Wright County, Minnesota - Chapter 15: Agricultural Development, 1915

Chapter 15: Agricultural Development

Early Difficulties - Present Advantages - A Farming Community Dawn of Prosperity - Farm Names - Statistics - Assessment Rolls - Wealth of the Farmers - Crops and Live Stock.

Wright couuty is situated in the south central part of the state, about forty miles west of Minneapolis and St. Paul, being connected therewith by the Great Northern and "Soo" railroads. The soil is a black and sandy loam with a clay subsoil. The surface is gently rolling, interspersed with numerous lakes. The county is well drained by the Mississippi, Clearwater and Crow rivers, with their tributaries. The area of the county is 713.97 square miles, or 456,939.32 acres, of which 424,383.82 acres are land and 32, 585. .5 acres are water. The land surface is divided into 3,814 farms at an average value per acre of $44.89. Nearly every farm home in the county is supplied with United States rural free delivery and local and long distance telephones. The population of the county is about 30,000.

Wright county is located in what was at one time known as the "Big Woods" country. Nearly all the timber has been cut off and the land cleared up, luitil today it has the appearance of a prairie county, thougli forests still abound. The soil is of rich fertility and abundant crops of wheat, oats, rye, barley, etc., are harvested. Of late years corn has taken the lead and thousands of acres are successfully grown each year. Wright county is blessed with good roads, its population is of a thrifty, prosperous class, and land values are advancing rapidly in this county.

Wright county was generously endowed by nature with the elements most essential to the growth, development and prosperity of a state, or any of its subdivisions. It has a rich soil - a warm loam which responds readily to the stimulating action of air and moisture, underlaid b.y clay which maintains the soil's durability. It has both groves and open land fairly distributed, by which the farmer is enabled to supply himself with timber for fuel and building uses and with open land for cultivation. It is well watered by rivers and creeks - the Mississippi rivei-, tlie Clearwater river and the Ch'ow river passing along its border or meandering tortuously tlirough township after township, as though purposeful to do the greatest good to the greatest number. Within its boundaries are more than two hundred beautiful lakes, most of which are fringed by woods, adding to the scenic attractions of the neighborhood as well as affording food for the settler and rare sport for tlie angler, as all are abundantly stocked with fish - bass, pike, croppies, pickerel and other varieties. There are also a number of trout streams, which in the season attract those best skilled in tlie use of the rod and line. It is the policy of the state to furnish free of cost "fry" of the most desirable kinds of fish, so that the lakes and streams may always be kepf well stocked.

The surface of the country is gently rolling, there being few high hills and very little waste land that cannot be made valuable by drainage. There are thousands of acres of meadows from which nutritious hay is made, although most farmers are raising the tame grasses, both for hay and for the enriching of their land. The natural roads are fairly good, but an intelligent policy of road building has been adopted by the state which will be of great advantage. A liberal state fund, to be supplemented by local taxes, will provide means by which in a very few years these county roads can be made equal to the best.

The rural telephone reaches practically every farm house, which, with rural mail delivery, places the farmer in close touch with the great markets and with the current of aft'airs of the outside world. There is no longer any isolation such as existed in the early days when pioneering meant privation ; no longer anj' need for the denial of many of the luxuries as well as the comforts of life. The farmer can have his daily newspaper and his daily market reports; he can have the advantage of the circulating library, and his table can be supplied with whatever the village or city market may have to offer. The changes of the half century have been more marked in scarcely any direction than in the conditions which surround life on the farm. The plodding ox which did the field and farm work has disappeared ; the gang plow, the mower, the seeder, the harvester and the steam thresher are doing the work so laboriously' and imperfectly done by the scythe, the cradle, the hand-sower, the flail and the horsepower thresher. The buggy, the carriage and now the automobile are almost universal among the conveniences of the farm, while the sewing machine, the organ and the piano are familiar objects in the inner life of the farm home. The future doubtless holds still more in the way of conveniences and comforts, but it can give nothing beyond what the great service the farmer has rendered and is rendering the country in the way of its development merits. There cannot but be deep regret, however much it is in the nature of things, that so few of those who bore the heat and burden of the day in the years of beginnings, have survived to enjoy the fruits vi'hich their labors produced. "Their epitaphs are writ in furrows

Wright county is acknowledged as being among the best and most prosperous stock-raising and agricultural counties in Minnesota. Its people are wide awake and keep step with the progressive march of the times in all that pertains to a civilization of happiness, industry and culture. The first permanent settlers of the county were farmers, and their object in coming was to till the soil.

All had many lessons to learn. Many of the pioneers were from foreign countries, and all the conditions were new. Some were farmers from the eastern states, and they too found circumstances absolutely changed. Some were men who had previously been engaged in other occupations, but who saw in the opening of Minnesota an opportunity to secure a farm, together with the health and longevity that come from outdoor life. All of them, regardless of their previous circumstances, were able and willing to work ; they had industry and courage and they were determined to win.

In the face of obstacles of which they had previously no knowledge they started to carve their fortunes in the wilderness. The country was new, there was no alternative but that success must be won from the soil, which was their only wealtli and their only help. There were among the early comers a few moneylenders, a few speculators and a few traders, but everyone else, even the lawyers, the doctors and the ministers, must wrest their living from the earth. And in spite of all the obstacles and inconveniences, although the whole aim of the farming community has changed, and notwithstanding the fact that in the face of many disasters thousands of the pioneers left the county, those who stayed, and those who have come in since, have met with unbounded success. Nor is the end yet reached, for the county has in its agricultural and dairying resources a mine of wealth yet undeveloped, which when the years roll on, will grow more and more valuable as the people become, through scientific methods, more and more able to utilize it.

Most of the early settlers located in the Big Woods. Through the dense forest or over a winding trail they made their way, fording brooks, passing through swamps, cutting away fallen trees and swimming rivers, until they reached their chosen location. There they lived in their wagons or in a temporary brush lean-to while they felled the trees and erected a cabin. Ofttimes an axe and a grub hoe were their only tools. The cabins were usually erected without nails or metal of any kind. Sometimes the win- dows were covered with paper, soiiietiiues there wore no windows. The doors consisted of split poles nailed to a cross strip usually swung on leather hinges. The fire place was in one end, and as the ventilation was not always good the cabin was often filled with smoke.

The floor was of trampled earth. Furniture was home made, bunks and tables usually being crude contrivances swung from the walls. A loft overhead was usually provided as a sleeping place for the children. The roofs were usually of brush or shakes, which in heavy storms freely admitted the wind and rain.

Wild game was the principal food, corn was made into meal in a coffee-grinder, pork and bacon were luxuries, coffee was almost unknown, and flour was obtained onl.y with the greatest difficulty. Often the pioneers walked to St. Anthony or St. Paul, and brought provisions home on their backs.

The cabin erected, the next thought was to clear the land. Trees were cut down and burned, the stumps were left to decay, and the crops were put in among the stumps. Where brush laud was encountered, it was broken and grubbed. The natural meadows furnished hay.

A few fortunate ones owned the oxen and the wagons with which they came. Most of them, however, hired some one to bring them here. Many of the men walked here, and lived alone until they had erected a cabin, and then hired someone to bring their families. Some were single men who as soon as their homes were established went back after their brides. Some continued to be bachelors, and kept house as best they could.

Those who had no oxen had a difficult time in clearing away the logs. After a year or two some of them bought oxen, others bought calves and raised them until they were able to help with the farm work. Sometimes a cow and a steer would be hitched together. The people who had cows were fortunate in that they had a supply of milk for their children, and an oppoi'tunity to make butter. Some had a pig or two, and a few brought chickens. Sometimes in the winter the animals had to be brought into the cabins to keei^ them from perishing in the cold.

The settlers on the prairies had somewhat different experiences, as instead of cutting the trees, they had to break the tough soil. Some of the prairie settlers were men of means who came to farm on a large scale, with a view to immediate profits. But the markets were far away, transportation was difficult, prices paid for farm produce at the trading points were low. Nearly all of these well-to-do prairie settlers soon lost their property on foreclosed mortgages, and left the country broken in spirit and in pocket-book.

In 1856 the grasshoppers devastated the county, leaving less than half a crop. By the close of the year 1857, settlements had sprung up in the central, southern and eastern portions of the county, but during the general depression of business following the financial crash of 1857, many of the early settlers were driven to the necessity of abandoning their claims, and seeking more favorable localities, where labor offered a reward commensurate with their wants. The settlers who remained went through the distressing hardships of the winter of 1857-58, when the grasshopper raids, the financial crisis, and the cold weather all contributed to the privations of the pioneers.

In 1858 and 1859 the crops were better, and when Gov. Alexander Ramsey issued his Thanksgiving proclamation in 1860, the soil of Wright county had brought forth its increase in abundant measure.

But another disaster impended. In 1859, the lands came into market, and from inability to pay the usual Government price, many claimants were obliged to quit their partially developed homes, and seek locations elsewhere. With the meager opportunities for lucrative employment outside, and the difficulty attending the opening of a farm in the dense woodlands, it is not strange that many found it impossible to maintain their families while as yet their scanty clearings furnished so little with which to keep the wolf from the door. And so they departed, and were succeeded by others more fortunate, who reaped whatever of reward their toils produced. It was about this time, however, that the ginseng buyers arrived. Soon men, women and children were digging for the root, lands were paid for, provisions were purchased, everyone had ready money, and though to a certain extent farming operations were suspended, an era of prosperity dawned. Then came the darkest days of all. The outbreak of the Civil war called the able bodied men, and on the heels of this was the Indian uprising which twice nearly depopulated the county.

In 1867 the settlers in the western part of the county suffered from a famine. Many of the settlers had come the previous year with the expectation of earning money on the railroad, but as the railroad work was delayed, the people for a while were in almost a starving condition.

In 1871, a tornado swept a part of the county and did great damage, and it was not long afterward when the grasshoppers again ravaged the county. Then, too, at various times, the pigeons, the gophers, the blackbirds, the prairie chickens, the potato bug, the cut worm and other grubs and insects, the rats and the mice have all done serious damage. For many years also the climate presented many difficulties. Many crops had to be acclimated to this northern belt. Nearly all the settlers had been

But in spite of all these obstacles, Wright county is today, as stated, one of the foremost agricultural and dairying counties in the state. Gradually wheat has given way to corn, diversified farming now occupies the attention of the rui'al pojjulation, and dairying is the paramount occupation.

The farms of Wright county are similar to the farms of any other county having a rich soil. It has its good farms and its poor farms. Or, better stated, it has its good farmers and its poor farmers. Agriculture, like every other trade or profession, has its successes and its failures, but perhaps not as many complete failures.

The high altitude gives to Wright county an ideal climate. Its mean temperature for summer is 70 degrees, the same as middle Illinois, Ohio, and southern Pennsylvania. The extreme heat that is felt in these states is here tempered by the breezes of the elevated plateau. Its higher latitude gives two hours more of sunshine than at Cincinnati. This, with an abundance of rainfall, 26.36 inches annually, on a rich soil, accounts for the rapid and vigorous growth of crops and their early maturity. There is a uniformity of temperature during the winter season in southern Minnesota, with bright sunshine, dry atmosphere, good sleighing and infrequent thaws that make life a pleasure in this bracing, healthy climate.

There was a time in Wright county, when, like all new lands, the first consideration was to build good barns for the housing of the flocks and herds, and the home was the most inconspicuous object in the landscape. As the farmers prospered, the log house disappeared, and now there are few log houses in the entire county. Now the farmer's house vies with the city residence, and has many of the modern conveniences. Where electric light and power cannot be secured, gasoline engines furnish power, and a number of farm houses are lighted by their own gas plants. By the use of elevated tanks in the house or barn, or pneumatic tanks in cellars, farm houses aften have all the sanitary conveniences of a house in town. Farmers realize the value of keeping their property in the best of shape. Houses and barns are well painted, lawns are carefully kept and flower gardens show that the people recognize that tlie things which beautify add a value to life as well as to property.

Farm Names

Many of the farms in Wright county have been given names. In order that the names might be perpetuated, many of the owners have registered the names at the courthouse. The names already registered are :

Oak Grove Farm, A. Thorp, section 21, township 121, range 23. Fairview Farm, Isaac A. Barberg, section 18, township 119, range 28. Oak Hill Farm, Eniil H. Ek, section 4, township 118, range 28. Lakewood, Gust Swan, section 23, township 119, range 28. Spring Brook Stock Farm, Emil R. Olson, sections 10, 15 and 16, township 119, range 26. The Midway Farm, John N. Nelson, sections 1 and 12, township 118, range 28. Sunset Park Farm, Ida N. Shadduck, section 21, township 121, range 27. Hazel Hurst Stock Farm, C. E. La Plant, sections 22 and 23, township 121, range 23. Meadow Land Stock Farm, Julius Johnson, section 2, township 118, range 28. Lake Side Farm, August Anderson, sections 33 and 37, township 120, range 27. Cedar Grove Farm, Gustaf Smedberg, section 36, township 118, range 27. Sunnnitcroft, Gustaf Olton, section 19, township 121, range 25. Hillcrest Farm, John Larson, section 33, township 120, range 25. North Star Farm, J. W. Beekman, section 3, township 118, range 28. Maple Grove Stock Farm, William J. Graham, section 33, township 118, range 27. Pleasant View, J. V. Beers, sections 5 and 8, township 121, range 25. Brookside Farm, Phiueas E. Eddy, section 17, township 118, range 27. East Side Farm, John A. Hoaglund, section 15, township 118, range 28. High View, Anton P. Moody, section 15, township 118, range 28. Shore Acres, Edson S and Louise M. Gaylord, section 21 and 28, township 121, range 28. The Linden Grove Farm, John R. Streich, section 1, township 118, range 27. Pinewood, N. 0. Monson, section 10, township 118, range 28. Plain View Farm, Andrew Carlson, section 33, township 118, range 25. Millstone Lake Farm, Cornelius Schermer, section 18, township 121, range 26. Maple Hill Stock Farm, Paul Kritzeck, section 29, township 118, range 27. Lakeside Stock Farm, M. M. Schlagel, section 32, township 118, range 27. Groveland Farm, S. B. Berg, section 24, township 122, range 26.

Government Report

The following report of Wright county agriculture, issued in connection with the thirteenth census of the United States, speaks for itself in regard to the present day agricultural conditions in the county.

Land and Farm Areas. Approximate land area, 442,240 acres. Land in farms, 399,328. (Laud in farms in 1900, 383,966 acres). Improved land in farms, 237,792 acres. Improved laud in farms in 1900, 215,436 acres. Woodland in farms, 90,687 acres. Other unimproved land in farms, 70,849 acres. Per cent of the whole county in farms, 90.3 per cent. Per cent of farm laud improved, 59.5 per cent. Average acres to each farm, 104.7 acres. Average improved acres to each farm, 62.3 acres.

Average values. Average value of all property per farm, $7,321. Average value of land and buildings per farm, $6,203. Average value of land per acre, ,$44.89. (.$24.72 in 1900.)

Degree of Ownership. Number of farms operated by owners, consisting of owned lands only, 2,675. Number of farms operated by owners which also include with the owned land, some hired land, 577. Of the men in the county owning and operating their own farms, 1,585 are native born Americans and 1,667 are foreign born.

Farms Operated by Tenants. Number of farms operated by tenants, 551. (534 in 1900.) Of all the farms in the county, 14.4 per cent are operated by tenants. (13.4 in 1900.)

Form of Tenancy. Share tenants, 237. Share-cash tenants, 55. Cash tenants, 248. Tenure not specified, 11. Of the people renting farms in the county 391 are native born Americans, and 160 are foreign born.

Mortgage Debt Report of Farms Operated by Their Owners. Number free from mortgage debt, 1,757. Number with mortgage debt, 1,478. Number on which no mortgage report was made, 17. Mortgage debt report of farms consisting of owned land only. Number reporting debt and amount, 1,122. Value of their land and buildings, $6,520,787. Amount of mortgage debt, $1,823,827. Per cent of value of land and buildings mortgaged, 28 per cent.

Farm Expenses. For labor. Number of farms from which reports were obtained, 1,616. Cash expended for laboi' on these farms, $159,418. Rent and board furni.shed for labor, $61,6.54.

Assessment Rolls

The assessment rolls of Wright county for 1914 are most interesting as they tell in unadorned figures the agrieultiiral conditions that exist in Wright county at the present time.

Horses, Mules And Asses

The total assessed valuation of household furniture and utensils and wearing apparel of members of the family is $210,498. The highest village is Buffalo at $11,101. The lowest is Hanover at $1,021. The highest township is Franklin at $10,697. The lowest is Southside at $4,601.

There are 3,602 sewing machines assessed at $11,153. The largest number in a village is in Butfalo where there are 180. The smallest number, 18, is in Hanover. The largest number in a township is in Franklin where there are 214. The smallest number, 55, is in French Lake. There are 4,150 watches and clocks assessed and the assessed valuation of jewelry, diamonds, gold and silver plate and plated ware is $1,667.

The county has 1,071 pianos. Buflfalo leads among the villages with 98, while in Rockford village there are 7. Among the townships Middleville leads with 44. The smallest number, 15, is in Clearwater township. The total valuation of other musical instruments is $3,676.

There are 7,887 wagons, carriages and sleighs, valued at $60,- 958. The highest number is in Montieello township where there are 726. The highest valuation is in Buffalo township where it is $3,144. Tlie highest average valuation, $11.79, is in Howard Lake. The harnesses and saddles in the county are assessed at $27,050.

No less than 620 automobiles are found in the county. The average valuation is $138.45 and the total value is $85,847. One hundred and four motorcycles and bicycles have an average valuation of $12.42 and a total valuation of $1,292.

Other assessments in the county are : Steam and motor boats, sailing vessels, barges and all other water craft, $1,461. Grain, grass seed and flaxseed in the hands of producers, $15,523. All other agricultural products in the hands of producers, $1,380. Threshing machines and outfits used therewith exclusive of engines, $9,100. Steam engines, boilers, gasoline engines, dynamos and electric motors, $241.54. Locomotives, steam shovels and other machinery used in mining, $134. Manufacturers' tools, implements and machinery not assessed as real estate, $18,399. Wheat flour, barley, malt, flaxseed, linseed oil and all other grain and grain products in hands of manufacturers, $2,046. Lundjer, lath and shingles, $39,263. Logs, poles, posts and railroad ties, $208. Brick, cement, lime, cement blocks and quarried stone in the hands of dealers or manufacturers, $541. All other manufacturers' materials and manufactured articles not listed, in the hands of manufacturers, $3,204. Goods and merchandise of wholesale merchants-and jobbers, $2,756. Goods and merchandise of retail merchants, .$222,265. Typewriters, adding machines, cash registers and computing scales, $4,171. Safes, $2,030. Store furniture and fixtures, $9,676. Office furniture, including instruments, equipment and libraries of professional men, $5,362. Fire arms of all kinds, $1,330. Presses, typesetting machines, type cases and furniture, equipments, fixtures and stock on hand of newspaper and printing offices, $2,608. Machinery, furniture equipment and stock of creameries and cheese factories, $3,540. Machinery, furniture and equipment of laundries, $5. Stock, furniture, fixtures and equipment of saloons, sample rooms and bar rooms, $7,431. Stock, furniture, fixtures and equipment of restaurants, eating houses and cafes, $2,770. Stock, furniture, fixtures, equipment, tables and alleys of billard and pool rooms and bowling alleys, $1,544. Furniture, tools and equipment of barber shops, $604. All tools, implements and machinery not listed in the foregoing of bank stock, $170,572. Shares of stock iu all corporatious whose property is not assessed or taxed in this state, $2,564. All other personal property not included in the foregoing items required by law to be listed, $2,433.

Totals. Total assessed value of personal property as equalized by county board, $2,313,186. Total assessed value of personal property as returned by assessors, $2,303,663. Total true and full value of all personal property as returned by county board, $7,129,189.

Albion. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old 40, one year old and under two years 58, two years old and under three years 75, three years old and over 679. Cattle. Under one year 337, one year old and under two years 379, two years old and under three years 296, cows 1,370, bulls 36, all other cattle three years old and over 2. Sheep 19. Swine 916. Value of poultry $1,164. Dogs 157.

Buffalo. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 38 ; one year old and under two years, 47; two years old and under three years, 58 ; three years old and over, 577. Cattle, under one year, 482; one year and under two years, 422; two years and under three years, 297; cows, 1,190; bulls, 56; all other cattle three years old and over, 2. Sheep, 290. Swine, 964. Value of poultry, $1,297. Number of dogs, 141.

Chatham. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 15; one year old and under two years, 23 ; two years old and under three years, 26 ; three years old and over, 283. Cattle, under one

Clearwater. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 18; one year old and under two years, 24; two years old and under three years, 16; three years old and over, 346. Cattle, under one year, 257 ; one year and under two years, 269 ; two years and under three years, 146 ; cows, 558 ; bulls, 10 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 101. Swine, 568. Value of poultry, $681. Number of dogs, 56.

Cokato. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 38; one year old and under two years, 45; two years old and under three years, 50; three years old and over, 654. Cattle, under one year, 775 ; one year and under two years, 453 ; two years and

Corinna. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 16; one year old and under two years, 39 ; two years old and under three years, 43 ; three years old and over, 447. Cattle, under one year, 416; one year and under two years, 375; two years and under three years, 285 ; cows, 692 ; bulls, 33 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 13. Sheep, 215. Swine, 834. Value of poultry, $1,124. Number of dogs, 104.

Frankfort. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 38 ; one year old and under two years, 69 ; two years old and under three years, 67 ; three years old and over, 521. Cattle, under one year, 483 ; one year and under two years, 366 ; two years and under three years, 244; cows, 1,070; bulls, 52; all other cattle three years old and over, 4. Sheep, 123. Swine, 1,440. Value of poultry, $1,400. Number of dogs, 124.

Franklin. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 88; one year old and under two years, 84; two years old and under three years, 93 ; three years old and over, 724. Cattle, under one year, 633 ; one year and under two years, 525 ; two years and under three years, 327 ; cows, 1,879 ; bulls, 40 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 138. Swine, 1,783. Value of poultry, $1,689. Number of dogs, 195.

French Lake. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 31; one year old and under two years, 50; two years old and under three years, 43 ; three years old and over, 525. Cattle, under one year, 562 ; one year and under two years, 451 ; two years and under three years, 255; cows, 1,245; bulls, 35; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 65. Swine, 552. Value of poultry, $1,349. Number of dogs, 110.

Maple Lake. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 29 ; one year old and under two years, 39 ; two years old and under three years, 24 ; three years old and over, 420. Cattle, under one year, 313 ; one year and under two years, 387 ; two years and under three years, 188 ; cows, 969 ; bulls, 26 ; all other cattle three years and over, 3. Sheep, 150. Swine, 696. Value of poultry, $551. Number of dogs, 106.

Marysville. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 39 ; one year and under two years, 57 ; two years old and under three years, 77 ; three years old and over, 533. Cattle, under one year,

Middleville. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 49 ; one year old and under two years, 75 ; two years old and under three years, 69 ; three years old and over, 758. Cattle, under one year, 610 ; one year and under two years, 417 ; two years and under three years, 240 ; cows, 1,411 ; bulls, 49 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 5. Sheep, 77. Swine, 1,493. Value of poultry, $1,807. Number of dogs, 183.

Monticello- Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 68 ; one year old and under two years, 95 ; two years old and under three years, 79 ; three years old and over, 723. Cattle, under one year, 791 ; one year and under two years, 476 ; two years and under three years, 378 ; cows, 964 ; bulls, 50 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 304. Swine, 3,254. Value of poidtry, $1,866. Number of dogs, 74.

Otsego. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 49; one year old and under two years, 65; two years old and under three years, 69 ; three years old and over, 527. Cattle, under one year, 483 ; one year and under two years, 365 ; two years and under three years, 236 ; cows, 988 ; bulls, 46 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 2. Sheep, 169. Swine, 777. Value of poultry, $1,104. Number of dogs, 87.

Rockford. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 55 ; one year old and under two years, 76 ; two years old and under three years, 59 ; three years old and over, 647. Cattle, under one year, 648; one year and under two years, 535; two years and under three years, 333 ; cows, 1,536 ; bulls, 80 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 7. Sheep, 88. Swine, 4,104. Value of poultry, .$1,091. Number of dogs, 164.

Silver Creek. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 29 ; one year old and under two years, 39 ; two years old and under three years, 43 ; three years old and over, 570. Cattle, under one year, 266 ; one year and under two years, 359 ; two years and under three years, 143; cows, 1,313; bulls, 60; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 78. Swine, 661. Value of poultry, $1,086. Number of dogs, 130.

under three years, 51 ; three years old and over, 324. Cattle, under one year, 353 ; one year and under two years, 227 ; two years and under three years, 199 ; cows, 485 ; bulls, 15 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 535. Swine, 609. Value of poultry, $643. Number of dogs, 87.

Stockholm. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 52 ; one year old and under two years, 72 ; two years old and under three years, 68 ; three years old and over, 660. Cattle, under one year, 518 ; one year and under two years, 377 ; two years and under three years, 337; cows, 1,095; bulls, 24; all other cattle three years old and over, 4. Sheep, 94; swine, 1,361. Value of poultry, $1,614. Number of dogs, $130.

Victor. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 46; one year old and under two years, 88; two years old and under three years. 111 ; three years old and over, 609. Cattle, under one year, 356; one year and under two years, 404; two years and under three years, 220 ; cows, 1,328 ; bulls, 31 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 8. Sheep, 121. Swine, 767. Value of poulti-y, $2,063. Number of dogs, 156.

Woodland. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 59 ; one year old and under two years, 72 ; two years old and under three years, 73 ; three years old and over, 608. Cattle, under one year, 564 ; one year and under two years, 422 ; two years and under three years, 310 ; cows, 1,331 ; bulls, 64 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 44. Swine, 886. Value of poultry, $1,184. Number of dogs, 102.

AnnaJidale. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 3 ; one year old and under two years, 7 ; two years old and under three years, 4 ; three years old and over, 89. Cattle, under one year, 15 ; one year and under two years, 21 ; two years and under three years, 43 ; cows, 53 ; bulls, 0 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 0. Swine, 46. Value of poultry, $216. Number of dogs, 17. - Automobiles, 41 ; motorcycles and bicycles, 7.

Buffalo. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 5; one year old and under two years, 2 ; two years old and under three years, 2; three years old and over, 109. Cattle, under one year, 36 ; one year and under two years, 8 ; two years and under three years, 5 ; cows, 94 ; bulls, 1 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 0. Swine, 23. Value of poultry, $309. Number of dogs, 1.

Clearwater. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 0; one year old and under two years, 1 ; two years old and under three years, 1 ; three years old and over, 35. Cattle, under one year, 1 ; one year and under two years, 2 ; two years and under three years, 0; cows, 19; bulls, 0; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 0. Swine, 215. Value of poultry, .$61. Number of dogs, 12.

Cokato. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 6; one year old and under two years, 3 ; two years old and under three years, 4; three years old and over, 90. Cattle, under one year, 10 ; one year and under two years, 10 ; two years and under three years, 11 ; cows, 89 ; bulls, 1 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 1. Swine, 28. Value of poultry, .$432. Number of dogs, 27.

Delano. Horses, nniles and asses. Under one year old, 5; one year old and under two years, 2; two years old and under three years, 4; three years old and over, 110. Cattle, under one year, 1 ; one year and under two j'cars, 1 ; two years and under three years, 3; cows, 74; bulls, 0; all other cattle three years old and over, 10. Sheep, 0. Swine, 32. Value of poultry, $200. Number of dogs, 21.

Hanover. Horses, nudes and asses. Under one year old, 3; one year old and under two years, 3 ; two years old and under three years, 3 ; three years old and over, 56. Cattle, under one year, 23 ; one year and under two years, 27 ; two years and under three years, 31; cows, 118; bulls, 3; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 5. Swine, 273. Value of poultry, $200. Number of dogs, 14.

Howard Lake. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 1 ; one year old and under two years, 2 ; two years old and under three years, 4 ; three years old and over, 73. Cattle, under one year, 2 ; one year and under two years, 5 ; two years and under three years, 2; cows, 43; bulls, 0; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 0. Swine, 17. Value of poultry, $162. Number of dogs, 16.

Maple Lake. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 4 ; one year old and under two years, 6 ; two years old and under three years, 5; three years old and over, 71. Cattle, under one year, 10; one year and under two years, 20; two years and under three years, 8 ; cows, 90 ; bulls, 1 ; all other cattle three years old

Monticello. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 3 - one year old and under two years, 2 ; two years old and under three years, 2; three years old and over, 83. Cattle, under one year, 3; one year and under two years, 4; two years and under three years, 1 ; cows, 34 ; bulls, 0 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 0. Swine, 25. Value of poultry, $151. Number of dogs, 18.

Montrose. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 1 ; one year old and under two years, 4; two years old and under three years, 0; three years old and over, 44. Cattle, under one year, 11 ; one year and under two years, 8 ; two years and under three years, 2 ; cows, 87 ; bulls, 1 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 15. Swine, 130. Value of poultry, $177. Number of dogs, 26.

Rockford. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 0; one year old and under two years, 1 ; two years old and under three years, 2; three years old and over, 36. Cattle, under one year, 3 ; one year and under two years, 5 ; two years and under three years, 0 ; cows, 32 ; bulls, 0 ; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 0. Swine, 19. Value of poultry, $97. Number of dogs, 6.

St. Michael. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 6 ; one year old and under two years, 7 ; two years old and under three years, 9; three years old and over, 79. Cattle, under one year, 37 ; one year and under two years, 31 ; two years and under three years, 13; cows, 162; bulls, 6; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 0. Swine, 252. Value of poultry, $225. Number of dogs, 23.

St. Michael Station. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 3; one year old and under two years, 7; two years old and under three years, 7 ; three years old and over, 77. Cattle, under one year, 38 ; one year and under two years, 41 ; two years and under three years, 15; cows, 121; bulls, 4; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 0. Swine, 135. Value of poultry, $217. Number of dogs, 17.

South Haven. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 3 ; one year okl and under two years, 2 ; two years old and under three years, 6; three years old and over, 69. Cattle, under one year, 9 ; one year and under two years, 60 ; two years and under three years, 6; cows, 77; bulls, 0; all other eattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 38. Swine, 41. Value of poultry, $105. Number of dogs, 14.

Waverly. Horses, mules and asses. Under one year old, 4; one year old and under two years, 4; two years old and under three years, 3; three years old and over, 45. Cattle, under one year, 7; one year and under two years, 8; two years and under three years, 5; cows, 25; bulls, 0; all other cattle three years old and over, 0. Sheep, 0. Swine, 14. Value of poultry, $127. Number of dogs, 23.

There are 59 stallions, fine bred mares and race horses in the county. They are distributed as follows : Buffalo, 5 ; Clearwater, 2 ; Cokato, 3 ; Frankfort, 1 ; Franklin, 1 ; French Lake, 1 ; Maple Lake, 3 ; Marysville, 1 ; Middleville, 1 ; Monticello, 23 ; Otsego, 5 ; Rockford, 1; Southside, 2; Woodland, 3; Annandale Village, 1; Delano Village, 2; Maple Lake Village, 3; Waverly Village, 1.