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