The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-03-10

borhood of the village, that John
Hoffman the second Sank Centre set
tler,met his death at the hands of the
rowing Sioux in 1862.
The killing of Hoffman was entire
ly unlocked for and done within gun
shot of the ssoldiery and occurred at
his home on Ashley River, four miles
northwest of the stockade.
Hoffman, with his family had re-
turned to the homestead and resumed
his labors after having spent some
time within the stockade. A troop
of soldiers had gone with him to his
home and were still in the vicinity
scouting for Sioux warriors when
Hoffman, going to the river was shot
from ambush by the Indians.
With the exception of this killing
the Sioux had no opportunity to car
ny on their usual practice of destruc-
ton. The troops were on hand but
no battle occurred, the Indians max
ing their way out of the danger zone
as quietly as they had come.
Shortly after the erection of the
military stockade here, a second mer-
camille establishment was founded in
Sank Centre by Joseph Casper.
Mr.. Casper arrived too late to get
inside of the stockade with his store
building, but he erected a log build
ing and residence on the northwest
% +la rtD oil
der the walls and guns of the fort
ress.
This was in October 1862. In the
fall of 1864, Mr.. Capser moved his
store sup town" and became one Of
the city's first permanent merchants.
In making this move, the merchant
purchased Of Alexander Moore a
commodius two story building erect
ed on the east corner OF Main and
Third streets on the site now occu-
pied by the Merchants National
Bank building. At the time, Mr..
Moore and his family were OCCUPYING
the upper floor of the building as a
residence until their new home, then
in the course of construction by the
contractor Robert Edgar, should be
ready for occupancy on the Rachel
Moore claim, then abutting the origi-
nal town site limits to the north.
This residence is now within the
incorporate limits of the city of Sank
Centre and is owned and occupied
by Frank E. Dodge and family.
Upon his purchase of the Moore
property, Mr.. Capser former a part
nership to engage in general mer-
chandising, with ]. H. Lineman, of
st. Joe, under the firm name of Lin
neman & Capser. One of the prob
lens of the new firm was the building
of counters, shelving and fixtures for
the ne wstore. At the date of the pur,>
chase the lower floor of this building
was occupied by the Money Loaner's
Association, an aggregation operated
under the personal rights" rule, but
through Mr.. Moore the new firm
found no difficulty in gaining full
possession of his holdigs.
Mr.. Casper among other things was
one of the very first representatives
of the Township of Sank Centre on
the new "Stearns County Board OF
Commissioners" On this occasion he
was named in 1860 to succeed A.
Schroeder, retired. This was before
Mr.. Capser took up his residence in
the community here, and there is no
definite record of his appointment.
His name, however, appears as
member of the commission immedi-
ately following the retirement OF Mr..
Schroeder.
Mrs. l.. E. Tubbs of Los Angeles,
a lady now in her S7th year, and one
of the very earliest settlers OF Sank
Centre writes an interesting letter OF
her early life here. Considering the
fact that Mrs. Tubbs is recalling IN
detail, occurances of better than
half century ago, her letter is most
interesting.
In her story of early conditions
here Mrs. Tubbs says:
"Mr. Tubbs and a Mr.. Hubbard
came to Sank Centre in the year
1860, and took up claim Of 10 acres
on each of their homesteads, tnen the
next spring, moved their 1amliles
there.
81 don't know when Mr.. Moore be-
gan work there; there was saw
mill and a log house when we came.
The log house was where DIR. Pal
mer's house was situated. There was
no house except a small log house
owned by ALT. Jacques between Mr..
Merry's farm to Kandota where Mr..
Whitefield lived.
81 cannot describe the beauties OF
the prairie on that June day. Com
ing from New England, land OF
rocks and hills, it seemed land OF
paradise. The jem was lovely Fairy
Lake, where we early settlers used to
picnic.
"Then came the terrible Civil War
when our scattering neighbors were
sent to the front and worst OF all,