Individual Details

Came to MN from MA in 1855 to farm near Big Lake,MN. Held all county offices except sheriff. Postmaster in Big Lake. Resigned in 1899 due to poor health. Son William took over. William served to 1902 and a brother of William, Elmer Eugene, served to 1932. Brought the chest and pitcher from MA. Wife Nancy is living as a widow in 1900 with George W Putnam family who refers to her as his step-mother. George's wife, Lilla M, was Nancy's daughter. Marr. probably at Oxford, MA.

Sources for this family: Ancestrial file
Read FGS
Census 1860; 1900
Check Sutton vitals; Oxford Vitals
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John Elmer Putnam was born on 10 November 1826 in Sutton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was christened on 11 July 1830 in Sutton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He died on 3 October 1899 in Big Lake, Sherburne County, Minnesota. John was buried in October 1899 in Big Lake Cemetery, Big Lake, Sherburne County, Minnesota. "Removed to Big Lake, Minnesota (G&P Memoirs, pg. 668) Parents: Tyler Putnam and Phebe Woodbury. (What are the G&P Memoirs?)

Spouse: Nancy A. Merriam. Children were: Jane Putnam, Elmer Putnam.
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John Elmer Putnam
Birth: Nov. 10, 1826
Sutton
Worcester County
Massachusetts, USA
Death: Oct. 3, 1899
Big Lake
Sherburne County
Minnesota, USA

John E. Putnam Passes Away At His Home Tuesday...
John E. Putnam, of this place, departed this life last Tuesday afternoon, at 6:15 o'clock, as easy and peacefully as a child going to sleep, after a long and severe illness of nearly two years duration.

The announcement of his death comes like a shock to his many friends throughout the county, the loss, although anticipated, is scarcely felt less. During the latter part of his illness he suffered almost continually and anxiously waited for the end to relieve him of earthly suffering.

The funeral was held yesterday, at noon, conducted by Rev. M. Williams, of the Union church. According to his wish the services were held under the large trees in front of his residence, "God's first Temple." The number of friends present at the funeral was very large, many coming from Elk River and other neighboring towns. The remains were interred in the cemetery north of town. Rev. Williams' remarks were based on the words, "Heirs of God, joint heir with Jesus Christ," found in Roman's 8th chapter, 17th verse.

Deceased was a native of Massachusetts and 72 years, 10 months and 23 days of age, being born at Sutton, Mass., Nov. 10, 1826. On Nov. 13, 1849, he married Miss Nancy A. Meriam of Oxford, Mass., and came to Big Lake, May 10, 1856, when Minnesota was still a territory and this vicinity contained but one white settler and has made his home here ever since. His mind was alert and active and he retained a grasp on affairs and business which was unusual. He was one of the best known residents of this county and prominent in every movement in the early days of its history, always looking towards development and progress. Mr. Putnam was a staunch Republican and has filled very successfully the offices of Register of Deeds, County Auditor, Judge of Probate and was the first Clerk of Court of Sherburne County, County Commissioner and many different town and school offices. He was appointed postmaster at this place in April, 1861 and has held that position almost continually until last spring when he resigned on account of ill health. He leaves a wife and five children, Mr. E.E. Putnam, Wm. Putnam, Geo. F. Putnam, Mrs. Emery Moore (Ella Lucretia) and Mrs. G.W. Putnam [Lilla Maude] and twenty-nine grandchildren, all of this place. He was preceded in death by four children: Jane (Mrs. Morrill Dike) in 1895, John E. in 1856, Mary Elizabeth in 1856 and Freddie in 1861.

He was one of the oldest settlers here and was consequently known to nearly everyone in the county. He was whole soled, free hearted, always happy whenever you met him, though he could be serious and sympathetic when occasion demanded. He was generous to the needy and many can attest to help received in hours of need. His old neighbors, children and acquaintances will long cherish a lively recollection of his genial, sunshiny nature, his rugged honesty and well-meaning. (bio by: MarJS)

Family links:
Spouse:
Nancy Augusta Merriam Putnam (1829 - 1914)*

Children:
Mary E Putnam (____ - 1856)*
George Fayette Putnam (1864 - 1932)*

Burial:
Big Lake Cemetery
Sherburne County
Minnesota, USA

Created by: Tia Delano Olson
Record added: Dec 03, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 81472410
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Came to Minnesota - Big Lake on 10 May 1856
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Sherburne County Star News
5 Oct 1899

John E Putnam Dead
Another Old Pioneer Passes Away Tuesday Night
Funeral at Big Lake Today
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News was received from Big Lake yesterday morning that John E Putnam of that place died during the night and would be buried today at 12 o'clock.
Mr. Putnam has been ill for over two years, and has been very low on several occasions. Of late he has been growing more feeble and all his friends were aware that the end was close at hand. The deceased was highly esteemed as a man of highest integrity. He was born in Massachusetts in 1826, and was seventy-three years of age at the time of his death. He came to Sherburne county in 1855, his family following the next year, and located at Big Lake where he has lived ever since. He was the first clerk of court of Sherburne, and at the time filled most of the other county offices. The county seat at that time was at Big Lake, and the first term of court held there in 1862. He has been postmaster of that town almost continuously except during the Cleveland administration and has held several town offices. He was chairman of the board of county commissioners in 1898, and retired from public life at the expiration of his term on account of poor health. He leaves a wife, five grown up children, George F., Will H., E. Eugene, Lillie M. and Mrs C.E. Moores, all of whom are still living at Big Lake. Four children died.
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Big Lake History p12 (At Sherburne County Historical Society)
The first school was a little log house on the John E. Putnam farm.
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History of Big Lake p 12, col 2
In 1856 there came to Big Lake another good family, Mr and Mrs J. E. Putnam and three children from Massachusetts. Henry Putnam preceded them to this new land by about a year. The house built by Mr J Putnam is the oldest extant building in Big Lake. Part of the William Moore's barn was built by Henry Putnam in the fifties. (1850's) When these settlers came here there were only a few houses within a neighborhood of a few miles.
In 1856 J. Putnam hung out a sign, "Our Home" and put up a red lantern to guide travelers to a comfortable shelter and keep them from losing their way on the wild prairies.
The wife of the innkeeper grew somewhat tired of the business and urged her husband to give it up. "Give up the hoop skirts," said he, "and I'll close the inn." Mrs. Putnam at once discarded the hoops and for a year was the only lady around who did not wear them. She gained her point, however, and the inn was closed.
E.E. Putnam still has the register of the tavern and it is most interesting to peruse the contents. In it are inscribed the names of hundreds of men and women from near and far. Many of these are now famous. Some of the signatures noted were those of Eli Pettijohn, now so far known for his breakfast food, R J Mendhall, the great Minneapolis florist, E O Hamlin, a lawyer from St Cloud, James Hill, the railroad magnate, Hole-in-the- Day, A Chippewa, also inscribed his name in the register. The Quadville Band of Anoka is also registered and under the date of Oct. 22, "58 we find Minn and Pacific Railroad locating a party of nine persons. Humor is not lacking even in so prosaic a record as a register, as witness:
' Feb 21, 1857, waited for dinner for 33 1/2 minutes or more.
' 8 horses and two mules from Little Elk to St Anthony Falls, Sir
' GONE TO CHURCH
'Upon a Drunk and are Having It!
'Two gents going south for their health. And Mary Wedgewood and others from Monticello, and some from Montizious, the lower part they said "of what is now Monticello".
Perhaps it should be noted that the tribal Chief who registered as Hole-in-the-Day was the son of a widely famous Hole-in-the-Day who died in 1847.
Our visitor, Hole-in-the-Day The Younger, or Boy, was from the Winnebago Settlement, located northwest and across the Mississippi from Sauk Rapids. He was a courtly young man and mention is usually made of his neatness of person and his splendid attire. Like his father, he was never at a loss for eloquent phrases and insisted on being recognized as the Chief of the Chippewa Nation. And, because [ p 13, col 1] of his tactical genius and bravery, even his own chiefs moved as he wanted them to move....Of the many visitors to Putnam House, perhaps Hole-in-the-Day was the most distinguished and notable of them all. The tragic story of his death at the hands of paid renegade Pillager assassins is almost as incredible as the story of his outstanding life.

I saw the Putnam Our Home Ledger book at the Sherburne County Historical Society where it is preserved. I was able to wear nitrile gloves and leaf through the book. It was very interesting, showing the names and amounts owed by each traveler. They paid for meals and/or lodging and in some cases for hay for their horses.

[p 13, col1] Big Lake was the first county seat of Sherburne County and so remained until 1867, although no county buildings were erected at this point. The meetings of the board were held wherever convenient. Sometimes on the shores of beautiful Big Lake, only a stone's throw from the village, and sometimes at the homes of Joseph Brown and J.E. Putnam.

In 1866 the old St Paul and Pacific railroad pushed to Big Lake and after that there wasn't as much need for a stopping place like the Putnam House. For a short time Big Lake was the terminal for the railroad and the engines turned around on a turntable to head back to Minneapolis

p. 15 col 2 The first post office was established here in the early fifties when Minnesota was still a territory.... Mr Joseph Brown was the first postmaster, and was followed by J.E.Putnam. Except during three democratic administrations the Putnams have held the office of postmaster. Joseph Parks acted in that capacity for four years of that time and ND Brown, eight years.
For years the mail was cared for in private dwellings and for a time in the Great Northern Depot. About ten years ago the office was opened in the E E Putnam's store building, occupied by W H Putnam. In the fall of 1905 the present post office was built, (where at one time there stood the Johnson and Son milling and furniture factory and upstairs the Vernon Roman Pool Emporium, then the Lake Theatre built by H H Davis of Hibbing, then the Brenteson's heavy equipment garage and repair shop and now the parking lot for the Coachman, then later the Broken Spoke Clubs.) and now EE Putnam is the efficient and accommodating postmaster.
There are still people living in Big Lake who can recall with either amusement or anguish the mail bags being snatched up with the "hook" by the fast-passing mail trains. Occasionally, perhaps even rarely, the mail bags were ripped open and the mail scattered for miles along the tracks from here to Bailey Station or Salida. Others recall Mr Wm Putnam pulling the big iron-rimmed four wheel station wagon by the yoke, loaded with mail for Big Lake (two bags) from the depot to the post office before dawn on winter mornings for the rural mail carriers and the postmaster to sort before the office opened.

I saw the sorting drawers and cabinet that E E Putnam and his father before him J E Putnam used at the post office to sort the mail. It is preserved in the same storage area as the Union Church Bell at the Sherburne County Historical Society in Becker, MN

P 17 There is a picture of school children in 1902 with Wm and Goldie Putnam in it.
p 19 There is a picture of the Ladies Aid of Big Lake Union Church in 1898. The historical society director thought the lady third from the right side in the back was Mrs. J E Putnam.

The Putnams were organizers of the Union Church in Big Lake.
p 23 col 1
The Union Church was organized in 1884 and the people met in the schoolhouse for their first church services.
It appears that the church was built around 1892

In another newspaper story:
"The church needed a bell and after the Civil War there were thousands of solid brass cannon left without good purpose. It was common to recast those cannon into bells and sell them throughout the country. John Elmer Putnam decided to send to Boston to obtain one. The bell was dated Sept 20, 1891 when it was made and shipped to Big Lake by railroad. It was no small task to move the 800 pound bell to the church and hoist it into place. It was accomplished and stayed in place for more than 80 years.

I saw the bell which is now in the Sherburne County Historical Society in Becker, MN, in their environmentally controlled storage area. It looks in great condition. I would think it hasn't changed much since it was cast. The wooden wheel for the bell ringing rope has deteriorated but it probably had to be periodically repaired. The church was torn down in 1970 and the bell moved to the Historical Society. In those days the Union Church was where the Lake Aire Motel was located in (when the History of Big Lake was printed) and I think that is now McDonalds parking lot.

p 28 There is a picture of the Union Church Bell and some of the Union Church itself.
p 29 There is a picture of the removal of the big bell and more of the church and congregation.
There is a picture of the Ladies Aid of the Union Church with Mrs. John Putnam in the center of the photo. She died in 1914

p 37-38 List of postmasters of Big Lake
There is a printed record of the Postmasters which was published in 1988 that listed all of them going back to when Big Lake was not Big Lake, not Humbolt, but in actuality, Elk Prairie. Sherburne County was once part of Benton County and when a post office was established at this Elk Prairie, it was in Benton County and this is the way the record shows it:
Postmaster Date appointed
Joseph Thompson 6/14/1854
Name changed to Big Lake on July 12, 1855
Joseph Brown 7/12/1855
Changed to SHERBURNE COUNTY in 1856
John E Putnam 3/19/1861
Henry M Jameson 3/12/1867
Henry T Putnam 7/23/1867
Silas A Putnam 4/13/1868
Erastus P Wellington 6/11/1874
John E Putnam 6/14/1880
Joseph C Parks 1/10/1887
John E Putnam 4/11/1889
Nelson D Brown 8/26/1893
John E Putnam 9/13/1897
William H Putnam 3/16/1899
Elmer E Putnam 12/11/1901
Lester R Putnam (Acting) 11/21/1930
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History of Big Lake, MN

The City of Big Lake was originally called Humboldt until 1867 when it got its current name. It is a rapidly growing community in Sherbourne County, Minnesota along the banks of the Big and Mitchell Lakes. The city was incorporated on Dec. 27, 1898.
Located about 40 miles northwest of the Twin Cities, Big Lake was once a popular location for escapes from the city, its lakes filled with summer cabins. Now it is considered an exurb of the metro area, with a significant portion of residents commuting into the Cities daily.
The lake for which the town is named was once an important part of the Twin Cities economy, as in the days before modern refrigerators, much of the ice for metropolitan iceboxes was harvested from Big Lake.

History:
BIG LAKE Township, settled in 1848, organized in 1858, and its city in sections 19, 20, and 30, at first called Humboldt, are named from the lake adjoining the village, a favorite place for picnics. Humboldt was the county seat until 1867, being succeeded by Elk River, and its name was changed to that of the township when the railroad was built in 1867. The village was incorporated on December 29, 1898; the post office began as Elk Prairie in 1854 while still part of Benton County, changing to Big Lake in 1855.

Sherburne County History


Sherburne County is located in central Minnesota, between the Twin Cities and St Cloud. Originally the area was contested middle ground between the northern Minnesota Ojibwa people and the southern Minnesota Dakotas. A treaty in 1837 opened the area to whites and created a buffer zone between the tribes. After the treaty, ox cart trains moved goods and people through the area, but by the 1860s there were several small communities supporting the farmers who had settled. They were drawn by the available prairie land and the proximity to the Mississippi River, which is Sherburne County’s southern border.

As the area population increased, the railroads came, bringing more settlers, communications, and commerce. An ice harvesting industry sprung up on Big Lake. Big Lake ice was renowned for its clarity and was shipped by rail from Big Lake to cities like Minneapolis and Chicago.
The railroad is still a big part of Sherburne County, but these days most people arrive on one of the major highways. The majority of Sherburne County residents today work in the Twin Cities or St Cloud area but live here for the affordable housing, good schools, and sense of community.
Area attractions include the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge, Sand Dunes State Forest, and the Oliver Kelley Farm.
Sherburne County Facts:

Namesake: Moses Sherburne, an early Minnesota politician
County Seat: Elk River
Incorporated: February, 1856
Population (2010): 88,499
County website: www.co.sherburne.mn.us
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John E Putnam Clerk of District Court from Sherburne Co 1858-1866
County Auditor Jan 1865-Jan 1867

Sherburne Co was est 25 Feb 1856. It was set off from Benton CO.
The first auditor was H T Putnam (Henry Tyler). He was also the first register of Deeds on second Monday of April 1856.
George F Putnam was the County Treasurer Jan 1908-1922.
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The first school was a little log house on the John E Putnam farm - p12 Big Lake History
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Article in Thursday May 2, 1974 Local newspaper by The Big Lake Correspondent who wished to thank Miss Freda Northrup, Gladys Putnam and Goldie Putnam Johnson of Glen Ellyn, Ill for helping in this article.

Old John Brown was the first settler in Big Lake and John E Putnam came along about 1857. He farmed near where the Ranchero Drive Inn now stands and had a Inn which was the stopping off place for ox carts and other travelers going up and down the Indian Trail which is now Highway 10. The property was destroyed by fire in the early 1950.s.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Putnam left his farm and joined the Union Army. He was appointed Commander in Chief of the Union Army and served faithfully until the war was over.
After the war, Putnam returned to his home in Big Lake and continued his business.

(Wow I wonder how they came up with the Civil War business? I think they are referring to Israel Putnam who left his farm at the call to arms in the Revolutionary War. He famously kept a horse saddled and ready to ride. When word came he left his plow in the firld jumped on his horse and was off. Israel was not the Commander in Chief as that was Washington but he was made a Major General, Second in command to Washington if you like. He was old at the start of the Rev War having earned his reputation for fighting in the French and Indian Wars as did Washington. He was valuable because he was well liked and attracted many boys to join the fight. Israel had a cousin, Rufus Putnam who was younger and also fought in the Rev War. HE was also a famous Rev War soldier who was a Brigadier General and served as Washington"s Surveyor setting up battery stations and maps. He layed out Fort Washington which is now part of West Point and after the was appointed the first surveyor general of the US. He settled the Northwest Territory and his name is on many counties in these states. He was a relative of both Nancy and John Putnam. There were many stories made a part of family tradition around both Israel and Rufus. They were invaluable to the cause of freedom and the family was very proud of them. Still to this day they are revered where the family Putnam gathers.

To my knowledge John Elmer was not in the Civil War. )
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Found among papers of Belle V. Morrison of Colfax, WA

THE PUTNAMS OF BIG LAKE

'I'm sure I never shall forget
The Putnams of Big LAke
Though sixty years pass over me
After my leave I take.

For each and every one
Has done his very best
To give me a pleasant summer
And you among the rest.

There are Gene and Jane and you know, Sal,
And Vi and your big Nike,
And the husband of your sister,
The noble looking Dike.

I'll remember grandpa and grandma
And all the grandchildren each and all
And, perhaps, if I take a notion,
I'll come and see you next fall.

Written by Eva Couper of Northfield - date unknown

Big Lake, July 14, 1887

This introduction, (by an early Big Lake School teacher), from the pages of an old Autograph Album of mother, seems as appropriate as though handed to me on a platter, since the particular topic I have been asked to write about is "The Pioneer Putnam Family of Big Lake."
Gene, Jane, Sal, George, Will and Lill, mentioned were the children of the late John E and Nancy A Putnam, while Vi, Mike Morrill H Dike, and Ellen were their sons-in-law and daughter-in-law. Sal and Mike being nicknames of my parents, whose given names were really Ella and Emara. William and Lilla were not yet married at the time. Vi was the wife of Eugene, Morril the husband of Jane, and Ellen the wife of George.
Now I will drop back a couple of centuries, more or less, to say that in the early 1600s a young man named John DePuttenham left the British Isles to seek adventure and a home in the "New World." At this time, by dropping parts of his Family name, he shortened it to Putnam. There is no record to the best of our family knowledge of anyone by the name of Putnam, ever previously having existed. This notwithstanding that a very similar name, Putnam, of German origin, is often confusing.
This first John Putnam was the ancestor of the two historically famous Putnams, General Israel Putnam and General Rufus Putnam. General Israel Putnam of Revolutionary War fame, (and the plough incident), and also of Putnam and the wolf. He was also the ancestor of both my maternal grandparents, John Elmer Putnam, of Sutton, MA, and Nancy Augusta Merriam of Oxford, MA, who at the ages of 23 and 20 respectfully were united in marriage November 13, 1849 at Oxford, MA, the year Minnesota Territory was founded.
In April of 1855, still in their twenties, leaving his wife and three small children to join him later, grandfather laft Massachusetts with his brother Henry by rail, to seek a new home location for Frontier life. Henry had aquired a large tract of Minnesota land. Letters, now in my possession, to grandmother told about the many derailments, some washouts, and various stopovers en route. At one of the latter, Princeton, Illinois, they spent some time with two couples, one of them, their sister, and the other, grandmother's brother. While they were looking over prospective locations. From Princeton, they went to Davenport, Iowa, and on north to Minnesota Territory. Other stopovers en route were Niagra Falls, Dexter, Battle Creek, MI, Chicago, Mokena and Ottawa, IL.
The railroad came no closer than St Paul at that time, and the last lap of their journey, ending in Big Lake's present location was with horses.
They purchased horses and some machinery at Princeton and Davenport, and were also bringing some cattle, a few farm implements, tools, etc. While looking for a location, grandfather worked for his brother Henry, erecting a cabin. By spring 1856, he had purchased land from Henry and brought his family here. Letters from her mother indicate grandmother had little to do with prior to the arrival of her household goods, about July 1, 1856, some of them badly damaged in transit.
In the fall of 1856, they built a home of four main rooms on the first floor, plus entries, stairways, pantry, veranda, etc., a stone cellar, upper story, and stairway to the attic, on their large farm a quarter of a mile east of the main part of what is now the business section of Big Lake.
In late November 1856, death struck the family a heavy blow. A dreaded disease robbed them of two of their three children, twenty two month old Mary Elizabeth, November 27th and six year old John Elmer, November 28th.
Four years, three months later, the Grim Reaper again visited their home and took away their infant son, twenty seven day old Fredrick Horatio, on February 28, 1861.
Until early 1949, this home, with additions was still standing. It has played an important part in Sherburne County History. Big Lake was formerly the County Seat, and in a hand drawn plan of the home, grandmother's parlor was redesigned "Office of Register of Deeds", County of Sherburne. The drawing also indicating the exact corner where the deed books were kept. Grandfather was also the first postmaster of Big Lake, and for several years the pigeon holes of his large Walnut Secretary were the mail boxes of Big Lake's first post office, within the home.
County Commissioners held their sessions here, and for their convenience, grandmother bought a double set of Blue ware, 200 piece service for 24, and served meals to them.
Travelers were also served meals and lodging here.
An example of early Territorial barter is shown by a certificate of trade between Henry Putnam and J Brown, whereby the mare known as the Putnam mare, was transferred to Brown for oats, with grandfather as a witness to the transaction.
Grandfather was very enthusiastic in civil affairs, his donations of the large school and church bells, engraved and delivered here from the east are example of his public generosity, and added greatly to the newly constructed buildings.
Grandmother's brother, an architect from Massachusetts, donated the plans for the Union Church, and grandmother was one of its most faithful workers.
An example to show how true to his convictions grandfather lived, is the fact that after smoking his first cigar, and becoming sick as most boys do, he never again used tobacco in any form, throughout his entire life. He also abstained from alcoholic drinks.
For many years he kept a general store, and the post office was transferred from his home to one corner of the store building.
I vividly recall the joyous Thanksgiving Day family gathering at grandmother's long table, and the daytime grange dinners and such grange meetings as we children were allowed to attend.
Mother has told me of the first one room schoolhouse, on their homesite, where, when she started school, the desks and seats consisted of long benches along one side of the room, on one side a low one for the smaller children, on the other a higher one for the older pupils. At that time there were only three small girls for the low ones, and they brought their dolls to school, placing hooks under the under the edge of their desk bench to hang their doll clothes on. When their lessons were well done, they were allowed to play there with their dolls.
She also told of the first May baskets hung in Big Lake. Until then, the Putnam children had never heard of, or at least never participated in May basket hanging, and as the family was seated on their porch at dusk one evening, they spied the children of another pioneer family name Snow, half hiding in the grove (planted in 1862, the spring mother was born). They could not imagine the motive for their reactions. Finally one of the boys shouted "hers's your old may baskets," and they fled towards home. When she and her sister and brothers went out there, they found the baskets hanging on the fence.
In my own early days the Sunday School was still conducted in the school house, as the church was built a little later. The Sunday School always had a community Christmas tress on Christmas Eve. No commercial decorations were used, but garlands of stringed popcorn covered the tree and presents brought by the donors the day before, were placed in position by a committee in charge. Gifts of light top, and heavier, bulky packages stacked around the base. These almost completely covered the tree. After the program the recipients names were called off and the gifts distributed, including as a gift from the Sunday School, bags previously made of bright colored mosquito netting and filled with popcorn, candy and nuts by a committee for the purpose.
A day or two before Memorial Day, the children of the community gathered flowers on their way to and from school, and on short excursions for the purpose, and delivered them to Grandma Snyder, the wife of one of Big Lake"s Civil War Veterans, who made them up into wreaths and bouquets for our soldiers. One wreath was placed on each soldier's grave, and on the grave of the unknown soldier, at the beginning of the ceremony, and at its close, the children all marched around and placed their bouquets upon them.
They gathered at the school house and marched to and from the cemetery, led by the old soldiers to the accompaniment of drums, cornets and bugles. Many of the children played school, snow games, rtc. The men talked and whittled and everybody went riding, swimming, skating, sking and on berry picking and nut gathering trips, and of course, fishing.
There were parties, taffy pulls, socials, picnics, singing schools, etc.
I believe anyone could write a book at least a small one, of the days of their grandparents and parents as related to them by these ancestors, together with memories of our own early lives. However, I know there must be a lot of material to go into this scrapbook, and would mention some of the neighbors who settled here and contributed their influence to our community life.
As this is being written on the spur of the moment, please forgive me dear folks if I miss out on more than I tabulate. There was Mr. J O Haven, who came in 1854 and acquired land at the same time Henry Putnam did. but did not establish residence here at Big Lake, until after grandfather had done so. Roger Foley had established residence here, so grandmother would say, (Uncle Henry and grandfather) were two of the first three white settlers in Big Lake, meaning Mr Foley, Henry, and grandfather. Mr. Joseph Brown's family and the Houghton Family (who lived down by the Mississippi) were said to have a trace of Indian blood in their veins. The children also took up this drawing of the line on Indian blood. For years Mr J Brown's son, N D Brown, would recall that he was the first baby born in Big Lake, and Eugene Putnam would counter with the fact that he, Eugene, was the first white baby born here, Both probably spoke truly, literally and were best of friends (possibly barring political differences) throughout their long lives.
My paternal grandparents, Mr and Mrs David Moores and my father, then 16 years old, came here from Wuebec, Province, Canada, in 1873, having been preceded by several other sons, including William Crandall Moores, who lived the remainder of his life here, and has decendants up to and including the great great grandchildren living here now.
I already mentioned the Snows, among names of other families who were considered "old timers" in my childhood days were Filmore, Elliot, Chamberlain, Bell, Bailey, Lindsey, Henderson, Everett, Carpenter, Houston, Langford, Wellington, Worden, Williams, Crozier, Saunders, Stiles, Penndleton, Johnson, Ferguson, Varley, Aaron, Brown, MaAllister, Small, John Mittchell, Barbee, Doten, etc. While the work neighbor included settlers of Orrock, Monticello, Salida, Lily Pond, Meadowvale, Bailey Station, etc.
Although there was a short interruption, (by the democrats) at which time Mr Brown was postmaster, grandfather Putnam was Big Lake postmaster for many years, until his health failed, and after suffering for several months, he passed away in late fall of 1899. He left grandmother and five of his children, with their families to morn his passing. (Jane, then Mrs. Dike, had preceded him in death, by about four years, as had also some of his grandchildren, of whom 42 were born to them).
Grandmother following grandfather's death, made her home with her various chilldren, until her death about February 1st, 1914.
Eugene followed in his father's footsteps as postmaster for many years, until shortly before his death, November 1, 1930. How many generations there are now in the three genrations following my grandparents grandchildren, I cannot say. All of their children and many of their grandchildren have passed on.

Contributed by Maude (Mrs. Walter) Angstman

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The above were among papers of Belle V Morrison whose mother Carrie Evaline Putnam, dau of George and Mary Ellen Putnam. George was a son of John E and Nancy Putnam. I do not know who received the papers from Belle but I got them through the Museum in Sherburne County.

Maude Iola Moores Angstman died in 1967. She was a daughter of Ella (Sal) Putnam and Emara (Mike) Moores. She grew up and lived in the Big Lake and Sherburne County area her whole life. She was a school teacher before she married. Eva L Couper may have been an early school teacher in Big Lake in the early years and may have taught at the school house that was on the Putnam homesite. The date of July 14 1887 may have been the date the poem has written in the autograph book of Maude's mother, Ella Putnam.

Although the part about the first John to come to America changing his name from DePuttenham is wrong, the rest of the article seems to be a nice account of the early Putnam family in Big Lake and Minnesota. mm
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U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865
DetailRelatedSourceSelect all textSource Citation
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General's Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War); Collection Name: Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union Draft Records); NAI: 4213514; Archive Volume Number: 4 of 4
Description
Content Description: Vol 4 of 4
Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Original data:Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865. NM-65, entry 172, 620 volumes. NAI: 4213514. Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War), Record Group 110. National Archives at Washington D.C.

In digital files
John E and Henry Putnam Civil War reg
p 607 Big Lake , Sherburne, MN
image 508/558
MN> 2nd> vol 4 of 4
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U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880
DetailRelatedSourceSelect all textSource Citation
Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts; Archive Collection Number: T1204; Roll: 4; Page: 555; Line: 29; Schedule Type: Agriculture
Description
Locality: Rutland
Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Original data:View all sources.

in digital files
Mass > Ag> 1850 >Worcester> Rutland
image 3/5

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Birth	10 Nov 1826	Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Christen	11 Jul 1830	Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Marriage	13 Nov 1849	Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Occupation	1889 - 1899	Postmaster - Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States
Death	3 Oct 1899	Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States
Burial	5 Oct 1899	Big Lake Cemetery, Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States
Census (family)	1850 US Census	Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Census (family)	1857 MN State Census	Minnesota State Census, Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Census (family)	1895 MN State Census	Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Census (family)	1860 US Census	Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Census (family)	1870 US Census	Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Census (family)	1875 MN State Census	Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Census (family)	1880 US Census	Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Census (family)	1885 MN State Census	Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Census (family)	1855 MA State Census	Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Census (family)	1865 MN State Census	Big Lake, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States - Nancy Augusta Meriam
Relationship		2nd Great Grandfather to Mary Putnam Muller
Acomplishment

Spouse	Nancy Augusta Meriam (1829 - 1914)
Child	William Henry Putnam (1867 - 1945)
Child	John Elmer Putnam (1850 - 1856)
Child	Jane Emily "Jenny" Putnam (1852 - 1895)
Child	Mary Elizabeth Putnam (1855 - 1856)
Child	Elmer Eugene Putnam (1857 - 1930)
Child	Frederick Horatio "Freddie" Putnam (1861 - 1861)
Child	Ella Lucretia "Sal" Putnam (1862 - 1921)
Child	George Fayette Putnam (1864 - 1932)
Child	Lilliand Maude "Lill" Putnam (1869 - 1948)

Father	Tyler Putnam (1795 - 1849)
Mother	Phoebe Woodbury ( - 1874)
Sibling	Mary Ann Putnam (1821 - 1888)
Sibling	Alvan Woodbury "AW" Putnam (1824 - 1891)
Sibling	Julia Leland Putnam (1828 - 1851)
Sibling	Emily Jane Putnam (1830 - 1902)
Sibling	Henry Tyler Putnam (1832 - 1892)
Sibling	Susan Elisabeth Putnam (1835 - 1836)

Notes