The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-03-25
Valuable Contribution to Early
History 7of State Made By
Sank Centre School Students


was out in the yard. Out in
the woods back Of the house she saw
huge black bear. She ran into the
house and hastily got the shot gun,
brought it out, propped it against a
stump. and fired. She stood and
watched for a few moments. She
noticed that the bear didn't move.
She was agast and decided she must
have missed it. She resolved not to
try it again so she went into the
house to let the bear choose it's own
course of action. After watching the
bear for about half an hour she de-
cided that it must have been stump.
Her conclusion was right for the
bear, or stump, remained there until
my grandfather hauled it away when
he cleared the land.
In the year of 1878 the Little Falls
and the Dakota railroad was survey
ed. This road ran from Little Falls
to Morris, Minnesota, passing through
Grey Eagle. This was a wonderful
thing for the town, which from then
on grew rapidly. The town at one
time contained five saloons, three
general stores and two hotels; this is
an unusual thing for such small
town. 1t was difficult thing to get
this railroad project to go through;
but Alexander Moore, then a legislat-
or from this district, succeeded in
doing this. Mr.. Moore owned a great
deal of land in this district and was
anxious for the bill to pass. There
was a long struggle, but the bill fin
ally was passed and signed by the
Governor. This action had just been
completed when news was announced
that the capitol was on fire; every
one made rush for the door, but Mr..
Moore reached and grabbed the bill
before leaving the building. This was
very wise thing to do because it as
sured the establishment of the road.
If this bill had burned, is is doubt
full whether it would have passed
second time, because there was so
much opposition to it.
My grandfather, j. M. Huffman,
was the Justice of the Peace in Grey
Eagle for approximately twenty-five
years. My grandmother organized
and taught the first Sunday School.
This was of no particular denomina.
zion, but was attended by most OF
the children of the community.
I have narrated the events which
make up the story of the life of my
grandparents in Minnesota. To us it
| is a collection of facts, to them 1t is
memories and dreams of days that will
never return.
lone Shulze.
Sank Centre Senior High School.
Sank Centre, Minnesota.
NV Grandparents in Minnesota
1t was about the year 1853 that
my great grandfather, Ferdinand
Borgmann, discouraged by conditions
of the Fatherland, Germany, came
with his parents and other brothers
and sisters to the country of Promise
America. A few months later, a
once wealthy land owner by the name
of Won Schurman and his family al
so Jared forth to find the much longed
for Eldorado.
Both families settled in Kansas
City, where two years later, Ferdi-
nand Bergman and Antoinette Won
Schurman were united in marriage.
They stayed there but a few months;
and then hearing from sister of
Mrs. Borgmann's, that conditions to
prosper were good in Minnesota, the
young couple broke home ties to
build a new home in new crude
country. Their most necessary and
wanted belongings and provisions
were packed into a covered wagon
which was drawn by oxen. Two
cows, Mr.. Borgmann's only personal
property, were tied behind; and so
with a few other families under SIM
liar conditions, started on their way
to find prosperity. ..
After many hardships and attacks
by the Indians on the way, they ar
rived in Minnesota, settling in Lake
George about fifteen miles south of
the city of Sank Centre, where grand
father bought claim. They began
to make clearing; and helped by
willing neighbors, they soon had a
one room log cabin for their dwelling
place. 1t was here their first child
was born-the first white child born
in the vicinity of Lake George. The
closest church was at St. Cloud; so
when the child was only few weeks
old, they took her to St. Cloud to be
baptised. The journey was terrible.
A river had to be forded, and the OK
en-! were very stubborn and wanted to
go down the river instead of across.
They finally reached their destination,
but there was always that constant
worry of how they were going to get
back.
In 1859, two early explorers were
on their expedition; and being held
back by binding snow storm, came
to the log cabin of Borgmann's. At
ter a few days one of them left, but
the other who had became snow blind
stayed for almost month before he
could continue his journey. He want
ed to pay Mrs. Borgmann for her
kindness, but grandmother said her
house was open to anyone who had
misfortune of any kind.
About 1861, the Indian war broke
out. Grandfather was told that he
must help keep down the Indian mas
sacres. He was very busy at the
time i; so he hired a man to go in his
place, whom he had to pay seven
hundred dollars. By the time this
man got ready to go, the war was
over.
Massacres had been taking place in
all the townships around them, so
one day the men of the community