Elgin Village is the shipping point of a rich farming community which extends into Olmsted County, and furnishes adequate trading facilities for the people it serves. To the stranger the village presents a particularly attractive appearance, the north side of its principal business street stretching eastward from the railroad station being filled with sightly brick and stucco buildings, which on the south side is the new hotel, and a number of wooden buildings, as well as the brick telephone office. Westward from the tracks are the two elevators and the water tower. The residence section is well laid out, with cement sidewalks and numerous shade trees, and contains many handsome modern homes.

The village is located at a point where the broad acres of Greenwood Prairie blend with the northern border of the beautiful valley of the Whitewater, a stream that here drains the fertile acres of Viola and Elgin townships, and is fed by a myriad of sparkling springs from the hill sides, which gives a diversity of landscape that challenges the admiration. The southern border of the valley is skirted with low lying bluffs fringed with belts of timber and copse wood, while the northern border of the valley is lost in the undulating prairies that stretch many miles to the northward, to be lost in turn in the rugged landscape of the Zumbro River.

Elgin is incorporated, and the municipal improvements include good fire protection, waterworks, and electricity, and an excellent school which will soon be housed in a $65,000 building. There are Methodist and Lutheran churches, a good newspaper, two live banks, a creamery and live stock shipping association, and a goodly number of stores.

The early history of the village coincides with the early settlement of the township, as the interests of the community which the first settlers started centered about sections 27 and 28, in which sections the present village is located. The claims of the first four settlers, George and Curtis Bryant, Henry H. Atherton and George Farrer were all in this vicinity.

The first house of public accommodation was the frame house erected in 1856 on the northwest quarter of section 28, by George and Waldo Farrar, and opened by George Farrar for the entertainment of travelers. This is considered the first hotel and the first place of business in the community. This hotel was closed in 1860, and shortly after that Zebina Weld opened a hotel in the northwest quarter of section 27.

In the meantime, in 1857, Benjamin H. Gould built and conducted a blacksmith shop on the northeast corner of section 34. Mr. Gould, in 1858, erected for D. R. Sweezy, a blacksmith shop, a little south of what is now the east head of Elgin's principal business street. A flouring mill was built in 1860, on what was afterward known as the Mill lot in section 27, on the north branch of the Whitewater, by Parr & Ellis. In 1866 the mill was discontinued for lack of sufficient water power, and the machinery removed to Elba, in Winona County.

The first store was opened in the fall of 1863. In the fall of that year Albert Glines sent D. F. Ferguson to Minneiska for a load of goods, which Mr. Glines displayed for sale in the home of John Houghton in section 27. In the following winter, Mr. Glines moved his granary from his farm to what is now the northeast corner of Main and Mill Streets, in the village of Elgin, fitted it up for a store, stocked it with general merchandise, and started business in the spring of 1864. This store was later taken over by the Richardson Brothers who conducted it for many years.

In 1874 Alexander Scott started a wagon-making shop on the corner of Park and School streets, which he continued for many years. Bryant Brothers & Johnson started a general store on the northwest corner of Park and Main streets. The first drug store in Elgin was started in 1876 by N. S. Head, but soon changed hands several times and was finally sold to Bryant Brothers & Johnson, who conducted it in connection with their general store.

In 1877, Bryant Brothers & Johnson erected a grain elevator on Main street, a few rods west of their store which was on the southwest corner of Main and Park streets. They marketed their grain in Eyota, the nearest railroad point. A few months later, in the same year, Richardson Brothers erected their elevator which with alterations and additions is still standing on the same site. Their market was at Mississippi River points. This year, 1877, was the banner grain year of southeastern Minnesota. The next year came the wheat failure, but these two elevators had plenty of grain in storage, for which they found a good market at a good price. When the railroad came, the Richardson Brothers found themselves in a suitable location with their elevator, but the Bryant Brothers & Johnson firm were compelled to move to the tracks, to its present location, the successive owners having been Louis Hoffman, J. W. Bryant, the Western Elevator Co., and D. F. Farsley.

The Winona & St. Peter railroad was completed through Elgin in November, 1878. It enters the town in section 33 and extends in a northeastwardly direction through the village of Elgin, to section 13, where it enters Plainview Township. With the coming of the railroad there was considerable doubt as to where the village was to be located. Hitherto the principal street was Main street, running north and south some three blocks east of where the railroad is now located. The Richardson Brothers, being well located on Main street, and owning property in the vicinity were contented to have Main street remain the business street, more especially as they were well provided with shipping facilities through their elevator which was located along the right of way. George Bryant, on the other hand, planned a village along Broadway, two blocks west of the station, he too having shipping facilities near the right of way, having moved the Bryant Brothers & Johnson elevator from its location on Main street. The Bryant Brothers & Johnson store was moved from Main street to Broadway, and other business houses built along that street. So for a time there were two villages, one on Main street and one on Broadway, with the station and the elevators in between at the tracks. Before long, however, a compromise was reached, Main street and Broadway were abandoned as business streets, and the stores were moved to Park street, so that the business center now starts at the tracks and stretches eastward.

The first issue of the Minnesota Union, published July 4, 1879, contains a number of advertisements which may be taken as fairly indicative of the business interests of the village shortly after the arrival of the railroad. These advertisements were as follows: H. G. Richardson & Son, general store; Bryant Brothers & Johnson (George and Curtis Bryant and A. K. Johnson), general store; Eureka House, A. F. Durham; Elgin House, L. V. Rich; Northwestern Hotel, H. Sievert; George M. Clark, farm machinery; S. F. Wicklow, farm machinery; W. T. Adams, meats; Henry Claussen, meats; E. W. Westover, blacksmith; D. A. Hart, refreshments; Frank Kierman, billiard hall; W. J. Abbott, barber; Beardsley & Weber, harness makers; R. McBride, mason; Alex Scott, wagon maker; J. M. Williams, dentist; A. B. Clark, dentist.

Elgin was already a hamlet of considerable importance in 1884. At that time the business houses were as follows: Richardson Bros., grain elevator and lumber yard; J. W. Bryant & Co., grain elevator and coal yard; E. Ordway & Son, hardware, tinware and pumps; Landon, Burchard & Co., drugs and medicines; H. G. Richardson & Co., dry goods, groceries, clothing, etc.; Fred. Meyer, blacksmith and horse-shoeing; M. H. Moody, harness-maker and carpenter; Alex. Scott, wagon-maker; F. A. Amsden, harness-maker; William Beantler, boots and shoes; Frank Ressler, butcher; E. O. Morton, carpenter, painter and windmills; Mercer Bros., black-smithing and horseshoing; John Graham, carpenter; Frank Kiernan, saloon and billiards, and E. Meilke, saloon and pool. There are two hotels in Elgin, the Eureka House, M. H. Safford, proprietor, and the Northwestern Hotel, E. Meilke, proprietor. Dr. W. T. Adams, then of the firm of Landon, Burchard & Co., had his private office in the rear of that company's drug store. J. B. Norton, justice of the peace, had his headquarters in the office of the Richardson Brothers' elevator. Dorr Dickerman, the town clerk, had his office in the store of E. Ordway & Son.

The fire of 1889 is an event long remembered in Elgin. On the night of November .., a dance was in progress in the dance hall over the store of the Richardson Brothers, on the north side of Park street, when a fire broke out in the old tanks in the rear of the store, probably caused by a lighted cigar. The fire was discovered by one of the dancers, and the young men present at once turned in an alarm and went after the village fire apparatus. The fire rapidly spread in two directions to the saloon building on one side and the bank on the other. The fire volunteers soon had three streams of water playing on the flame, and heroic work of these volunteers, together with the fact that two large wooden buildings had recently been pulled down to make room for two proposed brick buildings, undoubtedly saved the entire business section from ruin. Disastrous as the fire was, it resulted in good to the village, for that side of the street was soon afterward built up with brick blocks.

The village of Elgin had no separate government from the township until 1894, when it was incorporated. The first officers were: president, J. W. Bryant; trustees, H. G. Richardson, L. Hoffman, and D. W. Searles; recorder, John R. Houghton; treasurer, C. H. Siem; constables, B. S. Ordway and John Tradup; justice of the peace, Robert Williams. The streets, business houses and residences are well lighted with electricity, furnished by the Commonwealth Utilities Co. For some years the streets were lighted with kerosene lamps. In 1911, the village put in an acetylene plant for street lighting, the vote being taken by the council March 4 of that year. The Commonwealth Utilities Co. was granted a franchise March 4, 1911. A contract for street lighting was signed by the council Feb. 13, 1917, and the electric current turned on Feb. 8, 1917. The council meetings are held in the First State Bank. The village building houses the jail, the pumping station, and the fire apparatus. There is also an additional small building as a more conveniently located shelter for one of the hose carts.

The first move toward a waterworks system in Elgin was taken March 4, 1895, when land for the purpose of erecting a plant was purchased from J. W. Bryant and the Richardson Brothers, not far from the Richardson Elevator. A well was drilled, a tower and tank erected, windmill power installed, and 6-inch mains placed down the business street. With this beginning, the system has gradually been extended. The windmill was early found inadequate, and a gasoline engine installed. Later another well was drilled and another gasoline engine installed. In 1908 a new tower and tank were constructed. In 1917 a kerosene engine was put in, being paid for the first year. The works now consist of a direct and gravity system, with a gravity pressure of 60 pounds. The elevated tank on a 100-foot tower has a capacity of 47,250 gallons. The water supply is from two wells, 100 and 240 feet deep. There are six-inch mains along the main streets of town, and others of four inches. There are twenty hydrants. The water is distributed to every part of the village through well constructed mains, and there are very few houses in the village that are not supplied with the city water. Water is supplied to the users, at a moderate expense. Lawns are sprinkled at the option of owners, and streets are sprinkled in any part of the village, when residents request it. The water has a force sufficient to throw a double stream of water over the highest buildings, in the remote parts of the village, while on the business streets, from four to six powerful streams are available at once. In this system Elgin takes considerable pride, and is further honored in being one of the pioneers in establishing water-works among the small towns of this part of the state.

The Elgin Fire Department, as at present constituted, was organized April 8, 1905. Previous to that time there had been a bucket brigade of volunteers. The first officers in 1905 were John Walch, president; D. R. Bigham, secretary; D. W. Searles, treasurer; and Charles Richmond, chief. J. G. Marek and Albert Stephans were the wardens. The full membership of 25 there was one company, with J. D. Siem as captain and Carl Boughton and Vincent Holton as lieutenants. The other company was organized before the close of the year. In addition to affording fire protection the department has taken an important part in the affairs of the village. On July 4, 1905, it had charge of a large "Home Coming" celebration, and in 1908 a similar affair was held. Several dances have been given, and the funds thus secured used in the purchase of a piano, for a small house, and for a fire hall and other smaller equipment not furnished by the village. The company has two hose carts with about 600 feet of 2 inch cotton hose, a hook and ladder truck and a 40-gallon chemical engine.

The school lot where is now located the Elgin public school has been the center of the instruction of youth in this vicinity since 1858, when school was taught there in a little claim shanty. The school is wee equipped, and teaches the usual graded and high school subjects. The village has recently voted $65,000 for a new building. The east wing of the present building was erected in 1883 after the cyclone, the west wing being added later. The first high school class was graduated in 1893. There were four members of the class: Louis Davis, Emmelyne J. Resler, now Mrs. Wolf; Ada C. Richardson, now Mrs. Charles Goodwin; and Iva M. Richardon, now Mrs. Paul Bryant. The school has the usual play apparatus in the yard. In the winter time, the village floods a nearby pasture, thus furnishing a safe skating place for the younger generation.

From the early days, there has been no lack of music in Elgin. Among the pioneers, there was a number of good singers, and music was always a feature of all social and religious gatherings. As time went on, musical instruments found their way among the people, and as the village increased in importance, efforts were made to organize a brass band which were more or less successful under different leaderships, which with the aid of a drum corps, always afforded music for nearly all public occasions.

In more recent years that has been a good band, public concerts have been given, and during the World War, the musicians were very generous in donating their services for various public patriotic functions. Orchestras are formed from time to time that are in good demand. Among the people there is a considerable amount of musical talent, and most public entertainments are well supplied with musid that ranks high among the musical efforts in larger communities. There are very few homes that do not boast of a piano or musical instrument of some kind, and not a few among the children and young people are proficient players. Among our children and young folks there are also a number of beautiful voices that are capable of being trained into any kind of concert work that may be desired.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Elgin dates back to the earliest days. Many of the most prominent of the early settlers brought with them their Methodist faith from Vermont. The first Methodist services were held here in the home of George Bryant as early as 1855. William H. Soul preached here in 1858 or 1859, Elgin being then included in the St. Charles circuit, which, besides Elgin, embraced St. Charles, Dover, Eyota, Littleville and Plainview. O. P. Crawford, who came here in 1857, was also a local preacher. October 6, 1866, the Elgin circuit was organized, taking in a part of what had hitherto been the Plainview circuit. It included appointments at Forest Mound, Farmington, Pleasant View, Fitch's Schoolhouse, and the Stone Schoolhouse. A board of trustees was constituted. The new circuit took immediate measures toward the erection of a parsonage at Elgin, for which George Bryant gave the land. Labor was commenced October 15, and on November 10 the minister's goods were moved into the house when only part of the roof was on. On November 19, the building was completed. The official members for the year 1877 were Town Williams, S. G. Matthews, B. H. Gould, R. W. Chapman, George Bryant and George Farrar. In 1879 J. Q. Richardson, I. W. Rollins and Joseph Crawford were added. In 1878 the circuit contracted with J. W. Dickey for the erection of a church edifice, including foundation, for $2,3000, and this edifice was built under the direction of the board, and completed about September, 1878. It had an existence of but a few years, however, as it was totally demolished by the cyclone of July 21, 1883. The present church building was erected on the old site. Various improvements have since been made from time to time, including a full basement for the Sunday school and social purposes, constructed in 1915. The pastors have been: Reverend Messrs. W. C. Rice, George S. Simms, Nahun Taintor, J. G. Tetor, George S. Inness, O. A. Phillips, J. W. Mower, J. W. Stebbins, Leland P. Smith, T. H. Kinsman, Rev. Squire, B. C. Gillis, Wm. Gillis, W. T. Miller, E. C. Teachout, H. L. St. Clair, R. C. Wilkinson, S. W. Kemerer, R. O. Laureson, E. C. Lathrop, J. R. Jeffery, H. Hugh Gower, A. T. Davis, F. W. Sanderson and E. W. Haley.

The Congregational Church of Elgin was in the early days an important feature in the religious life of the community. Rev. Jonathan Cochran, an early settler who was also a clergyman, began holding services in Elgin as early as 1858. April 10, 1858, the church was regularly organized at the home of John Bryant. Rev. Jonathan Cochran was moderator, Benjamin H. Gould was clerk. Rev. Elias Clark, of Rochester, was present and assisted in the organization. The Articles of Faith and Covenants of the General Congregational Churches were adopted, with the exception that Article 7, relating to the sinful condition of man, was not to be accepted as including infants, an interesting sidelight on the theological trend of thought at that period.

The following persons were received from other churches: Benjamin Gould, Betsy Gould, Almira C. Gould, Benjamin H. Gould and Elizabeth Gould from the First Congregational Church of Seaport, Maine; Erastus Dodge, Mercy Dodge and Chandler W. Dodge, from the Independent Congregational Church of Oswego, N. Y.; and Catherine Washburn from the Congregational Church of Waterloo, Wis. James A. Washburn, Martha Dodge and Susan J. Dodge were received on profession of faith. Benjamin Gould was chosen deacon and Chandler W. Dodge, clerk. The next day being Sunday, regular church services were held and a Sunday school was organized with R. C. Stillman as superintendent. July 19, R. C. Stillman presented a letter from the Congregational Church of Hitchcockville, Conn., and Amy Barton from the Congregational Church of Binghamton, N. Y. The early meetings of the congregation were held at the John Bryant residence and the Forest Mound schoolhouse. Unfortunately difficulties soon arose in which the pastor and the deacon assumed opposite sides, difficulties somewhat typical of the days of uncompromising theological dogma, when "pride" and "self righteousness" were deadly accusation to bring against a church member, and when differences in church circles spread to the entire community. As the result of the controversy the deacon with his family withdrew to the Methodist Episcopal church and was succeeded by James A. Washburn. Sept. 5, 1862, Henry Willard, the Plainview pastor, became pastor. Rev. Mr. Cochran continued to reside here and died a little later. Oct. 8, 1866, Rev. Palmer Letts became the pastor. For him a parsonage was erected , the work being started Nov. 7, 1867, and the pastor moving in Feb. 12, 1867, though the work was not entirely completed. Aug. 7, 1870, Rev. Gilbert T. Holcomb became the pastor. April 2, 1871, Rev. Mr. Willard of Plainview was again given charge. Since then there has been preaching at irregular intervals. In 1889 there came a revival of interest, with Rev. J. B. Renshaw as pastor, and in 1890 the new Articles and Covenants were adopted. The organization is still in existence, but the few remaining members worship with other congregations. The Congregational Society, as distinct from the congregation, was organized Jan. 28, 1867, the first trustees being Nathan Engle, George Bryant and William Cochran.

The Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church (U. A. C.) was founded Feb. 19, 1894, by a number of Lutherans in and near Elgin, some of whom were members of Lutheran church at Potsdam, Minn. Rev. C. W. Brink, of Potsdam church, assisted in the organization. The charter members were: Carl Uecker, Julius Bartz, Hermann Schumacher, Fritz Petrich, Gustav Ponto, August Polikowsky, August Nehring, Ludwg Gehlhar, Julius Baum, Julius Polikowsky, Ferdinand Lambrecht, Rudolf Ponto, Louis Hoffman, Julius Rosolack, Christian Koepke, Julius Stephan. In the summer of 1894 the congregation erected a church 24 x 36, and parsonage on the east half of black (block) 19, purchased from H. G. Richardson & Co. for $200. The church was dedicated in October, 1894, which day also witnessed the installation of the first pastor, Rev. Henry Koepsell, a graduate of Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Ill. Rev. Koepsell filled the vacancy which lasted till February, 1896. Rev. B. Otto then took charge and served until August, 1900. September 5, 1900, Rev. E. H. T. Walther began noble work and served till May, 1919.

June 22, 1919, Rev. C. A. Affeldt, of Waltham, Minn., was installed as pastor by Rev. M. Weinhold, of Rochester. In 1905 the congregation erected a fine new church edifice on the old site, the old building being assigned to serve as school room. The first teacher in charge of the week-day school was Werner Heidtbrink, who served from September, 1917, to August, 1919. The school offers first to eighth grade subjects in the English language. In 1919 the parsonage was remodeled and enlarged by an addition to the west side. An addition was also built to the school house to serve as second class room and meeting room for the Ladies' Aid Society, consisting of some 50 members. The congregation now owns a complete set of necessary buildings in first-class condition. All buildings are electrically lighted and connected with village water system.

January 1, 1920, the congregation numbered 87 voting members, 286 communicant members and 450 souls. Its property is valued at $25,000. The deacons are Emil Sell, Ferd. Koepsell and Gustav Gehlhar; the trustees, Aug. Koepsell, Gustav Ponto and Henry Wehrs; the school board, Chas. Tradup, Ernst Koepsell, Joh. Roeder; the treasurer, Reinh. Lietz; the secretary, Ernst Koepsell; the chairman, Wm. Schultz. With Trinity Church from its beginning was connected St. John's Church at Haverhill, Olmsted Co., and since 1898, St. John's Lutheran Church in Viola Township, Olmsted County. The pastor is highly esteemed, not only by his own congregations, but by the community, and his work is one of valued and increasing usefulness to this vicinity.

The First State Bank of Elgin dates back to the financial activities of J. W. Bryant, in the early nineties. About 1891, he started the Elgin Bank, a private institution. He opened in a building occupying the site of the present bank. This structure was burned in 1899, and was replaced in 1902 by the present bank. This building, of sightly ornamental brick, is well equipped as a modern banking house. It has been an important center in the village for many years. Many notable committee meetings have been held there; at one time the postoffice was located in its rear, and the village council still meets there. Mr. Bryant continued his private institution until April 1, 1904. On that date the First National Bank was organized by a group of Winona men, connected with the Merchants National Bank, in that city. The incorporators were W. P. Tearse, Sr. (president), J. H. Davis (vice-president), Hanibal Choate, V. Simpson and Theodore Wold. The new institution opened its doors April 4, 1904, with a capital of $25,000. John Walsh was cashier, and Edith Sawyer, who has been with Mr. Bryant, was assistant. In 1905 George Toogood and John Dubbles were added to the list of directors. In 1906 Mr. Tearse resigned as president and was followed by Hanibal Choate. The national charter was surrendered Aug. 1, 1909, and on Aug. 2, 1919, the bank was chartered as the First State Bank of Elgin with a capital of $30,000 and a surplus of $10,000. The first officials were: J. H. Davis (president), George Toogood (vice-president), John Walch (cashier), W. H. Richardson, John Dubbles, H. Choate and Theo. Wold. George Toogood was succeeded as vice-president in 1916 by W. H. Richardson. After Mr. Wold entered the Federal Reserve Bank, he resigned his place on the directorate of the bank at Elgin, and was succeeded by Charles Tradup. In 1915, John D. Siem became the assistant cashier. In 1920 William H. Richardson became president, John Walch vice-president, and John Siem cashier. The working force of the bank now consists of Messrs. Walch and Siem and Miss Sawyer. In December, 1904, the deposits were $52,000. In 1910 the deposits had increased to $225,000; in 1915 to $350,000; and in 1919 to $640,000. A statement of the condition of the bank at the close of business Sept. 12, 1919, shows a capital of $30,000; surplus and undivided profits of $23,553.47; deposits of $5556,900.52; and loans and discounts of $486,486.75. The bank has taken its share in all public and patriotic work, and is assisting its village and agricultural patrons along all lines of legitimate endeavor, thus helping in the general prosperity of the whole community.

 

First State Bank of Elgin

H. B. Choate
Hoard & Tenney of Winona, photographers
This may be Hanibal Choate mentioned above.
Photo Contributed by Jean

Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Elgin
Emil J. Sell, President & John C. Kettner, Cashier