The Old Settlers Association met until July 1966, when it combined with the Dickinson County Historical Society.. There were 90 charter members of the organization dedicated to the preservation of Dickinson County history. An ultimate goal was to establish a permanent museum and the first museum opened July 1970 in Okoboji space donated by the Lakes Arts Center. It is now permanently housed in the old Spirit Lake Depot on Highway 9 and 71. Mrs. Faye Peterson was the curator until she retired in 1992.
From
Milford Mail Terril Record October 29,1992
By Aubrey LaFoy
Having come to Emmet county as a boy, forty years ago, where I came to know many of the earliest settlers of that county; and having practiced medicine in Dickinson county for twenty-seven years, it has been my fortune to have had as patients many of the earliest settlers. It has always been a pleasure to listen to these people recount their early experiences.
Among the pioneers who were, or are among my patients, may be mentioned R.A. Smith, M.J. Smith, W.B. Arnold and wife, Lafe Ring, J.J. Johnson, Edmond Miller, R.T. McCutchin, R.B. Nicol, Olin Pillsbury, A.D. Inman, C. Kessey, H.H. Shipman, Steve Inman, Mr. and Mrs. Horace Cain, Jonaha Welsh, and many others.
At the Milford Fall festival in 1919 and old settlers' Reunion was held. Gunder Matheson being the oldest settler in point of years residence in county, was elected president, and J.F. Ewen secretary. The book was opened and forty-four of the settlers registered. J.W. Cory and F.W. Knight gave short but interesting talks on events of the early days. A very enjoyable two hours was spent renewing old friendships, and living over again in the joys and trials of pioneer times.
At the Milford Festival of 1920 another meeting of the organization was held. The following is a list of those who registered at the last reunion and dates of settlement in the county.
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James Skirving, October 1865 W.G. Calkins, April 1869 A.D. Inman, May 1866 C. Kessey, April 1870 J.F. Brett, October 1881 Jessie Brett, October 1890 G. Matheson, June 1859 T.S. Walker, June 1868 Hattie Walker, July 1866 Georgia Holcomb, October, 1868 Samuel Holcomb, May 1870 Anna Tucker, April 1866 F.Tucker, April 1876 Phebie Henaman, March 1877 Geo. Griffith, July 1875 Lucian G. Winey, June 1869 Esther Weed, August 1871 G.D. Hazzard, October 1878 G.W. Taber, September 1877 S.L. Pillsbury, May 1863 Frances Pillsbury, October 1861 F.A. Heldridge, Juner 1874 C.C. Heldridge, September 1868 A.R. Davidson, June 1866 W.S.Crowell, April 1881 H.U. Arthurr, July 1860 |
Elmer W. Inman, December 1868 Marcus Snyder, August 1865 J.W. Cory, September 1871 Mrs. Marcus Snyder, October 1874 W.F. Carlton, November 1871 E.D. Carlton, November 1871 Thomas Williams, August 1880 Mrs. Thos. Williams, August 1882 Matha Nicol, June 1886 Mrs. Wallace Smith, February 1866 Thomas Pegdon, April 1870 H.H. Shipman, September 1871 Abbie Shipman, September 1872 V.A. Arnold, October 1868 Chris H.Horn, September 1871 H.R. Henderson, September 1864 Ida Henderson, September 1862 M. Wadleigh, July 1881 C. Olson, June 1859 Elizabeth Pitcher, August 1882 Edith George, October 1881 Mrs. A.K. Turneaur, October 1881 Mrs. Eli Miller, May 1875 Val Rausch, March 1889 Geo. W. Vetter, March 1889 John S. Blow, January 1883 |
J.F. Ewen, March 1883 R.M. Davis, April 1884 Bert Wilson, February 1879 Frank Harker, September 1881 T.J. Francis, May 1860 Mrs. T.J. Francis, September 1862 John Swailes, May 1870 Ellsworth Harker, September 1881 Mrs. J.C. Guthrie, July 1881 L.B. Pillsbury, August 1883 Mrs. Vi Free, June 1885 Beulah Heldridge, August 1881 Fred T. Phippin, October 1861 Mary White Case, September 1882 Lizzie Calkins, April 1869 Bessie Pillsbury, June 1888 Inez Miller, July 1868 Sadie Erskine, May 1880 Edith Woods, June 1873 Eli Miller, May 1869 C.C. Calkins, April 1871 Mattie Heldridge, June 1868
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From
Spirit Lake Beacon September 1st, 1921
By Dr. Q.C. Fuller.
Following is a list of the registration of those who have resided in Dickinson county prior to thirty years ago.
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1857-Mrs. O.R. Barber 1858-H.U. Arthur Mr. and Mrs. James Chapman 1869-Mary Rausch 1861-F.F. Phippin Mae O'Farrell Mrs. Sam Pillsbury 1864-F.E. Henderson B.P. Henderson H.R. Henderson 1865-J.L. Clark 1866-Cora Phippin A.R. Davison 1867-J.L. Cother Annie Paul J.W, Kilpatrick 1868-Mrs. C. Tortenson O.B. Willcox Pearl Furgerson Inez Miller Bertha Rust E.E. O'Farrell 1869-E.A. Case Mrs. John Dickerson W.G. Calkins Mrs. Ellie Arthur 1870-E.E. Heldridge Laura Pugh S.A. Holcomb 1871-Mrs. Addie Welch Martha Larson J.W. Cory Mrs. A. Hakinson 1872-Mrs. Fred Sheldon Annie Olson Jonah Welch R.J. Dare Frank James Mrs. Frank Hunt 1973-Mrs. Vesta Nielson Edith W. Woods 1974-J.E. Ranney Mrs. J.G. Henderson 1875-Lillian Roat Eli Miller Frank Hunt 1876-Mrs. H.R. Henderson Mrs. Rena LaDoux Mrs. Tilda Ammundson C.O. Anderson Peter Johnson 1877- T, Matheson Lizzie Calkins 1878-Carl Matheson A.L. Lodge Grace A. Middleton L.W. Owen A.D.Gray G.D. Hazard 1879-P. Woods I. Mitchell Mrs. H, M. Wilson 1880-J.E. Ranney R.S. Carlton W.F. Tompson Thomas Williams B.A. Webb Mrs. G.L. Webb J.T. Webb Mrs. J.L. Cother G.H.?ston |
1881-Frank Harker R.K. Harker W.S. Poland M.A. Wadleigh A.A. Beck Edna Tabor Abbie Tabor Mrs. I. Swentson 1882-Mrs. W.F. Wright Mrs. J.W. Kilpatrick Mrs. C.C. Harker C.E. Tabor Wm. R. Gillette Esther Winey Hattie Brewer Mary White Case Mary L. Williams Anna Warburton George Sherburne A.O. Stevens Elizabeth J. Pitcher G.L. Webb Fred W. Jones J.S. McGuire Frank W. Knight Mrs. G.N. Sherburne 1883-Lillian Lynn J.F. Ewen Mrs. Lenore D. Osburne 1884-C.H. Arthur Mrs. J.F. Ewen J.F. Davis Geo. Wingert 1886-Adda McKiinney W. Poyzer G.G. Gregory Frank Gregory Ora Gregory R.A. Paterson 1887-C.J. Gregory R. Jones Ray B. Nicol 1888-Grant Lynn Roscoe Wright Gerald Owens Val Rausch Eva Webb Price 1889- Paul Mrs. R.A. Peterson Michael Baschke Julius Wiech Edna Donaldson Mrs. L. Boyenga Eva Miller Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Weaver Gladys Hunt 1890- Bascon P.F. DeMuth Mrs. Isaac Mitchell F.W. LaDoux Mrs. M. Albert 1891- Peterson H. Adkins Mrs. H. Peterson Joseph Adkins Theo Larson |
1892-Mrs. Fred Boyer Fred Stapleton Mrs. J. Wiech Mrs. Henry Versluis Lela M. Naudain Mrs. Tina Groff Wm. Wedeking Amanda Storsteen Mrs. Mary Hatfield 1893-W.J. Wallace Mrs. Fred Jones Mrs. H.E. Luing Anna Borchard Mrs. F.W. Knight Mrs. W.F. Thompson 1894-Lewis Calkins Q.C. Fuller E.J. Hamilton R.A.Borchard C.Versluis Mrs. A.H. Arthur 1895-Mrs. E.J. Schmidt Mrs. T.O. Triggs Eva Phippin 1896-Albin Anderson Lewis Jones Helen M. Peterson Fred Versuis Mrs. W. Warburton 1897-F.W. Range C.F. Cline Mrs. F.W. Range R. Mandelke 1898- LaFoy Neal Anderson Icle Pugh E.O. Johnson A.J. Nicol Anna Nicol Dagmar Johnson Mrs. V.V. Tritle V.R. Tritle 1899- Schmidt F.L. Upton Mrs. Esther Johnson 1900-Mrs. A. Erickson Mrs. L. Calkins Mrs. Peter Johnson Mrs. and Mrs.[sic] Geo. Williams Mrs. B.L. Meyerdirk 1901-Nettie Johnson L. Paul Mrs. B.A. Webb J.E. Johnson J.A. Wilson Mrs. Frank Harker Francis Johnson 1902-Mrs. E.A. James M.M. Jones Mrs. Neal Anderson Valoris Johnson J.F. Yager Mrs. J. F, Yager Mrs. J.W. Frutchey 1903-Mrs. Grace Dare Mrs. Fred Phippin LLoyd Place F. Place |
H.E. Caywoood of Lake Park was elected president of the Dickinson County Old Settlers at the annual picnic held Friday at Gull Point state park. Other directors elected were C.E. Gill, Terril, vice president; secretary, Mrs. V.V. Kidd, Spirit Lake; directors, James Smith, Superior; E.G. Mott, Spirit Lake; Mrs. Chet Teal, Lake Park; Mrs. Ray B. Nicole, Milford; and Gaylord Olson, Terril.
Mrs. V.R. Tritle read the following list of pioneers who have passed since the last meeting:
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Mrs. Mary Sperbeck Stoerlein H,A. Stillwell J.A. Polard Mrs. Katte Mott McGrew Mrs. Emily Campbell Sprague Mrs. Lena Below Ash Mrs. Ida Yarnes Willey Arthur E. Arp John Harker Henry Kettleson W.S. Poyzer Mrs. W.W. Stow Mrs. G.N. Sherburn J.E. Ranney |
Mrs. Martha Baldy Melvin Waugh Mrs. Val Rausch W.J. Adkins Henry Adkins Mrs. John Lunder Mrs. A.B. Thorn Mrs. M.F. Fitzgibbon Mrs. Rose M. Davis R.R. Van Osdal Harry J. Lewis Leon P. Flemming John T. Webb William Meister Frank Leupold |
Eva F. Phippin Francis Carlton Dowd Mrs. H.F. Kruse G.R. Bryan Ira Fox William J. Arthur Nelson Olson J.T. Winter Edward Holding B.K. Bradfield Mrs. G.R. Chesnut Frederick Stratman Geo. F. Arp Mrs. E.P. Atkins |
From Milford Mail August 24, 1939
From
Milford Mail September 27, 1934
By Harvey S. Abbott and Lorenzo Sperbeck