Agenda - Public Works Committee - 03/20/2018

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41Ue 7e'e Penotaeie Setteeuefte In the spring of 1850 the first permanent settlement or colony in the County of Anoka was made in Ramsey by a group from the eastern states. Among these was Daniel Harthorn, Jon, Emerson and Penuel Shumway Sr., and Cornelius Pitman with their families and Nathan Shumway and Ever Harthorn. The last two were single and made the first trip to spy out the land. Nathan Shumway erected a log house where the Hanson home later stood (across from the Sherwin Schenk farm). This was the fifth house built in Anoka County. The rivers were very high. Robert's ferry across the Rum River near the mouth, had not progressed beyond the row boat stage, and when some of the new settlers at tempted to cross, the boat was upset. Mr. Pitman, being unable to swim, came near drowning, but finally reached the shore with no more damage than a thorough wet- ting and the loss of his hat. In June the families of the colonists arrived on the steamboat Governor Ramsey. The new comers landed opposite the residence of I.A. Harthorn, the Mississippi being bank high at that point, and proceeded to the house of Nathan Shumway. One small log house proving rather inadequate for the shelter of eight men and six women, to say nothing of the children, some of the colonists were obliged to sleep out of doors the first few nights. The men at once began erection of houses. Emerson Shumway built a house where the Greenberg Garage is now and John Shumway built on the riverbank in front of it, near what was then the steamboat landing. Ever Harthorn erected a house on what was afterward known as the F. A. Edgarton place, Penuel Shumway built where Herbert Wilson's house stood and Cornelius Pitman built his house where his son, A. I. Pitman later lived (on Industry Drive). A week after their arrival John Shumway and his wife were both taken sick with typhoid fever. The nearest physicians were at St. Anthony, and the settlers were in- clined to be skeptical of the qualifications of frontier physicians. Mrs. Shumway, a skillful nurse, directed as best she could the treatment which should be given to her and her husband, and both recovered. The first white child born within the limits of Anoka county, so far as was known was Fernando Shumway, a son of Penuel Shumway, Jr. who was born March 22, 1851. His mother died July 9, 1851 and Rev. Charles Secomb from St. Anthony preached her funeral sermon. This was the first sermon in Anoka county. 9