Minneapolis in 1868. Minneapolis sawmills (ca. 1868). Minnesota Iron Works is at the right of center; the Courthouse is left of center with cupola. The white building in center is the Cataract House. The Milwaukee Elevator is the tall building toward the right. Minneapolis Collection, BR0136.

Oct 1868.

We have sold out and in a few days will start for the beautiful city of Minneapolis where we expect to make our home.  After a short visit to Father Clark's, which was our last place to visit, he carried us all back to the old home for the last time.  We had to finish packing so the trunks could be taken to the depot before bedtime.  When we arrived at the house we found the people who are to live in the house setting up their stove.  I thought they might have waited until we were ready to leave the house, everything was in such confusion I could barely get my things together, and little Charley came running out and in from Aunt Susan's where we tried to have him stay, but he was so afraid we would leave him, he could not be pursuaded to stay.  Freddy and Luty kept running back and forth with him, for they did not like to have him in the street alone.  About 8 o'clock Charley went to sleep on the lounge.  Father and Mother bid us good-by and Mr. and Mrs. Griffin fixed the stove to their mind and gone.  Brother Charley moved the melodian out so he could get it in to the wagon and then I had a chance to work.  I soon finished packing and John and Mr. Cummings carried the trunks down to the depot, but before they went I had to go to town, sign some papers and change some kid gloves for Ella.  Before John came back Charley had woke up and was so cross I could do nothing with him, so I bid brother Charley and Mrs. Cummings good-by and went with the children over to Aunts.  She was waiting for us and had a good fire, for it was chilly.  John came in a short time later and he and Bob commenced smoking their cigars.  Aunt made the children a nice bed where they could lay down with their clothes.  Ella lay on the sofa and Aunt said I must get into her bed and sleep as long as I could.  So she covered me up all nice and warm and said she would call me when it was time to get up.  I thought I should fall asleep in a minute but as soon as Aunt left the room my eyes were wide open and the more I tried to go to sleep the more difficult it seemed. At last I gave up in despair and went back into the other room and Ella soon followed. Aunt made some tea and set the table with pie and cake and other good things, for she knew we would be hungry before we could get anything to eat.  And after we had all we wished she insisted that I should put some crackers in my basket for the children in the morning. I thought I would not need them, for Mother Clark had given me plenty of nice little cakes, but to please her, I took them and afterward I was glad I did, for the children began to tease as soon as it was daylight for something to eat and by the time we reached the boat they were all gone.

It was nearly 8 o'clock when we came in sight of the Mississippi River that I had always wished to see.  I thought it beautiful but was disappointed, for I had thought it much wider than I found it to be.  We enjoyed the sail up this beautiful river very much.  We set up one night til 12 o'clock to see the famous (Maden Rock). I was nearly sick so I was glad when we arrived in St. Paul, a place I had greatly desired to see.  We did not stop long, for I did not see much of this town, for it is a large place and would take a long time to go all over the city.  We went on board the cars and in a short time we found ourselves in Minneapolis.  When we arrived at the depot we expected to take a hack and be carried to our friends house, but it was Fair time and all the carriages were going back and forth to the Fairgrounds, so we were obliged to walk.  After a long and tiresome walk we at last saw two little faces looking out of a window that we knew were the ones we were looking for, so we stopped and Abbie met us at the door.  She was expecting us so she soon had a good warm dinner ready that Ella thought was better than anything we had had on the boat.  After dinner John went to the Fair, the rest of us stayed and visited with Abbie.

(Note:  Esther's half-sister Abbie, and her husband Jasper Woodward, had come to Minneapolis a few years earlier to make a home and had pursuaded John and Esther to move here as well).