The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-04-08

period, as most of it's hitory was re.
lated orally by those who took an
active part in these exciting events OF
which there is very little written
record.
1t seems that troops were sent to
Garrison this Stockade. A citizen
soldiery company had been organized
''for defense against the Indians" AT
first the people refused to stop here
but hurried on to St. Cloud, but
many stayed rather than see the val
ley deserted. After the soldiers ar
rived, the Stockade was more strong
ly fortified; and a post was assigned
here until 1864 when it was desert
ed. The only person reported killed
by the Indians was a Mr.. VanEaton
and he lost his scalp because he
wouldn't heed the warning of the
Scouts sent out by the post, to stay
near the Stockade when there were
signs of Indians. l think it would
have been a rather embarrassing po-
sition for settlers had the Indians
swopped down upon them with a bat
terry of "Big Berthas" or dropped a
few bombs upon them out of $50
called clear sky" Perhaps this prolix
account of the history of "Centre of
Prosperity" would have endted here
and perhaps a farm might be located
on the exact spot where our enterpris-
ing metropolis now stands, but I had
better stick to facts not fiction.
In 1868, w. Adley built the Sank
Centre House where the Palmer
House now stands, an for many years
it was the leading hotel in the sur
rounding country. Many distin-
guished men of nationwide reputa-
ton stayed at this famous old hostel
cry, including General Phil Sheridan
and Staff, and Governor Alexander
Ramsey.
At the close of the Civil War in
1864 and 1865 the city really began
to thrive and maintain standing in
the business world. There was much
fertile land surrounding Sank Centre
to induce settlers, and many young
Civil War veterans, thrilled by the
stories Of adventure on the frontier,
fiocked here and acquired homes. 1t
was from few of these-now quite
old gentlemen-that I received a
great deal of the material with which
to write this essay.
In 1866, flour mill was built
here by Moore and Mcclure but III
the year of 1867 a terrible flood, I'M
PARALLEL in history for suddenness
and greatness swept away dam, mill,
and bridges and submerged the en-
tire valley in water.
In 1870, most of the business hous-
es We're RACED by fire, but the people
were dauntless and these buildings
were replaced by more substantial
ones. The Great Northern built the
first railroad through Sank Centre in
1878.
This ends the history of the "Be-
ginnings of my Community have
no doubt, omitted certain incidents
which might prove interesting, but ]
was not sure of their authenticity
In later years Sank Centres sons have
proved themselves worthy of THEN
birthplace. I could name several, but
! two especially come to mind, one
now, internationally known, the
creator of "Main Street" and "Bab.
Bit" Sinclair Lewis; the other, ar
author also has made himself at least
nationally famous by his delightful
out door stories of 'he-men" and the
"great open spaces"-lhe is James M
Hendryx-Sauk Centre has much tt
be proud of, no city situated around
it has it's early history and fame.
John P. M. Costello.
Senior High School.
Sank Centre, Minnesota.
An Old Settlers Story of Pionee,
Life In Minnesota
Edward Bjerkan was born neal
Trondhjem, Norway, November 5
1914. He worked on his fathers
farm until he started training in the
Norwegian army. He had trained
there for one year when he received
a pass to America. He came to Amer
ca in 1862 b.,
Att that time there was no railroad
to Sank Centre from st. Cloud. He
took the train as far as St. Cloud
and from there he travelled in thu
stage to Sank Centre. He worked
in Sank Cntre for three years. HI
had no special job but was a jack-of
all-trades. His father came to Amer
| ia dpooI Vic anu Ouc-llcIl ycdTi
later. The government was giving
out homesteads then. His father ap
piled for one hundred and sixty acres
about nine miles north of Sank Cen
tire. A negro had a claim on thi.
land; and in order to get it, he hac
to wait certain number Of years
The negro never again claimed it, 81
it was given to Edward Bjerkan'
father. His father lived there few
years until he died; then the land wa.
claimd by Edward Bjerkan. He bull
a house containing only one room
This house was. made of logs will
plaster between the logs to proven
the cold from getting in. Later hi
sister came over from Norway will
her husband. They stayed will
Bjerkan; and because the house wa
so small, another room had to be ad
ed.
There were very few settlers
around there at that time. What il
now known as the Little Sank vicinit!
was not settled at all. It was sur
rounded by heavy timber, and in ord
er to get around at all he had toshavt
an ak with to make a path. He tell
about family who took homestead
/ When they came to look it over the.
| don;doJ ~, a Mo ca fo,. 4bo ho,,co TIL,