Stearns County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 8 of those read), 1915 (part 1 of 6)

Chronology

Incidents in the Life of the County Gleaned from the Newspaper Files - Marriages and Deaths - Personal Items Regarding Hundreds of Early Pioneers and Later Residents - Industrial, Educational, Political, Social and Religious Notes.

The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow. The copies distributed, it is true, soon pass from sight. Even in a month from the time a paper is issued it is sometimes difficult to obtain a single copy. But in the newspaper office itself it has been preserved and placed on file. The files become an asset of the office and increase in value as the papers become yellow with age. Here in the musty volumes is found the day by day history of the town, the county, the state. The State Historical Society recognizes the value of the newspaper history, and a complete file of every newspaper in the state is kept in its library. A newspaper is one of the most accurate of all historical sources. The editor of a newspaper not only means to get correct information, but he also gets most of it at its original source, throwing sidelights upon events which are missing in the formal records. Each day, if he edits a daily, each week, if a weekly, his effort stands before the bar of public criticism. His critics are those most intimately interested in the articles published. They do not trust to memory, hearsay, legend or tradition. They are eye or ear witnesses, or star actors in the passing drama. They surely are trustworthy critics. With them the newspaper must pass muster. If facts are not correctly stated they are corrected. The newspaper that is not substantially accurate cannot and does not live. Time gives authenticity. Criticism is forgotten, minor inaccuracies are overlooked, and the newspaper record stands as accepted history. A newspaper is not mere gossip. It is a record of passing events. Reports of buildings, new industries, biographies, social events, religious movements, births, deaths, politics, policies, honors that come to people, crimes that blacken the records, onward and backward movements in progress, disasters, amusements, accidents, epidemics - all make up the newspaper history of a community. It is a mirror of life as it is daily lived, here and now.

The continuous newspaper record of Stearns county begins with the first number of the St. Cloud "Visitor," December 10, 1857. For this history a chronology has been prepared, beginning with that date.

that the Sioux encampment is a war party in pursuit of the Chippewas. They are watching each other for scalps, and a general engagement is every day expected. The Sioux at Grand Lake last week entered and robbed the cabin of a white settler in defiance of the owner.

The sound of the church going bell over prairies and woodlands was first heard on Sabbath last, when the new bell of the Catholic Chapel rang out its summons to worship.

December 17. - The Sauk Rapids Frontiersman says several families and young men have gone out to live on and improve their claims. Some from St. Cloud have done likewise and more are going in the spring. There are also a goodly number of strangers here looking for claims; and some now held by non-residents will doubtless be sold to actual settlers who will improve them. Six men, all bringing their families, were looking for claims at Grand Lake last week, some of them are likely to be suited there, where it was thought every acre was taken

December 24. - To subscribers - Produce of any kind will be received in payment for subscription. We want potatoes, corn, turnips, hay, beef, game, firewood, furs, or anything good to eat or warm to wear or of use about the house.

January 14. - The wickedness of city life manifested itself in this far-off place and in these early days. A news item reports that "during the absence of Mr. Monti from his store one day last week a respectably dressed woman entered, puzzled the attendant in having him take down a counter full of goods and succeeded in appropriating a quantity of fine artificial flowers. She will have a pleasant time wearing them, as she and they are likely to be recognized."

Mr. Beaupre's ferry boat at the upper landing, St. Cloud, was running until the 28th of December, when it was stopped because the ice bridge below made it unnecessary. The river is completely bridged at the lower ferry, while above and below it is still open.

February 12. - One hundred thirty volumes of books have arrived in St. Cloud as a donation from the Hon. Edward Everett to the Everett school, and are now held by L. Gorton for transportation charges.

The smaller parts of the machinery for the Breckenridge saw mill have arrived here. It is estimated that 45 teams will be required for its transportation, and the company has offered $5,000 for its safe delivery at its destination.

The old but ever new question of amusements aroused a discussion between the press and the pulpit which divided the little community into two antagonistic camps. The Visitor criticised very severely the prevalence of kissing games at social entertainments among both old and young. "The idea of social etiquette," it said, "whose rules require a woman to kiss or be kissed by all the tobacco chewers in a room full of company is certainly in a very high degree revolting." As a substitute the editor advocated dancing, quadrilles and cotillions, but barring out "waltzes, polkas and schottishes or any other figure in which there is an encircling of waists with supporting arms." This drew forth a criticism from the Rev. T. E. Inman, pastor of the Baptist church, who, taking the paper into the pulpit and using the editorial article as a text, declared that dancing of any and every form, nature or kind should be abolished because of its indispensable accompaniments, drinking and fighting, and asserted that when a lady was led out on the floor for a dance she was "disgraced and dishonored." This elicited a reply from the Visitor, which insisted that dancing should be regulated, not abolished; there were more sermons and" more rejoinders, both sides quoted scripture, and correspondents took up the cudgels; the matter finally ending, as such controversies usually end, just where it

Tliis afternoon a man named McDonald came to tlie Central house and without provocation drew a revolver and fired at J. E. Hayward, the proprietor. The ball struck Mr. Hayward in the center of his left hand and glanced from the ribs of the left side, without inflicting any serious injury. McDonald was arrested.

February 18. - The First Minnesota regiment arrived in St. Paul Monday, and had an enthusiastic reception. A number of the boys who enlisted from St. Cloud and vicinity are at their homes.

A deputation of nineteen Chippewa Indians arrived in town Monday, in charge of J. C. Ramsey, en route to Washington to ratify the treaty made last summer by the Hon. Alex Ramsey.

Lieut. Stephen C. Miller's appointment as commissary of subsistence with the rank of captain in the regular army has been confined. He reports for duty at St. Louis.

Frederick Scherfenberg, of this city, formerly of Company D, First Minnesota, has been appointed by Gov. Miller as watchman at the state capitol.

April 7. - Judge O. E. Hamlin has returned to St. Cloud and resumed the practice of law. Judge Hamlin left last fall for Pennsylvania, intending to live there but he evidently soon became tired of the east.

April 14. - Our contemporary has undergone another change, appearing last week as the Times. Moore & Co. are the publishers, R. Chaning Moore, Jr., a new comer, being the editor.

below St. Anthony Falls and will be navigated on the Lower Mississippi. The building of the railroad to St. Cloud has killed steamboating above the falls.

April 14. - Gager & Mills and Harris & Bentley of this place have secured the contract for transporting the Hudson Bay Company's goods from St. Paul to Fort Garry, about 500 tons annually, the contract to be for five years.

The Methodists are having the lumber hauled for their new church, which is to be on Fourth avenue. Lots 4, 5 and 6 in block 35 have been donated for the church and a parsonage and another lot has been given by J. L. Wilson.

A. C. Gowdy and R. D. Bloomfield, of the Second Battery, have been ordered to this state on recruiting service. Sergeant J. E. West, of Company I, Seventh Regiment, has been promoted to be second lieutenant.

At an Ecclesiastical council held at the Everett school house on the 27th, the organization of the County Baptist church of St. Cloud was approved. The services were participated in by the Rev. Messrs. Willet, Baumis, Gale, Inman and Tice.

The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society of St. Cloud, organized at the outbreak of the war to furnish hospital supplies for the Union soldiers, resolved itself into an auxiliary to the Minnesota State Board of the United States Sanitary Commission. The following officers were elected: Mrs. John Farwell, president; Mrs. H. Z. Mitchell, secretary; Mrs. C. Gould, treasurer.

May 12. - The preliminary survey of the new cemetary grounds has been completed by J. H. Place and lots will be for sale in the course of a few weeks.

May 12. - A business men's meeting was held May 6, at which it was resolved that after June 1, no form of currency would be received except legal tender notes and national currency.

May 19 - Notice is given of the dissolution of the co-partnership between R. Channing Moore, Jr., Thomas Simonton and Joseph H. Simonton as publishers of the St. Cloud Times.

May 26. - E. B. Litchfield, of the St. Paul and Pacific railroad company, has offered to give the Baptist church of this place $500 to aid in finishing their church edifice and to loan them $1,000 additional, if desired.

May 26. - Wesley Carter is having erected on Jefferson street fronting the court house, a two-story building, the upper story to be finished off into a Masonic hall.

June 2. - The draft took place during the past week. From St. Augusta 13 were drawn, St. Martin, 18; Munson, 22; Oak, 21; Rockville, 11; St. Joseph, 29; Wakefield, 23; Verdale, 5; Brockway, 1.

A proclamation has been issued by President Lincoln for the sale of certain government lands in Stearns, Wright, Meeker and Monongalia counties, September 5, at the Minneapolis land ofl[ice.

place will have to depend entirely on St. Cloud for their supplies, the dry weather and the grasshoppers having entirely ruined their crops.

Married, by the Rev. David Tice, at the parsonage in St. Cloud, June 15, Ambrose W. Tucker, of Fair Haven, and Emily J. Norris, of St. Cloud.

July 7. - Married, by the Rev. David Tice, July 4, at the parsonage, Alonso Spaulding, of Maine Prairie, and Christina Langdon, of Clearwater.

July 14. - The register of deeds, county auditor, county treasurer and sheriff yesterday removed their offices to the court house. The judge of probate will be in the same building soon.

The ceremonies of the laying of the corner stone of the new Catholic church took place Sunday. Bishop Grace of St. Paul, the Rev. Mr. Mongna, of the same city, the Rev. Mr. Stukenkemper, of this city, and the Rev. O. Wirtz, prior at St, Jo, conducted the services.

Dr. W. R. Hunter and James W. White are completing fine two-story residences on opposite sides of Fifth avenue, where it joins Washington avenue at the bridge.

July 21. - C. Bridgman has purchased the machinery belonging to the large saw mill at Industriana, six miles above Minneapolis and is removing it to this place.

Last Saturday a she-bear and two cubs were discovered prowling about the residence of H. Z. Mitchell and after a short pursuit were killed. Bears are very plenty this season and have been seen and killed in different portions of the county.

A mail route has been established beginning at St. Cloud and running via Fort Abercrombie and Bannock, Idaho, to Fort Walla-Walla, Washington territory.

E. M. Tobey, H. J. Fowler and Charles Taylor returned from the St. Francis country with the carcasses of five bear. John Cossairt killed one in the same vicinity; Dr. Cooley and a friend killed four in the St. Francis country; L. Abell treed and killed a big one on the east side of the river, near the upper ferry; Geo. W. Sweet, while going from this place to Sauk Rapids, treed and shot a cub; and Master Eddie Tobey and a young son of Capt. Briggs, fourteen-year olders, killed a cub with their shot guns - all within a week's time.

September 1. - Last Friday Gager & Co.'s teams returned from Fort Garry with 900 bales of buffalo robes, each bale containing ten robes. They were bonded by the Hudson Bay Company through to England. This makes 15,000 robes that have arrived here this season (and is one reason why in this year of our Lord 1914 a buffalo robe can scarcely be had for love or money.)

September 8. - The dedicatory services of the new Methodist Episcopal church took place Sunday last. The services were in charge of Bishop Kingsley, of Cincinnati, assisted by the Rev. Messrs. Jabez Brooks, President Brooks, of Hamlin University, David Tice, pastor of the church, David Lowry of the Presbyterian and John Scott of the Baptist church of this city.

Davis and Marble of Boston and Holes and Dunton of this place killed seven bears and two deer near Briggs lake. Messrs. Elwell and Abel killed four bears while on a trip to Granite City.

September 22.^ - A new bell has been put on the Methodist church and on last Sabbath for the first time called together the congregation of that church.

There is at present no minister of the Baptist church in this city. The Rev. James Thresher has accepted a call to preach at Fair Haven and Maine Prairie, forenoon and afternoon services.

October 13. - On Sabbath evening the Rev. David Lowry, of the Presbyterian church, preached his farewell sermon from the pulpit of the Methodist church. He was, we believe, the pioneer minister of St. Cloud, and was much respected by all our citizens. He has gone to Iowa.

November 3. - E. M. Tobey has purchased the large double store-room belonging to Geo. F. Brott on First avenue, above the Ferry road, in lower town, and is removing it to court house square.

E. M. Tobey has purchased the machinery of the saw mill at Breckenridge anA will have it transported to this place during the winter for his new mill at Stony Point.

Many families are locating at and near the pleasant little village of Paynesville. Better soil or a country more suitable for homesteads cannot be found in the state. Quite a number of families are preparing to emigrate to that locality from Illinois in the spring.

Dramatic entertainments are given from time to time to raise money for the benefit of the soldiers' hospital fund and soldiers' families. The leading parts are taken by well-known citizens, including A. B. Curry, R. C. Burdick, A. T. Whitman, Albert Wright and others, besides a number of the younger people.

December 22. - Governor Miller appointed W. B. Mitchell and John Zapp, of St. Cloud, and Luke Marvin, of St. Louis county, a committee on Immigration for the Third representative district.

On Sabbath evening another lot of nonreporting drafted men were brought to this place by Capt. Slaughter, of Sauk Centre, and turned over to H. Z. Mitchell, deputy provost marshall. They were sent to St. Paul Tuesday. Large numbers of drafted men are now reporting voluntarily.

A limited quantity of wheat is offered at $1,50 a bushel. Corn brings $1.20 and oats, 90c per bushel. Hay sells from between $13 and $15 a ton; wood between $5 and $8 per cord; butter, 24 to 40 c; eggs, 25c. 1865.

January 12. - C. A. Gilman has made arrangements for removing the saw mill owned by Leander Gorton to a location some 23 miles east of here on Elk river. Both pine and hardwood logs can be had in abundance.

January 19. - The session of the Board of Enrollment, Capt. Kieth president, closed yesterday. About 700 persons applied for examination, of whom 206 received exemption papers.

The Democrat boasts that every compositor who has ever been connected with that office has been or is now in the Union army, a record with which it challenges comparison anywhere.

March 2. - The town of Paynesville, with twenty-seven men enrolled, has a quota of nine to furnish. Yesterday eight of the best citizens of this plucky town went to St. Paul (one having previously gone), to clear Paynesville of the draft. Well done!

March 16. - H. L. Gordon, of Wright county, and W. H. Wood, of Benton, have been appointed by the governor to take the Minnesota soldiers' votes in 1865 in the Mississippi river district.

April 13. - The board of supervisors reported at the town meeting Tuesday that town bounties amounting to $21,513.97 had been allowed to 78 recruits, being an average of $275.82 each.

April 20.. - The report of President Lincoln's assassination is received. The city is plunged in mourning and business is suspended on the day of his funeral.

May 18. - T. C. McClure and C. A. Oilman have resigned as register and receiver of the land office to engage in the banking and milling business, respectively.

Capt. S. M. Bruce, who enlisted originally in Company I, Third regiment, and has served over three years and a half, returned home last week and will settle down on his farm near Sauk Centre.

June 8. - Union services, in accordance with the proclamations of the president and governor, were held in the Methodist church last Thursday, the sermon being delivered by the Rev. E. V. Campbell, of the Presbyterian church.

A German named John Steichner, just arrived from the old country, bought this week from Nicholas Rausch, living near Rockville, twelve miles from St. Cloud, his farm of 160 acres, paying for it $1,200 in gold and $1,200 in greenbacks.

Full details have been received of the "last battle of the war," which was fought near Brazos, Texas, by Col. T. H. Barrett, of St. Cloud, in command of the Sixtysecond U. S. colored troops.

A discussion at Maine Prairie on Sabbath last between the Rev. Mr. Ballou, of this city, and Elder Watkins, of the Prairie, was largely attended by persons from the adjoining towns. The subject was "Universalism," the first-named being pro and the latter con.

June 22.. - The transportation company, H. Gager & Co., has dissolved partnership, Henry Gager and L. R. Bentley retiring, while J. B. Mills continues the business. He holds the Hudson Bay Company contract.

The contracts for furnishing oats for the government at Alexandria, Sauk Centre, Pomme de Terre and Fort Abercrombie were all obtained by H. C. Burbank, of this city.

July 6. - Burbank & Co.'s transportation train of 190 teams arrived Monday from Fort Wadsworth, having made the round trip of over 450 miles in about three weeks. This with oxen we would call a quick trip, and the credit is due in great measure to the energy of N. P. Clarke, who had charge of the train.

with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Watkins,. The Maine Prairie choir sang a national anthem and sang it well. The Declaration of Independence was read by the Rev. Mr. Thresher, followed by the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" by the Maine Prairie and Fair Haven choirs. The oration was delivered by A. B. Curry, of St. Cloud, "Sherman's March to the Sea," well sung by the Fair Haven choir, closing the exercises. Capt. T. E. Inman was the marshal of the day. A delicious picnic dinner was served. The proceeds, from the special sales, amounting to $90, went to the benefit of the Maine Prairie library.

July 27. - N. Lahr is building a block of stores on St. Germain street, corner of Richmond avenue, and James Edelbrock is having an elegant brick residence erected on St. Germain street, near the bank of the Mississippi.

August 3. - A number of teams belonging to Fisk's expedition to the Yellowstone are encamped on the east side of the river. There are about fifty men in the party.

August 24. - Capt. J. E. West, Lieut. A. E. Hussey, John Dressier, Edwin Hart and other members of Co. I, Seventh Minnesota, have returned home.

J. C. & H. C. Burbank & Co. and N. P. Clarke's train for Fort Wadsworth left on the 9th and is composed of 200 teams. This is the fourth train this season and each train has averaged 220 teams.

September 21. - Col. C. D. Kerr, of the Sixteenth Illinois Veteran Infantry, a late resident of Jacksonville, 111., arrived in St. Cloud Saturday and will locate here for the practice of law.

The Rev. George Chase, who has been residing at Anoka, becomes rector of St. John's church, relieving the Rev. George Stewart, who goes south for the benefit of his health.

Over 200 Red river carts have arrived within the past ten days and as the grasshoppers destroyed the crops in many districts in that part of the country, these carts will take back large supplies of flour and other provisions. They brought furs valued at over $80,000.

September 28. - The new bridge over the ravine connecting Upper and Lower Town has been completed. It is 132 feet in length and 24 feet wide and is supported by five trusses and stone abutments at each end. The contractors were Gorton & Pray; cost, $700.

October 19. - The new Presbyterian church located about two squares back of the Fletcher House is rapidly nearing completion. The building is 30x50 feet. Much credit is due to the pastor, the Rev. E. V. Campbell, for his exertions in securing the construction of this building.

Contracts for supplying 7,500 bushels of oats at Fort Ripley have been let to H. C. Burbank at 53 cents in sack and 7,500 in bulk at 43 cents per bushel, and to J. P. Wilson for 20,000 bushels at Fort Abercrombie, $1.35 in sacks.

Three important cases affecting land adjoining St. Cloud have been decided by the secretary of the interior. In the case of George F. Brott vs. James Bowes (being Bowes addition), the decision of the general land office in favor of Bowes is affirmed. In the case of Benedict Heindle as administrator of Berno Muckenthaler, involving the right to enter the S. E. yi of S.

F. Brott, was decided in favor of Brott, who was given the right to enter the S. W. 14 of S. W,. 1^, Section 13, Township 124, Range 28, for the reason that Mr. Noel was at the time the owner of 320 acres of land.

November 9. - A portion of the power at John L. Wilson's mill at St. Augusta is used for crushing sorghum cane. An evaporator has been constructed near by.

Married, at Maine Prairie, on the 9th Inst., by the Rev. T. E. Inman, Ezra G. Hicks, of Sauk Rapids, and Luella A. Greely, of Maine Prairie.

November 23. - The( Fire Engine company met at the court iiouse Monday, adopted a constitution and by-laws and elected the following officers: J. R. Clark, foreman; Henry Lunkenheimer, first assistant; Geo. Herberger, second assistant; J, M. Rosenberger, secretary and treasurer; M. Lauerman, steward.

The Rev. S. H. Norris, for a number of years pastor of the Methodist church in this city, and an early instructor in the schools, died Friday of hemorrhage of the lungs.

December 14. - The three-days' fair at the Catholic church realized $1,011. A supper at the Presbyterian church Thanksgiving evening netted $175.

John P. Hammerel has been appointed postmaster at West St. Augusta. The name of the office has been changed to Luxemburg and the location from John Kraus's to St. Wendelin's church.

December 28. - Venison is very plenty in the market, being offered for sale on the streets. S. Holes brought to town a few days ago eleven deer which he had killed inside of sixteen days in the neighborhood of Neenah, ten miles from St. Cloud.

January 18. - A meeting was held at the court house to take steps to secure the opening by the government of a mail and emigrant route to Montana.

January 25. - St. Joe, eight miles from St. Cloud, is having a good growth. It has three stores, the two larger being owned by J. H. Linneman and Dr. C. S. Weber (who is postmaster) while Joseph Zimmerman has a grocery store. Mr. Linneman has a grist-mill, now operated by steam, and about half a mile distant are a saw mill and a grist mill owned by Peter Loso, all three being in active operation. There is a fine Catholic church, and a number

O. A. Pray has disposed of his one-quarter interest in the Union flouring mills for $5,000, to Burbank Bros., the business being continued under the name of L. Gorton & Co.

The supper given at Tenvoorde's hall last evening by the ladies of the Universalist society brought in $239.50. The supper was followed by a dance. Fuller's Clearwater band furnishing the music.

O. E. Garrison has received from the lithographers a supply of the large county maps on which he has been engaged for a year or more. The fifteen townships in the county are handsomely colored, and in the lower left-hand corner is a map of St. Cloud. A number of portraits and views are given as a border.

M. Gaspard yesterday caught at Lake George twenty-two nice pickerel. He cut a hole in the ice, near the outlet, and caught the fish with his hands as they came toward the opening.

Four Chippewa Indians of the Lake Vermillion bands, passed through town on Tuesday for Washington. They go to form a treaty with the government by which the latter shall obtain the new gold districts.

February S. - The Maine Prairie Lyceum gave an exhibition Friday, to raise funds for the library association. Cora Greeley, a five-year-old miss, opened the exercises with a song. George Allen and Fred Strout recited a juvenile dialogue. Declamations were given by Fred Greeley, A. Coates, J. C. Winslow, John B. Inman and others. "Keeping Bad Company" introduced some funny characters, B. H. Winslow and brothers, E. H. Atwood and others. Among those who took part were Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. D. Spaulding, Miss Adley, Mrs. Atwood, Miss Field, Mr. Adley, C. W. West, S. F. Brown and Jud Whitney.

March 8. - George Schaefer has sold his hotel to Nicholas Schaefer and has associated himself with Peter Kramer in the brewery business conducted by the latter.

Married, February 22, at the residence of E. M. Tobey, St. Cloud, by the Rev. George L. Chase, Lieutenant John R. Howard, of Sauk Centre, and Carrie P., eldest daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Joshua Briggs, of Briggs Lake.

Fair Haven congratulates itself on having a grist mill, a saw mill, a store, a hotel, several mechanics' shops and schools - all without a saloon. One local nimrod has killed fifty deer and several others from twenty to thirty. There is a triweekly mail.

Tuesday night some one entered Dr. S. Marlatt's store and took $2,147 from the safe. The thief took a coat belonging to J. M. Garlington (until that day a member of the firm of S. Marlatt & Co., and having still the keys of the store and safe), who had laid it on a chair while playing billiards at Robber's hall, and with these keys he secured entrance to the store and safe. The coat was found the next morning lying back on the saloon. The stolen money, with the exception of $127 which belonged to Dr. Marlatt, had been left on deposit by John Hayward.

April 5. - Gen. C. C. Andrews having offered to give the Library Association $100 in case an equal amount was raised, a supper was held at the court house last evening at which $115 was realized.

May 10. - O. Farwell, of Maine Prairie, last year cut a wheat crop from a piece of land that had been sowed or planted each year for ten successive years without having been manured. This tenth crop yielded over 20 bushels to the acre. We would call that good land.

Baker & Thompson, the former of this city, the latter of Clearwater, have begun the erection of a large grist and merchant mill at Cold Spring, with three run of stone, to be completed by the first of September next.

May 17. - O. Tenney, of Fabius, N. Y. arrived Friday in St. Cloud, which he intends making his future home. Mr. Tenney is the principal proprietor of the townsite of Rockville.

May 31. - A gentleman from Faribault says that a colony of twenty families will leave Rice county in a few weeks to settle on homesteads in the vicinity of Sauk Centre.

Married, at Fair Haven, May 22, by the Rev. T. C. Partridge, James B. Vandervoort and Velno M. Partridge. May 24, by the Rev. J. N. Thresher, Richard Vandervoort and Alma C. Webb.

June 7. - N. P. Clarke's train of fortythree teams returned from Georgetown Tuesday and started next day for Big Lake fully loaded with wheat.

Lieut. J. R. Howard has now a flock of 400 fine sheep on his farm at Sauk Centre and continues to make additions by purchase. Sauk Centre can soon boast of having one of the largest and best flocks of sheep in Northern Minnesota. Nothing pays better.

Among those going from this neighborhood with Capt. Fisk's expedition to the Montana gold mines are E. W. and C. F. Sims, H. B. Steele, P. Beaupre, R. Leech; John Farwell, of Maine Prairie; B. F. Butler, Fair Haven; George Mayhew and W. Fletcher, Sauk Rapids; W. A. Watson, Thomas Van Etten, Ed and James Garlington, these with others taking 100 teams and all purchased their supplies in St. Cloud.

There are five brothers in the Holes family, four of whom live at the mouth of Sauk river, two miles above St. Cloud. The tallest, William, measures six feet six inches in height in his stocking feet; the shortest, Samuel, six feet two inches, while their combined weight is 1,160 pounds. We call that "going some."

Joseph Zimmerman, of St. Jo., returned last week from Germany, accompanied by twenty-one settlers, who will locate in the neighborhood of St. Jo. The immigration to this part of the state has not been exceeded during any previous season. The

June 21. - Amos Robideau has a contract for regularly sprinkling Washington avenue and St. Germain street - St. Cloud's first sprinkling contract.

H. C. Waite and N. P. Clarke have each purchased a one-third interest in the Cold Spring flouring mill, now in course of erection, which will have four run of stone, P. B. Thompson has the other one-third interest. Another run of stone with additional machinery is being put in the Union mills, near St. Cloud. Arnold & Sim's mill at the mouth of Sauk river, is to have two new run of four-foot stone, and an addition, 25x50, is under construction.

J. K. Noyes, of Fair Haven, has the contract for carrying the mail from St. Cloud to Fair Haven and H. H. Herbert, of this city, a contract on the route from St. Cloud via Alexandria to Pembina.

July 5. - The Red River Brigade consisting this season of about 1,200 carts passed through town last week. They are loaded principally with buffalo-robes and other furs.

July 19. - H. C. Burbank, of this city, has received the contract for furnishing 3,000 barrels of fiour for troops in this state, at $10.17 per barrel.

Sauk Centre has a handsome location and one highly favorable for building a town. It has every indication of being a thriving place. Alexander Moore, the proprietor of the town-site, has a saw mill and a grist mill, both driven by an excellent water power on Sauk river. Both run night and day. On the main street Mr. Moore has also a large store, and just across the street the firm of Linnemann & Capser does a thriving business. S. Pendergast has a store and is the postmaster. R. Thomas & Co., are a new firm, but are building up a good business. There are two hotels, the principal one being kept by P. T. Safford. The town has a cabinet factory, blacksmith, wagon and cooper shops, a tailor shop and other trades are represented. George Grover & Co. are building a brewery. M. Ladd, of St. Cloud, is making brick. There are three lawyers, N. H. Miner, O. W. James, and A. W. Lathrop, and Dr. B. R. Palmer, formerly of St. Cloud, is the practicing physician. More than fifty families, having for the most part comfortable homes, make up the population of this growing and prosperous young town.

Buffalo have been killed this year in the Big Stone lake region, within 150 miles of St. Cloud, the first time in many years that these shaggy monsters have been so near us.

With today's issue the Democrat became the St. Cloud Journal, enlarged to nine columns to the page and printed on a cylinder press - St. Cloud thus having the first power press to be used in Northern Minnesota.

Middendorf & Brunning, of Richmond, have just shipped to the east 8,000 pounds of butter, 300 dozen eggs, 600 pairs of country-knit socks and other articles taken in at their store.

The Rev. Noah Lathrop has been appointed by the annual conference of the Methodist church pastor at St. Cloud; Sauk Centre to be supplied by the Rev. G. W. McComber. The Rev. C. G. Griswold was appointed presiding elder of the district and will retain his home in St. Cloud.

October 4. - Two trains daily are now run between St. Cloud and St. Paul, one arriving here at 12:15 noon and the other at 6:55 p. m. The morning train makes the run from St. Paul in four hours and fifteen minutes and the other in four hours and fifty-five minutes; distance 75 miles.

The post office has been removed to B. Overbeck's building on Richmond avenue, next door to the Minnesota house. J. M. Rosenberger will be postmaster Richardson's deputy.

October 18. - T. C. Partridge has sold his saw mill at Fair Haven to O. D. Webb for $3,000. Mr. Webb is repairing the mill and putting in machinery for the manufacture of staves.

November 8. - The telegraph line from St. Paul to St. Cloud was completed last last week and we are now in electric communication with the rest of the world.

Many deer are being killed. D. A. Hoyt, of Maine Prairie, has shot fifty thus far this fall. John B. Inman, a boy of eighteen, killed three last week near Maine Prairie.

John Moore's store at Paynesville was entered on the night of the 2nd and a quantity of goods stolen. The post office, which was in the same building, was robbed.

November 22. - The Northwestern Express Company, which has an ofllce at St. Cloud, has been sold by J. C. Burbank «S; Co., to the American Express company. It was founded in 1851 by J. C. Burbank. N. Gilbert remains as agent at St. Cloud.

The first sale of school lands in Stearns county took place at the court house in this city, beginning November 9, and was conducted by State Auditor Mcllrath. The sales amounted to 2,253 acres, for $15,657, being an average of $6.96 per acre. The greatest portion of the school lands in Sauk Centre township was withdrawn from sale for the present.

During the past year deeds for town lots were recorded as follows: St. Cloud, 230; Sauk Centre, 71; Fair Haven, 11; Cold Spring, 10; Clearwater, 9; Richmond, 5; St. Joseph, 3; Paynesville, 1.

January 17. - Married, on the 15th inst., at the residence of Capt. William Smith, near Sauk Rapids, by the Rev. Mr. Hall, Mr. Ezra Smith and Miss Mary A. Shepard.

A large Catholic college has been built within a few miles of St. Joe, in this county, which is a credit to the entire section. It is 46x50 feet, three stories high, and is built entirely of stone. The work was superintended by the Rev. Father Haindel.

Joseph Edelbrock has sold his frame dwelling house, on the same lot as his store, to John Rengel, Jr., who is moving it away. The "old court house" part has been sold to Mr. R.'s father and it is also being removed. We understand that Mr. Edelbrock intends erecting a large brick block on that corner next spring.

A donation party held at the residence X)f D. A. Hoyt, Maine Prairie, Monday night for the benefit of the poor on the Prairie, brought in $116 in cash and provisions.

A lecture for the benefit of the Library association, was delivered at the Presbyterian church Saturday evening by the Rev. Dr. McMasters, of St. Paul, on "The Peculiar Advantages of New Countries."

Charles Sylvester, of Sauk Centre, has purchased the machinery of the Clark & Dam sash, door and blind factory and will take it to that place. H. Gager is building a block of stores at Sauk Centre. The Rev. A. K. Fox, pastor of the Congregational church at Sauk Centre, is about to open a drug store in that lively town.

William Dickinson, engineer, and A. E. Hussey, millwright, returned yesterday after completing and setting in motion Hicks & Cowing's large saw mill at Alexandria.

The grain market continues to advance; wheat is $2.00 and $2.15 at St. Cloud, and in some cases as high as $2.25 has been paid. Flour is quoted at $12 per barrel at St. Joe, and scarce at that. At Sauk Centre the deliveries of wheat are so light that Moore's mill is running only a third of the time. Oats share in the high prices, bringing 95c to $1.00 per bushel.

Henry Gager, Sidney Irish, J. C. Bordwell, Jr., and George Salmond, with the pastor, have been elected trustees of the First Presbyterian church at Sauk Centre.

May 2. - Burglars effected an entrance to the court house Wednesday night, visitingmost of the offices. They burst the lock off the safe in the treasurer's office, but found no money, Treasurer Schroeder having taken the county cash home with him..

The prisoner Nelson made his escape from jail last night by prying open the door with a piece of scantling which he tore from the inside of his cell. He left a good-bye note for the sheriff.

R. P. Edson has opened a real estate agency at Sauk Centre and J. E. Finch & Co., recently of Hastings, have opened a fine drug store in that lively town.

May 23. - Burglars broke into S. S. Pinney's bank Monday night and forcing open the safe carried off the till containing $175.55, besides scrip and other papers. Fortunately, Mr. Pinney had taken the bulk of the money to his house the evening before.

L. A. Evans, who had resigned as judge of probate because of a question arising from the fact of his also being a member of the state senate, has been reappointed by Governor Marshall.

May 30. - Workmen are engaged upon the new Congregational church to be built on Fifth street just below Dr. Hunter's residence. Estimated cost, $3,500; W. T. Clark, contractor.

June 13. - Capt. L. W. Collins, who is county attorney of Stearns county, has been appointed by the county commissioners of Sherburne county attorney for that county also.

Cloud, which got into the fashion by organizing a club, to be known as the St. Cloud Base Ball club, and the constitution of the Empire club of New York was adopted.

June 27. - On Saturday last D,. Y. Smith shipped from this city $20,000 worth of furs. This is the largest shipment that ever went out of this place.

July 11. - J. G. Smith & Co., of Jefferson county, New York, have begun the erection of a fine brick building on St. Germain street, the lower story to be finished off for a bank and the upper into offices.

The long established and wealthy firm of J. C. Burbank & Co., comprising the Minnesota Stage Co., has been dissolved by the withdrawal of Mr. Burbank and Col. Merriam. A new firm consisting of Capt. R. Blakely and C. W. Carpenter has taken charge of the widely extended business. The important part this company has played in the development of Minnesota renders this an event of historical importance.

July 18. - Tenney & Mitchell, proprietors of the town of Rockville, have sold the hotel building and the block of lots on which it stands to Peter Lommel. Mr. Lommel intends putting up a new hotel, a store and a blacksmith shop.

July 25. - The Rev. Rupert Seidenbush, O. S. B. Abbot, announces that St. John's college, under the charge of the Benedictine Fathers of the Abbey of St. Louis on the Lake, situated in the most healthy part of Minnesota, will begin its half-yearly course of studies September 2. The postoffice address given is Clinton, Stearns county, Minn.

A post of the G. A. R. was organized in this place last night. Col. Charles L. Kerr was elected post commander; Capt. L. W. Collins, senior vice-commander; Mayor W. F. Morse, adjutant; Capt. J. B. West, quartermaster.

The contract for the transportation of army goods and supplies throughout the district of Minnesota has been awarded to J. B. Mills & Co., of this city.

October 3. - The postoffice has been removed to the building lately occupied by Anton Smith as a shoe store on Washington avenue above St. Germain street The telegraph office has been removed to the same building.

Joseph Hill, a well-known photographer from St. Paul, has arrived in St. Cloud and will locate here permanently. He has purchased A. Hull's gallery.

October 10. - The Little Giant Fire Engine company went to St. Paul Tuesday to attend the annual parade of the city department there. The railroad company gave the boys a fare of only $1.00 each way.

October 17. - The U.. S. land office has been removed to Kindler's new brick block on Washington avenue, above St. Germain street, occupying second floor rooms.

The eleventh annual meeting of the General Conference of the Congregational, churches of Minnesota was held in the Congregational church in this city last

Married, at Burbank, by the Rev. J. L. Whitla, Wesley Carter, of St. Cloud, and Martha D. Johnson, of Burbank. October 16, at the residence of the bride, by the Rev. J. H. Creighton, A. J. Whitney, of Maine Prairie, and Ella Clark, of St. Cloud.

October 31. - F. H. Dam has begun work on a large planing mill and sash, door and blind factory on Washington avenue, north of the ravine bridge.

George F. Winter, of Sauk Centre, has purchased of Alex. Moore a lot in that town for $1,200, on which he will erect a double store building.

There are 57 school districts in Stearns county, with 18 frame and 15 log school houses, 1,794 male and 1,784 female persons of school age, 30 male and 42 female teachers.

The Sauk Centre academy will open December 2, under the care of the Rev. D. W. Evans, assisted by Miss R. Spencer, with Mrs. B. R. Palmer in charge of the music department.

December 19. - The Rev. A. Gale, of St. Anthony, organized a Baptist church at Sauk Centre on the 8th inst., and preached the recognition sermon. There are now four Baptist churches in the Sauk valley.

Judge Hamlin is to deliver a lecture at Maine Prairie tomorrow evening, under the auspices of the Library association of that place. The next lecture will be delivered by Gen. C. C. Andrews, and others are to follow.

January 16. - The new flouring mill at Melrose, one of the best in the state, has been put in operation. Major Clark was in town this week to purchase plank with which to raise the dam three feet higher, giving a head of water twelve and a half feet. The mill has a capacity of seventyfive barrels per day. The proprietors, E. & W. H. Clark, intend putting up a saw mill in the spring.

January 23. - Albert Moffatt, of Hudson, Mich., arrived last week with his family to take the position of assistant cashier of the Bank of St. Cloud.

February 27. - A snow storm which began Saturday, continuing for over twentyfour hours, so blockaded the railroad that trains from St. Paul were unable to reach here until midnight of the following Wednesday. Another storm, the following week, resulted in another blockade, lasting for another four days.

March 5. - A. J. Stanton, of Clearwater, has purchased the Sims Brothers' interest in the flouring mills at the mouth of Sauk river, two miles above this place.

March 19. - Messrs. McKelvy, Moore and Kerr have purchased of Jeremiah Russell, for $3,600, a tract of thirty-six acres on the east side of the river, extending from Wilson's to Wright's ferries. It is touched by the eastern end of the new wagon bridge.

Gorton & Burbank have sold their water power with what improvements are left remaining after the late fire to P. B. Thompson, of Cold Spring for $5,000. We understand that Mr. Thompson wtll put a first-class mill on this location.

and in the department of Dakota this side of the Missouri river has been awarded to J. C. Burbank & Co. The contract is a very heavy one. Burbank Bros., of this city, will have the principal charge of the business.

The ice in the Mississippi began moving Monday, but did not start in earnest until Tuesday. The train from St. Paul had just arrived and the passengers for St. Cloud had started to cross the ice on foot when it began to heave and finally to move with them. It was a close call, as there was an open space of fifty feet between the ice and the shore, but a skiff was found and all reached land in safety.

The state and general fund apportionment for 1868 gave Stearns county $2,740.70 for its 3,544 scholars, being $0.77% each. There were sixty school districts in the county.

George H. Spencer is assignee of Denison & Fox and T. W. Denison, of St. Cloud, voluntary bankrupts, this being the first case of bankruptcy in Stearns county.

April 30. - The government transportation headquarters and depot for supplies have been definitely located at St. Cloud, with Major Robinson, quartermaster, and Major Walker, paymaster, in charge.

The Arctic Base Ball club held an election Friday evening with the following result: Dr. A. E. Senkler, president; William Mullikin, vice-president; Capt. L. W. Collins, secretary; Henry Lunkenheimer, treasurer; Dr. W. M. Burchard, E. M. Wright and J. B. Abbott, directors.

All who come from Sauk Centre speak encouragingly of its prosperity. New buildings are going up and the spirit of improvement seems to pervade the entire community. Among the comparatively new business houses opening up and prospering there are Philip Frank, clothing; Lamb & Myrick, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes; Bennett & Cole, hardware exclusively.

May 21. - A half-breed who had been installed in the county jail Friday night, at six o'clock the following morning forced the door open and walked off, carrying away on his shoulders the bed on which he had slept the night before - thus clearly rendering himself liable for rearrest on the charge of grand larceny.

Over two hundred teams have left St. Cloud during the past fortnight loaded with government supplies and Hudson Bay Company goods. One train of forty-two ox and six mule teams started for Fort Wadsworth, Dakota Territory, carrying oats exclusively, each team taking 140 bushels.

June 18. - George H. Spencer, who had already on hand 30,000 muskrat skins and 200 mink skins, received this week from Tanner, Briggs & Co., of Little Falls, in one lot, 46,000 muskrats, 680 mink, 45 otter, 25 bear and 70 beaver skins, amounting in value to $11,000.

J. C. Burbank & Co.'s train brought through from Georgetown 1,380 buffalo lobes, valued at over $8,000, belonging to the Hudson Bay Company and shipped to England in bond.

July 23. - A new post office has been established at Leedston, about eight miles above Richmond, on the stage road, with Jos. Zimmerman, who keeps the hotel, postmaster.

Charles Plunkett, manager of the opera house at St. Paul and Minneapolis, is giving St. Cloud its first theatrical season, the plays being staged at the court house, with fifty cents general admission.

July 23. - E. C. Cams started Tuesday morning for White Earth lake, in the Chippewa country. He goes as the agent of Messrs. Clarke & Burbank, of this city, to attend to the distribution of rations to the Indians, for which this firm has the contract.

"Great Northwestern Circus, the Undivided, Unabridged and Most Complete Circus," with all the rest of the assortment of bewildering adjectives which precede and accompany circuses, made its appearance at St. Cloud August 14.

Married, at Maine Prairie, August 22, by Elder B. U. Watkins, David B. Standley and Emma G. Allen, both of Maine Prairie. At Clearwater, August 24, by the Rev. J. D. G. Stearns, Samuel Whiting, Jr., and Anna M. Mayo, all of Clearwater.

Late advices state that the grasshoppers have completely destroyed the crops in the Red River settlements, and as the buffalo hunt has been a total failure the people there are facing the prospect of severe want if not starvation.

James Cambell, of Clearwater, started last week for Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he is to take charge of the hotel department of Vassar College.

September 10. - N. Richardson, of Little Falls, has purchased of the Messrs. Holes the ferry boat at the mouth of Sauk river. It will be hung on the Mississippi about half a mile above Little Falls for the accommodation of travel between that place and N. P. Clarke's mills at Little Elk.

Word has been received of the death in a hospital at Louisville, Ky., of "President" (or "Live Forever") Leonard Jones, an eccentric character who was a familiar figure in and about St. Cloud during the late 50's. He always insisted that he was the lawfully elected president of the United States and was fond of writing letters to the members of the cabinet. One of his chief characteristics was personal vanity, or rather an inordinate love for conspicuousness, and whenever opportunity

This afternoon a man named McDonald came to the Central house and without provocation drew a revolver and fired at J. E. Hayward, the proprietor. The ball struck Mr. Hayward in the center of his left hand and glanced from the ribs of the left side, without inflicting any serious injury. McDonald was arrested.

February 18. - The First Minnesota regiment arrived in St. Paul Monday, and had. an enthusiastic reception. A number of the boys who enlisted from St. Cloud and vicinity are at their homes.

A deputation of nineteen Chippewa Indians arrived in town Monday, in charge of J. C. Ramsey, en route to Washington to ratify the treaty made last summer by the Hon. Alex Ramsey.

Lieut. Stephen C. Miller's appointment as commissary of subsistence with the rank of captain in the regular army has been confined. He reports for duty at St. Louis.

Frederick Scherfenberg, of this city, formerly of Company D, First Minnesota, has been appointed by Gov. Miller as watchman at the state capitol.

April 7. - Judge O. E. Hamlin has returned to St. Cloud and resumed the practice of law. Judge Hamlin left last fall for Pennsylvania, intending to live there but he evidently soon became tired of the east.

April 14. - Our contemporary has undergone another change, appearing last week as the Times. Moore & Co. are the publishers, R. Chaning Moore, Jr., a new comer, being the editor.

below St. Anthony Falls and will be navigated on the Lower Mississippi. The building of the railroad to St. Cloud has killed steamboating above the falls.

April 14. - Gager & Mills and Harris & Bentley of this place have secured the contract for transporting the Hudson Bay Company's goods from St. Paul to Fort Garry, about 500 tons annually, the contract to be for five years.

The Methodists are having the lumber hauled for their new church, which is to be on Fourth avenue. Lots 4, 5 and 6 in block 35 have been donated for the church and a parsonage and another lot has been given by J. L. Wilson.

A. C. Gowdy and R. D. Bloomfield, of the Second Battery, have been ordered to this state on recruiting service. Sergeant J. E. West, of Company I, Seventh Regiment, has been promoted to be second lieutenant.

At an Ecclesiastical council held at the Everett school house on the 27th, the organization of the County Baptist church of St. Cloud was approved. The services were participated in by the Rev. Messrs. Willet, Baumis, Gale, Inman and Tice.

The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society of St. Cloud, organized at the outbreak of the war to furnish hospital supplies for the Union soldiers, resolved itself into an auxiliary to the Minnesota State Board of the United States Sanitary Commission. The following officers were elected: Mrs. John Farwell, president; Mrs. H. Z. Mitchell, secretary; Mrs. C. Gould, treasurer.

May 12. - The preliminary survey of the new cemetary grounds has been completed by J. H. Place and lots will be for sale in the course of a few weeks.

May 12. - A business men's meeting was held May 6, at which it was resolved that after June 1, no form of currency would be received except legal tender notes and national currency.

May 19 - Notice is given of the dissolution of the co-partnership between R. Channing Moore, Jr., Thomas Simonton and Joseph H. Simonton as publishers of the St. Cloud Times.

May 26. - E. B. Litchfield, of the St. Paul and Pacific railroad company, has offered to give the Baptist church of this place $500 to aid in finishing their church edifice and to loan them $1,000 additional, if desired.

May 26. - Wesley Carter is having erected on Jefferson street fronting the court house, a two-story building, the upper story to be finished off into a Masonic hall.

June 2. - The draft took place during the past week. Prom St. Augusta 13 were drawn, St. Martin, 18; Munson, 22; Oak, 21; Rockville, 11; St. Joseph, 29; Wakefield, 23; Verdale, 5; Brockway, 1.

A proclamation has been issued by President Lincoln for the sale of certain government lands in Stearns, Wright, Meeker and Monongalia counties, September 5, at the Minneapolis land office.

place will have to depend entirely on St. Cloud for their supplies, the dry weather and the grasshoppers having entirely ruined their crops.

Married, by the Rev. David Tice, at the parsonage in St. Cloud, June 15, Ambrose W. Tucker, of Fair Haven, and Emily J. Norris, of St. Cloud.

July 7. - Married, by the Rev. David Tice, July 4, at the parsonage, Alonso Spaulding, of Maine Prairie, and Christina Langdon, of Clearwater.

July 14. - The register of deeds, county auditor, county treasurer and sheriff yesterday removed their offices to the court house. The judge of probate will be in the same building soon.

The ceremonies of the laying of the corner stone of the new Catholic church took place Sunday. Bishop Grace of St. Paul, the Rev. Mr. Mongna, of the same city, the Rev. Mr. Stukenkemper, of this city, and the Rev. O. Wirtz, prior at St. Jo, conducted the services.

Dr. W. R. Hunter and James W. White are completing fine two-story residences on opposite sides of Fifth avenue, where it joins Washington avenue at the bridge. July 21. - C. Bridgman has purchased the machinery belonging to the large saw mill at Industriana, six miles above Minneapolis and is removing it to this place.

Last Saturday a she-bear and two cubs were discovered prowling about the residence of H. Z. Mitchell and after a short pursuit were killed. Bears are very plenty this season and have been seen and killed in different portions of the county.

A mail route has been established beginning at St. Cloud and running via Fort Abercrombie and Bannock, Idaho, to Fort Walla-Walla, Washington territory.

E. M. Tobey, H. J. Fowler and Charles Taylor returned from the St. Francis country with the carcasses of five bear. John Cossairt killed one in the same vicinity; Dr. Cooley and a friend killed four in the St. Francis country; L. Abell treed and killed a big one on the east side of the river, near the upper ferry; Geo. W. Sweet, while going from this place to Sauk Rapids, treed and shot a cub; and Master Eddie Tobey and a young son of Capt. Briggs, fourteen-year olders, killed a cub with their shot guns - all within a week's time.

September 1. - Last Friday Gager & Co.'s teams returned from Fort Garry with 900 bales of buffalo robes, each bale containing ten robes. They were bonded by the Hudson Bay Company through to England. This makes 15,000 robes that have arrived here this season (and is one reason why in this year of our Lord 1914 a buffalo robe can scarcely be had for love or money.)

September 8. - The dedicatory services of the new Methodist Episcopal church took place Sunday last. The services v,-ere in charge of Bishop Kingsley, of Cincinnati, assisted by the Rev. Messrs. Jabez Brooks, President Brooks, of Hamlin University, David Tice, pastor of the church, David Lowry of the Presbyterian and John Scott of the Baptist church of this city.

Davis and Marble of Boston and Holes and Dunton of this place killed seven bears and two deer near Briggs lake. Messrs. Elwell and Abel killed four bears while on a trip to Granite City.

September 22. - A new bell has been put on the Methodist church and on last Sabbath for the first time called together the congregation of that church.

There is at present no minister of the Baptist church in this city. The Rev. James Thresher has accepted a call to preach at Fair Haven and Maine Prairie, lorenoon and afternoon services.

October 13. - On Sabbath evening the Rev. David Lowry, of the Presbyterian church, preached his farewell sermon from the pulpit of the Methodist church. He was, we believe, the pioneer minister of St. Cloud, and was much respected by all our citizens. He has gone to Iowa.

November 3. - E. M. Tobey has purchased the large double store-room belonging to Geo. P. Brott on First avenue, above the Ferry road, in lower town, and is removing it to court house square.

E. M. Tobey has purchased the machinery of the saw mill at Breckenridge and will have it transported to this place during the winter for his new mill at Stony Point.

Many families are locating at and near the pleasant little village of Paynesville. Better soil or a country more suitable for homesteads cannot be found in the state. Quite a number of families are preparing to emigrate to that locality from Illinois in the spring.

Dramatic entertainments are given from time to time to raise money for the benefit of the soldiers' hospital fund and soldiers' families. The leading parts are taken by well-known citizens, including A. B. Curry, R. C. Burdick, A. T. Whitman, Albert Wright and others, besides a number of the younger people.

December 22. - Governor Miller appointed W. B. Mitchell and John Zapp, of St. Cloud, and Luke Marvin, of St. Louis county, a committee on Immigration for the Third representative district.

On Sabbath evening another lot of nonreporting drafted men were brought to this place by Capt. Slaughter, of Sauk Centre, and turned over to H. Z. Mitchell, deputy provost marshall. They were sent to St. Paul Tuesday. Large numbers of drafted men are now reporting voluntarily.

A limited quantity of wheat is offered at $1.50 a bushel. Corn brings $1.20 and oats, 90c per bushel. Hay sells from between $13 and $15 a ton; wood between $5 and $8 per cord; butter, 24 to 40 c; eggs, 25c. 1865.

January 12. - C. A. Oilman has made arrangements for removing the saw mill owned by Leander Gorton to a location some 23 miles east of here on Elk river. Both pine and hardwood logs can be had in abundance.

January 19. - The session of the Board of Enrollment, Capt. Kieth president, closed yesterday. About 700 persons applied for examination, of whom 206 received exemption papers.

The Democrat boasts that every compositor who has ever been connected with that office has been or is now in the Union army, a record with which it challenges comparison anywhere.

March 2. - The town of Paynesville, with twenty-seven men enrolled, has a quota of nine to furnish. Yesterday eight of the best citizens of this plucky town went to St. Paul (one having previously gone), to clear Paynesville of the draft. Well done!

March 16. - H. L. Gordon, of Wright county, and W. H. Wood, of Benton, have been appointed by the governor to take the Minnesota soldiers' votes in 1865 in the Mississippi river district.

April 13. - The board of supervisors reported at the town meeting Tuesday that town bounties amounting to $21,513.97 had been allowed to 78 recruits, being an average of $275.82 each.

April 20.. - The report of President Lincoln's assassination is received. The city is plunged in mourning and business is suspended on the day of his funeral.

May 18. - T. C. McClure and C. A. Oilman have resigned as register and receiver of the land office to engage in the banking and milling business, respectively.

Capt. S. M. Bruce, who enlisted originally in Company I, Third regiment, and has served over three years and a half, returned home last week and will settle down on his farm near Sauk Centre.

June 8. - Union services, in accordance with the proclamations of the president and governor, were held in the Methodist church last Thursday, the sermon being delivered by the Rev. E. V. Campbell, of the Presbyterian church.

A German named John Steichner, just arrived from the old country, bought this week from Nicholas Rausch, living near Rockville, twelve miles from St. Cloud, his farm of 160 acres, paying for it $1,200 in gold and $1,200 in greenbacks.

Full details have been received of the "last battle of the war," which was fought near Brazos, Texas, by Col. T. H. Barrett, of St. Cloud, in command of the Sixtysecond U. S. colored troops.

A discussion at Maine Prairie on Sabbath last between the Rev. Mr. Ballou, of this city, and Elder Watkins, of the Prairie, was largely attended by persons from the adjoining towns. The subject was "Universalism," the first-named being pro and the latter con.

June 22.. - The transportation company, H. Gager & Co., has dissolved partnership, Henry Gager and L. R. Bentley retiring, while J. B. Mills continues the business. He holds the Hudson Bay Company contract.

The contracts for furnishing oats for the government at Alexandria, Sauk Centre, Pomme de Terre and Fort Abercrombie were all obtained by H. C. Burbank, of this city.

July 6. - Burbank & Co.'s transportation train of 190 teams arrived Monday from Fort Wadsworth, having made the round trip of over 450 miles in about three weeks. This with oxen we would call a quick trip, and the credit is due in great measure to the energy of N. P. Clarke, who had charge of the train.

v/ith prayer by the Rev. Mr. Watkins.. The Maine Prairie choir sang a national anthem and sang it well. The Declaration of Independence was read by the Rev. Mr. Thresher, followed by the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" by the Maine Pjairie and Fair Haven choirs. The oration was delivered by A. B. Curry, of St. Cloud, "Sherman's March to the Sea," well sung by the Fair Haven choir, closing the exercises. Capt. T. E. Inman was the marshal of the day. A delicious picnic dinner was served. The proceeds, from the special sales, amounting to $90, went to the benefit of the Maine Prairie library.

Maj. Edwin Clark, agent of the Chippewa Indians, was in the city Saturday with his family on his way to the agency. He reports the Chippewas as being quiet and contented.

July 27. - N. Lahr is building a block of stores on St. Germain street, corner of Richmond avenue, and James Edelbrock is having an elegant brick residence erected on St. Germain street, near the bank of the Mississippi.

August 3. - A number of teams belonging to Fisk's expedition to the Yellowstone are encamped on the east side of the river. There are about fifty men in the party.

August 24. - Capt. J. E. West, Lieut. A. E. Hussey, John Dressier, Edwin Hart and other members of Co. I, Seventh Minnesota, have returned home.

J. C. & H. C. Burbank & Co. and N. P. Clarke's train for Fort Wadsworth left on the 9th and is composed of 200 teams. This is the fourth train this season and each train has averaged 220 teams.

September 21. - Col. C. D. Kerr, of the Sixteenth Illinois Veteran Infantry, a late resident of Jacksonville, 111., arrived in St. Cloud Saturday and will locate here for the practice of law.

The Rev. George Chase, who has been residing at Anoka, becomes rector of St. John's church, relieving the Rev. George Stewart, who goes south for the benefit of his health.

Over 200 Red river carts have arrived within the past ten days and as the grasshoppers destroyed the crops in many districts in that part of the country, these carts will take back large supplies of flour and other provisions. They brought furs valued at over $80,000.

September 28. - The new bridge over the ravine connecting Upper and Lower Town has been completed. It is 132 feet in length and 24 feet wide and is supported by five trusses and stone abutments at each end. The contractors were Gorton & Pray; cost, $700.

October 19. - The new Presbyterian church located about two squares back of the Fletcher House is rapidly nearing completion. The building is 30x50 feet. Much credit is due to the pastor, the Rev. E. V. Campbell, for his exertions in securing the construction of this building..

Contracts for supplying 7,500 bushels of oats at Fort Ripley have been let to H. C. Burbank at 53 cents in sack and 7,500 in bulk at 43 cents per bushel, and to J. P. Wilson for 20,000 bushels at Port Abercrombie, $1.35 in sacks.

Three important cases affecting land adjoining St Cloud have been decided by the secretary of the interior. In the case of George P. Brott vs. James Bowes (being Bowes addition), the decision of the general land office in favor of Bowes is affirmed. In the case of Benedict Heindle as administrator of Berno Muckenthaler, involving the right to enter the S. E. % of S.

F. Brott, was decided in favor of Brott, who was given the right to enter the S. W. 14 of S. W.. %, Section 13, Township 124, Range 28, for the reason that Mr. Noel was at the time the owner of 320 acres of land.

November 9. - A portion of the power at John L. Wilson's mill at St. Augusta is used for crushing sorghum cane. An evaporator has been constructed near by.

Married, at Maine Prairie, on the 9th inst., by the Rev. T. E. Inman, Ezra G. Hicks, of Sauk Rapids, and Luella A. Greely, of Maine Prairie.

November 23. - The( Fire Engine company met at the court iiouse Monday, adopted a constitution and by-laws and elected the following officers: J. R. Clark, foreman; Henry Lunkenheimer, first assistant; Geo. Herberger, second assistant; J. M. Rosenberger, secretary and treasurer; M. Lauerman, steward.

The Rev. S. H. Norris, for a number of years pastor of the Methodist church in this city, and an early instructor in the schools, died Friday of hemorrhage of the lungs.

December 14. - The three-days' fair at the Catholic church realized $1,011. A supper at the Presbyterian church Thanksgiving evening netted $175.

John P. Hammerel has been appointed postmaster at West St. Augusta. The name of the office has been changed to Luxemburg and the location from John Kraus's to St. Wendelin's church.

December 28. - Venison is very plenty in the market, being offered for sale on the streets. S. Holes brought to town a few days ago eleven deer which he had killed inside of sixteen days in the neighborhood of Neenah, ten miles from St. Cloud.

January 18. - A meeting was held at the court house to take steps to secure the opening by the government of a mail and emigrant route to Montana.

January 25. - St. Joe, eight miles from St. Cloud, is having a good growth. It has three stores, the two larger being owned by J. H. Linneman and Dr. C. S. Weber (who is postmaster) while Joseph Zimmerman has a grocery store. Mr. Linneman has a grist-mill, now operated by steam, and about half a mile distant are a saw mill and a grist mill owned by Peter Loso, all three being in active operation. There is a fine Catholic church, and a number

O. A, Pray has disposed of his one-quarter interest in the Union flouring mills for $5,000, to Burbank Bros., the business being continued under the name of L. Gorton & Co.

The supper given at Tenvoorde's hall last evening by the ladies of the Universalist society brought in $239.50. The supper was followed by a dance, Fuller's Clearwater band furnishing the music.

O. E. Garrison has received from the lithographers a supply of the large county maps on which he has been engaged for a year or more. The fifteen townships in the county are handsomely colored, and in the lower left-hand corner is a map of St. Cloud. A number of portraits and views are given as a border.

M. Gaspard yesterday caught at Lake George twenty-two nice pickerel. He cut a hole in the ice, near the outlet, and caught the fish with his hands as they came toward the opening.

Four Chippewa Indians of the Lake Vermillion bands, passed through town on Tuesday for Washington. They go to form a treaty with the government by which the latter shall obtain the new gold districts.

February 8. - The Maine Prairie Lyceum gave an exhibition Friday, to raise funds for the library association. Cora Greeley, a five-year-old miss, opened the exercises with a song. George Allen and Fred Strout recited a juvenile dialogue. Declamations were given by Fred Greeley, A. Coates, J. C. Winslow, John B. Inman and others. "Keeping Bad Company" introduced some funny characters, B. H. Winslow and brothers, E. H. Atwood and others. Among those who took part were Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. D. Spaulding, Miss Adley, Mrs. Atwood, Miss Field, Mr. Adley, C. W. West, S. F. Brown and Jud Whitney.

March 8. - George Schaefer has sold his hotel to Nicholas Schaefer and has associated himself with Peter Kramer in the brewery business conducted by the latter.

Married, February 22, at the residence of E. M. Tobey, St. Cloud, by the Rev. George L. Chase, Lieutenant John R. Howard, of Sauk Centre, and Carrie P., eldest daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Joshua Briggs, of Briggs Lake.

Fair Haven congratulates itself on having a grist mill, a saw mill, a store, a hotel, several mechanics' shops and schools - all without a saloon. One local nimrod has killed fifty deer and several others from twenty to thirty. There is a triweekly mail.

Tuesday night some one entered Dr. S. Marlatt's store and took $2,147 from the safe. The thief took a coat belonging to J. M. Garlington (until that day a member of the firm of S. Marlatt & Co., and having still the keys of the store and safe), who had laid it on a chair while playing billiards at Robber's hall, and with these keys he secured entrance to the store and safe. The coat was found the next morning lying back on the saloon. The stolen money, with the exception of $127 which belonged to Dr. Marlatt, had been left on deposit by John Hayward.

April 5. - Gen. C. C. Andrews having offered to give the Library Association $100 in case an equal amount was raised, a supper was held at the court house last evening at which $115 was realized.

May 10. - O. Farwell, of Maine Prairie, last year cut a wheat crop from a piece of land that had been sowed or planted each year for ten successive years without having been manured. This tenth crop yielded over 20 bushels to the acre. We would call that good land.

Baker & Thompson, the former of this city, the latter of Clearwater, have begun the erection of a large grist and merchant mill at Cold Spring, with three run of stone, to be completed by the first of September next.

May 17. - O. Tenney, of Fabius, N. Y. arrived Friday in St. Cloud, which he intends making his future home. Mr. Tenney is the principal proprietor of the townsite of Rockville.

May 31. - A gentleman trom Faribault says that a colony of twenty families will leave Rice county in a few weeks to settle on homesteads in the vicinity of Sauk Centre.

Married, at Fair Haven, May 22, by the Rev. T. C. Partridge, James B. Vandervoort and Velno M. Partridge. May 24, by the Rev. J. N. Thresher, Richard Vandervoort and Alma C. Webb.

June 7. - N. P. Clarke's train of fortythree teams returned from Georgetown Tuesday and started next day for Big Lake fully loaded with wheat.

Lieut. J. R. Howard has now a flock of 400 fine sheep on his farm at Sauk Centre and continues to make additions by purchase. Sauk Centre can soon boast of having one of the largest and best flocks of sheep in Northern Minnesota. Nothing pays better.

Among those going from this neighborhood with Capt. Fisk's expedition to the Montana gold mines are E. W. and C. F. Sims, H. B. Steele, P. Beaupre, R. Leech; John Farwell, of Maine Prairie; B. F. Butler, Fair Haven; George Mayhew and W. Fletcher, Sauk Rapids; W. A. Watson, Thomas Van Etten, Ed and James Garlington, these with others taking 100 teams and all purchased their supplies in St. Cloud.

There are five brothers in the Holes family, four of whom live at the mouth of Sauk river, two miles above St. Cloud. The tallest, William, measures six feet six inches in height in his stocking feet; the shortest, Samuel, six feet two inches, while their combined weight is 1,160 pounds. We call that "going some."

Joseph Zimmerman, of St. Jo., returned last week from Germany, accompanied by twenty-one settlers, who will locate in the neighborhood of St. Jo. The immigration to this part of the state has not been exceeded during any previous season. The

June 21. - Amos Robideau has a contract for regularly sprinkling Washington avenue and St. Germain street - St. Cloud's first sprinkling contract.

H. C. Waite and N. P. Clarke have each purchased a one-third interest in the Cold Spring flouring mill, now in course of erection, which will have four run of stone, P. B. Thompson has the other one-third interest. Another run of stone with additional machinery is being put in the Union mills, near St. Cloud. Arnold & Sim's mill at the mouth of Sauk river, is to have two new run of four-foot stone, and an addition, 25x50, is under construction.

J. K. Noyes, of Fair Haven, has the contract for carrying the mail from St. Cloud to Fair Haven and H. H. Herbert, of this city, a contract on the route from St. Cloud via Alexandria to Pembina.

July 5. - The Red River Brigade consisting this season of about 1,200 carts passed through town last week. They are loaded principally with buffalo-robes and other furs.

July 19. - H. C. Burbank, of this city, has received the contract for furnishing 3,000 barrels of flour for troops in this state, at $10.17 per barrel.

Sauk Centre has a handsome location and one highly favorable for building a town. It has every indication of being a thriving place. Alexander Moore, the proprietor of the town-site, has a saw mill and a grist mill, both driven by an excellent water power on Sauk river. Both run night and day. On the main street Mr. Moore has also a large store, and just across the street the firm of Linnemann & Capser does a thriving business. S. Pendergast has a store and is the postmaster. R. Thomas & Co., are a new firm, but are building up a good business. There are two hotels, the principal one being kept by P. T. Safford. The town has a cabinet factory, blacksmith, wagon and cooper shops, a tailor shop and other trades are represented. George Grover & Co. are building a brewery. M. Ladd, of St. Cloud, is making brick. There are three lawyers, N. H. Miner, O. W. James, and A. W. Lathrop, and Dr. B. R. Palmer, formerly of St. Cloud, is the practicing physician. More than fifty families, having for the most part comfortable homes, make up the population of this growing and prosperous young town.

Buffalo have been killed this year in the Big Stone lake region, within 150 miles of St. Cloud, the first time in many years that these shaggy monsters have been so near us.

With today's issue the Democrat became the St. Cloud Journal, enlarged to nine columns to the page and printed on a cylinder press - St. Cloud thus having the first power press to be used in Northern Minnesota.

Middendorf & Brunning, of Richmond, have just shipped to the east 8,000 pounds of butter, 300 dozen eggs, 600 pairs of country-knit socks and other articles taken in at their store.

The Rev. Noah Lathrop has been appointed by the annual conference of the Methodist church pastor at St. Cloud; Sauk Centre to be supplied by the Rev. G. W. McComber. The Rev. C. G. Griswold was appointed presiding elder of the district and will retain his home in St. Cloud.

October 4. - Two trains daily are now run between St. Cloud and St. Paul, one arriving here at 12:15 noon and the other at 6:55 p. m. The morning train makes the run from St. Paul in four hours and fifteen minutes and the other in four hours and fifty-five minutes; distance 75 miles.

The post office has been removed to B. Overbeck's building on Richmond avenue, next door to the Minnesota house. J. M, Rosenberger will be postmaster Richardson's deputy.

October 18. - T. C. Partridge has sold his saw mill at Fair Haven to O. D. Webb for $3,000. Mr. Webb is repairing the mill and putting in machinery for the manufacture of staves.

November 8. - The telegraph line from St. Paul to St. Cloud was completed last last week and we are now in electric communication with the rest of the world.

Many deer are being killed. D. A. Hoyt, of Maine Prairie, has shot fifty thus far this fall. John B. Inman, a boy of eighteen, killed three last week near Maine Prairie.

John Moore's store at Paynesville was entered on the night of the 2nd and a quantity of goods stolen. The post oflRce, which was in the same building, was robbed.

November 22. - The Northwestern Express Company, which has an office at St. Cloud, has been sold by J. C. Burbank & Co., to the American Express company. It was founded in 1851 by J. C. Burbank. N. Gilbert remains as agent at St. Cloud.

The first sale of school lands in Stearns county took place at the court house in this city, beginning November 9, and was conducted by State Auditor Mcllrath. The sales amounted to 2,253 acres, for $15,657, being an average of $6.96 per acre. The greatest portion of the school lands in Sauk Centre township was withdrawn from sale for the present.

During the past year deeds for town lots were recorded as follows: St. Cloud, 230; Sauk Centre, 71; Fair Haven, 11; Cold Spring, 10; Clearwater, 9; Richmond, 5; St. Joseph, 3; Paynesville, 1.

January 17. - Married, on the 15th inst., at the residence of Capt. William Smith, near Sauk Rapids, by the Rev. Mr. Hall, Mr. Ezra Smith and Miss Mary A. Shepard.

A large Catholic college has been built within a few miles of St. Joe, in this county, which is a credit to the entire section. It is 46x50 feet, three stories high, and is built entirely of stone. The work was superintended by the Rev. Father Haindel.

Joseph Edelbrock has sold his frame dwelling house, on the same lot as his store, to John Rengel, Jr., who is moving it away. The "old court house" part has been sold to Mr. R.'s father and it is also being removed. We understand that Mr. Edelbrock intends erecting a large brick block on that corner next spring.

A donation party held at the residence of D. A. Hoyt, Maine Prairie, Monday night for the benefit of the poor on the Prairie, brought in $116 in cash and provisions.

A lecture for the benefit of the Library association, was delivered at the Presbyterian church Saturday evening by the Rev. Dr. McMasters, of St. Paul, on "The Peculiar Advantages of New Countries."

Charles Sylvester, of Sauk Centre, has purchased the machinery of the Clark & Dam sash, door and blind factory and will take it to that place. H. Gager is building a block of stores at Sauk Centre. The Rev. A. K. Fox, pastor of the Congregational church at Sauk Centre, is about to open a drug store in that lively town.

William Dickinson, engineer, and A. E. Hussey, millwright, returned yesterday after completing and setting in motion Hicks & Cowing's large saw mill at Alexandria.

The grain market continues to advance; wheat is $2.00 and $2.15 at St. Cloud, and in some cases as high as $2.25 has been paid. Flour is quoted at $12 per barrel at St. Joe, and scarce at that. At Sauk Centre the deliveries of wheat are so light that Moore's mill is running only a third of the time. Oats share in the high prices, bringing 95c to $1.00 per bushel.

Henry Gager, Sidney Irish, J. C. Bordwell, Jr., and George Salmond, with the pastor, have been elected trustees of the First Presbyterian church at Sauk Centre.

May 2. - Burglars effected an entrance to the court house Wednesday night, visiting most of the offices. They burst the lock off the safe in the treasurer's office, but found no money, Treasurer Schroeder having taken the county cash home with him.

The prisoner Nelson made his escape from jail last night by prying open the door with a piece of scantling which he tore from the inside of his cell. He left a good-bye note for the sheriff.

R. P. Edson has opened a real estate agency at Sauk Centre and J. E. Finch & Co., recently of Hastings, have opened a fine drug store in that lively town.

May 23. - Burglars broke into S. S. Pinney's bank Monday night and forcing open the safe carried off the till containing $175.55, besides scrip and other papers. Fortunately, Mr. Pinney had taken the bulk of the money to his house the evening before.

L. A. Evans, who had resigned as judge of probate because of a question arising from the fact of his also being a member of the state senate, has been reappointed by Governor Marshall.

May 30. - Workmen are engaged upon the new Congregational church to be built on Fifth street just below Dr. Hunter's residence. Estimated cost, $3,500; W. T. Clark, contractor.

June 13. - Capt. L. W. Collins, who is county attorney of Stearns county, has been appointed by the county commissioners of Sherburne county attorney for that county also.

Cloud, which got into the fashion by organizing a club, to be known as the St. Cloud Base Ball club, and the constitution of the Empire club of New York was adopted.

June 27. - On Saturday last D,. Y. Smith shipped from this city $20,000 worth of furs. This is the largest shipment that ever went out of this place.

July 11. - J. G. Smith & Co., of Jefferson county. New York, have begun the erection of a fine brick building on St. Germain street, the lower story to be finished off for a bank and the upper into offices.

The long established and wealthy firm of J. C. Burbank & Co., comprising the Minnesota Stage Co., has been dissolved by the withdrawal of Mr. Burbank and Col. Merriam. A new firm consisting of Capt. R. Blakely and C. W. Carpenter has taken charge of the widely extended business. The important part this company has played in the development of Minnesota renders this an event of historical importance.

July 18. - Tenney & Mitchell, proprietors of the town of Rockville, have sold the hotel building and the block of lots on which it stands to Peter Lommel. Mr. Lommel intends putting up a new hotel, a store and a blacksmith shop.

July 25. - The Rev. Rupert Seidenbush, O. S. B. Abbot, announces that St. John's college, under the charge of the Benedictine Fathers of the Abbey of St. Louis on the Lake, situated in the most healthy part of Minnesota, will begin its half-yearly course of studies September 2. The postoffice address given is Clinton, Stearns county, Minn.

A post of the G. A. R. was organized in this place last night. Col. Charles L. Kerr was elected post commander; Capt. L. W. Collins, senior vice-commander; Mayor W. F. Morse, adjutant; Capt. J. E. West, quartermaster.

The contract for the transportation of army goods and supplies throughout the district of Minnesota has been awarded to J. B. Mills & Co., of this city.

October 3. - The postoffice has been removed to the building lately occupied by Anton Smith as a shoe store on Washington avenue above St. Germain street The telegraph office has been removed to the same building.

Joseph Hill, a well-known photographer from St. Paul, has arrived in St. Cloud and will locate here permanently. He has purchased A. Hull's gallery.

October 10. - The Little Giant Fire Engine company went to St. Paul Tuesday to attend the annual parade of the city department there. The railroad company gave the boys a fare of only $1.00 each way.

October 17. - The U.. S. land office has been removed to Kindler's new brick block on Washington avenue, above St. Germain street, occupying second floor rooms.

The eleventh annual meeting of the General Conference of the Congregational churches of Minnesota was held in the Congregational church in this city last

Married, at Burbank, by the Rev. J. L. Whitla, Wesley Carter, of St. Cloud, and Martha D. Johnson, of Burbank. October 16, at the residence of the bride, by the Rev. J. H. Creighton, A. J. Whitney, of Maine Prairie, and Ella Clark, of St. Cloud.

October 31. - F. H, Dam has begun work on a large planing mill and sash, door and blind factory on Washington avenue, north of the ravine bridge.

George F. Winter, of Sauk Centre, has purchased of Alex. Moore a lot in that town for $1,200, on which he will erect a double store building.

There are 57 school districts in Stearns county, with 18 frame and 15 log school houses, 1,794 male and 1,784 female persons of school age, 30 male and 42 female teachers.

The Sauk Centre academy will open December 2, under the care of the Rev. D. W. Evans, assisted by Miss R. Spencer, with Mrs. B. R. Palmer in charge of the music department.

December 19. - The Rev. A. Gale, of St. Anthony, organized a Baptist church at Sauk Centre on the 8th inst, and preached the recognition sermon. There are now four Baptist churches in the Sauk valley.

Judge Hamlin is to deliver a lecture at Maine Prairie tomorrow evening, under the auspices of the Library association of that place. The next lecture will be delivered by Gen. C. C. Andrews, and others are to follow.

January 16. - The new flouring mill at Melrose, one of the best in the state, has been put in operation. Major Clark was in town this week to purchase plank with which to raise the dam three feet higher, giving a head of water twelve and a half feet. The mill has a capacity of seventyfive barrels per day. The proprietors, E. & W. H. Clark, intend putting up a saw mill in the spring.

January 23. - Albert Moffatt, of Hudson, Mich., arrived last week with his family to take the position of assistant cashier of the Bank of St. Cloud.

February 27. - A snow storm which began Saturday, continuing for over twentyfour hours, so blockaded the railroad that trains from St. Paul were unable to reach here until midnight of the following Wednesday. Another storm, the following week, resulted in another blockade, lasting for another four days.

March 5. - A. J. Stanton, of Clearwater, has purchased the Sims Brothers' interest in the flouring mills at the mouth of Sauk river, two miles above this place.

March 19. - Messrs. McKelvy, Moore and Kerr have purchased of Jeremiah Russell, for $3,600, a tract of thirty-six acres on the east side of the river, extending from Wilson's to Wright's ferries. It is touched by the eastern end of the nev/ wagon bridge.

Gorton & Burbank have sold their water power with what improvements are left remaining after the late fire to P. B. Thompson, of Cold Spring for $5,000. We understand that Mr. Thompson will put a first-class mill on this location.

and in the department of Dakota this side of the Missouri river has been awarded to J. C. Burba uk & Co. The contract is a very heavy one. Burbank Bros., of this city, will have the principal charge of the business.

The ice in the Mississippi began moving Monday, but did not start in earnest until Tuesday. The train from St. Paul had just arrived and the passengers for St. Cloud had started to cross the ice on foot when it began to heave and finally to move with them. It was a close call, as there was an open space of fifty feet between the ice and the shore, but a skiff was found and all reached land in safety.

The state and general fund apportionment for 1868 gave Stearns county $2,740.70 for its 3,544 scholars, being $0.77% each. There were sixty school districts in the county.

George H. Spencer is assignee of Denison & Fox and T. W. Denison, of St. Cloud, voluntary bankrupts, this being the first case of bankruptcy in Stearns county.

April 30. - The government transportation headquarters and depot for supplies have been definitely located at St. Cloud, with Major Robinson, quartermaster, and Major Walker, paymaster, in charge.

The Arctic Base Ball' club held an election Friday evening with the following result: Dr. A. E. Senkler, president; William Mullikin, vice-president; Capt. L. W. Collins, secretary; Henry Lunkenheimer, treasurer; Dr. W. M. Burchard, E. M. Wright and J. B. Abbott, directors.

All who come from Sauk Centre speak encouragingly of its prosperity. New buildings are going up and the spirit of improvement seems to pervade the entire community. Among the comparatively new business houses opening up and prospering there are Philip Frank, clothing; Lamb & Myrick, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes; Bennett & Cole, hardware exclusively.

May 21. - A half-breed who had been installed in the county jail Friday night, at six o'clock the following morning forced the door open and walked off, carrying away on his shoulders the bed on which he had slept the night before - thus clearly rendering himself liable for rearrest on the charge of grand larceny.

Over two hundred teams have left St. Cloud during the past fortnight loaded with government supplies and Hudson Bay Company goods. One train of forty-two ox and six mule teams started for Fort Wadsworth, Dakota Territory, carrying oats exclusively, each team taking 140 bushels.

June 18. - George H. Spencer, who had already on hand 30,000 muskrat skins and 200 mink skins, received this week from Tanner, Briggs & Co., of Little Falls, in one lot, 46,000 muskrats, 680 mink, 45 otter, 25 bear and 70 beaver skins, amounting in value to $11,000.

J. C. Burbank & Co.'s train brought through from Georgetown 1,380 buffalo lobes, valued at over $8,000, belonging to the Hudson Bay Company and shipped to England in bond.

July 23. - A new post office has been established at Leedston, about eight miles above Richmond, on the stage road, with Jos. Zimmerman, who keeps the hotel, postmaster.

Charles Plunkett, manager of the opera house at St. Paul and Minneapolis, is giving St. Cloud its first theatrical season, the plays being staged at the court house, with fifty cents general admission,

July 23. - E. C. Cams started Tuesday morning for White Earth lake, in the Chippewa country. He goes as the agent of Messrs. Clarke & Burbank, of this city, to attend to the distribution of rations to the Indians, for which this firm has the contract.

"Great Northwestern Circus, the Undivided, Unabridged and Most Complete Circus," with all the rest of the assortment of bewildering adjectives which precede and accompany circuses, made its appearance at St. Cloud August 14.

Married, at Maine Prairie, August 22, by Elder B. U. Watkins, David B. Standley and Emma G. Allen, both of Maine Prairie. At Clearwater, August 24, by the Rev. J. D. G. Stearns, Samuel Whiting, Jr., and Anna M. Mayo, all of Clearwater.

Late advices state that the grasshoppers have completely destroyed the crops in the Red River settlements, and as the buffalo hunt has been a total failure the people there are facing the prospect of severe want if not starvation.

James Cambell, of Clearwater, started last week for Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he is to take charge of the hotel department of Vassar College.

September 10. - N. Richardson, of Little Falls, has purchased of the Messrs. Holes the ferry boat at the mouth of Sauk river. It will be hung on the Mississippi about half a mile above Little Falls for the accommodation of travel between that place and N. P. Clarke's mills at Little Elk.