son, August Erickson, J. O. Gravel, A. F. Folstad, Fred Sagner, Carl Rickgarn, N. Nissen, E. Humphrey, J. Anderson, Joe Stevens, C. L. Bangson, Otto Bauman, J. F. Nepp, M. Flannery, H. Brummer, Tom Flannery, O. Erdahl, J. E. Thompson, J. Knaach, A. L. Partridge, G. Country, T. Wunderlick, Andrew Edmundson, Fred Gass, Ole Halbostad, M. Schwartz, Martin Forrest, Otto Heimness and B. O. Gravely.

        On June 2nd of the same year the new company purchased the Hubbard & Palmer elevator.

        A four bin coal shed was built in the fall. Here was the Lake Wilson Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Association born, and not a member at that time ever dreamed that it would become the largest institution of its kind in Murray County. In commenting on the new organization the Pilot of March 25 said, "Not one of the stockholders needed security or additional signers on their notes"—something unusual in those days.

        The history of the organization has been one of progress and expansion. In 1914, three years after the disastrous fire, the members purchased the M. E. Lang lumber yard. More buildings were erected, including a seed and feed shed, and they carry a complete line of every variety of seed as well as a substantial stock of feeds for livestock, including poultry.

        A modern coal shed was erected which is one of the best in this section. Naturally the company has had its ups and downs; there were years when the profits were exceedingly low, the lumber yard one year not showing a cent profit.

        The officers who direct the policy of the association today are: Gilbert Erickson, President; Leslie Oberg, Vice-President; John Tutt, Treasurer; Oscar Olson, Secretary; and Directors, Henry Anderson, Fred Heins and Gunder Bondhus.

        In charge of the company operations are: Willis F. Godfrey, General Manager, who has been with the company since 1939, and Rudy Brummer, Assistant Manager of the lumber yard, and Frank H. Nett, Assistant Manager of the grain department. These two men joined with the company in 1939. Two of the men, Godfrey and Brummer, were in the navy during World War II.

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The First National Bank of Lake Wilson, Minn.

        In the development of this community the First National Bank has played its part.

        This institution was organized in 1919 and during the last twenty-eight years has played an outstanding part in every phase of the steady improvement and the security of this section of Murray County.

        The bank was opened on August l9th, 1919 with the following officers: President, John W. Erickson; vice president, A. G. Lane; J. M. Collins, cashier; Henry Groskreutz, assistant cashier and Ole Halbostad, Fred Carlson and C. E. Zeiner, directors.

        During the depression period this bank like hundreds of others in this section was strained to the utmost. Bank after bank was closing its doors but the First National kept its doors open and its credit good. It was the only bank in western Murray County to weather the financial storm. While the bank

The First National Bank of Lake Wilson, Minnesota
The bank was erected in 1919

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