The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1935-07-25
REMINISCING

Editors Note-While the theory
of how Redwood Falls got its
name given here does not agree
what that generally believed, the
letter is printed because of the
interest early settlers may find in
it.
"REMINISCENCES
Isn't that good title for an ar
ticle? But what does it mean :?
Very little to the younger element
whose thoughts are absorbed by
the details of commercial activ-
tiles entirely foreign to any meth
DDS employed in the early develop
ment of the territory in which they
now live surrounded by all the
comforts and conveniences of
modern times. But to some of us
older generation whose early lives
were spent combating the dan
gers and privations of an unde-
veloped frontier such articles
awake fond recollections of happy
experiences and cherished ac-
quaintances long forgotten or
buried deep in the archives Of our
memory by ever new and varied
conditions met in pursuit of a
competence for our declining
years.
And what of that competence
for which we strove so hard for
10 these many years? Some few
of the old pioneers are still fairly
well provided for but by far the
greater majority find themselves
confronted by choice of earning
their daily bread by the sweat of
a furrowed brow or resorting to
public charity. This is no reflec-
ton on the business acumen of the
many who are so situated but is
the result of the financial uphea-
vel that has wrecked the lives and
fortunes of many of our foremost
citizens.
To us older generation who are
rapidly approaching the sunset of
life such articles as appear in the
Gazette at frequent intervals have
a wonderful message. The exper-
fences told therein were our ex-
periences, the pioneers whose
names are given were our friends
and neighbors and the pleasant
memories refreshed by their re-
cital are the only dividends we
may ever hope to receive on our
investment of long and busy
career.
would like if may to add my
bit to this collection of remini-
scenes, not that it will have any
literary or historical value but
merely to show a willingness to do
my mite in Frightening the path
way of the remaining pioneers
who are nearing the end of the
journey to the bourne from which
no traveller returns.
l might tell many interesting
experiences during the years I
punched cattle on the unbroken
prairies which extended many
miles southwest of Redwood Falls
with only here and there a settler,
or of hunting and trapping during
the severe winter months when
there was no other means by
which youngster could help re-
plenish the family larder. I might
even get grin out of some of the
old timers by telling of pranks
that were played on serious mind
ed citizens as a result of nightly
councils around the friendly stove
of some store when it was too cold
OF stormy for other means of en-
tertainment. Or l might tell of
the many peculiar and interesting
characters who were frequent
callers at the Gazette office dur
ing the time I was occupying the
honored position Of apprentice or
office devil under the able instruc-
ton of James Aitkin. But most
of these happenings come within
the period of time covered by a
number of recent articles by other
pioneers so I will try to draw q
word picture of another era which
had to do with the origin of the
name Redwood Falls" a name
familiar to people throughout the
nation.
To anyone familiar with the
ideal setting OF the little ClCy on
the banks of the Redwood river at
a point where huge deposits of
granite formed a barrier in the
channel and created a natural and
very artistic water fall, and with
the surrounding hillsides fringed
with red cedar trees, the story I
heard in my childhood and which
for three score years has been ac-
copied by me as a very plausible
explanation of the origin Of the
name could easily be understood.
Redwood got its name from the
red cedar trees and the City being
built near the falls was named
Redwood Falls. But is that the
real origin?
mentioned the pleasure deriv-
ed by the pioneers from reading
articles describing experiences OF