Exterior view of the Pioneer Hotel building. A group of men and women stand in front of the building along with two horse-drawn wagons. The Pioneer Hotel was built by Robert Whiteside in 1887.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Postcard illustrating Nels Quevli and the Quevli Farm of "2243 acres, 10 sets of buildings located 10 miles north of the Iowa state line. Where corn is king." Signed by Nels Quevli and dated 1909.
A map showing the proposed community of Washington, Minnesota Territory, including streets, blocks, and lots. The Minnesota River is included. Washington was to be located in Section 4, T110N, R26W in Nicollet County, Minnesota. It was surveyed by Chas. Snyder in 1858. The Minnesota River would have been at the southeastern corner of the community, and the southern boundary would have bordered a proposed canal that would have entered the river.
A map showing the community of Eureka, including streets, blocks, and lots. The Minnesota River is included. Eureka was located in Section 33, T109N, R28W of Nicollet County, Minnesota, and was surveyed by Daniel L. Turpin. This town did not survive the severe economic downturn that began in 1857 that affected the entire United States and the Territory of Minnesota. It can now be regarded as part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing Union City, including streets, blocks, and lots. The town was located, or was to have been located, in Section 4, T109N, R28W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Wm. G. Wells was the surveyor for this map, which was created in 1856 for Thomas Gunn, one of the proprietors. Very little is known about Union City, which has not survived. It can now be regarded as a part of Lost Minnesota.
A map of a proposed community named Waheoka, including streets, blocks, and lots. The Minnesota River is included. The community was apparently to be located in Nicollet County, with southern and eastern boundaries along the Minnesota River, apparently near St. Peter and Traverse des Sioux. Spring Lake, looking more like a small stream on the map, divided the community into an east section and a west section. Waheoka was surveyed by Z. Wise in 1854 for Lyman Leach and Monroe Wright.
A map showing the community of McQuiston's Addition to Le Hillier City, including streets, lots, and blocks. The Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers are included. The town was to be located in Section 14, T108N, R27W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Surveyor C. A. Chapman certified the plat of the proposed community in June of 1858. This town did not survive the severe economic downturn that began in 1857 that affected the entire United States and the Territory of Minnesota. It can now be regarded as part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing the community of Redstone City, including streets, lots, and blocks. The town was located in Section 1, T109N, R30W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Frederick Leavenworth was the surveyor for this map, which was created in 1856 for proprietor Daniel Lothrop, Jr. Like its neighboring community of Redstone, Redstone City gradually faded away as a community, and can now be regarded as a part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing the community of Redstone, including streets, blocks, and lots. Redstone was located in Section 35, T110N, R30W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Frederick Leavenworth was the surveyor for this map, which was created in 1856 for Marshall B. Stone and other occupants and proprietors. Redstone faded away as a community in which to live, and can now be regarded as a part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing the community of Swan City, including streets, blocks, and lots. It was located in Sections 5 and 8, T109N, R28W of Nicollet County, Minnesota. Wm. G. Wells was the surveyor for this map, which was created in 1856 for proprietor Thomas Gunn. Swan City appears on a map of Minnesota dated 1866, but probably did not survive for very many years beyond that date. It can now be regarded as a part of Lost Minnesota.
A map showing the community variously known as Dakota, Dakota City, or Dakota Mills, including streets, blocks, and lots. The Minnesota River is included, as is a building labeled as McNutt's Dakota Mills. The community was located in Section 34, T109N, R28W in Nicollet County, and was "surveyed in 1856, drawn by Anthony D. McSweeney" for William H. McNutt, who is listed as the proprietor. This town did not survive the severe economic downturn that began in 1857 that affected the entire United States and the Territory of Minnesota. It can now be regarded as part of Lost Minnesota.
Image taken from bay showing the wooden footings for the first ore dock in Agate Bay. Wooden planks are lined up along the bank, Agate Bay House is the large building in the center of the image. Construction of the ore docks began in 1883.
Jerome Cooley headed north from Minneapolis in about 1869. On his way north, he stopped in Hinckley for about two and a half years, started the community of Barnum, and made it to Duluth in the spring of 1873. This 99-page memoir comes from his recollections and stories he had heard about the early history of Duluth. He covers subjects such as the digging of the ship canal, sailing the north shore in the early days, Duluth hotels, early industries, the volunteer Duluth Fire Department, real estate, mayors, the election of 1876, schools, and some early characters.
This 40-page book, published in 1897, describes the land and towns that lie on the route of the Saint Paul & Duluth Railroad. Chapters describe the route of the railroad; the counties the railroad passes through; various crops grown, including potatoes, grain, berries and small fruit, and dairying. The last chapter provides brief descriptions of some towns along the route, including Pine City, Hinckley, Finlayson, Rutledge, Willow River, Sturgeon Lake, Moose Lake, Barnum, Mahtowa, Carlton, Duluth, and West Superior.
This 64-page booklet, published by the Minnesota State Board of Immigration, extolls the value of Northeastern Minnesota as a land ideal for agriculture and livestock. The booklet describes a fertile new country with unique conditions unparalleled elsewhere." It also describes "established railways and rich markets within its own borders; contiguous to the most populous cities between Chicago and the North Pacific Coast. The booklet describes the various crops that can be raised successfully and the projected profit per acre. Includes numerous photographs of farms and livestock.
This contract, for a piece of land in Lyon County, Iowa, is between W.C. Watson of Close Brothers & Company and Herman Klitzke of Sioux County, Iowa. It is for the southwest quarter of Section 35 in Township 99 North, of Range 46 West of the fifth principal meridian. This is in Cleveland Township, Lyon County, Iowa. The contract involves 160 acres for the sum of $2,040 and includes a detail of payment made between September 14, 1886, and paid in full. The Close Brothers & Company, composed of William Close, James Close, John Close, Frederick Close and S.H. Graves, organized in 1876 and located in Pipestone in 1883. They also operated under the business names Western Land Company and the South Minnesota Land Company.
This contract, for a piece of land in Trego County, Kansas, is between Samuel Haughton Graves of Close Brothers & Company for William Austin, Robert Edward Bateman and Edward Ford North of England, and Theodore F. Crawford of Clay County Kansas. It is for the northeast quarter of Section 29 in Township 13 South, of Range 25 west of the sixth principal meridian. This is in Trego County, Kansas. The contract involves 160 acres for the sum of $1,040 and includes a detail of payment made between September 22, 1886 and 1889. The Close Brothers & Company, composed of William Close, James Close, John Close, Frederick Close and S.H. Graves, organized in 1876 and located in Pipestone in 1883. They also operated under the business names Western Land Company and the South Minnesota Land Company.
This contract, for a piece of land in Rock County, Minnesota is between Samuel Haughton Graves of Close Brothers & Company for South Minnesota Land Company and Robert J. Knox of Chenango County, New York. It is for the northeast quarter of Section 33 in Township 104 North, of Range 44 west of the fifth principal meridian. This is in Battle Plain Township, Rock County, Minnesota. The contract involves 160 acres for the sum of $1,520 and includes a detail of payment made between October 11, 1886, and cancelled for nonpayment in 1889. The Close Brothers & Company, composed of William Close, James Close, John Close, Frederick Close and S.H. Graves, organized in 1876 and located in Pipestone in 1883. They also operated under the business names Western Land Company and the South Minnesota Land Company.
This contract, for a piece of land in Trego County, Kansas, is between Sameul Haughton Graves of Close Brothers & Company for William Austin, Edward Ford North and Robert Edward Bateman of England, and Moses H. Patterson of Shelby County, Iowa. It is for the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 7 in Township 14 South, of Range 23 west of the fifth principal meridian. This is in Trego County, Kansas. The contract involves 77.9 acres for the sum of $525.83 and includes a detail of payment made between October 13, 1886, and cancelled for nonpayment July 26, 1888. The Close Brothers & Company, composed of William Close, James Close, John Close, Frederick Close and S.H. Graves, organized in 1876 and located in Pipestone in 1883. They also operated under the business names Western Land Company and the South Minnesota Land Company.
This contract, for a piece of land in Osceola County, Iowa, is between James B. Close of Close Brothers & Company and Herman Patterson of O'Brien County, Iowa. It is for the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 33 in Township 98 North, of Range 41 West of the fifth principal meridian. This is in Goewey Township, Osceola County, Iowa. The contract involves 80 acres for the sum of $1,040 and includes a detail of payment made between September 28, 1886, and 1889. The Close Brothers & Company, composed of William Close, James Close, John Close, Frederick Close and S.H. Graves, organized in 1876 and located in Pipestone in 1883. They also operated under the business names Western Land Company and the South Minnesota Land Company.
This contract, for a piece of land in Trego County, Kansas, is between Samuel Haughton Graves of Close Brothers & Company for William Austin, Robert Edward Bateman and Edward Ford North of England, and Myron W. Baldwin and Alfred B. Priseler of LaSalle County, Illinois. It is for the southwest quarter of Section 17 in Township 13 South, of Range 25 West of the sixth principal meridian. This is in Trego County, Kansas. The contract involves 160 acres for the sum of $1,040 and includes a detail of payment made between November 14, 1886, and 1888. The Close Brothers & Company, composed of William Close, James Close, John Close, Frederick Close and S.H. Graves, organized in 1876 and located in Pipestone in 1883. They also operated under the business names Western Land Company and the South Minnesota Land Company.
This contract, for a piece of land in Rock County, Minnesota, is between James Brooks Close of Close Brothers & Company for South Minnesota Land Company and George M. DeLaud of Lee County, Illinois. It is for the southwest quarter of Section 27 in Township 104 North, of Range 45 West of the fifth principal meridian. This is in Denver Township, Rock County, Illinois. The contract involves 160 acres for a sum of $1,520 and includes a detail of payment made between October 21, 1886, and paid in full January 18, 1887. The Close Brothers & Company, composed of William Close, James Close, John Close, Frederick Close and S.H. Graves, organized in 1876 and located in Pipestone in 1883. They also operated under the business names Western Land Company and the South Minnesota Land Company.
This contract, for a piece of land in Trego County, Kansas, is between Samuel Haughton Graves of Close Brothers & Company for William Austin, Robert Edward Bateman and Edward Ford North of England, and William E. Bowman of LaSalle County, Illinois. It is for the Southeast quarter of Section 11, Township 13 south, of Range 23 west of the sixth principal meridian. This is in Trego County, Kansas. The contract involves 160 acres for the sum of $1,040 and includes detail of payments made between December 9, 1886, and cancellation of contract December 26, 1903. The Close Brothers & Company, composed of William Close, James Close, John Close, Frederick Close and S.H. Graves, organized in 1876 and located in Pipestone in 1883. They also operated under the business names Western Land Company and the South Minnesota Land Company.
This contract, for a piece of land in Trego County, Kansas, is between Samuel Haughton Graves of Close Brothers & Company for William Austin, Edward Ford North and Robert Edward Bateman of England, and Lewis N. Burns of Tazewell County, Illinois. It is for the southwest quarter of Section 9 in Township 14 South, of Range 23 West of the sixth principal meridian. This land is in Trego County, Kansas. The contract involves 160 acres for the sum of $1,040 and includes a detail of payment made between November 1, 1886, and 1889. The Close Brothers & Company, composed of William Close, James Close, John Close, Frederick Close and S.H. Graves, organized in 1876 and located in Pipestone in 1883. They also operated under the business names Western Land Company and the South Minnesota Land Company.