By 1852, there were already 3 weekly newspapers published in Saint Paul alone.Frequently advertisements hailed Minnesota's virtues and riches, beckoning East coasters to the promised land of plenty -- plenty of winter, that is... Many an article failed to mention the tougher sides of life in the North, as the following excerpts indicate.
March 3, 1877
Tables of mortality show there is no city in the United States so healthy as St. Paul. We walked through every prominent street and found only one undertakers shop, and on the door was a placard: No admittance except on business. Business was so poor that the owner, no doubt, had too many friends who make his shop a lounging place. He will have to move away or open a lager beer saloon.
St. Paul Pioneer Press
1889
A home to be proud of! Seekers after homes, read and reflect! Peruse the statement of a successful farmer!...
St. Paul/Minneapolis/Manitoba Railroad Company
1881
And during threshing times, the wages are $2 a day, the immigrants and other working people can hardly get off the train and walk across the street before there is someone after them who wants to hire them.
C.J. Birkebak
1871
The atmosphere in Minnesota in the winter is like a wine, so exhilarating in its effects on the system. The extreme cold does not last but for a few days.
Minnesota, it's Character and Climate by Ledyard Bill
January 3, 1856
WARNING! There is a reaper whose name is Death; and since no one can tell when he will thrust in his sickle and cut us off from life, nowis the time to have your Picture taken at Whitney's Gallery, ---where as good a Daguerroeotype can be procured as any other establishment in the world.
-The Weekly Minnesotan
January 30, 1850
Some journeymen preacher would make a profitable trip up the Mississippi River, with a supply of blank marriage licesnes, there being no person north of St. Paul who is authorized by law to tie the nuptial knot. Many couples are represented to be in an unlawful state of suspense. More properly imagined, than described.
-The Minnesota Pioneer
May 9, 1876
One hundred and thirteen prairie schooners passed by the office of the Luverne Herald during five days of last week.
-St. Paul Daily Globe
May 21, 1895
A new invention has been made by a Swede, by name Per O. Elliot, 905 Washington Ave. S. It is a simple little apparatus designed to aid in attaching the postage stamp to a letter thus making it unnecessary to fumble around with big and clumsy fingers in an attempt to affix it. As soon as the inventor receives the patent papers he will sell his invention, preferably to a Swede. Several prospective buyers have already contacted him.
-Svenkska Amerikanska Posten
September 30, 1851
Never was a city laid out so badly as St. Paul. The plat of the town with its numerous additons looks as if some accident had knocked all the streets into pi. Measures should be taken immediately to straighten and reform them as far as practical, before it is too late.
-The Minnesota Democrat Weekly
Sept. 15, 1893
A blood curdling murder occured at Wells on Wednesday. Henry Ringer, owner of a meat market was stabbed to death with a huge butcher knife by a man in his employ named korr. Briefly told, RInger, suspecting improper relations between Korr and his wife, came home clandestinely and secreted himself under the bed, and was discovered by Korr who supposing him to be a burglar killed him instantly. It is a sad state of affairs in which a wife's infidelity seems to have been the inciting cause.
-Marion County Sentinel
January 2, 1850
Six or seven of the sporting citizens of St. Paul stated off about eight day since on a hunting and trouting excursion to rush River. Having only 15 gallons of brandy along wih them, they returned on the 8th day, being out of necessaries.
-The Minnesota Pioneer