The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-10-30
FEATURES of INTEREST to WOMEN
Social Events
Celebrate Goth Anniversary

years ago today, October %, 1870
Mr.. and Mrs. MELVILLE were mar
ried in Peyin county, Wisconsin,
and are today numbered among
the oldest married couples in this
state
For several years following their
marriage Mr.. and Mrs. MELVILLE
made their home in Wisconsin,
coming to Minnesota and Todd
county in 1874. They settled on a
farm in the woods of Iona town
ship and lived there until the fol-
lowing year, when they moved to
Reynolds township which remained
their home until 1881. In that
year they moved to Long Prairie,
which has since been their home
and so they are reckoned not only
among the old settlers of the coun-
ty but also among the early resi-
dents of the village.
Mrs. MELVILLE, formerly Almira
Hubbard, was born at Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin, June "a, 1S48. Mr.. New
vile was born in st. Lawrence
county, New York, August 3, 1S47.
These pioneer folks relate many
stories of pioneer life, not only in
this state but also in Wisconsin.
One story that Mrs. MELVILLE re-
calls with relish concerns their life
while their home was in Wisconsin.
Mr.. MELVILLE in his younger days
was log driver and annually fol
lowed the drives made on the riV-
ers of the northwest. On one such
occasion Mr.. MELVILLE joined a
drive, hoping to replenish the fam
lily pocketbook, while Mrs. New
vile remained at home to take care
of the sap bushes and the syrup
and sugar that was to be made.
When Mr.. MELVILLE returned he
found that Mrs. MELVILLE had made
more money than he had been able
to gather.
Even after coming to Todd coun-
ty Mr.. MELVILLE took part in one
big drive on Fishtrap creek. Todd
county was covered with der@2
woods at that time. Game was
here in abundance, particularly
deer and cartridges. Indians were
common and land had to be clear
ed before the settlers could make
any attempt at farming.
Mr.. MELVILLE spent most of his
time at railroad construction work,
having a large crew of men and
numerous horses employed in
building road beds for railroads in
fIic IN hn
associated in this work with the
late G H. Taylor, of this village.
Mr.. MELVILLE and his crew of work
ers built a seven-mile stretch Of
road bed between Long Prairie
and BroWerVille for the Great
Northern railroad. He also work
ed on a similar contract for the
Northern Pacific railroad company
between Little Falls and Staples.
Early days in this county were
fraught with great danger. Crop
failures, although not common as a
general rule, made it very neces-
sary that each piece of cleared land
produce as much as possible. Mrs.
MELVILLE in recalling those early
II1c1I IAlS SOoAIoSA SSAASA
alton has little idea of what the
early settlers here had to contend
with. Their first winter was par
ticularly hard and although the
Newvilles had plenty of feed for
their stock, many of their neigh
bors did not, in fact many of their
neighbors did not have enough to
ha1nfI1nncc CT
ed itself and those who were short
of feed were given assistance by
those who had the necessary pro-
visions.
Mr. and Mrs. MELVILLE have out
lived all their children except two.
These are Mrs. Wilbur Plaistad, of
Leslie township, and Mrs. T. J.
Stevenson, of Robbinsondale. One
son and two daughters died years
ago. For the past several years
Mr.. and Mrs. MELVILLE have been
living in retirement in the village.
Each day Mr.. MELVILLE can be seen
on the streets notwithstanding his
advanced years, and he always has
a welcome greeting for his friends.
For the past year Mrs. MELVILLE
has not been in the best of health.
Earlier in the year she was serious
ly ill for several months and for a
time it was feared that she would
not live. She has so fully recover
ed now, however, that she is about
the house each day, although she
encounters some difficulty in walk
ing. Aged and respected citizens of
this village, Mr.. and Mrs. New
vile may have lost a great deal of
the vigor they had in their youth,
but their minds are just as clear
today and they are as mentally &C
tive as they have ever been. They
take an interest in the affairs of
the day and enjoy their associa-
tons with their friends and neigh
bors. Long Prairie honors them
on this day and in extending con-
gratulations to them expresses the
hope that they may live to celebrate
more anniversaries and enjoy the
continued company of their friends.
Long Prairie Leader.