The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-02-10

Minnesota from the east, settled up
on the territory near this locality as
a possible town site.N
The same year Mr.. Whitfield
brought his son Edwin, Jr., and a
young man named Hugh O'Donneil
here to maintain the site and to aid
in the establishing OF town.
The creek upon which their cabin
was located, Mr.. Whiteield named
Ashley River for his friend, O., D..
Ashley, banker in New York city.
Later Mr.. Whitefeld named Fairy
Lake, and the names of both the lake
and river have ever been recorded as
such.
Mr.. Whitefeld was an artist, and
to aid in his work of colonization, he
painted numerous pictures of the
scenes in this locality which he took
East with him to demonstrate the
beauties of the country in his lee
lures.
Mr.. O. Donnell only remained at
Ashley River a little over year, go
ing from there to St. Cloud and lat
er taking up his residence in Alex
andria, where he died.
Wilfred J. .Whitefeld, one of the
oldest, if not the oldest resident of
Sank Centre, came here in 1858 with
his father and joined his brother at
Ashley River.
Mr.. Whitefeld tells some interest
ing experiences Of the early life here
and of the attempt by his father to
settle the town of "Kandota," which
he named, giving the English inter-
petation "Here we Rest"
During the early days OF imn1i-
grafton, Kandota was settled by such
families as P. L. Gregory, and his
wife, Charles Cook and his family
and the Beidelmans all of whom later
passed on to new settlements furth-
er north of here.
The colonization of Kandota was
not a success but the township OF
Kandota still remains. .....
Mr.. Whitefeld stated Monday that
during their entire early residence
in this locality the settlers had no
trouble with the Indians until the
later uprising Of the Sioux nation
in 1862.
Both the Chippewa and the Sioux
were friendly to the settlers and Of
ten came to visit them. mir. White |
field remembers one instance in par
ticular when a party of four hundred
Sioux led by three young Indians
who were college graduates, came to
the Whitefeld cabin on Ashley Riv-
er. The party did not make known
their intentions and did not, have the |,
appearance of war party. They |
were supplied with money and bought |
feed for their ponies remaining day
Or two and then returning south.
Because of the fact that this ter
ritory had never been surveyed 1t
was impossible for the early settlers
70 file plats of their land and it was
not until 1859, he says, that the first
survey was made.
All of the supplies had to be
brought here from st. Paul and ST.
Anthony by wagon, and Mr.. White
ield and his brother made many
such trips furnishing supplies in
many instances to the other settlers
n the locality.
There were social affairs at the
Whitefield cabin which were attended
~ settlers from as far southeast as
Red Wing. Families were scarce and
;he feeling of fellowship so strong
among the settlers, that little trips
20 st. Paul to attend social functions
we're a common occurrence to the
Whitefeld boys.
Mr.. Whitefeld, himself an artist,
now has in his possession several
paintings he made in the early days
Of Indian friends. Among others is
a picture of "Hole- -The-Day,"
Chippewa chief. Mr.. Whitefield says
that he does not recall his Indian
name. y |
(To Be Continued)