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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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History of Anoka County
And the Towns of Champlin and Dayton
In Hennepin County, Minnesota
by Albert M. Goodrich
pub. 1905 - Hennepin Publishing Co., Minneapolis


              page 215
              
                 SIMEON P. FOLSOM was born in Lower Canada near Quebec,
               Dec. 27, 1819. His father was a native of New Hampshire.
               S. P. FOLSOM came west in 1839, at settled first at
               Prairie du Chien. Not long afterward he was engaged as
               clerk for HENRY M. RICE at Fort Atkinson. In 1841 he re-
               turned to Prairie du Chien and for several years acted
               as surveyor of county lands. In 1846 he volunteered as
               a soldier in the Mexican War, but instead of being sent
               to the front, was ordered to Fort Crawford for garrison
               duty in order to relieve the regulars, who were sent to
               Mexico. On July 25, 1847, he landed in St. Paul, and dur-
               ing the following winter purchased a half interest in the
               Rum river trading post from PATRICK CAINE and removed here
               with his wife about the middle of February, 1848. The fol-
               lowing spring he bought a barrel of potatoes at Fort
               Snelling for four dollars. He pared them rather thick, and
               having eaten the potatoes, planted the parings on a little
               patch of ground near his dwelling and raised forty bushels
               of potatoes. This was the first crop of potatoes raised in
               what is now Anoka county. In the fall he removed to Elk
               River, taking the potatoes with him for his winter's supply.
               Mr. FOLSOM surveyed the original site of St. Paul and also
               of St. Anthony. At the latter place he was given permission
               to use his own discretion to a considerable extent, and it
               is largely to his foresight that Minneapolis owes her wide
               streets. Mr. FOLSOM is the oldest railroad man in the state,
               both in years and time of service, having begun his career
               with EDMUND RICE in 1854, some four years before the first
               track was laid. When JAMES J. HILL secured possession of
               the old St. Paul and Pacific railroad Mr. FOLSOM was dis-
               placed for a time, but after a few years Mr. HILL sent for
               him, and he has been in the employ of the great railroad
               manager through all the mutations and changes which have
               since occurred. Mr. FOLSOM at the age of eighty-five is
               still one of the attorneys for the Great Northern Railroad.
               
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