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We) Yeates cee) th rhe eae fe Vahed ee t } ; i aie mor ie sahishea gana aed ; h nit ise 43} ae Nie i F yr bast dahet i an ‘ sedis jeresaagtat SB inibee: its fy Saga 1 Behe dias PI rs ‘| 4,ie ‘ ee adieh etate teen it: Sandy i ‘ nett aN steanttinitty ike ts ed * a. eed 19 eel aA thes Dy Ay ted uy a he EM, " ah ep | aaa Ary ane , a Wi bade hey eo Avene Liat - “j ja »), sieht y rte bit es ety Pre Wh Panto W are Pe Pe yet ayant ead f ee, eh Mays a ae) att on un spy bs * Mie ' sat Bedata' he a ERNMENT t 4 rib) be lpadballl hiiha a) «lhe iA ah SGC Bu 2 iP. fez $30335 Laila bs aaa bbe dedy'e + Sei teaanskdpebete ts Foled» hedabicts howe datee) pn! : s bate g, bebe te BS be hile anit : : ; 71 ues : orate ‘be hip bea ibebe Be We “Mw + }cde fel UAdes dy be Veg ; ‘ ign Res as ersoere sep Motte PY WY ee te ly nt ti 5 ‘ pach istry Ar ny ei Ag oot ts St Auten = ' ath 4 bode a t , . ; 4 fr % 5 is WY ae setearbe = ab he ae " o rate retains > te Be . amebete ee b * \ o a“ Seine ibe lete a wt " ie D * “ et) ers ore Bethe bode hi ee tebe hel di te are bode be Dike Be Poll ts Beate tos? ss we he ly sors » & tree Wyre were Froese Aohag he a hn Be few tte bee hs eas et! ‘ GENEALOGY cOLLecTio ae phe, pris sh ! { mi ‘th i 9424 = , mn ii 3 i i i 7 b Mf i ' ’ ’ he Be. ce i Wee A Minnesota Centennial Publication Copyright 1959 Mrs. Walter Wulff, Chokio, Minnesota Page One Page Two October 1, 1958 Dear Readers: Big Stone County is proud of its part in Minnesota’s history and saluted the 100th anniversary of statehood. May our state’s future develop- ment continue to be as commendable in every way. While planning local Centennial activities, we felt that sincere homage should be expressed to our local pioneers. Through. their foresight, hard work, and many privations, we're privileged to be here and are bene- fiting from their efforts. As each generation passes, however, fewer mem- ories are retained for posterity; therefore, we decided to revive, review, and record local history. Mrs. Albert Pflueger and | were appointed co- chairmen of the History Committee. Co-workers were solicited from each town and township and many other interested persons helped. Only with such county-wide participation could the project be undertaken, so thanks to all for their fine co-operation. In compiling this historical summary, the material | selected was thought to be that of most value to all - to the oldsters for reminiscing and to the youngsters for reference. Many early settlers are mentioned in each section and many family experiences are included. Errors? Pardon them please, and be assured that much effort and correspondence were exerted in checking items until it is thought to be as correct as possible, as of now. Omissions? Forgive them please. No slight is intended to other early famil- ies that might well have been included - the task of tracing all of them proved impossible. This booklet is dedicated to ALL our pioneers as a souvenir of the past and a gift to the future. Sharing its many memories with you has certainly been interesting. I’m hoping it will be treasured family reading for many years to come! Sincerely, Ly dia Sorensen Wulff Mrs. Walter Wulff (Moonshine Township) Chokio, Minnesota \ I ) \ | 41258950 General Summary of Big Stone County Name and Size - Early Era - - Organization - - Schools and Churches Roads and Railroads” - Agriculture - - Pioneer Life - = Nationalities - - Individual Histories of Big Stone County City of Ortonville - Village of Barry - Village of Beardsley —- Village of Clinton - Village of Correll - Village of Graceville —- Village of Johnson - Village of Odessa - Townships of Big Stone County Akron Township e Almond Township = Artichoke Township . Big Stone Township Browns Valley Township Foster Township Graceville Township _ Malta Township bs Moonshine Township Odessa Township i Ortonville Township : Otrey Township * Prior Township : Toqua Township i Big Stone Lake and Resorts Our Granite Story - - Notes on our Neighbors - Miscellaneous In Memoriam - County Officials - Centennial Notes - Bibliography & Recommended Credits - - Reading 107 111 11] 114 122 122 Page Three BUA STONE Page Four = Ik To det. TH. 27 | @ Big Stone County is situated on the western border of Minne ta almost midway between the north and sot boundaries. We have Traverse County and part Stevens on the north, Stevens and Swift on the e¢ Lac qui Parle and the Minnesota River on the sou and the Minnesota River, Big Stone Lake, and ¢ State of South Dakota on the west. We have a ic| area of 522 square miles, some of which are wail We are mainly an agricultural county but have v) ious other thriving industries also. In the southe area we have granite quarries that were operai before 1900. Our name was derived from the lake. 1 Sioux name Inyan (stone) tankinyanyan (very gre! alludes to the outcrops of granite and gneiss occ! ring in the Minnesota valley below the foot of °| lake. A map of 1884 shows more than 50 lak most long since under cultivation. Nim@id a osva f Je ‘= far To Morris To Milbank» ‘OTA = MINNESO ni Poe of v 6 Fa Ud} se EE bor ©) LAC QUI PARLE Sagi taps RIVER [AND AQUITION NOT RULY COMCUTEDY Page Five Se BiG STONE cow @ EARLY ERA In visualizing Big Stone County as it was in the long, long ago we find many interesting items to consider. We find that our lakes were formed when Lake Agassiz receded following the glacier era. Lake Traverse found an outlet through the Red River to the Hudson Bay while Big Stone Lake drained south- ward towards the Gulf of Mexico through the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. Headwaters appeared between the two lakes and the east-west continental divide was formed. The ac- tual point of divide has been marked by the state at a point about a mile east of Beardsley. Here a raindrop takes its chanc- es on heading southward, or, if it falls just a short distance away, may instead travel northward to Hudson Bay. Relics such as stone hammers, axes, arrowheads, and bones give proof of man and animal life in our area long ago. Such remains continue to be found as evidenced by the human bones located near Browns Valley in 1934, believed by some to be over 12,000 years old, and huge animal bones found near Odessa in 1957 which were probably from a mammoth. Anthropologists have made many studies, including Dr. Lloyd A. Wilford of the University of Minnesota. Many “Indian Page Six MINNESOTA WILDS IN THE 1820's Earliest on-the-spot Drawings of Two Areas Turn Up in Baltimore Collections “An Indian Encampment on Big Stone Lake’’ (above) is an original watercolor by Samuel Seymour, official artist for Maj. Stephen Long’s expedition of 1823 up the St. Peter (Minnesota) river and down the Red. Several Seymour sketch- es, including the Lake Traverse scene, illustrated William H. Keating’s official report of the expedition. Mounds” in our region were undoubtedly built long before the Indians by the so-called race of “Mound Builders”. Dr. Wilford’s studies identify some local findings with the Cambria Indians who lived here in the 15th century and were believed to have farmed much of this part of Minnesota. At the time of the first white explorers, two principal tribes of Indians were reported. In the northern and eastern parts of the state were the “woods people” called the Ojibways or the Chippe- wa. The “plains people” were known as the Dakotas, a word which means “federated”. There were seven principal tribes and they were spoken of as the “Seven Council Fires of the Da- kotas”. Their enemies, however, called them Sioux or Nadois- sioux, which means “snake” or “enemy”. The Division of the Dakota nation found here was called the Sissetwoans, meaning “swamp dwellers”, and they numbered about 3,800 people. Their chief village was located near Lake Traverse but they claimed the land west of the Blue Earth River out to the James River and the guardianship of the sacred red pipestone quarry. Their favorite planting grounds were also on Lake Traverse and they had their rites sacred to seed time and harvest. Apparently this area was known to Europe as early as 1683 from maps and writings published by explorers. Big Stone Lake was a natural route of travel for Indians and fur traders. With the exception of a short portage between Big Stone Lake and Lake Traverse, there was an uninterrupted wa- ter course to Hudson Bay far to the north and to the Gulf of Mexico, far to the south. After the establishment of Fort Snell- ing in 1820, communication between it and the Red River col- onies near the Canadian border became common. Of the sev- eral so-called Red River Trails, the most westerly one crossed Big Stone County and was a favorite route. An early trip was that of members of the Selkirk Colony who set out in the early winter of 1820 for Prairie du Chiene to obtain seed. The trip down took three months, and the following year they labored from April 15th to June 3rd in transporting the precious cargo back north. At the head of Big Stone Lake, they put their boats on log rollers and pushed them across through the Valley to Traverse Lake. From there on the journey was down stream. The expedition of some 20 men was under the leadership of Graham and Laidlaw. The first official examination of this area was made in 1823 by Major Stephen H. Long whose party included: Wm. H. Keating, narrator; Joseph Renville, guide and interpreter; and several soldiers. The party traveled on the western bank of Big Stone Lake where they visited Hazen Mooers, the agent at the American Fur Company Post. The Big Stone scene was not reproduced in the official re- port. The picture was located in the Maryland Historical Society by Marvin C. Ross, who wrote about it in Antiques magazine. Ross says that the 1828 date on the sketch was by a hand oth- er than Seymour's and should be 1823. He adds that character- istic Seymour devices are the walking soldier and S. S. initials on the tree trunk. The tents apparently are part of a Dakota In- dian village on a meadow next to the lake. Ross says this is “the only identified original watercolor made by Samuel Sey- mour on Maj. Long’s expedition of 1823”. In the George C. Allanson writings, we read as follows: “It is natural that the Hudson Bay Company, whose name H. B.C. was often facetiously remarked to mean ‘Here Before Christ’, should have chosen Lake Traverse as an advantageous ww a ie ‘ Tre Ct ty Manin vide pas This view of Lake Traverse and the Columbia Fur Co. trading post there was made by Seymour at about the same time as the Big Stone Lake picture. It was published as the frontispiece of the second volume of Keating’s official report. Prominent in the foreground is a Sioux platform burial. point away back in 1792 for one of their Trading Posts. Some of their traders included Robert Dickson, a red-haired Scotch- man, Col. Crawford and Joseph Rollette. (He, by the way, was the father of Joseph Rollette who later saved the Capitol for St. Paul.) After the building of Fort Snelling, the influence of the British fur traders declined and in 1823 Joseph Renville discontinued trade with them and organized the Columbia Fur Company in company with Laidlow, Jefferies, Prescott, and others. They built a number of trading posts and the one on Lake Traverse had William Dickson, son of Robert, in charge until 1826. In 1827 the Columbia Company consolidated with the American Fur Company under the latter’s name, with Haz- en Mooers in charge until 1834. The post was visited and men- tioned in the report of the government expedition under Major Stephen A. Long in 1823. Major Joseph R. Brown took charge there in 1835.” By 1823 there was a more or less regular freighting busi- ness by cart between the Red River colonies and Big Stone Lake, and in the early 1840's the first train of carts loaded with furs was sent to Mendota. After Fort Abercrombie was estab- lished in 1857, the old trail was a natural route for supplies carted between Fort Ridgely (near New Ulm) and the new post. It became known as the “Government trail”, and in time many settlements were made along the route. It was a regular part of the State road system as early as 1860. After 1870 supplies for the Agency at Lake Traverse and beyond reached Benson by rail and were reloaded into wagons and taken westward. The Red River ox carts were unique! Made at a cost of on- ly around $15 and constructed entirely of wood and leather, one could carry over 600 pounds with one ox. At first the two wheels of each cart were cut from the single round of a tree, but later spokes were used. The squeaking noise of the un- greased wheels was deafening - every reference to the carts mentions that fact! Caravan cart drivers were usually colorful- ly-dressed French half-breeds with several in charge of a white man “master driver’. Each section also generally had an armed escort mounted on swift ponies. At night a camp was made by placing the carts in a circle with the shafts pointing in - a fort for protection in case of a surprise attack by Indians. Supplies hauled thus included clothing, tools, hardware, tobacco, tea, wine, whiskey and brandy destined to Manitoba. The main it- em transported to St. Paul was, of course, the precious furs, al- so buffalo tongues, pemmican, beaded work, moccasins, gloves and other articles made by the Indians. St. Paul became one of the largest fur markets in the country. In 1858, 600 carts brought in cargoes, but by 1867 the cart system was replaced by the progressing railroads. Two permanent Indian camp sites built on Big Stone Lake included the big island in the lake and Inkpa City, on the hill later known as Big Stone City. This camp was ruled by Chief Inkpa-du-ta and was a favorite rendezvous for the surrounding tribes as well as a favorite burial place. Some 30 families of the village lived in portable skin lodges in summer and in cab- ins housing from three to ten families in wintertime. Meat and fish were plentiful but the crops were meager at best. Corn was an indispensible article of Indian food. In 1862 a Major Galbraith was appointed Indian agent and made a visit to the region around Big Stone Lake. Later he sent Mr. Givens to su- perintend the work of showing better farming methods. Seed was also provided - potatoes, pumpkins, squash, turnips, and others. Ten double plough teams, with a man to operate each, demonstrated the means of raising food supplies sufficient for the severe winters. The Dakotas watched with misgivings as the white men came nearer, killing the game they felt rightfully theirs, claim- ing land that was part of an ancient tribal domain, and bring- Page Seven ing with them a civilization that the Indians neither understood nor wanted. Councils were held and many treaties made, but the payments were pitifully small for the heritage that was be- ing lost. When the Traverse de Sioux Treaty of Julys23,71854 designated a strip of land 10 miles wide and 100 miles long on either side of the Minnesota River as a reservation for the Indians, the cash settlement amounted to 12’ec an acre. The Indian tribes were removed to the reservation late in 1853 on- ly to discover the white man already looking with longing eyes at the same acreage! For a decade the fires of resentment smouldered, then burst into flame with the horrible Sioux up- rising that began in August, 1862. At this time there were four trading posts on Big Stone Lake. One was owned by Daily, Pratt & Co., located about eight miles up our side. Here the men were making hay when attacked. All were murdered in the field except Anton Mand- ersfield who succeeded in hiding in the brush, and Batiste Gu- beau, taken captive but later escaped. At Louis Robert's Post, located approximately where Hartford is now, the traders bar- ricaded themselves but fled when the Indians set fire to their building. All were killed except Mr. Moses Mireau who manag- ed to escape to the water where he hid until nightfall and then stole silently away. (Later he was given a medal for bravery and for many years he ran a boat livery at Ortonville.) Identity of the remaining two Trading Posts referred to as of August, 1862, could not be positively verified. In 1835 George W. Featherstonhaugh and Lt. William W. Mather conducted a “geological reconnaissance” which includ- ed the banks of Lake Traverse and Big Stone Lake. In 1838 Jo- seph N. Nicollet and John C. Fremont passed through our vi- cinity on a return trip to Fort Snelling. In 1845 Edwin V. Sum- ner, captain of Co. B, first U. S. Dragoons, and a detachment held a council at Big Stone Lake with the Sisseton Sioux, at which time they visited Martin McLeod's post. In 1858 the gov- ernment authorized Mr. Snow and Mr. Hutton to erect iron monuments at the heads of Big Stone and Traverse Lakes, the line between them to be the dividing line between Minnesota and South Dakota. The marker at Lake Traverse was used as an initial point for marking a homestead strip of land. During 1871 and 1872 the government surveys officially opened the region to settlement. The earliest residence in our county was that of Mr. Earl P. Owens who established a fur trading post on West Toqua Lake in 1866 on the present Wm. Sorensen farm. There were but six houses in Big Stone County on August 13, 1870, and the population recorded in the Federal Census was 24 persons. Listed in the record on file at the Minnesota Historical Society are the following: Birthplace Goodno, John 38 Farmer Massachusetts Elizabeth 27. Massachusetts John R. 12 Minnesota Albert A. 11 Minnesota Elizabeth 7 Minnesota Jacob R. 14 Minnesota Adaline 3 mos. Minnesota Bailey, Mrs. Jane 44 Housekeeper Kentucky Charles 20 Farmer Tennessee Thomas 18 Tennessee Emma 15 Tennessee Leonidas 13 Tennessee Franklin 11 Tennessee Williams, Mary 21 Housekeeper Tennessee Page Eight Benson, Peter Al Farmer Norway Anna 20 Housekeeper Norway Peter 3 Minnesota Samuel 2 Minnesota Hanson 3 mos. Minnesota Ortra, Thomas 30 Farmer Wisconsin Ortra, William De Farmer Wisconsin Hannah LZ Housekeeper Norway Nilson, Ever ae Farmer Norway Eda 16 Housekeeper Norway In 1885 there were 85 families and by 1900 the population was 8,731. In 1940 it was 10,447 and in 1950 it was 9,607. @ ORGANIZATION Our county was established by an act of the State Legis- lature on February 20, 1862, but no attempt was made to or- ganize it as a unit until 1874 when the people petitioned Gov- ernor C. K. Davis in March for the appointment of three county commissioners. These were Jacob nurley, C. K. Orton, and James N. Morrison, but their authority was challenged in sev- eral court actions to determine whether the county was legally organized. It was not until 1881 that a Legislative Act declared us legally organized. All county records and legal transactions - were administered from the county seat of Stevens County un- til this date, so provision was made that a transcript of their books be authorized. The county was redistricted into five dist- ricts instead of three and a general election was held March 8, 1881. That fall another general election settled the question of whether the county seat should continue to be Ortonville or be moved to the center of the county, Section 24, Almond Township. The majority vote selected Ortonville. The first courthouse was destroyed by fire October 31st, 1885, but the records were saved. The second courthouse was completed in 1886 but later proved inadequate so the present one was erected in 1902. Big Stone County was included in the Sixth Judicial Dist- rict following the establishment of the county in 1862 and was attached to Renville County for judicial purposes. This became part of the Ninth District in 1870. We were detached from Ren- ville County and attached to Stevens in 1873. When the 12th District was created in 1875, Big Stone was included in it. A court was established here when we were declared organized in 1881. In 1887 Big Stone, Stevens, Traverse, Wilkin, and Grant counties were constituted the Sixteenth District. Later Pope County was added, with regular terms of court held here in March and December and one judge on the bench. Constitu- tional Amendment No. 1, adopted by the voters in 1956, pro- vided for a change in the judiciary of Minnesota. Certain dist- ricts were combined so that there would be at least two judges in each. Our 16th District was combined with the former 12th to form the present Sixth District, but this will become the Eighth District under a law passed by the 1957 Legislature. We are served by three judges. A law effective in January, 1951, changed our terms of court to the third Monday in May and the first Monday in December. We have fourteen townships, one city, and seven incor- porated villages. Organization of townships and of school dis- tricts are described in the histories of Akron and Otrey Town- ships. @ SCHOOLS The first Board of County Commissioners established the first six school districts in 1874. The enrollment in 1876 was 11, and by 1879 the districts had increased to 15 and the en- rollment to 153. In 1885 there were 47 districts with a sum- mer enrollment of 1,061 and 983 in winter. In 1939 we had 60 districts and 60 schoolhouses, and by 1940 five of the vil- lages maintained high schools. In 1949 69 teachers taught 1,- 453 pupils in the secondary and graded elementary classes and 50 teachers taught 757 pupils in the ungraded elementary classes. This 1957-58 school year we have 102 teachers and 2,085 pupils in graded and high school, and 17 rural teachers with 229 rural pupils. There are 16 rural schools left. Two of these are closed and transporting their pupils to other districts and 14 are operating. Our little country school is gradually fading from the scene, but many fond memories remain. The annual County Chorus, the last given in 1957, and Play Day with its inter- school rivalry in declamation and sports events culminating in the companionship of the picnic were exciting experiences to the scholars. | know the many rural pupils of all these years say a hearty THANK YOU to the schools and to the rural teach- ers, each and every one, for the big role they filled in our county’s development. Many school histories are included in this historical summary as a tribute to all the schools. We'll just note here that the first school in our county was District 2, and the first teacher was Johanna Nash. Records and statistics are on file in the County Superintendent's office, including rural teachers names since 1900. The changes in our schools, then and now, reflect our pro- gress as clearly as any other phase of our life. We’re all proud of what our schools have developed in subject variety, athler- ics, music, etc., and we realize the importance of education as a chief concern of everyone. Parent-Teacher Association groups are an effective promotion and we have several such active or- ganizations in our county. Special honors commemorating service in the educationa: field have been made at the Minnesota State Fair and have in- cluded the following from our county: Mrs. Sadie McGuire for the longest years of teaching service; Miss Agnes Nelson for her 35 years of administrative service; and Mrs. Ed. Utley for her 24 years as clerk of District 37. @e CHURCHES Our pioneers demonstrated commendable FAITH and TRUST in God and | believe we might well follow their exam- ple with greater zeal! Tracing church histories has been very interesting and l’ve attempted to have all known churches, past and present, acknowledged in this summary. If any were over- looked, it was unintentional. Early settlers gathered for Bible reading and sang their favorite hymns. Early Sunday School classes were held in homes in all communities. Ministers came many miles on occasion, of- ten on horseback or by buggy. One pastor’s diary assures us it was a joy to preach the gospel to the hungry souls and states he actually served six congregations within a circumference of 150 miles. Apparently the first congregation organized in this coun- ty was the Artichoke Lutheran Church, September 12, 1875, but it disbanded in 1948. The oldest active congregation is Trinity Lutheran of Clinton, organized May 1, 1876. Others fol- lowed and are reported in each area. Of our numerous county churches, six are still holding services, but we pay tribute like- wise to the many that were later discontinued. Each played an important role in filling the spiritual needs of its particular ar- ea in its day. Think too of the “singing from the hearts” in those early services when no organ accompaniment was avail- able. (We should listen with renewed appreciation to our or- ganists and choirs in present church services.) In addition to the individual congregations, we have the following religious group which was organized on a county- wide basis: YOUTH FOR CHRIST by David Lindholm This inter-church and non-sectarian group strives to win the unchurched young people for the Lord by presenting attrac- tive Christian programs. Meetings are held in high school aud- itoriums. The Big Stone County Youth for Christ was organized at Ortonville in August, 1949, by Jim Knutson. Charter members included Mr. and Mrs. Jim Knutson, Rev. Haukedalen, Paul Lin- dahl, Orval Kanne, and David E. Lindholm. Present officers in- clude David Lindholm, president; C. C. Hills, vice president and Wesley Olson, secretary-treasurer. @ ROADS and RAILS The first petition for a county road was made in May, 1878 and asked for a road from Ortonville to the projected village of Graceville. This was the beginning of a county sys- tem of State aid roads, county aid roads and township roads. Highway No. 28 runs east and west in the northern part of the county. No. 12 crosses the southern part of the county east and west and meets No. 75 at Ortonville. No. 75 extends north and south through the central part of the county. State trunk highway No. 103 follows the shore of Big Stone Lake from Ortonville beyond Foster and then turns north to Beards- ley where it meets No. 28. It is now being hard-surfaced and will soon become a continuation of No. 7 which presently runs southeast from No. 75 at Odessa. In the southern end of Akron Township, a successful road was finally put through the Min- nesota River bottom from near Correll to Louisburg through the efforts of the 1953 Legislative Session. (Representatives John- son of Swift County, Hofstad of Lac qui Parle, and Sorensen of Big Stone) Two roads farther south did as much for farmers there as for ours in this end of the Valley. Big Stone County has so far been able to match all federal aids with the result that we have as good or better roads than our neighboring counties. When Dr. Oliver served us as Senat- or, one of his main political services was securing extensive road improvements in our area. Our roads have come a long way in improvement from the days of the wagon trails and the wood culverts to today’s gravel, tarvia, and pavement. RAILROADS When the county government was first organized, the nearest railroad was at Glencoe. In the fall of 1879 the Hast- ings and Dakota Company completed the line to Ortonville and it was sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul on January 1, 1880. The St. Cloud and Lake Traverse Railway Company built a line from Morris Junction to Browns Valley in 1880 and it passed into possession of the Great Northern on November Ist, 1907. The Fargo and Southern Company built north from Ortonville to the South Dakota line near Wheaton in 1884 and sold to the C.M. & St. P. in 1885. The first through train on the Fargo and Southern line was operated July 2, 1884. The Great Northern Railway crosses the northern part of our county, crossing the Milwaukee at Graceville. The C. M. St. P. & Pacific Railway follows the general course of the Minneso- ta River, with a branch crossing the G. N. at Graceville. Page Nine @ AGRICULTURE During the summer of 1870 the foundations of our agri- culture were being laid by six farmers and one farm laborer. By 1880, 530 farms were open and wheat was the principal crop; then oats, corn, barley, and others. In 1940 there were 1,131 farms with oats and corn the leading crops. 1957 figures show 921 farms averaging 324 acres each with corn the lead- ing crop and soybeans a close second, others being flax, oats. hay and wheat. In 1880 the county’s livestock numbered the following: 538 oxen, 784 milk cows, 656 other cattle, 882 horses, 61 mules and burros, 469 swine, and 333 sheep. In April, 1939 our cattle numbered over 27,000; swine over 12,000; and sheep, 12,000. 1957 figures show 25,800 beef cattle; 6,200 dairy cattle; 21,400 hogs; and 10,300 sheep. A few chickens on each farm were essential for pioneer sustenance and extra eggs were bartered with the grocer. To- day’s leading poultry and egg producers operate on a special- ist basis. Buttermaking was originally a household chore and so was cheesemaking. Homemade butter was another valued bar- ter item for many years. Two creameries and one cheese fac- tory were in operation in our county before 1880. Local cream- eries still churn butter but many processed dairy products are shipped in. A cheese factory is a new thriving industry in neighboring Big Stone City. County income of different phases of farming at present is as follows: crops, 54 per cent; beef, 17 per cent; hogs, 16 per cent; dairy, 6 per cent; poultry, 4 per cent; sheep, 2 per cent; and miscellaneous fruit, etc., 1 per cent. The income of our county farmers may be materially increased by proper soil management, efficient use of fertilizers, and crop rotations Page Ten plus favorable weather conditions. Many of our farmers are members of the Crop Improvement and the Dairy Herd Im- provement Associations. Many are specializing in raising cer- tain breeds of the various kinds of livestock, or have done so. John Mullin’s Livery Stable at Barry Waiting their turn at the Barry elevators in the early 1900s Horse-powered threshing machine as demonstrated at 1958 Minnesota Cen- tennial State Fair. Picking Corn in the horse age Promotion of good grade or registered stock is stimulated by stock shows and fair competition. No review of local farming could be complete without mention of the “horse age”. The 1900 horse census was over 7,000 and by 1939 it was only 4,000, so the decrease shows they were being replaced by the machine era. In 1950 our 513 farms had 1,326 horses, mules, and ponies; and the 1954 total was 214 farms with 434. Some of our older folks fear children will soon have no realization of the importance of our equine friends, nor even recognize them, so . . As you'll read in the pioneer stories, most of our early farmers used oxen and a team cost about $135 in 1880. Mules Page Eleven cost about the same, or even up to $200 a span. Oxen were cheaper to feed and easier to care for, but horses were faster and gradually replaced them. In addition to farmwork, they became an important cog of transportation, too, as they were used on wagons and buggies to take the families to town, to church, and a-visiting. The young swains (and their dads) took great pride in having well-trained, high-stepping, and the best- harnessed teams of the neighborhood. Pictures of the early quarter of this century portray the horse age best. Study them well, and recall those days of the big harvest crews. Extra harvest hands were housed in bunk- houses or in the haybarn. Some of the larger farms hired a cook for several months to prepare enormous quantities of food in the cookhouse. Such meals were served in a dining shack and often the women of the farm family were invited to join Stacking hay in the horse age them. Many mothers and grandmas of today, however, will re- call instead the days THEY helped prepare all those meals and washed all those dishes! Those who were children then will re- member the unending chore of hauling corncobs and wood for the busy cookstoves. And do you remember the big dinner bell on the post out in the yard, or on the porch? It’s welcome peals coaxed immediate attention to hearty meals - or its odd- hour chimes summoned aid from the neighbors in the pre-tele- phone days. We can close our reminiscing of the horse era by compli- menting our present-day riding clubs for preserving the won- derful sport of good horsemanship! Our county can even point with pride to a fine mounted sheriff posse, one of two in the state. Page Twelve The George Kline blacksmith shop at Beardsley @® PIONEER LIFE Pioneer menus had little variety and were chiefly cereals, home-cured meat and fish, vegetables, and fresh and dried fruits. Clothing was home-made and remodeled and handed down from one to another, with mother completing each stage from the spinning to the sewing. All daughters learned the home arts and it’s said that many men helped with the knitting projects during the long winter hours. Furniture was plain and sturdy and served a specific use rather than style. The many family experiences retold in this booklet give various details. (To anyone interested in additional reading, | heartily recom- mend Lac qui Parle’s ‘Pioneer Stories”.) A few sidelights might be mentioned here. The Charles Lindholm letter reported in Prior Township states that the flour supply was stretched by ‘fist’. An attempt was made to define this term and _ it’s finally concluded that it must have meant dried fish flour. (We know that is an item of food in Africa to- day and is reported nutritious and tasteless.) Mrs. Dagmar An- derson of Clinton, whose parents came here in the 70's, re- members hearing that ground-up fish and mashed potatoes were used to increase the precious flour supply. Mrs. Rose Carlson verifies this also. No doubt many of our older readers will recall the “starter” always on hand for the endless bread- baking task. This was a piece of dough about the size of two fists saved out to start the next batch, and sometimes it was borrowed by a neighbor in the meantime. Yeast was a very important item in each household. It could also be homemade - from hops, dried and cooked. When the Bailey family came north from Tennessee, Emma was commissioned to carry the precious yeast jug and to guard it well. I’ve been told, too, that sometimes the yeast supply was actually taken along to bed, wrapped and snuggled amidst the goosedown of moth- er's pillow - to keep it from becoming chilled in wintertime. Mrs. Victor Anderson learned that starch was made by re-cook- ing and draining potatoes several times and then drying them into starch. Yes, the endless arrays of bottles and boxes and packages in today’s super markets likewise tell the story of progress. When we compare pioneer life with the innumerable “re- Today's children ask “What was it LIKE living in sod huts and log cabins? The following sketches tell part of that story: Spinning Wheel Grinding coffee (or grain) Butter Churn » / Rag wick in ~ ft ¥ \=7] cup of grease I School Supplies - _ _Stereoscope — (original home movies) Candle Page Thirteen Hand corn planter Bina? Building a log cabin Hoeing corn Broadcasting seed (seeding by hand) Ox yoke Hand Scythe Scythe Fork Flail Cradle Hoe Hand plow Cradle Lantern on —. |’ aa re ay = ad EN So Band concert Off to town Page Fourteen quirements” of today’s “standards of acceptable living”, we can better appreciate the meaning of the changes in all phases of our life. How surprised our 1880 pioneers would be in see- ing the progress of today in every imaginable field. We’re proud to have been a part of the many developments, many of which seem the ultimate in achievement! Sad to say, however, most will be discarded as outdated long before 2058; but we know that growth means the constant change to new and bet- ter methods. What will be revealed as another century’s ac- complishmens? Won‘t it be interesting to know? GRANDMA'S DAY Grandmother on a winter’s day Milked the cows and fed them hay; Slopped the hogs, saddled the mule, And got the children off to school. Did a washing, mopped the floors, Washed the windows and did some chores; Cooked a dish of home-dried fruit; Pressed her husband’s Sunday suit. Swept the parlor, made the beds, Baked a dozen loaves of bread; Split some firewood and lugged it in, Enough to fill the kitchen bin. Cleaned the lamps and put in oil, Stewed some apples she thought might spoil, Churned the butter, baked a cake, Then exclaimed, “For mercy sake - The calves have got out of the pen” Went out and chased them in again. Gathered the eggs and locked the stable, Back to the house and set the table. Cooked a supper that was delicious, And afterwards washed all the dishes; Fed the cat, and sprinkled the clothes; Mended a basketful of hose. Then opened the organ and began to play: WHEN YOU COME TO THE END OF A PERFECT DAY! @ NATIONALITIES In 1875 the 85 families and 305 persons were predomin- antly Scandinavian. The establishment of the Graceville colony added a strong Irish element, and the Germans soon ranked third. In 1890 our percentage of foreign-born was 32.4, as compared to 11.3 in 1930. Many countries are represented in our citizenry as anoth- er example of the American Melting Pot. We believe our loyal- ties belong first to our country, then to our state, and, finally, a sentimental attachment to our foreign heritage as well. As true Americans all, may we and our children accept the res- ponsibilities for the future with the same zeal shown by the forefathers of our county! HAIL, MINNESOTA! Minnesota, hail to thee! Hail to thee, our state so dear! Thy light shall ever be A beacon bright and clear; Thy sons and daughters true Will proclaim thee near and far; They will guard thy fame And adore thy name; Thou shalt be their Northern Star. Like the stream that bends to sea, Like the pine that seeks the blue, Minnesota, still for thee Thy sons are strong and true. From thy woods and waters fair, From thy prairies waving far, At thy call they throng With their shout and song, Hailing thee their Northern Star. Page Fifteen Gndividual Histories Blt STOM: COUNTY @ City of Ortonville Reporters: Mrs. Wayne Kelly, Mrs. B. H. Theisen, Mrs. Vera Nelson Ortonville is located at the southern tip of Big Stone Lake and the area was once a favorite camping and hunting ground for the Sioux Indians. On September 10, 1871, the Nels Lind- gren family arrived in a covered wagon at the foot of the lake. Since Mrs. Lindgren was nervous about the Indians, they soon decided to move to a little lake about three miles east. C. K. Orton also came west in 1871, arriving at Benson by train and then started out on foot to find a suitable place to settle. At nightfall he came to the Ole Bolsta cabin on Artichoke Lake, where he spent the night. The next morning he continued his westward trek, and when he reached the hills overlooking Big Stone Lake, he knew he had found just the place he wanted. His formal claim to his homestead was made at Litchfield, the nearest land itis ls office. Mr. and Mrs. Orton’s first home was built near the present Orton Hotel and all the materials were hauled by wagon some 50 miles from Benson and Morris. In 1872 he opened a trading post and most of his customers were Indians. Supplies were also transported “the hard way”, by wagon. He platted the village in 1871 with the help of Alfred Johnson, and it was organized as a city on Jan- vary 28, 1881. Cornelius Knute Orton was born in Wisconsin in 1846 of Norwegian descent, moved to lowa with his family when he was a boy, and later moved again to Lanesboro, Minnesota. He worked as a bookkeeper and conducted a general store until he sold out and moved westward. His father, Mr. K. O. Orton, came here in July of 1874. In 1873, A. W. Lathrop operated a store for six months, but Shumaker and Woodly opened the first permanent store in 1876. Clarence Smith started a blacksmith shop in 1877; and a hotel, the Lake View House, was operated by Captain E. Cook and two saloons were also in operation that year. Many other businesses started in 1878: general store by Mero and Wil- liams; hardware by Ward Brothers; farm machinery by P. G. Gesaner; law office of Jack Parker; a United Brethren Church with Horace Bingham as pastor; and Dr. Pettingill, a physician. Mr. Orton opened the first bank and post office in 1878. He had been named postmaster in 1875 when the post office was established. In 1878 one of the raging blizzards hit this area. Miss Ag- nes Clarke has furnished a description of it, written by Clark Orton, as follows: “It was a clear, calm day; the smoke rose high without a break, not a cloud in the sky. Horses were restless, the cattle bunched closer to the stables, and all signs indicated a storm. The wind rose suddenly, the thermometer dropped, and clouds Page Sixteen appeared in the sky. By the time it was zero, the sky was inky black and the air was filled with driving particles of snow. In less than 30 minutes, the snow turned into particles of ice as fine as powder and was forced into the smallest openings; ev- en keyholes had to be plugged on the windward side of the houses. Farmers rushed for their teams and drove frantically to the schoolhouses for children. Mothers hurried to the barns to let in the cattle and carried wood and water for the house, then prayed for the safe return of their loved ones. Some fath- ers brought their children home, but six from one school per- ished trying to find their way home. “A Mr. Swenson and son, relatives of the Wesslings and Ortons, started for a load of wood that fatal day. The wood was located in a ravine below the old depot. The storm struck with the suddenness of a cyclone and the drifts were so high they couldn’t wade through them, so they unhitched their hor- ses and tried to reach the settlements along the Yellow Banks. The next day the horses came home and search parties started out to find the men, but it was days later before Indians found the bodies.” Mr. Clark Orton has also written a description of the 1879 prairie fire in this way: “In April, night after night, we would see the sky tinted with red from prairie fires, miles away. Many times smoke would settle down so as to make the Dakota hills look like a high gray cloud. The farmers plowed great circles around their buildings and hay stacks. Often the tumble weeds, all afire, would blow across the plowed barriers and set the stacks on fire. “On Sunday, April 10, 1879, the wind was in the north- west and brought burning cinders into the town. The fire was five miles away, but red tongues of flame could be seen shoot- ing skyward. The townspeople at first were not alarmed as the fire was beyond the Minnesota bottoms where the grass was green. As it came closer, however, a fire guard was hastily formed to “backfire” the grass on this side of the bottoms. They did manage to burn 20 to 30 rods, but their efforts were in vain - the fire leaped the burned-over space like a whirl- wind. The ground was dry as tinder, and the heat so intense that all the buildings were suddenly on fire at the same time. The Orton home was located two or three hundred feet up the lake and below the house was a garden about 300 feet square. This protected the house and people rushed their treasured possessions to that spot. There were 28 buildings in town and the fire destroyed more than half of them. When it was all ov- er, the only places left standing were three saloons, a hotel, the printing office, the meat market, the blacksmith shop, and wagon shop. After that, people turned out every fall to burn wide fire guards on every side of the town.” Undaunted by their misfortune, the people of Ortonville immediately began rebuilding their village. They erected tem- porary sheds and tents to house their wares until more perma- nent establishments were completed. The new buildings were all larger and more elaborate than the ones destroyed, and by fall most of them had been replaced. The Orton Block had three stories. The first story was oc- cupied by stores, and second was used for an Opera House and the third story became the GAR and Relief Corps Hall. Mr. Or- ton gave the park to the city and also gave the right-of-way to the railroad which came through in 1880. In 1879 navigation on Big Stone Lake was promoted and several companies were formed to transport passengers and freight. That year Van Inwegan and Norrish put up an elevator with a capacity of 75,000 bushels. The machinery was power- ed by a steam engine and Mr. Van Inwegan boasted, with ex- cusable pride, that his steam whistle was the first to echo from the hills of Big Stone Lake. That elevator was located where Geier’s Elevator in Cashtown now stands and is part of the present building. During this same summer, it became known that the Hastings and Dakota railroad would be extended to the South Dakota border at Ortonville. Settlers flocked into the region and a rush of construction began in the town, soon doubling its former size. When the rails reached here in No- vember, the place had all the aspects of an end-of-the-rail boom town. A depot, water tank, an engine house for two en- gines, and a spur to the boat landing were soon built. The winter of 1880-81 caused a great deal of hardship to the townspeople and the surrounding territory. It was severely cold and one blizzard followed another. For 126 days the new railroad was unable to send trains through and the settlers ran short of almost everything. Newspapers were printed on brown wrapping paper, food was scarce, and fuel was short. A large pile of ties ready to extend the rails in the spring was used by the snowbound people for fuel. Martin Shoen told of looking for their barn - a straw shed housing two cows - and of final- ly locating it when they saw a thin wisp of steam coming from the surface of the snow. By digging there they found the top of the shed. Mrs. Phil Miller remembered playing in the tun- nel dug between the Van Inwegan house and the neighbors. It was said that in the spring there was water like a lake from Ortonville to Minneapolis. In 1883 there was no road between Ortonville and Big Stone City and a boat livery rowed passengers across. Martin Schoen, then about 13, told of a man rushing to the landing and offering him a bonus of 50c if he would just row him a- cross. This was almost a fortune to a boy at that time, so he bent to his oars and made the crossing in record time. Upon his return, he found the law enforcement officers waiting and was told he had just assisted an outlaw to cross the border in- to Dakota territory. Mr. Schoen also told the solution to a mystery of the early 80’s. While playing in the ravine where Jim Geiers live now, he and his brother noticed an interesting hole in the bank. A little prodding produced a thrilling find for two small boys - a human skull. Upon showing it to their mother, she reacted quite differently and lectured them on the sacrilege of disturb- ing a grave and ordered them to return it immediately. Instead one of them waded well out into the bay and with a mighty heave threw the thing as far into the lake as he could. Some- time later a swimmer stubbed his toe on something, brought up a bleached skull, and excitement ran high for a few days. There were suspicions of foul play or murder and eventually it became subject matter for editorial comment. A Minneapolis paper picked up the story and it found its way into national M press channels. The skull itself reposed in the newspaper office for years as a subject for conjecture. The only two young men in town who knew the answer maintained a deep silence about it lest they should have to reckon with mother’s wrath. The father of the Schoen boys was a carpenter and in those days he worked a 10-hour day for $1.00. In a few years wages went up to $1.25 a day. In 1885 the south branch of the Fargo line reached Orton- ville, giving north and south transportation connections, as well as the east and west. A second disastrous fire in August, 1897, swept one side of the main business block of the town, presently the block from Gunderson Drug to the Masonic building. A small boy playing with matches in the back room of a building owned by William Geier (where the Bolsta Hardware has been) had acci- dentally set fire to some highly combustible material. In spite of the experience with the fire of ‘79, the village still had not secured adequate equipment to fight a large fire. Even though the town pump was located across the street in front of the Or- ton Block, it was soon evident the blaze was hopelessly out of control. Most of the buildings were of wooden construction and the flames spread rapidly so the whole block was an in- ferno. In all, ten buildings were totally destroyed. All the vol- unteer firemen could hope to do was to confine it to this block. At one time or another, nearly every building on the other side of the street caught fire. Much of the merchandise was remov- ed and every available vacant space stacked with it. The vault of the bank, which had been on the Gunderson Drug corner, stood forlorn among the ruins, but its contents were not harm- ed. According to a contemporary newspaper report, the total losses were estimated at from $12,000 to $15,000. The first sidewalk from the business district to the depot was built by Ed. Crippen, Levi Seeley, Charles Wheeler, Davis, and Sorenson. It was nearly a mile long and was built entirely of wood. Along this street the Tourist Club planted a row of elm trees. The Greenhouse was built in 1912 by O. M. Osen and was something very unusual in that day. Its trade territory was enormous and plants were shipped as far east as Olivia, Ren- ville, Sacred Heart, and Buffalo; north to Fairmont, North Da- kota and west to Baker, Montana. Mr. Osen continued to oper- ate this business until he retired in 1946. Page Seventeen ORTONVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL, ABOUT 1886 PUBLIC SCHOOL The first school was held in the basement of the Orton Block and Miss Ida Van Kleeck was the first school teacher. There was a grocery store overhead. In those days molasses was a staple grocery item that was sold in bulk from barrels. It was drawn into the customer's jug from a spigot in the end of the barrel. The last drop or two clinging to the spout drip- ped on the floor beneath. In time it seeped down through the floorboards, and the little girls with curls, studying down be- neath, had trouble with molasses in their hair. The first building erected for a schoolhouse was at 232 Wa- shington Avenue, where Weber's house is now located. This was a small, tar-papered building which cost $500 in 1876. By 1882 it was no longer adequate for the increasing pupils, soa two-story, two-room building was erected at a cost of $10,- 000, including furniture. This was on the lot just down the hill from the present school site. Mr. M. F. Varney was the first Superintendent and Miss Tena Harris, the first grade teacher. It was destroyed in a spectacular fire, July 4, 1916, when a sky- rocket with a blazing tail accidentally lodged in the belfry. The original part of the present building was erected soon after that; a wing was added in 1928; the gymnasium in 1937; and the new addition was built in 1955-56. This was named for Jim Knoll, who was custodian for many years. The present school system has $2,000,000 worth of buil- dings and there will be another addition of $100,000 added this coming year. There is an enrollment of approximately 940 pupils and 46 instructors. Our school is approved by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. CHURCHES The first religious services in Ortonville were held by the Rev. Knickerbacker, an Episcopal minister from Minneapolis, in July of 1874 at the home of A. L. Jackson, one mile from the village. The first services in the village proper were conducted by the Rev. George L. Berry of the United Brethren Church in 1875. The first church to be organized was of the Episcopal de- nomination in November, 1879, with W. R. Brown as lay Read- Page Eighteen First row, left to right: Dave Clark, Vic Randall, Gilbert McCallum, Theodor McCallum, Alphonsis Crawford, Ernest Engquist, Light Kemerer, Aug- ust Dahlstrum, Irven Fraser, Clinton Crippen, a, Charlie Lindquist, Bert Davis, ?, Oscar Scheibe, Bert Hurley, Emil Ravey. Second row: Ed Crawford, George Parker, Chas. Peterson, Ed. Crippen, Nan Shumaker, ?, ?, Ella Mogren, Ina Parker, Ransom, Nell Orton, Mazie Porter, Edith Blom, Agnes Clarke, Pearl VanIn- wegen, Madge Forman, Lou Ella Vanlnwegen, Ada Pomeroy, Levi Major. Third row: Roy Tuttle, Henry Peterson, Charles Church, Professor M. F. Varney, ?, Owen Clark, Alfred Bolsta, Dessa Fraser, Van Camp, Olive Van Camp, Jessie Randall, Clark Orton, Reuben Fow- ler. Fourth row: Kittie Clark, Anna Olson, Jennie Hanhick, Pearl Enos, Lottie Fraser, Eva Whitman. Fifth row: Maggie Clarke, Mollie VanAllen, Mary Ravey, Mary Mogren, Cora Niles, August Lind- vist. Sixth row: Etta Atha, Etha VanKleek, Ava_Ern- dall, Gusta Engquist, Gertie Scram, Lottie Enos, Christ. Lindquist, Mabel Meadows. Seventh row: Grace VanAllen, ? , Potter, Mrs. Hurley, Libby Smithson, ?, Marion Fairbanks, Stella Scofield, Miss Linny, Chapman, Dena Mero, Cassie Clark. Eighth row: Smith, Willet Hyde, Susie Rogers, Ella Fraser, Ida Buck, Louise Hathaway, May Scofield. Ninth row: ?, Lucy Conway, Anna Clark, Albert Hackert, ??, Willie Brown. Tenth row: Mamie Whitman, Emma Church, Ada Meadows, Carrie Church, John Bolsta, Hester Clark, Ben Hess. er. The first pastor. was Rev. Armstrong, during whose minis- try the church building was erected. It was finished in the spring of 1881 at a cost of $1,000.00. It was called “Christ Church”. Our meager early history does not record how long this church was used. The marriage of Elmina Webb and James Moulton was solemnized in it in 1883 by a Rev. Metcalf. This church was sold and converted into a residence. The W. H. Matthews family moved into it about 1898. This is the present home of the Tom Toners. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH The Congregational Society was organized in September, 1879. Elder Ruddock held regular services. The Rev. A. Hadden next assumed the charge under whose ministry the church edi- fice was erected in the summer of 1880 at a cost of $445. This was built on the present site, facing the north, but in 1897 it was turned to face the west. This served until the new church was built on this lot in the 1920's. The bell for the original church was donated by Charles E. Brooks, a local banker, in 1881. This bell still hangs in the bel- fry. The present pastor is the Rev. W. Clark Williams, who as- sumed the charge in October, 1955. METHODIST CHURCH The Methodist Society was organized in October of 1879 with Rev. Phelps holding the first regular service. During those early years the church and Sunday School met in the upstairs hall of a frame building where the Gunderson Drug Store now stands. The room was heated by only a small stove, but each Sunday morning 25 or 30 children gathered for Sunday School. Mr. F. Shumaker was the first superintendent. When it came time to build a church, much controversy arose over the site, but the present site of the church was final- ly chosen. This site required much filling as a deep ravine ran through it. All members helped and soon a new church was built there. It was formally dedicated in the spring of 1885. The church was its present size with the exception of the choir room and the sacristy. The Rev. S. D. Kemerer was the pas- tor at that time. In the summer of 1902 the church edifice was raised and the basement parlors finished. Then in 1919 the re-building of the church was begun; it was completed in 1922. This was during the pastorate of Rev. Watson. Again in 1932, under Rev. Wittrup, the exterior was repaired, taking off stucco and putting on stained shingles and brick. This is the form of the present church, but a project is underway for a new one to be built near the hospital in the next few years. The first marriage recorded in the church was of Homer O. Hubbard and Dorie Johnson, both of Beardsley, on October 1, 1883. They were united in marriage by Rev. Ira Richardson who was assisted by Rev. J. W. Bell. SWEDISH METHODIST The next church to be organized was the Swedish Metho- dist in 1880. It was incorporated on May 4, 1885, and the church built this same year. Some of the early ministers were Rev. Borgerson, Rev. Gabrielson, and the Rev. Johnson, who retired. He lived where the Bob Carlson house now stands. Among some of the old records was a bill for $459 for the lumber purchased from the Hathway and Lewis Lumber Co. Gustaf Swenson was among those who started this early church. Some of the first members were the Olof Olsons, Nell Zachrison, Eric Mattson, Mrs. John Lindquist, the Carl Swen- sons, and the V. B. Petersons. Of these first families there are no survivors. This church was sold in 1939 to Clifford Smith who con- verted it into a duplex. ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH (Swedish) According to the Nels Lindgren biography, this congrega- tion was organized in Ortonville in 1883. He and Charlie John- son are credited with starting it. The membership was so small that it didn’t make good progress and they had a minister only once a year. By 1886 the membership had increased to 45 and the church building was built for $1,600. The two lots were donated by the Ortons. The bell was purchased in 1888 for $140 and installed in 1890. The first pastor was a student min- ister named J. O. Cavalin. In 1895 a Rev. A. Engdahl was hired at a salary of $350 per year. This church celebrated its 75th Anniversary this year. Rev. Paul Gustafson moved to Warroad in July and the present pas- tor is Rev. Norman O. Mattson. ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH The first mass in Ortonville was celebrated at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Pat Clarke, in November of 1879, by the Rever- end John Ryan. Father Elshorst was one of the first priests to visit Ortonville. He was succeeded by Father Charles Toner, who started the church in Big Stone City, South Dakota in 1882. The Ortonville members of the Catholic Church traveled to Big Stone every Sunday until the present church was built here in 1904 by the Reverend M. O’Brien of Graceville. The first resident pastor was Rev. J. A. Sullivan (1921- 24). The rectory was built in 1926 by Rev. P. J. Callanan (1924- 33). The present pastor is Reverend George Campbell, who came in 1943. It is said that the lots for the church were sold to the con- gregation by Mr. Norris (an early banker here), for half price because of a favor Pat Clarke had done him. There was only one stipulation - a Catholic Church must be built on them. FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH This is the newest church to be organized in Ortonville. It developed out of a need felt by many to have the English lang- uage preached every Sunday morning. This group had been a part of Rev. John Walseth’s parishes. Several years of activity and growth ensued. Finally the Home Mission Superintendent, Professor Olaf Glascoe, was called in to look the field over. He advised the group to start a Ladies Aid and to ask Rev. Wal- seth to give them as much time as possible. On December 2, 1926, a Ladies Aid was organized at the O. M. Osen home with the following officers elected: Mrs. Shelver, president; Mrs. John Hagevik, vice president; Mrs. O. M. Osen, treasurer; Mrs. A. H. Sorenson, secretary. On Janu- ary 1, 1927, a meeting of all prospective members was held and the body of the present constitution was adopted. Arrange- ments were made to purchase the Ortonville State Bank build ing on March 1, 1927. Prior to this time, Sunday School and Church Services were held in the basement of the library. On February 7th, 1927, the present name was formally adopted, and on April 15, 1927, Rev. A. E. Thompson was cal- led to be their pastor. He served the church from 1927 until 1938. The Rev. Schmidt followed him in 1938. It was during his pastorate that the congregation went on record as favoring a new church building. The lots were purchased in May, 1939, and in August of 1939 the cornerstone of the new church was laid with ceremony. The first services were held in it Decem- ber 24th. The formal dedication ceremonies were held May 5. 1940. The present pastor is Reverend Ward. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH In the summer of 1913 a small group of people became interested in reading Christian Science. Some of these people were Mr. and Mrs. Al Shumaker and Mary, Sara Randall, Mrs. Lola Hess, and Ed Hanes. In the spring of 1914 a hall was rented and regular serv- ices were begun. Soon a Sunday School was organized. The membership grew rapidly in the next one and a half years. In August, 1916, the Christian Science Church was organized un- der the by-laws of the mother church in Boston. The first lec- ture given was by Herman S. Herring in November of 1917. By November, 1922, the church had grown to such extent tha? the society was re-organized as The First Church of Christ Sci- entist. In August, 1924, property was purchased with the thought of erecting a church builiding. In 1932 The First Church of Christ Scientist returned to the status of a society, and the lots were sold, there being no immediate need for a church building. Mrs. Elmer Mathis is the first Reader at the present time, with Mrs. Laura Ross as the second. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH In 1896 a group of Lutherans of German descent held ser- vices in their homes; the Rev. E. Bartling from Odessa served them until 1903, at which time they took steps to incorporate and were served by Rev. G. Kase from Milbank, South Dakota. The records show that at this time there were eight charter families in the congregation. Services were then held in the Zion Lutheran Church in Ortonville. It is interesting to note that in December of 1906 they called Rev. Bartling as their pastor and offered him $100 sal- ary with the understanding that if more funds were collected, the salary would be increased to $125. In 1912, M. J. Hausauer and some other men from the congregation moved an old church on the ice from what was then known as the Hurley farm. The lot for the church, which is also the site of the present church, was donated by the Tiep- erman family, and Rev. Bartling became the Resident Pastor. The first baptism was officiated on May 25, 1896, and the child’s name was Erick Gregath. The first confirmation class of seven members was confirmed January 7, 1897. On January 27, 1904, Edward Mueller and Anna Luff were united in mar- Page Nineteen riage in the first wedding to take place in the church. The first funeral was for Emma Hammer on April 17, 1896. Pastor William Hartman served the congregation from De- cember 1929 to 1946. Rev. Ray Holzhauver served from 1946 to 1952 and the Pastor Rev. E. Priess has served from 1952 to date. On September 11, 1949, a new, modern brick church was dedicated. It is interesting to know that the old church, which NEWSPAPERS The Ortonville Independent was first issued on May 13, 1920 by Lemuel A. Kaercher, editor-publisher. It is still pub- lished by him and his son, James David Kaercher. Previous newspapers included the North Star, started by subscription of local citizens with Mr. Fred Tuttle the first pub- lisher. It was published from June 30, 1878 to December 28, 1887 when it and the Big Stone County Herald (August 21st, 1879 to December 29, 1887) were merged to form the Orton- ville Herald-Star. This continued publication from 1888 to De- cember 26, 1912. The Headlight began publication in April, 1884 and was removed to Big Stone City, South Dakota in May, 1895. The Herald-Star merged with the Big Stone County Journal (June 24, 1892 to December 27, 1912) to form the Or- tonville Journal, published from January 2, 1913 to September 16, 1926. The Ortonville Star of Hope (November 29 to De- cember 27, 1919) became the Ortonville Star from January 1, 1920 until it merged with the Journal to form the Ortonville Journal-Star on September 23, 1926. On January 13, 1927, they resumed separate publication but were again merged as the Star-Journal from October 6, 1927 to April 17, 1930, when it was absorbed by the Ortonville Independent. Page Twenty was moved on the lake and served the congregation until 1949, would have fit cross-ways in the present structure. JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES A local congregation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses meets under the leadership of Alvin Schmeichel, present pastor. The request for a detailed history was unanswered, but the group is hereby acknowledged. Pictured here are the late A. B. Kaercher, founder of the Ortonville Inde- pendent, with his force - and included is the late Robert Schoen, tallest in photo. Others are uniden- tified. K DIO KDIO radio station, located in the little red schoolhouse three miles north of Ortonville, is owned and operated by the Tri-State Broadcasting Co., Inc., and serves a wide area. It be- gan broadcasting in July, 1956. The present radio staff includes: “Cy” McCormick, Dick Schultz, Don Egert, Rod Trongard, Dan Kenneson, and Mrs. Ma- rie Thompson. PUBLIC LIBRARY The Library had its beginnings in a small way many years ago. Culture and learning among the pioneer people were highly regarded, but when one must choose which of his pos- sessions to move in the limited space in a covered wagon, necessities had to be taken first and there was little space left for books. However, certain public spirited individuals and or- ganizations gave of their time and money to gather and keep in circulation a goodly number of books, which as the years passed, grew steadiliy. Back in the days when the “Orton Block” had three stories, Mrs. Nichols ran a lending library in a room in the second floor. The Tourist Club and Reading Circle were instrumental in starting a small library in 1903, with quarters in the building now occupied by Myerly Office Equipment Co. Later it was moved to a room at the rear of the John Neilson Drug Store (now Gunderson Drugs) where its growth and prosperity cre- ated a need for more space and facilities. In 1915 and 1916 the present brick and granite building was erected with Carne- gie funds and is known as the Ortonville Public Library, owned _and supported by the City of Ortonville. Its 8,000 volumes and 50 periodicals and various services are enjoyed by patrons from Ortonville, rural Big Stone County, and other surround- ing Counties. DOCTORS Doctors down through the years include the following: Dr. A. E. Pettingill, 1878— Dr. L.C. Lane, 1879-1898 Dr. George MacMurphey, 1879-1884* Dr. Jacob Karn, 1887-1913 Dr. J. A. Freeborn, 1890-1896 Dr. Charles Bolsta, 1895-1945 Dr. Alex. MacDonald, 1897-1901 Dr. George MacMurphey, *1901-1922 Dr. A. J. Kaess, *1903-1905* Dr. B. R. Karn, 1907-1955 Dr. E. D. Quinnell, 1910-1915 Dr. Baker, 1912-1913 Dr. D. M. O'Donnell, 1916-1954 Dr. H. J. Shelver, 1920-1939 Dr. Wm. Engdahl, 1939-1941 Dr. H. Johnson, 1942-1944 Dr. Vern Zech, 1944-1946 Dr. J. F. Karn, 1945-present Dr. R. Gallagher, 1946-1947 Dr. Truman Hedemark, 1946-present Dr. Homer Hedemark, 1946-present (Dates marked * are approximate) The Hedemark Clinic was built in 1946. It is located where the Adolph V. Carlson wagon shop stood for over 50 years. Dentists have included: Dr. E. J. Harris, 1880-1882 Dr. G. W. Geenty, *1896-1900 Dr. G. W. Harris, 1897- Dr. A. S. Campbell, *1898-1924 Dr. J. R. Cain, *1907-1935 Dr. Carl Olson, 1916-1923 Dr. G. W. Geenty, 1923-1941 Dr. D. T. Dawson, 1924-1946 Dr. A. J. Hanson, 1930-present Dr. James Dahl, 1940-1943 Dr. C. O. Carson, 1945-1947 Dr. Ray Waters, 1946-1951 Dr. R. R. Nolop, 1946-present Dr. Earl Harris, 1947-1954 Dr. P. R. Hansen, 1951-present Veterinarians have included: Dr. J. O. Senescall, 1904-1915 Dr. Jessie Senescall, *1914-1918* Dr. Elmer Schoen, 1907-1932 Dr. A. M. Strom, 1921-1928 Dr. A. W. Groth, 1939-1945 Dr. A. P. Antroinen, 1945-present Names of the chiropractors and osteopaths have included Drs. Rifenbark, Dunn, Reed, Bruins, Aaman and Stucky. GRAND VIEW HOSPITAL In 1906 Dr. Jacob Karn and Dr. Charles Bolsta built in Or- tonville, one block from Main Street and overlooking the City Park, what was known until 1919 as the Grand View Hospital. It was of brick construction and granite trim, with a 17-bed ca- pacity. Miss Josephine, R.N., sister of Dr. Charles Bolsta, was the first Superintendent and continued in that capacity until her death in 1918. In the early years a training school for nurses was conducted. In 1919 the hospital was sold to the Evangelical Confer- ence of South Dakota and was operated under the name of the Ortonville Evangelical Hospital. In 1942 it was sold back to Dr. Charles Bolsta and Dr. B. R. Karn who donated it to the Ci- ty of Ortonville in 1944. It was then known as the Ortonville Community Hospital until 1952, when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Schliep for a Nursing Home, a service long need- ed in our community. ORTONVILLE MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL The Ortonville Municipal Hospital was constructed by the City of Ortonville in 1952. It is of the latest design, has a ca- pacity of 32 beds, and is equipped with modern facilities fot all types of medical and surgical care. The one-floor structure is comprised of wings for Administration and Service, Nursing, Maternity, and Operating rooms, with provisions made for fu- ture additions. For efficiency of operation, comfort of patients, safety and cleanliness, this hospital is outstanding and has the stamp of approval from both State and Federal authorities. PARK VIEW NURSING HOME In 1952, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Schliep purchased the Grand View Hospital building and have operated it since then as a Nursing Home, with a capacity of 24 beds. This building overlooks the City Park, which inspired the name. * BOARDING CARE HOME Since January of 1958, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Schliep also have owned and operated a licensed Boarding Care Home in the former Warford residence on Second Street. This has been remodeled to conform to State regulations and to furnish a comfortable and pleasant home for its occupants. Ortonville is fortunate in having these two Homes which have been needed for adequate care of the older residents in our vicinity. A Centennial Salute is extended to all long-time business- es, some of which are now operating in the third generation. Included are: Geiers Lumber Co.; F. L. Brown, Jeweler; Grose- nick’s Clothing; Schoen’s Furniture. Present-day Ortonville serves a large trading area in both Page Twenty-One Minnesota and South Dakota. Its many fine business establish- ments include hotels, motels, filling stations, lumber yards, elevators, banks, bottling works, monument works, a cream- ery, a theater, and a newspaper. Large quantities of granite are shipped to other sections of the state and country. The Big Stone Canning Company, organized in 1902, is the second oldest canning company in the state. It originally packed peas but after the second year these were discontinued in favor of corn and the items now packed include various va- rieties and styles of corn, succotash, potatoes, beans, beets, carrots, peas, and rutabagas. In addition to local crops, many are shipped in from all over the nation. Corn is still the princi- pal product and the “run” employs approximately 500 people on the two shifts lasting about two months. The balance of the year is spent on canning the other crops and a new fruit drink known as Hi-C. Electric power for the city is furnished by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Otter Tail Power Company. The _ latter erected a $3,000,000 plant at the foot of the lake a few years ago. As a result many fine families have come here to make their homes. The Northwestern Bell Telephone Company is expanding here, having purchased property on Jackson Avenue where it will build in the near future. A Municipal Airport is located just east of the city. We have recreational facilities for hunting, fishing, boat- ing and swimming. Several beautiful city parks offer space for picnicing. Our athletic field contains a lighted football field, a lighted baseball diamond with removable bleachers, and two tennis courts. The Municipal Golf Course is located on the hill overlooking Big Stone Lake and is one of the finest 19-hole golf courses in Western Minnesota. The beautiful clubhouse of- fers the usual facilities for all visitors as well as members. Yes, Ortonville has come a long way since the townsite was laid out 85 years ago. May the next years bring even greater progress! @ Village of Barry Reporters: Barry 6th Grade pupils and Miss L. Fletcher, teacher Information for this Barry history was furnishd by the fol- lowing long-time residents of Barry: Mrs. Mary Nash Keeler, Patrick Hanratty, and Mrs. Elizabeth Dyer Maier of Graceville. Edmond and William Barry came to Morris from Lowell, Massachusetts on May 10, 1879. There was no railroad so they hired a locator to take them out to where their brother, James and William Nash had filed the previous year. Edmond filed on land Barry is now located on and the village received its name from this family. William filed just north of that. Later that summer their parents and sisters came and filed on adjoin- ing land. Page Twenty-Two Barry’s Original ‘Hot Rods’, left to right: small boy is probably John Mullin, Hanratty, Bill Nash, Frank Collins, probably Bert Collins, and Jim Fermoyle. The Barry Post Office was started in 1879 with Miss Maria Barry as postmistress, the post office being located in the Bar- ry ferm house just east of where the town now stands. Mail was delivered by stage coach from Morris to Browns Valley un- til the railroad went through in 1880. John L. Sullivan, a Civil War Veteran, and Alvah Clark helped on the railroad, then homesteaded south of Barry in Toqua Township. The early trail past Barry followed close to the railroad track until highway 28 was constructed. In 1880 Clark Brothers built a general store and the house the Pat Hanratty family now lives in. The first store was in the building which burned a couple of years ago. They op- erated this business for about six years, then turned it over to their nephew, A. B. Converse. After a few years, he turned it over to William Casey who, with John Curran, carried on for some time, later selling out to Casey’s nephew, William O’- Donnell. It has changed hands many times since. Other Barry businesses were as follows: 1880 First blacksmith shop built by Joe Kinchen. Sold to L. C. Oleson in 1903. 1885 First wood and coal yard started by Hunter. 1890 First eating place opened by Mrs. Patrick Cleary and daughter, Anna. 1890 John McRae and sons shipped in six carloads of lumber and a real building spree started. The manager was Thomas O’Phalen and he built a home in 1891. McRae Hardware Store, Barry, Minn. 1891 Bowling Alley by Barry Brothers. 1891 First Elevator, Al Converse, manager. 1891 Shoe Shop, Jack Dwyer. 1901 General Store, Pat. Regan. 1903 Store and Post Office, O’Brian Land Bank, Lewis Lean, Manager. 1903 Casey Saloon. 1910 Town Hall. 1910 First State Bank, by Mcrae Brothers; Frank Collins, cashier. 1910 Restaurant opened in Nash Building by Mrs. Anna Chase. 1912 Charles Keeler became first mail carrier out of Barry. 1912 Feed and Livery Stable, A. B. Betts. 1915 Store, Meat Market, and Post Office, Jerry Clifford. Anna Clifford appointed postmistress. On May 22, 1900, the County Commissioners granted a petition signed by William Barry, asking for the incorporation of certain territory in the township of Toqua under the name of the village of Barry, and ordered that an election be held on General Store, Barry, Minn. June 11, 1900 for the purpose of voting for or against such in- corporation. A Mr. Giles, who homesteaded southwest of Barry, had a sugar mill to which some of the early pioneers took their sugar cane to be processed. The early settlers were all Irish, but only a few of the ori- ginal families still live here. Recreation has included many good ball teams.- There were also many horseracing enthusiasts around Barry in the early days. We had a track and the late John J. Mullin was one of the drivers. Barry’s First Baseball Team Patrick Hanratty came to this community from Quebec, View of Barry, 1919 Canada, in October, 1880, when he was just a baby. They were met at Morris by an uncle with a wagon pulled by oxen, and they lived with him until a house was built. They brought three horses along from Canada and had been here only a short time when the great blizzard struck. The horses wander- ed off during the storm and were found sometime later north of Hancock. Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Hanratty have lived at Barry all these years, and Pat served as County Commissioner from 1933 to 1952. They observed their Golden Wedding anniversary on July 6, this year. Mr. Hanratty adds the following comment: “Fire has been cruel to Barry down through the years. destroying several elevators, a lumber yard, many stores, two churches, two schools, and many homes. In its prime, our vil- lage was a thriving farm trade center for grain, livestock and farm produce. As has been the experience of most small towns, Barry lost much of its trade to larger trade centers because of the automobile and good roads. Large quantities of grain are still handled through the two elevators, and the new addition to the Farmers’ Co-op elevator this past year testifies to the faith and vision of the management in the business of the fu- ture.” PUBLIC SCHOOL School District No. 59 was formed in May, 1900. A two- room school was built in 1901. This building burned and was replaced by a new one in 1908. This second school burned in the mid 30’s and classes were held in a hardware store and in the Town Hall until the present building was erected in 1938. This is a three-classroom, concrete building located in about the center of town. 1957-58 teachers were Miss Lottie Fletcher of Clinton and Mrs. Ann Haanen of Beardsley. On April 4, 1924, we became a consolidated district con- sisting of District 66, part of 30, and all of 59, of Big Stone and Traverse Counties. We are now known as Independent School District 56. ae CHURCH OF ST. BARNABAS Early Catholic services at Barry were conducted by Father O’Brien, a missionary. The Parish was organized and a church built in 1897. This building burned and another, built in 1906, Page Twenty-Three was also destroyed by fire. The present church, a brick build- ing, was erected in 1931 when Father Byrne was pastor. The Rectory was built when Father Coughlin was here. Barry pastors have included Fathers Gallagher, Barron, O’Doanay, Casey, O’Brien, Byrne, Coughlin, Phalen, Campbell, McKeever, McKeller and Father Henry LeMay, our present pas- tor. A Centennial Pilgrimage to Europe in May was led by Fa- ther LeMay and Father Neudecker of Geneva, Minnesota. 36 members of the air tour, including Mrs. Ann Haanen of Beards- ley and Mrs. Addie Fitzharris of Barry, enjoyed their visit to 10 countries. They spent five days in Rome, one day at the Fair in Brussels, and also visited Barcelona, Lisbon, Madrid, Switzer- land, Paris, London and Ireland. @ Village of Beardsley Reporters: Art Lumphrey, Mrs. Walter Wulff The government survey of 1871 and 1872 opened this area to settlement. The railroads pushed westward, playing a big part in each settlement. Beardsley is located on land home- steaded by W. W. Beardsley and was named for him. The vil- lage was platted in 1880, the same year that the railroad ar- rived. Pat J. Green was the first section foreman on the rail- road. Henry Stonebraker erected the first building in 1880 in which he conducted a coal and lumber business. Jeff Spencer, who had come in 1878, built a store building where the gen- eral merchandise business flourished under the name Burdick and Spencer’s. Al. W. Jones built a store where he conducted a general merchandise business. In 1881 Jo Shannon built a store which was occupied the following winter by Mr. Bartlett. The first postmaster was J. A. Shannon. An early well driller was Anton Grosch. The first hotel was built in 1881 by Capt. J. M. Cole and it burned in 1888. Harry Letford made a hotel in 1898 in the building first operated as a store by Pat Jordan and C. Flynn. It was later operated by Frank Morrow. F. N. Kirkpatrick was our scenic artist (photographer) in 1897. Charles Hill built the first blacksmith shop. R. Herber came in the early 80’s and also established a blacksmith business. With the coming of the automobile, he expanded to include a garage. The early livery stable was run by Frank Daly and the building in which he operated was later destroyed by fire. Harnessmakers were C. Christeson and Joe Ulrich. George Klein was also a blacksmith for many years. We had an elevat- ed tank water system. George Brackett opened the first hardware store which he Page Twenty-Four FIRST CAR in Beardsley - George Mauery, driver, and Pete Haanen. Back seat, left: Skundberg, Casey Hill, and George Klein. Men standing at back door of Saloon are: Ludwig Anderson, bar tender, Blackie, Ed Smith, and Fred Wilson. sold to Mr. Barr. C. A. Prevey bought it in 1887 and sold to Wright Brothers in 1889. In 1881 Mr. Brackett built the first wheat storehouse and the first load of wheat sold here was hauled in by Henry Covart. This wheat storehouse later was developed into a real elevator and sold to R. Norrish who en- gaged Charley Westfall to buy grain. The Cargill Elevator Co. built an elevator here in 1882 and the first Farmers’ Elevator was built in 1899 with A. B. Stevens, president; N. A. Warring, vice president; Fred Dittes, secretary; and H. B. Gelting, treas- urer. G. W. Freer also engaged in the grain and produce busi- ness. In recent years the Farmers Elevator has built three new elevators, in 1942, 1954 and one in 1957 with a 200,000 bu- shel capacity. Beardsley Grain and Feed Co. now operates four elevators, the Old Monarch, the Westfall, and the Dittes and Cargill plants. A bad fire destroyed the main building Septem- ber 21, 1958. Other names among the grain buyers were C. E. Dittes, F. C. Wendt, D. E. Coughlin, Tom Flood, D. P. Jenks, P. J. Coyne, W. Meyers, Emil Baerwaldt and A. H. Lyford. At the present, O.D. Larson and Al Kamstra are on the Beardsley Grain Exchange. At first there was no drug store but drugs were sold by Barr in the hardware store. Stonebraker and Dr. Weir establish- ed the first drug store. Dr. Weir was the first doctor in town. Others were Dr. G. Ball, Dr. Clark, and Dr. Kilgard. Dentists in- cluded Dr. R. C. McGoon, Dr. Traholt, Dr. R. W. Kelly and Dr. R. S. Flood. Dr. L. J. Sears was our veterinarian for many years and is now retired and living here. J. L. Fitzgerald operated a Drug Store here for many years. The first lumber yard was what was known as a “line yard”. It was managed by Warren Jones and in 1886 it was sold to John Maher. This lumber company was later owned by P. W. Jordan, another builder of the town, who also had a hardware store, a bank, and owned several farms. His lumber yard has been operated by the E. H. Vye Company since 1928. Early millinery stores were operated by Mrs. George C. Cranmer and Mrs. R. Herbers. In those days this was not just simply buying and selling hats - these ladies studied the fash- ion magazines, stocked natural straw or felt hats in the current popular shapes, and the materials with which to decorate them. Then each hat was dyed and decorated to meet the require- ments of the individual customer. Mr. Cranmer was a promi- nent business and real estate man. C. W. Gebbart was also in the real estate business. Among old time store keepers were: C. J. and Thomas Flynn, H. J. Letford, Fred Dittes, C. A. Prevey, Jewell & John- son, Anthony Dunleavy, Pat Jordan, Jeff Spencer, E. P. Byhre, F. Krafts, C. J. Berg, N. A. Warring, H. W. Rook. Confectioners were J. T. Myers, W. J. Easterly, W. Field, and W. J. Kirby. In 1901 Joe and Oliver Lumphrey built a new store on the prop- erty where the Cole Hotel once stood. They operated this busi- ness for 50 years and it is still in existence. Leonard and Ed. Lumphrey still operate it. Other stores are Dresch’s and Kings. Hardware dealers have been E. L. Anderson, E. J. Jordan, A. F. McDonald, Ed. Nelson, Gates & Torgenson, Kirkpatrick & Sons, and C. A. and W. |. Wright. Present dealers are the Hon- komps, and Seips. Peter Jenks and John Meyers were in the woodworking business. The late Nels Larson was quite a builder in this town. He built an oil station, fixed up Deutsch’s Cafe and also built up the Larson Coffee Shop now occupied by Mary Larson. Johnson and Sons were contractors; now operating as Johnson Bros. Pete Peterson is one of our enterprising contractors. Implement dealers have been D. D. O'Leary, H. Hemming- son, Jordan Bros., Herman Bormes, Cunningham, and Maher. Gravel contractors are Joe Holden and Tom Clark and scrap ir- on dealers are John Zych and George Holden. In 1951 Norris Haukos built a new blacksmith shop. Hotel men have been F. E. Morrow, William Tubbs, Al Markham, O. S. Briggs, Charlie Sanders, and Wm. Bohanon. Mr. Briggs was also a game warden and was in the dray business in the early 90's. William Bone and son, Turner, were the men who could move dirt and more dirt, using scrapers and horses. They were also in the dray and house-moving business for many years. Thomas Gleason was our windmill repair man and an insurance agent. H. J. Miller was one of our first police officers. W. J. Kirkey has been fire chief here for the past 51 years, and the present company is one of the finest in the state. He also has the distinction of being in business the longest of anyone in town - he’s been our barber for 50 years. Herman Bormes was an outstanding businessman in the years, having a saloon, feed machine business and several farms. Ben A. Benolkin was another saloon keeper for years and was known for miles around. C. B. Westfall was another outstanding builder of our town. He had a stockyard, bank, elevator and several farms. He also promoted the local race track where horse races and ball games attracted large crowds in 1900. When he left town, interest died down from lack of promotion. L. G. Westfall built the first telephone system in 1901 and it was purchased by the Minnesota Central Telephone Co. in 1905. Northwestern Bell acquired it in 1912. We were con- verted to the dial system in 1951 and the service is maintained by Graceville. Wm. M. Maroney was the largest land owner for many years. He had about 20 sections at one time and E. S. Allen was the manager. Mrs. Harry Letford is still living and is operating a hotel in Mahnomen, Minnesota. In a recent letter from her regarding the Beardsley Program broadcast she states that when Harry started the hotel in Beardsley, he was 17 years old and his brother who helped him was only 15. Herman Bormes came here in 1895 to work in the harvest fields. He liked the locality and returned in 1896 to fun a sa- loon. His first bar consisted of two boxes with a plank laid across the top. However, he prospered and a few years late: had an implement business and a wood yard. Al Bormes re- calls that some of the top athletes around 1911 were Cyril and Guy Pattison, Prevy, Ward Brady, Ray Flynn, Charles Kinney, Forest and Lewis Sherman, Floyd Easterly, Arthur Allison and Joe Hartung. Back in the early days, Louie Balluff arrived in town from Germany. He spoke no English but had a beautiful singing voice and was soon persuaded to start one of the finest choirs in this part of the country. A duty of our early policemen that many of us never knew of and others have probably forgotten was that of offic- ial lamplighter. Before electricity was available, the streets were lighted with carbide lamps and each one had to be indi- vidually lighted each evening. While these lamps were a great improvement over anything developed up to that time, they were sometimes dangerous and often were responsible for ac- cidents in public places lighted by them. At one time they caused an explosion in the Tubbs Hotel, blowing glass clear out into the middle of the street. One of the early police officers of our town was H. J. Mil- ler. According to some of the stories of earlier times, he prob- ably had quite a job on his hands, especially during the har- vest season. For many years lumberjacks from the north woods came regularly to the Beardsley community to work in the fields during their off season. Saturday nights or rainy days they’d pile into wagons drawn by four-horse teams and drive to town. A few hours and a few drinks later, the fun would begin. Some minor argument would balloon into a gang fight, crew against crew, and with no holds or weapons barred. At least the policeman’s life wasn’t dull. Local banks did much to build up our community and we had two for a time, the First National and Citizens State Bank. Our present bank is the Security State. Among the names at our banks were Wm. O'Neil, P. W. Jordan and H. A. Johnson. Ca- shiers have included O. J. Lofthus, H. M. O'Neil, E: G. Black- man, J. L. Lumphrey, Frank Collins and Francis Miller. Mail carriers of the past and present are G. H. Smith, Herb Fisher, F. C. Moon, Phil Kenney, and Bill Rook. Roy A. Smith was postmaster for years and William Taffe and K. L. Smith are at the postoffice now. The first village hall was built in 1897 and was added to later. This building burned and was replaced in 1936 by a modern brick auditorium built by WPA. In 1920 the town boasted a “hot-shot” basketball team known as the “Kirkey Fast Five’. Prominent in the line of base- ball players have been J. L. Lumphrey, Herb Rook, Wm. Loff- hagen, C. J. Condit, and “Shark” Hills. David MacDonald was a good clean sport. Wm. Bartlett, pioneer merchant, gave the Bartlett Memorial Park to the town in 1920. That year Wm. Loffhagen built a fine new brick store building. The Beardsley Press was published a few months from 1884 to 1885 by Sam Gordon. The Inter-Lake Tribune was pub- lished a short time in 1886, and the Beardsley News has been published since October 6, 1896. Harry Letford was the first editor-publisher and others included Tom Caverly, Roy Smith, Carl Fasching, Robert Buckley, Wayne Evans, Frank Kirkpatrick, and Sam Jarvis. The present editor is C. J. Condit. The livery stables were gradually replaced by the garage and filling stations. Herbers Brothers built a garage in 1916 and others include Harold Spading and George Greteman. George Klein built a modern oil station in 1925, Peter O'Neil built one in 1938, and Shell Oil Co. in 1953. Ed. Ustrud oper- ated the Ustrud Oil Co. for 25 years. Our present three stations are operated by Thompson, O'Neill, and Palmer. Page Twenty-Five A new creamery was built here in 1918. Produce buyers now are Gerald Minahan and L. R. Rolison. Meat market own- ers have been Tom Reardon, Balluff and Guenther, Fred Bohm- ert, and Richard Bier. Social events were often entertained by the songs of C. E. Dittes, Lucy Wright, Alois Balluff, Roy Smith, and Bessie Hun- deby. Theodore Hundeby, a prominent farmer on the south edge of town, served in county offices for many years. O. S. Slater served our township for 35 years by taking care of cul- verts, mud holes, blading, snow removal, etc. Among our pro- minent livestock men have been Reardons with their horses; Jordan Brothers and Nick Frey were the Poland China hog men and Ray P. Flynn, the Hereford cattleman. We are proud of the many fine farmers who built up the surrounding community. We've witnessed a variety of conditions down through the years. In 1881 we had one of the worst blizzards of our history. In the early 90’s we had a severe drouth west of town and someone put up a sign “Poverty Flats”. A few years later we came back stronger than ever, as evidenced by the big bumper crop of 1895. This was also the year of the big flood when you could take a rowboat from the Cargill Elevator to Minahan’s Produce. In 1911 we had another severe drouth, but 1912 produced a bumper crop. 1915 and 1916 were very wet. During the drouth and depression years of 1934-36, carloads of cattle were shipped out and all feed needed for the remain- ing livestock had to be shipped in. In June, 1944, a tornado struck and did much damage. Another came in 1948, and a bad wind and hail storm hit the area in 1957. During the course of years the combine has replaced the tractor and threshing machine, just as the small machinery re- placed the big steam rigs. Threshing crews who hired out for the fall harvests included the Grosch Brothers with four rigs, Lovie Lohre with two, Block Brothers with two, Hanratty Broth- ers, John Kirkey, John Grenadier, John Meyer, John Kresbach, Wm. Messenbrink, John Sr. and Casey Hill, Ryan Doschadis and others. One of our pioneers, W. H. King, who served in Company C, 5th U. S. Artillery, became a captain in the Civil War. In 1898 young men of our community went off to the Spanish American War. In 1918 we were at war again and November 11th marked its end with joy and celebrations. From 1942-45, we did our part in many ways and rejoiced when August 14, 1945 ended World War II. The Korean Conflict also made its mark on our community. The American Legion was formed in 1919 and is one of our great service organizations in our coun- try. Phil Kenny was an outstanding Legionnaire for years of our Post 302. In 1955 we celebrated the town’s 75th anniversary with a two-day affair. Most of the men grew beards and Les Powers was the winner. We also had a parade, carnival, stage acts, ball game and saddle club show. The store windows were dec- orated with pictures of pioneers and pioneer days. 1958 business places not already mentioned include the Liquor Store, owned by Arlos Raw; Swihart’s Cafe, formerly the Peterson Cafe; Frey’s Cafe, known for miles around for the fine meals served by Hattie. Alois Deutsch and Rinke Dykstra are our pool hall operators. Levi Cranmer and Bill Rook operate Kennels, and Bill has some of the finest hunting dogs in the state. Present village officials are: Mayor, Al Kamstra; trustees, George Haanen, Frank Miller and Jim Kenney; and Clerk, Dan Bower. This concludes the history of our village. We’ve enjoyed re-living many of these memories in this Statehood Centennial! year. Page Twenty-Six PUBLIC SCHOOL The first schoolhouse was built in 1883 and Miss Paulina Hammond was the first teacher. The high school and elementary school was built in 1908. The men engineering the job included Tom Flood, J. W. Patti- son, Wm. Bartlett, and P. W. Jordan. J. T. Meyers was janitor Beardsley Consolidated School for 30 or more years. H. Stonebraker was also a janitor for many years and his slogan was “The B.H.S. boys and girls are hard to beat.” In 1945 a vast change took place when reorganization brought the rural schools to town. A big consolidated school now replaces most of the old one-room schools with modern buses furnishing transportation. The school here is set up on a 6-6 basis. L. S. Graves was the first superintendent of schools here. In 1910-1911 we had one of the best high school football teams in this part of the state. In 1927 our basketball team went to the state meet at Hamline after winning the district at Ortonville and the regional at Willmar. In 1954 we built a new $500,000 high school building, using the old one as a grade school. L. S. Rancour was our superintendent then. Bert Beglin- ger, our present superintendent, has outstanding ability. To date, 450 students have been graduated from our school. The 1958 Homecoming celebration featured the Centen- nial theme. An additional activity was an alumni banquet hon- oring graduates of former years, many of whom attended from great distances. Shins Ch at SCHOOL DISTRICT 15, 1897 - Photo and names given by Mrs. Hannah Polha- mus who was eight years old then. The photo site was near the present Luth- eran cemetery. The teacher is Miss Bertha Smith, aunt of Kenneth Smith. She now lives in California and must be in her 80's. Pupils include Harry King, son of Walter King, who died when about 12; Phil Frost, now living in Ore- gon; and Sam Frost, now in Sisseton, Their sister, May, is also pictured. The two girls with ruffled collars are daughters of George Kenyon. Clara Allison is a_blonde girl, daughter of Albert Allison. Two of the boys are Oscar and Martin Anderson, sons of Lars Anderson. Hannah and Clara Johnson, daughters of Peter B. Johnson, are in the plaid dresses. Clara died in 1907. CHURCH OF ST. MARY by Mrs. Irene Thiel In 1881 Mass was offered for the first time in Beardsley in the railroad station by Father Gaskell of Morris. Fathers Fos and Genis, Catholic missionaries, also held services there. Our parish was established on October 16, 1884, and construction of a church begun immediately. Father Edward Hennessey was the first pastor. The first marriage was performed November 17, 1884, and the first funeral took place April 11, 1885. The cemetery was established in its present site in 1888; until then the burials were made in the church yard. The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered the first time in 1896 by Arch- bishop Ireland. In May, 1904, the parish considered the building of a new church. Construction was completed in time for Christmas Eve Mass that same year. The rectory was built in 1915. The following pastors have served our parish in the past 73 years: Fathers Hennessey, A. J. Saumis, Ligori Darche, Emile Gauvereau, Michael Casey, Patrick Shanahan, William Delaney, Harvey Egan, and the present pastor, Father B. Flynn. Father Shanahan served us for 35 years, from 1914 to 1949. July 3 and 4, 1954, we celebrated the anniversary of our parish and many old timers were on hand. On Saturday a big parish dinner was served, and on Sunday we enjoyed a church picnic at Shady Dell on Traverse Lake. BEARDSLEY SUNDAY SCHOOL The first Protestant religious organization in this vicinity is believed to have been the Hilo Sunday School, organized on May 2, 1880, two and one-half miles east of the present site of Beardsley. After the village was founded and a Sunday School planned there, the Hilo group was absorbed into it. This was known as the Union Sunday School and was organized by Rev. M. S. Kelsey on July 20, 1884. Names in this group included Bowers, Gillis, Thompson, Bartlett, Brand, Hubbard, Smith and others. This was the class that formed the Methodist-Episcopal Church, now known as the First Methodist Church. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH by Rev. C. P. Baenziger and Mrs. C. A. Hundeby In 1884 a Methodist class met in the school house under the leadership of Rev. M. S. Kelsey, a local preacher from Da- kota who held services in Browns Valley. Beardsley was then included in the new Fergus Falls District and in 1885 Rev. C. A. Hewitt was appointed pastor here. In 1886 Rev. S. D. Tan- dy came and the first church building was commenced on land donated by Mr. F. Dittes, Sr. Foundations were laid and sub- scriptions taken throughout the community. The church was completed in 1887 and dedicated in 1889 by Dr. Hingeley. !t was remodeled and enlarged in 1892, and January 5, 1900 it was completely destroyed by fire caused by a bicycle carbide lamp. A new church was dedicated in 1901 by Rev. Henry Nobbs. It was extensively remodeled in 1952. The first official Board listed the following names: T. M. Bowers, G. W. Blair, E. A. Price, F. B. Sanders, O. F. Heath, C F. Cowles, P. Plummer, P. B. Vandemark, G. L. Tomson, O. P. Sanders and M. M. Havener. Other early family names were: Fred Dittes, Joseph Branch, Bill Bone, and Fields. Later family names included Baerwaldt, Anderson, Cowden, Jenk, Rollins, Hundeby, Spencer, Young and others. The Stephney branch of the church has been active some 50 years when it used the schoolhouse in Foster township. Mike Eastman served as Sunday School superintendent for many years. The congregation later joined with the First Methodist Church. ae Other pastors have been the Reverends Himes, Bullivant, Squire, Vallentyne, Craig, Smith, Beers, Hess, Mitchell, Hursh, Parish, Blanchette, Cummings, Adams, Barr, Fenscke, Hanna, Muse, Mattock, McGuire, Lathrop, Norleman, Grover and Baen- ziger who came in 1954. The present pastor is now Rev. Elmer Gephard. Two members who have entered the ministry are Rev. Claude Smith and Rev. Orval C. Dittes. BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH by Mrs. Leonard Minners As early as 1883 German Lutheran services were conduct- ed in the Henry Martens, Sr. home by Pastor Frederick Pfoten- hauver of Johnson. The families that attended included Jacob Minners, Wm. Oldhaver, Peter Thiemann, John Grosch, and others. Home services continued for many years, later with the Lutheran pastor from Browns Valley conducting them. A ceme- tery was started in 1910. Bethlehem Lutheran Congregation was organized in 1915 with seven charter members. The first church was built in 1925 and the first resident pastor was Rev. K. A. Schultz. Families included among the membership were August F., Emil, and Ro- bert Baerwaldt; Gust Biohn; H. F. Conrad; Herman Graumann: Wm. C. and Henry F. Martens; J. Gustav Minners; and William Raatz. The new church was built in 1953. Other pastors have included Rev. August Engelhard, Rev. Martin F. Buenger, Rev. H. M. Warnke, Rev. Wm. A. Krueger and Rev. W. G. Dierks. (George C. Cranmer, a graduate of the University of Penn- sylvania, had a homestead south of town, now occupied by Le- vi K. Cranmer. He was also postmaster and was a prominent businessman. When Beardsley celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1955, Levi Cranmer wrote an account of some of his remin- iscences, from which we include excerpts.) CHILDHOOD MEMORIES by Levi Cranmer The sons and daughters of the pioneers in and about Beardsley may have missed many things - but they didn’t know it. They didn’t know much about the doctor’s needle and us- ually had every youthful sickness, but they seemed to survive them all. The movies, they did not have; but they did have lots of house parties, picnics, skating parties, sleigh rides, etc. They did not attend a graded school, but one-room schools. They were taught to work and they were taught fair play and a phil- osophy that induced useful and happy lives. How well | remember the huge steam threshing machines and their early morning whistles. | remember the hordes of lumberjacks who came out to harvest and thresh, the street fights, the snow-choked highways and snow-blocked railroad, the never-ending stream of prairie schooners going west with loose stock following behind each wagon. In the early days of Beardsley, there were always Indians around. They came and went in wagons pulled by their ponies. The bucks sat on the seats up in front and the squaws and kids on the floor behind. One of the attractions was Jeff Spencer's slaughter house down by Dry Lake. Another mission was sell- ing plums in season. In those days the Indians didn’t speak much English and the white people had to learn a little Sioux to trade with them. The squaws went from door to door with plums and other wild fruit. For four quarts of plums, they charged “gash-poppey-nope” which meant 25c. | remember some of my teachers. C. A. Prevey was the first. Eoherem Welch went to school to a Miss Burlingame from Clinton. Eph had the faculty of wiggling his ears and making the girls giggle. No one can tell me some of those early teach- ers didn't have eyes in the back of their heads - | tested this out various times, much to my sorrow. When the deep snows of winter thawed, Dry Lake had many feet of water and all the young would-be sailors in town Page Twenty-Seven “went down to the sea on rafts.” Usually poor seamanship or unseaworthy crafts resulted in soaking wet boys, frequently spanked dry when they got home. | remember a war-crippled Indian named John Wacondvu- tah (Limping Jesus) who once made a pair of quite superior bows and arrows for George Bailey and myself. When | was about 10, | bought an Indian pony from an Indian named Big Talk for $5.00. He was a perfect pony except he would buck at the worst times, such as when | was showing off. Come summer, we put our cow out in Freer’s pasture. A fellow could not walk all the way down to Dry Lake to milk a cow when he had a good pony, but too often my pony would go into a “sun- fish” enroute home and the milk and | would go upside down. This didn’t please mother and she finally persuaded me to sel: my pony and she added the sum needed to buy a bicycle. !t did make the milk supply much more regular. No, life was not dull for boys in Beardsley in the early days! | know there are more than | who also remember when the mornings following Halloween might find a buggy atop the elevator, a cow in the schoolhouse, or the street blocked by threshing machines. May 17th, the Norwegian Independ- ence Day and St. Patrick's, March 17, were not forgotten either. @ Village of Clinton Reporters: Max A. Beaty, Frank L. Petrick, Mrs. Truman Haas “TIME OUT” - Included in group, left to right, are: Ed Adolphson, Ed Nelson, Mr. ‘’Dad’’ Mills, Einar Hanson, Verne Statesbery, Hal Green, Dad Stephens, Mr. Gun (owner), Charlie Campbell, and Mr. Maynard. According to the State Historical Society’s Reference De- partment, the earliest date referring to this village area was May 10, 1878 when the Central Postoffice was established and James H. Rothwell was the first postmaster. In 1883 a loading platform called Rupert was built about two miles south of the present village. Clinton was platted and named in 1885, but the railroad persisted in calling it Batavia. It was finally incor- porated as Clinton on August 22, 1890 and the following were on the first council: President, Frank Hawley; Clerk, J. C. Jas- person; Recorder, J. H. Erickson; Trustee, G. H. Englund. It was apparently named for some other town. The first store, which also housed the post-office and a lumber yard, was started by Peter McCormick. The building was later used as the “Advocate” office and was destroyed in 1908 by the tornado. It had been built by J. M. Finney on the lot across from the present Methodist Church. Then J. C. Jas- person built a general store where the Wiley Hoxtell family now resides. J. N. Barton built the first saloon on the lot where Vogelbacher’s apartments are now. It was later moved to the site of Barfnecht’s store. The National and the Monarch were the first two elevat- Page Twenty-Eight ors in town, one located where the Peavey elevator is and the other where Gustafson’s store has its parking lot. Later on we had four more elevators constructed, giving us six to serve this rich agricultural area. H. Swenson was the first harness maker, starting business in 1889 on the lot now owned by Ted Swank. His son, Alvin, was the first High School graduate of the Clinton School. The town’s first livery barn was built by J. W. Black in 1890 on the lot where Ted’s Storage Tanks are located. This building was later bought by Victor Olson and moved to his farm. In 1895 the village population was 65 and we had a ho- tel, church, feed mill, plow factory, saloon, and several stores. Our first and only hospital, The Samaritan, was built by Dr. C. J. Wiig in 1897. It was later destroyed by fire and a res- idence built on the foundation. Mrs. Maggie Johnson now owns and occupies that building. The first brick building was erected by J. N. Barton in 1897, now occupied by Gustafson’s Hardware. The same year Gust Erickson also built a brick store, the one now known as Moberg’s Department Store and Don’s Red Owl. E. G. Dalseth built the first furniture store, December, 1899, where Ted Swank’s home now sits. This building was lost in the tornado of 1908. The Lillehaug boys lot on the southeast edge of town was the site of the first creamery which later burned down. The town’s first well was drilled in front of H. Swenson’s Harness Shop.. One summer when the well was out of order the only water the villagers ever had was when the train came through. When they heard the train whistle, everyone came running and had pails to get water from the tender. The hotels used barrels. Everyone could be assured of fresh water twice a day. It wasn’t the best water ever had, but it was a blessing just the same. A. E. Anderson and Olaf Erickson, father of the late J. H. and J. L. Erickson built the “Clinton Milling Co.” in 1898 where the Co-op. fertilizer shed is. The Erickson Brothers built the first bank in 1892. It will be interesting to note a few of the first buildings that are still standing. The east half of the Barton Hotel was built by Henry Petrick in 1888 and the other half was built where the Roy Gustafson house now stands but was moved and attached to the other part of the hotel. The Vogelbacher apartments were originally built by J.D. Ross in 1889 on the corner where the Masonic Building now stands, and used as a hardware and furniture store. The present Locker Plant build- ing was first built on the lot where the Odd Fellows Hall burn- ed. The first residence was built by J. N. Barton and is now owned and still occupied by Oscar Bergstrom. Recreation was provided the early residents by the con- struction of a bowling alley and roller skating rink by Charles Campbell and James Blair where Swezey’s Barber Shop and Bob Shoquist have their business. This building was burned down Feb. 13, 1923 in a fire which also destroyed three other places. Baseball has been a favorite sport down through the years in addition to the school sports and the town has given ardent support to such events. There was a blacksmith shop and wagon shop owned by F. M. Beaty and G. H. Englund on the corner where Moberg’s store is, but it was later moved to the lot now occupied by the Memorial Building to make room for the new brick building. Our first drug store and a general store was built on the Erickson block where you now find the Firestone Store and Ol- son’s Grocery. It was later destroyed by fire. Our cemetery northwest of town was staked out in 1895. The first burial was P. J. Vandermark, grandfather of Miss Mar- tha Rothwell. In 1900 a Clinton History was published by Mr. Condit, Sle In 1906 the village council decided to buy electric power from the Fergus Falls Power Co. Early in 1900 H. E. Stephans moved here and started buying livestock. He built his business up to the largest market in several counties and one year he shipped out 354 carloads of livestock. In 1907 arrangements were made for the first county fair and it was such a success that Clinton is still the location of the Fairgrounds. In 1910 the council condemned plank sidewalks because of so many casualties from broken boards. Cement sidewalks were ordered made. The Clinton Argus was published from 1890 to 1892. The Advocate began publication on August 6, 1892 until July, 1895. On August 20, 1895 it resumed with the same title bur with new volume numbering. Editors have included Joe V. Gibbons, assisted by Harry J. Bilsborrow (1892-93), George M Fish (1894), Wilfred J. Burt (1895-96), Theodore Condit, C. J. Condit, Karl Ruthenbeck, Art Devor, and Floyd R. Ruona. Clinton has had many fires and we'll include a few of the worst ones. In 1900 the Peavey elevators burned down and al- most took the town’s first water tower, a wooden structure lo- cated on the lot where the present water fountain is situated. In 1907 a saloon and two buildings next to it burned. This was the area of the present Gamble Store to the Locker Plant. A bliz- zard raging at the same time didn’t help matters. The 1923 fire has already been mentioned. Possibly the fire that could have been very tragic but left scores of families feeling mighty thankful was the one that destroyed the 1.0.0.F. building in 1937. The theater downstairs was full of spectators and the Odd Fellows were holding lodge on the second floor when the movie projector started the fire. Flames spread rapidly, but by keeping calm and orderly, everyone got out without casualty. The lodge members crawled out the back window, dropped onto a shed, and then to the ground. The only injuries were some minor burns to the man in the projection booth. The hal! which was built in 1911 was a complete loss. The most expen- sive fire occured in 1939 when our four-year-old $100,000 school building was almost destroyed. The old part, built in 1913, was completely burned. The Clinton Fire Department was organized in 1922. Dele- gctes have been attending the State Firemen’s Convention since 1923. The old fire bell was replaced by a siren that same yeer. Jim Shannon served as our chief from 1925 to 1943. Clinton doctors included Dr. Garrish who came about 1893 or so; Dr. Wiig and Dr. Mason; Dr. Borhum, 1898; Dr. Walters, 1910; Dr. Arnold, 1911; Dr. Bye, 1913; and Dr. Mc- Kinster, who rated among the Mayo Brothers and _ practised here for awhile. Dr. Otto Bergan came in 1914 to replace his classmate, Dr. Bye, who was dying of a serious illness. He is still here and on May 5, 1958, he delivered his 1600th baby since coming to Clinton 44 years ago. This figure includes 814 boys and 786 girls, and he is on his third generation of babies! We wish to pay tribute to Dr. Bergan for his many years of faithful service by including a brief biography. Dr. Bergan was born in Rock Dell, Olmstead County, Min- nesota, and moved with his parents to Hayfield. He attended Hamline Academy and is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota. He practised medicine one year at Everett, Washington, and moved to Clinton in September, 1914. He was married to Miss Cora Giere at Spring Valley, Minnesota on June 14, 1916; and they have two sons, both doctors. Dr. Robert Bergan is a pediatrician at the Duluth Clinic and has three children. Dr. Donald Bergan is on the staff of the Veterans Hospital in Faryo and is a specialist in medicine. Dr. and Mrs. Otto Bergan were among honor guests at St. Olaf Col- lege graduation exercises on June 8, when the 50th anniver- sary of the 1908 class was noted. Clinton dentists have included Drs. Grapp, Oman, Kirk- patrick, Homme, and J. L. Fijelde. Dr. Charles Carl has been our veterinary since 1921 and has also served this community well. Until he came, we called Drs. Egan and Taffe of Graceville for such needs. Saturday, June 29, 1908, is a never-to-be-forgotten date of Clinton memories. A tornado struck that night with mighty fury and dealt much damage. It appears to have formed about CONFECTIONERY and CAFE Left to right: Charley Carlberg, lady unknown, Alferg Benson, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Miller. (Still in operation as Adolphson Cafe, for over 50 years.) six miles northwest of town near the David Aiken farm and the path led it to the Joseph Winkler farm, Martin Higgins farm, Thomas Rothwell farm, and on into the village. When it reach- ed Main Street, it turned westward toward the slough and back toward the residence portion of the town. Passengers on a train pulling out of town saw the storm bearing down on them and crouched upon the floor just before the coach windows were smashed by flying debris. Many of the freight cars were over- turned. Seven persons lost their lives and many more were in- jured, some seriously. The dead included: Mrs. Olaf Mikkleson and baby; Thomas Rothwell; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Peter Van- dermark; Miss Kate Mills, also of the Rothwell household; Mrs. G. M. Johnson; and Frederick Stotesbery. Damages were esti- mated at $125,000. About one-third of Clinton was demolish- ed or badly hit, almost all on the west side of the tracks. 33 houses were completely destroyed and 25 practically ruined. Over 100 head of horses and cattle were killed and many more animals had to be killed; other extensive farm damage extend- ed over a wide area. This storm is still a great subject for the “oldsters” to dis- cuss and many stories of freakish accidents are repeated time and again. One concerns Mrs. Gus Johnson whose body was recovered from a slough a half mile from her wrecked home. She apparently drowned, but her baby girl was rescued short- ly after the storm, floating on some debris and unharmed. A- bout 30 years later, a stove containing loaves of half-baked bread was uncovered in a slough west of Clinton. As news of the storm spread, people flocked from sur- rounding towns to help in many ways. May mankind always be ready to lend such immediate assistance to any need any- where, anytime! Another tragedy deeply etched in local memories occur- red August 11, 1957 at the Big Stone County Fair when a mid- get racer ripped through the north woven-wire fence of the track, striking spectators and a pop stand, and landing at the east end of the grandstand. Persons involved included the dri- Page Twenty-Nine ver, Rolf Perry; Mrs. Ruth Gingrich, pop stand operator; Mrs. Eilert Kvatum; Beth Anderson, 12; and Rebecca, 12 and Col- ette Ruona, 9. The three local girls were near the pop stand and Rebecca received the full onslaught of the destructive ma- chine, suffering fractures of both legs, depressed skull frac- ture, innumberable cuts, and shock. She was taken to the Graceville Hospital and transferred later to the University Hos- pital. Beth suffered a broken ankle and shock. Colette was knocked down and suffered shock and has necessitated medi- cal care since the accident. Mrs. Gingrich was severely injured and was hospitalized at Graceville, later being transferred to Fargo. The others involved sustained less serious injuries. The entire community grieved with the Ruona_ family when little Becky succumbed to her injuires August 18, 1957, after a long week of gallant fighting. June 9 and 10, 1958, Clinton observed a triple celebra- tion: its 75th Diamond Jubilee, County Dairy Day, and State- hood Centennial. Speakers included Governor Freeman, and we had two fine parades, carnival, etc. An interesting Museum of a big variety of historical items and pictures was set up in the Ross building under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Max Be- aty. Residents of the area co-operated by taking part in many ways. The women wore oldtime costumes on several occasions, some of which were made now but many were found in at- tics. Men raised beards for the event and even published a photo booklet of the “Brothers of the Brush”. A town history including detailed church, lodge, and sundry histories was also published. A good time was had by al] and we extend congrat- ulations to our town and to our state for the past, plus best wishes for the future! CLINTON SCHOOL Approximately 35 freeholders presented a petition to the commissioners with the result Clinton’s first school was organ- ized in 1887 but the first term opened Jan. 1, 1888 with Ade- line Burlingame as the first teacher. 16 pupils enrolled, of whom only one is still living in Clinton, Frank Petrick, and Mrs. Pauline Spratt living in Minneapolis. The school was a one- room affair built on the lot where Ernest Hamberg built his zeae: “jleja) Plow Laie pkgs Lares es CLINTON home and shop. Later it along with one lot was sold to the M.E. Church society for $166 and moved behind the Oscar Huseth residence. From the years 1888-95 this little schoolhouse could boast of having Alice Black, Andrew Skoglund, Ida Buck, Rose Cunningham, Celia Conaboy, Florence Burlingame and Owen Clark on the teaching staff. Because of the growing enrollment, the school had out- Page Thirty grown its usefulness so on Dec. 12, 1895 a special election was held to see if the district should build a new schoolhouse. $3,000 bonds were voted on and J. A. Erickson and J. H. Hun- ter contracted to build a 20 x 24 foot schoolhouse, with con- struction work to be started that following spring. Because of the crowded conditions, in December 1896, the school was di- vided into two departments. This school was built on the present school site and there were 60 pupils enrolled the first year. Al Converse was the principal that year and Anna Swenson taught the primary de- partment. Before leaving our school she had also taught the 5th and 6th grades, before becoming County Superintendent of Schools and later filled an appointment in the State Depart- ment of Education in the field of Rural School Education. When school opened in September 1897, Al Converse was principal; Lucille Purday, primary teacher; Hulda Engdahl, the first music instructor, and May Purdy as art teacher. The teachers from 1898-1899 were Morton Helm, principal and Mary Northrup, primary department. A tuition fee of $1.00 a month for pupils outside the District was charged. In 1899 the faculty consisted of Professor Morton Helm; Clara Sauerssig, intermediate department; and Jessie Norton, primary department. February, 1899, Mary Northrup resigned and May Matthews filled her position for the remainder of the year. Up to 1900 the school had been ungraded but that year it became a state graded school with a high school department. Clinton’s first brick schoolhouse was built in 1913 and en- larged in 1935. It has progressed in departments, sports, etc., the same as other schools of the area, and perhaps led in em- phasizing music. The new school building was almost destroyed January 20, 1939, and the old part was completely burned. It was re- built into a fine place of learning. Our present superintendent is Gerald Kahl, and 771 stu- dents have now been graduated since 1909. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH by Rev. Leon Holtan Trinity Lutheran Church of Clinton has been serving the people of the community for 82 years. It is, according to avail- able information, the oldest active congregation in Big Stone County. Trinity is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (E.L.C.) with headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Norwegian people who began to come in the mid- 1870's were one of the major ethnic groups to settle in the Clinton community. Their concern for the church was evident. The teming of the prairie and the building of homes might have challenged their entire strength, but the establishing and building of the church was done simultaneously with their oth- er labors. Among the meager possessions of these pioneers were their Bibles, their hymnals, Luther’s Small Catechism and the hus-postil (a devotional book). Parents would instruct their children and neighbors would gather for worship in a home or a schoolhouse. Trinity Lutheran Church of Clinton traces its history back to two separate congregations. The older one, the “Scandinav- ian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Big Stone County”, was organized May 2, 1876. This congregation, which later came to be known as the “Long Island Congregation” was a member of the Norwegian-Danish Conference. Pastor Ole Ol- son (Tuve) served from 1877 to 1886, and Pastor Ole A. Dahle 1886-89. The Knut E. Lyseng family and Hans Scholberg were charter members. Anders Gjengdal, Elias Gjengdal, Erik Gjeng- dal, and the Ole P. Scholberg family became members by 1880 The second constituent part of the Trinity congregation was organized in the sod home of S. O. Steen in October 1877 with the name “St. Pauli Congregation by Big Stone Lake”. It affiliated with the Norwegian Synod. Pastor H. A. Hartman served from 1877 to 1880, and Pastor A. H. Gjevre, 1881-84. The first membership list included the following names: Mik- kel Rasmussen, Joe Martinson, Severin O. Steen, and Jens Sam- uvelson. Others who became members during the early years of the congregetion were Mathias M. Eide, Severin J. Huselid, Ab- raham M. Steen, Andrew Steen, and John Lewis. The above named persons, which constituted only a part of the congrega- tions, are listed because members of their families still reside in the community. The St. Pauli congregation was split into two groups in 1885, even as the Norwegian Synod was split two years later. One group remained with the Synod while the other group af- filiated with the newly formed Anti-Missourian Brotherhood. The group that remained with the Synod reorganized under the name “St. Pauli Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church” and located two miles south of Clinton. The United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America” was organized in 1890 as the result of a merger of three synods. the Norwegian-Danish Conference, the Anti-Missourian Broth- erhood, and the Norwegian Augustana Synod. This, in turn, brought two of the local groups, the Long Island Congregation (Norwegian-Danish Conference), and the St. Pauli (Anti-Mis sourian) Congregation, together, to form the Big Stone Luther- an Congregation of Clinton. W. B. Dahl was the first pastor of the merged church, serving from 1890 to 1895. The next step in the congregation’s history came in 1917 when the United Synod (Big Stone) and the Norwegian Synod (St. Pauli) joined hands, together with the Hauge Synod, to form the “Norwegian Lutheran Church of America’, a synod which embraced 95% of the Norwegian Lutherans. This brought the two congregations together on the synodical level and also on the parish level. The final step was taken May 14, 1957 when the St. Pauli Congregation was merged with the Trinity Congregation. Language had been a barrier in the pioneer days. Church- es were, of necessity, established by distinct nationalistic groups, such as Norwegian Lutherans, Swedish Lutherans, or German Lutherans. When English became the common lang- uage, the use of the mother tongue was discontinued, and the name of the synod was changed from the ‘Norwegian Luther- an Church of America’ to the “Evangelical Lutheran Church”. The breaking down of the language barrier meant the dawning of a new day for the Lutheran Church, for it could then serve the entire community rather than just one nationalistic group. The Trinity Congregation built its new brick church, with a seating capacity of 400, in 1952-53. The Trinity (Big Stone) congregation's first frame church was built in 1896 and was destroyed by the tornado in 1908. Only the bell was left and it was installed in the second church which was completed in 1910. This was dismantled in 1953 after the completion of the present edifice. The St. Pauli church, two miles south of town, was built in 1896 and was used until the time of the merger in 1957. The congregation maintains two cemeteries: one, two miles south; and the other, three miles southeast of Clinton. The baptized membership of the Trinity congregation ex- ceeds 500 at the present time. Pastor Leon O. Holtan has serv- ed the congregation since 1952. Olai Steen is the only charter member living. He was a boy of four years when the St. Pauli congregation was organiz- ed in his parents’ home in 1877, and he has held continuous membership since that day. (Editor’s Note—A big bouquet to Rev. Holtan for translating much of this history from the origianl church records written in Norwegian.) ELIM LUTHERAN by Rev. Roger Anderson Pastors Peter Carlson and Eric Norelius decided in 1876 to visit new settlements where no congregations had yet been organized, along the upper Minnesota River. They prepared a real missionary wagon in which they could travel by day and study and sleep at night. It had a roof made of oilcloth and walls of colored trousering. Thus prepared, they set out from East Union, going by way of St. Peter. When they reached here August 16th, they recorded thus: “At a distance of five miles we had our first view of Big Stone Lake. It was a magnificent scene and resembles Lake Chautauqua in New York. According to all indications, the Big Stone settlement has a future. We soon found some Swedes and were hospitably received in a sod house. Many Swedish people have settled on the bottom- land and some up on the prairie.” The first Swedish services were held in the home of Eric Mattson by Rev. P. Beckman. On July 19, 1881, Rev. A. G. Lin- den organized a Swedish congregation here with 44 members and 34 children. They chose the name, Sardis, which was the name of their postoffice at that time. In 1926 the name was changed to Elim Evangelical Lutheran Church. Early services were held in the Lindholm, Bailey, and Lyseng schoolhouses and often held out of doors in the summertime. The first church was erected in 1890 at a cost of $1,800, much of the work being done by members who donated their labor. Sing- ing was “led” in those days since there was no organ, and the hymn book contained numbers insteads of notes. Andrew Carl- Page Thirty-One ae ee eta Pee ETT es Pegs f wae ery ae ATS Z & = & =o = , 2 berg led the singing, and Dr. Peter Sjoblom conducted the ded- ication services. Elim cemetery grounds were purchased in 1882 and are now cared for by the Elim Churchmen. The pres- ent church was built in 1926 at a total cost of $25,000. Pres- ent valuation is over $90,000. The congregation now has a LAT, ORVRGM CAMO rank, SSL Page Thirty-Two baptized membership of 492. Pastors have been the following: A. G. Linden, 1881; L. G. Almen and P. Beckman, 1882-1884; A. Engdahl, 1884-1890, J. O. Cavallin, 1890-1894; A. Engdahl, 1895-1915; Carl Julius, 1917-1920; L. J. Lundquist, 1920; A. H. Franzen, 1921-1929; Theodore Steinert, 1930-1945; L.E. Bomgren, 1946-1950; H. Clarence Johnson, 1950-1955; Rev. Paul A. Gustafson of Zion Lutheran Church in Ortonville, Vice-Pastor and Pastor M. A. Hendrickson, Sunday Services during vacancy; Roger W. And- erson, present pastor since September, 1956. Sons of Elim who entered the Holy Ministry included Paul Erickson, deceased; Ralph Sandberg; Marlyn Larson. Sunday School began simultaneously with the church and was first held in the homes. Several Ladies Aids were organiz- ed as follows: West Aid, July, 1881, organized at the home of Andrew Carlberg; Clinton Aid, organized while Rev. Engdahl was here; and the South Aid, organized September 26, 1893, at the Andrew Danielson home. The Aids combined in 1934. Our founders laid foundations deep and firm with their robust faith and spiritual heroism. They recognized the power of God as a guarantee of the future. Let us rededicate our lives to future tasks. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH by Rev. G. Domonoske One of the earliest preachers in the Methodist Church of Clinton was Rev. S. D. Kemerer who preached both at Clinton and Ortonville. One of the frequently mentioned local preach- ers was “Grandpa Sanders”, great-grandfather of Wm. Sanders. As early as 1886 a Sunday School was conducted in the hall over Jasperson’s store. This Sunday School was a commun- ity project, other denominations holding church services but no Sunday School until a later date. Some of the early pupils alll were Will and Jessie Utley, and their mother who conducted the singing, J.J. Martinson, Hiram and Ransom Hewitt and members of the Sanders, Rothwell, Vandermark, Hoisington, and Heath families. In the Methodist Year Book of 1892 the Clinton Methodist Episcopal Church was listed with Rev. G.G. Vallentyne ap- pointed from Beardsley. His brother, James W. Vallentyne took over the work in the fali of 1892, continuing until 1894. Meet- ing places at this time were the Barton and Petrick building and the school house. In 1894-97, Rev. J.C. Craig served. This pastor and fam- ily necessitated the erection of a parsonage which was built where the C. P. Wennblom home now stands. When a new schoolhouse was built in 1895 the Methodists immediately pe titioned the school board for rental of the building. The build: ing and one lot were purchased for $166. For four years, Rev. B. E. Sherwin led the church, follow- ed by E. B. Service in 1902. He is remembered for the church bell which he helped obtain. The same bell is still in use in the present church. In 1903 a building was erected at the cos! of approximately $2500 with a seating capacity of 250. After 1904 came Rev. S. W. Squire, to be followed by Rev. M. W. S. Perry, and in 1907 by Rev. J.S. Kettlewell. Dur- ing his tenure the church and parsonage were damaged by the tornado of 1908 and under his supervision another building was dedicated in 1909. In 1912 a parsonage was again erected and this was com- pletely modernized in 1941. Also in 1912 Pleasant Valley was added to the charge and in 1927 Ortonville was also included. Until 1942 this remained a three-point charge but at this time the combination was dissolved and the Clinton Methodist Church again had a pastor whose time did not have to be di- vided with other charges. Rev. W. R. Baker served from 1942 and was followed by Rev. S. A. Norleman, Rev. E. E. Anderson, Rev. Ernest Murdock, Rev. Robert Duel, Rev. Malcoim Shattuck, and Rev. Gerald Domonoske. In June, Rev. Domonoske moved to Becker, Minnesota, and the Rev. James Minehart of Wood Lake assumed the pas- toral duties here as of July 1, 1958. ST. MICHAEL’S GUILD Catholics in Clinton are members of the Holy Rosary Par- ish in Graceville. The Guild was organized in November, 1946, for the purpose of fostering an instruction class for the chil- dren. It was first named “The Catholic Ladies Guild’ but this was changed in 1950 in honor of the late Michael Seidl. Grandma Beaty’s History of Big Stone County (Editor’s Note: In tribute to Mrs. Mabel Beaty and_ her family, her series of historical sketches published in 1939 is included here. Had she still been with us, she would no doubt have enjoyed helping with this Centennial project!) Mabel Burlingame was born in James Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania on September 27, 1857. She moved to Lake City, Minnesota with her parents in 1866 and came to Big Grandma Beaty Stone County in 1876 when her father homesteaded in Malta Township on the farm now owned by Marinus Nielson. Fred M. Beaty was born October 2, 1857 at Lake City and came here in 1878 and homesteaded on the farm which is now the N.E. quarter of the Wm. Sanders farm. On February 14, 1884, Mabel Burlingame and Fred M. Beaty were married. In 1890 they moved into Clinton where they lived the rest of their lives. Mr. Beaty died in 1920 and Mrs. Beaty in 1947, just two months shy of being 90 years old. Sketch One My father homesteaded in the county in the fall of 1876, made the necessary improvements to hold the claim until spring, then moved his family here in April 1877, over the Great Northern Railroad to Morris and then by ox team to the homestead. The sight of broad prairies, unbroken by signs of human life except for one single house about half way, where everybody traveling by used to stop for a chat or a drink of water, was a wonderful experience to this family of pioneers fresh from the Mississippi Valley of hills and forests. Our claim shanty was a small one-room, 10 x 12 ft. rough board walls, dirt floor, board roof and “bunks” filled with wild hay for beds. Of course the roof leaked but on a rainy night we got up and stood under the widest board to keep dry. Housekeeping was an easy task, for as one of the girls wrote to a friend, “we make up the beds with a pitchfork and sweep the floor with a shingle.” The grasshoppers came that summer and ate every green thing in sight so all our efforts to raise gardens and crops were wasted, but the prairie grass proved too tough for the hoppers and grew again in time to cut for hay late in the fall when enough was put up to keep our one cow and the _ horses through the winter. Luckily for us the winter was mild, no snow to mention and no extremely cold weather. Farmers plowed their fields up to Christmas. My brother had built a small house 12 x 16 on his claim and we moved in with him for the winter - one room which seemed large to us, and the attic overhead to sleep in. There were nine of us and in February an uncle with a wife and three children came from the east and stayed with us, making a fam- ily of 14 in that small one-room house. Father hauled the first load of lumber for our new house from Morris with ox team on February Ist and the house was completed March 13 when we moved in. The mild weather made it possible for the men to drive the five miles and work on the house. At that time a trip to Morris and back took three days, in good weather, while if storms developed it took four to five. | remember once in ‘79 he was caught in a storm and was gone for six days. We ran out of everything to eat except some wheat saved for seed. We ground that in the coffee mill, boil- ed it soft and that with milk was our only food for two days. In the winter of ‘77-'78, when all supplies had to be brought in from Morris or Appleton, we often found ourselves on short rations and many a meal was made on bread and fish alone - fish being plentiful in a nearby lake (afterwards known as Mundwilers), and in the spring when a “dry run” neer the house filled up, the fish, large pickerel and pike, came up the run almost to our door, the boys would stand out in the shallow water and throw them out with a pitchfork. We had baked and boiled fish but no fried fish because there was nothing to fry them in, fat being an unknown article except for a bit of butter furnished by our one cow. Many fish were salt- ed and dried for summer use. Once in a while we could buy a few pounds of salt pork and then we lived high for a few days. Father had bought a half acre of timber land of Mr. Hur- ley on the lake shore and during the winter cleared the land to furnish us with fuel. It seemed the hoppers were not so bad along the lake and a few vegetables were saved. In March fa- ther came home. with half a peck of potatoes and a large head of cabbage - the first vegetables we had had in almost a year. Our only neighbors that winter were the Dows, whose claim adjoined my brothers. There were three young people there and five of us and we had great times together. No snow but we took sleigh and horses to the ice in Otrey lake and rode by the hour or hitched onto the covered wagon and drove to Ortonville (only seven families there) to church on Sundays, or to evening parties at the few homes scattered throughout the county. That wonderful new house of ours, 16 x 20, with a 10 Page Thirty-Three foot kitchen lean-to, was called “the big house” of the county. And it was big for those days of shacks, dugouts and sod shan- ties. Here were held all the gatherings of the neighborhood - dances, spelling bees, “sings”, town board meetings and elec- tions. If the crowd got too large, and if the weather permitted, the kitchen stove was taken out of doors to make room for the guests. Such was the case on Christmas Day, 1878, when set- tlers from near and far gathered to celebrate the day. The sum- mer of 1878 saw more settlers come into the county than at any previous time and we were becoming quite a community. The weather was fine, no snow, and people came from near and far. The Christmas tree was a scrub boxelder from the edge of a “slough” where prairie fires had missed it and was decorated with all sorts of colored paper and bits of cloth, wild rose “pips” and popcorn. It was loaded with gifts, mostly home-made, but everyone got a present of some kind. And the dinner! The party was held in the afternoon so that the people from a distance could get home before dark. It was al- ways dangerous to drive at night as there were no roads ex- cept those each settler made for himself and some of them had 10 or 12 miles to go. Each family brought food for the dinner and of course the usual Christmas dinner menu must be ob- served, so many substitutes were labeled turkey, cranberries, plum pudding, mince and pumpkin pie, oysters, etc. - things that couldn’t be had for love nor money but it was lots of fun pretending and everyone enjoyed it. SKETCH TWO So many settlers came into this county in ‘78 things began to take on a more civilized aspect and people united in provid- ing entertainment for themselves and neighbors. A farmers club was organized for the men and a Literary society for the young folks, meetings being held at the homes. The summer of 1879 we decided we must have a 4th of July celebration and after making all preparations for a grand time, discovered that no one had a flag and none could be pur- chased in Ortonville which now had a small general store. 4th of July without a flag was unthinkable, so we determined to make one. Mother donated a sheet and we colored a part of it with bluing. There was nothing for the stripes though one girl did offer her best red flannel petticoat. After much discussion one of the boys who owned an Indian pony said he would go to Morris and get the needed red cloth. 60 miles on horseback to buy a piece of cloth! Was that patriotism! While he was gone we got the stars on and at 2:00 a.m., July 4, 1879, the first U. S. flag to fly in Big Stone County was finished; and was carried by my brother with an escort of six couples, on horse- back, to Otrey’s grave where the celebration was held with W. B. Dow as orator of the day and J. Burlingame, master of cere- monies. Not only did our flag fly but the eagle screamed also, as the boys found an eagle’s nest and had tied a young eagle to a tree, and how it did scream! | have often wondered what that group of Indians we met on the trail that day thought of our cavalcade of youngs- ters and if that was the first United States flag they had ever seen. The next year we again celebrated the Fourth but this time music was added to the program as a band had been or- ganized. The band had done so well in the short time they had received an invitation to play at Foster on the occasion of the opening of the new hotel by J. M. Matthews. Some of the old- er men proposed to take up a collection and buy a band wag- on for the boys so that they might go in style. Since there was no paper available for a subscription list, a brown paper sack was torn open and used. That same brown paper subscription list - signed by 34 early settlers, only three of whom are now living - is among my souvenirs. Signers of the petition were: W. B. Dow, Fred Lockwood, Page Thirty-Four Ellis Stadon, W. H. Campbell, J. B. McCarty, D. H. Congdon, H. W. Burlingame, Wallace Harper, H. W. Hewitt, J. C. Hewitt, J. M. Finney, A. Burlingame, G.S. Grere, C. E. Beaty, J.S. Dow, John Burns, J. L. Cherry, Ed Foreman, R. Lyman, G. W. Patter, C.E. Ellison, W.S. Lyman, J. Burlingame, Chas. O’Neil, Thom- as Burns, C. Berendt, D. K. J. Clark, ___ Sundquist, S. W. Dale, Walter Greer, Cap. Chapman, W. P. Moon, Wm. Lyman, F. M. Beaty and D. P. O'Neil. How many of these names are familiar to you? The band wagon, however, never materialized as most of the boys preferred to drive their own rig and take their besi girls so the money was finally used for caps instead. SKETCH THREE. Nearly everyone coming to locate land in the vicinity, came to stay with us while looking over the prospects or until they could put up a shack to live in. Some built sod houses, breaking the prairie sod and laying it up like logs. These sod houses are very warm in the winter and cool in the summer, when the grass grows all over them so they look like little hills on the green prairie. Many of our wealthiest farmers today once lived in those sod huts, with earth floors and burned hay to keep from freezing. There was no railroad nearer than Morris and many a fam- ily would have frozen to death if it wasn’t for hay. This was twisted into ropes and it took one person’s time to feed it into the stove. A few railroad ties had been cut and piled up in Or- tonville for the Milwaukee road which they intended to use in the spring. But fuel got so scarce the farmers went in a body and took everyone and the company never made any fuss a- bout it. The settlers were not wasteful and carried them into the house to saw them so the sawdust might also be saved to burn. Once when we had neither hay nor wood, we burned some much needed seed wheat. One family tore up their floor boards and a couple of chairs to keep from freezing during a blizzard. After the railroad came into Ortonville we all managed to get fuel most of the time, but occassionally the road would be blocked for a day or two. Fuel ran short and would be doled out - only so much and no more to each customer - no matter how much money was offered; money didn’t count. It was not lack of money that prevented the pioneers ath having plenty of everything, it was because things simply were not to be had, and nothing could be done about it. We ate what we could get and forgot the things we would have liked. We were never without a cow or two so milk was always plentiful and sometimes there would be butter, while many of the settlers were without milk, butter, meat or eggs for months at a time. If a party of Indians came along and stopped, you divided what you had with them and perhaps were offered a dead muskrat in return. Rats were plentiful in all the sloughs and were considered a choice food among the Sioux who came ev- ery fall to make camp for many weeks to catch and dry the rats for winter use. I’ve never talked with any white folks who had eaten muskrat. ‘ In the summer it was not so hard to get meat as wild geese, ducks and grouse were to be had for the taking, if you had amunition for your gun - which was not always the case - and one could almost run down the jackrabbits they were so tame. Hunting nests to get duck and goose eggs was a favorite pastime for the youngsters. Wild duck and goose eggs are not bad eating when one is hungry. SKETCH FOUR The winter of 1880 and ‘81 was a hard one for every- body. A storm, still talked of as the big October blizzard, struck suddenly on October 21st and was the worst any of us had ever seen. It began to snow shortly after dinner and in less than an hour we couldn’t see the barn. The men were threshing and most of them reached home but some who lived farther away stayed with us two days. The threshing machine was completely drifted in and was not dug out till spring. This storm was followed by others until every place was pretty well snowed in. Our horses weren‘t out of the barn for six weeks. We melted snow for water and carried it to the barn through a tun- nel in the snow. The house was covered to the eaves on the north side. We raised the kitchen window there, shoveled snow in through thet, melted it, and carried the water out the south door into the tunnel for four horses, two cows and a flock of chickens. We made snow shoes or skis out of barrel staves and maneged to get quite a bit of fun out of those snow banks. No better fun than sliding down snowbanks on shovels or dish- pans - lacking a sled. But life had its sorrows, too. In January, four-year-old Helen Dow died of pneumonia. The snow was so deep there were no roads open and they had to keep the body up in the attic until March before they could bury it. A man over on Lone Tree Lake lost his wife and kept her body out in the granary until spring, frozen solid all the time. No doctors nearer than Morris and no way to get anywhere except on foot. Once in awhile we would see a lone Indian on snow shoes going across the prairie. Those blizzards were the curse of the country and people learned to stay close at home. We always had a light in the window on a stormy night as a guide to anyone lost in a storm and many times this light guided people to the house who would otherwise have frozen to death. A few did freeze to death and many others had nar- row escapes. One boy, John Green, caught in a blizzard, floundered around until he ran into a deserted claim shanty. He broke op- en the door, unhitched his team and got them inside, then stood between the horses to keep warm till daylight and found he was within a mile of home. The story is told of a man in the northern part of the country who was on his way home with a load of fuel when one of those sudden storms struck. He was driving oxen and one of them played out and could go no farther. He turned the other ox loose, killed the fagged out one, removed the entrails and crawled into the warm body. The next day some neighbors found him but the ox’s body was frozen so hard and the open- ing had drawn so close together that they had to chop to get him out. But he was all right and may still be alive for all | know. There are many such tales of pioneer days, many trials and hardships, but everyone seemed to take it as part of the job and that was that. We seldom heard of anyone giving up and going back east. A determination to conquer the “wild and wooly west” seemed the ruling spirit of those early days and would not be denied. Here are a few facts about the Martin Lewis family. Com- ing in 1880 and homesteading a few miles northwest of Clin- ton they built a one-room shack and with two beds, a table, a few chairs and a stove there was very little room for extras. That fall they bought a small stack of straw a mile from the house and being unable to use his team on account of the deep snow he cerried the straw in bundles on his back. It took two hours to make the trip, break a path, dig out the straw, tie the bundle and then find, perhaps, his tracks filled with drifted snow egain. Whenever he could get a little ahead of the stove’s needs, the straw had to be stored some place in that little house. They packed it under beds, hung it in bundles on the walls, etc. Once, when the weather prevented the usual trip to the straw stack, they burned boards from the floor and a few chairs to keep from freezing. They had no milk, cream, butter, or eggs all winter and the only meat was a few jackrabbits. They lived on bread, potatoes and rutabagas, with barley cof- fee. The horses were not out of the barn for three months. Another family, the Martin Ericksons, came in ‘81 and set- tled in the same neighborhood and tell of burning “buffalo chips” in summer and twisted hay in winter. They say a lack of drinking water was their worst problem. They dug small holes along the edge of the slough - a shallow depression fil- led with surface water in the spring but dry before fall. When ’ dry they had to haul all the water several miles, both for stock and house use. They too drank barley coffee - imagine what that meant to a Scandinavian! He trapped muskrats in winter and worked on the Great Northern railroad when it was built into Graceville. SKETCH FIVE 1258950 Ever hear of cutting hay off the ice? This story is of the Joseph E. Chase pioneer family, who came in 1876 and set- tled in Toqua Township. They lived in a sod shanty 10 x 12 with nothing but home-made furniture. They burned hay for fuel for six years. In winter they went onto the ice of the lake and cut the tall rough swamp grass that grew so high - 4 or 5 feet above the water. This made a very hot fire. They raised eight strong healthy children and never had a doctor in the house. Homesteaders were not all men. Several unmarried wom- en took claims and did their bit to help develop the country. One, Elmine Webb, located west of town in 1878. She had 60 acres broken the first year and raised 70 bushels of wheat which somebody stole the night before it was to be sold. She decided that farming did not pay so proved up her land and went to teaching school. She taught several years in the county and many men and women of today were once her pupils. She married a farmer, James Moulton, and when their first child was born (winter of 1887), her husband walked to Orton- ville to get the doctor. A storm came up and it was two days before he could get home again. Her brother went for help, was lost in the storm and wandered around for two days and nights before he found himself. Many similar experiences were reported each winter but were soon forgotten except by those most intimately concerned. This pioneer farmer, teacher, wife and mother still lives in the county and is always glad to have people drop in and talk over old times. Another well-known “old-timer”, C.J. Finberg, brought his family to Big Stone County in 1879, homesteaded west of Clinton and enjoyed (?) the usual experiences of the pioneer. The first winter they lived in the cellar of their home - to keep warm and save the hay, their only fuel. They got their water - as did so many others - from a barrel sunk at the edge of a slough. They were near the old government trail to Fort Sisseton and often saw the govern- ment wagons passing, sometimes with a guard of soldiers. They raised a large family several of whom still live in this vi- cinity. ’ In 1877 a young man, Dan Sherman, drove from Cannon Falls to Big Stone lake, locating eight miles west and two miles south of Clinton. He “batched” with two other young men foi several years while developing his own land. They underwent all sorts of privations, cheerfully, he says, until they ran out of tobacco. Then they constructed snowshoes, out of grapevines and whatever else they could find and “hoofed it” to Edwards- ville for supplies. Page Thirty-Five SKETCH SIX Eaten out of house and home in Kandiyohi County in 1876, Jon Martinson decided to make a new start further west and located a claim in Big Stone county. Early in the spring of ‘77, he came with his oldest son and made some “improve- ments” on the place as the law required, built a dug-out and returned for his family. In September he loaded a covered wa- gon with all his household goods and with his wife and eight children started for their new home, driving oxen, of course. The four oldest children had to walk and drive the stock - several cows and some sheep. There was no room for them in that overloaded wagon, anyway, even if they hadn't been needed to dirve the stock; so these youngsters, from 8 to 15 years of age, walked the entire distance - about 85 miles - sleeping on the ground nights. | expect old mother earth felt plenty soft after an all-day’s walk. When hungry they would halt, build a fire, milk the cows, and have something to eat. They made the trip in less than three days and were at home and comfortable in the snug little dug-out. The father made all the furniture, beds, tables, chairs, a bureau, buckets, etc. The mother not only took care of her own large family but was soon acting as nurse, doctor and midwife whenever called upon by the neighbors. There are now at least a dozen middle- aged men and women in the county who were helped into this world by this courageous pioneer woman. Time passed and the family prospered, built a house and enjoyed life as all settlers in anew country do. Then came the hard winter of ‘81 with its deep snow and continual blizzards. The father was obliged to make a trip to Ortonville - still driv- ing oxen. On the way home a sudden storm struck. Cattle will not face such storms and in spite of all his efforts to keep the track they became lost and wandered about all night. At day- light he found himself near a settler’s shack about three miles from home. The settlers took him in and warmed him up with hot coffee but failed to see that his feet were badly frozen so took no precautions about thawing them out gradually. He was able to go home the next day but his feet were so painful he could not walk; sores formed on the toes that refused to heal and finally the flesh began to sluff off. No medication was to be had but soap and water. After weeks of intense pain he de- cided drastic measures were necessary so he took his pocket knife and deliberately amputated his own toes. He must have done a good job of it because they healed in a few weeks and he lived for 40 years and died at the age of 91. It seems as if the blood of the Vikings must have run in thé’veins of this old Norseman but what were all the microbes, bacteria and germs doing all this time? Or hadn‘t they yet ar- rived? They certainly missed a good chance to get in their dir- ty work. You can find many of his descendants throughout the county but | doubt that one of them could do what he could. SKETCH SEVEN O. T. Heath came with his mother and sister in 1880 and home-steaded south of Clinton. He built a small frame house but before it was finished time had expired in which they must make residence or lose their claim, so they moved into the un- finished house and lived without a roof, doors or windows the first summer. They had shipped their stock and household goods to Gary, S. Dak., about 30 miles south of Ortonville. Arriving at night he unloaded part of the car and started out early in the morning on foot, driving eight head of cattle and leading a colt, following a trail he had been told would bring him to Ortonville. He traveled all day and late at night made camp. Morning found him farther from Ortonville than when he left Gary so he had to make a fresh start. When crossing the Yel- low Bank river on the ice he nearly drove into a hole, where Page Thirty-Six he was told later, a man with his team of mules had broken through and drowned. Like so many others, this pioneer had fought his share of prairie fires and blizzards and helped to make the country what it is today. Call on him if you like, right here in Clinton, and he’ll be glad to tell you all about it. And here is another pioneer of 1877, John Gardiner. He had been a “lumber jack’ around Stillwater, a number of years and was in a lumber camp near Morris when it became neces- sary to spend a night on his claim if he expected to hold it. He had no way of travel other than on foot, so he started out and walked all the way - 35 miles - arriving at his claim about 3 p.m. Seeing some neighbors at work in their field he went over and talked to them awhile, then back to his shack and fixed supper. By that time it was dark and he decided that as long as his neighbors knew he was there and could testify to the fact if necessary, there was no use staying there till day- light, so he started out and walked back to Morris, a distance of 70 miles in one day! And thought nothing of it. Today if a man has a distance of four city blocks to go he gets out his car. And | could tell you of a man who walked 25 miles and back for a two-hour visit with his sweetheart! And of a bridal couple who walked many miles across the uninhabited prairie to their new home. Just common experiences of pioneer life. SKETCH EIGHT | thought | was about finished with “the hard winter of ‘80 and ‘81” but it keeps popping up with each pioneer inter- viewed. | quote extracts from a letter received from Albert Burlingame: “The settlers burned mostly wood at this time because it was much cheaper than coal and father ordered a carload, thinking it would be enough to last through the winter. But more and more snow came, the railroad into Ortonville was blocked, the supply of fuel became exhausted, our neighbors kept coming to help us use that carload of wood, so that it was all gone long before spring. A neighbor two miles west of us came over on skiis and said that they were all out of fuel and his sister sick abed. He had no team so it was up to me to get it to them. We had a team but no sleigh. | dug a wagon out of the drifts, put on a small load of wood, took a shovel and star- ted out. Had not gone far before | had to throw off part of it. Went on a little farther, threw off some more, went on and threw off the remainder, tried to get the wagon out and failed, unhitched and went home. But those people must have fuel. So after feeding the team - and myself - | dug out an old “stone boat,” made of a few planks fastened on runners, made to draw stones on - hitched “Old Bill’ to this and arriving at the first wood dump- ed, loaded up what the boat would hold and finally arrived with enough to keep the fire going while the rest of the wood was being brought in. It took three more trips to finish the job. The days were getting longer, the sun higher and finally began to have an effect on the snow and by the middle of Ap- ril was about all gone except for the drifts and farmers were thinking of putting in their crops when along came another freeze-up which lasted until the first of May. During this time, as we were about out of flour, | took a small load of wheat to Appleton to have ground. There were so many ahead of me | had to wait two days to get it done. Another neighbor was there waiting for his grist and we planned to go home together. We started about 3:00 p.m., in- tending to drive as far as we could and put up with some far- mer for the night, which we did. This farmer had the largest yoke of oxen | ever saw and he told us about losing them in that October storm. He said they were feeding out on the prai- rie when the storm broke. They turned tails to the wind and walked until tired and stopped to rest in a “pot-hole.’” When found a week later they stood side by side, entirely covered with snow and unable to move. One of the searchers saw what looked like steam coming from a snowdrift and on investigat- ing found two small holes and began to dig. Result, two big oxen, perfectly all right. We commenced work in the fields on the 10th of May but hed to work around the drifts that had formed in October and were now solid ice. The last of our seeding was finished June 30th. SKETCH NINE — A PIONEER WEDDING, 1884 | quote from a manuscript now before me: “Our wedding was a big event in the social life of the community and every- one in the neighborhood filled the house to overflowing. We had planned for an evening wedding but received word that on account of the extreme cold weather and bad roads the min- ister would not risk a night drive from Ortonville but would be at the house at 4 p.m. This necessitated a change of plans and another supper for the relatives and close friends who at- tended the ceremony, but it was all managed some way anda six o’clock supper served, as well as a midnight supper, for 75 more who had been invited to a wedding that was performed several hours before they arrived. The guests, both young and old, visited, feasted, danced and played games until 4:00 o'clock in the morning. “The next day we began housekeeping in our one-room shanty on the homestead, which was furnished with a cook- stove, a homemade table, two kitchen chairs, and three-legged stool. My folks had given me a bedspring and mattress but no bedstead, so the springs were placed on a couple of pieces of 2 by 4, my trunk unpacked and we were at home! “There was a sack of flour and a few groceries on hand, but we decided to go to town the next day and get a few piec- es of furniture and a supply of eatables. “Some friends from Milbank who had come for the wed- ding and were going home the next day, decided to call on the “newlyweds” that evening along with a brother-in-law and three children. They came about 7 o'clock, making nine people to sit on those two chairs, the stool and the bed. About 9:00 o'clock one of those sudden blizzards struck like a shot from a gun and all seven had to spend the night and part of the next day. It was very interesting, of course, but kept us busy trying to feed so many on so little. “Luckily we had a cow so there was milk enough for the children and the rest of us lived on pancakes and biscuits - no meat, potatoes, vegetables or canned goods of any kind, just that sack of flour and a little sugar and coffee. “The storm let up a little toward night so the men could shovel out the road, the half mile to the nearest house and fin- ally get the women and children home. But the friends from Milbank didn’t get home for a week. “The next spring we built a 10-foot bedroom on one end of the house, painted and papered it and felt very proud of our little home - it was so much better than most of our neigh- bors had at that time. “The dear little old shanty has been abandoned for many, many years, but the sight of it always brings happy memories of pioneer days. Charivaries generally follow weddings so I'll put this one in here though it took place months before and to another couple. This couple began their married life in an unfinished two-room house, January 14, 1884. Being a popular young couple, their neighbors thought it best to give them a good chariverie to start on, and about 25 got together and drove out to the new home, taking along lunch baskets as was the cus- tom in those days. Like others there was very little furniture and few chairs. The upper floor had not been laid and most of the men climb- ed up and sat on the floor joists. Being rather uncomfortable in such close quarters it was soon proposed that the whole par- ty adjourn to a nearby larger farmhouse to eat the lunch and finish the party there. This was done. After lunch someone pro- posed dancing as there was a violin player present. It had been snowing off and on all evening and about 11:30 the wind be- gan to blow, visibility became very poor and the men thought it better to wait for daylight before venturing out. By daylight the storm had increased to a regular old-fashioned blizzard which lasted all that day and the next night and there we stayed till late afternoon of the second day, the women and children taking turns on the one bed, the men making out as best they could on the floor and chairs. About 4 o’clock they got out the horses, loaded the women and children into the sleighs while the men went ahead with shovels, and every- body got home before dark. SKETCH TEN Just now, while our school is so disrupted and teachers finding it herd to become adjusted to the new order of things, perhaps a few words about the Clinton schools of early days might be of interest to some. The first school house was a small frame building located on the south side of East Lake street about where the old ice house stands. It served the community many years as a school- house, church, assembly hall, for elections, etc., and once as a pest house for diphtheria patients. The first term of school was in 1887-88 and the first teacher was Miss Lina Burlingame, whose diary for that year lies before me. The enrollment for the beginning of the term was 13. The average attendance was six, many storms and deep snow making it impossible for the younger pupils to at- tend regularly. Some days there would be only two or three pupils and on January 12th, only one pupil came. But school went on just the same. At that time the schoolhouse was poor- ly finished but a teacher’s desk was installed in January and on February 1, a vacation of four weeks was declared to await arrival of seats which had been ordered several weeks before but were delayed by blocked railroads, which occurred as fast as they could be opened. Once the snow plow itself was stuck fast in a drift for two days. Then the road was opened and sev- en trains came through in one day, then the January 12 bliz- zard that closed us in again for another two weeks. Quoting again from the diary: “February 20, Norman Hol- sington visited school today. Two new scholars, John and Eliza Martinson, February 22; one new scholar, Eugene Okeson, age 14. Mrs. Levander visited school; March 6, first train through since February 24. School supplies came. Mr. Nassett and Lena Martinson visited school. March 7th, 18 pupils enrolled now. No school tomorrow on account of annual town meeting. Prac- ticing every night now for our exhibition March 23, last day of school. Exhibition a success (and the first public entertain- ment ever held in the Clinton schools).” That January 12 storm was the worst of the season and caused much hardship among the settlers, especially at the schools. In District 10 they were fortunate enough to be near enough to two houses so the pupils and teacher could be shel- tered and fed overnight while three young men gave up their beds to the children, sat in the schoolhouse all night and kept the fire going. One brave little “schoolma’am” refused to allow any of her pupils to leave the schoolhouse though some of the older ones were quite determined to start for home, but kept them busy as long as she could. She entertained them with songs and games till the younger ones were overcome with sleep, Page Thirty-Seven bundled them up with all the wraps to sleep on the benches, then kept the older ones amused and moving till daylight. Another teacher with only seven in attendance that day found a piece of rope in the cool bin, used handkerchiefs and scarfs, tied each child to the rope, tied the rope around her waist, carried the smallest youngster in her arms and fought her way to the nearest house about three quarters of a mile away, arriving safely with only a few frost-bitten noses. SKETCH 11 This is the story of one pioneer school teacher and of how easy it was for them to earn the magnificent salary of $25 per month, which included board, room and janitor work. In 1888, District 12 demanded a man teacher for their winter term of five months. My husband, who had taught in the southern part of the state before becoming a homesteader in Big Stone County, applied for the position and got it. This meant many extra hours of hard work as he must live at home to keep his family comfortable and take care of the stock, of which he now had several head, but that extra money looked like a fortune to us then and we decided it was well worth working for and this is the way he earned. Up every morning at 4:30 to build a fire in the kitchen stove - the only stove in the house and no one could afford to keep a fire over night - set the water pail on to thaw the ice, slip a loaf of bread, also frozen solid, into the oven, then to the barn to feed and water the stock, milk the cow and harness the horses. While he was doing all this I’d get the cihldren up and dressed and tie them into chairs to keep their feet off the ice cold floor. By that time the ice in the water pail would be melted so enough could be drained off to make the coffee, the bread would be thawed enough so it could be broken and this young farmer-teacher ate breakfast while | put up his noon lunch. Then hitch up his team, drive six miles over a track bro- ken the day before and usually drifted full during the night - there were no laid-out county roads, everybody made _ ‘their own, no fast driving those days. Arriving at Swezey’s, the near- est to the schoolhouse, to unhitch and put the team in the barn, walk the half mile to the schoolhouse, and build the fire, sweep the floor and get things comfortable by the time the pupils began to arrive. At night the same program: walk half a mile, hitch up the team and do the chores, eat supper and try to get warmed through before going to bed. | don’t suppose that even present day educators would call all this “fun” but it was one of those things that had to be done in order to make the country what it is today and the rur- al school teacher should be given full credit for the part he played in its educational advancement. SKETCH TWELVE Well, friends, this is the last of this series of “sketches.” Not that there is nothing more left to tell about, but because I‘m hoping that someone else will feel moved to write of their experiences as a pioneer. So far these experiences have been confined to this immediate locality and | know the northern and eastern parts of the county have many interesting things that might be told by some other “old timer.” So get busy, please. Of course | could go on indefinitely and tell of the pio- neer woman who had only a campfire to cook with and walked three miles and carried her bread to bake it in a neighbor's oven; of a Kentucky belle, with lawyers, legislators and a gov- ernor for ancestors, who, marrying against her aristocratic fam- ilies, came west with her adventurous husband and lived a- mong the Indians on the reservation where she reared a fam- ily with only Indian children for playmates. One of her daugh- ters later married and settled in Big Stone County. One night Page Thirty-Eight at a dance in Browns Valley, a recently bereaved widower pro- posed that they walk up to the musician’s stand, face the crowd and be married. If she would agree she should have all his dead wife’s old clothes. (Generous of him wasn’t it!) But the offer was rejected. | could tell of a family of six, none of them able to speak a word of English, arriving with only $12 in their pockets, no household goods, took up land, dug a shallow cellar, covered it with a board roof, improved the land and lived on that $12 until a crop was raised the next year. Another had only a big dry-goods box for a residence while-improving his claim and making a dug-out for his family. Of a man born on Broadway in New York, who brought his young wife into this wilderness of green prairies, sleeping under the wagon at night, cooking over campfires, roasting po- tatoes in the ashes, their only light a tallow candle in an emp- ty bottle. Surely they must have felt like Adam and Eve. Of a young couple who drove to Ortonville to be married, found the only minister had just left for his farm in S. Dak. They fol- lowed and overtook him several miles out. He stopped his team, had them join hands and married them and all went on their way rejoicing. Did any of you housewives ever see a homemade brush broom? Do you know that a handful of those tall, rough-joint- ed reeds that grow in shallow water along the shore of our lakes, makes a very good scrub-brush? Or that a pint of clean, sharp sand will scour a floor whiter than any soap? Those are a few of the things our pioneer women had to learn. It's an old saying “it takes all sorts of people to make a world” and it certainly took many kinds to make Big Stone County, but it looks as if they did a fairly good job of it, and so— —Finis— @ Village of Correll by Mrs. Vera Nelson The first survey and plat of the village was made in Sep- tember, 1879, by the public surveyor, D. N. Correll of St. Paul, after whom the town is named. In 1881, the Hastings & Dako- ta Railroad Company accepted the survey and had it recorded, making the village a part of the many recorded villages of Minnesota. There were no residents in the village for a num- ber of years and employees of the railroad company lived in the depot. Some of the early settlers near the village up to the time that a few buildings were erected were: F. C. Hill, who lived on a place northwest of town; C. H. Baker, west of town; Adam Vye who homesteaded one mile east of town; H. L. Holmes, Van Kingsbury, Oring Kingsbury, John Blum, the Barr families, Lime West, F. A. Hudson, John Mitchel and H. Kollitz. These last three men - Hudson, Mitchell and Kollitz came in the early 80’s and were the principal organizers of the town- ship of Akron, and with C. H. Baker and D. W. Eames, were officers of the township for years. Many of the old residents told very interesting stories of the first days, some of which seem like fish stories now. A- mong them is the story of the death of the wife of one of the employees of the railroad company who died in the early 90's while living in the depot, and was left in the freight house for most of a week until help came to take care of the remains. Another is of the times when the snows of ‘81 were so deep that while driving on the crossroad through town for Benson to do some trading, they drove right over a box car standing where the elevator now stands, and for five months in one winter they had no communication with the outside world. In 1890 the Thos. F. Kock Land Company bought the town site which was sold to Chas. F. Woods in 1893. He moved out in June of that year and built a flat house which later became part of the Farmers Elevator. The Woods family used this as a residence until the following year. The first year any buildings were erected here was 1893, and during this year Woods completed an elevator building; J. G. Slater and Emil Schoening built a hardware store and post- office; H. H. Hanson erected the store that was the first groc- ery and general store; Frank Gold, of the Golds later in Big Stone City, built a lumber yard, at first managed by J. W. Barr. J. A. Anderson was section foreman and a jeweler. The first postmaster was J. G. Slater, succeeded in 1894 by F. C. Woods; he followed by Dave Francis. It then passed into the hands of J. A. Wilson and when he sold his store to J. Luchsinger and Nelson about 1906, J. Luchsinger was appoint- ed as postmaster. The first religious service was conducted in the flat house occupied es Woods residence by one of the old-time railroad conductors known as Conductor Sandy Lyons. He would go west to Ortonville Saturday afternoon and, as there was no Sunday train, he would come here on the midnight train, con- duct services, and go back Sunday on the midnight, ready for his run Monday morning. About the summer of 1897, with the assistance of many of the country families consisting of Hud- sons, Mortons, Chamberlains, Cunninghams, Fletchers and Vyes and a few others under the leadership of a Rev. Cooley, the present church was built. A Congregational denomination was organized together with a Ladies Aid. In 1908 Correll was the scene of a bank robbery - the parties evidently having come into town on the night train. The safe was blown to pieces, the inside door being blown through the front of the building into the street and other parts were blown through the desk and office furniture. No clue was ever found by the authorities. After this, a burglar and fire- proof safe was installed. P. W. Fruetel took charge of the depot in 1897. In 1902, while at his desk, a freight train ran right by the depot; he heard another fast freight coming and noticed that they were not slacking up, either for the town or the freight on the track ahead. He gave the alarm but almost instantly the crash came. Over a dozen boxcars were piled on the depot platform. The engineer was terribly scalded and mangled while the brake- man jumped and escaped. The engineer and brakeman on the front train were the only ones killed outright. Correll’s Centennial Celebration was held June 14 witha fine parade and a program in the auditorium. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 55 by Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Brabender District 55 was organized in May, 1894, with Miss Clara Sanders as teacher. There are no known records until the con- solidation of districts 55, 46, 40 and 25 in 1914, because of fire. A special election was held on May 23, 1914, for the is- suance of bonds for $20,000 at 4% interest for building and furnishing a schoolhouse and equipping a library, apparatus and other school furniture. The school board at the time the present building was erected was P. D. Vaughan, clerk; F. L. Chamberlain, president; H. H. DeWall, treasurer and three directors whose names we do not know. The architects were Alban & Lockhart. F. A. Han- cock of Morris, Minnesota, was the general contractor. The bid for electrical work was let to the Twin City Gas Fixture Company of St. Paul for $379. The heating and ventil- ating and plumbing contracts were let to Swanson Bros. The amount of the heating and ventilating was $3,344 and for plumbing, $1,754.00. The cornerstone was of mahogany granite purchased from Robert Hunter of Ortonville for $39.80. The total was $59.80 but he deducted $20 because of the advertising value. About one-third of the cost was for lettering. The cornerstone was laid on Labor Day, 1914, by president George C. Vincent of the State University. According to the records, A. H. Granger was the first prin- cipal. A few interesting notes from the 1915-16 records are (1) The average number served daily hot lunch was 64, paid for partly by the student and partly by the district; (2) There were five wagons with 20 foot-warmers and 20 blankets; (3) The gym was used for public gatherings, picture shows once a week, free and paid entertainment by the pupils, exhibitions of school work, community use of ilbrary, various club organi- zations (bread institute, Farmer's Institute) and five Lyceum courses. In 1915-16 there were sixteen in grade nine, six in grade ten, one in grade 11 and none in grade 12. In 1917 Bernice Hudson had the honor of being the first graduate. In 1918 the graduating class consisted of the following six: Fordice Hudson, Loretta Witte, Kathryn Fruetel, Arthur Mortenson, Elida Johnson, and Lester: Frizzell. 1943 was the last year high school was held in District 59. The graduating class that year consisted of Dale Blum, Mar- lin Hudson, Dorothy Kavanagh, and Carol Bohlman. Since 1944 the school has been under the auspices of the County Superintendent. They have two bus routes using one school-owned bus and a hired car. There are three teachers in the present system. The District Number was changed from 55 to 59 in 1957. GRACE LUTHERAN by Dale Blum This congregation was organized in August, 1928 by Rev. Ihno Janssen of Odessa. A vacant store building was used un- til the present church was erected in the early 1940’s, and the parsonage was built in 1948. Members of the first church council were elders, Martin Winger, G. Rau, and Christ Wilkening, who is still serving as an elder; trustees were Otto Guthneckt, Herman Radtke, and Jacob Luchsinger. Otto Guthneckt also served as secretary and chairman, and Jacob Luchsinger was treasurer. The first resident pastor was Rev. Erwin Schroeder and others were Rev. Brameier, Rev. Halter, Rev. Koch, Rev. Krue- ger and Rev. Mack. When there was no resident pastor, stud- ents and neighboring pastors filled the pulpit. Rev. Walter G. Going is the present Interim Pastor. Orlin Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Anderson, is now studying for the ministry. E. U. B. CHURCH by Mrs. Alvin Brabender The Evangelical United Brethren denomination in the county. was the outcome of the joining of three denominations. First missionary work was done here by the Evangelical Church. The first minister to come to these parts was from Big Stone City in 1874 and a mission was formed in Odessa some time later. Mrs. Charles Hudson, now living in Wells, remembers that two churches were organized in Akron Township in 1895 and about 1898. The rural church was an Evangelical Church and the one in Correll was a Congregational Church. The latter was served from the Appleton Congregational Church until 1915. Then a pastor from Odessa, then a mission of the Evangelical Church, made an appointment to preach following Sunday School sessions. It is believed the congregation re-organized Page Thirty-Nine under Evangelical leadership and became the First Evangelical Church. In 1917 a resident pastor came to serve. The Akron rural church was served from Odessa Mission until 1919 when it shifted to the First Evangelical Church in Correll. The merger which brought about the union of the Evan- Evangelical United Brethren Church Correll, Minnesota gelical Church with the Evangelical United Brethren Church took place in November, 1936. These denominations had a common background. Both groups were German speaking people, both adopted the Episcopal form of government, and both accepted similar Articles of Faith. The Correll E. U. B. Church was established with twenty charter members. Early services were held in the schoolhouse and the first pastor was Rev. E. B. Parrot. The: present church was purchased from the Congregational congregation in 1929. The present pastor is Rev. L. S. Stapher. @ Village of Graceville Reporters: Mrs. John Daly, Mrs. Walter Wulff As Minnesota celebrates its Centennial of statehood, our village attains its 80th year. Bishop John Ireland (appointed Archbishop in 1888) bought 80 acres for a town site and 120 acres adjacent to it for a farm colony in 1878. This purchase was made through his agent, Colonel J. R. King, and he named the town Graceville in honor of Bishop Grace who was Bishop of Saint Paul from 1859-1884. It was incorporated as a village by an act of the State Legislature and was approved February 18, 1881. Prior to the admission of Minnesota to the Union in 1858, many groups of home-seekers were entering our state. As ear- ly as 1863 Archbishop Ireland, then Father Ireland, became in- terested in the work of colonization of which he was destined to be the leader and director for a score of years. The purpose of the original organization, called the Irish Emigration Society, was to induce the famine and poverty-stricken families in Ire- land to establsh new homes here, free from the oppression of the English government. Many thousands of exiles from Ireland had settled in the cities along the Atlantic seaboard in sur- roundings very unfavorable to their moral and material wel- fare. The Society proposed to settle them on claims in more congenial surroundings to start life anew. These people were the backbone of the initial Graceville colony. Father Ireland had also contracted with the Hill interests for some of their choice Minnesota land holdings and by so doing had made 50,000 acres available for colonization. The Irish Emigration Society was later known as the Cath- olic Land Stock Company with a non-profit feature to help fi- nance worthy applicants who did not have means to purchase farms for themselves. The funds were provided by the sale of shares in the company at $10 each. This was the beginning of Page Forty the extensive and successful colonization which brought hun- dreds of Irish, French, German, Belgian, and Polish farmers to our state. In his book, Catholic Colonization on the Western _ Frontier, Father Shannon states that the success of the Minne- sota colonies lay in the fact that there was a bishop at their head. This meant that the colonists could be assured of a per- manent resident pastor which was essential since they were, first of all, religious centers. Also, government lands were available and a railroad company was interested in these ar- eas. When Colonel King bought the land in 1878 for the Grace- ville colony, railroad service had not reached this locality, but when he reached Toqua Lakes, he was impressed with the ad- vantages of that area. He purchased a soldier’s claim of 80 acres and purchased the 175 acres on the north of the lakes from Colonel Dunlap. After the townsite was laid out northeast of the Lakes, a large building was erected to offer shelter for the settlers while they were building homes on their claims. In one corner of this shelter, known as the Immigrant House, was a small grocery store operated by Michael Shortall, and on Sundays the place was used for religious services - hence it acquired the name of the “Immigrant Church”. Response to the colonization project was immediate and gratifying. Three months after it was opened for settlement, more than 150 com- fortable cabins were built in the neighborhood by families who flocked in from various parts of America and Europe. 50 such families were from Minneapolis. After finishing their cab- ins and planting their gardens, the men were able to earn ex- tra cash by working on the Hastings & Dakota Railroad which was approaching the county. By 1880 the Graceville Catholic parish numbered 400 families. The Immigrant House held a unique place in each of the early colonies. In addition to serving as a temporary dwelling for new settlers, and as achurch until one could be built, they were often converted into community centers. (Or some were torn down and moved westward.) Such centers were perhaps the forerunners of the “opera house” of the early 1900’s which many folks can still remember. This building in Graceville was known as the Town Hall and was a two-story structure on the lot now occupied by the Village Hall and Jail. The first floor housed the village council rooms and fire station, and the li- brary. The upper floor had a stage and some equipment for the production of plays. The seating area provided a court for basketball games and a floor for dances. A most important use, however, was the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, about which a word might be said here. A High Mass was offered in the morning in the church of the Holy Rosary, at which the mem- bers of the Ancient Order of Hibernians marched in colorful re- galia. At noon the women of the parish served dinner to all the people of the village and surrounding areas. In the after- noon the students of St. Mary’s Academy presented a program displaying various talents; and, in the evening, the never-to-be- forgotten home talent plays! Under the able direction of Mr. Frank Valesh, Sr., many dramas and comedies were produced, augmented by local musical talent. In fact, the late Jack Con- way of Hollywood fame who was born near Barry very gener- ously attributed his start in dramatics to the St. Patrick’s Day plays in Graceville. Now we see his son, Pat Conway, starring as sheriff in the TV Western, Tombstone Territory. There is an interesting incident in the history of coloniza- tion in Minnesota in 1880 that should be touched on here even though it had no direct connection with the work of the Irish Catholic Colonization Association. It is the story of the natives of Connemara, Galway, in western Ireland. Here, poverty-stric- ken Irish families were paying five pounds for three or five- acre plots of soil so wretched that it afforded the tenants noth- ing more than a place to live. The crop failure of 1879 added to-their destruction. Urged by Father Nugent of Liverpool. A. O. H. LODGE, GRACEVILLE, MINNESOTA - MARCH 17, 1887 Top row, left to right: John Moran, farmer; Dennis Cain, butcher; H. W. Strong, miller; Jerry O’Leary, barber; James Regan, farmer; Anthony Cawley, farmer; Charles Johnston, farmer; Edw. Downey, plasterer. 2nd and 3rd row, left to right: Pat Ryan, farmer; Alex Moran, farmer; Robert Brennan, butcher; John McLane, lawyer; Thos. Dolan, marshal; Thos. Hayden, farmer; Dan Sullivan, farmer; Pat Meagher, farmer; Ed. Dewnes, farmer; John Archbishop Ireland, against his better judgment, was induced to accept about 100 of the 309 immigrants from Connemara who landed in Boston in 1880. The church provided for their passage across the Atlantic, their care at Boston, and for their transportation to Minnesota. They arrived at St. Paul on June 26th, 1880, where some secured employment, and the rest were sent on to Graceville. These people who had previously made their living principally by fishing and farming such small plots of land on which they raised vegetables must have been surprised at our rolling prairies, so far from the sea, and so different from what they had known. However, they were warmly received as 50 farms were set aside for them and they were provided with homes, equipment, and supplies for two years. A surplus of all that had been collected was put in stor- age in Graceville so it was available when the newcomers need it - winter fuel, additional food, heavier winter cloth- ing. Nevertheless, as these people had been fishermen all their lives, they knew nothing about farming as it was done here and did not care to learn. Their patrons, by their too great lib- erality, had fostered in them a spirit of dependence. The long, cold winter was an additional discouragement so that by spring many drifted elsewhere to other fields of industry. Those fami- lies that remained became successful farmers and respected citizens, .integrated members of the older settlement. Colonization of an area means businesses also and many pioneers contributed a variety of industries. Stores were quick- ly made available, operated by Burke, O’Laughlin, and later by M.P. Moran. R.A. Costello and P.H. Fitzpatrick opened a Kenney, farmer; Joe Brennan, butcher; Pat Mullen, farmer. Front row, left to right: Pat Lane, drayman; Unknown; P. J. Forde, M.D., doc- tor; Wm. McGrath, clerk; P. H. O’Hara, merchant; Father C. Genis, priest; M. J. McDonnell, judge; P. E. Hayden, farmer; Dan McLaughlin, implements; Pat Hei- ly, grain buyer; Pat Nacey, section boss. butcher shop. W. F. O’Neill began a hardware business. Frank Valesh operated a cigar factory in the rooms over the present Cota’s Cafe, and names of some of his cigars were Panatella, Enterprise, and Havana. Mr. Will Green was proprietor of the first and only pop factory which was located ear the present water tower. A cheese factory, operated by a Mr. Hastings, was located on what is now the Trainor property. Due to the lack of interest in dairying among the farmers, and the difficulty of promoting sales, it was not successful. Other businesses were: J. U. Ruey, druggist; Wm. Catlin, livery stable; McDonnell and Hickey, general merchandise; Costello & Co. and O’Laughlin & Burke built grain elevators. Early buildings were erected by Michael Costello, John Garvey, and Colonel King. D. J. Burke was the first postmaster. Strong Brothers engaged in the merchandise business here in 1878, and in 1881 they built a 250-barrel flour mill, the largest in the state west of Minneapolis, at that time. The original building was 60 by 40 feet and five stories high. This operated for many years and the product was called Golden Link Flour. It was located on the site of the present Peavey ele- vator and Geurts Blacksmith Shop. Strong Brothers, Dennis, Martin, and Henry, also had a hay press with a capacity of 20 tons a day. They handled all kinds of merchandise including lumber and cement. Mr. Den- nis Strong was one of the first five county commissioners elec- ted in the spring of 1881,- shortly after the State Legislature passed the act organizing the county of Big Stone and desig- nating Ortonville as the temporary county seat. The History of Page Forty-one the Minnesota Valley, published in 1882, states: “There are at present four general stores in Graceville, one drug store, one harness shop, one shoe shop, one farm machinery depot, three saloons, one elevator, two blacksmith shops, one physician and one Catholic Church.” The St. Cloud and Lake Traverse Railway Co. built a line from Morris Junction to Browns Valley in 1880 which passed into the possession of the Great Northern Railroad on Novem- ber 1, 1907. Richard T. Crowe was the first depot agent. The Fargo and Southern Railway Company built north from Orton- ville to the South Dakota line near Wheaton in 1884 and sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad in 1885. An in- teresting fact here in that the Cox family came to Graceville on the first passenger train on this railroad. Mrs. Jessie Utley Dry- ke, now of Duluth, recalls their trip over from Morris when the train traveled so slowly because the tracks sank into the soggy ground under its weight. When they arrived at the de- pot, a farmer kindly took them to the village atop his load of grain. Some other early folks here were the following: John Mc- Rae, John T. Keating, M.S. and R.A. Costello, Edmund O’Con- nor, Patrick Redd, Timothy Guilfoil, James Rice, Michael and Richard Smithwick, Jerry Murphy, John Noonan, John Smith, Daniel Smith, Peter and Patrick Regan, Larry Kennedy, Arthur Flynn, A. M. Briggs, P. E. Hayden, John Hayden, P. Ryan, Sr., and P. Ryan, Jr., Patrick Leonard, Dr. T. Sullivan, Pat Fermoyle, Joseph Comer, W. F. O'Neill, Strong Brothers, C. D. Catlin, M. J. McDonnell, Hickeys, F. Trainor, J. Garvey, A. Gallagher and J. Sullivan. (This list is not complete and omissions are unin- tentional.) M. J. McDonnell built the first house in Graceville in 1878. Their daughter, Grace, was the first white child born in the village. (She was returned here for burial this year, 1958.) Judge McDonnell was also a surveyor and insurance agent, conducted a large real estate business, and was an agent for steamship lines. The Vallancy Drug Store began operation in 1880 and was located where the Coast-to-Coast store is now. Other names in our drug stores have been Billsborrow, J. Pete Trainor, Joe Pa- vek and Binnek, who sold out to Ross J. Reynolds about 1919. R. H. Ehrenberg also had a drug store here for many years, having come in 1912. He built the brick building which is the present location of our drug store. Charles Mador came in 1930, taking over the Reynolds store and later purchasing and moving to the Ehrenberg store. He sold out to Quentin Larson toed bdorey The first fire-fighting system in Graceville was a chemical! outfit and they used a hand hydrant. A wooden water tank was built in 1892. The Volunteer Fire Department of 20 to 25 members has served faithfully all these years. Bill Cox served 57 years and Bob Keating served 45 years. Retiring from the force in 1958 were Bill Larkin with 37 years of service, and Frank Larkin with 35 years. Bill Cox has also been our weather statistician as he’s recorded temperature, rainfall, etc., for over 25 years and can give interesting comparisons. The Edward Larkin family came by wagon train from Ohio to Franklin, Minnesota in 1867. In 1891 they moved to Beards- ley where they farmed 400 acres near the Jordan School. In 1899 they moved near Graceville on the Pat Flannigan farm now occupied by Caseys. In 1900 the Larkins moved into Graceville where Mr. Larkin began his Dray Line business. His sons, Bill and Frank, are still conducting it in its 57th year. Another present business with early beginnings is the Beaulieu Company. Frank Beaulieu, who was also in the real estate business, and R.A. Costello originally started the part- nership in the building now occupied by the Shoe Shop, Hend- Page Forty-two ricks Barber Shop, Simon Olson, and the Bakery. In 1902, Tho- mas J. Beaulieu and Eugene A. Beaulieu, sons of Frank, assum- ed operation of the Beaulieu Furniture Store and Mortuary. In 1916 they moved to the brick building they constructed where it has operated since. Thomas J. Beaulieu, Jr., joined them in 1931 and still operates the business in its 56th year. Some early hotels are also remembered. The present Ho- tel was erected in 1900 when it was known as the Shannon, and next as the Maroma. The earlier Noonan House stood on the site of the present Oliver Clinic and was finally sawed in two and the parts moved to farms in 1914. The old North Star hotel is now the apartment house known for years as the Bear- don flat. The Central House and Restaurant was operated by Mr. Rossberg for many years and burned about 1927. That was located at the site of the present Pullis Mobil Station. At one time Graceville had two breweries, the Schlitz Company across from the old Milwaukee Stockyards, and the Golblatz Company located north of the James McRae residence in the south end of town. Managers were Phil McLaughlin and Jack Lyttleton. This was the distributing point for beer and whiskey which were shipped in barrels and kegs or cases via heavy wagons and teams to neighboring towns. Carloads of ice were shipped from Ortonville for the beer warehouse and a carload lasted about three weeks. This competed favorably with modern refrigeration, in results anyway. One of these buildings was later used for local ice storage for many years. Those early days produced many mighty good ball teams too. There were many special events games and one July 4th game featured the Colored Gophers from St. Paul. Local men played along with the salaried players and early games were played at the local race track, located near the present Gun Club. From May til October the main attractions were the base- ball games and horse races every Sunday afternoon. People living along the hill then watched the hundreds of horse-and- buggy rigs going by enroute to or from the Track, and these were tethered on the infield during the races. There was a half-mile dirt track with circular wood fences in operation be- fore 1900 and a long time afterward. Chief promoters of the horse races were Art C. Geer, Martin O’Brien, Louie Lein, Fath- er Mike O’Brien, Rice brothers, Doc. Egan and others. Rush Loo- mis was the track man and had the concessions stand. A long watering trough located in front of the present Frank Buhl home was the “stopping off place” where tips and gossip were exchanged. Later the track area became known as The Lots - the village gardens. The plank sidewalk extending from Stud- dart Avenue up past Knob Hill re-echoed many footsteps. Our town had its share of fires too and recollections of some of them are as follows: Griffith’s Livery Stable, which had been in operation since 1900, burned July 4, 1921, and the barn, two houses, ally woodsheds, and 15 or more horses were conusmed by the flames. That was one of the worst fires we had, and the nurses home and other houses across the street were also singed. The James A. Smith Lumber Co., locat- ed where the Graceville Lumber Co. is now. burned about 1907. Art Geer’s livery stable burned about 1910. It was lo- cated across from the hotel and it so happened the Browns Valley basketball team was staying there overnight after a game. The boys noticed the flames and got 20 to 30 horses out safely. The Larry Fallon Livery Barn, located where the Standard Lumber Co. is now, also burned, as did the Everts Feed Mill. The biggest fire occurred about 1910 when the Schlitz Brewery burned and flames shot hundreds of feet into the air. (The flames consumed more than oxygen.) Other major fires included a couple stores and restaurants. Our saddest fire was the one that burned the Ammerman residence and three of their children shortly before Christmas, 1956. HOLY ROSARY CHURCH Colonel King had been commissioned by Bishop Ireland to act as advisor to all incoming settlers. Serving the spiritual needs of the first parishioners here were Father Oster of Clontarf, and Father Pellison, a mission- ary. According to Mrs. Ellen Mullane’s published comments in 1928, the first Mass said in Graceville was in the old “Immi- grant House”. Pews were planks placed on nail kegs. There was space enough between the siding to peek out during prayers at the sound of the rumbling wagons to see who next was arriving with the cow tied behind. (For when the early settlers went to church, the precious cow was tied behind so she wouldn’‘t be stolen or driven frantic by flies and mosquit- Holy Rosary Church - Graceville oes, or entangled in her long rope.) During the services the oxen and cows grazed at a little distance. Father Oster rode in “from the outside” on horseback and said the first Mass. Pat- rick Sullivan constituted the entire choir, and Thomas Rix, a French settler, sang the responses as altar boy. One of Bishop Ireland’s first acts was to have five car- loads of lumber shipped overland from Morris, the closest rail- road terminal, and to have a church built. It was completed within a month and was located on the northern edge of town Father T. Ryan was pastor at this time, 1879. The church was replaced by a larger one under the direction of Father C. Gen- is (1884-1892), and the rectory was built in 1886. This church burned in 1894 and a brick building was erected by Father M. O’Brien (1896-1908) and was dedicated by Archbishop Ireland in 1897. Early pictures show it on a bare prairie but trees soon grew up around it. The church’s picturesque spire was toppled in the 1944 tornado and other damage done. Many improve- ments have been made and those of the past two years includ- ed a complete re-decoration of the church, new tile floor, in- stallation of a Baldwin organ, and other remodeling which has enhanced the beauty of the church immeasurably. The other pastors who served here in the early days be- sides Fathers Oster and Ryan were the Reverend Fathers Gas- kell, Fox, Genis, McDonald, Stritch (1892-1894), Rhatigan (dur- ing whose pastorate the church burned), M. O’Brien, assisted by Father O'Reilly and Father Kennedy (1908 until January 6, 1933, the date of his death). Assistants to Father Kennedy were Fathers O'Reilly, Keavey, Ryan, Cashman, Ciebattone, C. Morgan, G. O’Sullivan, P. J. O’Connor, and R. King. Father O’- Connor was appointed pastor in 1933 and remained until Jan- vary, 1954. Fathers R. Zwickey, M. McGowan, and C. J. Zwe- ber assisted him during part of his pastorate. Father D. J. Eich- inger, present pastor, was appointed in January, 1954. PUBLIC SCHOOL The first school in northern Big Stone County was held in the hardware store and was taught by Miss Ella Costello, who later became Mrs. W. F. O'Neill. She was a sister of R. A. Cos- tello. The first schoolhouse was built in 1879, and D. J. Burke was school district treasurer and postmaster. The small two- room frame building was located on the site of the present school. High school was not provided during the first years, but as the community grew, so did the school, and in 1898 the high school was establised. Subjects taught then were very dif- ferent from those offered today. Students were required to complete a four-year study of Latin, courses in mathematics, in- cluding solid geometry, in addition to the regular subjects. The change from a common to an Independent School District was effected in 1893. The present brick structure was completed in 1929 and school bus service was inaugurated in 1936. A Jun- ior High School was introduced in 1936, but due to the teach- er shortage, was discontinued in 1943. Subjects were added through the years and as early as 1913, agriculture, manual training, and home economics became parts of the curriculum. In 1915 a Teacher Training department was established and continued for a few years. Later the commercial department was begun. The Junior High School was re-established in 1950. As enrollment continued to increase due to the closing of many rural schools, and as the need for better facilities became apparent, plans for an addition to the school were discussed. The majority of the rural districts through the process of disso- lution became a part of this school district now officially called Independent School District No. 60, Big Stone and Traverse Counties. This is made up of six districts in Big Stone and 10 Graceville School, 1898-1929 sie a Wisi Public School, Graceville, 1929-1959 districts and part of two districts in Traverse, and has an esti- mated valuation of one million five hundred thousand dollars. Bonds in the amount of $450,000 were voted, and the work on the addition is underway now with completion expected early in 1959. The addition will include a gymnasium, shop, Page Forty-three home economics and music departments and offices. The pres- ent building will be remodeled in part to make more classroom space and a hot lunch room. The first graduates of the school were Dr. Frank O’Neill and Dr. Thomas Costello who received their diplomas in 1898. Including the class of 1958, 801 students have been graduated from the Graceville Public School. Mr. M. R. Gaffney is Super- intendent, completing his ninth year in charge of the school. Independent School District No. 11 was changed to No. 60 this year. SAINT MARY’S ACADEMY Saint Mary’s Academy, a boarding school, was established in Graceville in August, 1885, near the present Kennelly home on the hill. The first teachers were four Sisters of the Order of St. Joseph of Carondelet who arrived here at the same time. The school was called the Convent of Our Lady of the Lakes. During the first year the U. S. Government made a con- tract with the Sisters whereby it agreed to pay them for the education of Indian girls from the Sisseton Agency. They allot- ed 25 girls, paying $150 per year for their schooling, and they were housed in a separate building from the white girls. They were taught the branches of a common school education - knit- ting, sewing, housekeeping, and dairying. Sister Helen Angela Hurley tells of this in her book On Good Ground. The school was enlarged between the years 1888 and 1889 to accommo- date the increasing enrollment. In 1896 the government with- drew its contract and the Indian girls returned to the reserva- tion. Additional financial support was received from Miss Kath- erine Drexel of Philadelphia. On October 8, 1898, fire des- troyed the original academy, consisting of four buildings val- ved at $12,000, on a tract of land valued at $4,500. A new site was procured at the west edge of the village and new buildings were erected there in 1900 and the name was chang- ed to St. Mary’s Academy. This boarding school was widely patronized by young ladies from the western part of the state and many elementary teachers were prepared here before graduation from normal school became a requirement. It is in- teresting to note that this was one of the very few places in the west where instruction could be obtained in music, paint- ing, and other fine arts, in addition to the usual academic sub- jects. Miss Catherine Hanratty, now Mrs. W.H. Strong, was the first graduate in 1904, and still resides here. In 1908, the 30th anniversary of the founding of the colony, the Alumni Associa- tion was organized. The school has been accredited since 1917. 742 students have been graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, including the class of 1958. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH The Congregational Church was organized on September 17, 1885, and the first pastor was Reverend John T. Marvin. Some others were the Reverends W. Edwards, P. Frisk, E. R. Lang, P. Perrin, W. Sherman, Paul Lehner, and at present, Har- old Stepanek. The present membership is 84 with a Sunday School enrollment of 63. There is an active Junior High Pilgrim Fellowship and Women’s Fellowship. The church was dedicat- ed January 30, 1927. The establishment of this church was first recommended by Mr. R. A. Costello, businessman of Graceville and a Catho- lic, who asked the minister of the Ortonville Congregational Church “to do something about establishing religious services for the Protestants of this community”. Mr. Stewart made a similar appeal to Reverend Norris of Morris. These two minis- ters then went to the conference of Congregational Churches at Benson and from this the local congregation was established. In 1925 the present church was built on a site donated by Page Forty-four R. S. Tyler. Previous services were held in a church building that was later sold and moved to a farm. Lutheran services had also been held there by Rev. Moe, and others, around the 1920’s. MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH (Wisconsin Synod) As early as 1907, the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Leonardsville Township conducted services for the members of the Lutheran faith in the George Goodhart home in Grace- ville. In September, 1923, Reverend M. J. Wehausen began in earnest to organize a congregation here and the first services were held in the Congregational Church. The next pastor was Rev. Paul Albrecht, followed by Rev. |. P. Frey, under whose leadership the John McRae property was purchased, the house to serve as a parsonage and the extra lots for the future church site. The church was completed in 1925, and the fol- lowing ministers served successively: Reverends |. F. Lenz, E. J. Zehms. Rev. H. A. Mutterer, the present pastor, was installed on August 25, 1946, and during his pastorate many improvements were made to the parsonage and the church. The building was lengthened in 1947, new tile floors and pews were installed in 1953, and a new Hammond organ was also dedicated in 1953. More recent improvements include a new baptismal font, new Communion railing and carpeting in the chancel. This con- gregation averages about 230 souls, about 120 communicants and 65 children in Sunday School. A Women’s Missionary So- ciety was also organized in 1925 and is still active. DOCTORS According to available information, the first doctor in Graceville was Dr. Wm. M. Gaucher, who left for Morris in 1882. Dr. B. M. Randall arrived here that same year and, with the exception of the years between 1884 and 1887, remained in active practice until his death in 1930. Many doctors have served this community. One was Dr. P. J. Forde, a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons who arrived from Ireland in 1886 and died in 1890. Others were Drs. Trumpour, Allway, and Pollock. Dr. Clifford Irwin Oliver came in 1901 and served the needs of the community faithfully and well for 44 years. Thanks to him, we’ve had our hospital for many years, and, in addition, he represented the people of the 48th District as Sen- ator for two terms. He died in 1945 and his son, Dr. Irwin L. Oliver, now very ably carries on in his father’s footsteps. He was also graduated from the University of Illinois, is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow of the In- ternational College of Surgeons. Since 1920 many doctors have been associated with the Oliver Clinic, some of the better known being the following: Dr. Jim Arnson, 1920-1926 Dr. W. T. Judge, 1925-1930 Dr. M. J. McKenna, 1927-1936 Dr. L. P. Mooney, 1936-1948 Dra Week Muir, 1935-1942 Dr. A. E. Magnuson, 1940-1942 Dr. N. W. Wagner, 1944-1954 Dr. R. P. Griffin, 1945-1947 Dr. |. Bernstein, 1944-1945-1949 Dr. G. L. Barnett, 1949-1953 Dr. R. A. Belcher, 1954-1957 Dr. Phil Roth, 1955-1956 Dr. C. J. Swendseen, 1954-present HOLY TRINITY HOSPITAL Graceville is proud of its fine hospital which has grown into a very efficient organization from humble beginnings. In 1900, the first hospital was organized by Dr. B. M. Randall and Dr. A. R. Pollock. It consisted of three beds and an operating room in a building owned by Miss Jennie Cauley, a practical nurse. It operated for about three years. The building is the present Phil Olsrud home. In 1907, the house known for years as the Horner house and now occupied by the Rutherford family, was purchased, and fitted up by Dr. C.1. Oliver for hospital use. There were seven patients’ beds and an operating room. In 1914 the Wes- tern Minnesota Hospital was organized and a building erected, financed in part by the sale of shares to interested parties. Dr. Benjamin M. Randall was elected president of the Hospital Board and held the position until his death. A Nurses Training Department operated until 1932. In 1920 an annex was added which raised the capacity to 46 beds. In 1935 it was incorpor- ated as the West Central Minnesota Hospital and operated as such until it was acquired by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in November, 1945. Through the years it has been equipped with the finest facilities and accredited by the National Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. It is now a 27-bed hospital and serves a broad area. Graceville dentists have included a Dr. Harris who came from Morris to see patients, Drs. McGoon, Strong, Coleman, Landers, Doran, Lawler, and Dr. T. H. Herder, who came in 1929. Special tribute is paid to Dr. W. H. Strong who has been here the past 54 years. Dr. M. J. Egan served as our veterinarian for many years, dating back to 1890. Dr. M. A. Taffe has been here since 1913. The Frances Ryan Home has rendered a good service to our community by providing a home for older citizens. For some years previous to 1930 Miss Ryan and her mother had a boarding house serving teachers, business workers, or labor- ers. About 1930, Commissioner W. E. Burns began placing old- er people needing homes and care with them. In her present quarters, she has taken care of as many as 15 residents at times, many of whom came from neighboring counties as well. At present she has five residents. NEWSPAPERS The Graceville Transcript was established October 6th, 1883 and the Graceville Democrat was established May 3rd, 1888. They were merged in July, 1889. In March, 1894 the Transcript was merged with the Enterprise, established that same month, and the publication was known as the Graceville Transcript-Enterprise until October 5, 1894 when the name was shortened to the Graceville Enterprise. The Graceville Phenix was published May 1, 1890 until January 15, 1891, and again from April 19, 1894 until 1911 when it ceased. Editors down through the years have included: Mrs. Rob- ertson, who edited the Phenix, and Mr. Prous, Andy Sammons, Mr. McKeen, helpers Charlie Lane and Joe Dwyer, Herbert L. Day, Mrs. James (Loretta) Fahey, Mrs. Mallory and her helper, Carl Fasching, C. Tim Anderson and Grover Burrill. L. A. Kaer- cher of the Ortonville Independent purchased the Enterprise in 1936. Harry Billsborrow (deceased) and Mary Grant have also been helpers for years. The present editor is James D. Kaerch- er and the Business Manager is Miss Mary Grant. The weekly newspaper is now in Volume 66. The LIBRARY had its beginning with the collection and distribution of books donated by members of a “Ladies Read- ing Circle’. Mrs. M.R. Canty and Mrs. J. D. Hartnett were the leaders in this undertaking and volunteered their services. The books were housed in the Canty building, now the site of the Laske Red and White store, and the library was open on Satur- day afternoons. In 1903 special meetings were held for the purpose of organizing a public library in accordance with the Minnesota Code for Libraries. A board of nine members was appointed and Charles Lane was elected librarian at a salary of $10 a month. In December, 1904, Miss Anna O’Brien was ap- ‘pointed librarian to succeed Charles Lane who resigned. For several years the library was located in the town hall and the present building was erected in 1915. The village provided the lot and the Carnegie Foundation contributed $6,000. Miss O'Brien resigned in 1918 and was succeeded by Mrs. Richard T. Crowe, now 96, who served as librarian for 29 years. Next have been Mrs. Paul Gay, Mrs. Phil Colmark, and Mrs. John Daly. The small collection of books gathered by the Reading Circle has grown to 6,000, with an average yearly circulation of about 9500. GRACEVILLE GUN CLUB, west of town, is admitted to be the finest Trap and Skeet Shooting Grounds in the midwest. It is the scene of state meets which attract leading sportsmen from several states, and one of its main promoters has been A. R. Souba. Here a $10,000 clubhouse is open to visitors, with the hospitality of 100 members extending a welcome. We also have a Lion’s Club, American Legion and Auxil- iary, a Flying Club, Boating Club, Scout Troops, Knights of Co- lumbus, Daughters of Isabella and other organizations and groups. A landing strip is located on the Pat Kapaun farm north of town. Our annual celebration is known as our Toquatennial. This year it featured a community picnic at Toqua Park and wa- ter sport activities. The streets were paved in 1947 and new street lighting and sidewalks were completed in 1953. Ten acres known as the Souba Addition, located directly east of town, have al- ready been platted into four city blocks. Several homes have been erected and roads have been graded and graveled. Tentative plans for new offices for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. have been made. Three city lots directly south of the Hotel have been acquired and construction will probab- ly begin this year. Telephone service has grown from 373 tele- phones to 623 today. Otter Tail Power Company is in the pro- cess of building a large new substation here. This is an impor- tant switching point since transmission lines radiate four ways, to Ortonville, Morris, Browns Valley, and Wheaton. Page Forty-five Present businesses include three grocery stores, two res- taurants, one hotel, three recreation parlors, one dry-cleaning establishment, two elevators, two feed mills, two lumber yards, one bank, one bakery, two barber shops, two beauty parlors, three hardware stores, one variety store, one black- smith shop, one shoe repair shop, a furniture store and mortu- ary, one bowling alley, and one theater. Several implement companies conduct business here, including International, Case, John Deere, Allis-Chalmers and Oliver. L.W. Griffith boasts, and justly so, of having the longest contract with the Case people of all Case dealers in Minnesota. It dates from 1924. Chalupnik-Hoffman have earned several prominent awards for their sales volume. Our village is in the center of a rich agricultural district and is the market place for grain, dairy, and other farm prod- ucts. Our community today is very grateful to the pioneers who suffered many hardships and worked so unceasingly to estab- lish a permanent settlement. It is grateful, too, to all who fol- lowed in the footsteps of those pioneers and by persistent ef- fort and zeal have made this town a home for its loyal and hard-working populace. That in itself, is a tribute! Very few early pioneers are still with us, but those who are, and their descendants, have been reliving the past, retelling anecdotes of the early days, and collecting items of interest for this Cen- tennial year of our state. GRACEVILLE’S INDIAN SCARE The evening of August 2, 1885, the Harvey family .was busily engaged in usual chores on their farm in Parnell Town- ship, north of Graceville. Suddenly strange and unaccustomed sounds smote their ears, arousing their curiosity. Two of the boys were then sent to ascertain its meaning. Hours passed, the boys did not return, and the noise increased in volume. By now there was a rhythm and regular beat and one of the neighbors who had gathered there said ‘I know that sound - it’s the Indian tom-tom! Look at the fires! The Indians have bro- ken out!” The “news” spread like wildfire - the Indians are on the warpath, have killed and scalped the Harvey boys, and are killing, burning, and pillaging right and left! Soon settlers for miles around were on their way to Graceville, some on foot, and many in wagons with a few cherished: possessions hastily thrown aboard, some with the faithful family cow tied behind, and all with sad, drawn faces. All night long the trek continued. At Graceville there was a scramble for firearms. and the women and children were gath- ered in the church under guard. Most of the able-bodied men, with memories of the battle of New Ulm in their minds, deter- mined to sally forth in the cold gray dawn to meet the invad- ers before they reached town. They hadn’‘t proceeded far, how- ever, before meeting the Harvey boys whom they deluged with questions. How had they escaped? How many Indians were there? How far back were they? It took some time to get matters all straightened out in true facts. A popular young couple of the community had been married the day before and their friends for miles around decided to give them a good old-fashioned charivari. The couple were Herman Klawon and Amelia Manthei, and the wedding took place at the Molden- hour home. The charivari gathering was the noise that puzzled the Harveys. A few desultory strawstack fires added to the illusion. When asked why they had not come right home again to re- port on the circumstances, the boys replied with a natural ques- tion, “How could you expect us to leave again with all that fun going on!” (Taken from Mr. George G. Allanson’s writings) Page Forty-six Clifford Irwin Oliver 1877 - 1945 Dr. Oliver was one of those intrepid souls of the medical world — a _ country doctor. He had several hob- bies, principal among them being the study of early Min- nesota history and Indian life in this territory. He accumu- lated a large and interesting collection of relics and an- tiques bearing on the history of our state. He was widely read and was recognized as an authority on both of these subjects. His extensive library concerning them was later do- nated to Hamline University. The following article was published in THE MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE, April 11, 1937. It is included here in tribute to Dr. Oliver and all the faithful “country doctors” of our county. GOODBYE, COUNTRY DOCTOR! by C. I. Oliver, M.D. “The days of the old country doctor are no more. The few that are left do not find favor in the eyes of the present gen- eration. They are looked on as sort of a relic of the past. “In the early years of this century, any good doctor of that day had to have whiskers. Most any kind would do, but if they were the sort called a Vandyke, it was the sure trademark of a young M.D. The older men let themselves be camouflaged by a more luxuriant growth. The reason for this was lack of time, cbsence of safety razors, and an added protection against the frequent country blizzards. Strangers might take them for the village blacksmith, but as the latter was usually a highly respected citizen, this was no disrespect whatever. “People were unusually healthy in my community, and what few did need medical attention chose the longer whisk- ers. | remember after a few months’ practice - or rather, lack of practice - | was strolling down the old plank sidewalk one day and came face to face with a stranger with a brand new, well-trimmed Vandyke. Visioning ‘new competition, | went home and did nothing but worry for three days until | found out the stranger was a new lawyer. “The best friend of the old country doctor was the village liveryman. While he wasn’t as good a conversationalist as the barber, he knew all the late gossip and when you had to make a 20-mile drive, a little talking helped pass many a tedious hour. One such drove teams for me for a number of years and | felt a great loss when he passed from the-picture. | remem- ber that on many occasions he was also of distinct service as an assistant. Once we were called out in a blizzard. The sum- mons came by way of the hired man on horseback. His diagno- sis was “a damn bad touch of bellyache” and no delay would be appreciated. It took only a few minutes to see that it was a ruptured appendix with an abscess formation. The storm pre- cluded any call for help, so with him holding a kerosene lamp and the father of the girl giving the chloroform, we proceeded to operate. Appendicitis operations never received the credit that | thought they deserved, and any rival who could cut off a leg or arm, or take the swelling and mouse from the fighting eye, received a lot more credit among the laity. “A good pneumonia doctor and one who could bring out the measles never suffered for want of long country drives. If our first patient of any particular case died, it was a long time until this was forgotten, and we would have to frequently change our diagnosis to avoid too much criticism. The good Lord and nature helped us out a lot. A good guess often help- ed out more than an average amount of brains. On one occa- sion, | was called a long distance only to find the case to be one of an incurable disease. As | remember, it was in the month of February. | consoled the relatives as much as | could and was trying to get away to avoid the inevitable question that we doctors dislike so much, “How long will father live?” | hazarded the opinion that it might be about Memorial Day and thought nothing more of it until on the day of May 30th - one of the family came in with the death certificate to sign. For several years following this, | was expected to be able to tell anyone on just what day they could expect to take the voy- age on the River Styx. Luckily for me, | never again set an ex- act date of this kind. “About 1905 occurred the period when country doctors first invested their earnings in automobiles. All cars were one or possibly two cylinders, not much power, and a speed of 25 m.p.h., was something to tell about at the drug store. The equipment wasn’t much - no windshields, no top, and carbide lights which seldom functioned. The roads all had high centers and rocks were a constant source of trouble. When the roads were too bad, we had to call on the livery man again to get through. What his buggy lacked in speed, it made up in cer- tainty and never got stuck in mudholes. One foggy, rainy morning, two hours before daylight, | was coming home from an all-night consultation with stork business. It was mostly a low gear trip, but every 200 or 300 yards | could shift into high, then gradually slow down to low. Suddenly, just ahead of the car, up loomed one of those bi-striped cats, tail high and waving, galloping along unconcerned and minding his own business with no interference asked for. The important decision seemed to be to pass over him as quickly as possible. As luck would have it, the engine died and the lights went out with Mr. Skunk under the car. His exact location was a debatable question so the smart thing seemed to favor a sit-down strike until daylight. Thus two hours were wasted cogitating as to whether automobiles were an improvement or not. “The heavy snows and huge drifts of late years have blasted a great deal of the romance in the old-fashioned bliz- zard. Still, | can’t think of these modern snowstorms as being anything comparable to some of those of the horse-and-buggy era. | remember being called out into the country one night during a terrific snowstorm. The livery man, his spaniel which served as our foot-farmer, and | set out in the cutter. The wind howled and the snow bit, becoming worse every few minutes. We made our destination all right, but the blizzard didn’t let up a particle during our stay at the farmhouse. We must have been half way home when it reached such intensity that we were afraid of being lost. The road was drifted over to such an extent that we would likely miss it and probably wander far off into the prairie. We stopped near the railroad track and un- hitched the horses. We let them go, feeling they would find shelter somewhere. The livery man tucked the Spaniel into the buffalo robe and put her in the cutter with instructions to stay there. He was afraid she might get lost and freeze to death. We set off down the railroad track toward town and made it in some five or six hours. The storm raged for two days and on the third we set out for the abandoned cutter. | had to get my bags and instruments back which had been left behind with the dog. When we found the cutter, it was drifted over with snow. My heart sank as | was sure the Spaniel had smothered but we got down to the robe and unfolded it. Out jumped the dog, barking in all joyousness and apparently none the worse for the prolonged stay though blanketed with snow two feet deep. “My predecessor’s experiences extended to the first set- tlement in western Minnesota. Most of the time he attended his duties via horse and saddle. This necessitated the use of saddle bags to carry his paraphernalia. (1 might say that a collector for the Smithsonian Institute garnered these relics long ago.) He was a man of many vocations. There were no dentists; he pul- led teeth (not extracted) and often two or three came at a pull. He was as solicitous as to the care of the settler’s stock and re- ceived many calls in this line. He was a very forceful orator and was called far and wide to spellbind the gatherings at po- litical meetings and Fourth of July celebrations. $10 was the price of an hour’s oratory, no matter what the subject - Re- publican, Grange, or Democrat. For awhile, for the lack of a minister, he even took over those duties at the usual fee of $10 a Sunday. Came summer when crops were poor and prices low, the deacons called a meeting and decided to appoint a committee to wait on the doctor and take up the subject of re- ducing the cost of sermons to, say, $5 a Sunday. They located him in Casey’s Saloon and advanced their proposition. The con- ference was short and to the point. “By——, I’ll see you in —— first!” he said and promptly went back into Casey’s to continue his discourse on the fine qualities of a local race horse. “As far as the writer is concerned, this is not a facetious matter. The doctor of the old school never refused to answer a call night or day, bad roads and weather notwithstanding. His fees were meager and many never sent a written statement in their whole career. His place in the present is vacant and nev- er will be filled. The old country doctor is dead, but may the memory of him live long.” @ Village of Johnson Reporters: George Rixe and Mrs. Walter Wulff The Village of Johnson was organized November 12th, 1903 and was named in honor of a section foreman who work- ed on the railroad out of Morris. The first Village Council in- cluded Wm. E. Howells, Ed. Geenty, and Albert Green, with Thomas A. Cunningham the Recorder. Original families first settled here around 1880. Mary Burns had the first store and postoffice and later married Steve Duffy. Henry Rixe took over this Duffy Store in 1902 when a new one was built. The Herman Jaenisch family operated the first hotel; Fred Andrews had the Livery Stable; Jacob Luchsin- ger, the Liquor Store; J. H. Harrison, blacksmith. The first |um- ber yard was the Jones Lumber Company, located south of the Great Northern Depot. They sold to St. Anthony & Dakota Lum- ber and Lew Howells was the manager. S.L. Duffy built the first elevator, later known as West Elevator, and others were the Northwestern which burned, and Cargill. Tom O’Leary had the general merchandise store for a time; Winter Bros. & Rixe opened the first hardware store and machinery; Wm. Rixe op- erated a restaurant. When Jacob Luchsinger came here in 1905, he is said to have paid his first hotel bill in nickels and dimes. John J. Janssen bought out the blacksmith shop in 1910 and operated it for many years. In 1915 Max Winters built a cement Implement Store and sold his Hardware Store to Willie Althoff, and the Feed Mill to Ben Jaenisch. This was later operated by Burt Skoog and now by Ralph Andrews. Our village once had a bank, cream station, butcher shop, barber shop, recreation parlor, several stores, hotel, school and two churches. Other early names of the Johnson area include Andrews, Amberg, Burns, Becker, Donoven, Cairney, Coyne, Conway, Green, Mathies, Meagher, Moberg, Murphy, Lee, O’Neil. Vil- lage names of the 1930’s included Barney Boyle, Blessenburg, Fritz Andrews, Duins, Meyers, Marquart, Jurgens, Geheren, Page Forty-seven Jansson, Hewitt, Thiry, Luchsinger, and others. Many of our folks living north of Johnson are just across the Traverse Coun- ty line. These include descendents of the Fuhrmans, Rixes, Win- ters, Zimmermans, Duins, and many others. The Charles Fuhr- man homestead is now farmed by a grandson, Allan Fuhrman. Grandma Mary Rixe Fuhrman lived on that farm 56 years and often told of early experiences and of the trip here from At- water when they moved their belongings and livestock to their claim. Grandma Fuhrman passed away in January, 1957, at the First Street, Johnson, Minnesota, 1910 age of 90 years, having lived her last years in Johnson and with her children. Through the years many of the original business places and homes of Johnson have been moved out. Although it has been relegated to the same status of so many little towns, it is still an appreciated trade center to its immediate area. Present- day businesses are the Vogt Grocery, Jurgens Hardware and Post Office; Kenny Zimmerman’s restaurant; Gray’s Implement; Lexon Moberg, blacksmith; Ralph Andrews’ Feed Mill; Riba’s Liquor Store; and Johnson Grain Company, Roy Olson, owner. The Community Club is now sponsoring a playground ar- ea for Johnson’s children. Through the co-operation of the Great Northern Railroad, land was leased for this use and it al- so supplied tree and shrubbery plantings. Additional expenses for flowers, etc., will be financed by donations and community events such as card parties, food sales, etc. As our part of Minnesota’s Centennial observance this year, we had window displays of relics and pictures. On May 27th the pupils of the school and the community joined in a program in the Town Hall. For an hour preceeding it, a two- seated buggy furnished free transportation to and from the schoolhouse to view the relic and photo displays there. (Ed. Heuer, Sr., was the coachman and Old Babe, the horse loaned by Gustav Heidecker, apparently enjoyed her brief return to popularity.) Many of the children and adults were dressed in old-time and nationality costumes. Our Centennial program placed emphasis on our state’s achievements of TODAY and its many contributions in every field. The theme was this: “What has made Minnesota GREAT? Its PEOPLE - they’re Minnesota’s greatest asset!’ SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 43 by Mrs. George Duin One can hardly conceive of the changes that have taken place in this community during the 76 years since this district was established. There were then no roads, no fences - nothing but a vast treeless prairie for miles and miles, dotted with ponds where ducks and geese held sway, coyotes roamed, and prairie chickens were in abundance. School District 43 was formed in March, 1882 and the two-room building was originally located 11/4 miles west of Johnson. Among the early teachers were Mike Gallagher, An- na Keating, Andrew Hopkins, Mary Reddy, Agnes Hickey, Blanche O'Hara, Anna Barry, E. Peyton, Marie Coyne and Jose- Page Forty-eight phine Howells. The original library of text books numbered 137, valued at $51.98. An insight into the methods of education in those early days are found in the maxims interspersed in the records of Miss Agnes Hickey in 1895: “Rule by Kindness.” “Manners are the happy ways of doing things”. “You will find the pupils in all grades good workers if you take an interest in their work, and will have no trouble in governing them if you give them plenty of seatwork to do.” In 1900 the teacher’s salary was $36 per month for the four-month winter term and $31 for the spring term. During the 76 years the salaries varied from $31 to a high of $325.00 per month. Miss Blanche O’Hara’s records noted “No school Novem- ber 11, 1903 - schoolhouse moved to town of Johnson.” In 1920 our school boasted two years of high school train- ing in addition to the eight grades. This was discontinued after a few years in favor of transporting the students to Graceville. The school continued on a two-room two-teacher basis for eight grades until 1945 when the enrollment dropped to where only one teacher was needed. For several years the District realized the necessity of re- modeling our building and put away a sum each year in gov- ernment bonds. By 1951 they totaled $8,000. The keen insight to remodel the building at that time was laudable and is large- ly the reason our district is in session at the present time. An additional $6,500 Bond Issue was voted and the building was completely remodeled, bringing it up to all the specifications demanded by the State Board of Education at a cost of about $15,000. Therefore, when the State Reorganization Law was passed a few years later, Johnson District 43 was allowed to remain in session. In 1956 part of District 61 found it profitable to annex it- self to No. 43 and a district-owned bus was then purchased to transport both elementary and high school pupils. This year we had 21 pupils in attendance. Mrs. Meredith Johnson Schaller has very capably taught here the past 13 years. The District number is now 138. From 1882 to 1958 your pine walls have stood, Have weathered prairie storms and winter snows, Have heard the children learn to read From primary to the upper grades. From your old and hobbled steps Have sallied forth our youth — To prove again the Golden Rule Applies to life as well as school. From near and far your teachers came To start your scholars off to fame. “By kindness rule”, Miss Hickey wrote in 1893. By kindness rules Mrs. Schaller still, in 1958. GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH by Mrs. Ed. Hever, Sr. About 1907 a collection was taken and a little church built in Johnson on a lot donated by Fred Andrews, Sr. Rev. Fischer was the first pastor and Anna Rixe was the organist. Some of the families who attended there were: Fred Andrews, Sr.; Mrs. Dudewitz, Martha and Freda; Otto Henricks; Herman Jaenisch; Mrs. Wm. Mathies; Jerry Kroger; Herman Winters; Wille and Henry Rixe; Max Winters; Henry Schwesingers; Fred Wulffs, and later on, John Janssons, Julius and Charles Fuhr- man, and others. German services were held: and Sunday School classes were conducted in English. In 1923 the congregation was too large for the building, so it was sold to Hugo Roeska and he remodeled it into a home. It is still a residence in Johnson and has been known for years as the Running house. Next they purchased the church building vacated by the Evangelical congregation. Other pastors were Rev. Monich and Rev. Siegler, and other organists were Anna Nerenz and Clara Fuhrman. About two years later, this congregation combined with Trinity Luth- eran Church, 22 miles north of Johnson, under the leadership of Rev. M. J. Wehausen. The church building stood empty for some years until it was sold to the Bethany Congregation and moved back to Malta Township in 1938. Trinity Lutheran Church, which was organized in 1882, dedicated a fine new church in 1952. Since Rev. Wehausen was pastor, others have been Rev. C. P. Albrecht, P. R. Kuske, and P. R. Janke, present pastor. The Trinity Lutheran Parochial School has been main- tained in a separate schoolhouse since 1923, with an enroll- ment averaging about 40 pupils and eight grades. Arthur Hack- barth is the present principal and teaches the four upper grades. A second teacher instructs four lower grades. Mrs. A. Hackbarth conducted kindergarten classes for 16 pupils this spring. EVANGELICAL CHURCH by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Blackwelder Charter members of this congregation in Johnson includ- ed the families of J. A. Blackwelder, W.T. Grimes, L. E. How- ells, Will and Josie Howells, A. J. Stevanus, and Mrs. Layman. The church building- was moved to Johnson in 1917 and served until the congregation disbanded in 1923. Pastors of this congregation included Rev. Driver of Big Stone City, Rev. Reinhardt of Norcross, Rev. Stegner, Rev. Loft- us, and Rev. Gerhart. @ Village of Odessa Reporter: Leonard Kollitz The Village of Odessa was located in 1879 and the first building was erected in November of that year. In 1882 there were two general stores, a furniture store, a harness shop, a blacksmith shop, a hotel and an elevator. A.D. Beardsley, the first settler, came to the county in 1879 and kept the Milwavu- kee depot as agent and also ran a store. J.R. Meier, who learned the trade of a blacksmith in his native Switzerland, came to Odessa and began business there in 1879. Wm. H. Mueller, who in later years everyone knew as “Black Whiskered Mueller’, became proprietor of the Odessa House in February, 1882. Some time later the Odessa House was used as a residence by the Kollitz family when they mov- ed to town from the farm in Akron. They lived there until a Odessa, Minnesota ; new home could be built in the south part of town, which at that time was little more than prairie land and was close to the outfield of the Odessa ball diamond. The Odessa House was later taken over by Mrs. Louis Doughterty who in turn sold it to Mr. and Mrs. John Edquist who ran it for many years. John Edquist was section foreman for the Milwaukee Railroad dur- ing this same period. It is now known as the Tanhoff Cafe. There were conflicting reports as to how Odessa got its name, but the most authentic seems to be that it was named after Mr. Beardsley’s little girl, Dessa. She died of diphtheria when only 3 years old and the town was named in her mem- ory. The other general store established at that time was run by a Mr. Wildung who came to Odessa from Howard Lake, Odessa, Minnesota Before 1912 Minnesota in the year 1880. He handled both general mer- chandise and hardware. J. M. Sherman was manager of the first elevator which was known as Pratt’s elevator, and which sometime later changed hands and was called the Empire Elevator. This was run by Henry Zwiener and his boys at the same time he was the postmaster of the village. Ed Wagner became manager lat- er and continued to do so for many years during which time it was taken over by Osborne MacMillan Elevator Co. Shortly af- ter his retirement it was sold to the Farmer’s Co-operative Ele- vator Co. In 1885 the Bagley Elevator Co. built an elevator along the railroad to the west and which stood for many years which in turn was managed by Frank Norrish, S. |. Miller, Wm. Sellin and Claude Shellenbarger. It, too, was later purchased by the Odessa Farmers Co-operative Elevator Co., and was torn down when a new elevator was built to replace the old one which originally was known as the Crown Elevator. This elevator was moved intact to Correll and the site it occupied became the site of the present Farmers Elevator. As to lumber yards, Richard Menzel has been in the lum- ber business in Odessa for over 65 years. Previous to 1902, he managed the first lumber yard in Odessa owned by the Boet- cher Lumber Co. of Red Wing, Minnesota. In that year (1902), he built his own yard to the south. Three different yards were built in Odessa during the time Mr. Menzel has been in busi- ness, but they all were eventually bought out, absorbed and dismantled by Mr. Menzel. Shortly after he went in business for himself, he also bought the stock of the Boetcher Lumber Co., his former employer. In the early days of Odessa history it, too, had a large flour mill, large in size in comparison with mills located in oth- er towns in the state. It was built and operated by Zacharias Brothers, who made “Odessa Best” flour for many years. Some- time around the year 1917-1918, the mill was sold to a Mr. Vogel. Just after World War |, this landmark of Odessa was burned in a most spectacular fire. The night was still and the flames shot for hundreds of feet straight up in the air. Sparks and burning chips from the burning building flew a great dis- tance from the fire. Odessa also had doctors in the earlier days. Dr. Aurand, Page Forty-nine Dr. Eagon, Dr. Reed (osteopath) and Dr. O’Donnell all practiced in Odessa at one time or another. Of these only Dr. O’Donnell is generally known as he later moved to Ortonville and locat- ed with Drs. Bolsta and Karn in the then known Ortonville Cli- nic. In 1951 Charles Steffen gave information regarding Odes- sa as he remembered it when he came in 1884. In. April of that year all of the village was covered with water from the depot to the corner of Walter and Schmidt's store. On the other cor- ner of Main Street was a lumber yard and planks had been laid for a sidewalk - one plank wide. One had to be very careful how he walked for the planks floated in about six in- ches of water and could give a good splashing when stepped on suddenly. Pine boards cost $16 per thousand then. In 1885 the Post Office was managed by Frasier, later by Jack Norris, then by Mrs. Egan. Odessa’s early board sidewalks were raised up to be out of the mud. They were so built that an active boy could crawl underneath them almost around the block if he wished. The Odessa Tribune was operated from March, 1898 to about 1908. The first editor was Irv Townsend and others were George Graham, Mr. Little, and Mr. deVaney. The Odessa Sig- nal was published from July, 1917 to August, 1918. There have been various types of stores in Odessa since the first general stores were established by A.D. Beardsley and Mr. Wildung. The first and only furniture store was built and run by Pearson and Englemann which some time later was taken over by J. W. Lenz who operated it for many years. A unique character was he, too, being as he was at various times barber, marshall, night watchman and for several seasons, manager of the Odessa ball team. Odessa, Minnesota, 1938 As for general merchandise stores, the names of Menzel Bros. and Kollitz are in Odessa history on account of the length of time their businesses continued to serve the people of the community. The Menzel Brothers kept store in the building which was originally built by Wildung, and Kollitz’s started business in the west end of town where the building original- ly built by A. D. Beardsley was bought from Frank Buetler. This building was used until a new one was built in 1897 on the corner of the main business block; the old building having been moved to a new location on main street, which later was used as a drug store and postoffice. The upper story at one time or other was used as a doctors office and print shop for the Odessa Tribune. The Kollitz store is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, store in Big Stone County, having been in business in this same location for over 60 years. Many are the families which have continued to trade here these many years and down through three and four generations. The Menzel store changed hands several times in the course of the years. Frank Schuett, Amos R. Brown, Krook Broth- ers and the partnership of Edquist and Olson acquired owner- ship at successive times. It was during the ownership of Ed- Page Fifty quist and Olson that the building, along with the adjoining R. Menzel Hardware store was destroyed by fire. These buildings were never rebuilt. In the early days, Odessa was a typical small town, small in size, but large in comparative business places, and none should be omitted as they were a credit to the village at the time they were in operation, and each helped to keep up the prestige as a reliable shopping center. As for blacksmith shops, there were two for many years - those run by Albert Splitt- stoeser and Ernest Nitz - father of Ernest Nitz, Jr., who at one time ran a meat market and later was successor to his father as blacksmith and general repair shop. The grocery store - Green and White Market, run by Edward Nitz, now stands on the or- iginal location of his grandfather’s blacksmith shop. In later years, Mr. August Anderson, Mr. Pendergraf and a Mr. Som- mers had blacksmith shops at successive times. Fred Bohmert, lately deceased, came to Odessa from Mad- ison and for many years ran his meat market in a small build- ing on the back street..He later erected a brick building and conducted a very fine market until his retirement. This build- ing is now owned by Herman Ellingson who is an expert bee man and who extracts and ships many barrels of honey during the season, each year. The Odessa Implement was one of the older business firms in the village and in the earlier days was run by Ferch Brothers, Christ, Charles, and Mike, who carried a full line of farm machinery, twine, and sold threshing machines and steam engines. This business was taken over by a partnership of Emil Sellin, Jack Shellenbarger, Wm. Bendix, and Ferd Schuett who jointly conducted the business for several years. This partner- ship was later changed and it consisted of J. Shellenbarger, Ferd Schuett and George Gloege. Another disastrous fire des- troyed the original frame building which housed this business firm with two other buildings adjoining it on this west side of the street. It was not long before a modern cement block buil- ding replaced the one destroyed by the fire and which still is occupied by the same Odessa Implement Co., though under a somewhat changed ownership. Claude Shellenbarger became the owner of the business on the death and retirement of oth- er members of the partnership. The Odessa Farmers Mercantile Co. occupied the other building which was destroyed by the fire and this was also soon replaced by a brick building which is now occupied by the Odessa Municipal Liquor Store. The Odessa Farmers Mer- cantile was managed by Henry Bucholz and A. Wahoske. The hardware store was taken over by the partnership of Schwandt and Wahoske until the business was dissolved and the building sold to the village. A Wahoske was later appointed as village postmaster. The Odessa Produce is another business which has operat- ed for many years. It was started by Wm. Strei in a building on Main Street and later moved to a new building in the west end of town. It still continued in the hands of the Strei family. Since the retirement of William Strei, the original owner, it has been managed by his son, LeRoy. Another son, Leander, estab- lished the Strei Service Station on the corner next to the Strei Produce when that new location was built. Memories in Odessa include the train wreck that occurred December 18, 1911, at 4:28 a.m. A silk train running as a sec- ond section of Train No. 18 crashed into the rear of the Colum- bian Flyer. Ten persons were killed outright and 20 injured, one of whom later died. The silk train was tearing along at about 70 miles an hour as it rounded the curve west of the depot. It was within 150 feet of the Flyer when the engineer came into sight of the rear lights of the passenger train standing on the main track. He at once “dynamited” his engine; that is, put on the full force of es Satis C. M. St. P. Railroad Wreck at Odessa, December 21, 1911 the air and reversed at the same time. So great was the veloc- ity and the momentum of the heavy train, however, that the brakes did not hold and the engine, with the great drivers re- volving backwards and clutching the rails until the tires were meited with the heat, fairly shot into the rear coach, a sleeper with every berth occupied. The impact of the collision was terrific and buildings were jarred for blocks around, articles were shaken from. shelves, and the sound of crushing steel was heard two miles away. The engine penetrated the sleeper one quarter the length of the car, a crumpled mass of debris and victims. Citizens of the community rushed to give all aid possible and the injured were taken to the Ortonville hospital as soon as possible. For many of the survivors, their escape was miraculous. ODESSA SCHOOL by Mrs. Vera Nelson The first school was held in the building later used by Mr. Wildung for a store. Sessions were held in April, 1880, and the teacher was Miss Edna Desso. The first schoolhouse was located near the site of the Ot- to Steffen home. After this was outgrown, a new four-room structure wes built in the block where the baseball and kitten- ball diamonds are located. However, this location was not sat- isfactory since the grounds were under water much of the time. Finally the State Department of Education condemned it as unhealthful and a new site had to be selected. Land was offered at several different locations, and a controversy de- veloped. After a series of elections, the present site was agreed upon. The bell from the original school building is still in Odes- sa, mounted near the city auditorium. The original school was - moved and converted into a home. Bob Kollitz was probably the first graduate of the Odessa High School. E. U. B. CHURCH by C. O. Becker, Pastor In the year 1870 ministerial work was begun in this com- munity when a young man named A.C. Schmidt was the first Evangelical preacher to visit this neighborhood. He came from Redwood Falls in the spring of 1871 and the first communion service was held June 23, 1871. In the spring of 1874, the appointments in this region were detached from Redwood Falls and Rev. F. G. Sahr was sent here as pastor of Big Stone Lake Mission. In the spring of 1883 the Odessa circuit was formed of the appointments of Yellowbank, Fairfield and Mueller’s, or Montevideo. E. J. Hielscher was placed in charge of the circuit for three years. Some of the early families were the Zahrbocks, Lestinas, and Hamms. The present church was built in 1897 and remod- eled in 1929. The present pastor is Rev. C. O. Becker. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH by W. G. Going, Pastor This congregation was organized May 8, 1892 and the first pastor was Rev. August Bartling. Charter members includ- ed: Richard Menzel, August Schwandt, Carl Kanthals, Hugo Menzel, John Fraasch, Robert Engelmann, Wm. Gess, Ed. Mews, Henry Schmeichel, Wm. Mews, L. Gerber, and Ernest Nitz. Trinity Lutheran Church Odessa, Minnesota Rev. and Mrs. Walter G. Going The church was built in 1892 and enlarged and remodel- ed in 1952. Pastors have included Rev. Bartling (1892-1912); Max Melinat (1912-1926); Ihno Janssen, Sr. (1927-1947); and Wal- ter G. Going, present pastor since 1949. Sons of Rev. Janssen, lhno, Jr., Immanuel, and Arlo are now pastors, and Daniel is in College. Rev. Raymond Brandt is now a pastor in the Aug- ustana Synod. MR. AND MRS. HERMAN KOLLITZ The following is taken from an essay written in 1926 dur- ing a state-wide contest by Doris Hahn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Hahn of Ortonville and granddaughter of the Kol- litzes. Doris is now Mrs. Conrad O. Palmgren of Wheaton. Herman Kollitz was a native of Germany and came to America in 1867, settling in Illinois. In 1869 he moved to Zum- brota, Minnesota, where he followed his harnessmaker trade. In 1873 he married Miss Bertha Hanson. In 1878 he came to Big Stone County with W. L. Holmes, John Michell, and others, settling in Akron Township. After taking up claims, they returned to Zumbrota for the winter. Early in 1879 they returned and built claim shanties and set about breaking up the soil. Only a small portion was plowed and oats and corn were planted for the cattle and horses. That May he sent for his wife and two sons and they traveled as far as Benson by rail. There they were met and driven the rest of the way by a wagon and horses. The air was very cold and raw and the way was long and tiresome - but they arrived at their new home looking forward to new prospects. The first farm building was a shanty divided in two parts. One large room was used for the family and the other end was for the horses and cattle. That September a daughter was born. It had already become very cold and that winter snow blew in between the cracks of the crudely-built home. In 1880 an ad- dition was built to the shanty making it more comfortable. Grandmother often told of how they had to be sure the shov- els were in the house during the wintertime, for more than once they had to dig themselves out. One time grandfather and his hired man went for wood down by the river and it was im- possible for them to return through the snowdrifts until the next day. The barn was almost covered with snow and they had to dig trenches to and from the barn and to the well. This was done many times. About this time things were prospering fairly well. Orton- Page Fifty-One ville became a Village by an act of the State Legislature, and the Hastings & Dakota Railroad Company extended its line on across the prairie to Ortonville. The line ran about a mile dis- tant from my grandparents’ farm and grandmother worked hard many months keeping railroad boarders. Sometimes as grandfather was busy plowing, Indians would ride up on their spotted ponies and start to jabber in their native language. At first he paid little attention to them, but they came many times and he learned to converse with them. The Indians thought the plowing process was very pecu- liar and would watch intently. Often they would also visit grandmother and many times she was frightened, but when she gave them bread they would leave again without molest- ing her or the children. The earliest trading post in grandfather’s time was Ben- son, 20 miles distant from his farm. It was very difficult to haul things there as the roads were so crudely built. He woulc journey there with a load of grain and return with a month’s supply of groceries. Eggs were only seven cents a dozen then and flour only $1.00 a sack. After the railroad was extended to Ortonville, it and Appleton became important trading cen- ters. Since Appleton was the nearest, my grandparents traded there. The homestead was built and rebuilt, and many trees were planted which are still very beautiful. Wheat was culti- vated on a large scale and many hired hands were needed. During harvest season they had to keep a double crew. Grand- mother worked very hard. Many other settlers had settled on adjoining claims with long distances between each one. The inhabitants of Akron Township gathered together to organize their township and to provide a school for the children of the community. District 25 was one of the first in the county and was built about a mile and a half from my grandparents’ home. The first teacher was Miss Dean who taught here for many years. Even then the country was very wild and wolves could be heard howling in the winter nights. Many times grandmother was worried that the young boys would not return home, afraid they might be attacked by wolves. The winters were very cold and many times snow was as deep as the trees were tall! We seldom have storms like that now. | suppose because we have more wind-breaks now. For twenty years this went on. They farmed without much change and they prospered. In 1893 Grandfather engaged in the mercantile business in Odessa and they moved there. The store was conducted for many years with the help of his sons. In 1903 they opened a branch store at Correll, and in 1911 opened a store in Ortonville. These were later sold. The Kollitz children included: Charles W., Edward H., Her- man W., Leonard, Flora (Mrs. O. E. Hahn), Cassie (Mrs. Alex Wahoske), and Agnes, deceased. Grandfather died in January, 1913, and Grandmother in 1926. THIS PICTURE turned up in 1957 at the home of Franz Akre of rural Alberta, and it shows the original home on that farm, the first dwelling built between Alberta and Appleton. The photo is about 85 years old. Christ Akre, father of Franz, built this sod house on the prairie and put a sign over the door which jokingly proclaimed Page Fifty-Two it to be a hotel. Seated at the front door is Peter Steen, who seems prepared for any evntuality with a jug in his right hand and a cup in the left. The gentleman at the right is unknown, but he is yarbed in the attire of a traveler, who must have patronized this “‘hotel.’’ Also visible above the door are two yokes for oxen. Fe Inte of DAW SEOME cour @ Akron Township Reporter: Miss Jeannette Wolfmeyer Akron Township was organized July 25, 1881, through the efforts of a freeholder, H. L. Holmes. It was named for Ak- ron, Ohio, whence some of its pioneers came. The first settlers came in 1872 as Harry and John Blum took land in Section 12 that year. The first birth recorded was Mabel Wise, January 30, 1878. The first post office was on the H. L. Holmes farm. The County Commissioners appointed offic- ers to serve as a Town Board until an election was held. The first official meeting was held at School District 25 on March 14th, 1882. Officers elected included Joe Reinmuth, chairman; John Mitchell and E. Ferris, supervisors; H. L. Holmes, clerk; Herman Kollitz, treasurer; W. A. Keyes and S. Woodard, justic- es; F. Maxwell and H. Vanderburg, constables. (E. L. Kingsburg had been appointed treasurer first but didn’t qualify.) Peabody Dexter was elected Pound Master and funds voted at that first annual meeting included: Current Expenses, $75; Incidental Ex- penses, $75; and Roads and Bridges, $100. A petition to join the Fractional Congressional Township No. 120, R. 44, with Akron Township, No. 121, R. 44, was drawn up and granted. Guy Howe was born August 29, 1883, but passed away 11 days later. An interesting fact revealed by the old records is that most of the deaths were children up to about five years of age, the cause usually being dysentery or diphtheria. Herman Kollitz, W. L. Holmes, John Mitchell and others were attracted by the call of the — at that time — West and all contributed to the history of Akron Township. JOHN BLUM came from Pennsylvania and his first home was a dugout in the hillside where he lived the first winter. (This homestead is the farm now operated by Ralph Perry.) John carried the mail by horseback between Montevideo and Fort Abercrombie, located between Breckenridge and Moor- head. He lived here a few years as a single man, then married a girl from Zumbrota and they had a family of nine children. The oldest son was Herbert, the father of Roy Blum, who is now residing in this township. Herbert was the only member of the family that remained in Akron when the rest moved to Georgia in 1897. There they joined a colony established for disabled veterans of the Civil War as John Blum had lost an arm in that war. (Story given by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Blum.) E. L. WOODARD homesteaded on Section 18 in 1877, then returned to his former home at Tomah, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1878 he made the trip back here in a covered wagon, tak- ing three weeks. That summer he built a wood shack on his claim at a cost of $75. That fall his wife and oldest son, Dell (A. C.) came to Morris by train where he met them. He had been told that this part of Minnesota was very dry so had cho- sen low-lying land for his claim. However, the next few years were so wet that he bought land one mile south from the rail- road. Other children included Fred Woodard (father of Mrs. Vera Nelson) and Mrs. P. B. Vikre of Ortonville. The Sid Wood- ard, mentioned as one of the first Justices in Akron, was a cou- sin, and he later moved on to Canada. (Story given by Mrs. Melvin Nelson). ERASTUS GILES REDFIELD and his family took their home- stead in Section 12 in the spring of 1879. He was a shoemaker and came first to Appleton for a year or two before moving to Akron. During the early winter of 1879, Black Diphtheria struck the family. The twin boys, Milo and Myron, were about 21/2 years old at the time. Milo was stricken with the disease and passed away shortly before Christmas. Since there were no platted cemeteries at that time, he was buried on the farm. The Alson Allen family, near relatives, attended the burial and soon after their children were also stricken. Both Ada and Lydia died and were also buried in the little burial plot. The three little graves still remain on the Oscar Swanson farm. (Story given by Mrs. Myron Redfield, formerly Emily Saueressig.) The J. W. BARR family came in 1878 from Alexandria, Douglas County, and settled on Section 35. During the Indian troubles, his family hustled by wagon and team toward St. Cloud. He and his team were pressed into the service of the government and he was at the siege of Fort Abercrombie. He died in 1899 and his sons, David D. and Tom A., continued farming. They entered the Real Estate business in 1890 and the grain business in 1902, at which time they built an elevator at Correll with a capacity of 8,000 bushels. FRED A. HUDSON came by team from Mower County in 1879, settling on Section 30. His first building was a shanty 16 by 20 feet and he hauled lumber and supplies from Hancock and Benson. He served on the township board and the local school board for many years. His daughter, Lucy, is Mrs. Frank Grandprey and they owned the farm until this fall when they moved to Watertown, S. D. Mr. Grandprey has owned and ex- hibited some fine palomino riding horses. ANTON KLAGES came to Odessa Township from Westpha- len, Germany on August 25, 1884, farming there until he mov- ed to Akron Township in 1890. The first year in this country, he worked for $18 a month and $25 a month during harvest. Wheat was his main crop and he once stated he had only two bumper crops during his years of farming. Concerning the drouth years of 1933 and 1934, he also stated “I endured bliz- zards, storms, fought grasshoppers, and hot winds but never witnessed such hardship as these past two years of drouth.” He farmed until his death in 1943. Mrs. Klages also came from Germany and they were married in 1888. They had eight chil- dren. (Story given by Mrs. Jens Hedegard.) C. B. BAKER purchased land in Section 6 from the railroad about March, 1880. He came by oxcart from southern Minneso- ta in search of virgin land. The winter of 1881 was a rough one and they were isolated for about six weeks. Indians camp- ed south of their farm when traveling between Granite Falls and Sisseton, and they often traded food to them. Mr. Baker went to Benson for flour and supplies as did many of the early settlers. The first building site was located on the 40 acres west of the present site. The present buildings were erected in 1905. George Baker purchased the farm from his father in 1914. (Story given by Mrs. George Baker.) SIVERT ANDREW ELLINGSON came from Norfjord, Nor- way in 1885, at the age of 20, to seek a better way of life. He came via Quebec and for several years worked in northern Minnesota and North Dakota. In 1891 he settled in Section 5, using parts of his covered wagon to build the house. In the Page Fifty-Three winter he drove a team of horses and covered wagon to land he owned east of Ada to cut and sell wood. Each spring he re- turned here to work his land. In 1892 he married Rachel Rand and they had four sons and one daughter. He purchased addi- tional land in 1900 and 1909. He was a charter member of Eids Lutheran Church and served on various community boards. He passed away July 31, 1954, at the age of 88. His surviving children are Hans, Bertha, and Robert (Roy) who lives on the home place. (Story given by Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Ellingson.) PEABODY DEXTER took a tree claim and sold it to his son, Reuben, in 1894. Charlotte Briddell and her father came from Red Wing in 1892 as her father wanted to be near his brother and other relatives. They came by train with all their personal belongings, including their livestock. 1892 was the year the in- fluenza epidemic took many lives and the chinch bugs destroy- ed the crops. There were only two buildings in Correll at this time. Henry Holmes had the postoffice at his farm home about two miles from Correll. The mail was carried to the train every day by team. Trains were often delayed as the winters were so cold and there was so much snow. Reuben and Charlotte were married in 1894. He died in 1941 and she now lives with her youngest son, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dexter, on the same farm. (Story by Mrs. Charlotte Dexter.) ROBERT ENGELMAN engaged in the carpenter trade in Odessa after his arrival from Germany. He also operated the hotel where Hattie Engelman, now Mrs. Martin Winger, was born. In 1893 he purchased his farm in Akron where they lived until 1912 when their daughter and her husband started farm- ing. Now their son, Robert, is farming this place. Mr. Winger was born in a sod shanty in Lac qui Parle County in 1887. Mrs. Winger told that in the early 1900’s there was a flash flood in the Minnesota River bottoms. She had been out mow- ing hay one day and by the next day the mower couldn't even be seen because the water was so deep. (Story by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Winger.) MR. AND MRS. SVEN OLSON, known as Bengta and Sven Olson, came to America from Hogestad, Sweden, in April, 1891. Their two sons, Nels and Ole, had come before them and had done as so many others did - took their father’s first name and added “son”, whereby they became Nels and Ole Swen- son. There was much immigration at that time and many sought better fortune in America. It was indeed a happy day when the Olson family, newly renamed Swenson, was reunited. Other children besides Nels and Ole were Anna, Emma, Pete, John and Carrie. When they first arrived, they stayed at the Nels Holgerson home, now known as the Kruger farm. The Holger- sons were acquaintances from Sweden. Later they moved into a small house on another farm for the summer, and in the fall they moved near Correll where they lived 10 years on the John Mitchell farm. When they retired they made their home with Nels on the farm where Edwin Land now lives. Later Nels pur- chased the Howe farm, the present Laurence Rothi farm, and Nels and his parents lived there until their deaths. Ole Swen- son then moved to the. Mitchell farm with his wife, who also came from Sweden, and their four children, Elly, Betty, Susie, and Maurice. God blessed them with four more children, Jose- phine, Olander, Sayford, and Bernard. Five of these children still reside in Akron Township. Maurice operates an eatshop in Correll, Olander and Sayford farm north of Correll. Josephine, now Mrs. Sylas Weeding, lives on a farm north of Correll, and Susie, Mrs. Orrin Anderson, lives with her uncle, Pete Swen- son. Mrs. Anderson’s son, Royal, now farms this place with his family. John Swenson purchased the farm which Albert Wiese now owns, and Pete Swenson purchased a farm in Section 5 where he still resides. He is the only living member of his gen- eration. (Story given by Orrin Anderson.) Page Fifty-Four ADOLPH HENKELMANN came from Germany and lived south of Big Stone City before coming to Akron. Here he purchased the farm of H.L. Holmes in about 1898. Three generations have now lived on this farm in the past 60 years: Adolph, Sr., Fred, and Vernon. (Story given by Fred Henkelmann.) ALBERT STRUCK purchased his farm in Akron in 1891] from the Hastings and Dakota Railroad. His son, Albert, Jr., now owns and operates this farm. (Story given by Albert Struck.) L. J. WOLFMEYER purchased his farm in 1896 from Gus- tav Hartkopf who had homesteaded in 1883. Mr. Wolfmeyer came here in March, 1896, from Hazel, S. Dak., leaving there because of the drought in that area. He came by railroad to Bellingham, having a railroad car for his livestock and furnit- ure. The first summer they lived with Mrs. Wolfmeyer’s sister, the John Fraasch family, south of Odessa and were also able to rent some land. One interesting family incident concerns the time Dad moved his seed grain from south of Odessa the spring of 1897. The distance was 12 miles and snow was so deep, the team and sleigh had to track “cross country” over the tops of trees and the river. During the day it became quite warm and he encountered some difficulty when the load broke through the crust of snow. This necessitated the unloading and reloading of his seed several times before he reached home! His son, A. L. Wolfmeyer, has purchased this farm and resides there. (Story given by Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Wolfmeyer.) Other early family names of this area are: LUCHSINGER, FERRIS, KNOLL, QUINN, HARTKOPF, and EAMES. A WEDDING, ABOUT 1900 OR SO by Mrs. Myron Redfield, Big Stone City The invitation itself was strange to us - a young man came riding into our yard and the bridle and mane of his horse were oddly bedecked with ribbons of all sorts and colors. He told us his sister was to be married and we were invited. In explain- ing the decorations on his horse, he stated each person invited to the wedding was expected to add a ribbon to the collection. The family was of a different faith than we and we were not acquainted with their customs, but we decided to attend anyway. After the wedding ceremony, there was a frantic horse race to the home of the bride’s parents. The man whose horse won the race was awarded the privilege of being the bride’s special escort for the day. The house had been almost stripped of furniture to make room for the guests. One large room was set aside for the wedding presents, which included almost all the furnishings for the young couple’s house - literally a room-full. Five big ranges had been set up in a kitchen where there had been fev- erish baking and cooking for a week. A beef had been butch- ered so there would be enough to eat. Six big wagons with overhanging boxes and four-inch tires had been brought in for the festivities - they were loaded with great kegs of beer. People were continually eating, drinking, and making merry the rest of that day and night, and much of the next day. There were probably well over 100 guests, and everything was done in grand style. AKRON LODGE by Mrs. Myron Redfield Akron Lodge No. 349 of the Independent Order of Good Templars was organized December 21, 1895 at District 53. This was a secret organization made up of 22 charter members, in- cluding Elsie Allen; Martha Briddell; Gertrude and George Cun- ningham; Edna and Fred Dexter; Florence Fairchild (the second teacher in this school); George A. Holmes; John Kleespie; Nel- lie, Mattie, William and Ray MacMindes; Elmer, Ned, Elvie, and Myron Redfield; Eva Smith; Charlie Sandboe; Robert Saueres- sig; and Carl and Otto Wold. This Lodge remained active until after the turn of the century. AKRON THRESHING BEE by Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Schmidt Forty-five years ago Ed. Schmidt operated a steam engine for Mr. Earl Summers. It was a 25 h.p. Nickles & Sheperd en- gine. He also worked for Alex Semrau during that time. In 1924 he bought his own Advance Rumely 30 h.p. steam en- gine from Mr. Semrau of Odessa and threshed with this some 10 years until the small engines came into use. He kept the Advance engine and in 1956 purchased a Case 65 h.p. from H. M. Jones of Little Falls. That year the first Akron Steam Thresh- ing Bee was held on Sept. 16, with over 3,000 visitors. It was such a success that another was held in 1957 and the one scheduled for 1958 displayed additional pieces of Machinery. The purpose of the Bee is to give the ‘old-timers’ the thrill of seeing and smelling the smoke of the steamer, and to show the children how threshing was done “in the good old days.” Threshing runs in the 1900’s ran from 50 to 60 days, with flax and some of the other grains often delayed until open days in February. Some of the larger “runs” found as many as 30 farmers banded together, with housewives and farmers ex- changing help with the hired machine crews that numbered as many as 10 experienced men. A few of these early “threshers” around here included Alex Semrau, Martin Zummach, Ed, Hen- ry and Fred Schmidt, Otto Steffen, and Gust Henkelman. AKRON CHURCH In 1954, Mrs. Charles Hudson, now of Wells, Minnesota, wrote the following account of this church: “The Akron Church was organized in 1898 and a building erected. My husband and | were there when it was dedicated. Members included the Krafts, Henkelmans, and Ferches. Others who joined later were the Fred Hudsons, Bosh Luchsingers and DeWalls.” Harry Kraft recalls some additional information. The origi- nal deed for the land was secured from the Railway Company by Fred Hill and he turned it over to the Ebenezer Congrega- tion of Akron. Later it became known as the Evangelical Church of Akron. In 1920 it was closed when Rev. F. G. Agte was the pastor. Other ministers were named Zahs, Hailan, Hauk, Zuehl, Trumbauer, and Hahn. The first superintendent of the church was named Johnas. Since the congregation disbanded in 1920, the story goes that the building was sold and moved to Correll where it was used as a restaurant and a dance hall. It was lat- er destroyed by fire. This little country church leaves behind a graveyard where some dead are still resting, though some of the graves have been moved elsewhere. The cemetery is located north of the Harry Kraft farm. In May, 1927, a Special Warranty Deed was issued by the Minnesota Conference of the Evangelical Church to the Akron Cemetery Association. The cemetery was originally surveyed and drawn in 1898. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 14 by Jeannette Wolfmeyer This District was formed in September of 1879 and is lo- cated in Section 7. The deed was obtained from the Hastings & Dakota Railway. We have had three schoolhouses. The original one is now the house on the Orville Sherod farm located in District 140. The second one was built in 1918 and burned in March, 1939. When building it, the lumber was hauled from Odessa by far- mers who were interested in obtaining a new school. When school reopened in 1939, classes were held in District 143 be- cause that district was closed. Later that fall they moved into the new building. Mildred Reeser was the first teacher in the Fis “Bee Si ae “ “ School present building, and our district has never been closed. The records in the County Superintendent of School’s of- fice go back to 1900 only. At that time Nellie Telfair was our teacher and her salary was $35 a month. Class names that year included Howe, Knoll, Nelson, Olson, Pownder, Rothi, Struck, Sheldrick, Wells, and Wolfmeyer. In 1892 a prairie fire swept across the prairie west of the schoolhouse. It is stated that it burned in the roots of that slough for many days. Some facts | thought interesting were the tax expendit- ures in the district in 1900 as compared to 1957. The number of days taught in the 1900 term was 180. The average cost per pupil then was 50c; in 1957 it was $388.94. The school board in 1900 was George Knoll, clerk; Nels Lundberg, director; and Lewis Wolfmeyer, treasurer. In 1957 our District Number was changed from 14 to 133. viper * erin a re gee ole School District 14, about 1911. Miss Verna Knoll, teacher. Pupils include Matilda Wolfmeyer, Pat Knoll, Agnes Lundberg, Edward Elling- son, Gladys Long, Bill Wolfmeyer, Charlotte Wolfmeyer, Hazel Tyler, Myrtle Knoll, Emma Wolfmeyer, Myrtle Kleespie, Oscar Lundberg, Anna Lundberg, Dewey Lundgren, Alma Lundberg, Edith Nelson, Bertha Ellingson, Peter Klees- pie, Hans Ellingson, and Henry Struck. Others of the 30 pupils enrolled then but not present the day the picture was taken were Teddy Nelson, Myrtle Nel- son, Ethel Tyler, Erma Knoll, Floyd Knoll, Mable Wolfmeyer, Lewis Lundgren, August Struck, and names of two others are not remembered. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 54 by Jeannette Wolfmeyer This District was formed May 17, 1894, from parts of Dis- tricts 14, 25, 24, and 48. One acre of land was donated for the school by A. C. Woodard. The 1900 annual report shows a total operating cost of $489.76 for the two terms. Golda M. Ball was hired for $30 a month for the fall term and Alice M. Cowden for $35 for the winter term and $30 for the spring term. 33 pupils were en- Page Fifty-Five SCHOOL DISTRICT 54 ABOUT 1904 Back row, left to right: Bass Draffehn, Billy Draffehn, Fred Woodard, Herman Hein, Jack Stock, Robert Will, Bill Hein, Daisy Ayres, Alma Pomerenke, Jo Draffehn, Selma Hein. Center: Jessie and Gene Woodard, Helen Stock (3 behind teacher). Front; Herman Falk, Harry Draffehn, August Falk, Otto Steffen, Eward Pomerenke, Marian Woodard, Adelia Bracklesburg - teacher, Helen Draffehn, Laura Pomerenke, and Elsie Will. rolled. That year the building was valued at $850, desks at $75, and school equipment at $75. The years of 1936 and 37, Gail L. Maynard was the teach- er and this was the last year the school was in operation. Sal- aries were raised to $450 for a nine-month term at $50.00 a month but enrollment dropped to 13 pupils. In 1937 and 38, our pupils were transported to Odessa, and the district was annexed to Odessa by dissolution on March 4th, 1953. The building was sold to Herman Hillman in 1953 and moved from its original site. It has been remodeled into a home where Mrs. Hillman is presently living. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 25 by Harry Kraft This District was organized in March, 1880 with Fred Hud- son as one of the board members. It was located at the site of the present Harry Kraft farm. Because of the lack of records, very little is known about this district. There were three terms of school each year, al- ways with a large enrollment. Some of the teachers were John DeWall, Maude Schumaker, Ida Buck, and Miss Faye. In 1914 - the district was annexed to Correll by consolidation. The fol- lowing winter the building was purchased by Ferch Brothers and moved to their farm. It was used as a barn until it burned. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 53 by Mrs. Gordon Nelson This is Minnesota’s Centennial Year, and our thoughts go back to those days which have been nearly forgotten in our Page Fifty-Six busy times. We try to picture our small portion of our State as the first settlers found it. It was a vast plain of tall waving grass, dotted with lakes, ponds and streams, all brimming with the high water of the spring season. Earlier, prairie fires swept by strong winds from the northwest had destroyed all the trees except those on the easterly shores of the larger bodies of water. Through this roadless prairie wilderness, plodded a team of weary oxen drawing a battered covered wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Ole Bolsta, with four small children, were nearing their home. They reached a suitable spot, a peninsula on the south- west side of Artichoke Lake. Here they found a plentiful sup- ply of timber from which to build shelter, and to use as fuel. The surrounding lake supplied all their water needs. In May, 1869, the Ole Bolsta family became the first white settlers in Big Stone County. From this point, the history of School District 53 in Akron runs parallel with that of Artichoke, for while this first home was located in Artichoke Township, it is now part of School District 53. One by one, through the following years, more families came, seeking homes in this new region. As was true of all pioneers, their first acts were those necessary to assure surviv- al; but also true to the American tradition, the education of their children followed very closely. So it was, on July 22nd, 1879, School District 13 was organized, including parts of Ar- tichoke and Akron Townships. In 1949 a portion of Section 36 in Artichoke became part of it. This land is the site of the orig- inal Ole Bolsta home and of the first schoolhouse in District 13, mentioned earlier in this narrative. A cursory examination has been made of records available in Big Stone County Courthouse. Much interesting data was found. A list of those in School District 53 who obtained their original patents directly from the United Government follows. Section 1: Ole Bolsta, 1885; Odin Wold, 1897; E. G. Red- field, 1897; Herman Bartz, 1904; Elmer Redfield, 1902. Section 2: H.E. Maxwell, 1881; Robert Maxwell, 1883; Joseph Noll, date missing. Sections 3, 9 and 11: Railroad land. Section 4: Frank J. Woodard, 1881; Fred Block, 1889; Jens Jensen, 1895; Konrad Kleespie, 1892. Section 10: Octive Poirier, 1883; Ben Stulky, 1883; Pea- body Dexter, 1890; Louis Johnson, 1892; Wilhelm Radmer, 1892. Section 12: Charles M. Sanders, 1881; Joseph Poirier, 1887; Erastus Redfield, 1888; Gilbert Poirier, 1893. Section 16: School Land. The newly organized school district built its first school, a primitive log building, on the shores of the lake, very near the Bolsta homestead. Hand-hewn planks were made into rude tables and seats. The first teacher was Miss Bolsta. There were no roads, only wagon tracks through the tall grass. Mr. George M. Nelson, one of the first pupils in that school, recalls that many mornings the children reached school wet almost to their shoulders from walking through the tall prairie grass. Settlers continued to arrive, and the original schoolhouse became too crowded and was too great a distance from many homes in the expanding community. On July 11, 1892, the Board of County Commissioners, after receiving legal petition, organized School District 53 by ordering territory to be taken from District 13 as follows: Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12 in Akron Township. A portion of Section 16 was set aside from School District 40 and added to the new School District 53. A small frame structure was erected on the northeast cor- ner of Section 10. Accurate records are not available; however, Mrs. Charlotte Dexter, now 89 years old, recalls that the first teacher was Miss Carry Wittemore. Not many years passed before the schoolhouse became inadequate. An attractive, large new schoolhouse was built, and is still functioning today, one of the few remaining in Big Stone County. Enrollment in District 53 has varied greatly with the passing years. Sometimes there have been as few as eight pupils; at other times there have been more than 35 students. The present enrollment is 11 and the teacher is Mrs. Verna Pe- terson. The District Number was changed from 53 to 143 in LoS 7. The area in the School District has changed only in minor ways. One farm in Section 12 has become part of a School Dis- trict in Swift County. One farm in Section 12, and one in Sec- tion 11 are now in the Correll School District. The tax records for the year 1892 were read and a few interesting facts were found. 1. Total taxes collected for School District 53 were $237.75. 2. The assessed valuation of all personal property in the School District was $2266.00. 3. The assessed valuation of all real estate was $15,- 345.00. 4. Tax Rates were as follows: State, 3.6; County, 7.7; School, 13.5; Township, 1.2. As the earliest settlers came, two major tasks confronted them. These were to provide’ shelter for their families and to grow food for the coming year. Sod shanties were not much! used nor were there many log cabins because of the lack of suitable and sufficient timber. The dug-out was used more extensively. This was a cellar-like excavation, dug four or five feet deep into the side of a small hill or knoll and then roofed over with lumber and, in some instances, with logs and sod. Some had earthen floors while others boasted of wooden ones. These structures were very dark inside for only one end could be used for windows and a door. In School District 53, many of the earliest homes were small wooden structures, often finished inside with rough boards. The space between the inner and outer walls was often packed with clay for insulation. Much of the furniture was home-made, either of logs or planks and few homes had more than a bed and a table with benches. Before kerosene came into common usage, the only light was often provided by a cup of goose grease with a rag for a wick. Jealously hoarded tallow was made into candles. To supplement the hard-to-get wood and coal for cooking and heating, dried “cow chips” were gathered and stored in a dry place. Prairie grass was sometimes tied into bunches, dried and saved for fuel. With little or no money and miles to a store, clothing in the earliest times was a home project too. Many families kept a few sheep from which they processed the wool into yarn. Shearing, washing the wool, carding and spinning were all done by the family. Much of this yarn was knitted into warm mittens, socks, caps, mufflers, sweaters and, in some instances, undergarments. Some families had looms and the yarn could be woven into cloth for outer garments. Many people, especially the children, wore home-made moccasins instead of shoes. Moccasins were made out of heavy canvas grain sacks, or home-tanned leather. Often this leather was of very poor quality because of not having the necessary items to tan the hides properly. The production of food for the family was a prime con- cern for our first settlers. As a rule, the first year a small acre- age of the virgin soil was “broken-up” and planted to wheat and rutabagas. During the very earliest days, the wheat was harvested with a scythe and hand-tied into sheaves, using long straw to make the ties. Later the sheaves were threshed on a clean, hard surface by pounding with a flail. The grain was carefully saved and fanned by pouring from one container to another in a brisk wind. The clean grain was ground in a cof- fee mill. What a happy day it must have been when the first flour mill was built! Breaking the prairie was tough, hard work for man and beast. Gradually horses replaced the oxen, but man still guid- ed the breaking plow, one furrow at a time, through the resist- ing prairie sod. Slowly the years passed. Then came the “rid- ing plow” and the binder. The first binder cut a swath only five or six feet wide and required three men to operate it. One man drove the horses and two tied the bundles with straw. Later wire was used for several years, but this was unsatisfac- tory. The first grain separators were driven by “horse-power”. Later came the upright steam engines which were moved from place to place by horses. About the turn of the century, mov- able steam engines were commonly used to drive huge “wing- fed” separators. 12 to 14 “bundle-wagons” (man, team of hor- ses and a rack wagon) were needed to keep this giant busy. As farm tractors replaced horses, grain separators were made smaller and came into general use. The average-sized farm tractor was used for power for these smaller separators, and only four to six bundle-wagons- were required. Today’s combines have made the threshing-machine obsolete. Every operation in the process of producing crops can be done by tractor-powered machines. What a contrast to the ox-drawn Page Fifty-Seven walking plow, the spade, the hoe, the scythe and flail of 100 years ago! The spiritual needs of the earliest settlers were partially filled by ministers who came from distant places. Sometimes services were held in homes, but as schools were built, they served also as meeting-places for various religious denomina- tions. Country churches were built as soon as there were enough people of the same faith to finance the project. Many early ministers served four to six churches, driving or riding many miles each Sunday and preaching two or three sermons. When the automobile came into general use, many of these country churches had to close. A new generation was not so strongly attached to the original church and preferred to attend services in larger and more active congregations. The Indians were seldom a menace in this part of Minne- sota. They came seasonally to hunt and trap, and while they were camped in the community, the people had to be constant- ly on the alert for thievery. Game was abundant and was a welcome addition to the early settlers’ meager fare. The lakes and streams teemed with fish, especially northerns and wall-eyed pike. Unlimited duck shooting was enjoyed during those early years, and prairie chickens were numerous. Some deer roamed through the coun- try and it is reported that elk and caribou were seen. Small fur-bearing animals were trapped as a means of supplementing the meager cash income. Tales are told that sev- eral of the early settlers walked to Benson or Morris to bring home flour and salt. Along the way they set traps, and on the way home picked up the traps and any fur-bearing animals that were luckless enough to get caught. One of the things most feared by the pioneer was the prairie fire. Nearly every fall, after the grass was dry, some part of the community suffered such a fire. The prairie fire, us- ually driven by a northwest wind, moved with terrifying rapid- ity and destroyed everything in its path. Another ever-present worry was severe sickness or acci- dent. The nearest doctor was often 30 to 40 miles away. Roads were non-existent in those early times. When he desired to reach a certain destination, the early settler simply struck out “as the crow flies,” swerving only for impassable water barriers or possibly some small tilled field. Naturally, as the country became more populous, a system of roads was de-- veloped. Year after year more and better roads have been built to meet the steadily increasing demands on transportation. Yes! This is Minnesota’s Centennial Year. As one reads the legal records of those years of long ago, many untold and un- written true stories are partially revealed. From the reminiscen- ces of the few remaining pioneers, many vivid scenes from our early days are re-created. There are stories of the brave and the daring who were among the first to venture into an unknown land, stories of almost super-human efforts in the fight for sur- vival, stories of heart-break and defeat as some gave up the struggle to wrest a home from the prairie. There are accounts of suffering, hunger, want, cold, sickness, and death. In a hap- pier vein, there are illustrations of courage, heroism, determin- ation, helpfulness, unselfishness, co-operation, and true hospi- tality. This is our heritage. May we always cherish it! @ Almond Township Reporter: Mrs. Alvin Swenson Almond Township was organized March 29, 1880 and the village of Clinton is located in almost the exact center. It is be- lieved to have been named for either of two locations - a town- ship and village in Allegany County, New York, or for those in Page Fifty-Eight Portage County, Wisconsin. Early settlers were the Baileys who located eight miles north of Ortonville, and Albert and Knute Lysing who settled near Bailey’s Grove, sometimes called Long Island. S. O. Steen came in 1876 and brought his family here in 1877. Olai Steen, now 85, remembers of this journey. The Rothwells came from England, Tom in 1876; James H. in 1877; and Joseph F. and John, the father, who settled in Graceville township and org- anized a colony of settlers there. In 1878, James H. Rothwell was named postmaster of the new Central Post Office, and the death of his son, James Percy, in December, that year, was the first recorded death in Almond. The first birth was the daugh- ter of D. G. Berkman in 1877, and the first marriage recorded was that of Lewis K. Hong and Miss R. Lysing in September, 1879. The Mertinsons came in 1877 with the Steen family and grandsons of John Martinson, Earnest and Leonard Martinson, now farm on his original homestead. Charles Johnson took a claim in 1879 but didn’t take up residence on it until 1896. His brother, J. C. Johnson, also came here. Mrs. C. J. Swenson came from Sweden in 1869 and her ocean trip took one month because of boiler trouble. Mr. C. J. Swenson came from Swe- den in 1876. Their homestead here is still in the family, and Emil and Vinton reside there now. Jens Samuelson came from Norway and his farm is now occupied by two grandsons, Rol- and and David Samuelson. Other early names were: Matt Eide, J. F. and Oscar Webb, M. Coat, S. D. Kemerer, L. Hong, D. G. Berkman and John Olson. People living east of Clinton got their mail at Big Stone Center, the present Charlie Chapin farm. C.J. Swenson often went on horseback as there were no roads. In the spring his horse would sometimes have to swim him across the slough, near the present Cunningham and Philip Peterson farms. Albert, Knute, and Eric Lyseng came from Norway and were among the very early homesteaders of the county. They later went to Canada where they farmed extensively. When Mr. and Mrs. Elias Lyseng came from Norway, they walked from Ortonville to the Carlson School where S.O. Steen met them in a lumber wagon. Many family reunions were held with the relatives from Canada and Montana in these interven- ing years. Mrs. Elias (Rasmine) Lyseng died February 12, 1958 at the age of 93 years. Their homestead is now farmed by Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lyseng, with whom Mrs. Rasmine Lyseng made her home. Stories of other early families are told in Grandma Beaty’s History in the Clinton section. SCHOOLS District No. 4, known as the Long Island School, was form- ed in 1874 and early classes were held in the log cabin where Erick Lyseng lived, the present Thomas Cunningham farm. When a school was built, it was necessary to buy the trees to build it with, and John Peterson and son, Alfred, hauled the logs up from the lake by oxen. Later the building was improv- ed with plaster and siding. Solomon Scholberg and Myra Van- demark were early teachers. A new building was erected in 1893, and Olai Steen taught the first five months. Among other teachers were Marie Nostdal, Estella Peter- son, Jacob Davick, George Becker, Marie Stephens, Mae Fitz- harris, Ruth Lindgren, Mattie Daly, Emma Swenson, Esther Carl- son, Selma Iverson, Helen Law, Hattie Swenson, Joseph Martin- son, Emma Martinson, and Hilda Larson. This district was annexed to Clinton by reorganization on December 16, 1952. The property went back to the original owner and still stands there. District 27, known as the Nelson School, was formed in December, 1880. Some of the families included Peter Rigg, Pete Nelson, Chris Campbell, ~Thorsons, Propps, and Bublitz. After the district was annexed to Clinton in 1952, the building was moved to Clinton where it is used at the Fairgrounds. District 28 was formed in January, 1881 and was annex- ed to Clinton in 1952. District 57 was known as the Huselid school and the fam- ilies included the Huselids, Herbert Hurleys, Hoxtells, Hicksons and Sanders. One teacher, Elda Holmquist Van Winkle, kept the pupils in school during a blizzard and had an unhappy but safe night with no lamps nor food and anxious children. This district was formed in October, 1894 and was also annexed to Clinton in 1952. ST. PAULI LUTHERAN CHURCH by Olai Steen Early church services were held in homes and schoolhous- es, and the Swedish and Norwegian settlers held services to- gether. As their number increased, a desire to establish a con- gregetion was expressed. Pastor Peter Reque and Pastor H. A. Hartman met with the Lutheran pioneers and their families in October, 1877, at the home of Severin O. Steen, and thus St. Pauli Lutheran Church was organized. This first meeting was held in our one-room sod house so there was little space to accommodate a large num- ber of people. The first recorded meeting of the congregation was held on May 5,.1878 in Ole Lillestater’s home and he do- nated a one-acre plot from his homestead to the church to be used as a cemetery. Services were held alternately at our home and at the Mikkel Rasmussen home _ in Prior Township. Our family was always entertained there for dinner when church was held there, and we always expected them when it was at our home. Oxen only traveled two miles an hour so it took a long time to get to church. Pioneers came from as far away as 10 miles to attend. The first pastor was Pastor H.A. Hartman who traveled from his home in Benson about five times a year to conduct services in the various homes. He served until 1880. Pastor Ab- el Anderson served from 1887 to 1895 and traveled from his home in Montevideo. He would be met at Rupert Station, a whistle-stop about one-third mile southwest of the present St. Pauli Church. The family whose turn it was to “keep” the pas- tor would meet him and return him to the station when his stay was completed. In 1885, the congregation split into two groups, St. Pauli and Big Stone or Trinity. In 1895 St. Pauli formed a call with the Long Lake and Wheaton congregations and plans were made to build a church. Severin J. Huselid of- ee nes fered land for a church and a cemetery, and this offer was accept- ed. An _ addition was built in 1911. St. Pauli and Trinity merged in 1957 - so the original congregation which had its beginning in a sod house in 1877 is again’ functioning as one congregation. An_ interesting side- light is a custom of the early church. Since there was _ no _instru- ment to accompany the singing, each church would elect a “Kirke- sanger’, or “Klokker”, as he was called, who assisted in the service by praying the opening and closing prayers and leading the congregation’s singing. R. D. Martinson served as the “Klokker” for many years in the Big Stone con- gregation, and Ole Lillesater, Severin O. Steen, and Ole |. Steen served in the St. Pauli congregation. S. O. STEEN FAMILY by Olai Steen My father came to Big Stone County in 1876 and looked for a place for our family to live. He walked into Ortonville and was told of a fine place about six miles north. He walked there and found a Lyseng family settled there in a grove of trees, and he settled on land nearby. In 1877 he brought the whole family along, and the Martinsons, relatives of mother’s, came with us. We were three days on the way from Kandiyohi County, traveling with two rigs and two yokes of oxen. We stopped at Lyseng’s to let them know we had arrived and they insisted we all spend the night with them. Their home had on- ly one room, but they carried in hay and put it all around the room against the wall and we all slept comfortably. Our first house was a dug-out, measuring about 14 by 16 feet. Sod was cut and piled like bricks to make the walls. A sod roof was laid on coarse hay. At first there was no floor, but later we had a board wall with two windows. We lived there for five years with no cellar and no floor. Later a cellar was dug, a floor laid over it, and the house enlarged. What with the furniture, clothing, utensils, and food supplies for a fam- ily, space was limited. The first school | attended was two miles east of home at Erick Lyseng’s place, and was taught by Solomon Scholberg. For two years school was held there; then | went to the Kam- mer place where John Kammer taught us. When District 4’s new building was built, | taught the first term of five months. Because of so much illness in the community that winter, the term was split. We had a three-day storm of sleet, cold wind, and snow in October of 1880. My father was stack-threshing at the neigh- bor’s and was barely able to get home. We were fortunate that we were able to get our cattle home and that we had a barn for them. Our neighbors, Christiansons, who lived near the Long Island school, had no barn so they took the animals into the house one by one to warm them. All grain stacks and the horse-powered threshing machine were snowed in. There was much heavy snow in February that same winter, so we had a late spring with a heavy run-off of water. Our home was a stopping place for the early settlers who lived near Big Stone Lake and took their wheat to Morris to have it ground for flour. A round trip would take a week since the oxen traveled slowly, and there would be a day’s wait while the grain was being ground into flour. The year’s supply of various needs would be purchased on such trips. | am enjoying reliving the many memories of my eighty- five years. @ Artichoke Township Reporter: Mrs. Wm. C. Hanson Artichoke Township was organized in April, 1880 at the home of H. P. Weeding, the farm now occupied by Harvey Lund. Officers elected were: John Dalvang, chairman; H. H. Gaard and Christ Johnson, supervisors; Ole Bolsta, clerk and justice; Nels Johnson, treasurer; H. P. Weeding and Willis Al- len, constables. $75 was to be raised by tax for current expen- ses. The first marriage was H. Hanson and Miss Tena Benson. The name “Artichoke” was very probably translated from the Sioux name of the lake, referring to the edible tuber roots Page Fifty-Nine of a species of sunflower which was used by the Indians for food. They grew in abundance here and throughout the state. MAIL SERVICE The first mail service was by the Star route from Orton- ville. This served Otrey, Artichoke, and Hegbert. The first Arti- choke postoffice was in the home of Nels Johnson, where Don- ald Moen now lives. His brother, Hans Johnson, was the first to hold the contract for bringing the mail out from Ortonville to this home. He did not drive much himself, but had Nicaus Nelson (father of Art Nelson) do most of the driving. As far as can be ascertained, it seems it was before 1885 when this route started. Mr. Nelson used a light wagon, built so it was enclosed for protection from the wind, to haul the mail. In the winter he had a small kerosene stove in it to keep warm, but it was by no means an easy job. Remember, the roads were mere trails, and the distance was about 20 miles each way. Sometimes the snow storms were terrible. One time he was ov- ertaken by a sudden snow storm while on the way. It became so severe, he could not see anything, not even the horses in front of his wagon. He quit trying to direct them, but let them go. They kept plodding on for what seemed a very long time. He had no idea of where they were or in what direction they were traveling. Suddenly they stopped. He got out to investi- gate and found the horses’ heads up against the wall of the home place. From the wagon, he could not even see the light which had been placed in the window of the home. Later, when the first Artichoke store was started, the post- office was moved there, where it remained until the rural free delivery service was established in 1910. The Star route serv- ice was a delivery from post office to post office only. People then came from miles around to get their mail at the local post- office. The other carriers on the Star route from Ortonville were Mr. Welch and Gideon Wells; and from Correll, Albert Mail Wagon, about 1908. Art Hanson, driver Mortenson (1904-1907) and Charles Hanson (1907-1910). The R.F.D. carriers from 1910 and on were Kenneth Stegner, Frank West, Wm. Wechsler, Herbert Christensen, and our present one, Earl Wills. STORES Peter Peterson started.the first Artichoke store on his homestead in Section 4, where Jake Danielson now lives, soon after 1882. The post office was then moved from the Nels Johnson home to the store. L.H. Christian was his driver for some time. Mr. Peterson delivered quite a lot of mail around the country by horseback, as a community service. The second store was run by Steve Evenson. Then Karle, from Bellingham, built a new store, and Mr. Arneson operated it. This was about 1893. Dietrich Schmeckpeper from Illinois was next, then Alec Bomstad. This was the last combination store-postoffice. Chris- topherson was next. That store burned. Then Henry Rodengen had one which also burned. Victor Hanson built a new store in 1927, the present one, and operated it until 1939. Art and Stan Hanson then took over for several years. Ernest Rigge had it for a year, then Mrs. Rose Swenson until April, 1958 when Mr. Page Sixty Sutton took over. These stores, in a community so far out from any town, have indeed been very important and convenient. A Blacksmith Shop was first run by John Larson, near the store. He invented the “Larson Pincers,” the first of its type, while here. They became very popular and were sold all through the country. He obtained the patent on them. Later Er- ickson, and then Pederson, had the shop. This service closed about 1915. A Weather Station has been in operation for 41 years, first by Nat Anderson during the many years he lived on his farm, and now by Arthur Nelson. The familiar phone call, “How much rain did we get?” - or snow - is an old story on that place. INDIAN MOUND On the David Johnson farm east of the Artichoke Lake, is this very interesting spot. It is a sloping mound, perhaps about eight feet high, an Indian burial place long years ago. The cus- INDIAN MOUND - Near view to the left; far view to the right. tom was to place the dead on the ground, and then carry soil in baskets and thus cover them. So, of course the mound grew higher and higher as more were buried there. Later this mound was used as a burial place by the David Johnson family. THE FIRST ARTICHOKE BAND (About 1897) (As told by Mrs. Ernest Jorgenson, daughter of Arvid L. Olson) Mr. Arneson was the proprietor of the Artichoke store at that time and also the postmaster. Dad was working for him, Front row: Arvid L. Olson, Peder Benson, Albert Lange, leader, John Olson, and Charlie Carlson. Second Row: J. M. Johnson, Henning Olson, Gust Even- son, Nat Anderson, Otto Anderson, Eddie Michelson. Back Row: Jens Robertson, Hilbert Johnson, Pete Hanson, Eddie Johnson, Nels Johnson, Gutham Hoff, Fred Evenson, Gunwald Torgerson. and one of his jobs was helping sort the mail that came from Ortonville once a week. Dad would select the mail going to Drywood and put it in a mail-bag, and Mr. Arneson would put the Artichoke mail in another bag. One day Dad became interested in a Lyon Healy Co. cata- logue illustrating band instruments and he conceived the idea of starting a band in Artichoke. The first young man to come into the store after this inspiration was Hilbert Johnson. Dad talked it over with him and Hilbert was the first signer. As other young fellows came into the store and were told of this plan, they too, became interested and enthusiastic, and 22 signed up as potential members. Dad was then appointed to see Mr. Albert Lange, a farmer about 10 miles east of Artichoke and a former member of a military band in Germany. He was very glad to offer his assistance as band leader and came once a week. He was paid $2 each trip - big money in those days! About 1899, District 26 completed a new schoolhouse so the band members bought the old building for $100 and used it for their weekly practice sessions. Two or three of the mem- bers dropped out, but the remaining 18 stayed together for five years. Their first concert was given at a Fourth of July pic- nic at the Davidson place at Drywood. They were hired for $25. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, a call was is- sued over the nation for teachers. lvar Bakken was selected by the government to go to the. Philippines to teach. The people of Drywood gave a farewell party and asked the Artichoke band to play for this occasion. They also had band-picnics and played for picnics conducted by other groups, as well as for other special events. This band did ‘much to popularize Arti- choke in Big Stone County. THE SECOND ARTICHOKE BAND (1916-1933) The interest in a band did not die down, even though sev- eral years elapsed. In 1916 a meeting was called at the Arti- choke store for the purpose of organizing another band. Quite a number signed up, including at least two members of the Second Artichoke Band (1916-1933) Leader: Henry Harvey. Front row: Godfrey Nelson, Kermit Johnson, Dan Pring, Bill Johnson, Caleb Lund, Harry Anderson, Fred Ro- bertson. Back row: Johnnie Carlson, Nat An- derson, Ingwald Tofte, Wm. Hanson, Mr. Nypan, Harold Hanson, Roy John- son, Armond Olson, Victor Hanson. first band - Nat Anderson and Otto Anderson. Henry Harvey of Benson was chosen as their band leader. He was very cap- able and had about six bands in different places. He still lives in Benson. They practiced once a week in School District. No. 26 and once a year a band picnic was held east of the lake, on the Engebrekt Peterson homestead site. The large grove of oak trees by the lake provided a perfect setting for a picnic. Some- times there would be over 1,000 people in attendance, many coming from towns and the surrounding community. Lunches, soft drinks, and candy were sold, and the proceeds were used to meet band leader's fees, uniforms, and other expenses. They used to play at the county fair, and at various other gatherings. They played several times at the grain dealers’ conventions in Minneapolis. They disbanded in 1933 because several younger members left the community and times were getting hard in a financial way. FISHING AND BOAT STORIES Artichoke Lake gradually lowered and by about 1898 it had become almost dry, so people were given permission to take out fish in any manner they chose. Henry Johnson urged Modern Boating on Artichoke Lake - 1957 people to come and fish one certain morning. They were asked to bring a wagon for the fish, preferably one with a double box. That morning ten wagons and many people showed up at the south end of the Lake near the Peterson place. A group from Appleton was already there but had not gotten many fish. Henry Johnson went to work. A large, very strong dragnet was put out and dragged towards shore by some men on each end. Soon it became too heavy, so a team of horses was hitched to each end of the net. It became too heavy for them, too, so an- other team was added to each end. The fish began to be push- ed up on dry land while the net was still far out in the water. People began loading the wagons with pitch forks, and soon all the wagons were filled. The fish were mostly large buffalo, many weighing as much as 23 pounds.. Herman Olson said they salted them by the barrel, gave a lot away, smoked and dried them, and had fish - no end. Later, the remaining fish died and covered the shore so men_ had to be hired to bury them. A well-known typical fisherman at that time was “Gamle Eklund,” as everyone called him - father of Albert, Frank, and Herman Eklund. He never could get enough of the sport. One time he was down by Carl Olson’s place fishing when the ice was rather thin and fell through. He almost drowned since he was not able to get out of the water onto the ice. He finally got his big knife out of his belt and with one hand drove it in- to the ice in front of him, thus managing to get out. He came to Carl Olson’s nearly frozen to death. They found two pair of woolen underwear which he put on. They wanted to give him some outer clothing, but he refused, saying, “Dette er ull,” (That is enough!). He put on an old overcoat and in a few min- utes was out fishing again. In about the year 1907, Charlie Hanson bought a large- sized boat, believed to be the first gasoline-motor-driven boat on the Lake. His sons, Bill and Art, and Gordon Kist, were real- ly enthused over .it that first afternoon and were trying hard to get it started before evening. They had trouble with it and it got dark, but they were still trying - and they began lighting matches to see with. Of course, lighted matches have a strong Page Sixty-One affinity for gasoline - as they soon discovered to their conster- nation. They had to jump out into the water and tip the boat to one side until they got water enough into it to extinguish the flames. Their Dad got them a new motor and the “Althea” be- came a source of great pleasure to many people who enjoyed rides in it. Sometimes as many as 20 were in it at one time. A grandson of Charlie Hanson, who is also the great- grandson of the Engebrekt Peterson that loved the Lake and hunting so much, takes people out for rides in the modern ver- sion - a 15-foot aluminum boat with outboard motor. Charles also has collected about 300 Indian arrowheads, much pottery and clubs, around the Lake and on the islands. He has a large showcase display of them and his taxidermy specimens in the porch facing the lake. THE SAILORS’ CLUB This Sailors’ Club was started in the early 90’s. Quite a number who seemingly had Viking blood in their veins organ- ized a club for recreation and enjoyment. The sail boat was built by Morton Anderson and John M. Johnson. Uniforms ARTICHOKE SAILORS’ CLUB FROM THE EARLY 90’s Photo taken in front of a store in Appleton, includes J. M. Johnson, Morton Anderson, Charlie Hanson, Charlie Olson, Soren Knutson, David Johnson, C. J. Sovig, Mr. Emerson and Morton Hanson. were made by Mr. Emerson, father of Albert Emerson, and they really looked like real sailors. They enjoyed many an out- ing on the Lake when the wind was blowing enough for the ourpose. A Creamery was started out here in 1906. It was located on the Charlie Hanson farm, on the south side of the creek, near the road. Cream was brought in from the neighboring community, churned into butter, packed into wooden tubs, and then shipped to New York. Two of the men who operated this were David Anderson and Gordon Kist. It was discontinued in Wis The Artichoke and Correll Telephone Company was start- ed in 1904. Shares were sold and it was called a corporation. In a little time-worn pamphlet entitled, “Articles of Incorpora- tion of the Artichoke and Correll Telephone Company,” it was interesting to note the names of those who signed before a no- tary public - Charles Hanson, Dietrich Schmeckpeper, Fred To- bec, Peter Bentson, Didrich Carlson, Edward Robertson, C. A. Johnson, O. A. Vig, C.J. Olson, John A. Jorgenson - in pres- ence of A.B. Fosseen and Egan Anderson. This system was continued for quite a number of years; then a second system was started which ended about 1940 because of the difficulty of keeping it in repair and working order. The Federated Tele- phone Co-op. was started in 1956, and we are really apprec- iating our new dial system telephones. Willard Anderson, son of Egan Anderson, is the manager and has his office in Chokio. Page Sixty-Two When the rural-electrification law was passed during Franklin D. Roosevelt's era, it literally lighted up the rural ar- eas so long in semi-darkness and inconvenience. In our part of the territory, Arvid L. Olson and Bill and Vic Hanson began looking into and campaigning for such service and the first meeting was called in Morris in 1930. Many who were inter- ested met there and some were appointed in each locality to canvass the homes and sign up people interested in the proj- ect. The campaign was on, in earnest! In order to get it through, a certain number of people per mile were required to sign up, and a certain amount of money was paid in by each signer. When this was achieved, the “Go Ahead” signal was given, and work was started on the surveying and building of lines. Victor Hanson, then operating the Artichoke store, was voted in as manager of the Rural Agra-Lite Co-op., as we now know it. This covers 63 townships in Big Stone, Swift, Stevens, and the southern part of Pope Counties. The REA office is lo- cated in Benson. In 1939, shortly before Christmas, we turned our lights on for the first time - so the bowl of oil with the rag hanging over the edge, the candle, and the kerosene lamp eras were over - with no regrets! SCHOOLS by Mrs. Ray Mullins Before any school districts were organized, schools were established, one on the south end of Artichoke Lake on the Bolsta place, and one on the north end. A Bolsta daughter taught for awhile during the winter months and children would skate across to get there from the other side. Another early school held classes in a granary with a straw roof on the Peter Peterson farm, where five or six children attended and Charles King was the teacher. District No. 26 (now 135) was formed in March, 1880 and one of the first teachers was Miss Northcott. Most of the chil- dren of this community were taught by Albert L. Peterson who taught here for about 15 years altogether. In his early teaching career, he began at a salary of $50 a month and often had 40 to 50 pupils. His last year here was in 1920 with 39 pupils. Another teacher was N. A. Hoisington. District No. 13 (now 132) was formed in 1879 and is one of the few octagon schools that were built. Carlson and Hass- len constructed it at a cost of $800 and it was their first build- ing contract in Big Stone County. The enrollment was so large that it had to be divided, with each group attending one week at a time. The first teachers on record were N. A. Hoisington and R. H. Chapman. Josie Bolsta taught in 1890, receiving a salary of $28.00 a month. Mrs. Elmer Rolen, the last teacher, taught for 10 years until the school was closed in 1955. The pupils are now transported to Appleton. District No. 49 (now 141) was formed in 1886 and the first teacher was Emma Nelson, hired at a salary of $55.75 a year. The schoolhouse was erected for $251.25, and at one time 40 pupils were enrolled. Mrs. Belma Johnson was the last teacher here and taught over six years. District No. 52 (now 142) was formed in 1891 and one of the very early teachers got only $10 a month. She lived with Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hanson who didn’t charge any fee for room and board since her salary was so meager. In 1907, Eth- el MacMichael, an Irish girl full of fun, came from Minneapolis and also stayed with the Hansons. That winter the snow was very deep and late one afternoon, while walking home from school, she fell through and sank into snow almost up to her neck. She just laughed, though she had to wait until someone came along and scooped her out. She evidentally liked this part of the country for she married Willie Pederson of our com- munity. Mrs. Bessie Zarbuck has been teaching here these past 10 years. District No. 65 (now 144) was formed in April, 1921, and Mrs. Florence Bordson of Madison taught there last year. ARTICHOKE LUTHERAN CHURCH by Marvin Rodvik, Mrs. Ray Mullins and Miss Beulah J. Carlson As settlers increased in number, the need for spiritual and social centers was felt. At first and for some time, they met in various homes for Bible study and services. September 12th, 1875, a small group met at the David Johnson home and held the organizational meeting of “the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran’ Congregation of Swift and Sur- rounding Counties, Minnesota”, later to become known as the Artichoke Lutheran Church. Charter members were David John- son, Ernst L. Christianson, Ole A. Rodengen, Ole O. Rodengen, Johan P. Lynnes, Ole E. Hegstad, Amund Paulson, C. J. Sovig, Einar Eliason, Lars P. Eliason, Ole P. Lehne, and Ole O. Lehne. Services were to be conducted 10 or 12 times a year, and the first pastor called was the Rev. Christian Saugstad. Early serv- ices were held at the pastor’s home and in 1887 it was decided that a church be built. The edifice was under roof by 1889 but wasn’t completed until 1901 and was dedicated June 30, 1901. Other members included the families of Ole Bolsta, Morton An- derson, Andrew Berg, John Martin Johnson, O. R. Pederson, D. Carlson, Ole Stordahl Hanson, Klingbergs, Adrian Larson, Peter Torgerson, H. J. Stormo, Adrian Pederson, Jeremiah Pederson, E. Boe, Ole Boe, H. A. Larson, Jens Larson, Ben Gunner, Hagrop Hanson, Bernard Johnson, Mathias Mathison, J. Hendrickson, Jens Torgerson, and Jens Jensen. Pastor Saugstad served until March, 1877. Others were Pastors Olson (1877-1886); Ole Dahle (1887-1889), called at a salary of $100 a year, and at which time the congregation join- ed with Drywood, Eidskog, Long Island, and Holden congrega- tions; W. B. Dahl (1889 - 1895); J. M. Mikaelson (18- 95-1904), Walseth, Reese, Thompson, Sandager, Renslo, and W. C. Peterson. Mrs. George Nelson’ served for many years as organist. Services were discontin- ved in 1948. The church building was sold and moved to Appleton in February of 1956, to serve the Bethel Evangelical Free Church con- Artichoke Lutheran Church Enroute to Appleton, 1956 to mark the site of the first church congregation organized in our county is the little country cemetery. gregation there. Left behind ARTICHOKE BAPTIST CHURCH by Mrs. Ray Mullins This little Baptist Church was organized July 29, 1877, and the charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. Morton Hanson, Mr. and Mrs. Olaus Hanson, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Aldor Hanson and Mr. and Mrs. Lars Benson. The first pastor was Rev. H.H. Gaard and he served as regular pastor more than 13 years without salary. In 1888 Aldor Hanson donated an acre of land for the church lot and cemetery. In 1889 the church was erected at a cost of $673.17, including material and labor. A few years lat- er some additions were made, including a steeple, and in 1912 Artichoke Lake Baptist Church, 1889 a small basement was made and a furnace installed. As the membership increased, the building became too small, and a new church was built in 1949. Rev. Milton Schoepf served us from 1953 to July, 1958. The Church maintains a camp on the east shore of Big Stone Lake known as the Camp for Christ. February 22, 1938, Miss Alice Jorgenson, daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. Anthon Jorgenson, went to the Belgian Congo, Africa, as a missionary nurse. She has worked there for 30 years, except for the time she’s been home on furlough. Others who have gone out in Christian work are Rev. L. Weed- ing and Rev. H. H. Gaard, both gone to be with the Lord; Mrs. Edith Mauch Black; Mrs. Mary Johnson Benson; Mrs. Eleanor Raad McMurray; Mrs. Alvera Swenson Brock; Mrs. Edith Olson Swenson; Mrs. Juliette Swenson VanHovel; Dr. John Raad; Rev. Palmer Swenson; Dr. Alvin Swenson; Rev. H. G. Jorgenson (a grandson of Rev. H.H. Gaard) and Miss Inez Parsons, who left for Equador, South America, in 1951 and is stationed in a hos- pital there. Miss Janet Swenson is now preparing for mission- ary work and is about to enter nurses training. LIST OF PASTORS OF ARTICHOKE BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. H. H. Gaard, 1879-90 Rev. H. G. Jorgenson, Rev. C. W. Broms, 1890-91 1921-22 Rev. H. H. Gaard, 1891-93 Rev. J. A. Moe, 1922-28 Rev. A. A. Ohrn, 1895-96 Student Pastor - Berger Swen- Rev. E. G. Sundt, 1897-99 son, 1928-29 Rev. H. H. Gaard, 1899-01 REN eG Ni avirer sas Rev. O. Breding, 1930-34 Student Pastor, Alvin Swen- son, 1934-35 Supply Pastor - Harold Olson, Rev. John Hallstrom, 1901-02 Rev. K. Tonnes, 1903-04 Rev. I.M.E. Hokland, 1905-07 Rev. H. H. Gaard, 1907-08 1935 Rev. H: M. Anderson, Rev. H. G. Jorgenson, 1936- 1909-14 43 Rev. O. M. Jorgenson, Rev. S. Haukedalen, 1943-52 1915-21 Rev. Milton Schoepf, 1952-58 SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH by Mrs. Wm. C. Hanson On June 11, 1877 the Seventh-Day Adventist Church was organized with eight charter members, including Mr. and Mrs. Page Sixty-Three Edward Hanson, Mr. and Mrs. Engebrekt Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Peterson, and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Peterson. Early ministers included Rev. Lewis Johnson, who served even before the church was built, Rev. L. H. Christian, Rev. Stone, Rev. Steen and Rev. John Hoffman. The church was built in 1891 on the Edward Hanson farm and it is still there and services are held regularly. At one time there was a congregation of over 100, but through the years many families moved out. Many went West for health reasons, because of the milder climate, and also for educational reasons so they might live closer to schools and colleges. SOME EARLY ARTICHOKE FAMILIES by Mrs. Ray Mullins CHRISTOFFER SOVIG came to Artichoke in the fall of 1869 and took a homestead on the east shore of the lake. During the summer he had worked in Minneapolis and the first few win- ters here he trapped muskrats with the Indians. The Indians had tepees around the lake and were friendly so they got along very well together. Sovig lived in a sod cellar the first winter and built a log cabin the following year. The Indians used to peek through the windows when they wanted something - al- ways to the window before they came to the door. The closest railroad then was at New London and Mr. Sovig walked there and back, carrying the 50 pound sack of flour on his shoulders. Later he drove oxen and had a wagon. One fall he harvested many potatoes which he took to Benson to sell, but had so much trouble driving there across streams and sloughs. He had to carry the sacks of potatoes so many times when he got stuck in the mud that he said he would have been much better off to have dumped them in the lake in the first place. He sold them for about 30c a bushel. He didn’t like to do any work on Sunday, but one Sunday they stacked grain all day because it looked like rain. The next day the prairie fire destroyed all the stacks - that was the last Sunday he ever worked. JOHAN MARTIN JOHNSON, 20, and his wife INABORG, 19, were among the first settlers, coming here in the spring of 1873. They homesteaded and built a small house on a quarter section of land, spending most of their lives there. Five sons and five daughters were born to this couple. In 1898 one of the sons, a lad of 12, was accidentally shot and killed when young neighborhood boys were visiting and handling firearms. An encampment of Sioux Indians was located near their build- ings, a spot on which Indian relics are still being found. The old homestead is still owned and operated by Johnson’s. . REV. H. H. GAARD vis- ited Artichoke Lake as early as 1871 and once since. He sold his farm near Lake LIil- lian in 1878 and came with his family and most of his worldly goods in a covered wagon while a few cattle and pigs followed behind. He purchased the farm on the west shore of the lake from Ole Rodengen. Mrs. Gaard, named Ovedia, sold _ her : / _ _homewoven material for $10 Rev. and Mrs. Hans H. Gaard and made a down payment on their first cow. When the Sioux Indians came here to hunt and fish in the fall of 1880, they occasionally asked her for food for they especially liked her nice, big, white loaves of bread. One day they asked if they might take her two young- est girls, Hannah, 11, and Louise, 9, along back to their en- campment to see a new baby, after which they brought them back to their home. Hannah, now Mrs. Anthon Jorgenson, lives Page Sixty-Four in Big Stone City, is 89, and in fairly good health. The Gaard farm was later turned over to the youngest son, Charles Han- Hannah Gaard, 19 (Now Mrs. Anthon Jorgenson of Big Stone City.) Louise Gaard (Mrs. John Jorgenson) son, and at the present time it is occupied by his grandson, Wm. Hanson. Sons of Mrs. Gaard, Mr. and Mrs. Morton Hanson and Mr. and Mrs. Olaus Hanson, came from Lake Lillian in 1875 and settled in Section 2, on farms now occupied by May- er Mathison and Ray Mullins. ALDOR and CHRISTINE HANSON came January 18th, 1876 and lived in a dugout for over two years. The first winter they lived here, Aldor and a neighbor went by skiis to St. Peter for flour, salt, and other groceries and the trip took two weeks. During the winter of 1883 Christine Hanson and Albertina Jen- son decided one mild day to visit a neighbor. They hadn’‘t walked far before they realized they were in a sudden, bad blizzard. They wandered eéround until Ed. Robertson found them. The storm was so thick that they had actually walked right alongside the house without realizing it. The snow was so bad those eerly winters that the head of the house would fast- en one end of a piece of twine in the kitchen and keep the oth- er end in his hand until he got to the barn to take care of his livestock. He could then be guided back to the house again. ANDREW MATHISON came in 1879 and his wife came two yeers later. They stayed with Nels Johnson until they es- tablished a home. The ROBERTSONS and JORGENSONS came in 1880. Mrs. Ellen Robertson was our oldest resident until she died February 2, 1958 and would have been 100 years old had she lived until July 23. MRS. LARS (ANNA) DANIELSON has lived in this community for 72 years and is 95 years old. She recalls the time gypsies came to her home and _ helped themselves to hem, eggs, and bread. They fried and ate their meal right in her kitchen. About 1870, H. P. WEEDING, ERNEST CHRISTIANSON (fa- ther of Mrs. Egan Anderson) and a friend decided to leave Ben- son and walk west to look for land. When they came to the Chippewa River, the latter could not swim so he remained on the east side while the others swam across. Mr. Weeding homesteaded in Artichoke and Christianson in Drywood. IVER NELSON, father of George Nelson, shot an elk about 1871 and a couple years later Johan Martin Johnson saw several elk. Aldor, Olaus and Morton Hanson _ had the first threshing machine in Artichoke about 1889. The separator was 36 x 60 and was run by 16 head of horses. A crew of 20 to 22 men went with the machine and most of them stayed right on the place. It meant much extra work for the housewife, but she took it all in her stride by baking ahead of time and being pre- pared. Many housewives exchanged help and borrowed dishes and bedding from each other. Hanson Threshing Rig In 1910 Oscar Rodengen bought the first car, a Haliday, and gasoline then cost eight cents a gallon, delivered. Most of us remember how hard it was during the 30’s. Corn sold for as little as 14c a bushel and much of it was even burned as fuel! Eggs sold for 6c a dozen. We recall selling five gallons of cream for 49c, and one fall we sold 37 hogs for $42. Those times weren’‘t only hard for the rural areas, but for busi- nessmen too. May we never experience those conditions again. DAVID JOHNSON by Marvin S. Rodvik (grandson) David Johnson was born in Sletness, Balsfjord, Norway, on June 20, 1834, the 13th child of Johannes Abrahamson Sletness and Ane Adriansdatter. The tradition of his family was rich in the lore of seafaring and exploration, and during his early life he participated in many whaling, sealing, and polar bear hunting expeditions. The family was one of means, own- ing two sloops and one schooner. .A nephew of David Johnson, Soeren Johannesen, achieved fame as the Captain of the Nord- enskjold ‘Vega’ expedition, which circumvented Siberia through the Northeast Passage in the 1880's. Another nephew, Captain Edvard Holm Johannesen, was the First Mate on this expedition, while a third nephew, Hans K. Johannesen, built and later sold to Roald Amundsen, the ship “Gjoa’” which the latter sailed through the much-sought-after Northwest Passage in 1906. The spirit of adventure was strong in David Johnson and in 1868 he emigrated to America with his wife, Nekoline. He was 34, she 26, and they had twin children and a five-year-old son, Gjorgen. The voyage from Norway was a trying one, tak- ing several months. While at sea the twins became ill, died, and were buried at sea. The westward trek overland was a dif- ficult one indeed. Travel was by foot and oxen and when riv- ers and streams had to be crossed, log rafts were built on the spot. They arrived on the east shores of Artichoke Lake in 1869 and took up a homestead. The immediate need was that of housing and a sod dugout was their first dwelling. This was soon replaced by a log house which was the Johnson home for the next three decades. Life on the frontier was indeed different than the quite comfartable life in Norway. White men were few and the only other white settlers in the area were Ole Bolsta and Ole R. Pe- dersen. There were, however, numerous bands of Indians mov- ing about on their endless hunting expeditions. Buffalo from the Dakota plains could be seen from time to time roaming the surrounding prairie. Generally, the Indians that visited the sett- lers were of a friendly nature, and, in order to preserve this friendship, David Johnson kept a supply of tobacco and some whiskey on hand to treat them. Apparently this form of “diplo- macy” was effective for no acts of hostility have come to light. However, in the event that Nekoline should have any difficulty with visiting Indians while he was working in the fields, John- son improvised a simple warning device. Should an emergen- cy arise, she need only pull a cord attached to the trigger of a gun hidden in the trees and the resulting blast would summon her husband. The fear of open hostility from the Indians was neglible, however, for in 1862, following the bloody Sioux uprising, General Sibley had driven the hostile element far in- to the Dakota Territory and the remaining Indians were content to live in peace with the white man. The struggle for survival on the frontier was ever chal- lenging. On one occasion during their early years of home- steading, the Johnson family’s food supplies ran out and they had to eat muskrat meat. They traveled to Benson, St. Peter, and New Ulm to get their supplies and mail, and it was not un- common for David Johnson to walk or ski to these places and carry a sack of flour on his back on the return trip. As the surrounding country became more thickly settled, David Johnson and his neighbors strongly felt the need for the establishment of a church to minister to their spiritual needs, the Artichoke Lutheran Congregation. Death was a frequent visitor to the pioneer homes and the Johnson family was no exception. In 1871, Gjorgen died at the age of 11 and he was the first to be buried in the family graveyard on the farm. Nekoline died on February 25, 1884, at the age of 42, which left David alone on his homestead. The loss of his entire family was a hard-dealt blow, but about a yeer later Nekoline’s half sister, Christina, and her mother, El- len Johannesen (Johnson) arrived here from Norway. David and Christina were married and their first children were also twins, Hjalmer and Amanda. Both were baptized but died at the age of six months and were also buried in the family graveyard, presumably about 1886 or 1887. Seven more chil- dren were born to the Johnsons in their log house. These were Dora, Conrad, Emma, Josie, Anne, David, and Barton. For many years the family prospered and in 1901 a new and larger home was constructed. This is still in use on the David Johnson farm. On November 14, 1907, tragedy struck the family again when two sons, David 11, and Conrad, 19, were drowned in ~ Artichoke Lake. They had : ne been hunting ducks and had “downed” several on the ice. Waiting until morning to re- trieve their game, they and the dog set out across the ice. About mid-morning the dog returned, its coat covered with ice and obviously great- ly disturbed. Both David and Christina knew what had hap- pened, and soon their fears i. became a reality. At this Mr. and Mrs. David Johnson time, Johnson was suffering (wedding picture, 1885) from _ progressive paralysis and was confined to the house but he directed the heart-break- ing task of retrieving the bodies. He ordered a 20 ft. sapling cut and a hook fastened to the end for the purpose of grappling. A boat was then put into the water, and by breaking the thin ice before them, the rescue party made its way to the spot where the boys had gone down. After some time spent in pro- bing about, the bodies were found. Still clutched in the hand of David was a chunk of ice - mute testimony to the struggle of this young boy to preserve his life. The bodies were placed beside the others in the private cemetery and more than 500 friends from near and far came to pay their respects. David Johnson died at the age of 77 on January 23, 1911. This Viking of the American prairie had been one of the first to come here to share in its early development. He had exper- ienced many things and even the entire loss of his first family did not alter his determination to succeed. Shortly after his Page Sixty-Five death, his widow, Christina, sold the homestead to Ole Brus- tuen and moved with her children to Appleton. In 1916, she married S$. Walter Craiger and moved to New London where she lived until her death at 90, on June 27, 1949. Of the chil- dren, Dora married Joseph Johnson of Appleton and died in 1932; Josie became a Red Cross nurse during World War | and later married Howard Jakeway. Emma was in the nursing pro- fession until her marriage to Lawrence Grames. Anne, also a nurse, married Johan H. O. Rodvik, a Lutheran minister. Barton never married and at present lives in Forth Worth, Texas. Em- ma, Anne, and Barton are the only living members of the Dav- id Johnson family. PANORAMA OF THE PAST by Mrs. Wm. C. Hanson The interviews | have had these past several months with descendants of the early settlers of Artichoke - either in person or by numerous air-mail letters from those now living in other places - have indeed been both inspirational and educational. THE OLE BOLSTA FAMILY In April, 1869, four men: Ole Bolsta, Peter Wilson, and David and Christopher Johnson, left St. Peter and came west, along the old Brown’s Trail. Ole Bolsta was born in Nor- way in 1840, and came to the United States in 1862. He liv- ed in St. Peter for several years, working as a_black- smith. He had learned this trade from his father in Nor- way. .Here he married Anna Wilson, also from Norway. The first trip farther west was an exploratory one - with the three other men mentioned. “What did they really look for?” The answer was, “Wood and water.” They found both here in Artichoke. He walked back to St. Peter, and in June, 1869, brought his young wife and four children here in a covered wagon and oxen. The following article, written by Dr. Bolsta’s brother, Alf- red, following the death of their mother in March, 1927, gives the whole story so vividly. “After nearly fourscore years and ten, of a life of struggle and sacrifice, thrift and economy through fearsome necessity, the tired body of the mother of Big Stone County lies in peace and rest in her last earthly resting place, in the Ortonville cemetery not 20 miles from the spot where her, then, tireless feet first touched the green sod of the virgin soil of Big Stone County 58 years ago. “Ann Christine Bolsta was the ‘first white settler’ of Big Stone County and while her life’s story is written, with honor- able mention, in gold, upon the pure white page of the scroll of Heaven, her passing, with scarce a mention of tribute, tore terribly at penitent hearts suffering in poignant bereavement and brought tears and sadness to a few friends. With some others their tears and sadness were deceit and mockery - things hated loathingly to the depth of the great, forgiving heart, and understanding soul of the mother of Big Stone County. “She sleeps today - at rest - free from strife, worry, heart- aches and pain, under the green sod in the clean, sweet, puri- fying earth of the county she loved, and on the little mound above her are many beautiful flowers, of which, if she could speak to us, she would say ‘they are beautiful, but there are so many | wish you would put them on the other graves - just leave me that little geranium.’ Page Sixty-Six “The ebb-tide of her human life of adventure, such as few women have ever known, reached slowly through the rough breakers of discomfort and suffering, toward the sublime beav- ty of the setting sun which herald a refuge of peace and rest, just beyond the bar of the Great Adventure, and in that final travail of mortal dissolution which she was well aware of, her thoughts were, as always, for the welfare of others, and she said, ‘| am sorry you have to bother about me, but it won't be long now.’ Then she gave direction, disposing of some of her personal effects, which she knew well were of little cash value, but hoped that they would ‘do someone some good.’ “Thus has passed into the great unknown a great but humble soul. “Anna Wilson was born in Norway and came to America in the ‘steerage’ of a sailing vessel which completed the voy- age in just 11 weeks. She married Ole Bolsta, a young black- smith, at St. Peter, Minnesota, and in 1869, with her husband and four children, came to Big Stone county and ‘settled’ in the township of Artichoke. “ * “Settled” in the township of Artichoke,’ is so simply stated that the tragedy of the accomplishment may not be thought of; therefore imagine, if you can, a team of oxen yok- ed to a covered-wagon straining with ‘might and main’ into the cruel yoke and plodding at a snail-pace, even at the urge of man’s command and biting whip, and the tedious, tortuous, and dangerous ‘traveling’ of a man, a woman, and four small children, from St. Peter, Minnesota into the unknown wilder- ness, the domain of the savage Sioux Indians, three years be- fore the great Minnesota Indian massacre which took place al- most at the doorstep from which they started. “It was a ‘wet’ season with every stream, slough and lake full and ‘running over.’ The oxen wallowed belly deep in the mud. The wagon-box which was constructed for the purpose - water tight - was used as a boat when necessary and after the human cargo had been safely landed across the streams, many return trips were necessary to dismantle the wagon, load the parts into the boat, and finally assemble it again on the oppo- site shore. The oxen, of course, were made to swim across. “The continuous stress and tremendous toil for the month's time it required to make that trip of 110 miles, was a body- breaking struggle for the man, but the appalling conditions of endless mud, the bitter penetrating cold of ink-black night, the heavy, noisome fogs that clung to the wet ground, the strain and stress of continuous travel, the nerve-wrecking repression - of the fear of Indians, the worry over the final outcome of the journey, the feer for the health of her family, and the mother- ing of her tired, fretful and inconsolable children was for the woman a frightful torture. “Poverty stalked grimly along with these hardy adventur- ers. The supplies of flour, beans, salt-pork, salt and very little else were pitifully small, but the clothing, while cheap, was sufficient. There were neither toys nor candy for the children. The babies were fed food that had been masticated for them by their mother and cut their teeth on pork rinds. As soon as the children were able to walk they began to work. “The little log house - one room - was built on the west shore of Artichoke Lake 88 years ago, and there the mother of Big Stone County ‘settled.’ Her third son, John E. Bolsta, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was born in April, 1870, and he was the first white child born in Big Stone County. “Many of the other ‘early settlers’ stopped at the Bolsta place before they went to ‘take’ their homesteads. They were all given such hospitality as could be given them and none were ever charged for food or shelter. Sleeping accommoda- tions were any unoccupied place on the hewn log floor. “Fortunately, nature was kind to this brave mother and her family. A good sod roof covered the little cabin and the logs were ‘chinked’ with an abundance of blue-clay. Wood was plentiful for all purposes, including a bed, table, a bench, and a broom made of willow twigs. The lakes and streams were ‘alive’ with fish, and countless geese, brant, and ducks were everywhere. Fur-bearing animals were abundant. A few deer and antelope, and an elk were seen near Artichoke Lake in 1869. “Wheat and rutabagas were the first ‘crops’ sown and har- vested in Big Stone County. The wheat was cut with a scythe and threshed on the ice with a flail. It was ground for food in a coffee-mill, and usually made into unleavened ‘flatbread’ baked on the stove top. Coffee was bought green and roasted in a covered iron pan on the same top of the little wood stove. Milk from an old scrub cow supplied the family with skim-milk and butter. Sugar was a luxury and unknown _ in that house- hold. Dried-apple sauce - unsweetened - was a very rare treat. A tin cup of goose-grease that contained a ‘rag’ which extend- ed over the edge as a wick was the lamp which gave the oc- casionally needed light in the little cabin. All the clothing for the family was made by Mrs. Bolsta, everything from fur caps and straw hats, to sack-cloth moccasins and rawhide sandals. The soap used, for all purposes, was made from wood ashes and scraps of fat saved for the purpose. “From the utter poverty of those pioneering days their living conditions improved slowly, but nine children had been brought into the world by this mother and her cares and ef- forts were greater than ever. Sickness or accidents were terri- fying because no doctor could be reached without a week’s travel. Three of her sons were born on that farm with the near- est doctor 40 miles away. “But as the ‘settlers’ increased and Ortonville came into being, these conditions finally gave way to reasonable comforts of mediocrity. The family moved from the farm to Ortonville and lived in the luxury obtainable through the salary of from 50 to 100 dollars per month which Mr. Bolsta received as the County Treasurer of Big Stone county. Another daughter was born in Ortonville. “A quarter of a century has passed since that time and death had taken from her her four daughters, her husband, and one son. “Her’s was a life of sacrifice and service. Money meant nothing to her except to obtain the actual necessities of life for herself and to give comfort to someone else. The remaining gross asset from the 58 years of her exceeding struggle and economy in Big Stone county is the little old home in Orton- ville, in which there are few modern conveniences; no heating plant, no polished floors, no washing machine, no bathroom, no rugs, no vacuum cleaner, no radio, and at 87 years of age Mrs. Bolsta was living alone in that little home. “Ella Bolsta, her daughter-in-law, deserves high praise for the tender love and kindness shown her, and her continuous sympathetic efforts for her welfare. “Anna Christine Bolsta belonged to no clubs or societies, she was not ‘smart’ enough, and did not want to be, she had no time to spend that way, she was too busy mothering 10 children, nor had she the money to pay for memberships and dues or for the clothes to make her presentable and acceptable. In her 58 years of residence in Big Stone county, a total sum of $10 per year was not spent by her for clothing for herself. Her acquaintances and friends were few because necessity had lim- ited them to those who could think and understand and were not ashamed of her toil-worn hands and home-made calico dress. “Thus was the life of the Mother of Big Stone County, Minnesota. The facts are given frankly and simply, because that was her way, and because she was my mother; wondrous, faithful, loving and forgiving Mother O’ Mine.” Alfred L. Bolsta. Charles Bolsta was born in 1872 and at the present time is the oldest “native born” person in our county. The original log house is still a part of the home on the Bolsta homestead, though, of course, it is now hard to recog- nize it as such. THE ENGEBREKT PETERSON FAMILY Some details as to why the moves made were made, and the kind of life they left behind, are indeed interesting. Engebrekt Peterson was born in Norway. He married, and three children, Peter, Ole, and Caroline, were born there. They lived near the ocean, and as customary there, did a lot of fish- ing. One day the father and oldest son, Peter, were rowing to an island for some wood, when they discovered a school of whales. By dropping small pebbles in the water, they herded them towards shore - 218 of them! They had to awaken the whole town and all go down to kill and anchor the whales be- fore the tide came back in. Men, women and children worked for two weeks taking care of the valuable parts of the whales. They kept the backbones of the whales and made a fence from these around their home. The mother’s death, in her early thirties, was indirectly connected with the fishing life. There was a large rack of some kind used for hanging fish on to dry. One day she walked un- der this rack, and somehow it broke, and came down on her back, injuring her in such a way that later T.B. of the spine de- veloped, this causing her early death. The oldest son, Peter, then about 14 years of age, was a highly sensitive boy and very attached to his mother. He seemingly could not reconcile himself to her death and seemed to lose interest in everything, becoming run-down and thin. The father finally decided to leave Norway and come to America to make a new life for himself and children. They came to America in the spring of 1870. They settled in St. Peter at first and worked there for awhile - enough to accumulate a few cattle. They then came on West, by the same trail the Bolsta’s took, and by wagon and oxen. Caroline (my mother), then eight or nine, walked all the way from St. Peter to Artichoke, guiding a little calf so he wouldn't “get lost” from the rest of the company. They settled, taking a homestead along the south shore of Artichoke Lake where there was a dense forest of majestic oak trees. At first they lived in a dug- out in the ground until a log cabin could be built. That log cab- in is also still a part of the house on the place and | have seen parts of the logs through cracks in plaster, etc. We often go for a boat ride to that end of the lake and look up the banks to see these homesteads - not far apart - the Peterson and the Bolsta - and mentally review the stories of the past connected with them. For some reason, the father had to go back to Norway, so for a period of four or six months, Peter was left to hold the claim. There were many hardships - shortage of supplies, the terrible cold and snow of winter, and other things. One day an Indian came and threatened him with a hatchet, but he remain- ed calm and fearless and was not hurt. He and his younger brother would hunt for meat and furs. The guns used, one rifle and two muzzle loaders, were brought from Norway. The furs, mainly muskrat, mink and fox, were sold to get money to buy supplies. There were still elk herds to be found in places. One time when they were out on one of these hunting trips, it turn- ed terribly cold and it was snowing. They had 20 miles to walk to get back home. His brother sat down several times and start- ed to go to sleep. Realizing the terrible danger, Peter prodded him, and made him go on. Finally they stumbled on the door- step of a home where they were taken in and treated so very kindly. They kept Peter in a dark room two or three weeks for his eyes were almost frozen. One time when elk hunting, several hunters came upon a Page Sixty-Seven fine herd of elk. Peter and another man shot at one at the same time. The other man claimed the elk. Peter’s father became “iudge” and discovered that both had hit the elk. So it was di- vided. Another time when elk hunting, Peter and another man were caught in a blizzard. They took refuge in an old cabin and burned some straw for warmth. They were awakened by find- ing themselves almost smothered by smoke. The snow had cov- ered the cabin and the stove pipe, so they barely saved their lives by clawing their way out through the snow banks. Peter also made ice boats, which they used on the lake in winter for ice boat sailing. In the early eighties they had managed to break up quite a piece of ground and put it into grain. They had a fine stand, and prospects looked good, so they traded their oxen for a team of horses. When the grain was ripe, almost ready to har- vest, they drove to Appleton one day to get groceries. When they got back home, their grain had been harvested and thresh- ed - by a severe hailstorm. The ground was black. They had to trade their horses for a team of oxen again, as they had no grain to feed the horses. Engebrekt Peterson died of pneumonia when he had been in Artichoke only eight or nine years. Medical care, we know, was almost impossible to get. Later his sons, Peter and Ole, took homesteads only a few miles apart. - Ole on the farm where Ordean Moen now lives. He first had a dugout in the hillside for a home and later built the house which still is there. Peter homesteaded a farm by the north end of the lake. (P.S.—Just in case you might think the story of the whales in Norway sounds like “a whale of a story,” Peter Peterson’s son-in-law and daughter from California took him back to Nor- way at the age of 85, several years before he died out there, to see his old home. The whale-bone fence was still there and he got a certified statement from the government on the valid- ity of the story.) THE MORTON ANDERSON FAMILY Mr. and Mrs. Morton Anderson were married in Norway in June, 1870, and left for America right away. They came to Minnesota and took their homestead on the east side of Arti- choke Lake, where Arthur Nelson now lives. Their first home was a dugout. The first child born to them was Julia, April 26, 1871, so she was one of the very earliest to be born in Arti- choke. The family moved West after a number of years, and the home-site farm was sold to a son, Nat. He and his family lived there for many years, until the death of his wife. He then moved to California but kept the farm and would come out here almost every summer. He was here the summer of 1955, sitting on the porch of his home, when he had a sudden heart attack and passed away. His daughter, Edna (Mrs. Paul Freed), of California, still owns the place. Arthur Nelsons run it and keep it up like a beautiful park. One son, Harry Anderson, of Washington, who sent me some dates, etc., told the story of one of their early neighbors, Mrs. Nels Johnson. She was one day visited by a number of In- dians. They all sat down around the table, indicating that they wanted something to eat, and she gave them food. When they were through eating, each one placed a silver dollar on his plate for her. They came back many times later but that was the only time they were so generous. Egan Anderson, another son, farmed right north of Nat’s place for years, and Otto right south of him. They later went to Washington to live. THE HENDRICK JOHANNESSEN FAMILY Time moves on. In 1872 or 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Hendrik Johannessen arrived in Artichoke. Edward Hanson, then about Page Sixty-Eight 17 years of age, came with them. He had stayed with them since he was a baby. They arrived in America in 1865, at the close of the Civil War. Edward Hanson (my father) was then about 9 years old. They were on the ocean in a sailing vessel 11 or 13 weeks when they came to this country. A terrible storm came up at sea and they nearly perished. Once the cap- tain told them they were practically on the same spot on the ocean where they had been many days before. They landed in Quebec, then came on to St. Peter, where they lived a few months. They then moved to Kandiyohi county, lived there for eight years, then came on to Artichoke and settled on the east shore of Artichoke Lake, on the farm known as the Caleb Lund farm where Wesley Nelson now lives. A number of years later they moved west to the State of Washington. Both lived to be almost 100 years of age. THE IVOR NELSON AND GEORGE NELSON FAMILIES The Ivor Nelson family came from Norway and settled in Artichoke in about the year 1873. Their first home was a dug- out in a hillside, with a frame front. Their homestead was on the west side of Artichoke Lake, a little north of where Ray- mond Robertson now lives. George Nelson, a son of Ivor Nel- son, lives a few miles southeast of there now, and is 85 years old. He told of their early beginnings - how they had barely gotten some small buildings up when a terrible prairie fire came, sweeping upon them and destroyed everything. He was then about six years old. He told of the wonderful co-operation of the settlers. They came together and helped build them a house right away. This was fall, and the need was urgent George Nelson said he went to school at first in the little school on the Bolsta homestead. There were perhaps 12 in at- tendance, he thinks. Mrs. George Nelson, formerly Josie Carlson, daughter of Didrick Carlson, said her folks came from Norway 80 years ago. She told of her folks using oxen. One Sunday, on the way home from church, the oxen decided it was rather a hot day, and as they came to the large slough right west of the Charlie Hanson place, they decided that was the ideal place to cool off, so they simply waded in and the family had to sit in the wag- on and patiently wait for the oxen to decide when their temp- erature was the correct degree to go on towards home. She told of their early minister walking out from Morris to conduct the services out here, and then walking back again. THE EDWARD HANSON FAMILY In 1875, at the age of 17, Edward Hanson took the farm in Section 4 which remained his home all his life. He built a small cottage, 14 x 16 feet, on this land, and started without means. Morris was the nearest town, and there was not anoth- er building in the neighborhood. By trapping and hunting, he secured a little money to buy supplies. He sometimes walked to Benson, a distance of about 38 miles, carrying a pack of muskrat furs on his back. He sold them at four to ten cents a- piece, bought some supplies, and walked back again. A little later he had oxen, used them for six or seven years, and haul- ed all supplies from Morris. The “boy meets girl” angle isn’t so hard to understand. Both had arrived from Norway at almost the same time - and both settled on the east shore of Artichoke with their families. So in 1878, at the age of 20, he married Caroline Peterson, age 17. | remember her telling me she cried because she thought she was too young at 17, but he had to be married to get the final papers on his homestead, so she consented. She said sometimes he would be gone on trapping and hunting trips - so there she was - so far from any other settlers. Sometimes Indians would come to the door and ask for something to eat. She always gave them something, and they in turn brought her ducks and geese to roast. There was never any trouble al- though she admitted a sense of fear would sometimes come over her. Their first three children, all girls, died within October of 1880 and August of 1882, two of them only 13 days apart. Another family of early settlers had arrived and had no place to be right away, so, as was very usual at that time, they took them into their small home. One or two of those children had become ill on the boat. No medical help could be had. Within a short time several children died, and my folks were childless again. It later became known that the disease was diphtheria. They were buried by the home, out there on the barren prairie. Later the folks decided on a definite building site, farther west on the farm. They pulled up small trees along the lake and brought them home and thus started the grove which is now there. Mother died at 85, in 1945; Dad at the age of almost 90, in 1947. The farm is still owned by a daughter and her husband, W. R. McMindes, who live there, and a son, Herbert, in California. THE WILLIS ALLEN FAMILY The Willis Allens came to Artichoke in 1879, from Burn- ette, Wisconsin. Mr. Allen was born in Vermont and was a des- cendant of Ethan Allen of Revolutionary War fame. They home- steaded in the very southwestern part of Artichoke township where there are hills and ravines. Mrs. Allen (Effie Jane Red- field) was one of the early teachers in the little school on the Bolsta farm. Mr. Allen hauled his lumber for building from Montevideo, using oxen, as there was no railroad through here then. One of those first winters was very severe. There were four feet of snow on the ground and, being several miles away from the lake where the large trees grew, fuel became a prob- lem. They used hay, twisted up into tight bunches, to burn. Mr. Bolsta told Allens to come there and he would let them cut some of his trees for fuel. This they did, pulling the logs be- hind oxen across the deep snow, about four or five miles, to their home. Though this was green wood, when cut up and burned with the hay, it provided good fuel. A government trail from Fort Snelling to Fort Sisseton passed right through the Allen homestead. As supplies were hauled, the wagons and horses would very often bog down in the ravine on the farm, and Mr. Allen would assist them in get- ting out. Hayden French of Ortonville, who farmed not too far from there at the time, would often quip about that ravine - that Mr. Allen must have pumped water from his well into it to keep it soggy so he could get the job of pulling them out. Ray Allen, a son of Willis Allen, lives on the farm joining the homestead place. His sister, Lillian Blanche Allen, lived on the old homestead all her life until her death in January, 1958. Ray used to farm the land until a couple of years ago. Now a nephew, Wayne Lundgren, from Correll, lives on the place. Mrs. Ray Allen told me about how her folks, who lived near Canby, used to own a “surrey with the fringe on top,” as the song goes. Quite frequently they would get ready real ear- ly in the morning and start out on an 80-mile drive to visit some relatives in South Dakota. One time they met a car (which was rather a novelty on the roads then) and the horses became very frightened and hard to handle. She remembers her father becoming rather upset and saying, ‘There ought to be a law passed forbidding those things on the road!” THE E. P. BROOKS FAMILY The fall of 1880 saw the E. P. Brooks family, consisting of two boys and two girls, leave Hastings, Minnesota, via covered wagon and ox team, and head West for Artichoke where Mr. Brooks had taken a homestead in the very northwest corner of the township. Arriving too late to build that fall, they spent the first winter living in a dugout on the present Sievert Math- ison farm. This was the first family to arrive in Artichoke who spoke English only. It can readily be understood that it was somewhat like coming to a foreign country with all the people of Scandinavian descent and using those languages. Mrs. Elmer Rolen (a daughter) told of her folks having a sod barn to begin with. They used to get their mail at Adelaide Post Office and also the mail for neighbors quite a distance around them, as a neighborly service. They had a pigeon-holed shelf in their home, labeled with the names of those who would call there for their mail. Mr. Brooks was a Civil War veteran and on Memorial Day he and the few other veterans would always march in the par- ade out to the cemetery. The last few years he became too frail to walk out there, so he was taken by car. But he was in the parade the last Memorial Day he lived - at the age of almost 83. THE HENDRICK WESTERBO FAMILY Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick H. Westerbo settled in Artichoke in the fall of 1888. They made a home by digging a rectangular hole, as we do in making a basement. Over this was put a roof shaped like an inverted “V”. This was covered with hay and then clay was put on top of the hay. This became firm and sol- id and made quite a substantial roof. On the dirt floor, a layer of straw or hay was placed as a rug and they slept on this floor at first too. They lived in this home for about 18 years. Hay was wadded up and used as fuel in the stove for the first two winters. About two acres of field had been dug up on this homestead. Wheat was seeded and the grain was taken to a neighbor’s feed mill to be ground into cereal. This cooked cer- eal and milk from their two cows was their steady diet. A son, Christian, still owns and lives on the homestead about a mile east of Artichoke Lake. He is now 77 years old. @ Big Stone Township Reporter: Mrs. Arloe Larson Big Stone Township is located north of Ortonville and was organized October 4, 1879, receiving its name from the Lake. The first election was held at Hurley’s schoolhouse and officers elected were G. S. Elwell, clerk; Moses Smith, treasurer; C. A. Berdan, chairman; Gus Swenson, supervisor. The first marriage was Andrew Anderson to Mary Lysing. The first death was Jac- ob Hurly in 1879 and the first birth was Wm. L. Goodno, born November 4, 1880. Wm. B. Dow was named Postmaster at Big Stone Center in 1878, this point having been known as Big Stone City also. (Chapin farm) The first settlers began drifting into this area about 1870 and 1871. They came from many places, many from lowa and Illinois, and many directly from Europe after having heard of the fertile land available to homesteaders. They took up resi- dence with the understanding that they live on the land for a given length of time, clear it a bit each year, and pay about $1.25 to the government. Thus they got the right to ownership. Sometimes land changed hands many times before the families found the land of their choice. They came in covered wagon caravans drawn by oxen. Indians were plentiful but usually friendly and the grasslands were a haven for wildlife of many kinds. Droves of buffalo, much fish and game helped the food situation. Fuel and building material were found along the lake shore. The early going was hard, but the pioneers had lots of faith and persistence. An early crop was squaw corn which was Page Sixty-Nine ground for mush and Johnny cake. Wheat and sugar cane were raised and some even raised their own tobacco. At first all was cultivated by hoe, then by oxen. Hay was cut with the scythe, raked by hand, and stacked by using two sticks to toss it into a pile. The first threshing machines were power-driven by steam engines and pulled by horses. The first reapers were horse-drawn and would cut the grain and elevate it to a plat- form where two men would tie the grain into bundles with straw. After McCormick invented the knot-tyer, the binder was used, but it had no carrier and bundles dropped where they were made. According to courthouse records, some of the early sett- lers here prior to 1880 were Frank Eves, A. H. Nash, John Goodno, 1874, Lars C. Bent- son, Almeron Davis, Mary A. Goodwin, Jacob Church, Jac- ob W. Hurley, Wm. Parker, Chamberlain, Adolph West- ling, Joseph Taylor, Swan Pe- terson, John Peterson, Frank Peterson, Peter Johnson, Ad- dison J. Parker, Thomas Cun- ning, Richard Bullock, Charles Leet, and J. L. Cherry. The early settlers suffer- ed many hardships. The very severe winters were the worst. A sudden blizzard in 1873 caught many folks unawares and many lives were lost in those three days. January 12th, 1888, the worst blizzard hit Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, lowa, and Nebraska, in which 112 men, women, and children lost their lives and scores suffered crippling injuries. During the storm in 1880-81 people were without railroad ser- vice for 126 days so supplies became very short. The grasshop- per plague of 1874 and the prairie fires were also tragic ex- periences. In the 30’s our severe dust storms and drouth also destroyed the crops. Log building on the farm of Wayne McEwen in Big Stone Township - built before 1879 One of the first roads of this county was the one known all these years as the Greenhouse Road. In the early days it fol- lowed along the tops of the hills north of the Lake Shore Road. Many of the settlers were of Scandinavian descent and ad- ditional early names were Alfter, Emil, Charles and Anna John- son (their original name was Peterson but they had it changed by court order to Johnson because there were so many Peter- sons), Andrew Swanson, August Nelson, John Larson, Ben Smith, John Gardner, Walter Hallock, Tom and Mall Hegge, J. P. Holmquist, Wm. B. Dow, David Hancock, 1878, and A. A. Randall, 1877. Mail was brought to the post office by stage and families called for it. Later on a carrier distributed the mail, sometimes taking a whole day or two for each trip. Early church services were held in homes and school hous- es. People even walked the long miles from Ortonville to at- tend services. A United Brethren minister named Berry, who came as a missionary from England, preached here occasional- ly. Sometimes a big man named Richardson, who had a groc- ery store, came out and preached. SWEDISH BAPTIST CHURCH Reverend Gaard from the Artichoke Baptist Church often visited a community called Soldier’s Camp, also known as Big Stone Center, located about 12 miles west of Artichoke Lake. In July, 1892, eight members of the Artichoke Baptist Church residing at Big Stone Center requested letters of transfer and organized their own Swedish Baptist Church which functioned for a number of years and then died out. Early Sunday School classes were held in the homes. Page Seventy Charter members included Mr. and Mrs. Peter Carlson, Ol- af Carlson, John Carlson, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Carlson, Christina Olson, and Ellen Nelson. L. L. Weeding also joined there but later transferred to Artichoke. A church was built which was sold and moved after the congregation was disbanded. The cemetery is located north- west of Benson Lake in Section 12, the present J. A. Anderson farm. PLEASANT VALLEY METHODIST CHURCH This congregation was organized in 1896 by Rev. North- op. Some of the charter members were the Charles Berdans, B. H. Smiths, Walter Hallocks, John Keefes, Richard Chapmans, John Gardners and Eddie Hallier. Some of the ministers were the Reverends Shelland, Geer, Farley, Kettlewell, Wittrup, and Parish. In 1912 the congrega- tion was added to the Clinton charge until 1942. About 1951 it was transferred to the Ortonville congregation. The building was sold in 1956 and dismantled. GUS CARLSON left Sweden and went to Germany. There he married, and in 1879 moved to Litchfield, Minnesota with his wife and four children. In May, 1880, they traveled here in a covered wagon caravan and homesteaded 120 acres. While their home was being made, they stayed with a bachelor, John Erickson, for three weeks. Chris Larson and Nels Sockerson helped build the sod shanty. Their first farming was done by oxen, until about 1894. The family cut, raked, and stacked hay by hand and some of it was used for fuel. Times were pretty good and Gus paid off the $1,600 on the farm in three years. He also worked in Benson on the railroad which later came to Ortonville. During the October, 1881 blizzard he was away from home on this job, but the family managed all right. They even brought the cow inside the shanty to keep her from freez- ing to death. In 1888 Gus sold his first wheat to the Kaercher Mill for 99c a bushel and money went a good ways in those days. Coffee was 10c a pound and overalls were three pair for $1.00. JOHN CARLSON, brother of Gus, came in 1881 and died in 1897. He took a homestead too and had the first mill- stones for miles around. They were run by a steam engine and people brought their grain to be ground into flour. After his death, the Carlson family continued the grain grinding for some time. (Told by Olaf Carlson, Ortonville, one of the Gus Carlson children.) JOHN PETERSON, grandfather of Godfrey and Charles Johnson, was born in Smaland, Sweden and left there for Am- erica in 1868. He worked for the railroad at St. Peter and sent for his family in Sweden. They arrived in October, 1870, but the mother died from yellow fever which she had contracted on the boat enroute, living only a week after the family’s re- union at St. Peter. In May, 1871, Mr. Peterson set out with his four small children for western Minnesota in a caravan of cov- ered wagons. Others were August Carlson, Swan Peterson, Swan Lindholm and family, Holmstien Peterson and wife, and Ole Westman and family, all of whom settled along Big Stone Lake. Mr. Peterson's oxen were named Buck and Star and weighed about one ton each. Their first home was dug in the side of a hill, where the Emil Johnson farm home is now. The children stayed alone at home when the father was away and they often hid under the bed in fear of the Indians. Supplies and provisions were hauled from Benson. The Indians often asked for food, particularly white flour and bread, but were careful never to take more than half the supply on hand. One day an Indian squaw returned with a fine pair of beaded moc- casins for Anna (later Mrs. C. J. Swenson) and made a big fuss over the wooden shoes the father had made her. After present- ing the moccasins to the little girl, the Indian threw the wood- en shoes into the fire. The old Indian trail led along the top of the hills above the Peterson homestead. When they moved, traveling always in single file, the line would sometimes be two miles long. Often the war dances held in the Indian villag- es alarmed the settlers living nearby. John Peterson had been a carpenter in the old country and built many buildings in this vicinity. He also made coffins when they were needed. SWAN PETERSON, brother-in-law of John Peterson, was born in 1850 and came to America in 1868. He was also a car- penter and was one of those that helped the government in the construction of Fort Wadsworth (Sisseton), in 1871 and 72, for which labor they received $1.25 a day and walked the dis- tance of some 70 miles. His homestead, located three miles north of Ortonville along the lake, was his home until his death in 1923. It was a common occurrence to find Indian skeletons over the prairie in those early days. Meals were often shared with hungry Indians. One time an Indian maiden took after Mr. Pet- erson with a knife when he ignored her friendship; luckily, he made his escape. All early settlers were given a musket gun by the government for protection. It came in handy for hunting, too and once Swan shot 22 ducks in one shot near the peninsu- la bay. His best friend, his dog Ponto, retrieved them. At that time local fences were made by cutting slots in oaken posts and inserting rails through the holes. One time some settlers went to the island and cut poles for fences, but when the own- er of the island found it out, he had them arrested. They were taken to Yankton for trial, the island being considered part of South Dakota. They had no money to pay the fine so were re- leased, and they had to walk all the way back to Big Stone. Miss Julia Peterson still lives on part of the original home- stead. She recalls that on one occasion Indians stopped in beg- ging for flour. The family had just hidden away a winter’s sup- ply upstairs in the log house, but they didn’t dare admit having that much. Charlie Mattson, son of Joaquin who came from Sweden, happened to come by for a visit. Luckily he could speak to the Indians and appeased the insistent visitors. It end- ed with the guests asking the Petersons and Charlie to sit on the floor with them and smoke a pipe of peace. Julia has the muzzel-loader shotgun given her father by the government and the spinning wheel her mother brought along from Sweden, now 111 years old. She and her sister, El- len, were professional seamstresses, and Augusta, Josephine, and Minnie were teachers. Gustie bicycled from home to Mid- way school when she taught there. JOHANNES SWENSON, his wife, and one son came to lo- wa around 1871 and to Big Stone Township in 1873, the year of the terrible three-day blizzard. Johannes and his son were cutting wood along the lake when the storm came up. They let the oxen loose, which found their way home, but the men con- sequently lost their lives. Another son, Gustaf Swenson, came here in 1877 and also took a homestead. On one of his trips to Morris for provisions, he purchased a clock and carried it home. It runs with weights and is still in running order. (Told by Chester and Hattie Swenson, and they have the clock!) JOHN PETER HOLMQUIST and MISS AUGUSTA LINDHOLM came from Sweden in 1870 and were married in St. Paul on July 24, 1871. In 1876 they came here with their two children, Emily and Oscar. Additional children were Edward, Elof, Lou- ise, Elda, Gilbert, and Mabel, all born on the farm on the shore of the lake. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hegge bought this farm in 1952 and live there. Father Holmquist also made many trips to Morris for the groceries and supplies. He passed away in 1928 but his wife died in 1913; Gilbert in 1925, Mabel (Mrs. Emil Hegge) in 1941; Edward in 1953; Elof in 1954; and Oscar in 1955. The remaining children are Mrs. Emily Jo Alstead, Alex- andria; Miss Louis A. Holmquist, Willmar; and Mrs. Elda C. Van Winkle, Ortonville, who gave us this story. JAMES W. MOULTON came from New York and took a homestead and a tree claim. At first he lived in a claim shanty, about 1879, and was married in 1883 in the first church in Or- tonville. (The building still stands and is now used as a home.) After he was married, he added rooms to accommodate the family. They had three daughters and adopted a son. The Moultons gave the use of one of their living rooms where clas- ses were held when no school was available to the youngsters of the neighboring homesteads. Mrs. Moulton taught; also Cora McEwen who later taught in the schoolhouse also. (Story told by Mrs. B. H. Theisen, librarian, Ortonville, one of the Moulton daughters.) AUGUST NELSON and his bride came to America on their honeymoon trip in 1882 and never returned to Sweden. He had been a farmer and in military service in the old country. The Nelsons settled in Kandiyohi County in 1882 and moved here in 1888 where he bought the farm that had been home- steaded by Mr. August Carlson sometime before. Mrs. Nelson brought a sewing machine with her and it was the first sewing machine in the community. She did sewing for neighbors as well as for her own family. Sunday School classes were held for the neighboring children by Mrs. Nelson and a neighbor, Mrs. Andrew Danielson. Each Sunday they met in a different home. The Nelsons lived on their farm for 50 years and had eight children, two of whom are the Misses Agnes and Nina of Or- tonville. (Thanks to Nina for this family report.) LARS MICHAELSON, grandfather of J. P. Larson, Orton- ville, was born in Denmark and emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1871. He was a musician by trade but bought a farm near Or- tonville. He died in 1899 at Clinton in the home of a step- daughter. John, his son, also came from Denmark with the family and farmed near Ortonville, was married, and had four children. Only J. Peter Michaelson still survives, and he and his wife live in Ortonville. SCHOOLS District No. 2 was the first school held in our county. A teacher was hired in the fall of 1872 for one month - that was as long a term as the settlers could afford since the $12 salary had to be paid out of their own pockets. The first building was a claim shanty about 12 by 10 feet, built of rough logs, and large enough for the few pupils. It was located up the ravine, just south of Eternal Springs Park. The next summer a special log cabin was built near the Jacob Hurly homestead (now the Lawrence Kanne home) and the first teacher was Johannah Nash. Even that year they could afford to pay a teacher for on- ly a few months. The log cabin was later torn down and used for firewood. The church later moved to Ortonville was located just across the road. The next schoolhouse was built on the prairie on Swan Peterson’s land, and Cora McEwen and Electa Webb were some of the first teachers. Some of the early pupils were Theodore, Emil, and Gertrude Nelson; Peter, Mary, and Christina Larson; Albert and Eva Danielson; Christina and Edward Erickson; Min- nie and Josie Olson. The building is now used as a granary on a nearby farm. The last school building is now ‘the little red schoolhouse’ used by Radio Station KDIO. When the school districts of the county were numbered, the first school was given No. 2 even though it had been first. Ortonville was given No. 1; now 62. Mrs. Anna Hennix Larson recalls her first year of teaching Page Seventy-One here, in 1904, right out of high school. She wonders . . “Matt Thompson, Henry Gudmanson, and Leonard McGaughey, do you remember the time you put a baby rabbit in my desk drawer and waited all forenoon for me to open it?” “And the time you asked to be excused to go home and work, but suck- ed the maple trees instead!” Districts No. 2, 5, 33, 34, and 63 were dissolved and an- nexed to Ortonville in the years 1952-1955. District No. 21 was annexed to Clinton by reorganization in December, 1952. @ Browns Valley Township Reporter: Mrs. Walter Wulff (References: Art Lumphrey, Mrs. C. A. Hundeby, Mrs. Ann Haanen) Browns Valley Township is located around Beardsley and extends the farthest west in our county. It was named by Tho- mas Bailey, an early homesteader, and the name was taken from the very remarkable valley between Big Stone and Trav- erse Lakes, a distance of nearly five miles. The township was organized April 5, 1880 at the Joseph Branch home and the first election was held there with Mr. Branch as judge and Joe Shannon, clerk. Officers elected were: George W. Freer, chair- man; Steve Burt, Robert Glemn, supervisors; W. H. King, clerk: Ole Moen, treasurer; C. A. Prevey, assessor; J. M. Carver and Steve Burt, justices; and George Shannon and Ed Haley, con- stables. The first marriage of the township was Robert Gillis to Olina Oleson in June, 1880. The first birth was Nettie Mable Beardsley on April 22, 1879, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. W. Beardsley, but she died August 28, 1881. The first settlement was made by Ole A. Moen in Section 25, approximately five miles southwest of Beardsley on the shore of the Lake in 1875. Charles Phillips opened a store on an adjoining section in November, 1879, and about a year lat- ter it was designated as Phillips Post Office, with him the post- master. Records show it was discontinued in 1881, no doubt because the railroad chose to go through the township farther to the north and set up its depot at the present site of Beards- ley. Bay View was another village and was the head of navi- gation on Big Stone Lake in 1880, but that also did not sur- vive. Hilo Post Office was established in 1880 with Stephen Burt as postmaster. . According to the records of The Traverse House, Browns Valley's first hotel, early residents of this area who registered there gave their address as “Hope Station”. In those pre-Beard- sley days, they hoped for a railroad and they hoped for a sta- tion. When Traverse County had its controversy in deciding up- on its County Seat, the issue was one of prime interest and im- portance to this township also. Traverse County was organized in 1879 and Browns Valley was designated the County Seat Soon afterward a vote was taken and favored Maudada (15 miles north of Browns Valley), but Browns Valley contested. Claims were that Maudada was never listed in the boundaries of Traverse County and that fraudulent voting was held in one precinct. The battle raged between Browns Valley, Maudada, and Wheaton and, before it was settled, it reached the State Legislature. Wheaton was finally the victor. (Editor’s note: This memory is retold only because of its historical value - there’s no intent to “make the fur fly” again!) OLE A. MOEN came to Minnesota from Norway in 1870. After the great Chicago fire in 1871, he went there seeking employment and assisted in building the foundation for the McCormick Harvester Works. Next he worked in the Michigan lumber woods. The spring of 1875 he homesteaded in this Page Seventy-Two township in Section 25, living in a dugout on the shore of Big Stone Lake for two years. He farmed with oxen about five years and hauled early supplies from Morris. At first there was no road until he reached Graceville but there was a trail from there to Morris. Mr. Moen and Miss Nellie Erickson were mar- ried in 1875 and their early years contained many experiences with the Indians. Mrs. Moen’s father was also one of the early settlers of this county. There is an Indian graveyard in one of the Moen fields. JOSEPH BRANCH was born in Ohio and later lived in Illi- nois. He served three years in the Civil War and, as a memen- to, had the bullet that hospitalized him for three months in Georgia. In 1866 he moved to Minnesota and 1879 came to Big Stone County and took a homestead and a tree claim in this township. The first few months he lived in a claim shanty and hauled supplies from Morris. He made the first track from Beardsley to his farm and Browns Valley. Mrs. Branch was for- merly Elizabeth Stone of Ohio and moved to Mower County, Minnesota, with her family in 1862 at the time of the Indian outbreak. They were one of: the few families that didn’t leave the area during those troublesome times. Early Sunday School and Bible reading classes were held at the Branch home. The township was organized there also and they were active in all! early affairs of the community. Their daughter, Alice, was mar- ried to O. S. Briggs. Mrs. Theodore Hundeby, now of Orton- ville, was a granddaughter, and Charles A. Hundeby, who still resides at Beardsley, a great grandson. THOMAS M. BOWERS was born in Illinois, also lived in Wisconsin, and came to Minnesota in 1869. He came to this township in May, 1879, and homesteaded in Section 2 and 3. He built a claim shanty in November and returned the next spring with a team of oxen. For a stable he used the wagon so during the severe snowstorms that spring he had to bring his oxen into his cabin. His 1880 harvest yielded 18 bushels per acre. In 1887 he lost his team of horses and another team cost him $400. In 1890 he rented his farm because of illness and moved to Wheeler Station, now Alberta. Here he operated an elevator and was transferred to Barry in 1898. He returned to his farm in 1900 and in 1903 was married to Mary E. Wright. He was active in civic and church affairs. In 1884 he was elect- ed superintendent of the Union Sabbath School in Beardsley and later assisted in the organization and building of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Beardsley. CHARLES H. CONWAY came from New York state in 1854 when his parents moved to Wabasha County. He came here in 1877 and his family joined him here the same year. His origi- nal claim shanty was stolen during his short absence to get them. He planted a fine grove, and during their early resi- dence here, they conducted a boarding house while the rail- road was being built through. Their daughter, Lillian, is Mrs. Pat Hanratty of Barry. PATRICK FLYNN came from Ireland as a young man. He came to Meeker County and in 1879 he broke land here in Sec- tion 21. His family came in 1880 and lived in the claim shanty until a house could be built. Supplies were hauled from Morris and Ortonville. His farm prospered until it totaled 100 acres and also featured fine livestock. Children were Mary, Chris, Kathrine, Charles H., Rose, Thomas, and Hannah. The father died in 1787, the mother in 1889, and the estate was taken over by Charles and Rose. Members of the Flynn family still reside in the community. MR. and MRS. JAMES S. DAVIDSON came from Scotland and were also some of the earliest settlers of this county, com- ing here in 1878. Their home the first two years was a claim shanty, part dugout. Their first crop was destroyed by hail and they picked up hailstones seven inches in diameter. The father died in 1892 and the mother in 1894. Their son, William, con- tinued on the farm and also raised livestock. Today, the home place is farmed by the James Davidson, Jr. family. MR. JOHN JOHNSON came from Sweden in 1876, settling in St. Paul. He homesteaded here in Section 22 in 1879. The first summer here he worked on the local railroad and the fol- lowing two winters he worked in St. Paul, spending his sum- mers alone on his farm. He was married in 1888 to Jennie Ma- rie Pearson who came from Sweden. Mr. Johnson was a lead- ing member of the early Farmers’ Alliance. MR and MRS. JAMES KENNY came to Massachusetts from Ireland when children. Later they located in Wisconsin with their family. Philip, one of their sons, spent six winters in lum- bering and was in on the spring log drives. He and his brother, Garrett, came here in 1878 and took a homestead in Section 31. They experienced life in a claim shanty and farmed with oxen for several years. The Garrett Kenny farm has since been operated by his son, James, and grandson, Gordon. A. S. STEPHENS came from France as a child and the family settled in lower Illinois. He homesteaded here in 1878 and moved here in 1880. In 1884 he was married to Catherine Ma- lissa Gowan, and their children were Mary, Frank, Ellen, Mag- gie, Grace, and Lloyd. Grace is now Mrs. Ray Flynn and still lives here. ANDREW PARKER took a homestead in Traverse County in 1879 and a pre-emption in Big Stone County to which he mov- ed in 1883. He later moved to Browns Valley, where he en- gaged in several businesses for some years. NATHAN A. WARRING came here from Wabasha County in 1878 when he homesteaded in Section 11 and was also one of the organizers of the township. He later engaged in the thresh- ing business for 17 seasons, and he was severely injured one time when a steam boiler exploded. A grandson, Wm. Rook. still lives here. DANIEL O’‘LEARY was born in Canada and later lived in New York State. As a young man he made two trips to Califor- nia where he worked on farms. He came to St. Paul in 1874 and was a carpenter. In 1879 he took a claim here and drove overland by team and his family came by train. He had mar- ried Mary Barry in New York in 1868, and they had 10 sons: Thomas (mentioned in Johnson village history), George, John, Timothy, James, Joseph, Daniel, Stephen, Louis, and Leo. Mr. O’Leary died in 1895 and the mother and sons continued with the farm. Louis O'Leary is still living in Beardsley. MR. and MRS. WILLIAM REARDON came from New York in 1880 and took a homestead here in Sections 23 and 24. At first they lived in a claim shanty. The children included Mary, James, Thomas (long time a resident of Johnson village), Wil- liam, Nancy, Katie, Winifred and Helen. For a time James, Wil- liam and Thomas operated the farm in partnership, operating 1600 acres of land. In 1900 they began raising Percheron hor- ses and Hereford cattle, for which they were known for many years. GEORGE W. FREER came in 1878 and filed a soldier's claim in Section 3 and erected buildings. In 1881 he moved into Beardsley and engaged in several businesses for many years. His earlier history includes a wide variety of items. His grand- father, Richard Freer, was born in Holland and served in the Revolutionary War after locating in America. A James Freer published the first newspaper in the state of New York, and this paper published the death of George Washington. George W. Freer enlisted in the United States Volunteer Army from Wisconsin in 1861, joined Grant at Vicksburg, was with Sher- man around Atlanta, through the Carolinas and to the sea, and participated in the Grand Review at Washington. He was mar- _ ried in 1868 to Jane Johns and their children included Lottie, James, Guy, George, Lydia, and Frederick. JACOB MINNERS came here in 1879. Gus Minners farmed there for many years. His son, Leonard, now operates this farm, this being the third generation. THE MARTENS families have been here many years. Henry Martens farm includes his two sons, Ray and Carl. His brother, Wm. C., is just down the road, his farm now carried on by his son, Henry. Mrs. John Martens is a daughter of Wm. Oldhaver. PETER O'NEILL homesteaded here in 1878. J. V. O'Neill farmed this place for many years and it is now operated by his sons, Pat and Phil. JOE GUENTHER farmed out east of town for many years. Albert Schmidt and son, Joseph, now farm this land as another third generation farm. Some early farmers who came here from Illinois were: H. Stargel, G. Young, C.W. Jewell, the Sherman brothers, the Forquer brothers, Hugh Taylor, and Earl Johnson. Allen Cow- den, Ed Daly, W. Thiemer, and Mrs. Anna Cuff were all neigh- bors north of town for many years. The old John McDonald and Nankerman farms have been built up by F. C. Wendt and Roy Smith; the Loffhagen farm by Ryan Doschadis, the Allisons, Ericksons, Allens, and Knutson families have also built up fine farmsteads. Other names include: George Cranmer, George Buck, Sam Dodd, C. A. Durand, Joe M. Foren, O. H. Slater, the Hundebys, and many others. DISTRICT NO. 15 This district was formed in September, 1879 and Mrs. Han- nah Polhamus recalls her first teacher there was Rose Flynn, 1896; then Bertha Smith in 1897 and 1898, and Goldie Ball in 1899. Other early teachers were: Maud Cowden, Olive Cow- den, Elizabeth Richmond, Ella Jordan, Mary Mulane, Mary Bow- er and Cecilia Miller. (See photo page 26) Some of the early families were Andersons, Peter John- sons, Charley Kings, Dittes, Shanadorf, Frosts, Polhamus, Her- man Merkels, B. Hartung, Bill Franks, John Phiefers, Frank Westermeyer, Bohamus, Ed Erickson, Bill Rollins, Bart Kalvodas, Bert Wheelers, Ed Block, Mike Millers, Vorhes, Bill Shermans, Baerwaldts, Gauvers, and Wm. Schutz. The early schoolhouse was located on the present Lee Ber- ning farm. It is believed that Charley Prevey was the first teacher there and lived a mile west. He would walk to school and carry his own kindling to build the fire. Mrs. Wm. O'Connor and her brother, Tony Schutz, recall that their family moved to Big Stone County in about 1898. When the school was to be moved in 1899, their father offer- ed a corner of his farm to use as long as the schoolhouse was on it, as he had several small children that would attend. His offer was accepted, and an addition was built on. They recall there were 30 or more pupils enrolled the years they attended. After the heavy winter snows the spring thaws ran into the creek below the school, sometimes endangering the bridge. The creek was a favorite spot for skating in winter, and in the spring the school children watched the water and ice flow through. They’d stand on the drifts, not realizing they too were washing away. One day, in about 1913 Lewis Sherman broke through and washed along with the water into the Schutz pas- ture fence of barbed wire. There he got caught and grabbed the fence but the water was so swift he couldn’t stand up to get out. Miss Mary Bowers, the teacher, ran down the hill, throwing her watch from her belt to one of the students. She Page Seventy-Three ran right into the creek until she hit the fence also, then called for the older children to form a chain and grab her hand. Thus they worked their way up the hill with Lewis. He received some cuts on his hands and lost his baseball mask and gloves. These were later found hanging in a woven wire fence about a mile away. The creek runs into Big Stone Lake. The District was annexed to Beardsley by consolidation in 1953. Mrs. Polhamus bought the building and moved it to her farm and made a modern, five-room home out of it. DISTRICT 23 by Mrs. Jim Kenney District 23 was formed in January, 1880, and was known as the Kenney school. Some of the families who attended there included Martins, Allison, Benolkins and Cranmers. Some of the early teachers were: Sue McDonald, Nora Burns, Blanche Dillon, Rose O‘Neill, Nellie Cauley, Mae Buck- ley, Mary Kenney Ryan, and Kate Miller O’Leary. It was annexed to Beardsley by consolidation in 1953. The schoolhouse was sold and moved to a farm near Sisseton. DISTRICT 29 by Mrs. Ray P. Flynn This district was formed in January, 1881, and was known as the Fish Creek School. Some of the families who attended there included: A. S. Stephens, Wm. Reardon, R. S. Tripp, Holmberg, E. Larkin, W. Ryan, Wm. Bower, J. Johnson, J. Jordans, P. LaPointe, William Raatz, L. Guenther, Wm. Hornstein, R. P. Flynn, Harry Tripp, Joe Boyle, A. Kellen, N. Hendricks and others. R. S. Tripp was Chairman of the School Board for many years, and A. S. Stephens was treasurer until his death in 1917. Early teachers included Rose Flynn, Nellie Gleason, Nora Burns, Evelyn Burns, Mary Bower, Helen Reardon, all before 1910. A new schoolhouse was built about 1916 and the old one was moved to the Clark farm, now Owned by B. Holker, where it is being used as a granary. The District was annexed to Beardsley by consolidation in 1953 and the building was sold to A. Umhoefer. He later sold it to the Hutterites who moved it to their colony near Graceville. DISTRICT NO. 30 by Lewis O’Leary This District was formed in March, 1881, and was known as the Hilo School. It was named for the post office located nearby. Some of the families who attended Hilo were Robert and John McDonald, Nate Warring, Ralph Wiley, Dan O'Leary, Mar- tin Early, Charles Conway, Vincent Schwagel, John Bert, Louis Lohar, John Schwartz, Ole Rolland, N. E. Johnson, Will O'Leary and Louis Guenther. Early teachers included: Miss Johnson, Mr. Bossard, Susan McDonald, Rose Flynn, Goldie Ball, Miss Cameron, Miss Hear- sey, Cecelia Miller, Katherine Miller, Frances Conway, Mary Long, and Mary McMahon. This old school witnessed many severe prairie snowstorms and blizzards. During one of the years Mr. Bossard taught here, he and the pupils were forced to remain in the building all night. A thoughtful and courageous neighbor living nearby, Ralph Wiley, filled a grain sack with food and made his way through the storm so the teacher and children might have nourishment. A new school building was erected in 1918 or 1919. The old building was sold and moved to the Stomberg farm in Tra- verse County and made into a house. After the District was Page Seveny-Four consolidated with Beardsley in 1953, the next schoolhouse was torn down. THE BAILEY AND SPENCER FAMILIES by Mrs. LeRoy Sorenson Thomas James Bailey was born on May 3, 1850, in Mc- Minnville, Tennessee. He was the son of James Brooks Bailey and Alzira Jane (Bramblette) Bailey. They were married on No- vember 1, 1844, in Sparta, Tennessee. Tom had five brothers and two sisters, namely, William, Mary, and Charles, born at Sparta; Alonozo, Henry, Frank, and Emily, born at McMinnville. Their father, James Brooks Bailey, was born at Gallitin, Ten- nessee, about 1820 and was a farmer. About 1862, when feel- ing ran high between the North and South, he was bushwack- ed in a dispute over the war. His sympathies were with the Union forces. Their mother was a well-educated woman of French descent. She was born October 22, 1822, in Monticello, Wayne County, Tennessee. She was forced to leave the South because of a war incident. She often hid Northern soldiers and spies in her home - one time an important Union spy came to her house and she hid him in a pig pen and he escaped the Confederates in this way. The Confederates suspected she was taking care of Northerners so they came and informed her she could take one thing from her home before they burned it. Mrs. Bailey took her family Bible. She was unable to remain in the South so she and her family came North with a regiment of Union soldiers coming to this territory because of Indian uprisings. They came to St. Paul with a troop train and from there to Redwood Falls. Thomas Bailey was closely identified with the history of Browns Valley from the very beginning of that settlement. He came shortly after the erection of the historic log house in Browns Valley. His mother and Ellen Brown planted the first tame flowers ever grown in Browns Valley. Tom was an expert driver and could handle a heavy stage with a four-in-hand ina way that would make the best of the famed stage drivers of the Old West “sit up and take notice.” He drove the first stage to the Valley, first from Henderson and Fort Ridgley and later from Redwood Falls, extending the trip to old Fort Wadsworth. There were no bridges and in time of high water, fording the streams was a delicate and hazardous performance. Towns were far apart and in the winter storms were. frequent and dangerous. Tom was an expert frontiersman and those who knew him and had a journey to make always felt more secure when he was piloting the stage. The eyes of the few residents of the Valley always sought the brow of the hill with confi- dence about the time the stage was due when he was driving. The present trail into Browns Valley is not the same as the early one. About 1875, Tom Bailey took a homestead at the head of Big Stone Lake and one for his mother on the Big Stone County Line. Tom’s claim is still owned by the family. He haul- ed the logs for the house from Fort Wadsworth. These logs were of oak - squared, and are still a part of the framework of the house. During these early days, Tom Bailey carried mail on foot between Browns Valley and Henderson. He first farmed with oxen and grasshoppers took his first crop, but he was not easily discouraged. On November 23, 1880, Tom Bailey married Sarah Ann Spencer, whose parents were living in Big Stone County. They were married in Morris and set up housekeeping on the home- stead. They were very hospitable people as all the early sett- lers seemed to be. Many people. made it to Bailey’s house at mealtime. There was always plenty of food for a bite. The house was on the Minnesota River and in the spring when the fish came up to spawn, the Indians came to do their fishing and would dry them. | remember our mother telling of the first time the Ind- ians came and our dad telling her not to put too much on the table for the Indians thought they were being polite to clear the table - even to the salt! Years afterward, many Indians came to our home to ask Tom what a fair price was for fence posts and the like. They trusted him for he was always fair and he spoke their language. In 1900 the Baileys moved to Browns Valley from the farm. Mr. Bailey died on January 1, 1923, of tetanus. Mrs. Tom Bailey, Sarah Ann Spencer, was born in Bradford Yorkshire, England, August 15, 1863. She was the daughter of Jeff Spencer and Emma (Gallimore) Spencer. She had one bro- ther. In 1867, the family came to America where they first set- tled in Massachusetts near Boston. They lived in New England five years and then moved to Meeker County. In 1879 they settled in Big Stone County where they homesteaded. From 1887 to 1894, they had a mercantile business in Beardsley. In 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer went back to England and re-visited the scenes of their childhood and early married life. Among the most interesting of these was the famous Carverly Church in Yorkshire in which their marriage vows were spoken 49 years before. Mr. Jeffrey Spencer died February 3, 1915, and Mrs. Spencer passed away December 22, 1919. One of the interesting events in Mr. and Mrs. Tom Bailey’s early life was an Indian celebration on July 4, 1880, on Sacred Hill. There was a circle of 120 tepees, and the Indians in their regalia doing the Indian tribal dances was a real sight. The first Memorial Day in Browns Valley was observed about 1883. It was held near the First Baptist Church where a platform and a large cross had been erected. Wreaths were placed on the cross in memory of the dead soldiers by relatives, and speech- es were made by Rev. Ashley and Mr. Crossfield. Mrs. Bailey attended a Sunday School - the first one in Browns Valley Township conducted by Mr. Rogers at the home of Joe Branch. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey had two children, George Henry, born September 21, 1881, and Emma Spencer Bailey, born April 24, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. George H. Bailey, who reside in Browns Valley, celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary, August 19, 1957. They have two children, Thomas Spencer Bailey and Mary Jane Bailey (Mrs. Erland Jensen). Emma Spencer Bailey married Leroy A. Sorenson of St. Paul on October 21, 1922. They have one daughter, Sally, and live in Graceville. The reader is thus able to observe that the Bailey’s and the Spencer’s roots are imbeded deeply in Minnesota history. SPENCER - BAILEY NOTES by Mrs. Art Spencer Not far from the ‘Spencer homestead were buffalo rings 40 to 50 feet across with a deep path worn around the outside. Mr. Spencer could sit on a knoll near his buildings and see nothing but prairie for miles around. From this high vantage point, he watched the shanties spring up over the surrounding prairie land as settlers came into the area. Early supplies were carried from Morris. Mrs. Spencer sometimes dried potato peel- ings and ground them to make a coffee substitute. The north quarter of the original homestead has remained in the Spencer name, having come down through Jeff’s son, Tom, to the grandsons, Art and Ed. One time Mr. Tom Bailey was caught in a terrible blizzard between Beardsley and Browns Valley. He took shelter in some plum brush and by continually tramping down the snow was able to weather out the storm. When it was over, the snow- banks had drifted in around him as high as the top of his head. Mr. Bailey often traded with Indians and the story goes that for a time he did a rushing business selling them bright brass spittoons to use for soup bowls. @ Foster Township Reporter: Mrs. Julius Skundberg Foster Township was organized August 6, 1921, when Prior Township was divided. It was named for Foster Resort. For the first Town Board, Ray Stegner was elected clerk and supervis- ors were Berge Nelson, Clause Knudson, and Abel Eastman. Early settlers of this area had three methods of claiming a homestead: first quarter of land - planting 10 acres of trees; second quarter - three years’ residence; third quarter - pay- ment of $1.25 per acre. Lumber for early homes was hauled by wagon and oxen from Morris and from Gary, South Dakota. M. |. Mathews settled here in 1872 on a pre-emption claim. Later this was platted as a village of summer homes, in 1880. Mr. Mathews was the first postmaster at Foster as the post of- fice was established even before the hotel was built. There was no established mail route and letters were sent only when someone went to Ortonville. Sometimes there were weeks be- tween deliveries. Until the railroad was built to Ortonville, the mails were brought in by stage from Appleton or Montevideo. Foster soon became a thriving settlement with the Addison Phelps store, Charles Hill blacksmith shop, C. H. Lang grain werehouse, and a school. Early in 1870, E. B. Hagaman had a store at his farm where groceries were sold to the settlers and meals were served by Mrs. Hagaman. This was called Edwardsville and was located about half way between Ortonville and Browns Valley, or 10 miles straight west of Clinton. It was called a half-way house. Other postoffices were Maude, located at the present Claude Axford farm, where George Peterson was the postmaster; Holmlie postoffice and blacksmith, located on the present Bjar- ne Herberg farm, with Arndt Holmlie the postmaster. (Mr. Holmlie was the grandfather of Hiram Hewitt, present Probate Judge of our county.) William H. Bowman was another early settler and later es- tablished Bowmanzie Grove as a park. The first birth recorded here was William Bowman on May 13, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman originally came from New York state. He moved to Wisconsin when he was 12, and in 1861 he enlisted in the Wisconsin Infantry and served until the end of the Civil War. During 1865-66 he attended the Academy of Music at Chicago and years later gave music lessons to local residents. Their first home here was a claim shanty and a sod barn and _ his first work was herding and driving cattle. Through the years he built up a fine farm and Bowmanzie Grove hosted many trav- elers and tourists. The Bowman children were: Herman, Eva, William H., Jr., David, Mary, Ernest, and Edith. In the late 1870’s a group of neighboring bachelor farm- ers, all Norwegians, decided to name their little community Yankeetown. They even had their own newspaper, the Yankee- town Chronicle, which reported news items for the surround- ing area. Wolves gave the homesteaders a great deal of trouble. One man told of putting strychnine into the carcass of a calf to poi- son wolves. A band of Indians came along and demanded the calf. Not being able to make them understand it was poisoned, they took it in spite of his protests. None of them died even though they did eat it. The winters were hard for everyone. In 1880, the much- talked-of blizzard came in October. One pioneer later told of having the threshers at his place and when they got up in the morning, the threshing machine was entirely drifted in and wasn’t dug out until spring. Martin |. Mathews’ children included Dr. Jay Mathews, a nationally known eye, ear, nose and throat specialist in Min- Page Seventy-Five neapolis, now deceased; May, Mrs. Frank Finberg of Clinton, also deceased; Harriet; and Irta. His mother, Mrs. M. |. Math- ews, was known as a homeopathic doctor. Grandma Mathews was thus perhaps the first to practice medicine in our county. The W. H. MATTHEWS family came here in the spring of 1879 by covered wagon from Ironton, Minnesota, originally from Baraboo, Wisconsin. After camping on the hill where the Ortonville Greenhouse is now located, they proceeded up the shore toward Foster. The Matthews children were Alvah of Or- tonville, Charlie of California, Glen of New York, and Arthur and Maude, deceased. The Matthews Ranch located eight miles west of Clinton featured a practical “L’’ arrangement of all-in- one buildings in the early days. This conserved space and af- forded good protection to the north and west. (Mrs. Alma Spencer recalls these details from the time she worked there.) Alvah has been in business in Ortonville since 1913. The STURGIS FAMILY came to Big Stone County from Wis- consin on April 1, 1879, locating about 17 miles up the lake from Ortonville. Mr. Sturgis was a carpenter and built a home for his family. A son, A. H. Sturgis, recalls the trips to Morris for supplies before the railroad reached Ortonville. The E. B. Hagamans of Edwardsville, already mentioned, were his grandparents. About 1880 the excursion boat, F. D. Underwood, began operating on the lake and Mr. Sturgis was one of the passengers on its first trip. LARS SKUNDBERG came to Wisconsin from Norway as a young man. In 1878 he came here and obtained his homestead by residence. He lived in a sod house for nine years, and he did his farming with a yoke of oxen. During the winter months he and several other homesteaders went to Wisconsin to work in the woods, thus earning extra cash. He married Ingeborg Paulson, a sister of Ole Paulson. In 1887 Lars built a new house, hauling the |umber from Morris and Gary, South Dako- ta. A son, Julius, and family now live on the farm. A grand- son, Russell, son of Julius, rents the land, thus making the third generation to farm it. OLE PAULSON homesteaded the place now owned by Hen- ry Skundberg. CHARLES SEIP was born at Lake Zurich, Illinois, and came to Waseca as a young man. He and Bill Nordmeyer drove with a yoke of oxen to this township and filed claims on March 17, 1878. Mr. Seip erected a building which ser- ved as a barn downstairs and he lived upstairs. This build- ing is still in use as a gran- ary. Mrs. Seip, a sister of Ole Holte, came from Norway in 1882. A son, Mark, lives in Beardsley and operates a Hoenmitesderds Ole Paulson and wife hardware store. He has his father’s oxen yoke in his posses- sion. James Vipond lives on the Seip homestead now, and Stu- art Schneider lives on the Bill Nordmeyer homestead. An amusing pioneer story told of one of Mr. Seip’s conven- iences - it was claimed that he cut a hole in the roof of his building and his trained hen flew up there to lay her egg. It fell right into the frying pan on the stove! HANS THOMPSON and his wife were both natives of Nor- way. They came here from Galesville, Wisconsin in a covered wagon drawn by a team of horses. Two children, Frank and Jo- sephine, came with them, and their first home was a dugout in Page Seventy-Six OLE SKUNDBERG HOMESTEAD Shown are Ole Skundberg and nephew, Ole Skundberg a hillside. Later they built a log cabin which still stands and is in use as the kitchen of the home they built and lived in until their death. Their team of horses was one of the first in the erea and Mr. Thompson often made trips to Morris for supplies for the neighbors as well as for his own family. The homestead is now owned by Amiel Umhoeffer and is tenanted by Lawr- ence Fossen. A son, Harry Thompson, still lives near his old home. LARS and MAT OLSON settled on adjoining farms border- ing Big Stone Lake. In 1900 Martin Fossen bought the Lars Ol- son place and moved there with his family. His son, Raymond, . now lives there. A cousin of the Olson Brothers, Mrs. Ida Morse, 95, lives at Browns Valley. Her granddaughter, Irene Morse, married Raymond Fossen and now lives on the home- stead of one of her ancestors. The Anthony Pederson family lives on the Mat Olson homestead. MIKE EASTMAN came from Sweden to Lansing, lowa atthe age of nine years. During his early years he worked on a river boat. In 1881 he came here and bought a farm for $700. He married Caroline Larson, also of Sweden, who was working in St. Paul. For several years they lived in the small frame house already there, and Mr. Eastman lived on this farm until his death. His son, Archie, and family live there now, and sons Abel and Lester also live in the township. The J. J. HAMNER family came from Sweden on July 8th, 1886 and lived with the Mike Eastman family until fall. During the winter they lived in a house at Foster and their son, John, attended school there. Later they bought the farm now known as the Elof Hamner farm and the William Davidson family, daughter of the Elof Hamner’s, live there now. John Hamner bought the ferm where he still lives with his son, J. W. Edwin Hemner. Mrs. Edwin Hamner was formerly Ann Docherty and her great, great, great, great grandfather, Thomas Fuller, was the first baby born on the Mayflower. His cradle is on display in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C. Other Foster names include George and Gib Chesley, Chris Christenson, C. G. Curtis, Ross Comforth, Ole Erickstein, Lars Halvorson, Eric Jacobson, Anton Johnson, Gunder Knudson, Ole Holte, Berge Nelson, Fred Nordmeyer, Ben and Dan Stegner, and others. Mr. Sigloh had the first steam engine for threshing on the present Paul Hildebrandt farm. In 1886 Charles Salmonson us- ed horse-power for threshing, using 16 horses. Pat Clark told of trading an old building for a quarter of land in the early days. Levi Westfall promoted the first single line telephone in the township 50 years ago. In 1910 a young man visiting relatives here was accident- Anton Johnson homestead. Now the Robert Kvatum farm ly shot while hunting rabbits with a companion. He was taken to the home of his uncle and Dr. Bolsta of Ortonville was hur- riedly summoned by the nearest telephone. The roads were in poor wintertime condition and the trip with a team took about four hours. Dr. Bolsta proceeded to operate with the patient on the kitchen table, and 14 bullet holes were repaired. The only light was from several kerosene lamps. The patient was LARS MICHELSEN who still lives here. Early Threshing Scene About 1915 Farmers’ Clubs were organized which held regular monthly meetings in the schoolhouses. Farm problems were discussed and programs of music, readings, and plays were given, followed by a social hour. The Farmers’ Union was organized in the 1920's and is still active. Meetings are held jointly with the Browns Valley Township Local at Beardsley. The Foster Up-and-Doing 4-H Club was organized in the 1930’s and has been very active throughout the years. It won Norwegian ‘‘Jule-bokking’’ (Christmas fooling) the Achievement Trophy three times and at present has 22 members. LuJean Skundberg held the State Secretary’s office for one year. The Homemaker’s Club chose the name Foster Mothers and there are 15 members who take the lessons presented by the Extension Office. The 1944 tornado which struck on June 17 wrecked many barns, some houses, and up-rooted hundreds of trees. Some people were injured. Our farms were energized by R.E.A. in 1947. The Keddy Rest Home was started in 1949 in the original Yankeetown area. It has since cared for many patients, ranging in time from three months to over six years. Four patient lived to be 90 or over, they being Mrs. Wallmann, Mrs. McElderry, Mr. Claus Giere, and Mr. John Anthony. On October 1, 1958, the Home was closed after having cared for 90 people during its years of operation by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Keddy. . 5 Sitting room in an early Foster home Early interior of what is now the Keddy Rest Home SCHOOLS The first school was held in the George Peterson home. The house was unplastered so the children used the boards be- tween the studdings for blackboards, writing on them with pieces of charred wood. Later, school was held in a place cal- led the McGee Place just above Foster, and later in the hayloft of a new barn below the settlement. A schoolhouse was built east of Foster and in 1880 it was cut in two, half of the build- ing being moved to what is now District 8, and the other halt to District 62, better known as the Thompson school. District 8 was formed in July, 1879, and classes are still be- ing held. District 16 was formed in December, 1879, and has been known as the Stephany school. A new building was erec- ted in 1924 and is still in use. This also served as a church for many families for some 50 years. It was a branch of the Meth- odist Church of Beardsley and in later years joined with them. District 20 was formed in January, 1880, and was known as the Knudson school. Early services of Holden Lutheran Church Page Seventy-Seven Golden Prairie School - Built in 1921 were held here. A new building was put up in 1921 and was named Golden Prairie. It was annexed to the Beardsley school by consolidation on May 25, 1953. DISTRICT NO. 62 - Julius Skundberg, Fred and Cora Fossen, Julia Kvatum, Victor and Hazel Fossen, Lois & Lu- cille Palmer, Nettie Winegarden, Lau- ra Green, Irma Stevens, Melvin Kva- tum, Alice and Ethel Fossen, Robert Winegarden, Melvin Fossen, Curtis Tate and brother. y District No. 62 - 1880 District 62 was formed in September, 1902. A new school- house was built in 1917 and called Sunnyside. It was also an- nexed to Beardsley in 1953. HOLDEN LUTHERAN CHURCH On February 16th, 1885, a group of men gathered at the Arndt Holmlie home for the purpose of organizing a Norweg- ian Lutheran Congregation. Pastor Sorlie conducted the meet- ing and it was named Big Stone Lake Norwegian Evangelical Congregation. First officers included: Trustees, Arndt Holmlie, Ole Moen, and M. Olson; Treasurer, Lars Anderson; and Secre- tary, Anton Olson, and services were to be held in the school- house. On February 23 another meeting was held and Gunder Knudson donated two acres of land for a cemetery and church site. The church was built in 1900-01 and served the Holden Congregation for many years. There were several deaths be- ¢ Ps eats Bi OA SE Early Annual Picnic of Holden Lutheran Church Page Seventy-Eight fore the congregation was organized, which were buried across the road from the Holmlie Postoffice. They were later moved to Holden Cemetery. In the severe drouth of the 1930's farmers gathered at Holden Church to pray for rain to save the remains of their crops. A picture of such a gathering was widely re- printed in newspapers throughout the country and poignantly portrayed the farmers’ plight. Shown in that photo were: Mr. and Mrs. K. G. Knudson, Raymond Fossen, Lars Michelsen. Hartwick Peterson, and Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Emerick and chil- dren. In June, 1944, Holden Lutheran Church was completely demolished by a tornado. Only the cement steps and the church bell remained, and the bell was stolen by some sight- seer and never returned! A new church was erected on the same site in 1948. Pastor K. A. Anderson of Ortonville is the present pastor and officers now are: Trustees, Hilton Hegge, Arthur Erickson and Lloyd Michelson; Treasurer, Mrs. Oscar Herberg; and Secretary, Russell Skundberg. Another cemetery is located about a mile above Foster, to- ward Ortonville. Among the names found on the tombstones of four Civil War Veterans buried there is that of William H. Bow- man, Co. G, Wisconsin Infantry. An old map lists this as the Mathews Cemetery. Holden Lutheran church bell which was stolen Holden Lutheran Cemetery & Church Holden Lutheran Church nearing completion - 1948-49 @ Graceville Township Reporters: Mrs. John Daly, Mrs. Ed. Utley, Mrs. Walter Wulff Long before the coming of the white settlers, the region a- round Toqua Lakes was a favorite rendezvous for the Indians. Toqua, originally spelled “Toka” and so pronounced, means “enemy” in the Dakota language. It was so named because the scene of the last clash between the Sioux Indians and the Chip- pewas was on the strip of land between the two lakes. As the Chippewa were the hereditary enemy of the Sioux, “Chippe- ua wa” and “Toqua” are practically synonymous. Indian legends foretold the wet and dry cycle of Toqua Lakes, one being “Every twenty-five years, Toqua Lakes disappear, For eight years - Then they come back again!” Even during our residence here, we know this to be true to a certain degree. We've all seen crops raised in the lakebeds and rejoiced when the waters returned in nature’s full beauty. As early as 1866, ninety-two years ago, Pierce Owens built his cabin on the banks of Toqua Lake and this was the earliest residence in Big Stone County. He was joined by Albert Barse and they engaged in fur trading with the Indians in the vicin- ity of Toqua Lakes, on the Fort Wadsworth Trail. So successful was this enterprise that in 1870, 50,000 muskrat skins and oth- er valuable furs were shipped. Prior to coming to Minnesota, it’s reported that Barse had been a teacher back East and had also been a newspaperman with the New York World. During the Civil War he and Owens had been comrades in the Union Army and came to Minnesota soon afterward in search of ad- venture. They took up homesteads at Toqua Lakes and one of the many legends of this area concerns the romance and mar- riage of these two men to 16-year-old twin sisters of the Yauk- tonai tribe. Upa-alca-mani-win (Growing Fawn) became Mrs. Barse and Upa-hin-duta-win (Scarlet Fawn) became Mrs. Owens. They were wed under Indian rites. The Wadsworth Trail was established by the Government in 1864 as a route for soldiers and supplies traveling westward from St. Cloud to Fort Wadsworth, later renamed Fort Sisseton. The Trail went through Sauk Centre, Glenwood, Gager and Frisby’s Stations (both north of present Morris), Toqua, and Browns Valley. The supply trains often included wagonloads of over three tons hitched to 12-mule teams, and the traffic al- so included dispateh carriers and stagecoach service, freight wagons, traders, soldiers of fortune, gold seekers heading West, and Indians. The overland trail was a rough one and many incidents - exciting, humorous, and tragic - took place enroute. The book “The Wadsworth Trail” by the late Grace Cynthia Hall of Morris tells many interesting particulars of that era as her father was a stage driver. Her uncle, Edgar S. Hall, was a Star Route mail carrier from Morris to Ortonville through the Artichoke area. Owens and Barse had charge of the station at Toqua, lo- cated near the southwest end of the present park area. On the northern end of the isthmus, just as it begins to widen, is a small clearing that was, and still is, called the “Indian Garden”. This land and adjoining acres form part of the present William Sorensen farm. Major Joseph R. Brown operated the first stage- line from Fort Wadsworth to Redwood Falls and Tom Bailey was the driver. From 1868 to 1879 Colonel Emmet Dunlap ran the Fort Wadsworth to Sauk Centre stageline through the Val- ley, discontinued when the railroad came through. He purchas- ed land from Owens in 1876 and 1878, and from Barse in 1877. In 1869 or 70, a Mr. McPherson, a stage driver, brought his sister, Mrs. Jennie Atkinson and family, to keep the half- way house. She and Colonel Dunlap were married in 1874 and one of their daughters, Toqua, was the first white child born in this vicinity. Colonel Dunlap secured legal guardianship of three older Atkinson children and purchased property in their names also. The Dunlaps erected additional buildings and maintained the Half-way House (Half-way between Frisby’s and Browns Valley) mentioned in many local pioneer memories. When Bishop John Ireland, through his agent, Colonel King, bought acreage in 1878, he planned a farm colony and town site. During the first three months of 1879, 175 families located within a radius of five miles of Graceville. Settlers poured in like a flood and soon the surrounding prairies were dotted with the shacks and sod shanties of the homesteaders. Some of the early family names are mentioned in the vil- lage history. Others include: Rothwell, Utely, Rosenthal, Tom Ridings, Andrew Lannon, August Kruger, Andrew McLean, Si- mon Roach, Tom Roach, Maurice Green, Maurice Leenay, Dan Day, Dan Fahey, Mike Costello, Jim Hanlon, Jim Mulvaney, Tom and Pay Hayden, Daniel P. O'Neil, Ellen O’Neil, Pat Hy- land, Pat McNamara, John M. Johnson, Tom Hyland, Ed. Dow- nes, Bob Clark, George Baker, James Dean, George Studdard, Tim Gratton, Pat Maher, Joe Windorpski, Mrs. Gilfoil, F. L. Cliff, R. A. Costello, Pat Conoboy, Fred Hammond, to mention a few. The first wagon load of grain marketed in Graceville came from the Daniel P. O’Neil farm. JOHN ROTHWELL, who emigrated from England, took a homestead in Section 33 in 1876 and was one of the earlier settlers of the county. He organized a colony and helped many new families get located. Edward Anderson, a grandnephew of John Rothwell, now lives on the original homestead. The |. H. UTLEY family homesteaded in 1876 or 77, and the south corner of the farm still has traces of buffalo rings. Mrs. Jessie Utley Dryke remembers that her grandfather held Sun- day School in the schoolhouse in 1884 and also had preaching there. She also recalls when three members of the G.A.R., in- cluding Mr. Schumacher, came from Ortonville for a flag-rais- ing ceremony in the very early school days. The Ed H. Utley and Jack Utley families still reside on the farm in separate homes. ANDREW LANNON filed his claim in 1877 and moved from St. Paul in the spring of 1878. He built a sod shanty about one- fourth mile south of the present home. At that time Toqua Lake, West Lake, and all the smaller sloughs were filled with an abundance of fish, mostly pickerel. People picketed their oxen just east of the present golf links while they fished. Mr. and Mrs. Pat Lannon still reside on the homestead where Pai was born, and he believes he has probably lived longer on one place than any other resident of Big Stone or Traverse Counties. Our School Districts were No. 37 and No. 38, both formed in September, 1881. They were annexed to Graceville by dis- solution on July 1, 1955. Classes of 37 were first held in a house on the present Ronnie Pansch farm. The first teacher was Ada Dean Gross, and Ed Utley is the only pupil left in the dis- trict. The late Miss Josephine Rosenthal told of having attend- ed classes there. Other teachers included Golda Ball, Katie Fol- ey, Theresa Trainor, Agnes Coyne, Nellie Cauley, Mary Lannon, Rose Moran, Inez Coyne, Mildred Hickson, Marie Horner, Si- lence Giddings, Olga Storm, and Mildred Paffrath. The school- house was later sold and moved to a neighboring farm. The schoolhouse of No. 38, known for years as the Whelan school, was moved into Graceville and used as the Ted Goodhart blacksmith shop. LAKESIDE and LAKEVIEW CEMETERIES are located approxi- mately two miles south of Graceville on the eastern shoreline above West Toqua Lake. TOQUA LAKES STATE PARK consists of about forty acres adjoining East Toqua Lake. It was created as a state scenic way- side in 1919 and has served as a pleasant picnic spot these many years. An extensive park improvement project, obtained through the efforts of Rep. Wm. Sorensen, was completed this summer. This will provide additional enjoyment and _ traffic safety in the years to come. Toqua Lake has been enjoyed by many swimmers this sum- mer, and water sports are a favorite pastime. Of interest to the many boating enthusiasts is the fact that the business of giving boat rides here was started way back in 1896 when a gasoline motor boat was purchased and a boat house built. The launch Page Seventy-Nine accommodated 20 to 30 passengers and rides were 10c and 25c. Near the hill there was a nice Pavilion extending out over the water and many band concerts were given there. oe . © Pl ge. pias” Sage TOQUA FARM When the Wm. Sorensen family moved from Minneapolis in 1918, remains of Indian teepees still stood in the pastures of West Lake. The Half-way House had been moved a short dis- tance to a basement and enlarged and had also served as a Post Office in its pre-village days. The inside arrangement of the home was still that of a hotel with six upstairs rooms and four downstairs. It has been remodeled in our time. The origi- nal Dunlap barn continued in use for many years. Until around 1923 an annual caravan of Indians visited To- qua Farm and walked about the grove and Indian Garden, but as the older Indians died and many of the tree markers disap- peared, this tribal custom was discontinued. Many arrowheads and various other items found in the Indian Garden and in the fields are now included in the Dr. C. 1. Oliver and Leonard Gus- tavson relic collections. Until the drouth of the 30’s, foliage and flowers were very abundant on Toqua shores - ferns, vio- lets, honeysuckle, and “Dutchmen’s Britches”, to mention a few. Chokecherry thickets still line the shores. Local residents recall that a pleasant walk was “out to the falls”, located near the present north entrance. In 1899 a Mr. Bassett operated the trading store here, and for some years later the farm was known as Mitchell’s farm. The Farm Abstract lists all these many names, from the Barse and Owens days to the present. Jim J. Mulvanney was a stage driver from Morris to Browns Valley and told me many tales of those days when | “hitched a ride’ home from school in his double-seated buggy. One of the many interesting items turned up in this project is that some of the freight to Fort Wadsworth contained butter shipped from the Movius Dairy in Odessa. When Graceville celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1928, a special edition of the Enterprise included Old Time Chats. Mrs. Ellen Mullane gave some comments concerning their jour- Page Eighty GRACEVILLE GOLF CLUB consists of a nine-hole course and has a nice clubhouse and a roster of 125 members. It borders Toqua Park on the south. June 15th this year the Club had its 30th annual Father’s Day tournament. TOQUA PARK STOCK FARM, with Toqua Lake and Graceville in background. The road around the lake is between the lake and the gate archway seen in the center of the photo. The Indian Garden is just beyond the righthand margin. Sorensen’s Four-horse Hitch - Wm. Sorensen, driver, and Vic Hoffman ney to their homestead near Barry and of their stop at Col. Dunlap’s “in the woods” when little Tokua Dunlap was about six months old. She mentioned the Sorensen Dairy, referring to the retail milk delivery service Dad began in 1923. The first appearance of bottled milk locally was a novelty since in those days most village residents had their own cow, or purchased kettlefuls of extra milk from their neighbors. Dad’s dairy herd was purchased in Wisconsin and was the first State tested sani- tary herd in the county. Daily deliveries were made with a one-horse milk wagon and by sled in wintertime when the trips were made across the lake. In 1929, Lindy, a two-year- old Belgian colt, won first prize at the State Fair - the first of many entries in competition there, in Chicago, and county fairs. Besides farming, raising purebred Belgian draft horses was a busy activity for many years, then a hobby, and now, a memory. A succession of ponies delighted us children. Yes, we have enjoyed learning the history of Toqua Farm. But, more important, Hans, Harold, and | appreciate the fact that “a heap o’ happy livin” has been experienced there and are grateful to the Mother and Dad who showed us how. We are happy that our children, too, have been privileged to cher- ish Toqua Farm just as we do. From Graceville Enterprise, Sept. 12, 1939: ‘‘Taken right out of the field and into the show arena at the Minnesota State Fair, this beautiful span of Bel- gians, exhibited by Wm. Sorensen of Graceville, are the ones that copped first prize in individual competition, thus winning for their owner coveted honors against some of the nation’s most valued horses, including the winning team of the recent National Percheron Show. The horses were shown by Mr. Soren- sen ed ag as compared with expert showmen used by competing exhibit- e ors. During the past week he also exhibited them at the Traverse County Fair at Wheaton. Mr. Sorensen has a total of 15 Belgians on his farm at the edge of Graceville, known as Toqua Park Stock Farm.” HUTTERITE COLONY Minnesota’s first Hutterite Colony was started near Grace- ville in August, 1956 when over 1800 acres were sold to them by L. A. Weesner and others. This acreage included the old Ed O'Connor, Anderson, and Cunningham farms. By now it has purchased additional surrounding land and has an extensive building project underway. Until it has progressed to the point where the Colony can operate itself independently, it is doing business with Graceville firms. The parent colony is the New Elm Springs Hutterian Socie- ty, Inc. at Ethan, South Dakota. Property is held in common and they pay the same real estate and personal property taxes as other corporations. They maintain their own schools and have retained their German language. Their life is a mixture of the worldly and unworldly - while radios, magazines, cosmetics, modern dress, etc. are frowned upon, the Hutterites are at the same time highly conscious of modern farm machinery and use the best scientific methods in running their farms. Their com- ing was witnessed with mixed opinions, but the businessmen of Graceville speak well of their associations with them. @ Malta Township Reporters: Mrs. Oscar Olson, Mrs. Ed. Larson Malta Township, east of Clinton, was originally called Myr- tle in 1878, changed to Clarksville in January, 1880, and to Malta on March 29, 1880. It was named for several places - a town in New York, villages in Ohio and Illinois, and for the is- land of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. The first settler was David K. J. Clark, in June, 1876, on the present Ed. Larson farm. Mr. C. A. Miner settled in Novem- ber, 1876. Benjamin F. Swezey had the distinction of being the first white settler to break land in our township. He settled on Section 22 in 1876 and farmed with ox teams. His first crop in 1877 averaged six bushel of wheat per acre and the corn crop was good. Hayden French visited this area in 1876 and took a home- stead here in 1878. He was elected Clerk of Court in 1887 and held that office until 1932. Hiram A. Watkins homesteaded in 1878 and there wasn’t a house in sight. He hauled supplies from Morris and built a shanty 14 by 18 feet. His first crop of wheat yielded 300 bu- shels. Henry Holsbery Tyler was one of the “Cape Codders” re- ported in Otrey Township. He came with the Chapmans in 1879 when he was 23 years old and homesteaded just across the township line in Malta. His son, Ed., lives there now. Other early names were Beaty, Cooper, Burlingame, We- lander, Williams, Cenfield, Knippen, Swedberg, Green, Sand- ers, and Morrill. The first town election was held at the house of J. Burlingame, February 14, 1880, and other names men- tioned from then on are Staddon, Congdon, Nickerson, Swan- son and McCarty. MALTA STORE We’re indebted to Mrs. Rose Wiley, now 87, of Ortonville and formerly of Otrey Township for most of the information we have regarding this store. Dwight Leech operated near the vicinity of the Dow blacksmith shop and the Post Office. The Clarksville Post Office was established August 24, 1880, and Frank B. Saunders was named postmaster. Dwight Leech lived on the farm now occupied by the Oscar A. Olsons. Mrs. Wiley has vivid recollections of going along to the store to buy supplies when she was about eight years old. Mr. Leech dealt in such staple groceries as were characteristic items of pioneer times, as well as overalls, calico, needles, thread, buttons, etc. and these supplies were hauled in from Morris or Benson. The nearby Post Office and Blacksmith Shop undoubt- edly added to the prosperity of the store, enabling Mr. Leech to hire an assistant. The very capable clerk was Miss Mabel Burlingame who later married Mr. Fred Beaty. She was the author of a county history in 1939 which recounted many in- teresting details of pioneer days in this area. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10 We are told that the first school building stood near the Will Sander’s home at least 70 years ago and that the district was formed in July, 1879. Miss Ida M. Geer was_ the first teacher. The building was typical of that time - made of rough lumber. Fred Green recalls the boys made a game of spitting into the knot-holes in the floor, and no one could keep warm in severe winter. One boy, Mic McCarty, was rather gifted as he could stand on his head and clap his feet together to get them warm. Fred recalls two of his teachers as being Ida Ly- man and Hattie Tate. Others included Ida Buck, Fred Sanders, Marie Stephens, Maud Cooper, Mollie Carlson, Alice Cenfield, Laura Borg, Mamie Robinson, Agnes Larson, Lossie Scholberg, Nellie Hong, Inga Christianson, Edith Knight, Sadie Brooks, Anne Carlson, Rue Beaty. Such names as Moon, Green, Hick- son, Staddon, Burlingame, McCarty, Clark, and Sanders were on the attendance roll. The 1887 school records of District 10 were brought to the Relic Display in Clinton by Mrs. Gus Wei- man, June 9th. (Beautiful penmanship!) The present school building was erected in the northeast corner of Section 30 near the Burlingame home, and was used as the township polling place until 1952. In the early days Sunday School and Services were held there with Rev. Otis Pierce Sanders, grandfather of the late Will Sanders, conduct- ing. He was of the Baptist denomination. Beginning about 1930, the German Lutheran Congregation held regular meet- ings there some 10 years until they secured their own church. After the district joined the Clinton school, the building was Page Eighty-One sold and is now used as a meeting place for the Farmers’ Un- ion. The old original building was put to use in a neighboring yard. District No. 12 was also formed in July, 1879, and Nos. 39 and 44 in 1881 and 1882. All four districts were annexed to Clinton by reorganization on December 16, 1952. MALTA CHURCH by Mrs. Walter Wulff This typical “little country church” has served many people and was moved twice for sure, or maybe thrice. Too bad it can’t tell it’s own story. Many sources have been contacted con- cerning it, but it’s been difficult to pin down a complete his- tory. Miss Katie Kohl believes this church was originally built somewhere else and moved to the Hager section, now the Ra- zink farm, about 1903. Dr. Charles Carl recalls that when his family moved up from lowa to Malta Township in 1906, it was located five miles east of Cilnton and that some early pastors had been Rev. Hauck and Rev. Cooper. Rev. J. C. Bender and his family also moved up from lowa in 1906 and he became the pastor. Some of the families who attended were George Casterline, Chapin, Carl, Cenfield, J. P. Elwell, Farleys, John Frye, John and Char- ley Green, Kohls, Leech, Lyman, Frank Morrill, Randall, Reyn- olds, Sanders, Swezey, Stephens, Weimans, and Williams. Not all belonged as members, but all helped purchase the build- ing for the Evangelical Congregation. Mrs. Naomi Bender Rasmusson recalls that the official name was the Grace United Evangelical Church. She believes the building must have been more than six years old when they first came here. At first the Bender family lived in Clinton until a farm was available; then they bought the farm just east of Clinton where they lived for many years. She also remembers that her father served a congregation at Adelaide for awhile. Other pastors lived on the farm now occupied by Henry AIl- berts. These were Rev. M. E. Rhinehardt, Rev. J. P. Driver, and Rev. Brown. Others came from Odessa and Big Stone City, in- cluding Rev. Philip Hahn, Rev. F. W. Brecker, and Rev. Stegner. Two student pastors were named Van Gorkum and Parrot. The church building was not used from about 1914 to 1917 when it was sold and moved to Johnson. Walter and Fred Wulff recall walking a couple miles across the fields to watch the proceedings. The project took several weeks and required many teams and helpers. Planks and rollers were laid in front of the building and it was then pulled forward by a cable be- ing wound up on a capstan by a circling team. Then the unit was moved ahead, staked down again, and rewound. Some- times they had to clear the way through snow before laying the planks again. 20 years later when the building was re- turned over the same route, it rode at five miles per hour on steel trucks and a “60” caterpillar. Some difference, but if it were moved today, it could roll down the road on rubber tires! The Evangelical Congregation in Johnson used the church building until 1923 when it disbanded. It was next purchased by the German Lutheran Church and used for a few years. It then stood empty until 1938 when it was purchased by the Bethany congregation and moved back to Malta Township. BETHANY LUTHERAN CONGREGATION Bethany Congregation was started by Rev. M. Wehausen, resident pastor of Trinity Church near Johnson, on June 16th, 1929. Services and Sunday School were held regularly in Dis- trict 12 schoolhouse for four years. A larger schoolhouse, Dist- rict 10, was next used until 1938 when the Johnson church was purchased. This was moved nine miles straight south of John- son on the Odessa-Johnson road. The congregation was organ- Page Eighty-Two » ized under its own constitution in July, 1933, and some of the charter members included John Johnson, John Kohland, Wm. Bethany Lutheran Church - Malta Township Kohl, and Peter Paulsen. The congregation dedicated its church on October 23, 1938, and both the 10th and 25th anniversar- ies were celebrated with special festivities. There are now 79 communicant members. Pastors of Bethany have included Rev. Wehausen, 1929- 35; Rev. Binger, 1936-40; Rev. Zehms, 1941-46; and the pres- ent pastor, Rev. Mutterer. Since 1942 it has been served by the pastor of the Mt. Olive congregation in Graceville. Within recent years many improvements have been made and a new Hammond organ has been installed. The Ladies Mis- | sionary Society, organized in 1935, has been a valuable asset in helping with the improvements and financing of the church. Undoubtedly this little church building is now comfortably situated in one place for a long, long time! @ Moonshine Township Reporters: Mrs. Wm. P. Geagan, Mrs. Vic Larson, Mrs. John Holmblad Moonshine Township is in the northeastern corner of the county and contains the village of Johnson. It was organized October 3, 1882, with Joe Phiefer, William Marlow, James White, and D. P. Callahan as board members. It was named for Moonshine Lake, but finding the origin for that brought forth several versions: 1. A band of Indians camped by the Lake and named it “Moonshine” because of the beauty of the moon shin- ing on the water. 2. An early pioneer on his trek home (to Ortonville?), lost his way and came upon this large body of wat- ter. Being tired from his long walk and because it was late in the day, he camped here for the night. Later, when the moon rose, he was so impressed with the beauty of the moon shining on the placid water that he named it “Moonshine Lake.” 3. D. K. J. Clark, mentioned as a settler in Malta town- ship, on first coming here in 1876 from Wabasha County, camped beside the lake. He decided to name it Moone Lake for the surname of his wife, Mrs. Mary A. (Moone) Clark, but when he saw the bright moon- light that evening he changed his idea to “Moon- shine.” However, the decendents of the hardy pioneers didn’t apprec- iate the beauty as much as their forefathers - the lake has been drained and now produces abundant crops instead. Some of the first settlers who braved this rugged frontier were from Sweden and came as early as 1873. They settled to the south and west when there was nothing here but a treeless prairie. In the old land records it is interesting to note that much of this land was included in the acreage taken up in the name of Bishop Ireland. Some settlers are said to have pur- chased some of these acres at $5 each. The north and western areas were settled by the overflow of the Graceville Colony. Later came the Germans to the eastern part. Some of the many who came could not endure the hardships of the rugged exist- ence. Of all the early settlers still remaining on the origina! farms, we find five, namely: Victor Larson and son, Alan; Den- nis Broderick; Alvin Carlson; Walter Johnson; and Freda Oberg Olson. In those early days there were no roads and the best means of travel was on foot. With the advent of the autos and trucks, it became evident that good roads were necessary. We now have good graveled roads to every farm, besides two county roads, and State Highway No. 28. We also have the branch line of the Great Northern railway on the north. R.E.A. came through in 1948 but some farms had “home plants” for years. The Moonshine Co-op Telephone Company served us from a- bout 1912 to 1957 when it was taken over by N.W. Bell. Even before 1906 we had telephone service on a line promoted by Dr. Oliver. Our forefathers saw the need of education and put forth great effort until finally four school districts were organized, namely: No. 35, July, 1881, first located on Section 26. A new school was built in 1916 and the site changed to Sec- tion 27. Family names included Geagan, Geenty, Rit- ter, Burns, Stockmeyer, Schwesinger, Wulff, Borth, Moore, Hagen, Aswege, Naab, Vogt, Mauch and Weeding. This District is transporting its pupils to Johnson and its last teacher was Mrs. Anna Haanen of Beardsley. The District Number is now 136. No. 43, March, 1882, was located on Section 8 and was known as the Broderick school. It was moved to the village of Johnson where it still operates. Earlier names here were Gallagher, Costello, Bauer, Burns, Donovan, Amberg, Oberg, Conway, Ruddy, Connelly and Coyne. No. 58, August, 1896, on Section 20 and known as the Costello school. This District was annexed to Grace- ville by dissolution in 1955. Family names included: Burns, Levine, Olson, Nilson, Johnson, Baxter, Holm- blad. No. 61, May, 1901, on Section 11 and known as the Blackwelder school. Part of this district was annexed to Chokio by consolidation in 1953 and the rest dis- solved in 1956 and annexed to Chokio and Johnson. Family names included Damerow, Sanasack, Barlage, Hoffman, Norenberg, Arcutt, Wagner, Summers, Gra- ham, Lubenow, Ritter, and Ketman. MATT LARSON came from Sweden and went to Duluth. He came to this county in 1873, coming first to Malta Township and then moving to Moonshine where he made his permanent home. He used mules instead of oxen because he liked them better. He gradually acquired several quarters of land and em- ployed several men, often forwarding fare to friends in Swe- den so they could come here too. They would then work it off but many of them stayed much longer. Some of these were Mr. and Mrs. Willie Johnson, Mrs. Erland Carlson, Gust Carlson, Nels A. Nelson, John Ericson, Arvid Johnson, Andrew Peter- son, George Steen, Ed Anderson, Pete Peterson. Matt Larson married Kristina Levin who homesteaded near- by and they raised a family of six children, four of whom still reside in this county. The oldest son, Victor, and grandson, Al- an, still live on the old home place. The first home was a one- room shanty; the next a two-room house. In the early 1890's he built the large brick house and later built the large round barn that is a landmark for miles around. Mr. Larson was also a charter member of the Elim Lutheran Church in Clinton. Inasmuch as he encouraged so many settlers to come here, Matt Larson was affectionately known as “King of the Swedes”. He was always a very loyal citizen to his new country. As one of his neighbors said of him, he never forgot that there were sO many more opportunities here than in his native land. The EUGENE BRODERICK family was among the early homesteaders from Boston. Their large acreage was farmed ex- tensively for many years and they also raised Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. For some years the farm was known as the Bear Claw Ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. Broderick still re- side on the home farm. The others of the original family in- cluded Pat, William, Frank, and Tessie, all deceased. WILLIAM C. JOHNSON was born in Sweden in 1868 and came to Lowry, Minnesota in 1888. He left Sweden with $5.00 and had $4.00 left when he arrived in Lowry. He told his grandchildren of having a loaf of bread and a ring of bologna for food enroute from New York to Minnesota. After working around Lowry for two years, he came to Moonshine Township, where he purchased land from the Bishop Ireland acreage at $6 per acre. He and his brother lived in a tarpaper shanty and lived in a dugout underneath during the winter. They farmed with oxen and had one cow. Their main food the first winter was codfish and milk. Kristine Hanson was born in Sweden in 1875 and came to America in 1902. She stayed with the R. D. Martinson family south of Clinton for a few days, then worked for Mr. and Mrs. Matt Larson in Moonshine Township for a couple years. She was married to W. C. Johnson in 1905 and still lives on the home farm with her son and family, the Walter Johnsons. In 1927 she enjoyed a visit back to her homeland and again in 1952, making the trip by air with her daughter, Agnes, who also toured Europe. — (Told by Mrs. Delores Mauch, a grand- daughter.) MR. and MRS. ANDREW LEVEEN were born in Sweden. They were married in 1881 and settled on their homestead in Section 20, Moonshine Township. Mr. Leveen had come over in 1870 and had taken his homestead in 1879. Their possessions consisted of a team of oxen, two horses, two cows, and they had a claim shanty and sod stable. Mr. Leveen died in 1890 and Mrs. Leveen and six children continued on the farm, build- ing it up to a fine farmstead. For years it was known as the Frank Leveen farm. It is now occupied by the Rolland Kutzler family. Page Eighty-Three EDWARD GEENTY came to Big Stone County in September, 1883 and engaged in threshing that fall and worked that win- ter in the lumber woods. The next spring he opened up his land here with two span of cattle, using the oxen for three years. His first crop averaged 11 bushels per acre. His father settled here also in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Geenty had five daughters and Mary still resides in Graceville. Cathrine and Lillie are in California and Anne is in Oregon. The farm is still in the family and is presently rented by Mr. and Mrs. Jor- don Montonye. MR. and MRS. HUGH GEAGAN came here in 1893 from II- linois and bought land in Section 35. Only 60 acres were then under cultivation so the first crop didn’t pay expenses, but 1894's crop threshed out 1800 bushels of wheat and in 1895, 30 bushels per acre were realized. Until 1901 water had to be hauled a distance of almost a mile from the neighboring farm of Luke Burns. Sometimes four horses were required to haul two barrels on account of the heavy snows. The Geagan family included William P., now of Graceville; Miss Mae Geagan, now of Rantoul, Illinois; and John T., Margaret, Annabelle and Ca- therine, all deceased. Other early names not already mentioned, included: An- drews, Howell, Fox, Cairney, Meagher, Lee, Murphy, Moberg, O’Neill, Heiley, Holmgren, and McLean. All contributed to the development of Moonshine Township. @ Odessa Township Reporter: Mrs. Rudy Milbrandt Odessa Township was organized in April, 1880. There are three ideas of how it and the village were named, one being that it was named for a man named Desso from whom the townsite was purchased. The second idea is that an early resi- dent, A. D. Beardsley, named it in honor of his little daughter, Dessa; and the third is that it was named for the first bearded wheat introduced to this region brought directly from Odessa, Russia. The first homestead. was made by Frederick Frankhauser in Section 33 in June, 1870, and in Section 34 in 1878. He came from Sauk Centre and was a son-in-law of J. W. Movius. Mr. Movius was a County Commissioner in 1873 even before the township was organized. Wm. Harriman settled in Section 34 in-1871 and was given a U. S. land grant on 67 acres in December, 1877. John Desso settled in Section 20 in 1876, receiving his land patent in 1882. Henry Southerland bought land in Section 18 in 1880. Herman Seydler received a U. S. land grant in Section 30 in August, 1881. Karl Korthals received a U. S. land grant in Sec- tion 34 on December 13, 1889 so he had at least lived there since 1884. Jacob Yost secured land in Section 12 in 1884 and, according to court records, many others settled hereabouts af- ter 1880. The farms mentioned were all located immediately adjoining the Minnesota River. The first birth in the township was Willie Frankhauser, born April 24, 1871. The first recorded deaths were Mans Johnson, on October 29, 1882. He was a farmer who had come from Norway in 1813. A carpenter, Lewis Isaacson, died October 29, 1882. The township clerk in 1882 was W. C. Fraiser. Some of the other older residents were: Louis Gerber, Her- man and William Schwandt, Peter Storeim, Herman Falk, Swan Nelson, Nels Lundberg, Rasmus Rand, Sievert Ellingson, Julius Held, J. R. Meier, and Henry Walter. Many of these are still familiar family names of today. The grove just west of Odessa on Highway 12, called the Page Eighty-Four Fred Kanne grove, was planted by the J. W. Movius children. Some of the early settlers in the northeastern part of the township were Peter Storm, Rands, Ola Anderson who came in 1888, Carl Nelson, Benno Menzel, John Lundgren, Andrew Pe- terson, Bert Burdick, Howard Burdick, Rasmus Haugen, Simon Haugen, George Skarsten, Rasmus Skarsten, Herman Klepel, Carl Tews, Christ Myrold, John Boodleson, A. Thompson, Carl Ahrens, Mary Berge, Lars Bergseth, Holgersons, A. Johnson, Nels Lundberg, Swan Nelson, Swan P. Nelson, Paul Rothi and Rasmus Rand. Many of these early settlers used oxen for trav- eling and field work until they could afford to buy horses. They would walk to town for supplies and would walk to visit their neighbors. Peter Storm left Norway in 1882 at the age of 18. He took a homestead here, and, feeling the need to master the lang- uage of his new country, he attended school in District 42 in 1884-85. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Rand and family came from Norway in 1887. Their oldest daughter had emigrated here the year be- fore and was married to Lars Danielson who had a homestead in Artichoke Township. They lived with her there until they bought their own homestead in Odessa Township. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 36 by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gerber The newly-functioning Board of County Commissioners formed our District in September, 1881. Earlier students at- tended the Odessa school. The school house was built on the corner of the Kris Grimm farm, across the North-South county road from the farm build- ings. After some time, Mr. Grimm asked the district to move the building across the East-West road to land belonging to Mr. Pansch. Neighbors to the south then decided a move closer to their farmsteads if the building had to be moved. Mr. Louis Gerber donated a building site, and the district vote showed the majority in favor of this location. The school was a land- mark on Highway 75. The District was annexed to Odessa by dissolution in 1952, after which the school property was sold at auction. The building was purchased by Mr. Anderson and moved to the Granite View Farm. It can still be recognized ev- en though it has been remodeled. Our district school educated a large group of children and the enrollment exceeded 30 at one time. Family names includ- ed Schwandts, Gutzmans, Schultzes, Gerbers, Panschs, Martin- sens, Reimens, Grimms, Haamans, Haases, Ells, Milbrandts, © Gess, and others. The teacher usually lived in one of the dis- trict homes and paid from $10 to $18 a month for board and room. Keeping the teacher was in the nature of a public serv- ice. The Board members varied from year to year, but Mr. Bill Gutzman and Mr. Gust Ell were especially faithful members. Mr. Martin Pansch, Mrs. Herman Pansch, and Harold Gerber were members at the time of consolidation. Children always walked to and from school. Winter storms were often as violent and sudden as they are today. After a near tragic experience, it became the practice for the children to go to the home where the teacher stayed until the parents could get them. The experience concerned the two Martinsen girls who wandered off the road one stormy day and had to take refuge with Mr. Klucas who lived on the Gess place. Ed Martinsen, who attended high school in Ortonville, called fot the girls at the school and was dismayed to find they had start- ed for home. He had just come over the road so concluded they were lost. He retraced his steps, calling and searching to no avail. His mother thought they might have taken refuge in a shack on the Ell farm, and knowing they would freeze during the cold night, she went there. Not finding them, she then went to get her husband who had been at a neighbor’s place. Mr. Martinsen started out alone, going to the only other place they could be if they were safe. There he found them with Mr. Klucas and left them there, hurriedly walking home himself to bring the good news to the anxious family. More children were attending high school. The State Board of Education increased pressure for consolidation. The war years made it increasingly difficult to get qualified teachers. This yearly problem, coupled with the general dissatisfaction over the inadequate supervision of the children, led to the clos- ing of the school. The children were enrolled at Odessa from 1943 to 1946 and transported. School problems there led the District to withdraw the children and transport them to Orton- ville in 1947. That was the year the Big Stone County School! Survey Committee was organized. It recommended that we be consolidated with Odessa. As it turned out, the wishes of the children was the deciding factor. The Johnson, Gutzman, and Marth Pansch farms joined the Odessa District and the rest con- solidated with Ortonville. The children have been attending there for 11 years now, so the old order has changed, “giving place to the new”. There are few things that served its time and place and the needs of the people as well as the rural school! We can hope that the new order in schools will serve the coming age as well. Ours has been a closely-knit community, largely German in nationality and Lutheran in religion. German was spoken in most of the homes until the first World War. Then there was the sudden shift to English, and although the German language can still be heard today, it is mostly limited to conversations between the older residents. Most of the families exchanged labor down through the years and belonged to the same threshing run. They organized a telephone company and built a line connecting the homes and the school with the Odessa exchange. World’ War II brought great changes and the govern- ment called for increased production. This was a time of hard work, long hours, and. frustrations caused by the lack of mater- ial, machinery, and labor. It was also the beginning of differ- ent methods that preceded the upswing of agricultural technol- ogy. The REA brought electricity to the area, and a few years later the RTA brought improved telephone communications. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 41 by Lawrence Zahrbock Our district was formed in February, 1882 and one acre of land was purchased from the railroad in September, 1882. The first school house was located on the Moore place, later called the Welde place, and now the Bill Bucholz home. Some of the early teachers were John Keefe, County Superintendent at the time; Lizzie Dorne, Max Schmeichel’s first grade teacher in 1892; Kate Quinn, and a Mrs. West. Children were of French, German, and Scandinavian descent, so language was a prob- lem. About 1894 the school location was changed to the Zahr- bock site so the building would be more centrally located in the district. The old building was moved to the Zahrbock farm where it now serves as a garage. It used to be part of the Zahrbock’s first home. The new building was constructed by Cliff Baker, and early teachers there were Miss Foley, Miss Greene, Isobel Geier, and John DeWall. May Light was Mrs. Bendix’s first teacher, and there was also a Ruth Leet. District 41 was annexed to Odessa by dissolution on March Ath, 1953. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 48 by Mrs. Ed Storm This District was formed on June 2, 1884 on the petition of H. Thomas and others. The first schoolhouse was built in the northwest corner of Section 10. Because of the distance to the school for some pupils and also the big attendance, it was de- cided to have two schools. One teacher taught in the old schoo! October and November, April and half of May, and in the new school in December, last half of May, and June. In 1901 the term was changed to seven months, and in 1904 it was chang- ed to eight months. On Arbor Day, 1906, eight trees and two rose bushes were planted on the grounds. In 1911 it was decided to have two teachers and a six month term. A new two-room building was erected on the present site, and in 1915 the term was set at eight months. They had two teachers until the enrollment decreased. This Dis- trict, now No. 140, is still operating with one teacher. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH by Mrs. Ed Storm This church is one of the landmarks along Highway 12, east of Ortonville. One Sunday in 1892, Carl Anderson was taking a walk and stopped to rest on the present church site. After a nap, his thoughts were what a beautiful place this would be for a church, so he and other Swedish settlers bought the 40 acres of railroad land at $5 an acre. The church was constructed by contractor Axel Lundberg, one of the charter members. The cemetery was dedicated in 1893 by Rev. Cavalin, pastor of Zi- on Lutheran Church in Ortonville. The congregation was organized by Rev. A. Engdahl with about 30 charter members. These included Jens Lundgren, Nels Lundberg, Swan Olson, Axel Lundberg, Carl Nelson, Ola An- derson, and Peter Nelson. Other members were Carl Anderson, John Monson, Martin Pearson, Swan Nelson, Holger Pearson, Annie Mortenson, Lars Mortenson, and Nels Anderson. Peter Swenson of Correll is the only living charter member. The Luther League was organized in 1896. In 1909 they felt the need of English services so they hired a student from a Lutheran College in Minneapolis to conduct services once a month. By 1919 there was only one Swedish service a month. Pastors of the Zion Lutheran Church in Ortonville also serve this congregation. ODESSA GRANITE QUARRIES by Mrs. Vera Nelson About 1923 Johnson and Lindholm, retail granite dealers in Ortonville, decided to expand and get into the wholesale business. Mr. J. P. Johnson, who had learned much about gra- nite quarrying in Sweden, made many tests in this area. The best rock was just south of Odessa and a quarry was opened. Its granite is called Ruby Red, a color not found elsewhere, and it has been shipped all over the United States. After Mr. Johnson’s death the quarry was sold to the Cold Spring Granite Company in 1939. Through the years, this quar- ry has yielded some interesting relics and bones of ancient vin- tage. VICTORY FARM Victor C. F. Johnson donated this property in memory of his sister, Victoria as a home for troubled and disturbed youth. It is operated by the Evangelical Covenant Church and is main- tained by the farm, donations, small fees, and the Northwest Covenant Conference. It is licensed by the State of Minnesota Welfare Department to care for 10 homeless, delinquent, or pre-delinquent boys, 12 through 18 years of age. It is affiliat- ed with the Hennepin County Court Services. Recent residents included the superintendent's family, counsellor’s family, a cook, and six boys, until about October Page Eighty-Five 8th, 1958. During their stay here, the boys attended Ortonville Public School and some were members of the local 4-H Club. THE STRANDED FREIGHTER About 1820 supplies of seed grain were brought up in row boats rowed by hand. The grains came mainly from Dubuque, lowa, and they traveled up the Mississippi River until they reached the Minnesota River. Continuing up this river, they al- so used Big Stone and Traverse, from where they could make their way up the Red River system. In late spring, 1857, Captain John B. Davis undertook to conquer the Minnesota River with the steamer “The Freighter”, loaded with supplies to trade in the Indian country. The boat was 136 feet long and slightly over 26 feet wide. It passed Mankato and Granite Falls at a time when there was water e- nough in the overflow west of the falls for the boat to pass. Sometime in June they passed the mouth of the Yellow Bank River, just below Odessa. Here the water became too shallow and the course of the river too winding, so the boat became stuck firmly in the mud. The crew went back down the river in small boats, leaving a caretaker. He lived mostly by fishing and hunting and had access to such supplies as were in the cargo. Occasional trap- pers and a few Indians visited him, one trapper said to have been Moses Mireau. Since the expedition had failed, the boat was sold at a sheriff's sale to J. C. Burbank, owner of a stage line. In the fall of 1860 all of the machinery was stripped from the hull and taken across country by teams to Georgetown on the Red Riv- er. Here a new hull was constructed, the machinery installed, and the new boat was called the “International”. It was tested out by N. W. Kittson who later bought it for the Hudson Bay Company, his employers, and it disappeared from this area his- tory but is said to have later gone all the way up to the Hud- son Bay. When settlers came here in the 70’s, lumber from the hull was used for building barns, chicken coops, pig-pens, etc. The Schellenbegrer family still has one of the old beams in posses- sion, and the DeWald’s had some of the boards in a granary floor. Many years later, a man came through from Montana and told people of this community he had been a member of the original ‘Freighter’ crew, mentioning many _ incidents that seemed to lend truth to his claims. He also said that the Cap- tain committed suicide when he realized his expedition had failed and went so far as to point out the place the crew had buried him. To date, no one has found the keg of gold pieces reportedly included in the original cargo, but additional boards have been retrieved from the old river bottom. (Story taken from Mrs. Vera Nelson’s 1951 Odessa Jubilee edition and from Wayne Kanne’s report in the “Lac qui Parle County Pioneer Stories’’.) P. S. Clark Orton remembered that in his boyhood days the wreck of the steamer lay in the Minnesota River at a point which would be a short distance from the place now bridged by King of Trails. J. W. M. MOVIUS The Movius Genealogy was published in 1914 by John Henry Movius of Lidgerwood, North Dakota. It is an interesting record of a family and the specific history of the branch that came to our area. John William Martin Movius studied medicine in Germany but did not practice it as a profession there. Instead he oper- ated a series of mills grinding flour, a saw mill, and an oil- mill. He also farmed and raised livestock, but conditions were Page Eighty-Six such that his income was not equivalent to the expense and the needs of his large family. In March, 1867 he sold all his property, paid his debts, gathered up what little he had left and departed for America. They located temporarily in Wiscon- sin and the father and Albert, the oldest son, went farther west into Minnesota. He took a homestead near Glenwood, on the north side of Lake Minnewaska near Starbuck. In June the fam- ily arrived and was finally settled amid untold hardships. Grandmother Bratz came from Germany when she was nearly 80 years old. She brought some money with her and the older boys helped sustain the family funds by trapping hundreds of muskrats. in 1870 the father decided to go farther west, es- pecially since the medical practice he began was rapidly de- veloping into more than his health could stand. Arriving at Big Stone Lake, he squatted on a piece of land on the Minnesota River, about two miles below present Orton- ville. He could not homestead because he had used his “right” in Pope County. He built a comfortable house of logs and bought some cows, going as far as Sleepy Eye to procure them. He later built another house about two miles north of where Odessa is now located. There he dammed up a small stream, using a water-wheel to generate power for churning butter, as he had about 50 cows. The Movius Dairy shipped butter to St. Paul, and by wagon loads to Fort Wadsworth, obtaining the highest prices as Mrs. Movius was an expert butter-maker. He also made considerable cheese which also brought a good price. The family helped with the enterprise. One daughter, Mrs. Anna Sellin, told that it was often her lot to milk as many as 14 or 16 of the cows. As more settlers arrived, the cows were sold at big prices. Next Mr. Movius built a mill on the Whetstone Creek and constructed dams for power. This undertaking presented more problems and even the weather was a handicap since the wat- er-wheel was not adapted to freezing temperatures and was at times almost useless. During the winter of 1877 a large piece of ice broke the wheel. He sold out in 1878 to Christian Oeh- ler who again sold out to John Kaercher in 1881. Farmers of our county sold their grain here, or brought it to be ground in- to flour. The village located here was called Inkpa City, later changed to Big Stone City. Mr. Movius returned to Sleepy Eye where he opened up Mrs. Movius and family (all now deceased) sons: Albert, William, Ernest, Emil and John: daughters: Mathilda (Mrs. Henry Rire), Emma (Mrs. Fred Frankhauser), Anna (Mrs. Emil Sellin), Mary, single. an office as physician and soon had a good practice. By July, his wife and two youngest children had joined him. His prac- tice continued growing rapidly and he hired an assistant. His last trip was to Lamberton, 45 miles distant, when he collapsed from overwork, developed typhoid pneumonia, and died on October 21, 1877. Thus ended the life of a man who was as yet in the prime of his useful career. The family returned to Big Stone City, locating on a farm near the original mill and Emil Movius returned from Oregon to assist them. Two years later Mrs. Movius built a comfortable home in Big Stone City where they lived some years. Mary served as postmistress un- til 1902 when she and her mother moved to Lidgerwood, and there the mother died in 1907. The eldest Movius daughter wes married to Fredrick Frankhouse and moved here together with the Movius family. Both names appear in the Odessa area histories. Certainly the descendents must enjoy remembering the many interesting tales of this early clan. MRS. ANNA MOVIUS SELLIN Grandma Sellin was 89 in June, 1949 and spryly rose from the rug she was making to greet her interviewers. She lived in Odessa until her death in 1950. (She, too, would have enjoyed our Historical Summary project this year!) The log house constructed for the Movius family near Odes- sa was large in comparison with many pioneer homes, having a living room, a bedroom, and an upstairs room reached by an outside stairway. A separate frame house was built for Grand- mother Bratz, the lumber being hauled from Benson by team. Indians were the only neighbors at first, but they were easy to Sister Mary Mrs. Anna Sellin Children of Mrs. Anna Sellin (right), include Paul, William, Herbert, Emil, Al- fred, Ernest, Elsie (Mrs. George Gloege), Lillie (Mrs. Herman Rien), Mrs. Emma Rien, Mrs. Marie LaLond, Mrs. Edythe Menke, and Mrs. Eva Doyle. get along with as a rule. They often begged for food; and they often were overnight guests. After living here a year, one of the boys came home saying, “l saw a white man today.” The boys of the family ran trap lines in the Minnesota Val- ley and it was over these that the only trouble they ever had with the Indians evolved. Wm. Movius caught an Indian lad stealing a mink from a trap and fired a shot over his head, to make his warning clear. The next day when Mother, Emma, and four of us smaller children were home alone, 16 Indians, including a chief and an interpreter, strode boldly into the house. They were gaudily decorated with war paint and acted beligerent. Emma quickly stepped to the corner where a dozen army muskets with bayonets were standing, thus standing guard until Father reached home. Through the interpreter, the chief said he had come to “settle things”, but when Father ex- plained the true circumstances of the incident, the chief was angry at the Indian instead. All then sat down on the floor in a circle, a nicely carved Redstone Pipe with a long stem was produced and “made the rounds”. The muskets mentioned had been issued to father by the Governor as a provision for in- coming settlers. These included 60 army muskets and 5,000 rounds of ammunition, thus forming a volunteer company for mutual protection against any possible uprising. They were never called for action as there was no uprising locally. Later experiences included family emergencies which had to be met in the best way possible, and incidents with the cat- tle and horse thieves that roamed about. Following a good turn to one such gang when father administered to a very sick boy and refused any pay, the word was spread around and our livestock was unmolested. Occasionally after 1871 a minister would come by and church services would be held in the Movius, Frankhouse, and Gloege homes, regardless of whether or not it was Sunday. One minister was Ferdinand Schmidt. The Yellow Bank Church was the first congregation and others followed. Father was in- strumental in starting the first church and he was a devout Christian. Morning and evening family devotions were never neglected. One Christmas we had our festivities planned in the usual German custom, with the small tree gaily decorated by us girls and covered with a sheet until Christmas Eve. Home-made gifts were prepared for all and slipped under the tree. When the other lights were put out on Christmas Eve, the candles were lit, and the family was astonished to hear clapping of hands and delighted cries of “A-iee! A-iee!’” from the back of the room. In the interval of darkness, an Indian family had silently joined us. They were surprised and delighted with our Christ- mas tree, the likes of which they had never seen before. The gifts were quickly re-arranged so that each of the wondering guests also received something. (Excerpts from the 1949 SEEDS booklet.) THE LALOND FAMILY MRS. GEORGE (MILLIE LALOND) CAESAR was born in 1871 in Wisconsin and came this way when she was four years old. Her mother became ill at Willmar so she and the children went back to Wisconsin. About a year later, they came again and were met by their father at Willmar. Once they stopped at a place, asked for shelter for the night, but were refused. The father said “We're staying”, so the little cabin was very crowd- ed. During the night, her father occasionally reached into a feed sack near where he was sleeping on the floor and tossed an ear of corn to the pigs in the barn, separated only by a con- necting door. The pigs and cattle were noisy but the ears of corn stopped one pig’s grunting. They came on a sled pulled by a team of horses and built a house of sod near Appleton. At that time Appleton had two stores and a mill. The father brought lumber from Montevideo and built the framework for the house, about 12 by 14 feet. There were nine children in the family. In 1878 they moved from Akron Township to Odessa which at that time was the end of the railroad. John Riley own- ed the only store, Ed Pearson owned a furniture store, and Wm. Mueller had a hotel. There was a flour mill also. In the spring the flood waters often rose, making a great lake extend- ing from Ortonville to Appleton. The LaLond’s, living near the river, made themselves a raft and poled it over a mile to the railroad tracks to get out. From there they could walk down the tracks five miles to town to get their supplies. During the Page Eighty-Seven great October blizzard of 1880, a man lost his way and froze to death only 10 feet from his well. They had 35 feet of snow in places and dug a tunnel to get to their barn and back. They had to bring in hay to burn when they ran out of fuel so the room would be crowded, what with two beds, a table and chairs, cookstove, and a barrel of water. When they didn’t have fuel for their lamps, they’d put a rag around a small stone and set it in a bowl of grease. What clothes they had, they made. Sometimes the Indians came to visit and often stayed a week at a time. For entertainment, they had dances, called kitchen sweats, using a mouth organ for music. They thought nothing of walking five miles to a dance. Mr. LaLond raised many cattle which then sold for about $2 a hundred. They also raised very large gardens but could only save vegetables a short while. Potatoes were stored ina cellar so they wouldn't freeze. They never canned any food, but salted their meat. Children in those days had very little spending money and thought very carefully before they spent it. One time Mrs. Caeser went to a Fair when she was almost 17 years old, and she had a quarter to spend. All day she looked around, but when she got home she still had the precious quarter. There were so many things, she didn’t know what to buy. (Reprinted from 1949 SEEDS booklet) (Editors Note: Mrs. Caeser still resides at Odessa, and we hope she enjoys reading and remembering “the old days” re- told in this book. She showed true pioneer spirit by riding in the covered wagon in the Fair Pageant.) THE BRUECHE FAMILY by Mrs. Sam Olson Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Brueche came to Minnesota in 1879 and settled at Fairfax. They formerly lived in Salzweidel, Ger- many. In the spring of 1880 they moved to a place directly south of the village of Odessa, between the present town and the river, and filed a homestead. When they came there was no railroad. Mr. Brueche and his friends went to Benson for supplies three times a year, traveling by oxen and cart or wag- on, the trip taking several days. Before they came, there had been quite a battle between the Indians and inhabitants, and many of the Indians were buried on their farm. Mr. Brueche was a farmer and also an expert cabinet mak- er. Several pieces of the furniture he made are still treasured as family heirlooms. He was also called upon to make caskets for the early settlers. These he made of butternut and pine, polishing the butternut, painting the pine black, and finishing them off with silver handles. Mrs. Brueche lined and cushioned them. The wood was glued together. Such items were made to order, and when someone died, he would work night and day making them, with the children holding the lamp for him at night. He made his own casket but died before finishing it. Mrs. Brueche made her own candles until kerosene lamps were available. The Brueches lived here the rest of their lives. He was a lover of nature and planted many trees. He set aside a place and made it into a park for the use of Odessa residents. The four children included Bertha (Mrs. Orre Huizinga), Ida (Mrs. Jacob Tschudy), Alvina (Mrs. Gust Beuchner), and Julia (Mrs. Richard Schneider.) @ Ortonville Township Reporter: Mrs. Gordon Anderson Ortonville Township was organized November 1, 1879 and was named for Cornelius Knute Orton. It lies around the city of Ortonville and is the smallest township in the county. It in- Page Eighty-Eight cludes land lying at the foot of the lake annexed from Lac qui Parle County by the State Legislature in 1937. The first post office was at Ortonville in 1875 and C. K. Orton was appointed postmaster. The first birth in the town- ship was Charles Lindgren on September 11, 1872. The first deaths were in December, 1874 when John Swenson and son became lost in a blizzard and were frozen to death near the Minnesota River. In June, 1871 a group of men started out walking from St. Peter in search of land to settle on. They were Nels and Olaf Lindgren, Swan P. and Gustaf Lindholm, John and Swan Peter- son, August Carlson, and Peter Holmstien. They wandered a- long for 10 days until they came to Big Stone Lake. Here they thought it would be nice to stay. Nels Lingren filed his claim on the present townsite of Ortonville, in Section 4, later filing in Section 12. He brought his family here that same fall. Olaf Lingren settled in Section 2, on the farm now owned by Roy Walters. John and Swan Peterson and August Carlson are listed in the history of Big Stone Township. Swan and Gustaf Lindholm were pioneers of Prior Township. Other early settlers of Ortonville Township were A. L. Jack- son who settled on Section 4 in 1873, A. P. Jackson, 1878, Wm. Jackson, Olof Olson, W. R. Brown and J. T. Leet. Louis Gerber came here from Howard Lake in 1883 and a grandson, Harold Gerber, farms here now. Part of his land is in Odessa’ Township. John Geiger came from Wisconsin in 1885 and homesteaded on the farm now owned by Victor Moore. Christ Grimm came from Waconia in 1888 and went to Odessa. He moved to Ortonville Township in 1892 and a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Herman Grimm, lives here now. Orrie Huizenga came from Holland in 1907 and settled near Odessa. He then bought a farm with a few little buildings on it from Dr. Karn. A grand- son, Glen Huizenga, lives there now. School District 22 was organized in March, 1880 and a schoolhouse was set up in April. The first term was held in May and June of 1880 and the teacher, Mrs. Webbs, was hired for $25 a month. The first board included John Dalfin, clerk; Nels Lindgren, treasurer; and A. P. Jackson, director. The school lot consisted of one acre for which $5 was paid, and the building cost $500. The district was dissolved May 19, 1954 and joined District No. 1, Ortonville. The schoolhouse was sold to John Fredrickson and was moved to Ortonville. January 30, 1938, District No. 195 of Lac qui Parle County was annexed to our county. This was dissolved and annexed to Ortonville on June 4, 1952. (Editor's Note: The history of Ortonville Township may wel! be pictured through the personal records of one of its earliest families. The Lindgren family has kindly given permission for — using them.) NELS LINGREN FAMILY (Adapted from the Nels Lingren biography) This interesting family history begins with the birthdate of Johannes Jonason in Sweden, November 11, 1811. His wife was Ellen Bengt who was born June 2, 1815. They lived on farms at Morhold and Skulatorp, Sweden, giving up the latter one in 1852 because of hard times. These were the parents of Nels Lingren and the other six children of the family. The mother died in 1854 and that same year Johannes Jonason de- cided to seek a better fortune in America. His children were left in the care of relatives in Sweden and he sent for them lat- er in three groups, es he was able to earn passage fare for them. When Mr. Jonason arrived here he found his name would be interpreted as Johnson. Since there were already so many Johnsons, he decided to take the name Lingren. The “d” was added later to indicate the second generation; thus the name became Lindgren. In 1866 Peter, Magnus, and Katerin journeyed to their fa- ther in St. Peter, Minnesota, where he had established a home. Nels and Ingrid arrived in Chicago on January 1, 1869, and Ingrid stayed at an immigrant home there until she received additional funds from her father to continue her journey to Minnesota. Nels hired out with a railroad crew in Utah for a year before joining the family at St. Peter. In 1870 Olaf and Christina came to join the family circle. The father had re-mar- ried and had a stepson, John Dalphine. The Union Pacific Railroad was hiring construction workers for a 30 mile stretch between San Francisco and Salt Lake City in Januery, 1869. Having no funds left, Nels accepted provi- sions shared by the 25 Scandinavians on the trip westward. Arriving there, they walked eight miles to the Railroad Camp and the shelter was tents and dug-outs. Wages were $3 per day and board, and his job was shoveling dirt into a two- wheeled dumpcart drawn by a mule. Anyone quitting his job paid $100 fare back to Chicago; but if he stayed until the work was completed, the return train fare was free as far as Omaha. The Camp was divided into sections of nationality groups and many of the workers were rowdy and quarrelsome. Hiding and guerding the accumulating precious wages was a worry in such surroundings, and theft was frequent. Ogden was the head- quarters and consisted of stores, restaurants, hotels, saloons, and gambling places. Nels patiently “stuck out his time” but was anxious to get away from this locale and stated that he and the rest of his Scandinavian group kept their distance the best they could. Enroute from Ogden to Omaha on a freight train, five of the cars smashed into a deep ditch with water in it. The cer Nels was in stood on end with its 20 passengers. Two people were killed in the wreck and many were badly hurt. Nels was one of the group that went on a flat car to the nearest station for help and another 10 miles for a camp doc- tor. They also helped repair the track, later boarding a passen- ger train to Omaha. (Understandably, Nels didn’t appreciate train travel again after that experience.) Upon reaching Omaha, some of the workers took land in Nebraska, lowa, Kansas, and Minnesota, and some invested their earnings in Stock. Nels reached St. Peter and rejoiced in a family reunion there. It was 14 years since he had seen his father. In June, 1869 Nels hired out to Andrew Peterson for $20, and five months later sent passage money back to Sweden to his wife and two children. This cost $140. He bought two steers and then had $5 left. When his family came, they lived with his father for two years. Meanwhile Nels again worked on the railroad but wages were less. In 1870 his wife cooked for the railroad crew for two months and earned $40. With this she bought two heifers so they now had four head of cattle which were stabled at a neighbors for the winter. Times were hard that winter of 1871, and Nels again worked on the railroad enroute west from St. Peter. In June he and some friends de- cided to locate some land to settle on. Since so much of the land was taken up by the Government, it was hard to know where it would be best to file a claim. Their search brought them to the Big Stone Lake area. Nels took a claim and soon six others decided to settle nearby. Five of the group walked north to see what kind of land was there, in the present Grace- ville area, but it was very flat and seemed too wet so they re- turned to their camp and to St. Peter. On September 10, 1871, the Nels Lingren family arrived at his claim. They had three small children and their posses- sions included one ox team, two cows and two calves, an old covered wagon that cost $25, an old stove that cost $4, and other small articles. Their first duty was to cut grass with a scythe to feed the stock, and suddenly Indians sprang up and surrounded them! This was along the lake where the pier is now located and Indians were in the habit of camping there. Mrs. Lingren feared them, so they decided to move east about three miles, taking them from Section 4 to 12. The shelter they built was a dug-out three feet deep, 10 by 14 feet, with a three foot wall built out of rails, long hay, and sod. Into this hut they moved their belongings and later built a shelter for the cattle in the same manner. That first winter snow drifted six feet over the house! In November Nels journeyed with his wagon to his broth- ers, Peter and Magnus, who lived at Crow Lake in Stearns County. Here he secured provisions for his family and was gone two weeks. The heavy snowfall that winter made much water the following spring, and their provisions ran out. Jour- neying to Benson, Nels tried to establish credit and even offer- ed his ox team as security, but to no avail. He returned empty- handed so they had to butcher their only calf for food. Later brother Olaf came and lent a little money and his ox team. With the four oxen Nels plowed up 10 acres that first year for grain and potatoes. He had made another trip back to Crow Lake in the spring for seed grain, potatoes, a plow, and other supplies. That fall he settled up old accounts with his brothers when he was back there for winter supplies, almost perishing in a severe snowstorm enroute home. It was November 16th, 1872, and he luckily reached home at dusk. He had unhitched his oxen from the load and turned them loose but they reached home about an hour after he did. Several days later he return- ed to the spot where he had abandoned his load and brought it home. During the summer of 1872 the Lingrens built a log shan- ty with long hay on top for a roof. Shortly after moving in, a son, Charlie was born. A newcomer family from Sweden stayed with them for several weeks and they enjoyed their assistance and company. They later settled in Section 4. The man, his wife, and one son are buried on a little hill there. In 1873 the five-acre crop of wheat was harvested with a scythe and a cradle, taking one day’s work per acre of grain to cut and tie it in bundles. It was stacked in two stacks and later threshed with a flail on an icy slope on the ground. Clean- ing the grain meant shoveling it into the wind. The crop netted 75 bushels. Grasshoppers destroyed the crops of 1874 and 1875, leav- ing only a small amount. In 1875 farmers of the county got help from the state in securing seed. Nels was allowed 10 bu- shels, the cost to be added to the taxes. He paid his tax with 15 pounds of butter which included $3 personal tax. An addi- tional room and an upstairs was added to the log house in 1876. By 1880 the railroad had reached Ortonville and many Log House located three miles east of Ortonville Page Eighty-Nine homesteaders had come into the county, and Nels bought ad- ditional land. In 1892 a frame house was completed and the family moved in. The old house had served for 13 persons. The new home had four rooms downstairs, five bedrooms and a hall upstairs, and a half basement. The Lingren family includ- ed John, Emma, Peter (August), Charles Karl, Christine, Bengt, Botilda, Swan Mungne, Nine who died an infant, Nels (Gustaf), Julianna (Ruth), Ida, and Lewis. Mrs. Lingren died July 26th, 1913, and Mr. Lingren died December 2, 1918. The original Lingren log cabin built in 1872 was the first one built in Ortonville Township and still stands in memory of pioneer days. The old homestead was purchased in 1957 by a grandson, Gordon Anderson, who now lives there with his family. Lindgren Homestead, Ortonville, Minnesota FAMILY LIFE AT THE LINGRENS by Mrs. Ruth Lindgren Chamness FOOD — | can say there wasn’t anything elaborate in our eats until the older girls learned to make pie, cake, and cook- ies. Mother made the bread in batches of from 10 to 14 ordi- nary loaves a week. She would break off a loaf to test if the insides were done. (Here was a splendid opportunity for little fingers to bore out a hole of new, warm, soft dough.) Occas- ionally there appeared a milk pan of nice juicy bread pudding made from the hardened bread. Noonday meals often were a big crock of home-baked beans with salt pork, or a kettle of cabbage boiled in beef broth. Potatoes, rutabagas, carrots, and other vegetables were raised on the farm. A barrel of salted pork was kept in the granary. Suppers consisted of coarse cornmeal mush, served in deep soup plates, with milk. There was a deep dent in the center for butter and a flavoring of cane sugar sorghum was poured around. Mother made good butter and marketed it at the store for groceries. We girls kept up this practice for awhile after her death. Cane sugar sorghum was also a homemade product. We planted and prepared the cane, and father had a pressing mill and cooking house. He allowed the neighbors to bring their cane for pressing and cooking also. Mealtime was very important at our home. Three meals a day regularly, the call would come from mother’s high-pitched voice. First a kind of a shout, “Hoie, dinno redoo!” with an up- ward inflection. Father always gave grace in Swedish. No tar- diness or dallying allowed in answering the call to the table either! A bench fastened to the wall took care of the big boys, we younger children stood and ate. As the older ones left Page Ninety home, chairs became available. CLOTHES — My father was quite adept at sewing and made most of the clothes for the boys before | was on the scene. Soon sister Christine was able to sew our everyday clothes. We had an everyday dress, a dress for school, and a best dress for church and for going away. It was imperative for us girls to change the school dress for the everyday dress after school, and vice versa in the morning. Much of our clothing came to the family through friends of mother’s in town. RELIGION — We automatically were taught to respect re- ligion. Father and mother were confirmed in Sweden, and six of my brothers and three of my sisters had taken confirmation in the Lutheran Church at Ortonville. In my early life, there were religious meetings held in the homes through the com- munity by a Mission-Friends minister named Ole Borgelin. We three younger children enjoyed these Sunday afternoon meet- ings and always attended. | know these meetings gave us val- uable inspiration in religion. Father’s life history mentions of his efforts in helping to establish the Swedish Lutheran Church in Ortonville. It was a beautiful place of worship and father made it possible for us to attend. As a child | didn’t understand much of the sermon, but | found a reverent feeling in reading silently, over and ov- er, the words at the front of the church “Ara vare Gud i hojd- en.” (Glory to God on High.) Above the exit were these words, “Frid pa jorden”, (“Peace on earth.”) SCHOOL — With the schoolhouse across the road from our home, school became a part of us and we made many a record for attendance. We came home for noon eats, but on a snow- stormy day it was a gala occasion to know there would be a milk pail full of eats waiting for us in the entry. There would be buttered bread, a boiled egg or a piece of cold meat, and hot gingerbread and milk. We were five attending school most of the time. MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT — Father and mother both had good voices and delighted in singing from the Swedish hymn book. Singing was brought into the home among us chil- dren through school. It was a great occasion when the organ was added to our entertainment. Brother Gust had taken a few music lessons while attending Normal School at Madison, and through him, sister Ida and | learned to play the organ. Many an evening and Sunday afternoon was spent enjoying music, and our parents were a most encouraging audience. We sang . Swedish as well as English songs. Things change and each time | visit “back home” | long to see old friends and what has happened while | was away. | enjoy my visits but each time | come away I’m glad to get back to Wisconsin where I’ve had my home for 36 years. My adopt- ed state has dealt kindly with me, God has been so good to me, and my slogan has become, “As long as my eyes can see, my hands can do, and my feet can go, | want to be useful.” (Editor’s note: Thanks to Mrs. Chamness for sharing these childhood memories with us. Many will remember her as one of the many rural teachers who taught in several of our rural districts. Her address now is Colfax, Wisconsin.) @ Otrey Township Reporter: Mrs. Errol Anderson In the late 1860’s the section of western Minnesota that had been established as Big Stone County by an act of the Leg- islature in 1862 became attractive to the hunters and trappers who were seeking new territory. The shores of the lake known as Otrey Lake had long been a favorite camping grounds for the Indians. Apparently some of them were hostile since there are still impressions of rifle pits dug by soldiers, presumably during the Indian uprising of 1862. Traces of a circle of rifle pits can still be seen near the Clarence Wiik farm in the SE14 of the NW14 of Section 21. On the prairie nearby were sever- al graves which were assumed to be Indian graves. History tells us that the Otrey brothers, William and Thom- as, were among the earliest to settle in what is now known as Otrey Township, coming in May of 1869 just two days after the Bolsta family arrived at Artichoke Lake. In Section 20 they found land to their liking on the shores of a lake which now bears their name. The brothers both “proved up” on their homesteads and were granted patents, Thomas on September 10, 1875 and William on March 14, 1878. The time lapse after their arrival was probably due to the fact that early records were all kept at Morris and trips were not made there fre- quently. Thomas Otrey, William Otrey and his wife Hannah, were listed on the 1870 Federal Census. An early township map from the original Road and Bridge book shows vestiges of Government Trail 16 which apparently came from Benson, went through John Vaage’s yard in Section 24, up the hill to the north, was known to have gone through the SEY of Section 14, thence heading northwestward through Sections 15, 16, and 17, showing on the map in Section 8, where the former District 9 school was located. This was also the site of the homestead of another early pioneer, Andrew Nelson, who arrived in 1871. This school is often referred to in early records as the Nelson school. During 1870 Lars C. Bentson is known to have arrived in this community. He had come from Norway in 1862 and sailed on Lake Michigan three summers. He moved to St. Peter in 1864. He and his wife first stopped at Artichoke Lake but Mr. Bentson thought there was too much water around so they went on to Big Stone Lake. Here they were greatly disturbed by the presence of a great number of Indians. The next day Mr. Bentson and his family went east again until coming to what was later called Bentson Lake where he found a bachelor named Isaac Hart living in a dugout under a large tree by the lake. From him Mr. Bentson bought the relinquishment to the homestead for a yoke of oxen, and with his family moved into the dugout. By 1872 government surveys had been made of all of Big Stone county and the settlers came fast. Some homesteaded, some earned land by planting tree claims, and some bought land such as relinquishment of homesteads or railroad land. The pioneers were a hardy lot. Early farming was done with oxen and Benson and Morris were the nearest trading centers until the railroad was extended to Ortonville. The settlers were predominantly Scandinavian but to the northeastern part of this township came a colorful group known as the “Cape Codders” who added much to the early culture. They brought names such as Mayo, Sparrow, Chapman, Keefe, and Tyler. Their coming was the result of the enthusiasm of Captain Richard Chapman who had been employed by the government in making the surveys of the land a few years earlier. The background of the Cape Codders is illustrated by that of one of them, Henry Holsbery Tyler, who came as a young man of 23. The son of a ship captain, he spent several seasons on the Grand Banks fishing. At the age of 21 he shipped on a whaler as a ship keeper. His knowledge of rope-splicing and knot tying proved interesting and valuable to prairie farmers later in his life. Mr. Tyler homesteaded just across the town- ship line in Malta Township while the rest of the group took up land in Sections 12, 13, 14 and 24 in Otrey Township. John Keefe was a native of Ireland and had been a sailor for 24 years. These families and the young men with them arrived by rail at Morris and came to Otrey Township by ox team, buying supplies in Morris. The prairie was barren of trees except a- round the many small lakes. The first township meeting and election was held February 14, 1880 at the home of W. B. Dow in Section 6. The township was known as Trenton until 1881 when a special act of the Legislature changed it to honor the Otrey brothers. At the first meeting W. B. Dow was elected chairman and the supervisors were R. H. Chapman and Andrew Nelson; John T. Lockwood, town clerk; Frederick Lockwood, treasurer; A. B. Campbell, as- sessor; W. H. Campbell, Justice of the Peace; and John S. Dow, constable. The first annual meeting was held at the home of Andrew Nelson on March 9, 1880. The sum of $75 was raised for general expenses and the same officers were returned to office with the exception of John H. Storeim as assessor and the addition of William Tomson as another constable. The township was divided into nine road districts with supervisors appointed to be responsible for each district. On March 23 the tax rate was set at “two days toll tax on each male inhabitant and 25 cents on each $100 real and personal property liable to taxation in said town.” There were five births recorded in 1880 in the official rec- ords of the township: Helen E. Dow on Feb. 8; Olof Grant Nel- son on Feb. 25; Stella Peterson on March 27; James G. Lock- wood (son of John) on May 10; and Hiram Ernest Lockwood (son of Frederick) on Oct. 16. The first deaths recorded in 1881 were those of Helen E. Dow on Feb. 3 “cause-Typhoid” at the age of 11 months and 25 days; Harry T. Tomson on Feb. 6 at three months and two days, “cause-lung congestion”; and An- geline Jenner on Feb. 16 at the age of 39 years, four months and 16 days “cause - tumor’; Andrew Annundson froze to death in a blizzard in January, 1873. Otrey Township honors the memory of its Civil War veter- ans, Thomas and William Otrey, Andrew Nelson, and John Gardner, all of whom homesteaded and spent the rest of their lives here. It has been interesting to see how many of the original settlers of the township have descendents still owning the same land or living on the land originally acquired for farm- ing. A listing of some of these families would include the names of the following pioneers: A. B. Anderson, Frederick Lockwood, John Vaage, Charles Lindquist, Charles Hillstrom, August Johnson, L. N. Lundquist, Hokan Anderson, Haakon Ol- son, A. J. Anderson, K. C. Hanson, Adolph Olson, and L. L. Weeding. Long may their memories live! MAPLE CEMETERY On June 9, 1890 a plat of the Maple Cemetery, surveyed and staked out by Richard H. Chapman, surveyor, in the SW corner of the SEY%4 of Section 5 was filed at the Court House. No records have been kept of burials there and some graves have been moved to other locations. The land was originally owned by one of the Campbell brothers but that particular plot of land has never been included in the deed as the land saw different owners through the years. The father and mother of John and Frederick Lockwood, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Lockwood, are still buried there as are some Campbell and Tomson chil- dren and some single men who had no families. SCHOOLS As the population increased a need was felt for schools to educate the children. On July 15, 1879 a “petition was receiv- ed for the formation of a new school district to be composed Page Ninety-One of Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18 of Township 122 of Range 45 and the East half of Section 1, Township 122 of Range 46. Same being duly recommended by the County Su- perintendent of Schools, the Board of Commissioners consider- ed the same favorably and granted the prayer of petitioners. Same was numbered No. 9 by the Auditor’. The school house was erected in 1880 and was long known as the “Nelson school” since Andrew Nelson’s house stood nearby. The next school district was District 42 which was formed on petition of R. H. Chapman and others and included Sections 1, 2,.3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 of Otrey Township and. 6, 7,18; 5, 8, and 17 of Artichoke Township. On January 2, 1884 District 47 was formed including 15 sections of land. December 18, 1900 saw the formation of Dis- trict 60 by splitting District 47 “at the request of Charles Lind- quist et al.” Since complete records of District 42 have been preserved, they should give us a good picture of all the early school dis- tricts. On March 15, 1882 at 2 p.m., the freeholders residing in the territory desiring a school, met at the home of Jonathan Sparrow. The first officers chosen were John Chapman, clerk; Andrew J. Anderson, director; and Abram A. Chapman, treas- urer. A petition was drawn up for the formation of a district to include the above mentioned sections of land. After granting of the petition by the County Commissioners, a meeting on Ap- ril 10, 1882 determined the location of the school on the NE corner of the SEY of Section 11. It was then voted to “build a house 16 x 24 ft. - 10 ft. posts and an underpinning of stone 11/2 ft. above the ground.” For this purpose the district bonded itself “for the sum of $550 for building, furnishing and finish- ing the said house”. It was also voted that the school house be built on contract and that the people of the district give thei labor free. On June 2, 1882 we find a Warranty Deed was made out to School District 42 by the Land Department of the Hastings & Dakota Railway Company conveying “one square acre in the NE corner of the NE of the SEY%4 of Section 11” for the con- sideration of one dollar. On June 5 there was a meeting of the Board to open the proposals for building the school house. The bid of Ghen and Chapman was accepted for $474. Shortly after this the Board decided to alter plans “for convenience and comfort” and also to erect a cupola to cost $20, at the front of the building. Be- cause of these changes, a new contract, plan and specification was deemed necessary. On August 14 the Board accepted the completed building “without exceptions, it being built in good workmanlike manner according to contract”. It was paid for by Order No. 1 for $300 and No. 4 for $194. School furniture was purchased from Wood Bros. for $32.73 and “one stove” cost $8.00. Miss Isalinda Chapman was hired as the first teacher to teach 21/2 months for the sum of $25 per month. The first term commenced October 16, 1882 with seven pupils enrolled - Ro- bert Chapman, Marshall Brooks, Samuel Chapman, John Sorn- berger, Hans Gipson, Nells Pearson, and Peter Thomson. On December 22 the fall term closed and February 26 to May 30, 1883 were the dates of the spring term. The next term was not until April 14 - July 18, 1884 and nine pupils were now en- rolled. On September 30, 1884 Mrs. Adelaide Sparrow had 11 pupils until January 6, 1885. Other early teachers were: Miss Belle Enos, John E. Keefe, Miss Nettie Jackson and E. N. Nash, for whom the wages were raised to $30 a month. The first school register did not designate grades but only lists pupils by age. The length of each term was voted upon at a school meeting. In the winter terms young men in their 20’s often en- rolled, presumably to learn English and history to acquire citi- zenship papers. Page Ninety-Two EIDSKOG LUTHERAN CHURCH The Scandinavian settlers were almost all members of the Lutheran Church and as such the Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes worshipped together. A congregation at Long Island in Almond township decided to divide in 1885. The eastern part organized under the name Eidskog and the first secretary was Andrew Nelson. Trustees and helpers were K. C. Hanson, Mr. Lundgren, John Anderson, and John Storeim. Other members making up the congregation were Haakon Olson, Jens Ander- son and his son, Andrew J. Anderson, Johanne Otrey, John Raftsol, Peder Pederson, Mons Danielson, L. N. Lundquist, Jo- nas Thompson, and R. Hjelmeland. At this meeting it was de- cided that Rev. Olson should have services once a month at a salary of $50 a year and two festival offerings. Services were to be held in the Nelson school house. In 1886 it was decided to divide the services equally in the three school houses, Nel- son (No. 9), Adelaide (No. 42) and Hjelmeland (No. 47). Join- ing the church during the next few years were the following families: John Vaage, Andrew Thompson, Adolph Olson, A. B. Anderson, Iver Aalund, Anders Jacobson, and Simon Elling- son, Anton Dal, Andrew Johnson, Lars Danielson, Jacob Rand, and Peder E. Storm. In 1889 A. B. Anderson offered three acres of land in Section 22 for a church lot and cemetery. This was accepted with thanks and work started on a building May 12, 1890. After the church was blown from its foundation in 1917, it was decided to move it east to the road. Peder Thomson gave one acre of land for this purpose. Early pastors were Rev. Olson (1885-86), Rev. Ole Dale (1886-89), Rev. W. B. Dale (1889-96), and Rev. J. M. Michelsen (1896-1910). The present pastor is Rev. K. A. Anderson of Ortonville. The first marriage recorded in the Eidskog books was that of Andreas J. Pederson and Beret Erickson on July 25, 1886 at Nelson’s schoolhouse. On December 5, 1866, Lars Danielson and Anna Jacobsen were married “at Danielson’s house by the creek’” with John Storeim and Mons Danielson as witnesses. March 20, 1888 saw the wedding of Peder Anderson and Sig- ri Johnson at Otrey’s house. November 11, 1888 was the wed- ding day of Peder E. Storm and Olina J. Rand at Nelson’s schoolhouse with Mons Danielson and John Vaage as witness- es. The first funerals recorded were in 1890, and of nine ser- vices conducted within three years, six were for children eight years or under. Only three were for adults and all of these were under 32 years of age. In 1906 twelve families left this group and organized un- der the name of Eids Lutheran congregation. EIDS LUTHERAN CHURCH by Rev. L. Holtan Eids Lutheran Church in Otrey Township, Big Stone County, is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (E.L.C.), with headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The congregation was organized in the John Vaage home, December 29, 1906. Charter members were Lars Dobak, Sivert Eids Lutheran Church Ellingson, A. Hjelmeland, Arne Langved, Christ Myvald, Peder Pederson, Rasmus J. Rand, Sivert Simonson, Lars Tryggestad, John Vaage, and H. Vangsnes. Charter members of the Eids Ladies Aid were Mrs. Herman Vangsnes, Mrs. Peder Pederson, Mrs. John Vaage, Mrs. Arne Langved, Mrs. Lars Dobak, Mrs. Si- vert Ellingson, Mrs. Rasmus Rand, Mrs. Arne Hjelmeland, Mrs. Christ Myvold, Mrs. George Skarsten, Mrs. Lars Tryggestad, and Mrs. Andrew Hovde. The church was built in 1909 and has ser- ved to the present time. The congregation maintains a ceme- tery on the church lot. The Eids congregation has been a part of the Clinton Trin- ity parish, except for the first year when Pastor Gunnar S. Froi- land of Milan served. John Walseth, the first resident pastor, served from 1907 to 1920, followed by Pastor S. O. Moe. Pas- tor Leon O. Holtan has served the congregation since 1952. OTREY STORE A little country store served its community well from 1939 until 1955. It was started by Herb Hedblum and the stock con- sisted of groceries, ice cream, pop, and gasoline. Other store- keepers were Ole Bakken, Irwin Sudbery, Russel Bradford, Er- vin Thompson, and Ralph Maynerd. The residence is now oc- cupied by the Robert Thompson family. OTREY FAMILY STORY William Otrey was born in Somerset, England, coming to America when he was four years old. He and his brother, Tho- mas, enlisted in the army during the Civil War. After the war they took their mustering-out pay, and, coming to Chicago, they invested in trappers outfits, a yoke of oxen, and a cover- ed wagon in which they were to live. Setting out from there, they trapped their way to Kandiyohi, Minnesota where they spent the winter with an English family named Hart, trapping and working for their board. The Otrey brothers arrived in Big Stone County in 1869, just a short time after the Ole Bolsta family, finding a location to their liking on the shores of the lake that still bears their name in Otrey Township. Long Tom Lake was named by Wil- liam for his brother Tom. They continued their trapping opera- tions very successfully. In 1870 Mrs. Hannah Otrey came and learned the ways of the pioneers. She and her husband, William, helped the new settlers and taught them the ways of living on the prairie. A group of friendly God-fearing Indians lived in the grove near the Otreys during the winters. They were peaceful and good neighbors. Once they invited the white family to one of their services. It was not customary for them to invite white people to take part in their activities, but they spoke of Mr. Ot- rey as God’s man, and asked him to sing for them. He was glad to comply and sang the hymn “O Happy Day” for their pleasure. After the service, a squaw took a spotlessly clean frying pan and fried small pieces of bread dough for lunch. Since there were no roads nor bridges at that time, oxen teams often became bogged down in the creek. Then the Otreys would take their own oxen and go down to pull them out. These people often would spend the night with the Otreys af- ter such an experience. Once two Norwegians, not knowing that Mrs. Otrey was also Norwegian, carried on quite a con- versation about the excellence of her coffee, declaring it to be as good as a Norwegian could make, this talk all being in the mother tongue. They were probably quite surprised when they learned that she had understood every word they said. The Otreys were not particularly anxious that the township be named for them. At first it was called Trenton but through the efforts of William Campbell, it was changed to Otrey be- cause they had settled there first. An early Christmas celebration was shared with Mr. and Mrs. lvor Nelson and their two children, Josie and George, and Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson and their two children, Hilbert and Feena. They had started at two o'clock in the afternoon with their ox teams, traveling all the way through the deep, crusty snow. Each family had a cow at home and had filled the manger with hay and set a pail of water near to last the 24 hours they would be gone. The visitors put their oxen in the little house where Otrey’s cow had been kept. The women cried for joy at seeing each other, and more tears were shed when the visitors left the next afternoon at two o’clock for the homeward journey. Editor’s Note: A footnote to the Otrey Story showed up in September as follows: Funeral services were conducted at Ortonville, September 13, 1958 for Mrs. A. W. McLane (Nellie Otrey) of Brainerd. She is survived by her children, Irene Moore of Los Angeles and Dr. Wm. O. McLane of Brainerd, and three brothers: Josh Of- rey, Chenalis, Washington, and Roy and Earl Otrey of Los An- geles. Of her mother, Mrs. Moore later wrote: “My mother’s life goes back to Indian days. She was the oldest white woman in the county, her birthdate being Sep- tember 15, 1873. She knew of a land teeming with game; of fish in the streams so plentiful she could catch them with her bare hands! She lived in a log cabin and as a child spent three days with her mother and brothers in the loft while Sioux Ind- ians, returning from war on the whites, rummaged the cabin and barns. Grandfather was making his annual trip to Morris at the time, to sell furs and bring back supplies.) THE “CAPE CODDERS” The story of a group of seventeen men and women who exchanged the life of the sea at Cape Cod, Mass., for a life on the Minnesota prairies, of which they knew mothing, was told this week by Mrs. Adelaide Sparrow, one of the two surviving members of that colony of 14 which settled in Otrey Township in March, 1879. Page Ninety-Three Having decided to give up the life of sea captains and try that of western farmers, the little group of three families left their life-long homes at Provincetown, Massachusetts one day in March, 1870 and arrived by railway at Morris, the end of the line, and came to Otrey Township, 10 miles from Ortonville, by ox team. “Looking back over those years, | think we were mighty brave to come out here”, Mrs. Sparrow commented, adding with a laugh “it’s a funny thing we all didn’t perish as we knew nothing whatsoever about farming. We brought no furn- iture with us but bought it all in Morris. The first year my par- ents, and Mr. Sparrow and | lived in a tiny frame house meas- uring about 10 x 12 feet, the lumber being hauled from Ap- pleton by ox team. The next year we built a larger house and used the old one for a kitchen. The house is still standing on the old farm.” The little colony settled on fifty acres of railroad land. Big Stone County had not at that time been organized. Mail was brought from Ortonville three times a week until a year later, in 1880 when a petition was circulated for a post office in Of- rey Township. “After the post office was granted,” Mrs. Spar- row relates, “they decided to call it Plymouth Rock, but one day when Mr. Sparrow went to Morris, he received word from Washington that due to the word ‘Rock’ in the name, the De- partment had refused to grant it. As a name had to be accept- ed before a post office was granted and as considerable time would be lost if he returned home and had the colony decide on another name, with the aid of the postmaster at Morris, Mr. Sparrow decided to call the post office Adelaide after Mrs. Sparrow’s given name. For 20 years Mrs. Sparrow was post- mistress of the post office which was located in the Sparrow home. It served until rural free delivery was instituted. “For three years we had no school in our vicinity, but when our children became old enough to attend school, a school- house wes built. We were all Methodists in our little colony and once in awhile a Methodist preacher would come through and hold services in the school. We had many pleasant times out there on the prairies, as well as sad times. Of course, we made many mistakes, most of which now appear comical to look back upon.” “Upon our arrival, | expected to see the prairie blooming with all sorts of pretty flowers, but there was hardly a flower to be found, due perhaps to the frequent prairie fires which were such a terror to many of the settlers. Small lakes could be found almost everywhere and the water was alive with fish. One day we saw a beautiful swan in the water near our farm. We found her nest and took one of the eggs home. It weighed exactly one pound. There were a great number of birds too, and one could at almost anytime see mink and muskrat. Some of the folks once saw antelope in our haystack.” “As | said before, we knew nothing about farming. The first summer after the grain was ripe, | picked a few heads of grain and showed them to a neighbor who told me it wasn’t wheat es | had supposed, but barley. Upon telling my father, he took a few heads to another neighbor who said it was bearded wheat. Another time my mother noticed gopher: hills over a patch of ground, and not knowing what they were, thought it would be a good idea to plant potatoes in them. That was the end of the potatoes. The largest tree that ever grew on our farm was a little twig which my mother stuck in the ground one spring to mark a row of radishes in her gar- den. One day | was walking through our wheat fields and be- came overjoyed when | noticed thousands of little blue flow- ers growing in between the wheat. Later | found they were cockles, a foul seed.” Upon being asked if she was glad she had come out west Page Ninety-Four : Mrs. Sparrow said she had often wondered how things would have been if they had stayed in the east. “At any rate, we nev- er became wealthy out here, and couldn’t have expected to as we didn’t go into it deep enough. We did not come by farming naturally,” she said. “We raised chickens, but not because we liked to.” Although Mr. Sparrow returned to Cape Cod several times, Mrs. Sparrow never visited her childhood home. For 20 years, Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow lived on their farm and in 1900 moved to Ortonville. Mr. Sparrow passed away in 1908. (From the Or- tonville Independent, May 16, 1935.) 1958 representatives of the “Cape Codders” are Mrs. Wayne Kelly (Garce Sparrow) and Johnny Sparrow of Orton- ville, and Ed. Tyler of Clinton. @ Prior Township Reporter: Mrs. Morris McCallum As settlers in this area increased, it was decided that some form of government should be organized. An election was held in 1874, but the township was not organized until 1879 and officers were M. J. Matthews, chairman; O. M. Lillesater, supervisor; John McCallum, clerk; M. J. Mathews, justice; and E. T. Hanes, constable. It was called ‘Prior’ because it was the first township to organize in the county and was thus prior to the rest. In 1921 the west half became Foster, a separate township. The first white man to settle here was S. P. Lindholm on Section 10 in 1870. The early settlers had many encounters with Indians, some friendly and some very hostile. The first birth in the township was William Bowman, May 13, 1874. The first death was Mrs. Addison Phelps in October, 1877; and the first marriage was O. M. Lillesater and Tina Skeldon, June 14, 1879. Custer Post Office, named for General Custer, was estab- lished in 1877 and John McCallum was the first postmaster. He cared for the mail in his home in a niche under the chimney, now used as a what-not cabinet. He was postmaster until he moved to Ortonville to become Register of Deeds in 1881. Then W. R. Sawyer and later Mr. Newell were postmasters. (Editor's note: Records later list Custer Post office on the New- ell farm in Prior Township, which home was a landmark until it was destroyed by fire in August, 1936.) Albert Sturges on mail route Albert Sturges carried mail for the “Star Route” from Clin- ton to Maude, later known as Foster. Gus Watson carried mail on the “Rural Route’, serving this community from Barry. In 1907 the mail was changed from Barry to Clinton and Ellen Lindholm was the first carrier, being followed by Max Beaty, and Elmer Botker. The telephone came from Beardsley in 1903 and the line was built by Levi Westphal. In 1894 the Prior Town Hall was erected. The town board was Porter Gay, chairman; Dan Sherman, treasurer; Mr. Dur- and, clerk; and George Chesley, supervisor. This was used for many occasions of interest to the community. Many children re- ceived their first religious training here as ministers from Clin- ton conducted services. In 1908 the first Big Stone County Rur- al Commencement exercises were held here and | have a souv- enir program. Some of the early pioneers of District 7 came from Cottage Grove, Minnesota. They were the Bucks, Crippens, John Leurs, Fetterlys, Gays, Oscar Carlson, Webers, and Roberts, all taking homesteads. Many other families were linked with our early history, namely Ransom, Newells, Scofields, Wheats, Trevett, McPhee, J. K. Anderson, Dodds, Heffernans and Remeck. Many friends and neighbors enjoyed the warm hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Gay where picnics were held beneath the huge trees on their lawn. GILBERT McCALLUM, old- est living resident of Prior Township, still resides on Lis- more Stock Farm where he was born 80 years ago. (Edi- tor‘s note: John McCallum, his father, came from Scot- land when he was_ seven, served in the Civil War with the Wisconsin Infantry, and took a homestead and tree claim here in 1876. His sons farmed extensively these many years, and_ Lismore Stock Farm is. still widely known for its fine livestock.) As time has passed, our community has continued to grow and improve. We have fine graded and graveled highways. Practically all horse-drawn machinery has been mechanized Gilbert McCallum 3 Pete Depolder and John O’Hara Steam Threshing Rig, 1905 and we see combines, tractors, trucks, and all kinds of power- ed machinery used nowadays instead of horses. 1940 brought electricity from Benson, practically all farms being electrified now, and we enjoy the conveniences of many modern appli- ances. DISTRICT NO. 3 hy Mrs. Victor Anderson The history of south Prior may well begin with excerpts from a letter written by Rev. Edwin Lindholm for his father, Charley Lindholm, for entry in an old settlers’ contest some- time in the 1920's. We found it in a scrapbook loaned us by Harold Lovgren, whose mother made it. She was Amanda Lind- holm and a sister of Charley Lindholm, and she was later Mrs. Oscar Lovgren. School District No. 3 in Prior Township “The prairie was barren except for “buffalo grass”. Not a house or tree could be seen for miles around. Among the trees along the lake shore and in the ravines were great oaks which were soon cut down and made into lumber. The logs were raised to about eight feet from the ground; then one person stood on top of the log and another underneath it, each hold- ing onto a handle at each end of the saw. This occupation was very tiresome and difficult, but the finished product was so strong and serviceable that we considered it well worth our time and effort to do it. Fencing was made of logs entirely - three holes were bored into each post and the rails inserted. (Today, in 1958, some of these posts are still seen standing a- long the fence on the old homestead. A building made of this hand-sawed lumber is also still in use.) “This part of the county was very wild and unciviliz- ed in those years. There were many Sioux Indians here, living in wigwams and spending their time hunting and fishing. They were very friendly to- werds us and trad- ed skins and cur- Ec WO ious articles made Inside view of building made with hand-sawed milk Iumber on Gustaf Lindholm farm. Still in use for of stone for storage, by Harold Lovgren. Articles pictured are a and bread. butter churn, chair made by Gustaf Lindholm, an an all wood rake hand-made by Willie Lovgren, ee ; Harold’s uncle. In the winter, my brother and | spent our time in hunting the wild animals such as fox, wolf, rabbit, and bear. The hides were tanned and dressed and used for clothing. In the spring and autumn months, the geese, ducks, prairie chickens, and partridges sup- plied us with meat. Fish was very plentiful in the Lake. It was no uncommon thing to pull up catfish weighing up to 30 pounds or more. Pike and pickerel were abundant. “The ground was very stubborn as it had never been tilled before we settled here. Still some very rich harvests were ga- thered on account of the fertility of the soil by the shores of the lake. The only method of sowing was by hand. A person had a bag of grain at his side and walked along the field, throwing the seed to right and left. When he had passed, the birds helped themselves to as much of it as they liked. The crop was harvested by the use of a contrivance called the cra- Page Ninety-Five dle. The bundles were tied by hand. Threshing was done by hand. The grain was whipped out and later separated from the chaff by throwing it up in the wind. The only implements used in making hay were the scythe, the handrake, and the fork. “In order to economize on flour, fist was used in making bread to a considerable extent. We had a few sheep, the wool of which was used in weaving clothing for the family. The fishing nets were also homemade, cottonwood bark being used for the floats and small stones and sand for sinkers. “Our nearest town at that time was Benson, a little town about 60 miles from home. To this town we had to journey be- hind two slow-moving oxen whenever our supply of flour gave out. It took from four to five days to make the trip. | well re- member an incident which occurred one winter when my fath- er and another fellow went to Benson. When they had covered about 50 miles on the return trip, a great snowstorm came up. In a little while the snow was so deep that they were forced to leave the supplies behind and walk home after the oxen. They had enough presence of mind to set the pole up in the air, so when they returned later to look for their supplies, the only sign by which the wagon was located was the pole stick- ing up about four feet.above the snow. “One thing worthy of mention here is the prairie fire that paid us a visit every fall. When this awful demon once got started on the prairie, there was nothing in its path to obstruct it, so it swept the prairie clean, leaving the ground black with the ashes of the tall grass. Of course we prepared for it in as many ways as possible and plowed around our fields and pro- perty as the surest protection against it.” Charley Lindholm came here as a lad of eight. He was one member of a party of six Swedish families who had lived in St. Peter for a time after coming to the United States from Swe- den. Two of these families took neighboring homesteads in what is now South Prior and both new homes were on Big Stone Lake near spring-fed streams and wooded ravines. In Charley’s letter was his description of their journey here. “We were a party of settlers, some being my uncle and his family, and our family. There were no railroads leading to this part of the country at that time, so the only means by which our possessions could be transported were by a team of oxen and a wagon belonging to my uncle, Swan Lindholm.” GUSTAF LINDHOLM with his wife, 11-year-old Peter, eight- year-old Charley, Ida (Mrs. Charley Cedarquist), Augusta (Mrs. Pete Benson), and Ellen (Mrs. J. P. Sandberg) lived in their home until about 1882, when they built a new house. Two more sisters were Anna (Mrs. Anton Rosenlund), and Amanda (Mrs. Oscar Lovgren.) Amanda lived on this old homestead all her life. Now her son, Harold Lovgren, and his family live in the house his grandfatehr built so long ago. Gravel from the Lovgren gravel pit has improved many county roads. Of the or- iginal home, Charley also wrote ‘Our first home was a log ca- bin having only one room and a loft. The ground served for a floor and sod was used in making the roof. We found this was not water-tight for whenever a shower came up at night, we were awakened from sleep by the rain dripping through.” Peter Lindholm planted a tree claim about one-half mile north of Swan’s place and claimed the quarter as a homestead when he was 21 years old. In 1883 he married Jennie Johnson and they lived there for many years. Their family included De- na, Roger, Milton, Emma, Minnie (Mrs. Henry Armstrong), Dav- id, Anna, Gustave, John, Walter, Henry (a minister), Tillie, Gladys (in missionary work) and Paul (a missionary). David Lindholm and his family live on the homestead and his son. Stanley, farms with him. Other children are Paul, Loren and Page Ninety-Six Lorraine. Charley Lindholm also planted trees for his claim and took the quarter as a homestead just a half-mile from his childhood home. He married Amanda Gustafson and their children were: Stella (Mrs. Carl Anderson), Algot, Edwin (a missionary), God- frey (a retired missionary), Dell, William, Carl, and Theodore. Dell and Carl are on the homestead in 1958. SWAN LINDHOLM was one of the brave men who brought his family to a new home in an untamed land. He had his home built to accommodate his wife and nine children and a- bout 1890 they moved into Clinton. The children were: John, Christine, Tilda, Alfred, Hannah, Augusta (Mrs. Drager), Lou- isa, Permilla (Mrs. Holtz), and Edward. The old homestead re- mained in the family until his grand-nephew, David Lindholm bought it. CARL GUSTAFSON brought his family here in 1873 and the children included Emma, Oscar, John, Amanda (Mrs. Charley Lindholm), Albert, Charley, Edward, and Anna (Mrs. Holm- gren). Today only a plum thicket shows where they built their sod house. Because they were unable to find water, they mov- ed about a half mile east of Swan Lindholms where there were springs and large trees. Albert lived there with his mother un- til 1918. Then his brother, Edward, moved back with his fam- ily. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Carlberg called this place home until the 1930's. The Bradley Gustafson family now lives there. THE HANS SCHOLBERGS came from Norway in 1870 with Mr. Orton, and he walked up along the lake until he found a spring-fed stream that was filled with fish from the lake. Like other early settlers, they were not hungry as long as they could fish. Their son, Soloman or Sam, was the first school teacher here. About 1892 they sold the farm to the George Webbs. Later Lindstroms bought it and today Walter Grimm owns it. The State’s Fish Pond for raising fish is located across the road. Other homesteaders here by 1877 included the following families: Wathum, Rasmussons, Ole Lillesater, Albert Mills, Will and Bion Mills, and later ones included Ole P. Scholberg, Rudolphus Kimber, “Blacksmith” Peterson, Lars ‘Bachelor’ Lar- son, Peter Larsens, John Danielson, Magnus Danielson, Carl Gustafson, C. J. Peterson, Benchew Dassell, Dana McEwen, John Stanley, and others. Some early homesteads are now faint ruins or are completely gone. In May, 1885, an issue of the Ortonville Headlight contain- ed this ad: THE BION MILLS Forrest Tree Nursery. will be prepared this coming spring to deliver all kinds of young trees and cuttings. Nursery eight miles from Ortonville on the Browns Valley road. Call at the Nursery or address H. K. Scholberg, Manager. They must have had a flourishing business because so many of our homesteads were started by tree claims. The severe wind storms in June, 1955 and August, 1957 were extremely hard on our trees, many of which our pioneers planted. The J. P. Sandbergs bought the original Kimber homestead in 1890 from a family discouraged by the prairie fire that had swept through and destroyed everything. The Sandbergs still have this old family home but the buildings are empty. L. W. Lindstrom finished out the homestead started as a tree claim by a man whose name is not remembered. The claim shanty this unknown man had built was later used for the Sar- dis Post Office and still stands on the place. Mr. Lindstrom was one of the early-day teachers and was also on the school board. He built an elevator that can still be seen for miles, making his farm easily identified. A black and white iron fence still decorates the front lawn of this home, now farmed by Ellis Lindstrom. About 1880 Mr. and Mrs. Charley Anderson came to Prior Township from Sweden and chose a homestead just north of Charley Lindholm. Tragedy struck in 1888 when Charley was killed by lightning that hit his horse and followed the reins to him in the buggy. His two companions were unharmed but stunned, though he sat between them. His widow sold the farm to her brother, John W. Anderson, and later she married Henry Anderson. When John came from Sweden in the spring of 1888 his train was snowbound for three weeks. He later sent for his family which included Esther (Mrs. Charley Gustaf- son), Algot, Nellie (Mrs. Fred LaFave), Aleck (accidentally shot himself while hunting), Carl, Edith (died of appendicitis when about 8), Victor, and Hugo who changed his name to Hamilton and is a local carpenter. Victor and his wife (Gladys McEwen), own the place his aunt homesteaded and their family includes: Lola (Mrs. James Voeltz), Phyllis, Curtis, and Boyd. When Charlie Peterson started a homestead, he discovered he had no driveway as his land was surrounded by other farms. He sold it to John Danielson and bought the John Stan- ley farm. Their children were Ethel (Mrs. Chester Lamb), Albin, Henning, Carl, Irene (Mrs. John Holmblad), Hildur, and Reuben who lives there now. with his family. William and Elizabeth McEwen, Lottie and Cora came here from Ohio in 1879, searching for a climate to improve his health. He had contracted malaria during army service in the Civil War. When his brother, Dana, returned to Ohio about 1884, William bought his farm and took the adjoining 80 acres as a tree claim. William passed away in 1890 so Mrs. McEwen built a claim shanty on the tree claim so she could start her homestead. According to the Homestead Laws, they had to live on the place a certain part of each year for seven years to have a proved claim. The McEwen children were Cora (Mrs. E. E. Kinney), Pearl (Mrs. H. B. Wright), Curtis and Lottie (Mrs. George Webb.) When Cora taught school she took the younger children along to District 2 and 3, by horse and buggy. One winter Mrs. McEwen moved to Ortonville so they could attend school regularly. In 1911 Mrs. McEwen moved to Wayzata to make her home with Pearl, and Curtis took over the farm. He and his wife (Lora Hanson) live there today, and their children are Gladys (Mrs. Victor Anderson), Lucille (Mrs. Clyde Sitter), Wayne, Orville, Kenneth, and Lyle. CHURCHES In early records of School District 3 dating back to 1877 are several references to the “Lindholm meeting house’. This is believed to have been a log building where a foundation still stands on top of the hill west of the present road by Car! Gustafson’s old homestead. When or why this was built, we don’t know, but we are reasonably sure it was also used as a church. It has been said, jokingly, “Maybe the Indians built it!’, for it was near the two Indian mounds excavated in 1946 by the University of Minnesota Anthropology Department. It stood on Swan Lindholm’s place and he offered its use as a schoolhouse from 1877 until one was built in 1881. When Hammerbergs arrived in 1878, he let them live in it while they built on their homestead. No doubt other families had the same privilege. Early settlers met in the various homes for Bible reading and to sing their well-loved hymns. According to Elim Luther- an’s records, pastors were invited to hold services here in the homes, one being Rev. P. Beckman. In 1876 Rev. E. Norelius and Rev. P. Carlson came during the summer in their home- made prairie schooner. Rev. Ole Olson tried unsuccessfully to organize a Scandinavian Lutheran Church, but in July, 1881, Rev. A. G. Linden helped the people organize the Sardis Con- gregation. Among the charter members of this Swedish Luther- an Church were the John Danielsons, Gustaf Lindholms, Gustaf Kraft, and L. W. Lindstroms. During the early years, services were held whenever a traveling minister could come, regard- less of the day or season, at the Lindholm, Bailey, or Lysing schoolhouses or out of doors. When rooms were found in Clin- ton, the Sardis Congregation changed its name to Swedish Ev- angelical Lutheran Elim Church and today it is known as the Elim Church. In 1892 some of the people felt need for a church nearer home and a new congregation was organized, the Swedish Christian Congregation by Big Stone Lake. It has also been cal- led The Mission Church and was later better known as the Lakeside Sunday School. Although this congregation obtained land from Peter Lindholm for a church yard and cemetery and plans were underway for building a church, one was never made. They didn’t have a minister, but whenever one could be obtained, services were held in the Lindholm school house. These services and Sunday School met every Sunday and were conducted in Swedish. After about 1920 they held services in Prior Town Hall. On top of a knoll, with a view of the surrounding country- side, is the little country cemetery, The Mission Cemetery. It is located just west of the schoolhouse site with a plot between that was once intended for the churchyard. Other families of our little community who could not un- derstand the Swedish language, or favored other faiths, at- tended services of their choice and many helped organize oth- er congregations. SCHOOLS School District 3 was organized at the Lindholm school- house on November 10, 1877. S. P. Lindholm was elected the chairman and A. Mills, clerk for the meeting and the following were elected officers: S. P. Lindholm, director; Gustave Lind- holm, treasurer; and J. M. McCallum, clerk. Free use of a build- ing offered by Mr. Lindholm was accepted. It was voted to raise $25 by special tax to pay a teacher, and it was voted to have three months of school. The original minutes and records are still available and give an interesting picture of the beginnings of our school. In 1881 the schoolhouse was built at a total cost of $583.74, in- cluding the furniture. Sometimes as many as 50 pupils were enrolled. Some of these were men who wished to learn Eng- lish. Those early pupils bought their own books until 1894. In 1952 our District 3 was 75 years old. A history was com- piled and on June 25th a celebration was held at the school- house. It included a potluck picnic dinner, a display of an- tiques, and visiting, part of which was tape-recorded along with the afternoon program. In 1954 our District consolidated with Ortonville and part of it transferred to Clinton. Vicory Farm for Boys, east of Ortonville, received our school building as a donation by the voters of the District. Ce- cil Kaercher had it moved and redecorated. Today it is used as a chapel for the boys living at Victory Farm. The closing of our school ended a very important chapter of the history of our community. During its 77 years, 65 teach- ers taught about 410 pupils. Of these, seven went on to be- come ministers or missionaries, Rev. H. C. Scholberg, Rev. Al- bert Danielson, Rev. Henry Lindholm, Rev. Godfrey Lindholm, Page Ninety-Seven Rev. Edwin Lindholm, Rev. Paul Lindholm, and Rev. Ralph Sand- berg. Three pupils later returned as teachers and they were Emily and Elda Holmquist and Frances Lovgren. Miss Anna Swenson taught three terms here before she became County Superintendent of Schools, and she later went on to serve for years with the Minnesota State Board of Education. Irene Eng- dahl, daughter of one of our early-day ministers, taught here before her marriage. As Mrs. Luther Youngdahl, she became Minnesota’s First Lady and they are now in Washington, D. C. (Editor's Note: Congratulations to Mrs. Anderson for the wonderful history she gathered for her area. Not all of it was used here because of space, but her detailed account of each farm in District 3 would be of special interest to the families there. In tribute to her efforts, | did include her complete re- port on the Anderson and McEwen families as well as the early homesteaders. She ended her summary as follows: “| had wonderful help in compiling this history. First there were the complete school records which had been packed in an apple box and put in the attic and were discovered in 1939 when Joe Scholbergs moved from the homestead. They are now on file in the Ortonville school. We found information a- bout the early churches in a couple of borrowed books. Mrs. Lovgren’s scrapbook was very interesting and informative and included many clippings. The Ortonville Headlight issue of May 16, 1885 was found in 1938 when a house partition was taken out. Credit is also given to all the “old timers” for relat- ing their memories. Only with all such help is a history possi- ble.”) DISTRICT NO. 6 by Mrs. Earl Carlberg This is one of the six districts formed in September, 1874. The first meeting was held at the Albert Bailey home and a 7 ES TI “adh ” fogfer ee, 2 District No. 6, Prior Township motion carried to locate the schoolhouse site on the northwest corner of his homestead. Officers elected were W. T. Stanton, director; A. Carlberg, treasurer; and Albert Bailey, clerk. At a special meeting on March 9, 1880, a motion carried to raise $200 to furnish the schoolhouse, to build outhouses, and lay the foundation for the building. The job to build the foundation was let to A. Carlberg for $10, the materials to be paid by the district. The total cost of the school house was $858.48, including such interesting items as these: hauling lumber, $3 each; one barrel of lime, $1.25; J. F. W. Becker, for building schoolhouse, 528.85; broom, pail, dipper, and pipe, 85c; desks, $134.90; freight, $21.93. The school house had a Page Ninety-Eight built-in stage, but this was later removed and slate boards in- stalled. The painted blackboards were in the front and between the windows on the sides. There were two cloakrooms, one for the boys and one for the girls. The first term of school was from May 3, 1880 to July 24, 1880 and Elmina Webb was the teacher. The first enrollment was the following, most of these names still represented in the township: Elda, Alleta, Clara, Ed- die, and Alvah Bailey; Albert, Walfred, Anna, and Mary Carl- berg; George, James, Lucy, and Sallie Connelly; Charles, Aug- ust, Axel, Frank, and Fred Finberg; Jennie Johnson; Jennie and Ella Gallinger; Emil Hammerberg; Eddie Mogren; George and Mary Webb. The children carried their drinking water by pail from the Albert Bailey farm for years. Later a cistern was built and the water hauled into it. The school house was heated by an over-sized stove until the heating plant was installed in 1905. Textbooks were purchased by the pupils until 1895, when it was voted to have free textbooks. The last school year was 1948-49 with Maye Flynn as the teacher. Pupils were enrolled from the following families: Fin- berg, Arndt, Hoxtell, Peterson, Reimers, Redfield, and Wells. The school was closed and the children transported by bus to the Clinton school. In 1952 the district was annexed to Clinton by reorganization. The building still stands at its original loca- tion. This school house was also used by the Elim Lutheran con- gregation for services. Elim Cemetery is located on the Marlow Finberg farm. A plot of land was donated by Andrew Olson with the intention that the church be built there. However, when the church construction was undertaken, the congrega- tion voted to build it in Clinton. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 7 by Mrs. Morris McCallum District 7, known as Custer School, was formed in January, 1879. About 1882 the land was deeded to the district by the late John Crippen and the first building was used until about 1923 when another building replaced it. This was used unti! IDA BUCK 1952 when it was annexed to Clinton by reorganization. We are unable to find early records of this school, but we District No. 7, Prior Township, 1909 District No. 7 know Miss Electa Webb, later Mrs. Moulton of Ortonville, was the first teacher. Miss J. lda Buck, a member of one of our pio- neer families and the oldest living teacher of our County, taught here in 1901-1902. Early names of the District have al- ready been mentioned. The last teacher was Mrs. Victoria Er- ickson of Ortonville. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 19 by Mrs. Harry Hennix District No. 19 was organized in January, 1880 but the first term didn’t begin until 1884 and 1885. They held two terms, nine pupils being enrolled for the winter term, and 10 for the summer term. Some of the pupils were Florence Chase; Gene, District No. 19, Prior Township Cleo and Rodner Okeson; Funder and Charlie Wiedlund; Victor Lewis; Sam Erickson; and Roger Dahlhjelm. Cleo Okeson had perfect attendance. Five of this first class are still living in the county. The two teachers hired that first year at a salary of $25 a month were Miss Maggie Fahy and May L. Scofield. A new school building was erected in 1928 and was used until 1946. The last school term was in 1944-45 with Nancy Waite as teacher, and the attendance was 10 pupils - the same enrollment as the year it began. School District No. 19 was annexed to Clinton by reorgani- zation on December 16, 1952. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 31 by Mrs. Jack Morris, Mrs. Ada Rodda and Mrs. Kenneth Bailey This District was formed in March, 1881 and early Board members included Anton Olson Skundberg, Sam Gallinger, and Mike Hanratty. That winter there was four feet of snow on the level. Some random notes concerning this District recall that the church services for our early folks were held at Custer, Prior Town Hall, and the Elof Hammer home, among others. Catholic families attended church at Barry, Beardsley, and Graceville. One story of Swan Lindholm tells of a six-day trip to Morris for supplies with his team of oxen. He didn’t have enough money left to buy a stamp so the postmaster mailed his letter for him. In 1893 a diphtheria epidemic spread throughout this vicinity and schools were closed as a precautionary measure. On Nov. 29th, 1888 Miss Jordan, the teacher, arrived to discover that the school house had burned completely. All the records and furniture were likewise destroyed. A new school house con- structed in 1923 was built by the Lundberg Construction Com- pany and we moved in, in 1924 when Mr. Lyman was teacher. August Larson helped haul sand when the building was made. August Larson attended school here in 1884-5 and remem- bers his first teacher was Miss Kitty Hess of Ortonville. His classmates included Agnes Skundberg Elken of Mayville, N. D.; Rollie Skundberg, deceased; Justus, Nettie, and Nina Galling- er, all deceased; Pat Hanratty; John and Lucy Hanratty O'Leary; Peter Sullivan of Fergus Falls; John, Bernard, Mamie and Wm. Kirkey; Louis Sheridan children; Ellen Lindman Hamner; and the Rosenlund children. Miss J. Ida Buck taught here in 1887 and pupils included Pat, Lucy and John Hanratty. Miss Buck taught here on three separate terms. Other teachers included: Miss Minnie Toner, Ada Dean, Ella Peyton, Mrs. Ferris, Albert Sturges, Maude Norris (now Mrs. Wm. Kirkey), Miss Daly, Mar- garet and Nora Donovan. District 31 was annexed to Clinton by reorganization in hgsz2: THE CRIPPEN STORY by J. E. Crippen, 1949 John T. Crippen came to Big Stone County, June 2, 1876, filed on a claim seven miles west and two miles south of Clin- ton, and erected a set of buildings there. Then he returned to his home at Cottage Grove for the winter. In April, 1877 he drove an open wagon loaded with household goods from near St. Paul, taking 11 days for the trip. While crossing the railroad track near Litchfield, his wagon got stuck on the rails and he was unable to get it free. When the train came, the engine pul- led up to the wagon and the train crew jumped down and by their combined efforts got the wagon off the track. Mrs. Crippen and Ed, then only a month old, came by train to Morris where Mr. Crippen met them with a team and wagon. They drove to Graceville and stopped to rest at Dunlap’s. It was then about three o’clock but they still drove on to their claim that day. When Mrs. Crippen protested she was too tired to continue farther, her husband told her there was a shack up ahead where they could spend the night. When they reached it, she found it was their home with all their own furniture ar- Page Ninety-Nine ranged and ready. Mr. Crippen acted as locater for new settlers who were coming in very fast in the year 1877. In one day he located as many as 22. The first flag raised in Prior township was hoisted on a pole on top of the hill (above the Porter Gay Hotel site) where it remained for over 60 years. This was the celebration of July 4th, 1877. Mrs. George Peterson of Foster made the flag and E. T. Haynes and Mr. Crippen raised it. The settlers spread their picnic dinner in the beautiful ravine below, where there was a good spring of water and a little creek. Mrs. Tyler of Foster baked a little pig for the occasion and placed it standing with an ear of corn in its mouth as a festive table centerpiece. In 1882 the Crippens took a new homestead on the other side of the lake and moved their house across the ice. While lowering it down the hill to the lake shore, a rope broke, tum- bling it to the bottom of the deep ravine where it lodged a- mong the trees. It was broken a bit but was moved on and re- paired later. Mrs. Crippen and Edward went across the lake in the spring on the F. D. Underwood, taking some of their goods with them. The rest was loaded on the wagon to be taken around the south end of the lake. One of the Crippen’s horses had died, so the family cow was hitched with the remaining horse to make the team. @ logqua Township Reporter: Mrs. Mary Nash Keeler Toqua Township was established March 16, 1880 and was named after two lakes in the center of the township, originally known as Tokua Brothers Lakes. Wm. Nash was appointed Town Clerk and held the office until his death. William Nash, a tanner, and James Barry, a druggist, came from Massachusetts in 1877. At Morris they hired a locator to take them the 36 miles to their claims 2'/2 miles south of Bar- ry. There were just odd shanties between these points; also what was called Dunlap’s Half-Way House, the present William Sorensen farm near Graceville. Lumber was hauled from Mor- Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Nash and their home, the first house built in Toqua Township ris and the first building in Toqua township erected in 1878 by Mr. Nash still stands - it's now the garage on the Mary Nash Keeler farm. Mrs. Keeler was the first child recorded after the Township was organized and still resides on the farm with her daughter’s family, Mr. and Mrs. James Miller. Her brother, Wm. Nash, was a grain buyer for Cargill for three years at Bar- ry and 15 at Graceville. He died December 8, 1947. Many other settlers filed in this area in 1879-1880, but few established residences until the railroad came through. Some of those who spent the winter in Morris and other towns were: Robert Reidy, Pat Mullin, Ed. Chase, Pat Cleary, Miles McCue, Wm. O'Connor, Ed and John Downs, Pat and John Hyland, Joe Page One Hundred Rix, John Coughlin, John Taffe, Martin Larkin, Mike and John Keating, Wm. Byrnes, O. L. Betts, Amos Giles, and Dave Aiken. James Kirkie came from Canada in 1883 and homesteaded in Section 31. Other names added to Toqua Township included: Sullivan, Fitzharris, Higgins, Fermoyle, Clark, McAuliff, plus many others down through the years. Martin P. Larkin came in 1878 after having worked some years as a trainman in Minneapolis and Ohio. He built a claim shanty 16 by 20 feet and lived in it for 14 years. In 1894 he lost 600 acres of wheat by hail. His son, Patrick H., was the first white boy recorded in this township. His son, Martin D., had the first large road grading outfit and did most of the work on Highway 28 from Browns Valley to Morris. Harry Lar- kin moved to Brainerd in 1917 and was drowned in 1919, af- ter which his wife went to work and educated the children. Three became priests, namely Fr. Harry Larkin, Fr. Martin Lar- kin, and Fr. Wm. Larkin. Their daughter, Mary Larkin, is a St. Joseph nun and another daughter lives in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Martin D. Larkin and two daughters live in St. Paul and Mr. Larkin passed away in 1956. They have two sons who are also priests, Fr. Martin J. Larkin, and Fr. Richard Larkin. The Bernard Trainor family were also among the very early settlers. They had two sons, Fr. Edward Trainor, and A. J. Trainor, a dentist, and a daughter who became a nun, Sr. Sere- phine. The Wm. Byrnes family included four sisters who became teachers and poets. Three are now dead and the fourth, Miss Evelyn Byrnes, is Treasurer of the Minneapolis Poetry Circle. ey ee. Of the original Taffe family, William is postmaster in Beardsley; John is employed at St. Thomas Seminary in St. Paul; George is a local farmer; and James was killed in a high- way accident in September, 1956, but his four sons and their families are farming 3200 acres in this township. Dr. M. A. Taf- fe has been a well known veterinarian throughout the county since 1913. Wm. Cleary came in 1878 and his wife and children came in 1881. They moved to Prior Township in 1884, and to Barry in 1896 where the mother built the first boarding house. When Graceville celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1928, a special edition of the Enterprise included “Old Time Chats” and Mrs. Ellen Mullane gave some interesting comments. She told that she and her husband homesteaded between Grace- ville and Barry in 1877. The road over from Morris had a bad muddy rut every half mile or so. The only house was Dunlap’s although there was another white couple living in a little frame shanty near Chokio, Mr. and Mrs. Bowell, who always had ham and potatoes on hand for travelers. The Indians were peaceable and harmless but great visitors and beggars for tea, coffee, sugar, and flour. Mrs. Mullane’s policy was to refuse them because whenever she gave one anything, he went back and returned with other comrades to be treated too. Then Mrs. DISTRICT 51, Miss Minnie Toner, teacher. Ist row, left to right: James Taffe, Charlee Winter, Fred Diederich, John Sullivan, William Taffe, Leo Diederich, Fred Winter, Leo Fitzharris. 2nd row: Vincent Sullivan, Claude Diederich, Charles Kirkey, Catherine Sullivan, Mina Clark, Alvah Clark, Margaret Fitzhar- ris, Herman Winter. 3rd row: George Fitzharris, James Fitzharris, George Died- erich, Ella Sullivan, John Taffe, Anna Sullivan, Miss Minnie Toner, teacher, Louisa Diederich, George Taffe, Edward Fitzharris, Matilda Diederich. SCHOOLS of Toqua Township were District Nos. 32, form- ed in 1881, No. 51 in 1888, No. 59 in 1900, and No. 64 in 1913. They were annexed to Graceville by dissolution on July Psi, 955; The Betts school in the northwestern part of the township was established in 1881. Mrs. Keeler attended this for several years and remembers teachers Marie Barry and P. D. O’Phalen. No. 51 was established on the S. J. Kirkey farm and the first teacher there was Miss King. Some of the others were: May Toner, Margaret Costello, Minnie Toner, Annie Cavanaugh, Theresa Trainor, Mae Fitzharris, Ruth Tyler, Ella Salverson, Ella Sullivan, Kathryn Sullivan, Florence Omodt, and Gladys Green. A 1906 Souvenir of District 51 lists Miss Annie Cavanaugh as teacher and the school officials were Simon Kirkey, John Sullivan, and M. M. Kirkey. The following were pupils: Mar- guerite, Leo, and George Fitzharris; Kathryn, Vincent, John and Jerome Sullivan; Mina, Lilly, and Alvah Clark; Claude, Simon, Matilda, Omer, George, Fred, and Leo Diederichs; Agnes, Wil- 4 Mullane “would be for setting Tige upon them” but Mr. Mul- lane’s plea was “Oh, Ellen, give them something. The poor creatures! If we were like them, what would we do?” One Sunday when they returned from church, they found 26 tee- pees pitched in their pasture. A tribe had come to visit them! Mrs. Keeler’s family and the Mullanes were close friends in those early Toqua Township days. af — Mie is : he “a 4 esc lie and James Mullin; John and Charley Higgins; Katie, James, Willie, George, and John Taffe; Herman, Charley, and Fred Winters; Elsie Fritz; Caroline Sudler; Charley Helbert; Charley Kirkey; and Inez Chase. sis — THE WILLIAM NASH FAMILY by Mrs. Mary Nash Keeler Early in the year 1877 Archbishop John Ireland gave a ser- ies of lectures in Massachusetts which stirred up a lot of the shop and factory workers. He told what wonderful wheat could be raised in Minnesota, and many folks decided to go West. Among the early ones were my father, William Nash, a tanner, and James Barry, a druggist, and they set out for Minnesota in March, 1877. They arrived in Morris, hired a locator to take them the 36 miles to stake their claims two and one-half miles south of present Barry, and returned to Morris. There they bought two loads of lumber and headed for their claims. Mean- while a snowstorm was brewing and they made a shelter with the lumber under the wagons and had to stay there for two days. That was all the snow they had until the middle of May, when there was another three-foot snowfall. Father was anxious to try raising some of that wonderful wheat. He broke up 12 acres in which he planted 10 acres of Page One Hundred-One wheat and the balance to potatoes, beans, corn, and other vegetables. Oxen were in common use those days because they were cheaper to feed. That first wheat went 30 bushels per acre and father had no trouble disposing of it as people came 30 and 40 miles for seed. He kept his own seed in a bin in the house with the bed on top. He and James Barry lived to- The William Nash Family gether the first year. Later when Mr. John Sullivan was section boss in Browns Valley and worked on the railroad with his horses, father hired him to plow up land for him. In June, 1879, father went back to Lowell, Massachusetts and married Elizabeth Maher and brought her back to the prairie. She had lived all her life in the city - you can imagine what a change! A few months later John Taffe came with his bride and located on the adjoining farm. He and my father were pals back East and were always like brothers. An old 1904 Biography reads as follows: “Mr. Nash took an active part in the reform movement in its early stage and organized the Farmers’ Alliance in Big Stone County, and was one of the lecturers of the county, lecturing and organizing in different towns of the county. He was in Toqua Township at its organization and was elected township clerk at that time, 1880. He helped organize the school district and assisted in establishing the post office at Lowell. He assisted in the organ- ization of an Old Settlers’ Association in Big Stone County, and for several years this was a flourishing organization and held many celebrations on Big Stone Lake.” The Taffe family and mine are still on the old homesteads; so are the John Sullivan family, Roy Clark, Frank Fermoyle, and Mrs. Dan Mullin. My daughter, Betty and her family (the James Millers) are now living on the farm and | live with them. My son, John is married and has three boys, and lives in Minnea- polis. Today’s children rely on television, radios, and autos for entertainment, and so do many of their elders. Those of us whose memories go back to those earlier days cherish the fav- orite entertainment of those times - the fellowship of many neighborly visits with lots of singing, discussions of books, e- vents, or politics, and those wonderful midnight lunches! Our memories go back even farther to the time we smaller children were sent to bed - but not to sleep - while the visiting and merriment continued to the wee hours. My friend, Evelyn Byrnes, a former resident of Barry and now of Minneapolis, pictures such pioneer memories so well in her writings. Page One Hundred-Two JOHN I. SULLIVAN by Vincent and Elia Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. John Lawrence Sullivan moved to Browns Valley from Cedar Lake, Minnesota, in 1879, and he became section boss on the railroad being built from Morris to Browns Valley. It was completed in 1880, and in 1881 the Sullivans moved to ‘heir homestead in Toqua Township. There he was a progressive farmer and gradually acquired a section of land, three quarters of which are still owned by the Sullivan family. Six of the 10 children are living. Mr. Sullivan was born in Muskegon, Waukesha, Wisconsin on September 21, 1842 and he lived to be 90 years old. He al- so served in the Civil War, having enlisted August 15, 1862, and was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C. on June 20th, 1865. His service was with Company “K”, 195th Regi- ment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His military career was as in- teresting as any story. He was with General Sherman’‘s troops on their famous “march through Georgia” and his account of his experiences here and in many other campaigns of the Civil War always held a thrill for his listeners. He was a member of the Frank P. Blair Post No. 82 of the G. A. R. of Ortonville where he was an active member for over 50 years, taking part in Memorial Day Services and at patriotic celebrations and functions held throughout the county. @ big Stone Lake and Resorts NAVIGATION AND FISHING In the early days, our lake was the mecca for the red men from miles around. So it is also to the nomads of today who search for the thrills and quiet offered by the great out-of- doors. To the Indians our lake was known as “Eahtonka”, mean- ing Big Water. It has 78 miles of beautiful, timbered shoreline and its clear, cool water is supplied by more than 1,000 springs which are the coldest in Minnesota. It is 35 miles long and is the only lake between the Alleghenies and the Rockies with a high spring water table. It receives the flow of more than four times the amount of spring water than any other body of wat- er in the entire Lake Region. Local navigation was undertaken in the fall of 1879 when a stock company was formed at Minneapolis to promote such activity. Foster Balch was the president. The first trip from Or- tonville to Browns Valley was made in May, 1880, ating regular daily trips. In 1949 A. H. Sturges reported that he was among the first passengers on the F. D. Un- derwood in 1880. This was a two-decker boat operated by steam, passengers. It was later re- christened the Helen Balch, in honor. of Foster Balch’s ~ daughter, and was operated for years ve Wm. Finch who still lives in Ortonville. Excursions were taken to Foster and to Hartford, South Dakota. Another early boat was the City of Big Stone which burned. (Later it was brought up and its beautiful blackened oak paneling used in Douthitt’s recreation room.) Captain Wein operated the San Suci until about 1925, conducting business as the Wein Boat inaugur- and carried 50 to 60 Lines. Lindquists had the Diamond, and Ed Douglas of Foster Bowman’s Point, Big Stone Lake, Beardsley, Minnesota had the Arrow and operated the North Star Boatline from that point. Launch ferry service was available across the Lake in several places, from Ortonville to Big Stone City and Chautau- qua, and from Foster to Hartford. It’s believed that about 1881 there was a cable ferry from Ortonville to Big Stone City. Boat at Foster Resort ORTONYHALK BOAT LANDING, BG STONE LAME. : Large barges served an important purpose in moving grain and two operated as late as 1921. With a crew of eight to 10 men, one would leave the North Star Elevator in Ortonville at 4:00 a.m., load 5,000 bushels of sacked grain which had been stacked at Farmers’ Landing, and be back at 10 p.m. The Flyer and The Comet were “pusher boats” as well as passenger boats. In the off seasons, plank flooring would be laid over the holds so they could be used for dance excursions. The Queen of the Lakes, The Esther, and The Flyer made many pic- nic excursions from Ortonville and Big Stone City to Foster and other points. Such was a favorite high school outing. There was tragedy, too, on the waves. In 1917 a steamer named Muskegon completely capsized during a storm. Seven persons drowned and one man and one boy were saved. (A- bout 1928 the boat was raised and reconditioned by the Creese Boat Works of Big Stone City and is now the Golden Bantam owned by the Douthitts.) More than a dozen other persons drowned in our lake in the past years. Today’s boats are pleasure craft of every style, size, and speed and boating clubs promote the sport. But wouldn’t it be fun if we could again buy rides on a “side-wheeler”, being serenaded meanwhile by the orchestra on the upper deck? Many of us cherish such memories from the 20’s and before. Big Stone Lake is still a favorite winter and summer fishing spot for local and visiting anglers. Fish rearing ponds on both sides of the Lake provide for the propagation of the desirable species. An old paper quotes the largest fish ever caught as a Rock Sturgeon six feet long and weighing 110 pounds. Accord- ing to Charlie Sigloh, it was speared at the old mill dam in the river just below the foot of the lake. It was stuffed, mounted, and displayed in the old Ross Hardware Store. Apparently the record still stands. From the news columns of 60 years ago, we learn of the flooding problems in the Minnesota River Valley. In 1937 the Whetstone River which rises in South Dakota was diverted from its natural course into Big Stone Lake by means of a can- al dike and control works. Previously the river had flowed into the Minnesota River in the lowland just below Big Stone Lake. The diversion enabled the lake to act as a reservoir for the flood discharge of the river; however, the accumulating sili presented an additional problem. In the 1957 Legislative Ses- sion, through the efforts of Representative Sorensen and Senat- or Behmler, a Bill was passed appropriating $300,000.00 from Minnesota to be matched by South Dakota $2 to $3, to correct and complete the project. Whenever the two states agree on Ice boating on Big Stone Lake plans on this basis, to a limit of $500,000, it is hoped the long- awaited project will be completed to the betterment of Big Stone Lake. During 1958 the Whetstone River was re-routed again to prevent further build-up of the silt barrier. In the 1957 Legislative Session, through the efforts of Rep- resentatives Hofstad of Lac qui Parle County, Johnson of Swift, and Sorensen, a Wild Life Refuge was designated at Marsh and Lac qui Parle Lakes. Land amounting to 22,000 acres reclaimed by the State through settlement of flood damage claims throughout the Minnesota River Valley was put in the adminis- tration of the State Department of Conservation. It can also be incorporated with a Federal Flood Control Project whenever such use is desired. Aim of the undertaking is to hold wild geese in the vicinity for a longer time to provide more hunting for public shooting. Since this general area is already a top Page One Hundred-Three duck and pheasant zone, this new incentive will increase the hunting sport in western Minnesota - a further boon to our ar- ea as well. RESORTS, ETC. Traveling up Big Stone Lake from Ortonville to Browns Val- ley, we can visit many past and present sites of interest. Beginning right in Ortonville, HOTEL ORTON is still oper- ating and many fine homes are also located along the lake shore. HOTEL COLUMBIAN advertised thus in 1899: “Special attention to summer tourists. Steam heat. Mineral Spring Water and Baths in connection. George Kahler, proprietor.” It, too, still operates today. EAHTONKA PAVILION was located near the present city pier in Ortonville. The downstairs was a boathouse and a bath house, and the upper floor was a dance hall with three sides opening to the lake breezes. Now the new Municipal Park, the Beach, and the Pier supply enjoyment. Next come COTTAGE GROVE, with cabins and boats, the MUNICIPAL BOAT DOCK, and the PENINSULA where many Ab- erdeen folks enjoyed their summers. Now this area has perma- nent homes. MANHATTAN ISLAND was an early favorite spot for excur- sionists and vacationers. A small hotel built by Captain Wein had a bowling alley. Later this Manhattan Hotel was operated for a few years by the Kaddatz family who also developed a baseball park on the island. The hotel burned to the ground many years ago. In 1930 the 50-acre island was purchased by W. H. Foster for $10,000.00 and presented to the Sioux Falls YMCA. Since then hundreds of boys and girls have been privi- leged to attend camp here at Teepeetonka. Sioux Historic Park about 1945 SIOUX HISTORIC PARK, or Brauns, has been a favorite fam- ily picnic spot for years. The hotel built here by Dan McGee is now used as a dwelling house. The present Pavilion serves for roller skating and dances. PETERSBURG is another name found in early records and is now the site of several cottages. SENTINEL ROCK is the present location of the Methodist Church picnic grounds. LAKESHORE FRUIT FARM is operated by the Louis Blocks. They have worked for years in conjunction with the Minnesota Horticultural Society, testing and improving fruits. MILE PARK was developed by Ernie Johnson, son of the or- iginal homestead owner. For a time a clubhouse was operated here. There are still housekeeping cabins. Big Stone County CAMP-FOR-CHRIST is owned and main- tained by the Baptist Church. Page One Hundred-Four Next is Leo Block’s flower farm called ETERNAL SPRINGS GARDENS. The PARK is shown on early maps as Hurley’s Point, then as McGaughey’s Park. Eternal Springs Park also ser- ved for years as a favorite family picnic spot. SILVER SPRINGS is operated by Schlieps, with cabins and boats. WAN-YA-KA-TONKA BEACH is located on the Julia Peter- son farm. CRYSTAL BEACH, once operated by W. K. and Charlie Han- son, is now Wayne McEwen’s farm. This was the first place where rented boats were available, before 1890. Since July, 1958, a new, modern resort project is being developed by Bill Miller. This includes construction of some 14 cabins, camping space and trailer facilities for tourists, and a lagoon, fed by springs, which accommodates over 100 boats and is connected to the Lake via a channel. LAGOONA BEACH is ideally situated on a point that allows one shoreline to always have protection from wind and rough water. (Assisting with the planning phase of this worthy and most welcome project was the Industrial De- velopment Committee of the Ortonville Civic & Commerce As- sociation.) MEADOWBROOK WOODSHORE was platted about 1956 and the group of fine summer homes is growing. This site was first Known as Webb’s Creek after Mr. and Mrs. George Webb (Lottie McEwen) bought the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Schol- berg in about 1892. They kept a few boats and many people came to fish and hunt. The farm is now owned by Walter Grimm. The STATE FISH REARING POND was built in about 1948. Local young people think this would be an ideal skating rink in wintertime, but the pond is always drained in the fall when the young fish are removed. BAYVIEW was started about 1950 and an addition has also been platted. New summer homes are rapidly being built up, nestled in part of the tree claim the Scholbergs planted so many years ago. LOVGREN’S WOODSHORE was platted in 1934 and includes a number of summer homes and the English Lutheran Church’s picnic grounds, donated by Maurice Johnson and Harry Spec- keen. This area was part of the original Gustaf Lindholm farm. Here the Lovgren Produce Station did much business when far- * mers shipped grain and produce down the lake by boats. LOU’S POINT started about 1920 when ardent fishermen from Clinton received permission to build a “shack” on the Swan Lindholm point. Later they chose a new site on Gustaf Lindholm’s farm on a wooded hillside. Max Beaty tells how he helped take the “shack” apart so they could float it on the lake to its new location, towing the sections behind rowboats. The spot was named after Lou Stephens when it was platted in 1924, and by now many lovely summer homes are here. Resi- dents are mainly Clinton folks. Fetterly’s was known for years as POINT WELCOME and had a store, ice house, and boats. It is closed now but is still a favorite fishing spot. PORTER GAY HOTEL was a large twenty-four room house built by Enock Remeck who came from Maine and_ shipped lumber from there for its construction. Excursion boats from Ortonville brought visitors here for Sunday picnics and special celebrations. Many wealthy southerners came here each year to spend their summers. Years later the house was remodeled in- to a six-room house, the rest being dismantled. This site is now the Lakeside Farm. FARMER’S LANDING was started by Pete Luff, later one of the Muskegon casualties. At this site the lake was dredged and a cement retaining wall constructed so that the big lake barges could come right up to the shoreline to load the grain. During the harvest season and the fall months afterward, it was an unforgettable sight to see the thousands of grain sacks stacked just above the landing, waiting to be taken to Ortonville. This was the best early means available to farmers of this area for sending grain and produce to market. SPRING GROVE was also known as Jenkins’ Place, a resort that operated for many years but is now abandoned. John Jen- kins was Al Sturges’ father-in-law. A store there was operated by Schendels until about 1920. Among the pioneer residents was Colonel Henry Lou Ma- gee, a former president of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Rail- road, who built a spacious home at Sylvan Beach. He came by private car to Ortonville and. transported visitors and supplies by boat up the lake. Besides his dwelling, he had a barn for his horses and carriages, a small cottage for his coachman, a home for his Negro servants, and a boathouse. He was fascin- FOSTER RESORT was platted as a village of summer homes in 1880 by M. I. Mathews and was named for Foster L. Balch of Minneapolis, president of the Big Stone Lake Navigation Com- pany. In 1880 Mr. Milton D. Sturges built a large hotel for Mr. Mathews and Henry Young was one of the helpers. This be- came known as the Northern Hotel and the North Star Boatline also operated from this resort. Foster became the mecca of wealthy southerners, and the “you all” and “yes sah” of those visitors lent a cosmopolitan atmosphere unheard of in recent years. Many invested money in substantial summer homes. ated by the prairie chicken hunting in this area, and he kept deer fenced within his yard. After his wife’s death, he later married Kitty Everest. Colonel Everest of St. Joseph, Missouri, and daughter, Kit- ty, were also summer residents at Foster. She was known to be very generous and a great reader. Her father owned a canopy top buggy and a fancy team of horses. With their coachman, Jerry Brothers, Miss Kitty would ride out through the country- side. After her marriage to Col. Magee, her gay young friends from St. Louis were often included among the summer visitors. Following Col. Magee’s death, she married Mr. Brothers. She passed away several years ago in the Ortonville Hospital. In 1944, the property known as the Magee Place was purchased and modernized as a summer home by the Dr. |. L. Oliver fam- ily of Graceville. Another southerner having a substantial cottage at Foster was Dr. Joseph Malen of St. Joseph. He was the grandfather of Gen. Malen Craig, former chief of staff of the United States Army. Besides his lucrative medical practice, Dr. Malen also owned a 25,000 acre Texas ranch. Albert H. Sturges remem- bers playing with Mahlon Craig those many years ago. One of their boyish pranks, setting fire to a trail of gunpowder, once resulted in Mahlon’s being somewhat scorched. Names of distinguished guests in the Northern Hotel regis- ter included John Jacob Aster, New York, June 2, 1901; and Theodore Roosevelt, July 21, 1907. Other owners of Foster Resort were A. J. Douglas and his son, Ed, from about 1904. Northern Hotel was operated until about 1935. In its later years it was open for short seasons and for special occasions. When the building was dismantled in 1956, many interesting items were found, many of which are being saved as mementoes of the past. One was the Hotel Reg- ister of 1881-82. Another was a Programme for a Christmas Night Ball, 1883, at Matthews Hall. Invitation committee mem- bers were H. Smithson, Ortonville; John Stevenson, Big Stone City; H. H. Porter, Foster; H. W. Barrett, Browns Valley; G. W. Freer, Beardsley; F. A. Countryman, Wilmot; and Andrew Cum- mings, Hartford. The Reception Committee included E. W. Ne- well, J. H. Lange, and Walter Downs. Floor Managers were Dan Sherman and H. Young. Admission was $1.50. FOSTER LODGE, a modern 11-unit Motel and a large dining hall, was built in early 1957. It is operated by the John Pend- ergraft family and is noted for its fine meals, Sunday Smorgas- bords, and special occasion parties and receptions. Oldest tree planted at Big Stone Lake - 1878, Yankeetown An old-time get-togther at Yankeetown Page One Hundred-Five Shown above is the present day Foster Lodge, built in 1957 YANKEETOWN BEACH had a resort for many years. This ar- ea’s history is told in Foster Township’‘s section. BOWMANZIE GROVE, known for years as Bonanza Beach, was platted as a park and named in honor of William H. Bow- man. The original homestead was named Battle Abbey Point and more is told of it in the Foster Township report. The Bow- mans had a boatline and made regular trips to Ortonville with passengers and produce. After the resort was sold, extensive work was done to build it up. Five springs of noted health- giving waters were developed and people came for miles a- round. In the 20’s this site was a favorite picnic area with pro- grams and celebrations, dancing, and a ball park. The 1944 tornado destroyed all the buildings, but in recent years many cottages have been built up, including those of many Beards- ley folks. The area is still a favorite fishing spot in summer and winter. An early map shows Felph Point, probably Phillips. This no doubt referred to a sandy point below Foster where a creek entered and where fishing was good. BAY VIEW was laid out as the head of navigation in 1880 but did not survive. South Dakota’s side of Big Stone Lake also holds many memories down through the years. Big Stone City Beach was opened just this summer, and the Evangelical United Brethren Church Camp is located on the hill above the municipal beach. Page One Hundred-Six CHAUTAUQUA PARK was visited by thousands of persons, and was known in its early era as Simpson’s Park. Camp meet- ings were held there, first in a tent, and later there was a large meeting house on the hillside with a great seating capacity. Summer school sessions giving college credits were held and there were class buildings and a dormitory. It, like Sioux His- toric and Bonanza, had a water slide with toboggans going down a steep slide into the water - great sport to the brave- hearted! Chautauqua programs attracted large crowds, and one time William Jennings Bryan was the distinguished speaker. (He was introduced by Ray Farrington, then a student at Orton- ville High School.) The area is now the site of a number of cottages and a few permanent homes. Hartford Hotel Next come ROCKY POINT, the FISH REARING POND, TEE- PEETONKA CAMP. driveway, SCHMIDT'S LANDING, BLOCKS BAY, SHADY DELL, operated by Block, and WILDWOOD. LIN- DEN BEACH is still operating and has a hotel and summer cot- tages. HARTFORD, directly across from Foster, had a hotel for many years. The building was torn down in the 30’s and the dance pavilion has also been razed. HARTFORD BEACH is now a state park and has been developed into a fine picnic area. Other points are SODAK, and the I[YATAKA SCOUT CAMP. A July 22, 1898 news item read “The annual picnic of the old soldiers occurs tomorrow at Lew Ludluff’s on the Dakota side. The Clinton band and a number of citizens will go to Porter Gay’s place, taking the steamers from there to Ludluff’s.” (Material taken from Township Reports and various sources, including an article by Ralph O. Hilgren published in “Argus Leader’ of Watertown, 1949.) @ Our Granite Story (Excepts from a treatise by J. C. McDonald) Granite quarries are found throughout the United States, but the three leading areas in the quarrying of fine granite are Vermont, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The largest quarry in the world is at Aberdeen, Scotland and was started in 1775. Perhaps the most. useful and lasting kind of rock used in the arts and for building is granite. It was used with limestone rocks in the construction of the Great Pyramid at Gizeh, Egypt, Granite Quarry, Ortonville, Minnesota built about 4700 B.C. and is one of our principal building ma- terials today. Granite is a coarse-grained rock made up of at least three easily distinguishable mineral species. One of these is mica which occurs in gray or blackish shining plates that the blade of a knife can easily separate into thin, translucent piec- es. The second mineral is the gray or bluish quartz which has a dull, glassy appearance and cannot be scratched with a knife snd always breaks across with irregular surfaces. This is the type of material thet disintegrates to make sand. The third mineral is known as feldspar which generally gives the color to the rock and may be green, yellow, blue or red. It has a pearly luster and is somewhat softer than the quartz and will break with a nearly flat surface. Granite is next in hardness to the diamond, the sapphire, and the ruby. For this reason it can be exposed to the weather for centuries without crumbling, as do softer stones. South Dakota and Minnesota granite quarries in the area around Ortonville and Milbank ship to points all over the Uni- ted States. Most of the finishing work is done elsewhere. For the past five years an average of 712 carloads a year have been shipped from Ortonville and additional tonage moves out by truck. This area has come to the forefront as a granite center during the past 15 years. There are 16 quarries in oper- ation now, 10 in South Dakota and six in Minnesota. The cor- ner of Grant County, bordering the Minnesota line, produces enough granite alone to make South Dakota first in the United States in the shipment of colored granite. Wholesalers are gradually coming to prefer our granite because it is harder, less susceptible to moisture absorption, and therefore doesn’t stain as easily. The presence of iron, for instance, will cause the stone to become rusty. The payoff in the business comes in the high per cent of usuable stone out of our quarries. In Vermont, 90% of the stone quarried is discarded because of defects. Because of efficient and modern methods of quarrying, it is now pos- sible for this area to ship stone to Vermont and to undersell there. Monumental and building stone quarried here have gone throughout the country. In 1904 Ortonville granite won first prize as the best monumental granite’ on the market at the World’s Fair in St. Louis. The Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis is constructed of Ortonville granite; so are two of the four large pillars in the rotunda of our State Capitol in St. Paul. Other commercial uses are in concrete, as ballast in road beds, in poultry feed for grit, and, more recently, in heavy soils to increase its growing potentials. The local quarries have also revealed fossils and other historic evidence of interest to scientists studying about life that inhabited our world in earl- ier eras. The first man to quarry stone near Ortonville was Mr. Light, assisted by Gus Lindgren, a blacksmith, on a location on the old Cliff farm. Another early location was the Baxter Quar- ry on the site now known as the “Little Canning Factory Farm”. About 1900 F. L. Cliff led a movement by several businessmen in prospecting, and their Consolidated Quarry was on the west side of the present Cold Spring Quarry west of the Granite View Farm. When the rock here became of a poorer quality and the quarry operation proved too expensive, it was aban- doned. In about 1922 J. P. Johnson and his partner, Mr. Lind- holm opened the Ruby Red quarry south of Odessa. Names of active quarries in operation today include Hunter, Cold Springs, Melrose, Delano, Dakota, Steiner and Rausch, North Star, Bel- lingham, Consolidated, Dewars and Liberty of Bellingham. Credit is given Dewey Kaddatz for the discovery of the ledge of fine rock on the prairie in Grant County, South Dakota. We of this area are justly proud that products of our local granite quarries are found in every state of the union! @ Notes on our Neighbors LAC QUI PARLE COUNTY The Joseph Renville Stockade, located on the east side of the Minnesota River opposite the Indian Village, was establish- ed in 1825. Mr. Renville was wealthy and influential and lived comfortably in the stockade with about 40 men as bodyguards. They raised fields of corn, flax, and vegetables and travelers were housed and entertained. Mr. Renville assisted the mis- sionaries in the translation of the Bible to the Sioux language. LAC QUI PARLE MISSION was established in 1835 by Rev. Thomas S. Williamson and brought Christianity to the Indians. In a school here natives were taught how to raise crops, weave cloth, etc., by Mr. Huggins. The Mission continued until about 1854. The county was organized March 6, 1871. It’s name is tak- en from the French, meaning “lake that speaks”. Early families came in 1868. Wm. M. Mills had passed through in 1864 ona hunting and trapping expedition. MADISON, the county seat since 1889 was platted in 1884 and incorporated in 1886. It was named in memory of Madi- son, Wisconsin, and its early settlers came in 1877. DAWSON, the original county seat, was also platted in 1884 and incorporated in 1885. It was named in honor of Wil- liam Dawson, a St. Paul banker who was one of the owners of the original site. Other towns were established later. Lac qui Parle State Park and Mission Park, both sites of his- torical significance, are enjoyed by many visitors. (Material furnished by Mr. M. S. Wroolie of Madison.) SWIFT COUNTY Created February 18, 1870, this county was named in hon- or of former governor Henry A. Swift. The first two homes were built near Monson Lake by Anders and Daniel Broberg, Page One Hundred-Seven who came in July, 1861 with other immigrant families from Sweden. August 20, 1862, 13 members of the group were vic- tims of an Indian massacre. Norwegian families settled at Camp Lake in 1866. BENSON started in 1870 as a railroad site, and was named for a prominent politician of Anoka. Supplies for the Govern- ment Agency at Lake Traverse and beyond reached here by rail and were re-loaded in wagons and taken westward. The town soon became a busy trade center and served as the market for an area 100 miles around. In 1875 over 260,000 bushels of wheat were shipped out from Benson and Kerkhoven - pro- phetic of future production. The boom period that year like- wise saw big sale of building materials and machinery at Ben- son, including wagons, plows, seeders, mowers, hay rakes, reapers, harvesters, and threshing machines. In 1876 the U. S. Land Office was moved from Litchfield to Benson. APPLETON was first organized as Phelps, March 30, 1872, in honor of the first settler, Addison Phelps. That September Mr. Phelps requested that the name be changed in favor of the Wisconsin city. Mills on the Pomme de Terre river were early industries of the area - Clark and Lathrop’s Mill was started in 1872 and the Rosetter Mill in 1878. (Taken from the Swift County History loaned by Mr. |. M. Hudson of Swift County Historical Society.) STEVENS COUNTY Created by an Act of the State Legislature in 1862 and for- mally organized in 1871, this county was named for Isaac I. Stevens, a surveyor for the railroad in the late 50’s. Its chief industries today are farming, milling, and concrete products. GAGERS STATION was originally located on the Pomme de Terre River where the dam and lake are now. Later Mr. Gager moved ebout six miles north and maintained an important stopping place on the Wadsworth Trail. He later encouraged his neighbors, the Frisbys, to keep a stopping place for the travelers. FRISBY’S GROVE, about three miles west of Gagers, be- came a popular stopping place for landseekers and emigrants. MORRIS, the county seat, began as a railroad construction camp in 1871 and was named for one of the engineers in charge. HANCOCK was platted by the railroad and is already shown on a map of 1874. ALBERTA was known as Wheeler’s Station before 1890. CHOKIO is a Sioux word meaning “half-way”, so-named because it was half-way between Sauk Center and Fort Wads- worth on the Trail. It was likewise half-way between Morris and Dunlap’s at Toqua Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Bowell lived in a small frame shanty home near present Chokio and always had potatoes and ham on hand for a meal for travelers. Newspapers here began with the Frontier Business, in 1875, by “Shanghi” Chandler and J. P. Cooper; The Stevens County Reporter in 1877 by J. F. Todd; and the Morris Tribune in 1878 by Wm. J. Munro. The Tribune is the oldest newspap- er in Stevens County and is published bi-weekly with The Mor- ris Sun by Edward J. Morrison. (Material furnished by Mr. Gus Berning of Morris.) TRAVERSE COUNTY Named for Lake Traverse, this county was established Feb- ruary 20, 1862 and organized March 8, 1881 with Browns Val- Page One Hundred-Eight ley as the County Seat. In 1858 it was part of Breckenridge County which extended clear across what is now the State of Minnesota. It was named for Vice President J, C. Breckenridge but when he became a Confederate General, the name was “taboo”, and it was changed to Traverse. Lake Traverse was known to the Dakotas as Mdehdakenyan (The Lake Lying Crosswise) and was translated by the French voyageurs as Lac Travers, later anglicized to Lake Traverse. The Indians gave it this name because it lay crosswise or at nearly right angles to its sister lakes, Lac qui Parle and Big Stone. In 1835 Joseph R. Brown took charge of the American Fur Trading Post on what later became the old Tenney farm on Lake Traverse. Earlier Trading Posts have already been men- tioned elsewhere. In July, 1863, the site of Browns Valley presented a scene of activity when Gen. Sibley’s army encamped west of the riv- er for several days before proceeding to join Gen. Sully in the expedition against the Indians. His army extended some five miles in length deployed in marching array. In 1866 Major Brown took the contract to furnish Fort Wads- - worth with a certain amount of oats for their cavalry, involving several thousand bushels. A large tract was plowed up and seeded and produced an excellent stand. He sent to Henderson for men to help with the harvest and they arrived just when the sky became darkened with vast clouds of grasshoppers. In a few hours not only the oats field but the entire valley was black, denuded of every vestige of vegetation. In 1866, Major Brown had the log house that had served as a rendezvous for the Indian Scouts at Fort Wadsworth torn down, the logs numbered and re-erected as a Trading Post at Browns Valley. A government post office was established there in 1867 and Samuel J. Brown was appointed postmaster. After Major Brown’s death in 1870, the log cabin was again moved about a mile to its present location in Memorial State Park in Browns Valley. Many years later it was restored by the State - working with the American Legion and the citizens of the town. It is now a wonderful museum of Indian relics, various pioneer articles, and a repository for historical records. Mrs. Jane Bailey and family came in 1867. They worked at Brown’s Trading Post and the boys were trappers. The first colony to enter Traverse County for permanent set- tlement were the Hugh Whitely, George Schiefley, and James D. Finlay families from Pennsylvania, who came to present * Windsor Township in 1871. With heavy snow and intense cold, the winters were terrible and they suffered many hardships. In those days the help and generosity of the Indians who showed themselves “friends in need” proved a boon to many of the early settlers. BROWNS VALLEY was the first village organized in Trav- erse County. It was platted June 28, 1878 by John S. Allanson, son-in-law of Major Brown. In 1877, 1200 cattle were herded through Browns Valley to the Sisseton Agency and exchanged for Indian ponies - an attempt to curtail the Indians’ roving ha- bits. WHEATON was established in 1886 and was named for D. T. Wheaton of Morris, the Stevens County surveyor. Following a five-year fight, the county seat was moved to Wheaton - af- ter the Wheatonites went to Browns Valley and removed the records by force. (At the county election of 1881, Maudada, a village in the southwest quarter of Section 6-126-47, was des- ignated the county seat. One term of court was held there and several sessions of the county commissioners, but it was dis- qualified and the county seat returned to Browns Valley. Mau- dada showed great promise of becoming a prosperous town, but when the railroad surveyed through there failed to mater- ialize, it disintegrated.) TINTAH was incorporated in March, 1889. The name is an Indian word meaning “prairie.” COLLIS was platted in 1881 and derives its name from a Latin word for “hill”. DUMONT was platted in 1895 and was named in honor of an official of the railroad. Early newspapers included the Browns Valley Foot Prints and the Wheaton Gazette Reporter. The present largest news- paper is the Wheaton Gazette. Mr. George G. Allanson still re- sides in Wheaton and was named an honorary president-histor- ian of the Territorial Pioneers for Minnesota’s Centennial. He has accummulated a wealth of local history.. (Traverse County material furnished by Mrs. Helen Allan- son Burfiend of Wheaton. Additional inserts taken from Ga- zette’s Centennial Edition, June, 1958.) SOUTH DAKOTA Dakota Territory, organized as such in 1861, was divided into North and South Dakota in March, 1889. The South Dakota capitol city is Pierre. The first white settlers coming to the Indian village of Ink- pa City were Moses Mireau and Solomon Roberts in 1865. They established ‘a Trading Post (town 122, range 48) until 1873 when they started farming. Next came Dr. J. W. Movius and his wife and six children in September, 1870. Oliver Mar- tell and Louis Shoreau came in 1871. Inkpa City was granted a post office in 1875. J. K. Hart came in 1877 and laid out a town named Hartford in 1880. This was changed to Geneva in 1881. Later it was decided to name the main townsite BIG STONE CITY which then absorbed the Indian village and the other settlement sites. The Flour Mill started by Dr. Movius in 1874 on the Whet- stone River was sold to Christian Oehler in 1878, and to John Kaercher in 1881. GRANT COUNTY was organized in 1878 and was named for Ulysses S. Grant. MILBANK was incorporated October 29, 1881. It was nam- ed after Jeremiah Milbank of New York City, one of the direct- ors of the railroad. The Hastings Dakota railroad was extended from Ortonville to Milbank in July, 1880. FORT SISSETON, first known as Fort Wadsworth from July 26th, 1864 until 1876, was established to keep order on the frontier and proiect the white settlers coming westward. It was in charge of Major John Clowney and Major Joseph R. Brown was appointed Special Military Agent. Gabrielle Renville and Pierre Bottineau were Chiefs of Scouts and others included Paul Mazakate-Mannee, Scott Campbell, Frank LaClaire, Cyril Bott- lirette, Hubert Parisseau, and Pierre Durwan - pioneer adven- turers all! Supplies for the Fort had to be brought from a dis- tance. From 1864 to 1871, large quantities were taken up the Mississippi River by boats to St. Cloud and then hauled over- land. The overland route was known as The Wadsworth Trail. THE SIOUX AGENCY was located about fifteen miles wesi of present Browns Valley. This was the headquarters for hand: ling all matters connected with the administration of the Sis- seton Indian Reservation. Here lived the Indian Agent, Rev. M. N. Adams and a staff including Charles LeGrange, Jim Finley, Dr. Hawse, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Shifley, Mr. Kelley and Mr. and Mrs. Towner. Here the Indians bought supplies and learned farming methods. The school house was also used for religious services. (Questionaire completed at Grant County Courthouse; in- sertions from Neil’s History and The Wadsworth Trail.) “Gabriel Renville Always friendly and at peace with his white brethren and true to his Government.” So states the epitaph on a stone monument located two miles southeast from the old Indian Agency, erected in honor of Ga- briel Renville, chief of the Sisseton Indians. Born in about 1825 in an Indian village located on Big Stone Lake, of mingled Scotch, French, and Indian blood, his boyhood days were typical of an Indian boy. When he was a mere lad, his father, Victor Renville, was killed near Fort Rip- ley while away on the war path against the hereditary foe, the Chippewas. Save for his ancestry, his relationship to Joseph Renville (an uncle, the trader of Lac qui Parle) and to Joseph R. Brown (married to his half-sister), there was nothing to instill in him, a boy, a friendship for his white brethren. Placed in a Chicago school by his brother-in-law, Gabriel soon ran away and returned through the Wisconsin forests to his Minnesota home. That brief time and the few months he spent in the day school of Dr. Thomas Williamson learning to read and write the Indian language was the sum total of his school education. His half-brother, Charles R. Crawford, later became a Presbyterian minister. During the years 1846-48 he had a trading connection with the American Fur Company and received goods from the store of Martin McLeod on Big Stone Lake for trading purposes on the James River and at Fishing Lake. Thus he formed the ac: quaintance of General H. H. Sibley, Martin McLeod, and Nor- man Kittson, all prominent characters in early Minnesota his- tory. When the outbreak came in 1862, Gabriel lived on the north side of the Minnesota River, not far from the Upper In- dian Agency. There it appears he had a decent home and con- siderable livestock, but as a result of his stand at the outbreak, the hostile Indians took all his livestock and burned his build- ings. With others not in sympathy with the outbreak, Gabriel for a time occupied the Yellow Medicine Agency buildings, later moving back up the Minnesota River to the Riggs Mission Station, called Hazelwood, then occupied by Rev. John B. Ren- ville, a cousin. Here the friendly Indians gathered until their camp numbered 100 tents. A “Soldier’s Lodge” was organized to take command and four, one Gabriel, were chosen as chief officers. Together with the influence of John B. Renville, Little Paul, Simon, Enock, Akipa, and Mazomini, the future course ot the friendly group was determined. This group apparently ac- complished three things: 1) They managed to retain control, generally speaking, of their own people and hold aloof from the hostiles, 2) They caused disension to the ranks of the hostiles, 3) They seized the white women and children held captive in the hostiles’ camp and finally delivered them to General Sib- ley at Camp Release. In all this Gabriel Renvilie was an active leader. The outbreak was over so far as Minnesota was concerned, but there remained the task of overtaking and punishing the many hostile Indians who had fled into the Dakota country. General Sibley formed an Indian Scout group as part of the Page One Hundred-Nine military organization, chosen for their loyalty to the Govern- ment, and they included Gabriel Renville, Michael Renville, Is- aac Renville, Daniel Renville, John Moore, Thomas Rovertson, Two Stars, Amos Ecetukiye (Big Amos), Inihan, and Wasuho- waxte. This force left Fort Snelling in February, 1863 and, growing in number, played an important part in the successful campaign in 1863. It and the regular scout force that succeed- ed it remained an integral part of the forces kept at Fort Sisse- ton until it was abandoned in 1888. In 1876 Chief Renville vis- ited the Cheyenne Agency west of the Missouri River, shortly after the battle in which the command of General Custer had been annihilated. He had been appointed Chief of the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of the Dakota Indians when the Lake Tra- verse Indian Reservation was created as their permanent home. As such, he made a number of trips to Washington to consult the “Great Father”, and as such he made a peace treaty with s the Chippewa Indians in 1878 that has not since been broken. Around 1890, as ever before, the white people looked with longing eyes upon the Reservation lands to covet them. Responsive thereto, an embassy came from the Government to purchase the surplus lands. This sale Chief Renville opposed with all his great influence without avail. The lure of a cash settlement was too strong and he was out-voted. The reserva- tion was opened to settlement. That same year, August 26th, 1892, Chief Renville died in the historic log house at Browns Valley. Such was the red man who earned a monument inscribed with the words of friendship. (Taken from the Harry Morris articles in the Sisseton Cour- ier and the G. G. Allanson writings.) HARD-RIDING CAVALRYMEN of the Civil War period first manned this histor- ical military post in northeastern South Dakota. Believed to be the most com- plete and best preserved fort in the Great Plains region, Fort Sisseton was for- mally dedicated as South Dakota’s 11th state park. Defense walls can be seen surrounding the 91/2-acre fort, but towering log blockhouses constructed in each corner have been destroyed. The stone buildings shown here, beginning lower left and going clockwise, are the bachelor officers’ quarters, the com- Page One Hundred-Ten mandant’s house, the post hospital (the long building at the rear is the horse barn), the chapel and school house, two trooo barracks and the guardhouse. The commandant’s office and the magazine can be seen to the left of the gate in center foreground. Located near Kettle lake in what is now the Sisseton In- dian reservation, the fort is a few miles from Britton, South Dakota, and just over 200 miles from Minneapolis on S. D. highway 10. Mellow Diy STOVE conn : 1911 S. J. Froshaug Knute Knutson @ In Memoriam 1913 S. J. Froshaug Julius Thorson When recognizing the many efforts expended in our coun- Apportionment of 1913, 48th District: BIG STONE, GRANT, ty’s behalf, we include heartfelt tribute to the servicemen. STEVENS AND TRAVERSE COUNTIES. Many of our residents answered our country’s call to arms - 1915 Edward Rustad J. H. Erickson end many of them didn’t come home again. | especially wished Lot Edward Rustad J. D. Ross to include here an itemized list of our war casualties during 1919 PesbeyGaitt J. DeRoss these many years, but the search was only partly complete ev- 192] Eye Gite Charles J. Salmonson en though many sources were contacted. List or not, however, 1923 Fogle Glitt Charles J. Salmonson 1925 PeeGiitt Charles J. Salmonson eo 1927 Carl M. Iverson Charles J. Salmonson S ApTEE CON? 1929 Thomas J. Mangan Charles J. Salmonson Se ae 193] Carl M. Iverson Charles J. Salmonson 1933 Carl M. Iverson Carl J. Eastvold #925 Harold H. Barker Carl J. Eastvold 1937 Harold H. Barker Carl J. Eastvold 1939 ; De G.- ls Oliver Ed Martinson 1941 Dr. C. I. Oliver Ed Martinson 1943 A. R. Johanson Ed Martinson 1945 A. R. Johanson Ed Martinson 1947 A. R. Johanson Ed Martinson 1949 A. R. Johanson R. H. Ehrenberg 1951 _ A. R. Johanson Ed Martinson 1953 A. R. Johanson Wm. Sorensen 1955 Dr. Fred W. Behmler Wm. Sorensen E952 Dr. Fred W. Behmler Wm. Sorensen our thanks to each and every one is engraved in our hearts and 1959 C. J. Benson Lem Kaercher our sympathies go out to the families that had to accept the permanent ebsence of their loved ones. High in our hopes for BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS the future is our wish that further combat will not be neces- sary, but we know that should our country ever call again, pa- Frederick Frankhouse, R. B. Hudson ____ 1897-1902 triotic citizens of our county will serve as needed. 1873- A. J. Anderson __1897-1905 After World War | a monument was erected on the court- eh MNS A ity SE ey Re ee a oa eee house lawn as a memorial to the boys who fought in that war SA pa A Sa ee ae beset es ew rg a iti 3 1874-1875 J. T. Rothwell ~__1901-1905 meer eres) OF Tose Casualles. Jacob Hurley ____1874-1881 George H. Knoll _1902-1909 The following are active organizations and there are also GC... K.:Orton: — ss 1874-1887 A. S. Stephens ~_-1903-1907 Pee a eau iliscvedroups: Job K. Hart _-___ 1877-1878 D. N. O'Hara ____1905-1909 Beardsley - August Altheide American Legion Post No. 302 M. |. Matthews --1878-1881 —R. D. Martinson ~_1905-1917 Clinton - Campbell-Williams, 258 Dr OInONO: sae 1881-1882 John McCallum _~_1907-1911 Graceville - Jesse Poole, 297 A. D. Beardsley __1881-1883 Hugh Heily ~___~ 1909-1917 Odessa - Post No. 520 Jerome G. Todd _1881-1884 Nels Lundberg __1909-1929 Ortonville - Spink-Dobak, 97; Veterans of Foreign Wars J. T. Webb _---- 1881-1884 Fred Dittes, Jr. -_1911-1919 J. T. Keating _-_-_1882-1887 A. V. Carlson _-_1915-1919 H. L. Holmes ____1883-1884 M. J. O’Brien ~_1917-8 mos. sxe" A S. Stephens ___1884-1887 End JarOrNeilipl eho 7-19 99 ] County Officials H. C. Lyman ._--1884-1891 Nels Pearson __-_1917-1921 E. L. Kingsbury __1884-1893 K. G. Knudson ~__1919-1923 BEN ae oan once oA TIVES G. B. Chesley ___1887-1891 Otto Meyer —-_-- 1919-1923 Apportionment of 1897, 56th District: SWIFT & BIG STONE A. P. Jackson 1887-1895 John F. Geenty ~-1919-1927 COUNTIES. Andrew Lannon__1887-1897 Ole |. Steen ~---- 1921-1929 Year State Senator State Representative J. M. Finney ~---1891-1894 A. A. Zwiener —~~-1923-1931 1899 Ela ounG D. P. O'Neill C. B. Hagaman __1891-1895 Theo. Hundeby ~_1923-1935 1901 ial. sLoung N. W. Benson Mons Danielson __1893-1897 W. E. Burns ~_-~~-~- 1925-1933 1903 H. W. Stone N. W. Benson D. N. O’Hara _-__1895-1897 N. J. Nelson ~-~-1929-1933 1905 H. W. Stone O. E. Hogue A. S. Stephens ~.1895-1899 John Lestina ~-__1929-1941 1907 Ray G. Farrington Knute Knutson O. M. Orton __--1895-1900 LL. A. Reynolds ~_1931-1947 1909 Ray G. Farrington Edward Lende James Conway —~1897-190! Almo Berdan ~__-_1933-1937 Page One Hundred-Eleven BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (Continued) P. A. Hanratty ___1933-1953 EUS rAlien:=. se 1935-1951 N. J. Nelson ~--.1937-1945 Frank West ~____— 1941-1946 E. R. Shoquist ___1945-1949 Wm. Thymian ___1946-1953 Wm. Felton _____ 1947-1951 COUNTY AUDITOR Walter Johnson __1949-1952 Levi Cranmer ____1951- Glenn W. Seaton _1951- Melvin Steen ____1952- James Phalen ___1953- G. Schwandt ____1953- Jacob Church, April 13, 1874 - March 1, 1875 A. J. Parker, 1875 - July 29, 1878 County declared not organized No officers elected from July, 1878 to March 8, 1881. Charles H. Merro_1881-1887 N. G. Anderson __1887-1891 GH Tange 52.5 1891-1895 Fee Mero 1895-1901 Henry L. Zwiener 1901-1905 A: Ae. Bolster ti. ae 1905-1909 COUNTY TREASURER Addison Phelps __1874-1875 A: ks Jackson! —251875-1878 A. E. Randall ___1878-5 mos. Olen Bolstar— 1881-1895 REGISTER OF DEEDS Se aeCOh tig eo 1874-1878 John McCallum __1881-1893 John Mitchell ~~_1893-1903 Wm. H. Boland __1903-1907 J. W. Bentley ~__1907-1915 CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT Addison J. Parker 1874-1875 August Carlson __1875-1876 Frank C. Parker __1876-1878 Bernhard Dassel _1881-1886 JUDGE OF PROBATE A. L. Jackson ____ 1874-1876 Ase Parkete se” 1876-1878 S. D. Kemerer ___1881-1886 Wm. H. Campbell 1886-1891 J. F. Rothwell 1891-1893 A. J. Scofield ___1893-1909 COURT COMMISSIONER George W. Parker 1881-1883 A. J. Parker ____1884-1891 D. K. J. Clark ~..1891-1895 A. J. Parker ~...1895-1911 Cok selpnes 3G. 1911-1917 Page One Hundred-Twelve A. V. Randall ~-_1909-1923 Dena B. Hudson _1923-1931 Ob Haha 1931-1937 Glen W. Shaw ___1937-1959 BE. OW. *Trebil 21 959- C. A. Dahlhjelm _1895-1903 R. B. Hudson —---1903-1915 Wate Utley 222 1915-1931 Fie aVVe Koilitz ee Osu Albert H. Sturges 1915-1939 J. Alfred Anderson 1939-1954 Floyd H. Folkens _1954- Alvah A. Dewey _1886- 10 mos. Hayden French __1887-1932 Henry A. Larkin __1932- E. N. Morrill ~--.1909-1915 R: 1B.. Hudson — 22 19115-1933 Luke J. Keating __1933-1935 Wm. T. Utley ~__.1935-1953 Hiram Hewitt ~__1954- R. B. Hudson —2..1917-1923 Ow Eshahn alee: 1923-1928 C. E. Scofield _.__1928-1942 A. H. Erickson ___1942-1953 COUNTY CORONER Wimae @ire yee 1874-1875 Oles Balsta ae 1875-1877 Ole Lillesater ____1877-1878 Geo. McMurphy _1881-1883 A. Arthur Clark 1883-1884 B. M. Randall ___1884-1885 He LAP etry ee 1885-1887 A. L. Jackson ____1887-1891 Jacob. ‘Karn —2 2 1891-1897 Charles Bolsta ___1897-1899 Jacob: Karns 22222 1899-1901 SHERIFF Jacob W. Hurley _1874-1876 Peter M. Orton __1876-1877 Erastus T. Haves _1877-1878 John McCallum _1878-2 mos. A. E. Randall ~___1881-1901 COUNTY ATTORNEY Asal Parker 222s 1874-1878 aN eGrantee eee 1881-1887 LS R-Jonesse 2 == 1887-1888 E. F. Crawford ___1888-1891 TaeMen Grantees 1891-1893 FL Clithe See 1893-1899 R. G. Farrington _1899-1903 Jd. Purcell ase 1903-1911 HIGHWAY ENGINEER Te We Engdahig=2=1921e11928 A. J. Bladholm __1928-1944 SURVEYOR Jobs Kerrier 1874-1875 W. R. Brown ____1875-1877 Gils pase 1877-1878 R. H. Chapman __1881-1901 SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS M. |. Matthews ~_1874-1875 W. R. Brown ____1875-1878 W. R. Brown ____1881-1893 Jick. Wheetese rats 1893-1901 A. B. Converse __1901-1903 COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT A. B. Lathrop ~._1912-1914 M. P. Roske ____1918-1922 R. R. Buchanan __1923-1924 C. A. Benton ____1933-1939 Roland Abraham _1939- Clarence O. Quie 1942-1946 Glenn E. Gullikson 1946-1947 COUNTY ASSESSOR _______ Charles Bolsta ~__1901-1905 Jecob .Karn 222s 1905-1911 Charles Bolsta ~-__1911-1915 BotRoKarniee ae 1915-1933 Martin Schoen ~__1933-1935 Pe Wie Dini 1935-1938 A. H. Anderson __1938- F. W. Cauley ____1939- T. J. Beaulieu, Jr. 1941- Go 5. Reéd 3 Uae 1942-1955 Homer Hedemark 1955- John Gowan ____1901-1927 J. F. Weeding ~__1927-1928 Peo Ws) Dalya ses 1928-1951 George Stanton __1951- A. B. Kaercher ___1911-1919 R. G. Farrington _1919-1923 Charles H. Bolsta _1923-1927 Carl J. Eastvold __1927-1931] Charles H. Bolsta _1931-1935 C. J. Benson —~-_1935-1953 R. D. Schreiner __1954- Mentz Paasch ___1944- J. A. Millett —~~~_1901-1903 R. H. Chapman __1903-1909 M. J. McDonnell __1909-1918 (None in office since 1918) J@EarKeefeneee = 1903-1905 Anna Swanson __1905-1918 Martha Rothwell _1918-1935 Agnes Nelson ___1935- Michael T. Cullen 1947- Lloyd Madson ___1951- Dale W. Anderson 1951-1954 Oliver Malmskog 1954-1957 Howard E. Balk __1957- Olaf Olson PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE — Mrs. Anne Daly. WELFARE BOARD — John J. Leahy, Executive Secretary; Pres- ent members: Mrs. Howard Hovde, Mrs. George Taffe, County Commissioners. DISTRICT JUDGES — C. A. Rollof, Judge; Sam G. Gandrud, Judge. Chief Judge; E. R. Selnes, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND PRESENT OFFICIALS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Agric. Stabilization & Conservation County Committee (ASC) - Mrs. Gertrude M. Wiley, Office Manager; Victor W. Martinson, Chairman. Soil Conservation Service - Charles Washburn. Farmers Home Administration - Paul J. Beckel, Co. Supv. Selective Service Board - Miss Beulah Carlson, Secretary. National Guard - John H. Sparrow, Major. BIG STONE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY Requests for official historical data on our County Fair Board were not answered. However, early mention found so far concerns a Fair held at Graceville in late September, 1898. It’s believed the permanent location became Clinton soon after that. In 1906 a Fair Association was started with $1 member- ships and John McCallum was the president. Max Beaty recalls the 1907 Fair at Clinton - machinery, vegetables, and produce were displayed, and there was some livestock judging. There was entertainment, horse contests in riding and driving, and fireworks. The 1958 Fair emphasized the Centennial Theme. COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE COUNTY AGENT The County Extension office is a connecting link with the United States Department of Agriculture, the University of Min- nesota, and the county, thus it is called the Cooperative Exten- sion Service. Such service provides farmers and others with in- formation and research findings concerning farm problems. Such research work is done in the county and at the experi- ment stations throughout the state, including crop varieties de- velopment, superior yielding crops, superior livestock and poul- try breeds, more efficient feeding, weed control, etc. The County Agent is approved by the University of Minne- sota, appointed by the County Extension Committee consisting of two members of the county board of commissioners, the county auditor, and one resident from each commissioner dist- rict and one member at large. Included in the extension pro- gram are the Home Extension program, 4-H Club work, and Rural work. Each extension worker is on the staff of the Uni- versity of Minnesota. The Extension Service was inaugurated in Big Stone County on April 24, 1913. HOME EXTENSION In 1936 there were nineteen groups in the home extension program. The program was re-organized in 1952 and a home agent was hired. At the time there were 13 active clubs, later increased to 22 with 348 members. There are now 29 clubs with an enrollment of 403 members. Home agents have includ- ed the following: Helen Schueller, Jan. 1946 to Feb. 1948 Elizabeth Pierce Schmidt, June 1952 to July, 1954 Lois Brakke, July, 1954 to August, 1956 Mrs. Barbara Larson, September, 1956 to March, 1957 Audrey Christopherson, June 1958 - 4-H CLUBS Back in 1926, Olga Carlson was leader of about fifteen 4- H’ers, mostly girls: Mrs. Vic Anderson remembers it as the Lakeside Club, and Mr. Fosburgh was the county leader. An early group in Akron Township held several meetings. Howev- er, the first local 4-H club work was on a county-wide basis. In 1934 the total enrollment was 422 with 13 clubs. In 1935 it was 327, with 11 clubs as follows: Beardsley, Artichoke, Cor- rell, Clinton, Johnson, Jolly Juniors, Up and Doing, Odessa, Happy Hustlers, Eden Valley, and Busy Bees. The first County Council was organized that same year with the following offi- cers: R. H. Hoberg, president; Charles Hundeby, vice president; and Eiven Robertson, secretary-treasurer. Club enrollment now totals 200. The present 13 clubs in- clude Almond Highlanders, Beardsley Go-getters, Busy Beavers, Correll Comrades, Farmerettes, Foster Up and Doing, Happy Hustlers, Little But Willing, Lucky Thirteen, Odessa Jolly Work- ers, Ortonville Busy Bees, Tilling Toilers, and Up ‘n Atom. 4-H Club Agents have included Marjorie Perrizo, 1934; Kathleen Flom, 1935; Florence Sack, 1937; Barbara Malmin, 1940; Verna Mikesh, 1941-45. Club Assistants have included Sherman Mandt, 1947; Birdie Lou Lockwood Scholberg, 1948-1950; Lillian E. Engen, 1950; Fred Fredrickson, 1955; Audrey Chirstopherson, 1957; and Al- len Croone, 1958. Projects available to club members have increased from the original four to 27. Many of our county’s 4-H’ers earned fine records of achievement during the past years, ever striving “to make the best better.” IFYE The International Farm Youth Exchange was organized in 1948 as an exchange of farm youth between the United States and some 50 other countries. With this exchange offering for- eign youth the opportunity to live with farm families here, the assumption that “the best way to understand and appreciate another way of life is to live it’ is demonstrated. Participants between 20 and 30 years of age with a farm background live and work with their host families. Big Stone County has had a part in this program of developing world understanding. In 1949 the H. V. Gerber family of Odessa was host to one of the first IFYE’s, Miss Rita Honkanen of Finland. In 1956, Mario Guerra of Nicaragua lived with two host families, the Harold Gibsons of Beardsley and the David Redfields of Clinton. In 1956 Allen Croone, our 1958 4-H Assistant, was an IFYE to Greece. We, of Big Stone County, count it a privilege to have been a part of this wonderful program. Surely the family level is one of the best areas in which to promote effective world under- standing. Other organizations such as SPAM and similar Student Ex- change Programs are commended for their same efforts. RURAL YOUTH This is a comparatively new organization in this county. It was organized in October, 1950 by Miss Lillian Engen, 4-H Club Agent. The membership was 24 and increased to 40. Sev- eral of the members have held offices in the District. Now in its eighth year, the membership is 33. In February, 1958, our group was awarded a first-place community service citation of $50 at St. Paul, tops in the state. There are various FFA Chapters in our county. The story of one is given here. A similar organization for girls, Future Homemakers of America, also has chapters among our high school students. FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA by R. H. Hoberg, advisor Our Ortonville chapter is one of the oldest in the state, having received its charter in 1934 with 23 charter members. Officers were: Everard Berdan, president; Paul Holme, vice Page One - Hundred-Thirteen president; Warner Anderson, secretary; Alvin Schwandt, treas- urer; Dale Gloege, reporter; and Forrest Johnson, sentinel. All these officers are farming at present in the county. State Farmers from this county include: Vincent Stegner, Paul Pinkert, Russel Skundberg, Gerald Oehler, Sigwald Sand- berg, Robert Jacobson, Pat Berdan, Eugene Nelson, Lawrence Fossen, Floris Thielke, Myron Scholberg, Marvin Grimm, Everne Danielson, Harlan Hanson, Paul Lindholm, and Stanley Lind- holm. Of these, Vince Stegner runs the Farmers Service and farms, Pinkert is a veterinarian at Pipestone, and many of the others are farming here or in nearby counties. Sons of some of the charter members are present members of the Chapter, car- rying on the good work of their dads. 74 State, District, and Regional Placques have been won besides many ribbons, and some of our members have served as State and National offic- ers. This year we put on the first TV program, one representing Minnesota over a national hook-up. Present Chapter officers are: Gary Steen, president; Bruce Halvorson, vice president; Francis Greuel, secretary; Donald Knutson, treasurer; Eldon Knutson, reporter; and Richard Ver- heul and Donald Storm, sentinels. BOY SCOUTS Through the years Scout Troops existed in most towns of the county at one time or another. A number of troops are ac- tive at present. Scout leaders in Ortonville worthy of mention as long-time workers are: Fred B. Wicklund, Roy Geier, Otto Harris, Alvah Matthews, Alford Hanson, and the many others who helped. Mr. Wicklund recalls that a troop was organized before 1920 by Mr. Fitzsimmons, coach at the school, and the boys camped up the lake at Gustafson’s. In 1927 about 15 boys got together again under the leadership of Doc Schoen, Roy Geier and Mr. Wickland, but the going was rough - no money, no help. One summer, Verne Morrison, high school coach, stayed here and helped with scouting. He decided to go camping with the boys and finally got an old truck from Cub Wiley’s farm. One tire blew out so they had to buy another. They plugged along with each group to get as many merit badges as possible. John Wickland was made the first Eagle scout in 1930, Warren Schoen in 1931, and John Sparrow in 1933. The list has grown steadily. Clinton’s Troop had a fine float in the June Centennial Par- ade there. Some of their many Scouts are now leaders, for that troop has been active for many years. Graceville doesn’t have an active troop at present but | re- call one as far back as the 20’s and others in the intervening years. GIRL SCOUTS In 1926 the first troop was organized with about twenty girls under the leadership of Vera Geier (Mrs. Wellman) and continued for two years. Scouting was organized again in 1946 and has continued through the leadership of Mrs. Raymond Waters and Mrs. Jim Geier. There are now six troops and two Brownie troops made up of 38 girls. 23 girls have received the curved bar award during the past 12 years. Clinton has one Scout troop and one Brownie troop under the direction of Mrs. Carlton Moberg and about 95 girls have participated since 1947. Graceville also has one troop of each. Beardsley had troops from about 1945 until 1950 and the lead- ers included Mrs. Bill Furber, Frieda Goldheimer, Mrs. Les Fos- sen, and Mrs. Charles Hundeby. Page One Hundred-Fourteen : CAMPFIRE GIRLS This organization of young girls was launched in 1912 to promote good citizenship through recognition of worthwhile achievements. In Ortonville Miss Gertrude Hahn organized the first group in 1916 and many more groups were formed until about 1941, functioning until 1943. It might be said that Campfire work here ended with the beginning of World War Il since after that Girls Scout work became the order of the day. During the many years of activity, however, many women of Ortonville served faithfully as Guardians. National honors were won by a number of girls and by at least one of the Guardians. Odessa had a Campfire Girls group about 1930 that con- tinued for about five years under the leadership of Miss Leota Bohn (Mrs. Virgil Sahr). Besides the planned program, the high spot of their activity was a week of camping on Big Stone Lake each year, the same as other groups of the county. Beardsley had an active membership and expanded until there were four or five groups for several years. Among the leaders who promoted the program was Vera Woodard (Mrs. Melvin Nelson), and the girls once presented a three-act play with great success. They likewise promoted doughnut sales to raise money for their camping trips. @ Centennial Notes STATE: The Minnesota Statehood Centennial Committee was ap- pointed early in 1957 as follows: Senators: W. J. Franz, Mountain Lake; Rudolph Hanson, Al- bert Lea; Henry Harren, Albany; Harold J. O’Loughlin, St. Paul; Harry L. Wahlstrand, Willmar. Representatives: Harold J. Anderson, Minneapolis; Alf L. Bergerud, Minneapolis; Carl M. Iverson, Ashby; Peter S. Popo- vich, St. Paul, Commission chairman; Wm. Sorensen, Graceville. Public members: Mrs. Lawrence Audette, Red Lake Falls; Gerald R. Dillon, Minneapolis; Aaron Litman, White Bear Lake; Julius M. Nolte, Minneapolis; Mrs. Earl Preston, St. Paul. Exec- utive Director: Thomas H. Swain, St. Paul. The slogan of Minne- sota’s Centennial Com- memoration during 1958 was, “Sell Minnesota to Minnesotans - and to the World.” This was done through various _ state- wide activities led by the volunteer efforts of 11,- 000 Centennial Commit- tee members. Through this observance, it is hoped each citizen will have_ gained increased pride and deeper apprec- iation of our state’s heritage and opportunities. Perhaps the outstanding activities were those held during Statehood week, May 5 to 11, when visiting royalty and repre- sentatives of many nations shared the spotlight with national and state leaders. The Parade of a Century, May 10, was out- standing in scope and 7,000 persons participated. 59 of our 87 counties plus 23 nations were represented and one of the 11 nationality groups was our MARCHING IRISH unit from Grace- ville. Back row, left to right: Vincent Sullivan, Wm. Larkin, Rod Gaffney, Leonard Murphy, Jim Reedy, Roger Griffith, and John Boyle. Front row: Mrs. Josie Ev- ans, Mrs. Edna Larkin Haas, Mrs. Leonard Murphy, Mrs. Jim Reedy, Miss Patricia O’Connor, and Mrs. George O’Leary. The Centennial Train of exhibits toured the state. The Showboat plans a 1959 season as well, and the films, Star of the North and An Agricultural Portrait are still being shown throughout the state. The latter was shown daily at the Brus- sels World’s Fair and also in competition at the Venice, Italy Film Festival. WCCO radio station presented a commendable series of 12 history programs titled Minnesota Milestones, now recorded and on sale. The Centennial symbol of the State Fair was a 26 foot Pioneer Woman statue, and an opening event was the arrival of Delmar Hagen and his Red River ox cart. DELMAR HAGEN and Napoleon are welcomed at the State Fair, August 23, 1958. This was one of Marshall County’s Centennial Projects. Also shown are, left to right: Rep. Peter Popovich, Chairman of Statehood Centennial Commission; Thomas F. Swain, Executive Secretary of the Commission; Rep. Wm. Sorensen, Commission member; and Harold Sor- ensen, Warren, Marshall County Centennial Chairman. (After walking all but 10 miles of the trek, Mr. Hagen enjoyed a plane ride home and Napoleon rode in a truck.) DELMAR HAGEN, Gatzke, and his Red River ox cart walked 420 miles along the Pembina Trail from Pembina, North Dakota, to St. Paul, the trek taking 45 days. The cart is a replica of those used from 1823 and on for transporting buffalo meat, hides, furs, etc. to market in St. Paul. Pioneer Certificates were presented by the Minnesota Cen- tennial Commission stating “You represent the hardy stock of dauntless pioneers who, from the wilderness, have given us a prestige and heritage all Minnesotans cherish. You are the symbol of strength and perserverance which shall serve as a monument for the guidance of all who follow.” Each certificate bore the official Minnesota State Seal and was signed by Gov- ernor Orville Freeman. Big Stone County's “over 90” residents, as of January 1, 1958, included the following: BEARDSLEY ADAMS, Mrs. Flora: 91 years of age, born September 16, 1866. Came from Owensburg, Indiana in 1907. HALLBERG, Swan, 90, retired farmer. HOWE, Mrs. Rosalia, born September 13, 1868. JOHNSON, Mr. Lars J.: 91 years old in June. Came from Norway in 1888 and was a master carpenter. LUMPHREY, Mrs. Rachel McGinn: 91 years of age. Born in New York City, Dec. 20, 1866. Came to Lyon County, Minneso- ta in 1880. CLINTON REYNOLDS, Ulysses Grant: born April 27, 1867. Lives in own home in Clinton. CORRELL RUDNIK, Mr. Andrew: Born March 4, 1862. GRACEVILLE CROWE, Mrs. Richard T. (Anne E. McRae): Born June 29th, 1861 at Williamstown, Ontario, Canada. Came to Big Stone County in fall of 1879. (To Morris by train and by team of hor- ses to Graceville). Lived at home with her family until! her mar- riage in 1892. She lives with her daughter, Miss Mary Crowe, at Graceville. LaGRANGE, Mrs. Leota Pressly: Born September 3, 1866 at Washington, lowa. Has lived with daughter, Mrs. R. R. Buchan- an, since 1956. SULLIVAN, Mr. James H.: Born September 14, 1862 at Still- water. Drove here with a team of horses and wagon. Home- steaded three miles southeast of Graceville and plowed the land with a team of oxen and horses. Lives at Graceville with daughter, Miss Shirley Sullivan, and two sons, John W. and Thomas Sullivan. Other children are Mary (Mrs. Martinson) and Page One Hundred-Fifteen Violet (Mrs. George Cota) of Graceville and George A. Sullivan of San Jose, California. Has 11 grandchildren and 33 great- grandchildren. ORTONVILLE BUCK, Miss J. Ida: Born February 24, 1867, in St. Paul. Taught schools in this county for many years. Family consists of nieces and nephews. DANIELSON, Mrs. Anna (nee Rand): born February 25th, 1863 in Norway and came to Big Stone County, May 29, 1886; married to Lars Danielson in 1887. Five children living include: Dan Danielson of Clinton, Elmer, Andrew L., Mrs. John Sherod, and Mrs. Helen Thomas of Ortonville; 20 grandchildren and ov- er 70 great-grandchildren. HELGESON, Mr. Ole: born September 26, 1867 in Norway. Farmer, Clarence Helgeson of Ortonville is one of his chil- dren. HILLSTROM, Mrs. Charles (Clara Johnson): born September, 1864 in Vasterwotland, Sweden. Came to St. Paul in 1880 and later to Otrey Township. Has lived about 65 years in Big Stone County. KNIPPEN, Mrs. Mary (nee Kepp): born April 16, 1868 in Densborn, Germany. Came to Chicago in 1889 and to Malta Township in 1899. Lives with her daughter, Mrs. Stuart Peter- son, Ortonville. LEE, Mr. A. L.: born July 8, 1865 in Elkton, lowa. Has lived at Ortonville since 1890 and his wife is the daughter of the founder of Ortonville, C. K. Orton. ORTON, Mrs. Anna (nee Brown): born January 19, 1865 in Ellsworth, Maine. Has resided in Minnesota 48 years and lives with her sister, Mrs. Helen Clancy, who is 89 years old. TUDOR, Mrs. Olive (Olive Lucinda Johnson): born August 24, 1861 in Lester Center, lowa. One son, Ray Tudor, Minnea- polis. WILKINS, Mr. Newton Josiah: born November 16, 1865 in Norway, lowa. Came to Big Stone County in March, 1916. The following county residents missed celebrating Minne- sota’s Centennial with us: ROBERTSON, Mrs. Ellen, born July 23, 1858 in Norway and came to Artichoke Township in 1888. Died February 2, 1958 at age of 99 years. Of her many descendants, one grandson is Mayer Mathison of Correll. Page One Hundred-Sixteen Old Timers at Centennial Parade Left to right: Mrs. Clara Hahn, Mrs. Rose Wiley, Mr. Charles Bolsta, Ed Kollitz and Kathrine Sparrow. Back row: Mike Luch- singer, C. Gustafson, and Olaf Carlson. LYSENG, Mrs. Elias (nee Rasmine Jurgenson), born August 7th, 1864 in Norway. Lived ‘in Almond Township about 70 years and died February 10, 1958 at age of 93 years. WEINMAN, Mr. Fred, born September 1, 1865 in Witten- berg, Germany. Came to America as a young boy and lived in Illinois and lowa. Moved to Malta Township in 1902 and resid- ed on the same farm until his death, April 6, 1958 at the age of 92 years. His wife still lives at Clinton. FOLAN, Mr. Thomas, known in Graceville for years as Tho- mas Foley. Born in Ireland, December 23, 1866 and came to Graceville in 1886. Employed by railroad for over 51 years. Died March 10, 1958 at the age of 91 years. BIG STONE COUNTY CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE James D. Kaercher, Chairman COMMITTEES APPOINTED: Budget & Finance: Sig Sandberg Sales: Art Anderson Sports: Dick Olson Schools: Miss Agnes Nelson Relics: Miss Helene Michell, Miss M. Agnes Clarke Pageant: Miss Agnes Nelson, Mrs. Leonard Schaller Fair: Russell Skundberg Float: Don Hennenberg (this was replaced by Marching Ir- ish) History: Mrs. Walter Wulff, Mrs. Albert Pflueger Centennial Train & Parade: C. E. Cornish, L. A. Kaercher Women’s Division: Mrs. Walter Wulff, Mrs. C. E. Cornish, Mrs. Albert Pflueger. EVENTS: School, Community, Civic, 4-H Club, and Extension Club activi- ties throughout county during the year used the Centennial theme. Some of these were: Graceville: “Minnesota, Hail to Thee” Pageant by St. Mary‘s Academy and Rosary Society. Marching Irish in Statehood Parade. Johnson: Centennial Program, May 27. Correll: Parade and Program, June 7. Clinton: Dairy Day, 75th Anniversary & Centennial, June 9 and 10. Ortonville Corncob Smoker; Waterama; Centennial Train and Parade, June 16. A Few Centennial Parade Views Covered wagon and ox team ot Old Cars: Dr. Oliver’s SEARS, from Graceville, driven by Simes Tandem Bicycle - Wayne Kanten “and family” i Sens ve mrs Hearse, from Mundweilers of Milbank Harrison of Clinton. MAXWELL driven by Mr. and Mrs. Waller. Page One Hundred-Seventeen Page One Hundred-Eighteen An Old Reaper Walter Wulff family “go- ing to town in Grandpa and Grandma Wulff’s buggy, just as they did in 1908.” (The five Wulff youngsters enjoyed rides in Centennial Par- ades in Clinton, Orton- ville, Chokio, and Mor- ris. The snappy black Percherons and new har- ness belong to a neigh- bor, Tony Schott of Cho- kio.) “Old Time Methods” Jolly Workers 4-H Club of Odessa COUNTY FAIR, August 8, 9 and 10, 1958 Scene Il - PIONEERS (Odessa & Otrey Townships and Odessa) Sunday afternoon: ‘Big Stone County Reminiscing” by the County Bar Association. Recognition of Pioneers. Sunday evening: PAGEANT - Script, Rev. Clark Williams; Narrator, C. H. Bolsta; Music, Miss Patricia O’Connor, organist; Mrs. Phyllis Hoffman Doschadis and James D. Kaercher, singers. Scenes were depicted by Floats or Stage Acts as follows: Prologue - EARLY HISTORY ss Covered Wagon — Mrs. Millie Caesar, a real pioneer; John Hans, driver (Sorrel team loaned by Bennie Lyseng); pioneer with sack of flour, LeRoy Strei. INDIANS, left to right: Warren Wiese, Ronald Krogsrud, Terry Sutton, Dale Wechsler, Charles Brabender, Stanley Krogsrud, James Mullins, Marlin Wiese, Chester Carl Jr. Sheriff, Danny Hoxtell; Badmen, Jim Scherer, Jerry Vinoble Scene Ill - FUN AND FROLIC (Graceville and Toqua Townships and Graceville & Barry) Stage acts featured cos- tumed_ nationality folk dances; Charleston; the Gay 90’s Bathing Beau- ties; Musical numbers and a Hayride. Indian Maiden, Joanne Carl; Indian, Oliver Wechsler. The folks standing behind the float include Jeannette Wolfmeyer, Mrs. E.R. Jorgenson, Mrs. Oliver Wech- sler, Harold Perseke, Alfred Radtke, and Chester Carl. Scene | - HUNTERS & TRAPPERS (Akron and Artichoke Townships, and Correll) Hunters and Trappers, Harold Perseke, Chester Carl Page One Hundred-Nineteen Scene 1V - SCHOOLS (Malta & Moonshine Townships & Johnson) 1900 School Float included double desks, stove, water bucket, etc. Teacher: Mrs. Wally Redfield. Pupils: Ann Williams, Susan and Jeanine Mauch, Connie Weeding, Merla and Allison Olson, Dennis Folkins, and Wally Wulff. Johnson school bus 1958, driven by Leonard Schaller. Ladies in front are Mrs. Walter Wulff and Mrs. Alvin Christeson. Scene V - CHURCHES (Almond & Prior Townships & Clinton) Circuit rider minister: Don Williams. (Pony loaned by _ Gerhardt Jorgenson) Minister: Keith Tate Scene VI - INDUSTRIES (Big Stone and Ortonville Townships, and Ortonville) Stage demonstrations of agricultural methods and products Johnny Hegge and Kay Hoxtell carrying lunch to field workers; Lyle Hoxtell with hand seed- er; Dwight Griffith with hand cultivator; Max Griffith with an armful of ear corn. Page One Hundred-Twenity Ruth Ann Larson milk- ing “the old fashioned way’; Cheryl Hegge switching the flies a- way; Anna Marie Lar- son carrying a new milking machine. \ : Guam ae, gach Ba, SRTMNILLE OR “Big Stone County Stakes Claim On Moon” Scene VII - WHAT OF THE FUTURE? (Browns Valley and Foster Townships, and Beardsley) Left to right: Johnny Stallman, Joe Schmidt and Valorie, and Mrs. Harold Gib- son. RADIO SERIES - A weekly Centennial History program, ed ited and narrated by Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Nelson, was enjoyed by many KDIO listeners. Mrs. Nelson is well versed in our local history and also used some of the material submitted by our various reporters. The programs were tape-recorded and are available for use again through request to Mrs. Nelson. THE BIG STONE COUNTY CENTENNIAL WOMEN’S DIVISION participated in the activities sponsored by the Women’s State Committee. These included the sale of the Gopher Doll, a State- wide Treasure Hunt for the State Fair exhibit, sale of Centen- nial Cook books, and promotion of the Centennial theme in ev- ery way possible. Recipes submitted from our county included the following: Norwegian Lefsa, Grandma Ellen Robertson Fattigmans, Grandma Anna Danielson Potato Dumplings, Mrs. Mayer Mathison Ost Kaka, Mrs. Wm. C. Johnson Rosettes, Mrs. Victor Nilson Red Round Meat, Miss Mary Crowe Scotch Oat Cakes, Mrs. Richard T. Crowe Grandma’‘s Buns, Mrs. Gale Haukos Danish Fruit Soup, Mrs. Wm. Sorensen Rum Pudding, Mrs. C. Nelson Jiffy Biscuits, Mrs. Walter Wulff Profits of local cook book sales were shared with the 4-H clubs and the History Fund. State profits were donated to the State Historical Society. The WOMEN’S DIVISION also sponsored the 1858 & 1958 kitchens and other displays at the State Fair. A highlight of the year’s activities was the Princess Astrid Breakfast May 10 when almost 1,000 women bought tickets for the event. (Attending from our county were Mrs. Vera Nelson, Mrs. Wm. Sorensen, and Mrs. Walter Wulff.) RELICS Children and adults of all ages viewed with varying inter- est the many relics displayed throughout our county this year at Centennial events. Such items included farm implements, household utensils and furniture, clothing and jewelry, person- al mementoes and heirlooms, letters and books, records and le- gal documents, pictures, etc., and each had a story of its own. Studying them, one couldn’t help but realize anew how much we owe to each era of the past and ifs progress. The Oliver Museum, presently housed in the clinic base- ment at Graceville, was started by Dr. C. |. Oliver about 1932 as a collection of arrowheads and branched out into anything antique. It includes such things as a 1902 Sears Auto buggy and a high-wheeled bicycle, both of which appear in local par- ades; Indian Village and costumes; cigar store Indian; suit of armor; Swedish copper items; furniture, pictures, and docu- ments; shrunken Jivaric Indian head from the Amazon area; To- tem pole, and many others. A prized local item is an Indian dug-out canoe retrieved from Lake Traverse in 1934 during the drouth. Charles DeNeui of Clinton has an interesting collection of Indian items gathered on his own farm including arrowheads, verious stones, etc. Lennard Gustavson, formerly of Graceville and now of Minneapolis, accumulated many Indian items from the Graceville area, also ox yokes, old phonographs, and var- ious items. Some of these are now on display in a St. Paul school. Sheriff George Stanton had a most interesting display of phonographs at the Clinton Museum. Miss Helene Michell of Ortonville has a copy of the County Financial Statement of Feb- ruary 28, 1882, which figures provide interesting comparison with those of other eras and of today. Mrs. Tony Seidl and the Max Beatys of Clinton have large collections of family heir- looms - and we now know there are countless others of all va- rieties treasured in many homes throughout the county. Though a complete list of antiques would be very interesting, none is available now. Suffice it to say that a most worthy project for the furture will be the establishment of an historical museum. When that time comes may it have county-wide support! The first step would be to organize (or re-activate) a Big Stone County Historical Society. @® HISTORIC SITES Wouldn’‘t you like to visit many of the historic places men- tioned throughout this book? Designating such points of signi- ficance throughout our county will also be a worthy project for future attention. These could include early trails, Trading Post sites, Half-way Houses, log cabins, earliest homesteads of each township, the various postoffices, first home, first church, first school, the Freighter, Indian Mounds (one being on the Orton- ville golf course) and a wide variety of possibilities. During the past year many folks have expressed the wish that a little country school, furnished as of yore, be set up before all such items are gone. The State Historical Society informs me that permanent markers should be arranged through the Minnesota Historic Sites and Markers Commission. A list of such placques and sites displayed in each town would be the basis of informative tours for visitors as well as local clubs and students. Like all history, Big Stone County’s, too, is precious. Let’s keep it alive! @ Paul Bunyan Anchor This 110-ton “boat anchor’ was “‘discovered’’ here just in time for the Cen- tennial activities and was transported by two trucks to the intersection of Highways 12 and 75. The granite block was donated by the Cold Springs Gran- ite Company and the other expenses were met by state, county, city, and in- dividual contributions. Page One Hundred Twenty-one @ Bibliography and Recommended Reading HISTORY OF MINNESOTA VALLEY & THE SIOUX WARS (1882) - Neil & Bryant HISTORY OF MINNESOTA — Folwell HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIER — Paxson 1904 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY & BIOGRAPHY 1938 WPA COUNTY ARCHIVES INVENTORY MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS LEGISLATIVE MANUALS WHO'S WHO IN MINNESOTA THE WADSWORTH TRAIL — Grace Cynthia Hall SOWING THE SEEDS — Vera Krier Nelson 1954 SOUVENIR HISTORIC BOOKLET — George G. Allanson SWIFT COUNTY HISTORY OLD RAIL FENCE CORNERS CENTENNIAL NEWSPAPER EDITIONS, Wheaton, Madison, and others LAC QUI PARLE PIONEER STORIES (M. S. Wroolie, Madison) PIONEERS IN SANDNES - Yellow Medicine County (Mrs. Ethel Dirnberger, Echo, Minn.) MINNESOTA CENTENNIAL STORY (Herald-Review, Grand Rap- ids, Minn.) GOPHER READER MAKERS OF MINNESOTA THE FACE OF MINNESOTA — John Szarkowski THE THIRTY-SECOND STATE — Bertha L. Heilbron MUSKETS TO MISSILES — Virginia B. Kunz 101 BEST STORIES IN MINNESOTA — Merle Potter BIRCH COULEE — Dr. B. F. Ederer THE GREAT SIOUX UPRISING — Chet Oehler Page One Hundred Twenty-two @ Credits SINCERE THANK YOU TO... All reporters and their helpers. Minnesota Historical Society, pictures of Columbia Trading Post, and Big Stone Lake, 1823. (Latter was used through cour- tesy of its owner, the Maryland Historical Society.) The many churches for use of their photo “cuts”. Mrs. Vera Nelson for the use of material and references. and to her and Mrs. Errol Anderson for helping with some of the typing. Temple Cafe, Korner Cafe, and Cashtown Cafe for commit- tee meeting sites. Radio Station KDIO for publicity, news items, and for the time donated to the Centennial History Series broadcast. Pictures, photo “cuts”, and publicity: Appleton Press and Annie. Olson (Akre sod house) Beardsley News Clinton Advocate Graceville Enterprise Ortonville Independent Pioneer Life Cuts — Pioneers in Sandnes - Mrs. Ethel Dirn- berger; Pioneer Stores - Lac qui Parle County Schools. Publisher: L. A. Kaercher, Ortonville, Minnesota Printer: Alvin A. Henningsgaard, The Western Guard, Madison, Minnesota BIG STONE COUNTY HISTORY Send order and remittance to Mrs. Walter Wulff, Chokio, Minnesota, or Ortonville Independent, Ortonville, Minn. he my ee ee a is acing ae Ae cS os Vax a | nee rs eae: wan wie NP ‘ee 4) al ae — ees o 2 er , nt ~~) a - SS Sy) ; Lee ene “it 14 i; Gal e f f a a a "1 7 : i. 7 a! 7 7 re eee ht .n.oe Wiataiecls i i ty j v; > Ae os y i] ae | A ale Gy ’ Lie oe oe | f 7 oe hy See eee stearecetten” wbapeeere ce fit Mite s aaa leaner Pris ete Mee ut sett aa i eet Ait oly ety popes tooo g Dates Nptetarespsbee oh teh vinatence os pipe bag rive ie fy ot th 4 palo’ ~nwiee pee getty nis Rewer Sane nc tat ahi yeh eh ahr ny. # sponse ted mm Ligeees My rr site men rs 98 “ars * seh Apr ia near, Por Met ‘f “ st se ei tpenebs fiat neds ) wei) ati tine ‘i foyer : prey | eestent see aaa _ sean es epede fem sit ee cs ee Reet Thebes be sigh obsha feist) "yeeabes sf i va re siditat s ise eee nit tt eues: ¢ ehh nh vets saree thine. an 1% vere egies na th on = eeourirunt Tas Leen eae chong shina ine iat bse == Fe > i | ih o ae es ibe i RAN hoe it re HC Vacate yf sae eh recently iy Ane ae inet sy ie lea ; i A pia rr ny , i ay) 4 yay Db hes Sad Kehiet aN if) Aa ware ey he Utila See GLO RA cash Agathe AS eS, iit begiresu QR E WU Nt Wd rhea runner we uiere ¢ cesta err dr’ reroute: eee ati O'est See f i ot Bt nr a uy Mts isis ee ee Hay 7H ot thd? , ’ ui" San H yuk Terkel eHeR Ge ape Be tenth tH nit aa why ay ce eect pricey Cotoeebeis Raub wutteace Mt tis a tit byngtay Bae nis Reta yah ps cna ae ites Hater pant ite eu My R “ft ct oe mais eprprk® i vila eee it ep rweie BPeene ist) hue UF it 1h! 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