Freeborn County, Minnesota - Chapter 32: Dairy Interests, 1911

What the Dairy Industry Has Meant to Freeborn County - Million Dollars a Year Received by the Farmers for Milk and Cream - Farmers of Clarkes Grove the Pioneers in the Movement - Story of the Creameries Throughout the County - Edited by Thomas Elwood Noble.

The first settlers in Freeborn county, who came after the great inliux of population in 1857, engaged in wheat raising almost exclusively, and the virgin soil yielded twenty to thirty bushels to the acre, year after year, of No. 1 hard. For several years this staple was hauled forty, fifty and 100 miles across the country to the Mississippi river, or to the nearest stations. With the coming of the railroad in 1869, Freeborn county was placed in closer communication with the great wheat markets, and there was a corresponding increase in wheat production. Soldiers had then been four years home from the war, much new land was being broken and the county was becoming famous as a wheat center. Albert Lea was one of the important wheat shipping points of the Northwest. But the wheat decline, starting in 1878 and coincident with the big drop in wheat prices, caused the farmers to turn their attention to diversified farming and dairy¬ ing. Progress in the direction of dairying, however, was slow. It is true that the early settlers brought with them a few cows for dairy and beef purposes, but it was not until after the wheat failure that stock raising was considered as a leading feature of farm endeavor. Following the failure, Shorthorns and native cattle were bred, and a portion of the former large wheat fields were turned into pastures. However, large herds were the excep¬ tion rather than a rule, and dairying was conducted on only a small scale. At that time agricultural experiment in this country was in its infancy, and the modern method of acclimation was unknown. Corn brought from more southern states and planted here was an uncertain crop, owing to the late springs and early falls. It was believed that only tame grasses, like clover and timothy, could be raised here. Without corn and good grass, Freeborn county beef could not compete with the better class of stock sold in the market, or could extensive dairying flourish under these circumstances. The average farmer owned four or five cows. A few herds were gathered here and shipped annually from this county to the western plains and ranges. Horses were raised to some small extent and sold for a time at profit in the northwestern markets, chiefly in the larger cities. Cattle raising, however, under such disadvantages brought little, if any, profit, and then, too, the market value of the horse soon fell. It was while the Freeborn county farmers were realizing less and less each year and while they were in doubt as to what branch of agriculture to adopt next, that their attention was attracted to the new process of making butter from cream separated from the milk by machinery.

The churning of butter had for many years been an irksome task on almost every Freeborn county farm. Most of this dairy¬ ing was on a small scale and the butter of a poor quality. A farmer here and there kept as high as a dozen or more milch cows, and established a reputation in the neighboring town for his wife's butter that enabled him to realize a fair price for his product. But private dairying meant doubtful profits, slavery for the women on the farm and much annoyance and waste of time to the farmer and his hired help. Accordingly, efforts were made at different times in several of the towns and villages of the county to make butter on a larger scale, and wagons were sent out in all directions to gather the cream from the top of the cans, paying the farmer by the measured inch. A few cheese factories were also started.

These gathered cream plants were usually owned either by individuals or by the merchants and town people who formed themselves into stock companies, though in one or two instances a few farmers formed stock companies among themselves and bought cream by the inch throughout a territory which often covered ten or fifteen miles in every direction. These gathered cream plants, however, did not pay, the one at Albert Lea losing its stockholders a large assessment in addition to the original investment before its affairs were finally wound up, and it is doubtful if one of these institutions ever brought in a dollar on the investment or actual profits to the patrons.

The new separator process promised to do away with all the objectionable features of making butter at the farm, and to realize profits instead of the losses experienced by both the owners and patrons of the gathered cream plants. The separator had been invented in Sweden early in the eighties ; accounts of it had been published and its merits discussed in all the leading agricultural papers. Hans Peter Jensen, of Clarks Grove, this county, had seen separators in operation and had learned much about the co-opera¬ tive separator creamery when he was in Denmark in 1884. Cream¬ ery supply houses throughout the West were advertising the new machines widely and commended them to those who were engaged in the manufacture of butter. Co-operative separator creameries were already in operation 100 miles south of Freeborn county in Iowa, and the separator process had been adopted by the estab¬ lished creameries in the Illinois qnd Wisconsin districts. It was represented that the separator *fould skim so clean that but a small fraction of one per cent of butter fat would remain in the milk, and the separated milk could still be used as valuable feed for young stock on the farm.

With the belief that the use of the separator would make the manufacture of butter profitable and that dairying would prove a safe business for years to come, the Freeborn county farmers after careful inquiry and investigation formed themselves into co-oper¬ ative associations first at Clarks Grove, then at Riceland, then Armstrong, at Clover Valley and at Glenville in the year 1890. They borrowed money to the amount of many thousands of dol¬ lars, erected creamery buildings, bought separators, churns, butter workers, boilers, engines, vats and pumps, hired skilled buttermakers, and commenced those shipments of butter to the eastern markets, which have increased steadily from year to year and in return for which money to the amount of many millions of dollars has been paid to the creamery patrons. *

Since the establishing of the dairy industry and in connection with it, the Freeborn county farmers have adopted the intelligent and safe policy of diversified farming. No large fields of any one crop are longer grown, but instead many different crops are put in, so that there is certain to be each year a good yield of something, principally corn, oats, flax, clover and grasses. To add to the resources of the county, it was discovered that the former belief that tame grasses could not be grown was erroneous, for now clover and timothy, millet and grasses of all varieties grow here in great luxuriance and possess such unusual qualities that our butter excels in flavor and body that produced in other states. Corn, too, whether from acclimation of the seed or from longer seasons or from better cultivation, or from all these causes, has become a safe crop, and next to grass has become the chief crop.

Favored peculiarly by nature Freeborn county has become an ideal dairy district, and the intelligence and energy of its farmers have won for it the proud title of the "Banner Dairy County of the Northwest. "

The improved economic conditions in Freeborn county since the introduction of the co-operative creamery are apparent on every hand. Farm lands have risen in value and $100 an acre is not now considered an unusual price for a well improved farm. The small houses or log huts of the earlier period have given way to spacious farm houses well furnished and arranged for the convenience of the housewife. The straw sheds and rough stables have been replaced by the big barn with plenty of room for cattle, horses and hundreds of tons of hay and feed. The grain and corn binders, rakes, hay lo? ders and stackers, cultivators and machinery and tools of all kinu^ are sheltered in well built sheds. Every farm 'has a granary, a deep tubular well and a windmill, often with gearing and attachments for grinding feed. The fences are of barbed wire or woven wire and in good repair. The stock is of good breed and is improving rapidly from year to year. The seed for crops is better selected. The fields are plowed in The fall and fertilized abundantly from the barnyard and tilled with the greatest care. The roads are better worked, graded and drained, and each year more miles of gravel is added and travel made more easy to the creamery and the market. There is a schoolhouse, comfortably built and well equipped, within easy reach of every house. The farmers from being the debtor class have become the creditor. They buy more and better goods at a less price than formerly and pay for what they get in cash which they receive from the creamery without fail every month. They drive better rigs, or even automobiles, and travel more, study more, deal more with one another, are more in touch with business, acquire experience in bookkeeping and money matters - in short, the status of the Freeborn county farmer and his family has im¬ proved in every respect, and he himself attributes this changed economic and social condition to the co-operative separator cream¬ ery of which he is always a patron.

Great credit is due to the farmers of Freeborn county for fos¬ tering the co-operative creamery idea, and there have been so few failures that the good work has gone on almost unrestrained until it is altogether our greatest industry. So, with a soil that raises the best grasses in the world, the people look to see the returns increased many fold as the years go on. The flavor that our butter gets from the sweet and nutritious grasses enables Freeborn county to top the New Yrork market with the product. We have at present nearly 23,542 cows actually assessed in the year 1911, and our slogan for the future is more and better cows. The income from our cows last year was $1,339,682.46, to say nothing of the fertility that went back onto the soil. The large returns from milk and butter in the past few years have encour¬ aged the farmers to breed better cattle and the number that are using pure bred dairy sires has increased very materially in that time, and in another five years will add many full-blood and highgrade animals to our herds. Many full-blood and high-grade dairy herds have sprung up in the past few years. The dairy cow is queen of the farm and one of the greatest mortgage lifters in existence. She is virtually a machine which turns the products of the farms into greatest profit. In order to get the largest returns her ways and her disposition must be understood. She affects almost any branch of farming and she is the most econom¬ ical producer on the farm.

Freeborn county in 1886 had but one creamery, and that was located in Albert Lea, and was operated by Castie & Kennedy; but in 1888 there were four, at Albert Lea, Alden, Hayward and Glenville. In 1890 there were seven creameries, the Clarks Grove being the first co-operative creamery in the state. In 1902 the state had but 202 creameries, and Freeborn county had increased from four to twenty-three, an increase of sixteen in two years, besides three cheese factories, and best of all nearly all were on a co-operative basis. Between 1892 and 1894 there was an increase of but one creamery, but nineteen of the twenty-four were co-oper¬ ative, a remarkable evolution in the conduct of the business. In 1896 there were twenty-four, and of these twenty-three were co-operative. The records show that in 1898 there were twentyfive creameries and twenty-four of them were co-operative. In 1900 the number of creameries had increased from twenty-five to twenty-eight, and twenty-seven of them were co-operative. In 1911 there are twenty-eight, of which twenty-seven are co¬ operative.

According to the 1910 report of the Dairy and Food Commis¬ sioner of the state of Minnesota, Freeborn county in that year had twenty-eight creameries, with 2,728 patrons and 27,253 cows. During the year 46,831,330 pounds of milk, 5,195,899 pounds of cream and 4,166,271 pounds of butter fat were received. The butter made totaled 5,085,3/2 pounds, the percentage of overrun being 22.06. The amount paid patrons for fat was $1,339,682.46, and the running expenses were $118,354.48. The increase is shown from the fact that in 1908 the amount of butter made was 3,255,968 pounds, and the amount paid patrons was $729,983.

The anuual report of the Dairy and Food Department of the state of Minnesota also gives a recapitulation of the creameries in Freeborn county. In the following list, gathered from that report, the name of the creamery association appears first, then the shipping point, then the name of the secretary and, lastly, the name of the buttermaker: Albert Lea Dairy Association, Albert Lea, P. A\ . Nobel, Carl Olson; Alden Creamery Company, Alden, And. Robertson, AY. C. Rasmussen; Armstrong Creamery Com¬ pany, Armstrong, Louis Fogel, Gust Knudson ; Bancroft Creamery Association, Albert Lea, B. J. Hermanson, L. B. Anderson ; Banner Co-operative Creamery Association, Oakland, L. O. Ofstun, Peter Peterson ; Clarks Grove Creamery Association, Clarks Grove, J. C. Johnson, II. FI. Jensen; Clover Valley Creamery Association, Twin Lakes, D. V . Sair, H. AA . Peterson; Conger Creamery Company,

It has been the intention of the managers of this publication to give a brief history of each creamery in the county, and in this purpose the publishers have been greatly assisted by the secre¬ taries of the various creameries. Only a few of the persons approached for information have failed to respond. In preparing this article much assistance has been received from the Creamery Edition of the "Freeborn County Times," issued in 1900, and prepared for exhibition at the Paris Exposition. The annual reports spoken of are for 1910, unless otherwise specified.

The First Creamery. The Fountain Lake Creamery is be¬ lieved to have been the first stock company creamery in the county. It was owned and operated by a joint stock company, with a capital of $10,000, and was located at the foot of Broadway, near the lake. Some of the leading business men in the city were interested in the enterprise, the stockholders being John Godley, Frank Hall, F. A. Blackmer, A. C. Wedge, J. W. Smith, Knatvold Brothers, E. S. Prentice, IT. A. Colburn, Theodore Tyrer, D. R. P. ITibbs, H. D. Brown, W. P. Sergeant and William Hazleton. The first officers of the company were : President, A. C. Wedge ; secre¬ tary and treasurer, D. R. P. Hibbs; superintendent, William Hazleton. The business was started on Tuesday of May 11, 1881, colony of Danes, who had moved from southern Wisconsin to Clarks Grove in this county in 1864, was Hans Peter- Jensen, who bought a farm in Bancroft township just south of the present village of Clarks Grove. In 1884 he went back to Denmark for a visit, and there he first heard of the cream separator and cooperative creamery. When he returned home he frequently discussed these matters with his neighbors, many of whom were making butter on a small scale in their own homes. Rev. Lars Jorgenson also became interested in the project. In the fall of 1889 there arrived at the Jenson farm, Soren Nelson, of Rosedale, Meeker county, Minnesota, who had been investigating creameries in Iowa and was on his way home to found the first co-operative creamery in Meeker county. His enthusiasm had the effect of convincing Mr. Jensen that the time was ripe for the establish¬ ment of such a creamery for the benefit of the farmers of Bath, Bancroft, Geneva and Riceland. Accordingly, a meeting was called, to be held January 28, 1890, at the Danish Baptist church, at Bath. At this meeting Hans Peter Jensen presided, Paul Han¬ son was secretary, and several speeches were made by H. P. Jen¬ sen, J. S. Lunde, John Anderson and others. J. P. Larson and L. P. Lawson were appointed a committee to visit certain cream¬ eries in Iowa and report conditions there. They reported at a meeting held in Clarks Grove February 11, 1890. A committee consisting of J. P. Larson, L. P. Lawson and Hans E. Nelson secured the pledges of about 500 cows from those present. J. P. Larson, Hans E. Nelson, John Anderson, Erick Johnsrud, L. P. Lawson, Hans E. Nelson, John C. Johnson, Andrew N. Jensen, J. W. Peterson and Anton Jensen were instructed to draft a coni stitution and set of by-laws, select a site for the proposed cream¬ ery and to get as many more as possible to join the enterprise. The committee met at the church three days later. J. P. Larson presided and Erick Johnsrud, later secretary of the Riceland creamery, acted as secretary. The committee decided to call the new organization the Clarks Grove Creamery company, and two sites were proposed. At a meeting of the association held at the church February 17, J. P. Larson was appointed chairman, Erick Johnsrud, secretary, and J. P. Lawson, assistant secretary. A new list of members, with the number of cows pledged, was circulated among those present by J. C. Johnson, J. W. Peterson, Ole Henry and L. P. Lawson. Seventy-four signatures were secured, pledg¬ ing 493 cows. The constitution and by-laws were adopted, and after considerable discussion and several votes the present site on P. C. Christ ensen' s farm was selected. This was a considerable distance from Riceland and the people of that township withdrew, later perfecting the organization of Riceland Creamery Associa¬ tion. For the Clarks Grove organization, J. P. Larson was chosen president and L. P. Lawson secretary. John Anderson was chosen vice-president, P. C. Christensen, treasurer, and J. W. Peterson, E. C. Johnson and A. N. Jensen, directors. Mr. Christensen asked to be excused from acting as treasurer and J. C. Johnson, who had received the next largest number of votes, was appointed to the position. The building was erected, equipment installed and the company incorporated. The first milk was received May 5, 1890, and W. C. Larson was engaged as buttermaker. In January, 1897, the Babcock cream test was adopted. The present officers of the association are Ole Larson, president ; J. C. Johnson, secre¬ tary; Paul Hanson, treasurer; James A. Fitzgerald, J. H. Barlow and P. C. Sorensen, directors.

This first of all Freeborn county co-operative creameries is a model institution in every way. Its affairs are conducted on a business-like scale, and the secretary, J. C. Johnson, is always ready to furnish facts to those seeking for information. The creamery is housed in a model building, modern in every respect. April 10, 1905, the contract was let for this new building at $4,922. With the hauling of materials the building cost about $5,500. The well and sheds cost about $600, the new machinery cost $2,500 and miscellaneous expenses were $275, making a total cost of about $9,000. The last annual report shows among other items the following interesting facts : Milk received, 4,334,748 pounds ; cream received, 75,430 pounds; total butter fat received, 183,286 pounds ; total butter sold, 224,138 pounds ; total paid patrons for milk and cream, $63,446.03 ; total received from butter and other sources, $68,788.99. The buttermaker is H. H. Jensen. The cream¬ ery has about 100 patrons, who own about a thousand cows.

Riceland Creamery Association. As before stated, the people of Riceland took an active part in the organization of the Clarks Grove Co-operative Creamery, Erick Jonsrud and Ole Henry being the two moving spirits. The location selected, however, was too far away for the Riceland farmers. Accordingly, a few weeks after the organization of the Clarks Grove association, the Rice¬ land farmers called a meeting at Ingebrigtson schoolhouse, and an organization was at once perfected, with Christian Larson as president; Jens Erickson, vice-president; E. Jonsrud, secretary; Christian Jacobson, treasurer, and J. Miller, Ole Henry, O. O. Bagaasen, directors. The Clarks Grove constitution and by-laws were adopted and March 13, 1890, the association incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000. The canvassing committee, Lewis Evenson, Nels Olson, Ole Henry, Erick Jonsrud, Ole Bagaasen and Jens Erickson, secured pledges for 410 cows. A suitable building, properly equipped, was erected and Mr. Larkins engaged as buttermaker, and on the morning of June 4, 1890, one month later than the opening of the Clarks Grove Creamery, the first milk was received. Christian Larson, the first president, resigned a few weeks after the organization and Thomas Iverson was elected to succeed him, but at the first annual meeting Mr. Larson again became president of the organization. In May and June, 1906, a new creamery, 32 by 80, was built at a cost of $8,400. The ice house, 16 by 30, is a separate building. The following items are culled from the last annual report : Milk received, 3,555,212 pounds; cream received, 75,249 pounds; total paid patrons for milk and cream, $50,843.91 ; butter made, 178,049 pounds ; total received for butter, $53,803.97. The patrons of this creamery own about 1,200 cows. The buttermaker is James Rasmussen. The officers are : H. J. Eid, president ; C. U. Chris¬ tensen, vice-president; Erick Jonsrud, secretary; Ed. Open, treas¬ urer; Nels Vollum, manager; J. O. Hellie and P. P. Overgaard, directors.

Armstrong Creamery Association. The farmers living in the vicinity of Armstrong station were among the original dairymen of the county. They had abandoned wheat raising and turned their attention to diversified farming and were considering the addition of dairying at the time when the Clarks Grove farmers met to organize a creamery. On April 15, 1890, their first meet¬ ing was held in the Armstrong depot, at which G. AY. Hopkins was elected chairman, and C. H. Ruble acted as secretary. A com¬ mittee consisting of J. H. Converse, B. B. Randall, A. Rebbe, Peter Tonges, Fred AYeiser, Christ Pistorius and C. H. Ruble was appointed to canvass for cows, it being decided that 500 cows must be pledged before the association could be formed. Alay 20 another meeting was held, and the committee reported that the desired number of cows had been pledged, and accordingly the association was organized and a building subsequently erected. J. H. Converse was elected president of the association; Ed. Nor¬ ton, secretary; B. A. Cady, treasurer; B. B. Randall, Henry Fink, Charles Kruger, Ed. Bissell and G. AY. Hopkins, directors. Owing to the sentiment in favor of cheese making, it was decided to make this product exclusively at first, but by the time the factory was completed the board of directors had decided that this would be an unprofitable industry. Consequently no cheese was ever made, and this decision delayed the opening of the creamery for some little time. In March, 1891, nearly one year after the first meeting had been held and seven months after the completion of the cream¬ ery building, the first butter was made and six tubs were shipped March 25. The association now has a fine new creamery building, 34 by 60 feet, modern in every respect. The president is E. G.

Abbe and the secretary is Louis Fogel. In 1910 the creamery received 2,384,547% pounds of milk and cream. The amount of butter made was 113,086% pounds. The butter was sold for $34,243.97, and the patrons were paid $27,481.59. It is estimated that the patrons of this creamery own about 500 cows.

State Line Creamery Association. At a meeting held in the Davidson schoolhouse, Worth county, Iowa, on February 11, 1893, it was decided to erect a creamery on Jacob Loftaas' land in London township. At this meeting 152 cows were pledged and a committee appointed, consisting of John Bergerson, Gilbert Han¬ son, L. Nelson, Lars Torblaa, M. J. Rohne and Nels Davidson, to solicit for more cows. Ole Kjonaas and Nels Davidson were instructed to prepare a constitution and set of by-laws. A second meeting was called February 17, at the Davis schoolhouse, in London township, and the soliciting committee reported that 413 cows had been pledged and the name State Line Creamery was decided on. At this meeting Nels Davidson was elected president ; John Bergerson, vice-president; M. J. Rohne, secretary; Jacob M. Loftaas, treasurer, and L. Nelson, Daniel Young and L. Hen¬ derson were made the board of directors. Messrs. Davidson and Bergerson were appointed to visit various creameries in the state and secure information regarding the operating and manage¬ ment of creameries. The building was completed, C. F. Myers was engaged as buttermaker, and the creamery opened for business on June 17.

Bancroft Creamery Association. In the fall of 1890 a few of the farmers in the township of Bancroft concluded that the estab¬ lishment of a creamery at a convenient point would prove of mate¬ rial value to the farmers of that part of the county. Not until the following year, however, were any definite plans made, and then the farmers seemed of one mind regarding the project. The build¬ ing was erected by them, and by the middle of May, 1891, every¬ thing was in readiness to receive milk and begin operations. Owing to a little trouble with the machinery, they were delayed for two days, and on the fifteenth of that month the first milk was received. The following year this creamery was awarded a diploma and medal at the World's Fair in Chicago, for the fine quality of its butter. S. A. Moen was the buttermaker at that time. At the present time J. P. Nelson is president and B. J. ILermanson secretary. The latest annual report shows the following business : Milk received, 2,333,858 pounds ; cream received, 98,- 122 pounds ; butter made, 132,487 pounds ; paid patrons, $37,- 059.12 ; total received for butter during the year, $40,284.73. The patrons of this creamery own about 1,200 cows. In 1908 the creamery was repaired, cement blocks being laid all around, up to the windows, and a cement floor being laid.

Mansfield Central Creamery Company. In 1890, when the North Star Creamery was established in Emmons, many of the farmers of Mansfield township became its patrons. Shortly after January 1, 1891, some of the farmers met in the John Niebuhr hall in Mansfield and a creamery association was organized. Officers were elected and a constitution, by-laws adopted, and a committee appointed to visit creameries throughout the county and to obtain plans for a building to be erected on the Niebuhr farm, one mile south of the present creamery. Two weeks later a second cream¬ ery organization formed and decided to erect a building two miles west and one mile north of the Niebuhr farm. A committee sent from the first association met one sent from the second, and a com¬ promise was effected and the present site agreed upon. Several days later a joint meeting was held in Niebuhr hall, and about a week later the plans were perfected at the Wacholtz schoolhouse. Charles Lembke was elected president of the association ; Christ Jahnke, vice-president; W. B. Tunell, secretary; Henry Meyer, treasurer, and Ernest Hintz, Fred Hartman, Valentine Katzung, John Wacholtz, J. H. J. Seedorf and Thomas Dunn, directors. A constitution and set of by-laws were adopted and the officers instructed to build as soon as 300 cows could be pledged. The directors decided to erect the building at once on a tract of land leased of W. B. Tunell. Business was started May 18. Mr. Welch was employed as the buttermaker.

Sumner Valley Creamery Association. This creamery associa¬ tion was organized in the summer of 1893 at a meeting held at the residence of J. J. Moe, in Riceland township. Among the first officers of the association were S. 0. Nashby, president, and S. I. Tufte, secretary. The members of the new organization were patrons of the Riceland or Hayward creameries and, Raving a long distance to haul their milk, were greatly in favor of a cream¬ ery at some more convenient point. The building was erected the same season and began operation in the fall of 1893. For a time cheese was manufactured as well as butter, but this industry was eventually abandoned. S. I. Tufte is still the president, and Olaf Wangen is the secretary and manager, in which position he is giving general satisfaction. The patrons of this creamery have about 375 cows. Following are a few items culled from the last annual report : Milk and cream received, 1,434,085 pounds ; but¬ ter made, 70,286 pounds; paid patrons for milk and cream, $18,- 613.13 ; total received for butter, cream and buttermilk, $20,883.57. New machinery has been installed as needed and the plant is thoroughly modern.

Albert Lea Dairy Association. As a result of a series of meet¬ ings held in the fall and early winter in the schoolhouse of District No. 110, and in the city council chambers, the Albert Lea Cream- ery Association was organized December 30, 1891, and 544 cows were pledged. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following officers elected: T. A. Vandergrift, president; John Bergelund, vice-president; A. C. Wedge, treasurer, and C. W. Levens, secretary. Mr. Levens soon resigned and C. N. Ruble was elected to succeed him. The selection of a site was left to the board and, after considering several propositions, the present loca¬ tion was decided on, which is northeast of the city. The creamery was subsequently erected and began to receive milk on the morn¬ ing of April 20, 1892, with J. H. Jones, who had been the first buttermaker at Clarks Grove, in charge. In January, 1897, it was decided to reorganize, and at this time the old association passed out of existence, and the Albert Lea Dairy Association was formed. The spring of this year witnessed an altogether new experiment in the manufacture of pastuerized butter, and the necessary equipment for pasteurizing milk was installed. This experiment with pasteurization was continued for nearly a year, until April, 1898, and the buttermaker who had attempted the experiment resigned from the creamery. In 1898 the United States Agricultural Department decided to make some experimental ship- ^ments of butter to England with a view of establishing a market for butter in that country in competition with the Danish and English Dorset article. Albert Lea was one of the four creameries selected to prepare butter for these shipments. In 1899 the depart¬ ment again undertook some experimental shipments, this time to Japan. In 1908 in conjunction with the Agricultural Depart¬ ment of the state of Minnesota, the United States Department of Agriculture conducted at the Albert Lea creamery a series of experiments in manufacturing Emmenthaler Swiss cheese. A few items culled from the last annual report of the association are as follows : Milk received, 2,806,947 pounds ; cream received, 400,308 pounds ; butter made, 259,180 pounds ; total received from all sales, $82,224.36; paid patrons in cash and butter, $75,451.68. It is estimated that the patrons of this creamery owned about 1,800 cows.

State Experiment Station. In the summer of 1911, the state of Minnesota purchased the plant of the Albert Lea Dairy Associa¬ tion, where the government and the state had previously con¬ ducted experiments, for the purpose of establishing a regular experiment station in the center of the richest dairying section of the state. The negotiations between the creamery officers and the dairy commissioner were carried on by D. C. Armstrong and Clint. L. Luce, president and secretary of the Albert Lea Business Men's League, and they worked with no hope of reward except to push along the dairy interests of the state and country. The creamery was formally dedicated as a state institution with elaborate ceremonies; state and local officials and leading dairy authorities being present in large numbers. At the time of the transfer the officers were: President, F. S. Ruble; vice president, II. P. Hanson ; secretary, P. AY. Noble. AAdien the sale was being contemplated, the Albert Lea correspondent of the " Pioneer Press'' said: "AYhen the creamery was established, a wooden structure, the kind usually built in the early history of the co-operative creamery movement, was erected, and this served the purposes of the association until 1902, when a modern brick structure was built, larger and more convenient than the old one, and better calculated to carry on the business. This building was erected by borrowing money, and repaying it from the sinking fund. This amount is all paid except a small sum, and the sinking fund has sufficient to wipe it out when the sale is consummated. The brick building is 30 by 110 feet with fourteen feet posts and cost $4,924.25, but since then the buildings have been erected for the federal government experiment station discontinued last autumn that cost $2,000, while two other small buildings have been erected which cost $430, making the total cost of buildings the state is to obtain August 1, about $7,624, while the machinery has cost the creamery more than $5,000. During the time the creamery has been in operation here, more than 75,000,000 pounds of milk have been handled and the patrons have been paid more than a million dollars for their dairy product alone, not to include the value of feed received from the skimmed milk and butter milk."

1891 this creamery association was organized, being one of the oldest creameries in the county. Charles Mann was elected president, Ed Lugg vice-president, Chris Rettrg secretary and M. O. Leary, treasurer. The present creamery building was erected during the fall and early winter and the creamery com¬ menced operations January 1, 1892, with D. M. Jones as buttermaker. Moscow creamery has about 100 patrons, who own betv een 400 and 500 cows, and is one of the flourishing creameries of Freeborn county. In the last annual report the following items appear : Milk received, 1,568,807 pounds ; cream received, 62,612 Pounds; butter made, 71,848.82 pounds; total received for butter,

Alden Creamery Company. In 1890 the Alden Farmers' Co-Operative Creamery Company was formed and the company purchased the Spring Valley gathered cream plant, which had been operated at Alden for three or four years, and which had itself succeeded the old cheese factory that was established in the early eighties. In January, 1893, a meeting of the directors was called, and it was decided that steps should be taken to secure a separator. At a meeting held March 4, 1893, a new organization was formed to be known as the Farmers' Creamery Company and the following officers were elected : J. L. Garlock, president ; J. M. Larson, vice president ; Andrew Robertson, secretary ; C. L. Tood, treasurer, and John Rasmussen, Henry Stiehl and C. R. Fellows, directors. The old building and site were traded to W. A. Morin for a lot farther east and the present fine building now occupied by the organization was erected in the fall of 1899. The officers for this year were: AY. H. Walker, president; N: C. Larson, vice president; A. Robertson, secretary; Peter Hanson, treasurer, and H. Fink, A. W. Massee and H. L. Jensen, directors. The company issues a neat annual statement. Some items taken from the report of 1909 will be of interest : Milk received, 2,904,- 454 pounds; cream received, 219,717 pounds; total pounds of butter fat received, 184,094 ; total butter made and sold, 224,002 ; paid to patrons for milk and cream, $60,560.80 ; total received for butter, cream and buttermilk, about $71,000.

Freeman Dairy Association. This association was incorporated September 20, 1899, with Robert Freeman, president ; M. X. Sisson, vice-president; N. E. Hagen, secretary; AY. G. Freeman, treasurer, and C. H. Howe, N. O. Nelson, and J. J. Anderson, directors. Nic Siverling was engaged as buttermaker and the creamery began to take in milk on New Year's day, 1900. AY. G. Freeman is now the president and N. O. Nelson the secretary. The patrons of this creamery own about 550 cows. Last year 1,057,994 pounds of milk and .47,846 pounds of cream were received. The butter made amounted to some 57,029 pounds, which was sold at $16,905.58.

Freeborn Creamery Association. During the fall of 1892, considerable sentiment in favor of establishing a creamery in Freeborn was created by D. U. Richards, and a meeting was called at the school house on October 11, over which F. M. Snyder presided. At this meeting the Freeborn Dairy Association was organized with a capital stock of $4,500. The first officers elected were L. T. Scott, president ; Airs. Alary Aldrich, vice-president ; D. U. Richards, secretary; Al. D. Hawser, treasurer, and AY. H. Aliller, Andrew Peterson, Charles Derby, F. Al. Snyder and Herman Raforth, directors. The directors were instructed to locate a site for the new creamery. AYork on the building was begun in November and the creamery opened operations early the following Alarch with D. U. Richards as general manager, secretary and buttermaker. This association was succeeded by the Freeborn Creamery Company.

January 21, 1905. The following men comprised the officers of the organization: W. A. Brooks, president; E. J. Hallum, vicepresident; E. M. Snyder, secretary and manager; C. A. Peters, treasurer. At different periods since the opening of this creamery

. A. Brooks, C. H. Derby and G. P. Lattin have served as president, while others who have been prominently identified with the growth of the concern are W. H. Miller, Peter Jacobson, H. G. Iluntze, together with many whose names do not here appear. This creamery has carried on a flourishing business since it opened and its annual make of butter varies from 125,000 to 150,000 pounds. The present officers of this enterprising organ¬ ization are : G. P. Lattin, president ; F. M. Snyder, secretary and manager; S. A. Beach, vice-president, and P. A. Stensrud, treasurer. This company succeeded the Freeborn Creamery Association, and uses the building erected by that association, a cement floor, however, having been put in. The patrons own about 900 cows. A few items from the last annual report are as follows : Milk received, 415,996 pounds ; cream received, 413,300 pounds ; paid to patrons for milk and cream, $38,834.77 ; received for butter, $43,054.92 ; paid patrons for milk and cream, $38,834.77.

Geneva Creamery Association. Early in 1891, a series of meetings were held in the Monarch school house east of the village of Geneva, which resulted in the organization, on Febru¬ ary 9, of the Geneva Creamery Association. Ira M. Sawyer was made president of this organization, Alexander Scott vice-presi¬ dent, M. J. Quinn secretary, George Goodnature treasurer, and B. H. Conklin, Michael Quinn and Rasmus Olson, directors. The board of directors was instructed to borrow $3,000 for the erection of a suitable building and equipment and by the last of April the creamery commenced operations, with T. F. Linehan as buttermaker.

Oakland Creamery Association. In the fall of 1893 a great deal of interest was aroused in South Oakland in a creamery movement and a representative of Davis Rankin Company from Chicago was largely responsible for this agitation. A meeting was called at the home of John Murane and a committee appointed to interest the farmers in that vicinity in this enterprise. The location selected for the erection of this creamery building was about three miles northeast from the present site, but as not enough subscribers could be secured from the district tributary to this the project was temporarily abandoned. The representative from the Chicago firm took the same list and secured signers in the district further west and when a meeting was called the new signers outvoted the old with the result that the creamery was located a considerable distance from the site originally decided on, so far in fact that some of the first signers never patronized the association. The building was completed and F. E. Wilson engaged as buttermaker and the first milk received in the spring of 1894. For a time butter and skim milk cheese were manu¬ factured, but as there was no market for cheese, cheese making was soon abandoned. Since the creamery was erected many improvements have been made in the building. New machinery and equipment has been added, a new stone floor has been put in, and a new boiler and engine churn and cream vat have been installed. The excellent business done is shown in the following items taken from the last annual report : Milk received, 666,739 pounds ; cream received, 154,454 pounds ; butter made from milk and cream, 78,335 pounds; paid patrons for milk and cream, $20,957.13 ; total received for butter during the year, $23,194.52. The patrons of this creamery own about 430 cows. Daniel Casey is the president and C. A. Rasmussen the secretary.

Glenville Creamery Association. At a meeting of the farmers and business men of Glenville and the adjoining country, on Octo¬ ber 18, 1890, the Glenville Dairy Association was formed. Among the principal workers for this movement were 0. M. Nelson and D. U. Richards, to whom much credit is due for their untiring efforts. At first there were but nine stockholders who were willing to venture as much as $50 in the undertaking. These were William Nelson, C. M. Nelson, John Kalstad, D. U. Richard, Nicholas P. Nelson, William Marpe, Even Nelson, Andrew Larson and George Gilbert. The building was commenced in November, 1890, and completed and opened for business the following January. The first officers were: O. M. Nelson, president; J. E. Barron, vice-president; William Nelson, treasurer; A. W. Trow, secretary, and the board of directors comprised the following members: James Peterson, John Kalstad, William Marpe, E. W. Gleason and Joe Christianson. The first separator was installed in March, and since the fourteenth day of that month in 1891, there has been steady work going on in this flourishing organiza¬ tion. The president is E. W. Gleason and the secretary is Henry IJoug, The patrons own about 1,000 cows. A few items from the last annual report are as follows : Milk received, 1,408,969 pounds; cream received, 201,747 pounds; total butter manufac¬ tured, 121,550 pounds ; paid patrons, $37,166.05 ; total received for year, $37,186.74. In addition to the offi cers mentioned, A. W. Abbott is vice-president and A. H. Bender, treasurer. N. C. Siverling is buttermaker. The directors are: Joseph Chrs, George Quam and S. P. Nelson. In 1902 this concern erected a new modern brick building at a cost of $9,700.00.

Geneva Village Creamery Association. Soon after the Clarks Grove Creamery was organized in 1890, it was seen that Geneva village was a desirable point for a creamery or skimming station, and several ineffectual attempts were made to establish one in this village. Owing to disagreement as to location and because of a cheese factory already in operation, no definite action was taken. Early in 1894, more than three years after the first agitation, the movement was again started and this time several preliminary meetings were held and it was decided to organize as soon as 500 cows would be pledged and several men canvassed the district with lists. A meeting was called in the village of Geneva February 15, 1894, and the Creamery Association, formed with forty-four patrons and 487 cows pledged. The location of the building was agreed upon and the following officers elected: A. N. Jensen, president; C. B. AYheeler, vice-president; L. P. Lawson, secretary; Jay E. Jones, treasurer; L. Frederickson, Nels Lawson and Eber Randall, directors. The , constitution and by-laws of the Berlin Summit Creamery with but few amendments were adopted and later the board met and decided on the building to be erected. On April 11, 1894, the machinery was set in motion and the creamery began to receive milk, with AY. C. Lawson occupying the position of buttermaker. A. N. Jensen resigned as president and John Nelson was elected to succeed him and served until 1901. Since that time A. N. Jensen has been elected and served as president. The present officers are: A. N. Jensen, president; M. F. Jensen, vice-president; L. P. Lawson, secretary; A. S. Anderson, treasurer; G. H. Allis, R. M. Farr and H. C. Hanson, directors. The first patrons agreed to furnish the number of cows pledged until the plant should be paid for, and this pay¬ ment was made in 1906. It has been the policy of the association to deal impartially with all its patrons and at the present time there are about 108 patrons, owning about 1,200 cows. The first buttermaker, AY. C. Lawson, served until 1902, and was succeeded by H. L. Ditterson, who was employed by the association from 1902 until 1908. The present buttermaker, F. J. Kassube, is well fitted for the work in which he is engaged and gives general satisfaction to the creamery association. The total receipts from the butter sold the first year that the creamery was in operation amounted to $15,266.49, and the patrons were paid $13,158.24. For the year of 1910 the total receipts for butter sold were $71,640.77, and the patrons were paid $66,270.82. During the seventeen years that the creamery has been in operation patrons of the institution have been paid a total of $671,300. The old plant was replaced by a new brick building in the latter part of the year of 1910, which cost $8,000, and which is a building of which the association is justly proud. The first secretary of the organization is still serving and his intelligence and enterprise have had much to do with the success of the association, in fact all who are connected with the creamery are to be congratulated on the high standard which the organization has attained. In 1910, the milk received amounted to 3,343,540 pounds, and the cream received amounted to 311,121 pounds. The total pounds of butter made during the year was 243,500 pounds.

Banner Co-Operative Creamery Association. The Banner Co-Operative Creamery Association of Oakland township was organized February 16, 1898. There had been a meeting the previous week, and N. N. Earl was chosen president of the prospective association, W. F. Hatch vice-president, Abe Newell secretary, A. Young treasurer, and 0. O. Ofstun, W. Torrens and Charles Knudson, directors. About ten years prior to this time, a cheese factory had been erected and equipped in Oakland town¬ ship, but as this industry proved unprofitable the factory stood idle for several years and was purchased by the new creamery association, and remodeled and an entirely new equipment installed. The first milk was hauled to this creamery April 15, L. W. Comstock being engaged as buttermaker. The patrons of this creamery own about 350 cows. The president is C. R. Knudson and the secretary L. 0. Ofstun. The following items appear on the last annual report: Milk received, 1,343,775 pounds; cream received, 18,376 pounds; butter made, 62,146 pounds; paid patrons, $16,505; received for butter during the year, $18,521.60.

Hartland Creamery Association. The Hartland Creamery Association was organized on the combined stock and co-operative plan, at Hartland village, January 20, 1891, with J. C. Sibelrud president; A. J. Stensvad, vice-president; J. W. Donovan, secre¬ tary ; B. "W . Nolan, treasurer, and F. D. Drake, Ellef Anderson and Thomas Donovan, directors. The new creamery association leased a tract of land east of the depot of "W. A. Morin and erected a creamery building early in the spring. For a time during the summer months the association found the creamery business rather difficult work and in November a special meeting was called to consider the advisability of closing until spring, but it was decided to continue operations and run the plant through the winter. Mr. Burr was employed in the capacity of buttermaker during the first year the creamery was operated. In the forenoon of December 2, 1895, the Hartland Creamery was destroyed by fire. The insurance of $1,100 was settled and a few days later the stockholders met and decided to rebuild and a committee con¬ sisting of A. J. Stensvad, B. W. Nolan, Ole J. Peterson, C. J. Lynne and Louis Knutson were instructed to inspect the Man¬ chester and other creameries and secure plans. A new building was erected during the winter and by the following February all the capital stock had been paid in and' the creamery had com¬ pletely recovered from its loss by fire and was out of debt. The last annual report contains the following items: ZNIilk received, 28,460 pounds; cream received, 437,026 pounds; total pounds of butter made, 134,285 pounds ; received for butter, $40,018.91 : paid patrons for milk and cream, $41,135.58. The president is A. O. Nelson and the secretary R. M. Olson. It is estimated that the patrons of this creamery own about 800 cows. The company plans to erect a new brick building in the spring.

The London Creamery. The London Butter and Cheese Com¬ pany was organized at the Goslee school house in London township April 27, 1886, with $1,500 capital stock. During the previous winter meetings had been held at the school house and among those who met with the farmers and urged the establishment of the cheese factory, was E. B. Williams, of Lansing, Minn. The first officers of the association were : J. H. Goslee, president ; P. Bump, vice-president; W. N. Goslee, treasurer; A. E. Johnson, secretary, and R. P. Davidson, F. L. Davis, P. Bump and John Roberts, directors. The board leased a piece of land of W. N. Goslee and erected a building. The factory began operations in the season of 1886. In the spring of 1894 the association entered into an arrangement with D. M. Jones, whereby the latter was to have the use of the building and plant free of charge for five years for operating a separator creamery. The new creamery began to take in milk in May, 1894, and the officers of the new management were: J. H. Goslee, president; Peter Nelson, vicepresident ; George P. Meadowcroft, secretary ; P. Bump, treasurer ; Henry Lang, James Lang, R. P. Davidson and M. W. Stewart, directors.

was organized in August, 1910, at a meeting held in the open air. The association was organized on the combined and co-operative stock company plan and its first officers were : H. O. Thompson, president; Ole O. Lee, vice-president; S. B. Tliornby, secretary; H. H. Emmons, treasurer, and Alfred Emery, Ellef Evenson, H. N. Bergerson, James Sorenson, Lewis Larson, Ole I. Opdahl, S. L. Davidson, J. H. J. Seedorf and H. J. Schmidt, directors. The first building was burned May 25, 1899, and replaced nine days later. Previous to the forming of the North Star Creamery Association, L. H. Knutson started a small gathered cream factory at his farm, which he operated until 1890, and then disposed of some of the machinery to the new Creamery Association. A. O. Storvick was engaged as the first buttermaker.

Hayward Creamery Association. About 1888 a gathered cream plant, the machinery being run by horsepower, was established at Havward station bv M. P. Hanson and his brother, H. P. Hanson. Several cream routes were established throughout the country and the factory was well patronized. At the end of the first year M. P. Hanson withdrew his interest in the concern and purchased the necessary equipment for a gathered cream plant which he installed on his farm a mile and a half north of the station. That fall Mr. Hanson found that his venture had been a financial failure and several farmers of the vicinity held a meeting and organized the Hayward Farmers ' Creamery Associa¬ tion, with Mr. Hanson in charge of the buttermaking. His machinery was used and the work carried on at his farm until the summer of 1890, when the Riceland separator creamery was started several miles north. Early in the spring of 1891 a meeting was called at the schoolhouse and the Hayward Creamery Asso¬ ciation organized with the following officers: M. P. Hanson, president; Asle Lunde, secretary; Lars 0. Braaten, treasurer; Lars 0. Esse, Lars Lunde, A. Sanderson, C. Christopherson, H. C. Nelson and Martin Carey, directors. Both, of the gathered cream plants were abandoned and the present building erected and w^ell equipped and commenced taking in cream June 3, 1891. L. F. Easton was the first buttermaker in the new plant. The president is now G. A. Jackson and the secretary is M. P. Hanson. The patrons own about 6/5 cows. In 1910, the creamery received 2,096,950 pounds of milk and 76,801 pounds of cream. The butter made amounted to 121,041 pounds and the total received for butter during the year was $36,478.32.

Twin Lakes Creamery Association. This creamery association was organized at the Twin Lakes schoolhouse August 6, 1892, and the creamery building was erected and equipped during the fall and early winter. A number of farmers and business men of the village had become interested in this movement and worked among the residents of the country near by and secured enough signers to warrant the undertaking of the organization. John Donahue presided over the first meeting and A. C. Aanerud acted as secretary. Sixty-two signers pledged 402 cows and the meeting at once elected the following officers : Paul Oppegaard, president ; James McGuir, vice-president; Fred Klenke, secretary; Hugh Donahue, treasurer, and Erick Flaskerud, Nels IT. Hoyne, Roger Kelly, Ara Carter and Toliff Anderson, directors. The creamery was admirably situated on the sidetrack of the M. & St. L. railroad and Frank Linderman was engaged as the first buttermaker. The creamery commenced operations January 9, 1893. It was burned in the winter of 1910-11 and has not resumed operations.

Clover Valley Creamery Association. As the result of several meetings held in the Pickle school house, during the spring of 1890, Clover Valley Creamery Association was organized June 2, being one of the first separator creamery organizations in the state. For several years previous to this time the farmers of Clover Valley had been patronizing gathered cream wagons sent out from Albert Lea, Alden, and the Knudson Brothers, near Emmons, but there was a prevailing sentiment in favor of a modern separator creamery and not a dissenting vote was cast in the meeting called to establish the present creamery. The new creamery is located about a mile and a half north of Bear Lake. The building was completed during the fall of 1890 and the creamery began separating in November of that year. The officers of the organization at its beginning were Charles Radke, presi¬ dent; George W. Hall, vice-president: John M. Geissler, secretary; William Wohlhuter, treasurer, and H. Drommerhausen. George L. Sclierb, Fred Voss, Sr., Fred Fink and Herman Klukow, directors.

Trenton Creamery Association. In the spring of 1895 the farmers in the vicinity of Trenton postoffice met in the Trenton school house and discussed the organizing of a modern creamery in that community. March 11, 1895, the Trenton Creamery Asso¬ ciation was formed and steps taken at once to build and equip a plant. F. D. Drake was elected president ; J. E. Hall, vicepresident; C. W. Ayers, secretary; Oluf Lee, treasurer; J. W. Pierce, Fred Harrington, Joy Tellet, H. S. Weed and J. X. Wilson were made members of the board of directors. The work on the building was completed in a very short time and on May 15, 1895, the Trenton creamery was opened for business, with J. V. Carter as buttermaker. Some inconvenience and loss was occa¬ sioned the creamerv bv the failure of the New Richland bank in 1899, in which the creamery money was deposited. The creamery was discontinued in 1900.

Poplar Grove Creamery. The Poplar Grove Creamery, located at Bath, was organized in 1892. The first meeting of which the records make anv mention was held in the home of M. Sheehan on January 14, and the officers elected were -Ellend Erickson, president; John Sullivan, vice-president; James St. John, secietary; James Sheehan, treasurer; M. Sheehan, Thidman Bartness and Bartly White, directors. At the time of its organization, the creamery was named North Star Creamery Association, but this name was later changed to Poplar Grove. No time was lost in erecting the building, and on May 20, 1892, the creamery com¬ menced operations with M. H. Graham as buttermaker, which position he held for three years. In the fall of the first year a feed mill was put in and operated in connection with the creamery but it was abandoned after a time. The payment for the building and equipment was completed in about four years. C. R. Sullivan, the present secretary, has proven a most painstaking and con¬ scientious officer. The president is S. 0. Nygaard. During the year 1910, the creamery received 1,251,556 pounds of milk and 85,868 pounds of cream. The butter made amounted to 82.204s± pounds, which with sundries, brought $24,089.43. The patrons were paid $21,376.96. A cement floor has been added to the creamery and a large brick smoke stack built. It is estimated that the patrons of this creamery own about 575 cows.

Gordonsville Creamery Association. In the spring of 1889, a year before the establishment of the creamery at Clarks Grove, the farmers and business men around Gordonsville became greatly interested in circulars sent out by the Davis Rankin Company, of Chicago, advertising creamery equipment. They wrote to this firm and an agent was sent out by the house, who called a meeting of the farmers and made arrangements for the building -and equipping a creamery for the consideration of $5,000. This arrangement was agreed upon by the farmers, and the creamery subsequently erected and fully equipped, for a gathered cream plant. The company began operations with W. H. H. Gordon, president; Gilbert Hanson, vice-president; Walt Davis, secretary; Neem Nelson, treasurer, and Herman Low, Bert and Jacob Beighley, Gilbert Hanson, Chris Nelson, Otto Forseth and Franz Davis, directors. Cream routes were soon established, one con¬ ducted by S. P. Beighley came within a mile or two of Albert Lea and at one time covered forty miles daily. After operating a few months and losing about $2,000, the creamery burned to the ground one night. This was the end of the dairying in this vicinity for several years, but in 1894 interest was again revived and in November, 1895, the Glenville Association put in a skim¬ ming station in charge of John Buley, which continued until 1898. December 14, 1897, a meeting of the farmers was held and the equipment of the skimming station offered for sale at $680. This v as latei bought for $600 and on December 22 the organization was completed. The first officers in this association were Carl Seuser, president; Ferdinand Wolff, vice-president; William Buchanan, secretary; H. T. Toye, treasurer; Carl Waldo, G. T. Lofthus, A. J. Beighley, TV . H. Stewart and Otto Low, directors. In January, 1898, the first shipment of seventeen tubs of butter was made, S. A. Brady being the buttermaker. The president of the association is A. J. Beighley, and the secretary is Ira E. Barber. In 1910 the creamery received 405,741 pounds of milk and cream. From this 56,339 pounds of butter were made. The amount received for butter, milk ana. cream during the year was $22,370.65 and the patrons were paid $17,780.07. It is estimated that the patrons of this creamery own about 375 cows.

were paid $16,096.96 in cash. As the creamery is located in the northeast corner of Freeborn county, it finds a convenient ship¬ ping point at Blooming Prairie. At the present time the president is B. K. Benson and the secretary is M. J. Amundsen. Last year the creamery received 1,601,680 pounds of milk and 167,973 pounds of cream. The butter made amounted to 114,043 pounds. The amount received was $29,710.34, and of this, $27,230.64 was paid to patrons. The patrons own about 800 cows.

Manchester Creamery Association. A meeting was held in E. O. Fossum's store on January 12, 1891, at Manchester station for the purpose of establishing a modern creamery at that place. Erick Jonsrud, who had assisted in the organizing of the Clarks Grove and Riceland creameries the year previous, was present and the meeting profited much by his suggestions. Nine directors were elected and organized themselves as follows : C. Flindt, president; E. Lybeck, vice-president; E. Nelson, secretary; E. O. Fossum, treasurer, and I. A. Rodsater, R. Thykeson, Ole K. Moreim, John Severson and O. J. Jordahl, directors. May 12 of this same year the creamery was completed and fully equipped and C. F. Meyer engaged as buttermaker. June 24, 1892, the creamery was destroyed by fire and an insurance of $1,900 accepted. A meeting of the stockholders was called at once and plans made to rebuild. The building and equipment were left to the directors, and it was but a short time before the creamery was again ready for operations. This association owns what is considered one of the finest creamery buildings in the state. The building was erected in the fall of 1910. It is 32 by 84 feet, and sixteen feet high at the sides. The walls are of brick, the floor is of cement, the ceiling is of concrete and the roofing of steel. New machinery was put in, and new sheds were also built. Three months were used in erecting the building. During the nine months of operation in 1910, the creamery received 1,357,288 pounds of milk and 145,874 pounds of cream. The butter made amounted to 100,140 pounds. During the year $29,682.54 was received for butter and $26,692.97 paid to patrons. It is estimated that the patrons of this creamery own about 600 cows. The present officers of the association are: President, A. I. Moen; secretary, G. O. Myran; treasurer, John Severson.

The Enterprise Co-Operative Creamery Association. This creamery association was organized in February, 1902. Its first officers were Fred Crisman, president ; L. F. Allen, vice-president ; M. AY. Stewart, secretary; Fred Machacek, treasurer; N. H. Nelson, A. Lang and AY. H. Goslee, directors. The present officers are : F. Crisman, president ; A. Bump, vice-president ; M. AY . Stewart, secretary ; George Funda, treasurer. Since the opening of this creamery, Fred Crisman has held the office of president of the association. The first buttermaker was A. C. Nelson, and the present man in charge of this work is Sam Nelson. This creamery has carried on a flourishing business and is now clear of debt and in a very prosperous condition, financially. It is located in London. In 1910 this creamery received 35,948 pounds of milk and 237,216 pounds of cream. The butter made amounted to 71,860 pounds. The amount paid to patrons was $18,314.03 and the total received for butter was $20,619.80. It is estimated that the patrons of this creamery own about 550 cows. Since the erection of the building, a barn 16 by 24 has been completed.

The Freeborn County Creamery Company, which conducts what is known as the "Centralizer," started a few years ago, in Albert Lea, and is the only creamery in the county which is not conducted on the co-operative plan. Some milk is taken in from this county, but most of it is shipped in from Iowa and Minnesota. The concern is a stock company, and no information is attainable as to the amount of business done.

The Union Creamery Company has a creamery in Emmons. The officers are: President, Alfred Emery; vice-president, Iver Johnson; secretary, Axel Anderson; treasurer, H. N. Rasmusson; directors, S. (4. Hansey, S. L. Davidson, Louis Knudson, William Menge and L. H. Larson. This creamery does a larger business than any other creamery in the county. It has a brick building 90 by 30 by 12 feet, built in 1903 at a cost of $8,000, and a buttermaker 's house erected the same year at a cost of $1,000. In 1910 the creamery received 3,075,269 pounds of milk and 498,800 pounds of cream. It produced 276,194 pounds of butter. Patrons were paid $69,145.06 for milk and cream, and the total received for butter amounted to $89,958. It is estimated that the patrons own over 1,500 cows.

Myrtle Creamery Company. This company conducts one of the prosperous creameries of the county, and in addition to its creamery has erected a buttermaker 's house, 24 by 26 feet and 14 feet high. Peter Nelson is the president and E. E. Nelson the secretary. In 1910 the creamery received 536,621 pounds of milk and 225,850 pounds of cream. Out of this 93,884^ pounds of butter were produced. The total received for butter, milk and cream during the year was $26,004.32, and the patrons were paid $22,106.49. It is estimated that the patrons of this creamery own some 600 cows.

The Conger Creamery Company has a creamery in Conger village. Fred Miller is the president and W. H. Horning the secretary. The creamery is equipped with the latest improved machinery and does a satisfactory business. In 1910 the creamery received 2,839,683 pounds of milk and 4,892 pounds of cream. From this 132,523 pounds of butter were made. The butter

Turtle Creek Cheese Company. The Turtle Creek Cheese Com¬ pany was formed in 1874 by a number of farmers living in the eastern part of the county in the townships of Oakland and Moscow. The prune movers in this organization were Granville Kearns, Steven Frisbie, James Cook, John Lacey, A. P. McBride, Jonas Haney, Jerome Rogers, John VanHouse and N. S. Hardy. During the summer of 1874 several meetings were held and Messrs. Lacey and McBride were appointed to go to Rochester and observe methods and organizations in that locality's factories. They returned with such encouraging reports that the organization known as Turtle Creek Cheese Company was at once perfected, having Steven Frisbie for president and Jerome Rogers as secre¬ tary. The first building erected across the creek in Mower county was blown down when about half completed, and the following spring another structure was erected and William Adams engaged as cheesemaker. Nine years later the factory burned down and was a total loss as there was no insurance, but a new company at once formed and a building was erected across the line and later discontinued.

Myrtle Cheese Factory. The Myrtle Cheese Company was organized in the spring of 1892 and that summer manufactured the first brick cheese ever made in Freeborn county. The first officers were : G. Tessman, president ; A. Newman, vice-president ; W. W. Galt, secretary ; H. Schumacher, manager, and C. Schilling, F. W. Golnick and Carl Grube, directors.

Alden Cheese Factory. In the early eighties, a cheese factory was started in Alden township. The cheesemaker was Mrs. Albert Johnson and the product found a ready market in Albert Lea, Wells and Alden. Those interested were Ira Starks, Charles Fellows, Charles Johnson, William Lane and Albert Johnson.

Live Stock Companies. While dairying is the predominant industry in Freeborn county, considerable feeding of live stock for the market is also done, and there are a number of men in the county who deal in stock on a large scale. There are also several companies which deal in stock. Among these may be mentioned the Farmers' Mutual Live Stock Company, of Albert Lea. This company was organized in 1891, and is doing a good business among the farmers.

Creamery Supplies. A factor in the development of the cream¬ ery industry in the county has been the Northern Creamery Supply House. This concern was started in 1897 by E. W. Knatvold. In January, 1910, Mr. Knatvold sold out to his sons. As its name indicated, this company deals in all kinds of dairy and creamery supplies.

C°w Testing. With the development of scientific dairying, a few individual owners of herds in the county had private cow tests conducted. The first concerted movement toward testing of herds was made July 1, 1903. A. W. Trow took charge of the matter, the test being conducted under the direction of the Dairy and Food Department of the State of Minnesota. Those who had their herds tested at that time were : A. B. Cornice, Alden - Clayton Cottrell, Glenville; G. B. Thayer, Hayward ; A. T. Budlong, Glenville ; Budlong & Thorlson, Glenville ; B. W. Pritchard, Glenville; T. E. Noble, Manchester, and Blackmer & Nelson. Albert Lea. This was really the beginning of cow testing in this county. With the development of the agricultural and dairy department in the Albert Lea High school, the idea of cow testing was prominently brought to the front. In November, 1910 a cow test association was organized in Albert Lea, and since then three others have been started, the four associations being under the charge of the Albert Lea High school.

The Freeborn County Buttermakers ' and Dairymen's Asso¬ ciation has done much toward the progress of the dairy and creamery interests of Freeborn county. Many meetings have been held, and by getting together, discussing methods and listen¬ ing to experts, the members have been enabled to keep in the foremost ranks in their profession. The association was organized October 21, 1899, at the court house in Albert Lea. The first officers elected were: President, J. L. Burtiss; vice-president, G. M. Miller; secretary, E. J. Henry; treasurer, J. C. Buley. Soon afterward L. P. Lawson became president and M. Halverson secretary. Mr. Lawson, after long service, resigned March 10, 1910, and was succeeded by Erick Berglund. The present officers are : President, Erick Berglund ; vice-president, T. A. Vandegrift ; secretary, James Rasmussen; treasurer, E. W. Knatvold.