The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-11-04
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1915

Disaster and misfortune, mingled with
good fortune and prosperity in the history of
the new city. In July 1867 terrible flood,
unparalleled in history for suddenness and
magnitude, not only swept away the dam and
mills but carried off all the bridges and in
undated the entire valley. In 1870 several
of the most important business houses were
destroyed by fire, but nothing could daunt
the indomitable spirit of those early settlers
and the structures destroyed by fire and flood
were speedily replaced by others more endur-
ing and substantial.
In 1867 the first political club was organ
lied, it was known as the douglas Demo-
cratic Club of Sank Centre" It's officers
were: N. H. Miner, president; Enoch West,
vice-president; S. Pendergast, secretary; and
James Chamberlain, treasurer. 1t required
some nerve to start Democratic Club in
those days. There was no such thing as
mollycoddleism in those stern days. Men
were partisans to the hilt and this PARTISAN
ship extended from pathmaster to President.
At the previous election only Is Democratic
votes were cast in the precinct, yet the 13
boldly organized a club and defantly flung
the Democratic banner to the breeze. They
were all good Democrats and if they were not
then they are all good Democrats now, for
every member of that original Douglas
club have passed to that bourn from whence
the traveller never returns and where Dem
ocratic politics are unknown.
The "Lakota" FIGURING Mill was built in
the summer of 1872 by corporation known
as the kellogg Mill Company. This Company
went into bankruptcy in the fall of 1875 and
was bought in the spring of 1876 by Harmon,
Harmon, Holmes & Company. This mill was
afterwards burned down and was never re-
\ built.
The first banking institution was estab-
ished in Sank Centre in 1872, by Andrew J.
Smith. 1t was known as the Citizens Bank
of Sank Centre. 1t was a private banking
institution and went out Of existence in 1896.
The Bank of Sank Centre was established
in 1880, with Solomon Pendergast as Presi-
dent and L. Kes as Cashier, this was main
tanned as private bank until law was pas
sed wiping out all private banking institu-
tons and then it was merged into the First
State Bank of Sank Centre. ]. A. Dubois is
now President of this Bank; B. F. Dubois,
Vice-President; and L. L. Kels, Cashier.
The FIRST National Bank was organized in
1884, with Henry Keller as President and C.
M. Sprague as Cashier. At the present time
c. M Sprague is President and Fay Sprague
Cashier This institution has always pros
pered and is now one of the solid institutions
of the country.
The Merchants National Bank was organ
lied in 1902, with Henry Keller as President
and A. w. Austin as Cashier. At the present
time James A. Caughren is President, D. B.
Caughren, Vice-President and A. F. Strebel,
Cashier This bank does large business
and is in very fourishing condition.
Sank Centre was incorporated as Village
by legislative act in February 1876 The
first village officers were: E. P. Barnum,
President; L. E. Coe, T. Fladeland and Sam
uel Beidleman, Trustees; E. P. Barnum, Re-
corder E. Oakford, Treasurer; j. D. Carr
and E. E. West, Justices of the Peace; H. A.
Boobar and John Dennis, Constables.
The Village organization was retained till
1889, when a special charter was granted by
an act of the legislature and in March OF that
year the city government was assumed.
w. S. Dean was elected the first Mayor; J. F.
Cooper was appointed by the city council as
y the City Clerk, and has held that office con-
tinuously ever since.
The first railroad, the Great Northern,
reached Sank Centre in August 1878.
The first station agent was Mr.. Umer;
he was superseded the same year by James
A. Norris, civil war veteran, who has re-
manned in charge ever since.
Sank Centre has beautiful city park,
fine library, is well supplied with fraternal
orders, numerous churches, splendid public
school buildings, but as these will be dwelt
upon in separate articles in this issue of the
Herald, they will not be referred to at any