History Ellsworth, Minnesota

ellsworth catholic school , church, 1908



postcard of ellsworth town hall, postmarked 1910

early history: ellsworth located in grand prairie township in extreme southwestern corner of nobles county. township organized in 1873, though settlers had taken residence in township 1871. 1 of these settlers known in history uncle stillwell. mr stillwell made claim land ellsworth stands, , established small store on farmstead, supplying needs of local farmers. operated peddler s wagon in vicinity. mr. stillwell had great confidence in future of region, , remarked town 1 day located on property, or near it. however, stillwell packed , left area 2 years before town of ellsworth established in 1884. ellsworth sits on stillwell s former claim, , business district of town located less 1/2 mile west of stillwell s cabin.

a new railroad town: town of ellsworth named in honor of eugene ellsworth of cedar falls, iowa, , came existence result of construction of burlington railroad in summer of 1884. site selected agents of cedar rapids, iowa & northwestern land & town lot company. site surveyed f. d. randall, , dedication of plat made on september 29, 1884, s. l. dows , james b. close, president , secretary, respectively, of town lot company. when rail line completed, box car set off side, , served depot until more substantial structure built. first structure in town saloon completed sam stevens , phil lattenberger in september 1884. construction of dozen or more buildings started @ same time, , before close of year, booming town had 150 inhabitants. during winter of 1884-85, ellsworth postoffice established b. f. garmer postmaster.

in fall of 1886, town selected division point of burlington railroad. company built five-stall roundhouse, put in turntable, erected substantial depot, , built branch line ellsworth rock rapids, iowa.

incorporation: necessary steps taken bring incorporation @ county board meeting held in worthington on december 10, 1886. election held on january 13, 1887, , municipal government began in february. census of 1890 gave ellsworth population of 258. population in 2000 540.