History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 10

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110

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In 1882 a determined but unsuccessful effort was made to secure the removal of the land office from St. Cloud to Brainerd.

The names of the registers and receivers of the land office while at Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud, with the dates of their appointment, are as follows :

Sauk Rapids. Charles W. Christmas, register, appointed October 8, 1852; Reuben M. Richardson, receiver, October 8, 1852; George W. Sweet, register, April 1, 1853; William H. Wood, receiver, April 1, 1853; William A. Caruth- ers, register, March 19, 1857; Samuel L. Hays, receiver, April 28, 1857.

St. Cloud. William A. Caruthers, register, April 8, 1858; Samuel L. Hays, receiver, April 8, 1858; Joel D. Cruttenden, register, February 15, 1860; Sam- nel E. Adams, receiver, May 30, 1860; Thomas C. McClure, register, March 28, 1861; Stephen Miller, receiver (declined the appointment), March 28, 1861; Charles A. Gilman, receiver (temporarily), June 3, 1861; Charles A. Gilman, receiver (permanent), July 17, 1861; Henry C. Waite, register (temporarily), March 30, 1865; William B. Mitchell, receiver (temporarily), March 30, 1865; Henry C. Waite, register (permanent), July 28, 1866; Charles A. Gilman, re- ceiver, September 18, 1866; Henry C. Burbank, receiver, March 21, 1867; Charles A. Gilman, register, April 28, 1869; Thomas C. McClure, receiver, January 28, 1870; Hanford L. Gordon, register, October 30, 1871; J. V. Brower, receiver, April 25, 1874; J. V. Brower, register, June 24, 1874; Ole Peterson, receiver, June 24, 1874; William B. Mitchell, receiver, appointed March 7, 1878; Daniel H. Freeman, register, March 11, 1879; William B. Mitchell, receiver, re-appointed February 13, 1882; Daniel H. Freeman, reg- ister, March 5, 1883; Colin F. Macdonald, receiver, appointed July 11, 1885; Patrick B. Gorman, register, July 30, 1886 ; Colin F. Macdonald, receiver, July 30, 1886; Alphonso Barto, register, January 3, 1890; William Westerman, re- ceiver, January 3, 1890; Colin F. Macdonald, receiver, January 16, 1894; Theo- dore Bruener, register, July 21, 1894; Alvah Eastman, receiver, July 27, 1897;

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Myron D. Taylor, register, October 8, 1898. The two gentlemen last named were re-appointed and held their respective positions until the office was re- moved to Duluth and consolidated with that office December 17, 1906.

Until the homestead law was enacted in 1865 government lands could be obtained only for cash, by pre-emption, with military bounty land warrants, and after 1859 with half-breed scrip.

The first land sale at the St. Cloud office was held in October, 1860, the total sales amounting to but about 800 acres. Within three days afterwards over one hundred persons filed anew on their claims.

A proclamation was issued by the president of the United States in August, 1864, for a sale of government lands to be held at the St. Cloud office beginning October 17. The advertised list included all the pine lands and a considerable part of the farming lands in both the St. Cloud district and the old Otter Tail district. The acreage sold was comparatively small, most of this being pine land.

During the second quarter of the following year, from April 1 to June 30, the following passage of the homestead bill 96,296 acres were taken as homesteads in 632 entries and 109,286 acres were sold at private sale, the government price being $1.25 and $2.50 per acre, as the land lay without or within certain railroad limits. Of these homesteads over 400 were entered for soldiers then in the service by the Rev. Mr. Conway, who made this quite a lucrative business for some time. But very few of the soldiers ever actually went on the lands which had been entered for them in this way. In the first eleven months of this year the total acreage located at the St. Cloud office was 259,102, of which 205,768 acres were taken under the homestead law. The sales for 1866 aggregated 366,323 acres, of which 147,949 were by homestead entries and 167,208 acres with agricultural college scrip. The last homestead entry in 1866 was No. 3,400 and it was located within six miles of the first homestead taken in the district.

The first public sale of pine lands which reached any magnitude at the St. Cloud office began December 16, 1872, and continued for nine days. In all about 30,000 acres of land were sold the ruling price being $1.25 per acre. There was little or no competition among the buyers, matters having been satisfactorily arranged in advance so as to avoid competition. The largest purchasers were J. E. Hayward and J. P. Wilson, of St. Cloud; L. Day & Sons, C. Morrison, T. B. Walker, H. P. Brown, J. K. Sidle, Frank L. Morse and Todd & Fales, of Minneapolis.

Another sale of pine lands began January 13 of the following year, con- tinuing but three days, the sales amounting to between 6,000 and 7,000 acres. The prevailing price was $1.25 per acre, although a few tracts were sold at the double-minimum price, $2.50 per acre.

The next offerings of pine lands were in 1883, when two large sales were held. The first began January 15 closing January 24, and attracted a great number of buyers. On account of the large attendance it was found neces- sary to adjourn the offerings from the land office to the court house, where the sales were conducted by D. H. Freeman, register, and W. B. Mitchell, receiver. Among the buyers present were T. B. Walker, J. S. Pillsbury,

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George A. Camp, B. F. Nelson, D. M. Clough, S. P. Snyder and H. L. Gordon, of Minneapolis ; G. G. Hartley, C. A. Ruffee and J. J. Howe, of Brainerd; W. C. Yawkey, C. L. Ortman, of Detroit, Mich .; C. T. Ruggles and L. J. Hopkins, of Manistee, Mich .; Hugh Fraser and John Collins, of Duluth; N. P. Clarke and John Cooper, of St. Cloud, were also among the heavy buyers. The highest price paid was $12.05 per acre by T. B. Walker. A "gentlemen's understanding" among the buyers avoided much competitive bidding. The total sales amounted to $200,815.80. At the private sale which followed, lands to the value of $49,173.97 were sold, the largest purchasers being T. B. Walker and W. C. Yawkey. These brought the total of the sale up to $248,- 761.73-almost a quarter of a million dollars.

The second sale was even more successful than the first. As in the case of its predecessor, the offerings were made at the court house in order to accommodate the large attendance, the sale beginning August 20 and con- tinuing until September 1. Minneapolis was represented by T. B. Walker, C. A. Pillsbury, George A. Camp, D. M. Clough, B. F. Nelson, W. L. Bassett, Jonathan Chase, J. T. Wyman, H. L. Gordon, C. E. Brown and others; Duluth, Brainerd and other Minnesota cities by leading lumbermen, while C. F. Rug- gles, of Manistee; E. M. Fowler and W. C. Yawkey, of Detroit; M. L. Al- worth and Ezra Rust, of Saginaw, Mich .; B. F. Millard, D. E. Miles and a half dozen others from Chippewa Falls, Wis., were among the active buyers, and many other localities, even as far off as Olean, N. Y., had present one or more seekers after pine. The heaviest individual buyers were: C. F. Ruggles, $76,179; C. A. Pillsbury, $42,647; J. S. Pillsbury, $27,044; M. H. Al- worth, $30,437 ; Camp & Walker, $35,799 ; T. B. Walker, $28,783; E. M. Fowler, $34,762; W. C. Yawkey, $14,746; D. E. Miles, $28,771; B. F. Millard, $24,290; J. W. Pence, $22,047; C. H. Davis, $20,383; E. C. Beebe, $14,762; H. L. Gor- don, $19,451; C. A. Gilman, $18,257; John Cooper, $10,024. The sales totaled $558,885. The highest price paid was $20.25 per acre, the average being about $3.12. This sale was the largest, in the matter of receipts, ever held in the country and the prices received were on an average nearly double those usu- ally paid at sales of government lands. During the sale the receiver issued 3,000 receipts, the money taken each day being sent to the sub-treasury at Chicago. The total acreage of the two sales in 1883 was 556,662, and the cash receipts $990,045-almost a million dollars. Commissioner McFarland of the General Land Office, Washington, officially pronounced "the St. Cloud sale a great success." It was the last public sale of pine lands held at this office.

An examination of the land office records would indicate that it was a neck-and-neck race-without intention-among the early settlers in the county as to who should have the honor of having made the first entry. That distinction, however, falls to W. B. Staples, of the township of St. Joseph, who, September 29, filed on 160 acres in section 22. Stephen Zien filed Octo- ber 13 on 120 acres in section 5 of the same township. But several others had preceded him. G. H. Brinkman, October 10, took nine forties in section 3 in the township of Rockville. On the same day M. Hammerel filed on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 19 in the township of St. Augusta. Maine Prairie had an "early bird" in the person of Samuel

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

Young, Jr., who, October 13, 1855, filed on two forties in section 17 and three forties in section 20. This group constitute all who filed prior to the year 1857.

As the early settlement was in the eastern part of the county there were few filings from the townships in the western part. The first filing at Sauk Centre was in 1860, when, March 17, James R. Walker took 120 acres in sec- tion 9, and 40 acres in section 10. In 1861, September 14, Margaret Frazer took a forty in section 8. Whitman R. James followed October 21, with 160 acres in sections 10 and 11, and Lewis M. Davis 80 acres in section 15. On the sixth of the following month Eldridge F. Washburn took 160 acres, J. F. Warren 160 acres, and Lewis Ford 40 acres in section 17, the latter taking 120 acres additional in section 18. It was not until 1862 that Alexander Moore began the purchasing of a large acreage. James M. Thomason also acquired considerable land in Sauk Centre that year.

CHAPTER XLIV.

WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS.

St. Cloud Reading Room Society-Organization-History of the Library -- Civic Work-Parks Beautified-Betterment of the Schools-Sanitation- Social and Literary Aspects-Officers-Sunshine Society-Delphian So- ciety-Sorosis-Its Work, Officers and Ideals.

St. Cloud is the birthplace of a type of woman's club, which differs in character and method from all other clubs in the state. The St. Cloud Read- ing Room Society was organized on a plan broad enough to combine literary, philanthropic, educational, reformatory, and recreative qualities. This organi- zation is one of the oldest and most influential women's clubs in Minnesota.

In 1865, eight women of St. Cloud started a library called the Library Association. Men were admitted to membership and very soon the associa- tion numbered sixty. A literary program and supper added to the delight of the meetings. In this literary association, the Reading Room Society had its origin. Later in May, 1883, when a city library was organized, these public spirited citizens presented the city with about three thousand volumes, which formed the nucleus of the City Library, but there was no reading room.

Thirty-four year ago, on February 12, 1880, through the energy of Mrs. H. C. Waite, forty-four prominent women met at the home of Mrs. Helen Moore to discuss the needs of a free reading room for the city. At this meet- ing these energetic pioneer leaders in the library movement effected the unique organization of the St. Cloud Reading Room Society, which as stated in its constitution should have for its purpose, the establishment and mainte- nance of a free reading room in the city of St. Cloud and also the promotion of literary and social culture. . A constitution was read and adopted and the following officers elected : President, Mrs. H. C. Waite; vice-president, Mrs. W. B. Mitchell; secretary, Mrs. L. W. Collins; treasurer, Mrs. P. Tenney. Of

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this first set of officers only one, Mrs. W. B. Mitchell, is a member of the so- ciety today. Mrs. Mitchell is a prominent member, not only in the local, but also in the State Federation work.

The following forty-four women were members the first year of the so- ciety's existence : The Mesdames H. C. Waite, W. B. Mitchell, P. Tenney, D. B. Searle, H. P. Bennett, D. S. Hayward, J. G. Smith, E. D. Moore, Lewis Clark, M. J. Whitman, L. H. Morse, L. A. Marlatt; the Misses Isabel Law- rence, C. Lawrence, Inez Moore, J. Owen, A. B. Crommett, M. L. Upham; the Mesdames S. E. Wing, M. B. S. Barnes, Helen M. Moore, S. E. Tolman, P. L. Gregory, C. L. Schulten, L. W. Collins, N. P. Clarke, M. S. Hayward, L. A. Evans, William Barrett, W. W. Wright, J. Cooper, E. A. Parks, W. L. Beebe, C. C. McClure, C. A. Gilman, C. H. Hines, C. S. Benson, J. E. West, C. F. Davis, D. H. Freeman, J. F. Stevenson, D. M. G. Murphy, G. H. Davis, John Coates. On the present membership list there are nine charter members: The Mesdames W. B. Mitchell, W. L. Beebe, N. P. Clarke, John Coates, D. Hr Freeman, J. F. Stevenson, Martha J. Whitman, D. B. Searle and Miss Isabel Lawrence.

It has been customary during all these thirty-four years, that the society should be entertained once in two weeks, on Thursday afternoon, at the homes of the different members. The hours of entertainment are from 4 to 7. The membership is limited to sixty, which is always full with a large waiting list. The first part of the meeting is devoted to business, when various lines of ac- tivity for civic improvement are discussed and committees report. There are seven standing committees: Finance, Program, Entertainment, Improvement or Park, Civic, Pure Food and Health and Hygiene. After the business ses- sion follows an intellectual program, and after that an appetizing supper is served at six o'clock by the hostess and jollity and good cheer prevail.

The annual dues are ten dollars. Each member is expected to entertain the Society at least once in two years, dates for which are prepared at the commencement of the year. For failure to so entertain an additional fine of five dollars is added to the ten dollar annual dues. The admission fee is three dollars. The yearly revenue from fines and dues is about four hundred and twenty-five dollars. This Society's receipts aggregating into thousands of dollars has always been expended for the library and other civic work.

The charter members of this organization were excellent financiers. At the end of the first year the total amount from dues $164.40 was immediately placed in the Bank of St. Cloud. March 2, 1882, Articles of Incorporation were adopted and duly registered. In 1884 and 1885 the Society desired to invest their funds in a free reading room and in April, 1885, a committee was appointed to consult with the Directors of the City Library. The project was deemed by the City Fathers inexpedient, therefore the Society decided to place the fund of $1,100 at ten per cent interest as a permanent fund for the reading room of the future. With this investment the standing finance com- mittee was created, with Mrs. L. W. Collins, chairman. Later the funds were invested in shares in the St. Cloud Building & Loan Association.

After much agitation, in July, 1886, the free reading room was opened on the second floor of the old Edelbrock Building, the Society voting to give

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

annually three hundred dollars towards the maintenance of such a room. The women gave carpets, tables, pictures, a clock, books, periodicals, shelves, electric lights, wood box, illuminated signs, water cooler, a Bible, etc. The society advertised this room in the daily papers. Advertisements were also placed in hotels, boarding houses, stations, saloons, barber shops and stores. In 1896, when the reading room was ten years old and the library with its 3,430 volumes was comfortably domiciled in the West Hotel, the yearly pay- ment to the Library Board was $200. Finally the Society in 1900 conceived the idea of enlisting Andrew Carnegie's interest for a Public Library building to cost $25,000, and at the supreme moment, when a site was needed, in May, 1901, it presented one, the syndicate corner, owned by Mesdames John Coates, C. P. McClure, E. H. Holden, corner Fifth avenue and Second street south, costing $4,315.60.

That year the Reading Room Society celebrated its twenty-first anni- versary, February 12, 1901, by enjoying a Progressive Tea in the Unity Church Parlors, to which the husbands were invited. The story of the so- ciety's past endeavors for a better library, and the hopeful dream of the handsome new Carnegie building inspired all members to make of this treas- ure house a worthy monument. Again when the society was twenty-five years old it celebrated the occasion by making a Silver Anniversary gift of $285 to its pet protege. A Library committee of the following charter mem- bers, Mrs. W. B. Mitchell, Mrs. C. A. Gilman, and Miss Isabel Lawrence, was appointed to expend the anniversary funds in appropriate gifts for the Li- brary, and many beautiful pictures were purchased and several donated.

This Carnegie building, with its beautiful grounds, its four inner polished granite columns, its handsome mission furniture, the rare art treasures on its walls, the hundreds of volumes on its shelves is a noble monument to the generosity of the Reading Room Society. The library has about 12,300 well selected volumes. The Society pledged as usual $300 for books this year. During the past twenty-eight years this club has contributed $13,465 to the Public Library. The Society is recognized in the management of the Library by the following five members : Mrs. W. B. Mitchell, Mrs. Mary Stewart, Mrs. Martin Molitor, Mrs. E. Everett Clark and Mrs. E. F. Moore. The treasury of the society has always been in a good condition, proving that women are good financiers, for though always giving, they always have a good bank account, because the policy has ever been to keep the principal intact. Twenty- five hundred dollars constitutes its present assets invested in first class mort- gage loans.

With the passing of the years the scope of the society has broadened and other civic work has received its aid. A beautiful park system for St. Cloud became one of its chief interests. The club has been of assistance in acquiring the lots desired for our parks. The Improvement Committee formed in April, 1900, for the beautifying Central and Empire Park and the Library grounds has in the fourteen years expended about four hundred dol- lars in shrubbery, hedges, vines, bulbs, flowers, etc. The public school chil- dren have been encouraged in flower and vegetable gardens. Several hun- dred packages of seeds have been distributed and prizes offered for best

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

gardens, also 800 apple trees were planted Arbor Day of 1908, by the city, normal and parochial school children. Through the efforts of this club St. Cloud has had two big clean-up days in the spring of 1898, and also in 1913, when all the streets, alleys and vacant lots were cleaned. Many waste paper cans were purchased for street use. The parks were never more beautiful and the general interest in this work is abroad in our city. With the opening of the beautiful Scenic driveway, a grand opportunity for making a path- way of the magnificent stretch along the river is offered. The general in- terest in this subject abroad in our city is due largely to this society.

The betterment of our public school system has enlisted the efforts of our Reading Room Society. When to curtail expenses, music and sloyd were to be eliminated from the school curriculum, the Board of Education heeded the earnest petition of the club, asking the retention of these two subjects. In 1892 the Society advocated teaching domestic science in the public schools, and again in 1901, the matter was agitated, but in February, 1904, the project was actively pushed. It was not until six years later, when the gymnasium building was opened in 1910, that girls were taught cooking and sewing. A summer domestic science course was established in 1911 through the efforts of this society and fifty dollars is given annually to the school's support. In 1907 the Reading Room conducted a vacation manual training school for boys in the Union School sloyd room, engaging Mr. Knutson as director. Since that year $430 has been contributed to that work.

In January, 1907, the Society opened a game room in the library base- ment for boys, with a custodian in charge, and organized evening classes in the library auditorium three nights in the week. The erection of a Y. M. C. A. building was a splendid project to which November 22, 1906, the society voted six hundred dollars. It failed of realization.

The value of play and play grounds in providing health and joy to chil- dren is known to all. Play ground activities, folk dancing, pageants, games, athletics and the wider use of the school building in community recreation meets with popular support. One of the former members of this club, Jose- phine Brower, of St. Cloud, has introduced the English Morris Folk dances into this country and has written the first book on this art. In recognition of her ability, Miss Brower has been made an honorary member of the Woman's club of Minneapolis.

Large contributions have been made to the Lydia Phillips Williams and Prof. Maria L. Sanford scholarship loan funds. In 1908 the society placed three hundred dollars with the St. Cloud State Normal Faculty to be loaned to deserving students. This is known as the Reading Room Loan Fund. In the interest of obtaining a new high school building for the city, the members of the club made an active campaign this spring at the polls.

The passage of the bill for the separation of the girls industrial school was a measure the women urgently endorsed in 1905. The present work of the State Industrial Home for girls at Sauk Centre, as conducted by Mrs. Fannie French Morse, meets with encouragement and approval. Governor Johnson, in August, 1907, honored the society by appointing Mrs. George W. Stewart on the Board of Women Visitors for the State Industrial School for Girls.

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

A protest against establishing a woman's department at the State Reforma- tory was entered February 9, 1911, by the Reading Room Society and their action was approved and commended by the State Federation.

Our sphere of influence for civic betterment has included many phases of the city beautiful and city healthful. The systematic collection of the city's garbage was urged seventeen years ago. When the Pure Food and Civics committees were organized in 1907, an active campaign was made for meat and milk inspection, protection of raw food offered for sale, pure water, smoke nuisance and collection of garbage. Mrs. Caroline Bartlett Crane of Michigan, the municipal expert, under the auspices of this Society, made a tour of inspection in St. Cloud, October 1910. She praised and condemned. As a result of her visit our Pure Food Committee are visiting all places where food supplies are kept and report once a month. The chairman of this com- mittee, Mrs. E. F. Moore, was appointed by Mayor Seberger, November, 1913, as City Pure Food Inspector. The sanitary score card system was adopted and records of inspection are kept in the city hall and on the files of the so- ciety. There has been a steady improvement in bakeries, groceries, meat stores, and the committee is faithfully working for more stringent enforce- ment of dairy and meat inspection.

Appreciating the splendid spirit and achievements of the Commercial Club, our society in January, 1913, joined the live city boosters by affiliating iu membership and in purpose.

With the sale of anti-tuberculosis stamps and red cross buttons in Janu- ary, 1910, a Health and Hygiene Committee was formed. A tuberculosis ex- hibit was held in the city September, 1910, anti-tuberculosis literature was distributed and many patients have been assisted financially. Through the club leading medical men have given lectures on vital health subjects. With the assistance of Mrs. Perry Starkweather, the Assistant Labor Commissioner, a school census was taken, a health survey made, and a visiting nurse se- cured. A medical inspector for the St. Cloud public school is urged by the society. A county sanatorium for Stearns is a principle to which it stands pledged and would be glad actively to promote.

In carrying out the work and policy of the club, the following officers have served, the first name under each year, being the president and the second the secretary, the terms commencing February 12: 1880, Mrs. H. C. Waite, Mrs. L. W. Collins; 1881, Mrs. II. C. Waite, Mrs. J. E. West; 1882, Mrs. L. W. Collins, Mrs. J. E. West; 1883, Mrs. J. E. West, Miss A. B. Crom- mett; 1884, Mrs. L. A. Evans, Mrs. J. G. Smith; 1885, Mrs. J. E. West, Mrs. L. J. Barnes; 1886, Mrs. L. W. Collins, Mrs. George S. Spencer; 1887, Mrs. C. A. Gilman, Miss Mary M. Cambell; 1888, Mrs. C. A. Gilman, Miss Mary M. Cambell; 1889, Mrs. C. A. Gilman, Miss Mary M. Cambell; 1890, Mrs. L. W. Collins, Miss Mary M. Cambell; 1891, Mrs. George W. Stewart, Mrs. George Churchill; 1892, Mrs. George W. Stewart, Mrs. C. L. Atwood; 1893, Mrs. A. L. Tileston, Mrs. C. L. Atwood; 1894, Mrs. A. Barto, Mrs. W. L. Beebe; 1895, Mrs. A. Barto, Mrs. Thomas Foley; 1896, Miss Mary M. Cam- bell, Mrs. Alvah Eastman; 1897, Mrs. J. E. West (Miss Cambell), Mrs. Alvah Eastman; 1898, Mrs. Thomas Foley, Mrs. A. L. Tileston; 1899, Mrs. W. B.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 10

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 1110

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110