Stearns County, Minnesota - Chapter 46, 1915 (part 2 of 3)

Crow River Township. The first school In the township of Crow River was taught in the winter of 1870 by Emma Morgan. This was within the present confines of District Number 75, lying to the southeast of the village of Belgrade, For the first term no school house had been provided. However, C. H. Johnson offered the use of his dwelling house, and for three months a number of children gathered there, the enrollment being 35 pupils. As soon as possible a log school house was erected on Section 30, and for a number of years school was taught in this building. Later a new site was chosen whereon a suitable frame building was erected. The first school meeting in this district on record was held on October 7, 1871. Until then C. H. Johnson had served as clerk and Peter Knudson as treasurer, together with a director whose name is now unknown. At the meeting in 1871 Daniel Pederson was chosen director, W. B. Reed, clerk, and Peter Knudson treasurer. The teachers who followed Miss Morgan were Kate Wright, Sophrona Lovelace, Mary Knowles, Joachim Wahlseth, Ada B. Merrill, Ella Wakefield, Susan Bucan, Bertha O,. Glesne, Mary Riley, Kate Meagher, Jacob Wahlen, A. H. Hendrickson, Emil A. Peterson, Cora Sunderland, J. B. Locke, T. E. Lynch, Cora Carter, John Erdahl, T. J. Flahaven, Hannah Meagher. Jeanette Thorpe, Margaret Meagher, Gilbert Oppen, Emma R. Syse, Bella Solseth, Johanna Newgard, Nellie White, Ella Madson, Emma Wangen, Christine A. Knudson and Gunda Johnson.

District Number 123 was organized in 1882, with Rasmus Danielson, director; Ole Danielson, clerk, and John Hendrickson, treasurer. Anne B. Nielsen, now living in the state of Washington, was the first teacher. She had an enrollment of twenty pupils, who received instruction in the present school building, occupying a location on the east bank of the Crow river, which circumstance gave it the name "Riverside School." Other teachers employed were Jessie F. Miner, Emma Peters, Hattie Martin. John B. Locke, T. J. Flahaven, T. E. Lynch, Maggie Nugent, John Erdahl, Amelia Minde, John O'Keefe, Albert Syse, Louise Larson, Hannah Engebretson, Ella Johnson, Lena V. Miller and Clara Romness.

District Number 122, which adjourns the Belgrade district on the northeast, was organized in 1881. Gust Grandstran was elected clerk; John Helgeson, director, and John Peterson, treasurer. Hannah Meagher was the first teacher. She later entered a convent and died as a sister of a well known religious order. Her successors were Maggie Meagher, Mary Riley, Mary Peters, M. N. Phlepsen, Peter J. Pohl, Edward Rosenberger, Mary Sondermann, James Sanders, C. W. Lentz, Joseph Krebsbach, Martha Torculson, Anna Reuther, Lydia Jermundson, Miss Hurley, Mabel Skimland, Mary Reuther, Emma Larson and Jennie Olson. Of the pupils who attended this school John and Edward Linden have attained prominence. They are now editors and publishers of a widely-read Chicago weekly.

District Number 159, the Georgeville school, was organized in 1891. Thor Anderson was elected clerk. Christian Frederickson, director, and D. S. Christenson, treasurer. Ellen Lyse, who had an enrollment of thirty pupils, was the first teacher. She was paid a monthly salary of $25. Since then the enrollment has steadily increased, being at the present time over fifty pupils. Other teachers who were engaged in this school were J.. Erdahl, F. S. Thorgard, Marie Huselid, Amelia Minde, John O'Keefe, Katherine Cashman, Jennie Embertson, Margaret Murphy, Kate Branley, Josephine Larson, Edna Brown and Margaret P. Nelson.

District Number 141, the Belgrade village school, was organized in 1888. The first officers were J. A. Berg, Martin Halvorson and Almon Smith. In the twentysix years of its existence this school has made splendid progress. It now boasts one of the finest buildings in the county, six teachers being employed and a high school department maintained. Some of the principals who have been at the head of this school are Andrew Jardine, W. J. McGladrey, C. H. Batson, J. F. Sandstrom and P. M. Atwood. Mr. Atwood, during whose principalship the new school was built, is now superintendent of schools at Tower, Minn. Some of the assistant teachers were Margaret Ladd, Sophia Sjoberg, Mary O. Laughlin, Cora Bucklin, Leila Backlund, Anna Reuther, Edna Peterson, Blanche Malchow, Emma L. Langley, Edna F. Lewis, Alice Kenevan, Esther Englund, Mary Adams, Lucia Max'son, Mrs. J. F. Sandstrom, Gussie Elesser. Mrs. Lillian English, Mildred Morgan, Ella Madson, Lena Luiten, Harry Nyquist, Winnifred Richardson, Hilda Carlson, Margaret

District Number 201, known as the Gustafson school, was organized in the spring of 1908.. Thorston Knutson was the first clerk, Fred Parker, director, and William Gustafson, treasurer. Ida EUingboe was the first teacher, twenty-five children attending. Other teachers were Lydia Jermundson, Ethel Anderson, Gertie B. Olson and Mary Larson.

Eden Lake Township. The history of the first school district organized in the township of Eden Lake is almost pathetic. District Number 19, in which the first school was taught, was organized in 1864. This was at one time one of the most populous schools in the county, whereas today it may be said to merely exist. The northern half of the township of Eden Lake had been exclusively settled by Germans and it was they who were the first to provide a school for their children. In 1868, four years after the district was organized, there were seventy-three pupils enrolled, all of whom were entitled to the state apportionment, which at that time was 77 cents for each child. This school continued to be one of large enrollment until 1899 and 1900 when two new districts. Numbers 182 and 189, were formed out of its territory. In 1896 there were still over seventy pupils enrolled, but during the last eight years not more than ten or twelve children have attended this school at one time. It is one of the twenty-two districts in the county which provides a cottage for the use of a teacher; however, since the sudden decrease in area as well as in enrollment it has been impossible for the district to offer a sufficiently large salary to induce married men to accept the position. The teacher's dwelling, standing somewhat apart from the school, is slowly going to ruin, having been untenanted for a number of years. The district is still five sections in extent, but as two-fifths of this is lake surface but a small land area is left to support the school. The first school officers were Nicholas Reder, director; Ernest Holifer, treasurer, and Bartholomew Pirz, clerk. Emilia Holifer was the first teacher. During the first years instruction was given in a log building which stood about a mile west of the present location. The present school house was built in 1888. The teachers employed in this school were Emilia Holifer, Bartholomew Pirz, Katharina Mayer, Tobias Schleper, Theodore Muellenmeister, Caspar Klostermann, Joseph Heltemes, Jacob Bold, John Bold, Ignatius Broker, Henry Thyen, Joseph Bold, William Bold, Peter Taufen, J. H. Weyrens, August Doerner, Peter Nohner, J. C. Diekmann, B. Henry Knese, Hilda Schwartz, Katie Hilger, Regina Kaufmann, Mary Ganzer, Gertrude Ganzer, Clara Kost, Frances Friedmann and Mary Roettger.

District Number 68 was organized in 1867. The first school officers were W. T. Mills, David Hanscom and a Mr. Hamilton. There is some dispute as to who was the first teacher, some maintaining that Maria Cole (now Mrs. I. M. Abbot of Paynesville) has the better claim to this distinction, while others assert that Lizzie Allyn was the first teacher. Mrs. Abbot appears to have the stronger testimony. Among the pupils who later attained prominence were George E. Hanscom (now president of the Merchants National Bank, St. Cloud,) and J. Y. Winings. Some of the teachers were Mrs. E. M. Winings, Lottie Brown, George Burrows, Samuel Cossairt, Lizzie Abbot, E. M. Winings, Lizzie Hanscom, Mary Dye, W. A. Shoemaker (now president of the St. Cloud State Normal School), Mabel A. Cornell, Kate Cashmann, Zadah E. Rice, Lydia A, Grundmann, Etta Dillon, Mae Westover, Golda Hilts, Pearl Whitelock, J. Y. Winings and May O'Connor.

District Number 69, whose school is locally known as the Jones school, situated only a short distance out of the village limits of Eden Valley, was organized in 1868.. John Coissairt, James Jones and Ezra Swish were the first school officers. The first school was taught in a log building by Sarah O'Connor. Other teachers were Blanche Greeley, Emma Wakefield, Julia Maxwell, Annie McCarthy, David Abbot, Libbie Mullen, Carrie Haywood, Frank L. Sias, Mabel Phipps, Esther Matheny, Lizzie McGowan, Hattie Rogers, William Meagher, Maria Day, James A. Petrie, John Harding, Lillian Vaun, Alice Uptegrove, Marie Abbot, Lucile Cashmann, Rose Mclntyre, Minnie Leavitt, Rhoda Nehring, Maytie Carney, Charlotte Ferdinantsen, John O'Keefe, and Marie Nagel.

District Number 77, whose school, because of its close proximity to that sheet of water, has been called the Rice Lake school, was organized in 1888 with an area of about twice the size it boasts at present. The first school officers were Frank Brossard, George Cloakey and Michael O'Brien. The first teacher was Addle Doyle. At that time the school house was located on the northeast quarter of Section 32, where it remained until 1911, when the district was divided and the school house moved one mile north and half a mile west. Other teachers who taught here were Eunice Duffy, Lizzie Campbell. Mary Campbell, Miss Appelgren, Lizzie McGowan, Lottie Johnson, George Harding, Minnie Brossard, Arthur Dillon, Neva Sweany, Herman Mantz, W. R. Salisbury, Huldah Lausted, Phoebe Smith, Charlotte Swift, Herman F. Miller, Gertrude Johnson, Ellen Hedin and Blanche Phelps.

District Number 182 was organized in 1899. The school officers were Jacob Weber, Ignatz Meyer and Anton Schaefer. John Nohmer, now of St. Paul, Minn., was the first teacher, and his enrollment the first year was 24 pupils. Since then the number of children has steady decreased, until at the present time scarcely more than half that many are attending the school. The other teachers were John Ivetz, Oscar Voss, Math Hammes, Benedict Kruchten, John Weiss, Celia Hammerl, Margaret Ryan, John Mondloch, John Spoden, Margaret Schommer and Katherine Wilwerding.

District Number 189, known locally as the Huschle district, was organized in 1900 mostly from territory taken from District Number 19. John Thielen was the first clerk, Martin Huschle, director, and John Lauer, treasurer. The first teacher was August Torborg, who is still living on a farm near the school. His enrollment numbered forty pupils. The teachers following him were Benedict J. Kruchten, Ignatius Lemm, Katherine Sieverding, Jennie M. Tischleder and John M. Spoden. There are few schools in the county in which the patrons manifest so great an interest as in this little country school, far removed from any town or village. This condition is due largely to the teachers, all of whom have shown marked ability in tliis direction.. However, there is no doubt that the efforts of John M. Spoden, the present teacher, have met with the greatest success. For the year 1913-14 three prizes were offered by the county superintendent to the schools showing the largest number of parents' visits in proportion to the enrollment, and the school in District Number 189 carried off first honors, having shown, with an enrollment of but thirty-one pupils, the almost incredible number of 285 visits. However, this was systematically arranged, special periods having been set aside for the visitors, during whose presence in the school room the work went on without flaw or hesitation. But the interest of the people was not aroused merely by the opportunity to win a prize. The welfare of their school is a part of their existence, and they prove this by the many meetings they have at the school house on the long winter evenings. At these gatherings matters pertaining to the welfare of the school, the farms and the community at large are discussed, and many useful ideas have found application m the country round through these evening meetings. The young people also have organized, under the direction of Mr. Spoden, a "Young Citizen's Club," which looks to the welfare of the school.

District Number 205 was formed in 1911 almost exclusively out of territory taken from District Number 77. The first school oflScers were M. O'Brien, John Cassady and Emil Liestmann. The first teacher was John O'Keefe, one of the pioneer instructors of that section. His enrollment numbered forty pupils. He was followed by Inez Brown, who taught one year, whereupon Mr. O'Keefe was again employed by the board.

District Number 207, known as the Long Lake school and also the Rothstein school, was organized in 1914. Theresa Franey is the teacher, fifteen pupils attending. The officers are Frank Rothstein, clerk; Dominik Schloder, treasurer, and Peter Thull, director. The school house, a modern and well equipped structure, is located on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 1.

Cloud, was the first teacher in the township of Farming. He taught in what is at present District Number 106, the Farming village school, though at that time the building stood one-fourth of a mile south of the present location. The building in which Mr. Doerner taught was a log structure, unplastered and poorly equipped. He was engaged "on trial," i. e., if he gave general satisfaction he would be employed for a longer term. At the end of the first three months the school officers gladly embraced the opportunity to retain Mr. Doerner, and re-employed him at an increased salary. In 1886 a new frame building was erected near the church, the present location, but this was destroyed by fire in 1909. A fine new brick school house with a full basement, was built and equipped to meet all the requirements for the special state aid. Among the pupils who attended this school were the Rev. Adolph Dingmann, O. S. B., the Rev. Joseph Willenbrink, William Bloms, teacher and organist, and Joseph Korte, teacher and organist at Calio, N. D. The teachers who followed Mr. Doerner were Edward Muggli, August Doerner, Hubert Hansen (later judge of probate for Stearns county), Nicholas Hemmesch, Lucas Lembeck, John Woken, Henry Meyer, Christ Meyer, Louis Wieber, P. J. Limperich, Joseph Gillitzer, Theodore Lobmiller, John Bath and Meinrad Busch. Mr. Limperich did substitute work for Mr. Gillitzer for a period of two months during which the latter recovered from an accident which maimed him for life. Mr. Gillitzer, while visiting a saw mill, had brought his elbow in contact with the rapidly revolving saw, sustaining a severe injury. Theodore Lobmiller, who taught in this school for fourteen years, was so well known over a great part of Stearns county that a special mention of this kind old gentleman may be permitted here. In point of service he was one of the oldest teachers in the county. He had been engaged in school work at McKeesport, Penn., for a number of years, after which he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, for another long period. He then came to St. Paul, teaching in one of the parochial schools for a number of years, after which he accepted the school in Farming, remaining, as already stated, for fourteen years in the dual position of teacher and organist. In 1900 he celebrated his fiftieth anniversary, and at the last meeting of the German Catholic Teachers' association of Stearns county, held that year at Freeport, he was presented with a gold watch. He had been president of this organization for thirteen years and it was in appreciation of his services as a teacher and his sterling worth as a man, that his colleagues accorded him this honor. Upan the termination of his activity at Farming he went to St. Paul, where he enjoyed the esteem of a large circle of friends. Coming to Stearns county for a visit with friends in September, 1908, and while a guest at the home of Mr. Fridolin Wurst at Richmond, he was taken suddenly ill and died peaceably, as he had lived, in his eightieth year. Mr. Lobmiller was of a most kindly disposition. He never failed to send congratulations to his friends on their birthdays and namesdays, invariably strengthening his greetings with a little token of a religious nature. This he did Avithout any ulterior motive, finding pleasure in making others happy. It was his custom, at all gatherings, to sing some of his inimitable dialect songs, the most enjoyable of which was "Der Christian," the very mention of which, at the present day, brings memories of this ideal old teacher now at rest in the Catholic cemetery at St. Paul.

District Number 107, comprising six sections in the northwestern part of the township, was organized in 1879. The first school officers were M. McGowan, Jacob Christen and Fred Lemke. Mary Wagner, now living in West Union, Todd county, was the first teacher. The school house then occupied the present location, but a new building has since been erected. This was again enlarged the past year to accommodate the steadily increasing number of pupils. Other teachers employed were Sophia Hagemann, Miss Comstock, A. Easten, A. Burger, G. Gillman, C. Hoyt, F. McNulty, John Goetz, H. La Vath, G. Wolf, Carl Rettenmaier, Miss Kennedy, L. Turck, K. Christen, D. Coyne, M. Kaufraann, Regina Kaufmann, Aurelia Theisen, Elizabeth Just and Theresa Meyer.

its school serving a number of pupils living in the southwestern part of Collegeville. Secluded as the school is, it forms the center of an uncommon amount of interest. The second prize for parents* visits during the year 1913-14 was awarded this school, the number of visits recorded being 252 with an enrollment of 29 pupils. It came a close second to the school in District Number 189, taught by Mr. Spoden. The interest of the patrons is also manifest from the commodious and comfortable building they have erected for school purposes. The district was organized in 1886 with William Korte, director; John Stammen, treasurer, and August Torborg, clerk. The first teacher was William Bold, who had an enrollment of twenty pupils. School was first taught in a small frame building, which, upon the erection of the present structure was remodeled into a teachers' cottage. Albert A. Eich, clerk, formerly a teacher but at the present time engaged in farming in this district, has prepared an exhaustive leport of the school since its beginning. From this it appears that Mr. Bold taught a three months' term in the spring of 1887 tor $45 per month. In September following August Torborg was employed for six months, receiving $30 per month for the first half and $40 per month for the second half of the term. Mr. Toiborg continued in this district for eleven years, his wages ranging from $33 to $35 per month. For the greater part of the time the district regularly voted an eight months' term. Since 1902 the length of term has always been nine months, except in 1908 when a five months' term was taught. At that time $42 per month was paid to Edward Linster. From that figure the wages have advanced to $63 per month for the past five years. The teachers following Mr. Torborg were Henry Engelhard, Edward Linster, William Bloms, Emily Rassier, M. S. Weyrens, Stephen Zenner, Theodore Schulte, Max Grave, Magdalen Burns and Hattie Haselkamp.

District Number 170, whose building - located in the exact center of the township - is locally known as the Brinkmann school, was organized in 1894. Frank Willenbring was the first clerk, Frank Klostermann, director and Theodore Brinkmann, treasurer. Jacob Phlipsen, now living in Cold Spring, was the first teacher, thirty pupils attending. He was followed by Frank Bock, who taught in the district for seven years. The other teachers were Max Grave, Benedict G. Kruchten, Henry Engelhard, Gertrude Ganzer and Frances Mockenhaupt.

District Number 185, the Thelen school, situated two and one-half miles west of the Brinkmann school, was organized in 1899. The first school officers were John Thelen, Bernard Hanneken and Fred Latzke. Max Grave, whose enrollment was twenty-four pupils, was the first teacher. He was followed by Henry Bachel, Sebastian DeGross, Joseph Korte, Anthony C. Seifert, Henry Kremer, Marien Besemann and Mary Mies.

District Number 199, occupying the northeastern part of the township, was organized in 1903. The first officers were William F. Gumto, director; Michael Meyer, clerk, and Fred Sager, treasurer. Theresa Gretsch was the first teacher. She was followed by Bertha Kremer, Ida Richter, Theresa Bauer, Joseph H. Marthaler, Magdalen Preice, Ernest Kuehn and Minnie Stanger.

Fair Haven Township. - Although District Number 31 (the village school of Fair Haven) was not organized until February 8th, 1859, there was no lack of educational facilities in that community before that date; for, during the winter of 1856-57, following closely upon the work of the first teachers in St. Cloud, Anna Boobar, now Mrs. Anna M. Nason of Thief River Falls, this state, taught a term of school which was largely attended. Instruction was given in a building which had been erected for mercantile purposes and was situated in the block south of the present school building. However the owner required the use of the structure shortly after Miss Boobar began teaching, and thereafter school was taught in several of the residences in the village. After the organization of the district in 1859 a permanent school building (a frame structure) was erected in the block south of the present school grounds. It was rather poorly equipped, compared with present day schools. A large box stove furnished the heat, while home-made desks, with rough board seats, accommodated the children. There was a wooden blackboard, six feet long and four feet wide. So rare an article was the crayon that it was handed out by the teacher in small pieces as the pupils solved examples, and immediately upon the dismissal of the class the chalk was again returned to the teacher, who kept it under lock and key. In the early eighties the work became too much for one teacher and a two-room school was built, the former structure being sold to a blacksmith who used it for a shop for a number of years. The new building stood until 1909 when it was destroyed by fire. A cement block structure was erected the following summer. Among the pupils who attended this school in the early days were the Rev. A. B. Coates, later candidate for governor of Massachusetts on the Prohibition ticket; Dr. E. S. Strout, a noted eye and ear specialist of Minneapolis, and C. D. Grinols, the present postmaster of the city of St. Cloud. Some of the teachers who taught in this district were Owen Rice, Mary Northrup, A. Montgomery, Albert Coates, Bernie Vandervoort, Nell Coates, Mary Wheeler, Anna Wiley, Anna Tucker, Harvey Bonham, Mary G. Brown, Frank Wardell, J. S. Boner, Emma Harriman, Janet Russel, Minnie Carrick, Anson Grinols, C. W. King, Mr. Ruby, Miss Munger, J. F. Lee, Mabel Hafner, Ella Bickford, Margaret R. Von Levern, Agnes Anderson, Ivey Boobar, Pearl Z. Linn, and Irene Cosgrove. Some of the assistant teachers were Ida Rosenberger, Inez Boobar, Pearl Lovejoy, Blanche Lyons, Mamie Clark and Bernice Cline.

District Number 39, the Woda district, was organized in 1864, Lucius Belden and Squire Morgan, being two of the first school officers. Albert Kemp was the first teacher, and was followed by Mrs. Linn Smith, Ella Schub, Frank West, Annie West, Alice Goodspeed, Grace Bliler, Emma Smith, Laura Murphy, and Myde Smith. Unfortunately none of the early settlers remain and no records are available.

District Number 79, the Ruehle school, was organized in 1870, with Anthony Kerstiens, John Moos and John Mund as officers. The first teacher was John Moos, who taught in a little log building which stood on the present site. Ten children attended. In 1880 a frame schoolhouse was erected, which was replaced in 1900 by the present brick structure. The teachers who were employed in this school were John Moos, Anthony Kerstiens, Sophia Hagemann, George Haupt, Luvina Huber, Nellie Rodger, Christina Keller, Crescentia Enderle, Odilia Blattner, Kate Enderle, W. F. Schultz, George Lausted, Adolph I^iOdermeier, Emma Lee, Edward Schultz, Elizabeth Giss, Minnie Larson, Bertha Lausted, Marie Walker, Magdalena Burns, Magdalena Preice, Jensena Hugger, Hattie Haselkamp, Edith Hartel, Rosa Preice and Ursula Dreis.

District Number 151, the Rickmeyer school, was organized in 1890. H. Rickmeyer was elected director, Lucius Belden treasurer and Henry Stuck, clerk. Some of the teachers employed were Alma L. Smith, Alma Cassidy, Clara Dezelar, Myde Smith, Laura Murphy, Lydia Lyons, Eva Butler, Nora Donohue, Amy Boobar, Florence Wilmot and Doris Ernst.

District Number 184, known as the Hillsdale school, was organized in 1897. M. E. Shoemaker, P. P. Partridge and Alex Spaulding were the first school officers. Alice Cossairt was the first teacher, twelve children attending. She was succeeded by Mary Hayward, Emma Lytle, Cary Hayward, Edith Morgan, Roxy Smith, Phoebe Smith, Valdina Skjeveland, Ruby Griebler, Bernice Cline, Alice Barry, Sadie Arndt and Grace Capes.

Grove Township. - District Number 51, at present the Greenwald school, was organized in 1865. The school officers were John A. Kulzer, John Spaeth, Sr., and John Kremer. An old frame barn, at the present time affording shelter for such live stock as the teacher may possess, was in the early days used as a schoolhouse, although it was several miles removed from its present location. The school formerly stood in the village of Meire Grove, but on November 26, 1873, it was moved one-half mile south on the Caspar Wenglert farm. One year later it was moved to the present location, which was then an open prairie, two and one-half miles south of the village of Meire Grove. The building of the new "Soo" line from Brooten to Duluth provided the school with a little village. The present schoolhouse was built in 1881, and the first teacher in the new building was B. Borgerding, now the Rev. Henry Borgerding, O. S. B., chaplain of St. Benedict's Convent at St. Joseph, this county. The first teacher in the district, while the school was still at Meire Grove, was H. Michels, who taught from 1865 to 1869. He was followed in quick succession by Anton Froehlich, Stanislaus Martinic, Joseph Walz, Michael Walz, William Heimert, Michael Heldt, Elizabeth Collins, J, P. Balthasar, John M. Goetz, F. A. Eltrich, B. Borgerding, Joseph Doerenkemper, Conrad Marschall, John Schritz (now the Rev. John Schritz of Dumont, Minn.), W. F. Hilger, J. E. Lemm, Carl Rettenmaier, Anna Marschall, Charles Wieber, Frank A. Bitzan, Anna Schwegmann, Dorothy Borgert, William J. Noe, J. L. Hohmann and Henry Engelhard.

District Number 103, the Meire Grove village school, was organized in 1872. John Primus, Caspar Nathe and Henry Michels were the officers. The first teacher employed was William Heimert, who had an enrollment of twenty pupils.. The school first stood where the church now stands, directly across the street from the present location. Later Henry Meyer donated five acres of land to the church and school, whereupon the building was moved to the present site. Carl Bohnen, a well known St. Paul artist, attended this school when a boy. Mr. Heimert, the first teacher, was followed by Mr. Schaefer, Joseph Eltrich, John Blonigen, Joseph Hertle, J. P. Mueller, Nicholas Bohnen, Anton Limbach, M. P. Schilyz, Lucas Gertken, M. P. Weyrens and Andrew Kessler. The number of pupils had increased steadily so that it became necessary, in Mr. Schiltz's time, to engage an assistant. This was a Miss Gumper. She was succeeded by Edward Ortmann, who still holds the position. It is only proper that more than passing mention be given Mr. Gertken, who was one of the most widely known of the Stearns county teachers. This gentleman was by descent and by calling a true teacher. His grandfather for many years taught the school in a village in Germany, and upon his retirement his son (the father of Lucas Gertken) assumed the position. He too held the place until he was pensioned by the government, whereupon his son Lucas, the subject of this sketch, was appointed, teaching five years. He then came to Minnesota, locating at Richmond, this county, where he taught in the village school for thirty-one years. He then accepted the school at Meire Grove, where he died quite suddenly in the month of February, 1912. His remains are buried in the cemetery of St. John's Abbey at Collegeville. At his funeral a solemn requiem mass was chanted, his oldest son, the Rev. Innocent, O. S. B., acting as celebrant and two younger sons, the Rev.. Severin, O. S. B., and the Rev. Norbert, O. S. B., acting as deacon and sub-deacon respectively. Another son, Alphonse Gertken, is at present preparing for the priesthood in St. John's Abbey. It is a noteworthy fact that all his children chose a religious life, the four sons becoming priests of the Benedictine Order and all the daughters taking the veil as nuns of the Order of St. Benedict!

District Number 119, known locally as the Sand school, was organized in 1880, with Gerhard Terhaar, clerk; Bernard Suck, director, and Bernard Schwieters, treasurer. Anton Eltrich was the first teacher. The enrollment was then sixteen pupils, which number has considerably increased since. Herman Terhaar, cashier of the State Bank of New Munich, attended this school as a boy and later taught it for a number of years. Paul Sand, another former pupil, also taught the school in this district. Other teachers were Frank Kramps, George Haupt, John Kramps, Carl Rettenmaier, Anna Marschall, John Kranz, Michael Tschida, Wendelin Lemm, Caspar P. Eickhoff, Valentine Henkel and John Rausch.. A fine new schoolhouse was built in 1914.

District Number 180, known as the "Smarten Eck," was organized in 1889. Herman Nathe was the first clerk, Victor Woeste, director, and John Thull, treasurer. Edward Ortmann was the first teacher, twenty-four pupils attending. Other teachers were Math Krier, George Haupt, Anna Marschall, Michael Theisen, Julia Vorpahl, Martin J. Jahn and Wendelin Lemm. A teacher's cottage was built in 1905.

Getty Township. - Of the five districts now maintaining schools in this township, four were organized before 1870, a period of three years covering their organization. This would indicate a rapid settlement and development of the country. District Number 53, known as the Getty Grove school, and District Number 54, known as the Arthur Graham school, southeast of Sauk Centre, were organized on the same day, March 3, 1866. District Number 61, directly west of Greenwaid, followed a year later, while District Number 82 came into being early in 1870. The remaining district, Number 173, is of far more recent origin, having been organized in 1895. The first school in the township of Getty was taught in a log building on Section 19, occupying the site of the present frame structure of District Number 53. Since the day of this log schoolhouse three frame buildings have been erected, two of which were destroyed by fire. The first teacher was Hattie Glover (Mrs. Hattie Viele?). Fifteen pupils attended her school, but this number has considerably increased. The first school officers of whom there is any record are J. J. Getty, Francis MC' Graw and John Roshhart. The teachers who were employed after Miss Glover were J. E. Davis, Annie Wilson, Delia Walker, B. W. Voeder, P. F. Grimes, G. E. Carver, Alpha Van Valkenburg, Gertrude De Groat, Harriet Lathrop, Cora Bisbee, Fannie Getty, Bridget Collins, N. Van Dyke, Etta Lewis, Ida Foote, Belle Bradley, Miss Mc- Connell, Alice Hosmer, Kate Allen, Mate Frederick, Mabel Doty, Lyra Barnard, Mary Rooney, Edna Nelson, Annie Orendorff, T. J. Flahaven, Mary Kielty, Kate Wagner, Bertha Kells, W. A. Apfield, Agnes Egan, W. Hilger, Annie S. Macfarlane, Annie Allen, Bee Allen, Annie Laughlin, Beata Dougherty, Julia Kinsella, Margaret Macfarlane, Mabel Spencer, Julia Costello, Olive Williams, Katherine Macfarlane and Aurelia Disselkamp.

The first officers of District Number 54 were John C. Veeder, Abraham Veeder and David Cleveland. Emma Madland was the first teacher, and had her school in a building occupying the present site, but later replaced by the present structure. Eleven pupils attended. Other teachers employed in this school were Maud Murrell, Annabel Morris, Ethelyn Allen, Carrie Irish, Margaret Irish, Catherine Kinsella, Mabel Brown and Emma Working. Unfortunately the names of the remaining teachers are unknown, no records being available.

northwest of the present location. It is a singular fact that, although the present residents of the district are without a single exception of German descent, the first teacher was an Irishman and two members of the school board were of the same nationality. The teacher's name is unknown, but the school officers were Mr. Riley, Mr. Davis and Mr. Krieg. Another matter of interest is the marked growth in the attendance. Although the district is much smaller now than it was then, the enrollment is just six times as large, During the first year twelve pupils attended while at the present time over seventy are enrolled. Some of the teachers employed in this district were James Davis, Christian Gebhart, Benjamin Veeder, Mr. Jubel, John Eltrich, John Wimmer, Stephen Mondschein, John Marsch, Miss Riley, John A. Beck, Caspar Kramps, Anton Kramps, Frank Kramps, John Schwinghammer, John Schwegler, Jacob L. Hohmann, Anna Marschall, Michael Theisen and Mary Folmer,

District Number 82 was organized in 1870.. Joseph Miller, Adam Botz and Anton Miller were the first officers. Mrs. B. W. Veeder was the first teacher, ten pupils attending, which number exceeded the present enrollment by three. Other teachers employed were Mary Fuller, Delia Veeder, Agnes Kinsella, Rosalie Weisser, Marie Kells, Edna Brophy, Katherine Minette, Rosalie Krebs and Katherine Bierbaum.

District Number 173, the Unity school, was organized in 1895. Herman Quade, B. W. Veeder and George Kind were the first officers, Mr. Veeder holding the office of clerk for nineteen years. Minnie Neumann, now Mrs. Henry Wilke of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, was the first teacher. She was followed by Ernestine Wehrhahn, I^aura Bohne, Agnes Egan, Annie Allen, Charlotte Tracy, S. E. Reed, Annie Laughlin, Minnie Bohne, Olive Williams, Bessie Manwell, Margaret Macfarlane, Nellie B,. Graham and Mary H. Graham.

Holding Township. - The first school in this township was taught by William Murphy in a log shed attached to the home of Mr. Young within the present boundaries of District Number 87. This is known as the Arban district, although Mr. Murphy taught before any organization was attempted. About fifteen children attended, but on account of the irregular attendance and the poor accommodations the first term of school was not productive of great results. Mr. Murphy taught for about three months in the spring of 1870. He was followed by Sister Clara Thorpe of Wisconsin (presumably a member of the Benedictine order) who taught in the same quarters. Within a year or two a Catholic church was built, and this was for some time used for school purposes also. The district was organized March 15,

1871, but the old log church continued to be used for the school until after the arrival of more settlers when a log building was put up in the woods about half a mile east of the present location. This stood till 1893 when the present frame building was erected. The Hon. Henry Stoetzel, member of the Minnesota house of representatives, attended this school when a boy and later taught it for several terms. Norbert Schneider, now principal of St. Stephen's school in the township of Brockway, and for four years teacher of the Arban school, also attended here. Others who received their early training in this district and later became teachers are William Schneider, Regina Schneider, Louis Ruf, Floriam Widmann and Rose Widmann. The teachers in the order of their employment were William Murphy, Sister Clara Thorpe, J. A. Steichen, Mr. Mclsaac, Wendelin Ruf, Leonard Kremer, Henry Stoetzel, Norbert Schneider, Frank Plemel, Anton Brommenschenkel, Joseph Wiechmann and Elinor Theisen. The first school officers were Henry Young, Wolfgang Voit and William Luckeroth.

1872. The school was first located on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter cf Section 8, about half a mile west of the village. The first school officers were Randolph Holding, Harvey Morgan and William Tuckey. These engaged Sanford A. Blood in the spring of 1872 to teach for a term of three months. Ten children attended, and for many years only one teacher was employed. As the village grew the attendance increased and it became necessary to engage an assistant. At the present time three teachers are employed. The teachers following Mr. Blood were Mr. Wardville, Mary Darling, Alice Bridgeman, Erastus Morgan, Mrs. Erastus

Morgan, P. J. McNulty, Miss Keller, Emma Murphy, Odilia Blattner, Miss Abeln, Julia Slattery, Katharine Slattery, Josephine Stein, Miss Walthmann, Miss Sjoberg, Miss Harrington, James L. Barrett, E. D. Van Vradenburg, Morgan Adams, Alois Phillips, Miss McBride and E. W. Collins. Following Mr. Collins two teachers were employed, B. J. Keppers being engaged as principal and Hannah Dauris as assistant. After five years the accommodations again became inadequate and another teacher was engaged, Vivian Murphy taking the position. Upon the resignation of Miss Dauris, Miss Mayme Lynch took charge of the primary room, while Mathilda Hilt succeeded Miss Murphy, who had declined a re-election. In 1914 Mr. Keppers, who had been principal for a number of years, tendered his resignation and Mary Burns succeeded him as principal. During the year Miss Hilt received an appointment in the Treasury department at Washington, D. C, and her place was taken by Caroline Hartz.

District Number 88, known as the Warczecha and also as the Washington school, was organized in 1871. The first school officers were a Mr. Hall and a Mr. Collins, the name of the other member of the board being unknown. The first schoolhouse was a log building which stood on the northeast corner of section 10. It is not known who was the first teacher, although it is known that he had only six children to instruct. After several years a frame schoolhouse was erected on the southeast corner of Section 3. This building was destroyed by fire in 1909, and when a new one was built the site was changed to the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 2. Events in this district during the forty-two years of its existence did not always run smoothly. The present well-regulated school would scarcely indicate that, many years ago, a scene was enacted which stands alone in the history of the Stearns county schools. It seems that one of the teachers in the early days, who had engaged the school with the understanding that order must be maintained, had by his strict adherence to duty incurred the enmity of a considerable faction. He was not a very robust man, though he did have a wonderful amount of moral courage. One afternoon a number of irate women appeared in front of the schoolhouse and clamored loudly for the teacher. The gentleman came forth, but he had no sooner set foot upon the doorstep than he was seized by the infuriated Amazons and pinioned against the wall. A can of maple syrup was poured over his head and a feather pillow ripped open and its contents mixed with the syrup. After otherwise insulting the teacher the women returned to their homes. Fortunately for themselves none of them were recognized, else it might have gone hard with them. Only a few of the teachers who taught in this school are known. These are Edward Collins, Miss McNulty, Emma Murphy, John Welna, Louis Ruf, Frank Gaida, Alex Steward, Joseph Swienty, Peter Szyperski, Hilda Carlson, Grace Burt, Rose Widmann and Frances Perlowski.

District Number 118, the Excelsior school, located in the northwestern part of the township near the Morrison county line, was organized in 1882. It has one of the largest enrollments of the county, the number of pupils attending the present year being 77, all in charge of one teacher. The first school officers were Henry Chesny, Richard Milner and Daniel Stewart. Julia Delaney (now Mrs. Frank M. Wright, St. Cloud) was the first teacher, who instructed 45 children in a frame building occupying the present site, but since replaced by a newer structure. The teachers employed in this district were Ada Simons, Louise Brodhead, George Garreis, Patrick McNulty, Emma Jackson, Grace Stanley, Minnie Saunders, L. C. Kelley, Ella Orth, Emma Murphy, Flora Joslin, Mary Davies, Florence Newell, James L. Barrett, Addie Lawrence, Alex Stewart, Anna L. Buckley, Josephine Stein, Marilda Morgan, Erma Kiley.

District Number 116, whose schoolhouse is situated about half way between Holdingford and St. Anna, and which is generally designated the Reinke school, was organized in 1880. Henry Sant, Carl Reinke and Christ Rayers were the first officers. Miss Sophie Hagemann of St. Cloud was the first teacher, twenty-five pupils attending. Other teachers employed were William Martin, Mr. Danzl, Christ Janski, Martin Skaj, Frank Gaida, Miss Iche, Miss Kuklenski, James L. Barret,

District Number 174, located in the southeastern part of the township, was organized in 1895. The school officers elected were John Philipsek, Charles Werner and Stanislaus Shipinske. Leonard Kremer was the first teacher. His enrollment numbered twenty-five pupils, which has since increased to fifty-eight. Other teachers employed were Henry Stoetzel, Lizzie De Wenter, Mary Eich, William Schneider, Louis Ruf, Margaret Kosel, Mary Heisler, Amelia Kalkmann, Cecilia Bettenburg, Margaret Murphy, Susan Rassier, Eva Carey and Agnes Kosel.

District Number 203, the Katzmarek school, was organized in 1909. The officers were Stanley Katzmarek, clerk; John Solorz, director, and Frank Dziewezinski, treasurer. Sarah Fearon, of St. Cloud, was the first teacher, sixty-four pupils attending. Helen Katzmarek, now teaching in District Number 86. this county, attended this school and was its first eighth grade graduate. Miss Fearon was followed by Minnie Kaufmann, Catherine Barry and Rose Godbout.

Krain Township. - The first school in Krain was taught by Joseph Gasperlin at his residence, the term commencing January 12, 1874. It is not known how many pupils attended. Shortly after a schoolhouse was erected near the present location in the village of St. Anthony, across the road from the Catholic church. For many years one teacher did the work, but it was finally found necessary to engage an assistant. A fine two-room schoolhouse was built and completely equipped with all modern conveniences. The teachers employed in this school were Joseph Fahnlander, Mr. Rinker, Mr. McDonnell, Mr. Heringer, Cyrus Brock. Michael Gores, J. C. Diekmann, George Gareis, M. C. Baltes, J. A. Schritz, William Mechtenberg, Mr. Kindervater, Miss Roesch, Valentine Henkel, John A. Kraus, Frank Herzog, Joseph Kruchten, B. J. Herzog, Sophia Kranz, C. A. Boerger, Theresa Bauer and Lucy Spengler.

District Number 114, whose building is located on "Fluermann's Corner," was organized in 1879. John Muyres was the first clerk, Joseph Moonen, treasurer, and Anton Vos, director. There is some dispute as to who was the first teacher, some claiming it was William Day and others that it was Cyrus Brock. During the first term fifteen pupils attended, instruction being given in a log building situated on the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 23, just two miles south and east of the present site. Later the school was moved to section 15 and about twenty-three years ago the present site was acquired. The teachers employed after Mr. Day and Mr. Brock were Louis Polly. August Richter, Cornelius Walker, Joseph Herberger, Henry Meyer, Nicholas Neisen, Amonica Aschenbrenner, Constance Seifert, Nicholas Young, J. E. Lemm, Bernard Reiter, Leonard Vos, Beatrice Wolf, Helena Popp, Alma Kaufmann, Michael Tschida, Wendelin Lemm and Julius Schmidt.

District Number 126, known as the Roesch school, was organized in 1884. Peter Slough was the first clerk, Ezra Mc- Farland, director, and Michael Ebnet, treasurer. Emma Murphy was the first teacher, thirty children attending. The schoolhouse then stood on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 24. Later it was moved to its present location, the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 25. The continued growth of the enrollment and the extremely inconvenient location of the schoolhouse resulted in the organization of a new district. For a number of years over seventy-five pupils were enrolled, all under the care and supervision of one teacher. Emma Murphy, the first teacher, had thirty pupils enrolled. She was followed by Adam Keppers, George Schutz, Joseph B. Himsl (later county attorney and judge of probate for Stearns county), Henry Meyer, Lizzie Seifert, Kate Wimmer, Kate Christen, Miss Rosenberger, Joseph Ehresmann, John Schwinghamraer, Lizzie Alsheimer, Veronica Rieland, Aurelia Theisen. Celia Hammerl, Margaret Roesch, Anton Brommenschenkel, Mathilda Schillo, Anton Theisen, Ursula Dreis and Isabel Krebs.

District Number 160, the Rooney school, was organized in 1890. Joseph Lehner was the first clerk, Fred Geise, director, and Anton Timmer, treasurer. Anna Christen was the first teacher, being followed by Josephine Wimmer, Joseph Lemm, John

District Number 177, known as the Pleasant View school, was organized in 1897. The first officers were Louis Lawrence, William Schindler and Henry Schmidt. Anna Stein was the first teacher. The enrollment numbered eightyfour pupils, which number has steadily decreased since the district was organized. Other teachers employed were Josephine Stein, Carrie Gumper, Mary Roesch, Lillian Schauble, John Winkler, Mary McArthur, Magdalen Burns, Magdalen Eschpeter, Rose Schmidt, Hattie Haselkamp, Mathilda Hilt, Mary Zierten and Josephine M. Tilley.

District Number 202, known as the Lange school, was organized in 1909. Frank Lange, Frank Herbes and Henry Lange were the first officers. Lucy Spengler was the first teacher. She was followed by Anna Gerding, after which she was reemployed for another year, to be succeeded by Frances Berger.

District Number 206, known as the Lakeview school, was organized in 1914. The organization was effected after much trouble, an appeal to the district court having been taken from the order of the county commissioners establishing the district. A fine modern schoolhouse was erected at a cost of over $3,000, including the equipment, which is complete in every respect. The first school officers were John F. Heinz, Ferdinand Lang and Lyman Lysher. Rose Preice, of St. Cloud, was the first teacher.

Le Sauk Township. - There is considerable divergence of opinion concerning the early school history of this township. It is stoutly maintained by some that the first school was taught by a Mr. Hodgden in the government blacksmith shop at the Winnebago Agency, the exact time being unknown, while others claim that Sarah Becker was the first teacher and that the room placed at her disposal was in the second story of the home of Mr. Hodgden. In either event it was a private venture.

District Number 5, the Sartell village school, was organized in 1864, Frank Arnold and William Connell being two of the first board members.. The schoolhouse was a log building placed near the ravine on the bank of the Mississippi river, about one and one-half miles south of the present village of Sartell. This structure was destroyed by fire, whereupon a frame building was erected at the extreme south end of the village. In the summer of 1907 a fine two-story schoolhouse was erected in the center of the village. Some of the teachers employed were Mabel V. Stokes, F. A. Gordon, F. L. Brockway, Eva Grimes, Verna Carrington, Theresia Cassidy, Regina Eldred, George A. Selke, D. A. Podall, Fay Wood, George Chapman, Mary T. Flaherty, Davis Elliott, Mary Burns and Susan M. Barthelemy. The assistants were Lois Gordon, Viola E. Cousin, Alice Cass and Mildred Sartell.

District Number 13 was organized in 1863. School was first taught in a log building occupying the present site. This building was later destroyed by fire, whereupon a frame structure was erected. This served the district until 1911, when a fine modern one-room schoolhouse was built. The first school officers were Adam Lenger, Peter Ferschweiler, and Peter Sand. Henry Duerr was the first teacher. He was followed by J. Doerner. Nicholas Hoffmann, Math Trauthen, Nancy Waite, Theodore Muellermeister, Stephen Martinic, J. Rebmann, Th. W. Richter, August Richter and Anna Zimmer. Then for a number of years Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict taught in this district. They were followed by Dominik Galama, John Galama, Mary Kosel, Simon Meyer, Mathilda Wimmer and Rose Schmidt. John Ferschweiler, nephew of one of the first county commissioners, was treasurer of this district for thirty-nine years, unquestionably the longest uninterrupted term in the entire county.

District Number 6, comprising the northern half of the township of Le Sauk, was organized in 1861, but unfortunately neither records nor tradition reaches further back than 1890. Kitty O'Brien taught the school in that year, twelve children attending. The largest enrollment was reached in 1912, when thirty-two children attended. The teachers following Miss O'Brien were Eleanor Cramb, Burleigh Van Etten, Grace Stiens, Lee Campbell, Annie Peterson, Agnes Holm, Edna Gilette, James L. Barrett, Grace Lambert, George Lindsay, Bir-

Lake George Township. - Number 62 was the first district organized in the township of Lake George. It was established June 8, 1869, and the organization was completed by the election of Mathias Eis, Bernard Stalberger and Andrew Stalberger, The first teacher was Katy Mary Frank. She was followed by Katherine Meagher, S. P. Schaefer, Michael Waltz, Thomas Collins, William Broker, John Mersch, P. H. Schomer, F.. E. Minette, Peter J. Seberger (for twenty-seven years principal of the Franklin school in the city of St. Cloud, and the present mayor of that city), M. S. Weyrens, F, Kramps, J. Kramps, George Haupt, Michael Gans, J. J. Nierengarten, A. C. Seifert, Stephen Zenner, Anna Molitor, F. Sauer, Jacob Jacobs, Ben Eveslage, Rose Sandbrink, Clara Sandbrink and Lena Pletschett.

District Number 128, in the northwestern part of the township, was organized in 1885. G. Quill was elected clerk, Reier Thostenson, treasurer, and W. B. Whitney, director. Nellie Whitney was the first teacher, in the present building, which occupied the present site. Thirty pupils attended. The Rev. John Quill, the Rev. Martin Quill and the Rev. R. K. Palmer attended this school in their boyhood. Other teachers employed were A. H. Hendrickson, Julia Nelson, Nora Emerson, Josie Emerson, C. C. Gieri, Effie Stauffer, C. C. Juul, T. E. Lynch, Agnes Hannen, Hilda C. Nelson, Frances Spieker and Marguerite Hines.

District Number 127 was organized the same day with District Number 128. Mathew Cowlthorp, John Cowlthorp and Michael Weller were elected officers. Clara Decker was the first teacher. The schoolhouse occupied the present site, but was replaced by a new structure. The teachers who followed Miss Decker were Alice Galusha, Myra E. Barnard, John W. Kramps, A. J. Schwinghammer, Valentine Haehn, Carl Rettenmaier, Katie Berg, J. E. Lemm, Joseph Dufner, Joseph Molitor, Joseph Fahnhorst, Edward Linster and Aloysius Schmitz.

officers were Joseph Breitbach, Nicholas Kuefier and Gregor Adrian. School was first taught in a frame building situated half a mile east of the present location. A modern one-room school building was erected in 1909. The teachers employed in this district were Nicholas Rausch, John Kalthof, Nicholas Thomey (the present county auditor), Arnold Bertram, Barney Eshpeter, Leo Bauer, A. C. Seifert, Joseph Sauer, Andrew Bauer, Mary Zapp, Mayme Pallansch, Anna Sandbrink and Edward Schmidt. Several state fair prizes were awarded this school in 1914.

District Number 166 was organized in 1893, John Bleason, Clemens Althof and Frank R. Schmidt being the first officers. Of these Mr. Schmidt still holds his office. The greater part of this district lies in Crow River township, but the schoolhouse stands just across the line in the township of Lake George. The first teacher was A. F. Kramps, twenty-four pupils attending. Mr. Kramps was followed by his brother, J. W. Kramps, after whom came Josephine Sondermann (now Mrs. Christ Borgerding of Belgrade), A. J. Kruse, Joseph Krebsbach, Gussie B.. Wolf, A. C. Seifert, Josephine Renter, Mary Molitor, Wilhelmine Halter, Anna Schultenover and Martin Kaufmann.

Lake Henry Township. - District Number 24, the Barchenger school, was the first organized in this township, having been established by the county board in 1869. Nicholas Longen, Mathias Gross and Xavier Popping were the first school oflBcers. Frederick Rupp was the first teacher, about twenty pupils attending. The children came from all parts of the township and also from the township of Spring Hill. From 1870 to 1887 the schoolhouse was located on the southwest corner of section 9, but in that year the building was moved two miles further west to its present location. The other teachers employed in this district were Rudolph Ureck, Frank J. Weisser (now city clerk of Melrose, this county), John Mersch, P. M. Schomer, H. Laubenthal, Conrad Marschall, Nicholas Hemmisch, Peter Kuhl, Jacob L. Hohmann, Mathias Weyrens, Ignatz Zeltinger, John Lang, Lawrence Iten, Benedict Kruchten, Frank Sauer, Frances Spieker, Nicholas Schmitz, Andrew Bauer, Anna Marschall, and Leonard Kolbet. The school is

District Number 131, the school in the village of Lake Henry, was organized in 1886.. John Jaeger was the first director, Ernest Mueller, treasurer, and Nicholas Zirbes, clerk. The first teachers were Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict, and these have had charge of the school ever since. Instruction was first given in a small building on the west side of the road, near the church; but in 1908 a new tworoom school building was erected.

District Number 115, known as the Neutzling school, was organized in 1880 with Marcus Komis, clerk; Henry Anders, director, and Jacob Neutzling, treasurer. Jacob Krantz was the first ceacher, his pupils numbering eight. Other teachers were Miss Anderson, Joseph Haege, W. Smith, Frank Rieland, John B. Glass, Peter Weyrens, Clemens Kost, John Mainzer, Thomas Reuther, Richard Boehm, James Butkowski, Charles Lake, Hubert Kuefler, Anna Schultenover, Victoria Glatzmaier and Henry Moser. Several state fair prizes were awarded pupils of this school in 1914.

District Number 196, known as the Gruber or the Crow Valley school, was organized in 1901. Math Lieser was elected clerk, John Fuchs, treasurer, and Joseph Gardner, director. Anna Reiter was the first teacher. Her successors were Regina Baker, Peter Ahles, Leo Neutzling, W. Lemm, Mrs,. J. Kienast, James Butkowski, Anton Theisen and Anna Moser.

Luxemburg Township. - The first school in this township was taught in District Number 64, known locally as the Koch district. The schoolhouse, in the early days, stood about one and a half miles north of the present location, on the southwest quarter of section 2. The first school officers were Nicholas Post, John Grangenet and Nicholas Ellenbecker. Lizzie Wolter was the first teacher, and after her the following were employed: John Fischbach, Nicholas Schmit, Jacob Lemm, F. Ellenbecker, Theodore Bauler, John Schenenz, John Steichen, Math Weiler, M. G. Meyer, August Bechter, Michael Loesch, Peter Henricy, B. M. Greisen, Nicholas K. Stein (seventeen years), A. C. Seifert, Anna Schomer, Margaret P. Weber, Lucy Spengler and Anton Theisen.

District Number 105, where schoolhouse is located on the northeast corner of section 32, was organized in 1875. George Arnold, John Arnold and Christ Pallansch were the first school officers. Nicholas Schmit, later county surveyor, was the first teacher, his enrollment numbering about twenty pupils. The first building stood about one mile west of the present location. At present the enrollment numbers seventy children. Teachers who followed Mr. Schmit were J. H. Bold, Jacob L. Hohmann, John Weyrens, John Fischbach, John H. Pallansch, Joseph Bold, William Bold, Math Weyrens, Nicholas Steichen, James Lemm, John B. Maus, Edward Arnold, John Walz, Josephine Stein, Caroline Hartz, Hannah Batz, Elizabeth Ungers, Susan Lahr and Clara Fischer. Edward Arnold, who later taught this school and who is now principal of the school at New Market, Minn., attended here when a boy. Emil Enderle, cashier in a Watkins bank, and Henry Kremer, teacher, were also pupils.

District Number 110, known as the Diedrich school, was organized in 1879. P. S. Weyrens was the first clerk, Christ Schuetz, director, and John B. Diedrich, treasurer. The teachers were John Weyrens, Nicholas Schmit, Robert L. Abbot, Peter Befort, John A. Jacobs, N. K. Stein, Peter Weyrens, H. W. Lembeck, John A. Schritz, Ben Lemm, John Ivetz, John Walz, Nicholas Maus, Charles Schmit, Peter L. Danzl, P. J. Weber, Philip P. Lemm, Henry liembeck, Mary C. Burns, Joseph Kruchten, Math A. Schmitt, Jennie Lacher, Max Grave, W. F. Kuehnl and Edna Brown.

District Number 134, known locally as the Richter school, was organized in 1887. Math Esplan was the first director, Henry B. Moeller, treasurer, and Michael Nies, clerk. Mr. Nies has held his office continually for twenty-seven years. The teachers were Michael S. Weyrens, Joseph Pollmann. Math N. Koll, Lena Turk, Hubert J. Miller, John A, Schreifels, Carl Schmit, Louisa Muggli, Joseph Lahr, Henry Lembeck, Barney Eschpeter, James Jungels and Christine Moser. In 1908 a new, modern schoolhouse, with a full basement, was erected, which has been fully equipped for the special state aid.

ized in 1892. The first officers were Michael Noehl, John Koch and Frank Rausch. The teachers employed were Anna Stein, Caspar Loesch, Jacob Doetzel, John Jungels, John Weber, John B. Maus, John A. Maus, John Lang, Math Hurth and Henry Weismann.

District Number 190, the school in the village of St. Nicholas, was organized in 1901. John Theisen, John Stommes and Theodore Bachmann were the first school officers. Joseph B. Himsl, later county attorney and judge of probate, was the first teacher. In the absence of a schoolhouse, instruction was first given in a small room above the sanctuary of the Catholic church, sixty pupils being enrolled. Other teachers were W. F,. Kuehnl, Anna M. Karels and Sophia Kranz.

Lynden Township. - The first school in the township of Lynden was taught by J. K. Kingsbury of Vermont, in the winter of 1858 to 1859, in a shanty v/hich had been erected for a groggery. This stood just outside the corporate limits of the village of Clearwater, in Stearns county. The following summer a schoolhouse was erected near this grog shop, the funds being raised by private subscription. Marietta Vorse was the first teacher. School was regularly taught for a number of winters, but unfortunately only a few names of the teachers employed are known. These are J. Colgrove (father of P. P. Colgrove, Ph. D,.), W. T. Rigby and A. C. Powers. Many years later the territory became a part of the Clearwater independent district and the schoolhouse was moved away and used as a town hall.

District Number 153, the Weyrauch school about three miles west of Clearwater, was organized in 1869. It was known as District Number 50 at the time, and embraced a smaller area than at present. However, in 1890 the people living in sections 19, 20, 29 and 30, which land was then a part of the independent district of Clearwater, desired to leave the latter organization and become a part of District Number 50. This could not be accomplished by set-off petitions, unless by most tedious proceedings requiring several years for completion, so a petition was presented to the county commissioners, praying for the organization of a new district, comprising all of District Number 50 and the sections above mentioned. Being a new district, it must be given a new number, the next in order at the time being 153. In this manner Number 50 became vacant and was assigned to a new district organized in 1892, which has been described in Luxemburg township. The first school officers of this district were D. D. Storms, A. B. Darling and Robert Lyons. Ellen Fuller was the first teacher, thirty pupils attending. At that time the schoolhouse stood one mile south of the present location. When the district was enlarged, as already related, a new site was acquired and the new building, of brick, was erected on the present location. Some of the teachers employed were Emma Laughlin, D. D. Storms, Emma Walker, Calvin Whitney, Susan S. Storms, Aggie Mulholland, Fannie Locke, Addie B. Pinney and Miss Whittemore. Mr. Storms taught the school during four different terms and Miss Laughton was also employed for three separate years. This completes the list of teachers employed from the organization of the district up to 1877. After that year no records are available up to 1903, when John O'Ryan was employed. He was followed by Edward Mensinger, Bernard Winkelmann, Josephine Stein, Henry Moeller, Edward Schmidt, Jacob L. Hohmann and Julia Vorpahl.

District Number 78, known as the Mooney school, was organized in the fall of 1869. H. G. Carlisle, Peter Valley and D. D. Miller were the first school officers. Francis Mooney, still living on a farm in the district, was the first teacher. At that time the schoolhouse stood on the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 19, about one mile north of the present location. Thirty pupils attended. The present school site was acquired by condemnation proceedings after a strenuous fight in which the old site was twice selected by vote of the people. A compromise for the present location was finally effected. Some of the teachers were Florence Coates, Mary Connelly, Frank Sias, Mary Wolf, Ella McBride, Elsie Raymond, Mary Kelley, Anna Carey, Anna Masuch, Sarah Tessendorf and Glee V. Boldan.

District Number 169 was organized in 1893. George Stokes was the first director, F. J. Ponsford, treasurer, and Robert Lyons, clerk. Twenty-three pupils were enrolled, which number has steadily decreased since then. Hattie Stokes and Katherine Murphy, who later became teachers, attended this school. The teachers employed were Alice Ponsford, Jennie Barrett, Mary Ross, Sybil Clark, Nat Smith, Maud Smith, Julia O'Brien, Pearl Z. Linn, Theresa Godfrey, Alma Smith, Lola Brown, Wiley Warrick, Anna Proesch, Emma Lee, Minnie Boldan, Blanche Biggerstaff, Nellie White, Flora Murray, Effie Wolhart, Anna Zack, Mary Schwartz, Kathleen Hall, Hazel Phillipps and Irma Jones.

Melrose Township. - The first school in the township of Melrose was taught in what is now District Number 41, more generally known as the Stewart school, situated about three miles west of the city of Melrose. This district was organized in 1861, the school officers being Messrs. Doe, Taylor and Lindbergh. The first school was in a log building, which stood about three-fourths of a mile east of the present location. Originally this district comprised a large area, and remained a large one even after the Melrose district was organized. However, when District Number 165, which joins it on the north, was established the size and shape of the parent organization were so much altered that the location of the schoolhouse had to be changed. A new school building was erected, which is still being used. The first teacher was Mary Stiles, and among her pupils were Myron D. Taylor, later judge of the Seventh Judicial district and at present a commissioner of the supreme court of the State of Minnesota, and Charles A. Lindbergh, now and for many years member of congress from the Sixth congressional district. Dr. Oakford Kells, a prominent physician, and Luke Kells, a well-known attorney, also attended this school in their boyhood. Other pupils who later became teachers were Madge Kells, Marie Kells, Margaret Flahevan, Julia Foreman, Mayme Pallansch, Bertha Dodd, Nellie Graham and Alice Graham. Unfortunately only a few names of teachers employed could be learned. These are Jennie Stabler, Sarah Faucet, Mary Bradley, Cora Bisbee, Isabella Duncan, Minnie Dobbs, Katie Allen, Maggie Nugent, Thomas Fla-. haven, Thomas Lynch, Agnes Hansen, Madge Kells, Edward Dubois, Earl Eckenrode, Mayme Donohue and Alice Graham.

District Number 73, whose building is known for many miles around as the Red Schoolhouse, was organized in 1869. C. W. Taylor, Frank Kent and George Grinnell were the first school officers. The first school was taught by Alfred Townsend, fourteen girls and six boys attending. Other teachers employed were Sylvia L, Townsend, Celestine E. Connor, Charlotte Chance, Ada Von Valkenburg, Mrs. Anna R. Whitney, Carrie Foote, Thomas Davis, Bridget Collins, Susan Buchanan, Maggie Carr, Lizzie Collins, Faustina Dennis, Gertie Miner, Lois Wheeler, Fannie Farrington, Anna Harmann, Frank Farrington, Emily Hinkston, Carrie W. Barton, Alice Galusha, Robert F. May, E. R. Lynch, Mary Hannan, Anna S. Christen, M. E. Hayford, Hugh Battenberg, Theodore Thielen, Anna McNulty, Erdina Small, Catherine Flahaven, Clara Jacobson, Anna Kennedy, N. Hilger, Fred Walz, Frank Herzog, Clara Sandbrink, Cecilia Bettenburg, Eulalia May and Martha Ziska.

District Number 164, whose schoolhouse is located on the southeast corner of section 13, was organized in 1893. John Ritter, Stephen Petermeier and John Terwey were the first school officers. A. C. Seifert taught the first term of school, seventeen pupils attending. Other teachers were Josephine Wimmer (who taught the school for six consecutive years), Sophie Kranz, Claire Christen, Louise Zenner, Clara Sandbrink, B. J. Herzog, Frank Herzog, Anna Schultenover and Anna Sandbrink.

District Number 165, called the Flahaven district, was organized in 1893. The first officers were John Flahaven, director; Henry Tiemann, treasurer, and George Rehkamp, clerk. ,Kate Wimmer was the first teacher, nineteen pupils attending. On the evening of December 5, 1901, the schoolhouse was destroyed by fire, but the erection of a new one was begun immediately. The other teachers employed were Nicholas M. Phlepsen, T. J. Bentfield, Fred Christen, Kasper P.. Loesch, Mary Krick, Henry J. Adrian, Nicholas Schmitz and Theodore Schulte.

District Number 187, known as the Hinnenkamp school, was organized in 1900. The first officers were Joseph Niehaus, Bernard Hinnenkamp and Hermann Hinnenkamp. Miss Hattie Himsl, now Mrs. J. P. Goetten of St. Cloud, was the first teacher, fifty-four pupils attending. The Rev. Father Hinnenkamp, pastor of the Irish Catholic church at Sauk Centre, attended this school when a boy. The other teachers employed in this district were Sophie Kranz, Frank Raab, Andrew Bauer, John Schwegler, Rose Rauch, Clara Sandbrink, and Anna Sandbrink. Miss Rauch later joined the Order of Franciscan Sisters at Little Falls, where she died in 1914. Millwood Township.^ - District Number 89, also known as the Birch Lake and the Coe district, was organized in 1872. The ;;1 school officers were Henry Coe, John Roth- I well and George Arbuthnot. Anne Whit- |. ney was the first teacher. A log building h was used and fifteen pupils attended. Other '- teachers were Ella Doty, Carrie Foote, Bridget Collins, Nellie Stone, Charles Litchfield, Jack McKenney, Lois Wheeler, Mary Kingston, Emma Reynolds, Kate Flahaven, Emma Bass, Maggie Bachmann, Jennie Campbell, Madge Murphy, Berdine Eldred, Maymie Donohue, Marie Jarvis, Martha Hurley, Floy Maguinn, Frances Spieker, Minnie Stanger, Esther Rembert and Fleurine Miller.

District Number 95, known as the Wensmann district, was also organized in 1872. Henry Bergmann was the first director, Barney Barthle, clerk, and George Heidegerker, treasurer. Bernardine Borgmann, now Mrs. John Hoeschen of Los Angeles, California, was the first teacher. School was taught in a little log building, unplastered and unpainted, containing a few long benches, a piece of blackboard and an old box stove. There was no well near the schoolhouse and the children were obliged to get their drinking water out of a small lake near by. Conditions were greatly changed for the better, however, in 1886, when a new schoolhouse, the present frame structure, was erected. Among the pupils who later attained prominence were A. H. Klasen, later judge of probate, and the Rev,. Hermann, O. S. B., Prior of the St. John's Abbey at CoUegeville, this county. The teachers employed after Miss Borgmann were Barney Barthle, Quirin Brady, Sylvester Weyrens, Anthony Joseph, Henry Klasen, George Haupt, John B. Harren, Victor Himsl, Andrew Kessler, Louis Gum- I per, Joseph Wichmann, N. J. Harren, John

District Number 94, frequently alluded to as the Himsl district because J. B. Himsl taught the school for a number of years, v/as organized in 1873. Unfortunately no early records are available, although it was at one time a very large district and had a large school population. The first schoolhouse was a log building, situated about eighty rods north of the present site. Later a frame structure was erected which was moved to the present site. It soon proved too small for the large enrollment and was replaced by a larger building. The old schoolhouse is at present used as a dwelling for the teacher. Some of the teachers were J. B. Himsl, A. H. Klasen, Leonard Kremers, Joseph Gumper, Jacob L. Hohmann, Max Grave, Elizabeth Ungers, Michael Weyrens, Mary Schroeder and Anna V. Monn.

District Number 183, the Green Valley school, was organized in 1899. Hermann Ostendorf. Anton Schulte and Edward Atkinson were the school officers. Jacob Jacobs was the first teacher, being followed by Hermann Ricker, who still holds the position, this being his twelfth year. In 1914 Mr. Ricker was appointed postmaster at Freeport by President Wilson.

District Number 194, the school at St. Rosa, was organized in 1901. Henry Rohe was elected clerk, Gerhard Arnzen, director, and Bernard Stoerm.ann, treasurer. School was first taught in the basement of the new Catholic church then under construction. J. B.. Himsl was the first teacher, thirty pupils being enrolled. The number of pupils has greatly increased since then, so that the erection of a tworoom school building is being considered. Other teachers were Peter Stadtherr, Henry Stoetzel, B. A. Herzog and W. P. Kuehnl.

District Number 204, in the northeastern part of the township, was organized in 1909. The first school officers were Feodor Feierabend, A. Bergmann and H. M. Mathews.. Anna M. Laughlin was the first teacher. Her successors were Elizabeth Cassidy, Esther Rodean, Ida Spencer and Stella Rassier.

Munson Township. - The first school in this township was taught by Henry Klostermann in the village of Richmond. The building used was a log structure, originally intended for a church. This was in the winter of 1859-60. It was a private school, the teacher's salary being raised by subscription. The district was organized in 1862 and Mr. Klostermann continued in the public school for several years, the same building being used. It was designated as District Number 1 of the township of Munson, but shortly after it was changed to Number 20. The attendance grew rapidly, and assistant teachers were employed as they were needed. The school was placed on the state graded list in 1903. Six teachers are employed at present. Following Mr. Klostermann the following teachers were engaged: William Lenz, Robert Mockenhaupt, Anton Moosbrugger, Henry Emmel, Lucas Gertken (who taught in this school for thirty-one years), Phillip Goerger and Andrew Weber. Some of the assistants were John Jacobs, Philipp Lemm, Margaret Weber, Mary Tschumperlin. Bertha Pallansch, Mayrae Stangl, Augusta Reinhard and Mary Mimbach. In 1906 Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict took charge of the lower rooms.

District Number 71, the Rothstein school about three miles west of Richmond, was organized in 1864. Mr. Rothstein and Mr. Kost were members of the first school board and the first teacher was either a Mr. Maleiski or a Mr. Hasbrouck. The enrollment then numbered over fifty pupils, which has steadily decreased ever since, only thirteen children being enrolled at the present time. Other teachers employed were Joseph P. Kruchten, Katherine M. Sauer, Mathilda Wimmer, M.. S. Weyrens, Lucas Lembeck, Martin J. Jahn, Magdalen Eshpeter, Philipp Lemm, Pauline Ahles, Clara Barker, Victoria Glatzmaier and Susan Lahr.

District Number 154, the Engelhard school four miles northwest of Richmond on the Farming road, was organized in 1890. The first school officers were John Ressermann, Jacob Engelhard and George Engelhard. August Richter was the first teacher, thirty pupils attending. Other teachers were Lucas Lembeck, John C. Helm, Jacob L. Hohmann, Henry Engelhard, M. S. Weyrens, Michael Lutgen and John Jacobs.

District Number 163, known as Old Roscoe, was organized in 1892. Martin Ley, Lambert Knese and Thomas Zaczkowski were the first school ofl[icers. Math J.

Hammes, now of Searles, N.. D., was the first teacher, the present building being used. The other teachers employed were Barney Reiter, Frank Bock, Lena Maehren, Charles Lake, Kate Hilger, Marion Killian, Mathilda Lemm and Edith Hartel. A cottage for the use of the teacher was provided a few years after the district was organized, but it stood untenanted for several years. It was entirely destroyed in the spring of 1913 when a bolt of lightning crashed through the building less than a minute after the children had left it after playing there during recess. Not a sound timber was left in the entire structure.

District Number 172, known as the Fienhage school, about four miles west of Richmond on the St. Martin road, was organized in 1894. Frank Fienhage, Joseph Schefers and Adolph Ressemann were the first school officers. John Meyer, now of Golden Valley, N. D., was the first teacher. Other teachers were Barney J. Korte, Bernard Willenbring, Nicholas Maus, Henry B. Haehn, Elizabeth Kamp, George Guggenberger and John O'Ryan.

Maine Prairie Township. - The first school in this township was taught by Mrs. Alonzo Spaulding at her residence in the summer of 1857. It was a private venture, a small tuition being charged. In 1859 District Number 28, known locally as the Atwood school, was organized. No schoolhouse was available for the first year, so Horace Greely offered a room in his residence. Marie Boobar of Fair Haven was the teacher. She boarded at the home of a Mr. Leavitt and a breaking plow furrow was turned for her convenience in making the trip. This was the nucleus of what later became known as the "Schoolmaam's Road." During the winter of 1859-60, however, the men living west of Pearl Lake cut logs and hauled them while there was yet snow upon the ground, and in the spring a log schoolhouse was erected on Martin Greeley's farm on the west side of the lake, Mr. Greeley donating the land on which the schoolhouse stood. The building was 16 by 25, chinked with clay, the several families providing their children with seats. Carrie Hicks, later Mrs. William L. Heywood, was the first teacher. In 1870 the site was changed to the present location a little to the southeast of Pearl Lake, where school was first held in an old frame shack. The present structure was erected in 1871. Ella Smith, one of the first to graduate from the St. Cloud normal school, was the first teacher in this new building. Some of the pupils of this school, who later attained prominence were M. P. Greeley, member of the state legislature in 1892; C. L. Atwood, president of the Security State Bank, St. Cloud, and E. W. Atwood, proprietor of a large book store in St. Cloud. Other teachers employed in this school were Elizabeth Rice, Philena Fields, Ella Clark, Ida Watkins, Maggie Biggerstaff, Evelyn McKenney, D. E. Meyers, A. B. Stickney, Bertha Clark, John B. Statz, Clara Engels, Mary Jacobs, Olivia Bechtold, Alma Hanlon, Julietta Grossmann, Margaret Schommer, Anna Masuch and Mary Maus. At the 1913 state fair the first, second and third prizes for relief maps of South America were awarded pupils of this school.

District Number 29, known as the Hamilton school in the early days, was organized in 1861. The first schoolhouse used what was then known as a balloon shanty, i. e., a structure built of boards or slabs nailed vertically to a loose frame work. The building was rudely furnished, and it is said that for the first few years it was impossible to keep it warm so that the children suffered great hardships in their quest of learning. Later the building was encased with more closely fitting siding, which greatly improved it. In 1876 a special meeting was held at which a new site, the present location, was selected. This is only a short distance from the original site. The sum of $400 was voted for a new building and the old one was sold for $95.50. This figure finds a parallel in other corresponding values offered at a meeting in 1881 at which the sum of ninety-five cents was allowed for cleaning the schoolhouse, and $1.50 for whitewashing the walls. At the same meeting the contract was let for building a fence around the school grounds, the specifications calling for seasoned white oak posts, boards to be square edge, with six nails in a board, with a hardwood or tamarack pole on top. The contract was let for $11. The first school was taught by a Mr. Dean of Fair Haven, who was followed by Julia Hicks. Another early teacher was E. W. Atwood (father of Clarence L. and E. W.

Atwood of St. Cloud), who taught this school for several terms. The hiring of teachers was not gone about in a haphazard way. In the early days the monthly wages were governed by the attendance, one contract placing them at $28 per month if the daily attendance averaged twenty pupils, and $26 if it fell below. Some of the other teachers employed in this district were A. D. Doane, Nellie Kimball, Mabel Hamilton, Mrs. Julia Hulst, Evelyn McKenney, May Greeley, Kate A. Campbell, Eliza Greeley, J. A. Vye, Michael M. Bormann, Addie Cossairt, Ethel M. Parsons, Jennie Perkins, Edith Pattison, Arthur Buzzle, D. W. Spaulding, "Catherine A. Mitchell, Clara Shoemaker, Cora Mathison, Ivy Boobar, Marie Walker, Alma Proesch, Maude H. Clement, Mary Heywood, Marie Held, Sarah Ryan, Susan Rassier, Frances Mockenhaupt and Hazel Anderson.

District Number 30, known locally as the Farwell school, was organized September 7, 1861. The original area comprised eleven sections; however, this has been considerably reduced since. Unfortunately none of the early records are available and but little is known of the beginnings of this district. In 1861 thirty pupils were enrolled and the apportionment received from the state was $5.52. In 1863 and 1864 the number of pupils did not materially increase, but in 1866 the district was entitled to the state apportionment for 79 pupils. Some of the teachers employed in this school were Guy Moss, Mrs. R. R. Sweet, Mabel Cornell, Vernie Caylor, Mary Heywood, Bessie Jones, Mary Tierney, Helen Riordan, Alice Kenevan, Horace B. Chilson, Macie French, Blanche Phelps, Ruth Ritchie and Addie Johnson.

District Number 32, known as the Brown district, lies mostly in that part of Maine Prairie township which extends into the congressional township of Fair Haven. Although this district was organized in 1867, a three months' term of school had been taught the preceding year in an old barn which now stands a few rods north of the present schoolhouse on the George Linn farm. At the time when it was used for school purposes it stood over a mile northwest of the present location. A Miss Langdon was the first teacher employed in this district, i. e., in the old building. After the organization of the district a schoolhouse was erected on the present site. Valora Adley, now Mrs,. Bickford, of Otter Tail county, v/as the first teacher in the new building. The first school ofl!icers were Samuel L. Young, A. Spaulding and Barney Allen. Other teachers employed were Minnie Belknap, Mary Heywood, Ada Snow, Carrie Rogers, Carrie Heywood, W. M. Whitney, May Kielty, A. R. Adkins, Mary Street, Elizabeth Rau, Gertrude Perkins, Rose Von Levern, Maggie Kielty, Marian Ellis, Ada Perry, Mary Heywood, Grace Marshall, J. C. West, Pearl Linn, Bernice Cline, Blanche Lyons, Louise Scobie, Aurelia Disselkamp, Clara Kirkebon, Bessie Manwell and Adeline Schreiner.

District Number 55, the Stickney school, was organized in 1869. Daniel Cossairt, Eli Hoskins and James F. Morris were the first school officers.. The first term of school was taught by William B. Campbell. Instruction was given in a log building which stood about eighty rods north of the present location. The other teachers were Bettie Clark, John Donohue, M. A. Stickney, Annie Stickney, Martin Greeley, Ella Hanscom, G. W. Bemus, Cordelia Spaulding, Mary Greeley, James H. Bonham, Nettie Noyes, Charles W. Hoyt, Eunice Goodspeed, Lizzie F. Greeley, A. R. Adkins, Mary J. Jackmann, Anna McCarthy, Cora Borthwick, Nellie E. Dayton, Mattie Mason, Carrie Heywood, Addie Cossairt, Jennie Cossairt, Lulu Sturgis, W. M. Whitney, Addle King, Jessie Abbot, W. F. Meagher, Eliza Bullivant, W. A. Wade, Hattie Pappenfus, George F. Zimmermann, Laura Kiernan, Constance E. Winings, Anna Proesch, Bernice Cline, M. Jennie Lyons, Blanche Lyons, Josephine Ross, Vera Bramhall, Charlotte Ferdinantsen aud Olive M. Williams.

District Number 80, the village school of Kimball, was organized in 1869. The schoolhouse first stood half a mile north of the present village limits, on the Belknap farm. After the building of the Soo railroad the village of Kimball was founded, but the school continued outside the corporate limits. The people living in the town finally outnumbered those in the country and a special election was called for the selection of a new school site. The supporters of the village were in the majority and they carried the election. However, the rural patrons were determined not to surrender the schoolhouse, and put up a strenuous fight for its possession. Finally, one night a crowd of Kimballites sallied out and placing the schoolhouse on skids dragged it into town. This action was merely taken to determine a question of right, for the little building was never used for school purposes after that. A four-room structure was built, which served the district till 1911, when it was destroyed by fire. Immediately following this catastrophe a fine modern building was erected. Some of the principals of the Kimball school were Ada Snow, Miss A. C. Tyler, D. W. Spaulding, Walter F. Salisbury, Cecilia Kimball, F. W. Magnusson, J. B. Vincent, Harry L. Moodey, Charles V. Bond, Hanphyn T. Carlson, Arthur Fitch and F. W. Marshik. The assistant teachers were Parthena Mc- Kain, Libby Mullen, Blanche Kimball, Elva .L Mead, Clara Shoemaker, Jessie Milton, Clara French, Clara Hertig, Pearl Richardson, Mavis Converse, Fanny Salitermann, Verna Caylor, Cornelia Swenson, Macie French, Mabel Hamilton, Lillie Claesson, Bessie Mollison, Verna Kochendorfer, Pearl Linn, Anna Thorpe.

Immediately upon the change of school sites, as related above, the people living in the country petitioned the county commissioners for a new district, and the prayer was granted December 17, 1889. The new organization was given the number 147, although it was more familiarly known as the Wade district. Some of the teachers employed in this school were Pearl Z. Linn, Minnie C. Schultz, Anna Streed, Amelia Von Levern, Catherine O'Donnell, Verna Caylor, Nannie M. Anderson and Minnie Poepke. There is truth in the saying that old loves never cool. For over twenty years this schoolhouse stood at the very gates of Kimball, accommodating a small enrollment while many pupils passed its doors to attend the graded school in the village. In 1911 Hanphyn T. Carlson, who was then principal of the Kimball school, began a movement toward consolidation, and so firmly did the seed take root that on May 12, 1913, an almost unanimous vote was cast in favor of consolidation.

officers were Peter Ethen, P. J. Nies and Mathias Pent. John Moos, now residing in Seattle, Washington, was the first teacher, twenty pupils attending. The teachers later employed were Frank Ellenbecker, Peter Meyer, Peter Schomer, Hubert Hansen, August Doerner, Jacob Bold, Nicholas Wenner, Peter Nohner, Henry Reiter, Michael S. Weyrens, John B. Glass, John Jacobs, John M. Goetz, Nicholas Schmit, Nicholas J. Krier, Peter P. Weber, Albert A. Eich, William Schulfe, John B. Maus, Mae Bliss, Joseph Koschiol, Andrew W. Bauer, Barbara Tschumperlin, Margaret Raykowski, Margaret Keil, John Walz and William Mechtenberg.

District Number 99, known as the Becker Settlement school, was organized in 1888. Frank Greenwald was the first clerk, Gerhard Stelten, treasurer, and George W. Humes, director. Kate Courtney, now Mrs. Michael Quinn of Litchfield, was the first teacher. School was first taught in St. Anne's Catholic church, a log structure which stood about fifteen rods west of the present building, and may still be seen about a mile northwest of the schoolhouse, although services have not been held in it for a number of years. The attendance in this school has always been large. Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Beckers had eighteen children, and others also had large families. At no time was the school term voted less than eight months. The teachers employed after Miss Courtney were Eunice Duffy, Mary Campbell, Mary J. D. Kennedy, Anna McCarthy, Edward M. Gans, John M. Goetz, John T. Mies, Blanche Kimball, A. C. Seifert, Peter Nohner, Joseph Kruchten, M. Krier, Edward F. Kiernan, Mrs. William May, Mrs. A. Anderson, Ignatius Lemm, James Backes, T. F. Kiernan and Rose M. Courtney.

District Number 150, the school at Marty or Pearl Lake, was organized in 1890. The first directors were Thomas Neubeck, Henry Steichen and Joseph Scheeler. John Jacobs, now living at Richmond, was the first teacher. School was first taught in a frame building situated one and one-quarter miles south of the present site. Other teachers employed were J. N. Weber, M. J. Molitor, M. C. Loesch, Ignatius Fuchs, Math Louis, Anna Marschall, John Weber, Joseph Walz, Edward Arnold and Katherine Knipple.

North Fork Township. - The first school in the township of North Fork was taught in 1868 by Edward Meagher in a very primitive structure situated on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 14. Embrick Knudson, Ole O. Heieie and Ole Hafthorn were the first school officers. The original area of the district comprised twenty-two sections, which gradually diminished as new districts were formed later on. The other teachers employed in this district were Katherine Meagher, Samuel Meagher, Ole O. Heieie, Emma Reynolds, Christine Jacobson, Ole E. Vig, J. B. Locke, Jennie Johnson, Maggie McCarty, Gustav Levorson, James Sanders, E. E. Iverson, Marie Hafthorn, Mamie Brown, Agnes Mitchell, Carrie Ross, Mable Skimland, Martha Torculson, Julia Riley, Theodore Hokenstad, Paul Mitchell, Annie Johnson, Katherine Macfarlane, Alice McGenty. The school in this district is known locally as the Kittelson school, though its official designation is District Number 66.

District Number 67 was organized September 8, 1869, the district embracing nine sections. The first schoolhouse stood half a mile east of the present location. It was replaced by a more modern structure in 1892, which was moved to the present site in 1906. The teachers employed in this district, were Katie Riley, Lily Lahr, Maggie Nugent, Julia Nelson, Maggie Hawkins, George Farraby, Mary Miller, E. E. Iverson, Anna Allen, Nora Peterson, Mary Rooney, Maggie Meagher, Gertrude Mitchell, Katie Martin, Margaret Wilson, Martha Rooney, Beatrice Daugherty, Mary Morgan, Agnes Hanahan, Phoebe Smith, Mavis Convers, Nina Bohne, Mabelle Brown, Inga Herbrandson, Mamie Gannon.

District Number 83, known locally as the Baalson school, was organized in 1870. The first school officers were S. E. Dolehus, Ellen Baalson and Ole Herbrandson. Anna K. Kyllo, later Mrs. Olavus Torguson, was the first teacher, eighteen pupils attending. Nels K. Strande, clerk of the district, has prepared an exhaustive report from which it appears that, for the first three years, the district boasted no schoolhouse. The first year school was taught in the home of Ellen Baalson, while the house of Ole Naprud was used the two years fol- lowing. In 1873 a log shanty, fourteen feet long and twelve feet wide, was erected on the northeast corner of section 30. The salary paid the first teacher was $12 per month, while her successor received $20. For a number of years $28 and $30 per month was the usual salary. Narve Erickson, a farmer forty-five years of age, attended school part of the time during the first term, together with his two daughters, Barbro and Runnog. The teachers following Miss Kyllo were S. E. Meagher, Edward Meagher, Katherine Meagher, Ole O. Heieie, Ole E. Vig, Gustav Levorson, E. E. Iverson, Edward Braaten, Maria Hafton, Nora Peterson, Agnes Michels, Ingeborg Herbrandson, Lydia Gjermundson, Hulda Gjermundson, Mina Hjeldness, Theodore Hokenstad, Menora Steen, Gunda Johnson.

District Number 109 was organized in 1878 with Andrew N. Moen, Kittle Halvorson and Andrew Erickson as school officers, Thomas Kjeldahl was the first teacher. The names of only a few of the teachers employed in this district can be learned. These are Robert Rogers, Marie Huselid, Sidie Littig, Huldah Germundson, Julia Swenson, Marie H. Walker, Mrs. Roy Smith, Martha Torculson, Christine Heieie, Clara Larson, Agnes Adams.

District Number 145, the Brooten village school, was organized in 1890,. May Johnson was the first teacher, and for eight years one teacher did the work alone. The school house was a one-room structure, occupying the present site of the Farmers' creamery. After 1898 there came a gradual healthy growth, and since that year it has been necessary to steadily increase the force of teachers. The district became independent in 1910. New buildings have been erected and nine teachers are employed at present. Agricultural and home economics departments are being maintained in connection. The Brooten school is classed among the largest graded schools in the state. Miss Johnson, the first teacher, was followed by Gustav Levorson, James Sanders and Duncan McKenzie, who had no assistants. Later principals were B. E. Cocley, H. C. Hendershott, J. W. Fay, Fred Graff, R. J. McClintock and George Bakalyar. The assistants were Mary M. Brown, Edith Kemp, Lillian Thorson, Mary Carr, Lillian Schwartz, Mrs. S. A. Vesledahl, Carrie Ross, Mabel Skimland, Dagne Johnson, Anna Price, Rose McNallan, Delia Simmers, Mary E. Wahl, Ella Glen, Marie Ilooverson, Clara Barker, Grace F. Sayers, Genevieve Love, Olive V. Chelgren, Mayme Caspari, Ruth L. Tyler, Ethel McBain, Marian Johnston, Anna Eickhoff, Alice Callahan, Lillian Kemkes, F. T. Rees, Harriet Wheeler and Estella Reiner.

District Number 191, known as the Lukkason school, was organized in 190L The first school officers were Gustav Levorson, Mathew Sanders and Ole O. Lee. Grace Wamsley, now Mrs. William Martin of Sedan, was the first teacher. In the absence of a proper building school was taught in a barn belonging to Christ Lukkason. During the first term forty-three pupils attended, a number which has been considerably decreased since then. The teachers employed in this district were Maggie Sanders, Martha Torkulson, Rudolph Hokenstad, Theodore Hokenstad, Lydia Germundson, Mamie Gannon, Afra Myron, Alma Larson, Katherine Macfarlane, Mae Gannon, Ida Spieker and Anna Corneliuson.

Oak Township. District Number 23, the school at New Munich, was the first organized in the township of Oak. It came into being in 1857, with William Bohmer, Henry Marthaler and Gerhard Terhaar school officers. The district originally embraced thirty-nine sections in the townships of Oak and Grove. The first schoolhouse used was a log structure which occupied the present site. Joseph Duerr was the first teacher. He was followed by Miss C. Zimmer, Math Gans, Joseph Heimer, Henry Broker, Bernhard Mohrmann and Stephen Mondschein. Following Mr. Mondschein. Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict took charge of the school and have continued in the work to the present day. Among the pupils who attended this school were the Rev. Herman Bergmann, now prior of St. John's Abbey at Collegeville, the Rev. Thomas Borgerding, the Rev. Henry Borgerding, the Rev. George Wilkes, the Rt. Rev. M. Hiltner, H. J Haskamp, Christ Borgerding, John Bohmer and Herman Rose, all of whom have attained prominence. The old log schoolhouse gave way to a frame structure in 1868, which in turn was replaced by a two-room brick building in 1886, to which an addition was built in 1902. A number of state fair prizes were awarded pupils of this school in 1913 and 1914, among others, the first prize for a stocking darn executed by Mary Raeker.

District Number 102, the Freeport school, was organized in 1874. At that time the number of settlers was so small that the originators of the petition had great difficulty in securing the required number of signers. The first building used was a log structure which occupied the present site. This was soon replaced, by a larger frame schoolhouse, to which an addition was built in 1890, providing room for two teachers. The first teacher was Bernard Borgerding, now the Rev. Henry Borgerding. O. S. B., chaplain at St. Benedict's Academy, St. Joseph. He was followed by Henry Benolken, Mr. Moersch, John Steichen, Joseph Hilt, Louis Wieber, Joseph Heinen and Gotthard Harren. The first assistant teacher was John A. Maus, who was followed by Paul Ahles, J. C. Diekmann, Nicholas Steil, Joseph P. Benolken, Jacob L. Hohmann, N. P. Phlepsen, Michael Theisen, John Stock, Sebastian G. De Gross, Theresa Bauer, Susan Bauer, Olivia Bechtold, Mathilda Huf, Celia Hammer! and Mary Buttweiler. In 1913 Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict took charge of the lower rooms.

Without doubt the most widely known of the Stearns county teachers was Gotthard Harren, who was principal of the Freeport school for over twenty-four years. Mr. Harren was born in St. Wendel (Luxemburg), Stearns county, in 1860, his parents being among the first settlers of that section. He attended the common schools for as many months each year as his parents could spare him, and later entered the normal school at St. Cloud, where he fitted himself for the profession which was to become his life work. He taught in several of the rural schools of the county, and in 1890 went to Freeport as the first principal of the then two-room village school. He completed twenty-four years of school work in the village and had entered upon his twenty-fifth when he was suddenly taken ill and died on the evening of Thursday, November 26th (Thanksgiving), 1914. The esteem in which this teacher was held may best be learned from

"Perhaps the most largely attended and impressive funeral services over the remains of a layman ever witnessed in Stearns county, were held at Freeport Tuesday morning when the remains of the late Gotthard Harren were laid to rest. Fully two thousand people from all parts of the county were in attendance, including among them twelve priests and a large number of teachers.

"At 9:30 the school children, with draped banners, escorted the priests and acolytes from the church to the Harren home, whence, after a short prayer, the remains were taken to the church, the Catholic Men's Society of Freeport immediately preceding the casket. The following teachers acted as pall-bearers: Louis Wieber, who will succeed Mr. Harren at Freeport; John A. Maus of Watkins; C. A. Boerger, principal of the school at St. Anthony; W.. F. Kuehnl of St. Rosa; J. C. Diekmann, principal of the school at St. Martin; and Henry W. Lembeck of Spring Hill. An honorary escort of fourteen men walked in double ranks beside the casket. These were: County Superintendent of Schools W. A. Boerger, County Attorney Paul Ahles, Sheriff B. E. Schoener, Judge of Probate J. B. Himsl, Representativeelect Henry Stoetzel, John Stock of St. Joseph, A. H. Kessler and Edward Ortmann, principal and assistant of the Meire Grove school; John Wocken, principal of the Cold Spring school; Michael Lutgen of District Number 81; Frank Herzog, principal of the Rockville school; Hermann Ricker of District Number 183, and N. K. Weber of District Number 125.

"At the church a solemn requiem mass v/as sung, with the Very Rev. Hermann, O. S. B., prior of St. John's Abbey, as celebrant. Rev. Kilian, O. S. B., president of St. John's University, as deacon and Rev. F. Wiechmann, a former pupil of the deceased as sub-deacon. Rev. Henry Leuthner of Marty and Rev. Meinrad, O. S. B., of Freeport acted as masters of ceremonies. Present in the sanctuary were the Rev. Anton Artz of Sauk Centre; the Rev. Meinulph, O. S. B., of St. Martin; the Rev. Maurus, O. S. B., of Cold Spring; the Rev. Lucas, O. S. B., of New Munich; the Rev. Alto, O. S. B., of St. Cloud; the

Rev. Henry, O. S. B., of St. Joseph, and the Rev. Joseph Buscher of Mayhew Lake. The Rev. Anton Artz delivered a masterful sermon in which he briefly reviewed the liie of the deceased, dwelling upon the excellent character of the man."