The 1900 book, “A Souvenir, Marshall, MN” is a great book about Marshall’s early infrastructures and business owners. The book was published by Wall & Haines of Minneapolis. The purpose of the book was to promote the community. For example, “The men doing businesses in Marshall are the best in their line found anywhere, and carry large stocks that make it unnecessary and unwise to go elsewhere to trade. In addition the town is supplied with a 400 barrel steam mill, four grain elevator, two large lumber yards, three hotels, and opera house, a public library of 2,000 volumes supplied by a one mill tax. And efficient fire company with all the necessary apparatus.”

The photograph featured this week is from the 1900 souvenir book. The beautiful home belonged to F.W. Sickler. Sickler was once a postmaster in Marshall. He was born on Oct.ber 21, 1856, in Rockford, Ill. He moved to Marshall in 1878, and he accepted a position in the office of the register of deeds at the county courthouse. He worked there one year before working in the county treasurer’s office for two years.

In 1881, Sickler was elected assistant cashier of the Lyon County National Bank. In 1898, he received the appointment as postmaster, succeeding John S. Renninger. It was during Sickler’s time as postmaster that the post office was located on the corner of Main and 3rd streets (the building where Columbia Imports is located today.) He married Lillian Porter on July 25, 1895, in Marshall. They had six children: Vivian G., Florence B., Frances Ported, Wallace W., George Howard, and Robert.

The Lyon County Historical Society is a non-profit, member-supported organization. For more information on membership, research, volunteering, or the museum’s collection, please contact us at 537-6580 or director@lyoncomuseum.org. Like our page and follow us on Facebook.