The Redwood gazette., 1935-02-07
Travelling. Reporter Inter.
views Settlers for Series
of Gazette Features
EXCLUSIVE: THE GAZETTE
BY RAY E. COTTON

EXCLUSIVE: THE GAZETTE
BY RAY E. COTTON
Editors Note. This special ar
ticle is the first of a series of sew
eral which the Gazette will run II
its columns which deal with the
early day history of Redwood
county and Redwood Falls. In
these articles the writer will take
the present day readers back
through the past, when thrilling
events marked the attempts of set
tiers to wrest from the wilderness
the site on which stands the pres
ent modern city on the Redwood
river. Thrilling accounts by eye
witnesses of the Indian massacre
and other historical events will be
discussed in these articles. Mr..
Cotton is a recognized writer and
prepares articles for newspapers
throughout the nation.
From A Stockade To A City
The writer sitting in a comfort
able chair in the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. Gottlieb Kuenzli at 285 Brid-
ge Street, Redwood Falls, was
treated to rare thing a few
nights ago, when he heard the
story of the early days of Red
wood Falls. Mr.. and Mrs. Kuenzli
gave an accurate and vivid ac-
count of these early day happen
ings and many things which per-
tain to the early day history of
the city and county were gather
ed at this interview.
How many of the citizens of
Redwood Falls today remember
when the little town of Riverside
was a thriving community iocat-
ed three miles from Redwood
Falls, when the jovial Mr.. Daniels
operated the large general store,
and when barges were hauling
grain up the river from Redwood's S
mills which were located near the
bridge on the north end of town.
Those were the days. And how
many remember when the stage
came galloping into town bringing
the mail from New Ulm and the
horses were changed and stabbed
at the old Exchange Hotel.
Where was the Exchange Hotel
Why it used to be where the jail
is now. Many years have passed
since those days, but all of these
happenings are still vivid in the
minds of the old timers.
Ten families composed the
stockade community of Redwood
Falls, when over the trail came
the families of Bernard Kuenzli
and John Thomas, leaving from a
settlement located five miles west
of the present city of Milwaukee,
Gottlieb Kuenzli was then boy
of 10 years. The trail was hard,
and the teams could only be driv-
en- few miles each time. Arriv-
ing at La Crosse, the party cross
ed to the Minnesota side and then
started their long trek across Min
nesota by way of Rochester, Owa-
tonna, Waseca and finally arriving
at New Ulm which was then the
nearest large settlement to Red
wood Falls village. Winter had
set in so the party decided to
spend the time until spring at
New Ulm. Spring came and with
1t good travel weather. Hitting
the trail once more, the Kuenzli's
and the Thomas's arrived after a
days journey at the stockade
which surrounded Redwood village
and made plans for establishing
their home here.
Speaking of the old days, Mr..
Kuenzli tells when as boy he
used to GO up the river three miles
where the town of Riverside stood
and watch the elevators and grist
mills grind the wheat which came
up on the barge. In those days an
old time ferry boat was the oniy
means of passage across the Min
nesota river at that point, but This
was discontinued in 1880. Moth
ing remains now Of the one Time
town of Riverside. 1t is a ghost
town indeed, A few of the old
timers know its location, but The
new comers would have difficulty
in finding the exact point upon
which this historic town stood. Mr.
Daniels the one time genial gener-
al store owner there has passed
on. but the old timers remember
mis- iovial attitude and of the
tricks he used to play on settlers
who congregated around the stove
in his store in the winter. Wooe
whittlers were plentiful in those
early days, and one of Mr.. Dan
iel's favorite tricks was to hold s
wood whiting contest among ths
old settlers. Competition wa
keen and many fights started am
ong the old fellows when claims
as the champion wood whittlel
were made by certain whittlers.
The Indian church east of Red
wood was built by the Indians
themselves and the windows TO
his church were furnished by Bis
hop Whipple of Faribault.
Holding their first meeting i
he home of Bernard Kuenzli, wh'
vas Gottlieb's father, the German
Evangelical church started ser
vices here in 1867. This IS one o
the earliest religious services o.
record for Redwood Falls.