The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-03-31

back in the days of the late flttles
and early sixties was the City OF
Kandota," situated on Ashley river
and with one incorporate boundry
resting on the Eastern bank of FAIRY
Lake. .. ....-..-
A portion of what is now known as
the township of Kandota, was then the
City of Kandota with regular city
charter, a mayor and councilmen.
1t was an active rival of Sank Cen
tire for commercial supremacy In TINS
locality and its population numbered
rs souls.
Kandota was founded in 1856 by
Edwin A. Whitefeld, artist and pio-
neer. With an artists intuition Mr..
Whitefeld in looking for a town site,
and armed with a charter, located
upon Ashley river and Fairy Lake as
an ideal location for his city of Kan
dota.
Artist that he was, Mr.. Whitefield
looked rather to the artistic view
point than to the business future OF
his locality when he chose Ashley
river and Fairy Lake as the site for
his town.
He made numerous journeys all
over the country lecturing on Kan
dota and endeavoring to induce set
tiers to make this locality their place
of abode He was successful to
point. in securing settlers, but the 10
cation of his city was not as practlc-
al as was that of Sank Centre, and
the city of Kandota in time, succumb-
ed to the more enterprising emporium
tiles of Sank Centre with its milling
trade and it's milling future. In those
days milling and lumber were the
main avenues of business,
The first official body elected in the
CITY of Kandota consisted of Edwin
A. Whitefeld mayor; w. J. White
field city clerk; Chas. Cook, Edwin
A. Whiteield, Jr, Henry Whitetieldd
and Sid Bedman, councilmen.
The first election was held Nov.
1859. The mayor and counclimen
were elected without opposition.
In the plans of the city the town,
site proper consisted of 800 acres OF
forest and prairie land. In addition
to this Mayor Whitefeld owned
172-acre estate bordering on Fair!
Lake, and his son Edwin owned an
other 16O-acre tract in the immediate
vicncity.
The old Indian Mound formed
basis around which were laid the de
signs of the first city park III
streets were laid out in broad ave
nues and Fairy Lake was to be tn
heart of this Garden of Eden" Il
the plans of Mr.. Whitefeld.
But the existence of the City o
Kandota had but little bearing upol
the future of Sank Centre. Alexand
er Moore, that hardy pioneer who's
efforts and business foresight lal
the first foudations of the city o
Sank Centre, was not worried owe
the prospects of strong rival Il
Kandota.
The founder of Sank Centre eye
with no little amusement the step
taken by Mr.. Whitefeld at kandota
His business tact showed him tina
= Ashley river and Fairy lake, for al
of their beauties, were not sutflclen
to stay the prosperity and growth o
- Sank Centre.
K;.ndota thrived for times
long as the founder was able to Civ
employment and aid to it's Struggling
settlers, but the time came whel
prosperity based upon something
more substantial than the ARTIST
beauty of Fairy Lake, were demand
ed for the upbuilding of the city, an
It was lack of Z industrial energ
which brought about the demise
what might have been hustlne
thriving city today. .....
Gradually the population of Kan
dota drifted into the fold OF Sau
Centre. Here they were offered EN-
ployment When the Indian war
came. Sank Centre through 1t
stockade, offered the CITIZENS OF kar
dota ample protection for their IAN
lies. They came here and most 9
them remained Others drifted stl
farther west, but few of the kar
stockade, offered the citizens OF kar
dota pioneer fanatics became cit
troubles.
But the labors of Mr. Whitfield ]
his move to make Kandota the Niece
of Western migration, will always
a feature of the history Of Mlnnes'
ia. Perhaps no other one man q
more to bring settlers into the stat
The visits of Mr.. Whitefield
Kandota were few and short live
Leaving the business of the city
the hands of the councilmen he spel
much of his time touring the East
the interest of Minnesota. He hs
painted pictures of Fairy lake al
the country surrounding it, and
spent many months and considerab
money lecturing on the beauties al
advantages of the country, amor
the people of the. Eastern states.