Minnesota weekly times., 1856-10-11
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Hi-16pS sS the CITY = Minneapolis

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& ,Mipnea polls Is oncsoii the .most beautifully
siiudted towns In the West. 1t is located on
the west bank OK the Mississippi, Immediately
opposite the Falls Of ST. Anthony. On this
side ~of the river the banks are admirably
adapted for the erection OF warehouses to the
waters edge, and moi, exceeding five to seven
feet above the wat.r. The ground gradually
ascends for some distance from the banks,
forming natural d.,ain.
The first settlers in this town came here in
lS49. The land was then included in the
Fort4 Smelling Reserve, reservation of-nine
miles square. around The fort, for the purposes
of forage.
For some time subsequent 10 the settling of
Minneapolis, persons hald ing claims were con-
tinually in fear Of having their hard-earned
homesteads wrested from them, and pf. losing
the fruits Of their labor, In 1852 Congress
passed an act by which the most Of the lands
included in the reserve Were thrown open to
bona tide settlers From that time it rapidly
increased. The first building erected in Min.
neapolis was the old government mill, built
tor the purpose Of grinding: grain for the use
Of Fort Spelling garrison. The saw-rnill just
below the falls was built by government, but
has so often been repaired that but little of the
old mill is left. This will soon be removed,
TO- give room for more subs tantial improve.
menGs. 4 ss.,.4ss. r.,
In the winter Of ls49-50, Colonel Stephens
built the first dwelling in Minneapolis. Till
the summer following, the Colonel and his
family were the sole Inhabitants Of the q City
Of Minneapolis" They were solitary and
alone In the summer following G. A.. Tuttle,
Esq, moved with his family to- che west side
oflthe river The first female ,child born in
this town is COL Stevens little tighter, now
about five years OF age, and the first male child
is" Willie Tuttle." #s8. ao;,i,
After these came Mr.. Miller, DR.. Fletcher,
DR.. ,Ames, J. Jackins, Edward Murphy Chas.
Hoag, and Joel Bassett. I'1S
AT the earliest formation Of the Il ,wn, the
name to be given to the young city caused
much difficulty. "All Saints was Ire first
title given to it. In 1851 came Lowell" "
albion was selected at subsequent m,veting
of claim-holders. This not satisfying any
better than the others, it was decided that
Geo. ID. Bowman, ESQ.,, then editor of ,thx. 81.
Anthony Express, should give the towua a
name, With great difficulty he found ons, to
suit. He called it ~. S. ,sr
MINNEAPOLIS,
A name which gave entire satisfaction 1t is
composed of two words. .Minneha, the Sioux
name for water, and the we'll known Greek
word polls, a city. But word in relation TO
.Minneha 1t was generally supposed tina,
asinne-ha signiied g falling fwater.'' The
name was originally spelt JNinmehapolis. We
find. however, by careful examination of the
| . Dictionary of the Dakota Language" that
there is no such word as minne-ku. \ Mime
signifies water, but we find no. compound
making falling water" The word ,Aa, whe-
ther alone or in conjunction with others, has a
| meaning quite too remote from that generally
given it ever to form the word .Ninne-ha.o :
The first Store in Minneapolis was erected
| by Thomas Chamberlin, 1853 In 1854 this
| was burned down. Since then business has
| been steadily increasing till the present time,
| and has received the attention of men of un.
bounded energy. a.5 aa aga esa y,a4.
Religious service was held here as early as
1851, when. Rev. ]. H. Pond began giving
occasional sermons in Col. Stevens house.
| The Rev. J. c. Whitney, now Pastor Of the
| Presbyterian Church, was the first settled min
lister in the place. He was followed by the
Rev. G. G. Ames, of the Free Will Baptis,
Church The Rev. A. A. Russell, of the
! Baptist Home Missionary Society, then came
and settled among US. He is now Pastor Of
the lst Baptist Church Of Minneapolis, and is
| universally loved and respected. 'oal ieaeia z
In 1855 an Act was passed by Congress by
which settlers on the Reserve were allowed 10
pre-empt their claims. This at once ended a
source Of great anxiety to the settlers. = a,ls
| Cipco that tirno M;n pol;c hoe ,t .,
rapid rate, and a person who saw Minneapolis
IN 1851 or 1852 would not recog nizs It in its
present guise, with new Churches, Court
House, brick stores, and the handsomely laid
out streets with rows Of buildings. e-@es
The City Of Falling Water has undergone
a thorough metamorphosis. We will give in
our next short sketch oil the latest improve.
| ments. iR 8a# M sl Mnoa soa sub i1dW 45l
| liaum THE COUNTY COURT HOUSE. g.gl 70
4 The Court House which is now in course oi
erection, is on the hill which forms part of DR..
A. Z. ,Ames' property. DR.. Ames has given
| to the County two town lots free of charge,
and leased to the county said additional lots,
forming one entire block, for 10 years, and
the privilege Of purchasing at any time a,
| the regular market price Of lots. The plan for
the building was drawn by our friend, r. S.
Allen, the architect of the Cataract House and
University. sm. IS. sgssat4uo 1o.sllss
Mr.. Chas. Clark is the contractor and super
intendent Of the work. This edi6ce is TO be
built Of Minneapolis brick, with ranged stone
foundation and cut stone caps and sills. 1t is
81 feet front by 81 feet deep, (iucluding the
columns in 'front.' and two stories high,--the
first IL l-2 feet high and the second l9 1-2
The cellar in the Southwestern corner is
arranged for two substantial cells, each 20 BY
"a feet. On the right will besa fire-proo
vault. of double brick walls, two iron doors, and
strengthened by bandslof iron. 1t is five and
a half feet wide, twelve feet long, and nine
feet high. Sis sas gaasaf9o san 81 18i
The main floor will be divided by q Hall,
running lengthwise, l3 feet wide. Another
Hall will cross the building, IA feet wide. On
the first story will be six rooms for government
officers. The second story will contain court
room and two jury rooms. o2 yaa o|s a1' Z