Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/169

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNT! 121 family and an Indian trader named Abner AY. Post. In the same year an Indian trader named Snow came to Red Wing. In 1851, Calvin Potter became associated with Snow in the trading post, and after the death of Snow continued the business until the removal of the Indians. At about this time, possibly earlier, ( 'harles Gould settled near the mouth'of Wells creek. The arrival of Benjamin Young, a French half-breed, in Red Wing's village probably bears about the same date. In April, 1852, John Day came over from Diamond Bluff, Wis., and selected a claim in what is now the southeast corner of Section 25, Township 113, Range 15. He had considerable difficulty with the Indians, and also with Young. His cabin was repeatedly torn. down, but after the treaty he firmly established himself. Then came that sturdy old pioneer physician, Dr. AY. AY. Sweney, whose name will ever be revered in this county. With him the history of the county really begins. It will therefore be seen that previous to his coming the actual white settlers were as follows: Samuel Denton and wife, Red AYing, 1837 ; Daniel Gavin and wife. Red AYing, 1837 ; James Wells and half-breed wife, Prontenac, 1817 (?) ; Rev. John Aiton and wife, Red AYing. 1818; John Bush and half-breed wife, Red Wing, 1848 ( ?) ; Rev. J. AY. Hancock and wife. Red AYing, 1849; George Bullard and family, AYacoota, 1850; Abner W. Post, Wacoota, 1850; Snow. Red AYing, 1851 (?) ; Charles Gould and family, near mouth of AYells creek, 1851 (?) ; Calvin Potter, Red AYing, 1851; Benjamin Young ( half-breed), Red Wing, 1851 (?); John Day and family. Red AYing. 1852. Of his early experiences, Dr. Sweney once wrote : 'In the spring of 1852. Calvin Potter, with whom I had pre- viously been acquainted, called at my office in St. Paul, and in the course of our conversation informed me that he has bought out Mr. Snow, the licensed Indian trader at Red Wing ; and in view of the treaty then in process of consummation, he thought that point a good location for a town site ; also, that he would like to interest someone with him in a claim he had there. AVilliam Freeborn, being one of the old residents of St. Paul, and having a large acquaintance, Mr. Potter thought he would be a desirable man. From my opinion of the country, acquired in various conversa- tions with an old French voyager, and also from an Englishman by birth — but in language and habits a compound of English, French and Indian — who had been in the country for thirty years. I was more than anxious to take part in the enterprise, and brought about a speedy meeting between Mr. Potter and Air. Freeborn. "In our council, Air. Freeborn demurred at first, urging his inability to remove to the new Eldorado immediately. I proposed to remove that objection by coming myself, to which he acceded.