a prosperous town at this point. During

the early period of Nobles county's colonization, settlement was confined

largely to the eastern part of the county, but a few, attracted by the excellent

land in the southwestern corner, pushed out there and builded homes. A few of

these came as early as 1871, and during the next few years quite a number

followed and established themselves in Grand Prairie township.



  Among the number who came in the early days was "Uncle" Stillwell, who took as

his claim the land upon which the village of Ellsworth was afterwards built. He

erected a dwelling at a point one-half mile east of the present business part of

the town, and to supply the wants of the few settlers who were his neighbors,

Mr. Stillwell established a small store and for a number of years conducted it

from his farm home, operating a pedler's wagon in connection. Although the

country was very thinly settled at the time and the greater part of it was wild

prairie land, Mr. Stillwell had confidence in its future and declared on several

occasions that a town would some day be located on his place or very near it,

basing his judgment on the quality of the land round about. The prediction came

true, but the man who made the prognostication was not there to reap the

benefits. He had packed up his goods some two years before and moved away.



  Ellsworth came into existence as the direct result of the building of the

Burlington railroad (now the Rock Island) through that part of the country in

the late summer of 1884. The site was selected by the agents of the Cedar

Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Land & Town Lot company during the first days

of September, [1] and the survey of the townsite was made by Surveyor F. D.

Randall for the company immediately. The dedication of the plat was made by S.

L. Dows, president, and James B. Close, secretary, of the town lot company, on

September 29, and the instrument was filed in the office of the register of

deeds on October 4. [2] The new town was named in honor of Eugene Ellsworth, one

of the stockholders of the Burlington road. [3]



  Even before the survey of the plat was completed the success of the proposed

new town was assured. From all parts of the country came requests for lots so

soon as they should be placed on the market, and many came personally to be in

on the ground floor. C. H. Davidson, of Rock Rapids, was named agent for .the

sale ol town lots and opened an office of the site.4 The state of affairs as

they existed just before the start of the town was related in the Sibley Tribune

of September 11:



  . . .  Besides having so fine a site, the town will be, and is now, surrounded

by the finest farming country ever the sun shone on, and even now the farm

houses, surrounded by great stacks of grain, can be counted by the hundreds, and

as the town grows the country will develop and make it one of the finest

shipping and trading points in southern Minnesota.



  Already the ground for an 1800 foot sidetrack has been surveyed, and work will

have been begun on the same ere this reaches our readers.



  One of the company's No. 1 depots, like the one at Sibley, will be put there,

and the prospects are that it will make a good town-one that will keep up with

the growth of the country at least.



  Three elevator lots have already been spoken for, and the fourth is liable to

be taken in a few days. A dozen or more of the business lots (price from $250

down to $400) have been spoken for, and. one or two more buildings will spring

up there before another issue of the Tribune.



  From the towns of Worthington, Adrian, Sibley, Spirit Lake, Rock Rapids,

Luverne and other nearby points came a number of people to engage in business,

some of them bringing lumber with which to construct their buildings. By

September 18 twenty-three lots had been sold, and the work of building the town

had commenced. H. E. Torrance, of Worthington, was the first on the ground with

lumber for his store building, and John Butler, of Rock Rapids, was the second.

The first structure begun, however, was the saloon building of Lattenberger &

Stevens. [5] Almost simultaneously a dozen or more buildings were started during

the latter part of September, and before the close of the year a flourishing

little city had taken its place on the prairie-a city of about 150 inhabitants.

So great was the rush that it was with difficulty enough carpenters were secured

to do the work.



  When the railroad had been completed to the site of the proposed town a box

car had been set off, and until the depot was erected a little later served in

that capacity. A. J. Yorker served as the company's first agent at Ellsworth.

Henry E. Torrance was the first to open a place of business. He erected a

building on Main street (on the site of the present First National Bank

building) and opened a general store, which was in charge of John P. Peterson as

manager and Art Tabler as clerk. He also engaged in the grain business, erecting

a warehouse. D. L. Riley, of Spirit Lake, was early on the site with twenty car

loads of lumber. He put up an office and became the first dealer in lumber and

fuel. E. F. Newell, of Spirit Lake, opened the first hardware store, which was

in charge of his brother, Thomas Newell. F. A. Fink, of Bock Rapids, opened the

second hardware store a little later.



  A harness shop was opened by Mike Harrigan, of Spirit Lake, and a shot shop by

Bernard Ball, of Mankato. Four saloons were in operation by November, owned by

Lattenberger & Stevens, of Sibley; Thomas Fahy, of Adrian; Brazil Bros., of

Faribault; and Mike Fahy, of Iowa. John Butler, of Rock Rapids, and Ezra Rice,

of Luverne, erected warehouses and engaged in the grain business. A. J. Rice, of

Adrian, opened a drug store during the month of November, and Grant & Hannan

engaged in the implement business. A correspondent wrote to the Sibley Tribune

in November, telling some items of interest of the town's early history:



  Ellsworth has so far been the boss place to sell flax. . . . There have been

fifty car loads shipped up to date, and the average is about three car loads a

day. The depot is not yet completed but will be soon.



  The business lots here are nearly all sold, the prices running from $150 to

$250. Residence lots are held at from $50 to $100. There are several residence

lots sold. There are a good many buildings in contemplation, most of which will

be commenced in the spring. . . . Ellsworth can boast of only one lady resident

at present, Mrs. Hattie Stevens, formerly of Sibley, but she appears to be quite

happy in her new home.



  During the winter of 1884-85 the Ellsworth postoffice was established with B.

F. Garmer as postmaster, [6] and a few new business enterprises were started.

William Peck opened a hotel, Chris Blocklinger started a livery barn, and John

Butler opened the second general store, carrying general merchandise, hardware,

groceries, drugs, etc.



  Times were lively in the spring of 1885, and there were several new business

ventures. [7] G. H. Eastwood founded the Ellsworth News in April. H. J. Borget

put up a building and opened the first furniture store in town. J. J. Lenz & Co.

(J. J. and Peter Lenz) started another general store. J. G. Senenfelder

established Ellsworth's second hotel, and a number of residences were erected

that year, the first being that of George Wiggens. The Lyon County Reporter, in

July, 1885, told of the business houses in the new town at that time:



  There are now four general stores, four saloons, two hotels, blacksmith shop,

butcher shop, three grain warehouses, livery stable, three farm implement

establishments, harness shop, drug store, furniture store, lumber and coal yard,

newspaper. They have now raised $5,000 for the erection of a Catholic church.



  Founded as it was in the center of one of the finest farming sections of the

Northwest, Ellsworth was from the start a prosperous village. Were it not for

the fact that it was surrounded by such a rich farming country, there certainly

would have been a retrogression following the boom with which it came into

existence. Few towns having such a lively start and established with no other

prospects than the trade of a limited agricultural community have escaped a

period of dull times soon after the founding. While the active building

operations and the establishment of new business enterprises were not continued

to any great extent for some time after 1885, the town enjoyed prosperous times.



  An item of greatest moment to Ellsworth was the selection of the town as a

division point of the Burlington road in the early fall of 1886. The company

built a five-stall round house, put in a turn-table, enlarged the depot, and

made other improvements. A branch road was built the same year from Ellsworth to

Rock Rapids. These operations of the railroad company made the town quite lively

that fall.



  On the eighth day of November, 1886, a census of the village was taken-the

first step in a movement to bring about incorporation. The territory which it

was proposed to incorporate consisted of 1,440 acres and was found to have a

population of 312 persons. On the same day the census was taken a petition was

circulated and generally signed, [8] praying the board of county commissioners

for incorporation and asking that that body "appoint a time and place when and

where the electors actually residing upon said lands may vote for or against

such incorporation."



  At a special meeting of the county board held at Worthington on December 10,

1886, the necessary steps were taken to bring about the incorporation under the

general laws of 1885. January 13, 1887, was the date set for holding the

election and the store of Johnson & Peterson was the place designated as the

polling place. C. C. Peterson, Michael Hollaren and James Condon were named

inspectors, under whose supervision the election should be held.



  The election was held on January 13, as provided, and "for incorporation"

carried. In February another election was held, when eighty-four votes were cast

and the following village officers were chosen: President of the council, James

Maher; trustees, H. J. Borget, K. H. Knight and James Condon; recorder, C. M.

Crandall; treasurer, G. H. Eastwood; justices, Ferd Esser and J. W. Abbott;

constable, Edward Ryan.



  Those who have been elected to office in Ellsworth since the first election

are as follows:



  1888-President, J. P. Peterson; trustees, F. M. Ryan, M. J. Bryan, H. J.

Borget; recorder, C. M. Crandall. [9]



  1889-President, F. M. Ryan; trustees, M. Harrigan, G. H. Eastwood, Bernard

Ball; recorder, Thomas Johnson; treasurer, M. C. Nelson; justice, J. W. Abbott.



  1890-President, F. M. Ryan; trustees, M. Harrigan, M. C. Nelson, Henry Roll;

recorder, D. F. Cramer; treasurer, J. P. Peterson; justice, W. H. Peck.



  1891-President, F. W. Bassett; trustees, B. H. Basing, Henry Roll, Nick Lenz;

recorder, D. F. Cramer; treasurer, J. P. Peterson. [10]



  1892-President, James Maher; trustees, Henry Whalen, Bernard Ball, T. M.

Williams; recorder, D. F. Cramer; treasurer, Nick Lenz; assessor, M. Hollaren;

justice, G. W. Smith.



  1893-President, James Burke; trustees, F. J. Schouweiler, Bernard Ball, Henry

Whalen; recorder, D. F. Cramer; [11] treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice, M. Hollaren;

constable, M. J. Bryan.



  1894-President, J. C. Morrison; trustees, D. F. Cramer, Henry Whalen, P.

Barry; recorder, G. H. Eastwood; treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice, Edward Fogarty;

constable, M. J. Bryan.



  1895-President, James Montgomery; trustees, D. F. Cramer, Henry Whalen, James

Condon; recorder, G. H. Eastwood; treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice, Edward Ryan;

constable, James Maher.



  1896-President, J. F. McNulty; trustees, J. P. Reihsen, P. F. Carroll, Edward

Fogarty; recorder, G. H. Eastwood; treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice, M. Hollaren;

constable, Bernard Fischenich.



  1897-President, A. E. Harrington; trustees, J. P. Reihsen, Edward Fogarty, P.

F. Carroll; recorder, W. M. Finley; treasurer, Nick Lenz; justices, Edward Ryan,

G. W. Smith; constables, William Jenkins, D. F. Sweeney.



  1898-President, M. J. Murphy; trustees, J. P. Reihsen, William Bofenkamp, John

Crowley; recorder, William Finley; treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice, Lawrence

Esser; constable, William Jenkins.



  1899-President, F. W. Stanton; trustees, W. M. Finley, P. B. Scholtes, James

McDowell; recorder, John F. Flynn; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, D. F.

Cramer; justice, Edward Ryan; constable, William Jenkins.



  1900-President, M. J. Murphy; trustees, Edward Fogarty, P. B. Scholtes, James

McDowell; recorder, D. F. Cramer; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, Lawrence

Esser; justice, L. W. Abbott; constable, T. A. Towsley.



  1901-President, J. P. Reihsen; trustees, Edward Fogarty, L. B. Carvell, P. B.

Scholtes; recorder, D. F. Cramer; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, Lawrence

Esser; justice, S. H. Loveland; constable, William Jenkins.



  1902-President, J. P. Reihsen; trustees, William Bofenkamp, Edward Fogarty, L.

B. Carvell; recorder, Charles Crowley; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, B. H.

Basing, Jr.; justice, M. Hollaren; constable, James Maher.



  1903-President, William Bofenkamp; trustees, Edward Fogarty, Will Newell, P.

B. Scholtes; recorder, C. C. Crowley; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, B. H.

Basing, Jr.; justices, G. W. Smith, Bernard Ball; constable, M. Finnerty.



  1904-President, William Bofenkamp; trustees, Edward Fogarty, P. B. Scholtes,

W. Z. Newell; recorder, Charles C. Crowley; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, B.

H. Basing, Jr.; justice, Lawrence Esser; constable, Pat Hefferan.



  1905-President, William Bofenkamp; trustees, W. Z. Newell, F. M. Sadler, P. B.

Scholtes; recorder, Charles C. Crowley; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, B. H.

Basing, Jr.; justices, G. W. Smith, A. A. Burns; constable, M. Finnerty.



  1906-President, William Bofenkamp; trustees, W. Z. Newell, F. M. Sadler, P. B.

Scholtes; recorder, Charles C. Crowley; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, B. H.

Basing, Jr.; constable, P. Hefferan.



  1907-President, William Bofenkamp; trustes, [sic] P. B. Scholtes, F. M.

Sadler, E. F. Murphy; recorder, E. L. Tschirgi; treasurer, M. B. Burke;

assessor, Nick Lenz; justice, G. W. Smith; constable, Theodore Beckers.



  1908-President, P. B. Scholtes; trustees, F. M. Sadler, F. W. Stanton, John

Crowley; recorder, E. L. Tschirgi; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, Nick Lenz;

justice, Vickerman; constable, W. J. Reddy.



  There is very little of historic interest to record for the late eighties.

During those years Ellsworth settled down to a normal basis. The feverish

excitement attending its founding and early day activities was a thing of the

past. During those years the town made but little advance in the building line

or in adding industries, but it grew into a substantial and sound municipality

with a surety of permanence established. The census of 1890-the first federal

census after Ellsworth's founding-gave the village a population of 258.



  On the evening of August 13, 1891, at half past five o'clock, Ellsworth was

visited by a cyclone of considerable force, which did a great deal of property

damage, but which resulted in no loss of life. The story of the storm was told

in the Ellsworth News of August 14:



  . . . The greatest damage was to the large 80,000 bushel elevator, which was

twisted nearly half, around, smashing in the lower story, and coming down with a

crash. The building was eighty feet high, and the lower story was twenty feet.

The roof was stove in and the building racked, so it will probably have to be

torn down.



  The Lutheran church building, which was recently purchased by the

Congregational society, was nearly wiped out, and what few splinters are left

are piled up against Henry Roll's house, nearly a block away. D. F. Cramer's

house, which stood within ten feet of where the church stood, was badly damaged,

the wing being twisted entirely out of shape and will have to be torn down. The

damage to this property will probably reach $200.



  The depot roof for about sixteen feet on the west end was blown off and

scattered over the country in pieces the right size for kindling wood. A piece

of timber from the elevator was driven through the roof of George Bolinger's

building and into the roof of Borget's furniture store, a block away. The front

of Roll's blacksmith shop was taken out; and in falling it struck James

Faragher, who had just stepped out of the shop, knocking him down, and but for a

number of plows standing in front, which held up the boards, he would have been

seriously, if not fatally, injured.



  The stables of Messrs. Theodore Bofenkamp, Cory, Smith and Unzen, all having

horses in them, were blown down, leaving the horses without a scratch. T. M.

Williams had a new top buggy smashed to pieces. The Marshalltown Buggy company

had a number of buggies back of the News office which were considerably damaged.

Burke Bros.' barn was racked out of plumb, but it did not go down. Thomas Kinney

had the frame up for a granary, which was scattered to the four winds. John

Hollaren's granary and barn were considerably damaged. Edward Egan's separator

on James Burke's farm was turned over and damaged. A box car on the long track

was overturned, and a tramp was seen to crawl out of it uninjured. Some grain in

the stack and in the shock belonging to T. J. Fagan and Mrs. O'Neil was

scattered by the% wind and badly damaged. A dozen or more chimneys took a

tumble, and several small buildings were blown down, some of them being carried

nearly a block. No one was hurt, and all are thankful that no lives were lost.



  Ellsworth was visited by a fire on the night of June 24, 1892, which resulted

in a loss of about $5,000. The conflagration started in Joseph Fischenich's

livery barn, which was destroyed, together with twelve head of horses therein.

Henry Roll's blacksmith shop and the office of the Ellsworth News and the

residence of G. H. Eastwood were also burned. The fire had gained such headway

when discovered that nothing could be done toward saving any of the buildings

mentioned, and the attention of the citizens was turned to saving the buildings

across the street and the contents of the doomed structures. The losses were:

Henry Roll, $1,500, with no insurance; Joseph Fischenich, $1,000, insured for

$500; G. H. Eastwood, $2,500, insured for $500.



  A city hall and opera house building was erected by the city during 1894 and

1895 at a cost of several thousand dollars. The initial step to this public

improvement was taken at a mass meeting on March 25, 1893, at which it was

decided to ask the city council to call an election for the purpose of voting on

the question of issuing $6,000 bonds for the same. On April 15 the electors

decided to issue the bonds by a vote of 44 to 24, but because of the panic,

which soon held the country in its grip, it was necessary to postpone the

improvements. A year later, on June 6, 1894, the question was again decided

favorably by a vote of 51 to 10, and the building was completed the following

year. Bonds to the amount of $5,000 were issued.



  During the first half of the nineties there was a slow but substantial advance

in the town of Ellsworth, and the population increased from 258 in 1890 to 352

in 1895. The last half of the decade also showed marked progress, the census of

1900 giving the town a population of 454.



  The year 1899 was particularly one of progress, and about $40,000 were spent

that, year in improvements. Among the items of expenditure were $14,000 for the

public school building, $3,000 for cement walks, $6,000 for buildings by Porter

& Aldred, lumber dealers, and $3,200 for a residence by William Wheatley.



  This record was eclipsed two years later, when over $60,000 were expended in

building improvements. The principal improvements that year were as follows:

Roemer Bros., brewery, $20,000; First National Bank building, $8,500; Henry

Roll, residence, $7,000; M. B. Burke, residence, $4,500; W. Z. Newell,

residence, $3,000; J. H. McRobert, two residences, $2,500; Methodist church,

$2,500; Citizens Bank building, $3,000. A telephone system was installed during

the year, and there were a number of new business enterprises started. The first

few years of the twentieth century were prosperous ones for the little town.



  On Sunday morning, January 31, 1904, the fire fiend again attacked the town,

this time destroying the city hall and opera house. At about eleven o'clock the

north side of the opera house block was discovered to be in flames. By that time

the fire had gained such headway that the fire department could not get the fire

engine and hook and ladder trucks from the burning building, in which they were

located. Without the engine the town was at the mercy of the fire fiend, and had

the wind been high or blowing from the south nothing could have saved the town.

As it was, the people had the hardest kind of work saving the adjoining

property. Bucket brigades were formed and valiant work was done. The loss of the

building, together with the fire fighting apparatus, amounted to $10,000,

covered by $4,000 insurance. The losses to other property amounted to only a few

hundred dollars.



  Immediately after the fire steps were taken to rebuild the city hall and also

to establish a system of water works. It was decided to bring the matter before

the voters at the annual election in March, 1904, and at that time the vote was

almost unanimous to issue $7,500 bonds for a water works system, and to rebuild

the city hall. The same year a combined city hall and opera house was erected,

and for its size Ellsworth has the finest public building in the state. An

excellent system of water works was also installed.



  Another improvement of importance in the village was made during the year

1908. On May 4 of that year the city council granted a twenty-five year

franchise to F. M. Sadler for an electric lighting plant, to be installed within

ninety days. Mr. Sadler completed the plant during the summer, and Ellsworth is

now lighted by electricity.



  Of the 537 inhabitants of Ellsworth (census of 1905) 236 are native born, 242

Minnesota born, and 59 foreign born. The countries 'of birth of the foreign born

are as follows: Germany, 24; Sweden, 1; Norway, 6; Canada, 4; Ireland, 13;

Denmark, 1; England, 6; Bohemia, 1; Scotland, 2; Wales, 1.



FIRE DEPARTMENT.



  During the month of May, 1893, the first steps toward the organization of a

volunteer fire department in Ellsworth were taken, and on June 1 the department

was formally organized with the following officers: C. M. Crandall, chief; C.

Loveland, secretary; M. J. Murphy, treasurer; Al Cramer, George Senenfelder and

Howard Cramer, executive committee. F. L. Godfrey was foreman of the hose

company and W. M. Finley was assistant; P. F. Carroll was foreman of the hook

and ladder company; Henry Roll was foreman of the engine company. For a number

of years the department was an active organization. It was a member of the

Columbian Inter State Fireman's association, and won signal honors in the

tournaments of the association.



  On April 29, 1901, the Ellsworth department was reorganized. It now has a

membership of 17 and is supplied with all the necessary fire fighting apparatus,

including 2,500 feet of hose, a cart carrying 1,000 feet of hose, a hook and

ladder truck and a hand chemical. The officers and members of the department

are: F. M. Sadler, chief; Theodore Becker, assistant chief; Charles Flynn,

secretary; W. F. Marten, treasurer; Joseph Albrecht, E. H. Burfiend, N. H. Cory,

John Crowley, E. E. Lovrien, E. F. Murphy, J. C. Reddy, W. J. Reddy, John

McCarren, J. F. Raabe, L. D. Shaw, E. L. Tschirgi.



BANKS.



  Ellsworth has two financial institutions, the German State Bank and the First

National Bank.



  The former was founded as the Citizens Bank, a private institution, in 1893,

and was owned by E. A. Brown and A. E. Huntington, of Luverne. On July 25, 1904,

the bank was reorganized as the German State Bank, with a capital of $15,000 and

an authorized capital of $50,000. The officers are E. A. Brown, president; Poppe

Hickman, vice president; F. W. Stanton, cashier; W. F. Marten, assistant

cashier. The directors are E. A. Brown, Paul Untiedt, Henry Nelson, Poppe

Hickman, J. A. Meyer, J. M. McRoberts, T. Hefferan, Jr.



  The First National Bank opened its doors September 17, 1900, with the

following officers and directors: James Porter, president; J. F. Flynn, vice

president; W. Z. Newell, cashier; P. F. Levins, P. B. Scholtes, C. A. Bird, T.

M. Williams, Joseph Klinkhammer. The present officers are James Porter,

president; T. M. Williams, vice president; C. A. Bird, cashier; E. L. Tschirgi,

assistant cashier.



CHURCHES.



  The Catholic, Congregational, Methodist and German Presbyterian societies have

church organizations in Ellsworth.



  The oldest of these is St. Mary's Catholic church, and that church has the

largest membership. Many of the settlers of Grand Prairie township had come to

the county as members of the Catholic Colony company, and the Catholic religion

had a large following in the new town. In July, 1885, within less than a year

after the founding, $5,000 were raised to build at Catholic church, and on

November 7 the church of St. Mary was organized and incorporated. The

incorporators were John Ireland, bishop of the diocese of St. Paul; Augustin

Ravoux, vicar general of the same diocese; C. J. Knauf, pastor; and John Butler

and Ferdinand Esser, lay members. There were forty members of the church at the

time of founding, and Father Knauf was the first pastor. The church was erected

at a cost of about $5,000, and to this an addition was built in 19032 at a cost

of $3,000. Pastors who have had charge of the church since its organization have

been Fathers Knauf, Dowling, O'Kiefe, Ferron, Dyer, Engelbrecht, McDonough,

Hartleill and Griffin.



  An excellent parochial school is maintained in connection with the church of

St. Mary. This institution was established in 1900, and during 1906 and 1907 a

building, costing $18,000, was erected. The corner stone was laid October 23,

1906, and the building was occupied early in the following year.



  The Congregational church was organized and incorporated August 13, 1890, with

the following officers: Rev. G. Wadsworth, pastor; Mrs. M. C. Knight, clerk; F.

B. Bassett, treasurer; M. Birkett and F. Bassett, deacons; J. M. Bryan, J.

Walker and D. F. Cramer, trustees. The charter members were George Wadsworth,

Mrs. Mary C. Knight, Mrs. Medora Bassett, E. W. Knight, B. Jones, F. W. Bassett,

Mary Walker, Mrs. Mary Peck, Mary M. Jones, Josephine Ennor, L. Z. Anderson and

Anna Anderson.



  During the first year services- were held in a small church building belonging

to the Lutheran church society. The church building was bought by the

Congregationalists in the summer of 1891, and in August of the same year it was

entirely destroyed by a cyclone. The loss was a severe blow to the church

society, the members of which had made sacrifices to get a convenient place for

worship. After the disaster the church members raised money and erected a new

house  of worship, which was dedicated free of debt February 7, 1892. Its value

is about $1,500. The following named pastors have filled the pulpit of the

Congregational church  since its organization in 1890: Revs. Wadsworth, Houston,

McAllister, Conrad, Upton, Anslinger, McClane, Downs, Wilson and Gall.



  The organization of the Methodist church society of Ellsworth was effected

October 17, 1899. The first Board of trustees and organizers were Fred E. Clark,

J. J. Ryan, Joseph Midboe, John H. Skillicorn, A. P. Pratt, Kornell Sutter and

F. W. Stanton. The church edifice was erected in 1901 at a cost of $2,250 and

was dedicated November 10, of that year. The society is now practically out of

debt and has a membership of about twenty. A Sunday school, with a membership of

sixty and an average attendance of forty-eight for the year, is maintained in

connection. Following is a list of the pastors who have filled the pulpit with

the dates of their service: C. S. Rouse, Oct. 1, 1899, to Oct. 1, 1901; J. J.

Ramsey, to October 1, 1901; J. A. Saunders, to October 1, 1904; W. H. Putnam, to

 October 1, 1905; Stanley H. Addison, to October 1, 1906; William Follensbee, to

October 1, 1907; Jesse Kinderine, to October 1, 1908.



LODGES.



  There are in Ellsworth the following lodges: Jewell Lodge No. 49, Knights of

Pythias; Ellsworth Lodge No. 182, Ancient Order of United Workmen; Ellsworth

Lodge No. 108, Degree of Honor; St. Mary's Court No. 1043, Catholic Order of

Foresters; Ellsworth Camp No. 2280, Modern Woodmen of America; Martha Washington

Camp, Royal Neighbors of America.



  Jewell Lodge No. 49, K. P., was instituted Nov. 9, 1888, with the following

charter members: D. F. Cramer, W. S. Webb, C. M. Crandall, J. P. Peterson, J. A.

Elton, C. O. Piatt, C. C. Peterson, M. J. Bryan, O. L. Beck, James Paul, B. F.

Garmer, M. Pendergrast, C. J. Kern, Henry Knoch, E. W. Knight, George Slade, W.

S. Wygant, Thomas Johnson, W. S. Jones, G. F. Hawley, A. Hubbs. The lodge was

incorporated April 29, 1890. The charter was surrendered in 1893, but the lodge

was reorganized March 15, 1896.



  Ellsworth Lodge No. 182, A. 0. U. W., was organized May 3, 1894, with the

following first officers: F. J. Ash, P. M. W.; F. M. Ryan, M. W.; J. F. McNulty,

foreman; M. Hollaren, overseer; M. J. Murphy, recorder; W. S. Ingraham,

financier; J. Condon, receiver; P. F. O'Malley, guide; P. F. Carroll, inside

watch; S. M. Butcher, outside watch.



  The Degree of Honor lodge was instituted February 4, 1898, with the following

officers: Clara J. Rutan, P. C. H.; Mary E. Hollaren, C. H.; Eva Unzen, L. H.;

Belle Babcock, R.; Bridgie Condon, financier; Annie M. Beihsen, receiver; Cora

Murphy, usher; Margaret Whalen, I. W.; A. Thompson, O. W.



  The lodge of Catholic Order of Foresters was organized November 20, 1899, with

thirty charter members and the following officers: J. P. Beihsen, chief ranger;

William Bofenkamp, financial secretary; P. B. Scholtes, recording secretary;

James Burke, treasurer; P. F. Levins, past chief ranger; Nick Lenz, vice chief

ranger; B. H. Basing, Jr., inside sentinel; Matt Pint, Jr., outside sentinel;

William Condon, M. B. Burke, John N. Lenz, trustees; Dr. Carter, medical examiner.



  The lodge of Royal Neighbors was organized early in 1900 and had a charter

membership of twenty. The first officers were Mrs. P. F. Levins, oracle; Mrs. C.

A. Pratt, vice oracle; Emily Johnson, recorder; Mrs. L. V. Carvell, past oracle;

Mrs. Julia Mohr, receiver; Miss Ethel Pratt, chancellor; Minnie Nelson, inside

sentinel; Mina Gilbertson, outside sentinel; Mrs. J. P. Beihsen, marshal; P. F.

Levins, Marie Gilbertson, Mrs. Colwell, managers.



ENDNOTES





   [1] "The new town on the B. C. R. & N. in Grand Prairie township, we learn,

has at last been located. It is on the southeast quarter of section 29. and is

named Ellsworth."- Worthington Advance, September 11, 1884.



   [2] Additions have been platted as follows:



   Myra-Surveyed by H. G. Doolittle for Will G. Jones; dedicated Oct. 13, 1884;

filed Oct. 16. 1884.



   Butler's-Surveyed by J. P. Gilman for John Butler and Zepherein Audet;

dedicated May 30, 1885; filed July 11, 1885.



   "Western Land Company's Resubdivision of Lots in Block 7-Dedicated by the

Western Lard Co., by Ephriam McMurtrie, attorney in fact, June 18, 1890; filed

June 21, 1890.



   South-Surveyed by M. S. Smith for John F. Flynn; dedicated Dec. 24, 1901:

filed Dec. 28, 1901.



   [3] "Eugene Ellsworth . . . was a large holder of real estate, and his home,

was at Cedar Falls, Iowa. He owned a large number of lots [in Ellsworth] and

manifested a lively interest in the town during his lifetime. Ellsworth college,

one of the leading educational institutions of Cedar Falls, bears his name and

is a splendid monument to his liberality." -Ellsworth  News, 1907.



   [4] Mike Fahy was on the site for two or three weeks before the lots were

placed on sale, waiting for a chance to get a desirable location. His vigilance

was rewarded, for he became the purchaser of the first lot, upon which he

erected a saloon building.



   [5] "Work on the first building-Sam Stevens and Phil Lattenberger's

saloon-began Wednesday [September 17] and by the time this reaches our readers

will be up and enclosed," -Sibley Tribune, Sept. 18, 1884.



   [6] Mr. Garmer served about one year. He was succeeded by Ferdinand Esser,

who served until January 1, 1889. At that time James Walker received the

appointment, and he has held the office ever since. The Ellsworth post-office

succeeded that of Grand Prairie, which was established about 1874, when a star

mail route was opened between Bigelow and Ash Creek. Grand Prairie postoffice

was first located on section 10, where a man named Ayers conducted the office

and a little store. Other postmasters of the office were John Butcher, George

Barnes, Ole Lund and Oscar Bryan.



   [7] "Our neighbor, Ellsworth, is doing a rushing business in the way of

building. A large store room, a printing office and hotel are under way, besides

a number of buildings which went up earlier in the season. . . . Everything is

astir and full of life."-Rock Rapids Reporter, April, 1885.



   "A Worthington gentleman who has just returned from Ellsworth informs us that

he saw six new buildings going up and thinks there are from fifteen to twenty

business houses in the place already."-Worthington Advance, April 30, 1885.



   [8] The signers of the petition were C. O. Dailey, C. C. Peterson, T. J.

Anthony, C. M. Pardoe, A. F. Arneson, J. P. Peterson, Edward Ryan, A. Stubbs, G.

A. Elton, John Butler, P. H. Lattenberger, James Maher, K. H. Knight, John H.

Brabender, John O'Connor, M. J. Bryan, Ferd Esser, S. B. Campbell, G. H.

Eastwood, J. M. Bryan, M. C. Nelson, C. M. Crandall, B. F. Garmer, Thomas

Johnson, G. Bollinger, J. Peter Unzen, P. E. Fogarty, J. D. Griffin, M. Fahy, J.

G. Senenfelder, James Abbott, Fred A. Fink, E. W. Knight, Michael Hollaren, W.

G. Thayer and W. S. Webb.



   [9] James Walker was appointed recorder Oct. 5, 1888, to fill a vacancy.



   [10] Nick Lenz was appointed treasurer Sept. 7, 1891, to fill the vacancy

caused by the removal of Mr. Peterson from the village.



   [11] G. H. Eastwood was appointed recorder March 27, 1893, to fill a vacancy.

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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