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IIIElk River since 1920 has also supported produce distribution
<br /> by truck.
<br /> Dairying
<br /> By 1900,many Elk River farmers were operating dairy
<br /> businesses.The gambrel-roofed barn and complex of silos
<br /> synonymous with such operations were erected across the
<br /> township in the early twentieth century.
<br /> By 1900,there were 5,908 dairy cattle in Sherburne County,a
<br /> number that increased to 7,258 in 1910. (By comparison,
<br /> Stearnes County boasted 36,272)dairy cattle.)23
<br /> The Houlton and Nickerson families led the local dairy
<br /> business.In 1878,Henry Nickerson built a farm at 436 3rd Street
<br /> N.W. Henry was a brother of J.Q.A.Nickerson,who owned
<br /> much of what was platted as the village of Elk River in 1862.
<br /> (The Crystal Springs Stock Farm in Section 36?)By 1908,W.H.
<br /> Houlton's 3,000-acre farm at Houlton Siding included"400
<br /> head shorthorn of registered stock and sixty angora goats for
<br /> clearing brush".24 A cattle business was owned by Henry C.
<br /> Hastings,who was also County Treasurer.He operated the Elk
<br /> River Cattle Company,which had 600 head of cattle,on his
<br /> 600-acre farm.'
<br /> II
<br /> , ,.
<br /> . _ _
<br /> ..,,,,, ,eA .5',‘,A
<br /> 3/ / Wei
<br /> , , , ..,— —, - -',',;,:?.,r 4.1.; -- ,,,,,4k . i',44,;is*, ' 4"' ' 11.,;;,<,,;e4 , ;:ii,
<br /> F
<br /> 4j
<br /> eti:A 4� 4 ' oi Threshing on the Specht family
<br /> �' R \ - farm,' ,� " ,._:,.... e '4 .: `.��. �` � � � 1924.Photo MHS.
<br /> Creameries
<br /> Two creameries served Elk River's dairy farmers.The first was
<br /> the Farmer's Coop Creamery of Elk River,a two-story frame
<br /> building located on Jackson Street north of the railroad.The
<br /> 411 cooperative was incorporated in 1889. In 1918,the creamery
<br /> Elk River Historic Contexts Study Draft 5/2002
<br /> 12
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