Paynesville City

Paynesville City

The story of Paynesville, looking backward for a space of fifty-seven years, as gathered from the persons engaged in making the incidents happening therein and from the scanty records which were preserved of the earlier days, is in many respects very unsatisfactory, but withal very absorbing. At times the want of a public record, as is the case in the town of Verdale for one or two years years during the Indian and Civil Wars is very suggestive and eloquently tells the story of all men "to the front."

The story of Paynesville from 1857 to the present day is a very real one to the few now left of the pioneers of fifty-seven years ago. Those gray-haired men and women in telling now of the incidents of the earlier life speak enthusiastically of the good old times, lightly of the hardships, eloquently of the friendships of those days and reverently and kindly of the many old settlers who have gone before.

"As we came out of the woods on the hills on the trail southwest from Richmond one day in the fall of 1857, and looked across the valley of the Crow river, where Paynesville has since been built, it seemed to me that I had never seen a finer sight, nor a better looking country. We were not used to such country back in Pennsylvania. I then thought it the best on earth, and after living here fifty years, I am inclined to think that I was just about right that day back in 1857," is the statement made in 1907 by A. L. Elliott, who made his claim in 1857 just across the Crow river from this village, and lived here until he died in May, 1913.

Paynesville, or more properly speaking, the country which has since become Paynesville, must have presented a very attractive appearance to the prospective settler and townsite locator fifty-seven years ago, as the early records show three attempts to locate townsites at and near what is now the location of this village.

The first attempt was made in the early summer of 1856 when a party of prospective settlers, under the leadership of William B. Reed, came out from St. Cloud, though originally from Hastings, and located a townsite as the papers have it, near the center of township one hundred and twenty-two, range thirty-two (now Paynesville townsite), at a "beautiful spot near £1 ford in the river." The proposed townsite was named Onawa, and the river was called Pleasant river. The party, however, soon returned to Hastings, and for some reason failed to file the claim under the townsite act, and the townsite of Onawa had no place upon the map. Tradition,

As locating Onawa, the following clippings will be of interest: "Onawa, which means 'wide-awake,' is twenty-five miles north of Kandiyohi, on the west side of the north branch of Crow River, about ten miles from Carnalian Lake. Its location is said to be beautiful. Dr.. George H. Keith of Minneapolis is president and Chas. H. Clark, secretary.' - St. Anthony Republican, Jan. 1, 1857.

"Onawa - This is the name of a new town situated on the north fork of Crow River, about ten miles from Diamond or Green Lake. A map of the town will be forthcoming as soon as practicable. The company who have located it are men of responsibility and are determined not merely to make it a paper city speculation, but a matter of fact town. The surrounding country abounds in timber, the townsite being a mile and half from the big woods, in a valley that for fertility, compares with old Geneseo of New York." - Minnesota Democrat, December 13, 1856.

The second attempt to locate a townsite was made later in that same year (1856) when John McCormack and M. I. Bullard located a townsite in the same township and range (township 122 of range 32, now Paynesville), but were unable to designate the sections owing to the fact that the land had not been surveyed into sections. Upon the survey being made, the townsite of Messrs,. McCormack and Bullard was found to be upon section 16, the school section, and the location was necessarily abandoned.

The third and successful attempt was made either in the fall of 1856 or in the spring of 1857, by the Paynesville Townsite Company, officered by James Phillips, as president, C. S. Snyder as vice president, M. L. Bullard as treasurer, and Edwin E. Payne as secretary and agent. This company located a townsite upon the north half of section seventeen, in township one hundred and twenty-two, of range thirtytwo, naming the townsite Paynesville, in honor of Edwin E. Payne, the secretary of the company.

secretary, on August 19, 1857, and was filed in the office of the register of deeds in Stearns county, on August 20, in that same year, 1857.

In April, 1861, all that portion of the townsite of Paynesville comprised in the following lands, to-wit: WV2 NW14, NEi^ NW14 and NVs NE14, Section 17 was vacated, leaving the portion of the original townsite south of the river and from the settlement south of the Crow has come the present village of Paynesville.

Edwin E. Payne and his brother-in-law, George Lincoln, were undoubtedly the fii'st permanent settlers upon the lands included within the plat of the townsite of Paynesville, these gentlemen having gone onto these lands late in 1856.

During the summer and fall of 1857 a number of new settlers came in, among them being James H. Boylan, John Baitinger, W. P. Bennett, J. B. Pease, Richard Porter, O. S. Freeman, Lyman Reed and others.

From among those coming into Paynesville or vicinity at that time, two are still (1914) residents of this place, namely: James H. Boylan, who came to Paynesville in October, 1857, and John Baitinger and his wife, who took up a claim in the eastern end of this township in the early spring of 1857.

Paynesville was made a postoffice in 1857, an office established in the settlement and Edwin E. Payne was named as postmaster, holding the office but a few months and until President Buchanan appointed James H. Boyland in the fall of 1857. Mr. Boyland held the office until 1861. The equipment of the office consisted of a tea-chest and some wooden mail boxes.

At that time Paynesville was on the mail route starting at St. Peter and ending at St. Cloud. The contract for carrying the mails was let to S. B. Lowry of St. Cloud, who sublet his contract for that portion of the route from St. Cloud to St. Peter, to Sam Wakefield of Cold Spring, who in turn hired A. L. Elliott, who made the trips on foot. The contractor received his pay in government lands such as he might select.

The first child born in Paynesville was Grace Lincoln, daughter of George H. Lincoln, one of the first settlers, her birth occurring in the fall of 1856.

On December 1, 1859, James H. Boylan and Miss Canarissia Richardson, then of Richmond, were married at Cold Spring. This was no doubt the first marriage of any person living at Paynesville. The first death was that of Luther Brown in 1859.

From 1857 to the time of the Indian outbreak in August, 1862, the town had much the usual experience of all frontier towns. A number of new settlers had come in, among whom were Hugh, John and Robert Blakely, Daniel Chisholm, Stephen and Alfred Harris, Michael and August Schultz, Gottlieb and August Knebel, Christ and William Helmer, Anton Wartenburg, S. P.. Roach, A. L. Elliott, Fred Schroeder, Fred Gedosch, John Boylan and others.

During these five years a number of homes and buildings had been erected in the settlement known as Paynesville. Among the public buildings were the hotel, the Methodist church and a schoolhouse.

Very early did the minds of the settlers turn to the education of the children, and as early as the spring of 1859, work was commenced upon the construction of a log schoolhouse. In May, 1859, before its completion, the school was blown "down in a terrific wind storm. A frame schoolhouse was built in the spring of 1862, and the first school of which there is any record was taught that spring, by Frances Reed, daughter of Lyman Reed, then a resident of this place. Miss Reed later became the wife of Chan Harmon, and was for many years a resident of Sauk Center, where she died several years ago. This building also became part of the stockade and was burned during the Indian outbreak.

On May 27, 1858, a meeting was held at Paynesville for the purpose of organizing a towa. The records of that meeting are in existence and show that after considerable discussion it was determined to organize a town, that such town should be named Verdale, and that it should include £ large extent of territory, which territory has since been divided into the townships of Paynesville, Lake Henry, Zion, Crow River, Crow Lake, North Fork, Lake George and part of St. Martin. There were seven voters present and voting at that meeting, namely: Rev. C. S. Harrison,

In the spring and summer of 1861 came the calls for troops for the civil war and the records show that the men of Paynesville responded patriotically.

Among those who enlisted at the first call were M. P. Beckley, Harrison P. Luce and the Rev. W. N. Darnell, who were enrolled in Captain Josiah E. West's company of the Seventh Minnesota, and Alfred Harris and G. W. Reed, who were enrolled in Captain C. Beaulieu's company of the Ninth Minnesota.

Answering later calls were John Phipps, Wm. Blakely, Daniel Chisholm, John J. Brown, W. P. Bennett and H. Jons, of the First Minnesota; Samuel P. Roach, of the Third Minnesota; Andrew Eickmeier and William Helmer, of the Seventh Minnesota; and Joseph J. Reed of the Eighth Minnesota; John Blakely, of the First regiment of Heavy Artillery; Smith Flanders, of Hatch's Battalion; Robert and John Blakely, Anton Wartenburg, August Schultz and William Schroeder, of the Mounted Rangers and William Beckley, of the First regiment of Mounted Volunteers.

Paynesville and its citizens received the news of the Indian outbreak on August 20, 1862, when early in the morning of that day, there came to the settlement, a Mrs. Luneberg and Ole Gregerson, whose homes were near Norway Lake, about eighteen miles northwest from Paynesville, telling the story of their escape from the massacre by the Indians, which had taken place near their homes the previous day. A scouting party, made up of Hugh Blakely, Smith Flanders, Stephen Harris. Moses Pelkey and others was sent out to the scene of the massacre. Returning to Paynesville the second night, this party brought with them several families of settlers from the Norway Lake country. About the same time the settlers to the west and south began coming into Paynesville with their families for safety. It was seen that steps must be taken for protection against the attacks of the savages. A company of Home Guards was organized with Stephen Harris, captain; John Blakely, first lieutenant; Hugh Blakely, second lieutenant, and John J. Brown, sergeant. The number of men in the company, and in fact in the settlement was less than fifty. Work was at once begun upon the construction of a fort. The Methodist church and the schoolhouse were moved up so as to form two sides, the other two sides being formed by sod, dirt and timbers. Into this fort all of the families in the settlement and those coming in for protection were housed in what was felt reasonably safe quarters, so long as the men and ammunition held out. Shortly after the completion of the fort. Captain Ambrose Freeman came out from St. Cloud, with a company of volunteers, for the purpose of seeking endangered settlers and burying the dead. Captain Freeman took his soldiers back to St. Cloud, and with them went a number of the occupants of the fort. Soon there came to the remaining occupants of the fort at Paynesville, news of a very large force of savages headed toward the settlement. Realizing the danger in store for them, should such report prove true, the remaining occupants of the fort started for Richmond, St. Cloud and other places, and the fort and buildings at Paynesville were abandoned the latter part of the month of August, 1862.

About September 11, no further news of Indians having been received, Hugh Blakely, John Blakely and Robert Blakely, O. S. Freeman, Hugh Jones, Smith Flanders, E. H. Bates, Peter Lagrow, and John Boy- Ian, all of whom had taken refuge at Richmond, determined to return to Paynesville, for the purpose of threshing and securing the crops of grain which had been abandoned. This the party did, taking with them teams and a threshing rig, and threshed undisturbed during the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth. The night of September 13th the fort, which was occupied by the threshing party was attacked by the Indians, set fire to and destroyed. One of the party was wounded though not seriously. Taking the wounded man with them, the rest of the party managed to make good

After burning the fort, the Indians plundered and burned all the other buildings in the settlement, save the hotel and farm buildings belonging to W. P. Bennett. The fact that Mr. Bennett and his good wife had always been willing to feed and lodge the Indians, will no doubt furnish an explanation as to the non-destruction of these buildings.

Shortly after the burning of the stockade, the Federal government sent out a portion of the 25th Wisconsin regiment, which enlarged and rebuilt the fort and remained there until December of that year, when its place was taken by a detachment of mounted Rangers. Until the early summer of 1864, the fort was occupied by one or more companies of the regular army, and for many months a patrol was maintained about Cape Bad Luck, near Lake Koronis, to Mannannah.

Following the passing away of danger of a return of the Indians, new settlers came in rapidly, homes and stores were built and businesses undertaken, farms were opened, and the community became generally prosperous. The new settlers were mostly American and Germans and were a progressive, industrious and intelligent class of people.

The township of Paynesville was taken out of the township of Verdale and organized as a separate township on September 20, 1867, with the following officers, to-wit: A. L. Elliott (chairman), John Baitinger and R. P. Gilbert, supervisors; J. B. Pease and H. H. Randolph, justices of the peace; Alfred Harris, constable; J. B. Peace, town clerk; R. P. Gilbert, treasurer; A. Chisholm, Alfred Harris and Anton Wartenburg, road overseers.

The village of Paynesville was regularly organized as a village in 1887. The village of New Paynesville was organized in 1890. Between those two years, the Great Northern and the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad companies built their lines of road into this section, the former locating its station about one mile north and the latter placing its depot grounds about one mile east of Paynesville. A contest was at once on between the inhabitants of the two villages. This continued for several years, during which the "Soo" town gradually obtained the lead. In the fall of 1904 Paynesville was attached to New Paynesville, making a village now having a population of probably twelve hundred people. In March, 1905, the name of New Paynesville was changed by popular vote to Paynesville, and under the historic name the metropolis of Southwestern Stearns Is building and making good.

An interesting fact in connection with Paynesville is that for some time it was not a part of any county. In some manner the surveys and boundaries of the different counties had been so laid out that Paynesville did not lie within Stearns or any other county and a special act of the state legislature was necessary to attach it to Stearns County.

The first Fourth of July celebration in Paynesville, according to the recollection of the oldest inhabitant took place on July 4, 1858, and the story is given in this wise: The arrangements for the celebration were completed the night before and consisted principally in the building of a boat, the lumber for which had been brought from St. Cloud by ox team. Bright and early the morning of the Fourth, the procession started for Long Lake where the day was to be spent. The procession consisted of two lumber wagons, trailed one behind the other, drawn by six yoke of oxen, driven by John J. Brown, then a lad of fourteen years, but "a master hand with cattle." The first wagon contained the participants in the celebration, namely; O. S. Freeman, James H. Boyland, Mr. Trevor and Hugh Elakely, and Lucy Munson, Zina Brown and Canarissa and Victoria Richardson. I'he second wagon contained the boat, and hitched behind it was the refreshment department in the shape of a new milch cow. Hugh Blakely was the orator of the day. Starting for home in the early evening owing to a threatened storm, the party became lost in the hills about Cape Bad Luck, and had to remain out all night.

From the record of Rev. D. J. Higgins, pastor of the Methodist church, in 1874- 77: "Financially the whole territory was bankrupt. The locusts had largely destroyed the crops and well-grounded apprehensions of failure for another year filled every mind with depressing fears. The locusts had deposited their eggs so thickly that no one had hope of raising anything another year. At the opening of spring the hope which had been growing during the winter that the locusts' eggs were mostly destroyed, induced the people to sow their fields as usual, in many instances putting all the seed they had into the ground, leaving nothing for bread. The state also furnished several with seed. The fearful fact soon was realized that the locusts as soon as hatched would devour the growing crops as fast as they came out of the ground. In spite of all efforts by ditching, fire, and tar machines, the springing grain was stripped as though the breath of the bottomless pit had blasted it. Wheat first, then the corn, barley and potatoes. Even the fields of timothy and grass were eaten; only a few patches of oats remained. In debt and destitute, starvation stared many families in the face. The cattle were left - thank God, the babes would not starve. The young men left for southern parts of the state to find work. Many families sold all personal property, and leaving their land, started to find new homes. But in the very crisis of this terror, the locusts, having destroyed all, left for parts unknown. God seems to have heard the cry of the needy, and by a strong west wind, has scattered and destroyed them utterly. The outlook now is hopeful for next year, yet during all this fearfully disastrous year the people gladly divided with us. We lived comfortably yet very economically upon $243 contributed in food, wood, hay and house with the addition of $50 in missionary appropriation. With gratitude to God and thanks to the people for unnumbered kindnesses."

From the Paynesville of 1857 has come the Paynesville of 1914, a village of one thousand or more people, a village of many comfortable homes and of good churches; a village peopled by men and women, progressive, intelligent and patriotic; a village of many business enterprises, guided by men, capable, energetic and thrifty; a village that has within its limits an establishment, probably the largest of its kind in the state, paying out many thousands of dollars during the year for material and labor; a village that has its hospital known far and near and numbering among its clientage people not only from this state, but from other states adjoining; a village that never had a boom and does not care for one, but that has maintained a slow but healthy growth; a village that has near it the finest lake in northern Minnesota, Lake Koronis, of which it was once written: "To the scholar and student Lake Koronis offers many a place of real historic interest; to the artist a varied scenery and unsurpassed natural beauty; to the sportsman many a victory both of the rod and reel; to the tired business man rest and quiet in a large measure and to the seeker after an ideal summer home a place that is

And altogether lovely,' " a village that does not claim to be about to become one of the great places of the state, but being located as it is in the heart of a rich and prosperous farming community, upon two of the leading railroads of the northwest, from thirty-five to eighty-five miles from any large city, and being peopled with men who are up and doing, does claim to have made good during the more than fifty years of its growth, and to offer to the home seeker and business man many advantages not held out by anyother town of its size in northern Minnesota.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. - On September 17, 1888, a petition was presented to the Right Reverend H. B. Whipple, Bishop of Minnesota, asking for permission to organize a parish of the Protestant Episcopal church at New Paynesville (now Paynesville).. This petition was signed by Angus Haines, Hugh Blakely, William Haines, Sr., James Fair, Alfred Watson, and John J. Brown. The petition being granted, a parish known as St. Stephen's was organized, with the election of Angus Haines, Senior Warden; Alfred T. Watson, Junior Warden, and George Stephens, Henry Baugh, John J. Brown, Dr. James Fair, Hugh Blakely, Dr. G. G. Griffin,

A church building was erected during that year. The first service was held in the new church May 17, 1888, the service being conducted by the Right Reverend Mahlon H. Gilbert, the assistant Bishop of Minnesota. The church building was consecrated on April 3, 1898, by the Right Reverend J. D. Morrison, bishop of Duluth. The Rev. Charles B. Fosbroke was for a short time in charge of the parish. Following Mr. Fosbroke, Rev. D. T. Booth of Willmar, was priest in charge, though most of the services were taken and all of the Sunday School work was done by Angus Haines, a lay reader, until January 6, 1898, when the Rev. T. C. Hudson became the rector and has since remained in charge. The church has had a steady and prosperous growth, sharing in and contributing to the moral and spiritual development of the expanding village into the greater Paynesville of 1914.

Parish of St. Louis, R. C - On April 10, 1899, the Catholics of Paynesville and vicinity met at the office of Dr. P. C. Pilon for the purpose of organizing a congregation, Dr. Pilon acting as chairman of the meeting. A committee of five members was appointed to find a suitable location for the erection of a Catholic church in Paynesville.

On June 3 of the same year another meeting was called at J. McGenty's store, and it was decided to buy three lots (9, 10, 11) in block 14. Haines' Addition. The building owned by Dr. Pilon was purchased for the price of $400, and moved on the lots. This was dedicated as a church for the small congregation of fourteen families on September 13, by the Rt. Rev. James Trobec, Bishop of St. Cloud, in whose diocese the congregation is located. At this time Rev. Father Hengarten of Eden "Valley was appointed to take care of the new congregation, giving them services one Sunday and two week days every month.

In December of the same year Rev. L. G. Peiffer, the successor of Father Hengarten in Eden Valley, appointed, in a special meeting, Archie Pelkey and J. R. Leyendecker to look up suitable grounds for a cemetery. One acre on Lake street, known as Peterson ground, was bought for this purpose on March 27, 1900, for the price of $100. At this same time John Leyendecker was elected treasurer of and J. McGenty secretary of the congregation, which congregation was incorporated under the laws of the state of Minnesota as "St. Louis Catholic Church of Paynesville."

In three more years a change in the administration took place. The Catholics, until then taken care of by priests from Eden Valley, were connected as a mission with Belgrade. Rev. Fr. Dworack, pastor of Belgrade, took charge of the congregation consisting now of seventeen families giving them one Sunday a month. On account of the sickness of Mr. Leyendecker, N. H. Dreis was appointed treasurer of the congregation, which office he fills today. In 1910 the secretary, J. McGenty, resigned, Fr. Volkert taking his place.

In all these years the little congregation was steadily growing. On July 5, 1912, G. Schollenberger, assistant pastor of the Cathedral of St. Cloud, was appointed pastor of the congregation in Paynesville. In less than another year, on February 23, 1913, a special meeting was called at the church to consider the question of building a new church, as the whole congregation was in favor of erecting a new building. In May the contract for the new church was given to Stromberg & Co., Milaca, and work began at once.

On July 10, 1913, the cornerstone of the new church was laid by His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. Bishop of St. Cloud, James Trobec, who also dedicated the first church. The congregation, now consisting of about sixty families, took the greatest interest in the work, faithfully assisting their pastor in the difficult task of erecting a new church in a small place.

On October 10, 1913, the new edifice, a concrete building with a full basement, was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop James Trobec. On the same day His Lordship the Rt. Rev. Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to a class of fifty children.

All the furnishings of the church have been donated by special collection or private donation. The building cost about $8,500, and will accommodate at least eighty families..

organized church body, its organization having been perfected in 1859. Rev. W. N. Darnell, who was the first pastor, began his parish work in that same year, with a church membership of thirteen, and was successful in building a small church in the spring of 1861. This building later became a part of the stockade in the Indian outbreak, and was destroyed by fire in September of that same year. During the year 1872, and under the pastorate of the Rev. William E. Rice, work was again begun upon a new church building and a parsonage. These buildings were completed during the year 1874, and on September 6, 1874, while the parish was in charge of the Rev. Samuel P. Roach, the church building was dedicated by the Rev. D. Cobb, presiding elder of the district, at which time $1,103.50 was donated by the people present. This church building was originally built in what is now the extreme western end of town, but was moved to its present and more central location in June, 1893. Among the ministers in charge of this church following the Rev. W. N. Darnell, were Revs. G. W. Bennett, Robert Hoover, Jesse Smith, John H. Stundy, E. S. Bullard, Noah Lathrop, Ezra R. Lathrop, J. Milton Akers, J. H. Sherman, George Johnson, William E. Rice, Samuel P. Roach, J. J. Stanton, D. J. Higgins, John Doran, J. W. Klepper, J. N. Henry, C. T. Earkaloo, James R. Colley, B.. Longley, W. H. Soule, B. P. Kephart, George West, H. C. Maynard, H. H. Saunderson, David Tice, Leon L. Koch, George W. B. Snell, C. T. Beers, J. W. Peterson, William K. Gray, Thomas A. Stafford and Hampton C. Kishpaugh.

The Methodist church is now one of the strongest parishes in this village having a large membership, and with its subsidiary organizations such as the Epworth League, Junior League and Women's Home Missionary Society exerting a large influence in the lives of the residents of this village.

Congregational-Presbyterian Church. - The first religious services in Paynesville were conducted on July 20, 1857, by the Rev. C. S. Harrison, a Congregational preacher who in journeying through this portion of the west happened in at Paynesville and was induced to preach. Mr. Harrison later return to Paynesville and became the first preacher of the Congregational church in this place, serving the church as pastor for several years prior to the organization of the parish. The reverend gentleman is now a resident of York, Neb., but conducted services in the Congregational church of this village upon the fiftieth anniversary of his first sermon, and had in his congregation but one person who might have heard him fifty years ago. The date of this first service is given by other writers as July 7, 1857. Mrs. W. P. Bennett, who was present at the service and who came to Paynesville on July 14, 1857, fixes the date as July 20, 1857.

The Congregational Church of Paynesville was regularly organized on July 29, 1866. The meeting for the organization was held on that day at the home of D. S. Twitchell, there being present and participating in the organization, the Rev. R. Hall, preacher, the Rev. S. D. Trembley, John Lester and wife, D. S. Twitchell and wife, and James Lester, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Mr. Hall. On August 3, 1867, a call was extended to and accepted by the Rev. S. D. Trembley to become the first pastor.

Among the gentlemen who have since been pastors are the Reverends John Todd, Enoch E. Rogers, R. D. Jones, David T. Jenkins, W. C. Haire, Lincoln A. Holp, David Donovan, Charles H. Chapin, William M. Wright, C. H. Moxie, W. H. Owen, James Earl and D. D. Day.

Work on the construction of a church building was begun in the fall of 1870, and the same completed and the church dedicated in June of 1872, the services at the time of the dedication being in charge of the Rev. C. S. Harrison, who preached the sermon. The church building was moved to its present location in the summer of 1891.

On February 13, 1912, the parish became connected with the Presbyterian church and a part of the St. Cloud Presbytery, with Rev. E. J. Clarke in charge, who was succeeded by the Rev. T. M. Findley, the pastor now in charge.

First Church of Christ, Scientist. During the year 1891, a few Christian Scientists met and held temporary services in the home of Mrs. Mary Gibson, who acted as first reader. April 10, 1899, the society was organized in conformity with the rules and by-laws of the church manual of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., with six charter members as follows: Mrs. Mary Gibson, first reader; George Latterell, second reader; Mrs. Mary Gibson, president; Mrs. Hattie Latterell, treasurer; Mrs. Carrie Van Vorst, secretary; Mrs. Mary Gibson, director; George H. Latterell, director; Mrs. Carrie Van Vorst, director and Frank Gibson. After leaving Mrs. Gibson's home public meetings were conducted in the City Hall until rooms were fitted up in the Evans building, into which they moved August 1, 1899. On May 6, 1900, they moved to the Haines building, where they also fitted up rooms. April 5, 1898, a lot was purchased by George H. Latterell, and deeded to the church May 9, 1900. Work was commenced on the new church August 27, 1900. It is located on the northeast corner of South avenue and Hoffman street, and is a substantial structure of brick, with interior hardwood finish. The first meeting was held in the new church November 11, 1900, and it was dedicated January 19, 1902. The Sunday School movement was first active in the summer of 1891. Its membership consisted of Roy Latterell, Hazel Latterall and Charles Gibson. They contributed the first moneys for the building of the church and they also were active members of the 'Busy Bees." March 12, 1899, the Sunday School was permanently organized with a membership of nine pupils. The Sunday services at the Christian Scientist churches consist of services similar to that of the other church denominations, aside from the sermon, which in Christian Science churches consists in reading from the Bible and the Christian Science text book, "Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, and the lesson sermon is uniform throughout the \\orld. Testimony meetings are held on Wednesday evenings. At the reading rooms in the church the public is always welcome. The church building at Paynesville is the only one of this denomination in the county, and one of the first five in the state.

That on December 16, 1867, eight Masons, namely, John Moore, North Star Lodge, No. 23; G. W. Bennett, Manterville. No. 11; James A. Fuller, Grand City Lodge, No. 82, Mich.; Frederick Smithson, North Star Lodge, No. 23; George S. Geer, North Star Lodge, No. 23; Henry Shirtliff, Gill Lodge, No.. 382, Illinois; Charles Griswold, North Star Lodge, No. 23, and William H. Brookins, Hude Park Lodge. No. 339, Penn., joined in a petition to the Grand Lodge of the state of Minnesota, for letters of dispensation to empower them to assemble as a regular lodge at Paynesville, to discharge the duties of masonry in a regular and constitutional manner according to the original form of the order and regulations of the Grand Lodge;

That the first meeting under this dispensation was held March 25, 1868, at which meeting petition for the degrees were received from J. E. Welch, J. W. Darby, Rev. Noah Lathrop, J. M. Blakely and Murdock Patterson;

That the second meeting was held April 1, 1868, at which time petitions were received from A. L. Elliott, G. S. Geer and J. B. Garrison, and a certificate of transfer from North Star Lodge of St. Cloud was received by which the care of John H. Stauffer, E. H. Bates and J. L. Whitla was committed to Paynesville Lodge, and;

That work under the dispensation was continued until December 16, 1868, when a petition was made to the Grand Lodge asking for a charter which petition was granted and a charter was issued bearing date January 14, 1869.

It will be no doubt interesting to know that on January 14, 1869, the number had been increased by eight, and at the time of granting the charter was 15; on August 1. 1914, the membership of the lodge is 84, though approximately 185 have become members during the 45 years of lodge life.

1869, Charles Griswold, John Moore, George W.. Bennett, Henry Shirtliff, Fredrick Smithson, George S. Geer and James A. Fuller are named as charter members.

Whitla, John H. Stauffer, John W. Darby, Noah Lathrop, John M. Blakely, A. L. Elliott and Charles S. Geer, and of these eight all are dead, with the exception perhaps of the Rev. Noah Lathrop.

Rev. Charles Griswold, who was the first master of Paynesville Lodge, afterwards became Grand Master for this state, being elected to that office in 1873 and serving three years.

Rev. Noah Lathrop, who was the secretary of Paynesville Lodge while under dispensation, was the first secretary of the lodge having been elected on the day of his joining, and was also the first senior warden and was elected master in 1870.

John H. Stauffer was senior warden in 1870, after which he was demitted for the purpose of assisting in the organization of Crow River Lodge. By the consolidation of Crow River Lodge with this lodge in 1913, he again became a member of this lodge. He died in November, 1914.

During the forty-five years the following brethren have been master: Charles Griswold, John Moore, Noah Lathrop, Hugh Blakely, A. L. Elliott, James H. Boylan, Albert E. Bugbie, Edward H. Bates, R. J. Tuttle, H. A. Wells, Dr. George P. Ferree, W. A. Huntington, James H. Boylan, Jr., Cuthbert T. Johnston, Frank Tolman, George Bosworth and C. C. Peterson, eighteen brethren serving during the 45 years.

Rev. Noah Lathrop was the first secretary, being succeeded by John W. Darby, and he by E. R. Phipps, and he by A. E. Bugbie, who is still secretary, four secretaries in 45 years.

Many of the early members of Paynesville Lodge were from the vicinity of New London, and later were demitted for the purpose of organizing Crow River Lodge, No. 192, first located at New London and later at Belgrade. Crow River Lodge, No. 192, in the early part of 1913 was consolidated with Paynesville Lodge, bringing to this organization its eighteen members.

The Paynesville Press, which is the survivor of one of the fiercest newspaper wars in the history of the county, was established by George R. Stephens December 8, 1887. The building of the "Soo" road started a rival town to the one on the Great Northern line, and the Press was starter to boom "New Paynesville." Paynesville on the Great Northern was championed by the News, published by Krause Brothers. The Soo location proved the stronger, and soon had most of the old town moved over to the present village site, and the News soon tired of the unequal fight and sold out to the Press. Mr. Stephens was an excellent newspaper man, and a good business man as well, and made it a good property. The office was destroyed by fire, but no issue of the paper was omitted, being printed by the Journal- Press until the new equipment arrived. Mr. Stephens is now a resident of Oklahoma, and his successors have been Charles Henke (now publisher of the Dassel Anchor), W. W. Holmes, of Montana; C. F. Folsom (publisher of the Wayzata Reporter), and George A. Hanna, the present owner and editor of the Press. Mr. Folsom started the Paynesville Leader in 1908, and two years later bought the Press of W. W. Holmes, publishing it under the name of the Leader-Press. Mr. Holmes retained the job printing plants of both papers. Editor Hanna purchased the paper of Folsom and the job plant of Holmes in 1912, and restored the original name of the Paynesville Press.