USA > Minnesota > Minnesota as it is in 1870 : its general resources and attractions for immigrants, invalids, tourists, capitalists, and business men ; with special descriptions of all its counties and townsand inducements to those in quest of homes, health, or pleasure > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
The Root River, its three branches, and Iowa, besides smaller streams, afford an unusual supply of water-power, much of which is improved. Price of lands, $10 to $20 per acre for improved, $5 for wild. Fifteen or 20 flouring and saw mills ; stone, brick and lumber for build- ing ; fuel, $2.50 to $5 per cord ; lumber, $30 to $50 per M .; 22 churches in the county, 2 Catholic, 6 Norwegian Lutheran, 4 Baptist, 3 Methodist, 2 Congregational, 3 N. S. Presbyterian, 1 Episcopalian and 1 Universalist.
VILLAGES .- The principal town, RUSHFORD, on the rail- road, 30 miles west of the Mississippi, with a population of about 1600, has 6 dry goods stores, 9 groceries, 2 hardware, 1 book, 5 boot and shoe, 2 clothing, 1 foundry, 2 flouring mills, 1 saw mill, 5 hotels, 7 saloons, 1 woolen factory ; a Congregational, Methodist, and Norwegian Lutheran church ; lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, and Good Templars ; a weekly newspaper ; a good water- power, and is a growing town.
CHATFIELD, 25 miles west, with a population of about 1400, has 7 dry goods and grocery stores, 1 hardware, 1 clothing, 2 drug, 2 boot and shoe, 1 furniture, 1 book store, 2 saw mills, 2 flouring mills, 1 woolen factory, fine water-power on Root River ; a Methodist, Baptist, Con- gregational, Episcopal and Catholic church ; lodges of Masons and Good Templars ; a bank doing an exchange
213
FILLMORE COUNTY.
business of $480,000 per year, and a weekly paper. Building in 1868 to the amount of $50,000 ; mercantile and mechanical business $215,000; flour and woolen manufactures, $150,000.
PRESTON, the county seat, in the centre of the county, a mile or two from the railroad, with a population of about 800, has 3 dry goods, 9 grocery, 2 drug, 2 hardware, and 2 boot and shoe stores, 2 hotels, 2 saloons, a flouring mill and woolen factory, carriage shops, furniture estab- lishments, a weekly paper, a Catholic and 1 Presbyterian church in the town and 1 in the township, a Universalist and Methodist organization and Masonic lodge.
LANESBORO, on the railroad, 7 or 8 miles east of Pres- ton, laid out in July, 1868, is a year old town of 500 population, with a fine water-power, stores, mills, &c., also a weekly paper.
SPRING VALLEY, with 400 population, has 4 dry goods, 1 drug, 1 hardware, and 1 grocery store, 2 hotels, an iron foundry, good water-power, 3 saw mills, 1 grist mill, pump and fanning mill factories, a Methodist and Con- gregational church, 4 lawyers, 2 doctors, 2 agricultural yards, a Masonic lodge and no saloon. "Saloon men cannot live in Spring Valley."
FILLMORE is a flourishing village with stores, mills, a Presbyterian church, &c.
GRANGER, CARIMONA and FORESTVILLE do a good busi- ness with stores, mills and other establishments. Cari- mona has a Baptist church, and Forestville a circle of Spiritualists.
LENORA, NEWBURG and ELLIOTA are places of some trade. Lenora has a Methodist church, Newburg a Nor- wegian Lutheran, and Elliota a Second Advent organiza- tion.
POST OFFICES .- Alba, Arandahl, Belleville, Big Spring,
214
FREEBORN COUNTY.
Bristol Centre, Bratsberg, Canfield, Carrolton, Cherry Grove, Etna, Ettaville, Fairview, Farmers' Grove, Free Soil, Hazel Prairie, Hamilton, Highland, Kedron, Pilot Mound, Prosper, Washington, Watson Creek, Waukokee.
FREEBORN COUNTY,
On the Iowa line, 90 miles from the Mississippi, with an area of 460,800 acres, organized in 1856 ; population, 1860, 3334 ; 1865, 5688 ; 1869 over 9000 ; vote, Grant 1211 ; Seymour, 336 ; nationality half American, three-eighths Norwegian, one-eighth Irish, English and Scotch, with a few Bohemians and Germans.
School districts, 85 ; houses, 59 ; scholars, 3125 ; year's increase, 334 ; assessed property, 1860, $334,729 ; 1868, 1,204,733 ; land assessed, 253,060 acres ; value per acre, $3.24 ; homesteads, 44,586 acres ; school, 18,612 ; rail- road, 56,000 ; under cultivation, 1867, 20,796 ; wheat pro- duct, 1867, 167,956 bushels ; prices of lands, wild $5 to $10, near the villages. The county is gently undulating, soil of excellent quality, one-fourth clear prairie, one-half oak openings, nearly one-fourth natural meadows of first quality, and one township of heavy timber in detached bodies. Wood $2.50 to $3 per cord. Finely watered with over 20 large lakes, 3 rivers, and a number of creeks. Fish inexhaustible. There are 3 Norwegian churches, 3 Methodist, 2 Baptist, 1 Congregationalist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Episcopalian in the county. Build- ing material, brick and lumber. 5 steam saw mills, 2 grist mills, 1 by water and 1 by wind. -
Personal property, 1868, $497,099 ; horses, 2336 ; cattle, 9796 ; mules and asses, 27 ; sheep, 7883 ; hogs, 1909 ; car- riages, 143; watches, 117; pianos, 8; merchandise, $14,865 ; money and credits, $18,757.
215
FARIBAULT COUNTY.
VILLAGES .- ALBERT LEA, the county seat, nestles beau- tifully upon two lakes, and wears in the centre of its bo- som still another covering ten acres. Population, 300 ; annual business, $300,000 ; 12 stores, 1 hotel, 4 lawyers, 1 doctor, weekly paper, and Presbyterian church.
The Southern Minnesota Railroad passes through it, and four other roads have made it a point on their lines, viz., the Green Bay, Wabasha and Omaha, the St. Louis and St. Paul Air Line, the Minnesota and Northwestern from Mankato to the Cedar Valley Road, and the Iowa and Minnesota from Des Moines to Owatonna, which will make it a railroad centre. Lots sell at only $30 to $150 each. Its water-power is claimed to be among the best in the State.
FREEBORN AND GENEVA have each 100 population, 2 stores, business, $50,000 ; and Shellrock City 100 people, 1 store, business, $10,000 ; a clergyman in each, lawyer at Freeborn, and doctor at Geneva.
POST OFFICES .- Besides the above, Alden, Bancroft, Buckeye, Clark's Grove, Fremont, Gordonsville, Guilford, Hartland, Hayward, Moscow, Nunda, State Line, Sum- ner, Trenton.
FARIBAULT COUNTY.
Next west of Freeborn, same size, gently undulating prairie, timber sufficient for years, soil 2 to 5 feet deep, black, warm, sandy loam, clay subsoil, finely watered with rivers, 20 large lakes, and creeks ; wild lands worth $3 to $6, improved, $8 to $20 ; timber, $15 to $60 ; fuel, $2.50 to $4 per cord ; land assessed, 169,030 acres ; value per acre, $3.06 ; school lands, 15,089 ; homestead not reported ; cultivated, 1867, 19,117; wheat product, 1867, 141,750 bushels ; 1868, area of cultivated land estimated double ;
216
FARIBAULT COUNTY.
wheat product, 189,000 bushels ; oats, 191,433 ; corn, 85,029 ; barley, 4269 ; potatoes, 42,507; wool, 10,636 lbs. ; butter, 131,342; cheese, 5830.
STATISTICS .- Organized 1856 ; population, 1860, 1332 ; 1865, 4735 ; 1869, over 10,000; vote for Grant 1421, Seymour 373. Nationality, Americans predominating, with large settlements of Germans, Norwegians and Irish ; school districts, 84; houses, 47; scholars, 2854, year's increase, 270 ; assessed property, 1860, $273,654 ; 1868, $928,480 ; personal property, $487,641. Horses, 2314 ; cattle, 7228 ; mules and asses, 22; sheep, 4456 ; hogs, 1772; carriages, 171; watches, 159; pianos, 2; mer- chandise, $24,375 ; money and credits, $26,942. 5 saw and 3 grist mills ; Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist and Episcopal churches ; building material, brick and lumber.
The Southern Minnesota Railroad is to pass through the county, via Winnebago City, another is projected from Mankato to the Iowa line, and another from Red Wing to Blue Earth City.
VILLAGES .- BLUE EARTH CITY, the county seat, has 20 stores, selling over $200,000 ; 3 lawyers, 1 doctor, 1 bank, 2 newspapers, 2 hotels, Presbyterian church, 3 flouring and 1 saw mill, 2 breweries, 5 saloons, 2 billiard rooms, 3 agricultural implements dealers, 2 livery stables, shops, &c. Price of lots, $20 to $300. Population, 500.
WINNEBAGO CITY, has a number of stores, selling $150,- 000 ; 2 hotels, 1 newspaper, 2 lawyers, 2 doctors, mills, shops, and 400 population.
MINNESOTA LAKE, a new town ; population, 100 ; goods sold, $50,000.
POST OFFICES .- Banks, Barber, Bass Lake, Clayton, Eden, Elmore, Ewald, Grapeland, Long Lake, Pilot Grove, Prescott and Walnut.
217
GOODHUE COUNTY.
GRANT COUNTY,
Lies west of Douglas-16 townships, 268,000 acres- nearly all open to settlement, gently rolling prairie, very rich, fine meadows ; timber rather scarce, but fine groves about the lakes-53 on the map ; 47 votes for Grant, 2 for Seymour ; settlers mostly Swedes and Norwegians, some Americans ; rapidly settling ; well watered ; Pacific Railroad through one township.
GOODHUE COUNTY.
On the Mississippi below St. Paul-area about 500,000 acres-one of the largest and richest counties ; generally elevated, level prairie land, with abundant timber skirting the rivers and creeks. Soil a dark loam, with clay subsoil, in the valleys varying from a heavy alluvial to a light sandy loam, unusually favored with water-power ; brick and pot- ter's clay and limestone for building. Prices of lands range from $5 to $50 per acre, mostly from $15 to $35. Organ- ized in 1854; population, 1860, 8977; 1865, 14,880 ; 1869, 23,000. Norwegians, about 5500; Swedes, 3000; Germans, 4500 ; Irish, 1500 ; balance Americans mostly, with English, Scotch, Canadians and others.
STATISTICS .- Lands assessed, 464,699 acres ; value per acre, $5.11 ; school land, 2433 ; homestead, 7651 ; culti- vated, 1867, 91,912 ; wheat produced, 1,017,854 bushels ; assessed property, 1860, $1,995,129 ; 1868, $4,621,157; personal property, $1,661,916. Horses, 6342; cattle, 13,957 ; mules, 132 ; sheep, 8354 ; hogs, 5335 ; carriages, 257; watches, 460 ; pianos, 53 ; merchandise, $171,342 ; money and credits, $207,439 ; school districts, 124; houses, 106 ; value, $72,975 ; scholars, 6725, year's in-
19
218
GOODHUE COUNTY.
crease 521 .. Vote for Grant, 2885 ; Seymour, 929. Saw mills 4, flouring mills 14.
VILLAGES .- RED WING, the county seat, surveyed in 1853, incorporated in 1858. Population, 1865, 2362; 1869, about 5000, one-fifth German, two-fifths American, one-sixth Swede, one-sixth Norwegian, one-sixteenth Irish. Vote November, 1868, 826 ; shipments of wheat 1868, 806,108 bushels, 20,914 bushels of barley, 256 fan- ning mills, 10,711 bushels potatoes. Houses built, cost $193,609 : being churches, $8000; stores, shops, &c., $98,200; 63 dwellings, $62,760 ; additions, $17,374; stables, $7335. 14 general merchandise stores, 3 dry goods, 6 groceries, 2 hardware and iron, 2 shoe and leath- er, 3 clothing, 3 drug, 4 jewelry, 3 variety, 4 flour and feed, and 4 millinery stores, 3 harness shops, 4 shoe- makers, 4 blacksmiths, 1 iron foundry and machine shop, 3 tailors, 2 coopers, 1 gunsmith, and 1 cigar maker, tran- sact a very large mercantile business, the sales of agricul- tural implements alone being $190,000 per annum. With - 3 saw mills, 6 breweries, 2 bakeries and candy makers, 3 furniture, 2 sash and blind, 2 fanning mill and 5 wagon factories, and 1 grist mill, its manufactures are quite ex- tensive. There are. 8 hotels, 25 saloons, 2 printing offi- ces, 8 grain warehouses, 3 photographers, 2 billiard rooms, ยท 11 clergymen, 8 doctors, 9 lawyers. The churches are Presbyterian, Methodist, German Methodist, Catholic, (English and German services,) German, Swedish and Norwegian Lutheran, Swedish National and Baptist. A rich country on both sides of the river is tributary to Red Wing. On the Wisconsin side an immense forest of tim- ber unequaled in quality and quantity, with water-powers convenient to the steam ferry, afford excellent resources for manufacturing agricultural implements for Red Wing and its rich back country.
219
HENNEPIN COUNTY.
PINE ISLAND has 1000 population, mostly Americans ; a good hotel, 4 stores, good churches, shops, &c., water- power and a good location for a grist mill.
CANNON FALLS has 700 population, mostly American and Swedes, one of the best water-powers in the State ; 2 large flouring and 1 woolen mill, 3 churches, 3 stores, shops, &c., but no hotel. Within 2 miles of its centre are 17 mill sites, at falls varying from 10 to 18 feet, where the whole water of the Cannon River may be used for power.
ZUMBROTA has 400 population, a Baptist and Congre- gational church, 2 flouring mills, 4 or 5 stores, shops, &c.
FRONTENAC, 12 miles from Red Wing, 8 from Lake City, on the river has a large hotel fitted up for invalids, seve- ral stores, a grist mill, good scenery, hunting, fishing and boating accommodations for tourists.
FLORENCE is a smaller village in the same township. Population of the township 1000, 600 Germans, 400 Americans.
ROSCOE, WANAMINGO, FEATHERSTONE, and other points, are the nuclei of villages, and besides these there are-
Post OFFICES at Ayr, Belle Creek, Fair Point, Goodhue Centre, Hadar, Holden, Kenyon, Minneola, Norway, Roscoe Centre, Spencer, Spring Creek, Stanton, Wacouta and Wastedo.
HENNEPIN COUNTY.
Area 376,640 acres, of average fertility ; sandy along the rivers from 1 to 5 miles back, back of this mostly a dark loam with clay subsoil; two-thirds timber, a part hilly and broken; 75 lakes, besides creeks and rivers ; plenty of limestone, brick and lumber. Prices of land
220
HENNEPIN COUNTY.
about the average of Goodhue county. Population, 1860, 12,832 ; 1865, 17,076 ; 1869, over 30,000, half Americans and others, 2000 Norwegians, balance German and Irish equally divided.
STATISTICS .- Land assessed, 328,673 ; value per acre, $5.28 ; school land, 7687 ; cultivated, 1867, 30,231 acres ; wheat product 231,088 bushels ; assessed property, 1860, $3,557,522 ; 1868, $5,764,273 ; personal property, $1,- 598,061. Horses, 3941; cattle, 9090 ; mules, 69 ; sheep, 6906 ; hogs, 3684 ; carriages, 682 ; watches, 631 ; pianos, 169 ; merchandise, $272,918 ; money and credits, $117,- 961; school districts, 92 ; houses, 85 ; value, $148,905 ; scholars, 9417, year's increase 992. Vote for Grant 3128 ; Seymour, 1984 ; mills over 40 ; churches over 30.
CITIES .- MINNEAPOLIS, beautifully located on a level prairie, the second city in the State in population and business. The St. Anthony Falls water-power makes it the first as a manufacturing point. Population, 1865, 4607; 1869, by census, 13,080 ; its vote in November, 1868, being 2242. Improvements in 1868, one-half dwellings, $603,675 ; manufactures, $3,813,215 ; capital in manufacturing, $1,911,000 ; hands employed, 1652. Flouring mills, 9 ; run of stone, 38; daily capacity, in barrels, 2580 ; flour shipped, 161,432 brls. ; cost of mills, $339,500 ; saw mills, 14; invested in mills, $356,000; value of lumber product, $1,165,077 ; iron works, 4 prin- cipal works and some smaller ; money invested, $213,050 ; product, $236,197; woolen mills, 2; money invested, $140,000 ; product, $128,095 ; planing, door, sash and blind mills, 6 ; capital, $80,000 ; product, $121,000 ; pa- per mill, $60,000 capital ; furniture factory, $35,000 cap- ital ; product, $69,000 ; oil mill, capital $20,000. There are also factories for plows, barrels, fanning mills, wood- en ware, &c., &c.
221
HENNEPIN COUNTY.
There are 45 groceries, 17 dry goods stores, 8 drug, 4 hardware, 10 boot and shoe, 5 hat and cap, 4 clothing, 2 auction, 4 cigar, 3 agricultural implement, 33 saloons, 16 doctors, 30 lawyers, 6 merchant tailors, and other trades.
The growth of this city has been most rapid. Con- nected by railroads with all parts of the State, its un- rivalled water-power, and the pluck and enterprise of its citizens ensure its future growth, in connection with St. Anthony, to a manufacturing city of metropolitan pro- portions.
Churches .- 2 each of Baptist, Presbyterian, Congrega- tional, and Lutheran, 1 Free Will Baptist, 1 Methodist costing $30,000, 1 Universalist costing $16,000, 1 Epis- copalian, 1 Catholic, 1 society of " Friends," and 1 of " Adventists," and an organization of Swedenborgians.
Water-Power Improvement .- (See pages 137 and 140, Part First.)-$40,000 has been expended for a canal to make available the lots below the falls, $85,000 more is being expended to make a tunnel 3000 feet long on the St. Anthony side, $30,000 has been expended for aprons to prevent the wearing process of the water, and $100,- 000 more is appropriated by the city.
The dam on the St. Anthony side is 14 feet high and 1300 feet long ; that on the other side 20 feet high, 60 wide at the base, and 1500 feet long.
The water-power is owned on both sides by companies who lease it to manufacturers.
ST. ANTHONY is connected by a wire suspension bridge and a railroad bridge with Minneapolis. Had 2499 pop- ulation in 1865, and in 1869 about 5000. Its manufac- tures in 1868 were $1,205,817; capital invested, $652,- 050 ; 4 flour mills costing $85,500; value of product, $371,000 ; 9 saw mills, capital, $71,000 ; product, $410,-
-
222
HENNEPIN COUNTY.
517; iron works, capital, $123,800; product, $140,600 ; furniture factory, product, $69,000 ; paper, $60,000 ; pot- tery, $3000; soap, $30,000; beer, $30,000 ; sash, doors, planing, &c., $35,000 ; barrels, $37,000, &c., &c. Its mercantile business has been transferred to a considera- ble extent to Minneapolis. The State University is lo- cated here. There are 2 Methodist, 1 Congregational, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal and 1 Universalist churches. New houses and improvements, 1868, $142,250.
The manufacturing statistics above are from the official report of the Secretary of the Minnesota Board of Trade.
FALLS, LAKES, AND CASCADES .- St. Anthony Falls, de- scribed 100 years ago by Carver as 30 feet high, appear now to be less than half this height, and are much more valuable for their unrivalled water-power than for their grandeur or beauty of scenery.
Minnehaha, 6 miles from Minneapolis by rail, has a fall of 60 feet, and is a gem.
Silver Cascade and the Bridal Veil are near St. Anthony, and worth a visit.
Lake Minnetonka, 15 miles by rail, is a resort for invalids and tourists, and is provided with hotels, fishing tackle, and sail boats. It has a small steamer also.
Lakes Calhoun, Harriet, and Cedar, close to Minne- apolis, are much admired and popular resorts.
DAYTON, GREENWOOD, BLOOMINGTON, CHAMPLIN, EXCEL- SIOR, WAYZATTA, and Osseo are embryo towns, with one or more stores and a few houses.
POST OFFICES .- Corcoran, Bloomington Ferry, Eden Prairie, Fort Snelling, Freeport, Hassan, Industriana, Leighton, Lenz, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Minne- trista, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, St. Bonifacius, Tamarack.
223
HOUSTON COUNTY.
HOUSTON COUNTY.
Sixteen townships or 368,000 acres; rolling, with meadow, timber and prairie equally distributed ; soil black loam with clay subsoil ; well watered by Root River and branch, and by 10 creeks, and ample water-power upon every brook ; good building stone and brick ; fuel, $2.50 to $3 per cord; wild land, $3 to $10-improved, higher ; population 1860, 6667 ; 1865, 9788 ; 1869, 14,000. Vote for Grant, 1435 ; Seymour, 899. Nationality, one- third American, one-third Norwegian, one-sixth German, one-sixth Irish.
STATISTICS .- Land assessed, 319,085 acres ; value per acre, $3.69 ; cultivated, 1867, 43,923. Wheat product, 426,867 bushels. School land, 8289 ; homestead, 560 ; railroad, considerable. Assessed property, 1860, $1,214,- 022 ; 1868, $1,976,500. Personal property, $725,468. Horses, 3229 ; cattle, 8369 ; sheep, 6923 ; mules, 54 ; hogs, 6338 ; carriages, 138; watches, 125; pianos, 10 ; mer- chandise, $48,664 ; money and credits, $102,652. School districts, 74 ; houses, 67 ; value, $26,475 ; scholars, 4642 ; year's increase, 375. Grist mills, 11; saw mills, 5; churches, about 15 ; 5 Masonic, and 4 or 5 Good Templar lodges.
VILLAGES .- BROWNSVILLE, on the river, is the principal business town, having about 1200 inhabitants, 15 stores, 3 doctors, 3 ministers, 2 lawyers, a Methodist, Presby- terian, Lutheran and Catholic church, saw mill, &c.
CALEDONIA, the county seat, surrounded by the richest of lands, has 800 population, 12 stores, 3 doctors, 1 lawyer, 3 ministers, a Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist and Catholic church, saw mill, plow and wagon facto- ries, &c.
HOUSTON, 18 miles out on the railroad, population 600,
224
ISANTI COUNTY.
has 6 or 8 stores, is a grain and lumber depot, in a rich country, and promises to compete with Brownsville.
HOKAH, 5 miles out, population 500, noted for its ex- tensive water-power, 4 or 5 stores, railroad machine shops, 1 lawyer, 1 doctor, 2 saw and grist mills, a Pres- byterian church, &c.
LA CRESCENT, a grain market, population 300 or 400, 3 stores, 2 lawyers, 2 Methodist and 1 Presbyterian church.
POST OFFICES at Sheldon, Winnebago Valley, Fitzen, Freeburgh, La Villa, Looneyville, Lorette, Money Creek, Riceford, San Jacinto, Spring Grove, Union, Wilming- ton, Yucatan.
ISANTI COUNTY.
Area 14 townships or 322,000 acres, heavily timbered with hard wood in the northern townships with a strong clay soil, the north-west townships nearly all pine timber, the middle and southern parts oak openings with a lighter sandy soil, 48 lakes, valuable meadows and tamarac swamps. The Rum River bottoms very rich, and in the eastern townships, fine meadows and timber on the Sunrise River. The whole county finely adapted for pasturage and stock growing. Land worth $3 to $5 per acre. Building material, lumber, brick and boulders. Fuel very cheap. Population, 1860, 178; 1865, 453; 1869, about 1200. Vote for Grant, 263, Seymour, 29. Nationality, mostly Americans and Swedes, some Ger- mans and English.
STATISTICS .- Land assessed, 29,281 acres ; value per acre, $2.08 ; school land, 17,880 acres; railroad lands, alternate sections within 10 miles of the road ; govern- ment lands, 1868, 60,000 acres. Wheat cultivated, 1867,
225
KANABEC COUNTY.
477 acres ; product, 5765 bushels ; oats, 203 acres, 5483 bushels ; corn, 327 acres, 4950 bushels, &c. Assessed property, 1860, $95,256 ; 1868, $112,219 ; personal pro- perty, $71,540. Horses, 140; cattle, 1271; sheep, 954 ; hogs, 159 ; carriages, 13; watches, 29; merchandise, $2300 ; money and credits, $2660. School districts, 13 ; scholars, 476 ; year's increase, 177; houses, 5 ; value, $450. Saw mill, 1; churches, 1 Baptist and 1 Lutheran, both Swede, in Cambridge, and Methodist worship in several parts of the county.
VILLAGES AND POST OFFICES .- OXFORD and CAMBRIDGE are the nominal villages. Isanti, North Branch and Spencer Brook, the post offices.
ITASCA COUNTY .- (SEE CASS.)
KANABEC COUNTY.
Fifteen townships-345,000 acres-chiefly valuable for pine, which is found in 10 townships. Soil generally second and third rate, and a large portion of the county tamarac swamps and marshes. Its abundant natural meadows and proximity to market will cause it to be drained and used for stock and dairy purposes, in the future. The surface is mostly undulating-a part level. It had 31 population in 1865. It reported 18 scholars for 18.68, year's increase, 7. Cast 8 votes for Grant, and 1 for Seymour. Has 1 school house, worth $400. Lands assessed, 117,334 acres ; value per acre, $1.66 ; had 63,- . 985 acres of government land in 1868 ; land under culti- vation, 147 acres ; 6 in wheat, raised 100 bushels ; 52 oats, 610 bushels ; 46 corn, 1410 ; 20 potatoes, 3708 ; 23
226
JACKSON COUNTY.
beans, 210. Assessed property, 1860, $108,446 ; 1868, $201,254 ; personal, $5100. Horses 8, cattle 55, hogs 10.
BRUNSWICK is the only post office and settlement ; has a hotel and a few houses. In the county are 20 lakes.
JACKSON COUNTY.
Area 20 townships or 460,000 acres-a rich prairie county, with about 3000 acres of timber, mostly on the Des Moines River-oak, maple, black walnut, basswood, cottonwood, &c. Plenty of meadow, well distributed ; numerous beautiful lakes-18 on the map-one 10 miles long ; surface gently undulating ; land mostly free at government price, or held by railroad companies. Build- - ing material, lumber, brick and boulders. Excellent water-power. Fuel, $2.50 per cord. Population, 1860, 181 ; depopulated in 1862 by the Indian war ; 1865, 234 ; 1869, 1500. Vote for Grant, 201 ; Seymour, 16. Nation- ality, principally Americans and Norwegians.
STATISTICS .- Land assessed, 5570 acres ; value per acre, $3.01; school land, over 25,000 acres; railroad lands, nearly one-half the county ; cultivated, 1867, 393 acres. Wheat product, 2445 bushels. Horses, 1868, 174; cattle, 1069; mules, 3; sheep, 368 ; hogs,. 87; carriages, 6 ; watches, 28 ; merchandise, $1330 ; money and credits, $4305. Assessed property, 1861, $13,052 ; 1868, $55,975 ; personal property, $57,313. School dis- tricts, 12 ; houses, 3 ; value, $700 ; scholars, 344 ; year's increase, 93. 2 saw and grist mills ; 2 churches.
VILLAGES .- JACKSON, the county seat and location for the land office, is the only village, and has 3 general stores, 1 hardware and tin store, 1 drug, 1 feed, and 1 furniture store, hotel, photograph gallery, wagon, shoe,
227
LAKE COUNTY.
and blacksmith shops, 2 lawyers, 2 clergymen, a Metho- dist and Presbyterian church, 1 saw and 1 grist mill.
POST OFFICES at Jackson, Petersburg, and Summit.
KANDIYOHI COUNTY.
Twelve townships, 276,480 acres ; a rich, level prairie county, with 40 lakes skirted with groves of oak, bass- wood, hickory, and butternut, averaging about 300 acres each ; lakes generally connected by creeks, in the valleys of which are meadow lands. Elevation above the sea, 1100 feet. Building material : brick, boulders on the lake shores, and lumber. Price of land (a few thousand acres free,) $3 to $5 for prairie ; $5 to $12 for timber. Popu- lation, 1866, 200; 1867, 400; 1868, 800; 1869, 1200; three-quarters Swedes. Vote for Grant, 160; for Sey- mour, 12.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.