Library of Congress Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident WAR DEPARTMENT, RECEIVED NOV 2 LIBRARY. MINNESOTA PIONEER SKETCHES Frank G. O'Brien Minnesota Pioneer Sketches From the Personal Recollections and Observations of a Pioneer Resident By FRANK G. O'BRIEN Illustrated Minneapolis, Minnesota. H. H. S. ROWELL, PUBLISHER The Housekeeper Press 1904 copy 2 F606 .013 Copyright, 1964 by FRANK G. O'BRIEN 7606, 013 By transfer Oct 9 1916 DEDICATION TO HON. JOHN B. GILFILLAN It is a source of special gratification to dedicate the volume of “Minnesota Pioneer Sketches” to a Territorial Pioneer whom I have known intimately for nearly half a century; one, who, through his manly worth, charitable deeds and progressive spirit, has commanded and still commands the highest respect of the community, in which he has lived so many years. Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress The name of John B. Gilfillan, of Minneapolis, stands out prominently in religious, educational, legal, and financial circles,—and it is to him, the, schoolmaster of the “Old Black School-House” in my boyhood days,—I inscribe these pages. THE AUTHOR. PREFACE The many readers of Mr. Frank G. O'Brien's newspaper sketches of pioneer life in Minnesota, will be glad to see them preserved and much extended in the present volume. He writes with authority, as his own life here reaches back to 1855, and has been closely connected with what he describes. His books shows us the early settlers in their daily work, their Sunday worship, their homes and holiday amusements. It gives interesting and varied views of the farm, the lumber camp, the lakes, the Mississippi navigation, the Fort, the Falls, the Government Mills, St. Anthony when its streets were still quaint with the Red River carts, the old schoolhouse, the religious meetings, the revivals, the early musical activities. Through all these sketches, Mr. O'Brien shows his well-known genial and joyous spirit,—with sympathy for the hardships, but with full perception of the humorous side of pioneer life. His pictures are not only in bright and lively prose,—but sometimes in the poetic form, by which his name has become still more familiar to the public. The book's abundant reminiscences of places and persons will make it especially interesting, of course, to the older residents. But its pictures of pioneer society should interest all readers, and be of lasting value in the records of Minnesota. Indeed, such reminiscences often outlast more elaborate histories;—and an old diary or account-book or song may become more important than many a stately volume. Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress Minneapolis is fortunate in having a writer who has so patiently recalled and so pleasingly recorded these early scenes, that are fast fading from memory, and would soon be hopelessly lost. HENRY M. SIMMONS. Pastor First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, Minn. Minneapolis, June 8, 1904. 11 CONTENTS In the Days of Long Ago 17 Minnesota. Song. (Tune—“The Old Oaken Bucket”) 26 A Reception to the Old Settlers 27 Going to School In the Early Days 29 A Reminiscence of Early Times 35 Our Old Time Mail Service 39 A Virginia Reed Cut Short by a Hurricane 42 Jim Frost, the Dutchman and the Bear 45 Home Leaving for a Year On the Farm 48 Gathering in the Hay Crop 53 Minnesota Song. (Tune—“America.”) 58 Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress A Vanished Landmark 59 The Government Mills at the Falls 64 Extracts From Letters Written in 1876 65 Princeton, Old and New 70 Dat Revival 75 A Pleasant Memory 78 A Long Ago Christmas 80 A Saw-Mill of Our Territorial Days 84 A Pioneer Experience 90 The Passing of the Pioneers 94 Col. Francis Peteler's Mound Cellar 97 The Sibley House 99 With the Indians in the Bad Lands 100 The First Literary Society 114 Song to Minnesota. (Tune—“Beulah Land.”) 115 An Old-Time Watch Meeting 116 A Long Ago Christmas 120 Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress Pioneer Hardships 123 Keeping the Sabbath Holy 130 “Phil” and the Muskrat 136 12 Then and now. 138 The Old Violin. Poem. 142 The Fourth in ‘58 143 “Oft in the Stilly Night.” 146 Transformation. 148 Expansion. 150 St. Anthony's Falls—Their Interesting Discovery and Geological History. 154 A Pioneer Poet's Love Song. 157 Davis Edwards and His Nesmith Cave Hoax. 160 That Dear Old Cradle. Poem 168 His First Shave. 169 Having Faith 173 Would Rather Buy Than Catch Fish. 175 Thanksgiving. 177 Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress On the Farm. 183 The Old Time Singing School. 186 War Days Recalled. 189 The First Minneapolis Book Store. 193 Minnesota. Song. (Tune—“Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching.”) 196 Pioneer Attorneys and Jurymen. 197 Bassett's Creek. 199 A Tragic Ginseng Hunt. 201 Medical Practitioners of a Past Generation. 205 Chalybeate Springs. 210 The Olden-Time Circus. 213 Territorial Pioneers' Banquet, Nicollet House, Minneapolis, Minn. Poems. 218 Favorite Pioneer Hymns. 220 A Country Hotel Experience. 223 A Lumber Camp Adventure. 226 An Outing Forty-sevens Years Age. 229 Nicollet Island. 234 Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress Skating Pleasures of Early Days. 236 Minnesota's Territorial Pioneers' Log Cabin Dedication. Poem 239 13 Gold Excitement in Minneapolis in 1857 241 A Musical Reminiscence. 243 Time's Changes 246 The Naming of Lakes Calhoun and Harriet. 250 The Constitution of the St. Anthony Fremont Club Brought to Light. 252 How a Revival Meeting Was Broken Up. 254 Minnehaha. Poem. 256 Minneapolis School Commencements in the Days of whale Oil Lamps. 257 An Incident of the Days When Poundmasters Grew Rich. 260 The Passing of a Brave Soldier. 265 A Dakota Wedding. 267 The Clicking of the Gate. Poem. 274 A War-Time Festal Day. 275 My First View of the Mississippi. 280 Two Members of the Church Militant. 283 Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress Dan Barstow and His Rapid Transit Train. 287 St. Anthony's Falls as They Looked at an Early Day. 289 The Summer Past. Poem. 293 A Pioneer Justice Court. 294 East Side Reminiscences. 299 The Black Schoolhouse. 302 Red River Carts. 305 Early Impressions of Prominent Minneapolitans. 308 The First Flag Raising in Minneapolis. 312 Memories of an Early Church. 313 A Visit to Lake Harriet. 317 Pioneer Ministers. 320 Other Pioneer Ministers. 323 Rev. Dr. Chaffee. 327 The Past of Minneapolis. 328 The First City Governments of St. Anthony and Minneapolis. 334 The Hearthstone Cheer. Poem. 336 Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress An Octogenarians's Birthday. 337 14 Three Interesting Anniversaries. 339 Items From and Old Account Book. 342 Playing Marbles in Earlier Days. 346 In Infant Gambler. 350 The Celebration of the New Ulm Massacre. 351 The Beginnings of Minnesota Agriculture. 355 Memories of a Fire in the Early Days. 357 Old Time Hallowe'en Doings. 363 A Pioneer Printer. 367 The Light of Other Days. 368 Memories of Youth Poem. 372 15 ILLUSTRATIONS Portrait of the Author Frontispiece Facing Page. Home of Wetmore O'Brien and Family at Coon Creek 24 Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress Exterior Fort Snelling, in 1858 36 Interior Fort Snelling, in 1863 36 First Frame Building at St. Anthony 40 Minneapolis Society Gentlemen, in 1868 46 Government Mills at St. Anthony's Falls 64 Minneapolis in 1857 64 St. Paul in 1857—Looking up Wabasha Street. 74 The Historic Sibley House at Mendota 98 Old Bets 114 Minnesota Territorial Pioneers at Merchants Hotel 130 Winslow House, in 1860 142 First Frame Building in Minneapolis 142 The First Three Grist Mills at the Falls 158 Portrait of the Author in 1860 170 Fort Snelling, in 1858 190 Old Suspension Bridge 204 Minneapolis in 1857 206 Minnesota pioneer sketches; from the personal recollections and observations of a pioneer resident http://www.loc.gov/resource/ lhbum.01848 Library of Congress Minnesota Territorial Pioneers' Log Cabin 240 Group of Minnesota Pioneers 274 Falls of St. Anthony in 1868 290 Red River Carts Passing Down Main Street, St. Anthony, in 1856 304 Red River Carts. 306 Minnesota Territorial Pioneers and Friends 336 Typical Group of Pioneers 358 Stillwater 368 17 IN THE DAYS OF LONG AGO In days of the long ago, when but twelve hot summers and as many cold winters had marked my brief mundane existence, my father, after mature deliberation, decided that the overcrowded East was no place in which to rear his numerous progeny. So, after consulting the large map of the Western States and territories which adorned a wall of our living room, he became fully convinced that Michigan held out many natural and other attractions—not the least of these being the fact that some friends and relatives of ours had located at its chief city.