Fifty Years In The Northwest by William H. C. Folsom

BENTON COUNTY. At the organization of Minnesota Territory three counties were created, of which Benton was one. Its eastern boundary followed the course of Rum river from its mouth to its junction with the west branch and thence a line due north to the Mississippi river. The boundary line upon the west followed the windings of the Mississippi down to its junction with Rum river, making a county large and irregular in outline, extending from north to south about one hundred miles, and about forty at its widest point from east to west. The formation of new counties since that time has left it with less than eleven townships lying east of the Mississippi river and bounded on the north by Morrison, on the east by Mille Lacs, and on the south by Sherburne counties. The soil is diversified. There is black sandy loam in the plains and a black vegetable mould in the timber, with clay subsoils. It is a fair agricultural district, having groves of pine and hardwood in the east and natural meadows, prairies and oak openings in the central and western portions. It is well watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries, Elk, Little Rock and Platte rivers. It has some fine lakes, of which Mayhew, Briggs and Little Rock are the largest. A granite formation underlies most of this county and crops out in many places, furnishing valuable quarries. The granite is plain and variegated and is being worked and shipped extensively. Near the village of Watab there is a rich upheaval. The St. Paul custom house is made of the Watab granite. The Northern Pacific railway passes through this county parallel with the channel of the Mississippi river. The Manitoba, St. Cloud & Hinckley branch passes through the southern tier of towns. The organized towns are Alberta, Gilmanton, Glendorado, Granite Lodge, Maywood, Minden, Sauk Rapids, St. George, and Watab. The villages are East St. Cloud, Foley, Oak Grove, Rice's, and Watab. The first settlers were Philip Beaupre, in 1844; David Gilman, in 1848; Jeremiah Russell, Wm. H. Wood, James Beatty, Ellis Kling, Wm. Smith, and J. C. Mayhew, in 1849. Sauk Rapids was made the county seat, then Watab, then Sauk Rapids. The first board of officers, qualified Jan. 7, 1850, were: Commissioners, Wm. A. Aitkin, chairman; Joseph Brown and James Beatty; assessors, Truman A. Warren and Reuben M. Richardson; attorney, W. D. Phillips. The voting precincts were at Sauk Rapids, Swan River and Crow Wing. The judges of election were: For Sauk Rapids, J. Russell, Wm. Sturgis and Curtis Bellows; for Swan River, Philip Beaupre, James Green and Duncan Stewart; for Crow Wing, Allen Morrison, Wm. Morrison and Sylvester Stateler. The first election was held at Pierre Bottineau's house, now in Sherburne county. George Egbert and Thomas Holmes were judges of election. The first court in the county was held Nov. 11, 1850; Bradley B. Meeker, presiding. David Gilman was the first sheriff, John C. Hawley the second. The first deed recorded was from James Hitchins to Wm. F. Coblett. It bore date of Oct. 21, 1850. Taylor Dudley was register of deeds. The land conveyed was a tract lying at the foot of Sauk Rapids, being a land claim of one hundred and sixty acres, purchased from Calvin Potter. SAUK RAPIDS. The site of the village of Sauk Rapids was judiciously chosen. It slopes gently to the river's east bank, giving a pleasant frontage to the rapids. Philip Beaupre came here first in 1844. His son, William P., was the first white child here, born May 24, 1852. Geo. O. Sweet was the second, born Aug. 22, 1852. Several Indian traders located here and at Watab. Following Mr. Beaupre came T. A. Holmes, James Beatty, J. Russell, Calvin Potter, James Hitchins, Curtis Bellows, and Charles Webb. The first plat of Sauk Rapids was made and recorded in