The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-04-30
4 IRON sKAIhOND.v

III - 4a r --S { q p. t
History OF the First Settlement Of III,
| Town-lts Rapid Growth .-satisfAc'
tory Condition OF Schools-S,lvv ans
0rlst Mill-Good opening for = Nor
chant.
| RAYMOND, SrEARNs Co., MIMI,
| April 26.h, 1868.
| EDITOR JouRNAL.-In my communicate,
some time since, promised to write som,
items in regard to the settlement, growth
&c., Of this town, but I four that you hav,
lung since thought that 'further deponeu
saith not"
To resume then, would state that som.
two or three claims were taken in tow
previous to the Indian outbreak. but wer,
then abandoned. The first settlement il
fact' then, was made in the spring Of 1866
In June Of that year the writer and som.
dozen or more persons pitched their fonts
in town and made their selection Here
they concluded that Uncle Sam offered a.
great inducements as could be found any.
where for those who wished to settle upon
his broad acres. You can draw your con-
illusions in regard to the situations, when ]
assure you that fourteen homesteads were
taken adjoining, with the exception of enc
quarter section, which has since been en-
tered. When We moved here in October
following, three cabins greeted our view.
One year from that time, 1 could stand is
my door-yard and count thirty five houses
within three miles.
Every available quarter section in town
has been taken, and the most of it bv actual
settlers; consequently with sufficient in
dustry and favorable seasons, tho time is
not far distant when. this will rank second
to none in the county in agricultural re-.
sources. A large majority Of the inhabi-
tants! in town are Americans from New
York and Wisconsin, who are not forgetful
Of what constitutes the pride Of those
States aud the main pillar Of d free govern
ment, viz: common schools. Notwithstaud-
ing most of the settlers are limited pecun-
iarily. yet to their praise be it said, they
promptly proceeded to organize school dis
tricts and tax themselves to support schools
and build school houses, we'll knowing that
"A little leaning is . dangerous thing"
Three school districts are already organized
in town, and am informed that application
will soon be made for the fourth. It is ev-
ident that the good people Of the town are
determined that it shall not be said Of them
that, "the schoolmaster. is abroad" :.
To supply tho physical as well as the in III
tellectusl wants Of the increasing popula-
ton. over six hundred acres will be seeded
in town this season.. :,>.r ,...,
Messrs. Richardson 4, Curtis, who have
recently purchased land here, have in con-
temptation the building of q Steam Saw
MILL. with facilities for grinding grain at
tached. Thus two important items nesded
in every new settlement will soon be sup.
piled.
It is said that when Long John Went
""''" WAS "oouN 10 leaSe the parental ROOF
for the far west, his father advised him to
settle ten miles from q lawyer or doctor;
whether he included: merchant in the
same category, I am not informed, but this
much will say we have ''sorter' done it
all. The doctor and lawyer We hope to do
without, but the merchant, we would like
to see. If this should meet the eye Of any
one who wishes to start in that business, 1
would state for their information that here
is just the place to ''wade in" In conclu-
sion permit me to say that for quality Of
soil, beauty Of surface and rapidity of set
Element, this town will rank as high on the
list as any in the county.
Truly yours, L. B. r.