G. A. Watrotts made the first brick (in Freeborn County), in 1857. (History of Freeborn County; Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Rev. Edward D. Neill, Minnesota Historical Company, Minneapolis, 1882, Page 363)
Notwithstanding the hard times the brick yard in Albert Lea has been run right along and a fresh kiln of over 400,000 has just been lighted. Brick are shipped all over Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa. The fuel used is soft coal, and it is said to be fully as good as wood for this purpose. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, September 21, 1893, Volume XVII, Number 39, Page 2)