History of Credit River Part 5: Memories of Early Credit River

Susan Allen (Sherin) grew up in Credit River and was interviewed in 1928 as an elderly woman. Her parents, like many others, came from Ireland, and then to Credit River by way of Dubuque. They traveled to St Paul by steamboat, and then to an Ox Cart into the township. She recalled dances at the village hall: “Everybody had a far better time than young people do nowadays. My goodness, I thought nothing of dancing all night when I was a girl and most of our dances were quadrilles too, that kept us moving lively. Even the waltzes were far more lively than they are now because we whirled round” 

She also mentioned the hard work that it took to run a farm. Her father cleared land using horses, and she remembers him planting wheat and corn among tree stumps. She said, “Hard work and hard times didn’t trouble farmers in those days. In fact, they didn’t expect anything different. Life in a log cabin and work in the woods and the fields all day were the lot of all the settlers”

Of school, she recalled ““we had to walk quite a distance and carry our dinners”. She also said “the curriculum was vastly different then today but still we learned quite a bit”. She also said that the hair ribbons that she could get growing up in Credit river were “just a little bit better” then those she could get in 1928. 

Rosella Lyons taught at the Credit River school in the late 1930s, and was interviewed in 1987. She remembered “We turned out a lot of talented people. Several priests and sisters and some attorneys. We had a wood shed and one day in the fall all the children would pile the wood in the shed. We would be done by mid afternoon. Then a couple of children would be selected to go to the store and get peanuts and candy. We had a couple of dollars allotted to us”. 

The school at the time had 20 or 30 students from first grade through highschool. Lyons recalled 1936 as a banner year because they had 10 children in first grade alone, and a total of 20 in the elementary school.

On January 17th, 1999 a large reunion was held for people that grew up in Credit River Township. Several of the attendees shared photographs, articles and stories, and these were put together into a scrapbook. The introduction of the scrapbook reads “No business aside from the agricultural pursuits of farmers is carried on in the town. No wonders of natural scenery vary the beauty of the landscape, consequently the history of Credit River is told in few words”

Scott County Memories: German, Baseball, Church Bells and Slot Machines

These recollections were dictated by Richard Mertz of Shakopee in 1980 and originally shared in the collection “As I Remember Scott County”

Shakopee has been most fortunate in the type of people it has attracted over these many years. It has an interesting and colorful past so it us pure fun to remember and relate some of the most pleasant memories.

Today we have many nationalities and most of our families are such a mixture that we can only say we are Americans. Not so forty or fifty years ago when most of our families were first or second generation German - or a European nation of close proximity. All of our people are hardworking and completely honest, but English sentence structure was absolutely foreign and vocabulary was not unlike Archie Bunker’s

In one of the early grades, we had a kid who would say “I’m going the hall across”, which was much to the amusement of those who had moved to Shakopee from some town that had an English speaking background.

I recall the evening when five or six of us, all teenagers, were chatting at home not far from where we live today when a lady from out of state, visiting our friend’s mother, mentioned that there was a great deal of activity around the house.

“Ach Ja” she said, “This coming and this wenting and this wenting and this coming this is me something” . Many times she would call her husband George from the garden with “George, come once from the outside in the telephone is calling you”/

Another time a picnic was being planned when our neighbor lady said “Ach Ja No, we have to insulate our new minister that day”.

Over these many years I have enjoyed telling a story that occurred in about 1939 when Shakopee was hosting the State Baseball Tournament and Superintendent of Schools, John Metcalf (later a distinguished state senator) was the announcer. In those days we didn’t have a lighted ball field, so many of the games were played in the morning. John found it necessary to leave the press box which also served as the announcer’s office. He left just as there was an argument on the field that turned the microphone over to one of our leading fans who soon announced “Owatonna is playing this game under protest, claiming that the Beardsly left fielder is illegitimate”. It brought the house down, and I doubt if anyone an remember to this day who won the ball game

I wonder how many people remember the time that the Presbyterian Church bell was ringing every night at midnight? The town was rife with rumors and guards took up posts around the church - all to no avail. The bell kept ringing at the appointed hour. Eventually, some brave soul climbed to the tower in daylight. There he found numerous chunks of lead from 22 rifle shots fired by one of the town characters.

Or the days when Scott County ha slot machines in almost every bar (Shakopee had over 30 bars at the time), barbershop, and gas station. Liquor was served in the 3.2 beer bars. Every time the state liquor control officers came into the county, phones rang at all those 3.2 bars warning the bartenders of a possible raid. On one such occasion a feisty Irishman had hardly hung up the phone when two men in suits arrived and sat in a booths. Now most people didn’t wear a suit until Saturday, so this was a dead giveaway. Then, sitting in a booth confirmed the worst because no one ever sat in a booth unless he had a wife or girlfriend along - or unless he was a liquor control agent. One order charged water, the other ginger ale, Mac, the Irishman, went behind the bar, returned with the drinks, and rang up the register. The agents announced that there was no liquor in their drinks. Mac just said that it was policy of the house not to serve liquor to liquor control agents. The other patrons howled with laughter, and the agents left hurriedly without drinking their soft drinks.

Scott County Remembers The Civil War

Memorial Day 1915 marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Civil War in Scott County. The holiday was always a grand affair, but the fifty-year anniversary of the conflict was met with unusual pomp.

The Jordan Independent noted on June 3, 1915, that “… There have been at Jordan, during the last forty-odd years, many Memorial Day observations, but those who remember back for many years tell us that they do not recall any that surpassed the 1915 occasion.” The town brought in a speaker, Charles Fowler of Minneapolis, who reminded them that “Memorial Day is taken as a true manifestation of the patriotic spirit of our people, as well as a sincere measure of respect to the memory in particular of the brave Union soldiers, present and departed.” Fowler praised Jordan, noting: “There were upward of 100 men enlisted from Jordan... few frontier villages the size of Jordan could point to a better record.”

After the speech was a parade, led by Joseph Smith. Smith was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the 8th Minnesota Regiment. The 8th was, like several units from Minnesota, involved in both the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, and the Civil War in the south. The unit fought in the Third Battle of Murfreesboro, as well as the Battle of Wyse Fork, and is noted for traveling more miles during the conflict than any other regiment in the Union Army.

Scott County members of Jordan’s Von Minden Post #105 of the Grand Army of the Republic, all Civil War veterans, were photographed around 1890.

Following Smith was the Jordan Brass Band, and the Von Mindon Post #105 of the G.A.R., or Grand Army of the Republic. The G.A.R. was a fraternal organization for the veterans of the Civil War. Much more than a social club, the G.A.R. was one of the first organized advocacy groups in American politics; supporting voting rights for black veterans, promoting patriotic education, helping to make Memorial Day a national holiday, and lobbying the United States Congress to establish regular veterans’ pensions. At its peak in 1890, nationwide membership was 410,000. The G.A.R. was dissolved in 1956 at the death of its last member, Albert Woolson (1850–1956) of Duluth, Minnesota.

Behind the band were marchers from the Ladies of the G.A.R. and the Jordan Fire Department. They were followed by the pupils of Jordan Public Schools in a long procession, lined up by grade level. Finally, the citizens of Jordan followed in a parade of carriages and automobiles.

The parade ended at Spirit Hill Cemetery with more music, a church procession, and finally time to decorate the gravesites of Jordan’s veterans.

Shakopee also celebrated in grand style. The day started with a gathering of the G.A.R., accompanied by buglers, a drum corps, and children carrying wreaths and bouquets. The entire group walked to Valley Cemetery to decorate the gravestones of soldiers. At 1:30 p.m. a parade formed at the County Courthouse, starting with a band, followed by the city police and a procession of Shakopee schoolchildren. This group was followed by representatives from labor unions from around the County. The parade traveled to Bridge Square to pay their respects to a group of Union veterans who waited there. The Shakopee Tribune noted on June 3, 1915 that “Fifty years have wrought changes, both in appearance and numbers of our Boys in Blue, yet their hearts seemed young once again as they beheld the honors paid to them and the memories of their comrades that are gone. Times change too, for the streets were filled with autos instead of teams, and there was not one horse in the whole line of the parade.” The day concluded with a meal being served to the G.A.R. members and their families

It is unsurprising that the anniversary was held in such esteem. Scott County sent around 650 soldiers to the Civil War, a huge number in a county that had less than 5000 residents at the time. Most families would have had a personal tie to someone involved in the war. The veterans that remained were aging, and there was a widespread push in the County to honor their memories and preserve their stories.

The 50th anniversary of the Civil War also came during the time of a great deal of national change, as the Shakopee Tribune alluded to in their coverage of the Memorial Day parade. Technology was changing rapidly, cities were booming, and more Americans were working in factories instead of fields. Social change followed, with campaigns for labor rights and women’s suffrage. With so much in flux during the present, many of Scott County’s residents found it important to honor the past.

The year 1915 itself brought conflict. Less than a year before the Memorial Day celebrations honoring the Civil War, World War I had begun in Europe. While the United States was still several years away from joining the fight, the specter of war must have seemed very real to the American people.

World War I might have seemed particularly relevant to Scott County’s large German population. In 1915, Scott County newspapers still carried a weekly column entitled “News of the Fatherland” that gave a summary of events transpiring in Germany. As the war progressed, and with it anti-German rhetoric of “divided loyalties” and “hyphenated Americanism,” this column disappeared. Many Scott County residents were Americans that still had strong ties to Germany, and they might have felt the prospect of a divided nation on the horizon once again.

Jordan Independent, June 3, 1915

In Scott County newspapers, articles extolling the virtues of Scott County’s Civil War veterans appeared alongside editorials praising President Wilson’s policy of neutrality in the war, and hopes that America would remain separate from the conflict. During his speech at the 1915 Jordan Memorial Day celebrations, Charles Fowler noted “We were fortunate in George Washington during revolutionary times, we were fortunate in having Abraham Lincoln when rebellion broke loose; today, in another tense time, we may be grateful that a man of Wilson’s poise and balance is here to guide the nation in peace.”

In the Shakopee Argus, coverage of Memorial Day on June 3, 1915 was accompanied by an article entitled “Memorial Day Lessons.” The article concluded with this warning:

From the lips of thoughtless youth we sometimes hear the flippant charge that the old soldiers are still fighting the battles of the Civil War, little realizing what they mean to the scarred survivors of those epoch-making days. Who that marched with Sherman to the sea could ever forget? Who that came back from the slippery slopes of Gettysburg can ever forget the bloody tragedy… Who that witnessed the destruction by the Confederate army itself of its last hope and stronghold, the City of Richmond, in that memorable April of ‘65 will ever forget the indescribable scene of horror… thirty city blocks swept out of existence by the searing flames while hundreds of hospitals and almshouse inmates were said to have been blown to eternity. Such is war! God forbid our land will ever know another.

Credit River History Part 4: Into the 20th Century



In the 1920s and 30s the children of many of the original Credit River families are said to have left the township for St Paul, seeking employment and higher wages. At that time, several Dutch families moved into the southern part of the township, and there was apparently some tension between the original Irish families and the new Dutch families. 

A poem (date unknown) was written by Julius Schnider that detailed life in Credit River. It tells the story of a confrontation between young Dutch and Irish residents that was settled by Pat White of White’s General Store. The complete text of the poem is at the end of this document. Schnieder said in 1987 “There was always two factions [Irish and Dutch] but it wasn’t really as bad as I wrote. You have to spice things up a little to make them more interesting.”

Enough Credit River residents moved to St Paul in these years that on March 7th, 1940 a “Credit River Club” was formed in the city. Melvin Faricy and Joe White were elected officers and former Credit River residents agreed to hold meetings as well as a large annual picnic every summer. 

In 1903 rural free mail delivery came to Credit River, closing the town post office. Telephones arrived in 1910, and electricity on March 28, 1929. The latter was exciting enough that a town party was held, though it was postponed so that the celebrations could commence after the end of Lent. 

The township had an important role during World War II. One hundred acres in Credit River, part of the Cleary farm, were used as a military training field.  Novice flyers and flight instructors would travel there from Fort Snelling and practice taking off, landing, and flight maneuvers. 

Jordan Independent, February 4th, 1960

As roads grew better, transportation easier, and cars more common, many Credit River residents began traveling to nearby Prior Lake for errands and social events. This was true for religious services as well. The last pastor at Credit River’s St Peter’s Church was named John Deere. He was remembered by resident Pat Cleary as tall and redheaded, “just the typical Irishman.” As the congregation dwindled, St Peter’s church closed in 1960. Soon after, in a decision that still saddens many residents, the archdiocese tore the church down for safety reasons. 

The Cleary family land was passed down through generations. Eventually the Cleary’s great great grandchildren sold the land to the parks department. Today it is known as Cleary Lake regional park. It features camping, skiing, a golf course, a dog park, hiking trails, and of course boating and swimming. 

An Ode to the Savage Baseball Team

This lengthy poem extolling the virtues of the Savage Baseball team was written by Jack Duffy of Savage in 1920 - enjoy!

Listen, my friends, and I’ll tell you the story
Of how the Savage nine won fame and glory
How on the firing line they battled to win
Against great odds sometimes, but they never gave in.
From start to finish they played the best ball
That we ever did see back of the Savage town hall
How the fast teams from the city were swept off their feet
Whenever our heroes they happened to meet
There was never a rest from the minute the umpire called time
Until the game was won by our famous ball nine.

If it interested you, my friends, I’ll give you a personal sketch
Of each player our manager was lucky enough to catch
And sign up for the season on the old score book
That tells a wondrous tale if you care to look.
For some of our players were strangers in the first of the year
But to see them depart would now cause many a tear
To come to the eyes of all the young ladies
Who cried over each game like so many babies
So girls, you should donate a few minutes of your time
To thank each young man who played on our nine

Savage baseball team, 1915. Photo from the SCHS Collections.

First we come to Tom Duffy , so stately and tall
For that dark curly hair the ladies all fall
And although he had bad luck with a nurse or two
We’ll hand it to you Tom, we’ll slip it to you.
With one eye on the pitcher and one on the grandstand
How do you suppose he gets the ball in his hand
But leave it to Tom, the man behind the bat
On the player's’ bench a better ball player never sat.
Groove em’ old kid you would hear him cry
And oh my! How hard they would try
to knock the cover off
Only to find Tom was making a stall

Next we come to the only Ted Fuerst
Always giving his opponents the worst
Dope on the ball that we wonder they didn’t fall
To the fact that off his delivery it was useless to try
To even knock an infield fly
So great a pitcher Ted was he
It’s a wonder to us that Connie Mack couldn’t see
Where he would fit in the famous machine
And win the world’s championship for the Athletic team
To you, Ted Fuerst, we extend a glad hand
And by you our fans always stand.

Next we find George Coakley, so good looking and slim
With the face from which you could never change the grin.
He was sure of a hit and how he would run-
stealing bases for him only was fun
By far the best shortstop of them all
It’s a shame the way he would slam on the ball.
You would always find him up on his toes
All you could hear them say was “there he goes”
A fast man on bases, a shortstop without peer
the only trouble with him was that he never drank beer
An officer of the law, he sure could win
Any young lady’s heart with that cheerful grin.

Belle Plaine Tigers, around 1920. Photo from the SCHS Collections.

Next we come to Ray Coakley, another member of the clan
When up to the bat in a pinch he never would fan
First base was his position to play
And on the bag he always was sure to stay
No matter how hard the batter the ball would clout
When it came to him, the umpire hollered “out”!
Every time up to bat he was sure of a hand
And he had the bunch going in the whole grandstand
He always played ball the best he knew how
And with the umpire never had a row
Such a favorite with the girls, it seems funny to me
He was never tangled up in the sea of matrimony

Next we come to Frank Bowman who played second base
Look out, sod busting umpires. he’ll change the map of your face!
Every time up to bat the fielders would back out
For they knew he would hit an awful clout
So short standing at bat the pitcher he would work
for a base on balls and going to second he'd never shirk.
On third he would land to get the glad hand
While many a bright eyed lady watched out from the grandstand
For with the girls he sure did shine
Hew was there and over every time
To you, Frank Bowman, we wish good luck
You were always trim and full of pluck

Next we find Jimmy Lannon on third
at scooping them out of the dirt he was sure a bird
at bat it was single, single, single
His teammates were always sure of a safe bingle.
His own bat he carried, it would never fail
The opposing pitcher wished he were in jail
Every time up to bat you could hear the bunch shout
O you Jimmie, hit’er out hit’er out
The ladies would all say “Isn’t he fine”
Every time he would knock one out on a line
He worried the pitchers, had them up in the air
Every ball he hit was sure to go fair.

Baseball player in Scott County, 1909. Photo from the SCHS Collections.

Next we find Wally Raymond, a fielder beyond doubt
No matter how hard they hit them they were sure to be out
Left field he held down, and may the time
The way he speared them was sure to be a crime
Always in the game with ginger and vim
Kidding his partner Bill to keep him trim
Always a safe batter he was sure to hit
A long drive at the right time, in the best place it would fit
Welcome to our town Wally, and long may you stay
Until you have grown quite old and grey
And may you never forget the time
You signed up to play ball with the Savage Nine

Next we come to Bill Flannery with such wavy pretty hair
The nicest young man in Savage all the girls declare
Center field was the place where he played the game-
Don’t leave us now Bill or we will never be the same
As a ball play we’ll say he was sure there
They we he pulled down long drives would raise one’s hair
Stealing bases was his special delight
for every one hie stole, he got a Budweiser that night
At bat he was sure to hit them square on the nose
And then be up and going fast on his toes
The only trouble we find with Bill is the girls did their best
To keep him out all night and away from rest.

Next we find Bill Lannon, so short and small
Its a wonder we could see him in the tall grass at all
In right field he was a wonder
He would never make a blunder-
To you Billy Lannon, we take off our hat!
We were sure of a safe hit with you at the bat
Fast on the bases, it was a wonder to see
The way he would fly around like a big bumble bee
The girls were all sorry to see him go
And may he come back with the first fall of snow
Canada is all right in the winter, we’ll say
But come back in the spring Bill, we want you to play.

And now we have to hand it to Ed Hanson
He sure is there even though he’s not handsome
The trouble he went through is enough to make anyone blue
And we certainly must hand it to him, always loyal and true
Tom Duffy was one trial, and when he got worse
We thank Ed Hanson for getting nurse
Ted Fuerst was a model young man out there
But Ed never offered him any Budweiser beer
George Coakley was a bad egg, he would drink red pop
But he always came around well, always on top
Ray Coakley’s mind was always far away
Dreaming of Credit River on bright summer day.

Victor Kahle of Belle Plaine in a baseball uniform, around 1920. Photo from the SCHS Collections.

Hanson humored Bowman by offering to bet
His month’s wages on George Gano, Frank’s little pet.
Jimmie Lannon would have to call up and promise ice cream
Before he would come down and play with the team
Wally Raymond had to be put to bed when the clock struck nine.
So as to be sure he would get up and be around on time
Billy Flannery was the worst trial- Hanson would threaten, coax and cajole
But out with the night owls Bill would go for a stroll
Billy Lannon was good as long as Ed was around
but watch him go wrong when the right one he found.

So here my friends you have the Savage team
The best ball players by far that were ever seen
And we hope next spring when ball time rolls around
Ed Garvey will be out again to fix up the ground
And may we see again the same ball game
And many the ladies see to fit it, for the sake of our renown
That none of our young men leave Savage, their home town.

And you, friends and neighbors who have seen many a game
Let not the lives of our young athletes seem to tame
Be sure to attend this winter, their ball
Which will help them along again until next fall
Although they played good ball and played their best
It was not what you would call a financial success
So altogether now, let us give, one at a time
Three cheers for each member of our baseball nine.