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1889: Businesses begin to locate in Hills

Subhead
Bits By Betty
Lead Summary
By
Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical Society

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village of Hills, continued from 6-4-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
         In April the store building of Jacobson & Sexe was moved across the fields from Bruce, and early in May that firm opened a general store one block north of the Thompson store. The same month A. T. Sexe moved his lumber yard from Bruce and installed P. H. Bly as manager. At the same time Ole Lund, the Bruce blacksmith, moved to the more promising village with his family — the first  family to locate in Hills — and erected a shop and residence.
         Many of the settlers of Martin township and most of the first business men of Hills were Norwegians. When the seventy-sixth anniversary of the independence of Norway, May 17, 1890, occurred, all living in the vicinity joined in celebrating the event, although only the above mentioned people were residents of the town. A bowery was erected and the exercises were held in a downpour of rain. Niels Jacobson was president of the day; Nels Iverson, vice president; Charles Nelson and George Anderson, marshals. The advertising matter promised one hundred guns at sunrise and a mammoth parade, headed by two brass bands.
         So early as February a petition had been circulated among the farmers in the vicinity of the proposed town, asking for the establishment of a postoffice, and during the summer the office was established with J. N. Jacobson as postmaster.7
         7Mr. Jacobson served a four year term, being succeeded in 1894 by F. H. Fritz. Olaf Skyberg received the appointment in 1898 and has held the office since. One rural mail route is in operation from Hills. It was established April 1, 1904.
         Besides the business enterprises mentioned, a few others were put in operation before the close of the year 1890. Warehouses were put up by Anderson & Finke, who also engaged in the stock business, and A. T. Sexe, and an elevator was built by the J. Q. Adams company. A. Hendrickson, a carpenter, erected a residence late in the year. A correspondent writing November 17 said: “We have every prospect for making a good town … We have three elevators, one general store, one large hardware store, one blacksmith shop and one large lumber yard, also two stock firms and two coal and wood firms.” From the time the station was opened until the first of the next year over $7000 worth of freight business was done at the Hills station, according to a statement by the agent, B. F. Heastand. The growth during the first year of its history had been substantial, and the year 1891 opened with more improvements in prospect.
         During the second year of the town’s history a two-story town hall costing $1500 was put up by a stock company, composed principally of farmers residing in the vicinity and a few business men of the town; a $3000 brick church was erected; Erick Colby established a livery and feed stable; Olaf Skyberg rented a part of the town hall and founded the second general store; Dr. C. P. Bissell put in a stock of drugs in Jacobson & Sexe’s store and practiced his profession; L. A. Gilberts and the Midland Elevator company erected warehouses; W. P. King established a photograph gallery; and six residences were built.8 A business directory of Hills on November 20, 1891, shows the following: Jacobson & Sexe, general merchandise; Olaf Skyberg, general merchandise; William Thompson, hardware; A. T. Sexe, lumber, fuel, feed and grain, P. H. Bly, manager; C. P. Bissell, physician and drug store; Erick Colby, livery barn; Ole Lund, blacksmith; A. Hendrickson, carpenter; B. F. Heastand, railroad agent; J. Q. Adams & Company, elevator, A. J. Barbour, agent; L. A. Gilberts, grain dealer, John Helgeson, manager; Midland Elevator company, W. F. Johns, manager.
         8“To say that Hills is booming is not saying much at present. The fact is, we lack words to express the enterprise and thrift noticeable in all lines of business. All our business men are kept so busy that they must put out of consideration both comfort and repose to keep pace with the progress of the town. Lots and building materials go like hot cakes. Houses go up and new business enterprises are established. Hills is destined to become the metropolis of Rock county, to say the least, and the present outlook warrants us in predicting that such will be the case in the no distant future.” —Hills Correspondent, September 2, 1891.
        
         The story of the village of Hills will continue in the June 4 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.

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