Maine Prairie Township

Maine Prairie Township

Maine Prairie lies in the southeast portion of the county, and has an area of about 40,000 acres. The western and southern portions of the town are undulating, and in some places quite broken. The balance of the town is a gently rolling prairie, interspersed with groves of oak and poplar. The soil is a dark, sandy loam with a clay subsoil. This town is dotted with numerous lakes, the principal of which is Pearl lake, lying in the northern part of the township, and having an area

In 1854 a number of people living in Massachusetts determined to establish in the West, a colony where they and their children might attain the highest ideals of human environment and achievement. Agents sent out to secure a location came up the Mississippi to Clearwater, and, accompanied by James Cambell, started into the interior. On this trip they discovered what is now Maine Prairie, and named it "Paradise." But they were bewildered by a flurry of snow, lost their way, and never returned to their chosen site until years after it had been settled. The members of the colony were scattered, and took up their residences in various localities.

In February, 1856, A. B. and A. S. Greely, and the Rev. Alvin Messer, who had left Maine in the fall of 1855 and had spent the winter at St. Anthony, heard of the beautiful prairie now included in Maine Prairie township from Henry Johnson, who kept a hotel at Neenah, six miles south of St. Cloud. Without going to the prairie, they returned to St. Anthony. March 10, of the same year, A. B,. Greely and wife, A. S. Greely, Alvin Messer and Ansel Crommett left St. Anthony for Maine prairie. In due time they reached Little prairie, three miles west of Neenah and five miles from Maine prairie. Here they built a log house. Hercules Dam, Dudley S. French, J. H. French and others joined them there.

From this location, the men found their way to Maine prairie. It is said that Alvin Messer was the first to stake out a claim there. He also selected one for Albert Staples. Hercules Dam took one in the same neighborhood. These claims were in the northeast corner of the prairie. April 10, A. B. and Horace Greely staked out claims for themselves near Camelian lake, and erected a claim shanty. A few days later, A. S. Greely and Ansel Crommett selected claims on the shores of Pearl lake. These claims were later shared by N. T. Greely and J. O. Crommett who arrived in the falL

About May 1, A. B. and A. S. Greely, Hercules Dam, Alvin Messer and Dudley S. and J. H. French cut a road through the timber from Little prairie to Maine prairie. A. S. Greely's ox team accompanied them.

being the first team througli. Mrs. Hercules Dam, who was with her husband, was the first white woman to arrive on Maine prairie. Mr. Dam, with his son, Freeland H., now living at St. Cloud, built the first shanty on the prairie, which was roofed with bark from trees and rendered service until a log house could be built, which was done later. These two, May 10, began the first plowing done on the prairie.

D. W. Fowler, Joseph Dam, Joseph E. and Samuel Young, William and William L. Heywood, Albert Staples, A. T. Crommett, William Milligan, Horace Greely, Martin Greely, Hiram Millett, Moses Ireland, John and Orlen Farwell, Frey M. Kimball, R. F. Adley, James Taylor, George Clark, Daniel Spauling. Ruel Furlong, Marilla and Almira French. John P. Guptill, James Simmons, D. Sutherland, D. A. Hoyt, S. Leavett, Aaron Scribner, Andrew F. and Daniel Perkins, William Stewart, Henry Hutchinson, "Doc" Mayo, James M. Kimball, John C. Dolan, Edwin Kidder, Thomas Straw and A Wade.

Other settlers who came in the fifties were: T. B. Stanley (whose sons came in 1859), Alpheus Maservey, Thomas Cadwell, George W. Cutter, D. A. Roberts, Alexander Spaulding, Thomas Steen, Rev. T. E. Inman, Dr. Solomon F. Brown, O. S. Senter, John White, Josiah Eaton, John, William and Nicholas Schafer, X.T. Greely, Henry Weidert, Michael L. Patten, B. H. Winslow, Charles Neal and Isaac Bentley. Most of these men were married, many had families, and some had adult sons whose names are not mentioned in this list

Among the prominent arrivals of the early sixties were E. H. Atwood, Samuel Cossairt, Michael Goodner fhis sons David and Henry J, Jacob Goodner, Wm. H. Day, Wheeler French This sons, E. J. cind Almon), Peter Morrey, B. U. Watkins fhis sons, Joseph R. and Williamj, T. J. Wiley, Nicholas Loesch, and Benjamin Barrett Abram Shoemaker came in 1872 and Truman L. Stickney in 1870. Wm. . Louden came about 1870, and still lives on the place he then purchased.

and J. W. Goodspeed, Joseph Whitney (and brothers, George, Fred and "Hod"), Frank Knower, Isaac Coleman, J. Petty, Robert Driver, Barney Allen, B. F. Strout, O. Nelson, John Cline, and Robert Martin. Another authority gives the name of Dudley Smith.

The first marriage in the township was that of Joseph Mitchell and Sarah Greely in 1858. Other early weddings were those of E. G. Hicks and Louella Greely, Dayton E. Myers and Ida Watkins, Alva Frost and Julia Watkins; A. S. Greely and Eliza Clark (June 15, 1860) ; Alonzo Spaulding of Maine Prairie and Christina Langdon, of Clearwater (July 4, 1864j. The first birth was that of Hattie French, daughter of Dudley French, in 1857. The first death was that of George Snyder, in 1857. David R Stanley opened the first store in 1867. On July 4, 1857, the pioneers gave a patriotic celebration in the grove owned by Orlen Farwell on the shores of Camelian lake. The Rev. T. E. Inman delivered an oration.

Pioneer hardships came to the lot of the Maine Prairie people as to the other early settlers. In addition to the many other discomforts of frontier life, the food problem became a serious one. Not enough crops were produced from the farms in 1856 to carry the people through the winter. The crops of 1857 were destroyed by the locust. Frosted com was ground in coffee mills to make meal which was cooked into mush, and with a number of families was the main article of food. The crops of 1858 were excellent and attracted wide attention. But in 1862 came the Indian ravages, in 186:3 there was a drought and it was not until 1864 that the agricultural prosperity of the town was firmly established.

In 1861 a volunteer company was raised in Maine Prairie, with T. E. Inman as captain. When the Fourth Minnesota Infantry was being formed Captain Inman offered his services. He was enrolled Oct. 10, 1861, and was mustered in as captain of Co. D. Those from Maine Prairie who served in his company were: I. N. Bentley, George A. Clark, Thomas Cadwell, Edward J. French, Quartus Farwell, Horace S. Greeley, Albert Guptill, John P. Guptill, D. J. Hanscom, Ezra G. Hicks,

Edwin Kidder, W. A. Milligan, Charles Neal, Daniel F.. Perkins, William H. Stewart, J. C. Winslow, Albana Wade, Solomon P. Brown, Aaron Scribner and Thomas Straw. Captain Inman resigned April 22, 1863, and became chaplain of the First Minnesota Mounted Rangers. Solomon F. Brown was promoted Oct. 10, 1861, from sergeant to second lieutenant; Dec. 2, 1862, was made first lieutenant, resigning March 16, 1864, on account of wounds. Andrew F. Perkins enlisted in November, 1861, in the First Minnesota Infantry. David Spaulding, Alonzo Spaulding, John Widert and John Greely also enlisted from Maine Prairie. W. W.. Clark and Chester Clark served in the Second Minnesota Cavalry. Thomas O. and George Spaulding enlisted as Indian fighters under Capt. Oscar Taylor. Of these, four never returned. Horace S. Greely died at St. Anthony, Minn., on his way home in 1863. John P. Guptill died April 24, 1863, in a floating hospital at Nashville, Tenn. Daniel F. Perkins was killed May 22, 1863, in the Battle of Vicksburg. Alberton Whitney died April 23, 1865, at Chattanooga, Tena.

In order to fill its quota the town hired six men to enlist. They were: Alberton Whitney, David Goodner, Thomas Falone, Albert Guptill, A. Clark and J. W. Clark. The first three served in the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, and the last three in Co. E, Second Minnesota Cavalry.

Maine Prairie w^as organized in 1858. and then consisted of the present towns of Maine Prairie, Fair Haven and Rockville. The first election was held at the log granary of John Farwell, May 27, 1858, the call having been issued by Joseph Edelbrock for the county commissioners, on May 20. The meeting was called to order by John Farwell ; Orlen Farwell was chosen moderator and Martin Greely clerk. The tallowing officers were elected: Supervisors, G. W. Cutter (chairman), Daniel Spaulding, Thomas Partridge; clerk, Martin Greely; assessor, A. H. Staples; assistant assessors, J. K. Noyes and T. N. Berlin: constables, A. B. Greely and W. H. Day; justices of the peace, Orlen Farwell and A. B. Gaylord; collector, H. P. Bennett; overseer of the poor, O. S. Senter. Oct. 23, 1858, it was decided to build a town hall. H. Dam, M. Greely and John

Farwell were to choose the site, and Daniel Spaulding, R. F. Adley and John Parwell were to supervise the erection of the building. Nothing, however, came of these plans. The second annual meeting was held April 5, 1859, at the store house of G. W. Cutter on the west side of Pearl lake. There was considerable bitter feeling engendered at this meeting. April 5, ot this year, Fair Haven was set off and organized. Rockville was set off and organized June 25, 1860. On that day the people of Maine Prairie elected the following officers: Supervisors, T. B. Stanley (chairman), J. Eaton, D. Spaulding; town clerk, S. P. Brown; treasurer, R. P. Adley; justice of the peace, Orlen Farwell; superintendent of schools, S. P. Brown; constables, William Milligan and F. M. Kimball; overseer of the poor, A. B. Greely.

Maine Prairie has three villages. Kimball is a hamlet on the railroad in the southern part of the township. Its first house was built in 1886. Maine Prairie Corners is a small settlement on the site of the fort built for protection against the Indians in 1862. Marty has grown up around the Catholic church near Pearl lake.

Marysville was platted and laid out on the west shore of Carnelian lake, Sept. 7, 1856, by Moses Ireland. The location was ideal, but the village never materialized.

Yarmouth was surveyed and platted on the west side of Pearl lake in 1858 by George W. Cutter, who built a house, barn and store there. In May, 1860, Mr. Cutter returned to the East, and abandoned his village site.

Kimball Prairie is a pleasantly located village of 350 people in the southern part of Maine Prairie township on the "Soo" line. It is officially platted in section 11, township 121, range 29. The postoffice is named Kimball. The village and station are known as Kimball Prairie.

The village is an unusually flourishing center for one of its population, much of its business coming from the surrounding rural districts. It has German Evangelical, Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal churches, a public library, a theater, two banks, a hotel, a creamery, a flour mill, two grain elevators, a weekly newspaper, four general stores, two farm implement stores, two blacksmiths, a physician, a lumber company, a hardware store, a garage, a tinsmith, a drug store, a livery, a market, a restaurant, a furniture store, and other business houses. Here also are the headquarters of the Kimball-Maine Prairie Telephone Co. The village ships grain, live stock, butter and produce. Good fishing and hunting are found in the vicinity. A brief business directory follows: Eliel Peck, postmaster; T. E. Anderson, veterinary surgeon; Arrowood Bros., hardware; Atlantic Elevator Co., V. Goodman, agent; Norman A. Brown, agent of Central Lumber Co.; Wm. M. Campbell, garage; Walter Dixon, tinsmith; Addison C. Douglass, drugs; Leonard Engel, general store; Engholm & Cline, farm implements; Farmers State Bank, capital $10,000, T. H. Haskins, president; J. M. Arrowood, cashier; Herman A. Hanson, blacksmith; F. R. Holmes, livery; Frank Smith, publisher of the Kimball Kodak; Kimball-Maine Prairie Telephone Co-, Phil Vollmer, manager; Edward Johnson, manager of the Kimball Opera House; Kimball Public Library, Myrtle Marshall, librarian; Ole Knause, meats; Clayton E. May, physician; Jos. E. Miller, blacksmith; Chas. R. Nelson, restaurant; W. J. Niva (North Kingston); North Kingston Creamery, V. Caslen, manager (North Kingston) ; Lewis L. Olson, furniture; Osborne-McMillan Elevator Co., Fred Meyer, agent; Pearl Lake Creamery Co., E. L. Enderle, manager; Peck's Department Store; S. J. Phillips, general store (Maine Prairie) ; Jas. G. Reeves, general store; Salisbury House, Warren Salisbury, proprietor; Geo. E. Sherwood, physician; E. L. Shoemaker, barber; C. L. Spaulding & Son, farm implements; State Bank of Kimball, capital $10,000, surplus $3,500, George E. Sherwood, president; Charles H. March, vice president; C. D. Brower, cashier; S. C. Walters, railway agent; Louis Wieber, general store (Marty) ; Wolf Milling Co., Frank Wolf, manager (flour mill).

The first settler was William E. Lytle, who built a small house near where the livery stable now stands,. This was in the fall of 1886. About that time a survey was made and the townsite was platted in section 11, township 121, range 29, on the "Soo" line. The first store building was erected by E. Peck the same fall; and the following year H. P. and Oscar Morrey also put up a store building. Both of these buildings are still standing. The first elevator was built in 1886, and was completed at the same time that the first trains started operating on the railroad. It was owned by R. Coefield, now of Annandale. E. Mayhew was the first blacksmith, having a shop on the eastern edge of the townsite. The postoffice was established in the spring of 1887, with Eliel Peck as postmaster. With the exception of about five years, Mr. Peck has held the office to the present time. Dr. A. Mumford was the first physician. He established himself here in 1888 and resided here until his death in October, 1900. G. W. Beckman put up a drug store and opened for business in October, 1890. The lumber yard was established by C. P. Gates in 1890, and was operated by him until 1893, when it came into the possession of Savage & Arnold. After a short time it was bought by Emil Mielke, who finally sold it to the Central Lumber Co., the present owners. The first newspaper was the Kimball Prairie "News," established in 1891 by John Cass. The village was incorporated in February, 1892, with George Calkin as president of the council; A. Mumford, M. J. Kennedy and G. W. Beckman as councilmen, and John Cass as recorder. About 1898, the business men and farmers bought the old E. Mayhew blacksmith shop on the eastern edge of the townsite and fitted it up for a creamery. Operations were suspended for lack of patronage about 1900. In 1900 the present co-operative creamery was established.

(Note. - The history of Maine Prairie and Kimball has been compiled from the articles of E. H. Atwood and the manuscripts of M.. E. Shoemaker.)

The history of Marty is almost identical with that of the church, the little settlement having centered about the church for some twenty-five years.

Holy Cross Church. In the spring of 1889, Rev. P. Simplicius (Wimmer), O. S. B., of St. Nicholas, visited the Catholics around Pearl Lake and finding a sufficient number he induced them to ask for permission to erect a church of their own. This was readily granted by His Lordship the Rt. Rev. Bishop Rupert Seidenbusch, O. S. B. At a meeting of a later day the following gentlemen were elected to serve as a building committee, viz,.: Peter Jos. Neis, Nick Loesch, St., John Schaefer, Sr., John Krier, Thomas Neubeck and Joseph Scheeler. A site was secured from D. E. Meyers. Louis Nistler, Sr., was engaged to build the church. After its completion the Rev. P. Lawrence, O. S. B., assistant pastor at Richmond, was assigned to this place to have services once a month. The Rev. Joseph Bastian, pastor of St Nicholas, was appointed to this mission for two years. After him the Rev. P. Wolfgang (Steinkogler), O. S. B., of Luxemburg, came and from this time on they had services twice a month. In the summer of 3894, during which the Rev. Isidor Hengarten of Luxemburg was having this mission, a cyclone swept the church away, the organ and bell being the only things saved. The sacristy, a separate building from the church, remained intact. The church was rebuilt at once. In 1897 the Rev. John Wernich was appointed pastor of Luxemburg and Pearl Lake as a mission. He remained for eleven years, having services every Sunday at both places. During his administration the congregation was incorporated under the name of Holy Cross Church of Pearl Lake. In 1905 a school was erected with L. Wieber as its first teacher. The Rev. Hubert Gundermann took charge of the congregation in May, 1908. During his administration he took up a subscription for the erection of a parish house. The parishioners willingly subscribed and May 1, 1909, the Rev. Henry Leuthner was appointed pastor of the congregation. He directed the building of the house, which is modern throughout, steam heat being installed at the same time. In 1913 an addition 40 by 44 was built to the church, costing about $6,000. In 1914 an iron fence was erected around the cemetery. Henry Steichen and Jos. Meinz are the trustees.

Pearl Lake Creamery. - In March, 1897, a number of farmers met at the home of Henry Steichen and organized the Pearl Lake Creamery Co. Its first officers were: Jos. Scheeler, president; Thomas Neubeck, vice-president; M. C. Loesch, secretary; Henry Steichen, treasurer; Wm. Driver, buttermaker. Actual business was commenced May 19, 1897. The amount of business for the remainder of the year was ?3,534.10. This amount increased during the following years amounting to nearly $20,000. The corporation worked well for about nine years, when the stockholders thought a change in officers and buttermaker would be advisable. This proved to be a failure and after operating and renting it for five years it was sold to Frank Enderle, of St. Nicholas, who is still the proprietor.

In the fall of 1900, Louis Wieber erected a store and dwelling at Pearl Lake. On March 1, 1901, a postoflSce was established under the name of Marty, with Mr. Wieber as postmaster. The office was discontinued July 10, 1905, and the patrons are now supplied by rural delivery. Mr. Wieber continued to operate the store until May 1, 1914, when he was succeeded by Joseph Neis.

In 1905 a parochial school was erected at a cost of $1,100.. This was kept up for four years. At the end of that period the voters of District 150 decided to rent the parish school and use it for a public school. This has been done for the past five years. Only first-grade teachers are employed.

While Marty is one of the prettiest places in Stearns county, and is surrounded by a rich farming community, thus far it has not grown rapidly, its inhabitants being mostly retired farmers who have purchased lots here and erected houses. It is believed however that with the coming of the electric line, the village will become a flourishing trading point.

Maine Prairie Corners

The first building on the Corners was a blacksmith's shop built in 1865 by David Spaulding. The first store building was built in 1866 by T. B. Stanley. It has a hall over it for public meetings and church services, as there was no church building on the Prairie at that time. The first stock of goods was put in by D. B.. Stanley in the fall of 1866. The next year he took in as a partner H. F. Putnam who had a stock of goods at Big Lake, which he moved up to the Corners. The partnership lasted some two years, when Mr. Stanley bought out Mr. Putnam, who then built a store one mile south of the Corners on the (then) Cossairt land. D. B. Stanley operated the store until about 1875 when he sold it out to D. A. Hoyt, J. E. West and Geo. R. Whitney., D. A. Hoyt bought the business about 1879 and soon after the store and all the goods burned.

Then Mr. Hoyt rebuilt the store, but with no hall overhead. Geo. R. Whitney operated it for him until he sold it in 1880 to Philip Moon who continued it until about 1884 when he suddenly disappeared, leaving everything behind. The store and goods were then sold out by Sheriff Mickley and were bought by D. B. Stanley, R. W. Stanley and Barney Allen, known as Stanley Bros. & Co. This firm operated it about three years when it was sold to R. W. Stanley, who conducted the store until 1902, when he sold it to Elmer London, who continued it two years when he died, leaving it to his wife, who kept it open two years, selling it to Frank Block. He traded the stock for land in Canada, and then E. Peck bought the stock and put a man in for a short time to sell it out, moving the balance to Kimball. For about two years the store was not occupied. Then Mr. Richards put in a stock and kept store about two years, moving to Fair Haven. Then Mr. Thurber put in a stock and stayed about one year, when he traded it to Frank Gasser for land and Mr. Gasser sold it to Mr. Philips, who operated it for about a year and moved to Fair Haven.

When D. B. Stanley sold his store to Hoyt & Co., he built a store where the Spaulding blacksmith shop stood, operating that store until he died in 1911.

At the present time there is no store open on the Corners. In 1885 A. D. Guptill moved the old Hamilton District School House down to the Corners and

(Note. - R. W. Stanley, the writer of the above article regarding Maine Prairie Corners, came to Maine Prairie with his mother in 1858, his father having arrived two years previous. He has many interesting stories to tell of the early days, especially in regard to the Sioux uprising when, as a boy of twelve, he watched the pioneers build the stockade and fort where the families might be protected from the Indians. He well remembers the scarcity of provisions, and the difficulty of getting supplies from St. Paul, the nearest trading point.