The new era., 1860-06-21
Saint Cloud.

49, AAASoSSsPPi river, JUST DelOW
what was then known as the ssBentor
City Warehouse" on the opposite
side.
Where st. Cloud now stands, before
the white settler had log cabin ia al
the charming valley of Sauk River. we
from our present residence, many time,
saw ascending the smoke of the Indiar
tepee, and the camp, fire glimmering, o.
an evening, through the scattered oak.
that stood around where the stores O
Bradford, Tenvoorde and Edelbrock now
are
Bergson was then living with Mr.
Sweet of this place, and occasionally
worked on the house we now occupy
under the direction Of Hon. j L. Will
son, who was engaged that year in bus
mess IN this town-then consisting oftwo
log houses, and our own the first at
tempt at frame building in all this re-
gion.
The winter following Bergson cut rails
enough to fence about hundred acres,
and drew them upon the ground. In
the spring he came to Mr.. Wilson,
at our house, said bewas going to leave
the territory, and that he wanted to sell
his claim on the other side. His price
was $500, rails included. Mr.. Wilson
hesltated. He thought the price high.
In fact, our friend John, in those
days, like the rest OF us-had little
money to spare. He called our atten-
ton TO Bergson's proposition and ad
vlsed us to buy. We were like John
hadn't the 5000 to invest. Besides, in
our eyes. at that time, it was quite out
OF the way; too far from the Rapids, and
the water power--over the river, where
nobody lived--away from the Govern
ment road, travel, and mails. But John.
who in that year, was patiently waiting,
like MIcawber, for something to turn
up, after further consideration conclud-
ded The time had come-that certainly
might be made out Of the
Norwegian's claim, since the rails were
worth at least more than he asked for
the claim. He mustered courage and
offered Bergson $l80, which the latter
accepted, made quit claim to the buy
er, left, and from that day TO this has
never been heard from.
Our friend was now inspired with new
hopes and a new ambition. He fire.
4uently went over 10 look at his new
pssessions. Every time he returned
ne was more and more pleased. He
discovered beauties and wonders there
hat no mortal eye had ever been able
o discover before. There we're the
vergreen pines, on the bank, and the
erpetual fountains ofwater below them.
furious geological . discoveries were
lade. And so our friend, as time wore
n, became perfectly enamored ofhis
ew purchase. l-,e....s. s.a.
THE BEGINNING OF SETTLEMENT.
The following year Father Pierse, a
lost worthy Catholic priest, then and c
ow living at Grow Wing, commenced '
series of letters to German people in S
lnclnnati and St. Louis, directing the s
-tention of Germans and his own coun- a
ymen to the vast region of nnoccupied v
nds in the sauk River valley. These c
tiers contained faithful deIineations of |
e appearance of the valley, with "
udied description of the soil, climate, "
I'd productions ofthis part of the then c
rritory. They were published, circu- c
'eo' and extensively read. In conse- II
lence of these representations thus tt
ade' the first emigration to that charm T
g valley commenced. According to b,
ir recollection, Antoine Edelbrock and |
mlly were the first. He first came 70 al
Is place. talked with our proprietors re
'ont town lot, and found one that ti'
eased him; but when the writings were ca
ing made, the proprietors exactinu er
me conditions which he did not like dl
ntoine said he would have notbinp, ITO Isl
with this side, and hitching his team
a'n % ms wagon, forded the river to =,
other side. hurriedly built a shantv ~ -
al 'he place where Burbank's great -
'fenouse now stands.a and moved into !, ~ -
tn his family This was the fret " u
." eas settlement Of. any family a at St -; -;
ouu his was sthe, first family there F.: - -
,uen wilson occasionally lived there :,
shanty and was really 'ag
afst settler Our friends estima,e 3 ~ -,
nus le' new domain continued still to soI =, :,
ward wa insomuch 1son that he quit US -. 80
'her' took lodgings in the shanty with with, 80
l.