History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 89

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

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Following the passing away of danger of a return of the Indians, new settlers came in rapidly, homes and stores were built and businesses undertaken, farms were op- ened, and the community became general- ly prosperous. The new settlers were mostly American and Germans and were a progressive, industrious and intelligent class of people.

The township of Paynesville was taken cut of the township of Verdale and organ- ized as a separate township on September 20, 1867, with the following officers, to-wit: A. L. Elliott (chairman), John Baitinger and R. P. Gilbert, supervisors; J. B. Pease and H. H. Randolph, justices of the peace; Alfred Harris, constable; J. B. Peace, town clerk; R. P. Gilbert, treasurer; A. Chis- holm, Alfred Harris and Anton Warten- burg, road overseers.

The village of Paynesville was regularly crganized as a village in 1887. The village of New Paynesville was organized in 1890. Between those two years, the Great North- ern and the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad companies built their lines of road into this section, the former locating its station about one mile north and the latter placing its depot grounds about one mile east of Paynesville. A con- test was at once on between the inhabi- tants of the two villages. This continued for several years, during which the "Soo"

town gradually obtained the lead. In the fall of 1904 Paynesville was attached to New Paynesville, making a village now having a population of probably twelve hundred people. In March, 1905, the name of New Paynesville was changed by pop- ular vote to Paynesville, and under the historic name the metropolis of South- western Stearns is building and making good.

An interesting fact in connection with Paynesville is that for some time it was not a part of any county. In some manner the surveys and boundaries of the different counties had been so laid out that Paynes- ville did not lie within Stearns or any other county and a special act of the state legislature was necessary to attach it to Stearns County.

The first Fourth of July celebration in Paynesville, according to the recollection of the oldest inhabitant took place on July 4, 1858, and the story is given in this wise: The arrangements for the celebration were completed the night before and consisted principally in the building of a boat, the lumber for which had been brought from St. Cloud by ox team, Bright and early the morning of the Fourth, the procession started for Long Lake where the day was to be spent. The procession consisted of two lumber wagons, trailed one behind the other, drawn by six yoke of oxen, driven by John J. Brown, then a lad of fourteen years, but "a master hand with cattle." The first wagon contained the participants in the celebration, namely; O. S. Freeman, James H. Boyland, Mr. Trevor and Hugh Blakely, and Lucy Munson, Zina Brown and Canarissa and Victoria Richardson. The second wagon contained the boat, and bitched behind it was the refreshment de- partment in the shape of a new milch cow. Hugh Blakely was the orator of the day. Starting for home in the early evening owing to a threatened storm, the party became lost in the hills about Cape Bad Luck, and had to remain out all night.

On the morning of July 4, 1858, there was a heavy frost, killing the rye.

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The Locusts and the Parson's Salary. From the record of Rev. D. J. Higgins, pastor of the Methodist church, in 1874- 77: "Financially the whole territory was bankrupt. The locusts had largely de- stroyed the crops and well-grounded ap- ' prehensions of failure for another year filled every mind with depressing fears. The locusts had deposited their eggs so thickly that no one had hope of raising anything another year. At the opening of spring the hope which had been growing during the winter that the locusts' eggs were mostly destroyed, induced the people to sow their fields as usual, in many in- stances putting all the seed they had into the ground, leaving nothing for bread. The state also furnished several with seed. The fearful fact soon was realized that the locusts as soon as hatched would devour the growing crops as fast as they came out of the ground. In spite of all efforts by ditch- ing, fire, and tar machines, the springing grain was stripped as though the breath of the bottomless pit had blasted it. Wheat first, then the corn, barley and potatoes. Even the fields of timothy and grass were eaten; only a few patches of oats re- mained. In debt and destitute, starvation stared many families in the face. The cat- tle were left-thank God, the babes would not starve. The young men left for south- ern parts of the state to find work. Many families sold all personal property, and leaving their land, started to find new homes. But in the very crisis of this terror, the locusts, having destroyed all, left for parts unknown. God seems to have heard the cry of the needy, and by a strong west wind, has scattered and de- stroyed them utterly. The outlook now is hopeful for next year, yet during all this fearfully disastrous year the people gladly divided with us. We lived com- fortably yet very economically upon $243 contributed in food, wood, hay and house with the addition of $50 in missionary appropriation. With gratitude to God and thanks to the people for unnumbered kind- nesses."

From the Paynesville of 1857 has come the Paynesville of 1914, a village of one thousand or more people, a village of many comfortable homes and of good churches; a village peopled by men and women, pro-

gressive, intelligent and patriotic; a vil- lage of many business enterprises, guided by men, capable, energetic and thrifty; a village that has within its limits an estab- lishment, probably the largest of its kind in the state, paying out many thousands of dollars during the year for material and labor; a village that has its hospital known far and near and numbering among its clientage people not only from this state, but from other states adjoining; a village that never had a boom and does not care for one, but that has maintained a slow but healthy growth; a village that has near it the finest lake in northern Minnesota, Lake Koronis, of which it was once writ- ten: "To the scholar and student Lake Ko- ronis offers many a place of real historic interest; to the artist a varied scenery and unsurpassed natural beauty; to the sports- man many a victory both of the rod and reel; to the tired business man rest and quiet in a large measure and to the seeker after an ideal summer home a place that is

'Fairest among ten thousand And altogether lovely,'"

a village that does not claim to be about to become one of the great places of the state, but being located as it is in the heart of a rich and prosperous farming community, upon two of the leading rail- roads of the northwest, from thirty-five to eighty-five miles from any large city, and being peopled with men who are up and doing, does claim to have made good during the more than fifty years of its growth, and to offer to the home seeker and business man many advantages not held out by any other town of its size in northern Minne- sota.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church .- On September 17, 1888, a petition was pre- sented to the Right Reverend H. B. Whip- ple, Bishop of Minnesota, asking for per- mission to organize a parish of the Protes- tant Episcopal church at New Paynesville (now Paynesville). This petition was signed by Angus Haines, Hugh Blakely, William Haines, Sr., James Fair, Alfred Watson, and John J. Brown. The petition being granted, a parish known as St. Stephen's was organized, with the election of Angus Haines, Senior Warden; Alfred T. Watson, Junior Warden, and George Stephens, Henry Baugh, John J. Brown, Dr. James Fair, Hugh Blakely, Dr. G. G. Griffin,

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

James H. Boylan and J. C. Haines, vestry- men ..

A church building was erected during that year. The first service was held in the new church May 17, 1888, the service being conducted by the Right Reverend Mahlon H. Gilbert, the assistant Bishop of Minnesota. The church building was con- secrated on April 3, 1898, by the Right Reverend J. D. Morrison, bishop of Du- luth. The Rev. Charles B. Fosbroke was for a short time in charge of the parish. Following Mr. Fosbroke, Rev. D. T. Booth of Willmar, was priest in charge, though most of the services were taken and all of the Sunday School work was done by Angus Haines, a lay reader, until January 6, 1898, when the Rev. T. C. Hudson be- came the rector and has since remained in charge. The church has had a steady and prosperous growth, sharing in and con- tributing to the moral and spiritual devel- opment of the expanding village into the greater Paynesville of 1914.

Parish of St. Louis, R. C .- On April 10, 1899, the Catholics of Paynesville and vicinity met at the office of Dr. P. C. Pilon for the purpose of organizing a con- gregation, Dr. Pilon acting as chairman of the meeting. A committee of five members was appointed to find a suitable location for the erection of a Catholic church in Paynesville.

On June 3 of the same year another meeting was called at J. McGenty's store, and it was decided to buy three lots (9, 10, 11) in block 14, Haines' Addition. The building owned by Dr. Pilon was purchased for the price of $400, and moved on the lots. This was dedicated as a church for the small congregation of fourteen families on September 13, by the Rt. Rev. James Trobec, Bishop of St. Cloud, in whose diocese the congregation is located. At this time Rev. Father Hengarten of Eden Valley was appointed to take care of the new congregation, giving them services one Sunday and two week days every month.

In December of the same year Rev. L. G. Peiffer, the successor of Father Hen- garten in Eden Valley, appointed, in a spe- cial meeting, Archie Pelkey and J. R. Ley- endecker to look up suitable grounds for a cemetery. One acre on Lake street, known as Peterson ground, was bought for this purpose on March 27, 1900, for the

price of $100. At this same time John Leyendecker was elected treasurer of and J. McGenty secretary of the congregation, which congregation was incorporated un- der the laws of the state of Minnesota as "St. Louis Catholic Church of Paynes- ville."

In three more years a change in the ad- ministration took place. The Catholics, until then taken care of by priests from Eden Valley, were connected as a mission with Belgrade. Rev. Fr. Dworack, pastor of Belgrade, took charge of the congrega- tion consisting now of seventeen families giving them one Sunday a month. On ac- count of the sickness of Mr. Leyendecker, N. H. Dreis was appointed treasurer of the congregation, which office he fills today. In 1910 the secretary, J. McGenty, re- signed, Fr. Volkert taking his place.

In all these years the little congregation was steadily growing. On July 5, 1912, G. Schollenberger, assistant pastor of the Cathedral of St. Cloud, was appointed pastor of the congregation in Paynesville. In less than another year, on February 23, 1913, a special meeting was called at the church to consider the question of build- ing a new church, as the whole congrega- tion was in favor of erecting a new build- ing. In May the contract for the new church was given to Stromberg & Co., Mi- laca, and work began at once.

On July 10, 1913, the cornerstone of the new church was laid by His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. Bishop of St. Cloud, James Tro- bec, who also dedicated the first church. The congregation, now consisting of about sixty families, took the greatest interest in the work, faithfully assisting their pas- tor in the difficult task of erecting a new church in a small place.

On October 10, 1913, the new edifice, a concrete building with a full basement, was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop James Trobec. On the same day His Lordship the Rt. Rev. Bishop administered the Sac- rament of Confirmation to a class of fifty children,

All the furnishings of the church have been donated by special collection or private donation. The building cost about $8,500, and will accommodate at least eighty families.

The Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first

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organized church body, its organization having been perfected in 1859. Rev. W. N. Darnell, who was the first pastor, began his parish work in that same year, with a church membership of thirteen, and was successful in building a small church in the spring of 1861. This building later be- came a part of the stockade in the Indian outbreak, and was destroyed by fire in September of that same year. During the year 1872, and under the pastorate of the Rev. William E. Rice, work was again be- gun upon a new church building and a parsonage. These buildings were complet- ed during the year 1874, and on September 6, 1874, while the parish was in charge of the Rev. Samuel P. Roach, the church building was dedicated by the Rev. D .. Cobb, presiding elder of the district, at which time $1,103.50 was donated by the people present. This church building was originally built in what is now the ex- treme western end of town, but was moved to its present and more central location in June, 1893. Among the ministers in charge of this church following the Rev. W. N. Darnell, were Revs. G. W. Bennett, Robert Hoover, Jesse Smith, John H. Stundy, E. S. Bullard, Noah Lathrop, Ezra R. Lathrop, J. Milton Akers, J. H. Sherman, George Johnson, William E. Rice, Samuel P. Roach, J. J. Stanton, D. J. Higgins, John Doran, J. W. Klepper, J. N. Henry, C. T. Barkaloo, James R. Colley, B. Longley, W. H. Soule, B. F. Kephart, George West, H. C. Maynard, H. H. Saunderson, David Tice, Leon L. Koch, George W. B. Snell, C. T. Beers, J. W. Peterson, William K. Gray, Thomas A. Stafford and Hampton C. Kish- paugh.

The Methodist church is now one of the strongest parishes in this village having a large membership, and with its subsidiary organizations such as the Epworth League, Junior League and Women's Home Mis- sionary Society exerting a large influence in the lives of the residents of this village.

Congregational-Presbyterian Church .- The first religious services in Paynesville were conducted on July 20, 1857, by the Rev. C. S. Harrison, a Congregational preacher who in journeying through this portion of the west happened in at Paynes- ville and was induced to preach. Mr. Har- rison later return to Paynesville and became the first preacher of the Con-

gregational church in this place, serv- ing the church as pastor for several years prior to the organization of the parish. The reverend gentleman is now a resident of York, Neb., but conducted services in the Congregational church of this village upon the fiftieth anniversary of his first sermon, and had in his congregation but one person who might have heard him fifty years ago. The date of this first service is given by other writers as July 7, 1857. Mrs. W. P. Bennett, who was present at the service and who came to Paynesville on July 14, 1857, fixes the date as July 20, 1857.

The Congregational Church of Paynes- ville was regularly organized on July 29, 1866. The meeting for the organization was held on that day at the home of D. S. Twitchell, there being present and partic- ipating in the organization, the Rev. R. Hall, preacher, the Rev. S. D. Trembley, John Lester and wife, D. S. Twitchell and wife, and James Lester, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Mr. Hall. On August 3, 1867, a call was extended to and accepted by the Rev. S. D. Trembley to become the first pastor.

Among the gentlemen who have since been pastors are the Reverends John Todd, Enoch E. Rogers, R. D. Jones, David T. Jenkins, W. C. Haire, Lincoln A. Holp, David Donovan, Charles H. Chapin, William M. Wright, C. H. Moxie, W. H. Owen, James Earl and D. D. Day.

Work on the construction of a church building was begun in the fall of 1870, and the same completed and the church ded- icated in June of 1872, the services at the time of the dedication being in charge of the Rev. C. S. Harrison, who preached the sermon. The church building was moved to its present location in the summer of 1891.

On February 13, 1912, the parish became connected with the Presbyterian church and a part of the St. Cloud Presbytery, with Rev. E. J. Clarke in charge, who was succeeded by the Rev. T. M. Findley, the pastor now in charge.

First Church of Christ, Scientist. Dur- ing the year 1891, a few Christian Scientists met and held temporary services in the home of Mrs. Mary Gibson, who acted as first reader. April 10, 1899, the society was organized in conformity with the rules

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

and by-laws of the church manual of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Bos- ton, Mass., with six charter members as follows: Mrs. Mary Gibson, first reader; George Latterell, second reader; Mrs. Mary Gibson, president; Mrs. Hattie Latterell, treasurer; Mrs. Carrie Van Vorst, secre- tary; Mrs. Mary Gibson, director; George H. Latterell, director; Mrs. Carrie Van Vorst, director and Frank Gibson. After leaving Mrs. Gibson's home public meet- ings were conducted in the City Hall until rooms were fitted up in the Evans building, into which they moved August 1, 1899. On May 6, 1900, they moved to the Haines building, where they also fitted up rooms. April 5, 1898, a lot was purchased by George H. Latterell, and deeded to the church May 9, 1900. Work was commenced on the new church August 27, 1900. It is located on the northeast corner of South avenue and Hoffman street, and is a sub- stantial structure of brick, with interior hardwood finish. The first meeting was held in the new church November 11, 1900, and it was dedicated January 19, 1902. The Sunday School movement was first active in the summer of 1891. Its membership consisted of Roy Latterell, Hazel Latterall and Charles Gibson. They contributed the first moneys for the building of the church and they also were active members of the "Busy Bees." March 12, 1899, the Sunday School was permanently organized with a membership of nine pupils. The Sunday services at the Christian Scientist churches consist of services similar to that of the other church denominations, aside from the sermon, which in Christian Science churches consists in reading from the Bible and the Christian Science text book, "Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, and the lesson sermon is uniform throughout the world. Testimony meetings are held on Wednesday evenings. At the reading rooms in the church the public is always wel- come. The church building at Paynesville is the only one of this denomination in the county, and one of the first five in the state.

Paynesville Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M. A brief resume of the history of Paynes- ville Lodge, No. 71, shows the following facts:

That on December 16, 1867, eight Ma-

sons, namely, John Moore, North Star Lodge, No. 23; G. W. Bennett, Manterville, No. 11; James A. Fuller, Grand City Lodge, No. 82, Mich .; Frederick Smithson, North Star Lodge, No. 23; George S. Geer, North Star Lodge, No. 23; Henry Shirtliff, Gill Lodge, No .. 382, Illinois; Charles Griswold, North Star Lodge, No. 23, and William H. Brookins, Hude Park Lodge, No. 339, Penn., joined in a petition to the Grand Lodge of the state of Minnesota, for letters of dis- pensation to empower them to assemble as a regular lodge at Paynesville, to dis- charge the duties of masonry in a regular and constitutional manner according to the original form of the order and regulations of the Grand Lodge;

That answering that petition a dispensa- tion was granted under date of March 16, 1868, naming Charles Griswold, as W. M .; Henry Shirtliff as S. W., and John Moore, as J. W.

That the first meeting under this dis- pensation was held March 25, 1868, at which meeting petition for the degrees were received from J. E. Welch, J. W. Darby, Rev. Noah Lathrop, J. M. Blakely and Murdock Patterson;

That the second meeting was held April 1, 1868, at which time petitions were re- ceived from A. L. Elliott, G. S. Geer and J. B. Garrison, and a certificate of transfer from North Star Lodge of St. Cloud was received by which the care of John H. Stauffer, E. H. Bates and J. L. Whitla was committed to Paynesville Lodge, and;

That work under the dispensation was continued until December 16, 1868, when a petition was made to the Grand Lodge ask- ing for a charter which petition was grant- ed and a charter was issued bearing date January 14, 1869.

It will be no doubt interesting to know that on January 14, 1869, the number had been increased by eight, and at the time of granting the charter was 15; on August 1, 1914, the membership of the lodge is 84, though approximately 185 have become members during the 45 years of lodge life.

Of the fifteen members on January 14, 1869, Charles Griswold, John Moore, George W. Bennett, Henry Shirtliff, Fredrick Smithson, George S. Geer and James A. Fuller are named as charter members.

The eight who joined between March 25, 1868, and January 14, 1869, were Jesse L.

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Whitla, John H. Stauffer, John W. Darby, Noah Lathrop, John M. Blakely, A. L. Elliott and Charles S. Geer, and of these eight all are dead, with the exception per- haps of the Rev. Noah Lathrop.

Rev. Charles Griswold, who was the first master of Paynesville Lodge, afterwards became Grand Master for this state, being elected to that office in 1873 and serving three years.

Rev. Noah Lathrop, who was the secre- tary of Paynesville Lodge while under dis- pensation, was the first secretary of the lodge having been elected on the day of his joining, and was also the first senior warden and was elected master in 1870.

John H. Stauffer was senior warden in 1870, after which he was demitted for the purpose of assisting in the organization of Crow River Lodge. By the consolidation of Crow River Lodge with this lodge in 1913, he again became a member of this lodge. He died in November, 1914.

A. L. Elliott became junior warden in 1870, senior warden during the years 1873, 1874 and 1875, worshipful master in 1876, again in the east in 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890 and 1893, serv- ing for thirteen years in that office. He died on May 7, 1912.

During the forty-five years the following brethren have been master: Charles Gris- wold, John Moore, Noah Lathrop, Hugh Blakely, A. L. Elliott, James H. Boylan, Albert E. Bugbie, Edward H. Bates, R. J. Tuttle, H. A. Wells, Dr. George P. Ferree, W. A. Huntington, James H. Boylan, Jr., Cuthbert T. Johnston, Frank Tolman, George Bosworth and C. C. Peterson, eigh- teen brethren serving during the 45 years.

Rev. Noah Lathrop was the first secre- tary, being succeeded by John W. Darby, and he by E. R. Phipps, and he by A. E. Bugbie, who is still secretary, four secre- taries in 45 years.

Many of the early members of Paynes- ville Lodge were from the vicinity of New London, and later were demitted for the purpose of organizing Crow River Lodge, No. 192, first located at New London and later at Belgrade. Crow River Lodge, No. 192, in the early part of 1913 was con- solidated with Paynesville Lodge, bringing to this organization its eighteen members. . about forty rods, and remained unconscious

Paynesville Lodge now owns a substan-

tial two-story business building, occupying the second floor as a Masonic Hall.

(Note .- The above article on Paynesville township and village is from the pen of Frank Tolman.)

RAYMOND TOWNSHIP.

Raymond lies in the northwestern part of the county. It embraces township 125 north, range 35 west. It has an area of 23,040 acre. The surface is gently un- dulating, being mostly prairie with a large area of marsh land. There are a number of small lakes, prominent among which are, Sand lake, in the southeast part, and Silver Basin, in the north. The soil is a dark clay loam with a clay sub-soil, except in the southwest corner, where it is more sandy.

In 1860, Frank H. Kranz took a claim on section eighteen, and about the same time, a few unmarried men made claims in the vicinity, but lived with Kranz. In the early autumn of 1862, two of these young men, named William Lamont and John Dolson, not having heard of the Indian outbreak, started west on a hunt- ing and trapping expedition, but never re- turned. It is supposed they perished at the hands of the Sioux. At this time there had arrived quite a number of settlers, but all left during the Indian troubles of that year. The second venture was not made until the spring of 1866, when L .H. Decker, Thomas Bolles, D. P. Marshall, C. S. Boss, and others settled in the town. Several more arrived during the season, among whom were the Lyman brothers, William Smith and sons, and Liberty B. Raymond.

The first child born was Josephine M. Marshall on September 4, 1860. The first death was that of Daniel B. Lyman, son of A. G. Lyman. His remains were interred on the farm of Henry Lyman, but later re- moved to the cemetery on section five.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 89

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