On December 27th, 1862, Phiney Wells signed this document in St. Peter to enlist in the First Mounted Rangers. Wells stated that he was born in New York and that he was 25 years and eight months old. He listed his occupation as a farmer. Wells had blue eyes, dark hair, a light complexion, and was 5 feet 10 inches tall. The document was signed by D.R. Kennedy, who was the quartermaster of the regiment. Wells was obligated to serve for up to 12 months.
An 1889 broadside issued by the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway (predecessor of the Great Northern Railway) containing a lithograph of a prosperous Marshall County, Minnesota farmstead. 3) Single-page broadside, printed, includes text and engraving, black ink on thin pale yellow paper, 9 x 26-in., fragile, but encapsulated in polyester.
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.
Lawson, Victor E.; Tew, Martin E.; Nelson, J. Emil
Date Created:
1905
Description:
This is the first published history book of Kandiyohi County. This history describes the many aspects of the County's history including: early settlements, Native Americans, U.S. Dakota Conflict of 1862, politics, Monongalia County history, State Capital lands, geology. Each township also has its own history, which includes a plat map, history of school districts, churches and biographies.
R.B. McLean came to Superior, Wisconsin, in June of 1854 on the schooner "Algonquin." McLean recollects several trips along Lake Superior's North Shore, both before and after the 1854 Treaty of LaPointe, searching for veins of copper. He discusses early settlers on the North Shore, the first election in St. Louis County in 1855, the first mail route from Superior to Grand Portage (which McLean delivered), and the first cabins built in Duluth in the winter of 1854-55.
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.
The community of St. Peter was initially, and for a very brief time, known as Rock Bend, a name taken because of the presence of a sharp bend in the course of the Minnesota River on the east side of the settlement. The name was used probably from late in 1853 until sometime in 1854. The envelope shown here, addressed to Charles E. Flandrau (1828-1903), who was living in the area at the time, is one of only a few objects that survived with the name "Rock Bend" on it. Flandrau, himself, became a very prominent resident of the State of Minnesota. Among many other duties during his lifetime, he commanded the defenders of New Ulm in August of 1862 and later served on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
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.
An undated broadside issued by the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company, which contains the same lithograph described in the item "through Golden Valleys in Minnesota" (below), but identified as being a different Farm belonging to a different couple. Single-page broadside, printed, includes text and engraving, black ink on thin pale yellow paper.
Promotional pamphlet, with text, statistics, and illustrations, aimed at attracting potential settlers on farmsteads in the state. It extols Minnesota's agricultural resources, including its climate, soil conditions, suitability for various crops and livestock, farmer's organizations, and the general education and economic setting.
This document, dated May 11th, was sent to Eugene St. Julien Cox of St. Peter, who was the Captain of Company E of the First Mounted Rangers. The document addressed Cox as a major, but various records indicate that his highest rank was that of captain. Cox was ordered to include Sibley County in the sub-district for which he was responsible. He was also informed that a new squad had been organized in New Ulm, and that ""trappers report Indians plenty west of here."" The letter was sent from Mankato by Second Lieutenant and Adjutant George A. Clarke. The document appears to have an 1865 date, but Cox served from December 10, 1862, until November 11, 1863, and Clarke served from December 20, 1861, until December 20, 1864. It therefore appears that the document was sent in 1863.
Martha Dieter describes her childhood including her family's experiences at Fort Ridgley, her fathers imprisonment at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War, being vaccinated for small pox and moving to Rochester.
Martha Dieter describes her childhood including her family's experiences at Fort Ridgley during the Civil War, the Indian Wars, pioneer medicine, her fathers imprisonment at Andersonville Prison during the Civil Was, being vaccinated for small pox, her mother's pension and moving to Rochester.
A handwritten manuscript written by Richard Coxe (1817-1898) chronicling the journey of Edward and Mary Coxe, parents of Richard Coxe and Robert Coxe, from Waterford, Ireland, first to Boston, Massachusetts, and then New York, New York, where Edward died. Mary remarried and died shortly thereafter leaving her sons in the care of her new husband. The manuscript depicts the conditions and circumstances that separated the brothers, Robert and Richard, until their reunion as adults and ultimately brought Richard north to White Bear, Minnesota, where he died in 1898. The manuscript was written circa 1880.
This letter is undated and unsigned, but probably was written by Rhoda George after the death of her husband, James. She writes about finances, funeral expenses and important papers. There are problems with the probate proceedings bacause of the strange wording in the will. She has almost no money left and can not access her husband's money. Ned will take his bar examination on April third. Her widow's pension application has been filled out and is expected to be mailed the next day.
Ellen Clark writes from Crow Wing (Chippewa) Indian Agency, to husband Edwin Clark telling of President Abraham Lincoln's appointment of Joel Basset to Indian Agent of the Mississippi River, Pillager, Red Lake, Pembina and Winnebago Chippewa (Ojibwe) Bands.
Ellen Clark wrote to her husband Edwin Clark, telling him that he has several important letters, one from H.H. Sibley. He should beware of the Indians on his travels.
Edwin Clark receives a letter from his wife Ellen Clark at Crow Wing (Chippewa) Indian Agency, telling him that there is much whiskey and it should be stopped.