Mark Cates came to Meeker County in 1856, and upon the filing of his claim in April of that year, he went back to Maine, where he got married, and then he returned and settled upon his land that same year. His property was located on section 20, Kingston township. Orrin Whitney came in March 1857, with his brother, Albion P. Whitney, Samuel B. Hutchins, and some others, and Orrin settled at Kingston. He helped build the mill put up by him and Averill & Hutchins in 1857 and 1858. It was the first grist-mill in the county. Also in 1857, Samuel A. Dorman came to Kingston and settled on section 17.