The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-06-18
Taylor.s Falls.


Ashas been published TO the world thousand
times, thisis the most northern point of continue
Gus steamboat navigation from below on the wa
tiers ofthe Mississippi OF its tributaries. The eel
ebrated Falls Of st. Croix are half mile above.
but boats cannot ascend over Taylor's Falls !;
although there is no precipitous fall at the
latter place, only swift rapids. The scenery
and character of this bold and romantic locali-
ty has been so often described by able pens,
that we will not hazard all we could do-a bare
attempt to go over the ground successfully
The picture is graphically and truly delineated
in Mrs. Ellet's Summer Rambles in the West
to which we invite the attention of those of our
readers who have never visited this noted spot.
Suffice it to say, that those who visit MinnesO-
ia, and 60 away without seeing Rock Island,
the Delles,' Taylor's Falls and the Falls of st.
Croix, leave ont of the note book of their oh
servatons section of country and scenery
that is worth going three times the distance to
behold. There is nothing like it anywhere else
in this part of the world. No conception can
he formed OF the character of its boldness and
grandeur by viewing the Falls of st. Anthony
1t is altogether piece architecture and work
manship of an entirely different style, as much
so as Corinthian palace is different from a
Gothic cathedral.
The biologists have told us all about the
formations of this region. The dark green trap
rock-known by the common name of green
stone similar in texture and general appear
ance to the more grayish copper bearing rock Of
Lake Superior, is thrown up here in immense
masses, lying all over the surface so thick that
team cannot be driven over it with safety
This upheaving process has only been carried
on in the immediate vicinity of the Falls. Halt
mile back on the Minnesota side it entirely
disappears. This is also copper bearing rock;
and it is not uncommon to find large boulders
of pure copper in eXcavating wells and cellars
We have one now on our table, taken from
we'll Immediately in the village of Taylor's
Falls a few weeks since, which weighs about
one pound. and is over ninety per cent of pure
copper. There is no doubt that this metal ex-
lists in large quantities in this trap range but
at the present time the citizens of the Falls have
ton than prospecting for copper.
Taylor Falls is really one of the oldest pla-
ces in Minnesota, although the neat and pleas
ant village of thirty or forty houses-all taste
fully built and clearly painted-which one sees
there now. has sprung into existence during
the past two years. The claim upon which
this thriving village stands, was made by Jesse
Taylor, Esq, a well known citizen of Stillwat-
er. He afterwards entered iuto partnership
with Mr.. Baker, an Indian Trader. remembered
by all our older settlers as the gentleman who
built the large stone house on the Mississippi,
above Fort Smelling, now owned by Kenneth
Mckenzie, Esq, of st. Louis. Mcssrs. Baker.
Taylor and others proceeded here 70 erect the
first mill ever commenced on the ST. Croiy.-
Mr.. Baker died before it was completed, and the
frame was afterwards removed to Osceola. six
miles below on the Wisconsin side, where it was
regretted and still stands, doing good service
for itsprescnt owners. jesse Taylor subsequent
ly sold his claim to Joshua L. Taylor, the gen
tleman first appointed Marshal of Minnesota
by President Taylor in 1919, who still owns Il
poit VI tHS olu Sidiii. -AiotiitI VI lHC
lor family, a brother off. L., and a we'll known
and influential citizen of the ST. Croiy Valley
in partnership with Mr.. Fox. at this time carries
on trade in the old 'claim cabin erected by
Jesse in 1887 SO it will be seen there is no
sense i'll calling the place anything else than
Taylor's Falls. Mr.. W. II. C. Folsom holds forth
on the opposite corner in the same busness-tbat
of general mcrchandize-wlch two establish
mcnts complete the stock of mercantile trans
actions at Taylors Falls. lie is engaged in a
very extensive trade with the lumjermen, and
is one of the master spirits Of the Upper St.
CroiN.
There is no installing the fact, that Taylor s
Falls is already place-quitc placc-and is
bound TO be a still greater one. There are two
good hotels already finished aud the one at
which we stopped, the Chsago House, is better
jurnished4nn as well kept-barrIng the incon-
venience of having no meat and vegetable mar
ket at hand,-as any house in st. Paul, St. An
thony, or Saltwater. lfany Of our visitors from
below arc crowded for want Ofroom and accom-
modations in this quarter, let them 90 over and
Spcilu lCW VEGAS Win our lGlcnu SGmDbeii
and his excellent lady. at the Chisago. Wene-
Yer hated to leave place SO much in our life
when absent from home. Some of the finest
trout and other fishing, as well as hunting, to
be found in this northwestern region, is about
these Falls. : great many improvements in
the way of building, are in progress at Taylor $
Falls, among them large new store for Messrs
Taylor & Fox. With men at the helm such as
Folsom and the brothers Taylor, as well as
many others we might name as leading citizens
of the place; situated so as to command the
trade of the increasing numbering region to the
north being at the extreme head of navga-
ton. and with an unequallcd farming country
back, there can be no retrograde movement to
Taylors Falls. We regretted many of the cit-
zens were absent on their drives which pre-
vented our meeting them at home, as we had
wished. But those we did meet are of the fright