The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-01-13
From the Minnesota Republican.
Trip to Cannon River.

Mr.. EDITOR Having just returned from
short excursion south and west from st. An
thOny, it occurs to me that some Of your read
ers may wish the benefit of our observations
And so you have our Notes by the way"
After leaving Mendoza, on our way to the
Falls of Cannon river, we passed over beautl-
full rolling country, mostly oak opening, for Sc
ven miles, when we came to most fertile prar
RE, skirted with timber, which continued three
miles, to Carr's-the first stage house on the
line to Dubuque. His hotel, or stage-hOuse"
is log cabin. with shed roof, having but one
rOOm-abOut twelve by fourteen feet in Size
which answers all the purposes OF reception
room, parlOr, dning-rOOm. sleepng-ro0m,
Kitchen &c. We found the landlord and his
good lady quite accommodating and pleasant
people. They gave us good dinner, and we
went on our way six miles over a fine prairie
to the crossing of the VermilliOn river, where
we found a family from Illinois, who had
had been there but two months, in which time
the man had procured lumber from st. Antho-
ny, and had got good house nearly enclosed
But the only room they are as yet able to occu-
py, is still smaller than that at Cars In this,
however, they manage to accommodate travel
lers, besides their own family, consisting of six
persons. In these small quarters, we were,
two OF u.s. accommodated in the true spirit of
Western hospitality.
From this place we Travelled over prairie and
opening, twelve miles, to the Falls of Cannon
river, where we found three families residing,
and where Mr.. Freeborn is about building q
mill. This is twenty miles back of the village
of Red Wing. The land in this vicinity is good
but the timber is not very abundant. Nine
miles above these Falls the L" Big Woods COM
mence, and extend, we are told, from the Can
non river, to the Minnesota, and west to the
source of the Cannon. On the south of this ri
yer the prairie is almost as extensive as the
timber is on the north, and is being settled We
ry rapidly. From this point the country is
quite thickly settled for thirty miles up Can
non river, and near twenty miles up the Strait
river. We were told by persons who had just
come through from Iowa, and were making
claims on the Strait river. that there were set
Elements all along the valleys of Strait and Cc-
dar rivers, to the Iowa line. This is said, by
the government surveyors, to be the nearest
and much the best stage route from st. Paul 10
Dubuque.
The town of Farribault is situated at the
confluence of the Strait and Cannon rivers
The people there say it is to be the County seat
of Rice County, and the greatest inland city of
southern Minnesota. a more loI ely site for
town is not to be fonnd in the territory. or
one surrounded by more inviting county for
agriculture. And that is duly appreciated by
those who visit it is proved by its rapid settle
ment. AS specimen of the enterprise display
ed in that vicinity. will mention one family
whose house we passed five miles this side of
Farribaut. The house and store are still I'M
finished, but the work is prospecting rapidly
While part of the sons have gone to Dubuque
with OK teams for portion OF their stock of
goods that were frozen in there, the other pOr-
ton having arrived at Hastings. 1t is said
they bring on large stock of goods, sixteen
horses, near hundred mead of cattle and a
thousand sheep. Most Of the settlers, we were
told, are Vermont and New Hampshire farmers.
There are hundreds of families who have NOV
ed into this vicinity during the past summer
(sOme of them have not been in thcr present
homes monthly who arc now living without
schools, without ministers, doctors, or even
lawyers and still, they seemed to be living
quite comfortably, and enjoying the prospect
of that "gOOd time coming when all these
| things shall be added unto them. There is q
saw mill just completed at Farribault and
grist mill is to be built there in the spring
stores are being erected, mechanics are coming
In, and there Is, i'll Short every indication of Il
thriving town. They have a regular weekly
mail from st. Paul. and there is a mail-route
established from that point to Traverse des
Sioux ; and also to Fort Atkinson in Iowa.
The season is about two weeks earlier there
than in st. Paul, it being further south. Wild
plums and crab apples grow there in great
abundance and furnish much fruit to the set
tiers. Fish abound in the lakes and streams
wild fowls in the forests. Those who wish to
settle in thriving town, and those who arc in
pursuit of pleasure. health, good farms, will
do well to visit this part of our territory.
Yours &c. n.
st. ANTHONY Jan. 3D. 1855