The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
Rock County Village continued from 9-3-20 edition of the Star Herald.
Beaver Creek
Hardly had the location of the site been announced in September when preparations were made by several persons to engage in business in the prospective town. Colonel Harrison White, who was destined to play such an important part in the history of the place, was one of the first. At the time he was employed as a clerk in the St. Paul office of the Sioux City & St. Paul Railway company and determined that he would engage in business in one of the new towns to be established along the road when built. In October, 1877, he shipped a carload of lumber for a store building from St. Paul, which arrived before the road was completed to the town. It was brought by train to the farm of E. H. Bronson, one mile east of the proposed town, and from that point was hauled by team. He set the stakes for his building on Thanksgiving day. Before Colonel White got his building under way, several others had put up buildings in the town and established business houses.
The first building was started late in October. It was a hotel by Charles Williams, and its dimensions were 26x52 feet, with 20 foot posts. It was not completed, however, until later. Several other business houses were established and buildings put up before the close of the year. The depot was erected and late in November J. L. Helm arrived on the site as agent; C. K. Howard erected a warehouse and W. H. Bryan began buying grain for him late in November; B. F. Roderick completed a warehouse, 22x50 feet, with a capacity of 10,000 bushels, early in December; George Henton erected a shop and engaged in the blacksmith business about the same time; Colonel White established the third grain warehouse; he received the first shipment over the road to the Beaver Creek — fifteen cars of lumber, — built a shed and established the first lumber yard, which was in charge of William Strong; W. H. Glass started a store building in which he later began business; a Mr. Myers opened a boarding house. These, so far as I am able to ascertain, constituted the activities in the little town up to the beginning of the year 1878.
During the winter and early spring months the activities in the little village continued. Two other lumber yards were established during the winter. One was by a gentleman named Bates; the other was by the Van Eps interests of Sioux Falls and was in charge of Tom Diffendoff. Both were temporary and were moved away within a short time. Colonel White opened his general store in January and was followed the same month by C. K. Howard and W. H. Glass, who dealt in general merchandise, J. O. Brictson being in charge of Mr. Glass’ store.5 Gullick Sundem, a Martin township homesteader, opened a harness repair shop in Colonel White’s lumber office. Mr. Myers, who had conducted the first boarding house, left Beaver Creek and in the building left vacant K. Knudtson opened a harness shop, later admitting Gullick Sundem as a partner. William Wilson built a small lean-to to the Glass store building, in which he opened a hardware store as a branch to his Luverne business; in the same building Al Atchison opened a shoe repair shop. William Mead constructed a building on the north side of the track, in which he established the Beaver hotel. In the rear of this building was put up another blacksmith shop, which was conducted only a short time. The Williams hotel, the first structure begun on the site, was completed early in the year. Daniel Shell, of Worthington, operated a stage line between Beaver Creek and Sioux Falls and opened a livery barn, which was under the management of Leonard McClintock. Dr. W. T. Berry came early in 1878 and for a number of years practiced his profession. Besides these business houses put up, Colonel White erected a number of dwelling houses for his employees and a few other residences were erected. The postoffice was moved from the country to the village in the spring of 1878 with C. R. Henton as postmaster.6
5The Glass store building is now the postoffice building and is the oldest one on the townsite.
6The Beaver Creek postoffice was established in June, 1873, at the home of Charles Williams, three-quarters of a mile east of the present village, and Mr. Williams was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by C. R. Henton, who served until March, 1880, when he was succeeded by John B. Obele. In February, 1890, James Marshall took the office and served a four year term. John B. Obele again became postmaster in February, 1894, and served until 1898. He was succeeded by L. B. Sage, who held the office only until the next year. Herman Ohs was postmaster from 1899 until his death ten years later. H. R. Ohs, his son, succeeded to the office in April, 1909, and is the present postmaster. Beaver Creek has one rural route, established in 1902.
The story of the village of Beaver Creek will continue in the Sept. 17 edition of the Star Herald.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.