The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-01
PRINCETON.
IT'S STORES. MILLS ARD
SHOPS.
A TOWN THAT WILL COMP RE
FAVORABLY WITH ANY OF IT'S
SIZE IN THE NORTHWEST.

Because Princeton is located 20
miles from a railroad, somc people in
other places, ina CINE that it is small
nnimportant hamlet, q kind of a stop
ping place for men and teams while on
their way to the pineries. Fourteen
years ago Princeton was nothing more
than a mere stopping place, there
were not more than half dozen
houses in what now comprises the
the village; no school houses or
churches then, no hotels worthy Of
the name of hotels, and only one
small store; the surrounding country
was bowling wilderness. But it is
not our purpose to give the past his
tory Of Princeton, we reserve that for
future occasion. To-day. Princeton
is a hourishing town with a population
Of 1000 souls, and situated as it is, at
the confluence Of the East and West
Branches of Rum River, is the base of
supplies for the Rum River pineries,
where upwards of 6o.O0O.OOO feet of
logs are cut annually; is the principal
trading point for all Of Mile Lacs
county. one third Of Sherburne and
one third of Isanti counties; is con-
nectcd with the outside world by a
daily stage line; has as good a school
housewife an average daily attend
ance Of 200 pupils-as any country
town in the state can boast of, has 2
churches, 2 tirst.class hotels, 5 general
stores. hardware store, drug stores,
watch makers shop, 2 Touring mills,
| steam feed mill. steam saw mill,
3 blacksmith shops, 2 wagon shops,
g shoemakers' shops, 2 carpentering
shops, l harness shop, tailoring
establishment, saloon, 3 lawyers and
| doctor; does an annual business OF
S250.0OO, and when the p. &; A. r. r
is completed the surrounding country
will be settled up, the millions Of feet
Of UNSURPASSED hard wood lumber
which grows within sight Of the vii
]age. is utilized, then there is a bril-
liant future ahead for Princeton.
The merchants of Princeton enio7
a splendid reputation among thu
Wholesale merchants Of St. Paul ant
Minneapolis.
GENERAL STORES.
H. B. Cowles & Co.-Fourtee,
years ago last October, IT. B. Cowle
commenced to keep store in littl
room, is by IL feet, on the sout
bank Of the West Branch, near b
where Mr.. B. NJ. VanAlstinc and ia
mily now reside, that year his sale
amounted to $4,000, and from '64 t
II averaged $4,000 per year; in 1877
Mr.. Cowles moved into his prese,
- commodious building on Main stree
i and his annual sales since that dai
> have averaged $4,000. MIR. Cowl,
is public-spiritcd citizen and he c,
joys an enyiable reputation for SQUARE
dealing with his customers; he al.
carries on an extensive lumberir
u>iness. Last spring, Mr.. Cowl
formed CO. partnership with Mr..
/ M VanAlstine, nice sociable gentl
man, the title of the firm is H.
Cowles & Co. This is the best a
ranged. store in town and will compa
favorably with three .fourths of Il
retail esta blishments in St. Paul al
Minneapolis.
G. H. Rines commenced busine
, with small stock Of general d.
goods and groceries, in October, 1856
the first sale he made was two poun
of tallow dips to Bob Holmes. Cha
lie Ri mes. as he is Familiarity called.
+ a man Of indomitablc will, out spok
and above board; by strict attenti
to his business he soon succeeded
buildingu splendid trade; from
books; which he voluntarily allow
us to inspect, We giveshis sales for t
past six gears:zls72; $23, 1854; 49,