The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-03-17

Sank Centre is an interesting city situ-
ated on the Sank lake. Alexander Moore
came here in 1856 and Oct. 10th he be-
gan his house which was of logs and
was built on the north side of the river,
near where Mr.. Pe.tit's house now
stands. The attraction of the place for
Mr.. Moore was the excellent water
power also the timber and prairie land.
The name of Sank Centre was bestowed
in this way: Each of a party of explor-
ers wrote a name on slip of paper and
the names were voted on. Mr.. Moore's
choice was Sank Centre and that was
selected. The reason he gives for this
name is that the place was situated on
THE Sank river and from the direction OF
the river it seemed that the roads would
center here so he chose this name which
seems to be a suitable one as most OF the
roads about here do center at this place
Leaving two men in charge of his
house Mr.. Moore returned to Mmnsapo-
lis. During the winter the men lett IN
charge used the last of their provisions
ank were unable to obtain more. Mr..
Moore endangered to get some one to
bring a load of provisions from Mime
apolis for them, but could find no one
who would undertake so dangerous an
adventure; there was no help for it and
he was obliged to como himself.
The settler nearest to Mr.. Moore's
house was thirty miles away; he reached
this place first and although there was
no track, except by keeping along the
edge of the forest, he at last arrived at
his destination.
The next summer Mr.. and Mrs. Tubbs
arrived and took up their abode in the
house built by Mr.. Moore; they were
really the first settlers as Mr.. Moore did
not remove here to live until sometime
later.
During the summer of 1857 the dam
or the first saw mill was built and 1858
the mill was commenced.
Among the first settlers who came here
were Messrs. Bruce, Fish, Iaaues, Adde-
ley, White6eld, James, Smith, Boebar,
Merry, Gibson, Draper, Bradley, many
of whom are still living here but some
have removed to other homes.
In 1862 came the Indian trouble.
Hearing of the expected attack, Mr..
Moore who then resided in Minneapolis,
and also had a store there, took his
horse and in thirrS-two honrs he reached
Sank Centre, arriving on Saturday night.
At this time the principal settlement
was at GROVE Lake, a few miles away.
Mr.. Jaques, Mr.. Stabler and a number
of the other early settlers of this place
then resided there. Mr.. Moore on his ar
rival sent Mr.. Stabler aud Mr.. Jacques,
sxho were then away from home. back
to Grove Lake to warn the settlers.
When they arrived the people were all
xathered at a school house. holding re-
Iigious meeting, On hearing the news
their friends brought them they at once
decided to come to Sank Centre. There
was one exception however, Mr.. Van
Eathen, the pastor, had left his horse at
home and regardless of his friends en-
treaties that he should come with them
he borrowed a horse from q ueighbor
and went home for his; he said: II have
been with the Indians so much and know
so much of them that am not afraid"
That night the fugitiyes, who were
Obliged to seek accommodations in
large barn, 1.-THE stockade was not yet
built, saw far away the light of their
blazing homes. The next morning a
place was found in the woods where
about twenty horses had been tied but
the town had not been disturbed. The
body of the unfortunate minister was
found later, he had been murdered by the
Indians.
Although this place had not been at
tackled many OF the settlersleft and went
to Minneapolis and other places to hye
until the trouble was well over On
Monday, the next day after the attack
on Grove Lake, Mr.. Moore returned to
Minneapolis. and through his influence a
company Of soldiers was sent up here
and this circumstance together with tbs
building of the stockade rendered the
people comparatively safe.
The first store started here was estab-
lished by Mr.. Pendergast. He brought
a load of goods from Minneapolis and
built small store about two miles from
town. In 1864 Mr.. Capser came and