The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-02

ry Blue Earth can and will offer yo
r better inducements than any othe
re portion of the globe, considering
c. her natural advantages and re
$. sources.
j. Amboy.
ii This village presents all the life
Or energy and activity that any new
$ railroad town possesses. There i
il something fresh and interesting il
If it's newness. Situated upon thu
% broad prairie, amid the Oldest set
l. tied portion of the county, it stands
= on its own dignity, awaiting for the
future to cast it's progressive arms
. around it. The town was laid Out
in October, 1879, by the Sioux City
railroad company. 1t occupies a
p portion of the farms of Stephen
Brush and Geo. Quiggle. 1t is a
= strong competitor of WinnebagO
| City, on the Southern Minnesota
, road, in the wheat business, being
only eight miles from the latter
, place. All its business houses are
built upon either side of a single
street, running east and west, and
stand close together, instead of be-
ing scattered over IA large territory
similar to many new places. 1t
would surprise stranger to note
the large number of teams. that
daily throng this new metropolis,
bringing in wheat and other pro-
duce. The first building was erect
ed by Robert Richardson, who now
occupies it with Il stock of dry
goods, groceries, crockery, boots
and shoes, which is 2Sx30, with a
wing of l2x20. Mr.. Richardson
also enjoys the position of postmas-
ter.
The country around Amboy is
one of the most fertile in South
western Minnesota, and is pOpulat-
ed by Il wide awake, prosperous and
intelligent class of farmers, who
take a just pride in their agricultu-
raj pursuits. Its business men are
energetic and alive to the wants of
their trade, by carrying well assert
ed stocks of merchandise. The
citizens of Amboy have provided
for the spiritual welfare of it's citi-
zens by erecting two pretty and
roomy church buildings, one for
the Methodist and the other for the
Presbyterian denominations. Beth
buildings have steeples and are
paid for. Several private residences
have been put up and several 9TH
ers will be erected another season.
Two warehouses, capable of holding
5000 bushels of wheat each, adorn
the railroad track. The railroad .
company have a neat and tasty de- s
pot, presided over by B. G. Turner, ,
who makes an affable and accom- q
agent. The town is only
one mile from timber, on the Blue !
Earth river, while the majority of {
are raising groves of trees,
which in a few years will provide ,,
them with an abundance of fire
wood. We bespeak for Amboy a :
prosperous future, and always a q
five progressive village. t
Garden City. c
Here we found ourselves over I
looking one of the oldest towns of
the county, situated on the Waton-
wan river, and amid the most thick ,
ly settled portion of the county. :
Upon the south, and fringing the s
river, is series of bold but easily &
accessible bluffs, upon whose sum- |
mit grand and picturesque view
Is obtained of the village and sur
rounding country. The town was
laid out in 1856 by Rev. Anthony
Case, and contains, besides several
business houses and private resi- $
dences, two grist mills, one church ]
building, while three other denOm- q
nations hold services in the public ,
hall, one school house and two hO- {
tells. The grist mills are owned by
A. Friend and Mr.. Enfield. The
Baptist church is represented by
Rev. r. lockwood. ID. Williams,
f. b. Evans and J. Preston are
dealers in general merchandise, I
A. Warner drugs and medicines,
while E. p. Evans and U. S. Grant S
are the hotel keepers. They all
enjoy a lucrative business from the
populous farming community that
seek Garden City as a market. The
population of the village is about
$50.
These comprise all the villages l
of any Importance in the county. yet /,
at several of the various township
post offices is found a store with
small stock of goods. We append
brief summary of the townships with
their chief characteristics, in alpha
betical order us follows, taken from
Shoemaker's Directory:
BUTTERNUT VALLEY.
The nearest railroad market to
this town is Lake Crystal, which is
at an average distance of five miles.
1t is also reached by good prairie
roads from MankatO, which is within
about fifteen miles. Butternut Val.
ley contains many lakes, and much
valuable hay land, and is peculiarly
adapted for grazing and the dairy
business. Population 615.
BEACFORD.
BeaufOrd is conveniently situated