History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 9

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

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County Surveyor. Robert B. Blake, 1855 to 1858; Henry C. Waite, 1858 to 1859; N. N. Smith, 1859 to 1860; Peter Meyer, 1860 to April 2, 1861 (re- signed) ; James H. Place, 1861 (appointed April 2) to 1866; N. Schmidt, 1866 to 1872; Milton P. Noel, 1872 to 1887; John D. Morgan, 1887 to 1889; Samuel S. Chute, 1889 to 1893; John D. Morgan, 1893 to 1895; Milton P. Noel, 1895 to 1897; D. B. Cannon, 1897 to 1899; John D. Morgan, 1899 to 1907; Samuel S. Chute, 1907 to 1911; John D. Morgan, 1911 to 1913; Samuel S. Chute, 1913 to 1915 (re-elected).

County Superintendent of Schools. The first superintendent was Nathan F. Barnes, who was elected by the board of county commissioners May 8, 1867, and served until September 4, 1868, when Henry Krebs was elected, and held the office until April 1, 1872. Dr. M. C. Tolman, his successor from that date, resigned September 6 following. B. Pirz was elected and acted until September, 1874. P. E. Kaiser, his successor by election of the board, served until 1878, when the office became one to be filled by the vote of the people. Mr. Kaiser was elected in that year, serving until December 1, 1879. His successors have been: P. B. Gorman, 1880 to 1885; Henry Krebs, 1885 to 1887 ; L. J. Rocholl, 1887 to 1899; Charles M. Weber, 1899 to 1903; Paul Ahles, 1903 to 1911; William A. Boerger, 1911 to 1915 (re-elected).

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

Coroner. James S. White, 1859 to 1862; B. Overbeck, 1862 to 1885; A. C. L. Ramsey, 1885 to 1889; H. Schmidt, 1889 to 1893; P. C. Pilon, 1893 to 1895; H. A. Pinault, 1895 to 1903; J. B. Dunn, 1903 to 1907; H. A. Pinault, 1907 to 1915 (re-elected).

Court Commissioner. C. C. Andrews, 1861 (resigned and no record of vacancy being filled) ; William S. Moore, 1864 to 1868; L. A. Evans, 1868 to 1871; B. R. Palmer, 1871 to 1881; E. B. Strong, 1881 to 1883; L. A. Evans, 1883 to 1887; William Boulton, 1887 to 1895; John L. Wilson, 1895 to 1899; L. H. Vath, 1899 to 1901; John L. Wilson, 1901 to 1905; L. R. Porter, 1905. to 1907; J. I. Donohue, 1907 to 1913; Carey Diehl, 1913 (term ends 1917).

County Assessor. Henry Wiltzheimer, April 9, 1855; Addison Gillmore, January 7, 1856. An act of the legislature passed August 13, 1858, provided for the election by the people of an assessor in each township, thus doing away with the office of county assessor.

County Commissioners. The names of the members of the board of com- missioners, with the various changes, to the close of the year 1914, will be found in the report of the proceedings of the board published in another chapter. At the election in November, 1914, P. N. Lahr was elected commis- sioner from the First district, Peter J. Theisen from the Fourth district and Ben Ellering from the Fifth district, to take their seats at the meeting of the county board January 4, 1915.

CHAPTER XLII.

FAIRS AND DRIVING PARK.

Association Organized-Site Selected-First Fair Held-Succeeding Meetings and Officers-District Association Organized-Agricultural Society-New Site Purchased-Present Status-Benton County Society-Its Fairs- Chicken Shows.

At a meeting of the business men of St. Cloud held at Schwartz & Theis's: hall July 19, 1871, steps were taken to organize and incorporate the St. Cloud Agricultural and Driving Park Association, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining at or near St. Cloud a driving park and county fair grounds. The capital stock was fixed at $9,000, divided into 450 shares of $20 each. The full amount of stock was promptly subscribed and a board of directors elected, who organized as follows: T. C. McClure, president ; Charles D. Kerr, vice-president ; William Mulliken, secretary; J. G. Smith, treasurer. A call was issued for a meeting of delegates from the different towns in the county to be held in St. Cloud August 15, to adopt the necessary measures for the organization of a county fair association. At the designated time there was a good attendance of delegates from the various parts of the county, who adopted a constitution and elected the following-named officers: President, W. T. Rigby, Clearwater; vice-president, John Zapp, St. Cloud; secretary, R. W. DeLano, St. Cloud ; treasurer, T. C. McClure, St. Cloud; executive com-

WATERPOWER AND TENTH STREET BRIDGE

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

mittee, N. P. Clarke and W. B. Mitchell, St. Cloud; A. B. Greeley, Maine Prairie; Henry Krebs, St. Augusta; J. D. Carr, Sauk Centre; J. L. Gray, Brockway; R. W. Vandervoort, Fair Haven; H. Terharr, New Munich; W. P. Bennett, Paynesville; H. B. Meyers, Zion; John Lear, St. Joseph. The name adopted was "The Stearns County Agricultural and Mechanical Association."

After considering the advantages and disadvantages of a number of tracts offered as a location, the directors of the Driving Park Association decided to purchase eighty acres offered by F. Sisson, on the prairie to the westward, about a mile and a half from the court house, the price being $37.50 per acre. Contracts were at once let for fencing and grading these grounds, making a one-mile track, and erecting the necessary buildings for a county fair to be held October 11, 12 and 13.

The first Stearns county fair opened October 10 at the Driving Park grounds. Rain and snow gave a discouraging send-off the first day, but there were good displays and a satisfactory attendance, with the usual horse races. An address was delivered the twelfth by the Hon. E. O. Hamlin.

A meeting was held in St. Cloud January 20, 1872, at which officers were elected as follows: W. T. Rigby, president; J. E. Hayward, vice-president; R. W. Delano, secretary; T. C. McClure, treasurer. The treasurer's report showed a balance of $200.45 on hand.

At the annual meeting of the Driving Park association held May 14, T. C. McClure was elected president ; B. Rosenberger, vice-president; W. Milliken, secretary ; J. G. Smith, treasurer. A contract was made with D. Woodmansee to take charge of the grounds, and in July it was leased to him until January 1, 1874. Races were held July 4 and 5, with a number of entries.

The second annual county fair, held September 24, 25 and 26, 1872, suf- ered disastrously from rainy, windy and generally disagreeable weather. The exhibits were good, as was the attendance, all things considered. All the races except one were postponed until the twenty-seventh. W. T. Rigby was president and P. Lamb secretary of the association. The receipts were con- siderably less than the amount required to pay premiums and expenses, but some of the business men of St. Cloud contributed sufficient funds to pay in full the premiums due exhibitors living outside the city.

The annual meeting of the Agricultural Society, held January 14, 1873, elected W. T. Rigby, of Lynden, president; S. M. Bruce, Sauk Centre, vice- president; P. Lamb, St. Cloud, secretary ; J. W. Tenvoorde, St. Cloud, treas- urer, with an executive committee of eleven. The secretary was instructed to invite proposals from the different towns of Stearns county for holding the third annual fair. Sauk Centre made the best offer and the fair was held at that place, September 16, 17 and 18 with good weather, good displays and good attendance. The address was delivered by Dillon O'Brien, of St. Paul. The races attracted much attention.

The Driving Park Asosciation elected May 8, 1873, T. C. McClure, presi- dent; J. E. Hayward, vice-president; J. M. Rosenberger, secretary; J. G. Smith, treasurer. In 1874 the same officers were re-elected, with the excep- tion of J. E. West vice-president.

The next fair, held September 15, 16 and 17, 1874, had good weather,

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good attendance, a poor display, especially in the agricultural department. An address in English was delivered the last day by the Hon. Ignatius Don- nelly, and one in German by Prof. P. E. Kaiser. The net receipts allowed the payment of only thirty-five per cent of the premiums awarded.

The fair held September 28, 29 and 30, 1875, suffered from poor weather, which made the attendance light. The display of farm products was espe- cially good. The annual address was delivered by Prof. D. L. Kiehle. Only 45 per cent of the amounts awarded for premiums could be paid.

In 1876 the county fair officers were N. P. Clarke, president ; John Schae- fer, vice-president; F. E. Searle, secretary; T. C. McClure, treasurer. The fair held in St. Cloud September 19, 20 and 21 had its usual ill fortune in rainy, cold, disagreeable weather. The exhibits were good, all things consid- ered, but the best efforts of all concerned were unable to make the fair what might be considered a success. The annual address was delivered by Lieu- tenant Governor A. Barto.

The weather for the 1877 fair, held October 9, 10 and 11, started out un- favorably, improving during the latter days, the outcome in displays, attend- ance and receipts being better than had been anticipated, enabling the officers to pay 83 per cent on the premiums.

Conditions being unfavorable for a continuance of the county fairs, they were discontinued for several years. In 1883 a meeting of the Driving Park association was held May 3, at which J. E. West was elected president; Wil- liam Powell, vice-president; J. M. Rosenberger, secretary ; W. F. Raymond, treasurer. It was decided to put the grounds into suitable condition for re- suming the holding of county fairs.

In 1885 a District Fair association, including the counties of Stearns, Benton and Sherburne, was organized with John Cooper, president; F. Tol- man, secretary; George E. Campbell, treasurer. Sufficient money was fur- nished by the business men of St. Cloud for the erection of new buildings. The fair was held in September, opening on the 15th, and was a financial suc- cess, the gate and amphitheatre receipts being $1,251.

The officers elected January 14, 1886, were John Cooper, president; R. M. Vandervoort, vice-president; F. Tolman, secretary ; F. E. Baldwin, treasurer, with directors for Stearns, Sherburne, Benton and Mille Lacs counties. The opening day of the fair, September 7, had been preceded by rain, but the dis- plays were creditable. Sauk Centre day brought the largest attendance of any, and in the band contest the $100 premium was taken by the band from that place, Princeton taking the second. The receipts were sufficient to pay all premiums, leaving a balance. The address was delivered by United States Ex-Senator William Windom, and a farmers' institute was held.

The third district fair was held September 28, 29 and 30, preceded by the usual bad weather. The displays in most departments were small. A new feature introduced was a baby show, under the charge of E. H. Atwood, there being forty-two entries. The annual address was delivered by United States Senator D. M. Sabin. There were the usual horse races and baseball games. The receipts were $3,046.10 and disbursements $2,989.15, and all in all it was considered the most successful fair ever held in St. Cloud, the credit

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

for this being regarded as largely due to the efforts of N. K. Hunt, president, and E. H. Atwood, secretary of the association, and to L. R. Swift, R. L. Gale, George W. Stewart and C. P. McClure.

The fourth annual fair opened September 18, but on account of rain was extended to Saturday, making the fourth day. The boundaries of the asso- ciation had been extended so as to include Morrison with the other four coun- ties. There was a fine showing of blooded stock, but the farmers took little interest in making displays of agricultural products. The annual address was delivered by the Hon. Ignatius Donnelly. In the band contest, there were entries from Monticello, Elk River, Royalton and St. Cloud; the first prize, $175, being awarded to St. Cloud; the second, $75, to Monticello; the third, $50, to Royalton. The total receipts were about $2,500.

The following year the fair was held September 18, 19 and 20, the at- tendance on the last day, 5,000 on the grounds, being the largest ever known, excursion parties coming from Sauk Centre and Alexandria.

The 1890 fair opened Tuesday, September 16, for four days' exhibit. The display of farm products was the largest ever made. On the second day nearly 1,000 men formed in procession to receive S. M. Owen, the Alliance candidate for governor, who delivered an address. Governor W. R. Merriam came Thursday to speak at the grounds, but a heavy down-pour of rain pro- hibited his appearing. The receipts were more than sufficient to pay all bills and premiums.

The next and last district fair was held September 15, 16 and 17, 1891, with very slim displays. The Driving Park and Fair Association was in bad financial condition, owing N. P. Clarke $1,540, secured on the buildings, and a floating debt of $1,000. Attempts were made to clear off this indebtedness, but without success. The holding of fairs was abandoned, the buildings passed into the possession of Mr. Clarke, who also became the owner of the grounds through the purchase of the stock. The land is now used for agri- cultural purposes.

Agricultural Society of Stearns County. This society was organized and duly incorporated August 25, 1902, with the following-named officers: A. E. Erwin, president; R. L. Palmer, vice-president; Henry Keller, secretary; George C. Ingram, treasurer. The same officers were re-elected for the years 1903 and 1904. Henry Faulle was elected president in 1905, R. L. Palmer in 1906, C. D. Marshall in 1907 and 1908, W. F. Keller in 1909, J. A. DuBois in 1910 and 1911, John McGibbon in 1912, 1913 and 1914, and G. Hillerud for 1915. R. L. Palmer succeeded himself for three years as vice-president, L. S. Bishop being elected in 1906, O. S. Cass in 1907, A. J. Kirghis in 1912, and J. B. Schoenhoff for the three succeeding years. Henry Keller was treasurer until 1906 inclusive, when he was succeeded for two years by W. F. Keller, and he by W. S. Dean for four years; A. F. Strobel was elected for 1913 and 1914, and D. B. Caughren for 1915. George C. Ingram was re-elected secre- tary for four years, Otto Schleusener succeeding in 1907, A. W. Austin in 1908, F. E. Minette for the following three years, A. W. Austin in 1912, B. F. DuBois in 1913, M. D. Aygarn in 1914 and A. F. Strobel for 1915.

In 1902 a tract of twenty-eight acres adjoining the city limits on the south

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

was purchased at a cost of $1,000, enclosed and fitted for the holding of fairs. These fairs have been in the main quite successful in the matter of exhibits, attractions and attendance, especially when in recent years an appropriation of $500 has been given by the county commissioners in aid in meeting the expenses and paying premiums. The policy has been adopted of making cer- tain days for other cities and towns in the county, as St. Cloud, Melrose and Albany, when the attendance from these places has been especially large. The list of speakers has included the names of James J. Hill, Governor Eber- hard, Senators Clapp and Poindexter and the attendance the entire official staff of the state.

Data as to the earlier fairs are not attainable, but they have grown from a small beginning until at the fair of 1914 there were 6,500 paid admissions and the expenditures were $7,576.57, including premiums. It is recognized as in every sense a Stearns County fair, entitled to the generous support of the people of the entire county. The enterprising citizens of Sauk Centre have shown great public spirit and much liberality in making it the success it has come to be.

The property now belonging to the society includes twenty-eight acres of ground fenced in, a half-mile racing track, racing barns, cattle sheds, stock barn, poultry building, art building, agricultural building, school building, grand stand and band stand. In the year 1914 the business men of St. Cloud, through the Commercial Club, erected on the grounds a fine, commodious building for the housing of exhibits from that city.

Benton County Agriculture Society. Centrally located in a rich and well-developed agricultural portion of the state, from which exhibits of grain and stock of fine quality could be secured, to the resulting benefit of both the farmers and the general business interests, Sauk Rapids appealed to the good judgment of a number of enterprising citizens of Benton county as a desirable place at which to hold county fairs. Accordingly, the Benton County Agricultural Society was organized May 19, 1913, and incorporated June 12 of the same year. The first board of directors was composed of J. C. Schlough, Charles Heinzel, Jr., A. H. Turrittin, George A. Selke, James Lonsdale and F. W. Mayman, of Sauk Rapids, with S. M. Orton, of Watab. The officers chosen were: J. C. Schlough, president; Charles Heinzel, Jr., vice-president ; A. H. Turrittin, secretary ; J. E. Browne, treasurer.

The grounds are admirably located on the street car line between St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids, and on the triangular junction of the three counties of Stearns, Benton and Sherburne, The first fair was held September 18, 19 and 20, 1913. The weather conditions were exceedingly unfavorable, very seriously affecting the attendance. The management was not all discouraged, but the following spring took energetic hold, making a number of important additions and improvements, including substantial buildings, a first-class race- track, etc. The main building erected in the form of a Greek cross, the four wings being 28 by 36 feet cach, for housing various exhibits. In the center is an octagonal bandstand twenty feet in diameter and five feet above the ground floor. The barns are for horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. The horse barn is 280 feet long, for cattle 120 feet, for sheep 60 feet, for hogs 60 feet,

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

four poultry 60 feet, all 18 feet wide with proper divisions. The contract price was $4,800.

The second annual fair held September 21, 22 and 23 was a most gratify- ing success, notwithstanding the rainy weather of the first day. A large at- tendance each day showed the deep interest felt by the people of the cities and the surrounding country in the enterprise, while the displays in all de- partments were most attractive, especially in the way of high-grade stock. The opinion was expressed that it was second only to the state fair. The speakers were the Hon. H. C. Daniels, of the United States Department of Justice at Washington, and a brother of Secretary Daniels; the Hon. Wil- liam Lee, Republican candidate for governor; S. R. Crane, of the agricultural department of the Great Northern railway, speaking in place of James J. Hill, who was unable to come; John J. Furlong president of the state fair as- sociation, and A. H. Turrittin, who gave a brief history of the Benton County Society.

During the summer of 1914 the articles of incorporation were amended to increase the board of directors from seven to eleven, four of whom were to be from the west side of the river, and limit the indebtedness to ten thou- sand dollars. The present board is composed of Charles Barden, G. E. Hans- com, A. C. Cooper and C. D. Schwab, of St. Cloud; A. Parent, A. H. Turrittin, Charles Heinzel, Jr., James Lonsdale, Dr. William Friesleben and W. F. Dewey, of Sauk Rapids; S. M. Orton, of Watab. The officers for 1915 are A. H. Turrittin, president; Charles Heinzel, Jr., vice-president ; W. F. Dewey, secretary ; G. E. Hanscom, treasurer.

The society now owns property valued conservatively at $15,000, with an indebtedness of approximately $8,000. With favorable weather conditions for the third annual fair, this amount will doubtless be reduced by several thousand dollars. The limit of indebtedness is ten thousand dollars, and the society has already sold stock to the amount of about five thousand dollars, at one dollar per share, and this will without doubt be considerably increased within the next four months.

The favorable location of the grounds, the substantial character of the buildings and the enterprising spirit of the management will doubtless arouse increasing interest among the people of the counties of Stearns, Benton and Sherburne, and in a very few years it may be confidently predicted that this Tri-County fair will challenge comparison with any county or district fair in the state.

Poultry Exhibits. The first annual chicken show by the Central Minne- sota Poultry Association was held at St. Cloud for three days in 1912, Febru- ary 15, 16 and 17. There were 60 exhibitors, entering 350 fowls, and the cash receipts were sufficient to make the show a financial success, as it was otherwise. The judging was done by Mr. Lane of the agricultural college, State University.

The success of the first show encouraged the officers of the association to repeat it each succeeding year, which was done. The time was lengthened to four days, and the fourth annual exhibition was held at St. Cloud, January 13, 14, 15 and 16, 1915, with L. R. Swift, secretary, in charge, and Ralph Whit-

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

ney, of Rochester, judge. The number of birds entered was 383, and in every way this exhibition was one of the most successful in the history of the asso- ciation.

The following officers were elected for the year 1915: President, E. W. Mayman; vice-president, Joseph P. Hunstiger; secretary, H. C. Nierengarten ; treasurer, John L. Dominik; superintendent, Robert H. Kuehn; directors, E. W. Mayman, H. C. Nierengarten, Robert Kuehn, John Gruber and Emil Lillquist.

CHAPTER XLIII.

GOVERNMENT LAND OFFICE.

The Sauk Rapids Office-Removal to St. Cloud-Changes in Boundaries of Districts-St. Cloud Office Discontinued in 1906-List of Registers-Land Sales-First Entries in Stearns County.

The land office at Sauk Rapids was established under the provisions of an act of Congress approved August 30, 1852, and opened for business Novem- ber 3 of that year. This was not an original land district, but was taken from the Stillwater district which originally covered the entire territory of Min- nesota.

The Ojibway land district was created out of the Sauk Rapids and Still- water districts under an act of July 8, 1856, and the office for the remainder of the Sauk Rapids district was removed to St. Cloud April 19, 1858, and the office there opened for business April 29, 1858. ·

The office for the Ojibway district went to Otter Tail July 25, 1859, and August 17, 1863, following the Indian war, this district was consolidated with the St. Cloud district. The latter district then had within its boundaries much more than a quarter of the state, or about 25,804,900 acres-including all the country east of the Taylor's Falls and Northeastern districts and north of the Minneapolis district.

An act of Congress approved July 25, 1868, provided for the establishing of a land office at Alexandria, the territory included in it being taken from the St. Cloud district. The new district included the counties of Douglas, Otter Tail, Becker, Polk, Clay, Pembina, Johnson, Traverse, and a part of Grant. The St. Cloud district retained the counties of Stearns, Todd, Morrison, Ben- ton, Crow Wing, and parts of Wright, Meeker, Monongalia, Chippewa, Lacqui Parle, Big Stone and Grant. The Alexandria office opened for business Sep- tember 4, 1868, with Lewis Lewiston, of St. Cloud, register, and J. H. Van- Dyke, of Alexandria, receiver. Lewis Lewiston was succeeded April 22, 1869, as register by L. K. Aaker, of Goodhue county. The office was discontinued and its records removed December 11, 1876 to Fergus Falls.

The Fergus Falls district was transferred February 19, 1889, to the St. Cloud district. This district consisted of Ottertail county, with the excep- tion of the north tier of townships belonging to the Crookston district, Wilkin, Traverse, Grant, Douglas and the north half of Stevens and Pope counties.

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

The Taylor's Falls land office was closed December 30, 1893, and removed to St. Cloud, its consolidation with the St. Cloud land office taking effect January 10, 1894.

When the Taylor's Falls district was merged into the St. Cloud district, the latter included the following territory: The counties of Stearns, Mor- rison, Benton, Sherburne, Anoka, Ramsey, Washington, Chisago, Isanti, Kena- bec, Pine, Mille Lacs, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Cass, part of Beltrami, Hubbard, Wadena, Todd, parts of Wright, Meeker and Kandiyohi, Otter Tail, Wilkin, Grant, Traverse, part of Pope, Douglas, and parts of Stevens and Itasca.

The Cass Lake land district took from the St. Cloud district the north part of Hubbard and Cass counties, the remainder being made up from the Duluth and Crookston district. The new land office opened for business July 1, 1903.

The records of the Marshall land office were removed to St. Cloud in July 1903.

The records of the Marshall land office were removed to St. Cloud in July, 1903, following a consolidation of that office with this.

The St. Cloud district was discontinued and the records transferred to Duluth December 17, 1906.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 9

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