Brockway Township

Brockway Township

Brockway is situated in the extreme northeast corner of the county, and has an area of 33,960 acres. It embraces all of township 126 north, range 29 west, the south tier of sections belonging to township 127, range 29, and a portion of township 126, range 28. Along the river, at the south, there is a fine piece of prairie, formerly known as Winnebago Prairie, but now called Brockway Prairie. Towards the north, and originally separated from Brockway Prairie by a light strip of timber, is North Prairie, which extends into Morrison county. Westward from the river, the surface is somewhat hilly with occasional strips of low and swampy land. The higher land of this portion of the township was originally heavily timbered.

In the summer of 1855, the first permanent settlers arrived, and consisted of Milo Young, George Day, Winslow Getchell and his son Nathaniel, Asa and Winslow Libby, William Gordon, and a few others, all settling on Winnebago Prairie. In the fall of that year, James Y. Demeritt and William McNeal settled near the river, on North Prairie, and were followed soon after by Andrew McCrea and others. The winter of 1856-57 was an unusually hard one for the settlers. The cold was intense and the snow fell to a depth never since attained.

some time after this settlement, Mr. Demeritt and his neighbor McNeal found themselves on school section thirty-six, but fortunately, they were enabled to obtain land warrants, and thus secured their claims at about government price.

Sauk Rapids was then but a trading post and there were but a few houses at St. Cloud, consequently it was several years before enough concentrated action could be had to open a road along the west side of the river. The first school was taught by Irene Carrick, of Elk River, in 1860; it was a private school, and held in the house of Winslow Getchell. The first preaching was also in the house of Mr. Getchell, in 1859, by the Rev. John Thompson, of Sauk Rapids. The first birth was a daughter of Asa Libby, born in 1857, and died at the age of nine months, making the first death in the town. The first marriage occurred in the fall of 1858, the contracting parties being, Edward B. Bliss and Cynthia Gray.

The town was organized in 1858, and embraced a large tract of country lying west of the river, but has been gradually reduced to its present limits by the organization of new towns. The first election was held May 27, at the house of Anson Northrup. A portion of the present town of Le Sauk was included in the new town, in which Mr. Northrup lived. The officers elected were: Supervisors, Asa Libby (chairman), J. E. Hayward, and William Gordon; clerk, W. B. Ellis; assessor, Reuben Gray, and collector, Nathaniel Getchell. The town was organized under the name of Winnebago, but changed to Brockway in 1860.

Brockway postoffice was established in September, 1857, and N. Getchell appointed postmaster. About 1863, Mr. Getchell moved away and the office was discontinued, but soon re-established with Appleton Webb as postmaster. He was succeeded by James Gray, and in October, 1879, Mrs. Alma Getchell was appointed. North Prairie postoffice was formerly kept at the house of James L. Demeritt, with Mrs. Demeritt as postmistress, but some time ago it was removed north into Morrison county. Many years ago, regular preaching was maintained at Brockway prairie, but later it was abandoned. A Sabbath school was kept up at the school house on section seventeen, and also one on Brockway prairie. Adjoining the German Catholic Church on section twentyfive, is a cemetery inclosing about four acres of ground. A cemetery is also located on section twenty-eight, which was formerly the property of the town, but owing to some inhormonious feeling, it was deeded to the Brockway Cemetery Association about 1866.

Brockway postoffice was established in September, 1857, and N. Getchell appointed postmaster. About 1863, Mr. Getchell moved away and the office was discontinued, but soon re-established with Appleton Webb as postmaster. He was succeeded by James Gray, and in October, 1879, Mrs. Alma Getchell was appointed.

North Prairie postoffice was formerly kept at the house of James Y. Demeritt, with Mrs. Demeritt as postmistress, but in the seventies moved north into Morrison county.

Among the early settlers of Brockway as already mentioned was James Y. Demeritt, who came to Minnesota in 1855, from Woodstock, New Hampshire, where he was born February 16, 1822, located temporarily on the east side of the Mississippi river. In November of the same year he made a pre-emption on section 36, in the extreme north-eastern part of the township, which was then wild and unsettled. His wife and two little girls were taken across the river in a birch bark canoe borrowed from the Indians for that purpose, while the oxen and one cow were made to swim to the other side. The frame house then built still stands, although several additions have been made, and is the home of the widow, now 89 years of age. There are few Minnesota men or women who can say that they have lived in the same place and in the same house for sixty years. During the Indian outbreak Mr. Demerritt was compelled to go to Fort Ripley to help guard the post, as were all the men of the settlement except two who were left to protect the v/omen and children, gathered at the Demerritt house, as being the largest one in the neighborhood. There they passed the anxious days, scarcely daring to cook for fear the smoke would betray them or to have a light at night lest it might attract the attention of the Indians. Many buried their few valuables in the fields or woods that they might be saved in case the houses were burned by the savages. For several years both before and after the war the Demerritt house was used for church services, the rooms being filled by the neighbors, some of whom came a distance of six and eight miles with ox teams, bringing their entire families.

St. Stephen

This village, the last to be incorporated in Stearns county and making the total number 24, is made of parts of sections 19, 30 and 31, town 126, range 28, parts of 23, 24, 25, 26 and 36, town 126, range 29, in the township of Brockway. It is practically a reincarnation of the old townsite of Brockway, which was established in 1857 by Stephen Emerson and J. L. Young, almost directly opposite Watab, which was then a town of considerable importance. These promoters built a large hotel and several good houses. They also built a bridge across the river, about two miles distant, this being the first bridge over the Mississippi above St. Anthony Falls. It was a toll bridge and the man in charge slept in a small house conveniently located. One morning when he arose to resume his daily duties the bridge was missing, a strong wind during the night having lifted it from the piers and dumped it into the river. It was not rebuilt and crossing afterwards was done by means of a ferry boat. For many years it had a postofRce and church services were held at stated periods, but the town has long ceased to have an existence. Among the early settlers in that vicinity were Gregor Peternell, who came in 1866, and Gregor Pogatschnick. Others who followed were Andrew Dean, John Schumer, Anton Kapus and Andrew and John Blankush. The first storekeeper was John Smerker about 1878. Following him were John Merkling, Merkling & Polance, McCarty, John Shebet and John P. Helm, who successively occupied the same building..

The new village was incorporated May 2, 1914. It has a general store, owned by Vouk & Legeat, another by Jos. Thorker; there is a blacksmith shop, and a saw mill built twelve years ago by Frank Vouk, manufacturing lumber from logs brought

It is understood that the Rt. Rev. James Trobec, in laying aside his duties as Bishop of St. Cloud, will make his home at St. Stephen, where he has relatives.

Crow Lake is situated in the extreme southwest corner of the county, and embraces township 123 north, range 35 west. Its area is 23,040 acres. It is chiefly a rolling prairie, excepting along the course of Spunk river, and on the margins of some of the lakes.. The principal lakes are. Crow, from which the town derives its name. Tamarack, Fish, and Grass lakes, the latter lying partly in Pope county. Spunk river is the name of a small stream which rises in Tamarack lake, and flows easterly, emptying into the North Fork of Crow river, in Crow River township. The soil is chiefly a sandy loam with a clay subsoil.

Crow Lake was organized in 1868, and embraces, in addition to its present territory, the west half of the township 123, range 34, but was reduced to its present limits by the organization of Crow River in 1877. The first oflScers were: Supervisors, W. B. Reed (chairman), Peter Knudson, and H. Anderson; clerk, F. H. Swenson; assessor, C. H. Johnson; and treasurer, Henry Hess.