News and Gossip
Minneapolis Journal-Aug 17 1896
Severe Storm at Ellsworth
Ellsworth, Minn. Aug 17-The southern portion of Nobles county has been visited with very heavy and continued rains.
The heaviest electrical storm that has visited in this county occurred Saturday night. Yesterday morning lightning struck the
barn of Fred W. Ash from which two boys, who were asleep in the hayloft, made a very narrow escape. The fire
company was powerless.
Duluth News-Tribune-Oct 17,1915
Governor Offers $200 Reward For Murderers
St. Paul Oct 16--Governor Hammond today offered a reward of $200 for the apprehension and conviction or for
information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of Jesse Thiel, believed to have been responsible for the murder
of Charles Dillehay on the night of Sep 22 at Ellsworth, Nobles county. The authorities of that village already have one
of the men charged with the murder.
Dillehay was a moving picture theater proprietor and was known to carry considerable sums of money. While on his
way home Sep 22 he was struck with a piece of gas pipe and his skull fractured. Dillehay died the next day.
Suspects were traced to Omaha where one of them was captured. His companion, Thiel is still at large and his
apprehension desired.
Minneapolis Journal-June 10 1898
Clever Counterfeiting
Nobles County Man Arrested
He Claims Innocence but Circumstances Are Suspicious-The Bills Were Raised
Worthington Minn, June 10--T.J. Sheehan, United States marshal of St. Paul, came and took into custody Louis Nimmerfrau
of Kinbrae, this county, on a charge of uttering counterfeit currency. Nimmerfrau is the mail carrier between Kinbrae and Dundee
and it appears that on last Saturday he, together with one Herzig drove from Kinbrae to Dundee and stopped in front of a saloon run
by Louis Johnson. Nimmerfrau handed Herzig what appeared to be a $10 bill , requesting him to go inside and purchase a half pint
of whiskey and bring back the change, which was done. Soon after the men had left, Johnson discovered that the bill was a $5 silver
certificate raised to a $10. Johnson at once went to F.D. Lindquist, the banker of Dundee, with the bill, relating the circumstances.
Mr. Lindquist at once called to mind a transaction with Nimmerfrau which he had a day or two before, in which Nimmerfrau had paid
him some money in bills. Upon looking over his currency in hand he found among the lot a $2 bill raised to $10. The work on both
bills was very cleverly executed and would pass very readily unless very closely examined. The counterfeiting was done by taking from
Confederate bills the proper figures and letters and pasting them over the bills raised, and by very ingenious work with a pen, which
could only be discovered with a glass, the pasters were worked to a good imitation of the regular $10 bill. Mr. Lindquist at once
hunted up Nimmerfrau and charged him with pasting the counterfeits. He remarked that he had received them from a travelling man
about a month before, and that if the bills were not good he would make them good. He was at once placed under arrest and brought
to Worthington and lodged in jail and the United States authorities notified.
Worthington will hold a race meet on the 10th and 11th which promises to be the best ever in the colony. The largest field of horses
are already on the grounds, being now over sixty horses here. The racing association has hung up good purses and there will therefore
be some fine racing.
Worthington is enjoying the largest building boom this summer that is has for years. The Omaha railroad has commenced extensive
improvements to cost $50,000, including a new depot of modern style and new coal sheds. W.W. Loveless is building a brick block
that will be a credit to the city when completed. George W. Lear is making extensive repairs and improvements to the Worthington
hotel, which when completed will make one of the finest hotels in this part of the state. Steam heat and baths will be added.
An article from the Alton (Iowa) Democrat April 4, 1891.
This article offers an interesting insight on the businesses of Ellsworth in the 1890's
ELLSWORTH, A MINNESOTA TOWN WITH A BRILLIANT FUTURE.
A List of Her Enterprising Merchants.
This is one of the most prosperous towns in S- W. Minnesota. It is situated in the SW. corner of Nobles county on the B. C. R. & N. Ry. Its business men are wide-awake and energetic and are bent on making their town prosperous and popular. It has fine churches, a fine graded school, good hotels and all lines of business are well represented there. Their fine railroad facilities make it a good shipping point for grain und live stock. A good flouring mill is needed and if some enterprising man would put up one at that point, the citizens would gladly donate him the necessary ground and give him substantial aid besides. The town is also in need of a bank, and we know no town in NW Iowa or S-W. Minnesota that would afford a finer field for a good an enterprising banking house.
We will notice a few of the business houses as we found them while staying there a few days recently. First upon whom we called were:
BURKE BROS.,
The enterprising hardware men. Established in 1888 they now do a business running far into the thousands annually. Their large store on Main Street is completely filled with a splendid line of hardware. In addition to their heavy and shelf hardware and tinware, they also carry agricultural implements. In stoves they make a specialty of the Bergstrom and in binders the Milwaukee receives their special attention. They are also the sole agents at this point for the La Belle and Fish wagons.
Another enterprising gentleman on whom we called was
E. F. TABLER
Proprietor of the city drug store. His fine stock of pure drugs and reasonable prices have made it an object for people in the vicinity to buy articles in this line from his store. By personal energy and close attention to all the details of his business he has built up a trade equal to that of many drug houses in larger cities. His accommodating treatment of patrons makes his store a favorite resort of the citizens of Ellsworth and the surrounding country. In addition to his drugs he carries paints, varnishes, glass, putty, notions and school books;
F. W. BASSETT, M. D.
Graduated from the Chicago Medical College in 1889 and located here the following November. Although young in years, his skill has placed him in the front rank of his profession and he now has the enviable reputation of being one of the most popular practitioners in Nobles County.
SCHOUWEILER BROS.
Are the proprietors of the "New York Cash Rustler". Their large store on the corner of Main and First streets is filled with one of the most complete stocks of general merchandise in S-W Minnesota. They have been established here since November, 1890, and the word "Rustler" very aptly explains their methods of doing business, This firm also own large mercantile houses at Blunt, S. D.; Elkton, S. D.; Fairmont, N. D.; Kellogg, Minn.; and West Superior, Wis. Mr. Howe, the manager at this point, is one of the most genial and enterprising men it, has ever been our pleasure to meet.
We next stopped in to see
D. F. SWEENEY
Proprietor of the city meat
market, who has been established here since Jan. 7, 1891. His shop on the west
side of Main street is one of the neatest we have ever inspected and he keeps in
stock all kinds of meat and fish and oysters in season. He also pays the highest
market price for hides, and he wished to say throught the columns of this paper
that he will make it an object for all persons having pelts for sale to give him
a call. In addition to the above, Mr. Sweeny, also handles livestock on a large
scale.
Crossing over to East Main street we next had a pleasant visit with.
M. HARRIGAN
Proprietor of the only harness shop in the town. Mr Harrigan has been in business in Ellsworth since 1884 and is one of the pioneers of the town. His establishment shows that he has been successful in his business and has the confidence of the public. He employs a number of skilled workmen and produces some of the very finest kind of work in that line. Mr. Harrigan is another of Ellsworth's citizens who is a devout believer in her future growth and prosperity.
We next called upon
JAMES WALKER
Ellsworth's popular post master and proprietor of the boot and shoe store and clothing house. Mr. Walker is one of the oldest residents of the county, having lived here for eighteen years. Mr. Walker is of course a Republican, but not a believer in the McKinley Bill, on the contrary, he favors a reduction of the tariff.
DR. GRIFFIN
Is one of the leading veterinary surgeons of southwestern Minnesota, and has practiced in Minnesota since 1888. He is connected with the livery barn of Joseph Fishenich, and his skill and thorough knowledge of all the details of his business have caused him to be well known throughout the county. He is also the city marshal and by the expression of praise one hears from the citizens, one may judge that his services are will appreciated.
GEORGE BOOLINGAR
Is the proprietor of the Ellsworth bottling works. In addition to his bottling works he has a wholesale liquor house on the east side of Main St. where he handles Pabst Milwaukee beer in large quantities. He has a large trade and enjoys a liberal patronage in both branches of his business.
M. FAHEY
Is the proprietor of the Palace Sample Rooms. His is one of the most popular resorts of the kind in Nobles county, and he carries the best brands of wine and other liquors, cigars, and tobaccos. His billiard tables are after the latest patterns and his rooms are large, pleasant and nicely arranged. Mr. Fahey has been a resident of Ellsworth since 1884 and bought the first lot sold there.
We wish to congratulate the travelling public at this point on the fine livery services they receive from the hands of
JOSEPH FISHENICK (sic)
The proprietor of the big livery, feed and sale stable. This barn is one of the finest in this part of Minnesota and everything in it is of the best kind and first class in every respect. Mr. Fishenich has been established here since 1888, removing from Rushford, Minnesota. Any Democrat reader will do well to patronize this establishment when needing anything of the kind while at Ellsworth.
F.A. FINK
Is another one of Ellsworth's most enterprising business men. His large hardware stock is second to none in the county. He has been established here since 1884 and is consequently one of the oldest citizens of the city. He makes a specialty of the Acorn and Garland stoves and his shelf hardware is the finest we have seen for a long time. Every department of his store is well arranged and every branch of the business is well organized. His long residence and wide acquaintance give him a large patronage in the vicinity. Mr. Fink informed the reporter that he will sell his hardware business in the near future as the health of his family requires a change of climate, and this will be a fine opening for any one having the capital and business ability to manage the business. Anyone desiring to locate at this point will do well to call on Mr. Fink and talk the matter over.
U. P. HANSON
Is the owner and proprietor of the only lumber and coal yard at this point. He also has yards at various other places in Minnesota. The main yard is at Adrian, Minn., and M. C. Nelson is the manager of this branch. As theirs is the only yard in the city and they are uniformly courteous to patrons, also giving excellent goods at fair prices, they command a very large trade. They carry all kinds of building material from the cheapest to the very best.
BERNARD BALL
Is the dealer in boots and shoes. He has been established since 1884, being one of the first men to do business in the city. In his store he carries all kinds of ready made goods and makes a specialty of new work and repairing. Mr. Ball does a large trade among the Germans of Nobles and Lyon counties which indicates the his goods are first class and his prices reasonable.
While in the city we had the pleasure of meeting.
THOMAS B. MAGUIRE
Our visit with him was necessarily a pleasant one from the fact that we had been admitted to practice in the supreme court of Illinois from the same class at the same time. Mr. Maguire had the honor of passing the best examination in a class of 35. He received his diploma May 5, 1888. and removed to Nobles county in the fall of the same year. Although a young man he has made his mark and reached a position not had by many older practitioners. In the late election he was elected by the democrats to the position of county superintendent and although we learn that his election will be contested on the ground of a few technicalities, we are sure that he will fulfill his present term and be re-elected by a large majority the next time.
The last upon whom we called while in Ellsworth was:
JERRY TWOMEY
Proprietor of the Central Hotel. This is one of Ellsworth's most popular hotels and has earned a first class reputation with the travelling public. This hotel is centrally located on the corner of Main and First Sts. one block south of the B.C.R.&N. Ry. Depot. We predict a prosperous future for this hotel and its proprietor and are sure the latter deserves the thanks of the public for his courteous treatment of guests.
To Main Page