Renville County, Minnesota - Chapter 34: Dairying and Creameries, 1916

The inhabitants of Minnesota before white people came, lived almost exclusively by hunting and fishing, using no animal milk in any form. The dairy industry did not begin, therefore, before the white people came and settled in the state. The work of preparing the fields for crop growing took a long time, and transportation facilities were very defective, hence the early pioneers had neither time for dairying nor a market for dairy products. Dairying, therefore, was engaged in solely for the purpose of supplying themselves with milk and its products. Later, as the herds began to increase in size, the resulting surplus of milk was made into butter, or occasionally into cheese, and disposed of in the local markets. When villages were established, the production of milk for direct sale as such, developed in their vicinity.

The year 1870 marks, approximately, the introduction of the factory system of butter and cheese manufacture in the state. According to the statistics, two cheese factories had been established by that date. During the twenty years following, little progress was made by either branch of the industry.

The first cheese factory in Renville county was started in 1876 by Charles D. McEwen, who came from a point three miles south of Hutchinson, where he had previously conducted a cheese factory, purchased 160 acres of land in section 31, Boon Lake township, and conducted a dairy farm with twenty-five or more cows.

As late as 1890 the state reports show only one cheese factory and one creamery in Renville county : The Buffalo Lake Cheese Factory, at Buffalo Lake, and the J. Richardson Co., at Bird Island.

In 1900 there were fifteen creameries in Renville county. Where two addresses are given, the first is the postoffice address and the second the railroad shipping point ; where but one address is given, the postoffice and shipping point are the same : Norfolk Creamery, Eddsville. Bird Island; Morton Creamery. Morton; Hector Creamery, Hector; Winfield Creamery, Olivia; Florita Creamery, Florita, North Redwood ; Bird Island Creamery, Bird Island; Fairfax Creamery, Fairfax: Boon Lake Creamery, Lake Side, Hutchinson; Central Creamery, Olivia; Farmers' Creamery, Buffalo Lake; Renville Creamery, Renville; North Western

Following are the creameries in Renville county for 1910. Where two addresses are given the first is the postoffice address and the second the shipping point. Where but one address is given the postoffice and shipping point are the same. Boon Lake Cooperative Creamery Co., Buffalo Lake, Hutchinson ; Brookfield Cooperative Creamery Association, Brookfield, Hutchinson; Buffalo Lake Creamery. Buffalo Lake; Central Creamery Association, Olivia; Clover Leaf Creamery Association of Osceola, Bird Island; Mellville Cooperative Creamery Association, Hector, Bird Island ; Morton Creamery Co., Morton; Norfolk & Palmyra Creamery Association, Bird Island; Renville Creamery, Renville; Fairfax Creamery Association, leased, Fairfax.

In 1910 Renville county had six cooperative creameries and three independent ones. There were 1,1126 patrons, owning 8,751 cows. About 733,729 pounds of butter were made, and the patrons were paid $180,119.28.

In 1911 Renville county had six cooperative creameries and two independent ones. There were 1,320 patrons, owning 8,035 cows. About 605,246 pounds of butter were made, and the patrons were paid $130,125.57.

In 1912 Renville county had six cooperative creameries and six independent ones. There were 981 patrons, owning 5,300 cows. About 409,761 pounds of butter were made, and the patrons were paid $102,636.01.

In 1913 Renville eouuty had five cooperative creameries and six independent ones. There were 887 patrons owning 5,954 cows. About 864,872 pounds of butter were made and the patrons were paid $217,815.97.

In 1914, not including the Morton and Hector creameries which did not report, $179,887.77 was paid to the patrons and the number of pounds of butter made were 767,602.

Following were the creameries in Renville county in 1914. Where two addresses are given the first is the shipping address and the second is the shipping point. Where but one address is given the postoffice and shipping point are the same : Boon Lake Cooperative Creamery Co., cooperative, Buffalo Lake, Hutchinson ; Brookfield Cooperative Creamery Association, cooperative, Brookfield. Hutchinson ; Buffalo Lake Creamery, independent, Buffalo Lake ; Central Creamery Association, cooperative, Olivia ; Danube Creamery, independent, Danube; Hector Creamery Co., independent, Hector ; Fairfax Cooperative Creamery Co., cooperative, Fairfax ; Melville Cooperative Creamery Association, cooperative, Hector, Bird Island; Morton Creamery Co., independent,

The following cooperative creameries are now operated in the county : Boon Lake Creamery Co., Lakeside ; Central Creamery Association, Olivia ; Eddsville Creamery Company, Eddsville ; Fairfax Cooperative Creamery, Fairfax; Franklin Cooperative Creamery, Franklin; Melville Creamery Association, Melville; Brookfield Cooperative Creamery Co. ; Bird Island Cooperative Creamery Co. One is being built at Hector. Besides these cooperative plants there are private plants at Buffalo Lake. Danube, Renville and Sacred Heart.

In 1860 Renville county had seventy-four cows and produced 400 pounds of butter. In 1870 Renville county had 993 cows and produced 10,185 pounds of butter and 610 pounds of cheese. In 1880 Renville county had 6,083 cows; 429,914 pounds of butter were made on the farms and 13,142 pounds of cheese were made on the farms. In 1890 there were 12,742 cows in Renville county; 3,730,730 gallons of milk; 815,113 pounds of butter and 6,123 pounds of cheese. In 1900, 2,845 farmers reported dairy products ; value of all dairy products, $242,165 ; value of dairy products consumed on farms, $102,636; milk produced, 5,633,382 gallons; gallons sold, 1,329,219; pounds of butter made, 879,589; pounds sold, 478.684; cheese made, 5,387 pounds; cheese sold, 4,811 pounds. In 1910 : Dairy cows on farms reporting dairy products. 18,041; dairy cows on farms reporting milk products, 9,332; gallons of milk produced, 3,174,852; gallons of milk sold. 213,976; cream sold, 134,528; butter-fat sold, 425,657; butter produced, 783,919 pounds; butter sold, 415,500 pounds; cheese produced, 50 pounds ; value of dairy products excluding home use of milk and cream, $405,618 ; receipts from sale of dairy products, $320,100.

Inquiries have been made of the secretaries of the various creameries asking for a history of their respective institutions. In a few instances no reply has been received.

The Bird Island Cooperative Creamery. The first factory for dairy products in Bird Island was a cheese factory. This was built by the Bird Island Creamery and Milling Association on the southeast corner of the block south of the Bird Island Roller Mills in 1883. This company operated the factory the first two seasons. Later it was leased to a Canadian, William Tate by name, who then made cheese at the factory for two summers. After standing idle two years, the J. Richardson Company, one of the original stockholders, bought out the other stockholders, to make the plant over for a creamery, which change was made. The J. Richardson Company operated the creamery successfully for several years, commencing with gathered cream and installing a separator when separators came into use. The building was bought by a farmers cooperative association which association was running the creamery when it burned down in 1906, it having been under the association management about two years. Since that time the creameries nearest Bird Island have been the Melville and Norfolk-Palmyra creameries, respectively four and seven and one-half miles from town.

In August, 1915, an investigation of the railway company's books at Bird Island by the agricultural department of the Bird Island Public Schools showed that 21,500 gallons of cream had been shipped out of Bird Island in the preceding twelve months, enough cream to make almost 60,000 pounds of butter. A campaign was launched by the Public Schools' Agricultural Department to ascertain and develop sentiment in regard to a creamery. The organization finally resulting is the work of the farmers of the community, working at first through the Renville County Swine Breeders' Association, and is the work of the Bird Island Public Schools. The business men of the community have also cooperated to a very large extent.

At the regular September meeting of the Swine Breeders" Association held in Bird Island, Sept. 5, 1914, a vote was taken to ascertain the sentiment of the members present as to the relative desirability of independent and cooperative creameries. The majority was in favor of a cooperative creamery. A committee was appointed at this meeting to see how much stock could be disposed of and to find out how many cows were in the territory that would be served by a creamery in Bird Island. The committee appointed was: Ralph Loomis, chairman, Bird Island township; Nels Mattson, Kingman township, H. J. Jungclaus, Osceola township; R. Y. Frakes, Melville township; -I. -I. Meurer, Norfolk township.

This committee reported progress at the October meetings of the Swine Breeders' Association by which time fifteen hundred dollars in shares and the product of three hundred and twentyfive cows had been subscribed. A special meeting of the association was held November 25, a booster meeting for the creamery. It was addressed by Prof. F. M. Washburn, Associate Professor of Dairying, University of Minnesota, who talked on the subject, "Cooperative Creameries."

An organization committee to carry on the work of organization was elected at a meeting held December 19. The members that served on this committee were Nels Mattson, chairman, Ralph Loomis, secretary, Joseph Sester and H. T. Rauenhorst. The creameries of Glencoe, Biscay, Fairfax and Franklin were visited by this committee in getting ideas for a creamery in Bird Island. A permanent organization was effected January 22. 1915.

By-laws and Articles of Incorporation were adopted. Officers and directors chosen were: President, Nels Mattson; vice president, Joseph Sester; secretary, Ralph Loomis; treasurer, John J. Hopman ; Wolfgang Bauman, George W. Johnson, Joseph Prokosh, John Torbert.

It was decided not to commence building operations until four thousand dollars in cash capital had been subscribed. When this amount had been secured the mark was advanced to four thousand dollars capital to be subscribed by would-be patrons and it was also required that the product of 800 cows be promised for the creamery's raw material. People in town willing to help in starting a creamery subscribed for sixty shares. Shares were $25 each. Interest on shares being limited by the by-laws to six per cent if any is paid, it is clear that these subscriptions were not made with the expectation of profit.

Fifty-six hundred dollars in shares and the product of 815 cows had been subscribed before the last of July, 1915. The requirements were not raised again. The Creamery Engineering Company of Dassel. Minnesota, was employed to draw plans for the building. The plans call for a building of hollow clay building blocks, the side and rear walls to be covered with stucco and the front wall with a veneer of white glazed brick. The dimensions are 28 feet 2 inches by 56 feet four inches. The equipment will include a 10 horsepower boiler for heating and pasteurizing, two electric motors for power, two 300-gallon cream vats, a churn of 900 pounds capacity and a four-ton refrigerating machine. Much building space has been saved by the use of electric motors for power and by using machine refrigeration. The use of this machinery will also greatly reduce operating expenses.

The contract for erecting the building was awarded to Frank Hagen of Franklin, Minnesota. At this time, November 1, the walls of the building are complete. Indications are that the building will be finished on contract time, November 29, 1915. The machinery should be installed and the creamery in operation before Christmas. 1915. The present officers and directors of the creamery are: President. Joseph Sester; vice president, John Torbert; secretary, Ralph Loomis; treasurer, John J. Hopman ; Wolfgang Bauman. George W. Johnson, Joseph Prokosh, William Korrect.

After getting along without a creamery for thirteen years, Bird Island is to have another creamery as the result of fourteen months agitation of the idea of having a modern creamery to provide a local market for cream. With the expenditure of similar effort in making the creamery a success as was expended in getting the bidlding, the Bird Island community will take front rank as one of the prosperous communities following the dairy industry in Minnesota.

The Boon Lake Cooperative Creamery Co. began business Dec. 8, 1897, on the northwest corner of section 27 of Boon Lake township, for the purpose of taking in milk and making butter. The company consisted of about thirty farmers, among whom may be mentioned : H. D. Boorman, John Eggert, W. W. Forbes, Orville J. Edner, William Kurth, Fred Linstadt, Hugh Carrigan, Peter Bensten, and Fred Jorchs. The capital stock was placed at $3,500. The first officers and directors were William Kurth. Orville J. Edner, Fred Linstadt, II. D. Boorman, John Eggert. W. W. Forbes and Peter Bensten. A house was purchased for the butter maker May 10, 1912. The present officers are Herman Rannow. president; Charles Reinke. vice president; A. W. Barfknecht. secretary; William Kurth. treasurer. Directors - A. Barfknecht. John Reinke and B. F. Sheppard. In 1914. 1,286,555 pounds of milk were received; Kifi.796 pounds of cream; 86.- 290.24 pounds of butter fat ; $22,380.04 paid to the patrons for butter; $29,435.49, receipts from butter. There were sixty-four patrons, owning together about six hundred cows.

The Brookfield Cooperative Dairy Association was incorporated in Boon Lake township. 1899. with the following officers: August Hoefs, president: C. F. Zabel, secretary; H. E. Danielson, treasurer. The directors were John M. Zabel. II. P. Anderson, William Wehking. Butter-making operations were started March. 1900. The butter maker's house is owned by the creamery and was erected about the same time as the creamery building. The present officers are: H. Soltow. president; Herman Zabel, secretary and treasurer. Directors - A. Wojahn, K. Koglin. H. Arndt. E. Kemp and II. Weseloh. The report for 1914 is as follows: Milk received. 526,696 pounds; cream received, 54,444 pounds; butter fat, 31.623.19 pounds. Paid to patrons in check, $7,429.52. Average number of patrons. 35.

The Buffalo Lake Creamery is located on the corner of Main street in the heart of the village of Buffalo Lake, Minn. It is an independent creamery, owned and managed by John E. Swanson. The building was erected during the summer of 1913 and butter making was begun Jan. 5, 1914. In 1914. 258,489 pounds of cream were received. 85,057 pounds of butter made and $18,450.72 paid to the 165 patrons. The dairy cows in this neighborhood are of the Holstcin. Jersey and Shorthorn breeds. The creamery has proven a success from the first and the output for 1915 is about double that of 1914 sbowing a steady increase. The village as well as the community as a whole consider the creamery one of their best institutions and are doing their best to make it a success. Several years ago there was a farmers' creamery at Buffalo Lake which after passing through many hands, finally came into the management of Andrew Hanson who operated it for some time until it was closed about four years ago.

The Danube Creamery. Nov. 11, 1912, N. I. Hugger opened the Danube Creamery for business. It was built and operations started in 1908, but at the time Mr. Hugger opened it, it had for some time been standing idle. There are now some 200 patrons owning some 1,000 eows. The Danube "Review" of March 11, 1915, says in part:

"It has been proven over and over again that the local creameries of Minnesota are a better market for cream than the central creameries in the large cities,, and that in this state where about one thousand creameries are in operation the farmers receive from six to eight cents a pound more for butter fat than the fanners are receiving in Nebraska and Kansas where the eentralizers have killed the local creameries. Only a few years ago the Danube Creamery was standing idle, and a constant demand was made that it be started again as it was a disadvantage for the town and surrounding country to be without a local market for cream. In .the fall of 1912 the Danube Creamery was reopened and has since been a success and of great value to the farmers. Now there is less cream shipped from here than any other similar point along the Milwaukee road. This also proves that we have a class of farmers that are loyal to the local creamery and are willing to put their shoulders to the wheel and help a worthy project.

"Tin- Danube Creamery opened up for business on Nov. 11, 1912, and since then has handled 805.951 pounds of cream out of which it manufactured 274,796 pounds of butter. The farmers patronizing this institution received nearly .$70,000 for butter-fat. The creamery is equipped with the most modern machinery that money can buy. The grade of butter made is of high quality and sells at a premium over the market. For this reason the creamery is in a position to pay its patrons the highest market price for their cream and still give them the fullest credit test and weight. The average price paid for butter-fat in February was thirty-one cents a pound."

The Fairfax Creamery Association was organized in 1896 by the following : John B. Lieble, Aug. Yoeks, Peter Peschges, Wenzel Frank, J. A. Whitiner, J. W. Donahue and John Albrecht. The following officers were chosen: J. A. Whitmer, president; J. W. Donahue, vice president: Peter Peschges, secretary, and Wenzel Frank, treasurer. Buildings were erected and buttermaking operations were started in 1896, the buttermaker being W. E. Cleveland. In 1901, a buttermaker 's house was erected. About 1909 the creamery was rented for a period of one year to C. B. Thomas. It is now out of existence.

The Fairfax Cooperative Creamery Co. was incorporated May 9, 1914. The company erected a new and modern brick building in Fairfax with modern equipment at a cost of $8,000. The name of the persons forming this cooperative association were :

P. W. Garrahy, John Albrecht, John Iago, William S. Ruona, Anton Melvold, Herman Schmechel, J. A. Whitmer, W. Prank, N. J. Olson. Charles Firle, Walter Caven, Paul Albrecht, all of Fairfax, Renville county, and vicinity.

The association was organized for the purpose of buying, selling, manufacturing and dealing in milk, cream, ice cream, butter and cheese and generally conducting a creamery business, and buying and selling eggs and poultry and conducting a community laundry. The constitution of this association provides the amount of capital to be $20,000 ami that the amount of indebtedness or liability which the association may contract shall not exceed $5,000. One director is elected from each of the following townships: ('aim. (amp. Bandon and Wellington, if possible, and a director-at-large, such officers being chosen annually by the stockholders. The annual meeting of the stockholders is held the first Monday in February of each year.

The names of the first board of directors were : President. J. A. Whitmer: treasurer, John Albrecht: Herman Schmechel, William S. Ruona, Anton Melvold and Paul Albrecht, directors. Buttermaking operations were begun Feb. 10, 1915. Sept. 1. 1915, W. E. Cleveland, who was connected with the old creamery, started in 1896, became the buttermaker. The present officers are: J. A. Whitmer. president: Herman Schmechel, vice president; J. W. Donahue, secretary: John Albrecht, treasurer; Anton Melvold; John Lieble, Jr., and Henry Eriekson, directors. About sixty tubs of butter are made during the week and from $3,000 to $3,500 are paid to the patrons during the month. Buttermilk is sold for 26V2 cents per barrel. There are over 100 patrons and about 1.000 cows of various breeds, chief of which are the Holstein, Jersey and Red Pole.

The Franklin Farmers' Cooperative Creamery is located on the main street in the heart of the business section of Franklin. Minn. The company was organized March 4, 1914, and incorporated on March 16. 1914. with a capital of $5,000. The incorporators were : Edwin Hed. of the State Dairy and Food Department, William Johnson, Matt. Niemi, Isaac Bogema and Henry Heikka. The erection of the building was begun July. 1914, and buttermaking operations began Nov. 21, 1914. The first officers were : President, William A. Johnson ; vice president. J. C. Farrell ; treasurer, Fred Tower ; secretary, William Fox ; directors, J. D. Diekmeier, William Ruona and Henry Hiekka ; manager and buttermaker, J. L. Grellong. William Ruona has been succeeded by H. B. Peder son as director. The first annual report of the creamery reads as follows : From Nov. 21 to Dec. 31, 1914 - Pounds of milk received, 2,293; pounds of cream received, 13,906: average test of milk, 3.88 per cent; average test of cream, 33.73 per cent ; pounds of butter fat in the milk. 88.20 ; pounds of butter fat in the cream, 4,691.20: total pounds of butter-fat, 4,779.40; pounds of butter shipped to New York, 4,592; butter sold at creamery, 421 pounds; total pounds of butter made, 5,013; pounds lost in shrinkage to market, 39; received payment for 4.974 pounds; average price paid patrons, 32.24 cents; average price received for butter, 32.4 cents; pounds butter fat sold in cream, 782.20; pounds butter fat made into butter, 3,997.20; pounds over-run, 977; per cent of over-run, 24.4; total amount received for butter, $1,612.04: total amount received for cream, $253.05; total amount received for buttermilk. $20.12; total amount for sulphuric acid, 15 cents; total amount received, $1,885.36; paid for butter fat, $1,540.98; paid for running expenses, $183.50; total paid out, $1,724.48. Balance on hand. Dec. 31. 1914. $160.88. The breeds most favored in the community are the Holstein and Guernsey. The present buttermaker is L. .1. Grellong.

The Hector Creamery Association was organized June 17, 1899, at Hector by P. E. Toole. Frank Marsh, George McGrath, P. O 'Donnell, Chas. Wenz, Bert Alberts, C. H. Reuber, R. Scheel, Thos. Torbenson. Geo. Weber, A. Malm. Chas. Roitz. E. Thielmann, Victor Peterson. Kund Christenson, Albert Schwarzkop, John Tesch, Simon Jenson, Carl Gubbe, F. F. Gablenz, F. A. Green, Karl Moag. The capital stock was $5,000. The following were the first officers : George McGrath. president : Charles Roitz. vice president: Frank Marsh, secretary: Gus Malm, treasurer; Bert Alberts, C. H. Reuber, and P. O 'Donnell, directors.

Some ten years ago this creamery was sold to the Hutchinson Produce Co. They manufactured butter for a while, but for some years past have used it for a skimming station, shipping t lncream to Hutchinson and the Twin Cities. Plans are now on foot for the formation of a new cooperative creamery in Hector.

The Melville Cooperative Creamery Company is located in the town of Melville, section 16, southeast quarter, three and a half miles east of Bird Island. It was organized Jan. 19. 1901, the first officers being: President, Herman Zupke; vice president and treasurer, ('has. Zupke: secretary, Carl Mueller. Directors - E. M. Wolff, F. E. Wolff, Rudolph Minks, Lottie Arnold. A building was erected in January, 1901. and butter operations started in March, 1901. A house for the buttermaker was erected in 1910. The present officers are: President. Albert Foesch; vice president, Rudolph Minks: secretary, H. C. Krueger; treasurer, Hans Peterson. Directors - Robert Wolff, Charles Peterson and Charles Degner. The annual report for 1914 gives the following facts : Pounds of milk received, 541,685 ; pounds of cream, 108.668; average test of milk. 57.98; test of cream. 28.00: butter fat from milk, 20,134 pounds ; butter fat from cream, 28,487.7 pounds : pounds of butter made. 58,453 ; butter sold to patrons,

4,981 ; pounds of butter shipped, 53,562; amount paid to patrons, $1-'!, 01':!. (ill; average price paid patrons, 30 cents; received from buttermilk, $40; over run, 98.342, or 20 per cent; cash on hand from last year. $595.58; received from butter shipped, including sales to patrons, $15,516.81: received from other sources. $8; total, $16,120.39. Running expenses - Buttermaker's salary. $790; secretary's salary, $36; other office salaries, $36; fuel. £467.30: tubs and other packages, $463.80; salt, $25; color, $10; oil, $37.73: ice, $484; total, $2,069.83. There are thirty -six patrons, each owning about ten cows, no particular breed of cow being specialized in.

The Morton Creamery Co. was incorporated Oct. 28, 1901, by August Vogel, Sherman, Redwood county: Arthur S. Kenney. Paxton, Redwood county; John Buery, Birch Cooler ; M. B. Bertrang, Leonard Farinbaugh, A. F. Mahowald, Fred Pfeiffer, F. M. Keefe, A. H. Keefe, Fred W. Orth, Joseph Smith, Andrew Mc- Cormick, George Wederath, F. W. Penhall, G. A. Brown ami E.

F. Lentz, all of Morton. Officers : President, August Vogel ; vice president. John Buery; secretary Arthur S. Kenney: treasurer, Leonard Farenbaugli. The capital stock was placed ;it $3,500. August Vogel, H. M. Noack, F. M. Orth, M. Holden and A. S. Kenney were actively identified with the destinies of the company. Operations were commenced in 1901. In 1912 the plant was leased to P. L. Gardner who opened an ice cream plant in connection.

The Norfolk and Palmyra Farmers' Creamery Association is located in the northeast corner of section 24. township of Norfolk, adjoining the township of Palmyra. The creamery was organized Feb. 27, 1900. by Alex. Harrison and the first officers were Ole Johnson, president: J. B. Keltgen. secretary; Chas Glesener, treasurer: directors, Jas. 1'owers. Christ Gulliekson, Joe Schmall and Andrew Banielson. The erection of the building was started shortly after the organization of the association and was ready for business May 8, 1900, with ( }eo. Chandler as buttermaker, who held that position for the first five years. Then Oscar Norskog acted as buttermaker until Feb. 1. 1915, when he was succeeded by Theo. Norskog. The farmers received sixteen cents per pound for butter fat during the very first month of the creamery's operation. Before that they had received a verv low price for their farm butter. The present officers are Ole Johnson, president ; John Hilgert, vice president ; Theo. Norskog, secretary ; Chas. Glesener, treasurer and manager. Directors, Ben. Korkemier, Gust. Melquist, Joe Meuerrer, and Solomon Johnson. The last annual report of the creamery is as follows : 310.589 pounds cream received; paid to the patrons in cheek, $22,385.79; in butter, .+266.808 ; in sundries, $1,177.83 ; butter shipped, 94,299 pounds, worth $24,091.80: butter sold to patrons, 9,22114 pounds, worth $2,668.08: butter sold elsewhere, 7,748, worth $2,161.02; cream sold. $3.20; buttermilk sold. $119; received from other sources, $177.61. There are about 140 patrons with a total of 900 cows of various breeds the two most prominent being the Holstein and Shorthorn.

The Central Creamery Association of Olivia was organized in 1899 with a capital stock of $5,000. The incorporators were: William Wolff, Henry Fehr, M. W. Converse, C. W. Deyling, George Mehlhouse, C. Fisher, R. P. Peterson, Andrew Broden, Wm. H. Pfeiffer, Win. A. Johnson, H. D. Hopman, B. Sanderson, Thomas Flood. Albert Carlson, Fred Fox, A. Donnely, William Laird. Henry Dunsmore, P. A. Comstock, H. J. Kuske, Herman Reck, J. J. Bickel, ( >. H. Julson, John Mehlhouse, A. Fox, F. Havelish, G. M. Riedner. John E. W. Peterson, J. F. Roesler, Theodore Bombeck, John E. Dennstcd, O. R. Erickson, A. Cunningham, Alfred Heaney, Perry Burch and Henry Palas. The first officers were: William Wolff, president; H. Fehr, vice president : Mark Converse, secretary; Chas. W. Dwyling, treasurer; directors, Ole J. Julson, G. M. Riedner, and O. R. Erickson. Peter Christenson was buttermaker. The present board consists of H. D. Hopman, president ; -lames F. Haley, vice president ; H. Fehr, secretary, and (i. J. Wetzstein, treasurer; directors, O. R. Erickson, C. F. Haber and B. A. Tersteeg. From 80,000 to 120,000 pounds of butter fat are received.

The Sacred Heart Creamery was purchased from the farmers by Bengt Nelson, the present proprietor, Jan. 1, 1913. He does a business of about $25,000 a year. In 1914 he made 55,000 pounds of butter. He has a good trade in cream, butter, eggs and poultry, and is widely known for his honorable dealing.

The Kolbert Creamery & Produce Co. The business men and farmers started a creamery in Renville in the nineties. But after various vicissitudes it was sold and was operated under private ownership until January, 1913, when P. J. Kolbert purchased it. In 1913 he paid out $23,000, in 1914, $27,000, and he estimates that in 1915 the business will reach $35,000. In connection with the creamery he does a produce business.

The Buffalo Lake Farmers' Creamery Co. was organized many years ago. The first officers were : President, Darwin S. Hall ; vice president, John G. Wallner ; secretary, Frank Leasman, treasurer, Ole Olson. After the creamery was operated for a while it was leased to various persons at different times, and was finally discontinued.

The Erickson Farmers' Cooperative Creamery and Cheese Association was incorporated May 17, 1899, by the following: A. D. Smith, G. S. Osmundson, E. McBroom, Julius Diedrick, Lars Evenson, Hal grin Tostenson, C. T. Gulsvick, Peter P. Hammen, Jacob Anderson, Henry Pellowschond, "William Schneider, Ole T. Gulsvicg, Kasper Warner, P. Dybson, Jan D. Bruns, Martin De Vries, Lendert Huls, Will McBroom, Henry Wille, Talen Groat, Obbe Hulzing, B. Gruen, P. Wulf, Jacob J. Jacobs, Tosten H. Wolstad, Eric Hanson, H. H. Rolie, Casper Oleson, C. Pederson, ,1. W. Bakken, H. Decknatel, August Swanson, Carl Anderson. The capital stock was placed at $3,500. The first board of directors was: Tosten Wolstad, Julius Diedrick, A. D. Smith, Ephriam McBroom, Peter Wulf, August Swanson and Kasper Warner.

The Flora Farmers' Cooperative Creamery Association was formed March 5, 1898, by F. A. Schroeder, W. Wieske, F. Luecks, Joseph Ahrendt, W. Kuglin, Emil Breitkreutz, Herman Droage, Fred Sommers, George Soltan, Fred Steinkamp, Fred Streech, John Wagnen, August Zaske, Peter Bingen, W. Reed, Fred Bratsch, Julius Stranch, J. A. Grabow, August Beyer, Nick Zimmerman, Frank Foster, J. A. Schroeder, F. H. Breitkreutz. The officers were: President, F. A. Schroeder; vice president, W. Weiske ; secretary, Julius Spenber ; treasurer, Frank Foster ; trustees, August Zaske, Peter Bingen, Ferdinand Sommers. The capital was placed at $3,400.

The Flora Creamery Co. was incorporated in the town of Flora, Jan. 26, 1900, by F. A. Schroeder, Julius Sperber, Frank Foster, F. Sommers, Wm. Weiseke, Paul Breitkreutz, Ferdinand Leuck, L. A. Prodoehl, John Wagner, J. A. Schroeder, Gus. R. Schroeder, Henry Becker, Herman Draker, John Reetz, Charley Bratsch, Aug. R. Zaske, Joseph Ahrendt, J. A. Grabow. The first officers were: President, F. A. Schroeder; vice president, F. Sommers; secretary, Julius Sperber ; treasurer, Paul Breitkreutz ; directors, Frank Foster, William Weiseke and F. M. Shoemaker. The capital stock was placed at $4,000.

The Henryville Cooperative Creamery Co. was incorporated Oct. 5, 1901, in the township of Henryville by Frank Trochlil, John A. Vomacka, Wencil Wertish, William Headt, J. M. Skoblik, F. J. Haudik, John Malecek, Martin Stepka, Frank Dobeas, Seymour Stevens, John G. Swoboda, Joseph Swoboda, Joseph Fossenbauer, J. J. Dolesal, Anton Rejsek Joseph Riedl, Philip

Christ, John Safar, J. F. Kubesh, F. V. Vertish, Mary "Wacek, Ferdinand Fritz and Joseph Pulkrabek. The first board of directors was : Frank Trochlil, J. A. Voinacka, Wencel "Wertish, J. M. Scobolik, William Haedt, Frank Hodek, John Malechek. The amount of capital was placed at $4,000.

The Martinsburg Cooperative Creamery Co. was incorporated Nov. 6, 1901, by M. R, Tompkins, Oscar C. Anderson, J. H. Maxwell, Aug. Soderquist, P. J. Carlson, Johan D. Skaldberg, J. Hallqnist. Lewis Hable, Otto Johnson, D. E. Youngren, A. G. Caarlson, Gustaf Bjolin, Julius Schitt'man, E. Johnson, A. G. Burgeson, James Larson, Albin Anderson, Fred G. Schultz, Charles Schultz, and Carl Kruger, all of Martinsburg; Fritz Reuter, Carl Laub, and George Steinke, of Wellington ; And. Dahl, of Bandon ; Emil Larson, John Anderson, and N. P. Johnson, of Palmyra. The first officers were: M. R. Thompkins, president; D. Youngren, vice president ; August Soderquist, secretary, and J. H. Maxwell, treasurer. The capital stock was $4,000.

The Clover Leaf Creamery Co. was incorporated March 26, 1912, at Osceola, by John Hornan, John H. Bargmann, Hamlin V. Poore, S. M. Freeman, H. J. Jungclaus, Frank Stamer, F. O. Grimm, E. A. Grimm, Henry Broderins, Henry Sing. The officers were: President, Hamlin V. Poore; vice president, John Hornan ; secretary, S. M. Freeman ; treasurer, H. J. Jungclaus ; directors, Frank Stamer, Henry Sing and John Bargmann.

The Farmers' Cooperative Creamery Co. of Sacred Heart was the first creamery in Sacred Heart and was operated for a while with varying success.

The Sacred Heart Farmers Creamery Co. was organized with I. P. Flotten, president; H. A. Peterson, secretary, and F. O. Johnson, manager. For a time it flourished and four different shipping stations were established in neighboring villages. After passing through varying fortunes, however, it finally passed into the hands of Bengt Nelson, the present owner.

The Winfield Creamery Co. was incorporated May 1, 1900, in Winfield by P. Christianson, president; Nels Swanson, secretary; Olaf Tatting, Albert Frankson, Frank Fousek, directors; and Ulriek Julson. The capital stork was not to exceed $1,500.