CHAPTER V.

CITY OF WEBSTER

On a warm Sunday afternoon in August, 1880, the editor who was then living in Jordan, Minnesota, happened to pass the home of R. H. McClelland. Mr. McClelland was sitting on his porch and called the editor. As they visited along J. W. Callender and Andrew Smail joined them. After further conversation Mr. McClelland produced a letter which he had received from Mr. Josephus Alley. It contained an account of developments in Dakota. The Milwaukee railroad was to be built West from Ortonville and this would open wonderful chances for new towns. Before breaking up the men had decided to go west on the following day. At the railroad station on the following morning Mr. E. Balzer joined the party. They reached Ortonville that evening and on the following morning hired a livery team with driver to take them overland. On the evening of the second day they reached the shanty of J. P. Webster where they inquired for a place to stay over night. They were hospitably received and Mr. Webster, who was anxious to attract settlers, induced them to file on claims.

E. R. and W. S. Ruggles and J. C. Bush had squatted on the land now occupied by Webster. These men had sized up the situation and everything seemed to point to the fact that a town would be located here. In fact, one of the colony party picked up a stone and walking out to about where main street now ends, planted it and said, `Here, boys, is going to be the town." After all filing arrangements had been made the men returned to their homes for the winter.

In the latter part of November a letter was received from J. P. Webster, informing them that they had been successful with the railroad representatives and that the station would be located, as was expected. The colonists spent the winter making plans for the biggest and best town in Dakota. Of course there were many who tried to convince them of the folly of such an undertaking. They were warned against the Indians who would surely scalp them in short order. But nothing could change the minds of these determined men.

About May 15, 1881 Mr. E. Balzer, and Mr. John and Christ Sauers, with their families and the editor came with three emigrant cars to the new station which had already been platted. There being no depot or agent the cars were placed on the side track. The Sauers unloaded and squatted on claims in Webster township. The Balzers with the editor unloaded the oxen and cow and set up housekeeping. Mr. Balzer went to Milbank for a car load of lumber to build a hotel, which was his intention before leaving Jordan. In two weeks the hotel was far enough along in construction so that it was habitable and the car home. which, though not a pleasant place, had proven so helpful, was abandoned.
(This first building is now the residence of W. E. Walton)

As the editor had intended going into the hardware business, he was the next to get material for his store, which was soon completed. This building is located South of the Webster hardware store and is still in excellent condition. John Norton, and E. W. Smail, who had previously joined the colonists, came from Minneapolis with two car loads of lumber for the building of a general store and lumber yard. By the first of July these buildings were erected and some goods had arrived.

Of course a town if it was to be anything must have a newspaper. They were fortunate enough to find a man who was looking for an opening, A. C. Tuttle, from Baraboo, Wisconsin. He came and the first paper in the county, the Reporter and Farmer, was located in a building where the First National Bank building now stands.

Before winter had set in the depot was built with rooms on a second floor for agent Ruggles and his family. Dr. J. L. Harris had also built his drug store and started his practice, though his stock of goods did not arrive until the following spring. (The old depot is now the residence of Mr. Zinnie, the drayman. The drug store, which was built where the Lock drug store now stands, is the residence west of Jacob Boyd's home.) The first postmaster was E. R. Ruggles, who was also depot agent.

In order to save on fuel, the business places were not heated and so the few customers were waited upon in cold rooms. The only open house was the Balzer hotel where all congregated and "penny ante" was the game for pastime. In the spring each figured up his profit and loss and found that he quit as he had begun. When the officers from the fort came down for a few days' outing the ante was raised to suit the visitors.

By April the blockade was raised and trains were running. New settlers came in daily and by fall the population had increased five fold. New business places established: Ole and John A. Bakke, the first butcher shop; 0. A. Chilsen, general store; J. A. Lee, lumber yard; Thomas McKennett, blacksmith shop; W. M. Paul, livery barn, also running a stage between Webster and Watertown; J. C. Bush, livery barn; R. H. Smith, drayman ; D. B. Compton, feed store, with rooms above; Postmaster Ruggles, postoffice.

The East side of main street between the opera house and the railroad track was known as Balzer's lake. Every spring for several years this filled with water and many ducks were shot by those who arose early enough in the morning. The only main crossing into town from the south was the one just West of the depot.

By winter we felt that Webster was getting to be some burg. Thanksgiving day was one of Dakota's sunniest and there was much for which to be thankful. Turkey was served at a dinner given at the Balzer house. In the evening a big dance was given at the Bakke hall, over the butcher shop. The first real social function occurred at the Balzer house, January 1, 1883, when John Norton and Lurency Long, (now Mrs. Bashaw of this city) were married. This winter proved to be more lively than the previous one had been. Due to train blockade travelers were quite often held up here for two weeks at a time. Among these were often very splendid entertainers.

With spring came new business and new settlers. The rustle and bustle began early. Mr. Norton built his large residence on North main street, which is still occupied by Mrs. Bashaw. At this time were also built the J. C. Bush and E. Huntington residences, the Congregational church and the Catholic parsonage, which was also used for church services. It is still occupied as a residence. Among the newcomers were: A. Ross, who set up shop in Harris' drug store, Dr. C. E. Brooks, the first barber and dentist and M. Sornson, an apprentice in McKennett's blacksmith shop. These three men are the only ones of the first business men who are still holding down their jobs.

In this year Webster held its first real big Fourth of July celebration and the Sisseton Indians were invited. More than a hundred wagon loads of them came and they encamped West and North of the court house. The citizens of Webster furnished the Indians with three beeves. Among the guests was Chief Gabril Renvill who gave a splendid talk through the assistance of an interpreter. The other Indians who had come prepared, gave their grass dances and powwow in regular Indian fashion. For their performance an admission fee of ten cents was charged by them.

In this year was started the Day County Bank, the first bank of the county, owned by J. Alley and A. Smith. Later this bank was taken over by the Bank of Webster with A. J. Leatch as president and Chalmers Curtis, as cashier. The Farmers Merchants Bank was established by David Williams, president and manager, with E. R. Foster, cashier, 1888, are still here operating as a National Bank.

The first attorney was J. F. Blake. The first loan and land office was established by E. Huntington and W. W. Severy. The one person who might be called Webster's Missionary was Rev. H. Mensing, who came in October 1884 and remained here faithfully holding to the job until his death in 1922. Father Mensing built up not only this parish, but also Waubay, Bristol, Andover, Groton, Britton, Frank and Bradley.

Above—Main Street, 1925     Center—Webster City from the Northwest
Below—Webster City from the Southwest     Inset—Webster in 1885

In March, 1885 Webster was incorporated as a village with E. Huntington as president, John Norton, O. A. Chilson and J. M. Barker, trustees. After incorporation came the task of improving the streets and alleys. With this came the desire to make Webster more beautiful and so the home owners began to set out trees. To make certain the growth of these trees, quite a number of windmills were set up with a tank in the tower. These were so numerous that they attracted the attention of travelers who called Webster the "town of wind-mills." These mills served faithfully until after we were incorporated as a city when a water and sewer system was installed. Today travelers speak of Webster as the "city in the forest." Webster was incorporated as a city April 1895. The first city officials were: Mayor, Frank Sears; Aldermen, C. H. Compton, Finley Ross, Thomas Lawler, H. A. Peabody, Ed McCormack and J. F. Kelley.

Webster has continued in a steady, wholesome growth, with none of the booms which are so often followed by a slump. The original builders of the city had for their aim the building of a city, so well founded that future generations would take pride in furthering its development. Today its population of two thousand enjoys more of the modern conveniences than many cities of twice its size.

Note.-It seems well to mention the fact that R. H. McClelland and J. W. Callender, who were members of the original colonists from Jordan, Minnesota, came to Webster in the summer of 1881 with their wives and built shanties on their claims, but got no further. They left, got cold feet and never returned.

Webster Schools.—The first school taught in Webster was a private school started in the spring of 1882. School was held in the claim shanty of W. S. Ruggles located just south of the present Lutheran church on north main street. It was taught by Miss Ada Laird (now Mrs. Spees of Seattle, Washington.) . School lasted about three months in the spring and Miss Laird expected to receive thirty-five dollars per month. Some of the pupils were: Ella Bush, Cora and George Webster, Cora and Carrie Warner, Bennie Root, Frank and Kendal Parker. At an entertainment given at the close of the school year, all of the pupils spoke a piece. Ella Bush spoke this one:

"Kind friends and dear parents, we welcome you here,
To our school-room so pleasant and teacher so dear.
We hope we have pleased you by what we have learned,
And proved that our hearts to our books have been turned."

Ella A. Bush, (now Mrs. W. P. Postin of Fort Collins, Colorado, says, "I was real proud of myself, but my mother suggested that I would have done better had I taken my gum out of my mouth. Possibly so, but candy and gum were not very plentiful in those days."

In the fall of this same year school was again held in Ruggle's claim shanty and taught by Miss Rebecca Laird. In the following spring school was held in the room above the Bakke butcher shop and taught by Miss Franc Moulton (later Mrs. E. W. Smail, now deceased.) The Bakke hall was used for all community purposes until something more suitable was constructed.

The construction of the first public school of Webster was commenced in the fall of 1882 and finished in the summer of the following year. School opened in the fall of 1883 with Prof. Wilson as principal and Miss Emelia Moulton (now Mrs. C. W. Siglinger of Medford Oregon) as grade teacher. Mr. Wilson did not finish the year as the boys played rough house with him and scared him out. Some of the pupils were: Percy and Elena Peabody, Marcia and Grace Huntington, Ella and Mabel Bush, Agusta and Anna Winter, Bert and Minnie Johnson, Jesse and Florence Ray, John and Lula Prendergast, Clara Betts, Lyle Harris, May and Will Dickenson, Tom and Anna Brigham, Ruth and Edith Turner, Cora and Eva Warner, Laura Severy, Tom Bones, Jr., May Nixon, Mabel Lee, Ethel Trefethren.