Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-21
IN the DAYS OF Old.
A Glance Back at the Beginning Of the
Village of Wiiimar.

The first business house in Willmar
was a general merchandise store
started by A. Leib in the summer of
1869. The building stood on the old
Kelly lots iu' First ward. A couple of
months later John Paulson and A. E.
Rice, under the firm name of Paulson
and Rice started general merchan-
disc store. Moses Herrick erected a
small hotel north of the track. Mr..
Brant built a hotel on the site now oc-
cupied by Hanscom's bakery. He af-
forwards built the NARROW House.
The r. R. reached Willmar that year
and small depot was built, A. B.
Robbins was the first agent, and Ras-
mus Korthe baggage hustler. The
railroad was blockaded during the
winter of 1910, and the merchants
had to haul their goods by team from
Litchtield.
In the spring of 1870 many new bust
ness enterprises were started, Paul.
son, Rice & Robbins opened the first
lumber yard. A. B. Hanscom built
the first butcher shop, G. F. Clark
started a drug store, Bowers &
Works started the first tinsmith shop
in Willmar, John Lucas and Tom o.
son went into the tinsmtth and hard
ware business soon after, Jacob
Brem had the first boot and shoe shop.
The same year blacksmith shop was
started, but the proprietor's name has
been forgotten.
A DR.. Campbell located in Willmar
the same year.
c. G. Carlberg had the first furni-
ture store in Willtnar: he started in
10 or II. Ole Forstrom is the pio-
neer of the tailors.
In 1871 M. Abbott built general
store at the place now occupied by s.
S. Glarum. Newhall went into the
restaurant business. John Schaeffer
was the first man in the flour and feed
business. The same year J. H.
Brown came to Willmar and hung out
his shingle as lawyer. He also started
the first newspaper in Willmar, the
Willmar Republican, the progenitor
of the Gazette.
The Bank of Willmar was started
in l773, by Corser & Todd, who AFTER
wards sold out to A. B. Robbins.
The term general merchandise was a
pretty comprehensive term in those
days. 1t included dry goods, grocer
les, boots and shoes, hardware. tin
ware, agricultural tools, patent medi-
cines anything from a paper of pins
to threshing machine.
Wil1mar did not have a flour mill
until about 1880, when one was erected
west of the Farmers Elevator. This
building burned in 1886, and another
was erected on the south side of Paci-
fic Ave., opposite the old site.
| Willmar was organized as a village
by special act of the legislature,
passed Jan. 18th, 1877. The first meet
ing of the council was held the 10th
OF the same month. The council was
composed of the following members:
Pres, A. B. Robbins. aldermen, G..
w. Moore, John Moore, A. B. Hans
com, j. w. Burdick. G. c. Spots
wood and S. Shedd.
| A. N. Lewis was elected treasurer,
A. f. NOrdin. recorder. and r. NJ.
Johnston: Justice.
The first religious organization in
Gliding Willmar and vicinity was un-
donbtedly the Vinje congregation, Or
ganized April 23rd, 1850. It was a
comprehensive organization, as it's ar
ticles OF incorporation prescribes it's
field of operation as including parts
of Kandiyohi and Monongalia, coun-
ties. This is the origin.of what is now
commonly known as the Synod church.
under the charge of Rev. Estrem.
The first Episcopal service was held
in A. S. Leib's store in 1872. St.
Lulxes Episcopal church was organized
in 1877. ttev> D. T. Booth has been
| the minister OF the church since 1873.
Before that tins services were con-
Quoted by Missionary Ciump, who
occasionally visited the church.
The first Presbyterian churx.. was
| organized June 3rd, 1877. with w. j..
11oar as pastor. A small church was
erected, which gave way some years
ago to the finest church edifice in
Willmar.
The Norwegian Danish Evangelical
Lutheran church was organized in
B14. Rev. O. Paulson was its hfst
past&:. A Methodist Episcopal
church ~;as organized in 1873 with A.
K. Abbott q pastor in charge. This
organization, however, was allowed
to lapse, and nothi2g was done till
1882, when it was revived and a
church built. St. Mary's Catholic
church was organized in the eariy
seventies, the exact year the writer
has been unable IL, find.
These are the pioneers in the church
field. The Swedish churches, Baptist,
Mission and Lutheran were not or
gained until much later, between 1880
and 1890.
The writer of this article saw Will
mar in 1870. He little dreamed when
ne saw the few shanties then represent
ing the town, that it would in such a
short while grow to be what is now
| one of the most imnortant b,,s;aoaa