Mower County transcript., 1869-09-16
How Towns Grow In the Northwest.
Incidents I'm tho Red River Region.

Incidents I'm tho Red River Region.
"Carleton" writes to tho Boston Journal
from Northwestern Minnesota:
''Emigration travels fast. Like the fire
of tho prairie, throwing out handfuls of
flame to light new fires in the dried grass,
80 civilization is constantly kinlling in new
places along the frontier. Four families
have just made beginning Mt Detroit
Lake, in which tho Red River of tho North
has its rise.
"We reached the settlement on Saturday
night, and pitched our tents for the Sab
bath. It was rare treat to these people
to como into our camp and hear a sermon
from Rev. DIR. Lord. The Oldest of the
colony is woman now in her eightieth
year, with eye undiminished, q countenance
remarkably free from tho marks of age, who
walks with a firm step after fourscore years
of labor. Sixty years ago she moved from
Lebanon, New Hampshire, a young wife,
leaving the valley of the Connecticut for q
home in the state of New York, then NOV
ing with the great army Of emigrants to
Ohio. Illinois, Missouri and Iowa in sue
cession, and now beginning again in Min
nesota. Last year her hair, which had been
as white as the purest snow. began to take
on its original color, and is now quite black.
There are but few instances on record of
such renewal of youth.
1.-The party have come from Central Iowa
to make this their future home, prcferring
the soil and the climate Of this region to
one where the changes of temperature are
sudden and variable. The women and
children of the four families lived here
alone for six weeks, while the men were
away after their stock. Their nearest
neighbors are twelve miles distant. On
the 4th OF July all hands-men, women
and children-traveled forty-five miles to
celebrate the day.
i" We felt, said one of the women, that
We couldn't get through the year without
going somewhere or seeing somebody. It
is kinder lonely 80 far away from folks, and
so we went down country to picnic"
'Store, church and school are all forty
miles away, and till recently the nearest
saw mill was sixty miles distant. Now they
can get their wheat ground by going forty
miles.
"The settlement is already blooming
with half dozen children. Other settlers
ing forward to next year with hope and
confidence, for then they will have school
of their own.
"Not any Chicago musicians heard of
our arrival, and here they are, twelve of
them, stard in circle round our camp,
doing their best to express their Joy. They
are Germa'.s all young men. Three years
ago three or four families came here from
Ohio. They reported the soil so fertile,
the situation so attractive, the prospects so
flattering, that others came, and now they
have dozen families, and more are com.
ing to this land OF promise. '''F
''Now just ride out and see what they
have done. Here is field containing tl,ir-
ty acres Of as fine wheat as grows in Minne-
sofa. It was just taking on the golden hue,
and will be ready for the reaper next week.
Beside it are twenty acres Of oats, several
acres of corn, and an acre or two Of pota-
toes This is one farm only. On yonder
slope there stands two-storied house, Of
hewn logs and shingled roof. See what
adornment the wife and daughter has given
to the front yard-verbenas, petunis and
nasturtions-and round tho door living
wreath of morning glories.
"COws chew their cuds in the stable yard, while
:, !" ;Drowsy ttnklings luil the distant held.'
where the sheep are herded. :.
s.We shall find the scene repeated on the
adjoining farm. Sheltered benenth tho
grand old forest trees stands the little log
church with n cross upon its roof, and here
,wo SEQ coming down the road the venerable
father mid teacher. Of the community, in
long black gown and broad brimmed hat,,
with cruoifix at his girdle. It is a Catho-
lie !oommunity, Iapd they brought their
priest with them. -u2I i
.:Bnt take 4 good; long: look at these
men as they stand before our camp fire,
with their bright now Instruments in their
hands,. They RECEIVED them only three
weeks ago from Cincinnati. -,sn.t Il
"'We can't play much yet,' says their
leader, Mr.. Bertenheimer; but we do. tho
best we can. We havo sent to Toledo for 4
teacher who will spend the winter with us
You will pardon our poor playing, but we
felt 80 good when we heard you were here
looking ont route for railroad. that we
felt like doing something to show our good
will. You see we are Just getting started,
and have to work hard; but We wanted
some recreation, and we concluded to get
than to be hanging round . grocery.
. 'Plin and simple the words, but there
is more in them than in many a windy
speech mads on the rostrum or III legisla-
tive halls just getting started! Yet here
upon the frontier art has planted herself.
The flowers of civilization are blooming on
the border. ., 80
,':As we listened to the parting strains,
and watched the receding forms, and look
ed into the Goals of our campfire after their
departure, we felt that there must be a
bright future for a commonwealth that
could grow such fruit on the borders Of tho
uncultivated wilderness" = ''''-