The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-09
THE EVENING TIMES, GRAND FORKS N. D.

Mcdonald; Morrison county being
named after the first, and in this lati-
itude there was no regular settlement
between here and the Pacific ocean.
One half-breed Indian had a little log
hut at st. Anthony falls.
In st. Paul, there we're, perhaps, a
dozen white men, including Mr.. Car
penter, Louis and Joseph Roberts, the
two latter gentlemen being uncles of
Miss Therese Des Noyes, to whom I
was married In 1851, in st. Paul by
Father Ravoux, who Is still living
there.
Previous to 1849, the population of
Minnesota was very small, and mostly
confined to few points, st. Paul, Still
water, st. Anthony, Mendoza, where
General Sibley resided, Sank Rapids
and Crow Wing being prominent ones,
st. Paul being about equal to all the
rest combined.
The American Fur company was
powerful factor in the business and
politics Of the country, as the Hudson
Bay company was on the Canadian
side of the line.
In the early years there were many
bratny men whom I knew personally,
and among whom were Joseph r.
Brown, David Olmsted, General Lowry,
Major Frtdley. the two Rices, Baldwin
Olmsted, and others too numerous to
mention here.
AS collector of customs under Pres
ident Pierce's administration, between
1852 and 1856, was sheriff of Stearns
county.
Sank Rapids has happened to be
the residence of an unusual number
of old settlers, many of whom are now
among the dead. But there are still
living there, Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Sweet,
Mrs Hicks. Mrs. Richard Cronk and
Edwin 8. Hall, all of who were born
between 60 and Is years ago at La
Point on Madeline island in Lake Supe-
rior, but who came to Sank Rapids be-
tween 1S48 and 1854; and Mrs. Wood,
who came In about 1850; Mr. Benedict
In 1854, and some others at an earlier
day. A smaller number, including Mr..
Wilson, Mr.. Smitten and some others
on the west side of the river, came
about 1851, the numbers on both sides
rapidly growing less.
I'm 1851, helped Governor Stevens
and his outfit of some Is men and
teams to cross the Mississippi lust
above Sank Rapids. He had just been
appointed governor of Washington ter
ritory, and made the trip overland with
great success.
"The first settlements, as recollect,
between Grow Wing and st. Paul, were
about as follows:
I'm 1849 the Winnebago Indians were
removed from Iowa to Long Prairie,
under the general charge of Henry NJ.
Rice, afterward United States senator,
and In connection with that move,
came David Gilman, in charge of
Transportation, and he settled at Watab
In 1S49, and little later, Marks and
White, Nathan Myrick and General s.
B. Lowry settled at Watab as traders,
a part of the Winnebagoes having re-
turned to that point from Long Prairie.
David Olmsted was at Long Prairie.
and from there was elected as dele
gate to congress.
IS. Baldwin Olmsted settled early at
a point opposite Fort Ripley. In about
1S49, old man Chapman with his sons,
settled at the Tamarac, three miles
above Little Rock creek, and made a
farm.
Just below the mouth of Little
Rock creek, William A. Aitkin. for
whom Aitkin county is named, had
trading post which was occupied later
by Major Hatch.
I'm 1S45 or 1916 man named Green
made commencement at Little Falls
In building cheap dam across the
east channel of the river. He died