This small pioneer town was opened up on the road between Sections 35 and 36, in Wayne Township. Mr. J.M. McIntire first brought a stock of goods from Section 21 in 1856 and opened up a store in the NE 1/4 of Sections 35. The next store was opened by Geo. Barker and J.A. Wentworth on the NW 1/4 of Section 36 in 1857.
A post office was established by the name of Durea from August 30, 1856 to April 1, 1858 with LeRoy Fotte as the first postmaster. A post office was also removed from Section 21 and located on the NE 1/4 of Section 35. Clark Gardner was appointed postmaster. After a year it was moved across the road to the Barker Store; G.W. Barker was named postmaster and the village name changed to Wentworth. It was discontinued November 16, 1893. A couple of general stores were opened, also a stage coach inn.
A school house was built and it was used for church services as well as for education purposes. The Baptist denomination held services in it in 1856, as did the Congregational Church in 1868. The congregations were small.
When the railroads came through in 1891, McIntire was started and platted as a town. This was the end of Wentworth, and all that remains is the Inn, now used as a private home, of this once thriving village--and the cemetery, which is the final resting place of many of its first citizens.
D.W. Kimball, one of Wentworth's earliest settlers describes some of the dangers of pioneer life in letters to his future wife in Worchester, Massachusetts. He tells of the prairie fire in the area reaching for miles and burning many houses and a great deal of the hay. "It was the greatest display of fireworks I have ever seen; reaching for miles and going almost the speed of the wind" he states." He also tells of the fierce blizzards that took the lives of travelers caught in it and finding them partially devoured by wolves, and of a traveler who, after wandering all day, found himself a half mile from where he started out that morning--because of the lack of roads to follow.
Reproduced with the approval of the Mitchell County Historical Society; from THE STORY OF MITCHELL COUNTY 1851-1973", and MITCHELL COUNTY MEMORIES 1946-1996.
LOCATION: Approximately one mile east of McIntire on 470th St.; south on Windfall Ave, within 1/4 to 1/3 mile on both sides of road. Between 470th St. and Cemetery. Wentworth Cemetery is a little farther south, on the west side of Windfall Ave.
Please respect landowners property, ask before you enter.
Transcribed in July 2002 by: Neal Du Shane
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UPDATED 10/2002; 6/2003