Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1857-01-31

In 1852 Neal D. Shaw, ESQ.,, sstuck his stakes
on the north side of Rum River and made his res
idence in the old log-bouse erected by Orrin Rice,
| on the left of the road. Here he remained alone,
his only neighbors being the Indians who ecca-
sionally stopped at his house while on their hunt
ing expeditions, and occasionally teamster or
two on their way to Fort Ripley or to some of the
| up-river settlements. In the Spring of 1853 he
made sale of portion of his claim to the
Ncssrs. Woodburys and Farnham. Immediately
on concluding this sale, the proprietors began
their task of surveying the town, laying out sts.,
and erecting buildings for the accommodation of
| ew-comers. Soon after the frames of one or
two houses were erected, and then came COM
pany OF workmen, engineers, DC. who had been
sent out by Government to erect a bridge across
Rum river at this point. In a very short time the
bridge was built, not much embelished it is true,
but fully answering the wants of the public. AS
soon as the first start was made, everything went
on swimmingy. Early in June party went up
Rum River and CUT the lumber necessary for
dam. The work was soon begun and in the fall
of 1853 dam was completed 400 feet long and
10 nigh. On this dam two Saw-mi were erect
ell, and by Spring the whole was so far compile
ted that the mills operation. but were put in
scarcely had they commenced running when the
river, which had risen very high in consequence
of the Spring rains and thaws, gradually UNDER
mined the dam and at last forced its way through
it, and in one short hour the work of months
destroyed. The proprietors, however, instead of
mourning their loss set themselves to work to re-
pair the damage. Within few months from the
time of the disaster, the dam was rebuilt, and if
possible is better than the first.
During this time other improv vements had been
going Oh. A large frame house had been erected
for Geo. W. Branch, who for some time made it
his residence. He subsequently disposed of it to
j. S. Shaw, who built an addition to it and open
ed it hotel. A store and blacksmith shop
were erected as well as several dwellings.
During the winter and Spring of l854-5, Mes
srs. Woodbury. and Larnard erected on the South
bank Of the river, a substantial Grist- mill, a
sluice having been built on that side of the river,
nearly 100 feet long. This mill, which cost about
ST 500, was DESTROYED by fire with grain to the
amount of S., 1000, just one month after starting.
Not in the least daunted, the proprietors began,
in June of that year, to rebuild the mill, and it
was completed by fall at cost of ST., 800. 1t
is now the best mill in the Northern part of the
Territory-the main building being "a by 60 and
three stories high. The propeiing machinery
consists of three driving wheels which SET in mo-
tion three separate run of stone. Two run of
stone used for wheat and one for corn, beside
having one separate bolt for buckwheat. The
capacity of the mill is 100 pounds of -four per
hour Or 30 bushels corn feed or 20 bushels tne
meal per hour. 1t is fact worthy of notice, that
none but Minnesota wheat is used here, ana that
it makes excellent -four.
j. S. Woodbury. had built the same year
on the right bank of the river, a substantial saw
mill, but unfortunately did not get the machine
ry by the specified time. Late in the fall of 1885,.
it arrived, but too late to do anything that fall,
but in the winter it was put up really for opara
ton in the Spring. Before anything could be ac-
complished, the great food OF last wear Csc y
carried away the dam bodily to. ether with thou
sands of logs, proving serious Joss to all con-
cerned. The mill, which was ready to run. alone
remained, the double saw-mill which was on the
dam having been carried AWAY by the food. The
oTners OF the remaining mill immediately built
steam one, few hundred rods above the dam.
which they succeeded in putting in operation by
July. 1t contained double engine IA inch cyl-
lnder. "a inch stroke, land tour circular ,shin
gle and lath machines. This is excellent mill
ana has turned out a vast amount of work this
season. The new dam, which is now nearly COM
pieted. is one OF the strongest we have seen in
the Territory. 1t is 400 feet long and I6 feet a.
bOve ,Ow-water mark. In the center is a roll-way
lOO feet long, and feet lower than the main body
| Of the dam. Through the middle of this is q
suce, two feet lower and 20 feet wide, enabling
legs to pass at the lowest stage of water.--
The foundation to the whole is layer of brush,
l6 feet deep, extending 100 feet up and down
stream. Below the dam is an apron 100 feet wide
and about 80 feet long, sloping gradually down
the river, so that logs can be feated along with
out the least difficulty. j. S. Woodbury. Co.'s
mill, containing Knowles Circular Saw, one up
right, lath, shingle and planning machine, is now
IN operation, and two new mills will be erected
in the Spring. In addition to these there are on
the right bank OF the river, two sash, door and
| blind factories; one owned by Blodgett & Lewis,
whose work is of the best quality. The factory
owned by Smith & Hascom, runs 2 saws and one
| planer, and turns out good work.
| Below the Bridge is the Agricultural Tool Fac
n (pn,n & -
engine and very complete machinery, turning out
! all kinds OF work, from wash. board to a plow;
from clothes pins to a wagon wheel. On the
Point'' Messrs. Robbins & Son have a steam
saw.mill, OF fifteen horse power, which, though
| small, does good work. Next season it will be
improved. Across the Mississippi at this point,
Messrs. Robbins, Hoyt, and others have swing
ferry in operation. e.
| The other business establishments in Anoka are
two hotels--the st. Lawrence House, kept by
Mounts d johnson, and the Travellers Home
one Livery Stable, Real Estate agents Sd. B.
Shaw, 5. Wheeler Shaw, and Geo. Smiley. One
Notary Public and Architect, G. Ii. Smith two
Hareware stores, Davis & Bunce and G. II. Smith.
| l wholesale and retail boot and shoe and cloth
| ing establishment, ID. Y. Jones Co. /; 4 general
assortments-J. w. Putnam, II. l.. Ticknor j.
+, kupper &c Co. and J. B. Shaw, beside black
smiths, tailor and shoe shops. sqe
Religious matters in Anoka are well attended
to: There are three organizations, Baptist, Meth
odlst and Presbytcrian. There is also School
House built, and school is in operation. There
are in the town between 60 and 10 dwellings and
more are going up. Next Spring this will be one
OF the busiest and most thriving towns above st.
Anthony. So far it has pushed ahead without
the aid OF gas, as it is commonly termed, but the
proprietors have relied more on the ratural adj
vantages of the point, combined with the encr-
gy OF its inhabitants to enable it to compete with
others who have sounded their own fame. We
wall only add, success to Anoka.