Freeborn County, MN
Cities and their Histories
Transcribed and Submitted by Michael Nelson
London Forced To Move To Follow Railroad
Albert Lea Tribune
Sunday, July 4, 1976
Pg 16
Previous to the beginning of London village, the community was a hamlet in another area of the township. A new
village was started in 1900 when the Albert Lea and Southern Railroad came through.
The new village began on a farm owned by William Morin and was platted in 1900.
The first building in the village was the railway station and the first business building as such, was the London
Lumber Co. office. Rudolph Isaacs manager of the lumber firm was the village’s first president.
In 1901 N. H. Nelson opened a general store. When the post office was moved from another area of the township,
it was located in his store and he became postmaster.
It was reported that the London area was settled, as early as 1855 and among those settlers were people from Wisconsin,
Connecticut, New York and Vermont.
London around 1910 consisted of two general stores, an implement store, hardware store, bank, creamery, lumber
yard, harness shop, blacksmith shop, railroad station, hotel, church, two elevators, several homes, two lodges;
the Modern Woodmen of America and Royal Neighbors. A two-room schoolhouse was under construction about 1911.
Myrtle Built at Post Office
Albert Lea Tribune
Sunday, July 4, 1976, Pg 16
Submitted by Michael Nelson
Before the Illinois Central Railroad came through in 1900, the hamlet of Myrtle centered around a post office in
a nearby section of London Township.
After the tracks were laid William A. Morin bought 40 acres of property and the station was built on his land.
The village also came to occupy part of the A. A. Schuhmacher farm.
The same year the station was built, W. Birch and S. White opened a general store. In 1892, the Myrtle Cheese Company
manufactured the first brick cheese ever made in Freeborn County. In 1901, C. W. Hanson started a general store.
Myrtle about 1910 had a bank, creamery, post office, railroad station and other businesses.
Twin Lakes named for Lakes Located Nearby
Albert Lea Tribune
Sunday, July 4, 1976, Pg 16
Submitted by Michael Nelson
The village of Twin Lakes received its name from the nearby Twin Lakes. The town was first platted in 1858 on land
owned by William Banning. But nothing developed and the lots and blocks were reclaimed for farming.
Earlier, in 1857, a waterpower sawmill had been constructed in the area and that business continued for a number
of years. In 1869 a second plant was made on land owned by William Wilson and J. M. Tanner, about 80 rods north
of the 1858 plat.
In the fall of 1869, John Donahue and William Knudtson opened a store, selling groceries and general merchandise.
Another early industry was a flourmill, built around 1868. A blacksmith shop opened that year. In 1870, a hotel
was constructed by William Beatty and Peter Donahue opened a store in 1875.
One of the stories that has been told and retold throughout the years is the Twin Lakes tragedy, when two Civil
War veterans were drowned in November 1866.
As the story goes, in 1866 thousands of Northern soldiers returned from Southern battlefields. One of the stragglers
was Thomas Stockdale, who I traveled with 16 Iowa soldiers.
Stockdale arrived home in the fall and helped his parents harvest the crops. Winter came and one night he decided
to go the village for supplies.
He came to a millpond and began crossing the ice thinking it was safe. But he fell through and his screams were
heard in the village.
Parshall picked up a board, carried it to the pond and laid it on the ice hoping to save Stockdale. But the ice
cracked and Parshall, too, went into the water.
It was said that the frigid water on Parshall's body perspiring from running to the scene cramped his insides and
a leg. Parshall’s companions headed out from shore in a boat, but were to late.
Both men were buried together and the legend has continued through the years. A poem was shortly written after
the incident by the mother of early settler, George Gardner. In addition to the “hero” song below was composed
by Mrs. William Edwards to the tune of “Queen Charlotte”.
"And many, many bitter tears
Those friends and neighbors shed
For those brave boys, so young years
Now unnumbered with the dead.
"Almighty Father, Heavenly I Friend,
Who chastens us in love.
Unto those mourning parents send
True comfort from above."