Ottosen
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Businesses from 1896 - 1930
During the early years the town had a thriving
business. During those years these were the businesses. On the North
side of the street were: Dasen Manufacturing Company, A Hotel and
Restaurant, Nick Mertz Hardware Store, Peter Mersh Grocery Store
(later Purdy), Telephone Office, Kinseth and Helmerick Store, Bank,
Gus Vohs' Drug Store, L. J. Dusold Pool Hall and Ice Cream Parlor.
The post office was also in that building along with a Barber Shop.
On the south side of the street were: Staecker
Hardware Store (later Hans Enockson's store), a Meat Market, Lumber
yard office and Lumber yard, and a Livery barn.
In the second block east (on the north side) were: a
building on the corner (later was Clarence Reese's poultry station),
Dr. Shipley's office, the Presbyterian Church, a dwelling place for
awhile (I think it was one of the school houses), the Kannenberg House
(later Bratland), Church school house, and the Lutheran Church.
In the second block east (on the south side were:
Bakke's shoe repair, Dad Firkins barn, a home (later Ella Monson's),
The Catholic Church was at the end of the block.
One of the first buildings built was the Quimby Hotel
in 1896 the present home of Kermit Fowler. In 1898 the Farmer's
Saving Bank was built and it ran until 1926. Cashiers were L. J.
Clave and Henry Rics & Oscar Lomen. In 1897 there were the following
businessmen: W. G. Cunningham, Mason & Plasterer; L. J. Clave,
Contractor & Builder; Wesetson, Mason & Bricklayer; Darling,
Contractor & Builder.
1897 L. O. Hodson had a livestock, grain and coal
business. In 1899 A. G. Cooper had a stock purchasing business.
In 1901 Mike Bakke started a shoe repair business
which he ran the rest of his life. He had lost his legs in an
accident and he had two wooden legs. They lived where Sorenson's now
live and he had a small building between where the Commercial Club is
and the jail (watershed and fire truck station) are now. He walked
with crutches from his home to his business every weekday. He also
repaired harnesses. His wife worked hard also, jobs away from home.
In 1901, the OK Hotel and Restaurant were built and
run by Underberg and Haganson. In 1901 the first rural phone company
in Humboldt County was established. The first operator was Chris
Ottosen. In 1`901 Charles Falb ran a repair shop.
In 1896 Gus Vohs had a drugstore and music store. The
Kenyon Bros. purchased the Ottosen hotel from Quimby and shortly
afterward built their first store in the town. They also ran a meat
market, miscellaneous store. In 1897, William Stover sold furniture
and rugs and in 1901, J. H. Burns had the furniture. In 1897 E. J.
Stanhope and Company had a general store. In 1897 L. D. & Hodgson had
a livestock, grain & coal business. In 1897, Kenyon Bros. sold dry
goods, boots, shoes and groceries. In 1897 William Stover was the
undertaker. he also had a harness shop.
In 1901 there were the following business places in
the town: 3 general stores, 2 lumber years, 2 grain elevators, 2
hotels, a creamery, a drugstore, an implement firm, a stock buyer, a
livery barn. There were also the following businesses: A restaurant,
harness shop, stock buyer, barbershop, millinery store, hardware
store. The livery barn was run by David Anderson. Stone and Goldner
sold farm implements. John Lange and J. B. Mertz also sold
implements. J. A. Burns ran the Goodyear lumber & grain, Humick
Bros. also sold lumber and bought grain. Buell & Morse also bought
lumber and grain. The Ottosen Lumber Company also was in business.
Charles Falb ran a repair shop.
In 1920 the Ottosen Auto Company opened. In 1920
Dasen Manufacturing Company opened for business. He had the first
paten on tractor steering devices. Cooper Implement also sold
implements as did J. P. Mertz.
Newspaper
From 1895 until 1897 Ottosen had a newspaper called
Ottosen Boomer. It was a weekly paper and was published by Andrew
Hanson. It was re-established in 1948 by a Livermore publisher for a
short time.
Early Grocery and General Stores
In early 1900's Peter Mersch ran a grocery store. He
was Mrs. Leitl's brother and his wife was a sister of the Vet. Dr. P.
O. Dorweiler from West Bend. G. I. Purdy and his wife Emma bought the
store from them.
For many years Severt Kinseth ran general store. On
the right side of the store were shelves of men's clothing and shoes.
On the left side of the store were shelves of yard goods and a
counter. In the middle of the store were glass cases of jewerly and
variety items. In the back the store were groceries. They employed
two and three clerks.
Early Professions
In 1899 Doug Doak was stock buyer. In later years
Irvin Movick was a stock buyer. An early auctioneer in 1897 was A. G.
Cooper.
In 1900 a man by the name of J. c. Bing was appointed
Justice of the Peace. He was a tall, thin man who wore a long black
coat and black hat. He lived in a little house among the trees and
bushes back of alley where Alma Daniel lives. He had a small nursery
business also.
There were several Drayman through the years. The
first one was L. A. "Dad" Firkens, then A. W. Stevens, Magnus Bratland
was one for several years. The mail came in on the train and the
draymen had to bring it to the post office.
Years ago tiling was a big job in the community. The
ditches were dug by hand. A Roy DeGroote that lived in the Roy
Enockson home was a professional tiller. Carpenter work was a big job
in the community. Also many homes and farm building were built. Ed
Kanninberg and his sons were carpenters. They lived in the Jenny
Bratland home. Valentine Huhlman was a carpenter also, he married
Blanch Minard. One home that he built was the one that Bleuers lives
in. Through the years there have been several carpenters active,
later Oliver Kinseth, Eugene Hofius, Richard Kinseth, Windy Johnson,
Butch Telford.
Memories of Shopping in the Early Years
In the summertime on Saturday nights there were huge
crowds in town. My brother Lee Holt and I remember that on Saturday
night the sidewalk was a crowded on both sides of the street that one
could hardly walk. The farmers would bring in their cases of eggs and
crocks of butter ton Knish's store to apply on their grocery bills.
Some of the women would sit in cars and visit and the men would visit
in the barber shop and pool hall or on the street in the summertime.
A lot of them would visit in Frank Lang's garage. In later years the
women would sit in Alme's store and visit.
Cemetery
In 1890 the Union Cemetery was platted. The first
burial was Bertha Ehrle who died October 28, 1890. Two acres were
deeded in 1902 for $100 from John and Analia Hetzell.
Businesses from 1896 - 1930
During the early years the town had a thriving
business. During those years these were the businesses. On the North
side of the street were: Dasen Manufacturing Company, A Hotel and
Restaurant, Nick Mertz Hardware Store, Peter Mersh Grocery Store
(later Purdy), Telephone Office, Kinseth and Helmerick Store, Bank,
Gus Vohs' Drug Store, L. J. Dusold Pool Hall and Ice Cream Parlor.
The post office was also in that building along with a Barber Shop.
On the south side of the street were: Staecker
Hardware Store (later Hans Enockson's store), a Meat Market, Lumber
yard office and Lumber yard, and a Livery barn.
In the second block east (on the north side) were: a
building on the corner (later was Clarence Reese's poultry station),
Dr. Shipley's office, the Presbyterian Church, a dwelling place for
awhile (I think it was one of the school houses), the Kannenberg House
(later Bratland), Church school house, and the Lutheran Church.
In the second block east (on the south side were:
Bakke's shoe repair, Dad Firkins barn, a home (later Ella Monson's),
The Catholic Church was at the end of the block.
One of the first buildings built was the Quimby Hotel
in 1896 the present home of Kermit Fowler. In 1898 the Farmer's
Saving Bank was built and it ran until 1926. Cashiers were L. J.
Clave and Henry Rics & Oscar Lomen. In 1897 there were the following
businessmen: W. G. Cunningham, Mason & Plasterer; L. J. Clave,
Contractor & Builder; Wesetson, Mason & Bricklayer; Darling,
Contractor & Builder.
1897 L. O. Hodson had a livestock, grain and coal
business. In 1899 A. G. Cooper had a stock purchasing business.
In 1901 Mike Bakke started a shoe repair business
which he ran the rest of his life. He had lost his legs in an
accident and he had two wooden legs. They lived where Sorenson's now
live and he had a small building between where the Commercial Club is
and the jail (watershed and fire truck station) are now. He walked
with crutches from his home to his business every weekday. He also
repaired harnesses. His wife worked hard also, jobs away from home.
In 1901, the OK Hotel and Restaurant were built and
run by Underberg and Haganson. In 1901 the first rural phone company
in Humboldt County was established. The first operator was Chris
Ottosen. In 1`901 Charles Falb ran a repair shop.
In 1896 Gus Vohs had a drugstore and music store. The
Kenyon Bros. purchased the Ottosen hotel from Quimby and shortly
afterward built their first store in the town. They also ran a meat
market, miscellaneous store. In 1897, William Stover sold furniture
and rugs and in 1901, J. H. Burns had the furniture. In 1897 E. J.
Stanhope and Company had a general store. In 1897 L. D. & Hodgson had
a livestock, grain & coal business. In 1897, Kenyon Bros. sold dry
goods, boots, shoes and groceries. In 1897 William Stover was the
undertaker. he also had a harness shop.
In 1901 there were the following business places in
the town: 3 general stores, 2 lumber years, 2 grain elevators, 2
hotels, a creamery, a drugstore, an implement firm, a stock buyer, a
livery barn. There were also the following businesses: A restaurant,
harness shop, stock buyer, barbershop, millinery store, hardware
store. The livery barn was run by David Anderson. Stone and Goldner
sold farm implements. John Lange and J. B. Mertz also sold
implements. J. A. Burns ran the Goodyear lumber & grain, Humick
Bros. also sold lumber and bought grain. Buell & Morse also bought
lumber and grain. The Ottosen Lumber Company also was in business.
Charles Falb ran a repair shop.
In 1920 the Ottosen Auto Company opened. In 1920
Dasen Manufacturing Company opened for business. He had the first
paten on tractor steering devices. Cooper Implement also sold
implements as did J. P. Mertz.
Newspaper
From 1895 until 1897 Ottosen had a newspaper called
Ottosen Boomer. It was a weekly paper and was published by Andrew
Hanson. It was re-established in 1948 by a Livermore publisher for a
short time.
Early Grocery and General Stores
In early 1900's Peter Mersch ran a grocery store. He
was Mrs. Leitl's brother and his wife was a sister of the Vet. Dr. P.
O. Dorweiler from West Bend. G. I. Purdy and his wife Emma bought the
store from them.
For many years Severt Kinseth ran general store. On
the right side of the store were shelves of men's clothing and shoes.
On the left side of the store were shelves of yard goods and a
counter. In the middle of the store were glass cases of jewerly and
variety items. In the back the store were groceries. They employed
two and three clerks.
Early Professions
In 1899 Doug Doak was stock buyer. In later years
Irvin Movick was a stock buyer. An early auctioneer in 1897 was A. G.
Cooper.
In 1900 a man by the name of J. c. Bing was appointed
Justice of the Peace. He was a tall, thin man who wore a long black
coat and black hat. He lived in a little house among the trees and
bushes back of alley where Alma Daniel lives. He had a small nursery
business also.
There were several Drayman through the years. The
first one was L. A. "Dad" Firkens, then A. W. Stevens, Magnus Bratland
was one for several years. The mail came in on the train and the
draymen had to bring it to the post office.
Years ago tiling was a big job in the community. The
ditches were dug by hand. A Roy DeGroote that lived in the Roy
Enockson home was a professional tiller. Carpenter work was a big job
in the community. Also many homes and farm building were built. Ed
Kanninberg and his sons were carpenters. They lived in the Jenny
Bratland home. Valentine Huhlman was a carpenter also, he married
Blanch Minard. One home that he built was the one that Bleuers lives
in. Through the years there have been several carpenters active,
later Oliver Kinseth, Eugene Hofius, Richard Kinseth, Windy Johnson,
Butch Telford.
Memories of Shopping in the Early Years
In the summertime on Saturday nights there were huge
crowds in town. My brother Lee Holt and I remember that on Saturday
night the sidewalk was a crowded on both sides of the street that one
could hardly walk. The farmers would bring in their cases of eggs and
crocks of butter ton Knish's store to apply on their grocery bills.
Some of the women would sit in cars and visit and the men would visit
in the barber shop and pool hall or on the street in the summertime.
A lot of them would visit in Frank Lang's garage. In later years the
women would sit in Alme's store and visit.
Cemetery
In 1890 the Union Cemetery was platted. The first
burial was Bertha Ehrle who died October 28, 1890. Two acres were
deeded in 1902 for $100 from John and Analia Hetzell.
Karen
