Hello Pat, Just a thought........................Back in the day lumbering was the main means of jobs. From lumbering came the need of railroads. My family is from that area, most from Stillwater (Washington) MN. Slitter was considered a very large town (the birthplace of MN) where many lumber and railroad (rich people) lived and built huge home's and businesses. I believe every railroad that was in business at that time was represented and brought great wealth to the St. Crook Valley. My grandfather worked for the Great Northern Railroad as an electrician, when the lumbering business died out, about 1920, he was transferred to St. Paul to work for them. The railroads have some good records, ofcourse, in the same places all other archives are. The Washington Co Historical Society has or had much of that information, I understand some of it has been sent to the Minnesota History Center. Good Luck, Judy