USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128
The telegraph office at this place, the terminus of the Northwestern line, is doing a paying business. G. C. W. Richardson is in charge.
September 19 .- The Bank of St. Cloud, J. G. Smith, announces itself as ready for business.
The contract for the transportation of army goods and supplies throughout the district of Minnesota has been awarded to J. B. Mills & Co., of this city.
The death of Richard Crosby, one of the leading citizens of Winnebago Prairie, oc- curred last week.
September 26 .- The new Baptist church at Fair Haven was dedicated last Sunday. It is the first church building in the town.
October 3 .- The postoffice has been re- moved to the building lately occupied by Anton Smith as a shoe store on Washing- ton avenue above St. Germain street. The telegraph office has been removed to the same building.
Joseph Hill, a well-known photographer from St. Paul, has arrived in St. Cloud and will locate here permanently. He has pur- chased A. Hull's gallery.
Jim Mckinney escaped from the county "jail" by crawling out under the eaves.
Mrs. George F. Brott died on the 25th ult. at Bay St. Louis, a watering place near New Orleans, of yellow fever.
October 10 .- The Little Giant Fire En- gine company went to St. Paul Tuesday to attend the annual parade of the city department there. The railroad company gave the boys a fare of only $1.00 each way.
October 17 .- The U. S. land office has been removed to Kindler's new brick block on Washington avenue, above St. Germain street, occupying second floor rooms.
The eleventh annual meeting of the Gen- eral Conference of the Congregational churches of Minnesota was held in the Congregational church in this city last
week, opening with a sermon Thursday evening by the Rev. Mr. Hart, late of Andover, Mass. Sixty ministers and dele- gates were present.
Married, at Burbank, by the Rev. J. L. Whitla, Wesley Carter, of St. Cloud, and Martha D. Johnson, of Burbank. October 16, at the residence of the bride, by the Rev. J. H. Creighton, A. J. Whitney, of Maine Prairie, and Ella Clark, of St. Cloud.
October 31 .- F. H. Dam has begun work on a large planing mill and sash, door and blind factory on Washington avenue, north of the ravine bridge.
A postoffice called Brockway has been established at Winnebago Prairie.
George F. Winter, of Sauk Centre, has purchased of Alex. Moore a lot in that town for $1,200, on which he will erect a double store building.
There are 57 school districts in Stearns county, with 18 frame and 15 log school houses, 1,794 male and 1,784 female per- sons of school age, 30 male and 42 female teachers.
November 28 .- Services in the new Con- gregational church began last Sunday with the Rev. George J. Wood pastor pro tem.
The Congregational church at Sauk Cen- tre, the Rev. A. K. Fox pastor, was for- mally dedicated Sunday.
The Sauk Centre academy will open De- cember 2, under the care of the Rev. D. W. Evans, assisted by Miss R. Spencer, with Mrs. B. R. Palmer in charge of the music department.
December 12 .- A new school house has been completed at Richmond which is a credit to the place. It is of stone, 28x40, two stories high.
John Coates has inclosed on Lake George the largest skating rink in the state ..
E. C. Smith is now selling ladies' buffalo shoes at $1 a pair.
December 19 .- The Rev. A. Gale, of St. Anthony, organized a Baptist church at Sauk Centre on the 8th inst., and preached the recognition sermon. There are now four Baptist churches in the Sauk valley.
Judge Hamlin is to deliver a lecture at Maine Prairie tomorrow evening, under the auspices of the Library association of that place. The next lecture will be delivered by Gen. C. C. Andrews, and others are to follow.
1119
HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
1868.
January 16 .- The new flouring mill at Melrose, one of the best in the state, has been put in operation. Major Clark was in town this week to purchase plank with which to raise the dam three feet higher, giving a head of water twelve and a half feet. The mill has a capacity of seventy- five barrels per day. The proprietors, E. & W. H. Clark, intend putting up a saw mill in the spring.
A total of 137 marriage certificates and 581 naturalization certificates were issued in this county in the year 1867.
The First ward wants to secede from the incorporation and legislative action will be sought.
January 23 .- Albert Moffatt, of Hudson, Mich., arrived last week with his family to take the position of assistant cashier of the Bank of St. Cloud.
February 27 .- A snow storm which be- gan Saturday, continuing for over twenty- four hours, so blockaded the railroad that trains from St. Paul were unable to reach here until midnight of the following Wednesday. Another storm, the following week, resulted in another blockade, lasting for another four days.
March 5 .- A. J. Stanton, of Clearwater, has purchased the Sims Brothers' interest in the flouring mills at the mouth of Sauk river, two miles above this place.
A concert for the benefit of the Library association netted $94.65.
March 19 .- Messrs. McKelvy, Moore and Kerr have purchased of Jeremiah Russell, for $3,600, a tract of thirty-six acres on the east side of the river, extending from Wilson's to Wright's ferries. It is touched by the eastern end of the new wagon bridge.
Gorton & Burbank have sold their water power with what improvements are left remaining after the late fire to P. B. Thompson, of Cold Spring for $5,000. We understand that Mr. Thompson will put a first-class mill on this location.
March 26 .-- A. Montgomery has been ap- pointed deputy collector of internal reve- nue at this place, vice A. B. Curry resigned.
April 2 .- H. J. Fowler has rented E. M. Tobey's saw mill for the present year.
The contract for all the government transportation to the posts in Minnesota
and in the department of Dakota this side of the Missouri river has been awarded to J. C. Burbank & Co. The contract is a very heavy one. Burbank Bros., of this city, will have the principal charge of the business.
The first issue of the Sauk Rapids Sen- tinel made its appearance Saturday under the management of George W. Benedict.
The ice in the Mississippi began moving Monday, but did not start in earnest until Tuesday. The train from St. Paul had just arrived and the passengers for St. Cloud had started to cross the ice on foot when it began to heave and finally to move with them. It was a close call, as there was an open space of fifty feet between the ice and the shore, but a skiff was found and all reached land in safety.
The state and general fund apportion- ment for 1868 gave Stearns county $2,740.70 for its 3,544 scholars, being $0.771/3 each. There were sixty school districts in the county.
April 9 .- The new charter incorporating the city of St. Cloud, and repealing all acts of incorporation as a town, is published.
George H. Spencer is assignee of Deni- son & Fox and T. W. Denison, of St. Cloud, voluntary bankrupts, this being the first case of bankruptcy in Stearns county.
April 30 .- The government transporta- tion headquarters and depot for supplies have been definitely located at St. Cloud, with Major Robinson, quartermaster, and Major Walker, paymaster, in charge.
The Arctic Base Ball club held an elec- tion Friday evening with the following re- sult: Dr. A. E. Senkler, president; Wil- liam Mullikin, vice-president; Capt. L. W. Collins, secretary; Henry Lunkenheimer, treasurer; Dr. W. M. Burchard, E. M. Wright and J. B. Abbott, directors.
May 7 .- Tobey's saw mill has been rented by N. P. Clarke, who will run it during the season.
All who come from Sauk Centre speak encouragingly of its prosperity. New buildings are going up and the spirit of improvement seems to pervade the entire community. Among the comparatively new business houses opening up and pros- pering there are Philip Frank, clothing; Lamb & Myrick, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes; Bennett & Cole, hardware ex- clusively.
1120
HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
Dr. A. E. Senkler has been appointed pension examiner for this locality.
May 21 .- A half-breed who had been in- stalled in the county jail Friday night, at six o'clock the following morning forced the door open and walked off, carrying away on his shoulders the bed on which he had slept the night before-thus clearly rendering himself liable for rearrest on the charge of grand larceny.
Died, in St. Cloud, May 18, of typhoid pneumonia, Chester Waite, aged 62 years.
Over two hundred teams have left St. Cloud during the past fortnight loaded with government supplies and Hudson Bay Company goods. One train of forty-two ox and six mule teams started for Fort Wads- worth, Dakota Territory, carrying oats ex- clusively, each team taking 140 bushels.
June 18 .- George H. Spencer, who had already on hand 30,000 muskrat skins and 200 mink skins, received this week from Tanner, Briggs & Co., of Little Falls, in one lot, 46,000 muskrats, 680 mink, 45 otter, 25 bear and 70 beaver skins, amounting in value to $11,000.
J. C. Burbank & Co.'s train brought through from Georgetown 1,380 buffalo robes, valued at over $8,000, belonging to the Hudson Bay Company and shipped to England in bond.
July 23 .- A new post office has been es- tablished at Leedston, about eight miles above Richmond, on the stage road, with Jos. Zimmerman, who keeps the hotel, postmaster.
Charles Plunkett, manager of the opera house at St. Paul and Minneapolis, is giv- ing St. Cloud its first theatrical season, the plays being staged at the court house, with fifty cents general admission.
S. H. Parsons has been appointed agent of the American Express Company, vice A. N. Gilbert.
July 23 .- E. C. Carns started Tuesday morning for White Earth lake, in the Chip- pewa country. He goes as the agent of Messrs. Clarke & Burbank, of this city, to attend to the distribution of rations to the Indians, for which this firm has the contract.
Joseph Coyette has brought to St. Cloud for the benefit of the thirsty its first soda fountain.
August 20 .- Stearns county had its first circus in 1868, when Jones, Kitch & Co.'s
"Great Northwestern Circus, the Undi- vided, Unabridged and Most Complete Circus," with all the rest of the assort- ment of bewildering adjectives which pre- cede and accompany circuses, made its ap- pearance at St. Cloud August 14.
Peter Lommel, the mail contractor on the St. Cloud and Rockville route, adver- tises a passenger and express service be- tween the two places.
August 27 .- Waite & Clarke's new stone grist mill at Cold Spring, built at a cost of $30,000 will be ready to begin work next week. ,
Ostrander & Co., of Illinois, who recently located at Paynesville, have begun work on a new grist mill at that place.
Married, at Maine Prairie, August 22, by Elder B. U. Watkins, David B. Standley and Emma G. Allen, both of Maine Prairie. At Clearwater, August 24, by the Rev. J. D. G. Stearns, Samuel Whiting, Jr., and Anna M. Mayo, all of Clearwater.
S. B. Pinney, of St. Cloud, has received the contract for furnishing the government with 300,000 pounds of corn at 8734 cents per bushel.
Late advices state that the grasshoppers have completely destroyed the crops in the Red River settlements, and as the buf- falo hunt has been a total failure the peo- ple there are facing the prospect of severe want if not starvation.
James Cambell, of Clearwater, started last week for Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he is to take charge of the hotel depart- ment of Vassar College.
September 10 .- N. Richardson, of Little Falls, has purchased of the Messrs. Holes the ferry boat at the mouth of Sauk river. It will be hung on the Mississippi about half a mile above Little Falls for the ac- commodation of travel between that place and N. P. Clarke's mills at Little Elk.
Word has been received of the death in a hospital at Louisville, Ky., of "Presi- dent" (or "Live Forever") Leonard Jones, an eccentric character who was a familiar figure in and about St. Cloud during the late 50's. He always insisted that he was the lawfully elected president of the United States and was fond of writing letters to the members of the cabinet. One of his chief characteristics was personal vanity, or rather an inordinate love for con- spicuousness, and whenever opportunity
1121
HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
offered he would deliver a public harangue, bis feet and legs being used as vigorously as his arms for gesturing.
Herman Stoeckling, of this city, who made the fine organ in use in the Catholic church here, has recently completed an- other and even larger one.
September 17 .- A great rush is being made for the pine lands, some of which have been recently surveyed. Half-breed scrip is mainly being used in making these locations.
J. A. Carter, recently from Illinois, has purchased for Lewis Lewiston the lease of the Minnesota House and will continue to keep it open for the accommodation of the public.
The frame for Mayall, Vye & Linscott's new grist mill at Fair Haven was raised this week.
September 24 .- N. P. Clarke, of this city, has received government contracts for fur- nishing 22,000 pounds of flour, in 100 pound sacks, at $3.74 per hundred, delivered at St. Cloud or Cold Spring; 29,400 pounds in barrels at same price; 900 bushels potatoes in gunny sacks, at $1.25 per bushel, to be delivered at Fort Abercrombie in October; 1,700 bushels of corn, at $3.30 per bushel, for delivery at same place and same time.
October 29 .- J. A. Stanton, of this city, has received a government contract for furnishing 70,000 pounds of flour, at $3.10 per cwt. delivered here.
P. Partridge and B. Vandervoort, of Fair Haven, have dissolved partnership, the for- mer continuing the business.
November 19 .- The winter time table went into effect Monday and there is now but one train a day between this city and St. Paul.
Married, at Faribault, November 9, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Whipple, the Rev. George Stewart, rector of the Episcopal church at Sauk Centre, and Miss Isabel Lombard, of Faribault.
December 3 .- Whiting Bros., of Clear- water, have shipped over 10,000 pounds of ginseng the past season. This article is quite an item of trade in this part of the state.
Sled loads of deer are brought to town daily, large numbers of carcasses being shipped by rail to St. Paul, thirty-eight go- ing in one lot direct to Chicago.
P. B. Thompson's new grist mill on Sauk river began grinding Thursday last, with three run of stone. We understand that J. E. Hayward has purchased an interest in this mill.
December 10 .- Edward M. Tobey, who for seven years had been one of St. Cloud's most active citizens, engaging in various lines of business, including the building of a large saw mill, died December 8, at the age of 48 years, of the disease which had been the cause of his coming to Minne- sota-consumption.
December 24 .- The Mississippi river did not close this year until yesterday, Decem- ber 23.
Married, at Central City, Colorado, De- cember 7, General C. C. Andrews, of St. Cloud, and Mary F. Baxter, of Central City. General Andrews and his bride arrived home Monday.
December 31 .- P. Lamb, of the firm of Lamb & Myrick, Sauk Centre, arrived in town Tuesday with about $2,500 worth of furs, including 12,000 muskrats.
A hunter named Crowell, living near Sauk Centre, has killed this season, up to Christmas day, one hundred and two deer.
One hundred forty-two marriage licenses were issued in 1868.
1869.
January 7 .- C. Bridgman has purchased Tobey's saw mill in lower town for $8,000.
The Rev. Mr. Stukenkemper, in charge of the Catholic cathedral at this place, showed us last week the plans for a new parochial house which is to be built the present season. It will be a two-story brick, 46x57, with two L's, and will be to the eastward of the cathedral.
B. Overbeck succeeds J. A. Casler as proprietor of the Minnesota House.
January 28 .- A number of German citi- zens met at the court house on the 20th and formed an organization to promote im- migration to Minnesota. Officers were elected as follows: John Zapp, president; R. Schoeneman and B. Overbeck, vice pres- idents; B. Vossberg, secretary; John Schwartz, treasurer. The president ap- pointed R. Schoeneman, John Bach and B. Overbeck delegates to attend the State Im- migration convention at St. Paul, Jan- uary 28th.
February 11 .- The firm of Linneman &
1122
HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
Capser, of Sauk Centre, has been changed to Capser & Co.
A young man named J. D. Copeland, of Clearwater, who had been left temporarily in charge of Forrest & Ladd's flour and feed store in this city, mysteriously dis- appeared Monday night. It seems that he had fallen into the clutches of gamblers, and in order to secure money had forged checks aggregating over $400, on which he received the cash. After leaving St. Cloud he went to his former home in Minneapo- lis, and after being discovered made two attempts to commit suicide, once by taking laudanum and again by shooting. Mr. For- rest, who is his father-in-law, redeemed the checks.
February 25 .- A Christian convention for Northwestern Minnesota was held in the Congregational church, St. Cloud, February 16, 17 and 18. The attendance included 20 clerical and 22 lay delegates representing 25 churches of the following denomina- tions: Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and Congregational, the agent of the Amer- ican Bible Society and the superintendent of the Minnesota Sunday School Associa- tion also being present. Delegates were present from St. Paul, Austin, Monticello, St. Anthony, Fair Haven, Kingston, Sauk Centre, Anoka, Little Falls, Paynesville, Sauk Rapids, Clearwater, St. Cloud and other places. The meetings were largely attended and were presided over by Judge James M. McKelvy. The spirit of the con- vention was excellent, good will and har- mony reigning throughout, and it was felt by all that much good would result from this interdenominational gathering.
March 4 .- The city orders of St. Cloud are at par. How many cities in the state can make as good a report?
The fur and hide trade of St. Cloud the past year amounted to $49,647. The largest return was George H. Spencer's, $31,247.
March 11 .- The legislature passed a bill authorizing the city of St. Cloud to issue $10,000 in bonds to aid in building a hotel.
From Tuesday until Sunday evening no train from St. Paul reached this place be- cause of the snow blockade.
The first velocipede ever seen in St. Cloud has made its appearance and is on exhibition in St. Cloud hall. Admission to the hall, with the privilege of riding, 25 cents; children, half price; ladies, free-
probably for the fun of seeing them fall off the wobbly machine.
March 25 .- A. W. Libby died at his home in Brockway on the 23rd inst.
M. Cahoon, of Little Falls, has removed his stock of goods from Little Falls to Paynesville.
April 1 .- A mail bag which had been lost from the stage on the night of Novem- ber 15 last was found by E. C. Smith Fri- day night embedded in the snow and ice at the intersection of St. Germain street and Washington avenue. The contents were valuable, including a government voucher for $1,900, belonging to T. C. Mc- Clure, $68 in treasury notes and several registered letters. The bag had not been seen after it had been delivered to the stage by the postmaster at St. Jo., and as the driver left the employ of the stage company soon afterwards he had been sus- pected, but unjustly, it seems.
The county treasurer's office was broken into last night but the burglars got noth- ing for their pains. This is the third time within a year that thieves have broken into county offices, but without reaping any reward.
The money received from licenses and fines was sufficient to more than pay cur- rent expenses of the city during the past year.
H. W. Weary has made for mein host Hayward, of the Grand Central, a hand- some new 'bus for carrying passengers be- tween the city and depot.
On the night of March 31 burglars en- tered B. Reinhard's store and took $105 from the desk. Entrance was effected by turning from the outside the key which had been left in the lock.
April 8 .- Capt. J. E. West has been ap- pointed postmaster at St. Cloud.
The Rev. E. V. Campbell and wife were given a surprise party yesterday, on the occasion of their wooden wedding.
April 22 .- A foot bridge is being built across the ravine on Richmond avenue. It is a matter of private enterprise, being done by a few of the citizens most di- rectly interested.
C. T. Stearns, formerly of this city, has been appointed registrar of the United States land office at Mobile, Ala.
Commencing Monday there will be two
1123
HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
trains daily on the St. Paul and St. Cloud railroad.
April 29 .- John Zapp, registrar of deeds, has purchased a full set of abstract of title books, seven volumes of 960 pages each, to include all of Stearns county, town lots and farming lands.
It is proposed to build another foot bridge across the ravine at the foot of Welles avenue. This is a good idea. But why does not the council have a wagon bridge constructed? This is one of the finest streets in the city, being the one nearest the river, and through groves, and would make a beautiful drive.
May 6 .- M. P. Noel is engaged in estab- lishing the grades of the streets in St. Cloud and putting in monuments for fu- ture surveys.
Large numbers of Norwegians from the old country are arriving daily to make their homes in this part of Minnesota. They make good, industrious citizens.
O. P. Boardman, of Olean, N. Y., reached here Monday. Mr. Boardman purchased some time since three hundred acres of land near the Sauk river bridge, three niiles from town, and proposes having a first-class farm. He will erect a substan- tial dwelling house, build two miles of fence and have one hundred acres sowed to wheat this season.
May 20 .- J. J. Green, lately of the Wi- nona Democrat, has purchased the St. Cloud Times from A. J. Reed.
Gen. C. C. Andrews, who has been ap- pointed minister to Denmark, left this city last Thursday for Washington to receive final instructions before sailing for his post of duty.
Andrew Larson has purchased the Lewis- ton house, and Mr. Lewiston has removed to Alexandria.
Fifty bales of the Hudson Bay Company's furs, weighing ten thousand pounds, were shipped from this place Friday for Eng- land.
June 3 .- A handsome new foot bridge across the ravine on Welles avenue has been completed. It was built by private enterprise.
June 11 .- Three hundred Red river carts have crossed the bridge at this place this week. Four hundred had crossed last week.
John Cooper has received the appoint- ment of assistant assessor of internal reve- nue for this division. Mr. Cooper will un- doubtedly make a good officer.
The corner stone of a new Catholic church at St. Joseph was laid Sabbath last, with appropriate ceremonies. Bishop Grace, of St. Paul, was present. The attendance was very large.
A force of workmen, under the direc- tion of Gen. Thomas, began work this week on the west, of St. Cloud, side of the dam across the Mississippi river at Sauk Rapids. July 1 .- Among the successful bee raisers in the county are J. H. Locke, Fair Haven; M. L. Norton, Le Sauk, and B. H. Winslow, Maine Prairie.
The Rev. E. V. Campbell and wife were presented by the congregation of the Pres- byterian church with a purse of $123 to enable them to make a visit to their old home in Pennsylvania.
July 8 .- There are county orders re- maining with the auditor issued as far back as 1855, and quite a number in 1865 and since, never called for by the persons to whom they were issued.
A silver set was presented last Thurs- day by a number of the Red river traders to W. W. Wright, agent at the St. Cloud railroad station, and a gold pen and case to R. D. Bloomfield.
The Methodist camp meeting for the St. Cloud district was held at Paynesville, commencing Wednesday, June 30, contin- uing a week. There were twenty tents, pitched on the Rev. R. Hoover's farm; eighteen local and traveling ministers were present, and the meetings were successful.
July 22 .- It is estimated on good author- ity that at least 200,000 muskrat skins, of the past season's catch, have been shipped from the St. Cloud depot the past spring and summer. This was one of the best years for muskrats ever known.
July 29 .- A Baptist church was organized at Paynesville on the 24th inst., and on the following day it was publicly recog- nized as a Christian church in Gospel order by services appropriate to the occa- sion. The Rev. A. Gale preached the ser- mon.
August 5 .- The contract for building a new "post and rail" fence around the court house square has been let to O. Tenny for $800.
1124
HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
August 19 .- If there are any who doubt that fine apples can be raised in Northern Minnesota let them examine the specimens on a tree in W. T. Clarke's garden. They are of the Duchess of Oldenberg variety, and are as large as most apples to be found in eastern orchards at this time of the year.
September 2 .- The first number of the German Anzeiger, J. M. Broome editor and proprietor, has made its appearance.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.