The new era., 1860-06-21


the rails that Bergson had drawn, and a
substantial fence was built. He fell
some trees across the aforementioned
ravine, which served for a bridge
TOR foot passengers Often, with us
ana other friends, he ascended the
piateau where the business of town
Is now mostly done, and admiringly dis
coursed ofits exact fitness for a town
site, never failing to close with the
prophecy, "Here will be a town. p.
OF some weather-beate scantling he
put up the frame of the house he now
occupies. 1t stood for long time un-
finished; and as it stood through the
rains Of autumn and storms of win-
ter without shingle or board, we began
to think the future city was having a
hard beginning-a struggle between
hope and despair. But our friend was
not OF the kind to give up. He had
started to build city, and he was going
to co it. He cut down the small trees
that stood in what was TO be the park.
He, got shingles,,and boards, and finished
his house, and moved into it with An
tome and family Edelbrook now went
below, aud brought up few articles for
sale-a little tobacco, few pairs of
brogans, little clothing, few dozen Of
them 10 the new house; and
thus commenced St. Cloud store keep
ing.
Our next recollection is of a "raising"
Just down across the plateau of green
grass. Antoine had the frame for the
first hotel ready for raising. The scat
tered settlers congregated; the un-
wieldy timbers were put together, the
tamarack rafters fitted to each other---
and this was the beginning ofthe e'WiIis
House" 1t was an awkward-looking
frame, and, for time, an awkward
looking building. From its present i'm
proved appearance, one can form no
opinion Of its original. Antoine Edel-
brock kept the first tavern; for upon
the completion of his own building, he
moved into it, and when strangers came
along, took them in.
THE PROSPECTS.
BY this time, the claim was surveyed
into town lots, by our indie fatigable
friend, whose hopes Of the future of his
place were now high as the stars; and
rs an earnest of the reality of these
hopes, he named it after the French
oalais royale, SAINT CLOUD.
We generally saw him now With his
nap under his arm, ,whicn was yariegated !
by many colors, with here Percy Place,
and there Washington Avenue; and as
&c stepped to expatiate upon the real
merits of the embryo city, the incredul-
'us--whlch were indeed many-nothinr
inspired by his vaticinations---were seen
hrugging their shoulders, and casting
glances at each other: and
'hen our enthusiastic friend had folded
p his map and left, they all of one ac-
ord would say, in downright earnest
Wilson is crazy. He nerer can make
town over there" But Wilson wasn't
razy-though his aceusers were-and
e knew it; so nothing daunted or dis
outraged, he worked on and worked
'Isely, vehemently protesting that his
'o"fd be The town on the Upper Mis-
sslppi, and that Sauk Rapids, Watab
nd Little Falls, and all such old fogies,
ould have occasion to laugh at the other
ornef of the mouth before he had done i
was at the head of navigation. 1t
as blessed with a splendid location. II /
as backed up by a glorious farming !
'untry. 1t was on an air line from t
hlcago and the Lakes, to Puget Sound a
was Just the point for the terminus If t
future Railroad from Lake Suner;or il
nese were some Of the arguments used
our friend in favor Of his claim |,
ley were true then as they are now. r
d as truthful historian we have n :
cord that the prediction made in rela !.
q TO other towns around is verified T
ch and every one ofthem now be;no a
gagged in the interesting exercise pre. i
yea of them, as compensatIng pun
ment for their former unbelief
how our friend circulated a pet;t;on:
procured many signers, for a Post |,
nee, and how it was forthwith estab- "a
e 'ed' Is IS known to every old settler :
now , he procured the establishment as
The new County; how the, anno;n, 9
Mt of Judges and Justices. and Com. y
'sioners, by the Territorial Execut. )"
! now ne got the County Seat fixed. "a
'ins' bitter opposition, precisely where =
wanted it.; how he sen,;a 70