Rice County, Minnesota - Chapter 65, 1882

Chapter 65

Northfield township is situated in the extreme northwestern portion of Rice county, adjoining Dakota county on the north, Goodhue county on the east, and contiguous to the townships of Bridgewater and Wheeling on the west and south; embracing as .its area, including the city of Northfield, forty-four sections of land, or 28,160 acres, almost all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and admirably adapted to all agricultural purposes.

The surface of the township is varied and diversified. It is really a prairie town, smooth in places, but everywhere is noticeable the rolling tendency. As you approach the eastern line, along Prairie Creek, the laud is more broken and hilly, covered with a heavy growth of timber. Here are many ledges of barren rock extending along the line of timber and prairie where it breaks its surface to make room for the stream. Along the entire western and southern boundaries the surface is more broken and hilly, and as you retreat from these you enter th;; prairie land which is undulating and beautiful. The soil on the prairie is a dark, rich loam, and in the timber, or in the hilly Land, it is of a lighter color.

On sections twenty-six and thirty-four is located what is known as the "Big Woods," although they are now small and insignificant in comparison with what they were in former years. Throughout the town, where there is no natural timber, the farmers have cultivated domestic groves, which are a great help in beautifying the township. One in particular is worth mentioning, on the farm of Samuel F. Johnson, in section thirteen. The grove consists of maple and Cottonwood, covering ten or twelve acres, set in symetrical rows about twelve feet apart, and visitors pronounce it one of the finest in the State. There are many fine farms, well watered, well cultivated, and supplied with excellent buildings, and it can unhesitatingly be said that this is the finest township in Rice connty.

There are only two streams of any note passing over the surface of this sub-divesion, the Cannon River, passing through the city of Northfield, and Prairie Creek. The latter rises in Cannon City, enters Northfield at the extreme southwestern point, and flows through the southern tier of towns until it reaches the northeastern part of section thirty-four, where it is joined by another small stream and makes a northward turn, keeping this direction with a little inclination to the west until it reaches section one, when it leaves Northfield and enters Goodhue county. In sectwelve Prairie Creek is joined by Spring Creek, which rises in section thirtv-six and flows north-

A sketch of Northfiekl published in 1808, wlieu the territory was a part of the town that now comprises the corporate limits of the town of Northfiekl, says:

"NoBTHFiELD, the northeastern town of the county, contains one congressional township and eight sections of land. Of its area eighty acres belong to the government, two hundred and eighty acres to the railroad, and one hundred and sixty to the University. This town presents great inducements for the investment of capital in farming, its surface is beautifully diversified with prairies, groves, and running streams. The "Big Woods " skirts the town on the west, and furnishes an inexhaustible supjily of timber. Its population is principally of American origin, and its foreign born citizens mostly Germans and Norwegians. The station of the Milwaukee & St. Paul railway is in the town of the same name, situated in the northwestern part of the townsliip."

Since the above was written the city of Northfield has been set off and organized as a separate government, leaving the area of the township as stated elsewhere in this article. The same report states that the population of both in 1860, was 880, and in 1865, 1,502. In 1870, the population of both town and city was 2,381.

The government and unsold land mentioned in the above report is now occupied by actual settlers. The statement as to the nationality of the inhabitants will apply to the present time.

In 1870, the values in Northfiekl, city and township, as given to the census takers were as follows: Keal property, 8984,180; personal, S340,325; total, SI, 324, .505. The total assessed valuation for the same year, real and personal, was S716,890. In 1882, the County Commissioners in equalizing the taxes of the county made the following report of the assessed valuation in Northfield: Personal property, town and city, S527,- 473; real property, $979,459; total assessed value, $1,506,932. Showing an increase since 1872, of S790,042. Of the figures given for 1882, the total assessed valuation in the city was $1,050,265, of which S445,841 represented the personal, and and .S604,416 the real property. The total assessed valuation in the township, exclusive of the city, for 1882, was $446,667, of which $71,632 was personal and .§375,035 real property.

Early Settlement

This subdivision of Rice ciiunty commeneed its era of picmcering in 1854, about the same time as did almost all of the prairie towns, this kind of land being more inviting to the incomers and more easily sulnlued and made ready for agriculture. The first to come into the township and actually settle and take a farm was Mr. D. Kirkendahl, or, as it is sometimes spelled, "Kuykendahl", who was a native of Germany but recently from Pennyslvania. He took a farm just where part of the city now is, and commenced western life in a tent where the college buildings now are, and where, in a few weeks, he put up a log cabin. His selling out to Mr. North and leaving is noted in the history of the city.

Mr. Kirkenhahl had been here just twelve days when Mr. Alexander Stewart made his appearance. He was a native of New York, having stopped for a time in Wisconsin, which latter place he left on Ihe 16th of May, and arrived in Northfield on the 16th of .Tune, 1854, and found Kirkendahl safely, but temporarily, lurased in his tent. Mr. Stewart brought bis family, and all he had in the world which consisted of three pair of oxen, four cows, and some loose cattle, besides the usual household articles and "nick-nacks." A tent was pitched on his present place in which he lived four weeks while he did some breaking and preparing land, and then he erected a log shanty 14x18 feet, and, as he says, "one story low." This he covered with a half roof of shakes, the remaining half being open for two months, no floor was put in and in this shape the family moved into their new home and remained there until after the fall work was finished. Then Mr. Stewart went to St. Paul and procured some lumber with which he made some badly needed repairs. Shakes of black oak were brought into use to make a good roof, which was covered with sod, and this sheltered the inmates for nearly two years when, on the occasion upon which Elder T. R. Cressey, the pioneer Baptist minister, was a guest of Mr. Stewart's, a heavy rain storm came up and speedily made mush of the sod whicli had become rotten, and soon transformed the little cabin into a mud pile. This made it painfully apparent that there was still room for improvement, which was speedily furnished and afterwards a pleasant and neat dwelling was erected to take the place of the cabin, which still stands. Mr. Stewart stUl resides on his farm and is undoubtedly the oldest settler in the township or city. This little commencement was the basis upon which grew the entire northern settlement of the city and townshij). Two weeks after Mr. Stewart's arrival, Jonathan Alexander and . family made their appearance and selected the farm upon which they now live, near the last named pioneer's place. He brought considerable stock, about ten cows and ten head of loose cattle, one horse, and was pretty well fixed with world's goods. A tent was pitched which served as shelter while a good shanty was erected; this was run as a hotel and tavern, or an old fashioned inni from the time of its erection for a number of years, and many a weary traveler has here found shelter. Mr. Alexander lias one son who took a farm as early, if not before he did, and both still occupy them.

J. D. Hoskins and Henry Tralle were about the next to arrive. Hoskins was a native of the state of Maine and secured the place now occupied by Captain Ames. Tralle was a native of Germany and took a farm which he sold in 1855 to 0. N. Stewart. This was about the extent to which the northern part of the town was settled this year, and carried it up to the winter of 1845-55, which was a very mild one and the settlers experienced no trouble in getting through in safety. In the meantime, and before cold weather had actually set in, another native of the old "fader -land" had arrived and settled south of this little neighborhood, in the person oi Frank Frahnkoop, who still lives iu the town.

John S. Way, whose nativity dates in Caledonia county, Vermont, came through this township from St. Paul where he had arrived in May, and reached Northfield in June, 1855. He put up some hay and iu September secured the claim he now occupies in section seven, and put up a log house which is still standing and in use for an ice house. Mr. Way is now a member of the board of County Commissioners.

Next among the arrivals in the spring of 1855, we notice the names of C. P. Whittier, who now lives in Northfield, John Bingham, the White brothers, H. H. Merrie, T. H. Olin, who still lives on the second place he secured, and who is mentioned elsewhere; Sylvanus Bunday, who took land in section eleven; Ransom and George Smith, brothers just from Ohio; J. W. North, and W. W. and James Willis, also from Ohio. After this the settlement was carried on so rajjidly that it is impossible to trace it in sequence. The city of Northfield was commenced,and although slowly at first, gained steadily until we find it what it is to-day. The settlement of the township thickened, new modes of cultivation and agriculture have been adopted, and now we find one of the richest and most fertile farming localities in the State, with the fai'mers all in most prosjierous and comfortable circumstances. Since the time mentioned, and on various dates, the following are a few of those who have arrived and now help fill the northern part of the town: Daniel Goodhue, P. Tosney, S. V. Ward, Thos. Lawler, James Lynn, the Bunday s, Duncan Ferguson, Thomas De Lancey, Colville Oarlaw, Wells Blackman, John Miller, B. F. Woodman, Thomas Wilson, Charies S. Martin. J. C. Oouper, W. R. Green, C. W. Lyman, E. Spaar, Culver Hibbard, John Eiddell, John Law, A. T. Barrows, S. M. Persons, Benjamin Ogden, Nels Woodworth, G. Bacon, W. N. Woods worth, Franklin Kelly, etc., etc.

In the meantime a settlement had been started and was growing rapidly in the southern and central part of the township, and we must call the reader back to the date of its beginning. About the first to come and select a claim was J. D. Jones, a Scotchman, who had stopped for about ten years in Wisconsin, and who arrived in the township in the spring of 1855. He made his way to East Prairie and took a farm iu section thirty-five op Prairie Creek, and found that he had arrived just about the same time as a party of Norwegians who wiU be mentioned hereafter. He erected a small shanty and returned to Milwaukee, where he remained for a time but subsequently came back to his claim.

In the same spring, 1855, a party of Germans made their way into the township and became domiciled. Gottlieb Pray, or as it is sometimes spelled, "Prehn," F. Sommers, Mr. Crintz, and Gottlieb Lackel, were members of the party. Gottlieb Pray (or Prehn) took a farm in section twenty-two, where he dug a hole in the side of a hill aud commenced pioneer life. Soon afterward a log house was erected, and he lived on his place abt)ut fourteen years when he went to Illinois where he died; his son still occujiies the old homestead, in comfortable circumstances.

F. Sommers secured a home in section ten, and put ujj a little shantj' covered with dirt, and began " stayin " there. He still occupies his place in a well fixed home.

Mr. Crintz took the farm now occupied by Mr. H. Harris in section sixteen, where he erected a house and lived until the time of his death, which occurred in 1875. His first team consisted of a couple of milch cows.

Gottlieb Lackel made a pre emption in section seventeen, and after living there a few years went to Cannon City, and from there to Faribault where he now lives. All of these parties had their families with them and had but very little of the world's goods. There are now, however, those who remain, among the "solid men" of this part of the connty. There is some dispute as to the date of their coming, by outside parties who claim they did not come until 1856, but we give it as reported to us by one of the members of the party, and we believe this to be correct.

T. H. Olin also arrived this year, being a native of New York. He made a claim near Mr. J. D. Jones' place, and, as he was afraid some one might jump it, he placed a man named Sanford upon it to comply with the statutes, so it would be sate. Sanford proved to be a treacherous fellow, and after he had been on the place a short time began to consider it his, and when Mr. Olin returned from an eastward trip to claim the land he had selected, Sanford pretended not to recognize him, and although he had been paid for attending it he refused to give it up, and as Mr. Olin was a lover of peace, rather than make trouble he went several miles north and purchased a claim where he now lives. Olin had put up, at a cost of $100, one of the first houses in the township on this land, hauling the lumber from Hastings, and to be cheated out of the whole thing was a severe blow financially. Sanford, after six or seven months, decided that this was an unhealthy locality for him and he finally sold his claim to Mr. Thorpe for §600, and went to Hastings where all of his money was stolen from him and he and his family commenced working their way eastward. He, during his stay, had made considerable money by locating parties on land, for which he charged exorbitantly; but, after E. L. Fuller arrived, a town plat was secured and this work was done free of charge.

On the 24th of May, 1850, E. L. Fuller, a native of the Empire State, made his appearance with his family, some stock, and household goods, and took the claim he now occupies on sections twenty-two and twenty-seven. The first thing he did was to pitch a tent, in which he lived until his log house was erected. Charles Ferrall, a native of New York, and a man from Wisconsin, Bichmond Clinton, came at the same time; the former took land in section twenty-seven, where he remained four years, and after spending a short time in Northfield finally found his way back to his native State. Richmond Clinton secured a home adjoining section twenty-two and remained there until his death, which occurred in April, 1864.

In June, 1856, .1. D. .Tones, wlio is mentioned above, returned to the township, having spent some time in Milwaukee, and commenced boarding with Mr. Fuller's family, as he was a single man, while he did his breaking. Mr. Jones still lives on his farm which is one of the finest in the county, surrounded by all the luxuries and comforts of an eastern home, and is one of Kice county's prominent men.

George and William Thorpe, of Vermont, arrived on the 4th of July, 1856, and celelirated the day by taking farms north of Mr. Jones. One of them pin-chased Olin's farm of Sanford. William died some years ago, but the property is yet in the family. John Dixon, late from Michigan, drifted in about the same time and pre-empted the northwest quarter of section twenty-eight, where F. Koester now lives, and lived on it for six years. He erected a log house, and his wife taught school, but he finally returned to Michigan from whence he came. Some old settlers think Mr. Dixon did not come until one year later than '56, while others claim this date is correct.

About the next to come in and take a home was Lambert Watts and family, from Vermont, who made their way with a team of horses and settled on the northeast quarter of twenty-seven. They still live in the township. Mr. William Eoss and family, from Pennsylvania, showed up about this time, the whole party being on foot. They settled on a farm in section twenty-one, and the family held the claim while the father and son went out to work until they had earned enough to buy a t«am. They remained on the place for fifteen or sixteen years, until they became in comfortable circumstances, and then removed westward; one son is now in Bridgewater township.

In the fall of 1857, Philip Miller and family, wife and two children, Germans, drove into the township behind a team composed of one ox and a cow, and au old fashioned home-made wagon with wheels without tires. They first settled in section fifteen where they remained for a number of years and then piirchast'd the valuable farm they now occupy in section twenty-one.

The same year a man named Gregory came and settled, but has since gone. A man whose name is forgotten came early and took a place in sections seventeen and eighteen and after occupying the same a short time sold, in the fall of 1857, to Joseph Cannedy who now occupies it.

A small colony of Norwegians had arrived in 1855, and it is claimed that some came the year previous. They all settled in the southern part of the town, mostly along Prairie Creek. As many of those whose names are remembered will be given, viz : Halver Quie, Hans Hanson, Einde Erick, Shure and Ingelwet Igebretson, Toske Bunday, Sever AslaJison, Ole Lockrun and two brothers, Helger Hanson, Lars Knuteson, Nels Oleson, John Hanson, Andrew Johnson, Guttorm Severson, Eson Clemmerson, Sever Oleson, Ole Severson, and a man whose name has slipped from memory. In the summer this remarkable individual was called the " Old Saw- mill " because, as it is claimed, he and his daughter with a whipsaw cut up all the lumber used by this small army for building purposes; in the winter he spent his time cobbling and was then called the "Old Shoemaker." He has since gone west. This crowd was joined the following year by Osmund O.smundson, Captain John Hanson, who could talk English, as could Halver Quie, and Toske Bunday, and were known as the "Interpreters." Many others came at various times, and probably a few of those who are mentioned as coming in 1855, did not reach their farms until the spring of the following year.

The above list embraces most of Hje early settlers, but of course it is not intended to be a complete roll of all the pioneers, for only a census taken at that time and carefully preserved could do that.

Items Op Interest

It is claimed that Elder T. K. Cressey, the pioneer Baptist preacher, held services in the house of Alexander Stewart in September, 1854. This was among the first serWces in the county. The first Methodist and Congregational services were also held in the same place, the first by the Kev. Mr. Curran, and the last by Rev. Mr. HaU.

Earlt Bikths. - About the first birth in the county, and undoubtedly the first in the township, was the arrival of James, a son of Alexander and Hannah Stewart, at their residence in section thirty-one, near the City. The boy died some years ago.

Willie Ferrall, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ferrall, was born in the year 1857, grew to manhood, and is now a mail distributor in Minneapolis at a salary of 11,100 per year. A number of Norwegian children were born very early.

Marriages. - The first marriage of parties from this town was John, a son of Jonathan Alexander, who went east shortly after his arrival in the town and was married while there to Miss Ann TolifF, and together they returned to their new home in the West. They still live in the township. Their marriage must have occurred late in 1854.

About the first marriage within the limits of the township took place in 1855, at the residence of the bride's parents, and the high contracting parties were Mr. John Lamphier and Miss Athea Alexander; the ceremony being performed by the Congregational minister, Eev. Mr. Hall.

William Bierman and Miss Christine Pray (or PrehuJ were joined in the holy bonds early in 1857, by Squire Frost, the happy couple going and returning from 'their place of union on foot. They are now weU off.

In the same fall August Pray was marto Miss Bierm.an, at the "dug out" of the groom's father, by a German minister. They are still living on the place where they ^yere made one, surrounded by all the comforts of life. ^

Political Organizations

The first meeting of the township w:is nndouhtedly hekl on tlie 11th of M;iy, 1858, in common with the bnlauoe of Kice county's subdivisions; but the first twenty leaves have in some manner, and owing to someone's carelessness or vandalism, been torn from the clerk's book, and the original, and therefore the most interesting part of the township records must be guessed at. It is one of the duties of the township clerk to see that the town records are preserved, and to mutilate them himself or to allow any one else to mutilate or destroy any portion of them, is as open to penalty as to make a false entry on them. Men should be placed in office who can be depended uj^on, and bonds required for the faithful perfi>rmance of duties, while the board should promptly investigate matters of this kind with an eye to ascertaining who the real culprit is. It is probable, however, in this case, that the books have been torn while moving from one office to another.

The first meeting shown by the records was held on the 1st of April, 1862, in Lyceum Hall, in Northfield, and O. H. Rawson was appointed moderator, and George W. Butterfield, clerk. The moderator then declared, the polls open, the ballot box being in charge of N. G. Clary, G. Gregory, and Linus Fox. After the polls were closed it was found that there had been about ninety votes cast, and the following officers were declared elected: Supervisors, John S. Way, Chairman J. A. Hunt, and George C. Thorpe; Clerk, George W. Butterfield; Treasm-er, M. P. Skinner; .Justices of the Peace, Charles Taylor and Linus Fox ; Assessor, Elias Hobbs; Constables, Dwight Bushnell and John Vanater. The government of the township was continued by these gentlemen, and has been kept uji by their successors in an efficient manner.

At the town meeting in 1882, in the spring, the twenty-fourth annual reunion of the voters, the following officers were placed in charge of town matters: Supervisors; J. J. Alexander, Chairman, N. S. Cannedy, and A. T. Huseby; Clerk, John G. Koester; Treasurer, C. J. Orr; Assessor, Charles J. Sherpey; Justice of the Peace, J. D. Jones; Constable, J. C. Sommers. Meetings are now held in the Hall over Mr. D. H. Orr's cheese factory, in the southwestern portion of section fourteen; but the project of erecting a town hall is now being entertained by the officials.

War liEoonD. - In February, 1864, a request was mad(> by the free holders of the locality for a special town meeting, to issue bonds for the purpose of comi)eusating volunteers wlio should enlist to fill the ([Uota assigned the town. This call was signed by Charles Taylor, J. A. Hunt, Linus Fox, S. L. Bushnell, William Thorpe, H. Scriver, E. Lathrop, and E. Lockwood. Accordingly the requisite papers were issued, and on the 26tli of February, 18G4, the special meeting came to order in the Lyceum hall, and T. H. Olin was chosen moderator. The records then says they voted the sum of $2,000, or as much thereof, as, in the discretion of the board, should be necessary to procure volunteers. Bonds to be issued at 12 per cent interest. The proceedimgs are signed by the Supervisors, who were, John S. Way, J. A. Hunt, and G. C. Thorpe; E. Lathrop was Clerk. Then, on the 7th of the following March, the Treasurer was directed to let bonds be issued in favor of the following volunteers, at the rate of interest mentioned above, and to the amount as set opposite their names, as follows:

Shortly after this, in July, 1861:, another request was made by the following named freeholders, for a special meeting for the purpose of voting money to volunteers: Charles Taylor, William Thorpe, J. A. Hunt, E. Lockwood, M. W. Skinner, Robert Silk, Urill Butler, E. Slocum, John Simmons, S. L. Bushnell, J. L. McFee, John Vanater, and H. .Jenkins, jr. The requested meeting was held in the store of H. Jenkins, jr., and Hiram Scriver was elected moderator. After the usual preliminaries it was voted that .156,000 should be issued in bonds at 12 per cent, interest, to those

Another special meeting whs held on the eighth of November, 1864, at which the sum of $200 was voted for relief to the families of volunteers, and C. A. Wheaton, W. J. Sibbison, and I. S. Field were made a committee to investigate and distribute the relief.

Still another special meeting was held on the 21st of January, 186.5, at which $8,000 was voted to pay bounties to volunteers, the meeting being held at Lyceum Hall in North field, and the report is signed by William Thorpe, D. H. Orr, and M. Wheaton, Supervisors.

District No. 28. - The first organization that embraced the territory now comprising this number was organized in 1857 as district No. 13, with a schoolhouse in the township of Bridgewater. It was subseqiiently set off and organized under its present number, embracing the territory in the eastern part of town, south of the city of Northfield. The present schoolhouse was erected in 1867, at a cost of $1,200, being a good and substantial stone building in section nineteen. The first school was taught the winter following by Miss Putney, with an attendance of iifty scholars, the district embracing at that time a great deal of territory; the attendance is now about twenty-five.

DisTBicT No. 34. - This district effected an organization in 1857, at the residence of William Thorpe. The first school was taught at the residence of John Merrill soon after organization. In 1859, a schoolhouse was erected, a frame building in the eastern part of section twenty-six,which still answers the purjjoso of a schoolhouse. This district embraces the territory in the southeastern part of the township.

UisTiiicT No. 47. - The first school taught in this district was by Mr. R. L. CUnton in 1859, at a residence erected by the teacher. This primitive structure has since rotted down and its builder passed to the great hereafter. In 1866, a neat and commodious stone school building was constructed in the center of section twenty-two, which is still in use.

Hoyt Field, in section eleven, in 1861. The present owner of the place on which this building stood is Mr. Sylvanus Bunday. The district was organized and a school building erected in 1862, which was afterwards burned down. It has now an excellent stone edifice in the southeastern corner of section eleven, which is well filled with the necessary apparratns, and is one of the most healthy and ably managed districts in the township.

Districts No. 63 and 70. - This is a consolidated district, embracing territory in the counties of both Rice and Dakota. No. 63 represents the territory belonging to Northfield township and comprises the northeastern part. It was organized in 1861, and in the fall of the following year a neat school structure was erected by both districts in the northern part of section thirty-five.

District No. 75. - This educational subdivision commenced its existence in 1867, and inaugurated this dignity by immediately building a schoolhouse in the southern part of section thirty -four. The first school was taught by Miss Sarah Rawson, now Mrs. A. P. Morris, of Northfied, with ten juveniles on the benches. The school now enrolls about twenty-five.

District No. 78. - Was organized in 1865, at the residence of Philip Cobum. The first school was taught the same year in a part of his house by Maretta Alexander, now Mrs. Charles Holt, for the sum of three dollars per week, sometimes there being only two or three pupils present. In 1870, the schoolhouse was erected in the northern part of section ten. The average attendance at present is about twelve.

District No. 94. - The first school in this district was taught by Miss Edith Clark, now Mrs. Alichael Coburn, at the residence of Solomon Clark in section seventeen, in the summer of 1868. School was afterward held in an old granary until the present frame building was erected in the northeast corner of section seventeen. Miss Clara Kingston taught the last term in the old granary, with an attendance of about thirty scholars.

SoANDiNAViiN Seleot School. - This school is located on section twenty-six, in the southern part of the town; it is kept in a smal' building, 14x16 feet, erected for the j^urpose, and its object is the teaching of church catechism in the language of tlie nationality who sustain it.

Prairie Creek Cheese Factory. - This is one of the princ'ipiil manufacturing iutlustries in this part of the county. It was established on the 1st of May, 1871, by David H. Orr, in the southwestern corner of sactioa fourteen. Mr. Orr liad some misgivings as to the success of his enterprise, so he erected a building that he could use as a barn in case the matter failed to come up to his expectation; but in this he was happily disappointed, as he has been very prosperous and successful in his undertaking, as will lie seen by the fact that the article manufactured by this factory took the first premium at the Minneapolis fair. The premium money, $100, offered by Mr. Gilson, then projjrietor of the Nicollet House, Minneapolis, was for some unknown reason, withheld, although the judges decided that it was due Mr. Orr, so he got the name and honor but not the gain. This factory also took the first premium at the American Institute in New York, and Mr. Orr now holds the diploma as an evidence of his success. Altogether the establishment is one which is justly a credit to the town and county.

James' Cheese Factory. - This enterprise was established in the fall of 1871, by Mr. M. D. James, who erected a suitable building in the southeastern part of section five. It was continued as a cheese-making establishment until 1881, when it was sold to the Ellis Brothers, of Boston, who at once transformed the same into a creamery, or butter-making establishment. New and thorough machinery, churns, etc., have been put in, and everything equipped m first-class shape. Owing to the lateness of the season and the price asked for cream, it has not yet commenced running.

Germain Iiethodist Church

This society may be said to have effected an organization when their first services were held in Mr. Drentlaw's house, in 1855, by the Bev. Mr. Soloman, with ten in the congregation. After this services were held in private houses until their church was erected in 1867 or '(58, in the western part of section twenty-two, which they still use. It is a very neat and commodious structure, having cost about .SI, 500, and Mr. Charlas Ebel generously donated three acres of laud which is utilized for a cemetery. The present pastor is Kev. Mr. Plagenhart, the membership numbering about sixteen.