Morris tribune., 1885-06-24
A Visit To MnrthMast Minnesota.

We made trip to Morris and Grace
vile recently, and it being our mrs.
visit to that section Of Minnesota, we
were much interested in what we
saw.
The country is mostly prairie, with
out timber except scattering trees
about the lakes. The soil is good, es'
pecially adapted for embarrassing
Many OF the farmers, however, are
| turning their attention to stock
There are numerous small lakes scat
tered over the country, and generally
they are handsome bodies Of water
and add much to the attractiyenes OF
the country.
Morris, in Stevens county,is located
| about 100 miles northwest of st. Paul
We found here handsome county
seat town of about | 5000 people. 1t Is
on the main line of the Manitoba
Railway, and on a branch of the
Northern Pacific, with bright pros
poets of still another line within a
year. The business houses are numer-
Gus and do large business. Then
they have fine courthouse which
stands out as the one prominent
building as you approach the town.
The place is supplied with two news
papers, the Tribune and Sun, the first
Republican, the latter Democratic.
The editors were very courteous to us
and publish good papers. In fact the
uniform politeness of the people is
significant. We felt at home at once,
and our visit was thoroughly enjoy
able. Morris has two banks. The
First National has hansome quarters.
There are few, if any banks in the
state, outside Of the large cities, more
comfortably fixed. MI. Phelps, the
President, is an extensive stock-farmer
living near town, and by hard labor
and judicious management is fast
building up the business of the bank
so nearly wrecked by the failure Of
Messrs. Kenner & More, former officers
Henry S. Judson, cashier is an Austin
boy. He understands the banking
business to perfection-is al expert in
counting cash, and dispatching general
business, and is justly very popular
with the citizens of Morris. We feel
proud of Henry, and we are sure his
large experience, tact and ability and
agreeable ways will make many and
strong friends for the First National.
We met in Morris another friend of
other days, l.. E. Pearce, and old
resident of Mower county. We are
under special obligations to him for
kindly favors. Mr.. Pearce seems to
have done we'll in Morris. He is a
thrifty fellow any way. His possess
ions consist of several large farms, a
large stock ofhardware and furniture,
and considerable personal property.
Besides, he is large stakeholder in
two banks, being vice-President of
the Stevens County Bank, q solid in
stitution with capital of $4,000.
We must not forget the Metropolitan
Hotel, conducted by J. A. Bemis. He
too, resided in Austin at one time, be-
ing B. j. Van Valkenburg's head man
in the wheat business here about II
years ago. We must say-forit is the
truth-that M. Bemis runs q first
class hotel. He is rewarded in his
efforts in this direction, by q large
patronage, his house being almost
constantly crowded with guests.
At Graoeville, some 90 miles from
Morris, we spent few hours. Here
we found Geo. M. Fish, President of
the Bank of Graceville. He was busy
happy and prosperous. Geo. took
good care of us, and through his eff
fonts we saw much of the town and
country in q short time. There is an
Irish Catholic settlement in this place
and vicinity, which is doing well.
The country is fine and Graceville
is the centre ola large trading COM
munity which must necessarily build
up large town in time.-MoWer
County Transcript: