Below Text is from History of Brown County Minnesota, L.A. Fritsche MD, Editor, 1916.
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to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books
are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that’s often difficult to discover.
You can access the whole book through this link: www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_Brown_County_Minnesota/Nm8_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Brown+County+Minnesota&printsec=frontcover
The reproduction of this book was made possible by
Murphy’s Landing A Minnesota Valley Restoration of 1840 to 1890 and
Mankato University’s Center for Minnesota Studies
Murphy’s Landing A Minnesota Valley Restoration of 1840 to 1890 and
Mankato University’s Center for Minnesota Studies
CITY OF SLEEPY EYE
This place was first known as “Sleepy Eye” and was platted by Thomas Allison and Walter Breckenridge, September 18, 1872, in sections 29 and 30, of township 110, range 32 west, and was incorporated as a city in 1903. It is at the junction of the Redwood Falls branch and the main line of the old Winona & St. Peter railroad, now controlled by the Chicago & Northwestern system. The growth of the place was slow until 1877 when the Redwood branch of railway was constructed, and the company located their round-house and machine shops here in 1878, Since which time the town has grown rapidly. In 1880 it had reached a population Of thirteen hundred, and is now supposed to contain about twenty-four hundred.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY
(We are still researching to clarify the sequence of the naming of the village incorporated as Sleepy Eye. This source has the city incorporated at two different times, that is also being researched for clarification.)
In February, 1878, the village was incorporated as “Sleepy Eye,” named from the Old Indian chief of early day fame. The name was subsequently changed to “Loreno,” and later changed to “Sleepy Eye Lake,” but when it was incorporated as a city was again changed to “Sleepy Eye.”
As incorporated in 1878 the town comprised about two and one-half square miles of territory.
The first election was held on March 19, 1878. The Officers then elected were: Francis Ibberson, president of the council; Louis Hanson, T. F. Talbot and T. J. Murfin,
trustees; R. H. Bingham, recorder; Peter Runitz, treasurer, and M. C. Burnside, justice of the peace. L. Pease was appointed constable, on account of a tie vote for such Office.
Sleepy Eye was incorporated as a city in 1903, the first city Officials were: I. M. Olsen, mayor; J. L. Keifer, recorder; C. Overson, treasurer. The officers today (1916)
are: Dr. J. B. Wellcome, mayor; A. D. Bertrand, recorder; H. C. Domeir, treasurer.The persons serving as mayor since the place was incorporated have been I. W. Olsen, C. P. Cutting, William C. Steinke, C. P. Block, Albert Hansen, J. W. B. Wellcome.
In February, 1878, the village was incorporated as “Sleepy Eye,” named from the Old Indian chief of early day fame. The name was subsequently changed to “Loreno,” and later changed to “Sleepy Eye Lake,” but when it was incorporated as a city was again changed to “Sleepy Eye.”
As incorporated in 1878 the town comprised about two and one-half square miles of territory.
The first election was held on March 19, 1878. The Officers then elected were: Francis Ibberson, president of the council; Louis Hanson, T. F. Talbot and T. J. Murfin,
trustees; R. H. Bingham, recorder; Peter Runitz, treasurer, and M. C. Burnside, justice of the peace. L. Pease was appointed constable, on account of a tie vote for such Office.
Sleepy Eye was incorporated as a city in 1903, the first city Officials were: I. M. Olsen, mayor; J. L. Keifer, recorder; C. Overson, treasurer. The officers today (1916)
are: Dr. J. B. Wellcome, mayor; A. D. Bertrand, recorder; H. C. Domeir, treasurer.The persons serving as mayor since the place was incorporated have been I. W. Olsen, C. P. Cutting, William C. Steinke, C. P. Block, Albert Hansen, J. W. B. Wellcome.
The city has its own electric lighting plant and water works, combined in one, and under the same roof is the city hall. The cost to the city was about thirty thousand
dollars. The waterworks department consists of two electric pumps; deep wells are used and excellent water is obtained. The water is forced to an elevated tank. The electric lighting department consists of an A-C lighting system, eleven hundred volts, seventy-five and one hundred and twenty generators; two Corliss engines run by steam power—one is a seventy-five horse power and the other one hundred and fifty horse power. The city has two good public parks.
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DYCKMAN FREE LIBRARY
The city has a splendid free library, the gift of the late Frank H. Dyckman, who established the first bank in Sleepy Eye. It was founded on the same plan as the Andrew Carnegie libraries—the donor gave the building, provided the people would annually tax themselves for the books and maintenance of the property. The building was dedicated in May, 1901. It cost, with the five lots, ten thousand dollars. It now contains three thousand volumes and is well patronized. Miss Lydia Sasse is the present librarian.
MONUMENT TO CHIEF SLEEPY EYE
The flour milling company of the city erected a fine monument in honor to chief Sleepy Eye, whose bones are buried beneath the monument. He was a friend of the white race. The brand of “Sleepy Eye Flour” is known from coast to coast.
BUSINESS INTERESTS
The first store in the village of Sleepy Eye was built during the autumn of 1872, by William Robinson.
The first hotel was that built by Chris Emery, the Lake House.
Hyacinth St. Couturier, a Canadian Frenchman, came here in the fall of 1857, locating on the east side of the lake from which the village derives its name. It was formerly called by the Indians “Big Wood Lake.” He was the first settler in what is now the city of Sleepy Eye. He kept his claim during the 1862 Indian uprising, and remained away three years; returned, located on his old claim and remained a permanent citizen. His daughter, Mary, born on December 6, 1857, was the first birth in the present city.
The first hotel was that built by Chris Emery, the Lake House.
Hyacinth St. Couturier, a Canadian Frenchman, came here in the fall of 1857, locating on the east side of the lake from which the village derives its name. It was formerly called by the Indians “Big Wood Lake.” He was the first settler in what is now the city of Sleepy Eye. He kept his claim during the 1862 Indian uprising, and remained away three years; returned, located on his old claim and remained a permanent citizen. His daughter, Mary, born on December 6, 1857, was the first birth in the present city.
By 1882 the place supported the following lines of business and professions:
One bank, five hotels, eight general stores, two drug stores, two hardware stores, two furniture stores, one boot and shoe store, one merchant tailor, four millinery establishments, two harness shops, two shoe shops, six farm implement dealers, two wagon shops, six blacksmiths shops, one bakery, three restaurants, two meat
markets, two liveries, one feed store, one cigar store, one news stand, one grain elevator (capacity of one hundred thousand bushels), two warehouses, three lumber yards, two barber shops, two photograph galleries, one brewery and twelve saloons. There were also two good weekly newspapers, two law firms and four physicians; also a circulating library and reading room. All this Showing had been made in the first decade of the town’s history.
One bank, five hotels, eight general stores, two drug stores, two hardware stores, two furniture stores, one boot and shoe store, one merchant tailor, four millinery establishments, two harness shops, two shoe shops, six farm implement dealers, two wagon shops, six blacksmiths shops, one bakery, three restaurants, two meat
markets, two liveries, one feed store, one cigar store, one news stand, one grain elevator (capacity of one hundred thousand bushels), two warehouses, three lumber yards, two barber shops, two photograph galleries, one brewery and twelve saloons. There were also two good weekly newspapers, two law firms and four physicians; also a circulating library and reading room. All this Showing had been made in the first decade of the town’s history.
The list of business and professional men of today - May, 1916, is as follows:
Auto-garages: S. A. Wooldrick, P. Fischer, Knause & Larrabee, Grimes & Wiedman; Attorneys: Albert Hauser, L. G. Davis, A. M. Berg; Banks: First National, State Bank, and Farmers & Merchants; Barber Shops: J. L. Keifer, A. H. McMaster, Ed. Weigel; Bakery: Richard Moll, Joseph Haas, H. P. Peterson; Blacksmiths: John Ebenhol, E. C. Remmele, George Schloegee; Creameries: Sleepy Eye Creamery Company and the Sleep Eye Farmers Creamery; Clothing: Glotzbach & Claused, Nelson & Reide Clothing Company, Gehrke & Evans; Drugs: A. F. Kuske, H. H. Meyer; Dray Lines: C. C. Hanson, W. A. Davey; Hotels: Hotel Berg (Berg Brothers), Leona Hotel (Fred Laudskon), Sleepy Eye Hotel; General Dealer's: Ered Seifert, C. A. Fierke, Zell Brothers, Berkner Brothers, Standard Company, August Schroeder, Jenson Mercantile Company; Milliners: Mrs. M. E. Beckenhauer, Mrs. Hans Stockstead, Mrs. H. Schmeltz; Elevators: Farmers Elevator Company; Furniture: L. E. Wheeler, A. G. Jenson; Feed Mill and Store: A. J. Pietrus; Groceries: F. E. Palmer; Harness Shops: H. C. Hanson, J. P. Bertrand & Son, A. J. Spellbrink Hardware: R. H. Bingham, Robert Hose, J. B. McNeill, A. Z. Jenson, W. A. Murphy & Company; Implements: A.R. Kehn, John M. Schropfer; Lumber Dealers: Lampert Lumber Company, Steinke-Seidl Lumber Company; Livery: Crumlett Brothers; Meat Markets: F. W. Meyer, J. A. Glassman; Marble Works: Sleepy Eye Marble and Granite Company; Newspaper: Herald Dispatch; Photographs: H. H. Hinker, Frank Scobie; Restaurants: Depot Lunch Room, H. P. Peterson, Roy Stockstead; Real Estate Dealers: Edward F. Berkner, Hugh McPhee; Stock Dealers: Farmers Co-operative Company, Stock Buyers Association, Foster & Hose, F. W. Meyer; Veterinary: Dr. A. W. Anderson; Merchant Tailor: H. L. Daniels; Physicians: Drs. A. M. Keifer, George Schmidt, F. A. Strickler; Dentists: James & Rounds, J. R. Hollister; Produce: Sleepy Eye Produce Company; Brick and Tile: Sleepy Eye Paving Works; Telephone: Sleepy Eye Telephone Company and Northwestern Telephone Company.
Auto-garages: S. A. Wooldrick, P. Fischer, Knause & Larrabee, Grimes & Wiedman; Attorneys: Albert Hauser, L. G. Davis, A. M. Berg; Banks: First National, State Bank, and Farmers & Merchants; Barber Shops: J. L. Keifer, A. H. McMaster, Ed. Weigel; Bakery: Richard Moll, Joseph Haas, H. P. Peterson; Blacksmiths: John Ebenhol, E. C. Remmele, George Schloegee; Creameries: Sleepy Eye Creamery Company and the Sleep Eye Farmers Creamery; Clothing: Glotzbach & Claused, Nelson & Reide Clothing Company, Gehrke & Evans; Drugs: A. F. Kuske, H. H. Meyer; Dray Lines: C. C. Hanson, W. A. Davey; Hotels: Hotel Berg (Berg Brothers), Leona Hotel (Fred Laudskon), Sleepy Eye Hotel; General Dealer's: Ered Seifert, C. A. Fierke, Zell Brothers, Berkner Brothers, Standard Company, August Schroeder, Jenson Mercantile Company; Milliners: Mrs. M. E. Beckenhauer, Mrs. Hans Stockstead, Mrs. H. Schmeltz; Elevators: Farmers Elevator Company; Furniture: L. E. Wheeler, A. G. Jenson; Feed Mill and Store: A. J. Pietrus; Groceries: F. E. Palmer; Harness Shops: H. C. Hanson, J. P. Bertrand & Son, A. J. Spellbrink Hardware: R. H. Bingham, Robert Hose, J. B. McNeill, A. Z. Jenson, W. A. Murphy & Company; Implements: A.R. Kehn, John M. Schropfer; Lumber Dealers: Lampert Lumber Company, Steinke-Seidl Lumber Company; Livery: Crumlett Brothers; Meat Markets: F. W. Meyer, J. A. Glassman; Marble Works: Sleepy Eye Marble and Granite Company; Newspaper: Herald Dispatch; Photographs: H. H. Hinker, Frank Scobie; Restaurants: Depot Lunch Room, H. P. Peterson, Roy Stockstead; Real Estate Dealers: Edward F. Berkner, Hugh McPhee; Stock Dealers: Farmers Co-operative Company, Stock Buyers Association, Foster & Hose, F. W. Meyer; Veterinary: Dr. A. W. Anderson; Merchant Tailor: H. L. Daniels; Physicians: Drs. A. M. Keifer, George Schmidt, F. A. Strickler; Dentists: James & Rounds, J. R. Hollister; Produce: Sleepy Eye Produce Company; Brick and Tile: Sleepy Eye Paving Works; Telephone: Sleepy Eye Telephone Company and Northwestern Telephone Company.
The present postal business of Sleepy Eye includes seven rural free delivery routes and business for the last fiscal year amounting to nine thousand eight hundred and ninety—one dollars. The amount of deposits in the postal savings department is one thousand dollars.
THE MILLING INDUSTRY:
Until recently the flouring-mills of Sleepy Eye have been rated about second or third in the way of flour production of any in the great flour state of Minnesota. By
all odds the flour industry has done more for the city than any other and possibly all other industries combined. These mills have paid out millions of dollars annually for wheat and have shipped far and near their choice brands of family flour. There are two of these gigantic milling plants at Sleepy Eye, one having a capacity of a thousand barrels daily, while the larger concern can easily turn out into the freight cars at the mill’s doorways five thousand barrels every twenty-four hours. These mills were established about 1882 and have: run successfully ever since until recently, through some unfortunate circumstances they have been closed down. But ere long it is believed that their doors will again open for business, under a new organization and management of affairs.
Until recently the flouring-mills of Sleepy Eye have been rated about second or third in the way of flour production of any in the great flour state of Minnesota. By
all odds the flour industry has done more for the city than any other and possibly all other industries combined. These mills have paid out millions of dollars annually for wheat and have shipped far and near their choice brands of family flour. There are two of these gigantic milling plants at Sleepy Eye, one having a capacity of a thousand barrels daily, while the larger concern can easily turn out into the freight cars at the mill’s doorways five thousand barrels every twenty-four hours. These mills were established about 1882 and have: run successfully ever since until recently, through some unfortunate circumstances they have been closed down. But ere long it is believed that their doors will again open for business, under a new organization and management of affairs.
SOCIAL INTERESTS
WOMAN’S CLUBS:
Sleepy Eye has numerous woman’s clubs, including the following: The Woman’s Club and the Qui Vive Club. The former is the Older Of the two and was organized in 1888, with seventeen members. Mrs. W. W. Smith was the first president and is now the only charter member living who belongs to the club. The membership is limited to twenty. During its history there have been more than seventy-five ladies enter and depart from its circle. The club holds membership in the district, state and general federation. Meetings are held at the public library every other Friday. The present officers are: Mrs. E. P. James, president; Mrs. W. W. Smith, vice-president; Mrs. W. R. Hodges, secretary; Mrs. Julius Hansen, treasurer. The Qui Vive Club was organized in 1905 and has Sixteen members, the number not being limited. Their motto is “Forward till you see the highest.” The club is of a literary order. They also meet at the library building. The officers in the spring of 1916 were: Mrs. F. Riedl, president; Mrs. Morris Christensen, vice-president; Mrs. Frank Meyer, corresponding secretary; Mrs. J. A. Fialka, financial secretary; Mrs. George Cutting, treasurer.
Sleepy Eye has numerous woman’s clubs, including the following: The Woman’s Club and the Qui Vive Club. The former is the Older Of the two and was organized in 1888, with seventeen members. Mrs. W. W. Smith was the first president and is now the only charter member living who belongs to the club. The membership is limited to twenty. During its history there have been more than seventy-five ladies enter and depart from its circle. The club holds membership in the district, state and general federation. Meetings are held at the public library every other Friday. The present officers are: Mrs. E. P. James, president; Mrs. W. W. Smith, vice-president; Mrs. W. R. Hodges, secretary; Mrs. Julius Hansen, treasurer. The Qui Vive Club was organized in 1905 and has Sixteen members, the number not being limited. Their motto is “Forward till you see the highest.” The club is of a literary order. They also meet at the library building. The officers in the spring of 1916 were: Mrs. F. Riedl, president; Mrs. Morris Christensen, vice-president; Mrs. Frank Meyer, corresponding secretary; Mrs. J. A. Fialka, financial secretary; Mrs. George Cutting, treasurer.