Mille Lacs County, Minnesota/landmarks

Dear Mlle Lacs County Times,

I was delighted to discover an article about Benjamin Franklin Soule, my Grt.Grt.Grt. Grandfather's part in contributing to Milaca's early history. My Aunt Harriet Soule Ball was the genealogist in our family. She told us that George Soule came to America on the Mayflower. The family's early history in America was very easy to follow because the New Frontier was right on the east coast in Plymouth Mass.

The Soule family stayed in Plymouth for 5 generations. Then, the wonderlust set in. David Soule and his family moved to Brownsville, Maine. One of his son's Benjamin Franklin and his bride Phebe Smith lived in Brownsville, ME until they moved to the Milaca area.

After Benjamin F. sold his lumber mills, his son, Smith (Nathaniel) Soule traveled to Idaho as a timber harvester. Smith died there from Rocky Mtn. Fever. Emogene Gertrude Bigelow Soule brought his body hone and buried him in Mlle Lacs Cemetery. Several months later, their daughter, Marjorie, married my grandfather, a forest ranger. Five children were born in the the Natl. Forests in Idaho. I'm just now starting to appreciate what "TOUGH" means.

I have a picture of Emogene when she was older and residing in Princeton. I have a young picture of handsome Smith Soule. I have a picture of Phebe Smith Soule when she was elderly. On of the pictures is a large group of ladies all dressed in full length white dresses, which include Phebe and Emogene. And I have a birthday card to my 8 year old mother from Emogene, dated 1924, 3 months before her death. I will be happy to share the photos I have.

If you or your historical society have and pictures of Soule's Landing Hotel or Ben, Phebe, or Emogene, I would gratefully appreciate your efforts. Now, I must visit MN.

Sincerely, Marilyn Stanfield Soule Woody M0SS