The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1938-09-15
Married S.
Years Ago
Friday
Gave "reminiscences of
Life In Sank Centre
During Long Period
CELEBRATE QUIETLY
United In Marriage
In Sank Centre
September 9, 1883

1T hasn't seemed long-there,s
been sorrow, some sadness, and
plenty of hard work. But there
have been happy times too"
These reflections, mirroring a So
year-old welded life, fell from the
lips of Mr.. and Mrs. Leroy Work.
ing, of this city, this week as they
observed quietly their wedding an
n.versary last Friday, September 9.
They spent the day alone going
about their tasks. Their children
were not present, but on Saturday
their grandson and his wife, Mr..
and Mrs. Lewis Folkestad, of Alex
andia, called at their home.
There are lots of ups and down
in that long a time," Mrs. Working
said, land lots of hardships. But
all in all it hasn't been bad"
It was at eight o'clock Sunday
evening, September 9th, 1883, the
two were married, quietly as they
had observed this latest anniver-
sary. In a little house on Pine
Street in this city, they were mar
ried by justice of the peace, then
L. L. West. Mrs. Charles Perry and
Mrs. Moran were their witnesses.
II always told my folks I'd never
have big wedding, so we didn't"
she said.
The town was young then, but
mot as young as when first came
here" Mrs. Working pointed out.
And then she related how with her
folks she had come by covered wag-
on and oxen team to Fort Smelling,
and thence with soldier escort to
the stockade at Sank Centre. It
was not until 1881 that Mr.. Work
ing came here, when he worked his
way from Missouri as a horse trad
err.
1t was real hardship in those ear
ly years. A walnut dresser that she
had bought as girl for fifteen dol
lars. bedstead worth one dollar
and half, a tick filled with bor-
rowed straw was the extent Of the
furniture that furnished their first
home. There wasn't blanket in
the house, and on cold nights we
put our clothing over the bed to
help keep us warm. But we were
as happy then as now" she re-
Elected.
There were no chairs in that
home-only nail kegs and dry goods
boxes. when someone came to Wis
it, I gave them a nail key. I
thought they were more stylish"
she said laughingly. At that time
Mr.. Working was getting only two
dollars day, and I'VE had no mon
ey to spend foolishly." For those
first few weeks the Carthage Ga
zette, a paper sent to Mr.. Working,
served as curtains in their new
home. But gradually after that, as
money came, they added to their
scant furnishings.
A miller by trade, Mr.. Working
pursued his work in the old steam
mill here and later in the old mill
that burned on the site of the pres
ent building. 1t was so cold in that
first mill, Mrs. Working recalled,
that he had to wear his cap down
over his ears and work with nit
tens on" Finally he became head
miller and was earning 100 dollars
a month. 1T seemed like a lot of
money but then we needed it, too"
she said. Finally the dust Of the
mill told on his health, he was re-
tired from that business on doctors
orders.
Mr.. Working was quite a trader
and once he traded the stove in mid
winter. But they soon had a new
one. But Mrs. Workings methods
is a converse to that, for she says,
when you get something, you want
to keep it."
In the fifty-five years they have
lived here, they owned two black
smith shops, a grocery store, and
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