River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-01-11
Early Settlers of River Falls.

1 "
the Mexican war broke out had en-
listed in the army and before the
end of the war had been promoted
to the office of lieutenant, finding
his health impaired at his home
then in ST. Louis, took advantage
of the trip of river steamboat to
come up to St. Paul in the year 1S48,
reaching that city rather late IN the
season. ST. Paul at that time was
a mere trading post, and the boats
usually made short time there, as
most of their business was in carry
ing supplies and men to the fort a
| few miles above. He however land
ed at the village and found himself
on a narrow beach with apparently
no opportunity to make his way
out. He found a pathway dug out
through the overhanging bank,
which, by winding way, brought
him to log building dignified by
the name of hotel, this building
standing upon the spot now occu-
pied by the magnificent Merchants
Hotel
The surroundings were not pleas
ant The high hills clothed with
heavy brush afforded little promise
of the location of great and bust
ling city, and he was glad when the
boat came back to accept the invi-
tation of the captain to go around
| with him to Saltwater.
While at Saltwater he heard of
some beautiful falls on the Kinnic-
kinnic river, few miles from Still
water, and at a convenient time, &C.
companied by one companion, he
| made a hunting trip across the
country, reaching the mounds near
the falls in the afternoon. There,
while resting under the shade of
tree about mile north Of the pres
ent city of River Falls, he first
heard the sound of rushing water.
1t would be interesting here to
quote from the Recollections of
Judge Foster given at later date,
but the space allotted to this sketch
forbids. Sufficient to say, he visit
ed the now we'll known falls, which
at that day rivalled in their reputa-
ton and beauty the now better
known Minnehaha Falls near Fort
Smelling. Struck with the beauty of
the country and it's evident posi-
bilities, he at once returned to St.
Louis to obtain means and interest
others in the matter, coming back
at later date and entering in his
own name and those of friends who
believed in his report, several tracts
of land.
All of the entries made in his own
name were in what is now known
as ST. Croix county, but the quarter
section where the Junction Falls
are situated was entered in the
name of w. P. Mapes, though deed
ed TO Mr.. Foster very soon after the
purchase from the government.
All of the territory comprised in
what is now divided into the coun-
ties of Polk, ST. Croix and Pierce
was then the county of ST. Croix.
So few were the settlers that there
was practically no township organ
ization until the year 1849, when the
town of Elizabeth was formed, COM
prising all of what is now Pierce
county.
Wilson Thing was chosen as
chairman of the board of supervis
ors, and Aaron Cornelison and L.
H. Harnsberger as side supervisors.
Hilton was chosen as clerk, and
George w. Murphy as treasurer.
Wisconsin had been granted the
right of statehood in the previous
year, but no change was made in
county organization until 1853,
when the county of St. Croix was
divided into three parts, and the
counties of Polk, ST. Croix and
Pierce were formed.
The favorable reports of Judge
Foster and others who had visited
the ST. Croix Valley now began to
have results, and in 1851 several
entries of land were made. Among
these we find the name of N. N.
Powell, who entered the northeast
4 of Sect. /, Town q, Range Is, in
1851.
There were three Powell brothers
Nathaniel, Lyman and Oliver
who emigrated to this county early
in the fifties. Nathaniel was the
first to come and purchase lands,
though in fact he did il in the inter
est of all of the brothers. He had
previously purchased some lands at
St. Anthony Falls, but the develop