The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-08-08
Quilt Dith aHistory DiH
be Sold for the Benefit
of the Red Cross

Alphonso Barto was for many years
one of Sank Centres honored citizens
and at one time occupied the second
highest position in the gift of the
state. He answered the call of his
country and served with honor
through the four years of the Civil
War. He left NJ holTr a young wife
and their little son Lyman, who brave
ly took up the burden of lonely life
in their home in Elgin, Ill, working
and praying for the safe return OF
the loved one-who was destined to
return to them in health and strength,
his shoulders decorated with the
straps of a captain. One of the many
things with which the young wife
busted herself was piecing blocks for
a quilt. A pretty basket pattern, SO
popular in those days, being chosen
design. How many hours of anxious
work went into the piecing of those
blocks! How many tears fell upon
the pretty bright pieces, and through
it all the incense of her many pray
ers arose to God, the blocks were.
finished and put away for a future
use. The husband returned and life
went on very happily for few years,
and then the wife was called "up
higher and the husband and little boy
were left alone. After few years,
and Mr.. Barto's life was blessed with
another beautiful wife, the Mrs.
Barto that was so beloved by all Sank
Centre friends, and whose memory is
still sacred benediction upon all who
knew her. The precious quilt blocks
were taken care of and put away for
the little boy when he should grow up.
The years slipped quickly away, and
LYMAN Barto was an esteemed citizen
of Sank Centre and for many years
her foremost lawyer with his honored
father, when he took unto himself a
wife and established a home, The
quilt blocks were given into the pos
session of the new wife. More years
went by and because quilts had gone
out of fashion, the blocks were not
stmade up" A few months ago they
were given to Mrs. Mary Doty, who
was a friends of both Mrs. Bartos, and
whose husband was a close friend of
Alphonso Barto, and his bunk COM
panion all through the four years of
war. Vet Doty was for many years,
and until his death a prominent man,
among Sank Centre men. Being a
soldiers widow, and full of patriotism,
Mrs. Doty at once thought of making
the quilt help in the cause so heavy
upon all loyal hearts today. 1t must
be turned into money to help "down"
the Kaiser and his .Hunnish Hellish
followers. AS no one was acquainted
with the first Mrs. Barto save her
self, she asked the friends of Mrs.
Charlotte Barto to come together and
finish the quilt. Mrs. Doty furnished
the extra material necessary and
made the blocks into quilt. About
twenty of the old friends met for sew
eral days, and with hearts beating
high with loyal devotion to friends
and country, set the thousands OF
stitches necessary to complete the
quilt; the blocks of which were over
a half century old. Again prayers
were sent up, this time for our brave
boys who are giving their lives to
make the world safe and happy one
to live in! Tickets are to be sold
and the quilt will be given to the
person holding the lucky number-the
drawing will be a feature Of the
Stearns county fair and will be con-
Quoted in the manner usual to such
drawings. The quilt will be exhibited
in the Wornan's building, and the pro-
ceeds will go to Sank Centre branch
Of the American Red Cross.-Con-
tributed.
NJ. . u { I