The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-08-30
A Ride to Red Rock and Cottage


tween the Mississippi and ST. Croix rivers,
is known under the name of Red Rock and
Cottage Grove. In company with resi-
dent of the latter locality, who was well
qualified TO point out the many features of
those. sections which are most interesting to
the stranger, we last week took hasty tour
around that way. From the limited time
we had to spend abroad, we were unable to
take more than cursory chances at the nu-
merous objects worthy of observation, nor
had we time to note the improvements orfy
of part of the settlers. We came home
again reluctantly, but promising ourself the
pleasure of feyisting that region on an ear
iy occasion.
On horseback, we descended the steep
bluff in the rear of Pigs Eye, and came
nearly upon level with the Mississippi
bottoms, probably in an air line, some two
or three miles from ST. Paul. Here, on the
first ascent from the bottoms, are wide fields
OF heavy and excellent grasses, which we
presume TO be free 10 such as may desire 10
lay in their winters stock of hay. 1t would
be an easy matter 10 draw the hay in the
winter season, by way of the river to st. Paul.
We continued along the grade for some five
miles, passing by good moving grounds, of
which The people in the neighborhood have
awaited themselves considerably by already
having put up many stacks of hay.
AT distance of some ten miles, in an air
line from ST. Paul, we emerge from the oak
openings which are principally OH our left
and The meadows upon our right, into u
clear, dry prairie called Red Rock. In a
pleasant little thicket of various kinds of
trees, we arrive at the house of Mr.. John
Holton, who, after a residence of some five
or ten years, has made himself and family
almost as comfortable as they could be in an
older country. His lands extend back from
bis house among the oak openings, and in
front reach the river. Almost mile be-
yond, upon the rivers bank, is the residence,
store, and woodward of MIR. j. A. Ford.
He is an old settler. Within ten rods of
his house and close by the river, is the rock
from which the place derives its name.
This rock Is nearly round i'll shape, of about
the size of a hogshead, aud lying upon the
surface Of the ground. 1t is red-havlng
been painted by the Indians, and made an
object of worship. Within quarter of q
( IA %
houses, which were formerly occupied as
Mission school for the indians. The Rev.
gentleman who had charge of the school
resides there still in the quiet pursuit of ag-
rcuiture. Farther along, the prairie be-
CONES wider between the timber upon the
river and the bluffs which ma estcaly sweep
up Oh the left to height of at least 100 feet.
The prairie is here from one 10 two miles
in width. Here is the Improvement Of Mr..
Charles Caviieer, of St. Paul. The loca-
ton well commends his taste and judgment.
Farther along is the field Of MIR. w. 4.
Brown, comprising some fifty acres, in an
excellent state of cultivation. Upon the
left, high up the ascent, amid coiouade of
large oaks, Is his home; cheerful scene.
We pass OH some two miles over a wide ex-
panse of gently undulating prairie to the
farm of MIR. Atkinson, who is said to have
been very successful during the few years
he has lived here. Now bearing away to
the left, over prairie as wide, apparently,
end as beautiful as we ever saw, we arrive
in the course of some three miles to Mr.. L.
Hills, whose house shelters itself from the
winds of the west and north, under the
point of tall oak forest. His fields lie in
front. Looking east, across clear and
swaying prairie, We see ssCottage Grove"
Entering the west side Of this grove, we
pass down a gradual descent, in south
easterly direction by small pond, aud
through diversified scenes of knobs and
dells, over an extent of some three miles,
when we emerge upon another wide, and to
our eye limitiess, prairie, until we arrive at
the house of Mr.. II. Kennedy. Our course
has now bent around to this point, until we
are brought within a mile half of the
Mississippi. This is another of those beau
tfil spots which are invested with the
charms of home. The house stands back in
the edge of the timber, securely entrenched
from the storm in every direction but the
one which opens upon the fields. AT noon
in the interim of the hospitalites which we
here received, and which to our taste were
an earnest of there ''being a few more left''
for their guests, when MIR. and Mrs. K.
take the direction of the Central House of