The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-31
(;oOsehue County.
Rxp WING. March Ia, 1859.


I'd horsrioaerr aud Democrat
Your circular Is at hand, and in reply to
the request il contains, | herewith transmit
such information as have been able TO OBJ
tain:
The first settlement made within the
territory now comprised in the county Of
Goodhue, outside of missionary and Indian
trader stations, was made in the Spring Of
1882 by JomS DAr,a present resident OF
this town; he was followed in the course of
few moa;hs by DIR. w. ". SWEENEY JAS
McGiNNs and others. These settlements
was in the vicinity Of the spot where Red
Wing now stands, there being here Mis-.
sionary and trading station. The NJ Visionary.
Rev. j. w. HANCOCK, was sent among the
Sioux sometime within the years 1859.
About the same time CALVIN PorrER 10
Gated himself nj the station as an Indian
trader. The process Of settlement, was slow
The Indian title was cNtingushed in the
winter of 1888, but the settlers titles
were not obtained till some two or three
years subsequent. Little was accomplished
until the Spring OF 1854; ut the end Of that
year Red Wing contained 300 inhabitants
In 1885 the population considerably more
than doubled. Since that time il growth
has been quite rapid. The last census taken
10 1857, gave the place II population Of
1000 souls.
The county was organized In 1883. The
present population Oi The county ~ near M
il eau be estimated. is placed Mt ten thou
sand. The value Oftaxable property in 1857
was, according TO our assessment rolls Of that
year, 81 800 1000. The assessment IL about
the same this year. M land PER acre is assessed
at less figure than the year before 10
1856 it WAS about 100000, in 1888 about
100000.
1oodhuc county contains about 800 square
miles nearly the whole Of which may b.
Described as iiuc lands fertile aud very pro-
ductve. Finely located farms can now be-
obtained at from two and half to three
dollars pr acre, and on three FIVE ard ten
years time The surface Of our prairies IL
rolling. and the soil Is composed Of rich
black loan No portion Of the State is
better supplied with wood and water. The
Cannon, the several branches Of the Iumbro,
and D,any minor streams afford a. every p0r.
ton full supply oi pure water. aud on their
banks, and along the Mississippi, abound an
endless amount OF timber There is scarcely
section Of land through which there does
not flow stream Of some sort, and along
the Cannon, Zumbro, Bell Creek and other
streams, are many fine mill privileges, not
few Of which are already well improved The
county is well supplied with good roads
mail facilities, &c.
The principal towns outside Of Rcd Wing
are; Cannon Falls, an important maDufac-
turing point, is being located at the junction
the two branches Of the Cannon river. II
has several mills 10 successful operation.
II contains a population Of about 700 souls,
an active enterprisIng place Pine Island
IL place containing in the vicinity Of 800
inhabitants. It's advantages ARE 10 he found
10 IT. excellent water power, and the rich
nes Of the country surrounding IL, and the
bOuDtIiul supply Of timber with which Il IL
po@sessd. Much 81 the latter Ia suitable Tor
lumber Iumbrota. on the north branch
Of the Ilmbro river, IN about the sze and
may answer 10 the same description with
Pine Island. Roscoe, Kenyon. LILLIAN, &c,
are AFRO important interior town, with pop
ulAt,ors ranging 10 the vicinity Of 400 PEG
pie each. Along Lake PepiD, below Rcd
Wing, IL located the towns d WaroDta,
We-terveIt, Florence AMI Central Point,
all places Of considerable note. Lake Pcpin
valley IL widely celebrated Tor ia beauty
and fertility The latter mentioned towns
are comprised within i,s choicest sections.
and give great promise Of iuture prrperi'y.
The character Of our population will
compare isvorably with any sec,ioo Of the
West. The majority are from New Eng
laod and New York We have, however,
large settlements Of NorwegiaDs, Swedes
and Germans
l.. y. HCsBARD,