The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-06-03

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sed into the exclusive possession of
the latter gentleman in 1869, was sub
sequently enlarged to 200 barrels, and
remained in the ownership of the Nc
Clure family until 1889, when it was
transferred to ]. A. Dubois & Co.,
who in 1892 sold it to T. d. Davidson,
of Milwaukee. In 1872 the kellogg
Mill Company built the Lakota Roll
Ter FIGURING Mills, which met destruc-
ton by fire early in the sos.
These early years saw several man.
ufacturing enterprises begun, but
they were short lived, and it was not
until Henry Keller set himself to the
building of tanning mills that the
first successful venture in the manu-
featuring line became established.
This proved to be the foundation of
the Keller Manufacturing Company,
so well known in the Northwest,
whose principal productions were
wagons, sleighs and harrows. This
remained very successful institution
until Mr.. Keller's death, when, little
later, it was destroyed by fire and
was then relocated in Minneapolis.
Henry Keller was a soldier in the
United States army, whom the close
of the Civil war had dropped out at
Sank Centre, and he proved a most
valuable addition to the little COM
munity. He was public-spirited
man, with a keen business instinct,
and possessing an energy that was
simply irrepressible. He served
twelve years in the state Senate.
Another soldier whom the close of
the war dropped out at Sank Centre
was Albert Dahlem. Beginning with
little stock of sundries, his business
developed into mercantile establish
ment whose pride it is to be the oldest
in that line of any in the city, it hav-
ing occupied its present site for half
a century.
The religious life found its express
sion very early at Sank Centre. AS
early as 1860 a Congregational min
lister was sent to this locality by the
American Home Missionary Society.
This evangelical worker was the Rev.
C. S. Harrison, still living in Nebras-
ka, who conducted services in the
school house in what is known as the
Irish district, two and one half miles
from the city. He remained there for
nearly two years, making it his head
quarters from which he extended his
labors to what is now Alexandria,
Osakis and Paynesville. But it is to
the Methodist denomination that the
credit must be given of the first
church organization. This was effect
ed in November, 1865, by the Rev. B.
A. Kemp. The class consisted of ten
members, and two years later they
received from the Conference their
regular appointed pastor in the per-
son of the Rev. J. H. Macomber. A
parsonage was erected but services
were held in an old school house un-
til 1875, when a church, which was af-
terward virtually rebuilt into it's pres
ent form, was erected upon the pres
ent site.
The Congregational society was or
gained January 20, 1867, with thir-
teen members, Of which original num-
Der Mrs. Julia Iubbs, Of Los Angeles,
California, is still living at the ad-
Vanced age of 80 years. The organiza-
ton was the work of the Rev. A. K.
OK, who was compelled to leave the
new field the following year owing to
IaIling health. He was succeeded by
the Rev. A. j. Pike, who was destined
to prove one of the forceful factors in
the growing community. Almost ST.
simultaneously with these first efforts
of the Congregationalists, a small
gathering Of the Presbyterian faith
was brought about. Their pastor was
the Rev. ID. w. Evans. These two re-
ligious bodies at once proceeded to the
construction of their respective
houses Of worship upon the opposite
sides of Main street. In 1872, how
ever, their pastor having removed to
Moorhead, the Presbyterians came to
an understanding with their neighbor
in which the former abandoned the
field, transferring their church build
ing to the Congregationalists, by
whom it was moved to the site then
occupied by them. This was the
church home until the society, in 1904,
took possession of their present hand
some and commodious edifice at the
corner of Fifth and Oak streets.
In 1867 the Rev. George Stewart or
ganized the Church of the Good Sam
aritan in the interests of the Episco-
palians. The following year saw the
erection of a church and rectory. Mr..
Stewart possessed an architectural
talent of high order, and he left
monument to his memory at Sank
Centre in the church edifce which he
constructed, which in its attractive
simplicity, its graceful lines and fine
proportions, stands now after nearly
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