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HBBHBBBI  • '  • 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT  LOS  ANGELES 


H  O  N.  AL,  EXANTD  E  R  RAM 3  K 

SENATOR  7'F.OM  MIMT\'ESuTA 


A   HISTORY 


CITY  OF  SAINT  PAUL, 


AND 'OF    THE 


COUNTY  OF  RAMSEY, 


MIN  NESOTA. 


By  J.  FLETCHER  WILLIAMS, 

SECRETARY  OK  THE  MINNESOTA  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY;  COR.  SEC.  OK  THE  OLD 

SETTLERS  ASSOCIATION  OF  MINNESOTA  ;  SEC.  OF  THE  RAMSEY 

COUNTY  PIONEER  ASSOCIATION,  &c.,  &c. 


[COLLECTIONS  OF  THE  MINNESOTA  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY:    VOL.  iv.] 


SAINT   PAUL: 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  SOCIETY. 

1S76. 


Entered  according  to  Aft  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875,  by  the 

"MINNESOTA  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY," 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  Washington,  D.  C. 


PIONEER-PRESS   CO., 
OOK   AND  JOB  PRINTERS. 


v.4- 


PREFACE. 


This  work  was  prepared  at  the  request  and  advice  of  a  number  of 
friends,  who  believed  that  the  writer  had  the  material  at  hand  and  the 
opportunity  to  prepare  it,  better  than  any  one  else  who  was  likely  to 
undertake  it.  There  seemed,  too,  a  necessity  for  such  a  work.  The 
old  pioneers  of  our  city  and  State  were,  one  by  one,  passing  away,  and 
the  events  of  our  earlv  history,  if  not  soon  gathered  and  placed  on 
permanent  record,  would  be  lost.  The  names  even,  of  those  who  first 
planted  their  cabins  on  the  site  of  our  city,  were  fast  becoming  lost  and 
forgotten :  and  their  worthy  adts.  their  labors,  their  adventures,  the 
privations  and  struggles  of  frontier  life,  and  other  events  in  the  earliest 
days  of  our  city,  were  rapidly  fading  from  the  memory  of  the  little 
group  of  pioneers  who  survived.  Even  what  manner  of  men  they 
were,  whence  they  came,  their  personal  history,  particulars  which  will 
interest  those  who  come  after  us  more,  perhaps,  than  they  do  the  pres- 
ent generation,  were  matters  known  to  so  few,  and  scattered  in  frag- 
ments among  widely  distant  households,  it  was  almost  a  sealed  book 
to  some  of  the  pioneers  themselves. 

It  needed,  therefore,  some  one  who  was,  by  occupation  and  taste, 
interested  in  such  a  work  to  perform  it — since  it  was  certain  to  be  both 
laborious  and  unremunerative — some  one  who  would  hunt  up  from  the 
various  sources  the  lost  and  forgotten  threads  which,  little  by  little, 
might  be  woven  into  the  record  of  the  founding  and  early  days  of  our 
goodly  city.  It  was  this  work  that,  in  a  rash  moment,  I  was  induced 
to  undertake,  little  foreseeing  into  what  a  labyrinth  of  troubles  I  was 
about  to  plunge.  (At  first,  however,  I  should  say,  only  a  pamphlet 
was  projected.) 

It  is  now  fully  ten  years  since  I  began  collecting  material  and  data 
for  these  chronicles — and  it  was  fortunate  that  I  began  the  work  then. 
I  secured,  in  writing,  the  minute  statements  of  some  of  the  earliest  pio- 
neers of  our  city,  who  have  since  gone  to  their  reward,  and  which,  if 
not  recorded  by  me  then,  would  probably  have  been  lost.  Among 


164683 


4  Preface. 

these  were  GUERIN,  PIERRE  GERVAIS,  BEAUMETTE,  SIMPSON,  HARTS- 
HORN, ROBERT,  FORBES,  HOYT,  J.  R.  BROWN,  and  others,  all  of  whom 
were  among  the  earliest  residents  here,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in 
the  pre-territorial  period  of  our  history.  Coming  to  Saint  Paul  at 
quite  an  early  day  myself,  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  be  well  acquainted 
with  nearly  all  the  early  settlers— scores  of  them  since  deceased— and, 
being  in  an  occupation  which  enabled  me  to  do  so,  was  accustomed  to 
secure  from  them  and  write  up  for  publication,  little  sketches,  histori- 
cal and  biographical,  about  the  early  days  and  early  men  of  Saint  Paul. 
Thus  I  collected  and  preserved  from  loss,  a  considerable  amount  of 
materials  for  history,  and  became  generally  familiar  with  the  subject. 

I  have  since  visited  and  secured  the  minute  statement  of  every  living 
pioneer  of  our  city,  (besides  Jhe  deceased  ones  mentioned,)  whose  ad- 
dress I  could  ascertain,  if  within  any  accessible  distance — and  also  the 
families  of  many  who  died  before  I  began  the  work— securing  also  the 
statements,  in  writing,  of  those  I  was  not  able  to  visit.  To  do  this 
has  required  not  a  little  travel — sometimes  journeys  of  considerable 
length  and  expense.  But  I  am  repaid  by  the  satisfadlion  of  know- 
ing that  I  left  no  known  source  unexplored,  that  would  throw  light  on 
my  subject,  or  develop  material.  A  large  number  of  letters  were  writ- 
ten also,  and  circulars  sent  out,  asking  information,  and  I  conversed 
widely  with  our  old  settlers,  from  time  to  time,  on  various  points. 
These  fa<fts  are  not  mentioned  in  a  boastful  way,  but  simply  to  enable 
the  reader  to  judge  whether  the  author  has  performed  the  task  under- 
taken with  the  thoroughness  and  fidelity  which  was  requisite — or. 
rather,  has  endeavored  to  do  so. 

That  the  work  is  correct  in  every  particular,  he  does  not  claim. 
Among  so  many  hundred  names,  dates  and  statements  of  facts,  it  would 
be  a  miracle  if  errors  are  not  found.  Of  the  imperfections  of  the  work 
no  one  is  more  sensible  than  the  writer — yet,  in  view  of  the  many  dif- 
ficulties which  surrounded  him,  he  is  entitled  to  the  leniency  of  critics. 
The  task  of  one  who  writes  a  local  history  during  the  lifetime  of  the 
adtors,  is  an  unenviable  one.  He  must  depend  for  many  facts  upon  the 
memory  of  those  adtors  or  their  friends,  no  two  of  them,  perhaps, 
agreeing  on  the  same  statement,  or  in  the  exa6t  amount  of  prominence 
due  to  each.  Where  these  oral  statements  are  the  only  sources  of  in- 
formation, any  one  can  realize  the  troubles  that  environ  a  writer  who 
endeavors,  with  impartiality  and  candor,  to  build  a  faultless  structure 
on  such  shifting  quicksands  ! 

To  the  earliest  years  of  our  history,  the  pre-territorial  period,  and 
up  to  the  organization  of  the  city,  the  most  space  and  minuteness  was 
given.  But  the  events  of  those  years  were  so  imperfectly  recorded,  if 
recorded  at  all,  as  to  be  inaccessible  to  the  great  mass  of  our  present 
citizens,  and  almost  forgotten  by  the  old  pioneers  themselves.  The 
living  witnesses  were  fast  disappearing,  and  what  they  knew  and  could 


Preface.  5 

remember  of  that  period  must  be  first  cared  for.  After  1854,  there 
were  several  daily  papers,  directories,  and  other  means  of  recording 
history  and  its  actors,  which  did'  not  exist  before.  It  was  the  earliest 
pioneers  and  oldest  settlers  who  most  needed  the  biographer  and  his- 
torian. Those  of  a  later  day  are  amply, cared  for  in  other  ways. 
Hence,  when  the  work  was  about  half  printed,  finding  that  it  threat- 
ened to  largely  overrun  its  intended  size  and  cost,  the  later  years  were 
of  necessity  condensed  to  a  simple  record  of  important  fadts.  Some 
200  pages  of  manuscript,  prepared  with  considerable  labor  and  cost, 
were  thus  cut  out — among  other  things,  the  entire  census  roll  of  the 
men  of  1857. 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  given  many  more  portraits  and  biogra- 
phies of  pioneers  of  our  city,  and  of  men  who  have  been  prominent  in 
public  or  professional  life,  &c. — one  hundred,  at  least,  were  hoped  for, 
but  there  were  difficulties  that  prevented  it.  The  publication,  not  long 
ago,  of  a  "  Historical  Atlas."  almost  destroyed  the  desirableness  of 
this  feature,  and  quite  recently  the  city  has  been  flooded  with  the  cir- 
culars of  publishers  from  abroad,  proposing  to  issue  more  works  of 
that  kind.  In  the  face  of  such  schemes,  any  legitimate  work,  purely 
in  the  interest  of  history,  and  not  for  profit,  has  but  little  chance  of 
success,  and  I  was  compelled  to  forego  much  of  what  I  had  hoped  to 
secure.  Some,  doubtless,  supposed  this  work  was  also  designed  as  a 
speculation.  This  does  me  injustice.  It  was  projected  and  completed 
solely  from  a  taste  for  historical  research,  a  feeling  of  pride  in  the  sub- 
ject, and  an  endeavor  to  honor  the  memory  of  our  pioneers  and  pioneer 
days,  and  without  the  slightest  desire  of  profit.  As  an  evidence  of  this, 
it  will  be  observed  that  the  copyright,  even,  has  been  given  to  one  of 
our  deserving  institutions,  so  that  not  a  penny  of  the  receipts  can 
enure  to  the  writer.  But  if  the  labor  and  outlay  incurred  by  him 
has  in  any  satisfactory  degree  accomplished  what  was  intended — if  this 
work  shall  prove  of  any  value  or  interest  to  those  for  whose  pleasure 
and  information  it  was  written — then  he  will  feel  amply  repaid  for  both. 

Were  I  to  mention  those  who  have  kindly  aided  me  in  my  researches, 
and  furnished  information  and  other  aid,  it  would  embrace  almost  the 
entire  roll  of  our  old  settlers.  To  one  and  all,  I  return  my  grateful 
thanks,  regretting  only  that  I  have  so  imperfectly  performed  the  task 
they  confided  to  me. 

J.  F.  W. 

SAINT  PAUL,  January  6,  1876. 


Contents. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  PAGES. 

1.  The  Pre-Historic  period 9~  X7 

2.  The  Discovery  of  the  Northwest 18-25 

3.  Jonathan  Carver  and  his  Explorations 26-  37 

4.  The  First  Settlement  of  Minnesota 38-  56 

5.  The  Treaties  of  1837 - 57~  63 

6.  The  First  Settlement  of  Saint  Paul 64-  76 

7.  Events  of  the  year  1839 77~  9^ 

8.  Events  of  the  years  1840  and  1841 99-1 16 

9.  Events  of  the  year  1842 117-125 

10.  Events  of  the  year  1843 126-139 

11.  Events  of  the  year  1844 140-148 

12.  Events  of  the  year  1845 H9-Z52 

13.  Events  of  the  year  1846 153-163 

14.  Events  of  the  year  1847 164-176 

15.  Events  of  the  year  1848 177-202 

16.  Events  of  the  year  1849 203-222 

17.  Events  of  the  year  1849,  continued 223-246 

1 8.  Events  of  the  year  1850 247-264 

19.  Events  of  the  year  1850,  continued 265-283 

20.  Events  of  the  year  1851 284-308 

21.  Events  of  the  year  1851,  continued 309-320 

22.  Events  of  the  year  1852 321-332 

23.  Events  of  the  year  1853 333~347 

24.  Events  of  the  year  1854 348-3^ 

25.  Events  of  the  year  1855 356-361 

26.  Events  of  the  year  1856 362-368 

27.  Events  of  the  year  1857 369-378 

28.  Events  of  the  year  1857,  continued 379-383 

29.  Events  of  the  year  1858 384-387 

30.  Events  of  the  year  1859 388-391 

31.  Events  of  the  year  1860 392-397 

32.  Events  of  the  year  1861  to  1865 398-419 

33.  Events  of  the  year  1865  to  1870 420-439 

34.  Events  of  the  year  1871  to  1875 440-454 

35-     A  Quarter  Century's  Retrospect 45S-458 

APPendix 459-465 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PORTRAITS. 

Hon.  Alex.  Ramsey  (on  steel) opposite  title  page. 

Capt.  Jonathan  Carver page   27 

Joseph  R.  Brown opp.  "  40 

Norman  W.  Kittson '  •  ^g 

Gen.  Henry  H.  Sibley  (on  steel) opp-  "  50 

Vetal  Guerin "  97 

Rev.  Lucian  Galtier °PP-  'l  112 

Very  Rev.  A.  Ravoux "  113 

John  R.  Irvine "  127 

Capt.  Louis  Robert "  141 

Capt.  Russell  Blakeley "  175 

Nathan  Myrick "  195 

Rev.  E.  D.  Neill "  213 

Hon.  A.  Goodrich . .  "  220 

Gen.  R.  W.  Johnson "  226 

Ex-Gov.  W.  R.  Marshall "  239 

Dr.  David  Day "  243 

Hon.  Geo.  L.  Becker "  251 

"Old  Bets" "  253 

Hon.  Edmund  Rice "  255 

Hole-in-the-Day "  261 

Little  Crow "  276 

Bartlett  Presley "  294 

J.  C.  Burbank "  299 

Bishop  Joseph   Cretin "  311 

Col.  Alex.  Wilkin «  315 

Judge  R.  R.  Nelson "  345 

Col.  E.  S.  Goodrich «  351 

Dr.  J.  H.  Stewart "  361 

Rev.  John  Mattocks "  367 

John  W.  McClung "  373 


5  Illustrations. 

D.  W.  Ingersoll page  395 

Capt.  Wm.  H.  Acker "  397 

Gen.  John  B.  Sanborn  (on  steel) opp.   "  398 

Hon.  E.  F.  Drake "  4°5 

L.  E.  Reed "  4" 

Hon.  James  Smith,  Jr ;i  422 

Edward  Zimmerman "  425 

Hon.  Geo.  L.  Otis "  429 

Ex-Gov.  C.  K.  Davis "  431 

Hon.  C.  D.  Gilfillan "  436 

VIEWS. 

Chapel  of  Saint  Paul page  112 

Court  House "  280 

Old  Jail «  281 

Corner  of  Third  and  Robert  streets  (1851) "  292 

Old  Capitol "  339 

International  Hotel "  365 

McQuillan  Block "  436 

Custom  House "  446 

First  Baptist  Church "  451 


E  R  R  A  T  A  . 

Page  282,  9th  line,  for  "  Tremont,"  read  -;  Fremont." 
Page  390,  for  "  Henry  J.  Howe,"  read  "Henry  J.  Horn." 


op 


PAUL, 


AND  RAMSEY  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE  PRE-HISTORIC  PERIOD. 

IN  WHICH  is  MORE  ROMANCE  THAN  HISTORY — THE  CREATION  OF  THE  WORLD — 
GEOLOGICAL  CHANGES— How  SAINT  PAUL  LOOKED  A  MILLION  YEARS  AGO— THE 
MOUND  BUILDERS  AND  THEIR  WORKS — ORIGINAL  AND  ABORIGINAL  IDEAS — IM- 
•IN-I-JA  SKA — THE  RED  MAN — THE  SCENERY  OF  THE  INDIAN  PERIOD— PAST  AND 
PRESENT. 

THE  changes  which  the  settlement  of  the  Northwest  by  the 
whites  have  wrought  in  this  region,  are  truly  wonderful, 
even  in  a  country  that  has  shown  so  many  instances  of  remark- 
able progress  as  America.  Many  a  reader  of  these  pjfges,  yet 
on  the  sunny  side  of  fortv,  can  remember  when  the  great  valley 
of  the  Upper  Mississippi  was  known  only  to  a  few  adventurous 
traders  and  explorers.  On  the  school-bov's  map  over  which  he 
pored  in  his  far  eastern  home,  not  over  thirty  years  ago,  it  was 
put  down  as  an  "  unknown  region,  inhabited  bv  Indians  and 
buffaloes  !"*  Foit  Snelling  and  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony 
may  have  possibly  been  indicated,  or  the  outlines  of  *k  Carver's 
Claim,"  but  beyond  this  all  was  vague  and  uncertain.  Indeed, 
as  late  as  1849,  when  the  Territory  of  Minnesota  was  organized, 
and  the  bill  creating  it  located  its  capital  at  "  Saint  Paul." 

*The  "National  Geography,"  published  in  1845,  and  widely  used  in  schools  at  that 
period.^in  describing  this  section  of  the  country,  says :  "A  large  portion  of  this  region 
is  unknown,  and  occupied  by  Chippewas,  Menoininees  and  other  Indians.  Wild  rice, 
growing  in  the  marshes,  furnishes  a  considerable  portion  of  their  food.  The  soil  is 
fine,  and  there  are  rich  mines  of  iron,  lead  and  copper." 
2 


io  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

people  examined  their  maps  for  it  in  vain.  It  was  vaguely 
supposed  to  be  "  somewhere  near  Saint  Anthony's  Falls,"  and 
that  was  all  the  light  that  geographers  or  newspaper  writers  of 
that  dav  were  able  to  throw  upon  its  location. 

The  record  of  these  wonderful  changes — which  have  trans- 
lormed  this  wilderness  of  yesterday,  comparatively,  into  a 
garden  of  fruitful  fields  and  busy  cities,  with  railroads  and  fac- 
tories, and  churches  and  colleges — which  have  built  up  a  pros- 
perous empire,  populous  with  civilized  and  educated  people, 
where  were  only  the  few  wandering  bands  of  a  pagan  and 
savage  race  before — seems  more  like  a  tale  of  enchantment 
than  a  sober  history.  The  scenes  shift  so  rapidly,  the  phan- 
tasmagoria almost  bewilder  us.  Literally — 

With  smoking  axles  hot  with  speed,  with  steeds  of  fire  and  steam, 
Wide-waked  To-day  leaves  Yesterday  behind  it  like  a  dream ; 
So  from  the  hurrying  trains  of  life,  fly  backward  far  and  fast, 
The  mile-stones  of  our  fathers,  the  landmarks  of  the  past. 
And  in  the  tales  our  fathers  told,  the  songs  our  mothers  sung, 
Tradition,  snowy-bearded,  leans,  on  Romance,  ever  young. 

PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Nor  is  this  remarkable,  for  it  is  within  the  memory  of  men 
still  young,  when  most  of  the  site  of  Saint  Paul  was  a  tangled 
jungle — a  morass — a  wilderness  of  trees  and  bushes,  and  rocks, 
and  long  swamp  grass  and  reeds — a  spot  almost  inaccessible 
except  for  muskrats  and  aquatic  fowl.  As  late  as  iS^v  or  pos- 
sibly a  more  recent  date,  wild  ducks  were  shot  by  the  Indians 
on  marshes  where  now  stand  some  of  our  most  durable  blocks 
of  warehouses.  Where  the  muskrat  built  his  queer  w>  house," 
or  the  fox  burrowed  in  the  rocks,  and  wild  fowl  bred  undis- 
turbed in  the  tangled  reeds  of  the  slough,  or  the  dense  jungle, 
are  now  the  homes  of  40,000  people,  many  of  them  built  in 
the  highest  style  of  elegance,  and  furnished  with  every  appli- 
ance of  comfort  that  human  ingenuity  and  taste  can  devise,  or 
wealth  procure.  Where  the  u  medicine  man"  performed  his 
barbarous  incantations,  now  is  reared  the  walls  of  colleges  and 
schools  in  which  a  science  more  profound  is  taught,  and  the 
best  learning  of  the  age.  And  where  the  rude  worship  of  the 
Wakan  was  performed,  with  its  mystic  rites  and  ceremonies 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  1 1 

now  rise  stately  temples  dedicated  to  the  true  GOD,  in  which 
the  mild  religion  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  is  taught  to  the  peo- 
ple who  have  supplanted  the  pagans  of  that  day.  In  a  word, 
upon  the  spot  so  recently  wrested  from  the  savage  that  the 
smoke  of  his  lodge-fire  almost  yet  lingers  in  the  vale,  has 
arisen,  like  the  palace  of  ALADDIN,  the  work  of  enchantment, 
a  great,  opulent,  prosperous,  populous  city,  with  its  wharves, 
shipping,  railroads,  factories,  granaries  and  business  ware- 
houses, schools  and  churches,  and  all  the  institutions  of  the 
highest  civilization  of  the  age. 

It  is  our  task  to  chronicle  these  wonderful  changes. 

In  writing  our  history,  perhaps  we  may  as  well  begin  at 

THE  CREATION  OF  THE  WORLD  ! 

But  here  ensues  a  difficulty  at  the  very  outset,  for  while  a 
historian  should  always  be  very  particular  and  accurate  as  to 
dates,  there  is  considerable  disagreement  among  writers  as  to 
the  date  of  that  event.  MOSES'  chronology  would  place  it  at 
about  6000  years  ago,  while  recent  French  savans  are  confident 
of  the  great  antiquity  of  the  globe,  and  assert  its  age  anvwhere 
from  half  a  million  to  several  million  years.  It  is  evident,  then, 
that  Saint  Paul  is  a  place  of  great  antiquity  ! 

Originally,  say  those  savans,  the  globe  was  a  mass  of  molten 
granite.  The  cooling  process  was  beyond  doubt  a  slow  one.  m 
and  the  crust  just  under  our  feet  did  not  become  hard  enough 
and  cool  enough  to  rest  any  superstructure  on,  for  perhaps 
many  thousands  of  years.  Perchance  ages  passed  while  it  was 
a  rough,  ragged,  repulsive  mass  of  granite — the  skeleton  of 
the  future  earth.  Abrasion  and  erosion  ground  the  surfaces  of 
the  mass  into  powder.  Oceans  swept  over  it.  Chemical 
changes  operated  on  it.  Next  our  sand  rock,  or  the  saccharoid 
sandstone  was  laid  up.  This  singular  formation  underlies  the 
whole  limestone  of  the  Upper  Mississippi  valley,  from  Saint 
Peter  to  Rock  Island.  Then  came  the  Magnesian  Limestone, 
of  which  our  bluffs  are  composed.*  Here  fossil  life  begins. 

*  In  the  valuable  work  of  OWEN,  ["  Geological  Survey  of  Iowa,  Wisconsin  and  Min- 
nesota,"] is  given  an  examination  of  the  formation  at  and  near  Saint  Paul.     He  says  : 
"At  Fort  Snelling  the  sandstone  is  one  hundred  and  fourteen  feet  thick;  it  is  here  of 


1 2  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

The  Reptilian  age  came  on.  The  Icthyosaurus,  the  Ptero- 
dactyl, the  Iguanodon  and  Plesiosaurus,  and  other  huge  mon- 
sters wallowed  and  splashed  in  the  muddy  water,  which  in 
time  hardened  into  splendid  building  stone,  worth  $1.25  per 
cord.  Then  came  on  the  "•  Glacial  Period."  The  edges  of 
the  limestone  strata  along  Dayton's  Bluff  and  West  Saint  Paul, 
are  ground  smooth  and  polished  by  the  sliding  of  the  icebergs, 
on  their  way  down  from  the  north.  The  Mississippi  of  that 
day  could  not  have  been  the  stream  of  the  present  time.  Then 
it  must  have  flowed  from  bluff  to  bluff.  Baptist  Hill,  a  huge 
pile  of  rocks  and  boulders,  and  gravel  and  sarud,  was  evidently 
deposited,  like  a  great  sand-bar,  by  a  whirl  or  eddy  of  the  wild 
waters  and  icebergs.  Perhaps  the  stream  wore  its  way  through 
the  limestone  rock  for  many  miles,  since  the  Falls  of  .Saint 

a  pure  white  color,  composed  of  loosely  cemented  grains  of  quartz.  Above  this  we 
have  22  feet  of  fossiliferous  limestone,  with  numerous  organic  remains,  similar  to  those 
at  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony.  The  fossils  of  the  upper  beds  are  mostly  casts,  but  the 
moulds  often  show  the  structure  of  the  original  surface.  Many  of  the  fossils  have  a 
•coating  of  sulphuret  of  iron,  which  gives  a  bright  metallic  appearance. 

"  The  best  section  of  these  rocks  that  we  have  observed  in  Minnesota  is  at  a  blurt"  half 
a  mile  below  Fort  Snelling..  The  section  here  is  as  follows  : 

1.  White  sandstone,  without  fossils,  in  thick  beds 93 

2.  Soft  argillaceous  marlite  of  a  blue  color,  in  which  no  fossils  were  discovered  .  .        5 

3.  Ash-colored  limestone,  clouded  with  blue,  full  of  fossils.     These  layers  effer- 

vesce freely  with  acids,  and  contain  nearly  65  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of  lime. 
They  will  probably  afford  the  best  rock  for  burning  into  lime  of  any  of  the 

beds  in  the  neighborhood.     Thickness ,- 

[The  composition  of  this  rock  is  as  follows  : 

Carbonate  of  lime O4.SS 

Carbonate  of  magnesia I3-7S 

Insoluble  matter _  _    1340 

Alumina,  oxide  of  iron  and  manganese 

Water  .  .  . 


100.00] 

4.  Ash-colored,  argillaceous,  hydraulic  limestone,  in  thin  layers,  sometimes  with 

a  conchoidal  fracture.     It  effervesces  slightly  with  acids,  and  disintegrates 
rapidly  when  exposed  to  the  weather s 

5.  Grayish,  buff-colored,  highly  magnesian  limestone,  with  numerous  casts  of 

fossils,  &c. 

"About  half  a  mile  above  Saint  Paul,  near  the  entrance  of  a  small  cave,  the  sand- 
stone  has  an  elevation  of  only  14  feet  above  the  river  level,  and  on  it  rests  11  IVi-t  of 
shell  limestone. 

"At  Saint  Paul,  the  strata  again  rise.  Here  the  cliffs  are  from  70  to  So  feet  high,  of 
which  the  lower  65  teet  consists  of  white  sandstone,  the  remainder  being  shell  lime 
stone.  About  one  mile  below  this  point  the  hills  recede  from  the  river  » 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  13 

Anthony  have  receded  several  hundred  yards  even  since  the 
white  man  settled  here.  But  the  Glacial  Period  passed.  Its 
duration  cannot  be  estimated.  Vegetation  appeared.  The 
earth  rejoiced  in  scenes  of  beauty.  Mammals  came.  Man — 
rude  and  uncouth,  the  cotemporary  of  the  mammoth  and  cave 
bear — appears  on  the  scene.  The  Age  of  Flint,  then  of  Bronze, 
the  Era  of  the  Mound  Builder,  and  the  Red  Man  succeeded — 
each  an  indefinite  period — terminated  by  the  advent  of  the 
white  explorer.  From  this  on,  the  milestones  of  history  are 
plainly  visible. 

THE    MOUND    BUILDERS. 

The  first  human  inhabitants  (unless  DARWIN'S  theory  be  true) 
who  occupied  this  spot,  were  of  that  mysterious  race  known 
as  the  "  Mound  Builders."  Who  and  what  they  were,  whence 
thev  came,  their  history  and  ultimate  fate,  are  wrapped  in  an 
impenetrable  mystery,  that  will  perhaps  always  baffle  the  most 
industrious  scrutiny  of  antiquarians.  Many  plausible  theories 
concerning  them  have  been  advocated  by  writers.  It  is  gen- 
erally agreed  that  they  were  a  simple  and  somewhat  ingenious 
race-,  who"  subsisted  partly  by  cultivating  the  earth  and  partly 
by  the  chase,  and  were  more  civilized  than  the  Red  Race  who 
subsequently  occupied  this  region.  By  what  means  they  dis- 
appeared— whether  by  war.  or  famine,  or  disease,  or  partly  by 
all  those  causes — will  never  be  known,  but  it  is  beyond  doubt 
that  the}'  disappeared  centuries  ago. 

The  only  memorials  of  their  existence  that  have  survived  are 
the  mounds  that  lie  scattered  about,  generally  (and  erroneously) 
called  Indian  Mounds,  though  the  Indians  deny  that  their 
race  erected  them,  asserting,  "  our  fathers  found  them  here 
when  they  first  possessed  the  land."  A  number  of  these  mounds 
have  been  found  on  the  site  of  Saint  Paul,  mostly  on  Dayton's 
Blurt".  Several  of  them  are  very  large,  showing  that  the  Mound 
Builders  must  have  lived  for  some  time  on  this  spot,  and  in 
considerable  numbers.  The  mounds  in  this  city  are  evidently 
of  great  age.  Several  of  them  have  been  excavated  at  times 
by  antiquarians,  and  human  remains,  beads,  pottery,  and  other 
relics  of  the  pre-historic  races  discovered.  Occasionally  the 


I4  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

stone  axes>  chisels,  arrow-heads,  and  other  implements  of  the 
aboriginal  dwellers  here  are  found  in  the  soil  of  oiir  city.  They 
are  curious  remains  of  this  race.* 

The  object  of  these  mounds  has  never  been  satisfactorily 
explained.  Some  regard  them  as  memorials,  others  as  sepul- 
chral, and  some  as  religious  or  sacrificial  altars.  Whatever 
they  are,  they  possess  absorbing  interest,  and  carry  back  the 
imagination  to  the  period  of  the  lost  race  who  built  them,  and 
to  the  time  when  they  dwelt  on  the  very  spot  occupied  by  our 
own  hearth-stones.  As  a  recent  writer  has  aptly  said  : 

"  Lonely,  storm-beaten  and  freshet-torn,  they  stand  nameless  and 
without  a  history  in  this  generation — silent,  yet  convincing  illustra- 
tions of  the  ephemeral  character  of  the  nomadic  races  which  for  cen- 
turies peopled  this  entire  region,  and,  departing,  left  behind  them 
neither  letters  nor  monuments  of  art— nothing,  save  these  rude  earth- 
mounds,  and  occasional  relics,  to  give  assurance  of  their  former 
existence. 

"  In  the  twilight  of  what  by-gone  and  unrecorded  century  were  these 
tumuli  built?  Whence  came,  and  who  the  peoples  that  lifted  them 
from  out  the  bosom  of  our  common  mother?  Served  they  as  friendly 
refuge  in  seasons  of  freshet  and  of  storm  ?  Were  sacred  fires  ever  kin- 
dled upon  your  summits  ?  Within  your  hidden  depths  do  the  brave  and 
honored  of  your  generation  sleep  that  sleep  which  knows  no  waking 
until  the  final  trump  shall  summon  alike  the  civilized  and  the  savage 
to  the  last  award?  Or  are  ye  simple  watch-towers,  deserted  of  vour 
sentinels — forts,  abandoned  of  your  defenders?  We  question,  but  there 
are  no  voices  of  the  past  in  the  ambient  air.  We  search  among  these 
tombs,  but  they  bear  no  epitaphs.  We  gaze  upon  these  monuments,. 
but  they  are  inscriptionless." 

WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT'S  beautiful  poem,  kt  The  Prairie," 
refers  thus  to  the  Mound  Builders  : 

' '  Are  they  here — 

The  dead  of  other  days  ?    And  did  the  dust 
Of  these  fair  solitudes  once  stir  with  life, 
And  burn  with  passion  ?     Let  the  mighty  mounds 
That  overlook  the  rivers,  or  that  rise 
In  the  dim  forest,  crowned  with  tall  oaks, 
Answer. 

*  One  of  the  handsomest  stone  axes  ever  found  in  the  Northwest  was  picked  up  by 
EUGENIC  A.  JOHNSON,  C.  E.,  in  the  ravine  near  the  City  Hospital,  and  presented  by 
him  to  the  Historical  Society. 


i 

and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey \  Minnesota.  15 

"A  race  that  long  has  passed  away 
Built  them  !     A  disciplined  and  populous  race, 
Heaped,  with  long  toil,  the  earth,  while  yet  the  Greek 
WaS  hewing  the  Pentelicus  to  forms 
Of  symmetry,  and  rearing  on  its  rock, 
The  glittering  Parthenon.     These  ample  fields 
Nourished  their  harvests.     Here  their  herds  were  fed, 
When  haply  by  their  styles  the  bison  lowed, 
And  bow'd  his  maned  shoulder  to  the  yoke. 
All  day,  this  desert  murmured  with  their  toils, 
Till  twilight  blushed,  and  lovers  walked  and  woo'd 
In  a  forgotten  language,  and  old  tunes 
From  instruments  of  unremembered  form, 
Gave  the  soft  winds  a  voice. 

"The  red  man  came — 

The  roaming  hunter  tribes,  warlike  arrd  fierce, 
And  the  Mound  Builders  vanished  from  the  earth. 
The  solitude  of  centuries  untold 
Has  settled  where  they  dwelt.    *    *    *    All  is  gone- 
All,  save  the  piles  of  earth  that  hold  their  bones — 
The  platforms  where  they  worshipped  unknown  gods — 
The  barriers  which  they  builded  from  the  soil, 
To  keep  the  foe  at  bay.    *    *    * 
Thus  change  the  forms  of  being.     Thus  arise 
Races  of  living  things,  glorious  in  strength, 
And  perish." 

THE    ABORIGINAL    PERIOD. 

Following  the  era  of  the  Mound  Builders,  came  the  "Abo- 
riginal Period," — erroneously  so  called — or  the  period  when 
the  Red  Race,  or  Indians,  were  in  possession  of  this  region,  and 
probably  all  die  continent  of  'America,  when  it  was  discovered 
by  the  Northmen  in  the  eleventh  century.  The  nation  which 
occupied  this  spot,  and  the  region  immediately  about  it,  from 
the  earliest  period  concerning  which  any  traditions  of  the  Red 
Man  exist,  was  the  Dakota  or  Sioux,  one  of  the  most  populous 
of  the  Indian  Nations  of  Novth  America.  There  were  numer- 
ous villages  of  that  Nation  in  this  vicinity  at  a  very  early  day, 
and  it  appears  to  have  been  a  favorite  locality  for  them,  on 
account  of  natural  advantages,  and  the  abundance  of  game. 
As  late  as  the  time  of  CARVER'S  visit  this  was  the  case.  The 
towering  cliffs,  or  "bluffs,"  of  white  sandstone  which  overhung 


!6  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

the  river,  formed  a  prominent  landmark  for  the  Indians  as  they    } 
paddled  up  or  down  in  their  canoes,  and  it  was  known  to  th 
from  time  immemorial  as  Im-in-i-ja  Ska,  i.  e.,  White  I 
and  to  this  day  is  so  called  in  their  tongue. 

The  scenery,  before  the  hand  of  the  white  man  marre. 
wild,  quiet  beauty,  must  have  been  picturesque  in  the  extreme. 
Then  the  bluffs  were  crowned  with  majestic  trees,  and  t 
bottom  lands  above  and  below  and  opposite  the  city,  were  a 
dense  jungle,  where  the  primeval  forests*  grew  in  unchecked 
luxuriance.  Here  the  deer,  the  bear  and  the  buffalo  roamed 
freely,  disturbed'occasionally  by  the  wily  Indian,  whose  skin  \ 
teepee  was  frequently  pitched  in  the  bottom-land  along  the 
margin  of  the  river.  Standing  on  the  edge  of  the  high  plateau, 
or  second  table,  say  where  the  bridge  now  starts,  the  eye  would 
then  have  wandered  over  a  sea  of  foliage  on  the  bench  below. 
through  which  rolled  the  calm  and  placid  river,  unvcxed  by 
anything  except  the  "  squaw's  birch  canoe."  Civilization  had 
not  then  come  with  its  burning  force,  changing  and  marring 
the  natural  face  of  creation,  but  instituting  new  forms  of  beauty 
— planting  in  the  solitude  a  busy,  populous  city,  with  its  din 
and  noise,  and  smoke  and  clang  of  factory  and  mill,  and  the 
scream  of  engine  and  steamer. 

"  Here  lived  and  loved  another  race'  of  beings."  On  the 
upper  plateau  of  our  city  they  hunted  the  deer  and  bear  and 
bison  ;  speared  the  muskrat  in  its  marshes,  and  shot  the  beaver 
in  its  streams.  The  quiet  river  bore  their  canoes.  Under  the 
old  century-mossed  trees  in  the  glen  their  group  of  skin  teepees 
stood.  Their  songs  of  festivity  .echoed  in  the  vale:  anon  it 
rang  with  the  demon  yells  of  their  scalp-dance,  or  the  shrieks 
of  a  victim  tortured  to  death.  The  Indian  lover  wooed  his 
dusky  sweetheart  with  a  flute  serenade,  or  whispered  sweet 
tales  of  love  by  moonlight.  Anon  they  joined  in  death-combat 
with  the  wily  Chippewa,  and  the  soil  beneath  our  feet  may 
have  once  been  reddened  with  the  life-blood  shed  in  those  lierce 
battles. 


'<  In  1854,  Mr.  R.  O.  SWEENY  counted  the  rings  on  a  large  tree  that  had  been  cut  down 
ar  the  upper  levee,  and  found  over  six  hundred  annual  rings,  indicating  an 
er  six  centuries.     Primeval  indeed. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  17 

But  it  is  not  necessary  here  to  speak  at  length  of  the  Red 
Race  who  once  occupied  this  spot.  Their  history,  customs 
and  character  are  too  well  known  and  too  thoroughly  recorded 
to  need  incorporation  into  this  work.  They  seem  doomed 
to  disappear  before  the  settlement  of  the  white  man,  and,  how- 
ever lightly  they  may  be  regarded  by  those  who  have  mingled 
with  them  on  the  frontier,  there  is  something  sad  in  the  way 
they  have  been  dispossessed  of  their  ancestral  heritage  by 
the  pale-faced  intruder.  Truthfully  are  they  represented  as 
lamenting  : 

"  They  waste  us — aye,  like  April  dew, 

In  the  warm  noon  we  shrink  away, 

And  fast  they  follow  as  we  go, 
Towards  the  setting  day, 

Till  they  shall  fill  the  land,  and  we 

Are  driven  into  the  western  sea !" 

At  the  period  of  which  we  write  they  were  at  least  untainted 
by  the  vices  the  white  man  introduced  among  them,  and  what- 
ever natural  nobility  of  character  may  be  claimed  for  them  by 
their  eulogists,  must  have  then  been  displayed.  The  white 
people,  since  St.  Paul  was  settled,  do  not  seem  to  have  ad- 
mired them  greatly,  though  many  who  read  this  book  may 
entertain  for  them  the  romantic  regard  of  LONGFELLOW  and 
COOPER. 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pant. 


CHAPTER    II. 
THE  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  NORTHWEST. 

THE  JESUIT  MISSIONARIES  AND  THEIR  EXPLORATIONS— MARQUETTE  AND  JOLIKT 
VISIT  THE  UPPER  MISSISSIPPI-LA  SALLE  AND  HIS  ACTS-FATHER   H 

SENT    TO    THE     SlOUX     REGION— HlS     ADVENTURES     AMONG    THAT     NATION    -Hi: 

DISCOVERS  AND  NAMES  SAINT  ANTHONY'S  FALLS— SUBSEQUENT  DISCOVERIES 
AND  EXPLORATIONS— CESSION  OF  THIS  REGJON  TO  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

THE  Northwest  was  early  claimed  by  the  French  through 
the  right  of  discovery,  and  its  first  explorers  were  of 
that  nation.  Religious  zealots  have  ever  led  the  vanguard  of 
discovery,  and,  in  accordance  with  this  rule,  we  find  that  many 
years  before  even  the  traders  had  dared  to  traverse  the  wilds  of 
the  Northwest,  a  class  of  men  of  that  remarkable  Order  founded 
by  IGNATIUS  LOYOLA — the  Jesuits — had  explored  much  of  the 
country  around  the  Lakes  and  the  headwaters  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, sent  hither  to  plant  the  banner  of  the  Cross  among  the 
aborigines,  and  win  them  to  its  mild  religion.  Its  missiona- 
ries, inspired  with  a  sublime  heroism  in  the  cause  of  CIIKIST, 
visited  these  wilds,  endured  incredible  toils  and  privations, 
and,  with  a  fortitude  that  never  faltered,  even  in  the  face  of 
peril  and  death,  carried  the  precious  wrords  of  the  Gospel  to 
the  savages  of  the  wilderness.  History  records  no  devotion 
more  sublime.  Many  of  them  now  wear  the  martyr's  crown, 
but  their  sufferings  and  toils  were  not  in  vain.  To  no  sect  or 
order  could  such  a  work  have  been  more  properlv  confided. 
Says  MACAULAY  :  "  Before  the  Order  had  existed  a  hundred 
years,  it  had  filled  the  whole  world  with  memorials  of  great 
things  done  and  suffered.  There  was  no  region  of  the  globe 
in  which  Jesuits  were  not  to  be  found.  They  wandered  to 
countries  which  neither  mercantile  avidity  nor  liberal  curiosity 
had  ever  impelled  any  stranger  to  explore.  Yet,  whatever 
might  be  their  residence,  whatever  might  be  their  employment, 
their  spirit  was  the  same — entire  devotion  to  the  common  cause. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  19 

implicit  obedience  to  the  central  authority.  None  of  them  had 
chosen  his  dwelling  place  or  his  avocation  for  himself.  Whether 
the  Jesuit  should  live  under  the  Arctic  circle  or  under  the 
Equator — pass  his  life  collating  MSS.  at  the  Vatican,  or  in 
persuading  naked  barbarians  in  the  southern  hemisphere  not 
to  eat  each  other — were  matters  which  he  left,  with  profound 
submission,  to  the  decision  of  others.  If  he  was  wanted  at 
Lima,  he  was  on  the  Atlantic  in  the  next  fleet.  If  he  was 
wanted  at  Bagdad,  he  was  toiling  through  the  desert  with  the 
next  caravan.  If  his  ministry  was  needed  in  some  country 
where  his  life  was  more  insecure  than  that  of  a  wolf,  he  went 
without  remonstrance  or  hesitation  to  his  doom."  Bishop  KIP 
pays  them  this  just  tribute:  '4  Amid  the  snows  of  Hudson's 
Bay— among  the  woody  islands  and  beautiful  inlets  of  the  Saint 
Lawrence — by  the  council  fires  of  the  Hurons  and  of  the 
Algonquins — at  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  where,  first  of 
all  the  white  men,  their  eyes  looked  down  upon  the  Falls  of 
Saint  Anthony,  and  then  traced  down  the  course  of  the  bound- 
ing river  as  it  rushed  onward  to  earn  its  title  of  '  Father  of 
Waters' — on  the  vast  prairies  of  Illinois  and  Missouri — among 
the  blue  hills  which  hem  in  the  salubrious  dwellings  of  the 
Chcrokccs.  and  in  the  thick  cane-brakes  of  Louisiana — every- 
where were  found  the  members  of  the  '  Society7  of  Jesus.' " 

The  reports  and  letters  of  these  devoted  Heralds  of  the 
Cross  to  their  superiors,  (  Jesuit  Relations,  and  Lettres  Ed- 
ifiantcs  et  Curieuses,)  contain  the  earliest  reliable  historical 
and  descriptive  data  relating  to  the  Northwest,  and  are  rare 
and  valuable.  From  them  we  glean  the  meagre  details  of  the 
earlier  explorations  in  the  Northwest,  and  the 

PROGRESS    OF    DISCOVERY    TOWARDS    THIS    REGION. 

GABRIEL  SAGARD,  in  1624,  visited  the  tribes  on  Lake  Hu- 
ron, and  in  1641  Fathers  JOGUES  and  RAYMBAULT  reached  as 
far  as  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  Here  they  first  heard  tidings  of 
the  Dakotas.  PAUL  DE  JEUNE,  a  Jesuit  Missionary,  is  per- 
haps the  first  writer -who  mentions  them  with  any  distinctness, 
about  the  same  date.  He  says  they  were  called  by  the  voya- 
geurs,  "  The  People  of  the  Lakes."  The  Iroquois  war  ensued. 


20  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul. 

however,  and  further  exploration  was  arrested  for  several  years. 
At  length,   in    1658,   two  daring  traders  penetrated   to    Lak, 
Superior,  wintered  there,  and  brought  back  accounts  ,,t  a  to 
cious  tribe  who  dwelt  on  "  a  great  river"  to  the  west, 
accounts  incited  the  Jesuit  Fathers  at  Quebec  to  dispatch  a 
missionary  to  the  tribe  mentioned.     Father  RENE  MESNAKD. 
(or  MENARD,)  an  aged  priest,  was  selected,  and  set  out  in  th 
autumn  of  1660,  penetrating  that  fall  as  far  as  Chegoimegoi 
Bay  on  Lake  Superior.     The  next  spring  he  crossed  the  country 
from  Lake  Superior  to  Black  River  Falls,  Wisconsin.      1  lere. 
or  near  here,  it  is  supposed,  he  was  lost  in  the  forest.      His 
cassock  and  breviary,   long  afterwards  preserved  among   the 
Dakotas  as  medicine  charms,  afforded  the  only  clue  to  his  late. 
In  1665,  Father  CLAUDE  ALLOUEZ,  the  successor  to  MESN  \i;i>, 
reached  La  Pointe,  and,  erecting  a  chapel,  established  a   per- 
manent'mission  among  the  Ojibwas. 

SECOND    DISCOVERY    OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI. 

DE  SOTO  had  discovered  the  Mississippi  in  1541,  but  the 
discovery  was  never  used,  and  was  well  nigh  forgotten.  Over 
a  century  had  passed,  when  it  was  again  to  be  discovered  from 
the  north.  JEAN  NICOLLET,  an  interpreter  and  Catholic,  in 
1639,  advanced  on  a  mission  to  one  of  the  strange  tribes  of  the 
west  [Winnebagoes]  so  far  that  he  discovered  the  Wisconsin 
River,  and,  floating  down  it,  heard  from  the  Indians  of  a  "great 
water,"  only  three  days'  journey  beyond,  which  he  inferred  was 
the  sea.  While  Father  ALLOUEZ  was  preaching  to  the  Ojib- 
was, on  Lake  Superior,  he  heard  these  accounts  of  a  powerful 
nation,  called  by  that  tribe  the  Naudonvessioux*  meaning,  in 
the  Ojibwa  tongue,  "  enemies,"  and  of  a  mightv  stream  called 
the  Mesc  Seepi,  signifying,  "  Great  River."  Returning  to 
Quebec  soon  after,  he  spread  the  reports  of  this  great  river,  and 
M.  TALON,  Intendant  of  New  France,  became  interested  in  the 
subject.  He  resolved  to  endeavor  to  discover  this  great  stream, 
so  as  to  reap  the  honors  of  such  a  feat,  but  owing  to  the  trouble 
and  delays  incident  to  carrying  an  expedition  into  the  far  wilder- 
ness, it  was  not  until  1673  that  anything  practical  was  elVected. 
Lovis  JOLIET,  of  Quebec,  once  a  priest,  but  at  that  time  a 


a>ui  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  21 

fur-trader,  agreed  to  undertake  a  voyage  to  the  unknown  river. 
With  him  was  associated  Father  JACQUES  MARQUETTE,  a  Jesuit 
priest,  then  a  missionary'  among  the  Hurons,  admirably  fitted, 
from  his  influence  among  the  Indians,  to  aid  the  enterprise,  and 
who  has  been  thought  by  some  to  have  been  the  real  originator 
of  the  expedition.  They  set  out  from  Michilimackinac,  Father 
MARQUETTE'S  missionary  station,  on  May  13,  1673,  accompa- 
nied by  five  Frenchmen  and  twoi  Algonquin  Indians.  They 
proceeded  to  Green  Bay,  thence  up  the  Fox  River  to  the  port- 
age, and  on  June  10  launched  their  canoes  on  the  Ouisconsin. 
MARQUETTE  and  JOLIET  proceeded  thence  alone.  For  seven 
days  they  floated  down  this  river,  and,  on  the  i7th,  chanting 
the  Exaudiat  and  De  Profitndis  in  thankfulness  to  God,  they 
glided  out  on  the  broad  bosom  of  the  "  Great  River." 

The  two  explorers  continued  their  journey  down  the  Missis- 
sippi, until,  about  the  middle  of  July,  they  reached  the  mouth 
of  the  Arkansas.  Here  they  began  to  retrace  their  vovage, 
and,  returning  by  the  Illinois  River,  soon  floated  into  Lake 
Michigan  through  one  of  the  branches.  JOLIET  returned  to 
Quebec  to  become  famous  for  his  discovery.  MARQUETTE 
pursued  his  missionary  labors  along  the  western  lakes  for  two 
years  longer,  and,  on  the  i6th  of  June,  1675,  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-eight. 

LA  SALLE'S  EXPEDITION. 

No  effort  to  follow  up  the  discovery  of  MARQUETTE  and 
JOLIET  seems  to  have  been  made  for  fully  five  years.  ROBERT 
CAVALIER,  SIEUR  DE  LA  SALLE,  a  descendant  of  a  noble  Nor- 
man family — once  a  Jesuit,  but  then  a  fur-trader  of  Montreal — 
resolved,  if  possible,  to  psosecute  still  further  the  discovery  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  laid  his  views  before  Count  DE  FRONTENAC, 
then  Governor  of  New  France.  Imbibing  somewhat  of  the 
enthusiasm  of  LA  SALLE,  but  unable  to  fit  out  such  an  expe- 
dition, FRONTEXAC  sent  him  to  France,  with  credentials  that 
would  ensure  him  aid  at  Court.  COLBERT^  the  Prime  Minister 
of  Louis  XV.  kindly  listened  to  LA  SALLE'S  scheme,  and  pro- 
cured for  him  authority  to  prosecute  his  plan,  as  well  as  other 
honors.  LA  SALLE  also  enlisted  Chevalier  DE  TONTI>  and 


22  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

about  thirty  colonists,  to  accompany  him.  The  expedition 
arrived  at  Quebec  September  15,  1678.  A  vessel  was  built, 
and  LA  SALLE  started  on  his  voyage,  but  was  compelled  to  put 
into  winter  quarters  near  Niagara  Falls.  In  the  spring  of  1679 
he  built  and  launched  another  vessel  above  the  Falls.  It  was 
called  the  Griffin.  The  expedition  again  set  sail  on  August  7, 
and  arrived  at  Green  Bay  on  October  8.  The  Griffin  was 
loaded  with  furs  and  sent  homeward,  with  instructions  to  return 
at  once.  But  she  never  returned,  a  storm  on  Lake  Erie  having 
sent  her  and  her  cargo  to  the  bottom.  Meantime,  having  left 
a  part  of  his  force  in  a  small  fort  near  the  mouth  of  St.  Joseph's 
River,  he  proceeded  with  the  rest  to  the  Illinois  River,  where 
he  built  a  fort,  which,  in  view  of  the  discouraging  circumstances 
surrounding  him,  he  named  Creve-  Cceur,  [Broken  Heart.] 

While  here  he  resolved  to  make  another  effort  to  explore  the 
Mississippi,  and  on  February  28,  1680,  dispatched 

FATHER    LOUIS    HENNEPIN, 

with  two  companions,  on  a  voyage  of  discovery.  Perhaps  no 
one  could  have  been  selected  better  fitted  for  such  a  mission. 
He  had  all  the  ambition  and  daring  of  a  knight-errant.  I  h-  was 
born  in  Flanders  about  the  year  1640.  He  entered  holy  orders 
while  young,  but  was  always  afflicted  with  a  burning  passion 
for  travel  and  adventure.  He  relates  that  he  used  to  hide  hi 
self  behind  the  doors  of  taverns,  to  listen  to  the  sailors  nar 
their  adventures,  and  longed  to  visit  strange  lands.  This 
last  led  him  to  get  leave  of  his  superiors  to  go  to  Canada, 
came  over  on  the  same  ship  which  bore  back  LA  SALLE.  in 
1675,  and  then,  most  probably  became  acquainted  with  LA 
SALLE  and  his  plans.  PARKMAN  describes  his  dress  :  "  With 
sandaled  feet,  a  coarse  gray  capote,  and  peaked  hood,  the  cord 
of  SAINT  FRANCIS  about  his  waist,  and  a  rosary  and  crucifix 
hanging  at  his  side."  Such  was  the  first  white  man  who  was 
to  look  upon  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony. 

HENNEPIN'S  ADVENTURES. 

HENNEPIN  set  off,  as  stated  before,  on  February  28.     His 
canoe  was  heavily  laden  with  goods  sent  by  LA  SALLE  as  pros- 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  23 

ents  to  the  Indians.  For  companions  and  oarsmen  he  had  two 
Frenchmen,  named  ACCAU  and  Du  GAY.  Floating  down  the 
Illinois  River  to  its  mouth,  which  they  reached  on  the  I2th  of 
March,  they  commenced  their  toilsome  journey  up  the  Missis- 
sippi. Game  was  abundant,  and  they  fared  well.  On  the  nth  or 
1 2th  of  April,  HENNEPIN  says  they  stopped  in  the  afternoon  to 
repair  their  canoe,  when  a  fleet  of  Sioux  canoes  suddenly  swept 
into  sight,  and  in  a  moment  they  were  surrounded  by  1 20  naked 
warriors.  HENNEPIN  placated  them  with  presents  of  tobacco, 
when  they  explained  to  him  that  they  were  on  their  way  to 
attack  the  Miamis.  HENNEPIN  caused  them  to  understand  that 
the  Miamis  had  gone  across  the  Mississippi,  beyond  their  reach. 
At  this  they  showed  signs  of  sorrow,  and  finally  stated  that 
they  would  retrace  their  wray  up  the  river,  and  that  HENNEPIN 
and  his  companions  must  accompany  them.  To  this  he  agreed, 
as  they  had  thus  far  expected  to  be  murdei'ed,  while  it  allowed 
him  to  continue  his  explorations.  Slowly  the  Indians  and  their 
prisoners  paddled  their  way  up  the  Mississippi,  HENNEPIN 
and  his  companions  still  tormented  with  fears  for  their  safety. 

THEY    ARRIVE    AT    THE    SITE    OF    SAINT    PAUL. 

On  the  30th  day  of  April,  or  the  i9th  day  after  their  captiv- 
ity, HENNEPIN'S  captors  arrived  at  what  is  most  probably  the 
site  of  the  present  city  of  Saint  Paul.  He  describes  it  as  a  little 
bay  or  inlet,  five  leagues  below  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony, 
grown  with  alders  or  rushes.  This  description  seems  to  point 
to  the  little  bay  at  the  mouth  of  Phelan's  Creek,  which  is  about 
that  distance  below  the  Falls,  and  would  be  a  very  convenient 
point  for  the  Indians  to  land  and  set  out  on  their  journey  over- 
land to  Mille  Lac.  Here,  he  says,  the  Indians  broke  his  canoe 
to  pieces,  and  hid  their  own  among  the  reeds.  They  then 
divided  amongst  them  the  baggage  and  effects  of  the  Father, 
even  taking  his  priestly  robes,  whose  ornaments  allured  their 
covetousness.  They  then  set  out  on  foot  for  their  village, 
which  was  near  Mille  Lac,  and  arrived  there  about  May  5th. 

Here  HENNEPIN  was  adopted  into  the  family  of  the  Chief, 
AOJJIPAGUETIN,  and  lived  with  him  in  his  lodge  on  an  island 
in  the  Lake.  His  account  of  his  life  among  the  Indians  is 
entertaining,  but  space  forbids  its  narration  here. 


24  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul. 

In  September,  the  Indians  set  out  on  their  annual  hunt,  and 
left  HENNEPIN  and  his  companions  at  liberty  to  go  where  they 
pleased.  ACCAU  preferred  to  remain  with  the  Indians,  and 
consequently  HENNEPIN  and  Du  GAY  set  off  alone  down  the 
Mississippi  River  in  a  small  canoe. 

HE    DISCOVERS    THE    FALLS    OF    SAINT    ANTHONY. 

About  the  first  of  October,  they  arrived  at  the  Falls  of  Saint 
Anthony,  being  beyond  doubt  the  first  white  men  to  gaze  upon 
that  spot.  His  description  of  the  Falls  is  very  brief,  but  toler- 
ably accurate.  He  named  them,  he  says,  in  honor  of  Saint 
ANTHONY,  of  Padua.  They  portaged  around  the  Falls,  meet- 
ing several  Indians  who  were  making  sacrifices  to  the  Spirit  of 
the  Waters.  Launching  their  canoe  below  the  Falls,  they  con- 
tinued their  journey,  and,  after  a  variety  of  adventures,  readied 
the  Jesuit  station  at  Green  Bay. 

HENNEPIN'S  SUBSEQUENT  CAREER. 

From  thence  he  proceeded  to  Montreal,  and,  soon  after,  to 
Europe.  "  Providence,"  he  writes,  "  preserved  my  life  that  I 
might  make  known  my  great  discoveries  to  the  world."  He 
published  an  account  of  his  travels,  and  afterwards,  for  some 
reason,  put  out  a  new  edition,  with  a  lying  account  of  his  ex- 
ploration of  the  Mississippi  to  its  mouth  in  1680.  This  has 
detracted  from  the  fame  he  otherwise  would  have  had.  and, 
though  twenty  editions  of  his  work  have  been  printed,  in  six 
different  languages,  HENNEPIN  died  at  last  in  obscurity.  In 
the  Northwest,  which  he  was  so  instrumental  in  discovering, 
something  has  been  done  to  his  memory.  A  town  in  Illinois, 
and  a  flourishing  county  of  our  own  State,  carry  the  name  of 
the  Franciscan  priest  to  posterity. 

THE    MISSISSIPPI    RIVER. 

Though  HENNEPIN  referred  to  the  River  as  the  Mcscliasipi 
and  Meschasebe,  he  nevertheless  endeavored  to  bestow  upon  it 
the  name  of  "  Saint  Louis,"  in  honor  of  the  King  of  France. 
MAROJJETTE  and  JOLIET  christened  it  La  Riviere  dc  ( '011- 
ccption  :  LA  SALLE  named  it  "  the  Colbert,"  after  the  Prime 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  25 

Minister  of  the  King ;  but  none  of  these  names  have  been  re- 
tained, and  that  by  which  it  was  first  known  to  the  Algonquins 
two  centuries  ago,  with  slight  modifications,  still  adheres  to  it. 
But  what  a  mighty  change  these  two  centuries  have  wrought. 
The  route  over  which  HEXXEPIX  then  traveled  was  an  un- 
known wilderness.  Now  it  is  dotted  with  populous  and  busy 
cities.  The  Anglo-Saxon,  k'  the  dominal  blood  of  the  world," 
with  religion  as  its  pillar  of  cloud  by  dav  and  fire  bv  night,,  has 
wrought  this  great  change.  As  the  Star  of  Empire  lightens 
the  Western  sky,  it  gleams  over  fruitful  valleys  and  opulent 
cities.  In  its  track  are  borne  the  banners  of  the  Prince  of 
Peace ;  along  its  course  flourish  the  Arts  and  Sciences,  while 
the  country  blossoms  as  the  rose. 

DISCOVERIES    SUBSEQUENT    TO    HEXXEPIX. 

The  discoveries  made  by  HEXXEPIX  undoubtedly  attracted 
considerable  attention  to  this  region,  and  diligent  efforts  were 
made  to  take  formal  possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  France. 
In  1689,  NICHOLAS  PERROT,  a  French  officer,  creeled  a  foi't 
on  Lake  Pepin,  and,  planting  the  arms  of  France  on  a  cross, 
took  formal  possession  of  this  region.  Other  forts  were  built, 
and  the  exploration  of  the  country,  pushed.  LE  SUEUR  ascended 
the  Minnesota  River  in  the  fall  of  1700,  and  established  a  fort, 
which  he  named  L? Heullier,  on  the  Blue  Earth  River,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Le  Sueur,  where  there  is  a  deposit  of  a  sort 
of  mineral  which  he  mistook  for  copper  ore. 

CESSIOX  OF  THE  COUXTRY  BY  FRAXCE. 

Before  much  further  explorations  were  made,  the  "French 
War,"  between  Canada  and  the  Colonies,  ensued,  and  prevented 
further  progress  of  settlement  in  the  Northwest  for  some  years. 
It  was  not  until  the  Treaty  of  Versailles,  in  1763,  by  which  all 
of  the  territory  comprised  within  the  limits  of  Wisconsin  and 
Minnesota,  east  of  the  Mississippi,  were  ceded  to  Great  Brit- 
ain, that  the  way  seemed  opened  for  further  discoveries.  It 
needed  onlv  an  adventurous  spirit  to  take  advantage  of  the  fa6t, 
and  introduce  to  the  notice  of  the  world  the  vast  empire  of  the 
Northwest. 
3 


26  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 


CHAPTER  III. 
JONATHAN  CARVER  AND  HIS  EXPLORATIONS. 

SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  CARVER— His  OBJECT  IN  MAKING  THE  JOURNEY— His 

OF  HIS  ADVENTURES— HE  DISCOVERS  THE  "  GREAT  CAVE"— MAKES  A  TREATY 

WITH   THE   SlOUX— AND     RECEIVES    A    GRANT    OF     LAND— SUBSEQUENT     1  A  I  I      OF 
THE    PURFORTED    LAND    GRANT— THE    NORTHWESTERN    TERRITORY    OltGAMX.ED. 

THE  man  for  that  work  at  length  arrived.  It  was  brother 
JONATHAN  CARVER,  a  keen  Yankee  from  Connecticut — 
not  indeed  with  a  stock  of  wooden  nutmegs  and  cheap  clocks, 
but  with  his  eye  open  for  a  good  speculation  of  any  kind. 
History  must  record  him  as  the  progenitor  and  founder  of  the 
noble  order  of  real  estate  speculators  who  have  nourished  here 
since,  and  the  first  man  to  originate  a  "  land  grant." 

SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  CARVER. 

JONATHAN  CARVER  was  a  grandson  of  WILLIAM  JOSKIMI 
CARVER,  of  Wigan,  in  Lancashire,  England,  who  was  a  cap- 
tain in  the  army  under  King  WILLIAM,  and  served  in  the 
campaign  against  Ireland  with  such  distinguished  reputation, 
that  the  Prince  was  pleased  to  reward  him  with  the  government 
of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  in  New  England.  JONATHAN  was 
born  in  1732,  at  the  town  of  Canterbury,  Connecticut.  His 
father,  who  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  died  when  he  was  15 
years  of  age.  It  was  designed  to  educate  him  for  a  physician, 
but  his  spirit  of  enterprise  and  adventure  could  not  brook  the 
close  study  necessary  to  acquire  the  profession,  and  he  chose, 
the  army  instead.  He  therefore  purchased  an  ensigncy  in  a 
Connecticut  regiment,  and  soon,  by  good  conduct,  rose  to  the 
command  of  a  company  during  the  "French  War."  In  the 
year  1757,  he  was  present  at  the  massacre  of  Fort  William 
Henry,  and  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life. 

CARVER'S  OBJECT  IN  MAKING  THE  JOURNEY. 
Having  served  through  the  war  with  credit  and  distinction. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota. 


27 


the  peace  of  Versailles,  in  1763,  left  Capt.  CARVER  without 
occupation.  It  wa.s  then  that  CARVER  conceived  the  project 
of  exploring  the  newlv  acquired  possessions  of  Great  Britain 
in  the  Northwest.  In  the  preface  to  his  book  he  says : 


CAPTAIN  JONATHAN  CARVER. 

"  No  sooner  was  the  late  war  with  France  concluded,  and  peace  estab- 
lished by  the  Treaty  of  Versailles,  in  the  year  1763,  than  I  began  to 
consider  (having  rendered  my  country  some  service  during  the  war) 
how  I  might  continue  still  serviceable,  and  continue,  as  much  as  lay  in 
my  power,  to  make  that  vast  acquisition  of  territory,  gained  by  Great 
Britain,  in  North  America,  advantageous  to  it.  It  appeared  to  me  in- 
dispensably needful,  that  Government  should  be  acquainted,  in  the 
first  place,  with  the  true  state  of  the  dominions  they  were  now  become 
possessed  of.  To  this  purpose  I  determined,  as  the  next  proof  of  my 
zeal,  to  explore  the  most  unknown  parts  of  them,  and  to  spare  no. 
trouble  or  expense  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  that  promised  to  be  so 
useful  to  mv  countrymen.  I  knew  that  manv  obstructions  would  arise 
to  my  scheme  from  the  want  of  good  maps  and  charts.  *  *  *  These 


28  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

difficulties,  however,  were  not  sufficient  to  deter  me  from  the  undertak- 
ing, and  I  made  preparations  for  setting  out.  What  I  chiefly  had  in 
view,  after  gaining  a  knowledge  of  the  manners,  customs,  languages, 
soil,  and  productions  of  the  different  nations  that  inhabit  the  back  of 
the  Mississippi,  was  to  ascertain  the  breadth  of  that  vast  continent, 
which  extends  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  in  the  broadest 
part  between  43  and  46  degrees  northern  latitude.  Had  I  been  able  to 
accomplish  this,  I  intended  to  have  proposed  to  Government  to  establish 
a  post  in  some  of  those  parts  about  the  Straits  of  Annian.  which,  having 
been  first  discovered  by  Sir  FRANCIS  DRAKE,  of  course  belong  to  the 
English.  This,  I  am  convinced,  would,  greatly  facilitate  the  discovery 
of  a  northwest  passage,  or  a  communication  between  Hudson's  IJav  and 
the  Pacific  Ocean-,  an  event  so  desirable,  and  which  has  been  so  often 
sought  for,  but  without  success.  Besides  this  important  end,  a  settle- 
ment on  that  territory  of  America  would  answer  many  good  purposes, 
and  repay  every  expense  the  establishment  of  it  might  occasion.  For 
it  would  not  only  disclose  new  sources  of  trade,  and  promote  many 
useful  discoveries,  but  would  open  a  passage  for  conveying  intelligence 
to  China,  and  English  settlements  in  the  East  Indies,  with  greater  expo-* 
dition  than  a  tedious  voyage  by  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  or  the  Straits 
of  Magellan,  will  allow  of.  That  the  completion  of  the  scheme  I  have 
had  the  honor  of  first  planning  and  attempting  will  sometime  or  other* 
be  effected,  I  make  no  doubt.  Whenever  it  is,  and  the  execution  of  it 
carried  on  with  propriety,  those  who  are  so  fortunate  as  to  succeed  will 
reap,  exclusive  of  the  national  advantages  that  must  ensue,  emolument* 
beyond  their  most  sanguine  expedtations,  and.  whilst  their  spirits  are 
elated  by  their  success,  perhaps  they  may  bestow  some  commendation 
and  blessings  on  the  person  that  first  pointed  out  to  them  the  wav. 


HE    SETS    OUT    ON    HIS    TRAVELS. 





CARVER  set  out  on  his  journey  from  Boston,  in   [une,  i 
He  proceeded  to  Mackinac,  then  the  most  distant  British  post, 
arriving  in  August. 

"  Having  here  (he  says)  made  the  necessary  dispositions  for  pursuing^ 
my  travels,  and  obtained  a  credit  from  Mr.  ROGERS,  the  Governor,  onj 
some  English  and  Canadian  traders  who  were  going  to  trade  on  the 
Mississippi,  and  received  also  from  him  a  promise  of  a  fresh  supply  of 
goods  when  I  reached  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony.  1  left  the  fort  on  the 
3d  of  September,  in  company  with  these  traders.  It  was  agreed  that] 
they  should  furnish  me  with  such  goods  as  I  might  want  for  present* 
to  the  Indian  chiefs  during  my  continuance  with  them,  agreeable  to  the 
Governor's  order." 

CARVER  pursued  the  usual  route  to  Green  Bay.  ascended  the] 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  29 

Fox  River,  made  the  portage  to  the  Wisconsin,  and,  descend- 
ing that  stream,  entered  the  Mississippi  on  October  i^.  The 
traders  who  were  with  him  left  him  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  oppo- 
site to  which  village,  at  "Yellow  River,"  they  took  up  their 
quarters.  CARVER  here  "  bought  a  canoe,  and,  with  two  ser- 
vants, one  a  French  Canadian,  and  the  other  a  Mohawk  of 
Canada,"  started  up  the  Mississippi  River. 

Without  giving  too  much  space  to  CARVER'S  vovage,  we 
must  now  come  to  his  arrival  at  the  present  site  of  Saint  Paul, 
and  his  description  of 

"THE  GREAT  CAVE," 

(under  Dayton's  Bluff',)  which  he  thus  describes  in  his  work: 
"  About  thirty  miles  below  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony,  at  which  I 
arrived  the  tenth  day  after  I  left  Lake  Pepin,  is  a  remarkable  cave  of  an 
amazing  depth.  The  Indians  term  it  Wakan-Teebe,  that  is,  'The  Dwell- 
ing of  the  Great  Spirit.'  The  entrance  into  it  is  about  ten  feet  wide, 
the  height  of  it  five  feet.  The  arch  within  is  near  fifteen  feet  high,  and 
about  thirty  feet  broad.  The  bottom  of  it  consists  of  fine,  clear  sand. 
About  twenty  feet  from  the  entrance  begins  a  lake,  the  water  of  which 
is  transparent,  and  extends  to  an  unsearchable  distance ;  for  the  dark- 
ness of  the  cave  prevents  all  attempts  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  it.  I 
threw  a  small  pebble  toward  the  interior  parts  of  it  with  my  utmost 
strength ;  I  could  hear  that  it  fell  into  the  water,  and,  notwithstanding 
it  was  of  so  small  a  size,  it  caused  an  astonishing  and  horrible  noise, 
that  reverberated  through  all  those  gloomy  regions.  I  found  in  this 
cave  many  Indian  hieroglyphics,  which  appeared  very  ancient,  for  time 
had  nearly  covered  them  with  moss,  so  that  it  was  with  difficultv  I 
could  trace  them.  They  were  cut  in  a  rude  manner  upon  the  inside  of 
the  walls,  which  were  composed  of  a  stone  so  extremely  soft  that  it 
might  be  easily  penetrated  with  a  knife — a  stone  everywhere  to  be  found 
near  the  Mississippi.  The  cave  is  only  accessible  by  ascending  a  narrow, 
steep  passage  that  lies  near  the  brink  of  the  river. 

"At  a  little  distance  from  this  dreary  cavern,  is  the  burying  place  of 
several  bands  of  the  Naudowessie  Indians ;  though  these  people  have 
no  fixed  residence,  living  in  tents,  and  abiding  but  a  few  ifionths  on 
one  spot,  yet  they  always  bring  the  bones  of  their  dead  to  this  place ; 
which  they  take  the  opportunity  of  doing,  when  the  chiefs  meet  to  hold 
their  councils,  and  to  settle  all  public  affairs  for  the  ensuing  summer." 

This  was  CARVER'S  first  visit  to  the  now  celebrated  cave. 
After  leaving  it,  he  proceeded  on  to  Saint  Anthony's  Falls, 
which  he  minutely  describes  in  his  volume  of  travels,  accom- 


30  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

panying  it  by  a  copperplate  engraving  from  a  drawing  made 
by  himself  on  November  17,  1766.  He  afterwards  took  a  short 
trip  up  the  Mississippi  River,  «ts  far  as  the  ''Saint  Francis 
River,"  beyond  which  point,  he  says,  it  had  never  been  explored, 
and  thus  far  only  by  Father  HENNEPIN  and  himself. 

HIS   JOURNEY    UP    THE    SAINT    PETER'S    RIVER. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  CARVER  returned  to  his  canoe. 
which  he  "  had  left  at  the  mouth  of  the  River  Saint  Pierre,1* 
[Minnesota,]  and  ascended  that  stream.  About  forty  miles 
from  its  mouth,  he  says,  he  "  arrived  at  a  small  branch  that 
fell  into  it  from  the  north,"  which,  as  it  had  no  name  that  he 
•  could  distinguish  it  by,  he  called  "Carver's  River,"  which 
name  it  bears  to  this  day. 

HE    WINTERS    AMONG    THE    NAUDOWESSIES. 

On  the  7th  of  December  he  arrived  at  the  most  westerly 
limit  of  his  travels,  and,  as  he  could  proceed  no  further  that 
season,  spent  the  winter,  a  period  of  seven  months,  among  a 
band  of  Naudowessies  encamped  near  what  is  now  New  Ulm. 
He  says  he  learned  their  language  so  as  to  converse  in  it  intel- 
ligibly, (though  white  men  who  have  learned  this  language 
declare  that  to  be  impossible,)  and  was  treated  by  them  with 
great  hospitality.  In  the  spring,  he  returned  to  the  cave.  His 
account  of  this  is  as  follows  : 

THE  RETURN  TO  THE  "GREAT  CAVE." 

"I  left  the  habitations  of  these  hospitable  Indians  the  latter  end  of 
April,  1767,  but  did  not  part  from  them  for  several  days,  as  I  was 
accompanied  on  my  journey  by  near  three  hundred  of  them,  among 
whom  were  many  chiefs,  to  the  mouth  of  the  River  Saint  Pierre.  At  this 
season  these  bands  annually  go  to  the  'Great  Cave,'  before  mentioned, 
to  hold  a  grand  council  with  all  the  other  bands,  wherein  they  settle 
their  operations  for  the  ensuing  year.  At  the  same  time  they  carry  with 
them  their  dead  for  interment,  bound  up  in  buffalo  skins." 

It  was  on  this  visit  to  the  cave  that  CARVER  made  the  alleged 
Treaty  with  the  Indians,  and  received  from  them  the  celebrated 
deed  of  land.  His  account  of  it  is  as  follows  : 

"  When  we  arrived  at  the  'Great  Cave,'  and  the  Indians  had  deposited 


and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey ',  Minnesota.  -51 

the  remains  of  their  deceased  friends  in  the  burial-place  that  stands 
adjacent  to  it,  they  held  their  great  council,  into  which  I  was  admitted, 
and  at  the  same  time  had  the  honor  to  be  installed  and  adopted  a  chief 
of  their  bands.  On  this  occasion  I  made  the  following  speech  which 
was  delivered  on  the  ist  day  of  May,  1767  : 

CARVER'S  SPEECH  TO  THE  INDIANS. 

"My  brothers,  chiefs  of  the  numerous  and  powerful  Naudowessies ! 
T  rejoice  that,  through  my  long  abode  with  you,  I  can  now  speak  to  you 
'  (though  after  an  imperfedt  manner)  in  your  own  tongue,  like  one  of 
your  own  children.  I  rejoice,  also,  that  I  have  had  an  opportunity  so 
frequently  to  inform  you  of  the  glory  and  power  of  the  great  King  that 
reigns  over  the  English  and  other  nations ;  who  is  descended  from  a 
very  ancient  race  of  sovereigns,  as  old  as  the  earth  and  the  waters ; 
whose  feet  stand  upon  two  great  islands,  larger  than  any  you  have  ever 
seen,  amidst  the  greatest  waters  in  the  world  ;  whose  head  reaches  to  the 
sun,  and  whose  arms  encircle  the  whole  earth ;  the  number  of  whose 
warriors  is  equal  to  the  trees  in  the  valleys,  the  stalks  of  rice  in  yonder 
mur-.hes.  and  the  blades  of  grass  on  your  great  plains  ;  Avho  has  hundreds 
of  canoes  of  his  own,  of  such  amazing  bigness,  that  all  the  waters  in 
your  country  would  not  suffice  for  one  of  them  to  swim  in ;  each  of 
which  have  great  guns,  not  small  like  mine,  which  you  see  before  you, 
but  of  such  magnitude,  that  a  hundred  of  your  stoutest  young  men 
would  with  difficulty  be  able  to  carry  one.  And  they  are  equally  sur- 
prising in  their  operation  against  the  King's  enemies  when  engaged  in 
battle ;  the  terror  they  carry  with  them,  your  language  lacks  words  to 
express.  You  may  remember,  the  other  dav,  when  we  were  encamped  at 
Wadapaiv-menesoter,  the  black  clouds,  the  wind,  the  fire,  the  stupendous 
noise,  the  horrible  cracks,  and  the  tumbling  of  the  earth  which  then 
alarmed  you,  and  gave  you  reason  to  think  vour  gods  were  angry  with 
you ;  not  unlike  these  are  the  warlike  implements  of  the  English  when 
they  are  fighting  the  battles  of  their  great  King. 

"  Several  of  the  chiefs  of  your  bands  have  often  told  me  in  times  past, 
when  I  dwelt  with  you  in  your  tents,  that  they  much  wished  to  be 
counted  among  the  children  and  the  allies  of  the  great  King,  my  master. 

"You  may  remember  how  often  you  have  desired  me,  when  I  return 
again  to  mv  own  country,  to  acquaint  the  great  King  of  your  good 
disposition  toward  him  and  his  subjects,  and  that  you  wished  for 
traders  from  the  English  to  come  among  you. 

"  Being  now  about  to  take  my  leave  of  you,  and  to  return  to  my  own 
country,  a  long  way  toward  the  rising  sun,  I  again  ask  you  to  tell  me 
whether  you  continue  of  the  same  mind  as  when  I  spoke  to  you  in 
council  last  winter;  and  as  there  are  now  several  of  your  chiefs  here 
who  came  from  the  great  plains  toward  the  setting  of  the  sun,  whom  I 


32  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

have  never  spoken  with  in  council  before,  I  ask  you  to  let  me  know  if 
you  are  willing  to  acknowledge  yourselves  the  children  of  my  g 
master,  the  King  of  the  English. 

«  I  charge  you  not  to  give  heed  to  bad  reports,  for  there  are  wicke 
birds  flying  about  among  the  neighboring  nations,  who  may  whisper 
evil  things  in  your  ears  against  the  English,  contrary  to  what  I  have 
told  you ;  you  must  not  believe  them,  for  I  have  told  you  the  truth. 

"As  for  the  chiefs  that  are  about  to  go  to  Michilimackinac,  I  shall 
take  care  to  make  for  them  and  their  suits  a  straight  road,  smooth 
waters,  and  a  clear  sky,  that  they  may  go  there  and  smoke  the  pipe  of 
peace,  and  rest  secure  on  a  beaver  blanket  under  the  shade  of  the  great 
tree  of  peace.  Farewell !" 

Whether  any  such  grandiloquent  speech  as  the  above  was 
really  made  by  CARVER  on  the  occasion  or  not,  has  frequently 
been  doubted.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  he  made  them  a 
short  address,  in  such  imperfea  Dakota  as  he  could  command. 

To  this  speech  CARVER  gives  the  reply  of  the  principal  chief, 
speaking,  as  the  orator  asserted,  for  the  eight  bands  of  the 
nation.  He  professed  to  believe  CARVER'S  account  of  the  Is  ing 
and  his  power,  and  desired  CARVER  to  tell  him  that  they 
"wished  to  be  counted  among  his  good  children,"  and  have 
traders  sent  among  them. 

THE    PURPORTED    DEED. 

At  this  council  was  given  the  famous  deed  of  land  to 
CARVER,  which  reads  as  follows  : 

"To  JONATHAN  CARVER,  a  chief  under  the  most  mighty  and  potent 
GEORGE  the  Third,  King  of  the  English,  and  other  nations,  the  fame 
of  whose  warriors  has  reached  our  ears,  and  has  been  now  fully  told  to 
us  by  our  good  brother  JONATHAN,  aforesaid,  whom  we  rejoice  to  see 
come  among  us,  and  bring  us  good  news  from  his  country. 

"We,  chiefs  of  the  Naudowessies,  who  have  hereto  set  our  seals,  do 
by  these  presents,  for  ourselves  and  heirs  forever,  in  return  for  the 
many  presents  and  other  good  services  done  by  the  said  JONATHAN  to 
ourselves  and  allies,  give,  grant  and  convey  to  him,  the  said  JONATHAN, 
and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  the  whole  of  a  certain  tract  or  ter- 
ritory of  land,  bounded  as  follows,  viz.  :  From  the  Falls  of  Saint  An- 
thony, running  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  nearly  southeast, 
as  far  as  the  south  end  of  Lake  Pepin,  where  the  Chippewa  River  joins 
the  Mississippi,  and  from  thence  eastward,  five  days'  travel,  accounting 
twenty  English  miles  per  day,  and  from  thence  north  six  days'  travel, 
at  twenty  English  miles  per  day,  and  from  thence  again  to  the  Falls  of 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  33 

Saint  Anthony,  on  a  direct  straight  line.  We  do,  for  ourselves,  heirs, 
and  assigns,  forever,  give  unto  the  said  JONATHAN,  his  heirs  and  as- 
signs, forever,  all  the  said  lands,  with  all  the  trees,  rocks,  and  rivers 
therein,  reserving  the  sole  liberty  of  hunting  and  fishing  on  land  not 
planted'  or  improved  by  the  said  JONATHAN,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to 
which  we  have  affixed  our  respective  seals. 
"At  the  'Great  Cave,' 

"  May  ist,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-seven. 

"  HAW-NO-PAW-GAT-AN,  his  x  mark, 

(picture  of  a  beaver.) 
"  OTOH-TON-GOOM-LISH-EAW,  his  ^  mark, 

(picture  of  a  snake.)" 

It  is  a  somewhat  singular  fa6t  that  CARVER  nowhere  men- 
tions this  deed  in  his  writings.  Why  its  existence  was  sup- 
pressed by  him,  can  only  be  conjectured.  It  seems  not  to  have 
been  made  public  until  after  his  death.  JOHN  COAKLEY  LETT- 
SOM,  who  wrote  the  biography  of  CARVER  for  the  third  edition 
of  his  travels,  says  he  (LETTSOM)  had  the  original  deed  in  his 
possession. 

CARVER,  after  making  the  purported  treaty  with  the  Indians, 
returned  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Lake 
Superior,  and  spent  some  time  in  exploring  that  region,  return- 
ing to  Boston  by  way  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Detroit,  and  Niagara 
Falls.  He  arrived  in  Boston  in  October,  1768,  "  having  been 
absent  from  it  on  this  expedition  two  years  and  five  months, 
and  during  that  time  traveled  near  7,000  miles." 

CARVER'S  SUBSEQUENT  HISTORY. 

He  soon  after  sailed  for  England,  made  known  his  discov- 
eries, and  claimed  a  reimbursement  from  Government.  His 
petition  was  referred  to  the  ''Lords  Commissioners. of  Trade 
and  Plantations."  They  required  him  to  surrender  up  the 
manuscript  of  a  book  he  had  nearly  ready  for  the  press,  for 
which,  with  his  other  expenses,  they  allowed  no  reimburse- 
ment. He  finally  re-wrote  his  work  from  his  original  journals 
and  papers,  and  it  was  published  in  1769. 

It  is  hardly  possible  that  he  realized  much  money  from  his 
book,  as  we  hear  of  him  a  few  months  after  this,  in  very  indi- 
gent circumstances.  His  health  also  declined.  In  1779'  ^ie 
secured  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  lottery  office,  from  the  gains  of 


34  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL 

which  he  eked  out  a  scanty  subsistence  for  a  few  months., 
Disease  soon  ensued,  however,  and  he  admiHy  died  of  want  in 
London,  January  31,  1780,  aged  48  years. 

SUBSEQUENT    HISTORY    OF    THE    PURPORTED    DEED. 

CARVER,  as  we  before  mentioned,  does  not  speak  in  his 
work  of  the  deed  said  to  have  been  given  May  i.  1767.  It 
was  not  until  after  his  death  that  it  was  brought  to  light. 
CARVER  had  married  during  his  sojourn  in  England,  (although 
he  had  a  wife  and  five  daughters  in  Connecticut  at  the  time,) 
and  by  this  second  wife  had  one  daughter,  named  MARTHA* 
She  was  raised  by  Sir  RICHARD  and  Lady  PEARSON.  When 
she  grew  up,  she  eloped  with,  and  married  a  sailor,  whose 
name  seems  to  be  now  unknown.  A  mercantile  firm  in  Lon- 
don, thinking  that  money  could  be  made  by  securing  the  title  ' 
to  the  alleged  grant,  secured  from  the  penniless  couple,  a  few- 
days  after  their  marriage,  a  conveyance  of  the  grant  to  them. 
for  the  consideration  of  one-tenth  the  profits.  The  merchants 
dispatched  an  agent  named  CLARK  to  go  to  the  Dakotas.  and 
obtain  a  new  deed,  but  on  the  way  CLARK  was  murdered  in 
New  York,  and  the  speculation  for  the  time  fell  through. 

In  the  year  1794,  the  heirs  of  CARVER'S  American  wile,  in 
consideration  of  £50,000,  conveyed  their  interest  in  the  Carver 
Grant  to  EDWARD  HOUGHTON,  of  Vermont.  In  the  year  1806,: 
Rev.  SAMUEL  PETERS,  who  had  been  a  Tory  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  alleged,  in  a  petition  to  Congress,  that  he  had 
also  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  CARVER  their  right  to  the  grant.] 

In  1821,  Gen.  LEAVENWORTH,  pursuant  to  a  request  of  the 
Commissioner  of  the  Land  Office,  inquired  of  the  Dakotas  in 
relation  to  the  grant,  and  reported  that  the  land  alleged  to  h^f 
granted  "•  lies  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi."  Tin-  In- 
dians do  not  recognize  or  acknowledge  the  grant  to  be  valid, 
and  they,  among  others,  assign  the  following  reasons  : 

"  i.  The  Sioux  of  the  Plains  never  owned  a  foot  of  land  on  the  East! 
side  of  the  Mississippi.  ***** 

"  2.  The  Indians  say  they  have  no  knowledge  of  any  such  chiH's.  as 
those  who  signed  the  grant.  They  say  if  Capt.  CARVER  did  over 
obtain  a  deed  or  grant,  it  was  signed  by  some  foolish  young  nu-n  who 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota,  35 

were  not  chiefs,  and  who  were  not  authorized  to  make  a  grant.  Among 
the  Sioux  of  the  River  there  are  no  such  names.* 

"3.  They  say  the  Indians  never  received  anything  for  the  land, 
and  they  have  no  intention  to  part  with  it  without  a  consideration.  *  * 

"4.  They  have,  and  ever  have  had,  the  possession  of  the  land,  and 
intend  to  keep  it."  *  ****** 

On  January  23,  1823,  the  Committee  on  Public  Lands  re- 
ported to  the  Senate  on  the  claim  of  CARVER'S  heirs,  at  some 
length.  They  argue  that  the  purported  grant  has  no  binding 
eftecl;  on  the  United  States,  and  give  very  satisfactory  and  con- 
clusive reasons  therefor — at  too  great  length,  however,  to  include 
in  this  paper.  The  prayer  of  the  petitioners  was,  therefore, 
not  granted. 

It  is  certain  that  CARVER'S  American  heirs  always  supposed, 
(and  are  said  to  this  day  to  assert,)  that  they  had  a  good  title 
to  the  grant  in  question.  Some  of  them  have  visited  Saint 
Paul  in  their  investigations  of  the  subject. 

Numerous  deeds  for  portions  of  the  land  were  made  at  vari- 
ous times  by  CARVER'S  heirs  or  their  assignees.  In  1849,  and 
a  few  years  subsequent,  when  real  estate  agents  throve  in  the 
infant  city  of  Saint  Paul,  very  many  of  these  deeds  were  re- 
ceived by  land  dealers  here,  to  "  locate."  Several  of  them  are 
among  the  MSS.  in  the  Library  of  the  Historical  Society. 

SUBSEQUENT    HISTORY    OF   THE    CAVE. 

After  the  visit  by  CARVER,  the  cave  remained  unentered  by 
the  white  man  for  nearly  half  a  century-  PIKE  tried  in  vain  to 
find  it  in  1806,  but  its  entrance  was  stopped  up.  Maj.  LONG 
succeeded  in  gaining  an  entrance  to  it  in  1817-  FEATHER- 
STONHAUGH,  in  1835,  f°und  the  entrance  again  closed  up  with 
debris.  NICOLLET  explored  it  in  1837,  however,  and  says 
CARVER'S  description  of  it  was  "  accurate."  Indeed,  it  is  so 
accurate,  that,  at  the  present  day,  if  one  wished  to  describe  it, 
he  could  do  no  better  than  use  CARVER'S  own  language. 


*  CARVER  only  once,  in  the  body  of  his  work,  mentions  the  chiefs  whose  signatures  and 
"  family  coat  of  arms"  are  appended  to  the  deed.  On  page  380,  speaking  of  Indian 
nomenclature,  he  says :  Thus,  the  great  warrior  of  the  Naudowessies  was  named, 
Ottahtongoomlisheah,  that  is,  "The  Qreat  Father  of  Snakes;"  ottali,  being  in  English, 
father ;  tongoom,  great ;  and  lisheali,  a  snake.  Another  chief  was  called  Honahpatujatin, 
which  means,  "  A  Swift  Runner  Over  the  Mountains." 


36  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL 

Carver's  Cave  is  now  the  most  interesting  relic  of  antiquity 
in  this  region.  Unfortunately,  the  spirit  of  progress  and  im- 
provement has  no  veneration  for  historical  associations,  and  the 
Saint  Paul  and  Chicago  Railroad,  which  runs  along  the  bank 
of  the  river  directly  by  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  will  doubtless 
ere  long  dig  down  the  bluff,  and  thus  destroy  the  cave.  The 
centenary  of  CARVER'S  treaty  with  the  Naudowessies  was  duly 
observed  on  May  i,  1867,  by  the  members  of  the  Minnesota 
Historical  Society.  They  paid  a  visit  to  the  cave  in  the  day- 
time, and  held  a  reunion  in  memory  of  CARVER  at  their  rooms 
in  the  evening.  The  proceedings  were  printed  in  pamphlet 
form,  subsequently,  at  the  expense  of  GEO.  W.  FAHNESTOC-K, 
of  Philadelphia,  an  estimable  gentleman  of  historical  tastes, 
(now  deceased,)  who  was  present. 

CARVER'S  PROPHESIES  CONCERNING  THIS  REGION. 

CARVER  was  a  man  of  keen  perceptions  and  shrewd  fore- 
sight. He  hints  in  his  work  at  the  possibility  of  a  ship  canal 
from  the  Mississippi  River  to  the  Lakes,  and  was  sanguine  that 
this  region  would  ultimately  become  populous  and  wealthy. 
He  says  : 

"To  what  power  or  authority  this  new  world  will  become  dependant, 
after  it  has  arisen  from  its  present  uncultivated  state,  time  alone  can 
discover.  But  as  the  seat  of  empire,  from  time  immemorial,  has  been 
gradually  progressing  toward  the  west,  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  at 
some  future  period,  mighty  kingdoms  -will  emerge  from  these  -wilder- 
nesses, and  stately  palaces  and  solemn  temples,  -with  gilded  spires  reach- 
ing the  skies,  supplant  the  Indian  huts,  -whose  only  decorations  are  the 
barbarous  trophies  of  their  vanquished  enemies." 

Already  events  were  transpiring,  which  led  to  a  more  rapid 
fulfillment  of  his  vision,  than  perhaps  he  himself  even  anticipated. 
The  disputes  between  the  Colonies  and  England  were  fast 
culminating  in  open  rebellion.  While  CARVER  was  absent  in 
England,  the 

REVOLUTIONARY    WAR 

broke  out,  and  all  progress  toward  the  settlement  of  this  region 
was  stayed  for  the  time.  The  war  virtually  terminated  in  1 782, 
and,  by  the  Treaty  of  Paris,  1783,  the  territory  east  of  the  Mis- 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  37 

sissippi  River  was  ceded  and  yielded  up  to  the  United  States, 
which  now  took  its  place  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  On 
March  i ,  1 784.  Virginia,  which  claimed  what  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  Northwest  Territory,  ceded  all  that  district  to 
the  United  States,  and,  three  years  later,  the  famous  "  Ordinance 
of  1787"  was  enadled  by  Congress,  creating  the  "Northwest 
Territory." 

THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 

This  vast  domain,  comprising  the  present  noble  States  of 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  was  probably  the  finest  body  of  land,  of 
equal  extent,  on  the  globe.  At  that  time  there  were  scarcely  a 
dozen  settlements  of  whites  in  the  whole  domain.  Its  present 
population  must  be  over  10.000,000.  Wonderful  has  been  the 
transformation  of  this  great  empire  from  barbarism  to  civiliza- 
tion, and  in  the  brief  space  of  88  years.  It  has  scarcely,  if  at 
all,  a  parallel  in  the  world's  history. 

Civil  government  was  soon  after  established  over  the  Terri- 
torv.  and  it  began  rapidly  to  settle  up.  On  May  7?  1800, 
Indiana  Territory  was  created,  embracing  all  of  the  previous 
Northwest  Territory  except  the  present  State  of  Ohio,  and, 
in  1805,  Michigan  Territory  was  formed,  wnose  southern 
boundary  ran  from  the  Maumee  Bay,  on  Lake  Erie,  westerly  to 
the  Mississippi  River.  Minnesota  (east  of  the  Mississippi) 
remained  attached  to  Michigan  until  the  formation  of  Illinois 
Territory  in  1809,  wnen  ^  was  included  in  the  bounds  of  the 
latter,  and  so  continued  until  1819,  wrhen  Illinois  became  a 
State.  This  region  then  fell  again  hito  the  arms  of  Michigan 
Territory,  and  continued  there  until  Wisconsin  Territory  was 
formed  in  1836. 


164S83 


38  The  History  of  'the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 


CHAPTER    IV. 
THE  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  MINNESOTA. 

EXPLORATION  BY  LIEUT.  PIKE-HE  SELECTS  THE  SITE  FOR  FORT  SNELLING-RED 
RIVER  COLONY  FOUNDED— TROOPS  ORDERED  TO  "  SAINT  PETER'S"— THEY  BU 
FORT  SNELLING— JOSEPH  R.  BROWN— RED  RIVER  REFUGEES  SETTLE  HERE- 
ARRIVAL  .OF    FIRST    STEAMBOAT— EARLY    MAIL    SERVICE  —  GOVERNMKNTAL 
CHANGES— SKETCHES  OF  TWO  PIONEERS,  H.  H.  SIBLEY  AND  N.  W.  KITTSON. 

THAT  portion  of  Minnesota  west  of  the  Mississippi,  as 
mentioned  before,  had,  by  the  "  Louisiana  Purchase." 
(December  20,  1803,)  comfe  into  the  possession  of  the  United 
States,  and  President  JEFFERSON  took  prompt  steps  to  extend 
the  authority  of  the  United  States  over  the  domain  acquired, 
and  to  make  an  exploration  of  the  same.  Lieut.  Z.  M.  PIK.K. 
U.  S.  A.,  was  the  officer  selected  to  visit  this  region,  expel  the 
British  traders,  and  make  alliances  with  the  Indians.  Ik- 
ascended  the  Mississippi  River  in  a  batteau  in  the  month  of 
September,  1805,  and  arrived  at  the  encampment  of  J.  B. 
FARIBAULT,  an  Indian  trader,  a  mile  or  two  above  Saint  Paul, 
on  September  21.  On  the  23d  he  held  a  council  with  the 
Sioux  at  Mendota,  and  obtained  from  them  a  grant  of  land  nine 
miles  square,  for  military  purposes,  which  has  since  been  known 
as  the  Fort  Snelling  Reservation.  Lieut.  PIKE  remained  all 
winter  in  Minnesota,  and  returned  to  Saint  Louis  in  the  spring. 

THE    RED    RIVER    SETTLEMENT. 

In  the  year  1812,  the  Earl  of  SELKIRK,  having  obtained  a 
grant  of  land  from  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  nejir  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  Assiniboine  and  Red  Rivers,  established  a  colony 
of  Scotch  settlers  upon  it,  and  subsequently  a  colony  of  Swi* 
were  induced  to  settle  there.  The  colony  suffered  vari< 
hardships  for  many  years,  from  floods,  frosts,  grasshoppers, 
&c.,  and  were  at  times  almost  on  the  verge  of  starvation.  In 
1827,  a  party  of  the  Swiss  who  had  immigrated  to  Red  River, 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  39 

abandoned  the  .colony,  and  established  themselves  near  Fort 
Snelling,  as  will  be  noticed  more  fully  a  little  further  on. 

The  cession  of  land  procured  by  Lieut.  PIKE  at  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  Saint  Peter's  and  Mississippi  Rivers,  in  1805,  had 
been  for  the  purpose  6f  erecting  a  United  States  Fort.  The 
matter  was  allowed  to  rest,  however,  for  some  years.  The 
planting  of  SELKIRK'S  Colony  on  the  borders  of  the  United 
States,  called  attention  to  it  again,  and  resulted,  in  1819,  in  the 
establishment  of  a  military  post  at  the  point  named. 

TROOPS    ORDERED    TO    MINNESOTA. 

On  Februarv  10,  1819,  an  order  was  issued  bv  the  War 
Department,  concentrating  the  Fifth  Regiment  of  Infantry  at 
Detroit,  under  Lieut.  Col.  LEAVENWORTH,  with  a  view  of  pro- 
ceeding west.  Portions  were  detailed  to  garrison  Prairie  du 
Chien  and  Rock  Island,  and  the  remainder  were  to  proceed  to 
establish  a  post  at  the  point  called  "  Saint  Peter's,"  (since 
known  as  Mendota,)  which  was  to  be  the  headquarters  of  the 
regiment,  and  of  Lieut.  Col.  LEAVENWORTH,  its  commander. 
He  remained  some  time  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  to  organize 
4v  Crawford  County,"  which  had  been  created  by  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Michigan  Territory,  on  October  16,  1818.  Its  bounda- 
ries were  as  follows :  On  the  east  by  a  line  running  north  and 
south  from  the  portage  of  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin  Rivers,  and 
extending  to  Lake  Superior,  thence  westward  to  the  Mississippi 
River. 

He  found  great  difficulty  in  securing  enough  persons  quali- 
fied to  fill  the  county  offices. 

The  expedition  up  the  Mississippi  was  made  in  keel-boats, 
and  so  low  was  the  water  that  the  party  did  not  reach  Mendota 
until  September  24th.  Rude  huts  for  barracks  were  at  once 
creeled,  in  which  the  first  winter  was  passed  amid  much  dis- 
,  comfort.  Many  of  the  soldiers  died  from  scurvy.  The  follow- 
ing August,  Col.  SNELLING  took  command  of  the  post,  and 
the  erection  of  "Fort  Saint  Anthony"  was  commenced.  On 
September  loth,  1820,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  with  appro- 
priate ceremonies,  but  the  next  winter  had  to  be  passed  in  their 
cantonments  at  Mendota  again.  The  lumber  for  the  buildings 


4o  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

was  cut  on  Rum  River  by  the  soldiers.  The  fort  was  not  so 
for  completed  as  to  be  occupied  until  the  fall  of  1822.  It  was, 
by  recommendation  of  Gen.  SCOTT,  subsequently  called  "  Fort 
Snelling,"  in  honor  of  its  builder. 

MAJ.   LAWRENCE    TALIAFERRO. 

In  order  to  properly  conduct  reflations  with  the  Indians  of 
this  region,  President  MONROE  also  resolved  to  send  hither  an 
Indian  Agent,  to  permanently  reside  at  or  near  the  new  military 
post.  Lieut.  LAWRENCE  TALIAFERRO,*  an  officer  of  the  regu- 
lar army,  was  selected  for  this  duty,  and  commissioned  on 
March  27,  1819.  He  proceeded  at  once  to  his  post,  and  con-* 
tinned  to  fill  that  office  for  twenty  years,  resigning  it  in  1840. 

CONDITION    OF    THE    COUNTRY    IN    l82O. 

The  establishment  of  Fort  Snelling  (as  it  was  afterwards 
known)  attracted  considerable  attention  to  this  region,  and  was 
an  important  event  for  the  Northwest.  Up  to  that  time'  this 
region1  was  almost  unknown.  A  few  traders  had  penetrated 
here  and  there  through  what  is  now  Minnesota,  but  its  ge>  >gra- 
phy  was  to  the  country  at  large  a  sealed  book.  Its  great 
lumbering  resources  were  almost  unknown.  It  was  not  until 
^1822  that  the  Government  saw  mill  was  built  at  Saint  Anthony 
Falls.  The  same  year  a  permit  was  granted  by  Maj.  TALIA- 
FERRO to  a  man  named  PERKINS,  from  Kentucky,  to  erect  a 
saw  mill  on  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Menominee  River. 
Wisconsin — the  first  mill  creeled  by  private  parties  in  the 
Northwest.  Indeed,  only  in  1822  was  Minnehaha  Creek — now 
in  one  of  the  most  thickly  settled  parts  of  the  State — explored 
by  JOSEPH  R.  BROWN,  then  a  soldier  at  Fort  Snelling.  and 
was  long  afterwards  called  by  his  name. 

*  LAWRENCE  TALIAFERRO  was  born  in  Virginia,  February  34,  1794.  His  ancestors 
were  Italians,  who  settled  in  Virginia  in  1637.  TALIAFERRO  enlisted  in  tin-  war  of 
iSia,  when  only  18  years  of  age,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant.  When  tin-  army 
was  reduced  to  a  peace  footing  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  retained  as  a  First  Lieu- 
tenant. On  retiring  from  the  Indian  Agency,  in  1840,  he  returned  to  his  home  at 
Bedford,  Pennsylvania,  where,  in  1857,  he  was  appointed  Military  Storekeep, -r,  and 
filled  that  post  until  1863.  He  died  January  23,  1871,  in  his  Sist  year.  While  at  Fort 
Snelling  he  kept  a  minute  diary  of  events,  now  in  possession  of  the  Historical  Society, 
and  from  which  the  writer  has  drawn  valuable  fafts. 


JOSEPH  R.  BROWN. 


/j.2  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

first  frame,  and  first  stone  building  in  Minnesota.  He  assisted 
in  staking  out  the  first  road  from  Fort  Snelling  to  Prairie  du 
Chien  ;  driving  the  first  wagon  over  it,  and  the  first  from  Men- 
dota  to  Lac  qui  Parle.  He  built  the  first  house  in  the  present 
limits  of  Stillwater  and  Hastings,  &c.,  &c.  During  his  long 
and  eventful  life  he  suffered  many  reverses  of  fortune,  but  was 
always  cheerful  and  full  of  energy.  He  died  in  New  York 
City,  whither  he  had  gone  on  business,  on  November  9,  1870. 
Brown  county  was  appropriately  named  in  honor  of  him. 

IMMIGRATION    FROM    RED    RIVER. 

Prior  to  the  year  1827,  there  was  no  agriculture  carried  on 
in  the  entire  State,  except  small  gardens  and  limited  fields 
attached  to  the  trading  posts  here  and  there.  In  the  year 
named,  a  number  of  Swiss  families — who  had  been,  several 
years  previous,  misled  by  the  lying  emigration  agents  of  Lord 
SELKIRK  into  settling  on  the  Red  River — after  suffering  great 
hardships,  were  finally  compelled,  to  avoid  aclual  starvation, 
to  leave  the  colony  and  come  to  Fort  Snelling,  where,  it  had 
been  stated  to  them,  they  would  be  allowed  to  settle.  They 
were  kindly  received  by  Col.  SNELLING,  the  commander  of  the 
post,  and  permission  given  them  to  settle  on  the  Resei"va- 
tion,  near  wjiat  was  afterwards  known  as  the  "  Saint  Louis 
House,"  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  a  little  above  the 
fort.  Here  they  opened  farms,  creeled  dwellings,  and,  having 
brought  cattle  with  them,  soon  became  prosperous  and  comfort- 
able farmers.  In  this  colony  were  ABRAHAM  PERRY,  Louis 
MASSIE,  and  other  patriarchs,  some  of  whom,  as  will  be  seen 
a  little  further  on,  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Saint 
Paul,  Pig's  Eye,  Little  Canada,  Mendota,  Saint  Anthony,  Still- 
water,  and  other  of  the  oldest  towns  in  this  region.  Up  to 
1836,  nearly  500  persons  had  left  the  Red  River  Colony  and 
came  to  Fort  Snelling,  in  search  of  new  homes,  and  several 
large  parties  came  subsequently.  A  few  of  them  went  on  to 
Wisconsin,  Illinois  and  Missouri,  and  some  to  Vevay,  Indiana, 
(a  Swiss  settlement,)  but  most  of  the  refugees  settled  in  this 
region,  and  their  descendants  hereabouts  are  a  numerous  class. 
Most  of  the  early  residents  of  Saint  Paul  were  Red  River 
refugees,  as  we  shall  show  a  few  pages  further  on. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  4-5 

Thus  the  first  agricultural  immigrants  into  Minnesota — the 
vanguard  of  that  vast  army  that  in  later  years  poured  over  it — 
came  from  the  "  frozen  north" — a  sort  of  Nor'  man  invasion 
of  a  peaceful  kind. 

ARRIVAL    OF    THE    FIRST    STEAMBOAT. 

During  the  year  1823,  another  event  occurred  of  great  im- 
portance to  the  Northwest.  It  was  the  arrival  of  the  first 
steamboat,  the  "  Virginia,"  from  Saint  Louis,  loaded  with 
stores  for  the  fort.  Her  dimensions  were:  length,  118  feet; 
width.  24  feet :  and  draught,  six  feet.  She  was  four  days  in 
getting  over  the  Rock  Island  Rapids,  an  obstacle  which  it  had 
been  supposed  would  always  prevent  steamers  from  navigating 
the  Upper  Mississippi.  As  this  was  the  first  steamboat  ever 
seen  bv  the  Dakotas  in  this  neighborhood,  'their  fright  was 
extreme.  They  mistook  it  for  some  supernatural  monster,  and 
fled  to  the  woods  and  hills,  with  their  hair  and  blankets  stream- 
ing in  the  breeze. 

The  success  of  the  "  Virginia"  in  reaching  the  mouth  of  the 
Saint  Peter's,  opened  the  Upper  Mississippi  to  steam  navigation, 
the  mightiest  agent  in  making  the  then  wilderness  blossom  as 
the  rose.  Up  to  May  26,  1826,  fifteen  steamers  had  arrived  at 
Fort  Snelling,  and  they  became  more  frequent  after  that. 

SIOUX    AND    OJIBWA    WARFARE. 

The  ancient  feud  of  the  Dakota  and  Ojibwa  Nations,  led  to 
frequent  encounters,  some  of  them  in  this  neighborhood.  In 
1826,  a  party  of  200  or  300  Ojibwas,  from  the  Upper  Missis- 
sippi, came  to  Fort  Snelling  on  a  visit,  and  encamped  near 
Pickerel  Lake,  across  the  river  from  this  city.  The  Dakotas. 
learning  of  their  presence,  soon  rallied  and  attacked  them. 
killing  in  cold  blood  a  number  of  women  and  children,  who 
could  not  escape.  The  same  autumn,  at  Fort  Snelling.  a  party 
of  Dakotas.  after  being  hospitably  entertained  bv  some  Ojib- 
was encamped  there,  and  promising  peace  and  good  will, 
treacherous! \  tired  into  the  wigwams  of  the  latter  at  night, 
killing  several.  Col.  SNKI.UM;.  the  commandant,  compelled 
the  Dakotas  to  surrender  the  guiltv  men.  and  thev  wen-  handed 


44  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul. 

over  to  the  relations  of  the  murdered  Ojibwas  for  punishment. 
Four  of  them  were  compelled  to  '"run  the  gauntlet."  i.  e., 
allowed  a  few  feet  start,  and,  at  a  given  signal,  the  Ojibwas 
were  to  fire  on  them.  They  were  in  this  manner  shot  down, 
and  their  bodies  mutilated. 

These  barbaric  orgies  were  repeated  from  year  to  year,  for 
some  time.  The  liquor  sold  to  the  Indians  by  traders  was 
mostly  the  cause  of  this,  and  every  effort  was  made  by  the 
authorities  to  break  up  the  traffic,  without  success. 

MAIL    SERVICE 1820-49. 

During  the  first  three  years,  the  mails  for  the  garrison  were 
carried  by  soldiers,  from  Prairie  du  Chien.  In  the  summer  they 
made  the  trips  two  or  three  times  during  the  season,  with  keel- 
boats  or  canoes, 'also  bringing  supplies  for  the  garrison.  In 
the  winter  the  trip  was  one  of  hardship  and  danger,  occupying 
many  days.  The  whole  distance  to  Prairie  du  Chien  was 
generally  traversed  on  the  ice,  in  a  sort  of  sledge  drawn  by 
dogs. or  a  Canadian  pony,  and  called  a  train  du  glace.  Ex- 
cepting probably  an  encampment  or  two  of  Indians,  there  was 
no  sign  of  a  human  habitation  from  Fort  Snelling  to  Fort 
Crawford,  (Prairie  du  Chien,)  and  during  the  trip  the  mail 
carriers  and  their  animals  must  subsist  as  best  they  could.  This 
sort  of  winter  transportation  was  kept  up  until  stage  sen-ice 
was  established  in  1849.  In  May,  1823,  the  first  steamboat 
arrived  at  Fort  Snelling,  and  thenceforward  steamboats  carried 
the  mails  generally  to  that  post,  until  a  regular  packet  line 
was  established  to  Saint  Paul,  in  1847. 

Of  course,  winter  sen-ice  in  those  days  was  irregular.  For 
instance,  in  one  of  TALIAFERRO'S  journals,  kept  at  Fort  Snelling, 
now  in  the  archives  of  the  Historical  Society,  we  find  it  noted 
that  on  January  26th,  1826,  there  was  much  rejoicing  over  the 
arrival  of  two  officers  k'  from  below,"  who  had  returned  from 
a  furlough,  bringing  the  first  mail  received  for  five  months ! 
In  May,  1832,  a  soldier  at  Fort  Crawford,  named  JAMES 
HALPIN,  was  detailed  by  Col.  ZACHARY  TAYLOR,  then  com- 
mander of  that  post,  to  carry  the  mail  from  Fort  Crawford  to 
Fort  Snelling.  A  small  pouch  of  mail  was  all  there  was  t«, 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  45 

carry,  and  he  made  the  journey  on  foot,  the  round  trip  occu- 
pying generally  two  weeks.  He  carried  the  mail  a  whole  year. 
There  was  not  a  human  habitation  on  his  whole  route,  unless 
he  fell  in  with  a  teepee  of  Indians. 

GOVERNMENTAL    CHANGES. 

In  1836,  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin  was  organized,  com- 
prising all  of  Michigan  Territory  west  of  the  Lake.  This,  of 
course,  included  what  is  now  Minnesota  east  of  the  Mississippi. 
Saint  Paul,  or  what  is  now  Saint  Paul,  thus  fell  in  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  Crawford  county,  Wisconsin — an  extended  existence  of 
Crawford  county,  Michigan.  For  several  years  it  was  repre- 
sented in  the  Territorial  Legislature  of  Wisconsin  as  follows  : 
Council.  House. 

i  Tames  H.  Lockwood, 

1836 .No  member.  J  J 

(James  B.  Dallam. 

I         _T  f  Ira  B.  Brunson, 

1837-8 No  member. 

•-Jean  Brunei. 

1838 George  Wilson.  Alex.  McGregor. 

f  Alex.  McGregor, 

1839 George  Wilson.        ^  T      _,    _ 

I  Ira  B.  Brunson. 

f  Alex.  McGregor, 

1839-40 Joseph  Brisbois.        < 

I  Ira  B.  Brunson. 

f  Alex.  McGregor, 
1840  (extra)  .  .  .  Chas.  J.  Learned.     < 

\  Ira  B.  Brunson. 

In  January,  1840,  "  Saint  Croix  County,"  as  will  be  noticed 
a  little  further  on,  was  created  by  the  Legislature,  out  of 
Crawford  county.  It  comprised  all  that  territory  west  of  a  line 
running  northward  from  the  mouth  of  Porcupine  River,  on 
Lake  Pepin,  to  Lake  Superior.  Most  of  the  representatives 
subsequently  lived  in  what  is  now  Minnesota  : 

Council.  House. 

(  Theophilus  La  Chapelle, 
I84o-i  .  .  .  Charles  J.  Learned.  { ^  R   ^^ 

1841-2  .  .  .  Charles  J.  Learned.  /  The°Philus  La  ChaPelle' 

I  Joseph  R.  Brown. 

1842-3  .  .  .  Theophilus  La  Chapelle.  John  H.  Manahan. 

1843-4.  •  •  Theophilus  La  Chapelle.  John  H.  Manahan. 

1845  ....  Wiram  Knowlton.  James  Fisher. 

1846  ....  Wiram  Knowlton.  James  Fisher.  • 

1847  .  .  .  .  B.  F.  Manahan.  Joseph  W.  Furber. 

1847  (ext.)  B.  F.  Manahan.  ,         Henry  Jackson. 

1848  .  .  .  .  B.  F.  Manahan.  Henry  Jackson. 


46  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

ESTABLISHMENT    OF    MISSIONS. 

The  various  missions  among  the  Chippewas  and  Sioux  of 
Minnesota,  were  established  during  the  period  from  1830  to 
1840.  EDMUND  F.  ELY,  (now  of  Santa  Barbara,  California,) 
and  Rev.  WM.  R.  BOUTWELL  came  in  1833  ;  Revs.  S.  W.  and 
G.  H.  POND  in  1834;  Revs.  THOS.  S.  WILLIAMSON  and  J.  D. 
STEVENS  in  1835  ;  Revs.  S.  R.  RIGGS,  ALFRED  BRUNSON  and 
DAVID  KING  in  1837  '•>  and  Rev-  S>  SpATES  in  l839>  &c-  More 
than  half  of  the  above  band  of  self-sacrificing  men  are  still  res- 
idents of  our  State. 

'    THE    "PECULIAR    INSTITUTION"    IN    MINNESOTA. 

Connected  with  the  operations  of  the  missions  in  this  locality, 
is  a  fa£t  so  curious  that  it  deserves  insertion  here.  During  the 
early  days  of  Fort  Snelling,  some  of  the  officers'  were  owners 
of  slaves,  whom  they  kept  as  their  body  or  household  servants. 
u  DRED  SCOTT,"  who  afterwards  became  historical,  owing  to 
the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States — gen- 
erally known  as  a  the  Dred  Scott  Decision" — was  a  slave  of 
Surgeon  EMERSON,  at  Fort  Snelling,  about  this  date,  and  mar- 
ried a  negro  woman  belonging  to  Maj.  TALIAFERRO,  while  at 
the  fort.  When  Rev.  Mr.  BRUNSON  established  his  mission 
at  Kaposia,  in  1837,  ^e  f°und  himself  unable  to  do  much  owing 
to  his  entire  ignorance  of  the  Indian  tongue,  and  at  once  set 
about  finding  an  interpreter.  The  only  one  he  could  secure 
was  a  young  negro  named  JAMES  THOMPSON,  owned  by  an 
officer  at  Fort  Snelling,  and  who  was  willing  to  sell  him 
for  $1,200.  "JiM"  talked  Sioux  first  rate,  and  was  religiously 
inclined,  so  that  Father  BRUNSON  concluded  to  buy  him  if  he 
could  be  secured.  He  accordingly  wrote  to  some  friends  at 
Cincinnati  the  circumstances,  and  the  amount  necessary  was 
soon  raised  and  forwarded  to  him.  "JiM"  was  purchased,  his 
"  free  papers"  secured,  and  he  was  soon  interpreting  the  gos- 
pel to  the  pagans  at  Kaposia.  Mr.  THOMPSON  now  lives  in 
St.  Paul.  This  is,  so  far  as  has  been  recorded,  the  only  sale 
of  a  slave  which  ever  took  place  in  what  is  now  Minnesota. 

Father  BRUNSON  yet  resides  in  Prairie  du  Chien — a   hale. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  47 

active  pioneer  of  83,  and  preached  in  Saint  Paul  during  the 
past  autumn. 

THE  PROGRESS  OF  SETTLEMENT. 

During  the  period — or  decade — from  1830  to  1840,  there  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Minnesota,  some  of  our  oldest  pioneers — 
names  now  honored  and  widely  known.  NORMAN  W.  KITT- 
SON  came  in  1832  ;  HENRY  H.  SIBLEY  in  1834;  WILLIAM  H. 
FORBES,  MARTIN  McL/EOD  and  FRANKLIN  STEELE  in  1837  '•> 
HENRY  M.  RICE  and  WILLIAM  HOLCOMBE  in  1839,  &c.  The 
Lake  Superior  region  was  early  settled  by  WILLIAM  A.  AIT- 
KIN,  the  MORRISONS,  and  others.  CHARLES  H.  OAKES  lo- 
cated there  in  1825,  and  Dr.  CHARLES  W.  BORUP  in  1831, 
both  these  gentlemen  becoming  residents  of  our  city  in  a  sub- 
sequent year. 

During  these  years,  this  region  was  likewise  visited  by  sev- 
eral distinguished  savans  and  travelers — FEATHERSTONHAUGH, 

SCHOOLCRAFT,  MATHER,  NlCOLLET,  FREMONT,  CASS,  CAT- 
LIN,'  and  others.  Their  published  accounts  aided  in  making 
the  Upper  Mississippi  region  better  known,  and  undoubtedly 
tended  to  hasten  the  treaties  which  extinguished  the  Indian 
title  to  portions  of  the  present  State. 

Sketches  of  three  of  the  pioneers  of  this  period  are  appended 
to  this  chapter,  and  another  (Hon.  H.  M.  RICE)  will  be  found 
in  Chapter  XV. 

NORMAN    WOLFRED    KITTSON 

was  born  at  Sorel,  Lower  Canada,  March  5,  1814.  He  is  a 
grandson  of  ALEXANDER  HENRY,  the  celebrated  explorer  and 
traveler,  who  journeyed  through  the  Lake  Superior,  Manitoba 
and  Saskatchewan  districts  as  early  as  1776,  and  whose  pub- 
lished travels  are  very  scarce  and  valuable.  In  May,  1830, 
being  then  only  16  years  of.  age,  Mr.  KITTSON  engaged  as  an 
employee  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  and  in  that  capacity 
came  to  the  Northwest.  From  the  summer  of  1830  to  1832, 
he  was  stationed  at  the  trading  post  between  the  Fox  and  Wis- 
consin Rivers.  During  the  latter  year,  he  was  sent  to  the 


48  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

headwaters  of  the  Minnesota,  and  from  thence  went  to  the 
Red  Cedar  River,  in  Iowa. 

In  1834,  he  came  to  Fort  Snelling,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  the  sutler  department  until  1838,  in  the  fall  of  which  year 
he  returned  to  Canada,  and  remained  until  spring.  On  his 
return,  (1839,)  he  began  business  on  his  own  account,  as  a  fur- 
trader,  near  what  was  then  called  "  Cold  Spring,"  just  above 
Fort  Snelling.  He  continued  here  until  1843,  when  he  entered 
the  American  Fur  Company,  as  special  partner,  having  charge 
of  all  the  business  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Minnesota,  and 
along  the  British  line.  During  that  year  he  fixed  his  headquar- 
ters at  Pembina,  and  commenced  collecting  furs  there  and 
shipping  them  in  Red  River  carts  to  Mendota.  This  was  the 
origin  of  a  verv  large  trade  between  Saint  Paul  and  the  Red 
River  settlement,  a  few  years  later,  which  will  be  found  more 
fully  dwelt  on  in  a  subsequent  chapter. 

In  1854,  Mr.  KITTSON  entered  into  partnership  with  the  late 
WILLIAM  H.  FORBES,  in  St.  Paul,  in  the  general  Indian  trade 
supply  business.  Their  establishment,  called  "The  Saint 
Paul  Outfit,"  was  widely  known  at  that  time.  This  year,  Mr. 
KITTSON  came  to  reside  at  Saint  Paul  permanently,  although 
it  might  almost  be  said  that  his  residence  dates  back  to  1843, 
as  he  had  owned  property  here  since  that  day,  and  was  here  a 
considerable  share  of  his  time.  In  1843,  as  will  be  found 
more  fully  narrated  under  that  year,  Mr.  KITTSON,  purchased 
a  claim  which  eventually  proved  very  valuable,  and  was,  in 
1851,  laid  out  as  "  Kittson's  Addition,"  now  one  of  the  hand- 
somest portions  of  our  city. 

In  1851,  Mr.  KITTSON  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Council 
of  the  Minnesota  Legislature  from  the  Pembina  District,  and 
re-elected  in  1853,  serving  four  sessions  in  all,  viz.  :  1852, 
JS53'  Z^p4'  :^55'  m  which  he  took  a  prominent  and  useful 
part.  In  order  to  attend  these  sessions,  in  mid-winter,  Mr. 
KITTSON  was  compelled  to  walk  on  snow-shoes  the  whole  dis- 
tance, or  ride  in  a  dog-sledge — a  trip  of  great  hardship,  exposure 
and  danger.  Two  of  these  trips,  at  least,  he  made  on  snow- 
shoes.  Some  account  of  these  winter  journeys  will  be  found 
in  the  proper  place. 


XORMAX  W.  KITTSOX. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  49 

In  1858,  Mr.  KITTSON  was  elected  Mayor  of  Saint  Paul, 
since  which  time  he  has  not  been  in  public  life. 

During  that  year,  the  firm  of  FORBES  &  KITTSON  was  dis- 
solved. Mr.  KITTSON  continued  his  Red  River  trade  until 
1860.  He  soon  after  accepted  the  position  of  Agent  of  the 
Hudson's  Bav  Company,  and  established  a  line  of  steamers  and 
barges  on  the  Red  River,  which  has  grown  into  quite  a  corpo- 
ration, now  called  the  "  Red  River  Transportation  Compa- 
ny," with  headquarters  in  Saint  Paul,  and  operating  several 
steamers  and  barges. 

Mr.  KITTSON  is  the  oldest  living  pioneer  of  our  State,  with 
but  one  exception.  In  his  43  years'  residence  he  has  witnessed 
and  taken  part  in  changes  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  but  few  men 
during  an  ordinary  lifetime.  Although  over  60  years  of  age, 
Mr.  KITTSON  is  as  active,  strong,  and  elastic  in  body  .as  most 
young  men  of  our  day,  and  is  constantly  absorbed  in  an  exact- 
ing and  harassing  business.  He  enjoys  the  esteem  of  a  wide- 
multitude  of  friends,  who  hope  that  far  distant  may  be  the  day 
\vhen,  at  one  of  our  "  Old  Settler"  reunions,  the  name  of  NOR- 
MAN  W.  KITTSON  will  be  added  to  the  list  of  those  who  have 
left  us. 

HENRY    HASTINGS    SIBLEY. 

Every  new  community,  and,  to  a  great  extent,  every  new 
State,  receives  from  its  first  pioneers  and  prominent  organizers, 
the  impress  which  decides  much  of  its  future  tone  and  spirit. 
Hence,  the  value  of  having  society  in  every  new  State  started  in 
the  right  direction  bv  men  wTho  can  mold  the  ;"  plastic  elements" 
for  good.  Minnesota  was  peculiarly  fortunate  in  having  for 
its  leading  pioneers  men  of  broad  views,  liberal  culture  and 
elevated  character,  and  the  effect  of  their  influence  is  plainly 
traceable  in  the  future  successful  course  of  our  State,  and  the 
good  name  it  bears  abroad  as  a  commonwealth,  where  educa- 
tion and  religion  are  universal,  and  law  and  order  are  respected. 
How  much  of  this  we  owe  to  the  men  who,  with  no  selfish 
ends,  but,  actuated  only  by  devotion  to  principle  and  the  public 
welfare,  and  an  unfaltering  trust  in  the  triumph  of  right,  laid 
the  foundations  of  our  State,  created  its  institutions,  framed 


50  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

its  first  laws,  executed  its  first  offices,  and  gave  the  first  bent 
to  its  usages — we  can  now  scarcely  estimate.  Posterity  must 
indeed  point  to  their  names  with  gratitude  and  honor,  far  ex- 
ceeding even  that  evinced  by  those  of  the  present  generation, 
because  to  these  the  events  (in  some  of  which  they  may  have 
participated)  are  too  recent  and  perhaps  too  much  colored  with 
the  passions  or  prejudices  that  are  inseparable  from  our  human 
organization,  to  place  an  impartial  estimate  on  motives,  and 
actions,  and  results.  By  such  a  rule  as  the  above,  the  name 
which  heads  this  sketch,  is  one  that  must  always  occupy  a 
foremost  place  in  the  history  of  our  State. 

.HEXRY  H.  SIBLEY  was  born  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  February 
20,  1811.  His  father,  judge  SOLOMON  SIBLEY,  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  pioneers  of  the  , 
Northwest,  settling  in  Ohio  in  1795,  and  in  Michigan  in  1797, 
from  which  he  was  a  member  of  the  first  Legislature  of  the 
"  Northwest  Territory"  in  1799  ;  a  delegate  to  Congress  in  1820  ; 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  from  1824  to  1836  ;  United  States 
District  Attorney,  £c.  He  died  in  1846,  universally  lamented. 
Judge  SIBLEY  married  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  in  1802,  Miss  SARAH 
W.  SPROAT,  daughter  of  Col.  EBENEZER  SPROAT,  a  distin- 
guished officer  of  the  Revolution,  and  grand-daughter  of  Com- 
modore ABRAHAM  WHIPPLE,  of  the  Revolutionary  Navy.  Her 
parents  and  grand-parents  were  all  pioneers  of  Ohio,  so  that 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was,  by  ancestral  influence,  predisposed 
to  such  a  life  of  pioneer  adventure  as  he  was  destined  to  lead. 
Mrs.  SIBLEY  died  at  Detroit,  January  22,  1851.  Mrs.  ELLET. 
in  her  work,  "  Pioneer  Women  of  the  West,"  remarks  that  she 
was  a  woman  of  unusual  personal  beauty,  and  rare  mental 
accomplishments. 

H.  H.  SIBLEY  received  an  academical  education  when  voting, 
and  subsequently  enjoyed  two  years'  private  tuition  in  tilt- 
classics,  from  Rev.  R.  F.  CADLE,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  educa- 
tion in  the  Northwest.  His  father  had  wished  him  to  adopt 
his  own  profession,  but,  after  studying  law  sometime,  he  lie- 
came  convinced  that  his  natural  inclination  would  lead  him  to 
more  active  and  stirring  life.  His  father  very  sensibly  told  him 
to  pursue  his  own  inclinations  in  this  respect — "  a  decision," 


\ 


BRIG,' GEN.  HENRY  H.  S1BLEY. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  51 

said  a  writer,  referring  to  the  fa<5t,  "  that  gave  to  Minnesota  her 
honored  pioneer — one  whose  history  is  so  interwoven  with  her 
own  that  to  write  the  one  is  almost  ipso  fado  to  record  the 
other." 

About  the  age  of  17,  young  SIBLEY  went  to  Sault  Ste.  Marie, 
and  was  engaged  there  in  mercantile  operations  for  about  a 
year.  In  1829,  he  went  to  Mackinac,  and  entered  the  service 
pf  the  American  Fur  Company  as  clerk.  He  remained  at  that 
post  five  years.  In  1834,  Mr.  SIBLEY,  then  23  years  of  age, 
was  admitted  as  a  partner  in  the  American  Fur  Company,  of 
which  RAMSEY  CROOKS,  father  of  Col.  WILLIAM  CROOKS,  of 
this  city,  was  President,  and  the  late  H.  L.  DOUSMAX  and  JO- 
SEPH ROLETTE,  Senior,  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  were  also  part- 
ners, and  was  to  have  charge  of  the  trade  above  Lake  Pepin, 
as  far  as  the  British  line,  with  headquarters  at  Mendota,  then 
called  "  Saint  Peter's."  Gem  SIBLEY  himself  says  this  step 
was  largely  owing  to  H.  L.  DOUSMAN'S  solicitation,  and  to  the 
glowing  accounts  he  gave  of  Minnesota  as  a  land  of  game,  per- 
haps knowing  Gen.  S.'s  fondness  for  field  sports. 

Mr.  SIBLEY  arrived  at  Mendota,  November  7,  1834,  having 
rode  on  horseback  from  Prairie  du  Chien,  a  distance  of  nearly 
300  miles,  there  being  but  one  human  habitation  on  the  way.  . 
Then,  in  all  the  region  now  known  as  Minnesota,  there  was, 
excepting  the  garrison  at  Fort  Snelling,  only  a  handful  of 
white  men,  mostly  fur-traders  and  Canadian  voyageurs.  What 
mighty  changes  these  forty-one  years  have  witnessed.  Gen. 
SIBLEY  is  now  the  oldest  living  settler,  save  one,  in  our  popu- 
lation of  600,000  people,  and  it  has  been  his  fortune  to  take  a 
more  aclive  and  prominent  part  in  the  history  of  that  period, 
than  any  other  living  man. 

On  May  2,  1843,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  SARAH 
J.  STEELE,  at  Fort  Snelling.  He  "had  previously,  in  1836, 
erected,  at  Mendota,  the  first  private  dwelling  built  of  stone, 
in  Minnesota,  which  is  still  standing.  Mrs.  SIBLEY  died  May 
21,  1869 — being  truly  one  of  the  pioneer  women  of  our  State, 
and  a  lady  of  rare  virtues  and  accomplishments. 

Mr.  SIBLEY  was  probably  the  first  civil  officer  in  what  is 
now  Minnesota,  having  been  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 


52  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paid, 

in  1838,  by  Gov.  JOHN  CHAMBERS,  of  Iowa,  which  then  em- 
braced the  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi.  This  is  more 
fully  spoken  of  elsewhere. 

On  October  30,  1848,  Mr.  SIBLEY  was  elected  a  Delegate  to 
Congress  from  what  was  then  considered  as  Wisconsin  Terri- 
tory— the  residue  of  the  old  territory  of  that  name,  after  carving 
the  State  out  of  it — with  the  understanding  that  he  would  urge 
the  organization  of  Minnesota  Territory.  It  was  a  trust  of 
much  delicacy  and  responsibility,  for  a  failure  would  have  been 
very  discouraging  and  unfortunate  at  that  juncture,  when  suc- 
cess was  so  vital  to  the  interests  of  the  people.  He  proceeded 
to  Washington,  and,  after  much  effort,  was  admitted  to  a  seat. 
During  the  session,  he  was  enabled,  by  hard  work  and  personal 
influence,  to  procure  the  passage  of  a  bill  to  organize  the  Ter- 
ritory of  Minnesota.  In  the  fall  of  1849,  he  was  again  elected 
for  two  years,  and  re-elected  in  1850,  serving  over  four  years 
in  all. 

This  was  a  very  difficult  and  trying  period  for  any  one  to 
represent  a  new  Territory  like  Minnesota,  whose  needs  were 
large,  and  yet  with  little  population,  and  believed  to  be,  as  one 
member  of  Congress  declared,  "  a  hyperborean  region,"  unfit 
for  settlement.  Mr.  SIBLEY  soon  exploded  that  prejudice  by 
well-written  articles  for  the  press,  on  the  climate,  advantages 
and  resources  of  Minnesota.  There  were  large  appropriations 
needed  for  various  purposes,  and  these  could  be  secured  only 
by  persuasive  appeals  to  the  members,  by  tact  and  vigilance, 
and  patient  urging,  so  that  Mr.  SIBLEY  was  enabled  to  secure 
for  the  Territory  more  generous  appropriations  and  liberal 
legislation  than  could  have  been  obtained  by  any  one  possessing 
less  of  the  esteem  and  respect  of  his  fellow  members,  since 
nearly  everything  was  secured  by  personal  influence. 

In  1855,  Mr.  SIBLEY  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Minnesota 
Legislature  from  Dakota  county,  and,  in  1857,  serve<l  ils  a  mem- 
ber, and  President  of  the  "Democratic  wing"  of  the  Consti- 
tutional Convention.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  was 
eleded  first  Governor  of  the  State.  Owing  to  the  delay  in  the 
admission  of  Minnesota,  he  was  not  inaugurated  until  May  24, 
1858.  His  term  expired  January  i.  1860. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey^  Minnesota.  ^3 

On  August  19,  1862,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  RAMSEY 
commander  of  the  military  forces  sent  to  quell  the-  Sioux  out- 
break. He  at  once  took  active  measures  to  meet  and  defeat 
the  Indians,  and  release  the  captives,  2=50  in  number,  which 
they  held,  in  both  of  which  designs  his  tact  and  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  Indian  character  and  mode  of  warfare,  enabled  him 
fully  to  succeed — also  taking  about  2.000  Indian  prisoners. 
Over  400  of  these  were  tried  by  court-martial,  and  303  con- 
demned to  death,  only  38  of  whom,  unfortunately,  were  finally 
executed  on  September  29,  1862 — President  LINCOLN  having 
been  persuaded  by  mistaken  humanitarians  to  interfere  in  their 
behalf.  Col.  SIBLEY  was  commissioned  Brigadier  General  for 
gallant  services,  and,  during  the  winter,  remained  in  command 
of  the  military  forces  in  this  State.  Congress,  meanwhile, 
reduced  the  number  of  Brigadiers  General,  but  he  was  reap- 
pointed  by  the  President  in  March,  1863,  and  accepted,  at  the 
request  of  a  large  number  of  leading  citizens,  who  addressed 
to  him  a  petition  to  that  effect.  During  the  summer,  he  organ- 
ized and  commanded  an  expedition  to  Devil's  Lake  and  the 
Missouri  River,  for  the  purpose  of  routing  and  driving  off  the 
hostile  Sioux  hovering  on  the  frontier.  The  expedition  was 
successful,  and  defeated  them  in  several  battles  and  skirmishes, 
returning  to  Fort  Snelling  in  September.  The  years  1864  and 
1865  were  employed  in  securing  the  defense  of  the  frontier,  and, 
with  the  single  exception  of  the  GARDNER  family,  no  murders 
or  depredations  by  Indians  took  place  in  the  State.  On  No- 
vember 29,  1865,  Gen.  SIBLEY  was  commissioned  as  Major 
General,  "for  efficient  and  meritorious  services."  He  was 
relieved  from  the  command  of  the  District  of  Minnesota  in  Au- 
gust, 1866,  and  was  detailed  as  a  member  of  the  commission  to 
negotiate  treaties  with  the  hostile  Sioux  and  other  bands  on  the 
Upper  Missouri  River,  which  was  successfully  carried  out. 

In  1871,  Gen.  SIBLEY  served  another  term  in  the  Legislature, 
from  the  5th  Ward,  Saint  Paul,  (of  which  he  became  a  resi- 
dent, it  might  be  here  noted,  in  1862.)  He  is  at  present  a 
Regent  of  the  State  University,  and  President  of  the  State 
Normal  Board,  and  was,  for  a  few  months,  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Indian  Commissioners — which  last  office  he  was  com- 


54  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

pelled  to  resign  on  account  of  pressure  of  business.  He  has  also 
been,  for  several  years,  President  of  the  Gas  Company,  a  Director 
of  the  First  National  Bank,  Director  of  the  Sioux  City  Railroad, 
&c.,  besides  filling  various  trusts,  such  as  Park  Commissioner, 
Member  of  Board  of  Education,  and  other  bodies.  Indeed,  it 
is  difficult  to  see  how,  in  the  pressure  of  so  much  business,  and 
the  exacting  demands  of  society,  Gen.  SIBLEY  finds  time  to 
write  the  interesting  papers  which  may  be  found  in  the  collec- 
tions of  the  Historical  Society,  on  the  early  history  of  the  State, 
from  which  many  extracts  are  made  in  this  volume. 
.  The  frequent  references,  necessarily  so,  on  account  of  Gen. 
SIBLEY'S  prominent  and  active  connection  with  our  history  for 
over  forty  years,  and  the  impossibility  of  condensing  in  a  few 
sentences  what  would  require  a  chapter,  renders  any  further 
sketch,  in  this  shape,  unnecessary.  It  might  simply  be  added 
that  no  one  in  our  State  is  more  widely  known  and  more  highly 
respected  and  honored  than  Gen.  SIBLEY.  His  name  has  been 
almost  "a  household  word"  for  one  entire  generation  ;  and,  with 
his  fine  physique  and  unimpaired  powers,  it  is  not  too  much  to 
hope  that  even  many  years  of  useful  and  active  life  may  yet 
await  him. 

WILLIAM    HENRY    FORBES 

was  born  on  Montreal  Island,  Canada,  November  13,  1815. 
His  father  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  as  early  as  1785,  but,  at  the  time 
of  the  birth  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  he  had  retired  from 
active  business.  WM.  H.  was  carefully  educated  in  schools 
at  Montreal,  and  afterwards  apprenticed  to  the  hardware 
business,  ultimately  becoming  junior  partner  in  the  house 
where  he  was  employed.  At  that  time,  Montreal  was  the  chief 
depot  of  supplies  for  the  Indian  trade  of  the  Northwest,  and 
young  FORBES,  being  constantly  placed  in  contact  with  the 
adventurous  traders  making  purchases  at  his  establishment, 
became  interested  in  their  romantic  life,  and  the  exciting  stories 
they  told  about  the  great  Northwest.  His  love  of  adventure 
was  finally  so  aroused,  that  he  resolved  to  try  a  career  in  this 
region.  He  consequently  withdrew  from  the  hardware  busi- 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  ^5 

ness,  and  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  American  Fur  Company, 
one  of  the  requisites  being  that  the  incumbent  could  speak  and 
write  French,  which  Mr.  FORBES  did  fluently.  He,  with  his 
party,  came  to  Minnesota  via  Superior,  and  arrived  at  Mendota 
in  the  summer  of  1837.  H.  H.  SIBLEY  was  at  that  time  in 
charge  of  the  post.  Mr.  FORBES  clerked  for  him  for  ten  years, 
and,  in  1847,  took  charge  of  an  establishment  for  the  Company, 
(called  the  "  Saint  Paul  Outfit,")  at  Saint  Paul,  becoming  a 
resident  here,  and  continuing  so  until  his  death,  nearly  28  years. 
In  the  early  days  of  our  city,  Maj.  FORBES  was  one  of  its  most 
active  promoters  and  public  spirited  men,  and  was  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  "Town  of  Saint  Paul"  when  it  was  first 
laid  out. 

When  the  Territory  was  organized,  Maj.  FORBES  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  first  Council  from  Saint  Paul,  and  afterwards 
re-elected,  serving  four  sessions  as  Councillor,  and,  during  his 
third  session,  (1852,)  was  President  of  the  Council.  On  March 
1 8,  1853,  Maj.  FORBES  was  appointed  by  President  PIERCE 
postmaster  at  Saint  Paul,  and  held  this  office  for  three  years. 
During  this  year,  (1853,)  the  American  Fur  Company  closed 
out  their  business  in  Saint  Paul,  and  Maj.  FORBES  formed  a 
partnership  with  N.  W.  KITTSON,  for  the  general  supplying  of 
the  Indian  trade.  They  transacted  a  very  large  business  for 
several  years.  In  1858,  Mr.  KITTSON  retired  from  the  firm, 
and  it  was  continued  until  1862  by  Maj.  FORBES.  The  Indian 
outbreak  of  that  year  put  a  close  to  the  trade,  and  Maj.  FORBES 
lost  considerable  at  his  trading  posts,  which  were  plundered  by 
the  savages.  During  the  campaign  against  the  Sioux,  that  year, 
he  served  with  ability  as  a  member  of  Gen.  SIBLEY'S  staff,  and 
acted  as  Provost  Marshal  at  the  military  trial  or  court-martial 
of  the  300  Indians  who  were  condemned  to  death.  At  the 
close  of  this  campaign,  he  was  commissioned  by  President  LIN- 
COLN as  a  Commissary  of  Subsistence  in  the  volunteer  service, 
with  rank  of  captain.  He  was  also  nominated  and  elected 
Auditor  of  Ramsey  county  that  fall,  and  served  as  such  during 
the  years  1863  and  1864.  During  a  considerable  portion  of 
this  time  he  was  absent  on  military  duty,  however.  In  the 
spring  of  1863,  he  accompanied  Gen.  SIBLEY'S  expedition  to 


56  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

the  Missouri  River,  as  Chief  Commissary,  and,  in  the  spring 
of  1864,  was  ordered  to  the  Distrift  of  Northern  Missouri,  as 
Chief  Commissary.  He  remained  there  until  1866,  and,  during 
the  latter  part  of  his  term,  was  engaged,  as  Chief  Quartermas- 
ter, in  closing  up  the  unsettled  affairs  of  Gen.  FREMONT'S  De- 
partment, which  he  did  very  satisfactorily  to  the  Government. 
He  was  brevetted  Major  a  short  time  prior  to  his  being  mus- 
tered out  of  office  in  1866.  • 

He  returned  to  Saint  Paul  in  1866,  quite  broken  in  health, 
and  never  recovered  his  former  strength  and  energy.  In  1871, 
he  was  appointed  Indian  Agent  at  Devil's  Lake,  a  position  for 
which  he  was  admirably  fitted,  and  the  duties  of  which  he 
performed  with  great  success,  and  with  fidelity  and  honesty. 
His  health  continued  to  decline,  however,  and,  on  July  20. 
1875,  he  closed  his  life,  deeply  lamented  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends.  His  remains  were  brought  to  Saint  Paul,  and  en- 
tombed in  the  Catholic  cemetery,  on  July  25,  in  the  presence 
of  a  numerous  concourse  of  friends. 

Major  FORBES  was  twice  married;  first  in  1846,  to  A<,\i>- 
daughter  of  ALEXANDER  FARIBAULT,  by  whom  he  had  one 
daughter,  the  wife  of  Captain  J.  H.  PATTERSON,  U.  S.  A.  ; 
and  again  in  1854,  to  Miss  A.  B.  CORY,  of  Cooperstown,  New 
York,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living. 

The  following  very  just  tribute  to  Maj.  FORBES'  character  is 
from  the  Pioneer- Press,  which  announced  his  death  : 

•'During  his  long  residence  in  Saint  Paul,  he  maintained  a  high  char-' 
after  for  integrity  and  honesty,  and  was  honored  with  many  places  of 
honor  and  trust,  in  all  of  which  he  acquitted  himself  with  a  credit  which 
won  for  him  the  respedt  and  admiration  of  all  who  knew  him.  No 
stronger  proof  of  his  probity  of  character  could  be  given  than  the  fact 
that  for  many  years  he  has  occupied  positions  of  peculiar  trust  at  the 
hands  of  the  Government — positions  such  as  purchasing  and  delivering 
agent  in  the  army,  and  among  the  Indian  tribes,  in  which  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars  have  passed  through  his  hands — and  yet  neither 
himself,  nor  any  convenient  friend,  has  ever  touched  a  dollar  not  legit- 
imately earned.  The  extremely  moderate  circumstances  with  which 
he  was  surrounded  during  his  official  career,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  are  in  striking  contrast  to  those  of  many  others  who  were  simi- 
larly situated  during  the  war  and  since." 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota. 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE   TREATIES    OF    1837. 

THE  TREATIES  OF  1837— THE  COUNTRY  EAST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  THROWN  OPEN- 
TO  SETTLEMENT — MEMORIAL  OF  SETTLERS  ON  THE  RESERVATION — THE  RESER- 
VATION SURVEYED — SETTLERS  OBJECT  TO  BEING  DRIVEN  OFF — SOME  ACCOUNT 
OF  THOSE  SETTLERS,  *c. 

THE  year  1837  was  a  memorable  one  in  Minnesota  history, 
for  during  that  year  occurred  the' treaties  referred  to  in  the 
preceding  chapter — one  ot  the  most  important  events  in  the  ca- 
reer of  our  State — throwing  open,  as  they  did,  for  the  first  time, 
the  fine  agricultural  land  of  the  delta  between  the  Saint  Croix 
and  Mississippi  Rivers,  to  the  plow  of  the  farmer,  and  the 
inexhaustible  pineries  of  the  Saint  Croix  Valley  to  the  axe  of 
the  lumberman. 

The  first  of  these  treaties  was  made  by  Gov.  HEXRY  DODGE, 
of  Wisconsin,  (for  whom  our  Dodge  county  was  appropriately 
named,)  with  the  Chippewas,  at  Fort  Snelling,  July  29,  1837. 
By  this  treaty,  the  Chippewas  ceded  to  the  United  States  all 
their  pine  or  agricultural  lands  on  the  Saint  Croix  and  its 
tributaries,  both  in  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota. 

In  September,  1837,  a  delegation  of  about  twenty  chiefs  and 
braves,  by  direction  of  Gov.  DODGE,  proceeded  to  Washing- 
ton, to  make  a  treatv  ceding  their  lands  east  of  the  Mississippi. 
They  were  accompanied  by  Maj.  TALIAFERRO,  their  agent, 
and  SCOTT  CAMPBELL,  interpreter.  The  Fur  Company  was 
represented  by  H.  H.  SIBLEY  ;  while  ALEXIS  BAILLY,  Jo.  LA 
FRAMBOISE,  A.  ROCQUE,  LABATHE,  the  FARIBAULTS,  and 
others,  fur-traders,  &c.,  were  present.  JOEL  R.  POINSETT,  a 
special  commissioner,  represented  the  United  States.  On  Sep- 
tember 29,  the  terms  of  the  treaty  were  agreed  on,  and  the 
articles  signed  by  both  the  high  contracting  parties.  By  this 
treaty,  the  Dakotas  ceded  to  the  United  States  all  their  land 

5 


r8  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  including  all  the  islands  in  the 
same.  They  received  therefor  $300,000,  to  be  invested  in  five 
per  cent,  stocks,  the  income  of  which  shall  be  paid  to  them  annu- 
ally ;  $110,000  to  be  divided  among  the  mixed  bloods  ;  and 
$90,000  to  payment  of  debts  owed  by  the  tribe,  &c. 

This  treaty— the  extinction  of  whatever  "title"  the  red  men 
had  to  the  region  named— was,  as  observed  above,  a  very  im- 
portant event  for  Minnesota.  It  was  the  key-note  for  the  set- 
tlement of  the  State.  It  opened  the  way  for  the  hardy  fron- 
tierman  with  his  red  shirt,  and  axe  and  plow.  Hitherto, 
every  foot  of  what  is  now  Minnesota,  except  the  little  reserva- 
tion around  Fort  Snelling,  had  been  the  property,  after  a  fash- 
ion, of  a  few  barbarians — but  this  obstacle  was  no  longer  to 
exist.  Once  the  white  man  had  gained  a  foothold  on  the  soil, 
following  the  precedent  of  two  centuries,  he  would  soon  en- 
large his  grant,  until  he  had  swept  out  of  his  way  its  original 
tenants.  A  breach  had  been  made  in  the  barriers  that  shut  out 
civilization  from  this  territory,  through  which  the  forlorn  hope 
pressed  their  way,  with  the  great  army  of  occupation  following 
eagerly  behind. 

This  treaty,  too,  led  the  way  for  the  first  settlement  of  our 
city,  as  we  shall  presently  see. 

MEMORIAL    OF    SETTLERS    ON    THE    RESERVATION. 

Prior  to  the  treaty,  and  before  its  ratification  by  the  Senate, 
the  summer  following,  there  was  much  anxiety  on  the  part  of 
the  settlers  on  the  Reserve,  to  ascertain  in  what  condition  they 
would  be  left,  after  the  territory  east  of  the  Mississippi  was 
thrown  open  to  squatters.  A  few  families  of  Red  Rivc-i  refu- 
gees and  others  had  been  allowed  by  the  humane  Col.  SM:I.- 
LING  to  settle  on  the  Reserve  temporarily,  as  being  the  only 
place  that  could  be  offered  them,  but  latterly  there  had  been 
quite  a  hostile  feeling  against  them  on  the  part  of  the  officers 
of  the  fort.  Col.  JOHN  H.  STEVENS,  of  Minneapolis,  in  his 
address  on  the  "Early  History  of  Hennepin  County,"  before 
the  Minneapolis  Lyceum,  1856,  says:  "At  that  time,  and 
both  before  and  since,  the  commanding  officers  at  the  fort  were 
the  lords  of  the  north.  They  ruled  supreme.  The  citizens  in 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.  59 

the  neighborhood  of  the  fort  were  liable  at  any  time  to  be 
thrust  in  the  guard-house.  While  the  chief  of  the  fort  was  the 
king,  the  subordinate  officers  were  the  princes,  and  persons 
have  been  deprived  of  their  liberty  and  imprisoned  by  those 
tyrants  for.  the  most  trivial  wrong,  or  some  imaginary  offense." 
The  offense  which  was  charged  against  ABRAHAM  PERRY. 
Loins  MASSIE  and  others,  was  that  their  cattle  broke  into  the 
enclosures  of  the  fort,  and  committed  other  depredations.  They 
had  repeatedly  been  requested  and  cautioned  to  leave,  but  they 
still  hoped  that  thev  would  not  be  driven  away.  On  August  16, 
1837.  they  sent  to  the  President  of  the  United  States.  (MARTIN- 
VAN  BITREX.)  the  following  memorial : 

••  The  undersigned  citizens  of  the  settlement  near  Fort  Snel- 
ling,  beg  leave  to  make  known  to  you  the  interest  they  feel  in 
the  contemplated  purchase  of  the  Sioux  lands  in  this  vicinity. 
In  1804.  a  treaty  was  made  bv  General  PIKE  with  the  Sioux 
Indians,  under  which  he  purchased  a  certain  portion  of  their 
country,  extending  from  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony  to  the 
mouth  of  Saint  Peter's  River,  and  the  prevailing  opinion  has 
been,  until  very  recently,  that  this  treat}-  had  received  the 
sanction  of  Government.  It  was  under  this  impression  that  the 
undersigned  settled  upon  the  lands  they  now  occupy  as  part  of 
the  public  domain.  Thev  were  permitted  to  make  improve- 
ments and  retain  unmolested  possession  of  them  for  many  years 
bv  the  commanding  officer  of  the  post,  and  the  other  officers 
of  the  Government  employed  here,  who  believed  the  land  be- 
longed to  the  United  States,  and  that  the  settlers  were  only 
exercising  the  privileges  extended  to  them  by  the  benign  and 
salutary  laws  which  have  peopled  the  western  country  with  a 
hardy  T  industrious  and  enterprising  class  of  citizens. 

4'  The  undersigned  will  further  state  that  they  have  creeled 
houses  and  cultivated  fields  at  their  present  places  of  residence, 
and  several  of  them  have  large  families  of  children  who  have 
no  other  homes.  All  the  labor  of  vears  is  invested  in'  their 
present  habitations,  and  they  therefore  appeal  to  the  President 
and  Senate  of  the  United  States  for  protection.  If  a  treaty 
should  be  made  at  Washington,  as  we  have  heard  suggested, 
and  the  lands  we  now  occupy  be  purchased  from  the  Sioux 


60  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

for  a  military  reservation,  we  ask  that  a  reasonable  and  just 
allowance  be  made  us  in  the  treaty  for  our  improvements,"  &c. 
This  memorial  was  signed  by  Louis  MASSIE,  ABRAHAM 
PERRY,  PETER  QUINN,  ANTOINE  PEPIN,  DUNCAN  GRAHAM, 
JACOB  FALSTROM,  OLIVER  CRATTE,  JOSEPH  BISSON,  JOSEPH 
REASCH,  Louis  DERGULEE,  and  others.  Col.  SAMUEL  C. 
STAMBAUGH,  sutler  at  Fort  Snelling,  was  empowered  to  pre- 
sent it,  and  represent  the  settlers  in  any  negotiations,  and  refer- 
ence was  made  to  Gov.  HENRY  DODGE  for  the  truth  and  justice 
of  the,  statements. 

SURVEY    OF    THE    RESERVATION. 

On  October  19,  Lieut.  E.  K.  SMITH,  First  Infantry,  made 
a  survey  and  map  of  the  Reservation,  by  command  of  Maj.  J. 
PLYMPTON,  Commander  of  the  Post,  who  had  arrived  during 
that  summer.  He  says,  in  his  report  to  Maj.  P.  : 

"  The  white  inhabitants  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  as  near  as 
I  could  ascertain,  are  :  82  in  BAKER'S  settlement,  around  old 
Camp  Coldwater,  and  at  MASSIE'S  landing.  On  the  opposite 
side,  25  at  the  Fur  Company's  establishment,  including  FAR- 
IBAULT'S  and  LE  CLERE'S,  50.  Making  a  total  of  157  souls 
in  no  way  connected  with  the  military. 

"This  population  possess  and  keep  on  the  public  lands,  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood,  nearly  200  horses  and  cattle.  I 
am  inclined  to  believe  that  this  estimate  will  fall  short  of  the 
actual  number." 

This  map  Maj.  PLYMPTON  returned  to  the  War  Department 
on  October  19,  accompanied  by  a  letter  plainly  indicating  his 
intention  to  eject  all  settlers  on  the  Reserve.  One  reason  he 
alleges  is  the  scarcity  of  timber  for  fuel  on  the  Reserve  :  •  •  1 1 
now  (he  says)  causes  much  labor  and  inconvenience  to  the 
garrison  to  obtain  the  necessary  fuel — and,  should  this  point  be 
required  for  the  next  20  years  for  military  purposes,  the  diffi- 
culty will  be  very  great,  and  very  much  increased." 

In  acknowledging  receipt  of  this  communication,  November 
17,  the  Secretary  of  War  instructed  Maj.  PLYMPTON  as  follows  : 

"If  there  be  no  reservation  already  made  for  military  pur- 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  61 

poses,  at  your  post,  please  mark  over  what  in  your  opinion  will 
be  necessary  to  be  reserved." 

A  memorandum  from  the  War  Department  says  :  "  March 
26,  1838,  Major  P.  transmitted  a  map  of  such  a  tract  embracing 
a  considerable  quantity  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River" 

In  endorsing  this  memorial,  Mr.  STAMBAUGH  says: 

' '  The  persons  who  sign  the  above  memorial  reside  in  the  Saint 
Peter's  settlement,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  fort.  They  are 
the  only  individuals  having  houses  and  improvements  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Mississippi  River,  with  the  exception  of  Mr. 
BAKER,  whose  principal  trading  establishment  is  in  this  settle- 
ment. No  others  can  be  affected  by  a  purchase  of  land  neces- 
sary for  a  military  reserve." 

In  a  subsequent  letter  to  Hon.  JOEL  R.  POINSETT,  Secreta- 
ry of  War,  dated  February  n,  1839,  Col.  STAMBAUGH  says: 

"  The  memorial  speaks  for  itself,  and  I  would  not  adt  as  the 
representative  of  the  memorialists  if  I  were  not  convinced  that 
their  claims  are  founded  on  justice,  and  their  improvements 
secured  to  them  by  a  custom  which  has  grown  into  common 
law  in  all  cases  of  this  character.  Independently  of  the  legal 
right,  however,  I  believe  that  humanity  and  good  policy  will 
secure  them  a  reasonable  allowance  for  the  improvements  and 
privileges  thev  are  willing  to  abandon.  The  memorial  is  signed 
by  all  the  settlers  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  with  the 
exception  of  B.  F.  BAKER.  There  are  three  or  four  settle- 
ments on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  River,  but,  as  it  was 
not  supposed  that  an  attempt  would  be  made  to  extend  the 
reservation  across  the  river,  the  settlers  did  not  join  in  their 
memorial." 

SOME    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    SETTLERS. 

As  near  as  I  can  ascertain,  after  extensive  inquiry,  the  three 
or  four  settlers  on  the  east  side  were :  JOSEPH  TURPIN,  FRAN- 
CIS DESIRE,  DONALD  MCDONALD,  k'old  man"  CHORETTE, 
and,  perhaps,  SCOTT  CAMPBELL,  BARTHOLOMEW  BALDWIN, 
and  ABNER.POWEL. 

JOSEPH  TURPIN  is  said  to  be  the  first  man  who  built  a  house 


62  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

east  of  the  Mississippi.  Mr.  TURPIN  was  born  at  Montreal, 
Canada,  about  1 775 .  He  came,  sometime  about  the  beginning 
of  the  present  century,  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  with  his  brother 
AMABLE,  of  whom  a  sketch  is  given  elsewhere,  and  subse- 
quently emigrated  to  Selkirk's  Settlement,  where  he  remained 
some  years.  In  1831,  as  near  as  I  can  ascertain,  he  left  Red 
River  with  a  company  of  refugees,  some  of  whom  settled  near 
Fort  Snelling,  and,  not  long  after  that  date,  built  a  house  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Mississippi.  This  house  he  subsequently  sold 
to  JOSEPH  RONDO,  another  refugee.  He  afterwards  lived  many 
years  at  Mendota,  where  he  died  in  186^ — aged  over  90  years. 

Of  ';  old  man"  CHORETTE.  I  have  been  able  to  learn  little 
that  is  reliable.  He  was  a  Canadian,  lived  at  Red  River  some 
time,  and  settled  near  Fort  Snelling  the  same  year  as  RONDO, 
TURPIN  and  others.  He  has  probably  been  dead  some  years. 
T  have  been  informed  that  he  has  children  living  in  this  vicin- 
ity, but  have  been  unable  to  find  them. 

FRONCHET,  or  DESIRE,  was  a  native  of  France,  and,  proba- 
bly, at  the  time  mentioned,  was  50  years  of  age,  as  he  always 
boasted  of  having  been  a  soldier  of  NAPOLEON,  and  probably 
was.  He  had  also  served  i'n  the  United  States  army,  at  Fort 
Snelling  latterly,  and  (Mrs.  JAMES  PATTEN  thinks)  was  dis- 
charged there.  The  explorer  and  scientist,  J.  N.  NICOM.ET, 
while  at  Mendota.  in  1836,  preparing  to  go  toward  the  Upper 
Mississippi  on  his  expedition,  employed  DESIRE,  then  attached 
to  the  garrison,  as  an  attendant.  He  speaks  of  him  in  his 
work  as  follows :  k'  Having  received  good  testimonials  of  his 
character,  I  accepted  his  offer,  and  have  nothing  but  praise  to 
bestow  on  his  activity,  patience,  and  the  cheerfulness  which  he 
manifested  even  in  the  midst  of  some  trying  circumstances  to 
which  we  were  exposed."  DESIRE,  having  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  the  army,  was  unfitted,  at  his  age,  when  he  left  the  army, 
for  any  very  adive  pursuits,  while  his  intemperate  habits  also 
brought  on  him  repeated  troubles.  He  made  a  settlement  east 
of  the  Mississippi,  where  he  led  a  lonely  life  for  some  time, 
but  was,  in  1840,  expelled  from  the  Reserve  with  other  set- 
tlers. In  1842,  he  came  to  Saint  Paul,  and  secured  employ- 
ment from  Sergt.  RICHARD  W.  MORTIMER,  who  had  just 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  63 

settled  there,  and  J.  R.  IRVINE  and  others.  DESIRE  could  not 
work  much,  but  did  such  light  labor  as  was  necessary,  inter- 
spersing it  with  fearful  sprees,  lasting  sometimes  two  weeks, 
in  which  he  would  roll  on  the  ground  anywhere,  helpless  and 
insensible.  He  came  near  freezing  to  death  several  times  in 
these  debauches,  but  was  always  cared  for  by  his  acquaint- 
ances, who  liked  him  very  much,  as  he  was  a  kind-hearted, 
good-humored  and  vivacious  companion.  DESIRE  lived  at  Saint 
Paul  some  two  years,  and  then  went  to  Elk  River,  into  which 
he  fell  during  one  of  his  sprees,  and  was  drowned. 

DONALD  McDoNALD  was  born  in  Canada,  in  1803,  of  Scotch 
parents.  At  the  age  of  15  years  he  left  Canada,  with  Captain 
MILES  MONTGOMERY,  and  went  to  Hudson's  Bay.  He  was, 
for  some  years,  in  the  employ  of  the  American  Fur  Company, 
and  traveled  very  extensively  over  the  Northwest.  He  put  up 
(he  says)  the  third  house  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi. 
Subsequently  he  claimed  the  land  where  the  Half- Way  House 
now  is.  This  land,  he  says,  he  sold  to  DENOYER,  "  for  a  bar- 
rel of  whisky  and  two  Indian  guns."  He  subsequently  went  to 
Crow  Wing,  where  he  married  a  half-breed,  and  had  a  numer- 
ous family. 


64  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 


CHAPTER   VI. 
THE  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  SAINT  PAUL. 

PIERRE  PARRANT,  OR  "OLD  PIG'S  EYE"— SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  OLD  COON— HE 
MAKES  THE  FIRST  CLAIM  IN  SAINT  PAUL— ABRAHAM  PERRY  AND  THE  GERVAIS 
BROTHERS  FOLLOW— PHELAN  AND  HAYS,  AND  SOME  ACCOUNT  OK  THEM— THE 
INDIANS  SHOOT  PERRY'S  CATTLE— RATIFICATION  OF  THE  TREATY— A  MYSTERI- 
OUS CHARACTER— PARRANT  MORTGAGES  HIS  CLAIM. 

THE  long  winter  wore  to  a  close,  and  the  spring  of  1838 
had  thawed  away  its  snow  and  ice.  The  treaty  had 
been  made,  and  that  it  would  be  ratified,  there  was  no  reason- 
able doubt.  Why  not  anticipate  the  latter  form,  by  making 
claims  in  advance  ?  The  thought  was  inspiring.  Some  of  the 
pine-fringed  streams  along  the  Saint  Croix,  already  resounded 
to  the  lumberman's  axe.  At  Fort  Snelling  and  Mendota  were 
a  number  of  keen  fellows,  looking  eagerly  on.  and  waiting  for 
a  good  chance  to  seize  on  some  of  the  rich  territory  so  soon  to 
be  open  to  the  impatient  speculator.  Among  them  was  OIK- 
PIERRE  PARRANT, 

a  Canadian  voyageur,  who  chanced  to  be,  at  the  time,  hanging 
around  Mendota,  waiting  for  something  to  turn  up.  I'AI:  i:  \  \  r 
had  lived  some  time  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  then  at  Saint  Louis, 
where  .he  had  been  in  the  employ  of  McKENZiE  and  CHOU- 
TEAU,  and  afterwards  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  '  He  came  to  Men- 
dota in  1832.  It  must  be  related,  that  he  bore  not  the  most 
enviable  character.  It  was  hinted  that  he  left  Sault  Ste.  Mark- 
on  account  of  some  irregularities  of  conduct  that  were  distaste- 
ful to  the  good  people  there.  Maj.  TAI.IAFKRKO,  the  Indian 
Agent,  appeared  to  estimate  his  character  somewhat  low.  In 
one  place  in  his  journal,  under  date  of  August  23d.  1835,  he 
writes  :  "  Ordered  PIERRE  PARRANT,  a  foreigner,  prohibited 
from  the  trade,  not  to  enter  the  Indian  country  in  any  capacity." 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  65 

PARRANT  seems,  in  defiance  of  this  order,  to  have  entered 
the  Indian  country,  for  Maj.  TALIAFERRO  again  writes,  on 
October  i2th,  that  it  was  reported  that  he  had  done  so — 
and  adds  that,  if  found  true,  k'  a  military  force  would  be  sent 
after  him,  and  he  would  be  sent  to  Prairie  du  Chien."  PAR- 
RANT'S  personal  appearance  may  have  somewhat  favored  the 
estimate  of  his  character.  He  was  a  coarse,  ill-looking,  low- 
browed fellow,  with  only  one  eye,  and  that  a  sinister-looking 
one.  He  spoke  execrable  English.  His  habits  were  intem- 
perate and  licentious,  and,  at  the  date  we  speak  of,  he  was  past 
the  meridian  of  life — probably  sixty  years  of  age. 

Such  was  the  man  on  whom  Fortune,  with  that  blind  fatuity 
that  seems  to  characterize  the  jade,  thrust  the  honor  of  being 
the  founder  of  our  good  city  !  Our  pride  almost  revolts  at  the 
chronicling  of  such  a  humiliation,  and  leads  us  to  wish  that  it 
were  on  one  worthier  and  nobler  that  such  a  distinction  had 
fallen.  But  history  is  inexorable,  and  we  must  record  fatts  as 
they  are. 

PARRANT  kept  his  one  eye  open  to  the  main  chance,  it 
would  seem,  and,  after  surveying  the  situation  of  things  with 
his  optic,  he  concluded  not  to  wait  the  ratification  of  the  treaty, 
but  to  seize  on  some  good  spot  in  advance.  For  certain  rea- 
sons, he  desired  to  get  as  near  the  fort  and  to  Mendota  as  pos- 
sible, while  getting  just  outside  the  lines  of  the  Reserve,  as 
far  as  they  could  be  ascertained.  These  reasons  were,  that  he 
could  sell  whisky  to  the  soldiers  and  Indians  undisturbed  by 
the  authorities  at  the  fort,  who  had  been  greatly  annoyed  at  the 
surreptitious  sale  of  liquor  to  those  two  classes,  by  some  un- 
principled traders  and  hangers-on  around  Fort  Snelling,  and 
were  endeavoring  to  break  up  the  traffic  as  far  as  possible. 
Hence,  he  selected,  as  the  most  eligible  spot  for  such  a  busi- 
ness, the  mouth  of  the  creek  which  flows  out  of  "Fountain 
Cave,"  in  upper  town.  PARRANT  wisely  judged  of  the  con- 
venience of  the  place  to  his  customers.  It  was  near  the  river, 
where  the  Indians  and  others  could  paddle  to  his  very  door, 
and  then,  too,  he  could  get  his  supplies  easily,  and,  if  neces- 
sary, dilute  the  article  profitably,  by  a  judicious  admixture  of  the 
unfailing  stream  flowing  out  of  the  cave.  Here,  in  the  coolie, 


66  The  History  of  the  City^of  Saint  Paul. 

a  secluded  and  lonely  gorge  in  the  river  bank.  PARR  ANT,  about 
the  first  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1838,  began  erecting 
his  hovel.  He,  the  immortal  parent  of  our  saintly  city,  and 
of  the  noble  army  of  whisky-sellers  who  have  thriven  since 
that  day — it,  the  first  habitation,  the  first  business  house,  of  our 
Christian  metropolis  of  to-day  !  Thus  was  our  city  %i  founded" 
— by  a  pig-eyed  retailer  of  whiskv.  The  location  of  the  future 
Capital  of  Minnesota  was  determined,  not  by  the  commanding 
and  picturesque  bluffs,  a  noble  and  inspiring  site  whereon  to 
build  a  city — not  by  the  great  river  flowing  so  majesticallv  in 
front  of  it,  suggestive  of  commerce  and  trade — but  solely  as  a 
convenient  spot  to  sell  whisky,  without  the  pale  of  law  ! 

ANOTHER    SETTLEK ABRAHAM    PERRY. 

Almost  simultaneously  with  the  advent  of  PARRANT,  came 
another  settler — ABRAHAM  PERRY,  (or  PERRET,)  and  family, 
having  been  compelled  to  leave  the  Reserve  on  the  west  side, 
as  referred  to  a  few  pages  back. 

ABRAHAM  PERRY  was  born  in  Switzerland,  about  the  year 
1780,  and  was  brought  up  as  a  watchmaker.  He  married  in 
Switzerland,  and  three  children  were  born  to  him  there. 
About  the  year  1820,  he,  with  a  considerable  number  of  his 
fellow  countrymen,  were  induced  to  emigrate  to  the  Red  River 
Colony,  by  one  of  Lord  SELKIRK'S  agents.  ki  Their  occupa-* 
tions  had  been  mechanical,  (says  NEILL,)  chiefly  that  of  clock- 
making,  and  they  were  not  adapted  for  the  stern  work  of  found- 
ing a  colony  in  the  interior  of  North  America.  From  year  to 
year  their  spirits  drooped,  and  when  the  Switzers'  song  of 
home  was  sung,  they  could  not  keep  back  their  tears."  Re- 
peated calamities  oppressed  the  colony — untimely  frosts,  -i  ass- 
hoppers  and  other  causes  despoiled  their  harvests,  and  finally 
the  great  flood  of  1826  gave  the  finishing  blow  to  their  hopes. 
A  large  number  of  the  Swiss  determined  to  emigrate  to  the 
United  States.  It  was  reported  that  they  would  be  kindlv  re- 
ceived at  Fort  Snelling,  and  allowed  to  settle  there,  and,  in  1827, 
a  number  of  families  came  to  that  point,  ABRAHAM  PERRY 
among  them.  The  kind-hearted  SNELLING  allowed  such  as 
wished  to  locate  near  the  fort.  PERRY,  who  had  brought  with 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  67 

him  a  number  of  cattle,  located  a  mile  or  two  above  the  fort, 
near  k*  Cold  Spring,"  built  a  cabin,  opened  a  farm,  and  was 
soon  prosperously  fixed.  Two  children  had  been  born  to  him 
at  Red  River,  and,  during  his  residence  at  Fort  Snelling,  two 
more,  making  six  daughters  and  one  son  in  all.  Meantime, 
two  of  his  oldest  daughters  were  married.  In  the  spring  of 
1838,  as  referred  to  before,  Maj.  PLYMPTON  drove  all  the  set- 
tlers oft"  the  west  side  of  the  Reserve,  PERRY  among  them. 
This  was  a  cruel  blow  to  PERRY,  who  had  just  begun  to  be 
comfortably  fixed,  and  was  now  in  the  evening  of  his  days, 
with  quite  a  family  dependent  upon  him.  But,  driving  his 
flocks  before  him,  like  ABRAHAM  of  old,  he  journeyed  across 
the  river,  looking  for  a  new  home.  Wishing,  like  PARRANT, 
to  get  just  without  the  bounds  of  the  Reserve — which  he  was 
informed  by  Maj.  PLYMPTON  intersected  the  Mississippi  at 
Fountain  Cave — he  made  a  claim  just  below  that  of  PARRANT, 
on  the  beautiful  stream  which  flows  across  the  road  there,  and 
erected  a  habitation  about  where  the  City  Hospital  now  stands. 
His  herd*  was  soon  grazing  on  the  luxuriant  meadow  grass 
about  him,  giving  new  hopes  that  perhaps  at  last  he  might  pass 
the  evening  of  life  in  peace. 

But  even  this  hope  was  destined  to  prove  delusive  ere  long, 
as  we  shall  see  a  few  pages  subsequently.  In  fact,  scarcely 
was  PERRY'S  new  roof-tree  reared,  when  the  Sioux  appeared 
and  threateningly  ordered  them  to  leave.  It  seems  that,  al- 
though the  Indians  had  bartered  awray  their  lands,  they  still 
looked  with  a  jealous  eye  upon  them,  and  were  loth  to  see  the 
stranger  and  the  pale-face  occupy  them  and  prosper.  PERRY 
gave  them  no  satisfaction,  however,  and,  on  June  9,  a  party  of 
the  Kaposia  band,  probably  headed  by  Wa-kin-yan-ton-ka,  or 
BIG  THUNDER,  (LITTLE  CROW'S  father,)  went  to  Fort  Snel- 
ling, and  complained  to  Maj.  TALIAFERRO,  Indian  Agent, 
about  PERRY  and  PARRANT  settling  on  their  lands,  before  the 
treaty  had  been  ratified,  and  they  received  any  consideration. 

Nothing  was  done  at  that  time  concerning  the  alleged  intru- 

*  Col.  JOHN  H.  STEVENS,  in  the  address  before  quoted,  says  :  "  PERRY  at  one  time 
owned  more  cattle  than  all  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  of  what  is  now  Minnesota,  if  we 
except  Mr.  RENVILLE." 


68  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

sion,  as  a  steamer  arrived  just  then,  on  which  came  a  passen- 
ger, who  reported  to  have  heard  that  the  treaty  was  ratified. 
A  little  premature,  however.  But  at  all  events,  PARRANT  was 
suffered  to  sell  whisky,  and  PERRY  to  herd  his  flocks,  undis- 
turbed. 

Not  undisturbed  either,  for  a  few  weeks  subsequently,  viz.  : 
on  October  18,  Maj.  TALIAFERRO  writes  in  his  journal,  that 
Mrs.  PERRY  and  CHARLES  PERRY,  her  son.  came  to  the  fort 
and  complained  that  the  Indians  had  killed  three  of  her  cattle, 
and  wounded  a  fourth.  This  was  sometime  after  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  treaty,  too,  and  that  fact  must  have  been  known  to 
them.  But  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  PARRANT'S  whisky  must 
have  caused  this  latter  outrage,  more  than  any  other  cause. 
Perhaps  Maj.  TALIAFERRO  took  this  view  of  it,  too,  for  he 
merely  adds  in  his  journal:  "-They  (the  Sioux)  will  have  to 
pay  $200  for  the  affair  out  of  their  next  year's  annuity." 

THE    TREATY    RATIFIED. 

While  these  events  were  progressing,  however,  the  treaty 
of  September  29,  1837,  was  slowly  passing  through  the  Sen- 
ate. On  June  15,  a  final  vote  was  reached  on  it,  and  it  was 
ratified.  Just  one  month  later,  (news  traveled  slow  those 
days,)  the  steamer  Palmyra  landed  at  Fort  Snelling,  with  the 
glad  news.  It  produced  some  excitement  among  those  who 
had  been  waiting  so  long  to  make  claims,  and  they  at  once 
started  oft*  to  seize  on  eligible  points,  which  had  already  been 
picked  out  by  covetous  eyes. 

N.  W.  KITTSON  states  that  the  boat  arrived  in  the  evening, 
and,  after  dark  the  same  night,  he,  FRANKLIN  STEELK  and  AN- 
GUS M.  ANDERSON,  started  off  to  make  a  claim  at  Saint  Anthony 
Falls.  JOSEPH  R.  BROWN  left  at  the  same  time  for  the  Saint 
Croix,  where  he  drove  the  stakes  of  a  new  town. 

THE  GERVAIS  BROTHERS  SETTLE  HERE. 

On  the  1 3th  day  of  July,  1838,  BENJAMIN  GKKVAIS  and 
PIERRE  GERVAIS,  made  claims  near  ABRAHAM  PERRY,  and 
proceeded  to  erect  habitations.  The  GERVAIS  brothers  were 
Red  River  refugees. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  69 

BENJAMIN  GERVAIS  was  born  at  Riviere  du  Loup,  Canada. 
July  15,  1786.  About  the  year  1803,  he  went  to  Red  River.' 
in  company  with  several  Canadian  families,  who  settled  there. 
GERVAIS  did  not  himself  settle  there  that  year,  but  made  trading 
voyages  back  and  forth  to  Canada  until  the  year  1812,  when 
he  took  up  his  residence  there,  and  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  for  several  years.  On  September  29, 
1823,  he  was  married  at  Fort  Garry,  by  Bishop  PROVENCHER, 
to  Miss  GENEVIEVE  LARANS,  a  native  of  Berthier,  Canada, 
and  went  to  farming  at  a  place  called  La  Pointe,  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  below  Fort  Garry.  Their  story  is  that  of  all  the 
Red  River  refugees — the  floods,  grasshoppers,  untimely  frosts*, 
hard  winters,  &c.,  drove  them  away  to  a  more  habitable  region, 
and,  in  1827,  Mr.  GERVAIS,  with  his  wife  and  three  children, 
proceeded  to  Fort  Snelling,  near  which  they  settled. 

On  being  turned  away  from  the  Reserve,  Mr.  GERVAIS  pi'o- 
ceeded  to  the  neighborhood  of  Mr.  PERRY,  and  made  a  claim 
a  little  below  that  settler,  running  from  the  river  to  the  blufF. 
Having  one  or  t\vo  stout  boys,  born  during  his  residence  on 
Red  River,  he  proceeded  to  make  a  clearing,  and  soon  had 
quite  a  farm  in  operation. 

PIERRE  GERVAIS  was  17  years  younger  than  his  brother. 
He,  too,  had  lived  at  Red  River  several  years,  and  came  from 
there  to  Mendota  in  1826,  where  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
American  Fur  Company.  He  made  a  claim  near  BENJAMIN 
GERVAIS,  which  occupied  about  what  is  now  known  as 
"  Leech's  Addition." 

ANOTHER  -PRONUNCIAMENTO    FROM    MAJOR    PLYMPTON. 

Though  the  above  settlers  thought  that  they  were,  beyond 
any  doubt,  settling  outside  the  bounds  of  the  Reservation,  as 
far  as  they  were  understood  at  that  time,  it  is  possible  that  the 
authorities  at  the  fort  took  a  different  view  of  it,  and  regarded 
it  as  an  intrusion  on  the  iacred  domain  of  the  Government. 
On  July  26,  1838,  Maj.  PLYMPTON  issued  an  order  forbidding 
"all  persons,  not  attached  to  the  military,  from  creeling  any 
building  or  buildings,  fence  or  fences,  or  cutting  timber  for 
any  but  for  public  use,  within  said  line,  which  has  been  sur- 


70  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

veved  and  forwarded  to  the  •  War  Department,  subject  to  the 
final  decision  thereof,"  &c. 

Whether  this  order  was  called  out  by  the  fact  of  PERRY,  the 
GERVAIS  families  and  others  settling  within  the  imaginary  lines 
of  PLYMPTON'S  Reserve,  or  not,  it  is  not  absolutely  known.  It 
is  quite  probable  he  did  refer  to  those  squatters,  however,  as  in 
the  letter  accompanying  a  copy  of  the  order  to  the  War  De- 
partment, he  says : 

"  HEADqiJARTERS    FORT    SNELLING,   July    30,    1838. 

"  SIR  :  I  take  the  liberty  to  enclose  to  you  herewith  a  copy  of  an 
order  which  I  deemed  necessary  to  publish  to  proteA  the  land  which 
has  been  marked  out  as  a  military  reservation  at  this  post,  against  en- 
croachments, which  were  every  day  forcing  themselves  upon  my  notice. 

"Without  interfering  with  the  property  of  any  individual,  I  shall 
strictly  enforce  my  order  till  the  pleasure  of  the  Department  shall  be 
known  upon  the  subject,  presuming  that  my  duty  to  the  public  and  the 
spirit  of  my  instructions  call  for  such  a  course. 

"My  order  must,  as  a  matter  of  right,  more  particularly  allude  to 
persons  urging  themselves  within  the  line  at  this  time,  than  to  those 
who  I  found,  on  my  arrival  here  last  summer,  settled  down  near  the 
fort.  The  authority  for  these  settlements  being  made,  I  have  to  pre- 
sume, is  to  be  found  or  is  known  at  the  Department,  although  I  have 
not  been  successful  in  finding  any  record  of  it  in  the  office  of  this  post. 

"The  character  and  extent  of  these  settlements  and  improvements 
was  given  in  my  communication  of  the  I9th  October,  1837. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

"J.  PLYMPTON. 

"  Major  United  States  Army,  Commanding  Post. 
'•ADJUTANT  GENERAL  U.  S.  A.,  Washington,  DistriA  of  Columbia." 

About  the  same  date  that  the  news  of  the  ratification  of  the 
treaty  was  received  at  Fort  Snelling,  and  shortly  attt^.  three 
soldiers  were  discharged  from  the  Fffth  Regiment,  named  HO- 
WARD PHELAN,  JOHN  HAYS  and  WILLIAM  EVANS,  all  three 
natives  of  Ireland.  They  resolved  to  make  claims  in  the  newly 
ceded  tra6t,  and,  finding  some  settlers  along  the  river  below 
the  cave,  fixed  on  this  locality  as  the  most  likely  one  for  their 
purpose. 

EDWARD    PHELAN 

was  the  youngest  of  the  three.     He  was  a  man  of  splendid 
physique,  over  six  feet  in   height,   muscular  and  active.      He 


and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  71 

bore  not  the  most  enviable  character.  He  is  reported  to  have 
been  immoral,  cruel,  revengeful  and  ,unscrupulous.  By  his 
own  boasting,  he  had  led  a  lawless  and  criminal  life  before 
entering  the  army,  and  was  one  whom  most  civil  and  well- 
disposed  persons  avoided  as  a  dangerous  person.  His  future 
career  will  show  that  this  estimate  of  his  character  was  well 
founded. 

Since  the  foregoing  was  written,  I  have,  by  the  courtesy  of 
the  Adjutant  General  U.  S.  A.,  been  supplied  with  the  follow- 
ing "  descriptive  list"  of  PHELAN,  from  the  records  of  the  War 
Office: 

"WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  O<5t  20,  1875. 

"  SIR  :  In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  7th  instant,  I  respectfully  inform 
you,  that,  upon  an  examination  of  the  official  records,  it  appears  that 
Ed-ward  Felyn  enlisted  June  8,  1835,  at  New  York  City,  for  three 
years,  and  was  assigned  to  Company  E,  Fifth  Infantry,  and  discharged 
June  8,  1838,  by  reason  of  expiration  of  service,  at  Fort  Snelling,  Wis- 
consin Territory,  a  private.  He  was  twenty-four  years  of  age  when  en- 
listed, had  gray  eyes,  brown  hair,  fair  complexion,  and  was  six  feet 
two  and  one-half  inches  high ;  born  in  Londonderry,  Ireland,  and  by 
occupation  a  laborer. 

"Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  S.  N.  BENJAMIN, 
"Assistant  Adjutant  General." 

WILLIAM    EVANS 

was  a  fellow  countryman  of  PHELAN'S,  and  near  the  same  age. 
He  selected  for  his  claim  a  spot  on  Dayton's  Bluff,  near  the 
Dayton  Mansion,  and  lived  there  a  dozen  or  more  years.  He 
subsequently  moved  to  what  is  now  Washington  county,  and 
is  said  to  be  a  farmer  in  that  locality  at  present — but  I  have 
been  unable,  after  several  efforts,  to  get  his  address,  or  to  secure 
any  information  from  him. 

SERGEANT    JOHN    HAYS. 

Serving  in  Company  E,' Fifth  Regiment,  was  Sergeant  JOHN 
HAYS,  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  who,  at  the  time  PHELAN  and 
EVANS  made  their  claims,  was  expecting  his  discharge  in  a 
few  months,  and  wished  to  settle  near  his  old  comrades.  He, 
therefore,  made  an  arrangement  with  PHELAN,  that  the  latter 


72  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

was  to  make  for  him  (HAYS)  a  claim  alongside  his  own.  and 
hold  it  until  his  discharge,  and  agreeing  that  he  would  furnish 
for  PHELAN  some  money  which  the  latter  was  to  use  in  erect- 
ing a  cabin,  &c.,  which  they  would  jointly  occupy,  when  he 
came  out  of  the  army.  HAYS  was  a  man  of  exactly  the  oppo- 
site characteristics  as  the  ruffianly  PHELAN.  He  was  of  middle 
age  at  the  time  we  write — his  hair  somewhat  bleached  with 
two  or  three  terms'  service  in  the  army.  He  was  something  of 
a  martinet  in  discipline,  precise  and  exact  in  his  dress,  bearing 
and  actions,  gained  by  his  long  military  service.  His  form 
was  spare  but  erect,  and  he  had  a  dignified  and  respectable 
bearing,  that  impressed  everybody  who  met  him,  favorably. 
Every  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Saint  Paul  who  knew  JOHN 
HAYS,  speaks  of  him  with  unqualified  praise,  as  an  honest, 
good,  courteous  and  clever  old  gentleman.  He  was  unmar- 
ried, and,  during  his  service  in  the  army,  had  saved  his  pav. 
which,  at  the  time  of  his  discharge,  amounted  to  a  considera- 
ble sum.  The  records  of  the  War  Department  give  the  tk  de- 
scriptive list"  of  HAYS,  when  he  re-enlisted  in  1836,  as  follows  : 

"JOHN  HAYS,  age  37  years,  born  in  Waterford,  Ireland;  occupation, 
a  laborer;  blue  eyes,  light  hair,  light  complexion,  height  five  feet 
eight  and  three-fourths  inches.  Re-enlisted  in  Company  E,  Fifth  In- 
fantry, April  25,  1836,  for  three  years;  discharged  at  Fort  Snelling, 
Minnesota,  April  25, 1839,  by  reason  of  expiration  of  service,  a  sergeant." 

His  age,  when  discharged,  would,  if  the  above  figures  aiv 
corred,  be  about  forty,  but  he  is  spoken  of  by  all  who  knew 
him,  as  being  much  older  than  that,  and  probably  was.  as  tor 
good  reasons  he  might  have  understated  his  age  when  muster- 
ed in. 

PHELAN    MAKES    A    CLAIM. 

As  remarked  above,  these  three  soldiers  resolved  to  make 
claims  in  this  vicinity.  PHELAN  was  the  first  to  secure  his 
discharge,  and,  after  prospecting  hereabouts,  selected  as  a  claim 
a  trad  of  ground  fronting  on  the  river,  running  back  to  the 
bluff;  and  bounded  (approximately)  by  what  is  now  Eagle  and 
Third  streets  on  the  west,  and  Saint  Peter  street  on  the-  east 
On  the  side  of  the  bluff,  under  Third  street— about  where  the 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  73 

soap  factory  now  stands — he  built  a  log  house,  a  mere  hovel, 
it  is  described,  to  "  live"  in  for  the  present. 

At  request  of  HAYS,  as  before  stated,  PHELAN  selected  for 
him*,  a  claim  adjoining  his  own  on  the  east,  fronting  on  the 
river,  and  running  back  to  the  bluffs,  extending  probably  from 
what  is  now  Saint  Peter  street,  down  to  somewhere  near  the 
present  Minnesota  street.  He  was  to  hold  this  claim  for 
HAYS — according  to  the  agreement  with  H. — until  the  latter 
got  his  discharge,  the  subsequent  spring,  and  thereafter  HAYS 
was  to  live  with  him  in  the  hovel  under  the  hill. . 

A    MYSTERIOUS    CHARACTER. 

Sometime  during  the  summer  or  fall  of  1838,  a  stranger 
"turned  up,"  from  no  one  knew  where,  and  built  a  cabin  on 
the  bank  near  where  Lindeke's  mill  nov*  is — between  that  and 
the  gas  works.  Nothing  more  was  known  concerning  him 
than  that  his  name  was  "  JOHNSON."  Where  he  came  from, 
his  past  life,  his  object  in  settling  in  such  an  out-of-the-way 
place,,  were  all  wrapped  in  a  profound  and  embarrassing  mys- 
tery, that  baffled  the  most  curious  scrutiny  of  the  suspicious 
settlers  hereabout.  A  woman  was  living  with  him,  presumed 
to  be  his  wife,  and  she  had  a  young  child.  What  deepened 
the  mysteiy,  in  the  eyes  of  the  plain,  simple  inhabitants  of  that 
primeval  period,  was  the  fact  that  "JOHNSON"  and  his  wife 
had  evidently  moved  in  society  of  a  kind  much  superior,  in  a 
social.,  or  fashionable  point  of  view,  to  that  which  would  usually 
be  found  in  the  claim  shanties  of  the  frontier  at  that  period- 
Their  manners  were  elegant  and  refined,  and  they  dressed  in 
expensive  and  fashionable  clothing.  In  facl,  it  was  not  so 
much  the  reserved  and  secluded  manners  of  JOHNSON  that  first 
attracted  suspicion  against  him,  as  his  fine  clothes  !  We  almost 
shrink  from  recording  the  fact  that,  at  one  period  of  our  history, 
to  be  well  dressed  was  to  become  an  object  of  suspicion.  That 
is  sadly  changed  now,  to  an  opposite  extreme.  One  needs 

*  VETAL  GUERIN,  who  gave  me  very  minutely  his  reminiscences  of  early  days, 
thought  that  the  claims  were  owned  in  the  opposite  way,  i.  e.,  that  the  upper  one  PHE- 
LAN intended  for  HAYS,  and  the  lower  one  he  meant  to  be  his  own.  The  other  settlers, 
however,  give  the  account  of  it  as  I  have  recorded  it  above. 


74  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

only  a  skillful  tailor  to  enable  him  to  become  the  pet  of  quite 
a  numerous  circle  of  persons  who  ought  to  know  better,  but 
who  find  out,  after  being  repeatedly  victimized,  that  good  char- 
acter and  good  clothes  are  not  inseparable.  No  such  nice  dis- 
tinctions troubled  the  men  and  women  of  1838,  however.  But 
when  they  saw  a  man  threading  our  springy  bogs  or  thorny 
thickets  in  patent  leather  gaiters  and  broadcloth  clothes  and 
silk  hat,  it  must  be  confessed  that  there  -was  some  ground  for 
being  a  little  shy  of  him.  The  most  charitable  would  have 
admitted  that  he  had  at  least  eloped  with  some  other  man's 
wife,  and  came  to  this  secluded  region  to  avoid  notice.  But 
there  were  others  who  suspected  a  still  more  heinous  offense. 
He  could  not,  they  thought,  support  all  this  style  without  labor, 
unless  he  had  robbed  some  one  down  below,  and  fled  with  the 
ill-gotten  booty,  or  else  was  a  counterfeiter.  The  last  suspicion 
gained  the  most  prevalence,  and  was  strengthened  by  an  inci- 
dent that.occurred  the  following  spring,  probably.  One  cold, 
dark,  stormy  night,  when  a  perfect  tempest  was  raging,  one 
of  the  settlers,  who  had  been  down  the  river,  to  Pig's  Eye, 
probably,  arrived  at  JOHNSON'S  cabin,  cold,  weary,  wet  and 
hungry,  and  asked  permission  to  remain  all  night  and  get  some 
food,  as  he  did  not  feel  able  to  get  the  rest  of  his  way  home  in 
the  storm  and  darkness.  Strange  to  say,  this  request  was  re- 
fused ;  in  fa6t,  he  avers  that  JOHNSON  would  not  even  open  the 
door  for  him.  This,  taken  in  connection  with  the  other  sus- 
picious ciixumstances,  was,  to  the  settlers  hereabouts,  proof 
strong  as  words  of  holy  writ  that  JOHNSON  must  be  a  counter- 
feiter. The  settlers  at  last  hinted  to  him  their  suspicions,  and 
added  a  threat  that  "  the  authorities  at  the  fort,"  a  class  every- 
body seemed  to  stand  in  awe  of,  were  going  to  arrest  him. 
Whether  JOHNSON  had  been  guilty  of  any  wrong  or  not,  will 
never  be  known,  but  this  last  information  seemed  to  make  him 
uneasy.  He  hastily  sold  his  claim  to  JAMES  R.  CLEWETT, 
and  decamped  down  the  river. 

PARRANT    MORTGAGES    HIS    CLAIM. 

But  we  must  not  lose  sight  of  old  PARRANT,  located  at  the 
cave.     During  all  this  time  he  was  driving  a  flourishing  trade. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  75 

selling  whisky  to  both  Indians  and  whites.  Occasionally  a 
party  of  soldiers,  bound  on  a  spree,  would  come  down  to  his 
ranch,  get  soaked  with  his  red-eye  and  tangle-foot  brands,  and 
fail  to  report  next  day.  Hence  a  guard  would  have  to  hunt 
them. up,  and  the  poor  fellows  would  sojourn  in  the  guard- 
house, or  wear  a  ball  and  chain  for  a  period.  Two  or  three 
times  the  officers  at  the  fort  threatened  to  tear  his  shanty  down, 
but  never  executed  the  threat  at  that  time.  His  place  was 
searched  once  or  twice,  with  the  intention  of  demolishing  all 
liquor  found,  but  the  old  fox  was  too  sly  to  be  caught  that  way. 
He  didn't  keep  much  stock  in  sight.  The  rest  of  it  was  buried 
near  by,  where  no  one  but  himself  could  find  it.  Some  say  he 
used  to  hide  it  in  the  cave. 

But  old  PARRANT  lost  his  place  at  last.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year — 1838 — he  borrowed  from  WILLIAM  BEAUMETTE,  of  Men- 
dota,  the  sum  of  $90,  and,  to  secure  it  to  the  latter  person,  gave 
him  the  following  judgment  note,  the  original  of  which  the 
writer  has  in  his  possession  : 

"  SAINT  PETER'S,  I2th  November,  1838. 

"  On  the  first  day  of  May  next,  I  promise  to  pay  to  GUILLAUME 
BEAUMETTE,  ninety  dollars,  for  the  value  received,  without  defalcation. 

'  his 

"  PIERRE  X  PARRANT. 

mark. 

"Witness: 
"A.  M.  ANDERSON. 

"  H.   H.   SlBLEY. 

• 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  PIERRE  PARRANT,  residing 
near  the  entry  of  the  Saint  Peter's  River,  and  in  Wisconsin  Territory, 
do  hereby  make  over,  transfer  and  quit-claim  to.  GUILLAUME  BEAU- 
METTE, of  said  Saint  Peter's,  all  my  right,  title,  and  interest  in  and  to 
all  that  tract  or  portion  of  land  which  I,  the  said  PARRANT,  now  reside 
upon  and  occupy,  at  the  cave,  so-called,  about  four  miles  below  Fort 
Snelling,  to  have  and  to  hold  the  same  to  the  said  GUILLAUME  BEAU- 
METTE, his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

"Provided  always — and  it  is  hereby  expressly  understood  between 
the  parties,  that  if  the  said'  PIERRE  PARRANT  shall  pay  or  cause  to  be 
paid,  on  or  about  the  first  of  May  next,  to  the  said  BEAUMETTE,  the  sum 
of  ninety  dollars,  amount  of  a  certain  note  of  hand  given  by  me,  the 


76  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

said  PARRANT,  to  the  said  BEAUMETTE,  then  this  transfer  to  be  null, 
and  of  none  effect,  otherwise  to  remain  in  full  force  and  virtue. 

his 

"  PIERRE  X  PARRANT.    '[L.  s.J 

mark. 
"  Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of — 

'•  H.   H.   SlBLEY. 

"  A.  M.  ANDERSON." 

The  above  document  is  in  the  handwriting  of  H.  H.  SIBLEY, 
who  was  then,  or  at  least  shortly  afterward,  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  of  Clayton  county,  Iowa,  with  a  bailiwick  extending 
from  the  present  Iowa  line  to  the  British  Possessions. 

WILLIAM    BEAUMETTE, 

to  whom  the  above  note  was  given,  was  a  Canadian  bv  birth, 
who  had  emigrated  to  Red  River  about  1818  or  1819.  He  was 
a  stone  mason  by  trade,  and,  while  at  Red  River,  helped  to 
build  the  present  Fort  Garry.  At  the  time  of  the  exodus  from 
Selkirk's  Settlement  to  Fort  Snelling,  BEAUMETTE  accom- 
panied the  refugees,  and  proceeded  to  Mendota,  where  he 
lived  some  years.  He  did  not  become  an  adlual  resident  of 
Saint  Paul  until  some  time  after  the  date  of  this  occurrence. 
He  married  a  sister  of  VETAL  GUERIN,  and  lived  in  Saint  Paul 
for  over  twenty  years.  He  died  here  in  November,  1870,  aged 
about  70  years. 

Here,  for  the  present,  we  must  leave  this  real  estate  transac- 
tion. 


1839]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey  \  Minnesota.  77 


CHAPTER   VII. 

'  EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1839. 

THE  EXCLUSION  OF  SETTLERS  FROM  THE  RESERVE  ARGUED— SURGEON  EMERSON- 
ACCUSES  THEM  OF-  DEMORALIZING  THE  SOLDIERS  WITH  LIQUOR — GEN.  WOOL 
CORROBORATES  THIS — THE  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC  WITH  INDIANS — PARRANT  LOSES 
HIS  CLAIM—ORIGIN  OF  "  PIG'S  EYE"— SETTLERS  AT  THE  GRAND  MARAIS— FIRST 
MARRIAGE,  BIRTH  AND  DEATH — THE  MURDER  OF  HAYS — WAS  PHELAN  GUIL- 
TY?— SURVEY  OF  THE  RESERVATION — ORDER  FINALLY  ISSUED  TO  EXPEL  THE 
SETTLERS — THE  WISCONSIN  LEGISLATURE  PROTESTS — VETAL  GUERIN  JUMPS 
THE  HAYS  CLAIM. 

EARLY  in  1839,  the  exclusion  of  the  settlers  on  the  Re- 
serve again  occupied  the  attention  of  the  authorities  at 
the  fort.  The  ostensible  reason  was  the  illicit  liquor  traffic 
which  some  of  them  carried  on,  but,  from  the  subjoined  letter 
of  Col.  SAMUEL  C.  STAMBAUGH,  sutler  at  Fort  Snelling,  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  quoted  on  page  61,  other  motives  may 
have  been  at  work.  Referring  to  the  lines  of  the  Reserve,  as 
adopted  by  Major  PLYMPTON,  he  remarks  : 

'      A  SIGNIFICANT    DOCUMENT. 

"  Nor  was  it  thought  by  any  one  that  the  line  would  cross  the  Saint 
Peter's.  There  is  land  enough  on  the  west  side  of  (or  between)  these 
rivers,  in  the  Indian  country,  to  make  a  reservation  of  any  extent, 
which  will  not  be  bounded  by  western  settlers  for  a  long  time. 

"You  will  perceive,  by  an  examination  of  the  survey  and  plat  before 
you,  that  the  line  as  run  is  both  awkward  and  unnatural.  It  commences 
some  distance  above  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Mississippi,  but,  instead  of  crossing  immediately  and  traversing  the 
country  to  strike  the  angle  of  the  river  below  the  fort,  it  runs  along  the 
west  side  about  three  miles  below  the  Falls,  where  it  crosses  the  river, 
and  thence  strikes  across  the  country  .to  Carver's  Cave,  which  is  three 
miles  below  Fort  Snelling  by  the  course  of  the  river. 

"The  land,  embracing  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  has,  since  its  purchase  by  the  United  States,  been  im- 
proved by  settlements  so  as  to  secure  a  pre-emption,  and  it  is  now  held 
in  possession  by  Doctor  WRIGHT,  FRANKLIN  STEELE,  and  myself,  (one- 


78  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1839 

half  section,)  and  one  section  by  Major  PLYMPTON,  Captain  SCOTT,  and 
Doctor  EMERSON.  These  settlements  include  the  best  positions  imme- 
diately above  the  Reservation,  as  surveyed.  If  the  military  Reservation 
is  made  to  include  Carver's  Cave,  below  Fort  Snelling,  it  will  embrace 
all  the  steamboat  landings  on  the  Mississippi  River  along  a  distance  of 
twenty  miles  below  the  Falls,  as  the  country  is  broken  and  swampy 
nine  miles  below  the  cave,  and  hence  no  steamboat  landing  can  be 
procured  by  settlers  within  a  distance  of  twelve  miles  below  Fort  Snel- 
ling, and  the  rapids  produced  by  the  Falls  will  prevent  boats  ascending 
above  the  Reservation  line.  The  property,  therefore,  in  which  I,  with 
others,  claim  to  have  an  interest,  would  be  greatly  enhanced  in  value, 
by  a  military  Reserve,  which  would  place  our  claim  most  contiguous  to 
the  fort.  But  I  believe  the  military  service  cannot  be  benefited  bv 
such  a  measure,  and  the  adoption  of  it  would  produce  universal  dissat- 
isfaction when  the  country  comes  into  market,  and  would  now  be  a 
great  mortification  and  inconvenience  to  visitors,  who  will  crowd  the 
Falls  of  Saint  Anthony  during  the  summer  months,  if  houses  for  their 
accommodation  can  be  eredted  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Snelling.  The 
bluffs  of  the  river  immediately  opposite  the  fort  are  very  high  and  dif- 
ficult of  ascent,  and  the  current  of  the  river  strong  and  deep.  Thev 
are  exposed  to  the  eye  of  the  sentinel  for  more  than  a  mile  up  and 
down  the  river,  so  that  no  soldier  can  cross  and  enter  a  house  on  the 
opposite  side  without  detection.  Whereas,  if  settlers  are  forced  back 
into  the  interior,  out  of  sight  and  beyond  immediate  investigation,  they 
will  be  of  an  inferior  class,  and  can,  if  so  disposed,  bring  whisky  in 
kegs  into  the  forest,  within  a  short  distance  of  the  fort,  with  but  little 
risk. 

"  The  same  objections  exist  to  the  extension  of  the  Reserve  bevond 
the  Saint  Peter's  River.  In  a  year  or  two,  in  all  probabilitv,  the  Indian 
title  will  be  extinguished  on  that  side  of  the  river,  so  as  to  secure  both 
sides  of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  citizens  of  Iowa  Territory  will  extern! 
their  settlements  to  the  rich  valley  of  the  Saint  Peter's.  If,  therefore, 
the  line  is  established  as  surveyed,  it  will  take  in  all  the  boat  landings 
near  the  junction  of  the  Saint  Peter's  and  Mississippi,  and  the  people 
of  Iowa  can  have  no  town  or  depot  within  from  10  to  15  miles  distance, 
centered  by  this  important  point. 

"I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  submitting  to  you  these  undigested  re- 
marks, because  I  know  that  the  extension  of  the  military  Reserve  for 
Fort  Snelling,  beyond  the  Mississippi  and  Saint  Peter's,  will  give  great 
dissatisfaction  to  the  people  who  go  to  purchase  land  and  settle  in  that 
country.  I  have  heard  but  one  opinion  expressed  concerning  it  from  all 
who  have  visited  that  place  since  I  have  been  there.  The  United  States 
Commissioners,  Judge  PEASE  and  General  EWING,  who  were  there 
last  summer,  after  the  survey  was  made,  expressed  the  same  opinions 
here  given.  If  a  military  force  must  be  kept  up,  at  a  heavy  expense,  to 


1839]       find  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  70 

preserve  peace  between  the  Indians  and  our  own  citizen  settlers,  the 
latter  should  not  be  thrown  out  of  sight  and  out  of  hearing  of  that  pro- 
tection, but,  as  is  usual,  the  first  settlers  should  be  permitted  to  locate 
as  near  that  protection  as  possible.  As  the  line  has  been  run  by  the 
survey  now  before  you,  with  the  Mississippi  and  a  forest  of  several 
miles  intervening,  an  Indian  force  can  intercept  all  communication  with 
the  fort,  and  the  inhabitants  may  be  massacred  before  the  militarv  can 
be  apprised  of  the  attack.  Whereas,  if  the  settlements  would  border 
on  the  river,  they  could  furnish  a  shelter  for  those  in  the  interior,  and 
be  covered  by  a  six-pounder  from  the  fort.  A  friendly  intercourse  and 
feeling  would  thus  also  be  kept  up  between  the  military  and  civil  power, 
which  is  a  matter  of  the  highest  importance  in  times  of  Indian  troubles." 

THE    ILLICIT    SALE    OF    LIQUOR    TO    SOLDIERS.' 

On  March  10,  Maj.  PLYMPTON  addressed  a  long  letter  to  the 
War  Department,  mainly  in  reference  to  the  lines  of  the  Re- 
serve, and  the  settlers  thereon,  rehearsing  the  troubles  the  set- 
tlers had  given  him  by  selling  liquor  to  the  soldiers,  and  urging 
their  expulsion.  The  surgeon  of  the  fort,  Dr.  EMERSON,  also 
addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  Surgeon  General : 

"  FORT  SNELLING,  April  23,  1839. 

"  SIR  :  As  a  friend  to  the  soldier  and  temperance  in  the  army,  I  am 
induced  to  make  to  you,  as  head  of  the  department  to  which  I  have  the 
honor  of  belonging,  a  statement  of  our  situation  at  this  post.  Since 
the  middle  of  winter  we  have  been  completely  inundated  with  ardent 
spirits,  and  consequently  the  most  beastly  scenes  of  intoxication  among 
the  soldiers  of  this  garrison  and  the  Indians  in  its  vicinity,  which,  no 
doubt,  will  add  many  cases  to  our  sick-list.  The  whisky  is  brought 
here  by  citizens  who  are  pouring  in  upon  us  and  settling  themselves  on 
the  opposite  shore  of  the  Mississippi  River,  in  defiance  of  our  worthy 
commanding  officer,  Major  J.  PLYMPTON,  whose  authority  they  set  at 
naught.  At  this  moment,  there  is  a  citizen,  once  a  soldier  in  the  Fifth 
Infantry,  who  was  discharged  at  this  post  while  Col.  SNELLING  com- 
manded, and  who  has  been  since  employed  by  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany, actually  building  on  the  land  marked  out  by  the  commanding 
officer  as  the  Reserve,  and  within  gunshot  distance  of  the  fort,  a  very 
extensive  whisky  shop.  They  are  encouraged  in  their  nefarious  deeds 
in  consequence  of  letters  received  by  them,  as  they  say,  from  Saint  Louis 
and  Washington,  mentioning  that  no  Reserve  would  be  acknowledged 
by  the  proper  authority.  If  such  is  the  fa£t,  (which  I  doubt  very  much,) 
I  can  only  say  that  the  happiness  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  is  at  an 
end  at  Fort  Snelling. 

"  In  my  humble  opinion,  the  immediate  action  of  the  Government  is 


So  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1839 

called  for,  to  give  us  relief  in  pointing  out  the  military  Reserve,  which 
ought  not  to  be  less  than  twenty  miles  square,  or  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Saint  Croix  River,  especially  as  the  Indians  are  allowed  by  treaty  to 
hunt  on  it.  I  am  certain,  if  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  knew  our 
situation,  not  a  moment's  time  would  be  lost  in  turning  the  wretches 
off  of  the  Reserve,  who  live  by  robbing  the  men  of  the  garrison  of 
health,  comfort,  and  every  cent  they  possess.  Pardon  me,  sir,  if  I  err 
in  writing  so,  but  I  feel  grieved  to  witness  such  scenes  of  drunkenness 
and  dissipation  where  I  have  spent  many  days  of  happiness,  when  we 
had  no  ardent  spirits  among  us,  and,  consequently,  sobriety  and  good 
conduct  among  the  command.  May  I  presume  to  ask  you  to  use  your 
influence  with  the  proper  authority  to  mark  out  the  Reserve,  and  rid  us 
of  those  harpies  or  whisky-sellers  who  destroy  the  health  of  the  soldiers, 
and,  consequently,  their  usefulness  to  their  Government  and  country. 

"  With  great  respe6t.  I  have  the  honor  to  remain  your  obedient  servant, 

"J.  EMERSON, 

"  Surgeon  U.  S.  A. 

"THOMAS  LAWSON, 

"  Surgeon  General  U.  S.  A. 

"  The  immediate  action  of  the  Government  is  called  for  in  this  matter. 

"E." 

This  letter  was  referred  by  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War,  and,  on  June  2d,  the  post  at  Fort  Snelling  was 
visited  and  inspected  by  Brig.  Gen.  JOHN  E.  WOOL,  who.  in 
his  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  strongly  endorsed  the  above 
views,  as  follows : 

"My  object  at  this  time  is  to  call  your  attention  particularly  to  his 
peculiar  situation  in  regard  to  the  Indians  and  white  inhabitants  who 
are  permitted  to  occupy  the  country  surrounding  his  post.  -The  views 
of  Major  PLYMPTON  on  this  subjedt  have  been  on  several  occasions 
presented  to  the  War  Department,  and  at  length  in  his  communication 
of  the  nth  March  last,  and  which,  from  my  own  observation,  I  am  con- 
'  fident  are  correct,  and,  if  not  attended  to  in  due  season,  his  predictions 
in  relation  to  the  Indians  and  whites  will  be  verified. 

"  The  white  inhabitants,  aware  of  the  large  amount  of  money  an- 
nually paid  by  the  United  States  to  the  Indians  residing  in  that  region 
of  country,  avail  themselves  of  the  means  in  their  power,  confident  of 
the  protection  of  the  Government,  of  introducing  atall  points,  and  within 
half  a  mile  of  Fort  Snelling,  intoxicating  liquors,  which  is  no  less  de- 
struc~tive  to  the  discipline  of  the  troops  than  hazardous  of  the  peace  and 
quiet  of  the  country.  Such  is  the  character  of  the  white  inhabitants  of 
that  country,  fhat,  if  they  cannot  be  .permitted  to  carry  on  their  nefari- 
ous traffic  with  the  Indians,  it  will  sooner  or  later  involve  them  in  a 


1839]       and  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  81 

war  with  the  United  States.  If  the  Government  would  avoid  such  a  re- 
sult, it  should  immediately  adopt  measures  to  drive  oft"  the  public  lands 
all  white  intruders  within  twenty  miles  of  Fort  Snelling,  and  prohibit 
intoxicating  liquors  from  being  introduced  into  the  Indian  country,  or 
on  lands  not  sold  by  the  United  States. 

"  Again,  it  is  well  known  that  the  Sioux  and  Chippewas  have  been  at 
war  from  time  immemorial,  and  no  prospedt  of  its  termination  or  of 
peace  being  established  between  the  two  tribes.  The  introduction  of 
whisky,  which  is  as  common  almost  as  water,  by  no  means  tends  to 
lessen  their  national  hatred;  on  the  contrary,  it  prompts  collisions  and 
war,  and,  consequently,  a  source  of  constant  and  increasing  anxiety  to 
the  commanding  officer,  which  no  vigilance  can  guard  against.  The 
sacrifice  of  blood  and  treasure  in  the  late  war  in  Florida  ought  at  least 
to  admonish  us  that  we  ought  to  be  on  our  guard,  and,  by  timely  meas- 
ures, prevent  similar  results." 

These  reports  and  communications  were  taken  under  advise- 
ment by  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  soon  induced  him  to  take 
decisive  action  in  the  case,  as  will  appear  hereafter. 

It  may  be  thought  that  unnecessary  space  and  prominence 
has  been  given  to  these  documents  regarding  the  lines  of  the 
Reserve,  and  the  conduct  of  some  of  the  settlers  thereon.  But 
the  reader  will  soon  perceive,  if  he  has  not  already,  that  they 
are  of  the  greatest  historical  value  and  importance,  as  giving 
the  reasons  and  causes  which  first  tended  to  the  settlement  of 
the  locality  which  afterwards  became  Saint  Paul,  and  deter- 
mined the  location  of  our  city.  Hence,  they  could  not  be 
omitted  from  a  full  and  impartial  history,  and  deserve  the 
careful  attention  of  the  reader. 

THE    LIQUOR    TRAFFIC. 

Perhaps  the  inquiry  has  arisen  in  the  mind  of  the  reader, 
was  the  illicit  liquor  traffic  carried  on  so  extensively  as  has 
been  intimated  above,  and  was  it  productive  of  the  evil  conse- 
quences mentioned,  to  the  Indians  and  soldiers? 

I  think  there's  abundant  testimony  from  various  sources  to 
prove  that  it  was.  Intemperance  among  the  soldiers,  as  Sur- 
geon EMERSON  says,  has  always  been  one  of  the  worst  enemies 
to  their  health,  good  discipline  and  morale.  How  to  prevent 
it  always  has  been,  and  is  now,  one  of  the  most  difficult  prob- 
lems of  the  good  officer.  Maj.  TALIAFERRO,  Indian  Agent  at 


82  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1839 

the  fort,  in  his  journal,  before  quoted,  refers  in  many  instances 
to  the  trouble  brought  on  soldiers  by  the  illicit  sale  of  liquor 
to  them.  On  June  3d,  1839,  he  notes  tivAt  forty-seven  soldiers 
'were  confined  in  the  guard-house  for  drunkenness,  in  one 
night,  having  been  arrested  in  an  uproarious  spree  in  a  whisky 
hovel  across  the  river,  kept  by  a  man  named  MINK,  who  was, 
for  that  offense,  sent  out  of  the  country.  Mrs.  JAMES  PATTEN, 
of  Minneapolis,  (then  living  in  the  fort  with  her  father,  RICH- 
ARD W.  MORTIMER,'  a  Commissary  Sergeant,)  states  that,  every 
winter,  after  settlers  began  to  locate  west  of  the  river,  and  sell 
liquor  clandestinely,  soldiers  lost  their  lives  bv  falling  down  on 
their  way  back  to  the  fort,  from  DONALD  MCDONALD'S,  while 
intoxicated,  and  freezing  to  death.  They  would  scale  the 
walls,  and  run  away,  in  order  to  go  up  to  that  groggery.  The 
bodies  of  some  who  died  thus  were  eaten  by  the  wolves. 
Others,  less  fortunate,  lost  their  hands  or  feet,  and  dragged  out 
the  rest  of  their  lives,  miserable  cripples.  The  trouble  and 
expense,  and  strategems  soldiers  would  resort  to  to  obtain 
liquor,  shows  the  irresistible  thirst  that  overpowers  reason  and 
self-command.  A  few  years  before  the  above  date,  a  Sergeant 
MANN,  one  winter  night,  gave  eighty  dollars  for  a  gallon 
of  whisky,  which  probably  cost  the  dealer  a  shilling. 

Judge  IRA  B.  BRUNSON,  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  the  Deputy 
Marshal  of  Wisconsin  Territory,  who,  in  1840,.  wras  charged 
with  dislodging  the  settlers  from  the  Reserve,  says  that  at  that 
time  a  considerable  part  of  the  soldiers  were  men  of  intemper- 
ate habits  before  they  joined  the  army,  and  many  of  them  en- 
listed while  drunk,  so  that,  being  habituated  to  the  use  of  liquor, 
they  would  run  all  sorts  of  risk  to  satisfy  their  cravings. 

The  eftecl:  of  the  sale  on  the  Indians  was  even  worse. 
"  Under  the  influence,  [says  NEILL,]  of  a  vile  class  of  whisky- 
sellers  that  infested  the  neighborhood  of  what  is  now  the  capi- 
tal of  Minnesota,  the  Dakotas  were  a  natio*h  of  drunkards. 
Men  would  travel  hundreds  of  miles  to  The  place  -where  they 
sell  Minne--wakan,  as  they  designated  Saint  Paul,  to  traffic 
for  a  keg  of  whisky."  Rev.  GIDEON  H.  POND,  the  editor  of 
the  Dakotah  Friend,  says,  in  an  article  dated  September,  185 1  : 

"Twelve  years  ago  they  bade  fair  soon  to  die,  all  together,  in  one 
drunken  jumble.  They  must  be  drunk— they  could  hardly  live  if  they 


1839]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  83 

were  not  drunk.  Many  of  them  seemed  as  uneasy  when  sober  as  a  fish 
does  when  on  land.  At  some  of  the  villages  they  were  drunk  months 
together.  There  was  no  end  to  it.  They  would  have  whisky.  They 
would  give  guns,  blankets,  pork,  lard,  flour,  corn,  coffee,  sugar,  horses, 
furs,  traps,  anything  for  whisky.  It  was  made  to  drink — it  was  good — 
it  was  -wakan.  They  drank  it — they  bit  off  each  other's  noses — broke 
each  other's  ribs  and  heads — they  knifed  each  other.  They  killed  one 
another  with  guns,  knives,  hatchets,  clubs,  fire-brands — they  fell  into 
the  fire  and  water,  and  were  burned  to  death  and  drowned — they  froze 
to  death,  and  committed  suicide  so  frequently  that,  for  a  time,  the  death 
of  an  Indian,  in  some  of  the  ways  mentioned,  was  but  little  thought  of 
by  themselves  or  others.  Some  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  Saint  Paul  and 
Pig's  Eye  remember  something  about  these  matters.  Their  eyes  saw 
sights  which  are  not  exhibited  now-a-days." 

WHAT    SAINT    PAUL    OWES    TO    WHISKY  ! 

Out  of  what  humble  circumstances  sometimes  spring  great 
results.  The  history  of  Saint  Paul  exemplifies  it.  The  illicit 
sale  of  liquor  by  some  unscrupulous  squatters  on  the  Reserve, 
led  to  the  expulsion  without  its  lines  of  all  the  settlers,  whether 
guilty  of  that  offense  or  not,  and  resulted  in  forming  a  settle- 
ment at  another  point,  which  ultimately  grew  into  the  Saint 
Paul  of  a  later  day.  Thus  the  very  corner-stone  of  our  civic 
existence  was  laid  in  whisky  !  To  some  extent  the  village 
throve  on  whisky  at  an  early  day,  and  whisky  is  yet  an  element 
of  power  in  our  midst,  (especially  in  politics,)  despite  the  no- 
ble crusade  of  Bishop  IRELAND  and  the  temperance  societies. 
In  fact,  the  first  steamboat  that  ever  landed  at  the  shores  of 
Saint  Paul,  the  Glaucus,  Captain  ATCHISON,  May  21,  1839, 
stopped  to  put  off  six  barrels  of  whisky  for  DONALD  McDoN- 
ALD,  since  known  as  the  "  Half-Way  House,"  being  afraid  to 
take  the  liquor  any  further  up  the  river,  for  fear  it  would  be 
seized  and  destroyed  by  the  authorities  at  the  fort. 

It  was  always  a  mystery  to  the  writer  how  such  quantities 
of  liquor  could  have  been  used  by  ordinary  consumption,  those 
days,  unless  the  early  settlers  of  this  locality  were  "power- 
ful" thirsty  fellows,  got  up  on  the  sponge  order.  But  Gen.  R. 
W.  JOHNSON,  in  his  address  before  the  Old  Settlers'  Society  of 
Hennepin  county,  gives  a  charitable  construction  of  it  that  ex- 
plains the  whole  question  satisfactorily.  He  says  that  the  old 


84  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1839 

pioneers  were  about  to  settle  in  a  region  of  which  they  had 
very  little  knowledge,  and  were  afraid  it  might  be  infested  with 
rattlesnakes,  hence  used  considerable  whisky  to  guard  against 
the  effects  of  the  poison  in  case  they  should  be  bit.  It  must 
have  been  an  efficacious  remedy,  as  we  believe  there  is  no  case 
on  record  of  any  one  ever  dying  in  this  locality  from  a  snake- 
bite, and,  indeed,  we  never  even  heard  of  any  one  getting  bit ! 
But  they  were  right  in  being  careful. 

PARRANT    LOSES    HIS    CLAIM. 

But  we  must  not  lose  sight  of  that  real  estate  operation  be- 
tween PARRANT  and  BEAUMETTE,  mentioned  on  page  75.  Be- 
fore the  note  became  due,  BEAUMETTE,  probably  forced  by  the 
pressure  of  circumstances,  sold  the  note  to  JOHN  MILLER,  of 
Mendota.  MILLER  was  a  stone  mason  by  occupation,  as  was 
BEAUMETTE.  He  built  General  SIBLEY'S  house  at  Mendota, 
the  first  stone  private  dwelling  house  in  Minnesota.  About 
1844,  he  was  drowned  in  the  river  near  Grey  Cloud  Island. 

When  the  first  of  May  came  round,  PARRANT  was  unable  to 
lift  the  note,  so  MILLER  became  a  real  estate  owner  of  PAR- 
RANT'S  claim,  by  no  expensive  process  of  foreclosure.  He  did 
not  keep  it  long,  but  transferred  it  to  one  VETAL  GUERIN.  ;i 
young  voyageur,  of  Mendota,  in  settlement  of  a  debt  of  $150, 
due  the  said  GUERIN.  The  latter  never  got  possession  of  it  at 
all,  the  old  adage  about  '•  many  a  slip  'twixt  the  cup  and  the 
lip"  being  exemplified  in  this  case,  for  some  unscrupulous  sin- 
ner, whose  name  history  has  not  recorded,  jumped  the  claim. 
and  despoiled  GUERIN  of  his  property.  Retributive  justice 
overtook  the  graceless  jumper  soon  after,  as  the  United  States 
Marshal  tore  down  his  house  and  drove  him  oft"  the  Reserve, 
as  will  be  seen  a  little  further  along. 

PARRANT    MAKES    ANOTHER    CLAIM. 

The  ROMULUS  of  our  future  city,  after  losing  his  mercantile 
establishment  at  the  cave,  at  once  made  another  claim.  He 
seleaed  a  tracl  just  east  of  Serg't  HAYS'  claim,  fronting  on  the 
river,  extending  from  Minnesota  street  to  Jackson  street,  ap- 
proximately, and  thence  back  to  the  hlufV.  About  where  the 


1839]       and  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  8^ 

foot  of  Robert  street  now  is,  he  erected  on  the  bank — afterwards 
known  as  Bench  street,  and  since  cut  down — a  hovel  in  which 
to  reside,  and  carry  on  his  liquor  trade.  He  occupied  this 
claim  about  a  year. 

THE    ORIGIN    OF    "  PIG'S    EYE." 

PARRANT,  as  before  remarked,  had  only  one  eye  that  was 
serviceable.  He  had  another,  it  is  true,  but  such  an  eye  ! 
Blind,  niarble-hued,  crooked,  with  a  sinister  white  ring  glaring 
around  the  pupil,  giving  a  kind  of  piggish  expression  to  his 
sodden,  low  features.  ROSWELL  P.  RUSSELL,  now  of  Minne- 
apolis; who  was  a  sutler's  clerk,  at  Fort  Snelling  then,  and  was 
frequently  back  and  forth  through  the  village  during  those  days, 
bestowed  on  PARRANT  the  suitable  and  expressive  sobriquet, 
''  Pig's  Eye,"  and,  after  a  little  while,  he  was  generally  known 
by  that  appropriate  nickname.  (The  Frenchmen  called  it 
O'ell  de  Cockon.}  Finally,  the  name  became  attached  to  the 
locality  itself,  in  the  following  manner  : 

One  day,  in  1839,  EDMUND  BRISSETT,  a  young  Canadian, 
who  had  come  to  Fort  Snelling  in  1832,  and  was  doing  odd 
jobs  of  carpentering  for  the  settlers  hereabouts,  such  as  furni- 
ture, doors,  sash,  &c.,  was  stopping  at  PARRANT'S,  and  wanted 
to  send  a  letter  to  JOSEPH  R.  BROWN,  who  had  a  trading  post 
on  Grey  Cloud  Island,  12  miles  below,  and  was  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  But  where  should  he  date  the  letter  at,  was  the 
problem  ?  "I  looked  up  inquiringly  at  PARRANT,  (says 
BRISSETT,  in  relating  the  circumstances,)  and,  seeing  his  old 
crooked  eye  scowling  at  me,  it  suddenly  popped  into  my  head 
to  date  it  at  Pig's  Eye,  feeling  sure  that  the  place  would  be 
recognized,  as  PARRANT  was  well  known  along  the  river.  In 
a  little  while  an  answer  was  safely  received,  directed  to  me  at 
Pig's  Eye.  I  told  the  joke  to  some  of  the  boys,  and  they  made 
lots  of  fun  of  PARRANT.  He  was  very  mad,  and  threatened 
to  lick  me,  but  nev^r  tried  to  execute  it."  Thus  the  name 
bestowed  on  the  place  in  a  joke,  stuck  to  it  for  years,  and  it  is 
jocoselv  called  by  it  to  this  day.  After  PARRANT  removed  to 
the  bottom,  below  Dayton's  Bluff,  some  three  or  four  years 


86  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pent  I,         [1839 

subsequently,  the  name  became  attached  to  that  locality,  and  it 
will  probably  be  known  as  such,  until  the  end  of  time. 

SETTLERS    AT    "  PIG'S    EYE"    IN    1839. 

During  the  summer  of  1839,  quite  a  number  of  Canadians 
settled  at  the  locality  now  known  as  Pig's  Eye,  then  called  the 
Grand  Marat's.  [PiKE,  who  was  here  in  1805,  speaks  of  it 
by  that  name  in  his  work.]  Among  them  were  :  AMABLE 
TURPIN,  MICHEL  LECLAIRE,  ANTOINE  LECLAIRE,  FRANCIS 
GAMMELL,  —  —  LASART,  JOSEPH  LABISINIER,  HENRY  BEL- 
LAND,  —  —  CHEVALIER.  AMABLE  MORIN,  and  CHARLES 
MOUSSEAU.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  some  of  these  may 
have  located  there  in  the  fall  of  1838,  after  the  ratification  of 
the  treaty  was  known,  but  at  least  the  above,  with  perhaps 
more  now  forgotten,  were  living  at  Pig's  Eye  in  the  year  men- 
tioned. They  were  all  in  the  employ  of  the  Fur  Company,  as 
voyageurs,  a  portion  of  the  year,  and,  when  not  needed  by  the 
company,  cultivated  their  little  farms  in  quiet. 

AMABLE  TURPIN  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Louis  ROBERT. 
He  was  born  at  Montreal,  Canada,  about  the  year  1766,  as, 
when  he  died,  in  1866,  he  was  in  his  icoth  year — a  span  of  life 
that  falls  to  the  lot  of  but  a  small  percentage  of  mortals.  While 
a  young  man,  he  went  to  Mackinac,  and  thence  to  Green  Bav, 
and  finally  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  American  Fur  Company  for  many  years.  The  date  of  his 
settlement  in  Prairie  du  Chien  is  not  now  remembered  accu- 
rately, but  it  must  have  been  early  during  the  present  century, 
as  when  the  British  captured  that  place,  in  1814,  Mr.  TI-IMMN 
was  a  citizen  of  influence  and  widely  known  in  the  Northwest. 
He  had,  during  his  long  life,  traveled  on  business  for  the  Fur 
Company,  over  every  portion  of  the  Northwest,  while  it  was 
an  utter  wilderness,  only  penetrated  occasionally  by  adventur- 
ous fur-traders  or  devoted  missionaries.  He  was  generally 
selected  by  the  Fur  Company  for  any  mission  or  voyage  of 
more  than  usual  difficulty,  danger  and  hardship.  His  ad- 
ventures, during  his  many  perilous  journeys  among  the  Indians, 
and  in  the  forests  and  lakes  of  the  Northwest,  would  fill  vol- 
umes. He  possessed  a  physique  of  extraordinary  power  and 


1839]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  87 

endurance.  He  lived  at  Pig's  Eye  several  years,  and  ultimately 
removed  to. Saint  Paul,  where  he  died  May  4,  1866,  having 
almost  rounded  out  a  century.  Mrs.  TURPIN  used  to  teach  the 
catechism  to  the  half-breed  children  at  the  Grand  Marais,  before 
the  arrival  of  Father  GALTIER — being  the  first  religious  teaching 
in  this  locality,  except  the  missionary  work  among  the  Indians. 

MICHEL  LECLAIRE  and  ANTOINE  LECLAIRE  were,  I  be- 
lieve, brothers.  They  came  from  Canada — date  unascertained 
by  the  writer.  ANTOINE  LECLAIRE,  I  think,  had  lived  at 
Mendota  several  years  before  settling  at  Pig's  Eye.  It  is  prob- 
able that  MICHEL  LECLAIRE  was  the  first  settler  at  the  Grand 
Marais,  as  the  locality  was  known  along  the  river  shortly  after 
that  time,  as  "  Point  LeClaire."  [See  letter  of  Rev.  L.  GAL- 
TIER,  post.~\  LECLAIRE  had  a  dispute,  several  years  subse- 
quent to  this  date,  with  PIERRE  PARRANT,  about  the  ownership 
of  a  claim  at  the  Grand  Marais,  which  is  fully  narrated  a  few 
pages  further  on.  LECLAIRE  died  at  Pig's  Eye,  about  the 
year  1849,  leaving  quite  a  numerous  family,  some  of  which 
still  live  in  this  vicinity.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  as  VETAL  GUERIN  states  that  he  made  the  doors  and 
windows  for  his  (G.'s)  cabin,  in  1840. 

Of  ANTOINE  LECLAIRE,  or  his  subsequent  history,  I  have, 
been  unable  to  learn  anything. 

FRANCIS  GAMMEL'S  history  will  be  found  more  fully  nar- 
rated in  the  events  of  the  year  1842,  where  he  plays  a  some- 
what conspicuous  part. 

JOSEPH  LABISINIER  came  from  Canada  originally,  and  lived 
some  time  at  Red  River,  where  he  married  a  Moutinier  woman. 
He  came  from  Red  River  to  Fort  Snelling,  in  1836,  with  the 
same  company  in  which  RONDO  et  als.  immigrated  to  Minne- 
sota. One  or  two  of  his  cotemporaries  think  he  settled  at 
Pig's  Eye  in  the  fall  of  1838 — but  at  least  he  was  living  there 
as  early  as  1839.  In  1842,  he  made  a  new  claim,  occupying  a 
part  of  Jackson  and  Robert  street  hill,  and  extending  down  to 
about  Twelfth  street.  He  erected  a  cabin  near  the  head  of 
Jackson  street,  which  was  burned  down  about  three  years  ago. 
His  claim  he  sold  to  JAMES  R.  CLEWETT,  in  1843 — considera- 
tion, a  horse — and  retired  a  little  further  back,  toward  Lake 


88  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1839 

Phelan,  where  he  made  a  new  claim.  He  died  at  Osseo, 
Minnesota,  several  years  since,  at  quite  an  advanced  age,  leav- 
ing several  children,  some  of  whom  reside  here  yet.  His 
widow  died  about  five  years  ago. 

HENRY  BELLAND,  another  resident  of  the  Grand  Marais  in 
1839,  subsequently  resided  in  West  Saint  Paul  for  many  years, 
and  is  still  a  citizen  of  that  locality.  • 

AMABLE  MORIN  now  lives  at  Wheatland,  Rice  county. 

CHARLES  MOUSSEAU  was  in  reality  more  a  resident  of  Saint 
Paul  than  of  Pig's  Eye,  since  his  claim  was  on  Dayton's  Bluff. 
and  not  in  the  Marais  at  all.  MOUSSEAU  was  a  native  of  Can- 
ada— born  1807.  He  came  to  Minnesota  in  1827,  as  a  voya- 
geur  of  the  Fur  Company.  In  1836,  he  was  married  to  FANNY 
PERRY,  at  Fort  Snelling,  and  in  the  fall  of  1838,  or  spring  of 
1839,  made  a  claim  as  above  stated,  in  what  is  now  Saint  Paul. 
This  claim  he  sold,  in  1848,  to  EB.  WELD,  and  moved  to  Hen- 
nepin  county,  of  which  he  has  been  a  resident  ever  since.  Mr. 
MOUSSEAU  now  resides  in  Minneapolis,  and  has  had  twelve 
children,  nine  of  them  now  living. 

DENIS  CHERRIER  came  to  the  Grand  Marais  in  the  fall  of  1839. 
He  is  a  native  of  Prairie  du  Chien, — born  1816.  Late  in  the 
fall,  he  started  for  Pig's  Eye,  on  a  steamer,  with  a  stock  of 
goods,  but  the  river  closed  with  ice  at  the  head  of  Lake  Pepin, 
so  that  the  boat  could  not  get  through,  and  CHERRIER  came  on 
in  a  canoe.  He  sold  his  goods  that  fall  and  returned  to  Prairie 
du  Chien,  but  came  up  again  the  next  year,  and  has  been  a 
resident  of  Saint  Paul  ever  since.  He  has  owned  several  claims 
at  different  times,  and,  had  he  held  on  to  any  one  of  them, 
might  be  well  off,  but,  like  many  of  our  pioneers,  he  sold  them 
for  a  mere  song,  and  is  still  poor.  DENNY'S  violin  used  to  en- 
liven the  dances  in  early  days,  and  some  of  the  girls  of  thirty 
years  ago — grandmothers  now — may  remember  how  they 
danced  all  night  to  his  music. 

JAMES    R.   CLEWETT. 

During  this  year,  JAMES  REUBEN  CLEWETT  became-  a  resi- 
dent of  the  little  settlement.  Mr.  CLEWETT  was  born  in 
England,  in  1810,  and  came  to  America  in  1829.  He  lived  in 


1839]       and  °f  thg  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  89 

Canada  for  a  couple  of  years,  and,  in  1831,  was  hired  by 
GABRIEL  FRANCHERE,  an  agent  of  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany, to  come  to  Minnesota  in  the  service  of  that  company,  as 
a  voyageur,  clerk,  &c.  On  arriving  at  Prairie  du  Chien, 
CLEWETT  was  assigned,  by  the  late  HERCULES  DOUSMAN,  to 
ROCOJJE'S  Trading  Post,  below  Lake  Pepin.  At  that  time  he 
could  not  speak  a  word  of  French,  but  was  soon  compelled 
to  learn  it,  as  well  as  Sioux,  because  English  was  not  spoken 
by  any  one  at  the  post.  No  one  but  CLEWETT  could  read  or 
write,  and  he  kept  all  the  books  arid  accounts  of  the  post. 
After  serving  at  ROCQUE'S  two  years,  in  1834  he  was  sent  to 
Lake  Traverse  to  "  old  man"  MOOER'S  Trading  Post.  He  re- 
mained in  that  region  until  the  winter  of  1838-9,  when  he 
came  to  Grey  Cloud  Island,  below  Saint  Paul,  with  JOSEPH  R. 
BROWN,  who  latterly  had  been  in  charge  of  the  Lake  Traverse 
Post.  After  remaining  there,  and  at  Mendota  a  short  time,  he 
went  to  live  at  ABRAHAM  PERRY'S,  on  his  claim  in  upper  Saint 
Paul,  and  in  April  of  1839,  married  ROSE  PERRY,  one  of  the 
daughters  of  the  old  gentleman,  being  the  first  marriage  in 
Saint  Paul.  Soon  after,  CLEWETT  purchased  the  claim  of 
•' JOHNSON,"  which  subsequently  (1843)  passed  into  the  pos- 
session of  Hon.  NORMAN  W.  KITTSON,  and  was  laid  out  as 
"'  Kittson's  Addition."  He  then  purchased  a  small  claim  of 
LABISINIER,  on  Jackson  street  hill,  where  he  resided  until  1851, 
when  he  removed  to  White  Bear  Lake,  and  has  resided  there 
since  that  date.  Mr.  CLEWETT  has  had  12  children,  eight  of 
whom  are  married,  and  have  considerable  families.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  steamboating  on  Red  River  for  two  or  three 
seasons  past,  and  is  still  active  and  hearty,  bidding  fair  to  live 
for  a  score  of  years  yet. 

THE    FIRST    MARRIAGE,    BIRTH    AND    DEATH. 

The  year  1839  witnessed  the  first  marriage,  birth  and  death, 
which  occurred  in  the  little  hamlet  that  subsequently  became 
Saint  Paul — the  initial  of  the  long  series  of  those  "important 
events"  in  the  life  of  each  one  of  its  future  citizens,  which  will 
gladden  or  sadden  households,  as  long  as  the  stream  of  hu- 
manity flows. 

7 


90  *    The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,      .   [1839 

The  first  birth  of  a  white  child,  was  in  the  family  of  BENJA- 
MIN GERVAIS.  His  youngest  son,  BASIL  GERVAIS,  was  born 
September  4,  1839,  and  is  now,  at  the  age  of  36  years,  a  re- 
specled  citizen  of  Centerville,  Anoka  county. 

In  a  newspaper  sketch,  which  the  writer  of  this  published 
several  years  ago,  it  was  stated,  (on  the  authority  of  the  late 
VETAL  GUERIN,  then  our  oldest  settler,)  that  his  son,  DAVID 
GUERIN,  now  deceased,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Saint 
Paul.  Mr.  GUERIN  supposed  this  was  the  case.  Subsequent 
investigation  of  church  registers,  however,  shows  this  to  be  an 
error.  DAVID  GUERIN  was  not  born  until  the  fall  of  1841. 
The  register  of  Saint  Gabriel's  Church,  at  Prairie  du  Chien, 
shows  BASIL  GERVAIS  to  have  been  born  September  4,  1839, 
and  baptized  by  Rev.  A.  RAVOUX,  then  at  Prairie  du  Chien, 
May  10,  1840,  while  his  mother  was  on  a  visit  to  that  place. 
Mr.  CLEWETT  was  long  under  the  impression  that  his  oldest 
son,  ALBERT,  was  the  first  white  child  born  here,  but  it  was 
not  until  January,  1840,  some  four  months  after  Mr.  GERVAIS 
was  born. 

The  first  marriage,  conformable  to  the  laws  of  the  land, 
which  occurred  in  Saint  Paul,  was  that  of  J.  R.  CLEWETT, 
to  ROSE  PERRY,  in  April,  of  this  year.  The  ceremony  was 
performed  by  Rev.  J.  W.  POPE,  a  Methodist  missionary  at 
Kaposia. 

Of  the  first  death  we  will  now  proceed  to  speak. 

THE    MURDER    OF    HAYS. 

PHELAN  and  HAYS,  who  were  partners  in  the  claim  busi- 
ness, had  been  residing  in  the  cabin  on  PHELAN'S  claim,  since 
April  of  this  year,  1839.  I<;  was  in  a  lonely  spot,  a  mile  or 
more  from  any  other  habitation,  and  but  seldom  did  any  one 
visit  the  cabin  of  the  two  settlers.  PHELAN,  as  before  re- 
marked, was  regarded  by  the  other  settlers,  as  a  bad,  unscrupu- 
lous, wicked  man.  HAYS  was  supposed  to  have  considerable 
money,  received  on  his  discharge  from  the  army,  and  the  two 
held  in  common  several  cattle  and  other  personal  property. 
The  two  men  were  as  unlike  as  possible  in  their  disposition. 


1839]       find  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota,  91 

character,  &c.,  and  it  was  known  that  they  did  not  agree  very 
well.  Such  was  the  situation  of  matters  in  September,  1839. 
About  the  middle  of  that  month,  HAYS  mysteriously  disap- 
peared. He  was  missed  for  several  days,  and,  to  inquiries  as 
to  his  whereabouts,  PHELAN  gave  evasive  and  unsatisfactory 
answers.  The  rumor  of  his  disappearance  reached  Fort  Snel- 
ling,  where  HAYS  was  well  known  and  liked.  TALIAFERRO 
makes  this  record  in  his  journal : 

"  Sunday,  i5th  September,  1839,  a  man,  by  name  HAYS,  an  Irishman, 
lost.  Supposed  killed — even  reported  to  have  been  murdered  by  the 
Chief  Wa-kin-yan-ton-ka,  [BiG  THUNDER— LITTLE  CROW'S  father.] 
No  belief  rests  with  me.  I  incline  to  the  opinion  that  his  neighbor, 
PHELAN,  knows  something.  HAYS  lived  with  him,  and  had  money." 

On  September  27,  TALIAFERRO  made  the  following  entry  : 
'•  Wabsheedah,  or  the  DANCER,  called  at  the  office  to  say  that 
his  sons  had  found  the  body  of  Mr.  HAYS,  lost  some  time  ago, 
in  the  river  near  Carver's  Cave." 

Maj.  TALIAFERRO  at  once  sent  Wabsheedah  to  Maj.  PLYMP- 
TON  with  the  following  note  : 

"AGENCY  HOUSE,  Saint  Peter's,  September  27,  1839. 
"  MAJOR  :  I  have  sent  the  bearer,  a  good  Indian,  to  go  with  the  gen- 
tlemen who  are  in  quest  of  the  identity  of  Mr.  HAYS'  body,  now  in  the 
water  near  CARVER'S  old  cave.     The  Indian  will  conduct  them  to  the 
spot,  being  so  directed  by  his  chief,  if  requested  so  to  do. 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"LAW.  TALIAFERRO,  Indian  Agent." 

The  body  of  poor  HAYS  was  at  once  secured.  On  examin- 
ation, his  head,  jaws  and  nose  were  found  badlv  mashed  bv 
violent  blows,  unmistakably  indicating  a  desperate  murder. 
PHELAN  was  at  once  arrested,  by  warrant  issued  bv  HENRY  H. 
SIBLEY,  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and,  on  the  28th,  was  examined 
before  that  officer  as  to  his  knowledge  of  HAYS'  death.  The 
evidence  adduced  and  the  other  circumstances  known,  were 
sufficient  to  justify  his  commitment  to  answer  the  charge  of 
murder  in  the  first  degree,  and  he  was  consequently  confined 
in  the  guard-house  at  the  fort,  until  the  next  steamboat  arrived, 
when  he  was  sent  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  county  seat  of  Craw- 
ford county*  Wisconsin  Territory,  in  which  the  crime  had 
been  committed,  to  await  trial. 


02  77ic  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [_l&39 

DID    PHELAN    MURDER    HAYS? 

It  is  somewhat  a  late  day,  36  years  after  the  event,  to  place 
PHELAN  on  trial  before  the  public,  as  to  his  guilt  in  the  murder 
of  his  partner,  but  we  propose  only  to  advance  such  facls  as 
the  lapse  of  time  have  left,  bearing  on  the  case. 

Of  PHELAN'S  guilt  no  one  who  was  resident  in  this  vicinity 
had  any  doubt.  Hon.  H.  H.  SIBLEY,  who  carefully  sifted  the 
evidence  on  the  examination  of  PHELAN,  says  it  was  such  as 
to  leave  no  doubt  of  his  guilt.  Gen.  SIBLEY  thinks  he  pre- 
served a  copy  of  the  evidence  taken — but  has  been  unable,  so 
far,  to  find  it  in  his  mass  of  papers.  Mrs.  BENJ.  GERVAIS  and 
WILLIAM  EVANS  were  two  witnesses  who  were  subpoenaed  to 
go  to  Prairie  du  Ghien  at  the  trial,  the  following  spring,  and 
give  evidence  against  PHELAN.  What  testimony  EVANS  may 
have  been  in  possession  of,  I  cannot  ascertain.  Mrs.  GER- 
VAIS, whose  memory  is  remarkably  clear  for  one  so  aged,  says, 
among  other  things,  that,  a  short  time  before  the  murder  of 
HAYS,  she  asked  PHELAN  how  he  and  HAYS  got  along. 
"Very  badly,"  replied  PHELAN.  ''He  is  a  lazy  good-for- 
nothing.  But  never  mind."  (he  added,  with  a  wicked  look,) 
"I'll  soon  get  rid  of  him."  ALPHONSE  GERVAIS  stated  that 
he  saw  blood  on  PHELAN'S  clothes,  and  that,  when  PHELAN'S 
cabin  was  searched,  bloody  clothes  were  found  beneath  the 
floor.  He  states,  moreover,  that  he  foutid  the  place,  near  the 
cabin,  where  the  acl  was  committed,  being  led  thither  by  a 
very  sagacious  dog  he  owned,  who  smelled  the  blood,  and 
plainly  traced  the  route  by  which  the  body  was  dragged  to  the 
river  from  thence.  Others  also  saw  these  evidences  of  a  mur- 
der. J.  R.  CLEWETT  says  he  thought,  at  the  time,  the  Indians 
had  committed  the  murder ;  and  that  one  Indian,  a  few  years 
afterward,  just  before  his  death,  confessed  that  he  wras  the 
murderer  of  HAYS  ;  also,  that  some  of  the  Kaposia  Indians 
used  to  assert  that  a  brother  of  LITTLE  CROW  had  committed 
the  a&.  But  Gen.  SIBLEY  says  this  is  impossible.  That  had 
any  Indian  committed  the  act,  he  (Gen.  S.)  would  certainly 
have  found  it  out.  Moreover,  there  was  no  particular  motive 
for  the  Indians  to  have  murdered  HAYS,  more  than  any  one 


1839]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  93 

else,  while  two  powerful  motives  would  seem  to  have  influ- 
enced PHELAN — revenge  and  avarice. 

There  is,  then,  no  alternative  left,  but  to  record  PHEI.AN  as 
the  mlirderer  of  HAYS.  He  must  stand,  on  the  chronicles  of 
our  city,  as  its  CAIN — the  first  who  imbrued  his  hands  with  the 
blood  of  his  brother — a  crime  too  often,  alas,  repeated  since 
that  day. 

THE    SURVEY    OF    THE    RESERVATION. 

Maj.  TALIAFERRO,  in  his  journal,  under  date  of  October  5, 
1839,  says : 

"  Lieut.  THOMPSON  is  engaged  in  making  the  lines  for  the  military 
Reservation  around  Fort  Snelling.  '  From  Mississippi  five  miles  up  the 
Saint  Peter's ;  thence  west  to  Lake  Harriet,  seven  miles ;  thence  along 
Lake  Harriet  to  the  Lake  of  the  Isles ;  thence  to  the  portage  landing, 
above  the  falls,  one-fourth  of  a  mile;  across  the  Mississippi,  five  miles.' 
'The  line, 'he  says  further,  'comes  below  the  cave;'  and,  in  another  place, 
'  that  it  extends  much  further  east  than  any  survey  hitherto.'" 

Maj.  PLYMPTON,  on  November  29,  transmits  this  map  to 
the  War  Department,  with  the  following  statement : 

"The  red  lines  show  the  boundaries  of  the  Reservation,  and  which 
are  conformable  to  the  survey  of  Lieutenant  SMITH,  with  this  slight 
difference  :  that,  in  his  survey,  the  principal  lines,  from  river  to  river, 
were  necessarily  (from  the  season  and  weather)  left  imaginary,  which, 
upon  an  actual  survey,  will  be  found  (to  embrace  the  necessary  wood- 
land and  to  preserve  the  cardinal  points)  to  cross  the  Mississippi  a  little 
further  down  than  that  imaginarily  indicated  on  the  map  of  Lieutenant 
SMITH'S  survey. 

"  The  limits  of  the  Reservation,  as  now  marked,  embrace  no  more 
ground,  I  conceive,  than  is  absolutely  necessary  to  furnish  the  daily 
wants  of  this  garrison,  and,  could  they  be  extended  further  into  the 
country  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  it  would,  no  doubt,  add  to  the  quiet 
of  this  command." 

The  limits  fixed  were  entirely  arbitrary.  They  were  not 
governed  by  the  "daily  wants"  of  the  garrison,  for  the  addi- 
tional woodland  secured  was  of  no  value  or  importance  to  the 
post,  and  was  never  utilized.  The  line  was  extended  far  be- 
yond the  possible  intent  of  the  Reservation.  JOHN  R.  IRVINE 
states,  that  when  he  came  here,  four  years  after,  the  east  line 


94  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1839 

of  the  Reservation  ran  about  where  the  Seven  Corners  now  is, 
thence  northwardly  to  about  where  the  Park  Place  Hotel  stands. 

ORDER   FOR    THE    EXPULSION    OF    THE    SOJJATTERS     FROM    THE 
RESERVE. 

But  we  must  return,  to  preserve  the  chronological  order  of 
events,  to  the  efforts  made  by  the  military  authorities,  for  the 
expulsion  of  squatters  from  the  Reserve.  Hort.  JOEL  R.  POIN- 
SETT,  Secretary  of  War,  after  duly  considering  the  letters  of 
Surgeon  EMERSON  and  Gen.  WOOL,  given  in  preceding  pages, 
issued  the  following  order  : 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT,  October  21,  1839. 

"SiR:  The  interests  of  the-  service,  and  the  proper  and  effective 
maintenance  of  the  military  post  at  Fort  Snelling,  requiring  that  the 
intruders  on  the  land  recently  reserved  for  military  purposes,  opposite 
to  that  post  east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  be  removed  therefrom,  the 
President  of  the  United  States  directs  that,  when  required  by  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  post,  you  proceed  there,  and  remove  them,  under 
the  provisions  of  the  adt  of  March  third,  1807,  entitled  'An  act  to  pre- 
vent settlements  being  made  on  lands  ceded  to  the  United  States,  until 
authorized  by  law.' 

"You  will  satisfy  yourself  of  the  shortest  period  within  which  the 
intruders  can  make  their  arrangements  for  removal,  and  depart  from 
the  Reservation,  without  serious  loss  or  sacrifice  of  the  property  which 
they  may  have  to  take  with  them ;  and  you  will  promptly  make  known 
to  theni  that  it  is  expected  they  will  not  delay  beyond  that  period ;  as, 
should  they  do  so,  it  will  become  your  duty  to  remove  them  by  mili- 
tary force.  It  is  hoped,  however,  that  a  resort  to  such  force  for  this 
purpose,  which,  by  the  act  above  mentioned,  the  President  is  authorized 
to  employ,  will  not  be  necessary ;  but  that  they  will  promptly  depart, 
on  being  informed  of  the  determination  of  the  executive,  not  to  permit 
them  to  remain.  Should  you,  however,  be  unfortunately  obliged  to  use 
force  in  order  to  accomplish  the  object,  you  are  authorized  to  call  for 
such  as  you  may  deem  necessary,  on  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort 
Snelling.  In  this  event,  you  will  act  with  as  much  forbearance,  consid- 
eration, and  delicacy  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  prompt  and  faithful 
performance  of  the  duties  hereby  assigned  to  you,  first  fully  and 
mildly  explaining  the  folly  of  resistance  on  their  part,  and  your  own 
want  of  discretion  in  the  matter. 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"J.   R.   POINSETT. 

"  EDWARD  JAMES,  Esq., 

"United  States  Marshal  for  the  Territory  of  Wiskonsan,  Peru." 


1839]       arid  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  95 

It  was  probably  the  intention  of  POINSETT  and  PLYMPTON  to 
have  ejected  the  squatters  that  fall.  By  an  accident,  however, 
the  above  letter  was  not  received  by  Mr.  JAMES  for  several 
months,  as  his  reply  below  shows  : 

"MINERAL  POINT,  WISCONSIN  TERRITORY,  -> 
"  February  i8th,  1840.  } 

"SiR:  By  the  evening's  mail,  I  have  received  your  instructions  of 
October  21,  1839,  relative  to  the  removal  of  intruders  at  Fort  Snelling. 
The  delay  of  their  receipt  has,  doubtless,  been  occasioned  bv  their  be- 
ing directed  to  Peru,  which  is  in  Iowa  Territory. 

"I  have  not  as  yet  received  any  request  from  the  commanding  officer 
of  that  fort,  but  shall  promptly  attend  to  the  duty  whenever  required. 
"Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"EDWARD  JAMES, 

"Marshal  of  Wisconsin. 
"Hon.  J.  R.  POINSETT." 

ACTION    OF    THE    WISCONSIN    LEGISLATURE. 

Probably  finding  there  was  no  stay  of  execution  to  be  se- 
cured from  any  other  source,  the  squatters  within  the  lines  of 
Maj.  PLYMPTON'S  Reserve,  seem  to  have  appealed  to  the  Wis- 
consin Legislature  to  interfere  in  their  behalf.  That  body  con- 
sequently passed  the  following  concurrent  resolutions  : 

"Whereas,  the  advantages  of  steamboat  landings  are  of  vast  impor- 
tance to  an  agricultural  district,  and  particularly  necessary  to  the  citi- 
zens of  this  Territory  residing  near  the  head  of  the  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi  river;  and  whereas,  the  military  Reservation  of  Fort  Snel- 
ling, in  Iowa  Territory,  has  been  so  surveyed  as  to  embrace  the  only 
convenient  steamboat  landing  east  of  the  Mississippi,  for  fifteen  miles 
below  the  head  of  navigation,  and  also  includes  a  valuable  agricultural 
district,  much  of  which  is  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  occu- 
pied by  an  industrious  and  enterprising  people,  some  of  whom  have 
made  valuable  improvements;  and  whereas,  it  appears  efforts  are  being 
made  by,  the  military  of  said  fort  to  procure  a  section  of  the  Reserve  as 
lately  surveyed,  for  speculative  purposes,  and  without  any  regard  to  the 
good  of  the  military  service  :  Now  be  it 

"  Resolved,  by  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Territory 
of  Wisconsin,  That  our  delegate  in  Congress  ^be  requested  to  protest 
against  the  extension  of  the  military  Reserve  of  Fort  Snelling  to  the 
Wisconsin  side  of  the  Mississippi. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  forward  one  copv  of 


96  The  History,  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1839 

the  foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  and 
one  copy  to  our  delegate  in  Congress. 
"Approved  December  16,  1839." 

On  January  12,  1840,  Governor  J.  D.  DOTY  addressed  the 
Secretary  of  War  as  follows  : 

"  WASHINGTON,  January  12,  1840. 

"  SIR  :  The  Legislative  Assembly  of  Wisconsin  has,  by  a  resolu- 
tion, approved  by  the  Governor  on  the  i6th  of  December,  1839,  requested 
me  to  protest  against  the  extension  of  the  military  Reservation  of  Fort 
Snelling  to  the  Wisconsin  side  of  the  Mississippi  River,  with  which 
I  have  now  the  honor  to  comply. 

'•A  question  of  some  importance  will  arise  if  the  Reservation  is 
made,  which  I  beg  leave  to  state  :  The  United  States  may  reserve  any 
portion  of  its  lands  from  sale,  but  can  it  extend  a  military  jurisdiction 
over  so  large  a  tradt  of  country  as  is  embraced  in  the  limits  of  this  Res- 
ervation by  the  simple  declaration  that  it  is  necessary  for  military  pur- 
poses ? 

"  A  Territory  is  a  State  under  a  temporary  form  of  government.  It 
may  be  doubtful  with  some  whether  Congress  may  exercise  exclusive 
jurisdiction  over  this  Reservation,  the  purchase  having  been  made  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  Legislature  of  that  State.  Against  the  exercise 
of  that  jurisdiction  the  legislative  power  of  that  State  now  protests. 

"The  subdivisions  of  the  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  are  de- 
nominated States  in  the  ordinance  of  1787.  And  in  the  third  section  it 
is  ordained  that  '  the  laws  to  be  adopted  or  made  (by  the  Legislature) 
shall  have  force  in  all  parts  of  the  distrifl.''  It  also  requires  the  Gov- 
ernor '  to  lay  out  the  parts  of  the  district,  in  which  the  Indian  titles 
shall  have  been  extinguished,  into  counties  and  townships.'  An  exclu- 
sive military  jurisdiction  would  be  incompatible  with  the  exercise  of 
this  power  by  the  Territorial  Government. 

"  I  am  advised  that  a  copy  of  the  resolution  of  the  Assembly  of  Wis- 
consin has  been  forwarded  to  the  War  Department,  and  I  beg  leave  to 
refer  to  the  reasons  therein  stated. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant. 

"J.  D.  DOTY. 

"  Hon.  J.  R.  POINSETT,  Secretary  of  War." 

VETAL    GUERIN. 

A  tew  pages  back,  mention  was  made  of  one  VETAL  GUERIN, 
who  purchased  PARR'ANT'S  original  claim,  but  who  never  came 
into  possession  of  it,  for  reasons  there  stated. 

VETAL  GUERIN  was  born  in  Saint  Remi,  Canada,  July  17, 


1839]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota. 


97 


1812.  His  father  was  Louis  GUERIN,  a  voyageur  by  occupa- 
tion, who  died  in  1865,  at  the  ripe  age  of  83.  VETAL  grew 
up  into  the  same  occupation  as  his  father.  In  1833,  when  he 
was  20  years  of  age,  a  lithe,  sinewy  young  fellow,  VETAL  en- 
listed in  the  service  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  under 


VETAL  GUERIN. 

GABRIEL  FRANCHERE,  for  three  years.  He  was  to  join  a  com- 
pany bound  for  the  Upper  Mississippi,  consisting  of  134  men, 
in  charge  of  four  barges  of  goods.  They  left  Montreal,  May 
5,  1832,  and  made  the  entire  journey  to  Mendota  by  water, 
through  the  lakes,  Green  Bay,  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin  Rivers, 
and  up  the  Mississippi.  The  entire  season  was  consumed  in 
this  trip,  and  it  was  late  in  the  fall  when  the  party  reached  the 
company's  post  at  Mendota. 

GUERIN  served  the  company  his  stipulated  three  years,  and, 


98  T/ie  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.          [1839 

after  that  term  had  expired,  worked  by  odd  jobs  for  the  com- 
pany, and  for  Mr.  FARIBAULT  and  other  traders,  at  Mendota 
and  Traverse  de  Sioux,  for  three  or  four  years  longer. 

GUERIN'S  first  investment  in  Saint  Paul  real  estate  had  not 
proved  a  paying  one,  but,  nevertheless,  he  soon  after  detei'- 
mined  to  repeat  the  experiment.  Looking  about,  in  the  fall  of 
1839,  he  found  the  HAYS  claim,  which  PHELAN  still  pretended 
to  own,  by  virtue  of  his  partnership  with  HAYS,  unoccupied, 
and  quite  likely  to  be  so  as  far  as  either  of  its  former  owners 
was  concerned — one  being  dead,  and  the  other  in  prison  300 
miles  away,  with  a  good  prospect  of  stretching  hemp.  As 
the  claim  suited  VETAL  pretty  well,  he  forthwith  squatted  on 
it,  and  proceeded  to  erect  a  cabin.  This  cabin,  so  he  stated 
to  the  writer,  was  a  very  unpretending  affair,  about  16x20  feet, 
built  of  oak  and  elm  from  the  woods  surrounding  it,  with  a 
bark  roof  and  a  floor  of  split  and  hewed  puncheons.  The  door 
and  sash  were  made  by  MICHEL  LECI.AIRE,  of  the  Grand 
Marais,  since  called  Pig's  Eye.  This  cabin  stood  on  the  spot 
now  occupied  by  Ingersoll's  Block,  and,  with  some  additions 
and  changes,  stood  there  until  1860,  when  the  buildings  occu- 
pying the  site  of  said  block  were  removed,  to  make  room  for  it.' 

Thus,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1839,  there  were  nine  cabins 
within  the  present  limits  of  the  city  of  Saint  Paul.  Patience  ! 
We  shall  have  a  citv  vet. 


1840]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  99 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEARS  1840  AND  1841. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  SAINT  CROIX  COUNTY— EXPULSION  OF  SETTLERS  FROM  THE 
RESERVE — SOME  OF  THEM  COME  TO  SAINT  PAUL — PHELAN  RETURNS  AND  DE- 
MANDS HIS  CLAIM  — GUERIN  CHECKMATES  HIM— JOSEPH  RONDO  — VETAL 
GUERIN'S  SUBSEQUENT  HISTORY — PIERRE  BOTTINEAU — A  CATHOLIC  MISSION 
FOUNDED  HERE — FATHER  GALTIER  AND  FATHER  RAVOUX,  &c. 

/CRAWFORD  county,  Wisconsin  Territory,  had  been  cre- 
V-/  ated  and  organized,  (as  noted  on  page  39,)  in  1819.  For 
twenty-two  years  its  boundaries  were  unchanged.  In  January, 
1840,  through  the  influence  of  JOSEPH  R.  BROWN,  a  bill  was 
passed  creating  "  Saint  Croix  County."  The  boundaries  of 
the  new  county  included  all  that  part  of  Crawford  county  lying 
west  of  a  line  running  northward  from  the  mouth  of  the  Por- 
cupine River  on  Lake  Pepin  to  Lake  Superior.  The  county 
seat  was  fixed  at  BROWN'S  town-site  of  "  Dakota,"  about  the 
upper  end  of  the  present  city  of  Stillwater.  In  the  fall  of  this 
year,  at  the  election  for  Representatives,  JOSEPH  R.  BROWN 
was  elecled  a  member  of  the  Wisconsin  Assembly,  for  two 
years.  Henceforth  this  region  commenced  to  have  a  voice 
in  the  public  affairs  of  the  Territory,  to  which  it  had  been 
hitherto  a  mere  unnoticed  back  settlement.  But  Saint  Paul 
must  have  stood  for  several  years  to  Wisconsin  about  in  the 
same  relation  that  Pembina  used  to,  to  Minnesota.  Its  repre- 
sentatives, from  this  date  until  the  organization  of  Minnesota 
Territory,  are  given  on  page  45. 

EXPULSION  OF  SETTLERS  FROM  THE  RESERVE. 

When  Marshal  EDWARD  JAMES,  of  Wisconsin  Territory, 
received  the  order  for  the  expulsion  of  the  settlers  on  the  Re- 
serve, he  sent  it  to  his  deputy,  IRA  B.  BRUNSON,  of  Prairie  du 
Chien,  to  execute.  As  it  was  now  near  the  end  of  winter, 


too  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1840 

and  traveling  very  difficult  and  insecure,  Mr.  BRUNSON  de- 
layed his  journey  until  the  opening  of  navigation  in  the  spring, 
when  he  took  the  first  boat  for  Fort  Snelling,  about  May  i . 
and  proceeded  to  execute  his  unpleasant  task. 

In  an  account  of  the  transaction  Mr.  BRUNSON  wrote  for  me. 
he  says  that  he  gave  the  settlers  several  days'  notice  to  remove, 
but  they  disregarded  the  warning,  so  that  he  was  compelled 
to  call  upon  Maj.  PLYMPTON  for  a  military  force  to  execute  the 
orders  vi  et  armis.  On  the  6th  day  of  May,  1840,  the  settlers 
on  the  Reserve  were  dishoused  and  driven  oft",  and  every  cabin 
within  the  lines  destroyed. 

In  a  memorial  from  the  expelled  settlers  to  Congress,  praying 
for  indemnity  for  their  losses,  presented  by  Delegate  H.  H.  SIB- 
LEY,  in  1849,  and  again  in  1852,*  the  settlers  state  that  the  soldiery 
fell  upon  them  without  warning,  treated  them  with  unjustifia- 
ble rudeness,  broke  and  destroyed  furniture  wantonly,  insulted 
the  women,  and.  in  one  or  two  instances,  fired  at  and  killed 
cattle.  Mr.  BRUNSON  denies,  positively,  in  general  and  in  par- 
ticular, these  statements.  He  states  that  the  soldiers  acied 
reluctantly  in  the  matter,  but  civilly,  under  the  command  of 
a  Lieutenant,  and  under  his  (BRUXSON'S)  supervision,  and  in 
their  presence.  As  the  settlers  refused  to  budge,  they  had  to 
carrv  their  household  goods  out,  but  none  was  broken  inten- 
tionally, and  no  unnecessary  force  was  used. 

ABRAHAM  PERRY,  the  GERVAIS  brothers,  RONDO,  and  other 
of  the  early  settlers,  of  Saint  Paul,  were  among  those  whose 
houses  were  destroyed.  To  these  poor  refugees  it  was  a  cruel 
blow.  The  victims  of  floods,  and  frosts,  and  grasshoppers,  in  the 
Red  River  valley,  and  once  before  expelled  from  the  Reserve, 
(west  side,)  it  seemed  that  the  cup  of  disaster  was  charged  to 
the  brim  for  them.  Mournfully  gathering  up  their  effects  and 
flocks,  they  set  out  once  more  to  find  a  home. 

FINDING    NEW    HOMES. 

On  being  dishoused,  the  unfortunate  settlers  retreated  beyond 

*  No  atftion  was  ever  taken  by  Congress  on  this  Memorial,  beyond  referring  it  to  a 
committee,  which  never  reported  on  it. 


1840]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  101 

the  line  of  the  Reserve,  and  there  made  preparations  for  begin- 
ning life  once  more. 

ABRAHAM  PERRY  and  family  sojourned  for  the  present  in  the 
house  of  his  son-in-law,  JAMES  R.  CLEWETT.  Almost  broken 
down  by  his  repeated  misfortunes,  and  by  the  severe  toil  and 
hardships  of  the  past  few  years,  PERRY  seemed  never  to  re- 
cover from  these  buffets  of  hard  fortune.  His  health  gradually 
declined.  For  some  time  his  lower  limbs  were  so  paralyzed 
that  he  could  not  stand.  He  still  endeavored  to  engage  in 
agricultural  labor,  and  actually  cut  down  trees  while  sitting  on 
the  ground.  He  died  in  May,  1849,  aged  73  years.  His 
wife,  Mrs.  MARY  ANN  PERRY,  died  in  1859,  at  an  advanced 
age,  at  the  residence  of  CHARLES  BAZILLE,  her  son-in-law. 

ABRAHAM  PERRY  had  seven  children,  the  three  oldest  of 
whom  were  born  in  Switzerland,  two  at  Red  River,  and  the 
two  youngest  at  Fort  Snelling.  His  only  son,  CHARLES  PERRY, 
born  in  Switzerland,  now  lives  at  Lake  Johanna,  Ramsey 
county.  Mr.  PERRY'S  daughters  all  married  in  this  vicinity, 
as  follows  :  SOPHIA  married  PIERRE  CREVIER,  and  lives  near 
Watertown,  Minnesota.  FANNY  married  CHARLES  MOUSSEAU, 
1836  ;  residence,  Minneapolis.  ROSE  ANN  married  J.  R.  CLEW- 
ETT, 1839  ;  residence,  White  Bear.  ADELE  married  VETAL 
GUERIN,  1841  ;  residence,  Saint  Paul.  JOSEPHINE  married  J.  B. 
CORNOYER,  1843  ;  residence,  Minneapolis.  ANNIE  JANE  mar- 
ried CHARLES  BAZILLE,  1846  ;  residence,  Saint  Paul.  Nearly 
every  one  of  PERRY'S  children  have  raised  large  families,  and 
he  had  over  75  grandchildren. 

GERVAIS    BUYS    PARRANT's    CLAIM. 

BEN.  GERVAIS,  on  losing  his  home  near  the  creek,  in  upper 
town,  at  once  proceeded  to  PARRANT'S  claim,  before  mentioned 
and  purchased  of  that  swine-optical  individual,  all  his  right, 
title  and  interest  to  said  real  estate,  together  with  the  heredita- 
ments and  appurtenances,  and  so  on.  Reader,  what  do  you 
suppose  GERVAIS  paid  to  "  Old  Pig's  Eye"  for  this  property, 
now  in  the  heart  of  our  city?  Ten  dollars!  It  is  now  worth 
several  millions. 

PARRANT  had  an  uncompleted  cabin  on  the  edge  of  the  bluff, 


I02  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1840 

about  where  the  corner  of  Robert  and  Bench  streets  now  is. 
GERVAIS  finished  this,  and  occupied  it  as  a  dwelling  for  sev- 
eral years. 

PARR  ANT  at  once  made  a  new  claim  on  the  lower  levee, 
and  creeled  another  hovel,  where  he  continued  his  whisky 
business  until  1843,  when  Louis  ROBERT  purchased  his  claim. 
But  of  this  hereafter. 

PHELAN'S  TRIAL. 

In  the  spring  of  1840,  the  case  of  PHELAN,  who  for  several 
months  past  had  been  lying  in  the  guard-house  at  Fort  Craw- 
ford, Prairie  du  Chien,  awaiting  trial  for  HAYS'  murder,  was 
taken  up  by  the  court  of  Crawford  county.  I  have  been  unable 
to  ascertain  just  what  action  was  had  in  his  case.  Hon.  IRA 
B.  BRUNSON,  now  County  Judge  at  Prairie  du  Chien-,  at  my 
request,  carefully  searched  the  records  of  the  court  at  that  pe- 
riod, and  before  and  after,  but  can  find  no  reference  to  the  case. 
The  only  explanation  is,  that  the  case  was  brought  before  the 
grand  jury,  who  failed  to  find  a  bill  against  PHELAN,  and  he 
was  discharged.  Mrs.  GERVAIS  and  WM.  EVANS  went  to 
Prairie  du  Chien  as  witnesses,  but  their  evidence  probably 
failed  to  convince  the  grand  jury  of  PHELAN'S  guilt,  and  he 
was  allowed  to  go  his  way. 

PHELAN    VS.    GUERIN. 

When  PHELAN  made  his  way  back  to  Saint  Paul,  which  he 
soon  did,  he  found  VETAL  GUERIN  in  possession  of  the  HAYS 
claim,  which  he  (PHELAN)  still  pretended  to  own,  by  virtue 
of  his  partnership  with  HAYS.  He  at  once  proceeded  to  de- 
mand of  GUERIN,  possession  of  the  claim.  The  result  we 
give  in  GUERIN'S  own  words,  dictated  to  the  writer  in  1866 : 

"  PHELAN  called  at  my  cabin,  accompanied  bv  JAMES  R.  CLEWETT 
as  interpreter,  as  I  could  then  talk  no  English.  He  demanded  posses- 
sion of  the  claim.  I  replied  that  I  would  not  give  it  up,  as  I  believed  I 
was  rightfully  entitled  to  it.  Some  more  talk  ensued,  and,  finding  that 
I  was  not  disposed  to  yield  to  him,  PHELAN  told  JIM  to  say  that  it"  1 
was  not  off  by  a  certain  day — say  a  week  from  then — he  would  put  me 
off  by  force.  As  PHELAN  was  a  large,  powerful  man.  and  I  was  small 


1840]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  103 

and  light,  he  could  have  easily  picked  me  up  and  carried  me  outside  the 
claim  lines.  After  making  this  threat,  PHELAN  went  away. 

"  As  I  knew  I  could  not  deal  with  PHELAN  single-handed,  I  told  some 
of  my  voyageur  companions  at  Mendota  how  matters  stood,  and  three 
or  four  of  them,  strong,  '  husky'  fellows,  came  down  to  stay  with  me. 
A  supply  of  liquor  and  some  cards  made  time  pass  merrily.  On  the 
day  PHELAN  had  set  to  put  me  off  the  claim,  sure  enough,  he  made  his 
appearance — axe  in  hand  and  sleeves  rolled  up — with  CLEWETTas  inter- 
preter. Through  the  latter,  PHELAN  inquired  if  I  would  leave.  I  re- 
plied, no.  PHELAN  got  very  mad  at  this,  and  said,  '  tell  the  d —  little 
Frenchman  I  will  take  him  under  my  arm  and  throw  him  off  the  claim.' 

"  I  then  said  to  my  men,  who  were  inside,  that  I  thought  it  was  time 
for  them  to  interfere.  They  came  out,  and,  throwing  off  their  coats, 
told  PHELAN  that  if  he  did  not  go  way  and  leave  me  alone,  they  would 
pitch  him  over  the  bluff!  And,  moreover,  if  he  ever  molested  me,  they 
would  lynch  him.  PHELAN  knew  they  were  not  fellows  whom  it  would 
do  to  trifle  with,  and,  as  he  had  just  got  out  of  one  bad  scrape,  didn't 
want  to  get  into  any  further  trouble,  if  he  could  avoid  it.  He  finally 
left,  saying  he  would  take  the  law  of  me.  He  thereupon  commenced  an 
acftion  before  JOSEPH  R.  BROWN,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  at  Grey  Cloud 
Island,  to  recover  possession.  BROWN  examined  into  the  case,  and 
found  that  PHELAN  was  absent  from  his  claim  more  than  six  months  at 
one  time.  So  he  told  PHELAN  that  he  had  lost  all  title  to  it,  and  that 
I  could  not  be  ejected.  I  had  no  further  trouble  with  him,  and  kept 
peaceable  possession  of  the  claim." 

GUERIN    GIVES    AWAY    HALF    HIS    CLAIM. 

When  GUERIN  had  thus  quieted  title  to  his  claim,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  do  a  very  generous  act  for  a  friend,  PIERRE  GER- 
VAIS,  who  had  recently  been  expelled  from  the  Reserve,  and 
was  looking  for  a  new  home.  Feeling  lonesome,  and,  wanting 
a  neighbor,  he  gave,  without  any  consideration,  one-half  of 
his  claim — or  at  least  a  good  share  of  it — to  PIERRE,  on  con- 
dition that  the  latter  would  come  and  live  there.  GERVAIS 
accepted  the  offer,  and  built  a  cabin  about  where  Mrs.  Dr. 
MANN'S  block  is  now,  corner  of  Third  and  Saint  Peter  streets. 
He  lived  here  about  two  years,  and,  in  1842,  sold  the  claim  to 
DENIS  CHERRIER  for  $150,  and  moved  into  lower  town,  where 
he  got  another  small  tract.  CHERRIER,  in  turn,  sold  the  claim, 
in  1843,  to  SCOTT  CAMPBELL  for  $300,  and,  in  1848,  CAMPBELL 
sold  out  to  WM.  HARTSHORN  and  others. 


104  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,          [1840 

JOSEPH    RONDO. 

A  few  pages  back,  reference  was  made  to  JOSEPH  RONDO. 
a  refugee  from  Red  River,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  squatters 
on  the  Reserve,  east  of  the  Mississippi.  His  house  was  one 
which  was  destroyed  by  the  soldiery  on  May  6,  1840. 

JOSEPH  RONDO  was  born  near  Montreal,  Canada,  in  1797- 
When  quite  a  lad,  some  17  or  18  years  old,  he  engaged  as  a 
voyageur  in  the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  was 
sent  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  He  passed  several  years,  in  the  labo- 
rious work  of  his  calling,  on  Frazer  River,  Great  Slave  Lake, 
Fort  Edmonton,  and  other  posts  on  the  extreme  west  and 
north  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  dominions. 

About  1827,  he  settled  in  the  Red  River  Colony,  near  Fort 
Garry,  and,  having  married  JOSEPHINE  BOILEAU,  a  Kootenais 
mixed  blood,  established  a  farm  there.  The  troubles  which 
afflicled  the  colonists  have  already  been  referred  to.  After 
enduring  them  for  eight  years,  Mr.  RONDO,  in  companv  with 
the  GERVAIS  brothers,  BEAUMETTE.  BRUCE,  BLANC,  MIC mci. 
DUFENI,  LABISINIER,  GOODRICH,  and  others — about  60  in  all — 
left  the  Red  River  Colony,  and  settled  near  Fort  Snelling. 
RONDO  purchased  a  house  on  the  west  side,  of  JOSEPH  TUUPIN, 
from  which  he  was  ejected  on  May  6,  1840,  with  the  other 
settlers. 

Following  the  example  of  PERRY,  GERVAIS  and  others, 
RONDO  then  came  to  the  lower  side  of  the  Reserve,  looking 
for  a  new  claim.  PHELAN  offered  his  for  sale,  including  the 
unfurnished  hovel  under  the  hill,  the  scene  of  the  HAYS 
tragedy,  for  $200.  RONDO  purchased  the  same,  and,  finishing 
up  the  house,  lived  in  it  a  season  or  two,  until  he  could  build 
a  more  comfortable  one. 

PHELAN    MAKES    A    NEW    CLAIM. 

Having  now  lost  or  disposed  of  all  his  real  estate  in  Saint 
Paul,  PHELAN  made  a  new  claim  on  the  creek  that  now  hears 
his  name,  and  built  a  cabin  about  where  HAMM'S  brewery  is. 
This  claim  enclosed  a  fine  water-power  on  the  creek,  and.  in 
1844,  it  was  purchased  by  WILLIAM  DUGAS,  for  a  mill-site,  as 
will  be  found  more  fully  narrated  in  the  events  of  that  year. 


1841]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsev,  Minnesota.  105 

SOMETHING    MORE    ABOUT    VETAL    GUERIN. 

GUERIN  lived  moi'e  than  a  year  alone  in  his  cabin,  but  such 
a  solitary,  bachelor  life  must  have  become  very  distasteful  to 
him.  So,  he  persuaded  one  of  the  few  young  women  which 
the  little  village  then  boasted  of,  Miss  ADELE  PERRY,  to  share 
his  lot.  On  January  26,  1841 ,  Father  GALTIER  made  the  twain 
one  flesh,  at  Mendota.  Returning  to  the  settlement,  a  gay  and 
pleasant  party  was  given  to  the  new  couple,  at  the  house  of 
BEN.  GERVAIS,  during  the  evening.  DENNY  CHERRIER  says 
he  fiddled  that  night  until  he  was  exhausted. 

The  domestic  outfit  of  the  young  couple  was  not  an  extrava- 
gant one.  Furniture  was  only  obtainable  those  days  from 
Saint  Louis.  The  settlers  generally  made  their  own  furniture. 
The  bridal  bed  was  a  bunk  of  boards,  on  which  hay  and  a  red 
blanket,  which  GUERIN  had  brought  from  Mackinac,  were 
spread.  Mrs.  GUERIN  soon  afterward  traded  a  shawl  to  some 
Indians  for  feathers,  and  thus  softened  the  rough  edges  of  life 
a  little.  GUERIN'S  chest,  that  held  all  his  goods  and  effects, 
served  for  a  dining  table,  until  a  better  one  could  be  procured. 

A  few  i-ods  from  GUERIN'S  cabin,  was  PARRANT'S  establish- 
ment, and  the  powerful  nature  of  the  minne-wakan  he  sold  the 
Indians  there,  used  to  turn  them  sometimes  into  red  demons. 
In  one  of  their  crazy  sprees,  the  Indians  killed  GUERIN'S  cow 
and  pig,  and  destroyed  other  property.  Indeed,  the  lives  of 
GUERIN  and  his  bride  were  oftentimes  in  danger,  and  their 
honeymoon  was  somewhat  a  stormy  one,  take  it  all  in  all. 
These  devilish  sprees  of  the  Indians  occurred  occasionally  for 
several  years.  Once,  when  Mrs.  GUERIN  was  nursing  her 
first  child,  about  two  months  old,  some  nine  or  ten  Indians 
made  an  attack  on  the  house,  and  tried  to  kill  GUERIN.  They 
broke  in  the  window,  and  attempted  to  crawl  in.  Mrs.  G. 
concealed  herself  under  the  bed,  expecting  to  be  murdered. 
GUERIN  seized  an  axe,  and  was  about  to  brain  the  first  pagan 
whose  head  appeared  through  the  window.  This  would  have 
been  a  very  unfortunate  affair  for  GUERIN,  had  it  happened, 
but,  luckily,  before  any  bloodshed  occurred,  a  friendly  chief, 
named  "HAWK'S  BILL,"  came  up,  and  remonstrated  with  the 
8 


106  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1841 

drunken  brutes,  urging  them  to  leave.  While  they  were  par- 
leying, Mr.  and  Mrs.  GUERIN,  with  the  child,  slipped  out  of 
the  door,  and  fled  to  Mr.  GERVAIS'  house.  The  Indians  then 
went  away,  after  shooting  GUERIN'S  dog  with  arrows. 

Another  time,  GUERIN  was  leaning  on  the  gate-post  of  his 
garden,  when  some  drunken  Indians,  coming  up  Bench  street 
hill,  fired  at  him.  A  ball  struck  the  post,  making  a  narrow 
escape  for  VETAL.  Again,  as  he  opened  his  door,  one  morn- 
ing, an  iron-headed  arrow  whizzed  past  his  head,  and  stuck 
in  the  door-jamb.  Another  close  call,  but  GUERIN  survived 
them  all. 

At  that  time,  Mendota  was  the  only  place  where  supplies 
or  necessaries  of  anv  kind  could  be  obtained,  and  these  usually 
of  a  simple  character.  Pork,  flour,  tea  and  sugar,  were  about 
all  that  could  be  purchased  in  the  way  of  provisions,  but  game 
was  very  plenty,  and  some  farming  on  a  small  scale  had  begun. 
In  the  summer  after  his  marriage,  GUERIN  enclosed  a  small 
field,  embracing  the  land  now  lying  between  Saint  Peter 
and  Cedar,  Bench  and  Sixth  streets,  and  plowed  it  up  for  a 
garden.  His  oxen  were  "Red  River"  cattle.  Mrs.  GUERIN 
used  to  help  him  by  driving  the  oxen.  GUERIN,  one  year, 
raised  considerable  grain,  but  could  not  sell  it,  or  get  it  ground 
up — so  it  laid  in  his  granary  until  it  rotted.  There  was  no 
grist-mill  in  this  region,  for  custom  use,  until  LEMUEL  BOLLES 
established  his,  on  Bolles  Creek,  in  1845. 

It  needs  but  little  more  space  to  speak  of  GUERIN'S  subse- 
quent life,  and,  perhaps,  it  is  as  fitting  here  as  anywhere.  In 
his  little  cabin  he  kept  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  even  when 
the  whirl  of  real  estate  speculation  was  turning  men's  brains. 
While  his  neighbors  were  selling  out  at  what  they  deemed 
fabulous  sums,  and  moving  away,  GUERIN  held  on  to  his 
claim — nay,  refused  tempting  offers  for  it,  and  was  called  a 
fool  for  so  doing.  And  it  did  seem  foolish  when,  in  1843,  he 
declined  $1,000  for  his  land.  Had  some  dream  of  a  future 
splendid  city,  rising  like  a  palace  of  enchantment,  come  to 
him,  as  he  slept  in  his  bark-roofed  cabin?  Verily,  one  would 
think  so.  But  fortune  befriended  the  plain,  humble  French- 
man. Suddenly  his  acres  leaped  into  great  value.  He  was  a 


1841]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  107 

rich  man.  His  dream  had  been  realized.  Yet,  with  property 
valued  at  over  $100,000,  he  was  the  same  plain,  unassuming 
man  as  he  had  been  in  his  pioneer  cabin.  True,  he  built  a 
finer  house,  in  1849,  corner  of  Wabasha  and  Seventh  streets, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  but  he  assumed  no  parvenu 
airs,  and  no  foolish  pride  puffed  him  up,  though  ample  means 
compensated  him  for  the  hardships  and  privations  of  his  earlier 
years.  He  gave  to  his  children  the  education  of  which  he 
had  been  denied.  His  generosity  was  a  distinguishing  trait. 
After  the  town  was  laid  out,  in  1847,  h£  gave  away  property 
worth  now  a  round  quarter  million — one  block  for  the  court- 
house, several  lots  to  the  church,  and  for  other  purposes. 
During  his  vears  of  plenty,  he  was  unceasinglv  beneficent  to 
his  poor  countrymen,  who  alwavs  found  in  him  a  liberal  and 
sympathizing  friend.  Honest  and  candid  himself,  his  simple 
faith  and  trust  in  other  men's  honor,  was  large  and  confiding — 
a  trait  that  continually  enabled  sharpers  to  defraud  and  over- 
reach him,  until  his  ample  fortune  melted  away  by  reverses, 
which,  before  his  death,  sent  him  into  the  bankrupt  court.  In 
his  prosperous  days,  every  enterprise  for  the  good  of  the  city, 
met  his  generous  aid,  and  yet  he,  the  once  owner  of  millions, 
the  princely  donor  of  estates  to  the  public,  died  poor,  and  his 
family  have  since  felt  the  pinchings  of  want.  'His  last  illness 
was  long  and  painful,  but  patiently  borne.  He  died  No- 
vember n,  1870,  aged  58  years,  and  his  funeral  was  attended 
by  a  large  gathering  of  old  settlers  and  early  citizens.  The 
common  council  properly  honored  his  memory  by  erecting  a 
monument  over  his  remains,  which  now  repose  in  Catholic 
cemetery. 

The  excellent  portrait  of  him,  given  elsewhere,  was  taken 
from  a  small  card  photograph,  the  only  one  he  ever  had  made, 
and  which  was  taken,  not  long  before  his  death,  at  the  urgent 
request  of  the  writer. 

PIERRE    BOTTINEAU. 

In  1841,  PIERRE  BOTTINEAU  settled  in  Saint  Paul,  with  his 
brother,  SEVERE  BOTTINEAU,  and  purchased  of  BENJ.  GER- 
VAIS,  a  small  tradl  of  land  on  what  was  afterwards  known  as 


toS  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul, 

Baptist  hill.  PIERRE  BOTTINEAU  is  one  of  the  most  notable 
characters  of  the  Northwest.  'He  was  born  in  the  Red  River 
settlement,  his  father  being  a  French  Canadian,  and  his  mother 
a  Chippewa  woman,  and  came  to  Fort  Snelling,  in  1837,  where 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  General  SIBLEY  for  a  while,  as  guide, 
interpreter,  &c.  He  was  one  of  the  settlers  expelled  from  the 
Reserve,  and  came  to  Saint  Paul,  as  above  stated.  He  lived 
here  six  years,  when  he  sold  his  claim,  and  made  a  new  one 
at  Saint  Anthony  Falls,  which  he  subsequently  laid  out  as  an 
addition  to  the  city.  He  was  also  the  first  settler  at  Maple 
Grove,  or  "  Bottineau's  Prairie,"  in  Hennepin  county. 

Perhaps  no  man  in  the  Northwest  has  passed  a  life  of  more 
romantic  adventures,  exciting  occurrences,  hair-breadth  es- 
capes, and  "accidents  by  flood  and  field,"  than  Mr.  BOTTI- 
NEAU. He  has  traveled  over  every  foot  of  the  Northwest,  and 
knows  the  country  like  a  map.  He  speaks  almost  every  In- 
dian language  in  this  region,  and  his  services  as  guide  and 
interpreter  have  always  been  in  great  demand.  He  was  guide 
to  Col.  NOBLES'  wagon  road  expedition  to  Frazer  River,  in 
1859,  to  Captain  FISK'S  Idaho  expedition  of  1862,  and  Gen. 
SIBLEY'S  expedition  to  the  Missouri  River,  in  1863,  &c.  His 
adventures,  could  they  be  faithfully  written,  would  make  a 
volume  of  surpassing  interest.  Mr.  BOTTINEAU  is  now  about 
.  65  years  of  age,  but  is  as  strong  and  active  as  he  was  thirty 
years  ago. 

A    CATHOLIC    MISSION    FOUNDED. 

With  whisky  as  an  element  of  traffic,  making  brutes  of  the 
white  men  and  demons  of  the  red  men — making  Saint  Paul — 
i.  e.,  the  little  hamlet  which  was  its  nucleus — a  by-word,  even 
among  the  savages,  there  is  no  knowing  what  depths  of  abase- 
ment might  have  awaited  it,  had  not  a  mighty  and  powerful 
moral  influence  been  thrown  into  the  scale  against  rum — and 
that  was,  a  Christian  church. 

In  1839,  Bishop  LORAS,  of  Dubuque,  had  visited  Fort  Snel- 
ling and  Mendota.  with  a  view  of  establishing  mission  churches 
in  a  region,  as  yet,  destitute  of  them,  but  which  was  now  be- 
ginning to  attract  notice,  and  attention,  and  population,  and 


1841]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  109 

bade  fair,  ultimately,  to  become  of  importance.  In  a  letter  to 
a  relative  in  Ireland,  [published  subsequently  in  the  "  Annals 
of  Faith,"  Dublin,  1840,]  he  says  : 

"  DuBuquE,  July,  1839. 

"I  have  just  returned  from  Saint  Peter's,  [Mendota,]  where  I  made  my 
second  mission,  or  episcopal  visitation.  Though  it  lasted  only  a  month, 
it  has  been  crowned  with  success.  I  left  Dubuque  on  the  23d  of  June, 
on  board  a  large  and  magnificent  steam  vessel,  and  was  accompanied  by 
the  Abbe  PELAMOURGUES,  and  a  young  man  who  served  us  as  interpre- 
ter with  the  Sioux.  After  a  successful  voyage  of  some*  days,  along  the 
superb  Mississippi,  we  reached  Saint  Peter's.  Our  arrival  was  a  cause 
of  great  joy  to  the  Catholics,  who  had  never  before  seen  a  priest  or 
bishop  in  those  remote  regions  ;  they  manifested  a  great  desire  to  assist 
at  divine  worship,  and  to  approach  the  sacraments  of  the  church.  The 
wife  of  our  host  was  baptized  and  confirmed ;  she  subsequently  received 
the.  sacrament  of  matrimony.  The  Catholics  of  Saint  Peter's  amount  to 
185,  fifty-six  of  whom  we  baptized,  administered  confirmation  to  eight, 
communion  to  thirty-three  adults,  and  gave  the  nuptial  benediction  to 
four  couples. 

'l  Arrangements  have  been  made  for  the  construction  of  a  church 
next  summer,  and  a  clergyman  is  to  be  sent,  when  he  is  able  to  speak 
French,  (which  is  the  language  of  the  majority,)  English,  and  the 
Sioux.  To  facilitate  the  study  of  the  latter,  we  are  to  have,  at  Dubuque, 
this  winter,  two  young  Sioux,  who  are  to  teach  one  or  two  of  our  young 
ecclesiastics." 

Bishop  LORAS  remained  thirteen  days  at  Mendota,  and  then 
returned  to  Dubuque  in  a  canoe.  The  next  spring,  he  was1 
reminded,  one  day,  when  an  up-bound  steamer  whistled  for  the 
landing,  of  his  promise  to  send  a  priest  hither.  He  selected 
Rev.  LUCIAN  GALTIER  for  the  work,  and,  in  one  hour,  that 
clergyman  was  en  route  to  his  new  field  of  labor. 

REV.   LUCIAN    GALTIER. 

The  following  extract  from  a  memoir  of  Father  GALTIER, 
written  by  Rev.  JOHN  IRELAND,  for  the  Historical  Society, 
gives  an  account  which  will  be  read  with  interest : 

"  LUCIAN  GALTIER  was  born  in  France,  Department  of  Ardeches,  A. 
D.  1811.  From  an  early  age,  he  looked  forward  to  the  priesthood  as 
his  vocation,  and  was  a  student  of  theology  in  the  seminary  of  his  na- 
tive diocese,  when  Bishop  LORAS,  the  then  newly  appointed  prelate 
of  Dubuque,  arrived  in  Europe,  in  quest  of  laborers  for  the  immense 


no  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,          [1841 

region  confided  to  his  spiritual  charge.  The  missionaries,  whom  the 
Bishop  persuaded  to  follow  him  to  the  wilds  of  western  America,  were 
Rev.  JOSEPH  CRETIN,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Saint  Paul ;  Rev.  JOSEPH 
PELAMOURGUES,  now  Vicar  General  of  Dubuque ;  Rev.  A.  RAVOUX, 
now  Vicar  General  of  Saint  Paul ;  *  *  *  and  Rev.  L.  GALTIER. 
The  party  landed  in  New  York,  in  .the  fall  of  1838.  Messrs.  GALTIER 
and  RAVOUX,  who  had  not  jet  completed  their  studies,  proceeded  to 
Emmitsburg  College,  Maryland,  where  they  remained  about  a  year. 
They  were  ordained  in  Dubuque,  January  5,  1840. 

"  The  diocese,  of  Dubuque  comprised  what  was  then  the  Territory  of 
Iowa,  the  present  State  of  Iowa,  and  as  much  of  Minnesota  as  lies  west 
of  the  Mississippi.  The  east  side,  though  under  the  direct  jurisdiction 
of  the  Bishop  of  Milwaukee,  was,  however,  generally  attended  to  by 
Dubuque  priests,  who,  geographically,  were  in  closer  proximity  than 
those  of  other  dioceses." 

Of  his  arrival  at  Mendota,  and  subsequent  founding  of  the 
church  which  gave  the  name  to  our  city,  let  us  copy  from  an 
account  written  by  himself,  in  1864,  at  the  request  of  Bishop 
GRACE : 

4i  On  the  26th  of  April,  1840,  a  Saint  Louis  steamboat,  the  first  of  the 
season,  arrived  at  Dubuque,  bound  for  Fort  Snelling.  Rt.  Rev.  Dr. 
LORAS  immediately  came  to  me,  and  told  me  he  desired  to  send  me 
toward  the  upper  waters  of  the  Mississippi.  There  was  no  Saint  Paul 
at  the  time ;  there  was,  on  the  site  of  the  present  city,  but  a  single  log 
house,  occupied  by  a  man  named  PHELAN,  and  steamboats  never 
stopped  there. 

"  The  boat  landed  at  the  foot  of  Fort  Snelling,  then  under  command 
of  Major  PLYMPTON.  The  discovery  that  I  soon  made — that  there  were 
only  a  few  houses  on  the  Saint  Peter's  side,  and  but  two  on  the  side  of 
the  fort,  surrounded  by  a  complete  wilderness,  and  without  any  signs 
of  fields  under  tillage — gave  me  to  understand  that  my  mission  and  life 
must  henceforth  be  a  career  of  privation,  hard  trials  and  suffering,  and 
required  of  me  patience,  labor  and  resignation.  I  had  before  me  a  large 
territory,  too,  under  mv  charge — but  few  souls  to  watch  over.  *  *  * 

"  In  that  precarious  and  somewhat  difficult  condition,  I  continued  for 
over  a  year.  *  *  *  A  circumstance,  rather  sad  in  itself,  commenced 
to  better  my  situation,  by  procuring  for  me  a  new  station  and  a  variety 
in  my  scenes  of  labor.  Some  families — most  of  whom  had  left  the  Red 
River  settlement,  British  America,  on  account  of  the  flood  and  the 
loss  of  their  crops,  in  the  years  1837  an<^  1838 — had  located  themselves 
all  along  the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  opposite  the  fort.  Unfor- 
tunately, some  soldiers,  now  and  then,  crossed  the  river  to  the  houses 
of  these  settlers,  and  returned  intoxicated — sometimes  remaining  out  a 


1841].      and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  in 

day  or  two,  or  more,  without  reporting  to  their  quarters.  Consequently, 
a  deputy  marshal,  from  Prairie  du  Chien,  was  charged  to  remove  the 
houses.  He  went  to  work,  assisted  by  soldiers,  and  unroofed,  one  after 
another,  the  cottages,  extending  about  five  miles  along  the  river.  The 
settlers  were  forced  to  look  for  new  homes ;  they  located  themselves 
about  two  miles  below  the  cave.  Already  a  few  parties  had  opened 
farms  in  this  vicinity;  added  to  these,  the  new  accessions  formed  quite 
a  little  settlement.  Among  the  occupants  of  this  ground  were  RONDO, 
(who  had  purchased  the  only  cultivated  claim  in  the  place,  that  of  PHE- 
LAN,)  VETAL  GUERIN,  PIERRE  BOTTINEAU,  the  GERVAIS  brothers,  &c., 
&C.  I  deemed  it  my  duty  to  visit  occasionally  those  families,  and  set 
to  work  to  choose  a  suitable  spot  for  a  church. 

SELECTING    A    SITE    FOR    THE    CHURCH. 

"Three  different  points  were  offered,  one  called  La  Point  Basse,  or 
Point  LeClaire,  (now  Pig's  Eye) — but  I  objected,  because  that  locality 
was  the  very  extreme  end  of  the  new  settlement,  and,  in  high  water, 
was  exposed  to  inundation.  The  idea  of  building  a  church,  which 
might  at  any  day  be  swept  down  the  river  to  Saint  Louis,  did  not  please 
me.  Two  miles  and  a  half  further  up  on  his  elevated  claim,  (now  the 
southern  point  of  Dayton's  Bluff,)  Mr.  CHARLES  MOUSSEAU  offered  me 
an  acre  of  his  ground,  but  the  place  did  not  suit  my  purpose.  I  was 
truly  looking  ahead,  thinking  of  the  future  as  well  as  of  the  present. 
Steamboats  could  not  stop  there ;  the  bank  was  too  steep,  the  place 
on  the  summit  of  the  hill  too  restricted ;  communication  difficult  with 
the  other  parts  of  the  settlement  up  and  down  the  river. 

"After 'mature  reflection,  I  resolved  to  put  up  the  church  at  the  nearest 
possible  point  to  the  cave,  because  it  would  be  more  convenient  for  me 
to  cross  the  river  there,  when  coming  from  Saint  Peter's,  and  because, 
also,  it  would  be  the  nearest  point  to  the  head  of  navigation,  outside 
of  the  Reservation  line.  Mr.  B.  GERVAIS  and  Mr.  VETAL  GUERIN, 
two  good  quiet  farmers,  had  the  only  spot  that  appeared  likely  to  an- 
swer the  purpose.  They  consented  to  give  me  jointly  the  ground 
necessary  for  a  church  site,  a  garden  and  a  small  graveyard.  I  accepted 
the  extreme  eastern  part  of  Mr.  VETAL'S  claim,  and  the  extreme  west 
of  Mr.  GERVAIS'.  Accordingly,  in  1841,  in  the  month  of  October,  logs 
were  prepared  and  a  church  erected,  so  poor  that  it  would  well  remind 
one  of  the  stable  at  Bethlehem.  It  was  destined,  however,  to  be  the 
nucleus  of  a  great  city.  On  the  ist  day  of  November,  in  the  same  year, 
I  blessed  the  new  basilica,  and  dedicated  it  to  '  Saint  PAUL,  the  apostle 
of  nations.'  I  expressed  a  wish,  at  the  same  time,  that  the  settlement 
would  be  known  by  the  same  name,  and  my  desire  was  obtained.  I 
had,  previously  to  this  time,  fixed  my  residence  at  Saint  Peter's,  and  as 
the  name  of  PAUL  is  generally  connected  with  that  of  PETER,  and  the 


H2  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1841 

gentiles  being  well  represented  in  the  new  place  in  the  persons  of  the 
Indians,  I  called  it  Saint  Paul.  The  name  '  Saint  Paul,'  applied  to  a 
town  or  city,  seemed  appropriate.  The  monosyllable  is  short,  sounds 
well,  and  is  understood  by  all  denominations  of  Christians.  When 
Mr.  VETAL  GUERIN  was  married,  I  published  the  bans  as  being  those 
of  a  resident  of  'Saint  Paul.'  A  Mr.  JACKSON  put  up  a  store,  and  a 
grocery  was  opened  at  the  foot  of  the  GERVAIS  claim.  This  soon 
brought  steamboats  to  land  there.  Thenceforth  the  place  was  known 


THE  CHAPEL  OF  SAINT  PAUL. 

as  'Saint  Paul  Landing,'  and,  later  on,  as  'Saint  Paul.'  When,  some- 
time ago,  an  effort  was  made  to  change  the  name,*  I  did  all  I  could  to 
oppose  the  proje6t,  by  writing  from  Prairie  du  Chien." 

It  would  seem  that  Father  GALTIER  was  not  a  bona  tide 
resident  of  Saint  Paul,  at  any  time,  but  only  came  here  at  reg- 
ular intervals,  to  preach  and  administer  sacraments.  On  the 
25th  of  May,  1844,  he  left  Saint  Peter's,  and  went  to  Keokuk. 
Iowa.  In  1848,  he  returned  to  France,  and  remained  a  little 
time,  but  soon  again  was  at  work  in  the  mission  field.  He 
was  now  placed  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  In  1853  an<l  l^5i  ne 

*This  was  while  the  aft  creating  the  Territory  was  before  Congress.  Some  members 
objected  to  the  name,  and  proposed  to  change  it. 


REV.  LUCIAN  GALTIER. 
First  Catholic  Priest  in  Saint  Paul,  and  who  gave  that  name  to  our  city. 


VERY  REV.  A.  RAVOUX,  V.  G. 


1841]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  113 

visited  Saint  Paul,  and  felt  a  warm  pride  in  its  growth.  On 
February  21,  1866,  he  was  called  to  his  reward. 

It  may  here  be  stated,  that,  when  the  little  log  chapel  was 
taken  down,  several  years  later,  (about  1856,  I  believe,)  the 
logs  and  pieces  were  all  marked  and  numbered,  and  laid  by, 
with  the  intention  of  sometime  rebuilding  this  truly  historical 
structure. 

Thus  was  the  infant  city  baptized  with  a  Christian  name. 
Pig's  Eye  no  more — "now,  by  Saint  PAUL,  the  work  goes 
bravely  on."  "  One  shudders  to  think,"  (said  a  writer  in  the 
Pioneer,}  "  of  what  the  place  would  have  come  to  if  it  had 
not  been  rebaptized — of  the  horrible  marble  squint  of  a  Pig's 
Eye  following  it  around  the  world.  The  head  of  navigation, 
with  such  an  eve  glaring  from  its  socket  wrere  a  pestiferous 
Medusa's  head,  blasting  everything  within  five  miles  of  it 
with  its  stony  leer — blasting  the  rocks,  especially. .  Imagine 
the  eftecl:  of  a  Pig's  Eye  in  a  senate  committee.  Think  of  a 
Pig's  Eye  for  a  seat  of  government.  Who  would  have  come 
to  live  under  the  bristling  lashes  of  a  Pig's  Eye  ?  What  should 
we  have  done  for  clothes  ?  What  Jew  would  have  domiciled 
in  the  leering  eye  of  a  pig  ?  Or  any  pen  have  been  held  in 
honor  but  a  pig-pen  ?" 

In  the  first  "  New  Year's  Address"  ever  printed  in  Minne- 
sota, written,  probably,  by  GOODHUE,  January  i,  1850,  the 
sequel  is  given : 

"Pig's  Eye,  converted  thou  shalt  be,  like  SAUL; 
Arise,  and  be,  henceforth,  SAINT  PAUL  !" 

ARRIVAL  OF  FATHER  RAVOUX. 

During  the  fall  of  1841,  Rev.  AUGUSTIN  RAVOUX  arrived 
from  below,  and  has  been,  ever  since  that  date,  a  resident  of 
Minnesota,  and,  most  of  the  time,  of  Saint  Paul.  From  a 
sketch  of  the  good  father,  in  the  Northwestern  Chronicle,  I 
copy  the  following : 

"  Father  A.  RAVOUX  was  born  January  n,  1815,  at  Langeac,  in  Au- 
vergne,  France,  about  20  miles  from  Puy,  where  he  spent  three  years 
in  the  Petit  Seminaire,  and  four  years  in  the  Grand  Seminaire.  Right 
Rev.  M.  LORAS,  previously  Pastor  of  the  Cathedral  Church,  of  Mobile, 


ii4  The  ^story  of  the  City  of  Saint  Panl,         [1841 

Alabama,  having  been  consecrated,  in  1837,  Bishop  of  Dubuque,  Iowa, 
before  visiting  his  diocese,  went  to  France,  in  order  to  have  a  few  mis- 
sionaries and  some  pecuniary  means  for  his  poor  and  new  diocese. 

"  Early  in  the  spring  of  1838,  he  visited  the  Grand  Seminaire  of  Puy, 
and  delivered  before  the  seminarians  an  urgent  invitation,  in  order  to 
induce  some  of  them  to  accompany  him  to  America.  Deeply  moved 
by  the  discourse  and  tears  of  the  good  Bishop  of  Dubuque,  whom  he 
had  never  seen  or  heard  of  before,  1'Abbe  A.  RAVOUX,  then  a  sub-deacon, 
offered  himself  to  him  for  the  missions  of  his  diocese.  In  September, 
1838,  they  left  France  for  the  United  States,  and  after  45  days'  naviga- 
tion, they  reached  New  York.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  was  accompanied, 
also,  by  his  Vicar  General,  Father  CRETIN  ;  by  Rev.  A.  PELAMOUR- 
GUES,  who,  in  1858,  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Saint  Paul,  (but  declined 
accepting  the  charge;)  by  1'Abbe  GALTIER,  who  gave  to  our  city  its 
name,  and  by  two  other  sub-deacons. 

"A  few  davs  after,  Father  RAVOUX  was  sent  to  Prairie  du  Chien, 
where  he  exercised  the  holy  ministry  till  September,  1841,  when  he  re- 
ceived from  his  Bishop  the  commission  of  visiting  the  Sioux,  being  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  disocese  of  Dubuque.  in  order  to  see  if  there 
was  any  prospectof  establishing  a  mission  among  them.  He  left  Prairie 
du  Chien,  for  the  Upper  Mississippi,  spent  a  few  days  with  his  friend, 
Father  GALTIER;  was  then  invited  to  go,  in  a  canoe,  to  Traverse  des 
Sioux;  accepted  the  invitation  with  many  thanks,  and,  after  four  or  five 
days,  arrived  at  Traverse.  He  was  there  the  guest  of  Mr.  PROVENCAL, 
an  old  and  respectable  gentleman,  who  had  been  a  trader  with  the  In- 
dians for  about  forty-five  years.  While  here,  he  commenced  the  study 
of  the  Sioux  language,  in  which  he  soon  became  quite  proficient,  mean- 
time preaching  to  the  Indians  bv  interpreters.  He  soon  after  proceeded 
to  '  Little  Rock,'  and,  in  Januarv.  1842,  went  to  Lac  qui  Parle.  After 
having  passed  there  two  or  three  months,  performing  the  same  duties 
as  at  Traverse  and  Little  Rock,  he  returned,  early  in  the  spring,  to 
Mendota,  where  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  summer  with  his  friend, 
Father  GALTIER.  During  that  summer,  Rev.  L.  GALTIER  visited  the 
Catholics  living  at  Lake  Pepin  and  on  the  Chippewa  River;  meanwile, 
Father  RAVOUX  attended  the  mission  of  Mendota.  and  Saint  Paul,  and 
taught  the  catechism  in  Sioux  to  the  Messrs.  FRENIERES'  families,  who 
were  encamped  for  several  weeks  near  the  church  at  Mendota.  At  their 
invitation,  he  accompanied  them  to  Lake  Traverse,  being  by  them  in- 
formed that  he  would  find  there  several  hundred  families  of  Sioux,  who 
would  be  glad  to  see  him  and  hear  the  good  tidings  of  the  Gospel. 
Unfortunately,  when  they  reached  the  place,  the  Indians,  four  or  five 
families  excepted,  had  already  left  for  their  winter  expedition.  He 
spent  about  two  weeks  near  the  banks  of  the  lake,  baptized  many  per- 
sons belonging  to  the  families  of  the  FRENIERES.  and  returned  to  Men- 
dota. He  there,  at  the  request  of  the  FARIBAULT  family,  established 


1841]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  115 

a  mission  at  Little  Prairie,  (now  Chaska,)  and  remained  some  time. 
While  here,  he  wrote  a  catechism  and  other  religious  books,  in  Sioux. 

"  In  the  spring  of  1843,  he  went  to  Dubuque,  to  see  the  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  LORAS,  who  gave  him  some  encouragement;  then  he  left  Du- 
buque for  Prairie  du  Chien,  where  he  spent  almost  two  months,  and 
printed,  with  a  small  printing  press,  belonging  to  Very  Rev.  J.  CRETIN, 
a  book  in  the  Sioux  language;*  and  then  returned  to  his  mission. 

"In  the  months  of  January,  February,  and  March,  1844,  23  Indians 
and  half-breeds  received  the  sacrament  of  baptism,  but,  unfortunately 
for  that  new  mission,  Rev.  L.  GALTIER  was,  in  the  spring  of  the  same 
year,  removed  from  Mendota  to  Keokuk,  and  Father  RAVOUX  had  to 
take  his  place,  until  another  priest  would  be  sent  from  Dubuque.  Right 
Rev.  Bishop  LORAS  had  promised  to  send  one  after  a  short  time,  but, 
though  he  renewed,  again  and  again,  his  promise,  he  could  not  fulfill  it, 
and  so  Father  RAVOUX  had  under  his  charge,  Mendota,  Saint  Paul,  Lake 
Pepin  and  Saint  Croix,  till  the  2d  of  July,  1851,  when  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  CRETIN  arrived  at  Saint  Paul." 

From  the  time  that  Father  GALTIER  left,  until  about  1849, 
Father  RAVOUX  preached  alternate  Sundays  at  Mendota  and 
Saint  Paul.  The  latter  year,  his  flock  here  increased  so  that  he 
spent  two  Sundays  here,  and  the  third  at  Mendota,  and  so  on, 
until  Mendota  was  made  a  parish  by  itself,  and  Saint  Paul's 
church  had  the  exclusive  labors  of  a  priest.  Father  RAVOUX'S 
life  has  been  spared  to  witness  glorious  fruits  from  his  early 
labors.  Beloved  by  a  large  congregation  and  revered  by  all, 
he  is  still  actively  pursuing  his  holy  calling,  with  the  prayers 
of  his  flock  that  his  days  may  yet  be  many  amongst  us. 

PROGRESS    OF    SETTLEMENT. 

About  this  period,  the  agricultural  region  between  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Saint  Croix  began  slowly  settling  up.  During 
the  summer  of  1841,  a  mission  was  established  at  Red  Rock, 
by  Rev.  B.  F.  KAVENAUGH,  superintendent  of  the  Methodist 
missions  among  the  Sioux  and  Chippewas.  He  was  accompa- 
nied by  his  family,  WILLIAM  R.  BROWN,  (afterwards  of  Saint 
Paul,)  CHARLES  CAVILEER,  a  Miss  JULIA  BOSWELL,  and  Mrs. 
MARTHA  BOARDMAN,  the  two  latter  as  teachers  for  the  mission. 
Mr.  BROWN  creeled  the  buildings  for  the  mission,  and  subse- 

*  Wakantanka  ti  Cancu— Path  to  the  House  of  God. 


n6  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pau!,         [1841 

quently  he  and  CAVILEER  opened  a  farm.  In  1842,  DANIEL 
HOPKINS  established  a  store  there,  and,  in  1847?  removed  it  to 
Saint  Paul.  Mr.  CAVILEER  also  removed  to  Saint  Paul, 
shortly  after  this,  (1845,)  and,  in  1851,  went  to  Pembina. 
where  he  has  been  postmaster  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
Soon  after,  other  farmers  settled  in  the  Cottage  Grove  re- 
gion— HIRAM  HASKELL,  J.  W.  FURBER,  JAMES  S.  NORRIS, 
and  others.  JOHN  A.  FORD  and  Rev.  JOHN  HOLTON  also 
settled  at  Red  Rock,  and  a  few  families  at  Point  Douglas — 
DAVID  HONE  among  them. 


1842]        and  of  the  County  of  Ram sev,  Minnesota.  117 


CHAPTER   IX. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1842. 

HENRY  JACKSON  SETTLES  HERE— ALSO,  SERGEANT  MORTIMER— FRONCHET  AND 
"OLD  PELON"— STANISLAUS  BILANSKI— THE  BATTLE  OF  KAPOSIA— STRANGE 
SCENES. 

ON  June  9,  1842,  there  landed  in  Saint  Paul,  as  we  may  now 
call  it,  a  man  whose  name  must  always  be  prominently 
mentioned  in  connection  with  the  early  history  of  our  city. 

HENRY  JACKSON 

was  born  in  Abingdon,  Virginia,  February  i,  1811.  In  early 
life  he  acquired  but  a  limited  education,  though  he  ultimately, 
by  reading  and  study,  became  a  good  penman  and  accountant, 
and  acquired  a  fair  amount  of  scholarly  culture.  He  was 
shrewd,  energetic,  and  self-reliant,  and  had  a  large  share  of 
humor  and  penetration  into  character.  He  was  of  a  somewhat 
roving  disposition,  however,  and,  while  quite  a  young  man, 
went  to  Texas,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  "  Patriot  Wai'" 
of  1836-7.  with  the  rank  of  orderly  sergeant.  He  then  made 
his  way  back  to  the  States,  and  lived  for  a  time  at  Buffalo, 
New  York,  where,  on  May  27.  1838,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
ANGELINA  BIVINS.  He  soon  after  emigrated  to  Green  Bay, 
Wisconsin,  and  from  there  to  Galena,  Illinois,  where  he  went 
into  business,  but  failed.  He  then,  (1842,)  resolved  to  remove 
to  Saint  Paul,  and,  gathering  his  worldly  goods  together,  was 
landed  at  our  lower  levee,  on  a  dark,  rainy  night,  when  it  re- 
quired considerable  search  and  trouble  to  secure  a  shelter  for 
the  night.  This  was  finally  accomplished  at  the  Clewett 
place,  where  the  PERRYS  were  then  living.  Mr.  JACKSON 
and  family  remained  here  several  days,  and  then  rented  of  old 
PARRANT  a  cabin  on  the  levee,  where  they  lived  until  their 
own  house  was  ready  in  the  fall. 


1 1 8  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1842 

JACKSON  soon  purchased  of  BEN.  GERVAIS  a  small  tradl  of 
land,  about  three  acres,  lying  in  the  block  now  bounded  by 
Jackson  and  Robert,  and  Bench  and  Third  streets.  It  was 
then  a  high  bank  or  "  bluff,"  a  part  of  which  still  remains,  in 
rear  of  the  Saint  Paul  Fire  and  Marine  Building.  Here,  on  a 
point  overlooking  the  lower  levee,  JACKSON  built  a  log  or 
pole  cabin,  and  opened  a  small  stock  of  goods  suitable  for 
the  Indian  trade.  He  soon  did  a  prosperous  business,  and,  in 
a  short  time,  by  his  activity,  ta6t  and  sagacity,  became  a  lead- 
ing man  in  the  community. 

During  his  residence  in  Saint  Paul,  JACKSON  held  several 
important  offices.  In  1843,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  DODGE. 
of  Wisconsin,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace — the  first  one  who  ever 
filled  that  office  in  our  city.  In  1846,  he  was  appointed  the 
first  postmaster  of  Saint  Paul ;  and,  in  1847,  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Wisconsin  Assembly,  for  two  years.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  first  Territorial  Legislature  of  Minnesota, 
and  a  member  of  the  first  town  council.  On  April  28,  18^3, 
he  removed  to  Mankato,  being  almost  the  first  settler  in  that 
town,  where  he  died  July  31,  1857.  Jackson  street,  in  this 
city,  and  Jackson  county,  Minnesota,  were  named  for  him. 

Mrs.  JACKSON  subsequently  became  the  wife  of  JOHN  S. 
HINCKLEY,  Esq.,  of  Mankato,  and  still  resides  in  that  city. 
Mrs.  H.  has  kindly  furnished  the  writer,  (who  visited  her  for 
the  purpose,)  with  many  interesting  and  valuable  fadts  of  early 
days.  It  has  been  her  fortune  to  pass  her  entire  life,  after 
marriage,  in  frontier  towns,  several  of  which  she  has  seen  grow 
up  from  a  few  cabins  to  prosperous  cities,  and  endured  such 
privation  and  hardships  as  every  pioneer  woman  must  neces- 
sarily undergo.  She  has  now,  in  her  house,  at  Mankato,  the 
first  clock  which  was  ever  brought  to  Saint  Paul. 

SERGEANT    R.  W.   MORTIMER. 

On  August  17,  1842,  RICHARD  W.  MORTIMER,  usually 
known  as  "Sergeant  MORTIMER,"  settled  in  Saint  Paul. 
MORTIMER  was  a  native  of  Leeds,  England,  and  was  born 
about  the  year  1800.  His  father  was  a  man  of  some  wealth, 
and  young  MORTIMER  was  educated  at  Eton  College.  When 


1842]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  no 

19  years  of  age,  in  company  with  a  younger  brother,  he  ran 
away  from  home,  in  a  foolish,  school-boy  freak,  and  went  to 
Canada.  His  brother  soon  returned,  but  RICHARD  W.  was  too 
proud  to  do  so,  and,  as  a  result,  was  disinherited.  He  had  been 
splendidly  educated,  however,  and  soon  turned  it  to  account  by 
procuring  an  appointment  in  the  Signal  Service  of  the  British 
Army,  in  which  he  remained  several  years.  He  subsequentlv 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  was  appointed  Commissary 
and  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  holding  both  positions  for  some 
years.  He  came  to  Fort  Snelling  in  1835,  and  lived  in  the 
fort  until  1842,  excepting  a  short  time  during  the  Florida  war, 
when  he  accompanied  the  troops  to  that  region.  During  his 
residence  in  Canada,  he  was  married  to  a  Miss  ELIZABETH 
MAXWELL,  and  two  children  were  born  there.  Three  were 
also  born  in  Fort  Snelling. 

In  the  year  1842,  Sergeant  MORTIMER  got  tired  of  army  life, 
and,  having  saved  about  $4,000,  he  concluded  to  settle  in  this 
region.  He,  therefore,  purchased  from  JOSEPH  RONDO,  eighty 
acres  of  his  claim,  fronting  on  the  river,  and  bounded  on  the 
east  by  Saint  Peter  street,  and  on  the  west  by  Washington 
street.  The  exact  sum  paid  for  this,  I  have  been  unable  to 
ascertain.  There  was  an  old  house  on  the  claim,  at  the  time, 
but  MORTIMER  built,  near  where  ROBINSON'S  drug  store  now  is, 
a  good  hewed  log  house,  with  a  shingle  roof,  which  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  MARIA  PATTEN,  thinks  was  the  first  shingle  roof  in 
Saint  Paul.  MORTIMER  made  other  improvements,  and  soon 
opened  quite  a  lot  of  goods  suitable  to  the  trade  at  that  time. 
He  also  expended  considerable  in  cattle  and  horses,  and  had 
about  40  acres  under  cultivation. 

Sergeant  MORTIMER  was  really  unfitted  for  the  new  life  in 
which  he  had  engaged.  There  were  many  troubles  he  had  not 
anticipated.  He  had  expended  nearly  all  the  ample  sum  he 
had  saved  in  his  army  life,  in  his  improvements  and  stock,  and 
realized  but  little  from  them  at  last.  The  trade  was  small  and 
the  people  poor.  He  was  filled  with  vain  regrets  that  he  had 
ever  left  the  army,  and  it  weighed  on  his  mind  so  that  it  afle&ed 
his  health  at  last.  He  was  a  liberal  and  public-spirited  man, 
and,  had  he  lived,  would  have  been  a  prominent  citizen.  The 


120  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1842 

first  flag  every  raised  in  Saint  Paul,  was  procured  by  him,  at 
the  expense  of  $35.  He  had  one  of  his  men  raise  it  on  a  pole, 
in  front  of  his  house,  on  Christmas,  1842.  There  seems  to 
have  been  almost  as  much  rivalry  between  upper  and  lower 
town,  those  days,  as  there  was  subsequently,  for  the  flag  had 
been  flying  but  a  little  while,  when  some  wicked  scamp,  from 
the  lower  part  of  the  village,  cut  it  down.  MORTIMER  was 
terribly  enraged  when  he  found  it  out,  and  was  about  to  put  in 
force  Gov.  Dix's  famous  order — kk  if  any  man  hauls  down  the 
American  flag,  shoot  him  on  the  spot."  He  went  to  load  a 
gun,  and  ordered  his  horse  to  pursue  the  offender.  His  wife, 
fearing  there  would  be  bloodshed,  unloosed  the  horse,  and 
there  was  so  much  delay  before  he  was  caught,  that  MORTI- 
MER'S anger  cooled  down. 

Mr.  MORTIMER  did  not  live  long  after  his  residence  in  Saint 
Paul.  On  January  8th,  1843,  he  was  attacked  with  hemor- 
rhage, resulting  from  an  "injury  received  a  short  time  before, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  43  years.  He  left  a  widow  and  five 
children — two  sons  and  three  daughters.  His  oldest  daughter 
is  now  Mrs.  J.  R.  PATTEN,  an  estimable  lady  of  Minneapolis. 
His  second  daughter,  FANNY,  married  AARON  FOSTER,  an  old 
settler  of  Saint  Paul.  Both  are  now  dead.  His  youngest 
daughter,  LILY,  is  now  Mrs.  ROBERT  CLINGER,  of  Philadel- 
phia. His  two  sons,  WILLIAM  and  GEORGE,  served  in  the  late 
war,  the  former  giving  an  arm  to  his  country.  Mrs.  ELIZA- 
BETH MORTIMER  died  at  Minneapolis,  January  15,  1873. 

While  Mr.  MORTIMER  was  living  in  Saint  Paul,  there  worked 
for  him,  and  for  his  family  after  his  death,  an  old  soldier 
named  FRONCHET,  or  DESIRE — as  he  was  generally  called — 
referred  to  more  at  length  on  page  62.  FRONCHET  was  a 
faithful  servant,  and  highly  valued  despite  his  infirmities.  •  He 
always  boasted  of  his  Parisian  origin  and  purity  of  language, 
affecting  to  sneer  at  the  Canadian  French,  whom  he  declared 
he  could  scarcely  understand.  Poor  FRONCHET  !  Whisky 
finally  got  the  better  of  him,  and  he  came  to  a  sad  end. 

"  OLD    FELON." 

Shortly  after  JACKSON  opened  his  trading-house  in  lower 


1842]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  121 

town,  he  began  to  feel  the  need  of  an  interpreter  who  could 
talk  Sioux,  and  assist  him  in  selling  and  buying  with  his  red 
customers.  Opportunely,  there  happened  along,  at  this  junc- 
ture, from  Prairie  du  Chien,  a  Canadian  ex-voyageur,  common- 
ly known  as  "  Old  PELON."  What  FELON'S  Christian  name 
was,  no  one  happens  now  to  remember,  nor  is  it  of  much  mo- 
ment, since,  probably,  we  have  sufficiently  identified  him  by 
the  title  given.  Old  PELON  was  quite  a  character  in  his  way — 
vivacious,  polite,  good-natured,  shrewd,  faithful,  he  proved  a 
valuable  aid  to  Mr.  JACKSON,  and  remained  in  his  service  for 
several  years.  GOODHUE,  who  met  PELON  at  the  Indian 
treaty  of  Traverse  de  Sioux,  in  1851,  relates  this  incident  of 
the  old  coon  : 

PELON  used  to  tend  JACKSON'S  bar,  while  Saint  Paul  was 
only  the  western  suburb  of  Pig's  Eye.  At  that  time,  all  sorts 
of  liquors  were  sold  out  of  the  same  decanter,  and  a  stranger, 
coming  in  once,  asked  PELON  if  he  had  any  confectionery  ? 
PELON,  not  knowing  the  meaning  of  the  word,  supposed  it 
was  some  kind  of  liquor,  passed  out  the  decanter  of  whiskv  to 
his  customer,  saying  :  "  Oui,  Monsieur,  here  is  confecshawn, 
ver  good,  superb,  magnifique,  pretty  fair." 

PELON  afterwards  kept  a  saloon  of  his  own  on  the  lower 
levee,  but,  ultimately,  age  and  infirmities  overtook  him,  and  he 
died  in  1852,  at  "old  man  LARRIVIER'S,"  on  Lake  Phelan. 

STANISLAUS    BILANSKI, 

who  settled  in  Saint  Paul  this  year,  was  a  Polander  by  birth, 
and  had  lived  in  Wisconsin  prior  to  coming  to  Saint  Paul.  He 
purchased  a  claim  and  cabin  on  the  point  of  second  table-land 
between  Phelan's  Creek,  and  Trout  Brook,  near  the  machine 
shops  of  Lake  Superior  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Company, 
called  then  "  Oak  Point,"  and  lived  there  several  years.  BI- 
LANSKI was  an  uxorious  individual,  and  had  a  facility  for  mar- 
rying and  divorcing  wives,  that  ultimately  brought  him  to  an 
untimely  end.  While  living  with  his  fourth  wife,  in  1859, 
he  died,  on  March  nth  of  that  year,  under  circumstances  that 
showed  he  had  been  poisoned.  The  full  particulars  of  the 
9 


122  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,          [1842 

case  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  events  of  the 
year  1859. 

THE    BATTLE    OF    KAPOSIA. 

In  September  of  this  year  occurred  the  famous  battle  of 
Kaposia,  between  the  Chippewas  and  Sioux.  References  will 
be  found  in  the  previous  pages  of  this  history  to  the  savage 
warfare  that  had  been  waged  for  several  years  between  these 
two  hostile  tribes,  whose  deadly  feud  must  have  begun  genera- 
tions ago,  and  sacrificed  a  hecatomb  of  warriors  during  those 
years. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1841,  three  Chippewa  warriors  pro- 
ceeded to  the  vicinitv  of  Fort  Snelling,  and  lay  concealed  in  a 
thicket  there,  looking  for  Sioux  scalps.  Ere  long,  KAIBOKA, 
a  Dakota  chief,  accompanied  bv  his  son,  and  another  Indian, 
passed  along,  when  they  were  at  once  killed  and  scalped,  and 
the  cowardly  assassins  escaped.  Enraged  at  this  acl,  a  war 
party  from  LITTLE  CROW'S  village,  at  Kaposia,  headed  by  that 
chief,  equipped  themselves  and  started  on  a  campaign  of  revenge. 
Three  of  LITTLE  CROW'S  sons  were  in  the  party.  Near  the 
Falls  of  Saint  Croix.  they  fell  in  with  the  Chippewas.  Two 
of  CROW'S  sons  .were  shot  dead,  and  the  partv  returned. 
Another  section  of  the  expedition  penetrated  the  Ojibwa  country 
as  far  as  Pokeguma,  where  there  was  a  village  of  Indians  and 
a  missionary  station,  at  which  EDMUND  F.  ELY,  for  several 
years  subsequently  a  resident  of  this  city,  was  present.  The 
Dakotas  attacked  this,  but  inflicted  little  damage  on  the  enemy, 
losing  two  of  their  own  number. 

In  revenge  for  this  raid,  the  Chippewas.  in  1842,  determined 
to  attack  the  Sioux  village,  of  LITTLE  CROW,  at  Kaposia.  A 
war  party  of  about  40  was  formed  at  Fond  du  Lac.  and,  in  their 
downward  march,  they  were  joined  by  recruits  from  the  Mille 
Lac  and  Saint  Croix  bands,  until  the  party  numbered  about 
loo.  They  arrived  unnoticed  at  the  bluff  back  of  Pig's  Eye, 
where  they  halted  in  Pine  Coolie,  the  ravine  just  back  of  the 
old  poor-house,  to  reconnoiter.  This  was  about  10  o'clock  in 
the  forenoon. 

Just  at  this  moment,  a  Red  River  half-breed,  named  HENRY 


1842]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  123 

SINCLAIR,*  who  was  in  the  employ  of  the  missionaries  KAVE- 
NAUGH,  at  Red  Rock,  came  along  on  the  trail,  riding  a  pony. 
Him  they  hailed,  and  inquired,  *4  if  there  were  any  Dakotas 
about."  SINCLAIR  was  about  to  reply,  when  his  pony  took 
fright,  and  started  off  at  break-neck  speed.  He  did  not  try  to 
check  him,  but  galloped  on,  and  in  a  few  minutes,  arrived  at 
the  mission  house,  where  he  reported  what  he  had  seen. 
There  were  two  Sioux  at  Rev.  Mr.  KAVENAUGH'S  house,  who 
at  once  started  off  on  the  run  to  alarm  the  men  at  Kaposia. 
Mrs.  THOMAS  ODELL,  then  Miss  ELIZABETH  WILLIAMS,  a 
half-breed  girl,  was  a  pupil  at  the  Red  Rock  mission.  She 
states  that,  a  moment  after  the  Indians  left,  the  rattle  of  guns 
was  heard,  showing  that  the  work  of  death  had  commenced. 
But  we  must  go  back  a  little. 

On  Pig's  Eye  bottom,  a  little  distance  from  Pine  Coolie, 
where  the  Chippewas  were  .lying  in  ambush,  was  the  cabin 
and  field  of  FRANCIS  GAMMEL,  a  French  Canadian,  who  had 
come  to  Minnesota  as  a  voyageur,  in  1829,  and  had  lived  at 
Mendota.  He  was  now  married  to  a  Dakota  woman,  and  they 
had  one  child,  DAVID  GAMMEL,  then  an  infant.  That  morning, 
an  old  Indian,  named  RATTLER,  a  brother  of  old  BETS,  well 
known  to  the  early  residents  hereabout,  had  gone  over  to  GAM- 
MEL'S  house,  with  his  two  wives,  and  a  son  and  daughter,  in- 
fants, in  order  to  help  Mr.  and  Mrs.- GAMMEL  hoe  their  corn. 
GAMMEL  and  his  wife,  and  one  of  RATTLER'S  wives,  were  in 
the  field  at  work.  The  other  Mrs.  RATTLER  complained  .  of 
being  sick,  and  went  into  the  house,  whither  old  RATTLER 
followed.  The  three  children  were  playing  near  by. 

Just  at  this  moment,  a  squad  of  Chippewas,  who  had  been 
sent  out  to  reconnoiter,  sneaked  through  the  bushes  outside 
the  field,  and  seeing  the  two  Sioux  women  at  work,  fired  a 
volley  at  them.  Mrs.  RATTLER  fell  dead,  and  Mrs.  GAMMEL 
was  mortally  wounded.  GAMMEL  picked  her  up  and  carried 

*  SINCLAIR  came  from  Selkirk  Settlement,  in  1839,  piloting  a  drove  of  cattle.  He 
was  a  simple-hearted,  honest  fellow.  One  time  he  was  sick,  at  Mendota,  and  Surgeon 
EMERSON,  at  the  fort,  sent,  by  some  one,  a  box  of  pills,  for  him  to  take  a  dose  from. 
N.  W.  KITTSON  called  on  him  a  little  while  after  this,  and  found  that  SINCLAIR  had  not 
only  swallowed  all  the  pills,  but  was  then  chewing  up  the  box !  S.  aftenvards  went  to 
Sauk  Rapids,  or  Crow  Wing,  where  he  died  a  few  years  ago. 


124        TJie  History  °f the  Clty  °f  Saint  Paul,     [1842 

her  into  the  house,  followed  by  some  of  the  blood-thirsty  Chip- 
pewas,  who  rushed  in  and  scalped  the  dying  woman  in  his 
arms,  and  at  once  retreated,  not  knowing  of  the  presence  of 
RATTLER  arid  his  other  wife,  in  an  adjoining  room.  As  they 
bounded  off,  giving  the  scalp-halloo,  GAMMEL  seized  a  gun  and 
fired  at  them,  wounding  one  in  the  leg,  but  they  did  not,  at  any 
time,  offer  to  molest  him.  Just  then  they  observed  the  little 
boy  of  RATTLER,  who  was  endeavoring  to  hide  in  the  bushes. 
They  seized  him  and  cut  off  his  head.  The  little  son  of  GAM- 
MEL,*  and  the  daughter  of  RATTLER,  named  Ta-ti,  (HER 
LODGE,)  escaped  unnoticed.  This  affair  had  all  occurred  in 
a  moment,  and  was  undoubtedly  a  military  blunder  of  the  at- 
tacking party.  Their  design  had  been  to  crawl,  unobserved, 
to  the  bank  of  the  river,  opposite  Kaposia,  and  there,  concealed 
in  the  dense  shrubbery,  lie  in  wait  for  some  unsuspecting 
party  of  Sioux,  and  massacre  them.  But,  seeing  the  Dakota 
women  in  the  field,  they  had  rashly  attacked  them,  thus  giving 
the  alarm  prematurely. 

If  they  had  carried  out  the  first  named  plan,  they  could  not 
have  chosen  a  more  opportune  time  than  that  day.  The  Sioux 
at  the  village  were  in  the  midst  of  one  of  their  drunken  sprees, 
and.  as  is  customarv  at  such  times,  the  squaws  had  hid  their 
guns  and  other  weapons,  to  prevent  them  from  doing  each 
other  any  harm.  The  firing  across  the  river  first  gave  them 
the  alarm  that  the -enemy  was  ne&r,  when  great  excitement  at 
once  prevailed.  The  men  hunted  up  their  concealed  weapons, 
meantime  giving  their  barbaric  war-whoop,  and  yelling  like 
so  many  demons,  in  order  to  scare  the  enemy,  probably.  In 
this  vocal  exercise  they  were  joined  by  the  squaws  and  chil- 
dren. As  soon  as  they  could  arm  themselves,  the  Sioux  bravely 
advanced  across  the  river  to  attack  the  enemy.  The  latter,  bv 
this  time,  had  advanced  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  about  where 
the  quarantine  grounds  now  are,  and  here  the  battle  mainly 

*GAMMEL'S  son,  DAVID,  grew  up  to  manhood  atMendota,  and  served  in  a  Minnesota 
Regiment.  Old  RATTLER  died  in  1851,  of  an  overdose  of  whisky.  TA-TI,  his  daughter, 
afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Wa-kin-yan-ta-iva,  (His  THUNDER,)  sometimes  called 
"CHASKA,"  who  saved  GEORGE  H.  SPENCER'S  life,  in  1862,  and  was  poisoned  acciden- 
tally  the  year  following.  TA-TI  now  lives  at  M^endota.  FRANCIS  GAMMEL  died  at 
Mendota,  in  1871. 


1842]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey-,  Minnesota.  125 

took  place.  It  raged  with  great  spirit  for  a  couple  of  hours, 
during  which  the  firing  was  incessant.  Some  hand-to-hand 
encounters  also  took  place  between  the  two  sides,  while  the 
forest  and  bluffs  rang  with  their  incessant  yelling.  The  firing 
was  plainly  heard  in  Saint  Paul.  Every  inch  of  the  battle- 
ground'was  hotly  contested.  Toward  noon,  the  Chippewas 
began  to  fall  back,  and  soon  retreated  on  their  path,  followed 
bv  the  Sioux,  who  pursued  them  over  the  bluff,  and  several 
miles  toward  Stillwater.  The  Chippewas  left  some  nine  or 
ten  dead  bodies  on  the  field,  and  may  have  carried  oft'  their 
wounded.  The  Sioux  also  lost  heavily.  Different  accounts 
place  their  loss  at  nineteen  or  twenty,  including  the  mortally 
wounded,  who  died  subsequently.  The  dead  Chippewas  were 
at  once  scalped,  while  the  squaws  amused  themselves  by  hack- 
ing and  mutilating  them.  "  Old  BETS"  went  around  pound- 
ing their  'heads  with  a  huge  club.  One  of  her  sons,  afterwards 
called  Ta-opi,  or  WOUNDED  MAN,  was  so  named  because 
wounded  in  this  fight. 

When  the  Chippewas  first  made  the  attack,  a  messenger 
was  sent  to  Fort  Snelling  with  the  intelligence.  It  was  the 
policy  of  the  Government  to  prevent  and  punish  these  inter- 
tribal carnages,  and  Major  DEARBORN  at  once  dispatched  a 
party  of  soldiers  from  Companies  D,  G  and  H,  First  Infantry, 
who  at  that  time  garrisoned  the  fort,  to  Kaposia,  to  stop  the 
conflict.  The  party  came  down  below  Pickerel  Lake  in  boats, 
and  thence  across  by  land,  but  did  not  arrive  until  after  the 
conflict:  was  over.  THOMAS  S.  ODELL,  now  of  West  Saint 
Paul,  was  one  of  this  party.  I  am  indebted  to  him  and  his 
wife  for  many  of  the  minor  incidents  of  this  strange  affair. 


126  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.          [1843 


CHAPTER    X. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1843. 

NOTICES  OF  SOME  SETTLERS— JOHN  R.  IRVINE,  J.  W.  SIMPSON,  WILLIAM  HARTS- 
HORN,  A.  L.  LARPENTEUR,  SCOTT  CAMPBELL,  ALEX.  R.  McLEOD,  *c.,  *c.— 
RONDO  SELLS 'HIS  CLAIM — AN  INDIAN  IN  PURSUIT  OF  WHISKY. 

DURING  the  year  1843,  there  was  quite  an  accession  to 
the  population — among  others,  JOHN  R.  IRVINE,  C.  C. 
BLANCHARD,  J.    W.    SIMPSON,    ANSEL   B.    COY,   WILLIAM 
HARTSHORN,  A.  L.   LARPENTEUR,  SCOTT  CAMPBELL,  Ax- 
TOINE  PEPIN,  &c.,  &c. 

JOHN    R,    IRVINK 

was  born  in  Dansville,  New  York,  November  3,  1812.  When 
a  boy,  he  worked  at  blacksmithing,  but,  about  the  age  of  17, 
removed  to  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  plastering,  and,  in  1831,  was  married  to  Miss  NANCY  GAL- 
BRAITH.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Dansville,  and  resumed 
blacksmithing.  In  1837,116  emigrated  west,  living  for  three 
years  in  Green  Bay,  and,  in  1840,  settled  in  Prairie  du  Chien, 
where  he  went  into  the  grocery  trade.  While  living  in  Buffalo, 
New  York,  he  had  become  acquainted  with  HENRY  JACKSON — 
indeed,  he  and  JACKSON  had  come  to  Green  Bay  together,  the 
latter  soon  removing  to  Galena,  however.  About  February, 
1843,  JACKSON  was  on  his  way  down  the  river  to  purchase 
goods,  and,  stopping  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  there  found  his  old 
friend,  who  was  in  business  with  ANSEL  B.  COY  and  C.  C. 
BLANCHARD.  JACKSON  at  once  urged  him  to  remove  to  Saint 
Paul,  as  being  a  much  more  promising  place  for  trade,  rapid 
growth.  &c.,  than  Prairie  du  Chien.  So  warmly  did  he  set 
forth  the  advantages  of  Saint  Paul,  that  Mr,  IRVINE  resolved 
at  least  to  visit  it  and  see  the  land  of  promise.  He  accordingly 
came  up  here  in  the  latter  part  of  that  winter,  in  a  sleigh,  with 


1843]       and  of  the  Cottnty  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  127 

a  load  of  groceries  and  other  goods  for  sale,  and,  after  looking 
around  ov*er  the  field,  resolved  to  remove  here,  fie  therefore 
purchased  of  JOSEPH  RONDO  the  balance  of  the  old  Phelan 
claim  (remaining  after  the  sale  of  about  half  to  Sergeant  MOR- 
TIMER.) The  price  paid  for  this  tracl  was  $300.  RONDO  had 
at  that  time  a  very  good  log  dwelling  built  on  the  French  plan, 


JOHN  R.  IRVINE. 

(i.  e.,  the  logs  squared  and  let  into  grooves — not  notched  at 
the  corners.)  It  stood  about  where  the  northwest  corner  of 
Third  and  Franklin  streets  would  now  be.  With  some  ad- 
ditions, it  made  a  very  comfortable  dwelling,  and  was  used  by 
Mr.  IRVINE  for  several  years.  Mr.  IRVINE  thinks  that  the 
claim  he  bought  of  RONDO  contained  300  acres.  It  extended 
back  to  the  marsh  on  the  Lake  Como  road,  which  residents  of 
some  1 1;  or  20  years  ago  may  remember. 


128  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1843 

After  purchasing  this  property,  Mr.  IRVINE  returned  to 
Prairie  du  Chien,  to  remove  his  family  and  business  hither.  He 
placed  his  household  effects  and  goods  in  a  large  Mackinac 
boat,  and,  as  soon  as  navigation  opened,  hired  the  steamer  Ot- 
ter, on  her  first  trip  up,  to  tow  it  to  Saint  Paul.  His  partner. 
ANSEL  B.  COY,  came  with  the  goods,  but  Mr.  BLANCHARD 
did  not  come  up  until  a  few  weeks  subsequently.  Mr.  IRVINE 
arrived  some  time  in  June  with  his  family.  The  boat  was  run 
up  the  slough  between  the  upper  levee  and  the  main  land,  and 
moored  there.  It  was  then  all  heavy  timber  and  underbrush 
in  that  locality,  and,  as  there  was  no  road — hardly  a  foot-path 
from  the  bluff  down  to  the  water — the  unloading  and  carrying 
of  the  goods  up  the  bluff  was  no  small  job. 

A  dense  forest  covered  the  bottom  land  near  the  upper  levee. 
Mr.  IRVINE  cut  immense  quantities  of  wood  for  steamboats  oft' 
of  that  bottom,  without  apparently  making  any  impression  on 
it.  '  Upper  Third  street,  from  the  seven-corners  to  the  bluff, 
was  a  quagmire,  almost  without  bottom.  Cows  used  to  stick 
there  years  after  this,  to  the  great  trouble  of  their  owners. 
Along  the  side  of  the  hill,  near  Pleasant  and  College  avenues, 
was  a  morass,  with  a  forest  of  cedar  and  tamaracks  growing  on 
it.  No  one  at  that  day  could  have  imagined  it  would,  in  so 
few  years,  become  the  valuable  property  it  now  is,  covered 
with  comfortable  residences.  For  several  years,  Mr.  IRVINE 
cultivated  a  considerable  part  of  his  land  for  a  farm. 

Mr.  IRVINE  subsequently  (about  1845,  he  thinks)  purchased 
the  MORTIMER  claim,  and,  in  1848,  entered  the  land  (which 
had  then  been  surveyed)  in  the  land  office  at  Stillwater.  In 
November,  1848,  for  $250,  he  deeded  the  east  half  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  6,  town  28,  to  HENRY  M.  RICE,  which 
afterwards  became  a  part  of  Rice  and  Irvine's  Addition.  But 
of  this  anon. 

Mr.  IRVINE  has  been  one  of  our  most  active  and  useful  citi- 
zens during  his  thirty-two  years'  residence.  The  ample  prop- 
erty, which  his  foresight  and  prudence  prompted  him  to  secure 
and  hold,  is  now  one  of  the  finest  portions  of  our  city.  The 
proceeds  of  most  of  it  wrhich  has  been  sold,  has  been  reinvested 
in  creeling  substantial  business  blocks,  mills,  warehouses,  and 


1843]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  129 

other  buildings,  which  now  stand  as  a  credit  to  the  enterprise 
of  the  owner.  Although  63  years  of  age,  a  period  when  most 
men  court  repose,  Mr.  IRVINE  is  still  actively  engaged  in  busi- 
ness, and  is  known  as  one  of  our  most  energetic  and  hard- 
working men.  Mr.  IRVINE  has  served  our  county  in  the 
Legislature,  and  other  elective  bodies,  and  perhaps  no  one  of 
our  pioneer  settlers  more  fully  enjoys  the  esteem  of  the  public 
than  he,  and  the  wish  that  the  "  great  reaper"  will  long  delay 
his  visit. 

The  amiable  wife  of  Mr.  IRVINE,  is  one  of  the  first  white 
women  who  settled  in  Minnesota,  and  has  endured  the  priva- 
tions and  struggles  of  pioneer  life,  with  others  of  that  noble 
few,  who  deserve  especial  mention.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  I.  have  one 
son  and  six  daughters  living,  most  of  the  latter  married  to  well- 
known  citizens. 

When  IRVINE  bought  RONDO'S  claim,  the  latter  at  once 
made  a  new  claim  in  and  near  the  marsh,  on  the  Lake  Como 
Road.  When  the  land  was  entered,  in  1848,  it  was  noticed 
that  the  lines  overlapped  somewhat,  but  land  was  so  cheap 
then,  that  such  things  were  hardly  noticed.  A  few  acres  were 
not  worth  disputing  about. 

FURTHER    ABOUT    RONDO. 

Mr.  RONDO  subsequently  laid  out  quite  an  addition  on  this 
claim,  or  a  part  of  it,  and  it  has  of  late  years  become  valuable 
property.  The  marsh  has  been  so  drained  and  graded  that  it 
can  scarcely  be  found,  except  by  close  search. 

RONDO,  has  raised  a  large  family,  and  has  a  number  of  grand- 
children to  bear  his  name  down  to  posterity.  He  lives  in  a 
plain  manner,  in  his  brick  house,  on  the  street  which  is  called 
after  him,  and,  though  nearlv  80  years  old,  worked  hard  in  the 
harvest  field  this  summer.  His  long  life  has  been  full  of  inter- 
esting events,  and,  as  one  of  his  ancestors  lived  to  112,  and  two 
more  over  a  century,  Mr.  RONDO,  now  our  oldest  living  settler 
resident  among  us,  may  live  a  score  of  years  yet,  to  see  still 
more  generations  of  his  descendants. 

C.   C.   BLANCHARD. 

With  Mr.  IRVINE,  came  CHRISTOPHER  C.  BLANCHARD,  who 


130  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1843 

had  been  his  partner  in  business  in  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  con- 
tinued that  relation  after  arriving  here.  Mr.  BLANCH ARD  was 
not  pleased  with  Saint  Paul,  however,  and  soon  returned  to 
Prairie  'du  Chien,  and  thence  to  Saint  Louis.  No  tidings  have 
been  received  of  him  for  some  twenty  years,  and  he  may  not 
now  be  living.  BLANCHARD  was  a  married  man,  and  his 
wife's  sister,  Mrs.  MATILDA  RUMSEY,  lived  with  him.  When 
he  went  back  down  the  river,  Mrs.  RUMSEY  remained  here, 
residing  with  Mr.  IRVINE'S  family. 

ANSEL    B.  COY, 

who  had  also  been  a  partner  of  IRVINE,  at  Prairie  du  Chien, 
as  before  stated,  came  to  Saint  Paul  quite  early  in  the  spring. 
in  charge  of  the  goods.  He.  too.  was  not  suited  here,  and 
soon  after  returned. 

ALEXANDER  MEGE. 

During  the  season  of  1843,  a  Frenchman  named  ALEX. 
MEGE,  who  had  lived  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  came  to  Saint  Paul, 
and  purchased  the  interest  of  COY,  when  that  gentleman  left. 
MEGE  and  IRVINE  dissolved  subsequently,  and  MEGE  kept  a 
store  in  a  building  on  the  Mortimer  claim.  On  June  23,  184^- 
he  was  married  to  Mrs.  MATILDA  RUMSEY,  at  Mr.  IRVINE'S 
house,  by  Rev.  Father  RAVOUX.  In  1847,  Mr.  an<^  Mrs.  MEGE 
removed  to  Montrose.  Iowa,  where  Mrs.  MEGE  subsequently 
died.  Mrs.  RUMSEY  is  the  lady  mentioned  elsewhere  who 
taught  the  first  school  in  Saint  Paul. 

j.  w.  SIMPSON. 

JAMES  W.  SIMPSON  was  born  in  Virginia,  1818.  We  have 
seen  it  asserted,  that  in  his  younger  days  he  was  a  clergyman, 
but  do  not  state  this  on  positive  authority.  He  came  to  Min- 
nesota in  1842,  and  resided  about  a  year  at  Sandy  Lake,  where 
he  was  connected  with  the  mission  in  some  capacity,  and  then 
came  to  Red  Rock,  where  he  resided  a  short  time,  settling  at 
Saint  Paul  in  October  of  1843.  He  bought  an  acre  of  BENJ. 
GERVAIS,  where  Union  block  -now  stands,  and  opened  a  store, 
the  second  one  in  the  village.  He  afterwards  sold  this,  and 


1843]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  131 

bought  a  tract  between  Baptist  hill  and  the  Merchants'  Hotel, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death.  He  soon  after  established  a 
commission  business  on  the  levee,  which  he  continued  until 
within  a  year  or  two  of  his  death.  He  was  elected  county 
treasurer  in  1849,  and  so  scrupulously  just  and  honest  was  <he, 
that  he  turned  over  at  the  end  of  his  term  the  identical  coin 
collected  by  him,  having  kept  it  as  a  fund  separate  from  any 
other  money.  About  1868,  his  health  failed,  and  he  was  very 
feeble  for  some  months.  Indeed,  his  death  was  prematurely 
reported  once  or  twice.  It  finally  came  to  his  relief  on  May 
30,  1870,  in  the  52d  year  of  his  age.  He-  died  respected  by  all. 
Mr.  SIMPSON  was  married,  in  1846.  to  a  Miss  DENOYER,  a  niece 
of  Lours  ROBERT. 

WILLIAM    HARTSHORN 

was  born  at  Dedham,  Massachusetts,  in  1794.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  hatter  when  a  boy,  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Springfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  established  a  store,  and 
continued  in  the  fur  and  hatting  business  for  several  years,  part 
of  the  time  on  a  large  scale,  as  he  once  made  a  sale  of  furs  to 
JOHN  JACOB  ASTOR,  for  $100,000.  Adversity  came  upon  him. 
however,  and  he  sold  out  his  business,  removed  to  Brockport. 
New  York,  subsequently  to  Lewiston,  thence  to  Michigan  City, 
&c.,  whei'e  he  was  in  the  hotel  and  stage  business,  and,  in  1839' 
settled  in  Saint  Louis,  where  he  engaged  again  in  the  fur  and 
peltry  trade. 

In  1843,  he  started  for  the  Upper  Mississippi,  to  purchase 
furs.  On  the  way  up,  he  met  HENRY  JACKSON  on  the  steamer. 
JACKSON  told  him  he  had  some  furs  to  sell,  which  induced  him 
to  stop  here.  The  result  of  the  visit  was,  that  he  and  JACKSON 
formed  a  copartnership,  and  HARTSHORN,  returning  to  Saint 
Louis  to  close  up  his  business  there,  settled  in  Saint  Paul  in 
September,  although  he  did  not  bring  his  family  up  for  some 
months  afterwards.  The  first  deed  on  the  Ramsey  county 
records,  is  one  dated  April  23,  1844,  m  which  JACKSON  deeds 
to  WILLIAM  HARTSHORN,  for$i,ooo,  the  "half  of  three  acres, 
it  being  the  place  where  said  JACKSON  now  lives,  lying  im- 


132  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1843 

mediately  on  the  Mississippi  River,  known  as  the  Saint  Paul's 
Landing." 

Mr.  HARTSHORN  also  bought,  that  year,  or  early  in  1844, 
a  tracl:  of  GERVAIS,  on  his  claim,  bounded  by  what  (now) 
wowld  be  Sibley  and  Minnesota  streets,  and  Fourth  and  Sixth 
streets.  In  1846,  when  PIERRE  BOTTINEAU  sold  his  claim. 
(Baptist  hill,)  he  describes  it  as  Abounded  on  the  west  by 
HARTSHORN."  There  was  a  log  house  on  this  tra<5t,  about 
where  the  Schurmeier  block  now  stands. 

The  copartnership  with  JACKSON  lasted  only  about  two  years, 
and  Mr.  HARTSHORN,  withdrawing,  moved  to  the  old  Morti- 
mer claim,  and  commenced  business  there  on  his  own  account. 
He  also  had  one  or  two  stores  or  trading  posts  in  other  places, 
at  Saint  Croix  Falls  and  on  the  Minnesota  River.  He  in- 
creased his  business  so  at  one  time,  that  he  had  several  of  these 
outside  stations.  D.  B.  FREEMAN,  who  had  clerked  for  him 
in  Saint  Louis,  and  AUG.  FREEMAN  ;  A.  L.  LARPENTEUR, 
ED.  WEST,  of  New  York  ;  W.  H.  MORSE,  of  Stillwater ;  and 
others,  clerked  for  him,  and  JOSEPH  CAMPBELL,  JOSEPH  DES- 
MARAIS,  ANTOINE  and  SAM.  FINDLEY  were  employed  by  him 
at  various  times,  as  interpreters.  It  was  also  through  him 
that  WILLIAM  H.  RANDALL,  of  New  York,  came  to  Saint 
Paul,  in  1846. 

In  the  winter  of  1847-8,  Mr.  HARTSHORN  disposed  of  his 
interest  to  JOHN  and  WILLIAM  H.  RANDALL,  the  FREEMANS 
and  LARPENTEUR,  under  the  name  of  "FREEMAN,  LARPEN- 
TEUR &  Co.,"  and  removed  to  Stillwater.  Not  liking  that 
place,  he  soon  returned  to  Saint  Paul,  and  re-embarked  in  trade. 
He  continued  in  business  until  1864,  when  disease  fastened  on 
him,  and  he  died  January  2,  1865.  A  newspaper  sketch  says 
of  him  :  "  He  was  an  honest  and  pure-minded  man,  with  a 
kindness  of  heart  and  absence  of  guile  that  made  him  beloved 
by  all.  Ever  upright  himself,  in  his  simplicity,  he  perhaps 
placed  too  much  confidence  in  others,  and  hence,  though  at 
times  well  off,  he  was  over-reached  to  an  extent  that  kept  him 
in  reduced  circumstances  most  of  his  life."  Mrs.  TYLE  HARTS- 
HORN, his  venerable  widow,  who,  with  him,  sustained  the  pri- 
vations and  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  died  March  4,  1874. 


1843]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  133 

WILLIAM  E.  HARTSHORN,  his  only  son,  is  still  a  resident  of 
Saint  Paul. 

AUGUSTE    L.    LARPENTEUR 

was  born  May  16,  1823,  at  Baltimore,  Maryland.  His  father 
was  an  emigrant  from  France.  In  1840,  he  went  to  Saint 
Louis,  to  enter  into  business  there  with  a  relative,  and,  some 
time  after  his  arrival,  got  acquainted  with  WILLIAM  HARTS- 
HORN, who  had  been  up  to  Saint  Paul  on  a  fur-buying  expedi- 
tion, and  had  formed  a  partnership  with  HENRY  JACKSON.  He 
engaged  LARPENTEUR,  in  1843,  to  go  to  Saint  Paul  with  him, 
and  gave  him  charge  of  an  invoice  of  goods  and  horses.  LAR- 
PENTEUR at  once  started  for  Saint  Paul,  on  the  steamer  Otter, 
Capt.  SCRIBE  HARRIS,  and  arrived  here  September  15,  1843. 

HARTSHORN  &  JACKSON  had  their  trading  house  in  the  Jack- 
son building,  on  the  point.  LARPENTEUR  was  in  the  service 
of  the  firm  about  two  years.  In  1845,  Mr.  HARTSHORN  dis- 
solved with  JACKSON,  and  moved  up  to  the  Mortimer  place, 
where  he  opened  business  on  his  own  account,  and  Mr.  LAR- 
PENTEUR remained  with  him,  having  mainly  the  charge  of  the 
whole  business.  In  1848,  Mr.  HARTSHORN  retired  from  the 
trade,  and  disposed  of  his  interest  in  it,  with  a  quantity  of  real 
estate,  to  a  new  firm,  called  FREEMAN,  LARPENTEUR  &  Co. — 
WM.  H.  RANDALL,  of  New  York,  having,  also,  an  interest  in  it. 
They  completed  a  warehouse  on  the  levee,  which  HARTSHORN 
had  commenced,  and  continued  there  until  the  death  of  DAVID 
B.  FREEMAN,  in  January,  18^0,  when  the  business  was  wound 
up  and  passed  over  to  JOHN  &  WM.  H.  RANDALL.  In  the 
spring  of  1850,  Mr.  LARPENTEUR  built  a  frame  store  on  Third 
street,  just  above  Jackson,  and  started  business  for  himself.  In 
1847,  we  should  state,  he  built  as  a  residence  for  himself,  the 
building  on  Jackson  street,  afterwards,  for  many  years,  known 
as  the  "  Wild  Hunter  Hotel."  In  1855,  ne  built  the  four-story 
brick  block  on  the  corner,  and  used  it  several  years  as  a  store, 
carrying  on  a  large  business.  The  hard  times  of  1858  com- 
pelled him  to  close  up,  and  eventually  he  lost  all  his  fine 
property  on  that  street. 

In  1845,  Mr.  LARPENTEUR  was   married  to  Miss  MARYJ.. 


134  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1843 

PRESLEY,  sister  to  BARTLETT  PRESLEY,  and,  like  most  of  our 
early  settlers,  has  had  a  numerous  family. 

SCOTT    CAMPBELL, 

another  of  the  settlers  of  the  year  1843,  was  a  half-breed  son 
of  COLIN  CAMPBELL,  (a  Scotch  trader,  well  known  through- 
out the  west  during  the  early  part  of  this  century,)  and  was 
born  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  in  1790.  He  adled  as  interpreter  at 
Fort  Snelling,  for  some  25  years,  and  also  was  in  the  employ, 
at  various  times,  of  FRANK.  STEELE,  N.  W.  KITTSON,  and 
others.  After  quitting  the  Indian  agency  at  the  fort,  he  came 
to  Saint  Paul,  and  bought  a  small  claim  of  DENIS  CHERRIER, 
say  running  from  Wabashato  Saint  Peter  streets,  and  back  two 
or  three  blocks.  He  creeled  a  dwelling,  subsequently,  about 
where  Zimmerman's  art  gallery  now  is.  In  1848,  he  sold  this 
claim  to  WM.  HARTSHORN,  for  a  small  sum,  and  moved  to  a 
claim  on  the  Saint  Anthony  road,  just  beyond  DENOYER'S, 
where  he  died,  in  1850,  in  destitute  circumstances.  CAMPBELL 
is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  some  ability,  but  of  intemperate 
habits,  which  caused  him  to  lead  an  unhappy  life.  His  wife, 
MARGARET  CAMPBELL,  was  a  Menominee  half-breed,  and 
always  bore  the  name  of  an  industrious,  worthy  woman.  She 
is  still  a  resident  of  Saint  Paul. 

CAMPBELL  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters.  When  his 
sons  were  young  boys  hereabouts,  they  were  known  as  good- 
natured  and  well-disposed  lads,  but  some  of  them  afterwards 
turned  out  very  badly.  BAPTISTE  was  among  the  Indians  exe- 
cuted at  Mankato,  in  1862,  for  murder  and  other  crimes  during 
the  massacre.  HYPOLITE,  another  son,  was  also  engaged  in 
the  massacre,  and  fled  to  Manitoba,  where  he  now  lives. 
SCOTT  CAMPBELL,  Jr.,  died  in  the  insane  asylum,  November 
17,  1870.  He  was  regarded  as  a  quiet  and  inoffensive  man. 
JOSEPH  CAMPBELL,  the  oldest  of  the  sons,  was  at  Yellow  Med- 
icine when  the  outbreak  occurred,  and  was  forced  by  the  In- 
dians to  accompany  them.  Mr.  HEARD  says,  in  his  valuable 
history  of  the  massacre,  that  CAMPBELL  was  shown  to  be  inno- 
cent of  any  complicity  in  the  outrages,  and.  by  his  kindness 
and  aid  to  prisoners,  deserved  praise.  He  also  wrote  the  letters 


1843]        and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  135 

from  LITTLE  CROW  to  Gen.  SIBLEY,  which  led  to  the  negotia- 
tions by  which  the  white  prisoners  were  released.  JOSEPH 
CAMPBELL  has  lived  in  Saint  Paul  for  several  years  past,  and 
is  well  spoken  of  by  persons  in  whose  employ  he  has  been. 

JOHN  L.  CAMPBELL,  the  youngest  of  the  sons,  was  a  scoun- 
drel, without  any  redeeming  qualities.  He  was  born  at  Men- 
dota,  in  1832,  and,  after  growing  up  to  manhood,  led  a  vicious 
and  abandoned  life.  He  was  cruel,  revengeful,  licentious  and 
intemperate.  He  is  said  to  have  committed,  or  been  concerned 
in,  several  murders  while  a  young  man.  In  1861,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  A,  Brackett's  Battalion,  and  served  nearly  three 
years  with  them.  His  officers  had  a  great  deal  of  trouble  with 
him,  and  he  is  charged  with  several  mm'ders,  robberies,  &c., 
while  in  the  service.  In  1864,  while  home  on  veteran  fur- 
lough, he  deserted,  and  cast  his  lot  with  the  outlawed  Sioux. 
While  engaged  in  a  raid  with  them,  in  April,  1865,  they  mur- 
dered the  JEWETT  family,  near  Mankato.  JOHN  CAMPBELL 
was  captured  at  Mankato,  on  May  2d,  and  some  of  the  clothes 
of  the  murdered  man  found  on  him.  He  was  tried  by  a  lynch 
court,  the  following  day,  and  hung  to  a  tree,  after  confessing 
his  guilt  and  restoring  some  money  stolen  from  JEWETT'S  house. 
CAMPBELL  was  a  man  of  more  than  usual  physical  beauty — 
had  long,  curly,  black  hair,  dark,  expressive  eyes,  and  a  finely 
proportioned  figure. 

ALEX.  R.  M'LEOD. 

ALEXANDER  RODERIC  McLEOD  was  the  son  of  a  Scotch 
Canadian.  According  to  some  old  settlers,  he  was  a  native  of 
Canada,  but  others  assert  as  positively  that  he  was  born  in  the 
Hudson's  Bav  territory,  near  the  Rockv  Mountains.  JOSEPH 
RONDO  says  that  McLEOD's  father  was  a  prominent  officer  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  that  McLEOD  (the  son)  was 
born  at  a  post  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  that  he  (RONDO) 
saw  him  there,  and  held  him  on  his  lap  when  he  was  a  small 
infant.  McLEOo's  mother,  says  RONDO,  was  a  Metis.  Others 
say  that  McLEOD  was  a  pure  blood  white  man.  McLEoo's 
father  must  have  been  a  man  of  some  influence.  There  is  a 


136  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,          [1843 

"Fort  McLeod,"  named  for  him,  near  Peace  River,  and  a 
"McLeod  River,"  near  Fort  Edmonton. 

A.  R.  McLEOD  came  to  Saint  Paul  in  1843.  What  year 
he  came  to  Minnesota,  I  cannot  learn  with  exactness — proba- 
bly 1838  or  1839.  He  was  employed  by  the  American  Fur 
Companv  for  a  short  time,  and  was,  also,  a  clerk  for  FRANK. 
STEELE.  McLEOD  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  powerful  phy- 
sique, and  great  endurance.  On  one  occasion,  he  walked  on 
snow-shoes  from  Saint  Croix  Falls  to  Saint  Paul,  about  sixty 
miles,  in  one  day,  and,  arriving  late  in  the  evening,  found  a 
French  ball  in  progress,  and  danced  the  rest  of  the  night,  as 
gay  and  active  as  any  one.  A  few  pages  further  on,  will  be 
found  an  account  of  McLEOD  killing'  a  man  with  whom  he 
had  a  quarrel,  by  blows  of  his  fist. 

A  few  months  after  coming  to  Saint  Paul,  (September,  1843,) 
MC-LEOD  married  a  half-breed  girl,  named  NANCY  JEFFRIES, 
then  living  at  Pig's  Eye,  daughter  of  a  trader  well  known  in 
this  region  at  that  time.  Mrs.  McLEOD  is  living  in  West  Saint 
Paul. 

In  1844,  McLEOD  purchased  some  land  of  BENJ.  GERVAIS, 
in  connection  with  Louis  ROBERT.  McLEOD  built,  on  his 
portion,  a  square  log  building,  on  the  site  of  the  recent  Central 
House.  It  was  then  only  one  story  high.  The  next  year,  he 
had  a  frame  upper  story  and  attic  added  to  it,  and  the  whole 
was  weather-boarded.  A  year  or  two  subsequently  a  wing 
was  added,  &c.,  and  thus,  little  bv  little,  it  grew  into  the  Cen- 
tral House  of  a  later  day,  which  was  for  years  a  hotel  well 
known  to  old  residents,  and  was  (1849-50-51)  used  for  the 
Legislature  and  Territorial  officers. 

McLEOD,  after  living  there  a  year  or  two,  subsequently  (1846) 
rented  the  building  to  other  parties,  and  moved  to  a  claim  on 
Phelan's  Creek,  near  the  Stillwater  road,  which  is  sometimes 
called  "McLeod's  Creek,"  owing  to  that  fact.  He  lived  here 
four  years,  and  moved  to  West  Saint  Paul,  where  he  lived 
most  of  the  time  until  his  death.  In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  Sixth  Minnesota  Regiment,  and  died  of  disease  at 
Jefferson  Barracks,  Missouri,  November  14,  1864,  aged  47 
years. 


1843]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  137 

OTHER    SETTLERS    OF    1843. 

ANTOINE  PEPIN,  ALEXIS  CLOUTIER,  and  JOSEPH  GOBIN, 
who  came  from  Red  River  together,  several  years  previous, 
this  year  settled  in  the  RONDO  neighborhood,  and  made  claims 
near  the  swamp  on  the  Lake  Como  road. 

ANTOINE  PEPIN  was  a  Canadian,  and  had  lived  at  Red  River 
several  years.  He  must  have  come  from  there  about  1831  or 
1832,  as  about  that  time  he  was  appointed  by  Maj.  TALIAFERRO, 
blacksmith  to  the  Sioux.  TALIAFERRO  says,  in  his  journal : 
;•  He  is  a  faithful  man,  hard-working  and  honest.  He  is  a  good 
blacksmith.."  He  records  in  another  place  that  PEPIN  had 
worked  until  his  hands  were  swelled  and  blistered,  making 
traps  for  poor  Indians,  not  able  to  buy  any.  In  1836,  Maj. 
TALIAFERRO  displaced  him,  in  favor  of  OLIVER  CRATTE, 
because  it  was  necessary  to  have  some  one  for  blacksmith  who 
could  repair  guns,  and  PEPIN  did  not  understand  that  craft. 
PEPIN  then  settled  near  the  fort,  or  at  Mendota,  and  came  to 
Saint  Paul,  as  before  mentioned.  PEPIN  lived  about  20  years 
after  settling  in  Saint  Paul,  and  died  about  a  dozen  years  ago, 
in  a  little  house  on  part  of  his  old  claim.  He  has  one  or  more 
children  still  living  hereabouts. 

Of  CLOUTIER  and  GOBIN,  I  can  get  but  little  information, 
except  that  both  are  now  dead.  I  do  not  find  the  names  on 
any  of  the  recent  census  rolls,  and  judge  that  no  descendants 
of  either  are  yet  living  in  this  locality. 

DAVID  THOMAS  SLOAN  was  engaged  in  trading  with  the 
Chippewas — a  part  of  the  time  for  HARTSHORN  and  JACKSON, 
and  subsequently  on  his  own  hook.  He  afterwards  went  up  to 
the  Chippewa  country,  where  he  married  a  sister  of  the  chief 
HOLE-IN-THE-DAY.  A  gentleman,  who  knew  her,  says  she  was 
one  of  the  best  looking  Indian  women  he  ever  saw.  SLOAN 
died  a  few  years  ago,  near  Crow  Wing.  A  daughter  of  his 
was  raised  by  Mrs.  TULLIS,  wife  of  Judge  AARON  W.  TUL- 
LIS,  who  was  sheriff  here  in  1859—60,  but  both  Mrs.  T.  and 
SLOAN'S  daughter  are  now  dead. 

JOSEPH  DESMARAIS  was  a  French  and  Chippewa  half-breed, 
born  in  the  Red  River  settlement.     He  came  to  Fort  Snelling, 
10 


138  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1843 

as  guide  and  interpreter  for  the  party  of  refugees  with  which 
RONDO  and  others  came.  DESMARAIS  settled  in  Saint  Paul, 
in  1843,  and  purchased  a  piece  of  ground  about  where  the 
Merchants'  Hotel  now  stands,  as  near  as  I  can  make  out.  His 
property  is  frequently  mentioned  on  the  early  records,  and  his 
name  was  signed  as  a  town  proprietor  to  the  recorded  plat. 
DESMARAIS  was  an  interpreter  for  JACKSON  for  some  time.  He 
had  quite  a  family  of  children,  some  of  whom  live  hereabouts 
yet.  His  wife  died  in  1847,  an(^  ne  went  on°  m  tne  Indian 
country,  where  he  still  lives,  or  was,  not  long  ago. 

Louis  LARRIVIER  came  from  Red  River.  About  1843,  he 
made  a  claim  near  the  head  of  Robert  and  Wabztsha  streets, 
and  including  the  ground  the  Capitol  now  stands  on.  CHARLES 
BAZILLE  purchased  it  of  him,  not  long  after.  LARRIVIER  then 
moved  to  a  place  near  the  foot  of  Phelan's  Lake.  His  wife, 
who  was  a  half-breed,  died  at  Little  Canada.  LARRIVIER  sub- 
sequently became  blind  from  sun-stroke,  and,  having  no  means 
of  support,  was  sent  to  the  poor-house,  where  he  died  about 
two  years  ago. 

XAVIER  DELONAIS  came  from  Red  River,  also.  He  lived 
here  for  some  time,  then  removed  to  Little  Canada,  and  thence 
to  Rice  Lake,  where  he  died  about  two  years  ago.  His  wife  is 
also  dead,  and  a  married  daughter  is  living  in  West  Saint  Paul. 

MINOR    INCIDENTS. 

A  Frenchman,  named  GEROU,  a  butcher  by  occupation,  who 
lived  near  the  Denoyer  place,  first  established  the  sale  of  fresh 
meat  in  the  village  this  year. 

The  Indians  were  very  troublesome  this  year,  and  perpetu- 
ally drunk.  One  day,  Mrs.  MORTIMER,  who  was  endeavoring 
to  close  out  the  stock  of  goods  belonging  to  her  late  husband, 
was  in  her  house,  when  an  Indian  stalked  in,  and,  seeing  a 
camphor  bottle  standing  on  a  shelf,  took  a  deep  swig,  sup- 
posing it  was  whisky.  As  soon  as  he  detected  the  nauseous 
taste,  he  gave  a  grunt  of  rage,  and,  seizing  a  measure,  turned 
some  vinegar  into  it  from  a  barrel,  supposing  that  also  was 
whisky.  He  dashed  down  a  heavy  draught  of  it  without  stop- 
ping to  taste  it.  Mrs.  MORTIMER  saw  the  storm  coming  and 


1843]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  139 

fled  for  safety  to  Mr.  IRVINE'S  house,  pursued,  a  moment  after, 
by  the  infuriated  Indian,  with  uplifted  tomahawk,  but  IRVINE 
disarmed  him  and  sent  him  oft'.  The  Indian-  had  left  the  vin- 
egar running,  however,  and  the  whole  of  it  was  gone  when 
Mrs.  MORTIMER  returned. 

This  year,  among  the  tk  real  estate  sales,"  N.  W.  KITTSON 
purchased  CLEWETT'S  claim,  the  latter  purchasing  LABISINIER'S 
claim. 


140  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1844 


CHAPTER   XI. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1844. 

CHARLES  KEEP  FREEZES  TO  DEATH— CAPTAIN  Louis  ROBERT  SETTLES  HERE- 
CHARLES  BAZILLE  ALSO  ARRIVES— WILLIAM  DUGAS  BUILDS  THE  FIRST  MILL- 
LITTLE  CANADA  SETTLED— ROBERT  BUYS  OUT  PARRANT— A  NOVEL  LAND 
CASE— THE  FINAL  CAREER  OF  PHELAN— THE  END  OF  OLD  PARRANT— MARRY- 
ING BY  BOND— RELIGIOUS  ITEMS. 

THE  winter  of  1843-4  was  qu'te  a  severe  one,  and  the 
snow  fell  unusually  deep. 

CHARLES    REED    FREEZES    TO    DEATH. 

-  In  March,  1844,  a  young  Canadian  Englishman,  named 
CHARLES  REED,  a  carpenter  by  occupation,  who  was  helping 
to  build  a  house  for  "old  GEROU,"  the  butcher,  near  DENOY- 
ER'S,  came  to  town  to  visit,  and  started  back  late  in  the  after- 
noon. A  violent  snow  storm  came  on  when  REED  got  a  mile 
or  so  on  his  way.  REED  did  not  return  to  GEROU'S  at  the 
time  expected,  and  was  missing  several  days.  One  day,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  PEPIN'S  was  going  near  the  swamp,  on  the 
Lake  Como  road,  when  she  noticed  a  dog,  which  accompanied 
her,  gnawing  something,  and,  on  examination,  was  shocked  to 
find  it  was  a  man's  head !  The  same  day,  or  a  day  or  two 
after  this,  a  Canadian,  who  was  hunting  partridges  in  the  swamp, 
found  REED'S  body,  with  the  head  gnawed  oft'.  The  poor 
fellow  had  evidently  got  bewildered  by  the  storm,  and,  wander- 
ing in  a  circle,  had  fallen  niown  and  perished.  REED  had 
lived  at  Prairie  du  Chien  before  coming  to  Saint  Paul. 

This  year  witnessed  several  valuable  accessions  .  to  our 
population,  among  them  Captain  Louis  ROBERT,  CHARLES 
BAZILLE,  &c. 

•  CAPTAIN    LOUIS    ROBERT 

was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  connected  with  the  early 


1844]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  141 

history  of  Saint  Paul.  He  was  of  Canadian  parentage,  and 
was  born  at  Carondelet,  Missouri,  January  21,  1811.  His 
early  life  was  spent  in  that  region,  and  in  the  fur  trade  of  the 


CAPT.  LOUIS  ROBERT. 


Upper  Missouri  River.  He  traversed  the  whole  of  the  Mis- 
souri valley,  while  a  young  man,  meeting  with  innumerable 
hair-breadth  escapes.  About  1836  or  1837,  ne  went  to  Prairie 
du  Cliien,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1843,  came  to  Saint  Paul  with 


142  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/,         [1844 

some  goods,  which  he  sold.  He  then  determined  to  remove 
here,  and  did  so  in  1844.  Came  to  what  is  now  Saint  Paul, 
then  a  place  of  only  three  or  four  cabins.  He  purchased  a 
part  of  the  claim  of  BENJ.  GERVAIS,  and  other  property,  for 
$300,  which  ultimately  became  worth  two  or  three  million 
dollars,  and  embarked  in  the  Indian  trade  here — his  foresight 
and  energy  being  of  great  value  to  the  infant  town,  to  the  de- 
velopment of  which  he  gave  his  whole  energy.  In  1847,  he 
was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  "Town  of  Saint  * 
Paul,"  when  it  was  laid  out.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in 
the  "  Stillwater  Convention"  of  1848,  and  was  largely  instru- 
mental, by  his  influence,  in  securing  the  location  of  the  Capital 
at  Saint  Paul.  In  1849,  he  was  appointed  County  Commis- 
sioner for  Ramsey  county,  and  rendered  it  important  service. 
He  was,  also,  elected  a  member  of  the  Territorial  Board  of  Build- 
ing Commissioners.  Though  without  the  advantages  of  educa- 
tion in  early  life,  he  had  a  large  fund  of  information,  gained 
by  travel  and  contact  with  men,  and  was  gifted  with  excellent 
business  capacity  and  judgment.  In  the  early  days  of  our 
city  he  took  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  w.ielded  a  large  in- 
fluence. He  was  very  generous  and  liberal  in  aiding  any 
worthy  object,  for  the  public  good — gave  freely  of  his  means, 
and  also  donated  valuable  property  to  the  church.  The  bells 
of  the  Cathedral  and  French  Catholic  church  were  gifts  from 
him.  In  the  way  of  private  charity,  his  hand  was  ever  open, 
and  he  never  refused  to  render  a  friend  any  favor  that  lay  in 
his  power.  In  the  year  1853,  he  engaged  in  the  steamboat 
business,  and,  at  different  times,  owned  five  steamers.  He  was, 
also,  largely  engaged  in  the  Indian  trade,  and  supply  contracts, 
when  the  Indian  massacre  occurred,  in  1862.  He  lost  quite 
heavily  in  that  outbreak,  and  nearly  lost  his  own  life,  which  the 
Indians  seemed  determined  to  take,  only  escaping  by  secreting 
himself  for  a  considerable  time,  v^hile  they  were  searching  for 
him,  by  laying  in  a  marsh,  with  merely  his  nose  out  of  water ! 
Captain  ROBERT  was  widely  known  throughout  the  State, 
and  as  widely  respeaed  by  all  the  old  settlers.  He  was  the 
true  embodiment  of  the  pioneer — generous,  brave,  energetic, 
liberal,  and  "broad  guage,"  as  it  is  termed,  in  his  manners. 


1844]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota,  143 

Unlike  many  of  hfs  fellow  pioneers,  who  allowed  millions  to 
slip  through  their  fingers  and  died  poor,  Captain  ROBERT 
saved  a  fine  estate,  valued  at  $400,000.  He  died,  after  a  pain- 
ful illness  of -'several  months,  on  May  10,  1874,  universally 
lamented.  He  was  married  in  1839,  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  to 
Miss  MARY  TURPIN,  who  sur-vived  him,  with  two  daughters, 
one  the  wife  of  URI  L.  LAMPREY,  Esq. 

CHARLES    BAZILLE 

was  born  in  Nicollet,  near  Montreal,  November  5,  1812,  and, 
while  a  young  man,  came  west,  and  settled  in  Prairie  du  Chien, 
Wisconsin.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  occupation.  He  first  met 
Louis  ROBERT  at  Green  Bay,  and  subsequently  became  more 
closely  acquainted  with  him  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  When 
ROBERT  came  to  Saint  Paul  with  his  goods,  in  the  fall  of  1843, 
BAZILLE  accompanied  him.  They  returned  to  Prairie  du 
Chien  before  winter,  but,  in  the  spring  of  this  year,  removed  to 
Saint  Paul,  and  became  permanent  residents. 

BAZILLE  built,  this  summer,  for  Captain  ROBERT,  what  was 
undoubtedly  the  first  frame  house  in  Saint  Paul.  It  was  de- 
signed as  a  sort  of  warehouse  to  store  goods  landed  by  the 
boats,  and  stood  on  the  lower  levee,  about  where  the  Milwau- 
kee and  Saint  Paul  passenger  depot  now  is.  The  frame  of 
this  building  was  made  of  lumber  heiun  by  hand,  no  sawed 
dimension  stuff  being  obtainable.  After  the  old  shell  had  served 
its  day  and  generation  for  a  number  of  years,  and  the  room 
was  needed  for  a  better  building,  it  was  removed  to  near  the 
corner  of  Fourth  and  Minnesota  streets,  where  it  still  stands, 
[number  58  East  Fourth  street.]  It  is  beyond  doubt  the  oldest 
building  in  the  city. 

Mr.  BAZILLE  also  commenced  to  build,  this  fall — for  WIL- 
LIAM DUGAS,  who  came  this  year — a  grist  and  saw  mill  at  what 
was  called  the  falls  of  Phelan's  Creek,  or  McLeod's  Creek — 
the  first  mill  built  in  what  is  now  Saint  Paul.  This  mill  stood 
on  the  west  bank  of  Phelan's  Creek,  a  few  yards  south  of  where 
the  Stillwater  carriage  road  crosses  it.  It  is  referred  to'  more 
fully  elsewhere. 

On  December  28,  1845,  Mr.  BAZILLE  was  married,  at  Men- 


144  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Patth          [1844 

dota,  to  ANNIE  JANE  PERRY,  the  youngest  daughter  of  ABRA- 
HAM PERRY.  They  have,  like  all  the  other  pioneer  settlers  of 
our  city,  been  blessed  with  a  numerous  progeny. 

Mr.  BAZILLE  purchased,  at  quite  an  early  day;  a  claim  pre- 
viously owned  by  old  LARRIVIER  (before  mentioned.)  This 
subsequently  was  laid  out  as  an  addition  to  Saint  Paul,  in  con- 
neftion  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  GUERIN,  and  became 
immensely  valuable.  Mr.  BAZILLE  had,  however,  disposed  of 
most  of  it  before  it  had  greatly  enhanced  in  price.  The 
square,  or  block,  now  owned  by  the  State,  known  as  the  "  Cap- 
itol Square,"  was  a  gift  from  Mr.  BAZILLE  to  the  United  States. 
and,  with  the  generous  recklessness  common  to  the  early  land 
owners,  he  gave  away  many  other  lots  and  blocks,  now  worth 
perhaps  $100,000  in  all,  and  yet,  in  the  evening  of  life.  he. 
like  many  other  of  our  pioneers,  is  in  very  limited  circum- 
stances. For  many  years,  Mr.  BAZILLE  carried  on  the  brick 
business  on  the  Lake  Como  road  and  other  places. 

WILLIAM    DUGAS. 

to  whom  reference  was  made  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  BAZILLE, 
was  a  Canadian,  and  came  to  Saint  Paul  in  1844.  In  the  first 
record  book  in  the  Ramsey  County  Register  of  Deeds  Office, 
[that  commonly  called  "  Saint  Croix,"  because  this  was  in 
that  county  then,]  we  find  a  deed  from  EDWARD  PHELAN  to 
WILLIAM  DUGAS,  dated  September  2,  1844,  of  "  160  acres  on 
Fayliri's  Creek  and  Falls," — so  it  was  spelled  by  whoever 
drew  up  the  deed — J.  W.  SIMPSON,  probably,  as  he  used  to  do 
most  of  the  conveyancing  of  that  period.  This  land  is  now 
known  as  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  29,  township  29, 
range  22.  It  is  the  second  deed  on  the  Ramsey  county  records. 
The  consideration  given  was  $70. 

DUGAS,  who  was  a  millwright  by  occupation,  and  had  un- 
doubtedly purchased  the  claim  for  the  fine  water-power  on  it, 
at  once  set  about  erecting  a  saw  and  grist-mill.  He  employed 
Mr.  BAZILLE  to  assist  him.  The  mill  was  two  stories,  about 
25x50  feet  in  size.  It  was  not  completed  that  fall,  but  was 
finished  and  got  into  running  order  the  next  year  (1845.)  Tne 
saw  was  worked  a  short  time;  but  there  was  such  difficulty  in 


1844]       and  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  145 

getting  logs,  and  such  a  small  demand  for  lumber,  that  the 
mill  was  almost  a  failure  from  the  start.  The  burrs  were 
never  put  in  at  all.  Some  18  months  after  the  date  of  his  pur- 
chase, (February  28,  1846,)  DUGAS  sold  the  claim  and  all  im- 
provements to  ALEX.  R.  McLEOD,  for  $835. 

DUGAS  then  settled  at  New  Canada,  or  in  that  vicinity,  as  he 
was  elected  one  of  the  members  from  that  precinct,  to  the  first 
Territorial  Legislature,  in  1849,  along  with  WM.  R.MARSHALL, 
then  of  Saint  Anthony.  He  subsequently  lived  in  Saint  Paul, 
'in  1850  and  1851,  and,  after  that,  removed  up  to  the  Crow  River 
valley,  and  now  resides  there. 

FRANCIS    M'COY    AND   JOSEPH    HALL 

were  two  other  settlers  of  this  year.  Both  were  carpenters, 
and  continued  to  live  here  until  after  the  Territory  was  organ- 
ized and  the  town  incorporated.  HALL  died  some  years  ago. 
Of  McCoy's  present  whereabouts,  or  whether  he  is  still  in  the 
flesh,  I  can  learn  no  tidings. 

LITTLE    CANADA    SETTLED. 

When  BENJAMIN  GERVAIS  sold  his  claim  to  Louis  ROBERT, 
he  at  once  moved  about  eight  miles  northward  from  Saint 
Paul,  and,  on  the  lake  th'at  now  bears  his  name,  he  and  his 
sons  made  claims.  He  was  the  first  settler  of  the  town  of 
New  Canada — but  this  is  given  more  fully  in  the  sketch  of 
New  Canada  township,  in  the  latter  part  of  this  work. 

MORE    ABOUT    PHELAN. 

After  PHELAN  sold  his  claim  at  the  falls  of  the  creek  now 
named  for  him,  he  made  another  claim  on  what  was  known 
those  days  as  "  Prospect  hill" — the  ridge  on  the  upper  side 
of  Phelan's  Creek,  just  north  of  where  the  West  Wisconsin 
Railroad  crosses  it.  This  claim  he  did  not  keep  long,  but  sold 
it  to  HENRY  JACKSON.  W.  G.  CARTER,  a  cousin  of  JACK- 
SON'S, lived  on  it  for  some  time,  and,  in  1849,  perhaps,  Mr.  J. 
sold  it  to  ALEXANDER  WILKIN,  by  whom  it  was  transferred  to 
others,  and  finally  laid  out  as  an  addition — called  "Arlington 
Heights." 


146  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1844 

PHELAN  was  a  sort  of  pacha  of  many  claims,  for  he  at  once 
made  another,  (the  fifth  one  he  took  in  what  is  now  Saint 
Paul.)  This  was  to  the  east  of  the  others  a  little,  and  extend- 
ed, probably,  as  far  as  Trout  Brook.  This  claim  he  sold,  in 
1849,  to  EDMUND  RICE,  who  entered  it  in  the  land  office,  and 
it  subsequently  became  his  addition  to  the  city. 

In  the  spring  of  1850,  PHELAN  was  indidted  by  the  first 
Grand  Jury  that  ever  sat  in  Ramsey  county,  for  perjury. 
When  the  sheriff  went  to  apprehend  him,  it  was  found  that 
PHELAN  had  fled  his  bailiwick,  and,  in  company  with  EB. 
WELD,  started  for  California.  It  was  shortly  afterwards  re- 
ported here  that  PHELAN  had  come  to  a  violent  end,  while 
crossing  the  plains.  The  account  states  that  he  acled  so  bru- 
tally and  overbearingly  toward  the  other  men  in  the  same  car- 
avan, they  were  compelled  to  kill  him,  in  self-defense.  The 
murdered  HAYS  was  avenged  !  It  is  a  disgrace,  that  the  name 
of  this  brutal  murderer  has  been  affixed  to  one  of  our  most 
beautiful  lakes — one  that  supplies  our  households  with  water. 
Last  winter,  Senator  W.  P.  MURRAY  made  an  effort  to  have 
the  name  changed  to  "  Goodhue  Lake."  but  it  did  not  suc- 
ceed, as  it  should  have  done. 

ROBERT  BUYS  OUT  OLD  PARRANT. 

In  addition  to  his  purchase  of  GERVAIS'  claim,  or  what  re- 
mained of  it  after  GERVAIS'  sales  to  various  parties.  ROBERT 
also  purchased  of  old  PARRANT,  his  claim  on  the  lower  levee, 
the  one  he  had  made  after  the  sale  of  his  cabin  and  land  to 
GERVAIS.  The  extent  of  the  bounds  of  PARRANT'S  claim 
here,  I  have  not  been  able  to  get  very  definitely,  but  it  could 
not  have  been  a  very  large  piece. 

PARRANT  then  abandoned  Saint  Paul,  much  to  the  sorrow 
of  the  good  people  here,  no  doubt,  and  removed  to  Pig's  Eye, 
or  the  Grand  Marais,  where  he  made  another  claim,  adjoining 
that  of  MICHEL  LECLAIRE. 

THE  CASE  OF  LE  CLAIRE  VS.  PARRANT. 

But  unkind  fate,  although  it  had  thrust  on  old  Pig's  Eye  the 
honor  of  being  the  ROMULUS  of  our  city,  seemed  to  give  him 


1844]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  147 

no  rest  for  the  sole  of  his  foot,  nor  permit  him  to  long  enjoy  an 
undisturbed  habitation.  LECLAIRE  and  PARRANT  quarreled 
about  the  lines  of  their  respective  claims,  although  neither  of 
them  cultivated  ten  square  rods  of  ground,  and  all  the  land  in 
dispute  would  have  been  dear  at  ten  shillings.  Perhaps  they 
thought  that  '*  principle  was  involved,"  and  so  neither  would 
give  up.  Finally,  LECLAIRE  summoned  PARRANT  before 
Squire  JOSEPH  R.  BROWN,  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  Grey  Cloud. 
There  was  tall  swearing  on  both  sides.  In  fact,  so  strong  was 
the  testimony  that  Squire  BROWN,  with  all  his  sagacity  and 
discriminatidn,  could  not  tell  on  which  side  to  make  the  decision. 
His  irresistible  love  of  a  joke  finally  helped  him  out  of  the 
dilemma.  He  decided  that  neither  of  the  parties  had  any 
valid  claim  to  the  land  in  dispute,  as  they  had  not  properly 
staked  it  out  in  the  presence  of  witnesses,  and  defined  its 
boundaries.  It  would,  therefore,  be  the  just  property  of  the 
first  who  should  do  so.  The  result  was,  of  course,  a  foot-race 
back  to  the  claim,  to  see  who  should  first  arrive  and  plant  the 
stakes. 

Both  the  contestants  started  oft",  eager  and  anxious.  A  race 
of  eight  miles  was  before  them,  over  bogs  and  sloughs,  and 
through  jungles  and  forests.  PARRANT  was  old  and  logy,  but 
strong  and  tough,  and  avarice  nerved  up  his  strength  ;  while 
LECLAIRE  was  younger  and  more  active.  Both  strained  every 
nerve,  and  long  in  doubtful  balance  hung  the  scales.  But  in 
this  contest,  fortune  favored  LECLAIRE,  who  soon  began  to 
outstrip  the  panting  PARRANT,  who,  nevertheless,  toiled 
steadily  along,  hoping  some  lucky  chance  might  yet  enable 
him  to  win.  But  he  was  doomed  to  disappointment.  LE- 
CLAIRE arrived  long  enough  in  advance  to  drive  his  stakes  in 
the  presence  of  witnesses,  and  secure  his  claim,  when  the  ex- 
hausted founder  of  our  city  arrived,  sick,  mad  and  furious,  to 
find  himself  the  butt  of  jeers  and  ridicule. 

PARRANT  was  so  worked  up  by  this  misadventure,  that  he 
soon  after  sold  his  claim  and  left  the  neighborhood.  He  started 
for  Lake  Superior,  designing  to  return  to  Sault  Ste.  Marie, 
but  died  on  the  journey,  of  a  disease  resulting  from  his  own 


148  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1844 

MARRYING    "  BY    BOND." 

During  this  year,  or  possibly  the  year  previous,  HENRY  JACK- 
SON was  appointed,  by  the  Governor  of  Wisconsin  Territory, 
a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  There  was  some  delay  in  getting  the 
commission,  &c.,  after  his  bonds  had  been  sent  to  Madison,  as 
the  mails  in  winter  were  very  slow.  One  day,  a  couple  came 
to  his  house,  very  anxious  to  be  married.  JACKSON  informed 
them  that  he  was  not  yet  authorized  to  perform  that  ceremony 
legally,  and  they  would  have  to  defer  their  marriage  a  few 
days.  This  was  a  great  disappointment  to  the  loving  hearts 
that  were  so  anxious  to  "beat  as  one,"  but  they  could  not 
think  of  postponing  the  happy  hour.  JACKSON  was  equal  to 
the  dilemma.  He  proposed  to  marry  them  by  bond — i.  e.. 
that  they  should  give  a  bond  that,  when  his  commission  arrived, 
they  would  appear  and  be  legally  married  by  him,  and  in  the 
meantime  they  could  live  together.  They  gladly  consented  to 
this.  The  bond  was  made  out  and  signed,  and  the  happy 
couple  went  on  their  way  rejoicing,  &c. 

Any  public  officer  who  could  bridge  over  little  difficulties 
like  this,  was  a  handy  man  to  have  around.  JACKSON  was 
justice,  postmaster,  hotel-keeper,  legislator,  clerk  of  court,  and 
several  other  functionaries  combined  in  one.  He  even  used 
to  naturalize  foreigners,  "'by  bond,"  probably.  But  then, 
like  vaccination,  if  it  didn't  take  the  first  time,  it  could  be 
renewed. 

CHURCH    ITEMS. 

In  May  of  this  year,  Father  GALTIER  left  his  mission  field 
here,  and  was  transferred  to  another  field  of  labor.  Father 
RAVOUX  then  officiated  at  Saint  Paul  and  Mendota  alternately, 
for  some  five  or  six  years  longer,  until  the  parish  was  divided 
into  two. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year,  the  first  Protestant  service  was  held  by 
Rev.  Mr.  HURLBUT,  a  missionary  of  the  Methodist  church, 
who  remained  in  this  region  about  a  year.  The  service  was 
held  at  the  house  of  HENRY  JACKSON. 


1845]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  149 


CHAPTER   XII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1845. 

PROBABLE  POPULATION  AT  THIS  DATE— A  POLYGLOT  VILLAGE— SETTLERS  or  THIS 
YEAR — LEONARD  H.  LAROCHE — THE  FUTURE  MERCHANTS'  HOTEL — FRANCIS 
ROBERT — THE  FREEMAN  BROTHERS — W.  G.  CARTER — CHARLES  CAVILEER — A 
MRS.  RUMSEY  STARTS  THE  FIRST  SCHOOL— S.  COWDEN,  JR.,  ALSO  TRIES  IT. 

AT  the  beginning  of  the  year  1845,  there  were  probably 
about  thirty  families  living  in  and  around  what,  by  that 
date,  was  pretty  well  known  in  this  region  as  u  Saint  Paul." 
There  were  also  a  few  persons — single  men — laborers,  me- 
chanics, voyageurs,  trappers,  &c.,  who  composed  a  sort  of 
floating  population  ;  so  that  the  village,  or  settlement,  (for  it 
was  so  scattered  about,  from  the  seven-corners  to  Phelan's 
Lake,  that  it  was  hardly  even  a  village,)  had  begun  to  be  a 
point  of  some  considerable  promise.  Louis  ROBERT,  HENRY 
JACKSON,  JOHN  R.  IRVINE,  WM.  HARTSHORN,  J.  W.  SIMPSON, 
and  others,  were  now  engaged  in  trade,  and  were  bending  all 
their  influence  and  energies  to  benefit  the  infant  metropolis, 
and  draw  population  and  traffic  hither. 

At  this  time,  by  far  the  largest  proportion  of  the  inhabitants 
were  Canadian  French,  and  Red  River  refugees,  and  their 
descendants.  There  were  only  three  or  four  purely  American 
(white)  families  in  the  settlement,  while  most  of  the  French 
were  intermarried  with  the  native  race,  so  that  not  more  than 
'  one-half  the  families  in  the  place,  if  that  many,  were  white. 
In  the  families  of  the  mixed  bloods,  the  Sioux,  Chippewa, 
Menominee,  Cree,  Kootenais,  Winnebago,  and  perhaps  other 
tongues,  were  spoken.  English  was  probably  not  spoken  in 
more  than  three  or  four  families. 

SETTLERS    OF    1845. 

Among  the  new  comers  this  year,  were  FRANCIS  CHENE- 


150  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,          [1845 

VERT,  DAVID  BENOIT,  LEONARD  H.  LAROCHE,  FRANCIS 
ROBERT,  AUGUSTUS  and  DAVID  B.  FREEMAN,  W.  G.  CARTER, 
CHARLES  CAVILEER,  and  others. 

LEONARD  H.  LAROCHE  was  a  Canadian  by  birth,  and,  by 
occupation,  a  carpenter.  He  was  engaged  in  trade  for  awhile 
with  DAVID  FARIBAULT,  in  a  little  store  which  stood  on  what 
was  afterwards  called  Bench  street.  On  August  13,  1846,  LA- 
ROCHE  purchased  from  HENRY  BELLAND  a  small  tract  of 
ground,  described  in  the  deed  as  "bounded  on  the  front  and 
back  by  HENRY  JACKSON'S  land,  and  on  the  sides  by  McLEOD 
andDESMARAis."  The  consideration  was  $165.  This  is  prob- 
ably the  land  on  which  the  Merchants'  Hotel  of  to-day  stands, 
as,  during  that  year  (1846)  LAROCHE  built  a  cabin  of  tamarack 
logs,  which,  with  some  additions,  afterwards  became  the 
"  Saint  Paul  House,"  of  which  the  Merchants  of  to-day  is  the 
outgrowth.  LAROCHE  sold  this  property  to  SIMEON  P.  FOL- 
SOM,  in  1847,  and  went  to  Crow  Wing,  where  he  died  about 
1859  or  I86o. 

W.  G.  CARTER,  or  "  GIB."  CARTER,  as  the  old  settlers  better 
knew  him,  was  a  cousin  of  HENRY  JACKSON.  He  was  a  native 
of  Virginia.  When  he  came  here,  he  lived  for  two  or  three 
years  on  the  claim  which  PHELAN  sold  JACKSON,  called  then 
"  Prospect  hill."  CARTER  was,  in  1848,  a  member  of  the 
Stillwater  Convention  of  that  year.  He  subsequently  made 
a  claim,  or,  at  least,  owned  a  piece  on  the  Fort  road,  and  died 
there  about  1852.  His  widow  still  resides  in  this  city. 

FRANCIS  ROBERT  was  a  younger  brother  of  Capt.  Louis 
ROBERT,  and  a  native  of  Missouri."  After  his  arrival  here, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  fur  trade  for  Louis.  In  1848,  while 
descending  the  rapids  of  the  Saint  Croix  in  a  birch-bark  canoe, 
he  was  thrown  out  and  badly  injured  on  the  rocks,  bv  a  blow 
on  the  chest.  From  this  injury  he  never  recovered,  and,  after 
months  of  suffering,  died  on  September  27,  1849,  aged  30 
years.  Out  of  respect,  the  Legislature,  which  was  then  in 
session,  adjourned  for  one  day,  to  attend  his  funeral. 

FRANCIS  CHENEVERT  was  a  clerk  of  Louis  ROBERT.  He  was 
born  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  of  Canadian  parents.  He  appears, 
from  the  Register  of  Deeds'  records,  to  have  purchased  (in 


1845]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  151 

connection  with  DAVID  BENOIT)  the  claim  of  PIERRE  BOTTI- 
NEAU,  on  June  16,  1846.  CHENEVERT  was  unmarried,  and 
lived  here  until  1865,  when  he  died  at  the  residence  of  a  friend 
on  Robert  street. 

Of  DAVID  BENOIT  I  can  get  little  or  no  information  that  is 
reliable.  He  probably  resided  here  but  a  very  short  time. 

AUGUSTUS  and  DAVID  B.  FREEMAN  had  been  residents  of 
Saint  Louis.  The  latter  had  been  employed  by  WM.  HARTS- 
HORN, while  in  business  there,  and  was  engaged  by  him  to 
come  to  Saint  Paul,  when  he  established  his  own  store  here,  in 
1 845 .  AUGUSTUS  FREEMAN  was  also  employed  by  Mr.  HARTS- 
HORN. The  FREEMANS,  in  connection  with  A.  L.  LARPEN- 
TEUR,  and  possibly  with  WM.  H.  RANDALL,  continued  the 
business  of  HARTSHORN,  when  he  retired  from  it,  a  couple  of 
years  later.  DAVID  B.  FREEMAN  died  in  January,  1850,  under 
the  following  circumstances  :  He  was  going  over  to  Stillwater 
in  a  sleigh,  which  was  overturned,  and  the  horses  got  away. 
FREEMAN  pursued  them  a  couple  of  miles,  becoming  over- 
heated, and  then  sat  down  on  the  snow  to  rest.  In  consequence 
of  this,  he  caught  a  violent  cold,  inflammation  of  the  lungs  set  in, 
and  he  died  after  a  very  short  illness.  FREEMAN  was  an  Odd 
Fellow,  and,  although  the  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge  had  not  been 
instituted  then,  the  members  buried  him  with  the  honors  of  the 
order.  He  was  interred  on  what  was  afterwards  Pearl  street, 
in  the  First  Ward.  The  remains  were  dug  up  in  1863,  while 
some  improvements  were  going  on  there,  and  recognized  by 
the  "three  links"  on  the  coffin.  This  was  the  first  Odd  Fel- 
lows' funeral  in  Minnesota.  AUGUSTUS  FREEMAN  subsequently 
went  to  New  York  and  died  there. 

CHARLES  CAVILEER  came  to  Minnesota  in  1841,  in  company 
with  the  missionary,  Rev.  B.  F.  KAVENAUGH,  and  WM.  R. 
BROWN,  and  settled  at  Red  Rock.  He  was  a  saddler  by  trade, 
and,  in  1845,  located  in  Saint  Paul,  which  was  then  becoming 
enough  of  "  a  place"  to  carry  on  that  business.  He  occupied, 
for  some  time,  a  building  on  the  levee,  and  in  1847,  perhaps, 
moved  up  to  what  was  once  called  Saint  Charles  street.  In 
1848,  he  and  Dr.  DEWEY  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  Mr. 
CAVILEER  was  Territorial  Librarian  for  a  few  months,  and,  in 


152  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1845 

1851,  removed  to  Pembina,  where  he  has  been  postmaster  al- 
most ever  since  that  year. 

THE    FIRST    SCHOOL. 

During  this  spring,  or  early  in  the  summer,  Mrs.  MATILDA 
RUMSEY,  who  had  come  to  Saint  Paul  a  few  months  before, 
with  Mr.  BLANCHARD  and  his  wife,  (the  latter  her  sister,)  es- 
tablished a  small  school  for  children,  in  a  log  building  on  the 
bottom,  near  the  upper  levee.  This  was.  beyond  doubt,  the 
first  school  in  Saint  Paul.  There  were  only  a  handful  of 
scholars,  however,  and  the  school  was  not  kept  up  long. 
On  June  23,  Mrs.  RUMSEY  was  married  to  ALEXANDER  MEGE, 
and  the  school  was  abandoned. 

A  young  man,  named  S.  COWDEN,  Jr.,  then  attempted  to  re- 
establish the  school.  There  is  some  disagreement  among  the 
old  settlers,  as  to  whether  he  did  carry  on  one  or  not.  Some 
think  he  did  not  succeed  in  opening  one,  but  others  are  certain 
that  he  taught  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  COWDEN  was  a  young 
man,  who  had  worked  awhile  for  HENRY  JACKSON.  He  came 
from  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  was  married  to  a  Winnebago  half- 
breed.  COWDEN  died  some  years  ago,  and  his  wife  is  living 
at  the  Winnebago  Agency,  in  Blue  Earth  county. 


[846]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  153 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1846. 

INCREASE  OF  TRADE  AND  TRAVELING — THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  POST-OFFICE — 
MOVEMENT  TO  ORGANIZE  MINNESOTA  TERRITORY — SETTLERS  OF  1846— WIL- 
LIAM H.  RANDALL— JAMES  "  Me"  BOAL— THOMAS  S.  ODELL— HARLEY  D.  WHITE 
AND  OTHERS — INDIAN  TEMPERANCE  MOVEMENT — REV.  DK.  WILLIAMSON  SET- 
TLES AT  KAPOSIA— AND  WRITES  EAST  AFTER  A  SCHOOL  MA'AM  FOR  SAINT 
PAUL,  &c. 

SAINT  PAUL  had  now  become  quite  a  "  point"  on  the 
river.  There  were  only  three  or  four  points  on  the  Upper 
Mississippi,  above  Prairie  du  Chien,  where  boats  ever  touched, 
and  only  one  where  they  landed  with  any  regularity.  Saint 
Paul  might  be  classed  in  the  latter  list.  Considerable  goods 
were  now  received  here  by  the  five  or  six  ti'aders  who  car- 
ried on  business  in  the  village,  and  there  was  some  passen- 
ger business  to  and  fro.  Strangers,  travelers,  and  tourists, 
generally — sometimes  an  adventurous  trader,  from  below, 
seeking  for  a  location — would  occasionally  land,  to  "  look 
around"  a  little.  There  was  no  tavern  to  go  to,  and  HENRY 
JACKSON,  whose  hospitality  was  a  distinguishing  trait,  usually 
invited  them  to  his  house,  where  they  were  entertained  free  of 
charge. 

JACKSON  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  a  merchant,  and  a  sa- 
loon-keeper combined.  To  accommodate  all  these  branches  of 
business,  he  kept  on  enlai'ging  his  hostelrie,  until  it  grew  into 
quite  a  caravansary.  JACKSON  was  a  man  of  a  great  deal  of 
force,  originality  and  humor,  and  "  the  boys"  usually  liked  to 
•'  loaf  round"  there,  until  it  became  a  kind  of  headquarters  for 
trade,  news,  gossip,  politics  and  general  exchange.  It  soon 
became  a  sort  of  post-office,  too.  Nearly  every  boat  that  landed 
would  have  a  handful  of  letters  or  papers  directed  to  persons 
in  Saint  Paul,  and  these,  by  a  sort  of  established  custom,  were 
handed  to  JACKSON,  because  there  was  no  one  else  to  receive 
ii 


154  T/ie  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1846 

them,  probably.  JACKSON  used  to  keep  them  piled  up  on  a 
shelf  in  his  store.  When  any  one  asked  for  mail,  the  whole 
bundle  was  thrown  down  on  a  table  or  counter,  and  the  party 
picked  out  what  he  wanted.  That  was  before  the  days  of  cheap 
postage.  A  letter  from  the  Eastern  States  those  times,  cost  25 
ce^ts.  A  letter  from  England  was  50  cents.  Now  it  is  two 
cents,  i.  e.,  by  postal  card. 

ESTABLISHMENT    OF    A    POST-OFFICE. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  a  post-office  was  a  necessity 
here,  and  the  proper  petition  was  forwarded  to  the  Post-office 
Department  at  Washington,  and  favorably  considered.  The 
records  of  that  Department  show  that  the  office  was  estab- 
lished on  April  7,  1846,  and  a  commission  to  HENRY  JACKSON, 
as  postmaster,  issued  the  same  day.  The  business  was  so 
small,  however,  that  it  is  scarcely  probable  that  the  emolu- 
ments were  worth  scrambling  for.  It  is  different  now. 

Having  now  the  rank  and  emoluments  of  a  post-office,  JACK- 
SON conceived  that  some  effort  should  be  made,  for  appearance 
sake,  at  least,  to  establish  post-official  regulations  and  conven- 
iences, and  so  set  about  making  the  first  case  of  boxes,  or 
pigeon-holes,  that  the  Saint  Paul  post-office  ever  possessed  or 
used.  Out  of  some  old  packing  cases,  or  odd  boards,  he  con- 
structed a  rude  case,  about  two  feet  square,  and  containing  16 
pigeon-holes.  These  were  labeled  with  initial  letters.  The 
whole  affair  was  awkwardly  constructed,  apparently  with  a 
wood-saw,  axe  and  knife,  for  temporary  use,  and.  after  serving 
for  two  or  three  years,  was  laid  aside.  Fortunately,  it  was  not 
lost  or  destroyed,  and  finally,  after  Saint  Paul  became  a  flourish- 
ing city,  the  widow  of  Mr.  JACKSON,  (Mrs.  HINCKLEY,  of 
Mankato,)  gave  it  to  the  Historical  Society,  as  a  relic  of  early 
davs.  It  now  graces  the  cabinet  of  that  institution,  and  is 
about  the  most  decidedly  "historical"  relic  of  their  whole  col- 
lection, showing,  as  it  does,  at  a  glance,  the  whole  story  of 
the  wonderful  and  rapfd  growth  of  our  citv.  The  Societv 
value  it  above  all  their  other  relics,  and  will  not  part  with  it 
for  any  sum,  no  matter  how  fabulous,  or  we  should  advocate 
its  purchase  and  enclosing  of  it  in  a  glass  case  for  an  ormunent 


1846]        and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  155 

to  the  present  post-office,  to  show  the  contrast  of  thirty  years — 
the  first  and  the  last,  the  alpha  and  omega  of  Saint  Paul  post- 
offices. 

Saint  Paul  was  not  the  first  post-office  established  in  this  re- 
gion, as  some  have  supposed.  "Lake  Saint  Croix  Post- 
office,"  afterwards  called  Point  Douglas,  was  established  on 
July  18,  1840,  and  Saint  Croix  Falls  on  July  18,  1840.  Still- 
water  was  made  a  post-office  January  14,  1846,  about  four 
months  before  Saint  Paul. 

Saint  Anthony  Falls,  this  year,  gave  promise  of  being  a  point 
of  importance.  This  is  why  PIERRE  BOTTINEAU  sold  his 
claim  on  Baptist  hill,  on  June  16,  foi  $300,  and  removed  to 
the  Falls,  where  he  bought,  for  $150,  a  considerable  tra<5t, 
which  afterwards  became  Bottineau's  Addition,  and  built  the 
second  house  in  the  place.  In  his  deed  of  the  claim  on  Bap- 
tist hill,  (to  FRANCIS  CHENEVERT  and  DAVID  BENOIT,)  he 
describes  it  as  "bounded  east  by  KITTSON,  north  by  CLEW- 
ETT,  west  by  HARTSHORN  and  JACKSON,  and  south  by  Louis 
ROBERT,"  and  "  containing  100  acres."  This  was  merely  an 
estimate — there  could  not  have  been  that  much. 

TERRITORIAL    FORESHADOWINGS. 

The  people  of  Wisconsin  Territory  had,  for  some  months, 
been  making  efforts  to  secure  a  State  government.  On  August 
6,  1846,  the  act  of  Congress,  to  enable  Wisconsin  Territory  to 
frame  a  State  Constitution,  &c.,  was  passed.  The  Conven- 
tion met  on  Oclober  5,  and  adjourned  on  December  16.  Hon. 
WILLIAM  HOLCOMBE,  of  Stillwater,  represented  Saint  Croix 
county.  The  Constitution,  as  framed,  provided  for  the  western 
boundary  of  Wisconsin  down  the  valley  of  the  Saint  Croix, 
thence  down  the  Mississippi,  so  that  the  region  now  known 
as  Minnesota  was  thus  "left  out  in  the  cold."  A  little  out  of 
its  regular  order,  I  might  here  say  that  this  Constitution,  which 
was  voted  on  in  April,  1847,  was  rejected  by  the  people  of 
Wisconsin. 

On  December  23,  1846,  after  the  above  Convention  had  ad- 
journed, and,  probably  on  the  presumption  that  its  action  would 
be  ratified,  Hon.  MORGAN  L.  MARTIN,  the  Delegate  from  Wis- 


156  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1846 

consin  in  Congress,  introduced  a  bill  to  organize  the  Territory 
of  Minnesota.*  This  bill  fixed  the  western  boundary  of  the 
Territory  on  the  Red  and  Sioux  Wood  Rivers.  The  bill  was 
bandied  about  for  several  months,  and,  on  March  3,  1847,  put 
to  sleep  "on  the  table."  Thus  early  was  a  Territorial  gov- 
ernment for  Minnesota  foreshadowed. 

Among  those  who  settled  in  Saint  Paul  this  year,  were  WM. 
H.  RANDALL  and  WILLIAM  RANDALL,  Jr. ;  JAMES  M.  BOAL, 
THOMAS  S.  ODELL,  JOHN  BANFIL,  HARLEY  D.  WHITE,  DAVID 
FARIBAULT,  Louis  DENOYER,  Jo.  MONTEUR,  CHARLES  Ro- 
LEAU,  &c. 

WILLIAM    H.    RANDALL 

was  born  in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  May  8,  1806.  He  was 
in  business  in  New  York,  in  1845,  with  his  brother  JOHN, 
when  WM.  HARTSHORN  went  there  to  purchase  goods.  Mr. 
RANDALL  seemed  to  feel  a  great  interest  in  Saint  Paul,  made 
many  inquires  regarding  it,  and,  the  following  year,  accompa- 
nied Mr.  HARTSHORN  out,  and  resolved  to  settle  here.  He 
seemed  to  have,  from  the  first,  a  firm  faith  in  the  future  great- 
ness and  prosperity  of  the  place.  He  soon  after,  with  his 
brother,  and,  perhaps,  the  FREEMANS  and  A.  L.  LARPENTEUR, 
succeeded  to  Mr.  HARTSHORN'S  business,  and  became  owner  of 
a  large  amount  of  valuable  property,  in  the  heart  of  the  city. 
He  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Town  of  Saint  Paul  when 
it  was  laid  out  in  1847.  This  property  became  immensely 
valuable,  and,  just  prior  to  the  crash  of  1857,  "  Father  RAN- 
DALL," as  he  was  called,  was  considered  a  millionaire.  In 
the  early  days  of  Saint  Paul,  he  was  one  of  its  most  prominent 
and  public-spirited  citizens.  In  1848,  he  built  the  stone  ware- 
house now  used  by  the  Milwaukee  Railroad.  It  was  a  great 
building  for  that  day.  He  also  graded  the  levee  and  improved 
streets  at  his  own  expense,  and  always  subscribed  liberally  to 
every  public  enterprise.  The  panic  of  1857  wrecked  him,  as 
it  did  every  heavy  owner  of  real  estate,  and  his  once  ample 

*Hon.  H.  M.  RICE  says  that  the  late  H.  L.  DOUSMAN,  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  was  the 
first  to  urge  the  adoption  of  the  name,  "  Minnesota,"  on  account  of  its  geographical 
fitness,  and  the  beauty  of  the  name. 


1846]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  1^7 

fortune  slipped  away.  In  an  obituary  sketch,  the  editor  of 
the  Press  said :  "Generous  to  a  fault,  and  singularly  indis- 
criminate in  his  friendship,  he  made  loans  and  endorsements  to 
others,  that  completely  wrecked  his  princely  fortune.  While 
he  had  property,  it  was  freely  used,  entitling  him  to  the  appel- 
lation of  a  public  benefactor.  Mr.  RANDALL  was  fitted  for 
that  era  of  our  social  development,  when  every  man  knew  and 
trusted  his  neighbor  as  a  brother — when  legal  forms  and  tech- 
nicalities were  not  needed  or  resorted  to,  to  protect  one's  rights. 
Alas  !  that  a  higher  civilization  and  social  advance  should 
bring,  with  many  blessings,  so  many  wrongs  and  evils  un- 
known to  the  simpler,  ruder  forms  of  society."  The  Pioneer, 
also,  said  :  "  We  have  never  known  a  more  kindly-hearted 
man.  There  are  many  who  owe  their  start  and  success  in  life 
to  his  generosity.  Very  many  others,  strangers,  stricken  bv 
sickness  in  a  strange  land,  who  owe  life  itself  to  his  nursing ; 
and  in  our  cemeteries,  scores  of  mounds  mark  the  graves  of 
those  who,  having  no  relatives  to  minister  to  them  in  their  fatal 
illness,  were  soothed  and  comforted  by  the  tender  hand,  and 
open  purse,  and  sympathizing  voice  of  that  kind  old  man, 
with  whom  suffering  was  always  a  bond  of  friendship."  Even 
amid  the  disasters  of  1857,  he  was  cheerful  and  hopeful — 
and  was  always  the  welcome  guest  of  the  social  circle.  On 
July  30,  1861,  he  died  of  heart  disease,  aged  55  years,  and  was 
buried  by  the' Masonic  Fraternity  and  the  Old  Settlers  of  Saint 
Paul.  JOHN  H.  RANDALL,  Esq.,  of  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific 
Railroad,  and  E.  D.  K.  RANDALL,  merchant,  are^sons  of  Mr. 
RANDALL. 

WILLIAM  RANDALL.  Jr.,  was  the  oldest  son  of  WM.  H. 
RANDALL.  He  was  born  at  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1829,  and  came  to  Saint  Paul  with  his  father.  He 
was  an  artist  of  no  common  ability,  and,  as  a  caricaturist,  was 
very  skillful.  Some  political  caricatures  he  made  during  the 
early  days  of  the  Territory,  are  spoken  of  as  being  brim  full 
of  sarcasm.  He  died  in  October,  1851,  aged  22  years — an 
untimely  end,  cutting  short,  in  the  very  flower  of  life,  a  career 
of  promise  and  hope. 

ED.  WEST  was  also  an  employee  of  the  firm  of  HARTSHORN, 


158  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL          [1846 

RANDALL  &  Co.  He  came  from  New  York  here,  but  did  not 
reside  in  Saint  Paul  long,  leaving,  as  I  learn,  for  the  Indian 
country,  and  probably  is  dead. 

JAMES  M'CLELLAN  BOAL, 

usually  termed  "  JIMMY  Me  BOAL"  by  the  old  settlers,  was  one 
of  the  curious  characters  of  early  days.  BOAL  was  a  Penn- 
sylvanian  by  birth,  and  had  served  a  term  in  the  army.  He 
was  probably  discharged  at  Fort  Snelling,  shortly  prior  to  his 
coming  to  Saint  Paul.  He  was  a  painter  by  occupation,  and 
quite  an  artist  also,  and  was  the  first  who  ever  pursued  that 
calling  in  Saint  Paul.  He  was  in  partnership  with  MARSHALL 
SHERMAN,  about  1849  or  1850.  BOAL  was  renowned  for  his 
good-heartedness  and  improvidence.  He  would  loan  or  give 
away  anything  he  had.  without  any  thought  of  the  morrow. 
In  1849,  BOAL  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Territorial  Coun- 
cil from  Ramsey  county,  for  two  years.  About  1851,  he 
moved  to  West  Saint  Paul,  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
THOMAS  S.  ODELL,  in  the  trading  business.  While  residing 
here,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  RAMSEY  as  Adjutant  General 
of  the  Territory,  and  held  that  office  until  a  change  of  adminis- 
tration occurred  in  1853.  He  was  also  elected  a  member  of 
the  House  of  Representatives,  in  1852,  from  Dakota  county. 
He  removed  to  Mendota  about  1855,  and  died  there,  after  a  long 
illness,  in  the  year  1862,  leaving  a  family.  There  is  a  street 
in  Saint  Paul  named  for  him,  but  is  called  by  his  sobriquet, 
"  Me  BOALV"  instead  of  by  his  correct  name. 


is  a  native  of  New  York.  He  came  to  Fort  Snelling  in  1841, 
as  a  soldier  in  the  First  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice in  1845.  The  following  year  he  settled  in  Saint  Paul. 
He  was  chainman  to  the  surveyor  who  laid  out  the  town  plat 
in  1847.  In  1850,  he  moved  to  West  Saint  Paul,  and  built  a 
log  house,  for  a  trading  post  with  the  Indians,  which  is  still 
standing  on  his  property.  He  states  that  it  was  the  first  house 
built  on  that  side  of  the  river,  which  was  still  unceded  by  the 
Sioux. 


1846]       arid  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  159 

HARLEY    D.   WHITE 

is  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He  came  west  about  1841  or  1842. 
and,  after  DANIEL  HOPKINS  opened  his  store  at  Red  Rock,  in 
the  latter  year,  Mr.  WHITE  was  with  him,  either  as  a  partner 
or  an  employee.  He  came  to  Saint  Paul,  in  1846,  and  was 
employed  by  HENRY  JACKSON,  as  a  trader  among  the  Sioux. 
He  went  to  Point  Douglas  not  long  after,  where  he  married  a 
Miss  TAINTER,  in  1849.  He  then  removed  to  a  farm  near 
Red  Wing,  where  he  ran  for  the  Legislature  in  the  same  fall, 
against  JAMES  WELLS,  of  Wabasha.  WELLS  got  the  certifi- 
cate, and  WHITE  contested  his  seat,  but  failed  to  oust  him. 
Mrs.  WHITE  died  a  few  months  after  this,  leaving  a  daughter, 
now  an  estimable  lady  of  this  city.  Mr.  WHITE  then  returned 
to  Connecticut,  and,  at  last  accounts,  was  living  there. 

JOEL  D.  CRUTTENDEN  was  a  native  of  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, and  came  to  Saint  Paul  when  he  was  quite  a  youth — 
not  being  of  age.  He  subsequently  went  to  Crow  Wing,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  first  State  Legislature  from  that  county. 

LOUIS    DENOYER 

was  born  at  Saint  Louis,  Missouri,  and  lived  there  until  he 
became  a  resident  of  Saint  Paul.  He  married  a  sister  of 
Louis  ROBERT.  Mr.  DENOYER  resided,  while  in  Saint  Paul, 
on  a  claim  on  Phelan's  Creek.  About  1850,  he  removed  to 
what  is  now  Belle  Plaine,  then  called  "Robert's  Creek,"  and 
has  lived  there  since  that  date.  J.  W.  SIMPSON  married  one 
of  his  daughters. 

DAVID    FARIBAULT 

was  a  quarter-breed  son  of  JEAN  BAPTISTS  FARIBAULT,  one 
of  the  earliest  traders  in  Minnesota.  DAVID  opened  a  trading 
house  on  what  would  now  be  described  as  Bench  street,  be- 
tween Jackson  and  Robert.  He  purchased  considerable  prop- 
erty here,  as  early  as  1846,  since  we  find  on  the  Registry  of 
Deeds,  sales-  of  property  by  him  to  HENRY  H.  SIBLEY.,  and 
others,  early  in  1847.  FARIBAULT  built,  (in  1847,)  the  New 
England  House,  a  frame  building,  which  stood  about  where 
the  gas  company's  office  now  is,  and  which  was  burned  down 


160  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1846 

in  1860.  He  now  lives  on  the  Shevenne  River.  Dakota 
Territory. 

JOHN  BANFIL  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  was  born  in 
the  year  1810.  He  rented  the  McLeod  House,  after  his  arri- 
val in  Saint  Paul,  with  the  intention,  I  believe,  of  opening  a 
hotel,  but  it  was  never  regularly  kept  by  him  as  such.  In  the 
spring  of  1849,  he  removed  to  Manomin,  Minnesota,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  hotel  business  there,  in  which  he  still  continues, 
and  also  erected  a  mill.  In  1857,  Mr.  BANFIL  was  elected 
from  his  countv  a  member  of  the  first  State  Legislature,  (Senate.) 

CHARLES  ROLEAU  and  JOSEPH  MONTEUR  were  Canadian 
Frenchmen.  They  are  still  residents  of  our  city. 

THE    CART    TRADE    WITH    RED    RIVER. 

There  had  grown  up,  during  the  last  two  or  three  years, 
quite  a  large  and  profitable  trade  with  the  Red  River  Settle- 
ment. The  venture  of  N.  W.  KITTSON,  trading  between 
Mendota  and  Pembjna,  is  fully  given  elsewhere.  When  the 
advantages  and  profits  of  that  trade  were  demonstrated.  Jo. 
ROLETTE,  of  Pembina,  and  his  uncle,  ALEX.  FISHER,  or- 
ganized a  cart  brigade,  and  made  trading  trips  to  Saint  Paul. 
It  succeeded  very  well,  and,  in  1847?  as  nianv  as  I25  carts 
came  to  Saint  Paul,  selling  furs  and  bringing  goods  here. 
ROLETTE  &  FISHER  came  by  the  Sauk  River  route.  Mr. 
KITTSON'S  carts  came  via  Traverse  de  Sioux.  He  ultimately 
adopted  the  other  route,  and  it  then,  became  the  main  road  to 
Pembina,  and,  in  1859,  was  improved  for  a  post  route  by  the 
Minnesota  Stage  Company — ultimately  giving  way  to  the  kt  iron 
horse." 

"JOSEPH    ROLETTE 

was  a  son  of  the  late  JOSEPH  ROLETTE,  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  who  was 
agent  of  the  American  Fur  Company  for  a  number  of  years,  and  a 
man  of  great  influence  and  energy.  JOSEPH,  Jr.,  was  born  about  1820, 
and,  in  his  younger  days,  was  noted  for  daring  and  activity.  In  1843, 
he  came  to  Fort  Snelling,  and,  soon  after,  went  to  Pembina,  where  he 
concluded  to  settle.  The  condition  of  society  there— the  free,  half- 
wild  manners  of  the  people,  untrammelled  by  the  restraints  of  more 
refined  society,  and  their  generous  improvidence  and  half-nomad  life, 


1846]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  161 

part  hunter,  part  farmer — just  suited  Jo.  He  married  in  the  winter 
of  1854-5,  and  had  a  numerous  family. 

"Jo.  was  best  known  to  the  early  residents  of  Saint  Paul  as  a  member 
of  the  Legislature.  He  was  first  elected  to  the  Legislature  (House)  of 
1852,  and  re-elected  in  1853,  1854,  and  1855.  He  was,  also,  elected  to 
the  Council  of  1856  and  1857,  and  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  in  1857.  When  the  State  Constitution  was  adopted,  shut- 
ting Pembina  out  of  Minnesota,  it  was  supposed  we  had  seen  the  last 
of  ROLETTE.  But,  in  December,  when  the  Legislature  met,  here  was 
'  the  gentleman  from  Pembina,'  with  his  credentials,  as  usual,  and, 
of  course,  he  was  admitted.  What  would  a  Minnesota  Legislature 
those  days  be  without  Jo.  ROLETTE  ?  He  was  a  sort  of  time-honored 
institution.  When  the  Republicans  came  into  power  the  next  year, 
however,  he  was  compelled  to  retire  from  public  life. 

"Jo.  was  just  the  sort  of  man  to  be  popular  with  the  boys  in  those 
days.  His  bonhomie,  his  jolly  nature,  his  hearty  and  good-humored 
disposition,  his  generosity,  all  made  him  liked,  even  by  those  politically 
opposed  to  him.  He  had  faults,  of  course,  just  as  every  human  being 
has,  but  they  were  the  very  outgrowth  of  his  free,  generous,  hearty 
nature.  They  were  not  allied  to  anything  mean,  or  small,  or  sordid. 
If  Jo.  had  one  failing  more  marked  than  another,  it  was  his  generositv 
and  improvidence.  He  would  give  away  anything  or  everything  to 
oblige  another,  without  any  thought  of  his  own  wants.  His  spend- 
thrift nature,  at  last,  brought  want  to  him,  and  he  died  actually  poor. 

"Jo.  was  never  happy  without  he  was  engaged  in  some  pra6tical 
joke.  His  spiriting  away  the  Capital-removal  bill  was  a  mere  joke  of 
his — as  he  did  not  care  a  straw  were  the  Capital  went,  but  he  simply 
saw  a  chance  to  have  some  fun.  His  hearty  and  natural  laugh,  when 
he  got  a  good  joke  on  anybody,  almost  seems  to  echo  through  the  cor- 
ridors of  the  Capitol  yet.  Alas,  the  old  '  International'  and  '  Ameri- 
can'— spots  that  bring  back  his  well-known  figure  and  face — are  gone, 
too." 

AN    INDIAN    TEETOTAL    MOVEMENT. 

The  unfortunate  effects  of  intemperance  among  the  Indians, 
has  been  fully  referred  to  in  previous  pages.  From  year  to 
year,  they  grew  worse  instead  of  better,  and  shameful  scenes 
were  to  be  witnessed  in  and  near  the  village.  Every  few  days, 
a  band  of  the  savages  would  come  to  Saint  Paul,  and,  getting 
furiouslv  drunk,  endanger  the  lives  of  the  inhabitants.  Time 
and  time  again,  were  the  latter  compelled  to  flee  from  the  red 
demons,  who,  though  passably  civil  when  sober,  were  very 
devils  when  maddened  with  fire-water. 


1 62  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1846 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  a  temperance  movement  commenced 
this  year  among  the  Indians  themselves.  LITTLE  CROW — he 
who  was  killed  in  1863 — while  on  a  spree  this  year,  was  shot 
and  wounded  by  his  own  brother.  When  he  got  sober,  on  the 
principle  of  the  devil  who  resolved  to  turn  monk,  he  deter- 
mined to  put  a  stop  to  drinking  in  his  tribe,  and  make  teetotal- 
ers out  of  his  followers.  He  therefore  applied  to  Mr.  BRUCE. 
the  Indian  Agent  at  Fort  Snelling,  for  a  missionary  to  reside 
at  his  village.  Willing  to  encourage  such  a  laudable  desire  to 
reform,  Mr.  BRUCE  wrote  to  Dr.  THOMAS  S.  WILLIAMSON, 
then  at  Lac  qui  Parle,  who  was  a  devoted  missionary,  and, 
besides,  a  skillful  physician,  asking  him  to  establish  a  school 
at  Kaposia.  Dr.  WILLIAMSON  consented,  and,  in  November. 
1846,  removed  to  that  place.  He  established  a  school — and 
soon  had  a  number  of  Indian  and  half-breed  scholars — among 
the  latter,  several  girls,  who  afterwards  married  white  citi/ens. 

SAINT    PAUL    IN    1846-7. 

While  laboring  for  the  welfare  of  his  red  children.  Dr. 
WILLIAMSON  felt  that  something  must  also  be  done  for  the 
white  people  at  Saint  Paul,  who  were  without  much  educa- 
tional or  religious  advantages.  He  accordingly  wrote  to  ex- 
Governor  Slade,  of  Vermont,  President  of  the  "National  Pop- 
ular Educational  Societv,"  asking  him  to  send  hither  a  good 
teacher.  As  his  letter  contains,  probably,  the  first  written 
description  of  Saint  Paul,  I  give  it  nearly  entire : 

"  My  present  residence  is  on  the  utmost  verge  of  civilization,  in 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  United  States,  within  a  few  miles  of  the 
principal  village  of  white  men  in  the  Territory  that  we  suppose  will 
bear  the  name  of  Minnesota,  which  some  would  render  '  clear  water.' 
though  strictly  it  signifies  slightly  turbid  or  whitish  water. 

"The  village  referred  to  has  grown  up  within  a  few  years,  in  a 
romantic  situation,  on  a  high  bluff  of  the  Mississippi,  and  has  been 
baptized  by  the  Roman  Catholics,  by  the  name  of  Saint  Paul.  They 
have  erected  in  it  a  small  chapel,  and  constitute  much  the  larger  por- 
tion of  the  inhabitants.  The  Dakotas  call  it,  Im-ni-ja-ska,  (white  rock,) 
from  the  color  of  the  sandstone  which  forms  the  bluff  on  which  the 
village  stands.  This  village  has  five  stores,  as  they  call  them,  at  all 
of  which  intoxicating  drinks  constitute  a  part,  and  I  suppose  the  prin- 
cipal part,  of  what  they  sell.  I  would  suppose  the  village  contains  a 


1846]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  163 

dozen  or  twenty  families  living  near  enough  to  send  to  school.  Since 
I  came  to  this  neighborhood,  I  have  had  frequent  occasion  to  visit  the 
village,  and  have  been  grieved  to  see  so  many  children  growing  up 
entirely  ignorant  of  GOD,  and  unable  to  read  His  Word,  with  no  one 
to  teach  them.  Unless  your  Society  can  send  them  a  teacher,  there 
seems  to  be  little  prospecl  of  their  having  one  for  several  years.  A 
few  days  since,  I  went  to  the  place  for  the  purpose  of  making  inquiries 
in  reference  to  the  prospect  of  a  school.  I  visited  seven  families,  in 
which  there  were  twenty-three  children  of  proper  age  to  attend  school, 
and  was  told  of  five  more  in  which  were  thirteen  more  that  it  is  sup- 
posed might  attend,  making  thirty-six  in  twelve  families.  I  suppose 
more  than  half  of  the  parents  of  these  children  are  unable  to  read 
themselves,  and  care  but  little  about  having  their  children  taught. 
Possibly  the  priest  might  deter  some  from  attending,  who  might 
otherwise  be  able  and  willing. 

"  I  suppose  a  good  female  teacher  can  do  more  to  promote  the  cause 
of  education  and  true  religion,  than  a  man.  The  natural  politeness  of 
the  French,  (who  constitute  more  than  half  the  population,)  would 
cause  them  to  be  kind  and  courteous  to  a  female,  even  though  the  priest 
should  seek  to  cause  opposition.  I  suppose  she  might  have  twelve  or 
fifteen  scholars  to  begin  with,  and,  if  she  should  have  a  good  talent  of 
winning  the  affections  of  children,  (and  one  who  has  not  should  not 
come,)  after  a  few  months,  she  would  have  as  many  as  she  could 
attend  to. 

"One  woman,  [Mrs.  IRVINE,]  told  me  she  had  four  children  she  wished 
to  send  to  school,  and  that  she  would  give  boarding  and  a  room  in  her 
house  to  a  good  female  teacher,  for  the  tuition  of  her  children. 

"A  teacher  for  this  place  should  love  the  Saviour,  and  for  His  sake 
should  be  willing  to  forego,  not  only  many  of  the  privileges  and  ele- 
gances of  New  England  towns,  but  some  of  the  neatness  also.  She 
should  be  entirely  free  from  prejudice  on  account  of  color,  for  among 
her  scholars  she  might  find  not  only  English,  French  and  Swiss,  but 
Sioux  and  Chippewas,  with  some  claiming  kindred  with  the  African 
stock. 

"  A  teacher  coming  should  bring  books  with  her  sufficient  to  begin  a 
school,  as  there  is  no  bookstore  within  three  hundred  miles." 

Leaving  this  letter  to  go  on  its  long,  and,  (in  those  days,) 
slow  journey,  we  close  this  chapter. 


164  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1847 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1847. 

THE  STATE  MOVEMENT  IN  WISCONSIN— SETTLERS  IN  1847—5.  w-  BASS,  BEN.  W. 
BRUNSON,  S.  P.  FOLSOM,  W.  H.  FORBES,  DR.  J.  J.  DEWEY,  Miss  BISHOP,  *c.— 
THE  LATTER  OPENS  A  SCHOOL— J.  W.  BASS  ESTABLISHES  A  HOTEL— ORGANI- 
ZATION OF  A  STEAMBOAT  LINE — CAPT.  RUSSELL  BLAKELEY — POLITICALNOTES. 

THE  Wisconsin  State  Constitution  was  voted  on,  April  6, 
1847.  For  some  cause,  it  was  rejected  by  the  people. 
It  had  been  sufficient,  however,  together  with  Mr.  MARTIN'S 
bill,  to  call  considerable  attention  to  Minnesota,  and  it  was 
deemed  certain,  that,  within  a  few  months,  it  would  be  organ- 
ized into  a  separate  Territory.  This  fact  being  known  abroad, 
caused  the  commencement  of  quite  an  immigration  to  Minne- 
sota, during  the  year  1847.  Stillwater  and  Saint  Anthony 
grew  rapidly,  this  season,  and  Saint  Paul  had  considerable  ac- 
cessions to  its  population.  Among  other 

SETTLERS    IN    1847, 

were :  JACOB  W.  BASS,  BENJ.  W.  BRUNSON,  DANIEL  HOP- 
KINS, AARON  FOSTER,  SIMEON  P.  FOLSOM,  JOHN  BANFIL. 
C.  P.  V.  LULL,  WM.  H.  FORBES,  PARSONS  K.  JOHNSON.  WM. 
C.  RENFRO,  Dr.  JOHN  J.  DEWEY,  and  G.  A.  FOURNIER. 
Nor  must  Miss  HARRIET  E.  BISHOP  be  omitted  from  the  list 
of  "  settlers"  this  year. 

A  full  sketch  of  Major  WM.  H.  FORBES  is  given  in  Chapter 
IV,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 

JACOB  w.  BASS 

was  born  in  Braintree,  Vermont,  1815.  He  erriigrated  west 
when  a  young  man,  and  lived  for  some  time  at  Plattville,  Wis- 
consin, then  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  subsequently  at  North 
McGregor,  Iowa,  where  he  was  owner  of  the  ferry,  proprie- 


1847]       find  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  165 

tor  of  a  hotel,  and  a  part  of  the  time  in  the  mercantile  business. 
He  married,  while  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  Miss  M.  D.  BRUN- 
SON,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  ALFRED  BRUNSON,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Wisconsin,  and,  soon  after,  with  BENJ.  W.  BRUNSON,  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  at  Chippewa  Falls.  In  1847,  ne 
and  BRUNSON  sold  out  their  business,  and  came  to  Saint  Paul. 
Mr.  BASS  arrived  in  August,  and,  soon  after,  leased  a  building 
on  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Third  and  Jackson  streets,  which 
he  opened  as  a  hotel,  under  the  name  of  "Saint  Paul  House." 
Mr.  BASS  was  appointed  postmaster,  on  the  5th  of  July,  1849, 
and  held  that  office  until  March  18,  1853.  He  continued  in 
the  hotel  business  until  1852,  when  he  sold  out,  and  opened  a 
commission  and  forwarding  warehouse  on  the  levee,  which 
was  a  prominent  business  house  for  some  years.  During  the 
past  three  or  four  years,  Mr.  BASS  has  been  largely  engaged  in 
farming  in  Watonwan  county. 

BENJAMIN    W.   BRUNSON    • 

was  born  in  Detroit,  May  6,  1823.  He  is  a  son  of  Rev.  AL- 
FRED BRUNSON,  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  the  well-known  pioneer 
preacher  and  writer.  When  thirteen  years  old,  Mr.  BRUNSON 
removed  to  that  city,  where  he  resided  until  1844,  when,  in 
company  with  his  brother-in-law,  JACOB  W.  BASS,  he  went 
into  the  mill  business  at  Chippewa  Falls.  Wisconsin.  They 
continued  there  until  May,  1847,  when  he  removed  to  Saint 
Paul,  and,  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  assisted  his  brother,  IRA  B., 
to  survey  the  town  plat.  Mr.  BRUNSON  secured  a  considera- 
ble tracl:  of  land,  at  an  early  day,  lying  east  of  Trout  Brook, 
which,  in  June,  1852,  he  laid  out  as  "  Brunson's  Addition." 
In  1861,  Mr.  BRUNSON  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Eighth  Min- 
nesota Volunteers,  and  served  three  years,  as  Orderly  Sergeant 
and  First  Lieutenant.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
Saint  Paul  Lodge  Number  2,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and,  also,  one  of 
the  early  members  of  the  Masonic  order.  Like  all  our  pio- 
neers, he  has  experienced  many  reverses  of  fortune — to-day 
rich,  to-morrow  poor.  Mr.  BRUNSON,  pursuing  his  profession 
of  surveyor,  has  surveyed  a  considerable  part  of  our  own  city 
into  streets  and  lots,  when  it  was  a  "-wilderness"  still,  and 


166  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1847 

has  laid  out  some  of  what  are  now  the  most  flourishing  towns 
of  Minnesota.  Mr.  BRUNSON  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
first  Territorial  Legislature,  and  re-elected  to  the  second  ses- 
sion. He  was  also  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  several  years. 

SIMEON    P.    FOLSOM 

was  born  December  27,  18*19,  in  Lower  Canada,  near  Quebec. 
His  parents  wei'e  natives  of  New  Hampshire,  and  returned  to 
that  State  when  he  was  quite  young,  subsequently  removing 
to  the  State  of  Maine.  During  1837,  l%?fi  an<^  r^39'  Mr. 
FOLSOM  was  attending  academy,  teaching  school,  and  engaged 
in  the  lumbering  business.  In  the  fall  of  1839,  Mr.  FOLSOM 
came  west,  and  settled  in  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  not  long  after 
engaged  as  clerk  to  HENRY  M.  RICE,  trader  to  the  Winneba- 
goes,  at  Fort  Atkinson.  In  1841,  he  returned  to  Prairie  du 
Chien,  and  was  Deputv  Sheriff  for  two  years.  In  1843,  he 
was  engaged  in  surveying  public  lands,  and  in  1844  and  1845, 
was  Count}'  Surveyor  of  Crawford  county,  also  reading  law 
with  Hon.  WIRAM  KNOWLTON.  In  1846,  he  joined  a  volun- 
teer company  to  go  to  the  Mexican  War,  but  the  company  was 
sent,  instead,  to  garrison  Fort  Crawford,  where  he  remained 
one  year.  On  July  25,  1847,  ne  landed  in  Saint  Paul,  and  has, 
most  of  the  time  since,  been  engaged  in  surveying  and  the 
real  estate  business.  He  was  the  first  City  Surveyor  of  Saint 
Paul,  in  1854.  In  1861.  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company 
H.  Seventh  Minnesota,  and  served  in  that  capacity  three  years, 
He  was  a  member  of  the  School  Board  in  1858,  1859  an(l  I86o, 
and  has  been,  for  several  years,  in  the  employ  of  the  Saint  Paul 
and  Pacific  Railroad.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  FOLSOM  for  valu- 
able assistance  in  securing  items  about  early  days. 

WM.    C.    RENFRO 

was  a  cousin  of  HENRY  JACKSON.  He  was  a  Virginian  by 
birth,  and  a  young  man  of  ability  and  education,  though  un- 
fortunately, too  convivial  in  his  habits.  He  had  studied  for  a 
physician,  and,  probably,  graduated,  but  never  practiced  his 
profession,  further  than  some  gratuitous  advice  to  the  poor, 
pulling  teeth,  or  small  matters  of  that  kind.  RENFRO  came 


1847]       and  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  167 

to  an  unfortunate  end,  a  few  months  after  his  arrival  in  Saint 
Paul,  as  will  be  found  narrated  in  the  next  chapter. 

DR.    J.   J.    DEWEY. 

The  first  regular  practicing  physician  who  settled  in  Saint 
Paul,  was  Dr.  JOHN  J.  DEWEY,  who  arrived  on  July  15,  of 
this  year.  Dr.  DEWEY  is  a  native *of  New  York,  and  is  a 
brother  of  ex-Governor  DEWEY,  of  Wisconsin.  He  had,  not 
long  before  his  arrival  here,  graduated  at  the  Albany  Medical 
College.  The  want  of  a  good,  reliable  physician,  which  Dr. 
DEWEY  was.  had  been  badly  felt  in  the  town,  and  his  coming 
was  very  grateful  to  the  good  people  of  that  day,  who,  though 
generally  pretty  hearty  and  rugged,  were  not  entirely  and  al- 
ways free  from  the  visitations  of  sickness  and  accident.  Hith- 
erto there  had  been  no  medical  or  surgical  aid  nearer  than 
Fort  Snelling.  Dr.  DEWEY  was  a  member  of  the  first  Ter- 
ritorial Legislature,  and  established,  (in  1848,)  the  first  drug 
store  in  Minnesota. 

PARSONS    K.    JOHNSON 

was  born  in  Brandon,  Vermont,  May  8,  1816.  His  mother 
was  a  grand-daughter  of  JONATHAN  CARVER,  noticed  in  pre- 
vious chapters  of  this  work.  During  his  boyhood  days,  he 
was  a  schoolmate  of  a  lad,  who,  in  after  days,  became  widely 
known — STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS.  Mr.  JOHNSON,  in  early  life, 
learned  the  tailoring  business,  and  emigrated  west — settling  in 
Saint  Paul  in  August,*  1847,  anf^  was?  beyond  doubt,  the  first 
person  wrho  carried  on  the  tailoring  business  in  Saint  Paul. 
Mr.  JOHNSON  was  elecled  a  member  of  the  first  Territorial 
Legislature.  In  1850,  he  was  married  to  Miss  LAURA  Biv- 
INS,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  HENRY  JACKSON.  He  removed  to  Man- 
kato,  in  1852,  with  JACKSON,  at  which  place  he  has  been  post- 
master, member  of  the  Legislature,  (1855—56,)  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  &c. 


*  Mr.  JOHNSON  registers  the  date  of  his  arrival  in  the  Old  Settlers'  book,  as  August, 
but  says  that  he  and  B.  W.  BRUNSON  assisted  Miss  BISHOP  in  organizing  the  first 
Sunday  school.  Miss  B.  gives  the  date  of  that  occurrence  as  July  35,  which  is,  prob- 
ably, more  correct,  as  she  kept  a  written  diary. 


1 68  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1847 

•      ,  DANIEL    HOPKINS 

was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  was  born  in  the  year 
1787.  Previous  to  coming  to  Saint  Paul,  he  had  been  in  busi- 
ness in  Green  Bay,  Prairie  du  Chien,  &c.,  and  at  Red  Rock, 
settling  at  that  place  in  1842.  On  August  7,  1847,  he  pur- 
chased of  HENRY  JACKSON.,  a  lot  which  would  now  be  on  the 
corner  of  Third  and  Jackson  streets.  The  consideration  was 
$200.  Mr.  HOPKINS  creeled  a  store,  where  he  did  a  general 
merchandixing  business.  He  also  purchased  considerable  real 
estate  in  Saint  Paul.  In  1852,  he  went  to  Saint  Louis  to  pur- 
chase goods,  and,  while  on  his  return  home,  was  seized 
with  sudden  illness  on  the  steamer,  and  died  June  13,  1852, 
aged  65  years. 

AARON    FOSTER 

was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in  1817.  He  came 
to  Stillwater  in  1846,  and  the  following  year  to  Saint  Paul. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  here  he  was  commissioned  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  Very  many  of  the  deeds  of  that  period  appear  to 
have  been  acknowledged  before  him.  His  regular  occupation, 
however,  was  carpenter,  and  he  worked  at  that  several  years. 
He  married  a  Miss  FANNY  MORTIMER,  daughter  of  Sergeant 
MORTIMER,  a  settler  of  1842.  FOSTER  went  to  Kansas  about 
1854  or  1855,  and  in  May,  1864,  enlisted  in  the  army,  but  died 
of  disease  at  the  recruiting  station,  before  regularly  entering 
the  service.  Mrs.  FOSTER  died  in  Minneapolis,  about  Sep- 
tember i,  1875. 

CORNELIUS  V.  P.  LULL  is  a  native  of  New  York,  and  set- 
tled in  Saint  Paul,  October,  1847,  pursuing  his  occupation  as 
carpenter.  Mr.  LULL  was  appointed  Sheriff  of  Ramsey 
county,  by  Governor  RAMSEY,  in  the  fall  of  1849,  anc^  soon 
after,  elected  for  a  full  term.  He  "•  still  lives"  in  our  city. 

FRED.  OLIVIER  and  G.  A.  FOURNIER,  came  to  Saint  Paul  as 
clerks  and  agents  of  Louis  ROBERT.  Both  are  natives  of 
Canada.  Mr.  OLIVIER  resides  here  still,  and  Mr.  FOURNIER 
is  in  the  trading  business  at  Yellow  Medicine. 

GOV.    SLADE    FINDS    A    TEACHER. 

When  Governor  SLADE  received  Dr.  WILLIAMSON'S  letter, 


1847]       and  of  the  Cotmty  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  169 

describing  the  deplorable  educational  and  religious  condition 
of  the  people  of  Saint  Paul,  he  referred  the  letter  to  Dr.  C.  E. 
STOWE,  husband  of  HARRIET  BEECHER  STOWE,  who  for- 
warded it  to  his  sister-in-law,  Miss  CATHERINE  .BEECHER, 
who  was  then  at  Albany,  New  York,  instructing  and  training 
a  class  of  young  ladies  for  teachers.  By  her  it  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  Miss  HARRIET  E.  BISHOP,  as  being  a  proper  per- 
son to  accept  and  fill  the  proposed  post  of  duty. 

Miss  BISHOP  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  was  early  filled 
with  a  wish  to  become  a  teacher  of  youth,  and  with  consider- 
able missionary  spirit.  She  was  an  ardent  member  of  the 
Baptist^hurch.  She  tells  us,  in  her  pleasant  book  of  frontier 
experiences,  k>  Floral  Homes,"  published  in  1857,  that,  when 
the  request  to  go  was  put  to  her,  it  was  the  occasion  of  quite 
a  mental  struggle,  in  which  the  dangers  and  trials  to  which  a 
feeble  and  timid  young  lady  would  be  subjected  in  such  a 
position,  and  the  sacrifice  of  leaving  home,  friends,  and  the 
comforts  of  civilization,  for  a  rude  habitation  in  a  rough  fron- 
tier settlement,  were  weighed  against  the  call  of  duty,  and  the 
opportunity  of  doing  good.  The  latter  sentiments,  at  length, 
predominated  over  her  fears,  and  she  decided  to  go.  Journey- 
ing by  land  to  Cincinnati,  she  came  thence  by  river.  On  July 
16,  1847,  sne  was  landed  at  Kaposia  by  the  steamer  >;  Argo," 
of  which  our  present-  townsman,  Capt.  RUSSELL  BLAKELEY, 
was  clerk,  and  remained  a  short  time  an  inmate  of  Dr.  WIL- 
LIAMSON'S family.  A  day  or  two  afterwards,  she  was  taken 
in  a  canoe,  paddled  by  two  stout  young  squaws,  to  Saint  Paul. 
"  A  cheerless  prospecl,"  she  adds,  greeted  her.  "  A  few  log 
huts  composed  the  town — three  families,  the  American  popu- 
lation. With  one  of  these,  [J.  R.  IRVINE,]  distant  from  the 
rest,  a  home  was  offered  me.  Theirs  was  the  dwelling — tffe 
only  one  of  respectable  size,  containing  three  rooms  and  an 
attic."  After  making  arrangements  to  secure  a  school  room, 
Miss  BISHOP  returned  to  Kaposia,  until  the  building  could  be 
made  ready. 

The  building  selected  was  a  log  cabin,  which  stood  on  the 
site  of  what  is  now  known  as  Dr.  Mann's  Block,  corner  of 
Third  and  Saint  Peter  streets.  It  had  formerly  been  occupied 


170  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paid.         [1847 

by  SCOTT  CAMPBELL,  as  a  dwelling,  but  SCOTT  had  built 
another  house.  Though  the  building  was  a  plain  one.  it  prob- 
ably answered  for  a  pioneer  school.  Miss  BISHOP  describes 
it :  "  Some  wooden  pins  had  been  driven  into  the  logs,  across 
which  rough  boards  were  placed  for  seats.  The  luxury  of  a 
chair  was  accorded  to  the  teacher,  and  a  cross-legged  table 
occupied  the  center  of  the  loose  floor."  The  attendance  of 
scholars  was  small,  at  first — Miss  BISHOP  thinks  only  four  or 
five,  but  Mrs.  PATTEN  thinks,  nine  or  ten.  At  least,  it  in- 
creased to  this  latter  number  very  soon,  and,  by  fall,  it  was 
found  necessary  to  have  a  larger  and  better  building.  This 
was  secured  on  Bench  street,  just  west  of  JACKSON'J  stand, 
and  was  used  until  a  building  could  be  built,  the  following 
year,  for  the  purpose  of  a  school. 

FIRST    SUNDAY    SCHOOL    IN    SAINT    PAUL. 

On  July  25,  1847,  says  Miss  BISHOP,  in  her  work,  the  first 
Sunday  school  in  our  city  was  held.  Seven  scholars  attended, 
and  there  was  such  a  mixture  of  races  among  these,  that  an 
interpreter  was  necessary,  "who  could  speak  English,  French, 
and  Sioux,  before  all  could  be  made  to  understand  the  instruc- 
tions given.  The  school  increased  to  twenty-five  scholars,  by 
the  third  Sunday,  and  was  continued  successfully  for  several 
years,  and,  finally,  became  the  Sabbath  school  of  the  First 
Baptist  church — so  that  said  society  claim  to  have  the  oldest 
Sunday  school  in  Minnesota. 

SURVEY    OF    THE    TOWN-SITE. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  town  this  season,  and  the  more 
frequent  demand  for  real  estate — which  was  now  bringing 
juices  that  must  have  astonished  the  old  pioneers  who  were 
still  living  in  a  plain,  easy,  slow  sort  of  way  in  their  bark- 
roofed  cabins — seemed  to  point  to  the  necessity  of  having  a 
portion  of  the  site  laid  out  into  lots.  Louis  ROBERT  and 
others  favored  this  project,  and  it  was  soon  carried  into  effect. 
I^A  B.  BRUNSON,  of  Prairie  du  Chien.  was  employed  to  do 
the  surveying,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  BENJ.  W.  IRA 
arrived  in  August,  and  commenced  operations.  THOMAS  S. 


1847]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  171 

ODELL,  now  of  West  Saint  Paul,  was  chainman.  The  tract 
now  known  oh  the  maps  and  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  as 
''Saint  Paul  Proper,"  was  then  laid  out.  We  have  no  com- 
ment to  make  on  it,  except  as  to  the  narrowness  of  the  streets, 
and  the  absence  of  alleys.  But,  then,  the  good  people  of  28 
years  ago,  could  hardly  have  dreamed  that  we  would  have 
35,000  people  in  the  lifetime  of  the  men  who  laid  out  the 
town  !  It  was  a  mistake — but  one  so  excusable  we  haven't  it 
in  our  heart  to  blame  them. 

The  tradl,  as  surveyed  then,  contained  only  about  90  acres, 
but  included  all  the  principal  business  part  of  the  town,  and 
the  more  thickly  settled  portion.  The  names  of  the  proprie- 
tors, as  given  on  the  recorded  plat,  are :  Louis  ROBERT, 
DAVID  LAMBERT,  HENRY  JACKSON.  BENJ.  W.  BRUNSON, 
CHARLES  CAVILEER,  HENRY  H.  SIBLEY,  J.  W.  BASS.  A.  L. 
LARPENTEUR,  WM.  H.  FORBES,  J.  W.  SIMPSON,  HENRY  C. 
RHODES,  L.  H.  LAROCHE,  J.  B.  COTY  and  VETAL  GUERIN. 
Some  of  these  persons  were  not  residents  and  land  owners  in 
1847 — but  secured  an  interest  subsequent  to  that  date.  As  the 
land  in  this  locality  had  not  at  that  time  been  surveyed  by  the 
United  States,  and  could  not  be  entered,  neither  could  the 
town  plat  be  entered,  and  was  not  until  April  28,  1849.  It  was 
signed  on  February  28.  1849,  by  the  above  gentlemen,  three  of 
whom,  (DAVID  LAMBERT,  HENRY  C.  RHODES,  and  J.  B. 
COTY,*)  were  not  residents  in  September,  1847,  but  settled 
subsequently. 

After  the  property  was  surveyed,  the  lots  or  blocks  were 
deeded  to  each  owner,  so  that  he  would  have  a  title  to  his  own 
land.  B.  W.  BRUNSON  testified  in  the  Saint  Charles  street 
case,  tried  in  1866:  k' We  had  meetings  about  once  a  week 
at  the  time,  in  regulating  proprietors'  lines.  There  wasva 
committee  to  determine  who  owned  lots,  and  when  the  lines 
were  so  that  parties  entering  the  town  could  own  equitably  ; 


*JoiiN  BAPTISTE  COTY  was  a  Canadian  by  birth,  and  a  carpenter  by  occupation.  He 
was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Saint  Paul  Lodge,  No.  3,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  but  afterwards 
withdrew  from  that  order,  by  command  of  the  clergyman  who  married  him.  COTY 
returned  to  Canada  about  1853,  or  1853.  Though  a  "proprietor"  when  the  plat  was 
signed,  I  think  he  was  not  a  resident  when  the  town  was  surveyed. 


172  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.          [1847 

most  of  those  difficulties  were  settled  before  the  plat  was 
signed." 

In  vol.  8,  p.  491,  Supreme  Court  Reports  of  Minnesota, 
will  be  found  a  decision  on  the  question  as  to  whether  the 
dedication  of  the  plat  was  valid. 

From  the  records  in  the  Surveyor  General's  office  of  this 
district,  I  find  that  the  United  States  surveys  of  the  land  in 
and  around  Saint  Paul,  were  made  in  the  fall  of  1847.  The 
town  lines  were  run  by  JAMES  M.  MARSH,  in  October,  and  the 
subdivisions  made  bv  ISAAC  N.  HIGBEE,  the  following  month. 

^  ESTABLISHMENT    OF    A    HOTEL. 

Reference  was  made  to  the  establishment,  by  J.  W.  BASS, 
of  a  hotel,  during  this  season.  It  was  in  the  building  spoken 
of  in  the  last  chapter,  commenced  in  1846,  by  LEONARD  H. 
LAROCHE,  and  subsequently  completed  and  enlarged  bv  S.  P. 
FOLSOM,  in  the  summer  of  1847,  am'  fi)laHy  considerably  ex- 
tended and  improved  by  Mr.  BASS.  The  first  part  built  was 
20x28  feet,  a  story  and  a  half  high,  and  was  built  of  tamarack 
logs,  hewed  square  and  laid  on  a  small  foundation.  When 
this  building  was  taken  down,  in  1870,  to  give  wav  to  the 
Merchants  of  to-day,  the  logs  were  found  as  sound  as  when 
put  up,  23  years  before.  Judge  GOODRICH,  the  enthusiastic 
Secretary  of  the  '•  Old  Settlers'  Association,"  secured  one  of 
the  logs,  and  had  a  gavel  and  chest  constructed  out  of  it,  for 
the  use  of  the  Association. 

At  that  time,  the  building  was  situated  on  quite  a  bank,  and 
when  this  was  dug  down,  in  1853-4.  to  grade  Jackson  and 
Third  streets,  the  log  structure  was  left  almost  one  story  above 
ground.  So  a  stone  basement  was  built  up  under  the  log 
structure.  Mr.  BASS  leased  the  building  in  August,  1847. 
at  $10  per  month.  He  gave  it  the  name.  "  Saint  Paul  House," 
and  made  considerable  additions  to  its  size,  and  improvements 
in  its  interior  and  exterior,  raising  it  to  two  full  stories.  £c. 
It  was  then  quite  a  good-sized  building,  for  those  days,  and 
Mr.  BASS  kept  a  right  smart  tavern  in  it,  too,  and  old  settlers 
say  it  helped  the  town  considerable,  for  no  one  would  want  to 
go  to  a  town  that  had  no  good  hotel. 


1847]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsev*  Minnesota.  173 

The  Saint  Paul  House,  and  its  larger  successor,  played  no 
insignificant  part  in  the  history  of  our  city  and  State.  It  was 
here  that,  on  June  i.  1849.  tne  Territory  was  organized  by  the 
Territorial  officers.  The  post-office  was  held  in  it  a  couple  of 
years,  and,  in  one  of  the  additions  to  the  building,  a  lodge  of 
Sons  of  Temperance  and  Free  Masons  was  held. 

The  subsequent  history  of  this  pioneer  hotel  deserves  men- 
tion. Mr.  BASS  retired  from  it,  in  1852,  and  various  persons 
essayed  to  •'  keep"  it.  until  July,  1856,  when  E.  C.  BELOTE 
leased  it.  He  managed  it  until  1861,  when  JOHN  J.  SHAW 
and  WM.  E.  HUNT  leased  it.  Mr.  HUNT  soon  retired,  and 
Col.  SHAW  continued  it  until  1873.  During  this  period,  the 
present  fine  structure  was  built.  Mr.  SHAW  gave  way  to  Col. 
ALVAREN  ALLEN,  the  present  proprietor. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    A    STEAMBOAT    LINE. 

Another  important  event  of  this  year,  one  which  greatly  aided 
the  settlement  of  this  region,  was  the  organization  of  a  steam- 
boat company,  to  run  regular  packets  from  Galena  to  Mendota 
and  Fort  Snelling.  Hitherto,  only  stray  boats  would  make  trips 
to  this  region,  whenever  they  could  get  loads  that  would  pay. 
During  this  season,  Messrs.  CAMPBELL  &  SMITH,  of  Galena. 
BRISBOIS  &  RICE,  H.  L.  DOUSMAN,  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  H. 
H.  SIBLEY,  of  Mendota,  and  M.  W.  LODWICK,  of  Galena, 
purchased  the  steamer  "•  Argo,"  with  the  intention  of  organ- 
izing, the  next  spring,  the  -i  Galena  Packet  Company."  The 
'•Argo"  was  destined  to  be  the  pioneer  of  an  important  trade. 
M.  W.  LODWICK,  was  commander,  and  RUSSELL  BLAKELEY. 
of  Galena,  was  clerk.  The  '"Argo"  was  designed  to  make  trips 
once  a  week,  and  did  a  pretty  fair  business  that  season.* 
Unfortunately,  she  struck  a  snag,  near  Wabasha,  in  Oclober. 
and  sank.  Capts.  LODWICK  and  BLAKELEY  then  went  to 
Cincinnati  and  purchased  the  "  Dr.  Franklin,"  which  came 
out  the  next  year,  and  was  a  popular  packet  for  those  days  : 
she  ran  for  several  seasons. 


*  From  a  record  kept  at  Fort  Snelling-,  by  PHILANDER  PRESCOTT,  for  some  years,  w 
find  the  number  of  steamboats  arriving  there  about  those  times,  stated  as  follows  :  184 
41  boats ;  1845,  48  do. ;  1846,  34  do. ;  1847,  47  do. ;  1848,  63  do. ;  1849,  (Saint  Paul,)  95  d 


1^4  The.  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1847 

CAPT.   RUSSELL    BLAKELEY. 

one  of  the  pioneer  steamboat  men  of  the  Upper  Mississippi,  was 
born  at  North  Adams,  Massachusetts,  April  19.  1815.  In 
1817,  his  parents  removed  to  Leroy,  Genesee  county,  New 
York,  where  he  grew  up  to  manhood.  From  there  he  went 
to  Peoria,  Illinois,  in  1836.  and  to  Galena  in  1839.  In  1844. 
he  went  to  Wythe  county,  Virginia,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  returning  to  Galena  in  1847. 

When  the  "Argo"  was  put  on  the  river,  in  June  of  that  year, 
Capt.  BLAKELEY  was  engaged  as  clerk,  and,  after  that  boat 
sank,  of  the  uDr.  Franklin,"  which  succeeded  her,  running  the 
latter  part  of  the  time  as  captain.  Also,  in  1853,  he  ran  the 
•'Nominee,"  and.  in  1854,  took  command  of  the  ••  Galena."  a 
famous  and  popular  packet  in  her  day,  which  was  burned 
July  i,  18^8.  at  Red  Wing.  During  this  period,  thousands, 
perhaps  tens  of  thousands,  of  the  earlier  citizens  of  our  State, 
have  been  brought  here  by  Capt.  BLAKELEY.  on  one  or  the 
other  of  the  above  packets,  a  fact  which  made  him  more 
widely  known,  probably,  at  that  time,  than  almost  any  other 
man  in  this  region.  If  Capt.  B.  would  write  a  faithful  account 
of  steamboating  in  those  days,  with  his  personal  reminiscences 
of  men  and  events,  it  would  make  an  interesting  chapter  of 
our  pioneer  history. 

In  1855,  he  was  appointed  agent  at  Dunleith.  of  the  Packet 
Company,  and  soon  after  bought  out  the  interest  of  CHARLES 
T.  WHITNEY  in  the  Northwestern  Express  Company,  the  firm 
then  becoming  J.  C.  BURBANK  &  Co.  Capt.  BLAKELEY  came 
to  Saint  Paul  to  reside  in  1856.  Soon  after,  the  firm  became 
largely  interested  in  mail  contracts,  stage  and  transportation 
lines,  &c.,  a  full  account  of  which  is  given  in  a  future  chapter. 
Mr.  BURBANK  retired  from  the  company,  in  July,  1867,  and 
the  business  is  now  continued  by  Capt.  BLAKELEY  and  C.  W. 
CARPENTER,  Esq.  Capt.  B.  is  also  largely  interested  in  the 
railroad  business,  being  a  director  of  the  Sioux  City  Railroad, 
and  is  a  member  of  several  other  business  organizations,  con- 
tributing largely,  both  in  capital  and  time,  to  promote  the  pros- 
perity of  our  city  and  State,  and  build  up  its  literary  and  other 
institutions. 


1847]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota. 


•75 


SAINT    CROIX    COUNTY. 


which  had,  up  to  this  time,  been  included  in  Crawford  county 
for  judicial  purposes,  was,  this  year,  detached,  and  reorgan- 


CAPT.  RUSSELL  BLAKELEY. 


ized-,  with  Stillwater  as  the  county  seat.  In  June,  the  first 
term  of  any  court  ever  held  in  what  is  now  Minnesota,  was 
held  there,  by  Judge  CHARLES  DUNN,  of  the  United  States  Dis- 
trict Court.  HARVEY  WILSON,  of  Stillwater.  was  appointed 


176  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1847 

Clerk  of  the  Court,  and  has   held   that  position  nearly,  if  not 
all,  the  time  since. 

POLITICAL    NOTES. 

The  Wisconsin  State  Constitution,  mentioned  on  page  164. 
was  voted  on  April  6,  1847.  DU^  ^or  some  1'eason,  defeated. 
A  second  Convention  was  held  on  the  I3th  of  December.  1847. 
Its  results  will  appear  a  little  further  on. 

At  the  election  held  this  fall,  for  Representative  from  the 
District  composed  of  Crawford,  Saint  Croix.  Chippewa  and 
LaPointe  counties,  to  the  fifth  Legislative  Assembly  of  Wis- 
consin, HENRY  JACKSON  was  chosen  a  member.  A  special 
session  was  held  October  17-27,  1847,  an<^  tne  regular  second 
session  o: 
13,  1848. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.  177 


CHAPTER   XV. 

.  EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1848. 

DEATH  OF  WM.  C.  RENFKO — RAISING  FUNDS  FOR  A  SCHOOL  HOUSE — RELIGIOUS 
AND  TEMPERANCE  MOVEMENTS — TERRITORIAL  MOVEMENT — THE  STILLWATER 
CONVENTION — H.  H.  SIBLEY  ELECTED  DELEGATE — SALE  OF  THE  LAND  AT 
SAINT  PAUL — H.  M.  RICE  BUYS  INTO  THE  TOWN-SITE — MEMOIR  OF  MR.  RICE — 
MEMOIRS  OF  DAVID  OLMSTED  AND  OTHERS— LIST  OF  PRE-TERRITORIAL  SET- 
TLERS— GENERAL  REMARKS  ON  THAT  PERIOD. 

THE  year  1848  was  a  sort  of  pivotal  period  in  our  history. 
It  was  marked,  too,  with  important  events — the  adoption 
of  a  State  government  by  Wisconsin,  leaving  Minnesota  with- 
out a  government — the  efforts  of  our  citizens  to  secure  a  Ter- 
ritorial organization,  which  were  soon  after  successful — the 
purchase  from  the  United  States  of  the  site  of  the  city  and  the 
lands  surrounding  it — the  influx  of  new  settlers,  some  of  them 
men  of  capital,  education  and  influence — the  increase  of  trade, 
and  in  the  importance  of  the  place,  &c.  Thus,  the  year  1848 
was  a  sort  of  intermediate  period,  between  the  era  of  the  wil- 
derness and  unorganized  society,  and  that  of  a  government  of 
law  and  order,  emerging  from  chaos,  as  it  were,  into  the  dig- 
nity of  an  established  commonwealth. 

DEATH    OF    WM.   C.   REN  FRO. 

The  first  event  of  the  year  1848,  which  we  have  to  record, 
was  the  death  of  WILLIAM  C.  RENFRO,  by  freezing.  REN- 
FRO,  as  stated  in  the  sketch  of  him  a  few  pages  back,  was  a 
young  man  of  education  and  ability,  but  addicted  to  the  iise  of 
intoxicating  drinks.  About  the  first  of  January,  while  stop- 
ping at  his  cousin's,  W.  G.  CARTER'S,  on  "  Prospedt  hill," 
near  the  bend  of  Phelan's  Creek,  he  arose  in  the  night,  while 
suffering  from  mania  a  potu,  and  wandered  toward  town. 
Being  missed,  search  was  made,  and,  on  January  3d,  his  life- 
less body  was  found  under  a  tree,  near  the  present  Saint  Mary's 
Catholic  church.  He  was  clad  only  in  his  shirt,  drawers,  &c. 


178  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1848 

RAISING    FUNDS    FOR    A    SCHOOL    HOUSE. 

Miss  BISHOP,  in  her  work  before  quoted,  gives  some  account 
of  a  sewing  circle  raising  funds  for  a  school  house  : 

"The  first  winter  (1847-8)  closed  in  upon  us.  *  *  *  Books  were 
the  companions  that  enlivened  the  solitude  of  our  evenings.  The  social 
pleasures  of  the  vicinity  were  merged  in  a  weekly  ball  for  those  who 
enjoyed  what,  according  to  the  report  of  the  parties,  was  little  else  than, 
in  western  parlance,  a  '  whisky  hoe-down.'  What  rational,  social  pleas- 
ure can  we  devise  that  shall  elevate  the  moral  tone  of  society?  was 
the  theme  of  discussion,  when  JOSEPH  R.  BOWRON,*  of  Saint  Croix, 
proposed  that  a  '  Ladies'  Sewing  Society'  he  instituted,  to  aid  in  the 
erection  of  the  proposed  school  house,  and,  for  our  encouragement, 
generously  pledged  $10,  for  a  commencement.  Accordingly,  the  '  Saint 
Paul  Circle  of  Industry'  was  formed,  with  eight  members.!  We  re- 
member, with  an  allowable  pride,  that  the  first  payment  on  the  lumber 
for  the  first  school  house,  was  made  with  money  earned  with  the  needle 
by  the  ladies  of  this  circle." 

Miss  BISHOP  further  hints  that  they  had  good  success  in 
soliciting  subscriptions,  and  received  $50  from  officers  at  the 
fort.  She  adds : 

"  The  specified  object  of  the  building  was  the  accommodation  of  the 
school,  church,  court,  occasional  lectures,  elections,  and,  in  short,  all 
public  gatherings  :  with  the  expectation  that  an  expenditure  of  $300  on 
a  building  25x30  feet,  would  be  all  that  would  be  required  for  at  least 
ten  years." 

This  building  was  completed  sometime  in  August.  1848.  It 
stood  about  where  Dr.  ALLEY'S  block  now  stands,  and  was 
used  for  church  services,  day-school,  lectures,  &c.,  until  as 
late  as  1851,  when  several  denominations  had  erected  chapels 
of  their  own.  It  was  burned  at  the  great  fire,  in  1857,  which 
swept  that  whole  square.  The  building  was  erected  bv  JESSK 
H.  POMEROV.  The  lot  was  a  gift  from  JNO.  R.  IRVINE. 

RELIGIOUS    PROGRESS TEMPERANCE. 

The  first  Protestant  sermon,  as  before  noted,  ever  preached 
in  Saint  Paul,  was  by  Rev.  Mr.  HURLBUT,  a  Methodist  Episco- 

*  JOSEPH  R.  BOWRON  died  at  Hudson,  Wisconsin,  April  10, 1868. 
t  Miss  BISHOP,  Mrs.  JACKSON,  Mrs.  BASS,  Miss  HARRIET  PATCH,  and  Mrs.  IRVINE 
were  among  the  members. 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ram sev,  Minnesota.  179 

pal  missionary,  in  1844.  Rev.  E.  A.  GREENLEAF  preached 
the  next  sermon  in  June,  1846.  Mrs.  HINCKLEY  thinks  Rev. 
Father  GEAR,*  Episcopal  missionary  at  the  fort,  preached  the 
third  sermon,  in  the  same  year.  September  5,  1847,  Dr.  WIL- 
LIAMSON preached  the  fourth  Protestant  sermon. 

After  Miss  BISHOP'S  arrival,  she  kept  a  diarv  of  events. 
principally  of  religious  matters,  which  gives  some  interesting 
ideas  concerning  the  progress  of  religion  in  Saint  Paul  during 
this  year.  We  condense  a  few  notes,  as  follows : 

"January  30.     Mr.  GEAR  preached  in  afternoon. 

"  February  20.     Mr.  GREENLEAF  preached. 

"  March  19.  'Visiting,  hunting,  wrestling,  drinking,  gambling.  &c.. 
are  the  pastimes  of  this  holy  day.' 

"April  2.     Mr.  PUTNAM  preached. 

"April  23.  VIOLA  IRVINE  (a  little  daughter  of  J.  R.  IRVINE,)  died 
from  a  severe  burn,  by  accident. 

"June  26.     Mr.  CAVENDER  acts  as  Superintendent  of  Sunday  school. 

"July  10.     Preaching  by  Rev.  LEMUEL  NOBLES. 

"July  17.  Prof  BENT  [a  professor  in  the  University  at  Middlebury. 
Vermont,]  lectured. 

"July  24.     B.  F.  HOYT  preached. 

"October  16.     Rev.  Mr.  COPELAND,  of  Indiana,  preached. 

"October  23.     Mr.  HOYT  preached. 

"November 6.     Mr.  HOYT  preached. 

"December  4.  Rev.  BENJ.  CLOSE,  the  Methodist  preacher  of  the 
Saint  Paul  and  Stillwater  circuit,  preached. 

"December  31.  Mr.  CLOSE  preached  and  organized  a  class,  the  first 
move  towards  organizing  a  Protestant  church  in  this  city." 

During  this  season,  Miss  BISHOP  says,  in  her  book,  the  re- 
ligious element  in  the.  village  was  greatly  reinforced  by  the 
arrival  of  Mr.  B.  F.  HOYT  and  A.  H.  CAVENDER.  "  The  for- 
mer occasionally  broke  the  bread  of  life  to  the  listening  few. 
When  the  number  of  disciples  had  increased  to  five  or  six,  on 
November  9,  1848,  a  weekly  prayer  meeting  was  established. 
Hon.  H.  M.  RICE  made  the  liberal  offer  of  $200  and  ten  town 
lots  toward  the  first  church  edifice,  [Market  Street  Methodist,] 


*Rev.  EZEKIBL  G.  GEAR  was  born  at  Middletown,  Connecticut,  September  13,  1793. 
In  1836,  he  went  to  Galena,  and,  in  1837, was  appointed  Post  Chaplain  at  Fort  Snelling. 
In  1860,  he  was  transferred  to  Fort  Ripley,  and,  in  1867,  placed  on  the  retired  list.  He 
died  October  13,  1873,  aged  So  years.  In  the  early  days  of  Saint  Paul  he  was  well- 
known  to  our  pioneer  settlers. 


i8o  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1848 

which  offer  was  accepted.  During  the  same  winter,  Rev.  Mr. 
GEAR  held  monthly,  and  finally  semi-monthly  service  in  Saint 
Paul." 

It  may  be  interesting  to  know  that  the  first  temperance  soci- 
ety in  Saint  Paul — perhaps  in  Minnesota — was  organized  this 
summer,  by  a  few  young  folks — some  of  them  scholars  in  Miss 
BISHOP'S  school.  The  pledge  itself  was  drawn  up  by  JAMES 
M.  BOAL.  who  was  quite  an  artist,  and  decorated  it  with 
drawings  and  emblematic  designs.  Miss  BISHOP  still  has  the 
paper,  the  first  written  temperance  pledge,  beyond  doubt,  in 
the  State.  Shortly  after  this,  the  young  men  of  the  town  or- 
ganized a  temperance  society,  about  thirty  of  them  taking  the 
pledge.  ALEX.  R.  McLEOD  was  elected  president — but.  Miss 
•B.  adds,  regretfully,  that  he  did  not  keep  the  pledge  very  well. 

REMARKABLE    SCENE    IN    A   JUSTICE'S    COURT. 

Under  the  head  of  the  administration  of  justice  in  early 
days,  it  occurs  to  us  to  chronicle  a  curious  affair  which  occur- 
red this  summer.  HENRY  JACKSON  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
this  year,  and  was  trying  some  ordinary  case  in  his  caravansarv 
on  the  point.  The  matter  had  been  submitted  to  the  jury,  and 
they  had  retired  to  consider  a  verdict,  being  locked  up,  by  the 
constable,  in  a  room,  where  there  was  only  one  little  outside 
window.  Among  the  six  men  thus  confined,  was  one  skillful 
violinist,  (CHARLEY  MITCHELL.  I  believe,)  who  was  always 
in  request  for  balls  and  convivial  assemblages.  On  the  dav  of 
the  trial,  a  man  had  come  over  from  Stillwater,  for  the  purpose 
of  hiring  the  violinist,  and  taking  him  back  to  that  piney  set- 
tlement, to  fiddle  for  a  ball  that  was  coming  oft'  the  same  eve- 
ning. On  finding  the  violinist  locked  up.  with  no  prospect  of 
an  early  release,  he  became  somewhat  nervous,  lest  he  should 
not  be  able  to  return  in  season  with  the  manipulator  of  the 
bow.  The  jury,  unluckilv,  were  not  able  to  agree  on  a  verdict, 
and  spent  several  hours  in  a  fierce  discussion  of  the  case,  some 
of  them  getting  "'  fighting  mad"  on  the  question.  About  this 
time,  the  Stillwater  man  got  desperate,  as  he  saw  the  afternoon 
waning  away,  and  determined  to  take  an  opportunity  to  speak- 
to  the  violinist  at  all  hazards.  He.  thereupon,  got  a  box  or 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  181 

some  other  standing  place,  and  climbed  up  to  the  window, 
where  he  held  a  confab  with  the  fiddling  juryman.  At  this 
point,  one  of  the  disagreeing  jurors  accused  the  latter  of  being 
in  surreptitious  communication  with  an  outsider,  and  of  receiv- 
ing a  bribe  !  Of  course,  this  brought  the  dispute  to  blows  at 
once,  in  which  the  whole  jury  were  busily  engaged  in  less  than 
a  minute.  Chairs  and  tables  were  broke  to  splinters,  and  two 
or  three  jurors  were  pounded  badly.  Among  the  latter  was 
the  violinist,  who  had  a  shocking  "head  put  on  him,"  and 
suffered  a  dislocated  arm,  &c.  The  constable,  justice  and 
others  rushed  in  to  quell  the  fight,  when  the  jurors  who  were 
able  to  go,  broke  out  and  ran  away,  and  this  ended  the  case. 
The  Stillwater  man  returned  without  his  musician,  and  the 
ball  was  postponed  indefinitely. 

MORE    GOVERNMENTAL    PROGRESS. 

Wisconsin  held  a  second  Constitutional  Convention,  as  be- 
fore remarked,  which  convened  on  December  15,  1847,  and 
adjourned  on  February  i,  1848.  The  Constitution  framed  by 
them,  and  which  was  voted  on  and  adopted  March  13.  1848, 
fixed  the  State  boundaries  as  they  are  now  seen  on  the  maps. 
Congress  admitted  Wisconsin  as  a  State,  on  May  29.  following. 
The  question  was  thus  definitely  settled,  that  what  is  now 
Minnesota,  was  "' left  out  in  the  cold."  with  no  government, 
unless,  fortunately,  they  inherited  the  abandoned  Territorial 
government  of  Wisconsin,  and  many  claimed  that  this  was  the 
case.  The  question  considerably  agitated  the  people  of  the 
region  west  of  the  Saint  Croix  and  Mississippi,  and,  after  con- 
siderable "'talk."  it  was  resolved  by  the  Saint  Paul  men  to 
hold  a  meeting  and  canvass  the  matter.  The  meeting,  which 
could  not  have  been  a  large  one,  for  there  were  scarcely  20 
English-speaking  men  in  Saint  Paul  at  that  time,  was  held  at 
Jackson's  caravansary  in  July.*  This  was  undoubtedly  the 
first  public  meeting  on  the  subject,  or  perhaps  on  any  subjecl 

*A  prominent  old  settler  thinks  this  meeting  was  held  in  the  street,  instead  of  in  a 
house,  mainly  because  there  was  more  room  out  of  doors,  and  logs  were  plenty,  which 
could  be  used  as  seats,  and  to  make  "smudges"  with.  He  says  most  of  the  public 
meetings  those  days,  were  held  in  the  street. 


1 82  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pauh         [1848 

of  a  public  nature,  and  it  was  strongly  urged  that  measures  be 
taken  to  secure  a  Territorial  government  for  the  balance  of 
Wisconsin,  then  unprotected  by  law. 

THE    STILLWATER    CONVENTION. 

On  the  5th  day  of  August,  a  public  meeting  of  the  same 
kind  was  held  at  Stillwater,  and  it  was  resolved  to  circulate 
a  call  for  a  general  convention  of  all  persons  interested,  to 
meet  at  Stillwater  on  August  26.  The  call  was  made,  and,  at 
the  time  mentioned,  the  Convention  was  held.  Sixty-one  per- 
sons appear  to  have  been  present,  as  we  find  that  number  of 
names  signed  to  a  memorial  adopted  during  the  session.  Among 
those  present  from  Saint  Paul,  were  :  Louis  ROBERT,  J.  W. 
SIMPSON.  A.  L.  LARPENTEUR,  DAVID  LAMBERT,  HENRY 
JACKSON,  VETAL  GUERIN,  DAVID  HEBERT,  OLIVER  ROSSEAU, 
ANDRE  GODFREY,  JOSEPH  RONDO,  JAMES  R.  CLEWETT.  ED- 
WARD PHELAN,  WM.  G.  CARTER,  &c. 

At  this  meeting  a  letter  was  read  from  Hon.  JOHN  CATLIN. 
Secretary  of  State  of  Wisconsin,  stating  that,  in  his  opinion, 
if  a  Delegate  were  elected,  he  would  be  permitted  to  take 
his  seat — and  that  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin  was  still  in 
existence. 

JOSEPH  R.  BROWN.  H.  H.  SIBLKY.  MORTON  S.  WILKIN- 
SON, HENRY  L.  Moss.  FRANKLIN  STEELE,  DAVID  LAMBERT. 
and  others,  appear,  from  the  proceedings,  to  have  taken  a 
prominent  part.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  draft  a  me- 
morial to  Congress,  resolutions.  &c..  and  the  Convention  ad- 
journed to  dinner. 

While  at  dinner,  (Hon.  H.  L.  Moss  states,)  there  was  con- 
siderable caucusing  as  to  the  location  of  the  Capital  for  the 
proposed  Territory,  and  the  Saint  Paul  delegates  carried  the 
day — it  being  generally  understood  that  Saint  Paul  was  to  be 
fixed  on  as  the  Capital,  but  Stillwater  was  to  have  the  State's 
prison,  and  Saint  Anthony  the  university — a  parole  agreement, 
which  was.  by  a  future  Legislature,  carried  out. 

When  the  Convention  reassembled,  J.  R.  BROWN  reported  the 
proposed  memorial,  together  with  voluminous  resolutions,  re- 
citing the  necessity  of  having  a  Territorial  government — pro- 


1848]        and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  183 

viding  for  the  appointment  of  a  delegate  to  visit  Washington, 
and  urge  an  immediate  organization  of  the  proposed  Territory  : 
also,  for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  of  six,  to  collect 
information  and  statistics,  for  the  use  of  said  delegate,  and  a 
"  central  committee"  of  seven,  to  correspond  with  and  aid 
said  delegate.  The  resolutions  and  memorial  were  adopted, 
and  the  latter  signed  by  all  the  members  present. 

ELECTION    OF    A    DELEGATE. 

The  Convention  then  proceeded  to  elect  a  delegate  to  V.  ush- 
ington,  and  Hon.  HENRY  H.  SIBLEY,  of  Mendota.  was  elected, 
and  furnished  with  proper  credentials.  It  was  expected  that 
the  delegate  so  ele6ted  was  to  defray  his  own  expenses.  Mr. 
SIBLEY  accepted  the  proposed  mission,  however,  and  prom- 
ised the  Convention  to  go  on.  and  use  his  utmost  endeavors  to 
accomplish  the  important  trust  committed  to  him. 

Shortly  after  this,  Hon.  JOHN  H.  TWEEDY  resigned  as  Del- 
egate to  Congress  from  Wisconsin,  and  Hon.  JOHN  CATHN. 
claiming  to  be  acting  Governor  of  Wisconsin  Territory,  if  there 
was  now  any  such  thing,  came  to  Stillwater.  and  issued  a 
proclamation,  on  October  9.  ordering  a  special  election,  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  On  October  30,  said  election  was  held.  Mr. 
SIBLEY  and  HENRY  M.  RICE  were  the  only  candidates,  and 
there  was  little  or  no  effort  made  by  either  to  secure  an  election, 
though  some  of  the  friends  of  each  got  up  a  small  canvass. 
In  fad.  neither  of  them  desired  it.  as  far  as  any  personal  mo- 
tives were  concerned,  as  the  condition  of  things  was  very  du- 
bious,'and  it  seemed  very  improbable  that  the  Delegate  elected 
would  be  permitted  to  take  his  seat.  General  SIBLEY  was 
elected,  as  it  turned  out.  and,  in  November,  proceeded  to 
Washington. 

PURCHASE    OF    THE    TOWN-SITE     FROM    THE     UNITED     STATES. 

Meantime  the  Government  surveys  of  land  in  this  neighbor- 
hood had  been  progressing,  and,  on  August  14,  1848,  the  first 
sale  of  lands  occurred  at  the  land  office,  at  Saint  Croix  Falls, 
in  pursuance  of  a  proclamation  of  President  POLK.  At  this 
sale,  27  whole  and  fractional  townships,  or  436,737  acres,  were 


184  .  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paid.          [1848 

offered  for  sale — part  lying  in  Wisconsin,  but  only  3.326  were 
sold,  at  $1.25  per  acre.  At  this  sale,  the  town-sites  of  Saint 
Paul,  Saint  Anthony  and  Stillwater  were  offered  for  sale.  A 
gentleman  present  gives  the  following  account  of  it : 

"The  land  office  for  the  Chippewa  land  district  was  opened  by 
Gen.  SAMUEL  LEECH,  Receiver,  and  Col.  C.  S.  WHITNEY,  Register,  at 
the  Falls  of  Saint  Croix,  in  the  first  part  of  August,  1847.  The  first 
sale  in  this  District  commenced  on  or  about  the  i5th  day  of  August, 
1848,  and  continued  for  two  weeks.  The  second  sale  commenced  on 
or  about  the  i5th  day  of  September,  of  the  same  year,  and,  also,  con- 
tinued for  two  weeks.  At  this  latter  sale,  the  first  lands  were  disposed 
of,  that  are  now  comprised  within  the  limits  of  Minnesota,  including 
the  towns  of  Saint  Paul,  Saint  Anthony  and  Stillwater.  At  this  period, 
there  were  very  few  white  settlers  within  what  is  now  the  Territory  of 
Minnesota :  and  they  were  principally  located  within  and  immediately 
surrounding  the  above  named  towns.  For  the  better  accommodation 
of  the  people — the  conveniences  of  travel  being  very  poor — the  land 
officers  gave  timely  public  notice  of  the  exact  day  upon  which  certain 
townships  would  be  offered  for  sale ;  so  that  at  no  one  time  were  there 
more  than  forty  or  fifty  persons  present.  There  were  no  '  speculators' 
in  attendance  at  this  sale;  which  accounts  for  the  fac"t  that  there  was 
but  one  contra  bid  during  the  whole  sale,  and  that  was  between  two 
settlers,  who  resided  somewhere  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cottage  Grove, 
in  Washington  county.  It  seems,  that,  after  having  secured  their  re- 
spective claims,  they  could  not  agree  upon  which  should  have  a  certain 
eighty-acre  tract,  composed  of  timber  land  lying  adjacent  to  each.  I 
believe  that  the  successful  bidder  got  it  at  about  ten  cents  above  the  min- 
imum price  per  acre. 

"The  most  exciting  time  during  this  sale,  at  which  there  were  a  great 
number  of  people  present,  was  on  the  day  and  the  day  before  that  on 
which  the  town-site  of  Saint  Paul  was  offered  for  sale.  The  good 
people  of  this  vicinity  were  very  fearful  that  the  sale  would  be  infested 
with  a  hungry  set  of  speculators,  as  has  too  often  happened  at  land 
sales  in  the  west,  ready  with  their  gold,  to  jump  at  every  chance  that 
presented  itself,  and  bid  over  the  actual  settler.  To  guard  against  this 
emergency,  it  was  understood  beforehand  that  the  Hon.  H.  H.  SIBLEY, 
should  bid  in  the  town-site  of  Saint  Paul,  and  the  claims  of  such  Cana- 
dians as  did  not  understand  English  sufficiently  to  do  so  for  themselves ; 
and,  to  aid  and  assist  him  in  this  mission,  a  large  and  well-armed  force, 
composed  principally  of  Canadian  Frenchmen,  were  present  at  the 
sale.  Their  fears,  however,  were  not  realized,  and  they  were  permitted 
to  purchase  their  lands  without  molestation. 

"In  1849,  after  much  delay  and  difficulty,  the  land  office  at  the  Falls 
of  Saint  Croix,  was  removed  to  Stillwater.  A  remonstrance  against 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  185 

this  removal  was  made  by  the  members  of  the  Wisconsin  Legislature ; 
their  objections,  however,  were  overcome  by  the  establishment  of  an 
additional  land  district  in  Wisconsin." 

Gen.  H.  H.  SIBLEY,  in  his  li  Reminiscences  of  the  Early  Days 
of  Minnesota,"  published  by  the  Historical  Society,  says  of 
this  sale :  "I  was  selected  by  the  actual  settlers  to  bid  oft' 
portions  of  the  land  for  them,  and,  when  the  hour  for  business 
had  arrived,  my  seat  was  invariably  surrounded  by  a  number 
of  men  with  huge  bludgeons.  What  was  meant  by  the  pro- 
ceedings I  could,  of  course,  only  surmise,  but  I  would  not  have 
envied  the  fate  of  the  individual  who  would  have  ventured  to 
bid  against  me." 

Saint  Paul  Proper,  being  owned  by  various  parties,  the 
owners  selected  H.  H.  SIBLEY,  Louis  ROBERT  and  A.  L. 
LARPENTEUR,  as  trustees,  to  enter  the  lands  in  question,  and 
deed  the 'lots,  blocks,  and  fractions  to  the  parties  who  were 
entitled  to  the  same.  This  was  quite  a  difficult  task,  and  re- 
quired not  a  little  trouble  and  patience  to  sift  out  the  real  and 
equitable  owners  in  some  cases.  Finally,  every  piece  was  con- 
veyed, by  the  above  trustees,  to  the  rightful  owner,  and  their 
decision  acquiesced  in.  Some  of  the  simple  Canadians,  who 
did  not  understand  English  very  well,  or  the  forms  of  convey- 
ancing, suffered  their  title  to  remain  in  General  SIBLEY'S 
name,  in  some  cases,  two  or  three  years,  thinking  they  Were 
secure  there,  and  it  required  actual  persuasion  and  trouble  on 
the  part  of  Gen.  S.  to  get  some  of  them  to  receive  the  deeds 
and  conclude  the  transfer  by  registry. 

THE    WINNEBAGO    REMOVAL. 

In  1846,  the  Winnebagoes,  then  on  a  reservation  in  Iowa, 
ceded  their  land  to  the  United  States,  and  accepted,  instead,  a 
Reservation  now  in  Todd  county,  Minnesota.  But,  in  1848, 
when  the  time  came  for  their  removal,  thev  refused  to  go,  and 
their  removal  wa*s  only  accomplished  by  much  patience  and 
strategy  on  the  part  of  H.  M.  RICE,  E.  A.  C.  HATCH,  DAVID 
OLMSTED,  S.  B.  LOWRY,  JOHN  HANEY,  Jr.,  N.  MYRICK,  GEO. 
CULVER,  RICHARD  CHUTE,  Lieut.  JOHN  H.  MCKENNEY,  now 


1 86  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1848 

of  Chatfield,  and  other  agents,  soldiers  and  traders.  They 
were  finally  located  near  Long  Prairie  Agency,  about  July  i . 
This  movement  resulted  in  securing,  as  citizens  here,  either 
that  year  or  soon  after,  most  of  the  above  gentlemen.  Mr. 
RICE  bought  property  here,  and  made  valuable  improvements  ; 
OLMSTED  and  RHODES  established  a  trading  outfit,  while  E. 
A.  C.  HATCH,  N.  MYRICK.  and  GEORGE  CULVER  ere  long 
made  Saint  Paul  their  home. 

H.   M.   RICE    BUYS    A    PART    OK    THE    TOWN-SITE. 

On  November  14,  Mr.  RICE  purchased,  of  JOHN  R.  IRVINE, 
the  "  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter,  of  section  6,  town 
28,  range  22  west,"  for  the  sum  of  $2^0.  This  soon  became 
a  part  of  Rice  and  Irvine's  Addition,  which  was  surveyed  the 
same  winter,  by  B.  W.  BRUNSON.  This  was  an  important  ac- 
quisition for  the  town.  J.  W.  BOND  says,  in  •'  Minnesota  and 
its  Resources."  that  the  verv  name  of  having  II .  M.  RICE  in- 
terested in  the  town,  gave  it  a  new  influence  in  the  estimation 
of  persons  abroad.  Ex-Governor  MARSH  ALL.  in  his  address 
before  the  Old  Settlers  of  Hennepin  countv.  February  22.  1871, 
considers  that  this  fadt  had  more  to  do  with  turning  the  scale 
in  favor  of  Saint  Paul,  at  a  critical  juncture,  than  anything  else. 

HON.    HENRY     M.     RICE 

was  born  in  VVaitsfield.  Vermont.  November  29.  1816.  He  is 
a  lineal  descendant  of  the  famous  WARREN  HASTINGS,  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  men  connected  with  the  history  of  Eng- 
land during  his  time.  His  grandfather  was  engaged  in  the 
French  War  of  1755,  and  was  taken  prisoner  to  Canada  at  one 
time,  and  ransomed.  He  attended  academy  at  Burlington, 
and  studied  law  about  two  years  with  Hon.  WM.  P.  BRIGGS. 
of  Richmond,  Vermont.  In  1835,  Mr.  RICE  emigrated  to  De- 
troit, Michigan,  with  Hon.  ELON  FARNSWORTH,  then  a  resi- 
dent of  that  Territory.  In  1837,  ne  was  appointed  Assistant 
Engineer  under  the  State  of  Michigan,  to  locate  the  SaultSte. 
Marie  Canal  and  other  works. 

In  1839,  Mr.  RICE  came  to  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota,  where 
he  remained  in  the  sutler  department  until  June.  1840.  when 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey^  Minnesota.  187 

he  was  appointed  sutler  at  Fort  Atkinson,  in  what  is  now 
Iowa.  He  soon  after  became  connected  with  P.  CHOUTEAU, 
Jr.  &  Co.,  and  had  charge  of  the  trade  with  the  Winnebagoes 
and  Chippewas.  having  a  large  number  of  trading  posts 
throughout  the  Chippewa  country,  from  Lake  Superior  to  Red 
Lake,  and  thence  to  the  British  Possessions.  No  man  among 
the  early  traders  was  better  acquainted  with  the  Lake  Superior 
and  Northern  Minnesota  region  than  Mr.  RICE.  He  has 
traveled  over  every  portion  of  it,  and  knew  all  the  old  traders, 
whose  names  have  now  passed  into  history. 

In  1846,  a  delegation  of  Winnebagoes  visited  Washington 
to  negotiate  a  treaty  with  the  United  States  for  their  Reserva- 
tion in  Iowa.  One  of  their  principal  chiefs  being  taken  sick, 
Mr.  RICE  was  appointed  a  delegate  in  his  place,  and  was  in- 
strumental in  accomplishing  a  sale  of  their  lands,  then  needed 
for  the  growing  settlements  of  whites.  On  August  2,  1847.  at 
Fond  du  Lac.  Lake  Superior,  Mr.  RICE  and  Hon.  ISAAC  VER- 
PLANK,  as  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  United  States, 
purchased  from  the  Chippewas  of  Lake  Superior  and  the 
Mississippi,  the  country  lying  on  the  Mississippi  and  Long 
Prairie  Rivers,  for  a  new  Reservation  for  the  Winnebagoes. 
On  the  2 ist  of  the  same  month  they  also  purchased  from  the 
Pillager  Indians,  at  Leech  Lake,  the  country  lying  between 
the  Otter  Tail,  Long  Prairie,  Crow  Wing  and  Leaf  Rivers, 
for  a  Menominee  Reservation,  but  it  was  never  used  for  that 
purpose.  Mr.  RICE  subsequently,  in  1851,  1853.  1854,  1863, 
and  other  dates,  was  largely  instrumental  in  consummating 
treaties  wTith  the  Chippewas  and  Sioux,  by  which  the  greater 
portion  of  our  State  was  ceded  to  the  whites,  and  thrown  open 
to  settlement. 

When  the  Winnebagoes  were  removed,  in  the  summer  of 
1848,  Mr.  RICE  aided  largely  in  quelling  the  threatened  out- 
break by  them,  and,  in  order  to  accomplish  it  without  trouble, 
advanced  the  expense  of  removal,  over  $20,000  in  gold,  on  be- 
half of  his  company.  The  Indians  were  finally  taken  to  Long 
Prairie  in  July. 

In  order  to  attend  to  the  receipt  of  the  goods  required  in  the 
trade,  business  compelled  Mr.  RICE  to  spend  a  large  share  of 


1 88  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1848 

his  time  in  Saint  Paul.  T.he  growing  importance  of  the  place, 
then  recently  "  laid  out"  as  a  town,  and  regularly  entered — and 
which  was  already  spoken  of  as  the  future  Capital  of  the  com- 
ing "  Territory  of  Minnesota" — was  one  cause  of  his  becoming 
one  of  the  town-site  owners,  and,  not  long  after  the  land  had 
been  entered,  he  purchased  a  tract,  which  was  soon  after  laid 
out  as  an  addition.  It  is  now  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  and 
worth  millions.  Another  cause  of  Mr.  RICE'S  locating  here, 
and  making  this  the  depot  for  his  goods,  was  the  fact  that  it 
was  the  head  of  navigation.  Boats  then,  as  now.  could  not 
get  above  Saint  Paul  in  low  or  moderate  water. 

Mr.  RICE  at  once  bent  his  whole  energies,  and  emploved 
his  capital  to  the  development  of  the  town.  He  built  ware- 
houses, erected  hotels  and  business  blocks  in  his  addition, 
diverted  trade  and  commerce  from  other  points  hither,  and 
influenced  men  of  capital  and  energy  to  invest  here  largely. 
In  a  short  time  the  impetus  thus  given  to  the  place  lifted  it 
above  competition.  He  also  proceeded  to  Washington,  "on 
his  own  hook,"  while  the  bill  organizing  Minnesota  Territory, 
with  Saint  Paul  as  its  Capital,  was  pending,  and  labored  for 
it  untiringly.  His  influence  with  friends  in  Congress,  and 
other  members,  aided  largely*  in  turning  the  scale  in  our  favor. 

In  the  early  days  of  Saint  Paul,  Mr.  RICE  was  one  of  its 
most  reliable,  ready  and  liberal  promoters  of  everv  good  en- 
terprise. He  donated  lots  to  several  churche's  and  public  insti- 
tutions, besides  considerable  sums  in  money.  "Rice  Park." 
our  beautiful  resort  on  summer  evenings,  was  one  of  his  gifts 
to  the  public.  To  one  of  the  institutions  of  Rice  countv, 
named  in  honor  of  him  in  1853,  he  gave  the  documentary 
portion  of  his  valuable  private  library,  worth  several  thousand 
dollars. 

In  1853,  Mr.  RICE  was  elected  Delegate  to  Congress,  and 
re-elecled  in  i8>^.  This  was  the  period  of  the  most  rapid  de- 
velopment of  Minnesota,  and  it  imposed  on  our  Delegate 
extraordinary  labor.  He  procured  legislation  extending  the 
pre-emption  system  to  unsurveyed  lands  ;  also  opening  certain 
military  reservations  to  actual  settlers.  Land  offices  were  to 
be  established,  post  routes  opened,  and  post-offices  created  ; 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  189 

immense  traces  to  be  purchased  from  the  Indians,  and  thrown 
open  to  settlement ;  and  appropriations  to  be  secured  for  im- 
provements. Besides,  there  were  the  countless  requests  from 
private  individuals,  for  favors  to  be  secui-ed  at  the  departments, 
or  for  special  legislation — so  that  one  can  form  some  idea  of 
the  work  Mr.  RICE  accomplished.  Indeed,  only  those  who 
lived  in  Minnesota  during  that  period,  can  know  what  it  really 
owes  to  him  for  much  of  its  material  progress. 

In  1857,  Mr.  RICE  procured  the  passage  of  the  act  endow- 
ing our  land  grant  roads  with  the  land,  which  has  alone  se- 
cured their  construction,  and  resulted  in  the  rapid  development 
of  the  State.  Also,  establishing  here  a  Survevor  General's 
office,  and,  more  important  in  some  respects  than  all,  was 
the  Enabling  Act,  authorizing  Minnesota  to  form  a  State  gov- 
ernment. Mr.  RICE'S  term  as  Delegate  closed  in  1857,  but  he 
was  at  once  elected  Senator,  for  six  years,  by  the  first  State 
Legislature.  During  this  term,  the  rebellion  broke  out,  and 
considerable  numbers  of  Minnesota  troops  were  stationed  near 
Washington.  Mr.  RICE'S  kindness  and  liberalitv  to  our  sol- 
diers will  long  be  remembered.  His  house  in  Washington 
was  always  open,  as  well  as  his  purse,  to  the  sick  and  destitute 
soldier.  During  this  term,  he  served  on  several  very  impor- 
tant committees,  among  others,  on  finance,  on  military,  on 
post  roads,  on  public  lands,  and  the  special  committee  to  re- 
port some  mode  of  averting  the  threatened  rupture  between 
the  North  and  South. 

On  March  29,  1849,  Mr.  RICE  was  married  to  Miss  MATIL- 
DA WHITALL,  at  Richmond,  Virginia.  Mr.  RICE  was,  also, 
the  founder  of  Bayfield,  Wisconsin,  in  1856,  and  the  beauty 
of  the  place,  and  the  security  of  its  harbor,  vindicates  the  wis- 
dom of  his  choice  of  the  location  of  what  must  be  one  of  the 
most  important  places  on  Lake  Superior. 

Mr.  RICE  is  truly  a  pioneer.  He  resided  in  Michigan, 
Iowa,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  while  each  passed  from  a 
Territorial  to  a  State  government,  and  has  borne  his  share  of 
the  hardships,  and  dangers,  and  vicissitudes  of  frontier  life. 
No  candid  history  of  Minnesota  can  be  written  which  does 
not  do  full  credit  to  his  labors  for  the  welfare  of  our  State,  and 


190  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1848 

his  name,  wherever  mentioned  by  its  people,  is  spoken  only 
with  the  respect  and  esteem  which  his  public  acls  and  private 
virtues  deserve. 

Sketches  of  some  of  the  other  settlers  of  1848  are  here 
given,  as  fully  as  space  will  permit. 

DAVID    OLMSTED 

was  born  in  Fairfax,  Franklin  county.  Vermont,  May  5,  1822. 
At  the  age  of  16  years,  he  left  home  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
west.  He  finally  located  in  the  mineral  region  of  Wisconsin, 
where  he  mined  some  time.  In  July,  1840,  with  his  brother, 
PAGE,  he  moved  over  to  northern  Iowa,  then  unsettled  by 
white  men,  and  made  a  claim  near  the  Winnebago  Reserva- 
tion, at  a  place  now  called  Monona.  Here  they  lived  several 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1844,  Mr.  OI.MSTED  sold  his  claim  and 
embarked  in  the  Indian  trade  near  Fort  Atkinson,  Iowa,  as 
clerk  for  W.  G.  and  G.  W.  EWING.  licensed  Winnebago 
traders.  In  the  fall  of  1845,  he  was  ele6ted  from  the  district 
in  which  he  lived  (Clayton  county)  to  the  Convention  to  frame 
a  Constitution  for  Iowa.  He  was  then  only  24  years  old.  In 
the  fall  of  1847,  Mr.  OI.MSTED.  in  company  with  H.  C. 
RHODES,  purchased  the  interest  of  the  EWINGS  in  the  Winne- 
bago trade,  and,  in  the  summer  of  1848.  when  the  Indians 
were  removed  to  Long  Prairie,  Minnesota,  he  accompanied 
them,  opening  a  trading  house  at  that  point,  and  also  in  Saint 
Paul.  On  August  7,  1849,  Mr.  OI.MSTED  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  first  Territorial  Council  of  Minnesota,  and,  on  its 
assembling,  was  chosen  President.  Mr.  O.'s  term  extended 
also  to  the  second  session  (18^1)  in  which  he  took  an  active 
part. 

In  1853,  he  abandoned  the  Indian  trade,  and  removed  to 
Saint  Paul,  where  he  had  lived  at  intervals  .for  several  years, 
and,  on  June  29,  purchased  of  Col.  D.  A.  ROBERTSON,  the 
Minnesota  Democrat  office.  He  edited  that  journal  with 
much  ability  until  September,  1854,  when  he  sold  it  out.  In 
the  spring  of  1854,  Mr.  OLMSTED  was  elected  first  Mayor  of 
.Saint  Paul,  the  city  having  just  been  incorporated.  In  185(5. 
he  removed  to  the  village  of  Winona.  During  the  summer  of 


1848]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey ',  Minnesota.  191 

that  year  he  was  nominated  by  a  portion  of  his  party,  for 
Delegate  to  Congress,  but  failed  to  secure  an  election.  Soon 
after  his  health  began  to  decline,  and  he  spent  a  winter  in 
Cuba  in  hopes  of  restoring  it.  but  without  avail.  He  con- 
tinued to  grow  feebler  until  his  death,  February  2,  1861. 
which  occurred  at  his  mother's  house,  in  Franklin  county. 
Vermont.  During  his  residence  in  Minnesota  he  was  one  of 
the  most  popular  men  in  public  life.  The  flourishing  county 
of  Olmsted  was  named  in  honor  of  him. 

WILLIAM    D.   PHILLIPS. 

or  "  BILLY"  PHILLIPS,  as  he  was  generally  called,  was  one  of 
the  oddest  of  the  many  odd  characters  who  favored  Saint  Paul 
with  their  presence  in  early  days.  He  was  a  Marylander  by 
birth,  and  came  to  Saint  Paul  in  1848.  to  practice  as  an  attor- 
ney. His  knowledge  of  law  is  said  -not  to  have  been  very 
profound,  but  he  practiced  diligently  at  "the  bar,"  neverthe- 
less. Oratory  was  the  great  hobby  and  weakness  of  BILLY  D. 
He  imagined  he  was  a  second  Roscius.  and  was  always  ready 
to  speak  at  any  time,  on  any  subject,  or  in  anv  place.  He 
never  used  to  see  several  persons  together  without  itching  for 
a  chance  to  address  them  on  some  subject,  even  from  the  head 
of  a  barrel,  or  a  diy  goods  box.  His  lecture  on  KOSSUTH,  in 
18^2.  a  sort  of  half-drunken  rhapsody,  will  always  be  remem- 
bered, with  amusement,  by  the  old  settlers  who  heard  it,  or, 
rather,  the  introduction  to  it.  for  he  did  not  reach  the  body  of 
the  discourse  when  the  meeting  broke  up.  GOODHUE,  out  of 
joke,  printed  about  half  a  column  of  the  balderdash,  and  then 
added — "  The  balance  of  the  lecture  is  all  as  good  as  the 
above  !" 

In  1849,  Hon.  H.  M.  RICE  gave,  (without  consideration.) 
to  BILLY  D.,  several  lots,  one  on  upper  Third  street,  about  a 
square  below  the  American  House.  Mr.  RICE  told  him  to 
make  out  the  deed,  and  he  would  sign  it,  which  was  done. 
But  be  it  recorded,  as  an  instance  of  mean  ingratitude,  that 
BILLY,  subsequently,  brought  a  claim  against  Mr.  RICE,  of 
$5,  for  making  out  the  deed,  and  Mr.  R.  paid  it !  One  lot 
BILLY  sold,  in  i8s2,  for  $600.. 


192  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL          [1848 

That  year,  BILLY  D.,  who  had  set  high  hopes,  for  a  long 
time,  on  the  nomination  of  CASS  for  the  Presidency,  and  fre- 
quently declared  that  CASS,  (who,  he  claimed,  was  an  inti- 
mate friend  of  his.)  would  make  him  Governor,  at  least — find- 
ing his  fond  hopes  dashed  to  the  dust,  by  PIERCE'S  nomination, 
left  the  scene  of  his  ambition  and  glory,  and  went  to  Wash- 
ington. In  1856.  he  was  appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the 
General  Land  Office.  A  year  or  two  later,  he  was  prosecuted 
for  forging  the  franks  of  Senator  DOUGLAS,  and  selling  them 
to  a  patent  medicine  vender,  to  mail  circulars  in.  He  was 
acquitted  on  this  charge,  and  then  disappeared  from  public 
sight.  One  old  settler  saw  him,  about  1858.  looking  very 
much  decayed,  but,  since  that  date,  no  tidings  have  been  re- 
ceived from  him.  and  he  has,  probably,  gone  to  his  reward. 

HENRY    C.    RHODES 

came  from  Logansport,  Indiana.  His  nativitv  and  age  I  have 
not  been  able  to  get  satisfactorily,  but  Mr.  R.  CHUTE,  of  Min- 
neapolis, thinks  he  was  born  about  the  year  1820.  He  was 
in  business  at  Logansport  for  W.  G.  &  G.  W.  EWING,  and 
probably  represented  that  firm  at  Fort  Atkinson,  Iowa,  in  the 
Winnebago  trade.  After  the  removal  of  the  VVinnebagoes. 
he  went  to  Long  Prairie,  and  soon  after,  in  connection  with 
DAVID  OLMSTED,  established  an  agency  here.  He  purchased 
some  property  about  where  AUERBACH,  FINCH  &  SCHEFFER'S 
store  now  is,  and  had  a  store  and  dwelling  house  there.  In 
1849,  he  and  OLMSTED  dissolved  partnership,  and  Mr.  RHODES 
returned  to  Logansport,  with  his  wife  and  child.  He  soon 
after  went  to  California,  where  he  died,  about  three  years  ago. 
His  family  remained  in  Indiana. 

EDWIN    A.    C.    HATCH 

was  born  in  New  York,  March  23,  1825.  He  emigrated  to 
Wisconsin  in  1840,  and  was  engaged  in  the  Sioux  trade.  He 
first  came  to  what  is  now  Minnesota,  in  1843.  He  was,  also, 
engaged  in  the  Winnebago  trade,  at  Fort  Atkinson,  Iowa,  and 
after  the  removal,  settled  in  Saint  Paul.  Mr.  HATCH  has  been 
largely  engaged  in  the  Indian  trade  and  other  enterprises 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  193 

growing  out  of  it,  since  his  residence  here,  and  perhaps  no 
man  in  Minnesota  is  more  accurately  informed  concerning  the 
various  Indian  nations  in  the  Northwest  than  he.  In  1856, 
President  PIERCE  asked  H.  M.  RICE  to  name  some  one  whom 
he  could  appoint  Agent  of  the  Blackfeet  Indians — adding  that, 
whoever  accepted  the  post  did  so  at  the  risk  of  his  life.  Mr. 
RICE  suggested  Mr.  HATCH,  and  he  was  appointed.  In  car- 
rying but  his  duties,  Mr.  H.'s  life  was  in  danger  innumerable 
times,  but  he  is  a  stranger  to  fear,  and  always  escaped  harm 
by  his  coolness  and  daring.  Once,  in  Wisconsin,  he  refused 
to  let  some  insolent  Sioux  have  goods  they  demanded,  and 
they  threatened  to  help  themselves.  Mr.  HATCH  opened  a 
keg  of  powder,  lit  his  pipe,  and  told  them  to  go  on  with  their 
threatened  raid.  The  Sioux  slid  out  as  fast  as  possible.  In 
June,  1863,  Mr.  HATCH  was  commissioned  a  Major  in  the 
volunteer  service,  with  instructions  to  recruit  an  Independent 
Cavalry  Battalion  of  six  companies,  for  frontier  service  and 
defense.  Maj.  HATCH  soon  had  his  battalion  in  the  field,  and 
commanded  it  a  year,  when  he  resigned.  While  stationed  at 
Pembina.,  he  was  enabled,  by  strategy,  to  secure  the  capture 
of  SHAKOPEE  and  MEDICINE  BOTTLE,  who  were  hung  at  Fort 
Snelling  in  186:;. 

BUSHROD    W.    LOTT 

was  born  at  Pemberton,  New  Jersey,  May  i,  1826.  His 
father  removed  to  Saint  Louis  in  1837,  and  at  the  Saint  Louis 
University,  a  Catholic  college,  Mr.  LOTT  received  his  edu- 
cation. After  leaving  college,  he  went  to  Quincy,  Illinois, 
where  he  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1847. 
In  1848,  he  accompanied  Gen.  SAMUEL  LEECH,  who  had  just 
been  appointed  Receiver  of  the  land  office  at  Saint  Croix  Falls, 
to  that  place,  and  acted  as  clerk  of  the  first  land  sales  in  this 
region. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year,  he  settled  in  Saint  Paul,  and  com- 
menced the  practice  of  law,  and  land  agency,  which  he  con- 
tinued some  years.  Mr.  LOTT  has  been  elected  by  his  party, 
the  Democratic,  to  several  official  positions.  He  was  Chief 
Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  1851,  and  a  member 


194  T/ie.  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1848 

in  1853  and  1856.  In  the  former  session  he  was  a  candidate 
for  Speaker,  and  was  beaten  by  Dr.  DAVID  DAY,  the  Whig 
candidate,  after  22  days'  balloting,  by  one  vote. 

He  was  president  of  the  town  council  for  two  years,  and 
city  clerk  (1866—7)  for  a  year  and  a  half. 

In  1862,  he  was  appointed  by  President  LINCOLN.  United 
States  Consul  to  Tehuantepec.  Mexico,  and  held  that  office 
until  1865.  Mr.  LOTT  was  a  charter  member  of  Saint  Paul 
Lodge.  I.  O.  O.  F..  and  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the 
Christ  church  (Episcopal.) 

WILLIAM    H.   NOBLES 

was  born  in  New  York,  in  1816,  and  was  a  machinist  by  trade. 
He  came  to  Saint  Croix  Falls,  in  1841,  and  assisted  in  putting 
up  the  first  mill  there.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Willow 
River,  since  called  Hudson,  where  he  built  the  first  frame 
house  in  the  place.  He  also  lived  at  Stillwater  several  years. 
(1843-48,)  and  came  to  Saint  Paul  in  1848.  He  opened  the 
first  wagonmaker's  shop  in  this  city,  and  made  the  first  wagon 
ever  made  in  Minnesota.  A  part  of  the  shops  used  by  Col. 
NOBLES  is  still  standing,  now  used  by  the  firm  of  QUINBY  & 
HALLOWELL.  In  1856.  he  was  elected  a  representative  in  the 
Legislature  from  Ramsey  county.  In  1857.  Col.  NOBLES,  un- 
der appointment  from  the  Government,  laid  out  a  wagon  road 
to  the  Pacific,  through  the  southwestern  part  of  Minnesota, 
and,  in  recognition  of  this  service,  Nobles  county  was  named 
for  him.  He  discovered  one  of  the  best  passes  through  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  now  known  as  ''Nobles'  Pass."  In  1862. 
he  was  elected  by  the  "  Seventy-Ninth  New  York  Volunteers." 
known  as  the  "  Highlanders,"  as  Lieut.  Colonel,  and  served 
with  them  in  South  Carolina,  afterwards  resigning  his  com- 
mission, on  account  of  disagreement  with  the  other  officers  of 
the  regiment.  He  was  then  cotton  collector  for  the  Govern- 
ment some  time.  United  States  revenue  officer,  master  of 
transportation  of  troops  at  Mobile,  and  held  other  positions. 
After  the  war,  his  health  became  seriously  impaired,  which 
induced  him  to  remove  to  the  Waukesha  Springs,  in  Wisconsin, 
and.  subsequently,  to  the  Hot  Springs,  Colorado,  where  he 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.  195 

now  is,  in  very  feeble  health.  Col.  NOBLES  has  a  remarkable 
inventive  genius,  and  has  patented  several  valuable  inventions, 
but,  as  usual  in  such  cases,  others  have  borne  oft'  all  the  profits. 

NATHAN    MYRICK 

was  born  in  Westford,  Essex  county,  New  York,  July  7,  1822. 
At  the  age  of  18.  he  came  to  LaCrosse.  Wisconsin,  and  was 


NATHAN  MYRICK. 

the  founder  of  that  town,  in  which  he  stills  owns  an  interest, 
and  which  he  laid  out  in  1842.  From  1841  to  1848,  Mr. 
MYRICK  was  engaged  in  lumbering  on  Black  River.  During 
the  latter  year  he  settled  in  Saint  Paul,  and  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  place  ever  since,  except  once  or  twice,  when  business 
compelled  his  removal  for  a  short  time.  He  is  in  the  Indian 
supply  business,  an  occupation  which  has  made  him  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  frontier. 


196  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1848 

ABRAM    H.   CAVENDER  . 

was  born  in  Hancock,  Hillsborough  county,  New  Hampshire, 
1815.  He  attended  school  for  two  years,  and  then  went  into 
a  machine  shop  and  cotton  factory,  where  he  had  charge  of  a 
weaving  loom  for  eleven  years — most  of  the  time  in  Nashua. 
New  Hampshire.  Married,  in  1840,  a  daughter  of  DANIEL 
HOPKINS,  mentioned  in  the  preceding  chapter,  and,  in  1843. 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  lived  five  years.  In  May,  1848. 
he  settled  in  Saint  Paul.  In  December,  1849,  he  commenced 
blacksmithing  and  wagonmaking  on  Robert  street,  the  busi- 
ness having  expanded  into  the  large  carriage  establishment  of 
QUINBY  &  HALLO  WELL. 

BENJ.  F.  HOYT 

was  born  at  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  June  8,  1800.  When  a 
young  man,  he  settled  in  western  New  York,  and  after  a  few 
years  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  secured  a  tract  of  land 
deeded  by  the  Government  to  some  of  his  ancestors  for  services 
in  the  revolution.  Here  he  married,  and  resided  until  1834. 
when  he  removed  to  Illinois,  in  which  State  he  resided  until 
he  came  to  Saint  Paul,  in  the  summer  of  1848.  He  purchased 
for  $300  that  property  now  bounded  by  Jackson  and  Broadway, 
and  Eighth  street  and  the  bluff.  This  was  laid  out  as  an  ad- 
dition the  next  spring.  Mr.  HOYT  dealt  largely  in  real  estate 
during  his  residence  here,  and  has  at  various  times  owned 
property  now  worth  millions.  Mr.  HOYT  was  an  ardent 
Methodist.  When  he  came  here,  finding  no  society,  he  ac- 
cepted the  appointment  of  local  preacher,  and  exercised  its 
duties  for  sometime  very  acceptably.  He  always  objected  to 
the  use  of  the  word.  ''  Rev."  to  his  name,  saying  he  was  not 
regularly  in  the  ministry.  As  a  lay-member  he  was  a  valuable 
worker  for  his  church,  giving  liberally  and  taking  an  active 
part  in  every  movement.  To  his  exertions  is  mainly  due  the 
first  church  built  by  his  seel  on  Market  street,  while  Oakland 
cemetery  was  projected  by  him  and  secured  mainly  by  his 
effort.  Hamline  University  also  owes  much  to  his  active  work 
and  his  always  open  purse.  To  the  poor  he  was  unceasinglv 
generous — not  only  giving  freely,  but  taking  an  active  interest 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  197 

in  enabling  them  to  help  themselves.  In  his  later  years,  he 
spent  considerable  of  his  time  in  this  way.  So  much  was  he 
respected  and  loved,  he  was  generally'  known  as  "Father 
HOYT."  In  person  he  was  tall  and  dignified,  with  a  mien  of 
kindness  and  benevolence,  yet  always  unobtrusive  and  retiring. 
The  sincerity  of  his  religious  professions  was  best  shown  by 
his  exemplary  walk.  Mr.  HOYT  died  on  September  3,  1875. 
without  much  illness,  but  from  the  final  decay  of  strength,  at 
the  ripe  age  of  75. 

WILLIAM    FREEBORN 

was  a  native  of  Ohio — born  1816.  He  arrived  in  Saint  Paul 
May  25,  1848.  He  owned,  at  one  time,  considerable  property 
in  the  city  and  county,  and  was  quite  a  prominent  citizen,  be- 
ing a  member  of  our  town  council  one  term.  In  1853,  ne 
removed  to  Reel  Wing,  and  was  one  of  tHe  first  settlers  there. 
He  was  elected,  from  that  district,  (then  called  Wabasha 
county,)  a  member  of  the  Council  of  1854—55,  1856-57.  In 
1855,  the  Legislature  named  a  county  for  him.  During  the  gold 
excitement  of  1862,  Mr.  FREEBORN  emigrated  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  now  resides  in  San  Luis  Obispo,  California. 

DAVID    LAMBERT 

was  a  native,  if  I  mistake  not,  of  Connecticut,  at  least,  he 
graduated  at  Trinity  College,  Hartford.  He  studied  law,  and 
soon  after  emigrated  to  the  west,  settling  first  in  Little  Rock, 
Arkansas,  and  then  in.  Wisconsin.  In  1843,  he  became  editor 
and  publisher  of  the  Madison  Enquirer*  and  showed  marked 
ability  as  a  journalist.  He  subsequently  sold  out  the  paper  to 
his  brother,  HENRY  A.  LAMBERT,  and,  in  1848,  settled  in  Saint 
Paul.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  Stillwater  Convention, 
this  year,  and  was  regarded  as  a  young  man  of  brilliant  ability 
and  promise.  Some  domestic  unpleasantness,  at  times,  ren- 
dered him  misanthropic  and  reckless,  and,  to  forget  care,  he 
resorted  to  the  bowl.  On  November  2d,  1849,  wrnle  returning 
from  Galena,  on  a  steamboat,  he  leaped  from  the  roof  of  the 
steamer,  during  a  paroxysm  of  nervous  excitement,  and  was 
drowned.  He  was  only  about  thirty  years  of  age. 


iyS  77/6-  Historv  of  the  Citv  of  Saint  Pa/tL         [1848 

OTHER    SETTLERS. 

W.  C.  MORRISON  was  born  in  Whitehall.  New  York.  Janua- 
ry 20,  1815.  He  resided,  while  young,  at  Cleveland.  Detroit. 
Chicago.  Galena.  Dubuque.  and  other  places,  and.  in  1848. 
came  to  Saint  Paul.  He  says  there  were  then  only  15  fami- 
lies here.  Mr.  MORRISON  has  been  actively  engaged  in  trade 
since  his  arrival,  and  is  widely  known  in  business  circles. 

LOT  MOFFET.  a  gentleman  well-known  in  Saint  Paul  in 
early  days,  was  a  native  of  Montgomery  county.  New  York, 
where  he  was  born  in  1803.  He  was.  for  some  years,  pro- 
prietor of  the  *•  Temperance  House."  on  Jackson  street,  some- 
times called  by  old  settlers,  "Moftet's  Castle."  on  account  of 
its  unfinished  condition  for  some  time.  Mr.  MOFFET  was  a 
scrupulously  honest  man.  and  very  benevolent.  Many  will 
recollect  his  venerable  appearance,  as  he  usually  wore  a  patri- 
archal beard.  He  died  December  28.  1870. 

WM.  B.  BROWN  came  from  the  ';lead  region."  in  Wiscon- 
sin. He  purchased,  at  an  early  day.  the  corner  on  which  the 
Warner  Block  now  stands.  He  died  some  years  ago. 

PRE-TERRITOR1AI,    SETTLERS. 

The  following  is  believed  to  be  a  complete  and  accurate  list 
of  all  the  pre-territorial  settlers  and  residents  in  Saint  Paul, 
with  the  years  in  which  they  came  : 

1838. 

Pierre  Parrant.  —Johnson. 

Abraham  Perry.  Benjamin  Gervais. 

Edward  Phelan.  Pierre  Gervais. 

William  Evans. 

1839. 

John  Hays.  Denis  Cherrier. 

James  R.  Clewett.  Charles  Mousseau. 

Vetal  Guerin.  Wm.  Beaumette. 

1840. 

Joseph  Rondo.  Rev.  A.  Ravoux. 

Rev.  Lucian  Galtier. 

1841. 
Pierre  Bottineau.  Severe  Bottineuu. 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  199 


1842. 


Henry  Jackson. 
Richard  W.  Mortimer. 
Pelon. 


1843- 


John  R.  Irvine. 
Ansel  B.  Coy. 
James  W.  Simpson. 
William  Hartshorn. 
A.  L.  Larpenteur. 
Alex-.  R.  McLeod. 
Christopher  C.  Blanchard. 
Scott  Campbell. 
Alexis  Cloutier. 
Francis  Moret. 


Louis  Robert. 
Charles  Bazille. 
William  Dugas. 


1844. 


Joseph  Labisinier. 
Francis  Desire. 
Stanislaus  Bilanski. 


Antoine  Pepin. 

Alex.  Mege. 

David  Thomas  Sloan. 

Jo.  Desmarais. 

S.  Cowden,  Jr.  [or  Carden.J 

Charles  Reed. 

Louis  Larrivier. 

Xavier  Delonais. 

Joseph  Gobin. 


Thomas  McCoy. 
Joseph  Hall. 


Leonard  H.  LaRoche. 
Francis  Chenevert. 
David  Benoit. 
Francis  Robert. 
Wm.  H.  Morse, 
Antoine  Findlay. 


James  M.  Boal. 
Wm.  H.  Randall. 
William  Randall.  Jr. 
Ed.  West.' 
David  Faribault. 
Charles  Rouleau. 


Wm.  Henry  Forbes. 
J.  W.  Bass. 
Benj.  W.  Brunson. 
Daniel  Hopkins,  Sr. 
Miss  Harriet  E.  Bishop. 
Aaron  Foster. 


[846. 


1847. 


Charles  Cavileer. 
Wm.  G.  Carter. 
Augustus  Freeman. 
David  B.  Freeman. 
Jesse  H.  Pomeroy. 
Gerou. 


Thomas  S/  Odell. 
Harley  D.  White. 
Joel  D.  Cruttenden. 
Louis  Denoyer. 
Joseph  Monteur. 


John  Bantil. 
Fred.  Olivier. 
Wm.  C.  Renfro. 
Parsons  K.  Johnson. 
C.  P.  V.  Lull. 
G.  A.  Fournier. 


oo             The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,        [1848 

1848. 

Henry  M.  Rice.  Wm.  B.  Brown. 

A.  H.  Cavender.  Hugh  McCann. 

Benj.  F.  Hoyt.  B.  W.  Lott. 

Wm.  H.  Nobles.  H.  C.  Rhodes. 

David  Lambert.  David  Olmsted. 

Wm.  D.  Phillips.  Hugh  Glenn. 

W.  C.  Morrison.  Nels.  Robert. 

Nathan  Myrick.  Andre  Godfrey. 

E.  A.  C.  Hatch.  Dav.  Hebert. 

Richard  Freeborn.  Oliver  Rosseau. 

William  Freeborn.  Wm.  H.  Kelton. 

Alden  Bryant.  Andy  L.  Shearer. 

Lot  Moffet.  E.  B.  Weld. 

A.  R.  French.  Albert  Titlow. 

Date  unknown.     Archambault  and  Marcil 


GENERAL    REMARKS    ON    THE    PRE-TERRITORIAL    PERIOD. 

The  labor  of  collecting  the  names  of  the  above  settlers,  and 
of  determining,  with  any  exactness,  the  year  of  their  settle- 
ment, and  of  securing  the  occurrences,  events  and  incidents  of 
the  period  from  1838  to  1849,  was  a  task  that  almost  discour- 
aged me  from  pursuing  the  work,  more  than  once.  The  time- 
occupied — the  physical  labor  of  running  back  and  forth,  and 
the  nerve-wear — spent  on  this  little  list,  no  one  can  get  much 
idea  of,  except,  perhaps,  a  few  of  the  old  pioneers,  to  whom  I 
made  repeated  visits,  with  a  catechism  of  what  may  have 
seemed  to  then?  very  trifling  questions.  Yet  it  was  only  by 
these  little  incidents,  ascertained  bv  such  questioning,  much 
like  a  detective  would  work  up  a  trace,  that  I  was  .enabled  to 
compile  the  list  above,  and  fix  the  right  names  to  the  right 
years.  So  that,  on  the  period  from  1838  to  1849,  I  expended 
more  time,  labor  and  patience,  than  on  all  the  rest  of  the  37 
years  of  our  history.  It  should  be  remembered,  that  this  was 
before  there  were  any  newspapers,  any  census  lists,  any  pub- 
lic records,  or  any  written  records  of  any  kind.  So  that  I 
had  to  depend  alone  on  the  memory  of  residents  of  that  period, 
some  of  whom  could  not  tell  the  year  in  which  they  them- 
selves came  ! 

It  was  deemed  more  important  to  chronicle  this  period  care- 


1848]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  201 

fully,  because  it  is  the  portion  of  our  history  most  needing 
preservation.  In  ten  years  more,  it  would  have  been  impos- 
sible to  collect  the  facts  given  above.  The  memories  of  those 
not  dead  would  have  then  become  so  weak  from  age  as  to  be 
totally  unavailable. 

It  may  be  objected  bv  some  that  too  much  space  has  been 
used  in  collecting  these  "simple  annals  of  the  poor."  and  re- 
cording the  career  of  men  known  as  obscure  and  humble. 
But  the  descendants  of  these  'krude  foi'efathers  of  the  hamlet." 
whom  better  opportunities  may  raise  above  the  lives  of  toil 
they  spent,  will  in  future  vears  read  these  pages,  and  feel  with 
some  pride  that  history,  like  the  photographic  camera,  depicts 
even  the  minutest  details,  which,  while  they  may  be  scarcelv 
noticed  in  the  general  effect,  have  their  value  in  making  up 
the  perfect  picture. 

The  period  from  1840  to  1849,  may  be  called  the  arcadian 
days  of  Minnesota.  The  primitive,  easy-going  simplicity  of 
the  people,  isolated  as  thev  were,  from  the  fashions,  vices, 
and  artificial  life  of  the  bustling  world,  was  in  strange  contrast 
with  the  jostling  throng  of  immigration  that  poured  in  a  few 
months  later,  changing  their  steady-going  habits  and  plain 
manners  into  a  maddening,  avaricious  race  for  gold.  Up  to 
this  time  they  were  contented  and  unambitious,  and  pursued 
the  "even  tenor  of  their  wav"  along  the  ''cool,  sequestered 
vale  of  life."  unagitated  by  the  exciting  events  that  stirred  other 
communities.  Their  worldly  means  was  small  and  their  in- 
come limited,  it  is  true,  but  their  wants  were  few  and  simple. 
They  were  honest,  forbearing,  generous  and  charitable.  Crime 
was  unknown.  "Why,"  said  an  old  settler,  speaking  of  those 
happy  days,  "board  of  the  best  kind  was  only  $3  per  week." 
But  the  influx  of  immigrants,  many  of  them  greedy  for  spec- 
ulation, selfish  and  unscrupulous  in  many  cases,  soon  changed 
the  character  of  the  times.  Their  quiet,  dreamy,  slow,  and 
sober-going  primitive  simplicity  was  gone.  Even  the  price  of 
the  necessaries  of  life  was  inflated.  ''You  new  comers,"  said 
one  of  the  pioneers,  more  in  sorrow  than  anger,  "have  raised 
the  prices  of  things  so  that  what  we  used  to  get  for  ten  cents 
now  costs  a  quarter." 
H 


202  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/.         [1848 

THE    MEN    OF    1848. 

In  the  Pioneer  of  June  14,  1849,  GOODHUE  thus  does  honor 
to  the  pre-territorial  settlers  : 

"  It  is  proper  for  those  who  are  flocking  into  our  Territory,  to  know 
who  those  men  are  who  were  here,  struggling  with  privations  before 
Minnesota  had  a  name  in  the  world.  They  are  the  men  who,  by  their 
voluntary  exertion,  sustained  our  Delegate  on  his  mission  to  Washing- 
ton, for  the  accomplishment  of  what,  few  believed,  could  then  be  ac- 
complished— the  recognition  of  our  rights  as  a  Territory  distinct  from 
Wisconsin.  Every  Territory,  in  its  earlier  days,  has  its  times  that  try 
men's  souls.  The  inception  of  a  State,  whether  settled  by  the  peace- 
ful pioneer,  or  baptized  by  the  blood  of  a  border  warfare,  has  its  trials 
and  troubles.  How  darkly  hung  the  cloud  of  doubt  over  this  region  of 
the  Northwest,  one  year  ago.  How  like  the  glorious  sunlight,  did  the 
first  intelligence  from  our  Delegate  to  Washington  last  spring,  burst 
through  that  cloud  of  doubt.  There  were  men  here,  who,  from  the 
beginning,  saw  the  end.  We  respe<5t,  we  reverence  those  men.  Let 
the  men  and  the  women  of  those  days  be  remembered." 

THE    YEAR     1848    CLOSED 

with  anxiety  to  the  settlers  in  the  little  village.*  Delegate 
SIBLEY  had  gone  on  to  Washington  to  fight  a  hard  battle  there 
against  heavy  odds.  Everybody  was  nervous  with  expecla- 
tion — and  with  the  next  chapter  the  curtain  rises  on  anew  and 
exciting  act  in  the  drama. 

*  It  was  but  a  village,  after  all.  One  cold  day,  about  the  beginning  of  winter,  Miss 
BISHOP  records  in  her  diary,  J.  R.  CLEWETT  came  into  Mr.  IRVINE'S  house  and 
said — "My!  how  this  town  is  growing.  I  counted  the  smoke  of  iS  chimneys  this 
morning!" 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsev*  Minnesota.  203 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1849. 

CREATION  OF  MINNESOTA  TERRITORY — SAINT  PAUL  MADE  THE  CAPITAL — How  THE 
NEWS  WAS  RECEIVED — ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  "PIONEER" — DESCRIPTION  OF 
SAINT  PAUL  IN  1849— RAPID  GROWTH— EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY— MEMOIRS  OF 
GOVERNOR  RAMSEY,  JUDGE  GOODRICH,  &c. 

WE  now  enter  on  a  period  of  our  history  crowded  with 
the  most  important  events.  In  fa6t,  this  chapter  opens 
upon  a  new  era  in  the  career  of  our  city  and  State.  Minne- 
sota was  on  the  eve  of  her  political  birth.  And  Saint  Paul — 
••  the  little  hamlet  of  bark-roofed  cabins" — was  just  trembling 
with  eagerness  to  make  a  long  spring  forward. 

A    "  WINTER    OF    DISCONTENT" 

was  that  of  1848—9.  It  commenced  with  unusual  severity — un- 
usually early.  Snow  fell  on  November  i.  To  the  inhabitants 
of  the  little  burg,  200  miles  from  the  nearest  settlement  and 
mail  supply,  (Prairie  du  Chien,)  hemmed  in  by  snow  and  ice, 
and  cut  oft",  almost,  from  communication  with  the  world,  it 
must  have  passed  wearily  enough.  The  mails,  carried  over 
the  vast  reaches  of  snow  on  a  dog-sledge,  or  a  train  du  glace* 
came  "  only  once  in  a  coon's  age,"  as  an  old  settler  expresses 
it,  and  a  hat-full  merely  then,  but  its  arrival  was  an  event  for 
the  village,  and  eager  was  the  rush  for  letters  and  papers  to 
JACKSON'S,  It  was  not  until  Januarv  that  news  of  Gen.  TAY- 
LOR'S election  was  received,  and  also  advices  from  Delegate 
SIBLEY,  who  is  working  hard  at  Washington  to  organize  a 
Territory,  but  not  much  encouraged  at  the  prospects  of  success. 

HOW    SAINT    PAUL    BECAME    THE    CAPITAL. 

Indeed,  our  good  city  came  within  an  ace  of  not  being  the 
Capital  of  Minnesota  at  all.     When  Gen.   SIBLEY  arrived  in 


20A  The  Historv  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan?.         [1849 

Washington,  his  credentials  were  presented  at  the  opening  of 
the  session,  by  Hon.  JAMES  WILSON,  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Elections.  This  committee  held 
several  meetings  on  the  matter,  and  were  addressed  by  Gen. 
SIBLEY,  in  favor  of  his  recognition,  and  by  Hon.  Mr.  BOYDEN. 
of  North  Carolina,  and  others,  adversely.  The  committee  did 
not  report,  finally,  until  January  15.  1849,  when  a  majority. 
(5,)  reported  in  favor  of  Gen.  SIBLEY'S  admission,  and  a  mi- 
nority, (4,)  against  it.  The  majority  report  was  adopted, 
however,  and  he  was  admitted. 

His  first  work  was  to  secure  the  organization  of  Minnesota 
Territory,  as  determined  on  by  the  Stillwater  Convention. 
Upon  consultation,  it  was  deemed  best  that  the  bill  should  be 
introduced  from  the  Committee  on  Territories  in  the  Senate. 
It  was  prepared  by  Hon.  STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS,  chairman, 
by  whom  the  draft  was  sent  to  Gen.  SIBLEY.  for  his  perusal. 
He  noticed  that  Mendota  had  been  designated  as  the  Capital, 
whereas,  it  had  been  the  wish  of  the  people  generallv,  es- 
peciallv  of  those  participating  in  the  Convention,  to  have  Saint 
Paul  fixed  as  the  seat  of  government. 

Gen.  SIBLEY.  without  delay,  called  on  Senator  DOUGLAS. 
and  urged  him  to  make  that  change.  A  meeting  of  the  com- 
mittee was  at  once  called,  and  the  matter  taken  up.  Gen. 
SIBLEY  argued  that  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  proposed 
Territory  resided  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  there  was  an 
unanimous  wish  to  have  the  Capital  on  that  side.  Saint  Paul 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  places  in  the  region,  well  lo- 
cated for  the  seat  of  government,  and  was  a  regularly  platted 
town,  and  the  land  had  been  entered,  so  that  good  titles  to 
property  could  be  had,  &c.  Senator  DOUGLAS  opposed  the 
change.  He  said  he  had  been  at  Mendota,  not  long  before, 
and  was  so  much  pleased  with  the  geographical  position  of 
Mendota.  at  the  confluence  of  two  important  rivers,  he  had 
then  fixed  on  it  as  a  good  site  for  the  future  Capital  of  this  re- 
gion. Moreover,  the  bulk  of  area,  and,  ere  long,  of  popula- 
tion, would  be  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  Capital  should 
be  on  the  west  bank.  He  thought  the  top  of  Pilot  Knob,  at 
Mendota.  would  be  a  grand  place  for  the  State  House,  as  it 


1849]       and  °f  Mle  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  205 

afforded  such  a  beautiful  and  extensive  view  of  the  valleys  of 
the  two  rivers.* 

Gen.  SIBLEY  persisted  in  the  change,  and  Senator  DOUGLAS, 
after  some  solicitation,  conceded  it,  and  Saint  Paul  was  fixed 
on  as  the  seat  of  the  Capital,  instead  of  Mendota,  after  the 
two  places  had  hung  wavering  in  the  balance  for  some  days. 
Then  some  member  objected  to  the  name,  and  said  there  were 
•'  too  many  Saints"  in  this  locality — and  this  stupid  objector 
had  to  be  argued  with.  &c. 

The  bill,  so  amended,  was  introduced  in  the  Senate,  but  its 
passage  met  with  considerable  opposition,  as  it  did  also,  in 
the  House.  Gen.  SIBLEY  worked  night  and  day  for  it,  and 
made  personal  appeals  to  all  the  members  he  could  influ- 
ence. Hon.  H.  M.  RICE  arrived  in  Washington,  about  this 
time,  on  privajte  business,  and  threw  his  earnest  efforts  and 
personal  influence  in  the  scale  also,  being  personally  acquainted 
with  a  number  of  members.  The  issue  was  doubtful  for  some 
days,  but  our  tutelar  saint  kindly  turned  the  current  in  our 
favor,  and  the  bill  finally  passed,  being  approved  March  3,  1849. 

RECEPTION  OF  THE  NEWS  AT  SAINT  PAUL. 

In  the  slow  movements  of  mails  in  those  days,  especially 
during  the  season  known  as  the  breaking  up  of  winter,  it  took 
five  weeks  for  the  news  to  reach  Saint  Paul.  The  snow  had 
commenced  to  melt  about  March  i.  and  the  dog  mail-sledge 
was  suspended.  The  only  way  was  to  wait  for  a  boat,  and 
the  news  from  Lake  Pepin  was,  that  the  ice  was  firm  and  hard. 
Our  last  mail  had  arrived  about  the  first  of  March,  with  news 


*  In  connection  with  this  statement  of  Gen.  SIBLEY'S  successful  efforts  to  locate  the 
Capital  at  Saint  Paul,  it  might  be  mentioned,  that,  in  1853,  while  Gen.  S.  was  running 
as  a  candidate  for  re-election  as  Delegate,  the  charge  was  made  against  him,  by  some 
partisan  journals,  of  hostility  to  the  interests  of  Saint  Paul,  as  he  was  at  that  time  liv- 
ing :it  Mendota,  and  some  of  his  property  was  there.  The  paragraphs  came  under 
the  eye  of  Senator  DOUGLAS,  and,  without  solicitation  or  suggestion,  he  wrote  a  state- 
ment of  the  course  of  Gen.  S.  in  regard  to  the  location  of  the  Capital,  and  stated  that  it 
was  unjust  that  he  should  be  accused  of  unfriendliness  to  Saint  Paul  interests,  since  he 
had  secured  the  location  of  the  Capital  here,  in  obedience  to  the  wishes  of  his  constitu- 
ents, when,  to  have  allowed  it  to  be  located  at  Mendota,  would  have  been  of  great  pe- 
cuniary advantage  to  him.  It  might  be  remarked,  too,  that,  when  Senator  DOUGLAS 
was  here,  in  1857,  he  freely  admitted  that  Gen.  S.  was  right  in  his  conviction  that  Saint 
Paul  was  a  much  better  point  for  the  Capital  than  Mendota. 


206  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

two  months  old.  It  was  now  the  second  week  in  April,  and 
expectation  and  anxiety  was  strained  to  the  utmost  tension. 
A  communication  in  the  first  number  of  the  Pioneer  signed 
D.  L.,  (DAVID  LAMBERT,)  graphically  describes  the  reception 
of  the  news  of  the  organization  of  the  Territory,  under  the 
caption,  "  The  Breaking  up  of  a  Hard  Winter." 

"The  last  has  been  the  severest  winter  known  in  the  Northwest  for 
many  years.  During  five  months  the  communication  between  this 
pkrt  of  the  country  and  our  brethren  in  the  United  States  has  been 
difficult  and  unfrequent.  A  mail  now  and  then  from  Prairie  du  Chien, 
brought  up  on  the  ice  in  a  ;  train '  drawn  sometimes  by  horses  and 
sometimes  by  dogs,  contained  news  so  old  that  the  country  below  had 
forgotten  all  about  it.  When  the  milder  weather  commenced,  and  the 
ice  became  unsafe,  we  were  completely  shut  out  from  all  communica- 
tion for  several  weeks.  Sometime  in  January,  we  learned  that  Gen. 
ZACHARY  TAYLOR  was  elected  President  of  the  United  States.  We  had 
to  wait  for  the  arrival  of  the  first  boat  to  learn  whether  our  Territory 
was  organized,  and  who  were  its  Federal  officers.  Mow  anxiously  was 
that  boat  expected !  The  ice  still  held  its  iron  grasp  on  Lake  Pepin. 
For  a  week  the  arrival  of  a  boat  had  been  looked  for  every  hour.  Ex- 
pectation was  on  tiptoe. 

"  Monday,  the  ninth  of  April,  had  been  a  pleasant  day.  Toward 
evening  the  clouds  gathered,  and  about  dark  commenced  a  violent  storm 
of  wind,  rain,  and  loud  peals  of  thunder.  The  darkness  was  only  dis- 
sipated by  vivid  flashes  of  lightning.  On  a  sudden,  in  a  momentary 
lull  of  the  wind,  the  silence  was  broken  by  the  groan  of  an  engine.  In 
another  moment,  the  shrill  whistle  of  a  steamboat  thrilled  through  the 
air.  Another  moment,  and  a  bright  flash  of  lightning  revealed  the 
welcome  shape  of  a  steamboat  just  rounding  the  bluft",  less  than  a  mile 
below  Saint  Paul.  In  an  instant  the  welcome  news  flashed  like  elec- 
tricity throughout  the  town,  and,  regardless  of  the  pelting  rain,  the 
raging  wind,  and  the  pealing  thunder,  almost  the  entire  male  popula- 
tion rushed  to  the  landing — as  the  fine  steamboat,  ;  Dr.  Franklin,  No.  2,' 
dashed  gallantly  up  to  the  landing.  Before  she  was  made  fast  to  the 
moorings,  she  was  boarded  by  the  excited  throng.  The  good  captain 
and  clerk  [Capt.  BLAKELEY]  were  the  great  men  of  the  hour.  Gen. 
TAYLOR  cannot  be  assailed  with  greater  importunity  for  the  '  loaves 
and  fishes'  than  they  were  for  news  and  newspapers.  At  length  the 
news  was  known,  and  one  glad  shout  resounding  through  the  boat, 
taken  up  on  shore,  and  echoed  from  our  beetling  bluffs  and  rolling  hills, 
proclaimed  that  the  bill  for  the  organization  of  Minnesota  Territory 
had  become  a  law  !" 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  207 

The  long  agony  was  over.  Minnesota  was  a  Territory,  and 
Saint  Paul  was  its  Capital.  Henceforth,  we  had  a  future  ! 
But  let  us  look  at  the 

CONDITION    OF    THE    TERRITORY 

ut  that  time.  It  was  but  little  more  than  a  wilderness.  Its 
entire  white  population  could  not  have  been  more  than  1,000 
persons.  When  the  census  was  taken,  four  months  later,  after 
many  hundred  immigrants  had  arrived,  there  were  only  4,680 
enrolled — and  317  of  these  were  connected  with  the  army, 
and  of  the  637  at  Pembina,  but  few  were  white.' 

The  portion  of  the  Territory  west  of  the  Mississippi  was 
still  unceded  by  the  Indians.  From  the  southern  line  of  the 
State  to  Saint  Paul,  there  were  not  more  than  two  or  three 
white  men's  habitations  along  the  river,  now  gemmed  with 
flourishing  and  handsome  cities,  and  the  steamers  ascending 
the  river  had  no  regular  landing  places,  except  to  "wood 
up."  Indeed,  such  a  terra  incognita  as  existed  at  that  time, 
over  the  now  well  settled  State  of  Minnesota,  seems  more  the 
condition  of  a  century  ago  than  of  twenty-six  years. 

But,  with  this  feeble  array,  the  people  were  big  with  expecta- 
tion. The  '*  elements  of  empire  here,  were  plastic  yet  and 
warm,"  and  needed  only  the  right  men  to  mould  them  into  a 
prosperous  State.  Fortunately,  we  had  the  men.  Minnesota 
may  well  be  proud  of  her  pioneers.  The  people  of  to-day 
and  coming  years  owe  them  gratitude  and  honor,  and,  in  view 
of  the  success  and  prosperity  of  our  State,  it  may  well  be  said, 
•'they  builded  better  than  they  knew."  California  was  just 
then  offering  its  stores  of  gold  to  any  one  lucky  enough  to 
reach  there,  and  it  seemed  as  if  all  the  country  was  on  the 
move  to  the  El  Dorado.  Minnesota,  almost  unknown,  lying 
in  a  latitude  deemed  to  be  semi-arclic  in  its  character,  and  in- 
habited by  savages,  could  scarcely  expect  to  draw  immigration. 
Especially  Saint  Paul — what  would  be  its  condition  under  the 
new  order  of  events  ?  And,  presuming  that  people  came  here, 
what  resources  were  there  to  furnish  them  business  and  em- 
plovment?  The  Indian  trade,  supplying  the  frontier  forts,  the 
lumber  business  and  its  supplies,  a  little  fur  trade,  etc.,  was 


208  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

about  all.  On  this,  the  150  or  200  people  in  Saint  Paul  were 
supported.  If  more  came,  what  would  these  last  do?  For  it 
was  still  but  a  village.  GOODHUE  stated  that  when  he  came, 
in  April,  there  tvere  only  thirty  buildings  in  Saint  Paul. 

But  the  problem  was  soon  solved.  Come  they  did.  It  was 
not — as  WHITTIER  wrote — 

"The  first  low  wash  of  waves,  where  soon 
Should  roll  a  human  sea." 

It  was  the  sea  itself.  Boat  after  boat  landed  at  the  levee,  bring- 
ing crowds  of  hew  comers,  until  it  became  a  serious  question 
where  they  should  lodge,  and  on  what  should  they  subsist. 

ESTABLISHMENT    OF    A    NEWSPAPER. 

But  what  would  an  ambitious  western  town  be  without  a 
newspaper,  to  herald  its  importance  to  the  world?  And  es- 
peciallv  the  Capital  of  a  Territory.  Who  would  know  it 
existed  ?  Who  would  wish  to  live  in  such  a  desolate  place- 
one  too  poor  to  boast  of  a  paper?  But  Saint  Paul  was  too 
promising  a  field  for  the  journalist,  to  long  sutler  from  the 
need,  and  it  was  right  soon  supplied. 

The  first  steps  to  commence  the  publication  of  a  newspaper  in 
Minnesota,  were  taken  in  August.  1848.  by  Dr.  A.  RANDALL. 
then  an  attache  of  Dr.  OWEN'S  Geological  Corps,  engaged  in 
a  survey  of  this  region  by  order  of  Government.  The  project 
grew  out  of  the  celebrated  "Stillwater  Convention"  of  that 
year.  It  was  this  political  event  which  first  suggested  to  the 
mind  of  Dr.  RANDALL  that,  if  there  was  to  be  a  Territorial 
organization  here,  whether  it  be  a  new  Territory,  or  the  right- 
ful inheritor  of  the  abandoned  Territorial  government  of  that 
State — it  would  be  necessary  to  have  a  newspaper.  Having 
the  capacity  and  means  necessary  to  undertake  the  enterprise, 
he  set  about  it,  and  was  promised  ample  aid  by  leading  men 
of  the  Territory. 

RANDALL  soon  after  proceeded  to  Cincinnati,  which  was  at 
that  time  his  home,  to  purchase  his  press  and  material,  design- 
ing to  return  that  fall.  Wrinter  set  in  unusually  early  that  year, 
however,  and  he  found  navigation  would  be  closed  before  he 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  209 

could  do  so.  Meantime  he  concluded  to  await  the  issue  of  the 
bill  to  organize  the  Territory,  which  had  been  introduced  into 
Congress,  but  did  not  finally  pass  until  the  last  clay  of  the 
session.  By  this  time,  RANDALL,  annoyed  at  the  delays,  con- 
cluded to  set  up  his  press  in  Cincinnati,  and  get  out  a  number 
or  two  of  his  paper  there.  While  in  Cincinnati,  he  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  JOHN  P.  OWENS,*  a  young  man  engaged  in 
the  printing  business,  who  had  already  imbibed  the  Minnesota 
fever  by  reading  the  debates  in  Congress  on  the  Organic  Acl, 
and  a-  partnership  between  them  was  the  result.  They  at  once 
set  to  work  to  get  out  a  number  of  their  paper,  which  was  to 
be  called  the  Minnesota  Register.  It  was  dated  "Saint 
Paul,  April  27,  1849,"  but  was  really  printed  about  two  weeks 
earlier  than  that  date,  so  as  to  reach  Saint  Paul  by  the  day 
named  for  publication.  Messrs.  H.  H.  SIBLEY  and  H.  M. 
RICE  had  passed  through  Cincinnati,  on  their  way  home  from 
Washington,  and  contributed  valuable  articles  on  Minnesota  to 
the  Register.  These,  added  to  Mr.  RANDALL'S  extensive 
knowledge  of  the  country,  gave  the  paper  a  very  interesting 
local  character.  It  was  the  first  Minnesota  newspaper  ever 
printed,  and  dates  just  one  day  in  advance  of  the  Pioneer. 
although  the  latter  must  be  recorded  as  the  first  paper  printed 
in  Minnesota. 

Mr.  RANDALL,  being  a  man  of  unsettled  purpose  and  roving 
disposition,  caught  the  California  fever  just  at  this  juncture, 
and  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  newspaper  to  Major  NATHANIEL 
McL,EAN,  of  Lebanon.  Ohio,  who  had  determined  to  emigrate 

JOHN  PHILLIPS  OWENS  was  born  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  January  6, 1818.  His  father,  who 
was  a  native  of  Wales,  died  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  seven  years  old,  and 
during  his  younger  years  he  worked  on  a  farm,  with  occasional  schooling,  until  the  age 
of  15.  He  then  attended  Woodward  College,  at  Cincinnati,  some  two  years,  when  he 
concluded  to  learn  the  printing  business,  which  he  did.  His  embarking  in  journalism 
and  removal  to  Saint  Paul  is  given  elsewhere.  Mr.  OWENS  continued  in  the  newspaper 
business  in  Saint  Paul  for  some  12  or  13  years,  being  seven  years  editor  of  the  Minne- 
sotian,  a  leading  journal  of  the  Territory.  As  a  political  writer  he  always  wielded  a 
large  influence.  In  1862,  he  was  commissioned  Quartermaster  of  the  Ninth  Minnesota, 
and  served  faithfully  with  that  Regiment  until  discharged,  in  1865,  having  been  brevet- 
ted  Colonel  in  the  meantime.  In  1869,  Col.  OWENS  was  appointed  Register  of  the 
land  office  at  Taylor's  Falls,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  about  to  publish  a 
"  Political  History  of  Minnesota,"  a  work  for  which  he  has  peculiar  fitness,  and  which 
will  comprise  his  interesting  reminiscences  of  men  and  events  in  the  early  days  of 
Minnesota. 


210  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PaitL         [1849 

hither,  and  resume  the  business  of  printing,  to  which  he  had 
been  bred,  but  had  not  followed  for  some  years  prior.  The 
publishers  and  editors,  under  this  arrangement,  became  "  MC- 
LEAN &  OWENS."  But  of  this  anon. 

GOODHUE    FOUNDS    THE    PIONEER. 

Among  the  many  men  of  energy  and  enterprise,  all  over  the 
Union,  whose  attention  had  been  directed  to  Minnesota  by  the 
debates  in  Congress  and  the  passage  of  the  act,  was  JAMES  M. 
GOODHUE,  of  Lancaster,  Wisconsin,  who  had  been  b'red  a 
lawyer,  but  was,  at  that  time,  engaged  in  a  more  congenial 
pursuit  as  editor  of  the  Wisconsin  Herald.  When  the  news 
of  the  organization  of  the  Territory  was  received,  he  at  once 
resolved  to  remove  here  and  establish  a  paper.  He  imme- 
diately purchased  a  press  and  type,  and,  as  soon  as  navigation 
opened,  shipped  them  to  Saint  Paul,  meantime  issuing  a 
prospectus  for  a  journal,  which  he  proposed  to  call  The 
Epistle  of  Saint  Paul,  but  which  name  he  changed,  (at  the 
advice  of  some  friends  who  objected  to  its  irreligious  tone,)  be- 
fore the  first  issue  of  his  paper,  to  The  Minnesota  Pioneer. 

Of  his  arrival  in  Saint  Paul,  and  the  issue  of  his  first  paper, 
Mr.  GOODHUE,  in  a  subsequent  article,  gives  the  following  inter- 
esting account : 

"The  i8th  day  of"  April.  1849,  was  a  raw'  cloudy  day.  The  steam- 
boat '  Senator,'  Capt.  SMITH,  landed  at  RANDALL'S  warehouse,  lower 
landing,  the  only  building  then  there,  except  ROBERT'S  old  store.  Of 
the  people  on  shore,  we  recognized  but  one  person  as  an  acquaintance, 
HENRY  JACKSON.  Took  our  press,  types,  printing  apparatus  all  ashore. 
Went,  with  our  men,  to  the  house  of  Mr.  BASS,  corner  of  Third  and 
Jackson  streets.  *  *  *  C.  P.  V.  LULL,  and  his  partner,  GILBERT, 
furnished  us  gratuitously,  the  lower  story  of  their  building,  for  an  office — 
the  only  vacant  room  in  town.  *  *  *  The  weather  was  cold  and 
stormy ;  and  our  office  was  as  open  as  a  corn-rick ;  however,  we  picked 
our  types  up,  and  made  ready  for  the  issue  of  the  first  paper  ever  printed 
in  Minnesota,  or  within  many  hundreds  of  miles  of  it;  but,  upon  search, 
we  found  our  news  chase  was  left  behind.  WM.  NOBLES,  blacksmith, 
made  us  a  very  good  one,  after  a  delay  of  two  or  three  days.  *  *  We 
determined  to  call  our  paper  the  Minnesota  Pioneer.  One  hindrance 
after  another  delayed  our  first  issue  to  the  28th  of  April.  *  *  We 
were  at  length  prepared  for  our  first  number.  We  had  no  subscribers; 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  211 

for  then  there  were  but  a  handful  of  people  in  the  whole  Territory ;  and 
the  majority  of  those  were  Canadians  and  half-breeds.  Not  a  Territo- 
rial officer  had  yet  arrived.  *  *  The  people  wanted  no  politics,  and 
we  gave  them  none ;  they  wanted  information  of  all  sorts  about  Min- 
nesota, and  that  is  what  we  furnished  them  with.  We  advocated  Min- 
nesota, morality,  and  religion  from  the  beginning." 

In  his  first  issue,  he  speaks  of  the  Pioneer  establishment  of 
that  day  : 

"  We  print  and  issue  this  number  of  the  Pioneer,  in  a  building 
through  which  out-of-doors  is  visible  by  more  than  five  hundred  aper- 
tures ;  and  as  for  our  type,  it  is  not  safe  from  being  pied  on  the  galleys 
by  the  wind." 

This  building  was  afterwards  used  for  several  years,  by 
THOMAS  H.  CALDER,  now  deceased,  as  a  saloon  and  restau- 
rant, and  was  burned  down  in  the  spring  of  1860. 

SAINT    PAUL    IN    APRIL,    1849. 

In  the  first  number  of  the  Pioneer^  we  find  some  interesting 
sketches  of  what  Saint  Paul  was,  in  April,  1849.  In  his  lead- 
ing editorial,  the  editor  says  : 

"  This  town,  which  was  but  yesterday  unknown,  for  the  reason  that 
it  had  then  no  existence,  is  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  about  five  miles  south  of  latitude  45  degrees.  A  more  beautiful 
site  for  a  town  cannot  be  imagined.  It  must  be  added,  that  bilious  fe- 
vers and  the  fever  and  ague  are  strangers  to  Saint  Paul.  A  description 
of  the  village  now  would  not  answer  for  a  month  hence — such  is  the 
rapidity  of  building,  and  the  miraculous  resurrection  of  every  descrip- 
tion of  domiciles.  Piles  of  lumber  and  building  materials  lie  scattered 
everywhere  in  admirable  confusion.  The  whole  town  is  on  the  stir — 
stores,  hotels,  houses,  are  projected  and  built  in  a  few  days.  California 
is  forgotten,  and  the  whole  town  is  rife  with  the  exciting  spirit  of  ad- 
vancement. 

"  Saint  Paul,  at  the  head  of  river  communication,  must  necessarily 
supply  the  trade  of  all  the  vast  regions  north  of  it  to  the  rich  plains  of 
the  Selkirk  Settlement,  and  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  east  to 
the  basin  of  the  great  Lakes,  and  is  destined  to  be  the  focus  of  an  im- 
mense business,  rapidly  increasing  with  the  growth  and  settlement  of 
the  new  regions  lying  within  the  natural  circumference  of  its  trade. 
That  extensive  region  ef  beautiful  land  bordering  on  the  Saint  Peter's 
River,  as  well  as  all  the  other  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  north  of  us, 
will  soon  be  settled,  and  must  obtain  their  supplies  through  Saint  Paul. 


212  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1849 

Is  it  strange,  then,  that  Saint  Paul  is  beginning  to  be  regarded  as  the 
Saint  Louis  of  the  North  ?" 

From  the  first  number  of  the  Pioneer.  \\e  extract  a  few 
items  of  interest : 

"  To  IMMIGRANTS. — We  advise  settlers  who  are  swarming  into  Saint 
Paul  in  such  multitudes,  to  bring  along  tents  and  bedding,  to  provide 
tor  their  comfort  until  they  can  build  houses,  as  it  is  utterly  impossible 
to  hire  a  building  in  any  part  of  the  village,  although  builders  are  at 
work  in  every  direction,  completing  houses." 

"  Rev.  Mr.  NEILL.*  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Galena,  is  about 
removing  to  Saint  Paul.  Mr.  NEILL  is  expected  to  preach  at  the  school 


*Rev.  EDWARD  DUFFIELD  NEILL,  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  extract,  was  the  first 
Protestant  clergyman  who  settled  in  Saint  Paul.  He  was  born  at  Philadelphia,  August 
9,  1833,  and  was  educated  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Amherst  College, 
Massachusetts,  graduating  there  in  1842.  He  was  ordained  a  clergyman  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  1848,  but  prior  to  that — in  1847 — went  to  the  neighborhood  of  Galena, 
where  he  performed  missionary  labor  in  the  rough  mining  region.  From  there  he  was 
transferred  to  Saint  Paul,  in  the  spring  of  1849,  arriving  at  this  place  April  33,  and  at 
once  commenced  his  labors  in  organizing  a  church.  He  erected  the  first  Protestant 
church  in  Minnesota,  on  Washington  street,  near  Fourth,  in  July,  1849,  and  in  Novem- 
ber organized  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  In  May,  1850,  the  first  church  was 
burned,  and  rebuilt  at  once,  corner  of  Third  and  Saint  Peter  streets.  Mr.  NEILL  also 
organized,  in  1855,  the  "  House  of  Hope,"  and  was  its  pastor  several  years.  During 
this  period  he  gave  great  attention  to  educational  and  literary  matters.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Territorial  Superintendent  of  Instruction  in  1851,  and  held  that  office  two  years. 
In  1853,  he  organized  and  secured  the  erection  and  endowment  of  Baldwin  School.  In 
1855,  he  secured  the  building  of  the  College  of  Saint  Paul,  which  was  for  several  years 
a  classical  academy  for  young  men.  He  was  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and, 
ex-officio  Superintendent  of  Schools,  for  several  years,  and  Chancellor  of  the  State 
University,  1858  to  1860.  He  was  also  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  from 
1858  to  iSoi,  and  Secretary  of  the  Historical  Society  from  1851  to  1861. 

On  June  33,  1861,  he  was  appointed  Chaplain  of  the  First  Minnesota  Volunteers,  and 
served  as  such  over  two  years.  He  was  then  United  States  Hospital  Chaplain  until 
January,  1864,  when  he  became  one  of  President  LINCOLN'S  private  secretaries,*  and 
after  the  denth  of  Mr.  LINCOLN,  he  continued  in  the  same  relation  to  President  JOHNSON. 
In  April,  1869,  he  was  appointed  by  President  GRANT,  Consul  to  Dublin,  and  resided 
there  in  that  capacity  for  about  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  Minnesota,  and  became 
President  of  the  Baldwin  School  and  College  of  Saint  Paul,  which  were  consolidated 
by  the  Legislature  under  the  name  of  "  Macalester  College." 

In  January,  1874,  Mr.  NEILL  withdrew  from  the  Presbyterian  church  and  entered  the 
Reformed  Episcopal  Church.  He  has  written  and  published  several  valuable  historical 
works,  his  "  History  of  Minnesota"  being  frequently  quoted  in  these  pages.  He  is 
truly  a  pioneer  clergyman.  He  performed  the  first  marriage  recorded  in  the  records  of 
Ramsey  county,  and  is  now  marrying  the  second  generation  (of  persons  born  in  Saint 
Paul)  in  the  same  families.  He  built  the  first  brick  dwelling  house  in  Minnesota— laid 
the  foundations  of  half  a  dozen  of  our  best  institutions,  and  has  labored  hard  fora  life- 
time in  the  cause  of  religion,  education  and  human  progress,  with  much  success,  but 
to  his  own  loss  in  estate.  His  name  can  never  be  mentioned  by  the  future  people  of 
Minnesota,  but  with  respect. 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  213 

house,  on  Bench  street,  next  Sunday,  (to-morrow,)  at  n  o'clock  in  the 
morning." 

"  The  Galena  Advertiser  says  there  is  a  prospect  of  a  heavy  immigra- 
tion to  Minnesota  the  present  season.  We  learn  that  whole  colonies 
are  on  the  move  to  Minnesota,  from  the  Middle  and  Eastern  States,  and 
from  Canada." 

"  While  we  are  writing,  a  Sioux  Indian  has  dropped   into  our  office. 


MRJEH5 

if   yvr--^----^-^'?^          '.V-    ' 
^  '.n^.^^SSV     (^S 

REV.  EDWARD  D.  NEILL. 

to  look  at  the  printing  press.     He  expresses  a  great  deal  of  curiositv 
and  surprise." 

"Mr.  RICE,  a  gentleman  equally  distinguished  for  his  liberality  and 
enterprise,  returned  to  Saint  Paul  on  the  steamboat  '  Senator,'  last 
Tuesday.  Mr.  RICE  received  a  most  cordial  welcome.  He  is  very 
much  identified  with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  Saint  Paul." 

RAPID    GROWTH    OF    THE    TOWN. 

Immigration    poured    in   very   rapidly   for   a   few    months. 


214  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1849 

Every  boat  brought  crowds  of  immigrants,  many  of  whom 
were  unable  to  find  proper  accommodations.  E.  S.  SEYMOUR. 
author  of  a  very  entertaining  work,  "  Sketches  of  Minnesota, 
the  New  England  of  the  West,"  landed  here  on  May  17.  Re- 
ferring to  his  first  view  of  the  town,  at  Kaposia,  he  savs : 

;'  Its  new  frame  buildings,  glistening  with  the  reflection  of  the  rising 
sun,  imparted  to  it  an  air  of  neatness  and  prosperity.  On  arriving  at 
the  wharf,  a  numerous  throng  of  citizens  and  strangers  came  rushing 
down  the  hill  to  welcome  our  arrival.  I  grasped  the  hand  of  many  an 
acquaintance,  whom  I  unexpectedly  found  here.  Everything  here  ap- 
peared to  be  on  the  high  pressure  principle.  A  dwelling  house  for  a 
family  could  not  be  rented.  The  only  hotel  was  small,  and  full  to 
overflowing.  Several  boarding  houses  were  very  much  thronged. 
Many  families  were  living  in  shanties,  made  of  rough  boards,  fastened 
to  posts  driven  in  the  ground,  such  as  two  men  could  construct  in  one 
day.  "It  was  said  that  about  80  men  lodged  in  a  barn  belonging  to 
RICE'S  new  hotel,  which  was  not  yet  completed.  Two  families  occu- 
pied tents  while  I  was  there.  While  traveling  in  Minnesota,  I  made  mv 
headquarters  at  Saint  Paul,  where  I  occasionally  tarried  a  day  or  two  at 
a  boarding  house,  consisting  of  one  room,  about  16  feet  square,  in 
which  16  persons,  including  men,  women  and  children,  contrived  to 
lodge.  The  remaining  boarders — a  half-dozen  or  more — found  lodgings 
in  a  neighbor's  garret;  this  tenement  rented  for  $12  per  month.  The 
roof  was  so  leaky  that,  during  the  frequent  rains  that  prevailed  at  that 
time,  one  would  often  wake  up  in  the  night  and  find  the  water  pour- 
ing down  in  a  stream  on  his  face,  or  some  part  of  his  person.  *  *  * 

"  We  are  now  near  the  dividing  line  of  civilized  and  savage  life. 
We  can  look  across  the  river  and  see  Indians  on  their  own  soil.  Their 
canoes  are  seen  gliding  across  the  Mississippi,  to  and  fro  between  sav- 
age and  civilized  territory.  They  are  met  hourly  in  the  streets.  *  * 
Mere  comes  a  female  in  civilized  costume ;  her  complexion  is  tinged 
with  a  light  shade  of  bronze,  and  her  features  bear  a  strong  resem- 
blance to  those  of  the  Indian.  She  is  a  descendant  of  French  and  In- 
dian parents — a  half-breed  from  Red  River.  There  goes  a  French 
Canadian,  who  can  converse  only  in  the  language  of  his  mother  tongue. 
He  is  an  old  settler;  see  his  prattling  children  sporting  about  yonder 
shanty,  which  was  constructed  of  rough  boards,  with  about  one  day's 
labor.  There  he  lives — obliging  fellow!  exposed  to  the  sun  and  rain, 
and  rents  his  adjoining  log  cabin  at  $12  per  month.  Let  us  pass  on 
to  that  group  that  converse  daily  in  front  of  yonder  hotel.  They 
appear  to  be  principally  professional  men,  politicians,  office-seekers, 
speculators  and  travelers,  discussing  the  various  topics  growing  out  of 
the  organization  of  the  new  Territory — such  as  the  distribution  of  the 


1849]       and  °f  the  County  of  Ramsev,  Minnesota.  215 

loaves  and  fishes,  the  price  of  lots,  the  rise  of  real  estate,  the  opportunity 
now  afforded  for  the  acquisition  of  wealth  or  political  fame. 

"The  town-site  is  a  pretty  one,  affording  ample  room  for  stores  or 
dwellings,  to  any  extent  desirable.  I  could  not  but  regret,  however, 
that  where  land  is  so  cheap  and  abundant,  some  of  the  streets  are  narrow, 
and  that  the  land  on  the  edge  of  the  high  bluff,  in  the  centre  of  the 
town,  was  not  left  open  to  the  public,  instead  of  being  cut  up  into  small 
lots.  It  would  have  made  a  pleasant  place  for  promenading,  affording 
a  fine  view  of  the  river,  which  is  now  liable  to  be  intercepted  bv  build- 
ings erected  on  those  lots."  *  *  * 

MASONIC    AND    SONS    OF    TEMPERANCE    LODGES. 

Early  in  the  growth  of  the  town,  the  usual  secret  orders 
were  founded.  The  Pioneer,  of  May  I9th.  says: 

"A  Division  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  has  been  fully  organized  in 
Saint  Paul,  under  the  title  of  'Saint  Paul  Division,  No.  i,' Sons  of 
Temperance.  This  is  the  first  Division  of  that  order  in  this  Territory. 
The  Division  meets  every  Tuesday  night.  The  officers  are — LOT  MOF- 
FET,  W.  P. ;  BENJ.  L.  SELLERS,  W.  A. ;  S.  GILBERT,  P.  W.  P. ;  W.  C. 
MORRISON,  R.  S. ;  B.  F.  IRVINE,  A.  R.  S. ;  A.  H.  CAVENDER,  F.  S. ;  A. 
R.  FRENCH,  T. ;  C.  P.  V.  LULL,  G.  C. ;  B.  F.  HOYT.  A.  C. ;  W.  PATCH. 
I.  S. ;  C.  DAVIS,  O.  S." 

"Members  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  in  and  near  Saint  Paul,  intend 
to  meet  together  in  the  room  over  the  Pioneer  office,  on  Thursday  eve- 
ning next,  [May  31,]  at  6  o'clock." — [Ib.  May  26.] 

The  Sons  of  Temperance  soon  became  quite  a  powerful  or- 
ganization, and  at  one  time  owned  a  lot  and  built  a  building 
thereon  for  a  hall.  They  subsequently  lost  the  property  by 
mortgage,  and  (oh  !  profanation)  the  building  was  used  for 
a  saloon  ! 

EVENTS    OF    THE    DAY. 

Early  in  May,  two  more  printing  presses  and  material  for 
newspapers  arrived.  One  was  the  Register,  before  noted — 
the  other  was  the  Minnesota  Chronicle,  which  was  issued  on 
June  i,  by  Col.  JAMES  HUGHES,  formerly  of  Jackson,  Ohio. 

One  or  two  cases  of  cholera  occurred  this  season.  On  May 
3d,  L.  B.  LARPENTEUR,  father  of  E.  N.  and  grandfather  of 
A.  L.  LARPENTEUR,  arrived  in  the  city,  and  on  the  yth  died 
of  cholera,  aged  71  years.  He  had,  unfortunately,  contracted 
the  disease  on  his  journey  up  the  river. 


2i6  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/.         [1849 

From  the  Pioneer  of  May  26.  we  extract  some  interesting 
items : 

"  '  Scratch  up,  scrabble  up,  tumble  up,  any  way  to  get  up,'  seems  to 
be  illustrated  in  the  sudden  growth  of  building  in  Saint  Paul.  Logs 
which  were  in  the  boom  at  the  Falls  last  week,  are  now  inflated  into 
balloon  frames  at  Saint  Paul,  ready  for  a  coat  of  fresh  paint.  Lots 
which  were  the  other  day  considered  quite  remote,  are  now  'right  in 
town.'  More  than  seventy  buildings,  it  is  said,  have  been  erected  here 
during  the  past  three  weeks :  and  the  town  is  so  changed  in  its  appear- 
ance, and  has  so.  multiplied  its  inhabitants,  that  a  person  absent  for 
three  weeks,  on  returning,  almost  fancies  that  he  has  been  taking  a  Rip 
Van  Winkle  slumber." 

"  There  is  not  a  lock  of  hay  to  be  bought  from  Galena  to  Saint  Paul." 

"Ex-Governor  SLADE,  of  Vermont,  General  Agent  of  National  Pop- 
ular Education,  arrived  on  the  steamboat  '  Senator,'  last  Thursday, 
with  three  young  ladies,*  who  will  engage  in  the  responsible  and  ar- 
duous labor  of  teaching  in  Minnesota." 

"  Carpenters  in  Saint  Paul  are  now  fully  employed.  Mr.  BRAWLEY 
is  making  a  supply  of  brick,  near  the  upper  end  of  town." 

ARRIVAL    OK    TERRITORIAL    OKFICEKS. 

On  May  27,  Hon.  ALEX.  RAMSEY,  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
had  a  short  time  previously  been  appointed  Governor  of  the 
Territory,  arrived,  with  his  wife,  but,  being  unable  to  secure 
proper  accommodations  at  Saint  Paul,  went,  bv  invitation  of 
Hon.  H.  H.  SIBLEY,  to  the  mansion  of  that  gentleman,  at 
Mendota,  where  he  remained  a  few  days.  Several  other  of 
the  Territorial  officers  arrived  during  this  month,  and  we  close 
this  chapter  with  some  personal  sketches  of  them. 

HON.   ALEX.   RAMSEY. 

From  ''Barnes'  History  of  the  Fortieth  Congress."  the  fol- 
lowing sketch  is  condensed : 

"ALEX.  RAMSEY  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  September 
8.  1815.  His  paternal  ancestry  were  Scotch — the  family  of  his  mother 
was  of  German  descent.  Left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  ten.  he  was 


*  "  In  the  spring  of  1849,  Miss  MARY  A.  SCOFIELD  joined  our  feeble  band  of  teach- 
ers,  and  was,  for  a  year,  associated  with  the  writer  at  Saint  Paul.  A  second  school 
house  was  built,  and  ample  means  provided  for  the  instruction  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pupils."— [Miss  BISHOP'S  "  Floral  Homes."] 


1849]       an(t  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  217 

assisted  by  a  relative  to  obtain  an  education,  and  engage  in  business. 
He  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Harrisburg  for  a  time,  and,  about 
the  year  1828,  was  engaged  in  the  office  of  Register  of  Deeds  of  Dau- 
phin county.  He  afterwards  learned  the  trade,  or  at  least  worked  for 
some  time,  as  carpenter,  but,  having  a  strong  love  for  reading  and  study, 
he  determined  to  adopt  the  profession  of  law.  With  this  in  view,  he 
became  a  student  of  Lafayette  College,  at  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
1837,  entered  the  office  of  HAMILTON  ALRICH,  Esq.,  at  Harrisburg. 
He  also  studied  in  the  law-school  of  Hon.  JOHN  REED,  at  Carlisle,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1839,  being  engaged  a  portion  of  the  time 
in  teaching. 

"During  the  celebrated  Harrison  campaign  of  1840,  Mr.  RAMSEY 
took  a  prominent  part,  and  was  that  fall  chosen  Secretary  of  the  Elec- 
toral College  of  the  State.  In  1841,  he  was  elected  Chief  Clerk  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1843,  he  was  nominated 
for  Congress  from  the  district  composed  of  Dauphin,  Lebanon  and 
Schuylkill  counties,  and  served  in  the  Twenty-eighth  Congress  (1843-4.) 
He  was  re-elected  in  1844,  a  member  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Congress, 
his  term  ending  March  4,  1847.  During  these  years,  Mr.  RAMSEY  be- 
came well-known,  not  only  in  his  own  State,  but  widely  among  public 
men  of  the  country,  as  evincing  those  qualities  of  sagacity  and  firmness, 
which  have  been  so  marked  during  his  whole  career.  As  chairman  of 
the  Whig  State  committee  in  1848,  he  contributed  largely  to  the  election 
of  Gen.  ZACH.  TAYLOR  to  the  presidency. 

"  When  that  brave  old  soldier  was  inaugurated,  it  became  his  duty  to 
appoint  the  officers  of  Minnesota  Territory,  and  he  at  once  tendered 
the  Governorship  to  Mr.  RAMSEY,  which  was  accepted.  His  commis- 
sion is  dated  April  2,  1849,  ar>d  he  immediately  proceeded  to  remove,  with 
his  family,  to  his  new  home.  And  here,  it  should  be  remarked,  that 
Gov.  RAMSEY  was  married,  in  1845,  to  Miss  ANNA  E.  JENKS,  of  New- 
town,  Pennsylvania. 

"  Gov.  RAMSEY  arrived  at  the  scene  of  his  official  duties  on  May  27, 
and  four  days  afterwards,  with  the  other  Territorial  officers  who  had  ar- 
rived, issued  a  proclamation  declaring  the  Territory  organized,  and  the 
machinery  of  law  in  operation.  Other  proclamations,  dividing  the 
Territory  into  districts,  ordering  elections,  &c.,  soon  followed,  and,  with 
the  labor  of  organizing  the  machinery  of  government,  securing  officers, 
managing  Indian  affairs,  and  administering  various  trusts,  the  Govern- 
or's chair  was  no  sinecure.  When  the  first  Legislature  met,  in  Sep- 
tember, it  bestowed  on  one  of  the  first  counties  created,  and,  at  that 
time,  the  most  populous  and  wealthy,  the  name  of  our  first  Governor,  a 
deserved  and  just  compliment. 

"Gov.  RAMSEY  took  early  measures  to  procure  the  extinguishment 
of  Indian  titles,  by  treaty,  &c.,  and  by  the  negotiations  made  at  Men- 
dota  and  Traverse  de  Sioux,  in  1851,  the  valuable  lands  near  Lake 
15 


218  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

Pepin,  and  40,000,000  acres  in  what  now  constitutes  Southern  Minne- 
sota, were  thrown  open  to  the  settler.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he 
visited  the  Red  River  Colony  and  made,  at  Pembina,  a  treaty  with  the 
northern  Chippewas,  for  the  cession  by  them  of  30  miles  on  each  side  of 
the  Red  River.  This  treaty  was  not  ratified  by  the  Senate,  but  in  1863, 
Gov.  RAMSEY,  then  Senator,  made  another  treaty,  accomplishing  the 
intended  results,  and  the  Red  River  valley  is  now  rapidly  settling  up. 

"Various  events  of  Gov.  RAMSEY'S  term  are  narrated  elsewhere 
quite  fully,  and  need  not  be  referred  to  in  this  sketch.  Some  of  the 
extracts  from  his  messages,  predicting  the  future  growth  of  the  Terri- 
tory, seem  almost  prophetic.  He  evinced  his  own  faith  in  its  future 
success  by  large  and  judicious  investments  in  real  estate,  which  ulti- 
mately became  of  great  value,  and  are  the  bulk  of  a  comfortable 
fortune. 

"In  1853,  Gov.  RAMSEY'S  term  closed,  and,  in  1855,  he  was  elected 
Mayor  of  Saint  Paul,  for  a  term  of  one  year.  In  1857,  when  the  Re- 
publican Convention  met,  he  was  nominated  for  first  State  Governor, 
but  his  party  was  not  successful  in  that  contest.  Two  years  later,  he 
was  again  nominated,  and  this  time  elected  by  a  majority  of  3,752  in  a 
vote  of  38,918.  He  was  inaugurated  January  2,  1860.  At  that  time 
the  State  was  considerably  in  debt,  taxes  difficult  to  collect,  and  many 
other  troubles  were  to  be  met,  but  his  administration  was  a  very  suc- 
cessful one.  The  following  year  the  rebellion  broke  out,  and  this  laid 
new  duties  and  responsibilities  on  the  Governor.  One  was  the  proper 
officering  of  the  regiments  from  our  State,  but  the  very  fai5t  that  a 
large  proportion  of  Colonels  appointed  by  him  were  ultimately  pro- 
moted to  Brigaders,  and  several  to  Majors  General,  while  every  officer, 
with  exceptions  too  few  to  notice,  made  a  good  record,  is  proof  enough 
that  the  selections  were  wisely  made,  of  men  who  have  done  honor  to 
our  State  on  the  field. 

"In  1861,  Gov.  RAMSEY  was  re-ele<5ted.  During  his  second  term  the 
Sioux  outbreak  occurred,  adding  still  further  to  the  responsibilities  of 
the  position,  but  ultimately  peace  and  security  was  restored  to  the 
frontier.  In  January,  1863,  Gov.  RAMSEY  was  elected  United  States 
Senator  for  six  years,  and  re-elecfted  in  1869,  serving  twelve  years  in  all. 
During  this  period,  he  served  on  several  important  standing  commit- 
tees, post-offices  and  post  roads  among  them.  Postal  reform  occupied 
much  of  his  attention.  He  first  introduced  the  bill  for  the  repeal  of  the 
franking  abuse,  and  visited  France  in  1869,  to  urge  cheap  international 
postage,  which  has  since  been  accomplished.  He  has  also  aided,  as 
far  as  possible,  the  construction  of  our  Northern  Pacific  and  other 
railroads. 

"This  hasty  summary,"  says  Mr.  BARNES,  in  concluding  his  sketch, 
"will  sufficiently  indicate  the  prominent  position  of  Senator  RAMSEY. 
Few  of  his  colleagues  have  exhibited  more  tacl:  in  establishing  and  sus- 


1849]        and  of  the  County  of  Raniscv-i  Minnesota.  219 

taining  personal  influence.  He  has  proved  himself  a  vigilant  guardian 
of  the  interests  of  Minnesota.  Of  a  frank,  hearty  bearing,  his  figure, 
countenance  and  voice  concur  to  make  him  a  favorite  with  his  associates 
and  with  all  observers." 

Senator  RAMSEY,  at  home,  has  been  prominent  in  every 
public  enterprise.  He  has,  since  the  first  days  of  our  city, 
aided  liberally  every  good  work,  and  our  churches  and  other 
institutions  have  been  recipients  of  gifts  of  both  real  estate 
and  money.  He  has,  also,  been  an  active  member  of  the  His- 
torical Society  and  Old  Settlers'  Association.  At  one  of  the 
reunions  of  the  latter,  as  is  elsewhere  remarked,  he  kindly 
volunteered  to  be  the  "  last  man" — a  hope  his  friends  indulge 
in,  and,  indeed,  from  his  fine,  almost  rugged  health  and  evenly 
poised  system,  there  is  no  reason  why  their  wish  should  not. 
be  realized. 

HON.   AARON    GOODRICH 

was  born  in  Sempronius,  New  York,  July  6,  1807.  While  a 
young  man,  he  settled  in  Tennessee,  where  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  that  State,  and  successfully  practiced  for  several 
years.  He  was  elected,  (though  a  Whig,)  from  a  Democratic 
district,  a  member  of  the  House  for  the  years  1847  anc'  J&fS, 
and,  during  the  latter  year,  was  elected  a  Presidential  Elector 
on  the  Whig  ticket.  On  March  19,  1849,  he  was  appointed, 
by  President  TAYLOR,  Chief  Justice  of  Minnesota,  and  took 
up  his  residence  in  Saint  Paul.  He  held  the  first  term  of 
court  in  Ramsey  and  other  counties,  and  was  one  of  the  corpo- 
rate members  of  the  Historical  Society  in  1849,  and  a  charter 
member  of  the  first  Masonic  Lodge,  and  a  corporate  member 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Minnesota.  His  term  on  the  Supreme 
Bench  closed  in  the  fall  of  1851,  when  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law.  In  the  early  days  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
one  of  its  most  ready  and  effective  campaign  speakers,  and 
drew  up  the  first  Republican  platform  adopted  in  Minnesota. 
In  1858,  he  was  a  member  of  the  commission  to  prepare  a  Code 
of  Pleadings  and  Practice,  and  submitted  a  report  of  marked 
ability.  In  1860,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  Na- 
tional Convention  at  Chicago,  and  labored  to  secure  the  nom- 


220  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

ination  of  WM.  H.  SEWARD,  for  President.  Through  the 
friendship  of  that  statesman,  he  was  next  spring  appointed 
Secretary  of  Legation  at  Brussels,  which  position  he  filled  for 
eight  years.  In  1869,  he  returned  to  Saint  Paul,  and  devoted 


his  leisure  to  the  writing  of  a  work  for  which  he  had  gathered 
materials  during  his  sojourn  in  Europe,  entitled,  k*A  History 
of  the  Character  and  Achievements  of  the  so-called  CHRISTO- 
PHER COLUMBUS,"  in  which  he  opposes  the  claim  of  COLUM- 
BUS as  discoverer  of  America.  The  work  was  published  in 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  221 

1874,  by  D.  APPLETON  &  COMPANY,  New  York.  It  is  origi- 
nal and  bold  in  its  conception  and  handling,  and  has  attracted 
much  notice  from  scholars.  In  1872,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Convention  at  Cincinnati,  which  nominated  HORACE  GREE- 
LEY,  although  he  himself  constantly  voted  for  Judge  DAVIS,  of 
Illinois.  Judge  GOODRICH  was  a  prominent  mover  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  "Old  Settlers' Association  of  Minnesota," 
in  1858,  and  has  been  its  Seci'etary  nearly  ever  since,  devoting 
much  time  and  labor  to  its  objects. 

CHARLES    KILGORE    SMITH. 

Secretary  of  State,  was  born  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  February 
15,  1799.  His  father  was  a  prominent  man  in  Ohio  in  early 
days.  C.  K.  SMITH  was  educated  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and,  prior 
to  his  coming  to  Minnesota,  had  held  several  important  offices, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  as  a  lawyer.  On  coming  to 
Saint  Paul  as  a  Territorial  officer,  he  became  prominent  in 
many  useful  works.  He  was  adlive  in  establishing  a  system 
of  common  schools  in  this  citv.  He  was  a  charter  member  of 
the  first  Masonic,  and  the  first  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge  and  Encamp- 
ment in  the  city,  and  also  one  of  the  first  to  organize  and 
found  the  Minnesota  Historical  Societv,  of  which  he  was 
Secretary  for  two  years,  and  labored  faithfully.  He  was  a 
man  of  incisive  and  determined  character,  and  made  many 
political  and  personal  enemies  in  Saint  Paul.  GOODHUE,  of 
the  Pioneer,  used  to  attack  him  without  mercy,  during  his 
whole  career,  even  accusing  him  of  fraud  and  malfeasance  in 
office.  Mr.  SMITH,  at  one  time,  owned  considerable  property 
in  Saint  Paul.  He  resigned  in  November,  1851,  and  returned 
to  Hamilton.  Ohio,  where  he  died  September  28.  1866. 

COL.   ALEX.   M.   MITCHELL. 

Marshal  of  the  Territory,  vice  TAYLOR  declined,  was  also 
appointed  from  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  North  Carolina : 
graduated  at  West  Point  in  1835  ;  served  with  distinction 
during  the  Florida  War  ;  was  then  transferred  to  the  Engineer 
Department,  in  which  he  served  some  time,  and  resigning, 
studied  law  at  Yale  College,  and  settled  in  Cincinnati,  where 


222  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

he  pra&iced  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  War,  in  which 
he  promptly  enlisted,  and  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the 
First  Ohio  Volunteers.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  Monterey. 
On  his  return  to  Cincinnati,  a  splendid  Sword  was  presented 
to  him  by  the  citizens,  and  the  bar  gave  him  a  dinner.  Col. 
MITCHELL  held  the  office  of  Marshal  until  September,  1851. 
In  the  fall  of  1850,  he  was  nominated  for  Congress,  against 
H.  H.  SIBLEY,  but  was  unsuccessful.  He  left  Minnesota 
about  1853,  and  afterwards  became  a  resident  of  Saint  Joseph, 
Missouri,  where  he  died  February  26,  1861,  aged  52  years. 
A  newspaper  obituary  said  of  him  :  "His  last  years  were 
clouded  with  the  vice  of  intemperance." 

HENRY    L.    MOSS 

was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  March  23,  1819.  He 
graduated  from  Union  College,  in  1840,  and  commenced  the 
study  of  law,  being  admitted  to  practice  in  1842,  in  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  Ohio,  where  he  was  then  residing.  In  1845. 
he  removed  to  Plattville,  "Wisconsin,  and,  after  residing  there 
three  years,  moved  to  Stillwater,  on  April  29,  1848.  He  was 
appointed  United  States  Dictrid  Attorney  in  March,  1849,  and 
held  said  office  for  four  years.  In  1851.  he  removed  to  Saint 
Paul,  and  has  resided  in  this  city  ever  since.  In  October, 
1863,  he  was  again  appointed  United  States  District  Attorney, 
and  held  that  position  until  1868.  For  some  years  he  has  also 
been  largely  interested  in  the  insurance  business.  Mr.  Moss 
was  in  Washington  when  our  land  grant  bills  were  pending, 
and  gave  valuable  assistance  to  our  delegation  in  Congress,  in 
lobbying  for  their  passage. 

The  machinery  of  government  was  now  ready.     In  our  next 
chapter  we  shall  sec  it  set  in  motion. 


[849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.  223 


CHAPTER   XVII. 
EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1849.— CONTINUED. 

THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  TERRITORY— FIRST  OF  JUNE  PROCLAMATION— RAPID 
GROWTH  OF  THE  TOWN — GEN.  JOHNSON'S  INTERVIEW  WITH  GOODHUE — FIRST 
FOURTH  OF  JULY  CELEBRATION— THE  CENSUS— POST-OFFICE  MATTERS— FIRST 
ELECTION — FIRST  COURTS — ASSEMBLING  OF  THE  LEGISLATURE — LOCATION  OF 
THE  CAPITAL— WM.  R.  MARSHALL— INCORPORATION  OF  THE  TOWN— ELECTION 
OF  COUNTY  OFFICERS— SCHOOLS  ESTABLISHED— FIRST  BUSINESS  DIRECTORY. 

ON  June  i;  Governor  RAMSEY  and  Chief  Justice  GOODRICH, 
.  with  H.  L.  Moss,  United  States  District  Attorney,  and 
Judge  DAVID  COOPER,  Associate  Justice,  seated  on  beds  or 
trunks,  in  a  little  room,  about  eight  by  ten,  in  the  Saint  Paul 
House,  drew  up  the  "First  of  June  Proclamation,"  as  it  is 
called,  announcing  the  Territorial  government  organized,  and 
that  "  law  and  order  reigned  in  Warsaw,"  (as  a  jocose  old 
settler  used  to  express  it.)  It  was  written  on  awashstand,  the 
only  table  that  could  be  procured,  which  Judge  G.  has  pre- 
served as  a  relic  of  the  event. 

To  commemorate  this  event — the  formal  birth  of  Minnesota — 
the  "Old  Settlers'  Association  of  Minnesota"  hold  their  annual 
meetings  on  June  i  of  each  year,  and  their  annual  banquets  at 
the  Merchants'  Hotel,  the  successor  of  the  historic  Saint  Paul 
House,  the  corner-stone  of  whose  new  structure  was  laid  by  the 
Association  on  June  i,  1870. 

ANOTHER  HOTEL. 

As  a  specimen  of  rapid  building,  the  Pioneer  of  June  14, 
says: 

"  That  very  large  house,  the  Rice  House,  near  the  upper  landing, 
one  of  the  largest  hotels  north  of  Saint  Louis,  was  completed,  so  far 
as  the  carpenter  and  joiner  work  is  concerned,  in  ten  weeks  from  its 
commencement." 


224  TJ'e  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

This  hotel  was  afterwards  called  the  "  American  House," 
and  was  a  famous  point  in  its  day.  It  was  opened  to  the 
public  on  June  28,  by  Mrs.  RODNEY  PARKER,  formerly  of 
Charlestown,  Massachusetts.  The  hotel  burned  down  on 
December  20.  1863. 

SKETCH    OF    THE    TOWN,    JUNE,     1849. 

The  clever  work  of  Mr.  SEYMOUR,  before  quoted,  gives  a 
verv  readable  picture  of  Saint  Paul,  about  the  middle  of  June  : 

"  On  the  i3th  of  June,  I  counted  all  the  buildings  in  the  place,  the 
number  of  which,  including  shanties  and  those  in  every  state  of  pro- 
gress, from  the  foundation  wall  to  completion,  was  one  hundred  and 
forty-tivo.  Of  the  above,  all,  except  about  a  dozen,  were  probably  less 
than  six  months  old.  They  included  three  hotels,  one  of  which  is  very 
large,  and  is  now  open  for  the  accommodation  of  travelers ;  a  State 
house,  four  warehouses,  ten  stores,  several  groceries,  three  boarding 
houses,  two  printing  offices,  two  drug  stores,  one  fruit  and  tobacco 
store,  one  or  two  blacksmith's  shops,  one  wagon  shop,  one  tin  shop. 
one  or  two  baker's  shops,  one  furniture  room,  a  billiard  and  bowling 
saloon,  one  school  house,  in  which  a  school  of  about  forty  children  is 
kept  by  a  young  lady,  and  where  divine  services  are  performed  every 
Sabbath  by  a  minister  of  the  Episcopalian,  Methodist,  Presbyterian, 
or  Baptist  persuasion.  There  is,  also,  a  Catholic  church,  where  meet- 
ings are  held  every  alternate  Sabbath.  At  the  time  mentioned  above, 
there  were  twelve  attorneys  at  law,  six  of  whom  were  practicing;  five 
physicians,  and  a  large  number  of  mechanics,  of  various  kinds.  There 
-Mas  not  a  brick  or  stone  building  in  the  place.  There  are,  however, 
good  stone  quarries  in  the  vicinity,  and  clay  near  the  town,  where  per- 
sons were  employed  in  making  brick." 

The  rush  of  immigration  to  the  Territory  about  this  date, 
seemed  to  have  set  in  quite  briskly.  The  Pioneer,  of  June  28, 
says: 

"On  Wednesday  of  last  week,  three  steamboats  arrived  at  our  land- 
ing. They  were  all  heavily  laden  with  merchandize  for  this  point." 

ITEMS. 

On  June  25,  Gov.  RAMSEY  and  lady  came  from  Mendota 
in  a  birch-bark  canoe,  and  commenced  house-keeping  in  a 
neat  white  frame  cottage  which  stood  on  Third  street,  about 
where  BEAUMONT'S  store  now  is.  The  Governor's  office  was 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          225 

kept  in  the  same  building,     It  was  afterwards  called  the  "New 
England  House,"  and  burned  down  in  the  spring  of  1860. 

"An  adjourned  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  consulting  upon  the 
expediency  of  erecting  a  town  house  suitable  for  the  accommodation  of 
secular  and  religious  meetings,  societies,  &c. ,  will  be  holden  at  FREE- 
MAN, LARPENTEUR  &  Co.'s  store,  on  Saturday,  July  7,  at  7  p.  m.  A.  H. 
CAVENDER,  Secretary."— [Pioneer,  June  28.] 

"THE  PUMP.— Within  the  past  week  the  citizens  of  Saint  Paul  have 
erected  in  the  lower  square,  a  pump.  Of  course,  nothing  could  be  more 
desirable,  or  to  the  city  more  appropriate.  For  what  is  a  town  without 
a  town  pump  ?  It  is  a  church  without'a  bishop.  How  will  a  stranger 
know  when  he  arrives  in  our  steepleless  city  unless  it  has  the  centre 
marked  with  a  pump.  A  town  pump  is  useful  on  numerous  accounts. 
It  is  the  centre  exchange,  where  merchants  and  financiers  do  the  fiats 
of  commerce.  It  is  the  place  for  placards  of  advertisement — a  reference 
for  details  of  information  upon  all  doubtful  questions— as  when  we 
say—'  inquire  of  the  town  pump.'  It  might  do  for  the  stand  of  a  tem- 
perance lecturer.  It  might  answer  as  a  whipping-post  for  rogues 
of  low  degree,  and  might  perhaps  subserve  a  patriotic  purpose  as  a 
ducking  engine  with  which  to  quench  the  heat  of  over-zealous  office- 
seekers."—  [Ib.'J 

"STOP  THAT  ROOTING  UNDER  OUR  FLOOR  !-f-We  are  no  Jew,  but  a 
gentile,  or  the  rooting  nation  under  our  editorial  sandtum,  instead  of 
a  respectful  notice  with  our  pen,  would  get  punched  with  a  sharp  stick. 
Not  that  we  would  find  fault  with  the  pigs,  for  it  is  all  owing  to  their 
bringing  up.  But  really,  our  equanimity  is  somewhat  ruffled,  if  our 
chair  is  not  jostled,  by  the  movements  of  their  hard  backs  under  our 
loose  floor." — [Ib.] 

Speaking  of  the  pigs  rooting  under  the  Pioneer  editor's 
floor,  makes  apropos  an  anecdote  related  by  Gen.  R.  W. 
JOHNSON,*  (in  his  Old  Settlers'  address,)  who  came  to  Fort 
Snelling  in  1849,  as  a  Lieutenant  in  the  army  :  "The  boat  had 

*Gen.  RICHARD  W.  JOHNSON  was  born  in  Livingston  county,  Kentucky,  February 
7,  1827.  He  was  educated  at  West  Point,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1849,  and  was 
appointed  to  a  command  at  Fort  Snelling,  with  rank  of  Second  Lieutenant.  He  came 
here  that  season,  and  resided  in  this  State  several  years.  On  Odtober  30,  1850,  he  was 
married,  at  Mendota,  to  Miss  RACHEL  E.  STEELE.  When  the  rebellion  broke  out  he 
served  in  many  important  battles  and  campaigns,  and  was  severely  wounded  near 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  in  1864.  For  this  cause  he  was  ultimately  placed  on  the  retired  list, 
having  then  attained  by  successive  promotions,  the  rank  of  Major  General,  and  com- 
manded the  Distridt  of  Tennessee,  &c.  He  soon  returned  to  Minnesota,  which  he 
had  always  considered  his  home  while  in  the  army.  Served  as  Military  Professor  at 
the  State  University  1868-9,  and  then  removed  to  Saint  Paul.  Gen.  J.  is  now  President 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  a  leading  promoter  of  all  our  civic  interests. 


226 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 


tied    up    at    the  levee.      Taking  advantage  of  the  delay,  I 
wended  my  way  to  the  Pioneer  office,  and  was  kindly  received 


GEN.  RICHARD  W.  JOHNSON. 

by  Mr.  GOODHUE.  During  the  conversation,  I  observed  a  hen 
on  her  nest  under  the  table,  and  I  ventured  to  ask  him  if  he 
designed  raising  his  own  poultry."  He  replied,  "that  he  had 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  227 

eaten  all  her  eggs,  and  the  old  fool  is  setting  on  a  couple  of 
brickbats,  and,  if  she  hatches  out  a  brick  yard,  you  may  bet 
your  last  dollar  that  hen  is  not  for  sale !" 

FOURTH    OF  JULY    CELEBRATION. 

The  Fourth  of  July  was  celebrated  by  the  patriotic  Saint 
Paulites  in  a  very  spirited  and  becoming  manner.  Early  in 
the  forenoon  a  procession,  composed  of  the  Territorial  offi- 
cers, civic  societies,  (what  there  was,)  and  a  few  "  invited 
guests,"  with  our  own  citizens,  making  about  500  persons  in 
all,  headed  by  a  military  band  from  Fort  Snelling,  formed  in 
front  of  the  Saint  Paul  House,  and,  according  to  a  programme 
in  the  Pioneer,  marched  through  "  a  number  of  the  principal 
streets,"  (as  our  newspaper  reporters  would  say,)  although 
said  streets  were  then  a  jungle  of  hazel  brush  and  scrub  oaks, 
to  a  grove  on  the  site  of  the  present  Rice  Park.  Here  Gov- 
ernor RAMSEY  presided,  with  Messrs.  SIBLEY  and  RICE  as  vice 
presidents.  Rev.  E.  G.  GEAR,  Chaplain  at  Fort  Snelling, 
read  an  appropriate  service  with  prayers.  The  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  read  by  BILLY  PHILLIPS,  in  his  most 
pompous,  and  rhetorical  style,  and  Judge  B.  B.  MEEKER  de- 
livered the  oration,  filling  six  columns  in  the  Pioneer.  The 
procession  then  re-formed,  and  marched  to  the  American 
House,  where  a  dinner  was  partaken  of,  followed  by  numerous 
toasts  and  speeches.  The  day  wound  up  with  a  grand  ball  at 
the  American  House,  and  fireworks.  FRANKLIN  STEELE 
acled  as  chief  marshal  of  the  day,  with  A.  L.  LARPENTEUR 
and  WM.  H.  NOBLES  as  aids.  And  thus  ended  the  first  Fourth 
of  July  celebration  in  Saint  Paul. 

Gen.  SIBLEY,  in  his  address  on  the  early  history  of  Minne- 
sota, relates,  that  one  of  our  prominent  French  citizens,  on 
being  asked  how  he  liked  the  proceedings,  said — "  'Fore  GOD, 
dat  speech  of  PHILLIPS  was  ze  best  speech  made  to-day." 
And  it  is  said  that  "  speech"  secured  BILLY  D.  the  appoint- 
ment of  Prosecuting  Attorney  by  the  County  Board  soon  after. 

THE    CAPITOL    AND    TERRITORIAL    OFFICERS. 

The  Pioneer  of  July  5,  notices  the  arrival  of  the  Secretary 


228  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

of  the  Territory,  Hon.  CHARLES  K.  SMITH,  of  Ohio.  Mr. 
SMITH  at  once  set  about  securing  apartments,  or  a  building, 
for  the  use  of  the  Territorial  officers  and  Legislature,  &c.,  but 
found  it  almost  impossible  to  do  so,  as  the  town  was  so  crowded, 
and  buildings  in  demand.  Finally,  he  secured  rooms  in  the 
•'  Central  House,"  a  weatherboarded  log  structure  on  Bench 
street,  which  was  then  kept  as  a  hotel  by  ROBERT  KENNEDY. 
and  (having  been  afterwards  more  than  doubled  in  size)  was 
the  Central  House  of  more  1'ecent  days,  though  since  almost 
destroyed  by  fire.  A  flag-staff  was  eredted  on  the  bank  of  the 
river,  and  the  national  banner  run  up,  to  mark  the  headquar- 
ters of  government,  and  here,  in  these  narrow  quarters,  its 
business  was  carried  on.  • 

TERRITORIAL    CENSUS APPORTIONMENT. 

Pursuant  to  a  provision  in  the  Organic  Act,  JOHN  MORGAN, 
.Sheriff  of  Saint  Croix  county,  had  been  e.ngaged  for  several 
weeks  prior  to  this  date,  in  taking  a  census  of  the  Territory. 
EDMUND  BRISSETT  took  the  districts  on  the  Missouri  River,  and 
WM.  DAHL  the  Pembina  region.*  The  census  of  Saint  Paul 
appeared  as  follows : 

Males — 540.     Females — 300.     Total — 840. 
The  total  of  the  whole  Territory  was : 

Males — 3,067.     Females — 1,713.     Total — 4,780. 

Of  these,  over  700  lived  in  what  is  now  Dakota  Territory, 
and  367  were  not  inhabitants  at  all,  legally,  being  soldiers  in 
the  forts.  The  rapid  growth  of  Saint  Paul  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1849,  may  be  inferred  from  these  figures. 

On  July  7,  Governor  RAMSEY  issued  a  proclamation  dividing 
the  Territory  into  seven  Council  districts,  based  on  the  census 
just  taken,  and  providing  for  an  election  of  nine  Councillors 
and  eighteen  Representatives,  on  August  i .  The  Territory, 
not  having  been  divided  into  counties,  the  districts  were  ar- 


*  DAHL  was  a  genius  in  the  line  of  censuses.  He  would  be  a  valuable  man  for  any 
ambitious  town  that  wished  to  get  credit  for  more  population  than  it  had.  How  the 
handful  of  people  on  Red  River  swelled,  in  his  hands,  to  700,  was  one  of  the  mysteries 
that,  as  Lord  DUNDREARY  would  say,  "  no  fellah  could  find  out." 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  229 

ranged  by  "  precindts."  The  election  of  a  Delegate  to  Con- 
gress was  also  ordered  at  the  same  time,  and  the  assembling 
of  the  Legislature  fixed  for  Monday,  September  3. 

Under  this  apportionment,  what  was  called  the  "  Saint  Paul 
PrecincV'  embracing  the  town  of  Saint  Paul,  constituted  the 
Third  District:,  and  was  entitled  to  two  Councillors  and  four 
Representatives.  Nominations  were  soon  after  made,  gener- 
ally on  personal  grounds,  as  party  lines  had  not  then  been 
drawn.  Indeed,  some  of  our  old  settlers  declare  that,  in  early 
days,  they  used  to  have  to  force  office  on  men — that  such  a 
thing  as  "  office-seeking"  was  unknown  in  those  poor  but  hon- 
est times.  There  are  many  who  would  gladly  hail  a  return 
of  such  an  era  of  primitive  simplicity. 

THE  "MINNESOTA  REGISTER." 

I  gave  on  page  208,  an  account  of  the  issue  of  the  Register 
at  Cincinnati.  As,  soon  as  the  river  opened,  the  press  and 
material  of  the  office  were  shipped  to  Saint  Paul.  J.  P.  OWENS 
accompanied  it,  arriving  in  May,  Maj.  McLEAN*  being  de- 
tained by  illness  at  Cincinnati,  did  not  arrive  until  August. 
In  the  meantime,  Col.  OWENS  went  to  work  to  get  the  paper 
out,  and  on  July  14,  issued  No.  2.  Capt.  E.  Y.  SHELLEY, 
the  veteran  typo  of  Saint  Paul,  was  foreman.  The  paper  was 
printed  in  a  small  office  on  upper  Third  street.  Some  five  or 
six  numbers  of  the  Register  were  issued,  when  it  became 
evident  that  there  were  too  many  newspapers  in  Saint  Paul, 
and,  on  the  arrival  of  Maj.  McLEAN  in  August,  a  consolida- 


*  NATHANIEL  McLEAN  was  born  in  Morris  county,  New  Jersey,  May  16,  1787.  He 
was  brother  of  Hon.  JOHN  McLEAN,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  His 
father  removed  to  Ohio  in  1789,  settling-  in  Warren  county.  NATHANIEL  McLEAN 
learned  the  printing  business  at  Cincinnati,  and,  as  early  as  1807,  published  a  paper  at 
Lebanon.  In  1810,  he  was  eledled  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Legislature,  serving  two  or 
three  sessions.  He  was  also  an  officer  in  the  War  of  1812.  In  the  spring  of  1849,  he 
determinedtoremovetoSaint  Paul  and  embark  in  the  newspaper  business.  He  was  then 
(3o  years  of  age,  but  remarkably  strong  and  active.  On  November  3,  1849,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  TAYLOR,  Sioux  Agent  at  Fort  Snelling,  which  office  he  held  until 
the  spring  of  1853.  In  the  fall  of  1855,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  Commissioners  of 
Ramsey  county.  This  was  the  last  public  office  he  held.  He  retained  his  physical 
powers  almost  unimpaired  until  a  short  time  before  his  death,  when  he  was  attacked 
with  cancer,  and  suffered  greatly  before  his  end  came,  April :  i ,  1871 ,  aged  84  years.  He 
was  an  honest  and  good  man.  The  township  of  McLean,  in  this  county,  was  named  in 
honor  of  him. 


230  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul*         \_\^,^) 

tion  was  effected  with  the  Chronicle,  as  before  stated.  Col. 
HUGHES  sold  out  and  retired,  and  went  to  Hudson,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  died  a  couple  of  years  ago.  His  foreman,  S.  A. 
QUAY,  took  an  interest  with  McLsAN  &  OWENS  in  the 
Chronicle  and  Register.  The  first  number  of  this  paper  was 
issued  on  August  25,  from  the  Chronicle  office,  a  well-printed 
seven  column  sheet.  Mr.  QUAY  withdrew  after  a  few  weeks, 
and  left  the  Territory.  The  paper  became  the  Whig  organ, 
and  soon  had  a  good  patronage  from  that  party. 

FORESHADOWINGS    OF    OUR    BRIDGE. 

The  Pioneer,  of  July  26,  contained  the  following  rather  pro- 
phetic note : 

"That  the  position  of  Saint  Paul  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  will 
soon  require  our  town  to  be  connected  by  a  bridge  with  the  west  side, 
as  early  as  possible,  at  least  after  the  extinguishment  of  the  Sioux  title 
on  the  west  side,  is  quite  obvious.  *  *  *  That  a  bridge  can  be  built 
from  the  bluff,  near  the  middle  of  Saint  Paul,  many  feet  above  the 
reach  of  the  tallest  steamboats,  at  no  very  great  expense,  by  supporting 
it  in  the  centre  by  a  pier  on  the  island,  we  have  no  doubt." 

CHURCHES   AND    RELIGIOUS    ITEMS. 

The  Register,  of  July  21,  contains  the  following: 

"Mr.  PARSONS  [Baptist]  will  preach  at  the  school  house  to-morrow 
morning,  at  half  past  ten,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  NEILL,  [the  Presbyterian 
clergyman,]  on  the  following  Sabbath,  at  the  same  hour.  These  gen- 
tlemen will  continue  to  officiate  alternately,  thus  affording  the  citizens 
an  opportunity  of  attending  divine  service  every  Sabbath  morning. 
The  means  of  grace  are  about  being  further  facilitated  in  Saint  Paul 
by  the  erection  of  two  churches,  one  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Mr. 
HOYT,  of  the  Methodist  church,  the  other  to  be  occupied  by  Mr.  NEILL'S 
congregation." 

The  Plattvillc  (Wisconsin)  Argus  of  the  same  week  speaks 
of  the  session  of  the  "  Wisconsin  Annual  Conference,"  in  that 
city.  Up  to  this  time,  and,  we  believe,  for  several  years  after- 
wards, Minnesota  was  included  in  this  conference.  Rev. 
CIIAUNCY  HOBART  was  stationed  at  Saint  Paul. 

At  this  time  (as  noted  before)  Rev.  Mr.  NEILL  was  engaged 
in  building  a  small  frame  chapel  on  Washington  street,  facing 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  231 

Rice  Park,  on  a  lot  contributed  by  H.  M.  RICE.  His  brick 
dwelling,  the  first  erected  in  Minnesota,  was  on  the  same  block 
facing  on  Fourth  street.  The  chapel  was  completed  for  use  in 
August,  being  the  first  Protestant  church  built  in  Minnesota. 
The  funds  for  its  erection  had  been  contributed  by  some  rela- 
tives and  personal  friends  of  Mr.  NEILL,  in  Philadelphia. 

POST-OFFICE    MATTERS. 

On  page  154  was  given  some  notes  of  the  establishment  of 
the  post-office  in  Saint  Paul,  and  its  equipment  of  furniture. 
JACKSON  held  the  post-office  three  years  and  three  months. 
During  the  three  years  of  that  time,  we  incline  to  the  belief 
that  it  hardly  paid  for  the  trouble  of  conducting  it.  But 
meantime  a  change  came  over  the  hamlet.  With  the  rush 
of  population  and  business,  came  also  a  very  great  increase  of 
mail  matter,  and  it  soon  became  necessary  to  lay  aside  the 
little  case  of  pigeon-holes,  and  procure  more  expanded  facili- 
ties for  serving  the  public.  The  Register,  of  July  28,  says  : 

"OuR  NEW  POST-OFFICE. — Our  postmaster,  Mr.  H.  JACKSON,  has 
fitted  up  his  new  post-office  building  on  Third  street,  with  great  taste 
and  convenience.  Every  citizen,  whose  business  requires  it,  can  now 
have  a  box  to  himself." 

The  "new  post-office"  referred  to,  was  a  frame  building 
about  where  No.  105  East  Third  street  now  is.  There  were 
only  about  200  "glass  boxes"  in  his  new  equipment,  a  num- 
ber considered  sufficient  for  present  needs  and  future,  too. 

But  alas !  for  the  fallacy  of  human  hopes  in  this  world. 
JACKSON'S  head  (officially)  was  already  in  the  basket,  even 
while  he  was  planning  and  building  in  expectation  of  profits 
to  come.  On  July  5,  he  was  decapitated  by  the  new  Whig 
dynasty,  and  JACOB  W.  BASS  commissioned  in  his  place. 
The  news  of  political  appointments  was  slower  getting  circu- 
lated those  times  than  in  these  days  of  telegraphic  journalism, 
or  JACKSON  might  have  saved  his  time  and  money.  For  in- 
stance, the  Pioneer  of  that  week  growls  in  this  wise : 

"Would  anyone  believe  that,  in  the  nineteenth  century,  our  Govern- 
ment would  limit  Minnesota,  situated  here  in  the  very  heart  of  the 
Republic,  to  one  mail  a  week?  We  ought  to  have  mails  at  least  tri- 
weekly during  the  summer." 


232  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1^49 

As  soon  as  Mr.  BASS  could  make  preparations  for  accommo- 
dating the  office  he  took  possession  of  the  same.  He  at  once 
erected  a  small  frame  addition,  or  lean-to,  alongside  of  the 
Jackson  street  front  of  the  Saint  Paul  House,  (since  called  the 
Merchants)  and  removed  thither  the  glass  boxes  or  pigeon- 
holes, with  the  other  equipments  necessary.  The  whole  room 
was  only  about  as  big  as  a  sheet  of  paper,  but  no  doubt  accom- 
modated the  business  of  that  day.  Mr.  WALLACE  B.  WHITE, 
acted  as  Mr.  BASS'  deputy  during  the  most  of  his  term.  Mr. 
WHITE  was  subsequently  Territorial  Librarian,  and  now  lives 
in  Washington. 

THE    ELECTION 

for  Councillors,  Representatives  and  .Delegate  came  off  on 
August  2d.  The  vote  in  the  Saint  Paul  precinct  stood  as 
follows : 

Councillors. 

Wm.  H.  Forbes 187     I     David  Lambert yi 

James  M.  Boal 98     I 

Representatives. 
B.   W.  Brunson 168          Joseph  R.  Brown 84 


A.  G.  Fuller 24 

Eb.  Weld 2 


P.  K.  Johnson 104 

Henry  Jackson 165 

Dr.  J.  J.  Detvey 178 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

The  election  developed  considerable  "life"  among  the  bovs 
of  those  days.  The  Pioneer  said  it  had  "gone  off  as  quietly 
as  could  be  expected."  The  Register,  however,  speaking  of 
the  rejoicings  over  the  election,  reported  more  : 

"  FORBES,  McBo.\L,  BRUNSON,  DEWEY,  JACKSON  and  JOHNSON,  were 
successively  placed  in  a  small-sized  '  go-cart,'  and  hauled  through  the 
streets  by  the  enthusiastic  crowd,  at  a  speed  rather  prejudicial  to  whole 
necks.  The  vehicle  finally  broke  down,  but  the  'boys'  were  not  to  be 
stopped  in  their  rejoicings.  So  they  carried  their  successful  friends  to 
the  hotel,  where  such  cheering  took  place,  as  we  scarcely  ever  heard  be- 
fore. The  crowd  then  dispersed  in  good  order." 

Hon.  H.  H.  SIBLEY  was  elected  to  Congress  without  op- 
position. 


1849]       and  of  the  County  oj  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  233 

BRIEF    NOTES. 

"The  number  of  retail  liquor  establishments  in  Saint  Paul  and  other 
towns  of  the  Territory,  is  a  LEETLE  too  great  for  a  sound  and  healthy 
state  of  public  morals.  It  is  the  subject  of  remark  by  strangers,  and 
gives  us  a  bad  name  at  home  and  abroad,  to  say  nothing  of  its  evil 
effects  upon  society."—  {Register,  Aug.  4.] 

"SHAMEFUL. — Last  Monday  night,  some  person  in  Saint  Paul  fur- 
nished a  band  of  Winnebago  Indians  with  liquor.  Of  course,  they  got 
drunk  and  were  patroling  our  streets  at  night,  singing  their  terrific 
war  songs,  and  filled  with  bitter  malignity.  These  things  must  not  be 
tolerated." — [Pioneer,  Aug.  9.] 

"It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  learn  that  another  school,  for  the  smaller 
children,  will  soon  be  started  in  the  lower  town  of  Saint  Paul.  In  the 
rush  of  business,  it  is  pleasant  to  find  the  training  of  the  infant  minds 
of  the  rising  generation  not  neglected." — [Chronicle,  Aug.  10.] 

"Messrs.  FREEMAN,  LARPENTEUR  &  Co.,  with  some  aid  from  their 
neighbors,  have  creeled  a  staircase  from  the  lower  landing  to  the  sum- 
mit of  Jackson's  point.  It  renders  the  passage  up  and  down  the  bluff 
a  diversified  and  pleasant  promenade." — [Pioneer,  Aug.  16.] 

These  stairs  remained  there  and  were  used  for  several  years. 

"  There  will  be  a  school  meeting  at  FREEMAN  &  LARPENTEUR'S  on 
Saturday  evening  next,  at  7  o'clock." — [Ib.] 

"  We  called  on  friend  BRAWLEY  the  other  day,  at  his  brick  yard.  He 
is  now  in  a  most  successful  state  of  operations.  He  employs  two  mills, 
ten  men,  and  has  now  on  hand  some  400,000  brick.  The  quality  is  bet- 
ter than  can  be  shown  north  of  Saint  Louis.  If  we  are  really  going  to 
build  a  city  we  must  use  brick." — [Pioneer,  Aug.  30.]^ 

This  was  the  first  kiln  of  brick  ever  burned  in  Minnesota. 
The  yard  was  near  the  present  residence  of  D.  W.  INGERSOLL. 
E.  D.  NEILL  had  a  dwelling  built  from  this  kiln,  and  the  Market 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  also  built  from  it. 

SOCIAL    STATISTICS. 

Some  one  in  the  east  having  written  a  letter  making  inquiry 
about  the  Territory,  among  other  things,  inquires  whether 
"  there  are  any  Odd  Fellows'  Lodges  in  the  Territory?"  Mr. 
GOODHUE  replies:  [August  16.] 

"As  to  the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  we  have  not  heard  of  any,  but 
there  are  a  great  many  smart  bachelors,  who  will  have  to  continue  odd, 
if  their  other  halves  do  not  come  along  with  you  immigrants." 

16 


234  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Patil, 

Mr.  GOODHUE  was  right  about  the  preponderance  of  the 
male  element  of  population.  The  census,  taken  a  few  months 
later,  disclosed  only  860  females  to  balance  1,337  l°rds  of  cre- 
ation, a  disproportion  always  found  in  all  new  western  com- 
munities. Thus,  477  of  the  young  bachelors  of  Saint  Paul 
must  have  remained  unmated,  unless,  as  the  jocose  editor  sug- 
gested in  another  case,  they  "take  up"  with  some  of  the 
"  Wenonas  of  the  Sioux  nation,  who  could  have  been  bought 
any  day  then  for  a  few  dollars  each,"  and,  indeed,  were  con- 
tinually hanging  around,  waiting  to  be  bought,  at  any  sum. 

In  the  next  issue  of  the  Pioneer,  however,  one  of  the 
"brethren  of  the  three  links"  throws  some  light  on  the 
question  of  Odd  Fellow's  Lodges.  One,  he  says,  was  instituted 
at  Stillwater,  on  August  15,  and  "'the  brethren  of  Saint  Paul 
have  made  application  for  a  charter  to  institute  a  Lodge  in 
this  place." 

EARLY  COURTS  OF  THE  TERRITORY. 

The  first  court  held  in  Saint  Croix  county  after  the  Territory 
was  organized,  was  on  August  12.  Chief  Justice  GOOD- 
RICH presided,  and  Judge  COOPER  assisted.  GOODHUE  says : 
"'  The  roll  of  attorneys  is  large  for  a  new  country.  About  20, 
of  the  lankest  and  hungriest  description,  were  in  attendance." 
The  term  lasted  six  days.  "•The  proceedings,"  says  the 
Chronicle  and  Register,  "were  for  the  first  two  or  three 
days  somewhat  crude,  owing  to  the  assembling  of  a  bar  com- 
posed of  persons  from  nearlv  every  State.  But,  by  the  urban- 
ity, conciliatory  firmness,  and  harmonious  course  taken  by  the 
Court,  matters  were  in  a  great  measure  systematized."  At 
this  session,  it  was  said  only  one  man  on  the  jury  wore  boots  ! 
All  the  rest  had  moccasins. 

The  court  of  the  Second  District,  Judge  MEEKER  presiding. 
*'  met  at  the  house  of  Mr.  BEAN,  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Mississippi,  opposite  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony,"  the  same 
week.  The  grand  jury  room  was  the  old  government  saw 
mill ! 

The  court  of  the  Third  District  was  held  at  Mendota  in  the 
latter  part  of  August,  Judge  COOPER  presiding.  Gen.  SIBLEY 
was  foreman  of  the  grand  jury.  Judge  COOPER  read  the  jury 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  235 

an  elaborate  charge,  which,  Gen.  S.  says,  only  three  out  of 
the  twenty  odd  members  understood,  the  rest  being  French. 
Maj.  FORBES  acted  as  interpreter  during  the  term. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    A    MASONIC    LODGE. 

Reference  was  made  a  few  pages  back  to  a  meeting  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  a  Masonic  Lodge.  The  movers  in  the 
work  applied  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Ohio  for  a  Dispensation, 
which  was  granted  on  August  8,  1849.  On  September  8,  the 
Lodge  was  organized-  in  the  office  of  C.  K.  SMITH,  who  had 
been  designated  in  the  warrant  as  first  Master.  Soon  after,  the 
officers  and  members  were  announced  as  follows:  W.  M. , 
C.  K.  SMITH;  S.  W.,  JAMES  HUGHES  ;  J.  W.,  DANIEL  F. 
BRAWLEY  ;  Treas.,J. C.RAMSEY  ;  Sec.,  J.  A.  AITKENSIDE  ;  S. 
D.,  LOT  MOFFET;  J.  D.,  TAYLOR  DUDLEY;  Tyler,  W.  C. 
WRIGHT.  Members — AARON  GOODRICH,  JOHN  CONDON,  AL- 
BERT TITLOW,  JOHN  HOLLAND,  LEVI  SLOAN,  C.  P.  V.  LULL, 
GEORGE  EGBERT,  SAMUEL  H.  DENT,  D.  B.  LOOMIS,  M;  S. 
WILKINSON,  JOHN  LUMLEY,  H.  N.  SETZER,  JAMES  M.  BOAL, 
CHAS.  P.  SCOTT,  O.  H.  KELLEY,  CHAS.  M.  BERG,  WILLIAM 
H.  RANDALL,  HUGH  TYLER,  L.UTHER  B.  BRUIN,  A.  M. 
MITCHELL. 

The  Lodge  met  for  sometime  in  a  room  in  the  Merchants' 
Hotel  building.  C.  P.  SCOTT  is  said  to  be  the  first  Mason 
made  in  Saint  Paul. 

ASSEMBLING    OF    THE    LEGISLATURE. 

On  Monday,  September  3,  the  first  session  of  the  Legisla- 
ture assembled  at  the  Capitol,  (i.  e.,  Central  House,)  the  ho- 
tel business  not  being  impeded  by  the  law-making  branch 
whatever.  On  the  first  floor  was  Secretary  SMITH'S  office 
and  the  "Representative  Chamber."  Up-stairs  was  the  li- 
brary and  the  "Council  Chamber."  As  the  Council  had 
only  nine  members,  and  the  House  eighteen,  it  did  not  require 
a  large  room  to  accommodate  either,  and  no  formalities  stood 
in  the  way  of  their  business. 

"Both  Houses,"  said  a  subsequent  writer  in  the  Pioneer, 
"  met  in  the  dining  hall,  where  Rev.  E.  D.  NEILL  prays  for 


236  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul*         [^49 

us  all,  and  Governor  RAMSEY  delivers  a  message  full  of  hope 
and  far-sighted  prophecy,  to  comfort  us  withal ;  and  then 
leaves  the  poor  devils  sitting  on  rough  board  benches  and 
chairs,  after  dinner,  to  work  out  as  they  may  this  old  problem 
of  self-government  through  the  appalling  labyrinth  of  parlia- 
mentary rules  and  tactics  that  perplex  their  souls.  Yet  no 
Legislature  which  ever  sat  in  Minnesota  was  made  of  better 
stuff  than  that  which  assembled  to  lay  the  corner-stone  of  the 
political  edifice." 

HOMICIDE. 

On  the  1 2th  of  September,  a  lad,  named  ISAIAH  McMiLLAN, 
accidentally  or  carelessly  shot  another  lad,  named  HEMAN 
SNOW,  near  the  corner  of  Third  and  Franklin  streets,  with  a 
gun  loaded  with  shot.  The  charge  entered  the  head  of  the 
unfortunate  boy,  and  he  soon  after  died.  McMiLLAN  was 
tried  for  homicide,  at  the  February  term  of  the  first  District 
Court,  held  by  Judge  COOPER,  in  Stillwater.  There  not  hav- 
ing been  proved  any  malice  aforethought  in  the  act,  the  jury 
returned  a  verdict  of  manslaughter,  with  a  recommendation  to 
mercy.  The  boy  was  sentenced  to  one  year's  imprisonment, 
but,  as  there  was  no  county  jail,  he  was  sent  to  Fort  Snelling 
for  confinement,  where  he  was  kept  as  a  prisoner  for  a  year, 
though  not  closely  confined.  He  appeared  to  be  half-witted, 
or  partially  idiotic.  This  was  the  first  trial  for  murder  in 
Minnesota,  whose  soil  has  so  often  since  been  stained  with 
human  blood  by  the  crime  of  CAIN. 

BIRTH    OF    DEMOCRACY    IN    MINNESOTA. 

Hitherto,  the  party  lines  had  not  been  drawn  very  strictly  in 
the  new  Territory.  At  the  election  noticed  ante,  no  political 
questions  had  entered  into  the  canvass.  The  first  erection  of 
party  standards  took  place  at  a  "  Democratic  Mass  Conven- 
tion," which  met  pursuant  to  call,  at  the  American  House,  on 
October  20,  1849.  Suitable  resolutions  were  reported  and 
adopted,  the  Pioneer  was  declared  the  organ  of  the  party,  and 
from  this  time  dates  the  bitterness  of  party  strife. 


1849]       and  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  237 

FERRY    CHARTERS. 

We  noticed,  a  few  pages  back,  an  article  by  Mr.  GOODHUE, 
on  the  necessity  of  a  bridge  across  the  river  to  West  Saint  Paul. 
This  must  necessarily  be,  however,  a  work  for  the  future. 
To  supply  something  better  for  travel  and  commerce  to  cross 
the  river  than  a  dug-out,  a  bill  was  introduced  by  Hon.  HENRY 
JACKSON,  "to  grant  a  charter  to  ISAAC  N.  GOODHUE  to  keep 
and  maintain  a  ferry  across  the  Mississippi  River  opposite  the 
lower  landing,  in  Saint  Paul."  'The  bill  did  not  pass  at  that 
session,  however,  but  a  notice  was  soon  after  placed  in  the 
Pioneer  that  JAMES  M.  &  ISAAC  N.  GOODHUE  would  apply 
to  the  Commissioners  of  Ramsey  county  for  a  ferry  charter 
across  the  Mississippi,  at  the  lower  landing.  The  license  was 
granted  on  January  7,  1850,  and,  at  the  same  meeting,  a  ferry 
privilege  was  also  granted  to  JOHN  R.  IRVINE,  to  run  one 
from  the  upper  levee.  These  ferries  plied  regularly  until  the 
Saint  Paul  bridge  was  completed  in  1858. 

LOCATION    OF    THE    CAPITAL. 

The  question  of  the  location  of  the  Capital  came  up  during 
the  session,  on  the  consideration  of  a  part  of  Gov.  RAMSEY'S 
message  referring  to  that  subject.  The  Committee  on  Terri- 
torial Affairs,  to  .whom  it  had  been  referred,  reported  that : 

"They  are  constrained  to  give  it  as  their  opinion,  that  Saint  Paul 
should  continue  to  be  the  seat  of  government  of  the  Territory  until 
otherwise  determined  by  a  vote  of  the  people.  Apart  from  the  fa<St 
that  Saint  Paul  is  the  most  central  point,  so  far  as  the  present  popula- 
tion of  the  Territory  is  concerned,  the  facl:  that  it  is  the  head  of  naviga- 
tion on  the  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  accessible  to  steamboats,  is 
another  strong  point  in  its  favor.  Your  committee  believe  that  it  is  the 
wish  of  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  Minnesota,  that  the  location  of 
the  Capital  should  not  be  changed.  With  good  roads  diverging  from 
every  point,  Saint  Paul  is  easily  reached  at  all  seasons  of  the  year." 

Considerable  discussion  ensued  during  the  session  on  this 
subject,  as  to  whether  the  Territory  had  a  right  to  expend  the 
$20,000  appropriated  in  the  Organic  Act,  for  a  Capitol  building. 
The  question  having  been  submitted  to  Hon.  W.  M.MEREDITH, 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  he  replied  that  the  "  Department 


238  The.  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

cannot  doubt  that  the  public  buildings  in  question  can  only  be 
erected  at  the  permanent  seat  of  government,  located  as 
described.  Of  course,  the  reply  to  your  inquiry  must  be,  that 
nothing  can  be  expended  from  this  appropriation  until  after 
the  location  shall  be  duly  made." 

So  the  permanent  location  was  not  definitely  settled  this 
session,  however,  but,  at  the  close  of  the  Legislature,  it  was  a 
drawn  battle.  Saint  Paul  remained  the  temporary  seat  of 
government,  and  the  Governor  was  authorized  to  rent  build- 
ings to  carry  on  the  public  business  meantime. 

Ex-Gov.  MARSHALL,  in  his  address  before  the  Old  Settlers  of 
Hennepin  county,  February  22,  1871,  says,  regarding  the 
contest  for  the  seat  of  government : 

"The  original  act  made  Saint  Paul  the  temporary  Capital,  but  pro- 
vided that  the  Legislature  might  determine  the  permanent  Capital.  A 
hill  was  introduced  by  the  Saint  Paul  delegation  to  fix  the  permanent 
Capital  there.  I  opposed  it,*  endeavoring  to  have  Saint  Anthony 
made  the  seat  of  government.  We  succeeded  in  defeating  the  bill 
which  sought  to  make  Saint  Paul  the  permanent  Capital,  but  we  could 
not  get  through  the  bill  fixing  it  at  Saint  Anthony.  So  the  question  re- 
mained open  in  regard  to  the  permanent  Capital  until  the  next  session, 
in  1851,  when  a  compromise  was  effected,  by  which  the  Capital  was  to 
be  at  Saint  Paul,  the  State  University  at  Saint  Anthony,  and  the  Peni- 
tentiary at  Stillwater. 

"At  that  early  day,  as  well  as  now,  caricatures  and  burlesques  were 
in  vogue.  Young  WM.  RANDALL,  of  Saint  Paul,  now  deceased,  who 
had  some  talent  in  the  graphic  line,  drew  a  pidture  of  the  efforts  at 
Capital-removal.  It  was  a  building  on  wheels,  with  ropes  attached,  at 
which  I  was  pictured  tugging,  while  BRUNSON,  JACKSON,  and  the  other 
Saint  Paul  members  were  holding  and  checking  the  wheels  to  prevent 
my  moving  it,  with  humorous  and  appropriate  speeches  proceeding 
from  the  mouths  of  the  parties  to  the  contest.  The  caricature  was  quite 
a  good  one,  and  served  to  amuse  the  people  of  Saint  Paul  for  some 
days.  When  this  question  was  before  me,  as  Governor,  if  it  had  been 
the  old  question  of  removal  to  Saint  Anthony — a  very  different  thing 
from  removal  to  a  point  more  than  a  hundred  miles  from  the  centre  of 
population,  and  quite  as  far  from  the  geographical  centre  of  the  State — 
I  do  not  believe  I  should  have  been  so  readj'  to  veto  it." 

This  was  the  first  struggle  on  the  Capital  question.  The 
sessions  of  1851,  1857,  ^69  and  1872,  saw  it  repeated,  as  will 
be  noted  under  those  dates. 

*Gov.  MARSHALL  then  represented  Saint  Anthony,  at  which  place  he  lived. 


1849]       find  of  the  County  of  Ramsey-,  Minnesota . '         239 

WILLIAM    R.   MARSHALL 

was  born  in  Boone  county,  Missouri,  October  17,  1825.  His  father. 
JOSEPH  MARSHALL,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  his  mother,  ABBV 
SHAW,  of  Pennsylvania.  In  his  vounger  days,  Mr.  MARSHALL  followed 


WILLIAM  H.  MARSHALL. 


the  business  of  mining,  surveying,  &c.,  and  spent  several  years  in  the 
lead  region  of  Wisconsin.  In  1847,  ne  came  to  Saint  Croix  Falls,  and 
settled  there  for  a  few  months.  During  September  of  that  year,  he  first 
visited  Saint  Anthonv  Falls,  on  foot.  His  account  of  this  visit,  in  his 


240        •     The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Parit ',         [X849 

address  before  mentioned,  is  worthy  of  a  record  here:  "When  with 
weary  feet,  I  stood  at  last,  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  on  the  brink  of 
the  Falls,  I  saw  them  in  all  their  beauty  and  grandeur,  unmarred  by 
the  hand  of  man, — in  such  beauty  of  nature  as  no  one  has  seen  them 
in  the  past  22  years.  As  the  light  of  the  fast-declining  sun  of  that 
autumn  day  bathed  the  tops  of  the  trees  and  the  summits  of  the  gentle 
hills,  and  left  the  shadows  of  the  wooded  islands  darkling  the  waters, 
and  as  the  plunging,  seething,  deafening  Falls  sent  up  the  mist  and  set 
its  rainbow  arching  the  scene,  I  was  filled  with  a  sense  of  the  awe-in- 
spiring in  nature,  such  as  I  have  rarely  since  experienced."  At  that 
time  a  claim  shanty  or  two  were  the  only  habitations  there. 

Gov.  MARSHALL,  on  that  visit,  staked  out  a  claim,  and  cuj  logs  for  a 
cabin,  but  could  not  get  a  team  to  haul  them.  So  he  left  it  for  the 
present,  and  returned  in  1849,  ar>d  perfected  his  claim,  which  has  since 
become  an  addition  to  the  city. 

In  the  fall  of  1848,  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  Wisconsin, 
from  Saint  Croix  county,  but  his  seat  was  contested  by  JOSEPH  BOWRON, 
of  Hudson,  on -the  grounds  that  MARSHALL  lived  out  of  the  limits  of 
the  State,  which  had  just  been  admitted. 

After  settling  at  Saint  Anthony,  in  1849,  ne  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  first  Legislature  from  that  district.  He  was  then  engaged  in  the 
iron  and  heavy  hardware  business.  The  following  summer,  he  en- 
deavored to  get  the  steamers  to  deliver  his  heavy  freights  at  the  foot  of 
the  Falls,  but,  as  they  would  not  or  could  not  do  so,  he  was  compelled 
to  remove  his  business  to  Saint  Paul,  which  he  did  in  1851.  He  had,  in 
the  meantime,  it  may  be  remarked,  surveyed  "Leech's  Addition,"  and 
other  portions  of  our  city.  On  removing  to  Saint  Paul,  he  established 
the  first  iron  store  in  this  city,  the  same  business  now  continued  by 
NICOLS  &  DEAN.  In  1852,  he  was  elected  County  Surveyor.  In  1853, 
with  his  brother,  JOSEPH  M.  MARSHALL,  (now  of  Colorado,)  and  N.  P. 
LANGFORD,  he  established  a  banking  house,  which  was  very  successful 
until  1857,  when  the  crash  prostrated  everything.  In  1855,  he  was  the 
candidate  of  the  Republican  party  for  Delegate  to  Congress,  but  the  party 
were  not  successful  in  the  contest,  H.  M.  RICE  being  elected ;  though  10 
years  later  the  tables  were  turned,  Mr.  MARSHALL  beating  Mr.  RICE 
for  Governor.  After  withdrawing  from  the  banking  business,  he  en- 
gaged in  stock-raising  and  dairy-farming  for  several  years,  importing 
some  of  the  finest  cattle  ever  brought  to  our  State. 

In  December,  1860,  he  purchased  the  Saint  Paul  Daily  Times,  and,  on 
January  i,  1861,  issued  it  as  the  Daily  Press,  in  connection  with  NEW- 
TON BRADLEY,  Esq.,  as  business  manager,  and  JOSEPH  A.  WHEELOCK, 
as  assistant  editor.  The  Press  was  very  successful,  soon  absorbing  the 
Minnesotian,  and  has  been  ever  since,  until  its  mergement  into  another 
paper,  a  leading  journal  of  the  State. 

In  August,  1862.  Gov.  MARSHALL  enlisted  in  the  Seventh  Regiment. 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.    '       241 

of  which  he  was  appointed  Lieut.  Colonel.  During  the  Sioux  out- 
break, he  was  constantly  in  active  service,  and,  in  several  engagements, 
led  his  men  with  a  fearless  bravery  which  has  always  been  a  character- 
istic. He  was  also  in  the  expedition  of  1863.  In  November  of  that 
year  he  was  commissioned  Colonel.  The  Regiment  went  south  that 
fall,  and  was  soon  after  assigned  to  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps.  It  had 
its  full  share  of  battles  and  campaigns,  until  the  end  of  the  war,  Col. 
MARSHALL  being,  in  the  meantime,  brevetted  a  Brigadier.  Shortly  af- 
ter the  discharge  of  the  Regiment,  in  August,  1865,  he  was  elected 
Governor  of  Minnesota,  and,  in  1867,  re-elected  for  another  term.  On 
the  conclusion  of  his  term,  January,  1870,  he  again  engaged  in  bank- 
ing, being  Vice  President  of  the  Marine  National  Bank,  and  President 
of  the  Minnesota  Savings  Bank.  In  1874,  he  was  appointed  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Railroad  Commissioners,  and,  in  November,  1875,  was 
re-elecfted  Commissioner  for  two  years. 

Gov.  MARSHALL  has  been  prominent  in  a  number  of  our  public  in- 
stitutions, and  in  measures  and  enterprises  to  benefit  the  city — such  as 
the  Saint  Paul  bridge,  &c.,  and  in  educational  matters.  He  has  been 
active  in  organizing  the  Swedenborgian  church  in  this  city,  and  has 
liberally  aided  other  societies.  Like  most  of  our  pioneers,  he  rejoices 
in  sound  health  and  a  good  constitution,  and  his  active  participation  in 
events  may  extend  over  another  generation  yet. 

SAINT    PAUL    INCORPORATED    AS    A    TOWN. 

The  Legislature  continued  in  session  for  60  days,  adjourning 
on  November  3,  1849.  It  passed  many  acts  which  had  a  bear- 
ing on  the  material  prosperity  of  the  Territory.  Nine  coun- 
ties were  created,  among  them  one  named  in  honor  of  the 
Governor  of  the  Territory — RAMSEY.  Saint  Paul  was  declared 
to  be  the  county  seat  of  the  same,  and,  on  the  first  day  of  No- 
vember, 1849,  a  bill  was  approved,  incorporating  the  "  Town 
of  Saint  Paul."  It  begins  as  follows  : 

"  Be  it  enafled,  &c.  That  so  much  of  the  Town  of  Saint  Paul  as  is 
contained  in  the  original  plat  of  said  town,  made  by  IRA  BRUNSON,  to- 
gether with  Irvine  and  Rice's  Addition,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby 
created  a  town  corporate,  by  the  name  of  the  Town  of  Saint  Paul." 

Then  follows  a  provision  for  the  election,  on  the  6th  of  May 
following,  "and  annually  thereafter,"  of  one  President,  one 
Recorder,  and  five  Trustees,  each  for  the  term  of  one  year, 
the  same  to  constitute  a  Town  Council.  They  were  empow- 
ered to  appoint  a  Treasurer  and  Marshal,  and  other  subordinate 


242  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

officers.     The  President  was  also  to  be  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
ex-officio,  in  all  matters,  civil  or  criminal. 

APPOINTMENTS    OF    OFFICERS. 

On  the  adjournment  of  the  Legislature,  the  following  ap- 
pointments by  the  Governor  were  announced,  for  Ramsey 
county : 

Register  of  Deeds. — DAVID  DAY.* 

Sheriff.— C.  P.  V.  LULL. 

Commissioners. — Louis  ROBERT  and  ANDRE  GODFREY. 

Judge  of  Probate. — HENRY  A.  LAMBERT. 

THE  FIRST  "BANK"  IN  SAINT  PAUL. 

The  Pioneer,  of  November  15,  aired  up  quite  a  neat  swin- 
dle, as  follows : 

"  Some  time  in  September  last,  there  came  to  Saint  Paul  a  burly- 
looking,  middle-aged  man,  of  medium  stature,  dressed  in  a  drab  suit, 
and  wearing  a  drab-colored  fur  hat,  who  called  himself  ISAAC  YOUNG, 
and  represented  that  he  had  formerly  been  a  saddler  in  Ohio.  This 
man  closeted  himself  with  a  Mr.  SAWYER,  who  was  then  in  Saint  Paul, 
and  got  him  to  sign  a  large  number  of  handsomely  engraved  pieces  of 
paper,  on  which  were  engraved  the  words,  "  Bank  of  Saint  Croix* 
Saint  Paul,  Minnesota"  or  something  of  that  purport.  Mr.  Yorxc 

*  DAVID  DAY  was  born  in  Burke's  Garden,  Virginia,  September  19,  1825,  and  his 
boyhood  was  passed  in  the  same  place.  In  1846,  he  removed  to  the  lead  region  of  Wis- 
consin, where  he  followed  mining  for  three  years,  studying  medicine  at  nijjlit  and 
other  leisure  times,  and  attending  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  winter.  He  graduated  from  that  Institute  in  1849.  He  came  to  Saint  Paul 
in  the  spring  of  that  year,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine,  which  he  pursued 
with  much  success  for  several  years.  In  1854,  he  entered  the  drug  business,  and  with- 
drew from  the  practice  of  medicine.  During  this  period  he  also  held  one  or  two  im- 
portant public  positions.  In  1849,  he  was  appointed  Register  of  Deeds,  and  the  same  fall 
ele<5ted  for  two  years  more.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Legislatures  of  1852  and  1853, 
from  Benton  county,  in  which  he  was  temporarily  residing,  the  latter  year  being  elected 
Speaker.  He  retired  from  the^  drug  business  in  1866,  being  at  that  time  the  oldest  house 
.in  the  State.  In  1871,  he  was  appointed  State  Prison  Inspector.  In  1874,  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  Commissioners  of  State  Fisheries,  and  also  "  Seed  Wheat  Commis- 
sioner,"  to  provide  the  sufferers  from  the  grasshopper  raid  with  seed — both  honorary 
appointments,  without  any  compensation.  On  June  i,  1875,  he  was  appointed  Postmas- 
ter  of  Saint  Paul.  Dr.  DAY  has  been  a  close  observer  and  diligent  student  of  questions 
and  problems  in  social  science,  philosophy  and  political  economy,  and  at  the  same  t Min- 
nas been  one  of  our  most  successful,  sagacious  and  enterprising  businessmen.  With 
an  even  temperament,  and  well-preserved  physique,  one  might  almost  expert  him  to  be 
the  "  last  man"  of  the  old  settlers. 


1849]       find  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota .  243 

disappeared  from  Saint  Paul.  The  next  we  hear  of  Mr.  YOUNG,  he  is 
in  Saint  Louis,  buying  printing  paper,  and  negotiating  for  goods  to 
send  to  Saint  Paul.  Notes  of  the  "  Bank  of  Saint  Croix,  at  Saint 
Paul,"  are  quoted  in  the  Eastern  bank  note  lists  at  one  per  cent,  dis- 
count, the  quotation  being  furnished  by  some  accomplice  in  the  fraud, 
living  in  Wall  street,  New  York.  Mr.  YOUNG  has  not  reappeared  in 


DAVID  DAY. 


Saint  Paul,   and  probably  never  will.     Mr.   SAWYER,  we  learn,  wa 
duped  in  this  affair." 


The  rush  of  immigration  continued  late  that  fall.  The  Pi- 
oneer, of  November  15.  says:  "  Steamboats  continue  to  ar- 
rive at  our  \yharves,  laden  with  merchandize  and  passengers." 

The  Chronicle,  of  September  29,  states  that  2,135  barrels  of 
cranberries  had  been  shipped  below  up  to  that  date.  The 


244  Tfie  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1849 

cranberry  trade,  for  several  years,  was  quite  a  large  one. 
They  were  mostly  gathered  by  squaws,  who  traded  them  for 
goods  and  other  merchandize  at  the  stores. 

Pig's  Eye  was  stated  at  this  time  to  have  a  population  of 
forty  families. 

THE    ELECTION    FOR    COUNTY    OFFICERS, 

under  the  new  laws  passed  by  the  Legislative,  took  place  on 
November  26.  Ramsey  county  at  that  time  extended  up  the 
Mississippi  River  to  its  source  almost,  including,  of  course, 
Saint  Anthony.  The  vote  stood  as  follows : 

St.  Anthony.     St.  Paul.  Total. 

Register Dr.  D.  Day 39  172  211 

• W.D.Phillips 30  69  99 

•  Sheriff C.P.  V.  Lull 17  172  189 

"     J.R.Irvine 33  fx>  93 

"     Ed.  Brissett 19  2  21 

Treasurer J.   W.Simpson 69  240  309 

Commissioners L.  Robert 57  202  259 

A.Godfrey 19  123  142 

"                  B.  Gervais 31       '       167  198 

John  Banfil 37  70  107 

"                 R.  P.  Russell 54  108  162 

Judge  of  Probate H.  A.  Lambert 34  149  183 

"                B.  W.  Lott 33  93  126 

Those  in  italics  elected.  c 

ORGANIZATION    OF    PUBLIC    SCHOOLS. 

An  adjourned  school  meeting  of  the  citizens  took  place  at 
"  the  school  house,"  on  December  i .  Hon.  C.  K.  SMITH,  from 
the  committee  previously  appointed,  after  reviewing  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Minnesota  Statute  on  public  schools,  and  that 
of  Wisconsin,  still  in  force,  reported,  recommending  :  "That 
two  persons  be  appointed  by  this  meeting  to  call  on  the 
County  Commissioners^  and  request  them  to  divide  the 
town  into  a  suitable  number  of  school  districts,  after  which  an 
organization  of  the  districts  shall  be  brought  about,  agreeably 
to  the  requirements  of  the  law."  Also,  that  a  committee  be 
appointed  to  procure  from  JNO.  R.  IRVINE,  a  deed  to  the  lot  on 
which  the  school  house  then  stood,  provided  the  amount  still 


1849]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.          245 

due  for  its  erection  ($80)  was  paid  ;  and  to  secure  from  Mr. 
RANDALL  a  deed  for  the  lot  which  he  had  proposed  to  donate 
for  school  purposes  on  Jackson  street.  Three  schools  were 
recommended  to  be  opened  ;*  one  on  the  RANDALL  lot,  to  be 
put  up  immediately  ;  one  in  the  basement  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  one  in  "Mr.  NEILL'S  lecture  room."  As  teachers 
Miss  H.  E.  BISHOP,  Miss  SCOFIELD,  and  Rev.  C.  HOBART, 
were  recommended ;  the  committees  ( of  two  each )  who 
\vere  to  be  appointed  as  above,  to  be  the  school  trustees  until 
the  town  shall  be  districted,  and  others  elected. 

The  report  was  adopted,  and  the  following  gentlemen 
appointed  as  the  trustees:  WM.  H.  FORBES,  JOHN  SNOW, 
EDMUND  RICE,  Rev.  E.  D.  NEILL,  Rev.  B.  F.  HOYT,  J. 
PARSONS,  and  B.  W.  BRUNSON. 

REVIEW    OF    THE    TRADE    OF     1849. 

The  river  remained  open  and  navigable  this  year  242  days, 
during  which  there  were  95  arrivals. 

The  whole  mercantile  business  of  Saint  Paul  for  the  year 
1849,  was  ascertained  at  the  close  of  the  season  to  be  $131 ,000. 
Of  this,  $60,000  was  computed  to  be  groceries  alone.  There 
were  scarcely  any  stores  devoted  exclusively  to  one  branch  of 
business.  Each  had  "  a  little  of  everything" — groceries,  hard- 
ware, dry  goods,  clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  &c.  In  a  short 
time,  however,  this  changed,  and  nearly  every  merchant  de- 
voted himself  to  one  line  of  merchandize.  The  McCLOUD 
BROS,  established  the  first  exclusively  hardware  store  in  Min- 
nesota, during  this  year. 

FIRST    BUSINESS    DIRECTORY,   JANUARY    I,    1850. 

Ill  the  New  Year's  Address  of  the  Pioneer,  mentioned  more 
fully  hereafter,  the  following  business  directory  is  given  : 
Clergymen. — Rev.  Messrs.  Ravoux,  Neill,  Hobart,  Hoyt,  Parsons. 
Lawyers.—  Ed.  Rice,  H.  A.  Lambert,  W.  D.  Phillips,  P.  P.  Bishop, 

*The  Chronicle  and  Register  of  January  6,  1850,  says  that,  "  our  three  schools  recently 
established,  are  now  in  full  blast,  affording  by  their  capacity  and  location,  ample  means 
for  the  education  of  all  the  children  in  town."  One  of  these  was  the  old  frame  build- 
ing situated  on  the  west  side  of  Jackson  street,  below  Sixth.  It  is  now  used  as  a 
second-hand  store. 


246  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/,         [1849 

Geo.  L.  Becker,  H.  F.  Masterson,  O.  Simons,  J.  A.  Wakefield,  8.  H. 
Dent,  W.  B.  White,  B.  W.  Lott,  James  M.  Goodhue,  L.  A.  Babcock, 
C.  K.  Smith. 

Land  Agents.— A.  V.  Fryer,  Isaac  N.  Goodhue. 

Physicians.—].  J.  Dewey,  David  Day,  Thos.  R.  Potts,  N.  Barbour. 

Merchants.— Elfelt  &  Bro.,  Fuller  &Bro.,  L.  Sloan,  Fullerton  &  Cur- 
tis, W;  H.  Forbes,  Douglas  &  Slosson,  John  Randall  &  Co.,  Louis  Ro- 
bert, H.  W.  Tracy  &  Co.,  Daniel  Hopkins,  Sergeant  &  Bowen,  J.  W. 
Simpson,  Bart.  Presley  &  Co.,  Dewey  &  Cavileer,  N.  Barbour,  J.  C. 
Ramsey. 

Tailors. — Johnson  &  Brown,  W.  H.  Tinker,  J.  N.  Slosson. 

Shoemaker. — Hugh  McCann. 

Hotels. — American  House,  by  R.  Parker ;  Tremont  House,  by  J.  A. 
Wakefield ;  Central  House,  by  R.  Kennedy ;  Saint  Paul  House,  by  J. 
W.  Bass;  DeRocher's  House,  by  DeRocher;  Miller's  Boarding  House, 
by  B.  Miller. 

Painters. — J.  M.  Boal,  Burrill  &  Inman. 

Blacksmiths.—  Wm.  H.  Nobles  &  Co.,  Leverich  &  Co. 

Plasterers.—].  R.  Irvine,  D.  DeWebber, Starkfielder,  C.  P.  Scott, 

Masons. —  —  Barnes,  B.  Bowles,  Wm.  Beaumette, Hanley,  J. 

Kirkpatrick. 

Carpenters.— C.  P.  V.  Lull,  Wm.  Bryant,  A.  Foster,  W.  Woodbury, 

W.  C.  Morrison,  J.  B.  Coty,  Chas.  Bazille,  T.  Lareau, Coit,  H. 

Willey,  Eaton  &  Bro., Chase,  B.  F.  Irvine,  J.  B.  Lumbeek,  Joseph 

Brinsmade,  H.  Glass,  J.  Frost. 

Silversmith. — Nathan  Spicer. 

Gunsmith  —      —  McGuire. 

Bakers. — Berry  &  Bro.,  K.  Stewart,  Humphrey  &  Brinkman. 

Wheel-wrights. — Nobles  &  Morrison,  Hiram  Cawood. 

Saddle  and  Harness  Maker. — A.  R.  French. 

Tinner.— C.  D.  Bevans. 


[850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  247 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1850. 

CELEBRATION  OF  NEW  YEAR'S  DAY— CURIOUS  NEW  YEAR'S  ADDRESS— BALLS- 
ROADS  AND  MAIL  SERVICE— SKETCH  OF  "OLD  BETS"— A  HOMICIDE— SKETCH 
OF  HON.  E.  RICE— FIRST  TERM  OF  COURT— FIRST  TOWN  ELECTION— DARING 
INDIAN  CONFLICT. 

E  year  1850  opened  auspiciously.  The  practice  of 
k'  making  calls"  was  then  inaugurated  by  the  gentlemen 
of  the  city.  The  day  was  clear  and  fine,  and  all  enjoyed  it 
greatly.  The  Pioneer  says  : 

"  The  festivities  and  hilarity  of  our  town  on  New  Year's  confirm  the 
truth  that  cold  weather  can  never  freeze  warm  hearts.  Saint  Paul  was, 
yesterday,  swarming  with  animated  fashion.  The  sideboards  of  many 
of  our  citizens  were  provided  with  free  entertainments,  which  would  do 
credit  to  the  wealthy  burghers  of  Gotham.  At  n  o'clock  a.  m.,  our 
people  assembled  at  the  Methodist  church,  to  attend  the  exercises  of 
the  Minnesota  Historical  Society.  *  *  *  In  the  evening,  there  was 
a  rush  to  the  ball  at  the  Central  House,  there  being  nearly  or  quite  one 
hundred  gentlemen,  with  their  ladies,  present." 

THE  li  PIONEER'S"  NEW  YEAR'S  ADDRESS. 

The  Pioneer  issued,  on  January  i,  a  New  Year's  Address, 
which  created  considerable  amusement.  A  few  extracts  will 
show  its  tone  : 

"  The  cities  on  this  river  must  be  three. 
Two  that  are  built,  and  one  that  is  to  be. 
One  is  the  mart  of  all  the  tropics  yield; 
The  cane,  the  orange,  and  the  cotton-field ; 
And  sends  her  ships  abroad  and  boasts 
Her  trade  extended  to  a  thousand  coasts ; 
The  other,  central  for  the  temperate  zone, 
Garners  the  stores  that  on  the  plains  are  grown ; 
A  place  where  steamboats  from  all  quarters  range. 
To  meet  and  speculate,  as  'twere,  on  'change. 


248  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,        [1850 

The  third  will  be,  where  rivers  confluent  flow 

From  the  wide-spreading  north  through  plains  of  snow : 

The  mart  of  all  that  boundless  forests  give 

To  make  mankind  more  comfortably  live ; 

The  land  of  manufacturing  industry, 

The  workshop  of  the  nation  it  shall  be. 

Propelled  by  this  wide  stream,  you'll  see 

A  thousand  factories  at  Saint  Anthony  : 

And  the  Saint  Croix  a  hundred  mills  shall  drive, 

And  all  its  smiling  villages  shall  thrive; 

But  then  my  town — remember  that  high  bench 

With  cabins  scattered  over  it,  of  French  ? 

A  man  named  HENRY  JACKSON'S  living  there, 

Also  a  man — why,  every  one  knows  L.  ROBAIR  ; 

Below  Fort  Snelling,  seven  miles  or  so, 

And  three  above  the  village  of  OLD  CROW? 

Pig's  Eye  ?    Yes ;  Pig's  Eye  !     That's  the  spot ! 

A  very  funny  name;  is't  not? 

Pig's  Eye's  the  spot,  to  plant  my  city  on, 

To  be  remembered  by,  when  I  am  gone. 

Pig's  Eye,  converted  thou  shalt  be,  like  SAUL  : 

Thy  name  henceforth  shall  be  Saint  Paul. 

When  the  Wisconsin's  wedded  to  the  Fox 

By  a  canal  and  solid  steamboat  locks ; 

When  freighted  steamboats  leave  Saint  Paul  one  day, 

And  reach,  the  next  but  one,  Green  Bay; 

When  locomotives  regularly  draw, 

Their  freighted  trains  from  distant  Pembina, 

And  o'er  the  bridge  rush,  thundering,  at  Saint  Paul ; 

And,  at  Dubuque,  to  breathe,  scarce  make  a  call ; 

But  hurry  onward  to  the  hot  Balize, 

By  flying  farms,  plantations,  houses,  trees, — 

When  from  the  Cave  to  Pig's  Eye  shall  extend 

A  levee  lined  with  steamboats  to  each  end; 

When  one  great  city  covers  all 

The  ground  from  Pig's  Eye  to  the  Falls, 

I  then  will  claim  Saint  Paul  for  mine, 

The  child  of  1849." 

Some  of  these  visions  of  the  future,  though  then  a  mere 
freak  of  wild  fancy,  have  been  so  closely  fulfilled  since,  or  are 
about  to  be,  the  doggerel  will  repay  a  careful  perusal. 

BALLS    AND    SOCIAL    BEHAVIOR. 

A  ball  was  held  on  January  17,  at  the  Central  House.     The 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  249 

Pioneer  criticises  it  in  a  humorous  way,  that  would  lead  one 
to  suppose  that  society  was  not  as  stai-chy  and  high-toned 
those  days  as  we  have  it  at  our  bon  ton  soirees  now-a-days.  It 
advises  gentlemen  to  wear  neither  moccasins  or  heavy  boots 
at  balls!  The  Pioneer  also  thought  it  ''vulgar  for  a  lady  to 
make  up  a  bundle  of  cake,  nuts  and  candies  at  the  table  to 
carry  home  !  She  might  as  well  pocket  the  sugar-bowl  and 
teaspoons." 

Balls  and  sociable  dancing  parties  appear  to  have  been  about 
the  only  amusements  in  winter-time  then,  and,  without  them, 
the  long  winter  months  would  have  probably  been  intolerably 
tedious.  The  22d  of  February  this  year  was  celebrated  by  a 
ball  at  the  American  House,  80  or  more  persons  being  present. 
The  band  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  generally  furnished  music 
for  those  soirees.  Their  leader,  Mr.  JACKSON,  was  a  famous 
bugler,  and  many  of  our  old  citizens  remember  the  soul-stirring 
notes  of  his  favorite  instrument. 

Another  famous  ball  musician  of  early  days  was  a  colored 
man,  named  WM.  TAYLOR.  He  had  a  very  musical  voice,  and 
has  "  called  figures"  for  hundreds  of  balls  and  dances,  almost. 
He  was  killed  by  the  Indians  at  Yellow  Medicine,  in  1862. 

ROADS    AND    MAIL    SERVICE. 

The  Pioneer  complains,  and  justly,  too,  that  the  mail  ser- 
•vice  during  the  winter  of  1849—^0,  was  execrable.  "./?  takes 
(groaned  the  editor)  a  month  to  get  a  letter  from  Washington." 
The  proposals  advertised  for,  a  short  time  previous,  called  for 
a  weekly  eastern  mail,  during  winter.  The  contract  for  this 
service  was  let  to  Hon.  H.  M.  RICE,  as  will  be  further  noted 
in  a  subsequent  chapter.  One  reason  for  the  poor  service, 
probably,  was  the  absence  of  good  roads.  Prior  to  this  win- 
ter, the  only  road  from  Saint  Paul  to  Prairie  du.  Chien  was  on 
the  ice  of  the  river,  after  it  froze — a  route  of  much  danger. 
In  November  and  December,  1849,  however,  WIRAM  KNOWL- 
TON,  of  Willow  River,  (Hudson)  Wisconsin,  laid  out  a  road 
from  Prairie  du  Chien  to  that  place,  via  Black  River  Falls. 
It  was  "blazed  and  marked,"  he  says,  in  a  letter  to  the 
Pioneer*  "the  whole  way," — distance,  223  miles.  Some 
17 


250  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1850 

streams  were  bridged,  "and  a  span  of  good  horses  can  now 
haul  i, 800  or  2,000  pounds  through  the  whole  distance." 
•*  Stopping  places"  could  be  found  a  part  of  the  way,  but  the 
rest  of  the  route,  the  traveler  must  *•  camp  out"  in  the  snow. 
This  road  was  used  as  the  winter  route  east  by  Saint  Paul 
travelers,  for  several  years.  WII.LOUGHBY  and  POWERS'  stage 
line  ran  on  it  several  seasons,  and  Mr.  RICE'S  mail  contract 
was  served  on  it.  at  least  a  part  of  that  time. 

At  this  date,  the  only  mail  routes  in  Minnesota,  besides  the 
one  above  referred  to,  were  from  Saint  Paul  to  Fort  Snelling 
and  back,  weekly  :  from  Saint  Paul  to  Falls  of  Saint  Croix, 
via  Stillwater  and  Marine  Mills,  and  back,  weekly,  with  one 
additional  trip  per  week  to  Stillwater  and  back.  There  were, 
in  1850,  only  sixteen  post-offices  in  what  is  now  Minnesota. 

ORGANI/ATIOX    OF    CHURCHES. 

On  December  29,  1849,  a  Baptist  church  had  been  organ- 
ized, with  12  members,  and  was  v*  recognized"  by  a  Council 
the  day  following.  This  was  the  first  Baptist  church  in  Min- 
nesota. The  Pioneer,  of  January  9.  1850.  has  the  following: 

•'The  First  Presbyterian  church,  of  Saint  Paul,  was  organized  last 
Sunday,  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  NEILL'S  chapel.  Bros,  SELBY  and  TINKER, 
who  had  been  before  chosen  elders,  were  ordained  by  the  laying  on  of 
hands,  &c.  Rev.  Dr.  WILLIAMSON,  of  the  Little  Crow  Mission,  was 
present,  with  several  of  the  native  Sioux." 

Hon.  GEO.  L.  BECKER*  was  one  of  the  original  members 
of  this  church,  and  is  still  a  member  of  it. 


*  Hon.  GEORGE  L.  BECKER  was  born  in  I^ocke,  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 4,  1829.  In  1841,  his  father  removed  to  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  where  he  entered  the 
Freshman  class  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  in  1843,  and  graduated  in  1846,  his  class 
being  the  second  one  graduated  at  that  institution.  Immediately  after  graduating  he 
studied  law  with  GEORGE  SEDGWICK,  Esq.,  of  Ann  Arbor,  and  remained  with  him 
until  October,  1849,  when  he  emigrated  to  Saint  Paul,  arriving  here  on  the  agth  of  that 
month.  He  at  once. commenced  the  practice  of  law,  and  soon  after  formed  a  copartner- 
ship with  EDMUND  RICE  and  ELLIS  G.  WHITALL,  under  the  firm  name  of  "  RICE, 
WHITALL  &  BECKER."  About  a  year  afterwards,  Mr.  WHITALL  withdrew,  and  WM. 
HOLLINSHEAD,  one  of  the  best  lawyers  who  ever  lived  in  the  State,  joined  the  firm, 
which  then  became  "  RICE,  HOLLINSHEAD  &  BECKKR,"  one  of  the  most  successful  and 
widely-known  law  firms  in  the  Territorial  days  of  Minnesota,  continuing  to  transact 
a  large  and  important  business  until  its  dissolution  in  1856.  Mr.  RICE,  retired  .during 
that  year,  and  Messrs.  BECKER  and  HOLLINSHEAD  continued  the  business  for  another 
year,  when  Mr.  BECKER  withdrew  and  soon  after  ceased  the  active  practice  of  law. 

During  the  last  thirteen  years,  Mr.  BECKKR  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  important 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          251 

work  of  forwarding  the  railroad  interests  of  the  State.  In  1863,  he  was  chosen  Land 
Commissioner  of  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific  Railroad.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
First  Division  of  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific  Railroad,  (6th  of  February,  1864,)  he  was 
elefted  President  of  the  same,  which  position  he  has  held  ever  since.  Under  his  able 
management,  and,  largely  by  his  efforts  and  influence,  317  miles  of  road  have  been  con- 


GEORGE  L.  BECKER. 

strutted.  Foreign  capital  has  been  enlisted  to  the  extent  of  millions,  thus  proving  a 
source  of  wealth  to  our  State,  opening  up  a  vast  region  hitherto  a  wilderness,  now  filled 
with  prosperous  towns  and  fertile  farms.  In  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  Mr.  BECKER 
has  performed  an  immense  amount  of  physical  and  mental  labor,  making  frequent 
journeys  east  and  to  Europe,  besides  carrying  on  his  large  office  business  at  home,  and 
tilling  responsible  public  offices  at  the  same  time. 
Mr.  BECKER  has  filled  a  number  of  important  offices  in  our  State.  In  1854,  at  the 


252  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [^50 

The  Pioneer,  of  February  27th,  says  :  "Our  Baptist  friends 
are  making  adtive  preparations  for  erecting  a  house  of  public 
worship  in  Saint  Paul." 

"OI,D  BETS" 

used  to  flourish  about  those  clays,  as  she  did  for  many  years 
subsequently.  No  history  of  Saint  Paul  can  be  complete  which 
omits  mention  of  this  curious  character,  so  well  known  to  all 
the  old  residents.  The  papers  about  this  date  contain  numer- 
ous references  to  her — some  not  very  complimentary,  perhaps, 
but  they  show  that  "  Old  BETS"  was  a  sort  of  favorite,  at 
least,  which  she  certainly  was. 

Old  BETS  was  a  full-blood  Sioux  woman,  of  the  M'dewakontonwan 
tribe.  She  came  of  a  family  which  was  somewhat  distinguished  in  its 
way.  Her  Sioux  name  was  Azu-yu-tnati-ka-rvan,  or  BERRY-PICKER. 
She  was  born  near  Mendota,  in  1788,  and  was  at  the  time  of  her  death 
only  75  years  old,  though  she  was  generally  supposed  to  be  too.  She 
was  "married,"  after  the  Indian  fashion,  to  Ma-za-sa-gia,  or  "  IRON 
SWORD,"  who  died  a  few  years  subsequently  at  Mendota.  She  had 
several  children.  One  daughter  was  living  not  long  ago  in  Saint  Paul. 
A  son,  named  Ta-opi,  or  "  WOUNDED  MAN."  born  at  Mendota,  became 
somewhat  noted  as  a  convert  to  Christianity,  and,  after  his  death  at 
Faribault,  in  1869,  Bishop  WHIPPLE  published  u  fine  volume  of  his 
biography,  with  an  engraved  portrait.  A  town  in  southern  Minnesota 
has  been  named  for  him.  One  of  her  brothers  was  lle.-in-da-koo,  a 
famous  warrior,  prophet  and  medicine  man,  who  was  killed  by  the 
Chippewas,  some  years  ago.  '  ONE-LEGGED  JIM'  was  another  brother 
of  Old  BETS.  He  had  lost  a  leg  in  some  skirmish,  and  used  to  peg 

first  municipal  election,  under  our  city  charter,  he  was  elected  an  Alderman,  and,  in 
1856,  chosen  Mayor  of  the  city.  In  1857,  he  was  elected  from  Ramsey  county  one  of  the 
members  of  the  Constitutional  Convention,  and  soon  after  elected  one  of  the  three  mem- 
bers of  Congress  to  which  it  was  supposed  our  State  (when  admitted)  would  be  entitled. 
During  the  delay  which  attended  its  admission,  it  became  certain  that  only  two  menu 
bers  could  be  received,  and  Mr.  BECKER  at  once  resigned.  The  following  year  (1859) 
he  was  unanimously  nominated,  at  a  Convention  of  his  party,  for  Governor,  but  the 
opposite  side  gained  the  day.  In  1867,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  from 
Ramsey  county,  and  re-elected  in  1869,  serving  four  sessions  in  all.  Such  was  the  confi- 
dence reposed  in  him  by  both  parties,  that,  at  his  last  election,  no  nomination  was  made 
against  him  on  the  opposite  ticket,  and  he  was  unanimously  chosen.  In  1872,  Mr. 
BECKER  was  again  nominated  for  Congress,  but  his  party  was  not  successful  in  the 
contest. 

Mr.  BECKEK  has  generously  aided  all  the  benevolent,  literary  and  educational  insti- 
tutions of  Saint  Paul,  and  is  known  as  one  of  our  foremost  citizens  in  every  good 
enterprise. 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  2^3 

around  on  a  wooden  stump.     He  was  well  known  to  most  of  the  early 
settlers,  and  was  never  backward  about  begging. 

Old  BETS  lived  all  her  life  in  this  locality.  Miss  BISHOP  mentions 
her  frequently  in  her  work,  "  Floral  Homes,"  and  gives  a  good  portrait 
of  her.  She  has  been  photographed  many  times,  and  her  pictures, 
purchased  by  tourists,  maybe  found  in  albums  in  all  parts  of  the  civil- 
ized world.  Thousands  of  them  have  been  sold.  She  was  always  very 
proud  of  this  distinction,  and  of  the  notice  paid  her  by  travelers, 
never  failing  to  levy  a  small  tax  on  them.  MUNGER  BROS,  once  pub- 


"  OLD  BETS." 

lished  a  piece  of  music  (words  by  J.  H.  HANSON)  based  on  the  supposed 
fact  that  she  was  100  years  old,  and  some  artist  made  a  very  good  bust 
of  her.  So  she  had  become  quite  an  institution  in  our  midst.  She 
subsisted  bv  begging  for  many  years.  She  was  always  welcome  at  the 
kitchen  doors  of  the  old  settlers,  and  never  failed  to  bear  off  a  wallet  of 
food.  She  was  a  privileged  character  in  many  ways,  and  no  old  settler 
[she  knew  them  all]  would  refuse  her  request  for  kosh-poppy  (money.) 
She  always  greeted  her  acquaintances  op  the  street  with  a  broad  grin 
of  her  huge  mouth,  and  a  cheerful  "  ho-ho."  During  the  Sioux  War. 
she  was  very  kind  to  white  prisoners,  and  possessed  other  good  traits. 
She  was  converted  to  Christianitv  shortlv  before  her  death,  bv  Father 


254  The  Historv  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [18^0 

RAVOUX.  *When  her  last  illness  was  known,  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
subscribed  a  sum  of  money  for  her  comfort,  and  she  had  a  Christian 
burial.  She  died  about  May  i,  1873,  at  Mendota.  The  portrait  here- 
with is  an  excellent  likeness. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

"  Some  journeyman  preacher  would  make  a  profitable  trip  up  the 
Mississippi  River,  with  a  supply  of  blank  marriage  licenses,  there  being 
no  person  north  of  Saint  Paul,  who  is  authorized,  by  law*,  to  tie  the 
nuptial  knot.  Many  couples  are  represented  to  be  in  an  awful  state  of 
suspense.  The  laws  of  Minnesota  do  not  anywhere  authorize  Justices 
of  the  Peace  to  solemnize  marriages." — [Pioneer,  Jan.  30.] 

"  Many  of  the  people  go  unshaved.  although  the  village  is  supplied 
with  three  barbers — such  is  the  scarcity  of  soap." — [Ib.] 

"  Wood  is  selling  in  Saint  Paul  at  about  $1.50  per  cord." — [Ib.J 

"The  foundation  of  a  brewery  is  laid  at  the  upper  end  of  Saint 
Paul."— pb.] 

"  'GREAT  CRY  AND  LITTLE  WOOL.' — Four  of  the  lawyers  of  Saint 
Paul  were  engaged  all  day  last  Wednesday,  in  trving  the  right  of  prop- 
erty in  a  little,  old  sow." — [Ib.,  Feb.  27.] 

"  We  would  advise  each  immigrant  to  Saint  Paul  this  season,  as  we 
did  last  season,  to  come  prepared  to  build  a  cheap  house  immediately, 
without  depending  upon  hiring  a  house." — [Ib.J 

The  Pioneer  notices  the  market  bare  of  cured  meats  ;  k'only 
fresh  meats,"  it  says,  "  and  mallards  2oc.  a  pair."  It  adds: 

"  One  year  ago  there  were  three  stores  in  Saint  Paul,  sold  out  at  that, 
so  that  the  place  was  absolutely  bare  of  goods  and  provisions.  There 
are  now  fifteen  stores,  in  one  or  the  other  of  which  almost  every  artic-lo 
of  necessity  can  be  found." 

ANOTHER    HOMICIDE. 

On  Friday,  February  22,  1850,  another  homicide  occurred. 
Two  men,  named  ALEX.  R.  McLEOD  and  WM.  B.  GORDON, 
got  into  an  affray,  where  the  Stillwater  road  forded  Phelan's 
Creek,  about  a  mile  east  of  town,  on  or  near  McLEon's  claim, 
mentioned  on  page  136.  GORDON  was  so  severely  injured  that 
he  died  next  day.  McLEOD  was  arrested  and  examined  be- 
fore Justice  WAKEFIELD.  The  evidence  showed  that  both 
men  were  in  liquor,  but  that  GORDON  first  assaulted  McLEOD, 
striking  him  with  a  whip-stock,  while  McLEOD  used  nothing 


18^0]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota,  255 

but  his  fist.     He  was  held  to  bail  in  the  sum  of  $200.  but,  on 
trial  before  the  next  term  of  court,  was  acquitted  on  grounds 


of  self-defense. 
RICE.* 


EDMUND   RICE. 

MG-LEOD  was  defended   by  Hon.   EDMUXD 


*  Hon.  EDMUND  RICE  was  born  in  Waitsfield,  Vermont,  February  14,  1819.  He  re. 
moved  to  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  in  1838;  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
1843;  was  Master  in  Chancery,  Register  of  the  Court  of  Chancery  for  the  Third  Cir- 
cuit,  and  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State.  He  served  in  the  Mexican  War.  in 


256  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1850 

GRAND    COUNCIL    WITH    THE    WINNEBAGOES. 

On  March  14,  a  deputation  of  the  principal  chiefs  of  the 
Winnebagoes,  who  were  dissatisfied  with  their  Resei'vation, 
waited  on  Gov.  RAMSEY.  A  grand  council  was  held  in  the 
trading  house  of  OLMSTED  &  RHODES,  on  Third  street,  be- 
tween Jackson  and  Robert  streets.  Among  the  famous  chiefs 
present  were  ONE-EYED  DEKORA,  (who  took  BLACK  HAWK 
a  prisoner  in  1832,)  WINNESHIEK,  BIG  CANOE,  GOOD  THUN- 
DER, LITTLE  DEKORA,  CARIMONA,  LITTLE  HILL,  and  others, 
more  or  less  prominently  known  in  the  history  of  the  North- 
west, and  a  number  of  Sioux  also  attended.  Gen.  J.  E. 
FLETCHER,  Winnebago  Agent,  was  present,  and  WM.  H. 
FORBES  and  JOHN  HANEY,  Jr.,  acted  as  interpreters.  They 
stated  their  grievances  to  Gov.  RAMSEY,  and  had  a  long  talk. 
They  were  finally  persuaded  to  return  to  their  Reservation  and 
remain  there  peaceably. 

It  was  at  this  council  that  Gov.  RAMSEY  made  his  famous 
temperance  speech  to  the  Indians.  He  admonished  them  of 
the  dangers  of  intemperance,  and  urged  them  to  quit  drinking. 
"  The  white  men,"  he  said,  "  have  quit  drinking" — [the  inter- 
preter translated  this,  but  the  Indians  looked  a  little  astonished 
and  incredulous — so  the  Governor  qualifiedly  added,]  kt  in  a 
great  measure'."  The  interpreter  rendered  this  literally,  to 
mean  a  large-sized  vessel ' !  Old  DEKORA,  at  this,  exclaimed, 
"  perhaps  they  had,  but  most  of  them  still  use  a  small  measure  !" 

ROADS    AND    MAILS. 

The  continual  complaint    at  poor  mail  facilities  has  been 

1847  :l"d  1848,  with  the  commission  of  First  Lieutenant  of  the  First  Michigan  Volunteers. 
In  July,  1849,  he  settled  in  Saint  Paul,  and  soon  became  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
RICE,  HOLLINSHEAD  &  BECKER,  which,  for  several  years,  was  a  leading  law  firm  in 
Minnesota.  He  practiced  until  1855.  In  1857,  ne  became  President  of  the  Minnesota 
and  Pacific  Railroad  Company,  and  also  President  of  its  successors,  the  Saint  Paul  and 
Pacific,  and  the  Saint  Paul  and  Chicago  Railway  Companies,  till  1872,  performing  a 
large  amount  of  service  in  the  organization  and  starting  of  our  railway  system. 

Mr.  RICE  was  a  member  of  the  Territorial  Legislature,  in  1851,  of  the  State  Senate 
in  1864  and  1865,  House  in  1867,  and  the  Senate  again,  in  1873  and  1874 — an  instance  of 
popularity  extending,  in  the  same  direaion,  over  a  longer  period  than  any  other  we 
have  chronicled.  Mr.  RICE'S  valuable  services  to  his  county  and  city,  not  only  in  the 
Legislature,  but  as  a  pioneer  in  works  of  internal  improvement — the  highways  of  com- 
merce—have  won  for  him  their  lasting  gratitude  and  regard. 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  257 

before  noted.  The  breaking  up  of  the  winter  of  1849-50, 
rendered  the  ice  on  the  river,  which  was  at  that  time  the 
public  road,  very  insecure,  and  many  accidents  happened, 
several  persons  being  drowned.  On  March  29,  a  mail  was 
received,  the  first  for  2o-days,  says  the  Pioneer — a  deprivation 
that  must  have  been  sorely  felt,  in  the  isolated  condition  of  the 
community  then.  The  Pioneer,  of  February  27,  adds : 

"  The  number  of  letters  passing  through  the  post-office  at  Saint  Paul 
averages  nearly  700  per  week.  The  mail  to  Saint  Anthony  alone  is 
larger  than  the  whole  mail  of  the  Territory  was  one  year  ago." 

THE    MORALS    OF   SAINT    PAUL. 

The  editor  of  the  Pioneer  denies  reports  that  had  been  cir- 
culated abroad,  that  Saint  Paul  was  a  disorderly  and  immoral 
place.  He  said,  despite  the  temporary  character  of  many 
homes,  and  the  floating  population — men  without  families, 
&c. — and  the  fact  that  the  town  government  had  not  yet  organ- 
ized, the  town  was  orderly  and  moral.  Religious  services 
held  in  five  churches,  and  well  attended — Sunday  observed — 
drunkenness  and  gambling  not  openly  carried  on  —  good 
schools,  and  a  good  moral  tone  in  community.  No  violent 
disorders  or  crimes. 

If  whisky  was  sold,  it  must  have  been  as  villainous  "forty- 
rod"  stufYas  is  now  vended.  An  old  Indian,  named  RATTLER, 
who  had  a  camp  across  the  river,  managed  to  get  a  drink  in 
town,  one  night,  and  was  found  dead  in  his  teepee  next  morn- 
ing. Whisky  that  could  kill  a  Sioux  Indian  that  quick,  must 
have  been  a  mighty  mean  article. 


About  this  time,  a  contest  for  the  cathedral  of  this  bishop- 
ric is  noted.  PIERRE  BOTTINEAU  and  others  made  profuse 
offers  of  lots  at  Saint  Anthony,  but  some  eligible  lots  were 
finally  secured  here,  the  same  on  which  it  now  stands,  as  is 
narrated  elsewhere. ' 

Reference  is  made  to  Sergeant  E.  K.  THOMAS,  of  Fort 
Snelling,  an  artist  of  some  skill,  who  used  to  paint  portraits 
of  Indian  celebrities  quite  skillfully. 


258  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pa?//,         [1850 

FIRST    TERM    OF    COURT FIRST    GRAND   JURY. 

The  first  term  of  court  in  Ramsey  county,  was  held  on 
Monday,  April  8,  1850,  with  49  cases  on  the  calendar.  Chief 
Justice  GOODRICH  presided.  Thirteen  indiaments  were  found, 
mostly  against  gambling-house  keepers.  McLEOD.  for  homi- 
cide, was  acquitted. 

There  was  no  jail  then.  Prisoners  were  generally  sent  to 
Fort  Snelling  for  safe-keeping.  The  Pioneer,  of  April  16. 
says : 

"JACOB  R.  SHIPLER,  indifted  for  assaulting  his  wife  with  intent  to 
kill,  and  convicled  and  sentenced  to  imprisonment  in  penitentiary  for 
one  year,  slipped  away  from  the  sheriff  and  escaped." 

The  Saint  Paul  people  must  have  been  a  very  litigious  com- 
munity then,  as  it  is  now.  The  Pioneer  says  :  « 'We  have  now 
25  lawyers  in  Saint  Paul !"  What  sins  could  this  young  and 
feeble  population  have  committed,  that  such  a  punishment 
was  sent  on  them  ? 

From  the  records  of  this  term,  I  find  the  names  of  the  first 
grand  jury  ever  drawn  for  Ramsev  county,  as  follows : 

WILLIAM  H.  NOBLES,  WYMAN  BAKER,  C.  D.  BEVANS. 
AND.  GODFREY,  R.  CUMMINGS,  FRED.  OLIVIER,  A.  TITLOVV. 
H.  R.  GIBBS,  D.  L.  FULLER,  JNO.  FORD,  J.  M.  MARSHALL, 
JAMES  HINTON,  JOHN  CARLTON,  ED.  PATCH,  LOREN  JONES. 
EBEN  WELD,  HENRY  H.  ANGEL,  Louis  PARKER,  REUBEN 
BEAN,  S.  K.  LANE,  FRANCIS  CHENEVERT,  JOHN  B.  COTY, 
A.  L.  LARPENTEUR. 

The  record  adds:  iiSome  of  the  above  reported  for  duty." 
A  part  of  these  lived  at  Saint  Anthony,  then  in  Ramsey  county. 

THE    FLOOD    OF    1850. 

In  the  spring  and  early  summer  of  this  year,  a  great  freshet 
occurred,  mainly  caused  by  extreme  heavy  snows  on  the 
Upper  Mississippi,  and  long-continued  warm  rains  earlv  in 
the  spring.  The  water  commenced  rising  about  April  i .  and 
continued  most  of  the  month.  The  floor  of  the  Constans 
warehouse,  still  standing,  was  submerged  several  inches — 
higher  water,  if  we  mistake  not.  than  has  been  known  since. 


1850]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  2^9 

and,  the  Pioneer  of  that  date  said,  "  unprecedented  for  many 
years."  The  water  subsided  somewhat  when  the  regular  "June 
fresh"  came  on,  which  again  carried  it  up,  and  it  remained 
high  for  sevei'al  weeks.  The  "Anthony  Wayne,"  a  steamer 
well  known  in  those  days,  went  up  to  the  Falls  of  Saint  An- 
thony on  the  flood,  and  likewise  made  a  trip  up  the  Minnesota 
River,  as  did  also  the  '  '  Yankee"  a  little  later. 

When  the  river  first  rose  at  Saint  Paul,  the  ice  was  still 
firm,  and  swept  down  in  huge  cakes.  The  Pioneer,  of  April 
10,  says:  .  "Last  evening  in  Saint  Paul,  we  could  hear  the 
noise  of  masses  of  ice  tumbling  over  the  Falls  of  Saint  An- 
thony, eight  miles  distant."  The  roaring  of  the  Falls  used  to 
be  heard  here  several  years  afterwards,  but  the  improvements 
there,  changing  their  character,  gradually  stopped  this. 


OPENING    OF    NAVIGATION, 

The  Pioneer,  of  April  2^,  says: 

"On  Friday  morning,  the  I9th,  (arrival  of  'Highland  Mary,')  at  6 
o'clock,  the  smoke  of  a  steamboat  was  visible  at  Saint  Paul,  and  the 
very  heart  of  the  town  leaped  for  joy.  *  *  *  As  she  came  up  in 
front  of  RANDALL'S  warehouse,  the  multitude  on  shore  raised  a  deafen- 
ing shout  of  welcome,"  &c. 

She  brought  500  passengers,  not  an  uncommon  load  for 
those  days. 

"  Such  has  been  the  anxiety  here,"  continued  the  Pioneer. 
"for  the  arrival  of  steamboats,  that  nothing  else  was  talked 
of.  Saint  Paul  seemed  likely  to  go  to  seed." 

An  editorial  of  the  same  date  says  :  "At  length  the  flood 
of  immigration  has  burst  through  the  barriers  of  Lake  Pepin. 
The  boats  that  have  already  arrived  have  brought  hundreds  of 
strangers  amongst  us.  *  *  *  Let  us  do  everything  in  our 
power  to  welcome,  encourage,  and  build  up  those  who  have 
come  to  unite  their  fortunes  with  ours"  —  and  further  recom- 
mends that,  as  the  hotels  are  overcrowded,  citizens  entertain 
the  strangers  at  their  houses  until  they  can  build  tenements. 

Some  idea  can  be  formed,  from  the  above  paragraph,  of  the 
joy  with  which  the  arrival  of  the  first  boat  was  hailed,  in  earlv 
davs^-opening  communication  with  the  rest  of  the  world,  af- 


260  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1850 

ter  months  of  isolation.  It  was  generally  a  signal  for  a  jollifi- 
cation, at  which  all  rules  of  restraint  were  thrown  aside.  At 
one  of  our  Old  Settler  reunions,  a  graphic  description  was  given 
of  the  president  of  a  temperance  society  leaning  up  against 
CONSTANS'  warehouse,  two  or  three  hours  after  the  first  boat 
arrived,  entirely  overcome  by  his  feelings,  and  I'etching  in  an 
agony  of  surfeit.  Perhaps,  like  RIP  VAN  WINKLE,  he  thought 
"  that  time  didn't  count"  Of  late  years,  the  opening  of  nav- 
igation has  ceased  to  be  of  any  importance  or  interest.  Our 
railroads  have  changed  all  that. 

A    VISION    OF    OUR    NORTHERN    PACIFIC. 

In  an  editorial  which  now,  that  over  twenty-five  years  have 
elapsed,  reads  with  prophetic  interest,  the  editor  calls  attention 
to  "a  short  route  to  Oregon  and  California."  He  thinks. 
"  there  is  some  probability  that  a  railroad  will  be  made  from 
Saint  Louis  westward,  to  San  Francisco,  at  no  very  remote 
period."  *  *  *  "  We  wish  now,"  (he  adds,)  "to  turn 
your  attention  to  another  overland  route,  in  the  north,  which 
we  believe  is  far  easier  and  safer,"  and  proceeds  to  argue  that 
Saint  Paul  is  much  nearer  the  Pacific  in  a  direct  line,  than 
Saint  Louis;  also,  "that  there  is  a  route  or  trail  from  the 
Red  River  to  the  Columbia  River,  over  which  mails  are  regu- 
larly transported,  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  with  safetv 
and  ease."  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  northern  route 
for  a  railroad  was  then  hardly  thought  of.  Even  the  central 
route  was  looked  on  as  an  impossible  scheme,  and  but  few 
then,  even  young  men,  ever  expected  to  see  it  in  their  lifetime. 

FIRST    TOWN    ELECTION. 

On  May  6,  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  the  town  charter,  the 
first  municipal  election  took  place.  There  was  no  contest 
worth  mentioning,  and  the  following  officers  were  chosen  : 

President. — Dr.  THOMAS  R.  POTTS.*. 


*  Dr.  THOMAS  R.  POTTS  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  February  10, 1810.  He 
graduated  at  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1831,  and 
settled  , it  Natchez,  Mississippi,  where  he  lived  10  years.  In  1841,  he.  removed  to  Ga- 
lena, Illinois,  and,  in  1849,  to  Saint  Paul,  where  he  practiced  medicine  for  26  years, 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  261 

Recorder. — EDMUND  RICE. 

Trustees.— W.  H.  FORBES,  B.  F.  Hovr,  W.M.  H.  RAN- 
DALL, HENRY  JACKSON,  and  A.  L.  LARPENTEUR. 

The  records  of  the  Board  are  lost,  and  the  only  note  of  their 
proceedings  are  what  appear  from  time  to  time  in  the  papers. 

A    DARING    MURDER    BY    HOLE-IN-THE-DAY. 

The  Pioneer,  of  May  16,  graphically  describes  a  daring  act 


HOLE-1N-THE-DAY. 

of  HOLE-IN-THE-DAY,  the  Chippewa  chieftain,  who  used  to  be 
so  well  known  in  Saint  Paul : 

"  On  Wednesday,  the  I5th,  at  about  i  p.  m.,  there  was  a  great  excite- 
ment in  Saint  Paul — Indians  yelling  at  each  other  across  the  river,  and 
running  up  and  down  the  shores,  canoes  crossing  the  river,  and  every- 
thing betokening  the  utmost  exasperation.  It  seems  news  has  reached 


being,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  senior  practicing  physician  of  our  city.  He  was, 
for  several  years  of  this  time,  contraft  surgeon  at  Fort  Snelling,  and  also  physician  to 
the  Sioux,  and  Medical  Purveyor  of  this  distria,  Pension  Surgeon,  &c.  He  was  eleaed 
first  President  of  the  Town  Board,  in  1850,  an  office  equivalent  to  Mayor.  He  was, 
also,  eleaed  City  Physician  in  1866,  and  health  officer  of  Saint  Paul  in  1873.  He  died 
suddenly,  while  holding  that  office,  on  OAober  6,  1874.  He  was  married  at  Fort  Snel 
ling,  in  1847,  to  Miss  ABBY  STEELE. 


262  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1850 

them  that  a  party  of  Sioux  were  overtaken,  a  short  distance  out  of 
Saint  Paul,  and  two  murdered  and  three  taken  prisoners.  At  this  mo- 
ment, a  company  of  the  Sioux  have  started  northward  through  town, 
stripped  of  their  blankets,  in  pursuit  of  the  dastardly  murderers.  This 
is  the  first  blow  (if  the  story  is  true)  struck  by  the  Chippewas  in 
revenge  of  the  14  of  their  tribe,  murdered  the  other  day  in  a  sugar 
camp,  by  the  Sioux. 

"  P.  S.  About  sunset,  on  Wednesday,  the  Sioux  returned,  with  the 
corpse  of  one  man,  (who  seems  to  be  the  only  one  murdered,)  whom 
they  had  in  a  canoe,  nailed  up  in  a  box,  covered  with  a  red  pall.  Just 
at  dark,  they  left  the  lower  landing  in  sadness,  with  their  canoes,  for 
their  village,  four  miles  down  the  river." 

The  murder,  which  was  a  most  daring  feat,  was  committed 
by  HOLE-IN-THE-DAY.  He  secreted  his  canoe  in  the  mouth 
of  the  creek  that  runs  from  "  Fountain  Cave,"  and,  with  one 
or  two  other  warriors,  crossed  the  river,  attacked  several  Sioux, 
and  killed  and  scalped  one,  and  got  oft*  with  the  scalp  before 
quite  a  body  of  the  Sioux,  who  were  near  by,  could  get  the 
alarm.  It  was  a  most  audacious  aft.  The  Pioneer,  of  May 
23,  says  : 

"A  gentleman,  just  down  from  Fort  Gaines,  says  that,  on  his  wav 
down,  he  met  the  Chippewa  chief,  HOLE-IN-THE-DAY,  with  the  scalp 
of  the  young  Sioux  Indian,  which  that  brave  took  last  week  in  this 
neighborhood,  divided  into  quarters.  He  was  in  fine  feather.  At  night 
he  and  his  followers  had  a  scalp-dance.  In  his  descent  on  the  Sioux, 
in  the  short  space  of  24  hours,  he  marched  80  miles,  committed  the 
murder,  and  started  for  home  again." 

In  order  to  put  a  stop,  if  possible,  to  these  butcheries  by 
the  Indians,  Governor  RAMSEY  summoned  the  chiefs  of  both 
tribes,  their  agents  and  interpreters,  to  a  council  at  Fort  Snel- 
ling,  which  was  held  on  June  n  or  12,  After  tedious  palav- 
er, a  sort  of  treaty  of  peace  was  patched  up  between  the  red- 
skins, for  about  the  fiftieth  time. 

THE    CHOLEKA 

was  quite  bad  this  season,  and  several  very  sudden  deaths  oc- 
curred. It  was  quite  bad  at  towns  down  the  river  also,  and 
passengers  arriving  per  steamer  constituted  quite  a  proportion 
of  the  cases.  The  Pioneer  declared  that  not  a  case  had  orig- 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey ,  Minnesota,  263 

inated  here — but  that  all  had  been  brought  from  below.     Sonic 
occurred  subsequent  to  that,  at  all  events. 

BRIEF    ITEMS. 

On  May  3,  a  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  was  instituted,  under 
the  title  of  "  Saint  Paul  Lodge,  No.  2,"  by  JOHN  G.  POTTS,* 
of  Galena.  The  charter  members  were,  BENJ.  W.  BRUX- 
SON,  JUSTUS  C.  RAMSEY,  COMFORT  BARNES,  B.  W.  LOTT, 
JOHN  DUNSHEE,  C.  K.  SMITH,  JOHN  CONDON,  J.  B.  COTY, 
and  WM.  C.  HUGGINS. 

The  Pioneer,  of  May  16,  says:  ''This  morning  about  10 
o'clock,  Rev.  Mr.  NEILL'S  commodious  chapel,  in  Saint  Paul, 
took  fire,  by  some  shavings,  and  was  burned  to  ashes."  This 
was  the  first  fire  which  ever  occurred  in  Saint  Paul.  Mr. 
NEILL  at  once  started  east  to  collect  funds  for  a  new  church, 
in  which  he  succeeded.  In  the  meantime,  he  used  to  preach 
in  an  unfinished  warehouse,  which  then  stood  where  War- 
ner's Block  now  does.  At  the  same  time,  Dr.  WILLIAMSON 
would  occasionally  preach  in  a  log  building  then  occupied  by 
JOSEPH  R.  BROWN,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Ingersoll  Block. 
He,  several  times,  preached  there  to  the  Sioux,  in  their  lan- 
guage. 

A  little  of  the  speculative  fever,  which  raged  so  intensely 
four  or  five  years  later,  must  have  shown  itself  then.  On  June 
27,  1850.  the  Pioneer  remarks:  '"The  cash  price  of  town 
lots  in  Saint  Paul  is  too  high.  It  is  industry,  it  is  labor,  it  is 
actual  production,  not  gambling  and  speculation,  wrhich  pro- 
duces wealth.  We  want  to  see  more  industry  and  production, 
and  less  gambling  and  speculation."  But  what  would  GOOD- 
HUE  and  his  compeers  have  said  if  they  could  have  foreseen 
prices  20  years  later?  They  would  have  kept  mum  on  "•  gam- 
bling and  speculation,"  and  bought  themselves  poor. 

On  June  19,  a  young  mechanic,  named  JOHN  LUMLEY,  died 
very  suddenly  of  cholera,  one  of  the  few  fatal  cases  that  oc- 
curred this  season.  He  wras  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  had  been 


*  JOHN  G.  POTTS  died  at  Galena,  February  13,  1874.    At  his  death  he 
>ldest  Odd  Fellows  in  the  United  States. 


364  The  History  of  the  City  oj  Saint  Paul. 

initiated  only  four  days  previous.  The  Fraternity  turned  out 
ut  his  funeral,  the  first  they  had  been  called  on  to  conduct. 
Referring  to  their  new  white  regalia,  GOODHUE,  who  could  not 
resist  a  joke,  even  at  a  funeral,  writes  that  "  he  had  not  seen 
such  a  display  of  clean  linen  since  the  Territory  was  formed." 
If  the  mourners  went  about  the  streets,  there  was  occasion- 
ally festivities  and  rejoicings  likewise,  and  the  bells  did  not 
always  toll.  The  census-taker  reported  25  marriages  in  Ram- 
sey county  for  the  year  ending  June  i,  1850. 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota . 


o 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1850.— CONTINUED. 

NAVIGATION  OF  THE  MINNESOTA  RIVER — THE  CENSUS  OF  1850 — LIST  OF  RESIDENTS — 
ETHNOLOGICAL  NOTES — ABORIGINAL  ITEMS — THE  INDIANS  AND  THEIR  HABITS — 
POLITICAL— FREDRIKA  BREMER  VISITS  SAINT  PAVL— THE  COURT-HOUSE  AND 
JAIL— BIOGRAPHIES  OF  OLD  SETTLERS,  *c. 

XE  of  the  most  noticeable  events  of  the  year  1850,  was 
the  navigation  of  the  Minnesota  River.  Three  boats,  the 
"Anthony  Wayne,"  "Nominee"  and  "Yankee,"  made  excur- 
sions with  large  pleasure  parties  of  Saint  Paulites,  each  trying  to 
ascend  further  than  the  other.  The  water  was  very  favorable 
for  such  experiments,  and  the  "Yankee"  ascended  300  miles, 
thus  demonstrating  that  the  Minnesota  was  navigable. 

On  July  1 8,  the  Pioneer  says:  "The  water  is  now  higher 
than  in  the  spring  freshet — higher  than  it  has  been  for  28 
vears."  The  Red  River  valley  was  also  inundated,  and  the 
settlers  compelled  to  flee  to  the  hills. 


"The  heavy  rains  have  made  the  roads  from  Saint  Paul  to  Saint 
Anthony  in  some  places  impassable.  The  necessity  for  a  railroad  to 
the  Falls  is  becoming  every  day  more  and  more  obvious. — [Pioneer. 
July  i8.J 

The  conveniences  of  a  city  are  gradually  increasing  in  Saint  Paul. 
The  confectioner,  the  ice-cart,  the  milk-man,  are  among  the  new 
conveniences  here,  and  last,  but  not  least,  a  regular  market  for  fresh 
beef.— [Ib.] 

The  "Order  of  i oo i 's"  flourished  in  those  days.  Frequent 
notices  are  made  of  the  meetings,  and  most  of  the  prominent 
citizens  were  "roped  in"  just  as  they  were  a  few  years  later 
into  the  Sons  of  Malta.  JAMES  M.  GOODHUE  was  one  of  the 
high  officers  of  the  order.  A  lecture  which  he  once  wrote 
on  the  "emblems"  of  the  order,  illustrated  with  toys  bought 
18  V 


266 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/,         [1850 


in  a  store,  is  said  to  have  been  a  masterpiece  of  wit.  excelling 
even  AI.F.  BURNETT'S  great  lecture  on  the  menagerie. 

CENSUS    OF    1850. 

Meantime  the  Federal  census  of  18^0  had  been  taken,  and 
the  result  in  the  county  was  as  follows  : 

Males,  1,337;  females,  860;  total,  2,197. 

No.  of  dwellings,  384 ;  No.  of  acres  improved.  458. 

Population  of  Saint  Paul,  1,294;  No.  of  families.  257. 

Ramsey  countv  at  that  time,  it  should  be  remembered,  in- 
cluded Saint  Anthony,  and.  in  fact,  all  of  Minnesota  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  except  the  Saint  Croix  valley. 
The  census  of  Ramsey  county  was  taken  by  CHARLES  F. 
TRACY,  who  was  a  resident  here  from  1849  to  18^. 

RESIDENTS    OF    1850. 

I  have,  with  considerable  labor,  compiled  from  the  census 
rolls,  the  following  important  and  valuable  list  of  residents 
of  1850.  It  maybe  justly  termed  the  "  Battle  Abbey  Roll" 
of  Saint  Paul.  Where  it  was  defective  or  erroneous.  I  have 
added  to  it  a  number  of  names  gathered  from  the  roll  books 
of  societies,  poll  lists,  advertisements,  and  other  sources,  so 
that  it  is  probably  quite  connect.  (It  includes  only  adult  male 
residents :) 


Quartus  B.  Abbott,        B.  Allen, 

Elliot  Adams,  Geo.  W.  Alyord, 

Peter  Allard,  Michael  E.  Ames, 


Wm.  Armstrong,  (col'd,) 
Louis  Augee. 


J.  W.  Babcock, 
Lorenzo  A.  Babcock, 
Abram  Baker, 
Daniel  A.  J.  Baker, 
John  Banfil, 
Dr.  Nehemi'h  Barbour, 
V.  B.  Barnum, 
Comfort  Barnes, 
Thomas  Barton, 
F.  J.  Bartlett, 
Louis  Bartlett, 
Jacob  W.  Bass. 

George  Bemis, 
Lyman  L.  Benson, 
Corydon  D.  Be  vans. 
Henry  L.  Bevans, 
Stanislaus  Bilanski. 
P.  P.  Bishop, 
W.  J.  Blake, 
James  M.  Boal, 
Cyril  Boisvert, 
Elijah  Booth, 
Joseph  Boudrette. 
Charles  W.  Borup. 

J.  R.  Brewster. 
J.  W.  Brinsmade. 
O.  B.  Bromley. 
Joseph  R.  Brown. 
Oris  Brown. 
S.  F.  Brown, 
William  Brown. 
Luther  B.  Bruin. 
Louis  Brunei. 
B.  W.  Brunson. 
Alden  Bryant. 
William  Bryan. 

1850]        and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  267 


Joseph  Bastin, 

Joseph  Boudreau, 

Louis  W.  Bryson. 

William  Battleford, 

Joseph  Bourcier. 

William  Buchanan. 

Charles  Bazille. 

William  Bowen, 

Willard  Bunnell, 

Reuben  Bean, 

David  Bradley. 

Patrick  Burke. 

J.  B.  Beauchernier. 

Patrick  Brady, 

Geo.  W.  Burkholder. 

Geo.  L.  Becker. 

D.  F.  Brawley, 

Alex.  Burnett. 

W.  H.  Belknap. 

Rev.  J.  Lloyd  Breck. 

Henry  C.  Butler. 

Anthony  Caifil. 

Peter.  Chapdelin, 

Wm.  Constans. 

John  B/Callis, 

Warren  H.  Chapman, 

David  Cooper. 

Scott  Campbell. 

Gabriel  Chesefield, 

Wm.  F.  Corbet. 

Peter  Cardinal. 

Bruno  Chenevert. 

John  B.  Cornoyer. 

John  J.  Carlton. 

Anthony  Chosee, 

George  Cornoyer, 

William  G.  Carter. 

James  R.  Clewett, 

Joseph  Cornoyer, 

John  M.  Castner. 

Solomon  T.  Close. 

Oliver  Courtemanche, 

John  B.  Coty, 

Francis  Cloutier, 

Mapcil  Coutourier, 

Charles  S.  Cave. 

Charles  Colter, 

F.  Couture, 

A.  H.  Cavender. 

William  Colter. 

Peter  Crevier. 

Charles  Cavileer. 

John  Condon. 

Charles  Creek. 

Hiram  Cawood. 

Alex.  Connolly. 

J.  W.  Crosby, 

Firman  Cazeau, 

Chas.  R.  Conway. 

George  Culver, 

William  Chambers. 

Philip  Constans. 

John  Cyphers. 

Maxime  Damas, 

Louis  Denoyer. 

Hiram  Doty, 

Severe  Desmarais, 

Narcisse  Denoyer. 

Geo.  Douglas. 

Xavier  Desmarais. 

Sam'l  H.  Dent. 

Carter  H.  Drew, 

George  Daniels. 

Wm.  DeRocher. 

Taylor  Dudley, 

Joseph  Daniels. 

Isaiah  De  Webber, 

D.  W.  C.  Dunwell, 

Dr.  David  Day. 

Dr.  Jno.  J.  Dewey. 

Edward  G.  Dunford. 

James  Day, 

Rev.  L.  Dickens. 

Michael  Dunning, 

Lyman  Dayton. 

Dyer  Divine. 

Oliver  Duprey. 

J/W.  DeCamp, 

Henry  Dooltttle. 

Wm.  M.  Dwinnels. 

Alonzo  Eaton. 

Abram  S.  Elfelt. 

Samuel  Ells. 

Benjamin  Eaton. 

Chas.  D.  Elfelt. 

Evan  Evans, 

David  Ebert. 

Edwin  Elfelt. 

William  Evans. 

George  Egbert. 

J.  H.  Far  n  ham. 

S.  P.  Folsom, 

Aug.  J.  Freeman. 

Geo.  W.  Farrington. 

James  E.  Forbes, 

Cyrus  Freeman, 

John  Farrington, 

Obed  Foote, 

Alpheus  R.  French. 

George  Farquhar. 

Wm.  H.  Forbes. 

J.  Frick, 

Martin  Fetcot, 

B.  B.  Ford, 

A.  V.  Fryer, 

Stark  Fielder, 

Aaron  Foster, 

Jonathan  Frost. 

Thos.  M.  Finch. 

Dr.  Thomas  Foster. 

A.  G.  Fuller. 

268 


The  Hist  or  v  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1850 


A.  Findley, 

G.  A.  Fournier, 

David  L.  Fuller, 

Charles  Fisher. 

Richard  Freeborn. 

J.  E.  Fullerton. 

Edwin  Folsom. 

William  Freeborn. 

Luther  Furnell. 

Louis  Gabott, 

Joseph  Gingras. 

James  M.  Goodhue. 

W.  B.  Gardner, 

Harlow  Glass, 

Aaron  Goodrich. 

Leander  Garniot. 

Hugh  Glenn. 

Aaron  Gould, 

Napoleon  Gautier, 

John  Glenn. 

Baptiste  Gravelin, 

J.  Gehon, 

Joseph  Gabin. 

Joseph  B.  Gravelin,  (?) 

R.  B.  Gibson, 

Emanuel  Goode. 

Edward  Greenwood. 

Nathan  Gilpatrick, 

George  Goodhue, 

Vetal  Guerin, 

Francis  Gingras, 

Isaac  N.  Goodhue. 

Matthew  GrofF. 

John  T.  Halsted. 

John  H.  Henderson, 

B.  F.  Hoyt, 

Eberle  Handley, 

John  Henley, 

Lorenzo  Hoyt, 

John  J.  Haney,         • 

Charles  J.  Henniss, 

William  Huggins. 

Frederic  Hardy, 

J.  S.  Hinckley, 

James  Hughes, 

George  Harris. 

W.  W.  Hickox, 

Richard  M.  Hughes. 

E.  A.  C.  Hatch. 

Rev.  Chauncy  Hobart. 

George  Humphrey. 

Jacob  Haus, 

Samuel  C.  Hoffman. 

James  M.  Humphrey. 

Nathan  Hawley, 

John  Holland, 

C.  S.  Hurtick, 

John  Havcock. 

David  Hopkins. 

B.  E.  Hutchinson. 

Edward  Hays,     . 

Peter  Hopkins. 

B.  F.  Irvine, 

Jno.  R.  Irvine. 

Henry  Jackson, 

Dr.  Wm.  H.  Jarvis. 

Parsons  K.  Johnson. 

Louis  Jacques, 

William  Jebb, 

1).  11.  Jones. 

Noel  Jaillard. 

John  W.  Johnson, 

P.  Jones. 

S.  F.  Kauftrnan. 

Isaac  M.  Kelley, 

Philip  Kessler. 

C.  Keller, 

M.  N.  Kellogg, 

James  Kirkpatrick. 

Egidus  Keller, 

Robert  Kennedy, 

R.  C.  Knox. 

Isaac  La  Bonissier, 

Timothy  Lareau, 

John  Leslie, 

Joseph  Labisinier, 

A.  L.  Larpenteur, 

Sylvester  Leveridge. 

John  B.  LaChappel, 

E.  N.  Larpenteur, 

John  Lewis. 

Jacques  Lafaire, 

Leonard  H.  LaRoche. 

James  Lock. 

Joseph  Lafond. 

Louis  Larrivier, 

B.  W.  Lott. 

Henry  A.  Lambert. 

William  Lauver. 

S.  B.  Lowell. 

Henry  F.  Lander, 

Daniel  Lavalle. 

Jesse  Lowe, 

Charles  Landres. 

Xavier  Lavalle. 

S.  B.  Lowry, 

Henry  Lansing. 

Andrew  Lavier, 

C.  P.  V.  Lull, 

Hyele  Lapierre, 

W.  G.  LeDuc, 

John  Lumlev. 

Peter  Lapointe. 

Michael  Lemay. 

1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  269 


Asa  Mallory, 

John  P.  McGregor, 

Joseph  Monteur, 

James  Marley, 

George  McGuire, 

Ferdinand  Monti, 

J.  Cole  Martin, 

John  McKee, 

George  W.  Moore, 

Henry  F.  Masterson, 

Edward  McLagan, 

Amable  Morin, 

Ira  Mathews, 

R.  McLagan, 

Wilson  C.  Morrison, 

Lewis  Mathews, 

Alex.  R.  McLeod, 

Joseph  Mosher, 

Thornton  Mathews. 

Patrick  Meagher, 

Peter  Mullin,    . 

Hugh  McCann, 

Rev.  J.  A.  Merrick, 

Alfred  Murphv, 

Charles  McCarron, 

Abraham  Michier, 

Luke  Murphy, 

V.  B.  McCulloch, 

John  P.  Miller, 

D.  C.  Murray, 

Nathaniel  McLean, 

Amadis  Mini,  . 

Elijah  Murrav. 

John  McCloud,  Jr., 

A.  M.  Mitchell. 

Wm.  P.  Murray, 

R.  West  McCloud, 

Lot  Moftet, 

Nathan  Myrick. 

Rev.  E.  D.  Neill, 

Geo.  C.  Nichols, 

William  Noot, 

R.  R.  Nelson, 

Jacob  J.  Noah, 

Anson  Northrup. 

P.  S.  Newell, 

Wm.  H.  Nobles, 

Charles  H.  Oakes. 

Fred.  Olivier, 

David  Olmsted, 

David  Oakes, 

Louis  M.  Olivier, 

John  P.  Owens. 

Thomas  Odell, 

Louis  M.  Olivier, 

Stephen  Palmer, 

E.  M.  Patridge, 

Jesse  H.  Pomeroy, 

Antoine  Papin, 

Louis  Paul, 

Columbus  J.  Post, 

J.  P.  Parsons, 

Charles  Peltier, 

Calvin  Potter, 

Rodney  Parker. 

Olivier  Peltier. 

Dr.  T.  R.  Potts, 

Edward  Patch, 

James  Phillips, 

Simon  Powers, 

David  Patnande, 

Wm.  D.  Phillips, 

A.  C.  Prentiss, 

Peter  Patoille. 

Allen  Pierce, 

Bart.  Presley. 

Patrick  Quinn. 

William  Quinn. 

Wm.  L.  Quinn. 

Alex.  Ramsey. 

Edmund  Rice. 

Barnard  Rogers, 

Justus  C.  Ramsey, 

Henry  M.  Rice, 

John  Rogers, 

John  Randall, 

Orrin  W.  Rice, 

Daniel  Rohrer, 

Wm.  Randall, 

David  Richardson, 

Joseph  Rondo, 

Wm.  H.  RandalL 

Wm.  Roach, 

O.  H.  Root, 

S.  R.  Randolph, 

Louis  Robert, 

Isaac  Rose, 

George  Rath(?) 

Nelson  Robert, 

Charles  Rouleau, 

J.  W.  Reed, 

A.  B.  Robinson, 

Peter  Rougard, 

Thomas  P.  Reed, 

Flavien  Roberge, 

Wm.  Russell. 

Henry  Sage, 

Marshall  Sherman. 

Charles  Sperry,- 

Edward  J.  Sanford, 

Hile  Sikwalen,  (?) 

Nathan  Spicer, 

M.  St.  Cyr, 

George  Simon. 

Daniel  Steele. 

Hvacinthe  St.  Cvr. 

Orlando  Simons. 

W.  M.  Stees, 

370 


The  Historv  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1850 


Oliver  St.  Martin. 

J.  W.  Simpson. 

Arthur  Stephens. 

Nicholas  Schidalin. 

Edward  Sloan. 

James  Steward, 

Ellis  Scofield. 

Levi  Sloan. 

Wm.  H.  Stiles, 

C.  P.  Scott. 

J.  N.  Slosson, 

Daniel  Stinchfield. 

J.  W.  Selby, 

Chas.  K.  Smith. 

Kennedy  Stuart, 

B.  L.  Sellers. 

J.  W.  C.  Smith. 

David  Stockbarger. 

W.  H.  Semmes, 

George  H.  Snider. 

Edway  S  tough  ton. 

Samuel  H.  Sergeant. 

John  Snow. 

Daniel  Strickland. 

Damas  Semper. 

J.  C.  Somerville. 

Sandford  Strickland. 

C.  E.  Shaffer. 

J.  R.  Spangler. 

Peter  Sturgeon, 

Nelson  Shattuck. 

Jackson  Spears. 

Andrew  Swartz. 

George  Shaver. 

George  Spence. 

Edward  Sweeny. 

Geo.  W.  Shaw. 

John  B.  Spencer. 

Dr.  W.  W.  Sweney. 

A.  L.  Shearer. 

R.  M.  Spencer. 

Charles  Symonds. 

Erwin  Y.  Shelley. 

Spier  Spencer. 

William  Talkin. 

Jas.  Thompson,  (col'd, 

)  Geo.  Townsend. 

John  Tanner, 

Joseph  Thompson. 

C.  F.  Tracy, 

D.  C.  Taylor. 

Rinaldo  Thompson. 

H.  W.  Tracy, 

Wm.  Taylor,  (col'd,) 

Socrates  Thompson. 

Fred.  W.  Travers. 

John  F.  Tehan. 

James  H.  Thorns, 

John  Trower, 

Benj.  S.  Terry. 

Jeremiah  Tibbets. 

Matthew  Troy. 

John  C.  Terry, 

Albert  Titlow. 

Balthasar  Tschudi. 

Robert  Terry, 

Henry  L.  Tilden. 

John  Tschudi, 

Francis  Thibeault, 

Wm.  H.  Tinker. 

E.  Inman  Turner. 

Benj.  Thompson. 

C.  S.  Todd, 

Amable  Turpin. 

G.  W.  Thompson. 

'  W.  M.  Torbet. 

Hugh  Tyler. 

Pierre  Vadnais, 

Maminie  Vanace. 

Joseph  Villaume. 

Hugh  I.  Vance. 

Robert  Van  Holmes. 

L.  B.  Wait, 

J.  A.  Wheelock. 

Morton  S.  Wilkinsoi 

W.  S.  Wait, 

Wallace  B.  White. 

Samuel  Williams, 

John  A.  Wakefield. 

Joel  E.  Whitney, 

George  Wisgarver. 

George  Welles, 

Rev.  T.  Wilcoxson. 

Simeon  Woodburv. 

Henry  Wellington. 

Alex.  Wilkin, 

Warren  Woodburv. 

Martin  Wells, 

Amherst  Willoughby 

.    I.  P.  Wright. 

E.  G.  Wentall. 

Anthon  Yeorg.  Peter  Yoss. 

Benjamin  Zanger. 

SOME    ETHNOLOGICAL    NOTES. 

To  one  curious  enough  to  study  the  nationalities  which  form 


1850]       and  of  the  Co^^nty  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  271 

our  diverse  population,  the  above  list  is  suggestive.  For  in- 
stance, the  absence  of  German  names  is  singular.  There  are 
scarcely  half  a  dozen  German  names  on  the  list.  It  would 
appear  that  the  Germans  are  not  a  pioneering  people,  as  the 
Yankees  are,  or  the  French.  But  very  shortly  after  this  date 
the  German  population  increased  verv  rapidlv.  Look  at  the 
census  of  1857,  given  u»der  its  proper  date.  A- very  large 
proportion  of  the  names  there  are  German,  and  are  recog- 
nized as  among  our  most  "•  solid"  and  well-to-do  citizens,  own- 
ers of  fine  business  blocks,  and  comfortable  residences,  and 
gratifying  bank  accounts.  Many  of  them  came  here,  too,  poor 
emigrant  boys.  By  the  census  of  1860,  fully  one-third  of  the 
foreign-born  population  were  Germans,  and  the  proportion 
must  have  increased  since  then. 

Another  thing  that  will  strike  the  observer,  is  the  large  per 
centage  of  French  names  on  the  census  of  1850.  The  Cana- 
dian and  Swiss  French  at  one  time  composed  the  bulk  of  the 
population  here,  and  their  descendants  are  still  a  numerous 
class.  They  formed,  during  the  first  six  or  eight  years  of  the 
city's  history,  an  important  element  in  our  midst.  GOODHUE 
mentions  in  1849,  or  1850,  that  a  knowledge  of  the  French  lan- 
guage was  indispensable  to  a  trader,  just  as  German  or  Scan- 
dinavian salesmen  are  considered  necessary  now.  The  stores 
then  bore  the  sign,  ';  ici  on  parle  Francaise,"  just  as  they  do 
now,  "  Norske  Handels,"  or  "  Deutsche  Handlung,"  to  attract 
those  classes.  Indeed,  such  a  large  infusion  of  French  blood 
in  our  population,  left  its  impress  upon  it  unmistakably — and 
a  valuable  ingredient  it  was,  too. 

"WAIT    TILL    AFTER    THE    PAYMENT." 

The  Pioneer,  of  August  i ,  says  :  "One  would  suppose,  by 
the  promises  about  town,  that  the  Indian  payment  would 
square  every  debt  in  Minnesota,  but  the  c  debt  of  nature.'  Ev- 
ery reply  to  a  dun  is,  k  after  the  payment'  "  This  used  to  be 
the  great  word  among  slow  payers,  for  years,  showing  how 
much  the  early  business  and  prosperity  of  Minnesota  depended 
on  the  Indian  trade,  and  how  the  money  disbursed  unloosed 
things  generally.  Afterwards  this  was  changed  to,  "  wait 


2jz  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul*         .[1850 

until  the  logs  come  down,"  showing  that  the  lumber  business 
had  become  the  disbursing  patron  of  society.  Now-a-days 
the  phrase  is,  "  wait  'till  after  harvest,"  an  evidence  that  agri- 
culture is  now  our  main  hold. 

MINOR    TOPICS. 

The  Pioneer,  of  August,  contains  the  following:  "Rev. 
Mr.  BRKCK  respectfully  invites  the  attendance  of  the  citizens 
of  Saint  Paul  at  the  house  of  H.  A.  LAMBERT,  Esq.,*  on  Fri- 
day, the  2d  day  of  August,  to  take  into  consideration  the  erect- 
ing of  an  Episcopal  church  in  Saint  Paul." 

The  result  of  this  conference  was  that  a  society  was  organ- 
ized, and  the  coi'ner-stone  of  "  Christ  church,"  on  Cedar  street, 
laid  on  September  5,  following. 

The  Town  Council,  or  Board  of  Trustees,  was  urged  by  the 
Pioneer  to  have  the  stumps  pulled  out  of  Third  street ! 

"  Brick  at  the  kiln  sell  at  $6  per  thousand.  We  noticed  that  several 
good  brick  buildings  are  about  being  erecfted  near  the  upper  landing." — 
\_Pioneer,  July  4.] 

uThe  people  in  Saint  Paul  seem  to  express  a  general  wish  that  no 
building  should  be  erected  on  the  margin  of  the  bluft",  or  the  south  side 
of  Bench  street.  That  street  when  built  up,  will  be  unsurpassed  for 
beauty.  There  ought  to  be  a  row  of  elm  shade  trees  planted  on  that 
side ;  thus  Bench  street  may  soon  become  one  of  the  pleasantest  prom- 
enades in  the  world." — \_Pioneer^\ 

The  Pioneer,  of  August  22,  says  :  "  The  roar  of  Saint  An- 
thony Falls  was  more  distinctly  audible  at  Saint  Paul  than 
we  ever  heard  it.  The  9  o'clock  reveille  of  Fort  Snelling 
came  rolling  clown  the  channel  of  the  Mississippi  as  though 
it  were  meant  for  some  stray  soldiers."  How  quiet  the  village 
must  have  been  those  summer  evenings.  The  roar  and  noise 
of  a  great  city  makes  a  marked  contrast  now. 

ABORIGINAL    ITK  MS. 

The  town  about  these   davs.  and   indeed  for   several   years 


*  HENRY  A.  LAMBERT  was  :i  brother  of.  DAVID  LAMBERT,  before  noticed.  He  was 
Judge  of  Probate  for  several  years,  and  died  in  1863.  Though  an  active  supporter  of 
the  Episcopal  church  at  the  time  noticed,  he  afterwards  embraced  Catholicism. 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  273 

later,  used  to  be  thronged  with  Indians,  both  Chippewas  and 
Dakotas,  some  buying  goods,  others  begging,  stealing,  sell- 
ing peltries,  etc.  That  their  presence  in  such  numbers  was  a 
nuisance,  any  early  resident  can  testify.  Occasionally  some 
curious  scenes  were  witnessed,  the  '-begging-dance,"  the 
''war-dance,"  and  other  orgies  being  frequently  performed 
on  the  streets,  in  expectation  of  some  reward  from  bystanders. 
On  July  9,  sixteen  chiefs  and  head  men  of  the  Yanktons,  in 
full  feather,  "  sang  a  wild  song,"  says  the  Pioneer,  in  front  of 
Gov.  RAMSEY'S  house,  to  an  audience  of  villagers.  Some  of 
the  red-skins  were  accomplished  thieves,  vide  the  following 
from  the  Pioneer: 

"  SUBSTITUTION  OF  A  THIEF. — The  other  day,  an  Indian  came  into  the 
jeweler  shop  ot"  Mr.  SPICER,  on  Robert  street,  and,  while  there,  stole 
a  watch.  Mr.  SPICER  followed  him  up  street,  to  Mr.  FULLER'S  store, 
and  collared  him,  and,  seeing  no  one  to  assist,  left  the  Indian  standing 
by  the  side  of  Mr.  FULLER'S  store,  while  he  went  inside  to  get  some 
one  to  help  him  search  the  body  of  the  Indian.  Returning  in  two  or 
three  minutes,  he  found  an  Indian  standing  in  the  same  spot,  in  the 
same  attitude  he  had  left  the  thief  in,  his  blanket  philosophically  folded 
around  him,  but  he  was  another  Indian,  who  had  taken  the  place  of 
the  thief  during  SPICER'S  absence — while  the  thief  himself  slipped 
around  the  house  and  fled." 

While  the  buck  Indians  were  loafing  about,  smoking,  drink- 
ing tire-water  (if  they  could  get  it)  and  begging  money,  the 
.squaws  did  all  the  labor.  The  Pioneer  records,  at  various 
times,  items  explaining  scenes  familiar  to  all  the  old-timers : 

"  Quite  a  novel  team,  consisting  of  four  squaws  dragging  a  train  with 
a  load  of  provisions  on  it,  made  its  appearance  in  Saint  Paul,  on 
Thursday  last."  » 

"The  Sioux  women  are  certainly  very  industrious,  and  do  a  great 
deal  of  hard  labor.  It  would  no  doubt  be  a  novel  sight  to  most  of  the 
eastern  people  to  see  women  paddling  their  log  canoes  across  the 
Mississippi,  heavy  laden  with  wood  or  fence-posts,  and  then  cording 
it  on  the  bank,  or  carrying  large  posts  up  a  steep  bluff  for  a  number 
of  rods,  with  a  child  a  year  or  two  old  on  their  shoulders.  Yet  these 
things  are  of  daily  occurrence  at  Saint  Paul,  Sunday  not  excepted." 

"Many  of  the  children  carried  about  by  the  Sioux  women  on  their 
shoulders,  look  remarkably  pale.  Like  many  other  phenomena,  it  is 
more  easy  to  observe  than  explain,  as  the  children  appear  to  be  in 
perfect  health." 


274  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul*         [1850 

Miss  BREMER,  the  Swedish  novelist,  when  in  Saint  Paul, 
gave  much  attention  and  considerable  space  in  her  book,  to 
the  social  condition  of  the  Indian  females.  She  says,  among 
other  things :  / 

"' What  estimate  may  be  given  of  the  morals  and  character  of  the 
Indian  women  in  this  neighborhood?'  inquired  I.  of  a  lady  in  Saint 
Paul,  who  had  resided  a  considerable  time  at  this  place. 

"  '  Many  are  immoral,  and  cannot  be  much  commended:  but  others 
again  there  are  who  are  as  virtuous  and  blameless  as  any  of  us.'" 

Few  will  be  disposed  to  blame  the  poor  '•  pagans,"  who  read 
the  following  picture  of  their  destitution,  from  the  Pioneer,  of 
November  21,1 850 : 

"  The  other  evening,  near  the  upper  landing,  we  saw  a  revolting 
spectacle — a  Sioux  squaw,  evidently  famished,  gnawing  the  head  of  a 
dog  she  had  found  dead  !  Judge  of  the  sufferings  of  these  poor  wretches, 
thus  gloating  over  offal  and  refuse." 

It  would  have  been  better,  of  course,  for  the  morals  and 
health  of  the  town,  if  thes£  creatures,  with  scarcely  any  dis- 
tindtion  between  right  and  wrong,  had  not  been  always  hang- 
ing around,  ready  and  anxious  to  earn  money  by  almost  any 
means,  but  that  evil  seemed  inseparable  from  the  condition  of 
society  then. 

In  the  earlier  days  of  our  city,  the  Indians  helped  to  make 
quite  a  trade  in  one  way  and  another.  They  used  to  supply 
the  local  market  with  fish,  wild  fowls,  venison,  bear  meat, 
cranberries,  and  other  wild  fruit,  furs  and  products  of  the  for- 
est generally  ;  besides  moccasins,  bead-work,  and  trinkets  of 
that  class.  They  would  always  demand  gold  and  silver  for 
their  products,  which*  they  would  reinvest  in  ammunition, 
blankets,  flour,  cutlery,  or  anything  they  fancied.  They  were 
pretty  sharp  at  a  bargain,  too,  be  it  known,  and  scarcely  ever 
gc\t  overreached.  Most  of  the  earlier  merchants  of  our  town 
learned  a  few  Sioux  words  sufficient  to  trade  with,  and  some 
acquired  quite  a  knowledge  of  the  tongue.  After  the  Indians 
came  to  know  and  have  confidence  in  any  one,  they  would 
trade  with  him  and  take  his  word  unhesitatingly,  hence  became 
good  customers.  Those  who  could  not  talk  Sioux,  resorted 
to  signs.  The  hand  held  up  meant  one  dollar.  A  finger  out- 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  275 

stretched  signified  ten  cents.  The  finger  bent  was  five  cents,  and 
so  on.  Yet  the  Indians  were  nearly  all  sly  thieves,  and  would 
pilfer  at  every  chance.  They  were  inveterate  beggars,  too. 
Give  one  of  them  any  food,  money,  or  other  gratuity,  and  next 
day  he  would  probably  return  to  ask  the  same  favor,  and  bring 
a  dozen  of  his  companions  with  him.  They  had  any  amount 
of  impudence,  too.  They  would  bolt  into  a  person's  kitchen 
without  knocking,  perhaps  several  "  bucks"  at  once,  and  beg 
or  help  themselves  in  a  very  free  manner.  Ladies  recently 
from  the  east,  not  knowing  their  habits,  would  thus  be  fright- 
ened into  hysterics  almost,  and  the  visitors  would  enjoy  the 
fright  hugely.  Those  who  understood  their  habits  better, 
would  tell  them  '"•  puck-a-chee,"  [be  gone,]  in  a  severe  tone, 
when  they  would  leave. 

There  were  several  of  the  older  stores  in  our  city,  which 
were  the  recognized  headquarters  of  these  red  men,  and  were 
known  far  and  wide  among  the  tribes  as  such.  LARPENTEUR'S 
was  one  of  such  places.  Here,  at  various  times,  the  writer 
has  seen  most  of  the  principal  Sioux  chieftains  of  all  the  bands, 
(except,  possibly,  the  Missouri  River  bands,)  and  most  of  the 
principal  warriors.  At  any  hour  of  the  day  when  one  might 
call  there,  during  any  of  the  early  years,  several  of  the  plumed 
and  painted  lords  of  the  forest  could  have  been  seen.  They 
were,  apparently,  always  taciturn  and  reserved,  but  any  one 
in  their  confidence  could  have  drawn  them  out  in  conversation 
quite  freely.  Had  the  writer  at  that  time  had  an  opportunity 
to  collect  from  these  prominent  chieftains  some  account  of 
their  adventures  in  war  and  the  chase,  of  their  ancestors,  and 
the  traditions  of  the  race,  it  would  have  been  more  interesting 
than  a  romance.  It  will  ever  be  regretted  that  no  one  did 
this,  since  it  is  now,  perhaps,  too  late  to  do  so. 

Both  the  Sioux  and  Chippewas  used  to  frequent  our  streets 
in  those  days,  (the  former  the  most  numerous,)  yet,  although 
the  two  tribes  had  a  mortal  hatred  for  each  other,  no  collision 
ever  occurred,  except  the  one  noted  in  the  events  of  1853. 
.The  faces  of  LITTLE  CROW  and  HOLE-IN-THE-DAY,  the  two 
renowned  chieftains  of  those  nations,  were  very  familiar  to  all 
our  old  residents.  Excellent  portraits  of  each  are  given  in 


2j6  The  History  of  the  City  oj  Saint  Paul.         [^So 

this  volume,  and  an  interesting  chapter  might  be  written  on 
each,  could  the  space  be  spared. 

Some  of  these  Indians  had  very  curious  names.  It  is  known 
that,  frequently,  they  name  children  from  some  incident,  or 
some  physical  peculiarity.  Two  of  the  Indians  who  used  to 
be  regular  frequenters  of  LARPEXTEUR'S,  in  early  days,  and 
were  well  known  to  old  settlers,  had  names  whose  translation 
would  be  shocking  to  ears  polite. 


LITTLE  CROW. 

The  Indians  unacquainted  with  English,  used  to  greet  their 
acquaintances  with  the  exclamation,  ''  how"  or  "ho"  Final- 
ly, this  was  taken  up  by  the  boys,  and  became  a  regular  pass- 
word with  them.  When  raising  glasses  to  take  a  nip,  they 
would  always  say.  ktho,"  as  a  preliminary — a  custom  that  ob- 
tained for  years,  was  carried  by  them  into  the  army,  and  pro- 
duced many  amusing  incidents.  One  day,  an  English  tourist v 
who  was  stopping  at  the  Fuller  House,  quizzing  everything 
through  his  eye-glasses,  observed  this  custom,  and  inquired  of 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  277 

a  friend,   ''What  makes  'em  say  'o  when  they  go  to  drink? 
Does  it  'urt  'em  ?" 

POLITICAL    MATTERS. 

The  month  of  August,  1850,  was  characterized  by  a  strife 
for  Delegate  to  Congress.  No  party  nominations  were  made, 
but  the  election  of  candidates  for  Delegate  by  the  different 
conventions  was  solely  based  on  personal  preferences.  Hon. 
H.  H.  SIBLEY,  Col.  A.  M.  MITCHELL,  DAVID  OLMSTED,  and 
N.  G.  WILCOX,  were  severally  put  up  by  their  friends.  The 
two  latter  gentlemen  declined,  and  left  the  contest  to  Messrs. 
SIBLEY  and  MITCHELL.  The  campaign  was  short,  the  elec- 
tion occurring  on  September  2. 

Of  the  bitterness  of  the  contest,  Gov.  MARSHALL,  in  his 
annual  address  before  the  Old  Settlers  of  Hennepin  county, 
February  22,  1871,  said: 

"There  were  no  party  issues;  it  was  more  a  contest  of  rival  Indian 
trading  interests.  Messrs.  SIBLEY  and  RICE  had  been  partners  with 
the  great  house  of  PIERRE  CHOUTEAU  &  Co.  A  quarrel  arose,  and,  in 
the  fall  of  1849,  Mr-  RICE  left  the  firm.  Gen.  SIBLEY  was  then  Dele- 
gate in  Congress.  As  the  election  approached,  in  1850,  Mr.  RICE'S 
friends  put  forward  Col.  MITCHELL,  and  supported  him  with  all  their 
great  influence.  The  fears  and  jealousies  of  the  people  were  aroused 
against  Mr.  SIBLEY  on  account  of  his  connection  with  the  Fur  Com- 
pany. The  cry  was  Anti-Monopoly  •  I  wish  those  who  deprecate  party 
dissensions  now-a-days,  could  know  something  of  the  bitterness  and 
personal  abuse  of  that  contest  in  1850,  in  which  party  lines  were  not 
drawn.  They  would  not  think  that  well  defined  party  contests  were  so 
great  an  evil." 

THE  VOTE  IN  SAINT  PAUL. 

The  eleclion  was  held  l '  at  the  house  of  ROBERT  KENNEDY"— 
afterwards  known  as  the  Central  House. 
The  vote  was  as  follows  : 

Delegate  to  Congress. 

Henry  H.  Sibley 151     |     Col.  A.  M.  Mitchell 153 

Representatives. 


P.K.Johnson 126 

Benj.   W.  Brunson 150 

Justus  C.  Ramsey 204 

Wm.  P.  Murray 121 


H.  L.  Tilden 191 

Edmund  Rice 157 

J.  J.  Dewey 142 

Henry  Jackson 100 


278  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1850 

Co  mm  iss  io  ner. 
And.  Godfrey 130     |     R.  P.   Russell 165 

Assessors. 
Sam.  J.  Findley 148     i     Thos.  P.  Reed 103 


George  C.  Nichols 131; 

Albert  H.  Dorr 13; 


I.  I.  Lewis 


154 


S.  II.  Sergeant 143 


County  Treasurer. 

J.   W.  Simpson  was  elected  without  opposition. 
Those  in  italics  elected. 

The  following  minor  officers  were  also  elected,  mainly  with- 
out opposition  : 

Supervisors  of  Roads. — Lot  Moffet.  Alpheus  R.  French,  and  Pierre 
Bottineau. 

Constables. — Warren  Chapman  and  Warren  Woodbury. 

School  Trustees,  Dist.  No.  7.— B.  F.  Hoyt,  A.  R.  French  and  Rev. 
J.  P.  Parsons. 

School  Trustees,  Dist.  No.  2.—J.  R.  Brown,  E.  D.  Neill,  Vetal 
Guerin. 

The  vote  in  the  Territory  on  Delegate  was  :  SIBLEY.  649  ; 
MITCHELL,  S59' 

FREDR1KA    BREMER    VISITS    SAINT    PAUL. 

In  October  of  this  year,  the  distinguished  Swedish  authoress. 
Miss  FREDRIKA  BREMER,  visited  Saint  Paul.  In  her  enter- 
taining book,  -'Homes  of  the  New  World,"  about  40  pages 
are  devoted  to  her  visit.  A  few  extracts  must  suffice  : 

;-  Scarcely  had  we  touched  the  shore,  when  the  Governor  of  Minne- 
sota and  his  pretty  young  wife  came  on  board  and  invited  me  to  take 
up  my  quarters  at  their  house.  And  there  I  am  now,  happy  with 
these  kind  people,  and  with  them  I  make  excursions  into  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  town  is  one  of  the  youngest  infants  of  the  Great  West. 
scarcely  eighteen  months  old ;  and  yet  it  has  in  a  short  time  increased 
to  a  population  of  2,000  persons,  and  in  a  vex y  few  years  it  will  certainly 
be  possessed  of  22,000;  for  its  situation  is  as  remarkable  for  its  beauty 
and  healthiness,  as  it  is  advantageous  for  trade. 

"As  yet,  however,  the  town  is  but  in  its  infancy,  and  people  manage 
with  such  dwellings  as  they  can  get.  The  drawing-room  at  Governor 
RAMSEY'S  house  is  also  his  office,  and  Indians  and  workpeople,  and 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  are  all  alike  admitted.  In  the  meantime.  Mr. 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  279 

RAMSEY  is  building  a  handsome,  spacious  house  upon  a  hill,  a  little 
out  of  the  city,  [quite  in  the  city  now,  madame,]  with  beautiful  trees 
around  it,  and  commanding  a  grand  view  of  the  river.  If  I  were  to 
live  on  the  Mississippi,  I  would  live  here.  It  is  a  hilly  region,  and  on 
all  sides  extend  beautiful  and  varying  landscapes. 

"The  city  is  thronged  with  Indians.  The  men,  for  the  most  part, 
go  about  grandly  ornamented,  with  naked  hatchets,  the  shafts  of  which 
serve  them  as  pipes.  They  paint  themselves  so  utterly  without  any 
taste,  that  it  is  incredible." 

CHURCH    ITEMS,    AGAIN. 

"  The  Episcopal  church  was  raised  on  Tuesday  last.  There  are  now 
in  the  course  of  construction  three  churches,  the  Presbyterian,  Baptist, 
and  the  Episcopal.  These,  with  the  Methodist  and  the  Catholic,  will 
make  five  churches  in  Saint  Paul." — [Pioneer,  October  ro.J 

In  a  few  days  from  this  time,  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
rebuilt  on  its  late  site,  (corner  Third  and  Saint  Peter  streets,) 
was  finished  so  as  to  be  used  for  worship.  A  bell — the  first 
church  bell  in  Minnesota — was  hung  in  its  belfry  late  one  Sat- 
urday evening,  just  in  time  for  the  opening  services  of  the  new 
chapel  the  next  morning.  Impatient  to  test  its  tones,  the  bell 
was  rung  even  at  that  late  hour,  a  source  of  satisfaction  to  the 
Christian  people,  and  of  wonder  to  the  pagans,  who  heard  the 
solemn  tones  of  the  church-going  bell,  pulsating  over  the 
"  valleys  and  rocks,"  for  the  first  time.  Only  two  days  subse- 
quently, another  bell  arrived  on  a  steamboat,  an  unexpected 
present  from  a  gentleman  in  Ohio,  and  the  first  one  was  sold 
to  the  Market  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  whose 
belfry  it  long  did  good  service. 

BUILDING    OK    A    COURT-HOUSE    AND   JAIL. 

VETAL  GUERIN,  the  liberal  donor  of  so  many  lots  and 
blocks  for  public  and  church  purposes,  having  deeded  to  the 
countv  a  square  of  land  for  the  purpose  of  a  court-house  and 
jail,  on  Januarv  16,  the  Countv  Commissioners  advertised  for 
plans  for  the  same.  Dr.  DAVID  DAY,  Register  of  Deeds,  and 
Clerk  of  the  Board,  produced  the  most  acceptable  plan  for  a 
court-house,  and  was  paid  $10  for  the  same.  In  order  to  raise 
the  money  for  the  erection  of  these  buildings,  the  Countv 


280 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PanL         [1850 


Board  ordered  the  issue  of  some  county  bonds.  When  they 
were  put  on  the  market,  they  were  known  as  the  "Cross 
Bonds" — but  this  is  a  pretty  tough  story,  and  we  will  not  give 
it  unless  it  is  substantiated  by  the  affidavit  of  at  least  three 
disinterested  and  reliable  witnesses. 


THE  COURT-HOUSE. 

The  court-house  was  commenced  some  time  in  November. 
1850,  and  completed  for  use  in  the  following  year.  FREEMAN 
&  DANIELS  were  the  contra6tors.  It  was,  for  those  days,  a 
fine  building.  It  has  now  been  used  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
and  has  played  an  important  part  in  the  history  of  this  gen- 
eration, not  only  in  law,  but  the  numerous  political  conven- 
tions, public  meetings,  and  even  religious  services.  Three 
years  ago  a  commission  appointed  bv  the  citv  and  county, 
procured  plans  for  a  new  building,  a  joint  city  hall  and  court- 
house, which  will  probably  be  built  hi  due  time,  and  the  old 
'•  historic"  court-house  removed.  In  view  of  this  fact,  the 
County  Board  procured  the  engraving  of  the  old  building 
herewith,  to  preserve  its  familiar  "  face"  in  our  annals. 

The  building  of  the  jail  was  not.  however,  commenced  for 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  281 

several  months  after  this  date.  It  was  a  small  log  building, 
weather- boarded,  and  about  as  secure  as  if  made  of  paste- 
board. This  jail,  which  was  the  first  prison  ere<5ted  in  Min- 
nesota, stood  there  until  1857,  when  the  present  one  was  built. 
Before  it  was  torn  down.  JOSEPH  W.  PRINCK.  then  Deputy 


THE  OLD  JAIL.. 

Sheriff,  got  an  architect  to  make  the  drawing  and  plan  of  it. 
which  now  hangs  in  the  County  Auditor's  office,  and  which 
he  gave  to  the  county.  The  County  Board  very  kindly  ordered 
an  engraving  to  be  made  of  it,  which  is  given  herewith. 

MINOR    TOPICS. 

The  Pioneer  speaks  of  a  restaurant  being  started,  as  one 
of  the  "  new  improvements  of  the  city." 

"  Last  Wednesday,  the  i4th  dav  of  November.  Mr.  DODD  first  got 
Capt.  DANA'S  steam  saw  mill  in  operation,  at  our  lower  landing,  and 
sawed  some  maple  plank,  which  are  to  be  used  in  constructing  a  table  to 
be  placed  in  the  Territorial  library;  they  being  the  first  boards  ever 
sawed  by  steam  power  in  Minnesota. — \_Pioneer,  November  28.] 

On  November  4.  a  special  election  was  held  for  a  Justice  of 
'9 


282  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1850 

the  Peace,  vice  JOHN  A.  WAKEFIELD,  resigned.  ORLANDO 
SIMONS*  received  192  votes,  electing  him  over  LOT  MOFFET, 
who  received  39  votes. 

Mr.  WAKEFIELD  had  been  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Legis- 
lature, in  early  years,  and  was  author  of  a  "History  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War."  He  removed,  after  the  resignation  no- 
ticed above,  to  Iowa,  and,  finally,  to  Kansas,  where  he  died, 
iii  1872.  During  his  residence  in  Saint  Paul,  he  was  proprie- 
tor of  the  Tremont  House,  and  frequently  lectured  on  tem- 
perance. 

•'  School  District  No.  3.  was  organized  on  the  evening  of  the  i8th 
inst.  P.  K.  JOHNSON  was  elected  Clerk.  The  trustees  were  instructed 
to  employ  HENRY  DOOLITTLE  as  a  teacher,  at  $40  per  month.  A  tax 
of  $300  was  voted  to  defray  the  cost  of  the  school  house,  and  the  ex- 
penses of  the  school." — {Pioneer,  November  28.] 

••  It  is  thought  advisable  by  some  of  our  villagers,  that  we  have  this 
winter  a  series  of  practical  instructive  lectures,  and  that  a  small  ad- 
mission fee  be  charged — the  proceeds  to  be  applied  for  the  purchase  of 
a  fire  engine  in  Saint  Paul. — [Pioneer.  December  12.] 

The  last  steamboat  departed  this  fall  on  November  18. 
making  a  season  of  239  days,  during  which  102  boats  arrived. 
or  an  average  of  one  boat  in  two  and  one-third  days. 

December  26,  1850,  was  proclaimed  by  Governor  RAMSEY, 
as  a  dav  of  public  thanksgiving,  the  first  ever  observed  in 
Minnesota.  But  there  were  no  turkevs  to  be  had  those  davs  ! 

JOURNALISTIC. 

On  November  25,  the  Pioneer  issued  a  prospectus  for  a 
daily,  which  was  not  issued  in  fact  until  May,  1854,  though 


*  ORLANDO  SIMONS  was  born  January  18,  1834,  at  Lyons,  Wayne  county,  New  York, 
and  removed  to  Elmira  when  young,  where  lie  was  educated,  at  the  Elmira  Academy, 
Chester  Academy,  in  Chemung  county,  &c.,  and  afterwards  read  law.  In  1849,  Judge 
SIMONS,  in  company  with  another  young-  lawyer  of  that  locality,  (HENRY  F.  MASTEK- 
SON,  Esq.,)  removed  to  Saint  Paul,  arriving  on  June  20.  The  law  firm  of  "  MASTERSON 
it  SIMONS"  was  then  formed,  which  continued  until  a  few  months  ago,  full  quarter  of  a 
century,  being  the  oldest  law  firm  in  the  State.  In  1850,  Judge  SIMONS  was  elected  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  and,  in  1854,  elected  first  City  Justice,  holding  that  office  six  years, 
during  which  time  his  firm  administration  of  its  duties  was  a  wholesome  promoter  of 
law  and  order.  In  the  spring  of  1875,  he  was  appointed  Associate  Judge  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas  Court  of  Ramsey  county,  and,  in  November,  1875,  elected  for  seven  years  more. 


1850]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota,  283 

the  rapid  growth  of  the  Territory  and  the  liberal  support  given 
to  newspapers  seemed  to  warrant  it  when  first  proposed. 

On  December  10,  appeared  the  first  number  of  the  Minne- 
sota Democrat,  established  by  Col.  D.  A.  ROBERTSON.* 

About  the  same  date,  the  Chronicle  and  Register,  the  union 
of  the  two  journals  of  that  name,  after  several  real  or  osten- 
sible changes  in  ownership  and  editorial  management,  passed 
into  the  editorial  control  of  CHARLES  J.  HENNISS,  a  young  man 
of  talent,  but  dissipated  and  unscrupulous.  He  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  but  had  latterly  lived  in  Philadelphia.  He  died  in 
1856. 


*Col.  DANIEL  A.  ROBERTSON  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  May  13,  1813. 
He  was  descended  from  Highland  Scotch  ancestry.  At  the  age  of  18,  he  went  to  New 
York,  where  he  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1839.  In  the  meantime 
he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  journalism,  being  editor  of  the  Cincinnati 
Enquirer,  Mount  Vernon  Banner,  &c.  In  1844,  he  was  appointed  United  States  Mar- 
shal for  the  State  of  Ohio,  which  office  he  held  four  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  Ohio  from  Lancaster  county,  and  resigned,  after  holding 
the  office  three  months,  to  come  to  Minnesota,  which  he  did  in  the  fall  of  1850.  He  soon 
after  established  the  Minnesota  Democrat,  which  became  one  of  the  leading  journals  of 
the  Territory,  and  was  subsequently  merged  in  the  Pioneer.  Col.  ROBERTSON  at  one 
time  owned  a  large  amount  of  real  estate,  but  after  the  panic  of  1857,  '^  value  was 
seriously  reduced.  During  the  period  of  "  good  times,"  Col.  R.  used  his  means  in 
accumulating  one  of  the  finest  private  libraries  ever  brought  into  Minnesota,  consisting 
of  several  thousand  volumes  in  different  languages,  which  he  afterwards  sold  to  the 
State  University.  He  also  visited  Europe  in  1856-7,  and  devoted  his  leisure  in  studying 
various  scientific  and  historical  subjects  in  which  he  is  interested.  He  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  1859-60,  Mayor  of  Saint  Paul  in  1860,  and 
Sheriff  in  1863,  serving  in  this  office  two  terms.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  several  years,  and  performed  much  valuable  labor  for  our  public  schools. 
The  Historical  Society  and  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  are  also  largely  indebted  to 
him  for  their  success.  He  also  organized  the  first  Grange  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  in 
the  United  States,  presenting  to  it  a  valuable  library  of  books.  Col.  ROBERTSON  has 
always  been  a  close  student  of  history,  political  and  social  science,  and  other  subjects, 
on  some  of  which  he  has  lectured  with  much  success. 


284  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1851 


CHAPTER   XX. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1851. 

THE  GooDHUE-CoopER  RENCONTRE — STRUGGLE  OVER  THE  LOCATION  OF  THE  CAPI- 
TAL— SAINT  PAUL  WINS — A  CASE  OF  INDIAN  JUSTICE — LOCATING  THE  CAPITOL 
BUILDING— VIEW  IN  SAINT  PAUL  IN  1851— THE  RED  RIVER  CARAVANS— THE 
FUR  TRADE,  &c. — THE  EARLY  STAGE,  MAIL  AKD  EXPRESS  BUSINESS,  4-c.,  *c. 

THE  second  Territorial  Legislature  met  on  January  2.  in 
the  three-storv  brick  building,  just  completed,  of  RICE 
&  BANFIL.  which  stood  where  the  Third  street  entrance  of 
the  Metropolitan  Hotel  now  is.  and  was  burned  down  in  the 
winter  of  1856-7.  Saint  Paul  was  represented  this  year  by 
WM.  H.  FORBES  and  J.  McC.  BOAL.  in  the  Council,  and 
JUSTUS  C.  RAMSEY,  BEN.  W.  BRUNSON,  H.  L.  TILDEN.  and 
EDMUND  RICE  in  the  House — a  gallant  delegation  it  was,  too, 
and  a  brave  fight  they  made  to  keep  the  Philistines  from  mov- 
ing the  Capital  from  Saint  Paul. 


"There  was  a  warm  election  last  Monday,  tor  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
n  Saint  Paul.  JOHN  F.  TEHAN  had  119  votes,  and  BUSHROD  W.  LOTT 
had  182  votes,  and  is  elected." — {Pioneer,  January  2.J 

••  Our  exchange  papers  perversely  spell  Saint  Paul,  Saint  Paul*. 
and  Minnesota.  Minesota.  Half  the  paragraphists  in  the  United  States 
have  scarcely  sense  and  intelligence  enough  to  pick  up  chips  in  the 
door-yard !" — [Ib.j 

HOLE-IN-THE-DAY,  the  Chippewa  chief,  addressed  the  Leg- 
islature and  citizens,  on  January  10,  at  the  First  Presbyterian 
church.  His  object  was  to  represent  the  starving  condition  of 
his  tribe,  and  solicit  relief  for  them.  His  speech  is  described 
as  eloquent  and  pathetic.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  se- 
cure the  aid  desired,  and  some  donations  were  obtained. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  Chippewas  were  suffering  from 
starvation,  that  winter.  Manv  died,  and  cases  of  cannibalism 
were  reported  by  the  papers. 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  28^ 

THE  GOODHUE-COOPER  RENCONTRE. 

On  January  16,  GOODHUE  printed  a  savage  and  bitter  article 
on  -'Absentee  Office  Holders."  in  which  he  inveighed,  with 
all  the  ferocity  of  his  pen.  against  Col.  MITCHELL  and  Judge 
.COOPER,  for  absenteeism.  &c.  On  the  latter,  he  was  particu- 
larly severe,  using  such  terms  as.  ••  a  sot."  "  a  brute."  "•  an 
ass."  a  "profligate  vagabond."  &c.  The  article  closed  as 
follows  : 

;<  Feeling  some  resentment  for  the  wrongs  our  Territory  has  so  long 
suffered  by  these  men,  pressing  upon  us  like  a  dispensation  of  wrath — 
a  judgment — a  curse — a  plague — unequalled  since  the  hour  when  Egypt 
went  lousy,  we  sat  down  to  write  this  article  with  some  bitterness,  but 
our  very  gall  is  honey  to  what  they  deserve." 

Of  course,  such  an  article  as  this  could  not  fail  to  produce 
a  personal  collision-  between  GOODHITE  and  the  friends  of 
COOPER,  (he  himself  was  absent.)  and  scarcelv  had  the  paper 
been  distributed  through  the  town,  ere  it  bore  its  natural  fruits 
in  a  rencontre  on  the  street.  Eye-witnesses  give  a  minute 
account  of  it.  in  affidavits  afterwards  published,  but  it  can 
only  be  briefly  recited  here.  GOODHUE  had  been  in  the  Legis- 
lature, and  started  down  street,  in  companv  with  a  friend. 
After  leaving  the  building  a  few  steps,  they  met  JOSEPH 
COOPER,  a  brother  of  Judge  C..  who  at  once  advanced  and 
struck  at  GOODHUE.  Both  then  drew  pistols,  "  Col.  GOOD- 
HUE  (one  account  says)  having  a  single-barrel  pistol,  and 
COOPER  a  revolver."  Some  parleying  ensued,  when  Mr. 
COOPER  declared.  "I'll  blow  vour  G  —  d  d —  brains  out." 
Sheriff*  LULL  here  ran  up.  and.  commanding  the  peace,  dis- 
armed the  parties,  but  it  seems  COOPER  still  retained  a  knife, 
and  GOODHUE  another  pistol,  with  which  they  renewed  hos- 
tilities. Some  one  endeavored  to  hold  GOODHUE.  which  gave 
COOPER  an  opportunity  to  stab  him  in  the  abdomen  slightly. 
GOODHUE  then  broke  away,  and  shot  COOPER,  inflicting  quite 
a  serious  wound  on  him.  COOPER  again  rushed  on  GOODHUE. 
and  stabbed  him  in  the  back,  on  the  left  side.  Both  parties 
were  then  led  awav.  and  their  wounds  dressed,  neither  being 
fatally  injured.  Col.  GOODHUE  seems  to  have  acted  on  the 
defensive  during  the  whole  rencontre.  In  subsequent  issues  of 


286  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,          [1851 

his  journal,  he  charges  that  it  was  a  "conspiracy  on  the  part 
of  his  enemies  to  murder  him  for  political  revenge,  and  that 
COOPER  was  a  mere  tool,  spurred  on  by  others."  &c. 

The  affair  produced  great  excitement  throughout  the  city, 
and  was  angrily  discussed,  pro  and  con.  by  the  friends  of  each. 
A  public  meeting  was  held  and  resolutions  passed,  a  plan  that 
always  acts  as  a  sedative  on  excited  communities,  and  peace 
once  more  reigned. 

The  Legislative  session  of  1851  was  a  stormy  one.  and  sev- 
eral exciting  questions  tended  to  divide  the  members.  One  of 
these  was 

THE    LOCATION    OF    THE    CAPITOL. 

and  other  public  buildings.  Twenty  thousand  dollars  had 
been  appropriated  by  Congress  the  summer  previous  for  a 
Territorial  prison,  and,  by  the  same  acl,  authority  was  given 
the  Governor  and  Legislature  to  expend  the  appropriation  of 
$20.000  provided  for  in  the  Organic  Act.  for  Capitol  buildings. 
The  vexed  question  was.  where  should  the  Capitol  be  built? 
Several  places  competed  for  it,  and  the  struggle  was  close  and 
hard  contested.  Finally,  by  the  vigorous  efforts  of  some  of  our 
leading  men,  a  compromise  was  effected.  The  Capitol  was 
to  be  erected  at  a  central  point  in  the  town  of  Saint  Paul,  the 
penitentiary  at  Stillwater,  and  the  University,  (incorporated 
that  session.)  at  Saint  Anthony  Falls.  Thus  each  were  satis- 
fied for  the  present,  and  all  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell  for 
six  years,  when  a  rival  Saint  got  jealous  of  our  city,  and 
aspired  to  Capitolean  honors.  Gov.  MARSHALL,  in  his  address 
before  quoted,  *says  Saint  Anthony  got  the  best  of  this  trip- 
artite agreement. 

Another  question  that  stirred  up  strife  was  the  apportion- 
ment, and  several  members  bolted  their  seats,  barely  leaving 
a  quorum  for  the  rest  of  the  session. 

Another  subject  of  controversy  was  the  election  of  State 
printer.  J.  M.  GOODHUE,  of  the  Pioneer,  was  the  regular 
Democratic  candidate,  but  Col.  ROBERTSON,  of  the  Democrat. 
and  HENNISS  &  VINCENT,  of  the  Chronicle  and  Register. 
expected  to  gain  votes  enough  between  them  to  secure  the 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsev,  Minnesota.  287 

printing.  When  the  ballot  was  taken,  however.  Mr.  GOOD- 
HUE'S  side  proved  the  strongest.  This  proved  a  death-blow 
to  the  moribund  Chron:cle  and  Register.  It  soon  gave  up 
the  ghost,  and  a  new  Whig  organ  was  projected,  a  sort  of 
joint  stock  journal,  which,  however,  was  not  finally  got  into 
operation  until  September  following. 

The  session  seemed  to  have  been  a  turbulent  one  throughout. 
Col.  JNO.  P.  OWENS  afterwards  wrote  of  it: 

"The  session  finally  closed  on  the  night  of  March  31,  which  was  a 
day  and  night  of  excitement,  such  as  we  have  never  seen  since  in  Saint 
Paul,  and  never  desire  to.  Hundreds  of  citizens  were  about  the  streets 
and  public  places,  armed  to  the  teeth,  and  ready,  upon  the  slightest 
provocation,  to  shoot  down  their  fellow-citizens,  who  opposed  them. 
Feelings  of  enmity,  bitterness  and  hatred  were  engendered  between 
citizens  during  that  session  of  the  Legislature,  and  particularly  during 
its  last  days,  which  extended  even  into  family  relations,  and  were  not 
eradicated  for  months,  and  even  years  subsequent." 

LEGISLATION    AFFECTING    SAINT    PAUL. 

Excepting  the  location  of  the  Capital  at  Saint  Paul,  there 
was  not  much  legislation  this  session,  affecting  the  town.  Its 
corporate  limits  were  extended,  however,  so  as  to  '•  include 
the  additions"  recently  filed  by  BAZILLE  &  GUERIN,  ROBERT 
£  RANDALL.  HOYT.  and  WHITNEY  &  SMITH.  "  Saint  Paul 
Lodge.  No.  2.  I.  O.  O.  F.,"  was  incorporated,  and  "  Saint 
Paul  Division.  No.  i,  Sons  of  Temperance."  This  was.  to 
enable  these  societies  to  purchase  property,  which  they  soon 
after  did. 

The  act  providing  for  the  erection  of  the  Capitol  in  Saint 
Paul,  enacted  that  the  work  should  be  done  under  the  super- 
vision of  a  board  of  three  commissioners,  who  should  receive 
$3  per  day,  etc.  The  election  for  these  officers  took  place  on 
April  17.  resulting  in  the  choice  of  D.  F.  BRAWLEY  and 
Louis  ROBERT,  of  Ramsey  county  :  E.  A.  C.  HATCH,  of 
Benton  county  :  and  J.  McKusiCK,  of  Washington  county. 
The  Governor  was  ex-officio  a  member  and  chairman  of  the 
board.  The  board  organized  on  May  19.  CHARLES  F. 
TRACY  was  elected  clerk. 


288  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pait/.         [1851 

CURRENT    ITEMS. 

Navigation  opened  quite  earlv  in  the  spring  of  18^1.  The 
•'Nominee"  arrived  on  April  4.  and  soon  business  and  immi- 
gration were  quite  brisk. 

The  Pioneer  refers  in  one  or  two  places  to  "•  Monk  Hall."' 
This  was  a  sort  of  bachelors'  retreat,  kept  in  a  building  cor- 
ner of  Fort  and  Eagle  streets,  and  was  a  sort  of  free  and  easy 
club  house  and  political  headquarters  for  the  stags  of  those 
days.  Some  poetical  genius  about  that  time  wrote  a  few  verses 
for  the  Pioneer,  under  the  heading.  "The  Last  Night  at 
Monk  Hall."  one  or  two  extracts  from  which  give  perhaps  a 
fair  view  of  the  inside  proceedings  : 

"Come,  pass  round  the  bowl — we'll  drink  while  we  stay — 
Although  from  the  Hall,  ere  the  dawning  of  dav. 
Our  order  forever  wide  scattered  will  be. 
No  more  to  unite  in  our  wild  revelry. 

********* 
Bright  spirits  of  heaven,  and  spirits  of  hell. 
With  their  thin  airy  forms  and  sulphurous  smell. 
Flit  wildly  around  us  and  join  in  our  glee. 
Sing  to  our  dancing  and  bend  with  us  the  knee." 

Monk  Hall  was  moved  across  Fort  street,  and  is  still  stand- 
ing— the  same  building  used  for  many  years  as  a  store  by 
LUTHER  H.  EDDY. 

A    CASE    OF    INDIAN   JUSTICE. 

If  I  have  not  related  already  too  many  stories  about  Indians, 
there  is  one  curious  incident,  almost  romantic  in  its  character, 
that  should  be  chronicled  here.  One  day  this  spring  (April  4) 
some  boys  came  into  town,  and  reported  to  Judge  GOODRICH 
that  a  dead  Indian  was  lying  in  the  bushes  back  of  the  brick 
yard,  about  where  Alderman  GATES  A.  JOHNSON'S  residence 
now  is.  Sheriff'  LULL,  being  notified,  summoned  the  Coroner 
and  one  or  two  other  officials,  and  proceeded  to  the  spot. 
Sure  enough,  there  was  a  dead  Winnebago  Indian,  who  was 
well  known  about  here  those  days,  by  the  name  of  '•  Dr. 
JOHNSON."  and  examination  showed  that  he  had  died  from  a 
stab.  As  he  had  been  seen  a  dav  or  two  before  with  some 


1851]        and  of  the  County  of  Ramsev*  Minnesota.  289 

other  Winnebagoes,  the  pi'obability  was  that  they  had  given 
him  his  quietus,  and,  as  there  was  an  encampment  of  those 
Indians  not  far  oft",  a  file  of  soldiers  was  sent  to  the  spot,  to 
urrest  the  murderer,  if  he  could  be  found.  They  proceeded 
to  the  encampment,  and  found  some  of  the  red-skins  quietly 
cooking  their  evening  meal.  The  officer  in  charge  of  the 
squad  asked  one  of  them.  Che-en-u--wzhee-kaiv*  or  STAND- 
ING LODGE,  if  he  knew  anything  of  how  their,  brother  "  Lo" 
had  met  his  end,  when  STANDING  LODGE  very  coolly  and 
unconcernedly  replied.  •*  I  killed  him  !"  On  further  question- 
ing him.  he  stated  that  the  dead  Indian  had  committed  some 
crime  or  offense,  which,  according  to  the  Indian  code,  merited 
death,  and  that  he,  the  speaker,  had  been  selected  to  give  him 
his  quietus,  which  he  did. 

There  seemed  no  other  way  than  to  apprehend  the  self-con- 
fessed murderer,  and  ascertain  whether  the  statutes  in  such 
case  made  and  provided  would  not  cover  his  crime,  as  equally 
as  if  one  white  man  had  killed  another.  So  the  officer  told 
STANDING  LODGE  to  come  along.  The  Indian  made  no  objec- 
tion, but  very  quietlv  followed  the  officers  to  town.  That 
night  he  slept  in  Sheriff  LULL'S  carpenter  shop,  the  jail  not 
being  tenable  yet,  and  made  no  efforts  to  escape.  Next  day. 
a  sort  of  preliminary  examination  was  held.  STANDING 
LODGE  never  denied  his  guilt,  but  always  said,  ;t  I  did  it," 
when  asked.  Some  urged  to  let  him  go,  as  it  would  only 
expose  the  county  to  considerable  cost  to  imprison  and  try 
him,  and  it  was  scarcely  worth  while  to  take  note  of  all  the 
quarrels  and  murders  among  the  Indians,  as  they  were  occur- 
ring every  few  days,  and  but  few  cared  much  how  many 
Indians  were  killed.  Others  thought  it  ought  not  to  be  passed 
thus.  Finally  it  was  agreed  to  lay  the  case  over  until  the 
grand  jury  met,  about  the  middle  of  the  month,  and  mean- 
time, to  avoid  boarding  Mr.  Lo  at  public  expense,  to  dismiss 
him  on  his  own  recognizance.  This  was  explained  to  STAND- 
ING LODGE,  and  he  promised  to  be  on  hand  when  court  met. 
He  asked  how  many  days  it  was,  and,  on  ascertaining,  took 
some  sticks  and  cut  notches  in  them,  one  for  each  day,  and 


290  77?^  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1851 

depositing  them  in  his  pouch,  started  off  to  join  his  band,  who 
were  hunting  muskrats. 

Scarcely  anv  one  ever  expected  to  see  STANDING  LODGE 
again.  But.  sure  enough,  on  the  first  day  of  court,  there  he 
was.  sitting  on  the  steps,  awaiting  his  fate,  whatever  it  might 
be.  BILLY  PHILLIPS,  the  Prosecuting  Attorney,  was  unable 
to  attend  to  business  all  that  week,  so  the  grand  jury  did  noth- 
ing. Yet  the  Indian  was  in  attendance  promptly  every  day, 
and  slept  at  night  on  the  shavings  in  LULL'S  shop.  Had  he 
run  away,  no  one  woidd  have  objected,  but  he  said  he  had 
given  his  word  to  be  there,  and  must  do  so.  He  even  com- 
plained, finally,  that  he  was  not  tried. 

Finally  the  case  was  called  bv  the  grand  jury.  and.  though 
opposed  bv  some,  an  indictment  was  found  and  returned. 
The  case  was  never  brought  to  trial.  It  was  shoved  over  to 
the  September  term,  STANDING  LODGE  meantime  being  out 
at  large,  on  his  own  recognizance,  with  his  bundle  of  notched 
sticks  as  an  almanac  showing  him  what  dav  to  return.  When 
the  September  term  began,  he  was  again  on  hand,  but  Judge 
GOODRICH,  finding  there  was  no  intention  to  prosecute  him. 
ordered  the  case  to  be  dismissed.  STANDING  LODGE  was  in- 
formed he  could  go  his  wav.  He  shook  hands  with  the  offi- 
cers as  unconcernedly  and  stolidly  as'ever,  folded  his  blanket 
around  him.  and  marched  oft*,  an  imperturbable  stoic.  There 
was  really  something  noble  about  the  fellow,  a  poor  pagan  and 
murderer,  though  he  was,  and  the  incident  serves  to  illustrate 
one  of  the  curious  phases  of  our  earlv  days. 

WHITE    BEAR    LAKE    NOTICED. 

•'A  company  of  young  men  from  Saint  Paul,  went  out  to  see  the 
country  around  White  Bear  Lake,  one  day  last  week.  The  lake  is  about 
10  miles  from  Saint  Paul,  and  is  six  miles  long  by  two  or  three  miles 
wide.  They  represent  it  as  a  fine  country,  the  land  good  and  much 
timber.  They  saw  many  deer,  and  killed  ducks  and  pheasants.  It  is 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  and  is  subject  to  entry." — [Pioneer. 
April  10.] 

GEORGE  W.  MOORE,  the  venerable  abbot  of  the  Custom 
House,  was  one  of  this  party. 


18^1]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.  291 

LOCATION    OF    THE    CAPITOL    BUILDING. 

The  board  of  building  commissioners  did  not  find  a  site 
for  the  Capitol  very  easily.  Several  blocks  were  offered  to 
them,  but  defective  title,  or  other  considerations,  induced  their 
refusal,  until  June  27,  when  CHARLES  BAZILLE  offered  block 
six,  Bazille  and  Guerin's  Addition,  which  was  accepted.  A 
warranty  deed,  consideration  $i,  was  given  for  the  property. 
Tt  does  not  revert  to  the  giver,  as  has  been  reported,  if  the 
seat  of  government  is  moved. 

A  plan  made  by  N.  C.  PRENTISS  was  chosen.  It  certainly 
does  credit  to  his  talent.  The  contract  for  the  building  was 
let  for  $33,000,  but  it  cost  in  the  end  over  $40.000. 

THE    CHARTER    ELECTION 

occurred  on  May  6.  Party  lines  were  not  closely  drawn,  like 
our  city  elections  at  present  —  personal  issues  holding  the  scales 
mostly.  The  following  is  the  vote  : 

President  .....  R.  Kennedy  ............  146  A.  L.   Larpenteur  .  .  .  .  138 

[  Egidus  Keller  ..........  148  J.  E.  Fullerton  ......  143 

Members     j  Firman   Cazeau  ........  145  J.  R.  Irvine  ..........  126 

of  \   Wm.  Freeborn   ........  148  L.  H.  LaRoche  .......  124 

Council.       \R-C.  Knox  ............  154  Chas.  S.  Cave  ........  122 

1.  Wm.  H.  Randall  ........  142  G.  W.  Farrington  ----  130 

Recorder  .....  Henry  A.  Lambert  ......  140  Wm.  D.   Phillips  .....  135 

Those  in  italics  elected. 


The  Democrat,  of  May  27,  has  the  following  items  : 

"The  Council  has  elected  JOHN  F.  TEHAN,  Esq.,  to  the  office  of 
Town  Marshal.  Mr.  T.  will  make  a  good  officer." 

"Our  citizens  are  beginning  to  think  of  the  importance  of  providing 
sidewalks  for  the  streets  most  traveled.  As  a  temporary  and  cheap 
pavement,  two-inch  plank  answer." 

"About  40  Sioux  squaws,  with  canoes,  have  been  at  work  on  the 
Mississippi  for  some  days  past,  driving  logs.  They  receive  for  their 
services  about  a  dollar  a  day  each.  They  are  very  expert  canoe  pad- 
dlers." 

"Our  citizens  were  visited  on   Tuesday  last  by  a  company  of  20  or 


292  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul. 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota,  293 

more  juvenile  Sioux,  from  LITTLE  CROW'S  band,  who  danced  the 
'beggar-dance'  in  different  parts  of  town.  The  young  red-skins,  from 
5  to  18  years  of  age,  presented  a  grotesque  appearance.  They  were 
naked  and  painted." 

The  Pioneer,  of  this  date,  refers  to  a  Mr.  CLUTE,  who  was 
in  town  endeavoring-  to  procure  subscriptions  enough  to  build 
ii  telegraph  from  Galena  to  Saint  Paul.  $27,000  being  required. 
The  amount  could  not  be  raised,  and  the  line  was  not  built 
until  1860.  . 

The  District  Court  of  Ramsey  county  (Judge  GOODRICH) 
was  held  that  spring  in'  Mazurka  Hall.  The  roof  was  tire- 
proof,  but  not  water-proof,  a  heavy  rain  deluging  the 'court 
while  in  session,  and  rendering  umbrellas  necessarv. 

The  rapid  influx  of  strangers  and  growth  of  the  town, 
caused  unprecedented  activity  in  real  estate,  property  doubling 
sometimes  in  one  week,  savs  the  Pioneer,  and  cautions  every- 
body against  the  speculative  mania  and  too  much  inflation. 

The  first  Minnesota  paper  published  outside  of  Saint  Paul, 
the  Saint  Anthonv  Express,  appeared  during  the  latter  part 
of  Mav. 

A    HISTORICAL    PICTURE. 

A  short  time  ago,  Dr.  J.  J.  DEWEY  presented  to  the  Histor- 
ical Society,  a  daguerreotype  view  of  the  corner  of  Third  and 
Robert  streets,  taken  in  the  spring  of  1851.  It  was  enlarged 
by  the  photographer.  C.  A.  ZIMMMERMAX.  and  the  Ramsey 
County  Pioneer  Association  ordered  it  to  be  engraved  for  this 
work. 

This  is  certainly  a  historical  picture.  The  white  frame 
building  on  the  left,  is  the  same  one.  I  believe,  that  is  now 
used  as  a  saloon  by  Voss — the  old  Haggenmiller  place,  then 
occupied  by  WM.  DUG  AS.  The  log  cabin  on  the  right  was 
the  law  office  for  several  years,  of  L.  A.  BABCOCK.  and 
others.  FINCH.  AUERBACH  &  SCHEFFER'S  stoi-e  now  occupies 
that  spot.  The  cabin  next  to  it.  was  occupied  at  the  date 
mentioned,  as  a  cigar  store  and  confectionery,  by  BARTLETT 
PRESLEY.*  and  the  wing  in  the  rear  was  his  dwelling.  The 

*  *  BAKTLETT  ^KESLEY  is  a  native  of  Offerberg,  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  when  eight  years  of  age,  settling  in  Saint  Louis.  He  entered  mercantile  life  very 


294 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1851 


frame  beyond  this  (about  where  NOYES  BROS.  &  CUTLER'S 
wholesale  drug  store  now  is)  was  JOHN  M.  CASTNER'S  board- 
ing house,  and  the  small  building  next  to  that,  was  a  meat 
shop.  WILLOUGHBY  &  POWERS  livery  stable  appears  in  its 


BARTLETT  PRESLEY. 

The  large  building  on  the  extreme  right  was  OLM- 


old  place. 

STED  &   RHODES'  old  store. 


The  house  seen  between  these 


young,  ultimately  engaging  in  the  grocery  and  fruit  business,  in  which  he  has  remained 
over  thirty  years.  In  1843,  he  removed  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  and  was  there  married.  At 
a  subsequent  date,  he  removed  to  Galena,  and,  in  1849,  to  Saint  Paul.  He  here  com- 
menced business  in  an  humble  way,  and,  by  industry  and  application,  in  a  few  years  built 

Alderman  from  1870  to  1874,  and  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Fire  Department  for  six  years. 
To  his  zealous  labors  in  that  office  is  largely  owing  the  efficiency  of  our  present  depart- 
ment. Mr.  PRESLEY  is  now,  undoubtedly,  the  oldest  merchant  in  Minnesota,  having 
been  continuously  in  business  here  since  1849.  He  enjoys  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  295 

buildings,  in  the  distance,  was  J.  C.  BURBANK'S  residence, 
and  the  church  on  the  hill,  was  the  First  Baptist  church,  then 
just  built.  What  could  better  show  the  growth  of  our  city 
than  this  picture  ? 

There  was  quite  a  Mood  in  the  river  again  this  summer.  On 
June  26.  it  reached  its  highest  altitude,  being  only  six  inches 
lower  than  the  great  flood  of  1850. 

It  made  steamboating  brisk.  The  Pioneer,  of  July  3.  speaks 
exultingly  of  ''  eight  steamboats  having  arrived  in  one  week." 

About  the  middle  of  May,  a  war-party  of  Sioux,  who  were 
sneaking  about  in  the  Chippewa  region,  near  Swan  River, 
discovered  a  Chippewa  who  had  a  keg  of  whisky.  He  es- 
caped, leaving  his  keg  behind.  The  captors  drank  the  con- 
tents, got  gloriously  drunk,  and.  in  this  condition,  attacked 
some  teamsters,  who  were  wagoning  goods  from  Saint  Paul 
to  Fort  Ripley.  They  killed  one.  Mr.  ANDREW  SWARTZ.  of 
this  city — a  very  worthy  man — and  went  off,  leaving  his  body 
in  the  road,  not  molesting  any  of  the  goods.  A  force  of  sol- 
diers from  Fort  Ripley  pursued  the  murderers,  but  did  not 
overtake  them.  The  Sioux,  subsequently,  delivered  up  five 
of  the  guilty  ones,  and,  while  they*  were  being  taken  to  Fort 
Ripley  for  trial,  the  guard  fell  asleep,  and  they  escaped. 

THE    EARLY    STAGE,  MAIL    AND    EXPRESS    BUSINESS. 

The  papers,  in  July,  speak  of  an  express  line  being  estab- 
lished between  Saint  Paul  and  Galena,  by  J.  C.  BURBANK. 
As  the  stage,  express  and  transportation  business  is  so  allied, 
we  will  endeavor  to  briefly  sketch  their  rise  and  growth  at  this 
time. 

The  first  stage  ever  run  in  Minnesota  Territory,  was  by  AM- 

HERST  WlLLOUGHBY  and  SlMON  POWERS.      Mr.  WlLLOUGHBY, 

who  is  a  Vermonter  by  birth,  was  an  old  stage  driver  and 
manager — went  to  Chicago  in  1828,  and  drove  in  that  region 
for  20  years.  In  the  fall  of  1848.  he  came  to  Saint  Paul 
••prospecting,"  and  soon  determined  to  embark  in  the  stage 
business  here.  He  went  back  to  Galena,  and  in  the  spring 
returned  with  his  partner,  SIMP:  POWERS.  They  had  a  nice 
span  of  horses,  and  a  two-seated  open  wagon,  but  not  much 


296  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/.         [1851 

else.  They  commenced  running  this  from  Saint  Paul  to  Saint 
Anthony,  daily,  and  sometimes  made  two  trips  daily.  They 
ran  until  September,  when  their  business  increased  so  that 
they  put  on  a  four-horse  open  spring  wagon,  that  would  carry 
14  passengers.  They  ran  this  conveyance  until  winter  set  in. 
They  then  ran  a  line  from  Saint  Paul  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  over 
the  new  road  mentioned  on  page  249,  via  Stillwater,  Hudson. 
Menominee,  Black  River  Falls,  Spai'ta,  &c.  They  ran  this 
route  in  the  winter  season  for  four  winters.  The  first  winter 
the  traveling  was  very  rough.  There  were  no  regular  stations 
to  stop  at.  and  at  night  they  would  sometimes  encamp  on  the 
snow. 

When  the  spring  of  1850  set  in,  they  resumed  their  four- 
horse  wagon  to  Saint  Anthony,  and  continued  all  that  season. 
This  year,  ROBERT  KENNEDY  ran  a  line  to  Stillwater,  and. 
afterwards.  WIM.OUGHBY  &  POWERS  put  on  a  line  to  that 
place. 

In  the  summer  of  1851,  WILLOUGHBY  &  POWERS  brought 
to  Saint  Paul  and  put  on  their  line,  the  first  Concord  coach 
ever  ran  in  Minnesota.  It  is  still  in  use  in  the  Minnesota  Stage 
Company's  stock  somewhere.  Up  to  the  close  of  this  season, 
they  had  had  no  opposition  in  theirbusiness,  but,  during  the  fall 
of  1851.  LYMAN  L.  BENSON  and  a  Mr.  PATTISON,  came  from 
Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  where  they  had  been  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness, bringing  a  large  outfit.  In  the  spring  of  1852,  they  put 
on  an  opposition  line  to  Saint  Anthony,  called  the  "  Yellow 
Line."  WII.LOUGHBY  &  POWERS'  coaches  were  red.  and  it 
was  generally  termed  the  "Red  Line."  A  furious  opposition 
sprang  up.  WILI.OUGHBY  &  POWERS,  who  had  hitherto 
charged  seventy-five  cents  for  fare,  reduced  their  price  to  a 
quarter,  and.  finally,  to  ten  cents,  as  did  also  the  yellow  line, 
and  the  latter  soon  put  on  an  opposition  coach  to  Stillwater 
also.  The  war  between  the  red  and  yellow  lines  was  one  of 
the  curious  phases  of  that  day.  Perhaps  some  of  our  readers 
may  remember,  when  they  landed  at  the  levee,  how  the  wordy 
contest  was  waged  between  the  rivals.  Bishop  WILLOUGHBY 
says  the  other  line  had  more  money  than  he.  but  he  '•  always 
beat  them  at  sassing." 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.  297 

This  rivalry,  with  varying  success,  continued  two  seasons 
or  more.  In  the  meantime,  WILLOUGHBY  &  POWERS  had  in- 
creased their  rolling  stock  to  eight  Concord  coaches,  and  had 
built  up  a  large  livery  business  besides,  at  their  well-known 
old  stand,  corner  of  Fourth  and  Robert  streets.  In  1854,  t'iey 
made  a  compromise  with  PATTISON  &  BENSON,  the  latter  buy- 
ing off  their  Saint  Anthony  line.  WILLOUGHBY  &  POWERS 
had  also,  in  the  meantime^,  opened,  and  still  ran  a  line  to  Shak- 
opee,  &c.,  and  also  ran  the  Still  water  branch. 

WILLOUGHBY  &  POWERS  soon  after  (1855)  divided  their 
business,  W.  retaining  the  liverv  part,  and  P.  taking  the  stage 
lines,  which  he  carried  on  about  two  years  longer,  and  then 
sold  out  to  ROBERT  GIBBENS.  who  was  killed  at  Birch  Coolie 
in  1862. 

In  the  meantime  (about  1856)  PATTISON,  BENSON  &  WARD, 
as  the  firm  now  was,  sold  out  their  business  to  ALVAREN  AL- 
LEN and  CHARLES  L.  CHASE,  of  Saint  Anthony.  ALLEN  & 
CHASE  extended  the  lines  to  the  Upper  Mississippi,  got  se-v- 
eral  mail  contracts,  and  ran  them  about  three  years,  when  they 
consolidated  with  J.  C.  BURBANK  and  Capt.  RUSSELL  BLAKE- 
LEY'S  line,  the  whole  forming  a  copartnership  called  the 
".'  Minnesota  Stage  Company r"  of  which  J.  C.  BURBANK  was 
the  general  manager,  and  Mr.  ALLEN  superintendent  of  stock 
and  running  arrangements.  C.  L.  CHASE,  not  long  after,  sold 
out  his  interest  to  JOHN  L.  MERRIAM.  Col.  ALLEN  remained 
a  couple  of  years,  when  he  also  withdrew. 

The  "winter  route"  down  the  east  side,  was  run  for  two  or 
three  winters  by  WILLOUGHBY  &  POWERS,  when,  in  1853,  M. 
O.  WALKER  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  got  the  winter  mail  service 
contract,  and  put  on  a  line  down  through  Minnesota  and  Iowa, 
to  Dubuque.  WILLOUGHBY  &  POWERS  then  discontinued 
their  line.  The  manner  in  which  W^ALKER  ran  his  line  is 
given  in  newspaper  comments  hereafter.  WALKER  ran  his 
line  until  1858-9,  when  J.  C.  BURBANK  &  Co.  got  the  winter 
mail  contract. 

In  the  winter  of  1855,  J.  J.  BRACKETT  ran  an  opposition 
line  to  Dubuque,  via  Lakeville,  Owatonna  and  Austin. 

In  18^4-5,  WM.  NETTLETON  established  a  line  of  stages  to 


298  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1851 

Superior,  which,  about  1857,  was  carried  on  by  C.  DOBI.E. 
and  soon  after  was  bought  out  by  the  Minnesota  Stage  Company. 

At  the  mail  letting  in  1850,  Hon.  H.  M.  RICE  was  awarded 
the  contract  for  the  mail  from  Saint  Paul  to  Prairie  du  Chien. 
twice  a  week  during  the  summer,  and  once  a  week  during  the 
winter.  The  compensation  was  $800  a  year.  In  1852,  this 
contract  was  assigned  to  J.  C.  BURBANK.  A  Mr.  ORMSBY. 
of  Prairie  du  Chien,  also  had,  at  thejsame  time,  a  mail  contract 
from  that  place  to  Black  River  Falls.  This  was  also  assigned  or 
sublet  soon  after  to  Mr.  BURBANK. 

The  history  of  the  Minnesota  Stage  Company  and  that  of 
the  Northwestern  Express  Company,  are  so  closely  identified, 
to  write  the  one  is  almost  to  give  both. 

ORIGIN    OF    THE    EXPRESS    BUSINESS. 

A  few  paragraphs  back,  mention  was  made  of  the  establish- 
ment, by  J.  C.  BURBANK.*  of  an  express  business  from  Saint 
Paul  to  Galena,  in  connection  with  the  American  Express 
Company,  which  was  running  to  the  latter  point  as  its  westei'n 
terminus.  Mr.  BURBANK  was  himself  the  pioneer  messenger 
of  his  express.  During  the  summer  he  ran  on  the  steamer 
•' Nominee."  and  the  next  winter  made  the  first  trip  in^that 


*  JAMES  C.  BURBANK  was  born  in  Ludlow,  Windsor  county,  Vermont,  iSaa,  and  re- 
moved to  New  York  in  1831.  During  his  boyhood  he  worked  on  a  farm,  picking  up 
such  schooling  as  he  was  able,  from  winter  to  winter,  and,  more  or  less,  earning  his 
own  living  and  educating  himself.  Whatever  success  he  has  achieved  in  life,  has  been 
owing  to  his  own  efforts  and  energy. 

Mr.  BURBANK  came  to  Saint  Paul  in  1850,  and,  after  trying  the  lumbering  business 
without  success,  started  the  express  business,  as  given  fully  in  this  chapter.  The 
growth  of  the  immense  business  first  inaugurated  by  him,  occupied  his  time  and  capital 
until  1867,  since  which  year  he  has  devoted  himself  to  the  insurance,  banking,  railroad 
and  other  business.  He  was  one  of  the  early  members  and  wannest  promoters  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  which  has  done  so  much  for  our  city,  and  was  its  president  from 
1869101871.  He  has  also  embarked  largely  of  his  capital  in  the  construction  of  the 
Saint  Paul  and  Sioux  City  Railroad,  of  which  he  has  been  a  director  for  several  years. 
He  was  an  active  organizer  of  the  Saint  Paul  Fire  and  Marine  Insurance  Company, 
in  1866,  and  has  been  its  president  and  financial  manager  since  its  organization,  and  its 
remarkable  success  has  been  largely  owing  to  his  sagacity  and  foresight.  In  1873,  Mr. 
BURBANK  led  the  way  in  the  construction  of  the  street  railway,  and  was  president  of 
the  same  for  sometime.  In  faft,  there  is  scarcely  a  worthy  enterprise  in  our  city  which 
he  has  not  aided  with  capital  and  personal  effort.  His  career  presents  a  striking  in- 
stance  of  what  energy  and  integrity  will  accomplish — starting  in  life  a  poor  boy,  and  at 
present  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  honored  men  in  our  State. 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  299 


business  from  Saint  Paul  overland.     He  started  from  Saint 
Paul  on  the  24th  of  November,  after  the  close  of  navigation. 


300  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/,         [1851 

and  traveled  the  Knowlton  road,  before  mentioned,  to  Prairie 
du  Chien,  etc. ,  and  thence  to  Galena.  He  also  had  the  sub-mail 
contract  on  that  route,  from  ORMSBY,  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  as 
related  before — his  mail  consisting  of  one  bag.  The  amount 
of  express  matter  entrusted  to  him,  on  his  first  trip,  he  carried 
in  his  pocket.  He  continued  these  trips  through  the  winter. 
The  whole  receipts  for  express  carried  that  winter — although 
they  were  made  regularly — would  not  have  paid  one  messen- 
ger's board. 

In  the  summer  also  he.  ran  alone,  doing  the  whole  agency 
and  messenger  business  himself,  making  weekly  trips  between 
Saint  Paul  and  Galena  on  the  old  steamer  "Nominee." 
*  Saint  Paul  was  then  a  small  village  of  hardly  2.500  or  3,000 
inhabitants,  and  there  were  but  few  settlements  on  the  river, 
but,  with  a  firm  faith  in  the  future,  Mr.  BURBANK  diligently 
set  himself  to  work  to  sow  the  seeds  and  foster  the  germs  of 
an  express  business  in  what  he  foresaw  was  to  be  a  great  and 
populous  State.  Much  of  his  business  at  first  consisted  in 
filling  orders  at  Galena  for  merchants  in  Saint  Paul  and  on  the 
river.  In  1852,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  W.  L.  FAWCETT. 
who,  however,  found  it  too  hard  work  for  too  poor  pay,  and 
he  retired  from  the  business  in  about  six  months.  Then  ED. 
HOLCOMBE,  a  steamboatman,  went  in  with'him,  taking  the  end 
of  the  route  between  Galena  and  Prairie  du  Chien,  which  he 
ran  for  the  winter  of  1852—3,  when  he  got  discouraged.  But 
BURBANK  still  pressed  on,  running  the  route  himself,  and 
gathering  about  him  a  large  and  increasing  business.  To  eke 
out  the  express  business,  however,  he  took  CHAS.  T.  WHIT- 
NEY, since  deceased,  into  partnership,  and  went,  in  1853,  into 
the  forwarding  business  at  the  upper  levee  in  STEEI^E'S  old 
wharf-boat.  Indeed,  the  business  was  so  large,  that  when,  in 
1854,  the  wharf-boat  was  moved  from  the  upper  to  the  lower 
levee,  it  seriouslv  affected  the  business  of  upper  town,  which 
at  that  date  was  even  ahead  of  lower  town. 

In  1854,  the  express  business  had  reached  such  dimensions 
as  to  justify  the  employment  of  regular  messengers  and  officers 
at  all  the  principal  towns,  and,  therefore,  the  Northwestern 
Express  Company,  (BURBANK  &  WHITNEY.)  was  first  duly 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  301 

organized,  and  the  business  grew  apace,  in  both  its  branches, 
forwarding  and  express.  In  1856,  Mr.  WHITNEY,  whose 
health  was  failing,  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  firm  to  Capt. 
RUSSELL  BLAKELEY,  who  had  been  connected  with  the  old 
Galena  Packet  Company.  This  was  a  decided  acquisition  to 
the  business,  and,  with  two  such  enterprising  and  go-ahead, 
determined  men,  it  took  a  new  start.  An  office  was  opened 
in  Saint  Paul,  in  LsDuc  &  ROHRER'S  old  stand,  (where  In- 
gersoll's  Block  now  is.)  In  May,  1855,  C.  W.  CARPENTER 
entered  the  service  of  the  company,  as  local  agent.  In  1857. 
E.  F.  WARNER  was  engaged  in  the  Saint  Paul  office,  and  has 
remained  in  that  business  ever  since,  being  now  local  agent  of 
the  American  Express  Company. 

An  event  soon  after  occurred,  which  led  the  firm  to  engage 
in  the  stage  business.  Previously  to  1856,  Mr.  BURBANK  had 
depended,  for  the  winter  conveyance  of  his  express  matter,  on 
the  famous,  or  rather  in-famous,  Walker  line.  But,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1857,  disgusted  with  his  wretched  service,  and,  in  one 
case,  his  utter  refusal  to  adhere  to  the  terms  of  his  contract, 
BURBANK  &  COMPANY  determined  to  do  their  own  carriage, 
and  put  on  a  line  of  stages  between  Dubuque  and  Saint  Paul 
by  the  interior  route,  via  Decorah,  Iowa.  Although  they  origin- 
ally intended  only  to  carry  express  matter,  they  soon  put  on 
passenger  coaches,  and,  though  they  had  no  mail  contracts  at 
that  time,  ultimately  pushed  WALKER'S  slow  coaches  off  the 
road,  as  passenger  vehicles  on  this  route. 

The  passenger  business  having  largely  increased  on  this  and 
other  routes,  Mr.  BURBANK  made  a  bold  strike  for  the  mail 
contrails  in  Minnesota,  which  had  been  generally  monopolized 
by  WALKER,  and,  at  the  general  letting  in  April,  1858,  Was 
fortunate  enough  to  be  the  successful  bidder  for  the  down-river 
mail.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  the  company  stocked  up  jointly 
with  ALLEN  &  CHASE,  on  the  route  to  LaCrosse,  which  latter 
had  now  become  the  nearest  railroad  terminus,  and*,  in  the 
spring  of  1859,  ^ie  Minnesota  Stage  Company  was  formed  by 
consolidation  with  ALLEN  &  CHASE,  and  the  Minnesota  Stage 
Companv's  coaches  were  put  on  the  route  from  Saint  Paul 
to  Saint  Anthony,  and  from  Saint  Anthony  to  Crow  Wing. 


302  77/6'  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [185 

&c.,  securing  the  mail  contracts  owned  by  the  ALLEN  &  CHASE 
line.  In  the  summer  of  1859,  tnev  a^so  bought  out  the  Still- 
water  route  from  GIBBENS.  and  the  Superior  route  from  C. 
DOBLE,  and  the  chief  stage  business  of  the  State  became  cen- 
tralized in  the  new  company.  In  the  spring  of  1860.  Col. 
JOHN  L.  MERRIAM.*  who  was  a  partner  of  Mr.  BURBANK  in 
the  forwarding  business,  bought  out  the  interest  of  ALLEN  & 
CHASE  in  the  stage  company,  and.  for  more  than  seven  years, 
Messrs.  BURBANK,  BLAKELEY  &  MERRIAM  constituted  the 
firm,  and  carried  on  the  express  and  stage  business  as  joint 
partners.  At  the  next  Government  letting,  soon  after,  this 
company  got  all  the  mail  contracts  on  stage  routes  in  Min- 
nesota, amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  about  1,300  miles  of 
staging,  besides  some  300  miles  more  of  pony  routes.  The 
stage  business  now  had  grown  to  such  proportions  on  their 
hands,  that  the  express  business  had  become  a  minor  consider- 
ation, and,  in  1863,  they  sold  out  to  the  American  Express 
Company  all  the  express  territory  south  of  Saint  Paul,  retain- 
ing for  themselves  all  north  of  that  point.  The  large  propor- 
tions to  which  the  staging  business  had  grown  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fa6t,  that,  in  the  winter  of  1865,  they  worked  over 
700  horses,  and  employed  over  200  men. 

It  is  due  to  these  three  gentlemen — and  especially  to  the 
senior  partner,  Mr.  BURBANK,  from  whose  early  struggles  and 
tenacity  of  purpose  all  the  subsequent  large  business  of  the 
rirm  sprang — to  say  that  their  entire  business  management,  as 
public  carriers,  from  first  to  last,  was  distinguished  by  a  lib- 


*  JOHN  L.  MERRIAM  was  born  at  Essex,  Essex  county,  New  York,  in  1828.  While 
•A  ve'ry  young  man,  he  exhibited  those  pushing,  energetic,  business  qualities,  which 
have  since  made  him  so  successful.  He  engaged  in  the  iron  trade  when  a  mere  boy, 
and  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Essex  county  in  1857.  He  carried  on  a  large  business  of 
various  kinds,  until  his  removal  to  Minnesota  in  1861,  which  he  did  in  order  to  become 
a  partner  of  J.  C.  BURBANK  and  Capt.  R.  BLAKELEY  in  the  stage  and  express  busi- 
ness. He  also  then,  or  soon  after,  engaged  in  the  banking,  railroad,  manufacturing, 
transportation  and  other  enterprises,  all  of  which,  by  his  sagacity  and  good  manage- 
ment, have  been  highly  successful.  In  1870,  Mr.  MERRIAM  was  eledted,  (in  a  distriA 
politically  against  him,)  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  re-elefted  in  1871.  Both 
these  sessions  he  was  Speaker  of  the  House,  and  rendered  signal  service  to  his  constitu- 
ents. Col.  MERRIAM  is  known  as  one  of  our  most  enterprising  and  valuable  citizens — 
one  whose  unblemished  character  and  social  qualities  have  gained  the  esteem  of  all. 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  303 

enility,  fairness  and  justice  in  all  their  dealings,  which  have 
been  rarely,  if  ever,  paralleled,  and  that  the  people  of  Minne- 
sota are  more  indebted  to  them  than  to  any  other  agency  for 
pushing  out  our  network  of  mail  communications  all  over 
the  State  and  frontier.  They  chalked  out  more  new  roads, 
and  built  more  bridges,  than  any  other  hundred  or  thousand 
men  in  the  State. 

THE    TRANSPORTATION    BUSINESS 

growing  out  of  these  connections,  was  another  feature  of  the 
trade  which  sprang  from  such  humble  beginnings.  The  firm 
of  J.  C.  BURBANK  &  Co.  had  done,  up  to  this  time,  a  very 
heavy  forwarding  business,  but  Capt.  B.  transferred  all  his 
interest  in  that  branch  to  J.  C.  &  H.  C.  BURBANK  &  Co.,  who 
were  largely  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  commission  trade  also. 
In  the  winter  of  1858-9,  Capt.  B.  was  in  Washington,  when 
RAMSAY  CROOKS,  (father  of  our  Col.  CROOKS,)  agent  of  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company  in  New  York,  asked  Senator  RICE  how  he 
could  arrange  for  the  transportation  of  their  goods  to  Hudson's 
Bay,  via  Minnesota?  Mr.  RICE  told  him  that  Capt.  BLAKELEY 
was  then  in  the  city.  An  interview  was  secured,  and  Mr. 
CROOKS  appointed  J.  C.  &  H.  C.  BURBANK  &  Co.  his  agents. 
Capt.  BLAKELEY  went  up  to  the  Red  River,  that  winter,  and 
examined  it,  and  thought  it  could  be  navigated.  The  next 
season,  the  "  Ans.  Northrup"  was  taken  out  and  got  to  run- 
ning. Capt.  EDWIN  BELL,  of  this  city,  ran  her  in  1859,  and 
first  built  wing-dams  on  that  river.  The  boat  was  not  a  very 
good  one,  but  the  firm  purchased  it,  and  entei'ed  into  a  con- 
tract with  Sir  GEORGE  SIMPSON.  Governor  of  the  Hudson's 
Bav  Company,  to  transport  their  goods  for  the  Red  River 
Settlement,  (nowr  the  Province  of  Manitoba,)  from  Montreal 
or  New  York,  through  the  States,  making  Saint  Paul  the 
headquarters,  which  had  previously  been  done  via  York  Fac- 
tory, in  Hudson's  Bay.  This  contract  covered  a  yearly  ton- 
nage of  four  to  six  hundred  tons,  and  was  by  this  firm  continued 
four  years,  during  which  they  built  the  steamer  "•  Interna- 
tional," being  the  first  steamer  successfully  navigated  on  the 
Red  River  of  the  North.  The  business  thus  inaugurated  has 


304  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.          [^S1 

been  of  untold  advantage  to  the  State.  It  now  employs  seven 
steamers,  15  barges,  and  a  large  number  of  men.  During  the 
season  of  1875,  74,000,000  pounds  of  freight  was  carried. 

THE    RED    RIVER    TRADE. 

The  Democrat,  of  July  19,  1851,  notices  the  arrival  of  the 
annual  caravan  of  Red  River  carts,  102  in  number.  This  was 
always  an  important  event  for  our  merchants  in  early  days. 
Indeed,  the  rise  and  growth  of  the  Red  River  trade  forms  a 
chapter  of  our  pioneer  history,  which  is  too  important  to  omit, 
and  may  well  be  given  here. 

Beginning  of  the  Trade. — Prior  to  the  year  1844,  the  im- 
port of  goods,  and  export  of  furs,  of  the  flourishing  Red  River 
Colony,  was  through  the  circuitous  and  difficult  Hudson's  Bay 
route,  navigable  only  two  months  in  the  year,  and  beset-  with 
many  dangers.  In  that  year,  NORMAN  W.  KITTSON,  our 
well-known  pioneer,  established  a  post  at  Pembina,  in  con- 
nection with  the  outfit  of  the  American  Fur  Company  at 
Mendota,  and  invested  some  $2,000  in  furs,  which  were  trans- 
ported to  the  latter  point  in  six  "•  Pembina  carts,"  the  latter 
returning  loaded  with  goods.  This  venture  did  not  prove 
remunerative — in  fact,  occasioned  a  loss  of  some  $600.  The 
next  two  years'  operations  involved  a  similar,  or  greater  loss, 
but  the  trade  increased,  and,  notwithstanding  the  opposition 
and  even  the  persecution  of  the  Hudson's  Bav  Company, 
which  was  enraged  at  seeing  its  monopoly  interfered  with, 
Mr.  KITTSON'S  venture  was  promising  of  great  results.  In 
1850,  the  trade  had  increased  so  as  to  involve  a  consumption  of 
goods  to  the  extent  of  $10,000,  and  a  possible  proceeds  of  furs 
of  some  $15,000.  Five  years  later,  the  Pembina  Outfit  engaged 
an  expenditure  of  $24,000,  with  a  return  of  furs  of  nearly 
$40,000,  and  the  firm  of  FORBES  &  KITTSON  was  this  year 
(1851)  organized  (''The  Saint  Paul  Outfit")  to  carry  on  the 
supply  business.  When  Saint  Paul  sprang  into  being,  in  1849, 
the  terminus  and  supply  depot  was  shifted  here,  and  in  early 
days  was  an  important  source  of  gain  to  our  city. 

The  Pembina  Carts. — The  shipments  of  furs  from  that  re- 
gion were,  for  some  20  years,  made  in  the  curious  vehicle 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  30^ 

known  as  a  "  Red  River  cart,"  or  Pembina  cart.  This  was 
a  two-wheeled  concern,  of  somewhat  rude  workmanship,  con- 
strudted  of  wood  and  leather,  without  a  particle  of  iron,  and 
would  carry  600  or  700  pounds.  They  generally  cost  about 
$15.  In  this  cart  was  fastened  an  ox  or  pony,  geared  with 
broad  bands  of  buffalo  hide.  One  driver  would  manage  sev- 
eral of  these  carts,  simply  guiding  the  head  ox  or  pony,  the 
rest  being  tied  to  the  tail  of  the  preceding  cart.  The  axles 
were  innocent  of  grease,  and  their  creaking  was  horrid  ;  a 
caravan  in  motion  could  be  heard  for  miles,  almost,  in  still 
weather.  The  drivers  of  these  carts  were  also  a  study.  Nearly 
all  of  them  were  swarthy,  half  or  quarter-breeds,  or  Bois 
Brules,  as  they  were  termed,  and  dressed  in  a  costume,  a 
curious  commingling  of  civilized  garments  and  barbaric 
adornments.  They  were  usually  clad  in  coarse,  blue  cloth, 
with  a  profusion  of  brass  buttons,  and  a  red  sash  girt  around 
their  waists.  Add  to  this  a  bead-worked  cap,  and  an  Indian's 
moccasins,  and  you  have  a  fair  picture  of  the  Red  River  half- 
breed.  They  presented,  also,  a  curious  commingling  of  races, 
the  old  Scotch,  English  and  French  settlers  having  married 
with  the  Crees  and  Chippewas,  and  crossed  and  recrossed  until 
every  shade  of  complexion,  and  a  babel  of  tongues,  was  the 
result. 

The  distance  between  Pembina  and  Saint  Paul,  by  the  near- 
est traveled  route  those  days,  was  448  miles.*  The  caravan 
would  generally  start  early  in  June,  as  soon  there  was  suffi- 
cient pasturage  for  the  cattle,  and  the  down  trip  would  gener- 
ally consume  from  30  to  40  days,  arriving  here  early  in  July. 
An  average  day's  travel  was  15  miles.  At  night  the  caravan 
would  encamp  at  some  spot  where  wood  and  water  was  con- 
venient, and  draw  up  the  carts  so  as  to  form  a  '-  corral."  Sen- 
tinels were  always  on  watch  at  night,  to  guard  against  attacks 
from  hostile  Indians,  or  horse-stealing  raids.  The  men  sub- 
sisted, during  their  journeys,  on  game,  and  pemmican.  The 
latter  is  a  preparation  of  buffalo  meat.  It  is  dried,  pounded 
into  shreds,  and  stuffed  into  a  bag  made  of  buffalo  hide,  into 

*  This  was  via  Otter  Tail  and  Sank  Rapids.  During  some  of  the  earlier  trips,  the 
trail  was  via  Big  Stone  Lake  and  Traverse  de  Sioux. 


306  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1851 

which  melted  tallow  is  poured,  forming  one  solid  mass.  This 
will  keep  a  longtime,  and,  though  tasting  somewhaty>fl£-r««/, 
to  one  unused  to  it.  is  a  great  favorite  with  Red  River  men, 
and  half-breeds  generally.  It  used  to  be  kept  for  sale  in  Saint 
Paul,  in  earlv  davs. 

While  the  caravan  was  in.  the  city,  disposing  of  furs  and 
making  purchases,  which  generally  consumed  some  days,  the 
carts  were  usually  encamped  on  the  prairie  above  the  city, 
(toward  the  trotting  park,)  and  their  bivouac  was  a  scene 
worth  visiting,  for  its  novelty  and  picluresqueness.  For  some 
days  the  streets  of  our  city  would  be  filled  with  these  strings 
of  carts,  constituting,  to  the  stranger,  or  to  one  who  had  never 
before  seen  them,  a  curious  sight.  Accompanying  the  caravans 
were  generally  a  number  of  horsemen,  the  skilled  buffalo 
hunters  of  Red  River,  mounted  on  their  tough,  shaggy  ponies. 

In  1844,  as  noted  above,  the  number  of  carts  on  the  route 
between  Mendota  and  Pembina,  was  only  six.  The  number 
increased  each  year,  until,  in  1851.  it  was  given  at  102.  In 
18=57,  arjout  ^oo  came  to  Saint  Paul.  In  18^8.  600.  In  18^9, 
1860,  and  1861.  the  number  somewhat  decreased,  as  a  steamer 
was  running  on  Red  River,  which  drew  off  part  of  the  freight- 
ing trade,  and  decreased  the  land  transportation  to  216  miles. 
J.  C.  &  H.  C.  BURBANK  &  Co.  having  established  a  line  of 
freight  teams  connecting  with  the  steamer.  In  1863.  owing 
to  the  Indian  troubles,  only  27^  carts  came  through.  It  was 
not  until  about  1867,  when  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific  Railroad 
was  running  to  Saint  Cloud,  that  the  caravans  of  carts  ceased 
making  their  annual  pilgrimages  to  Saint  Paul.  Saint  Cloud 
was  then  for  a  year  or  two  their  terminus,  but  the  increase  of 
freight  lines  and,  in  a  short  time  more,  the  completion  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad  to  Red  River,  quite  drove  these 
primitive  prairie  carts  from  their  old  route,  and  thus  caused 
the  decline  and  fall  of  one  of  the  most  singular  features  of  our 
transit  from  the  rude  traffic  of  the  wilderness  to  a  well-organ- 
ized commercial  community. 

The  Fur  Trade. — Closely  connected  with  this  subject  is 
the  fur  trade,  one  of  the  most  valuable  auxiliaries  to  our 
prosperity  in  early  days.  The  importation  from  Red  River 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          307 

bv  the  curt  line,  was  very  large,  and  tbrnied  the  main  supply 
of  the  fur  marketed  at  Saint  Paul.  Indeed,  four-fifths  of  the 
furs  and  all  the  robes  came  from  this  region.  The  amounts 
handled  during  the  earlier  years  were  reported  as  follows  : 


1844 $     1,400 

1845 3,ooo 

1846 5.000 

1850 15,000 

1855 40,000 

1856 97,253 


1858 $161,022 

1859 150,000 

1860 186,000 

1861 198,000 

l862 202,000 

1863 250,000 


1857 182,491 

During  1858.  1859  and  1860,  the  quantity' of  furs  marketed 
did  not  decrease,  as  the  figures  apparently  show,  but  the  price 
declined  largely  during  the  "hard  times."  Then,  too,  the 
pi-ices  of  furs  fluctuated  greatly.  Mink  sold  in,  1857.  tor  r5 
and  20  cents.  In  1863.  it  rose  to  $5  and  $7. 

Being  the  natural  depot  for  such  a  large  region,  at  one  time 
well  stocked  with  fur-bearing  animals.  Saint  Paul  was  for 
some  years  one  of  the  largest  fur  markets  in  America — per- 
haps second  only  to  Saint  Louis,  and  the  trade  of  the  latter 
was  mostly  in  robes,  a  distinct  branch  of  the  traffic.  The  fur 
catch  of  all  of  Minnesota,  a  part  of  Dakota,  and  northern 
Wisconsin,  was  tributary  to  this  point.  In  early  days,  the  In- 
dians and  a  few  professional  trappers  were  about  all  who 
caught  furs.  As  the  country  became  more  settled,  every  squat- 
ter eked  out  his  Hying  by  trapping  and  shooting,  and  the  larger 
game,  bear,  deer.  elk.  wolf,  &c.,  soon  became  quite  scarce. 
In  fact,  every  farmer's  boy,  with  cheap  patent  traps,  soon  en- 
tered the  war  of  extermination  against  the  fur-bearing  animals. 
Every  stream,  copse  and  marsh  was  trapped,  and  the  result  is 
that  the  fur  ••  catch"  is  yearly  becoming  less,  though  still 
large.  The  supply  of  robes  from  Red  River  is  annually  grow- 
ing smaller,  as  the  bison  is  now  driven  further  and  further  from 
the  settlements  each  year. 

I  ~alue  of  the  Red  River  Trade. — All  of  the  money  re- 
ceived for  the  sale  of  these  furs  would  be  generally  spent  in 
merchandize  in  our  city,  and  large  sums  in  addition.  Thus 
the  value  of  the  Red  River  trade  to  our  city  in  early  davs  can 


308  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul*         [iS^i 

be  estimated.  Staple  groceries,  liquors,  dry  goods,  blankets, 
&c.,  hardware  and  tools,  household  utensils,  ammunition  and 
guns,  clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  glass,  sash,  farm  implements, 
even  threshers  and  mowers,  (in  parts,)  and,  latterly,  sewing 
machines.  In  1863,  one  house  sold  $4.000  worth  of  tobacco 
alone.  The  Red  River  men,  it  might  be  noted,  sold  and 
bought  for  coin  only.  They  never  used  currency  in  dealing. 
The  Freight  Trade  'with  Red  River. — The  rude  Pembina 
cart  line  was  the  pioneer  of  a  very  valuable  freight  and  trans- 
portation movement  between  Saint  Paul  and  the  Red  River 
settlements,  and  the  very  large  and  profitable  trade  which  our 
city  now  transacts  with  the  Red  River  valley,  both  this  side 
and  beyond  the  British  line,  but  this  is  more  fully  narrated  a 
tew  pages  back. 

SMALL    SCRAPS. 

The  Democrat,  of  July  22,  has  the  following  items  : 

"The  Masonic  Lodge  has  been  removed  to  Rice  and  Banfil's  Block — 
the  Odd  Fellows  occupying  the  adjoining  room." 

"A  picnic  party  of  14  or  15  ladies  and  gentlemen  went  out  last  week 
to  White  Bear  Lake,  10  miles  north,  and  spent  a  day  very  delightfully 
at  fishing  and  hunting." 

[This  is  probably  the  first  picnic  to  White  Bear  Lake  that  ever 
occurred.] 

"Yesterday  a  number  of  workmen  commenced  excavating  for  the 
foundation  of  the  Capitol." 

"Hitherto  the  people  of  Selkirk  have  had  but  two  or  three  mails  a 
year.  They  have  now  (since  July)  a  monthly  mail  from  Saint  Paul." 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey \  Minnesota.  309 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1851.— CONTINUED. 

THE  TREATY  WITH  THE  Sioux— REJOICINGS  OVER  THE  EVENT— How  THE  INDIANS 
SPENT  THEIR  MONEY— CREATION  OF  A  BISHOPRIC— RIGHT  REV.  JOSEPH  CRETIN- 
ARRIVES — PURCHASE  OF  LOTS  FOR  A  CATHEDRAL — COL.  ALEX.  WILKIN MOVE- 

MENT  FOR  A  FlRE  DEPARTMENT. 

THE  great  event  of  the  year  was  the  treaty  with  the  Dako- 
tas,  at  Traverse  de  Sioux,  authorized  by  Congress  last 
year,  by  which  that  nation  gave  up  its  title  to  all  the  land  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  excepting  a  small  reservation — a  domain 
exceeding  21,000,000  acres  !  The  treaty  commenced  at  Tra- 
verse de' Sioux,  on  July  2.  All  the  officials,  dignitaries,  big 
men,  traders  and  editors  of  Minnesota  were  present,  and  all 
the  chiefs  of  the  Dakotas.  The  papers  were  crowded  for 
weeks  with  their  sayings  and  doings,  to  the  exclusion  of  almost 
everything  else.  Gov.  RAMSEY  and  Hon.  LUKE  LEA,  Com- 
missioner of  Indian  Affairs,  represented  the  United  States. 

THE  GREAT  EVENT  CONSUMMATED. 

On  July  23,  the  preliminaries  of  the  treaty  were  all  con- 
cluded, and  the  Indians  signed  the  instrument  by  which  they 
sold,  conveyed  and  transferred  to  the  pale  faces,  one  of  the 
most  glorious  domains  that  nature  ever  created — signed  away 
their  heritage  and  birthright,  and  were  thenceforth  strangers 
and  intruders  on  their  own  "  ancestral  acres."*  But  sentiment 
is  out  of  place  in  this  day  of  progress.  The  resistless  march 
of  empire  was  doomed  to  sweep  away  the  red  man — it  had 
been  so  for  two  centuries  on  American  soil,  and  the  treaty  of 
Traverse  de  Sioux,  another  chapter  of  the  mournful  epic, 
called  forth,  not  sadness,  but  rejoicing. 

*This  may  be  considered  merely  the  poetical  view  of  the  subject.  Sometimes,  when 
we  have  an  unusually  hard  winter,  our  citizens  scout  the  idea  that  the  Indians  were 
cheated  in  the  sale,  and  wish  they  hadn't  sold  their  lands  at  all! 


310  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul. 

The  news  of  the  treaty  was  received  in  Saint  Paul,  with 
demonstrations  of  joy.  GOODHUE.  with  his  strong  gift  of 
prophesy,  broke  forth  in  a  strain  as  exultant  as  the  song  of 
Miriam  and  the  Jewish  maidens  on  the  shore  of  the  Red  Sea. 
It  thrilled  through  his  pen  as  follows  : 

"The  news  of  the  treaty  exhilarates  our  town,  and  it  looks  fresh, 
and  lively  and  blooming!  It  is  the  greatest  event  by  far,  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Territory,  since  it  was  organized.  It  is  the  pillar  of  fire 
that  lights  us  into  a  broad  Canaan  of  fertile  lands.  We  behold  now. 
clearly,  in  no  remote  perspective,  like  an  exhibition  of  dissolving 
views,  the  red  savages,  with  their  teepees,  their  horses,  and  their  fam- 
ished dogs,  fading,  vanishing,  dissolving  away;  and  in  their  places  a 
thousand  farms,  with  their  fences  and  white  cottages,  and  waving 
wheat  fields,  and  vast  jungles  of  rustling  maize,  and  villages  and  cities 
crowned  with  spires,  and  railroads  with  trains  of  cars  rumbling  afar 
off — and  now  nearer  and  nearer,  the  train  comes  thundering  across  the 
bridge  into  Saint  Paul,  fifteen  hours  from  Saint  Louis,  on  thfe  way  to 
Lake  Superior.  Is  this  a  dream?  What  but  a  dream,  then,  is  the  his- 
tory of  the  Northwest  for  the  last  twenty  years?" — [Pioneer,  July  31.] 

IMMEDIATE    RESULTS. 

More  immediate  gain  resulted  from  the  treaty,  viz.  :  the 
circulation  of  many  thousand  dollars  into  the  pockets  of  Saint 
Paul.  The  Pioneer,  of  August  14,  says  : 

"  Last  Thursday  was  a  lively  day  in  Saint  Paul.  Indians  all  over 
town  with  double-eagles,  and  Third  street,  especially,  was  converted 
into  a  temporary  horse  bazaar.  Dogs  are  also  in  demand.  On  Friday 
every  Indian  who  had  a  horse  was  anxious  to  try  his  speed.  Various 
contests  were  witnessed  between  old  wheezing  cart-horses,  running 
quarter-races  at  the  north  end  of  Jackson  street,  in  sand  ankle-deep. 
A  large  multitude  turned  out  to  see  the  races." 

GROWTH    OF    CHURCHES. 

Nearly  all  denominations  and  sects  represented  in  the  town, 
made  rapid  advancement  this  year. 

The  Wisconsin  Methodist  Conference  of  that  season,  which 
adjourned  on  July  3,  made  the  following  appointments  for 
Minnesota :  CHAUNCY  HOBART,  P.  E.  ;  Saint  Paul  District. 
T.  M.  FULLERTON  ;  Saint  Anthony  Falls,  C.  A.  NEWCOMB  : 
Point  Douglas,  to  he  supplied  :  Stillwater.  G.  W.  RICHARDSON. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  31 1 

This  spring,  Christ's  church.  (Episcopal.)  on  Cedar  street, 
was  completed,  and  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  JACKSON  KEMP- 
ER,  on  April  12.  Rev.  J.  LLOYD  BRECK  was  first  re6tor. 
followed  by  the  Rev.  T.  WILCOXSOX  and  Rev.  J.  V.  VAX 

IXGEN,   &C. 

CREATION     OF     A     BISHOPRIC CONSECRATION      OF     RT.      REV. 

JOSEPH    CRETIN. 

The  vear  1-8^1  was  also  a  season  of  great  encouragement  to 


RIGHT  REV.  JOSEPH  CRETIN,  D.  D. 

the  Catholics,  owing  to  the  creation  of  a  bishopric  here,  and 
the  arrival  of  Right  Rev.  JOSEPH  CRETIN.  Since  the  with- 
drawal of  Father  GALTIER,  in  1844.  as  before  mentioned.  Rev. 
AUGUSTIN  RAVOUX  had  been  in  charge  of  the  mission  at  this 
place  and  Mendota.  In  1848  or  1849,  *-ne  congregation  here 
increased  very  rapidly.  The  little  chapel  had  been  enlarged  in 
1847,  and  was  still  too  small.  Members  came  from  Saint  An- 


3 1 2  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pau/, 

thony,  Little  Canada,  Pig's  Eye,  and  other  places,  to  attend 
services,  which  were  now  held  every  other  Sabbath,  in  French 
and  English,  and  finally,  Father  RAVOUX  spent  two  Sundays 
here  consecutively,  going  to  Mendota  on  the  third.  It  now 
became  evident  that  more  clerical  help  must  be  secured.  He 
urged  Bishop  HENNI,  of  Milwaukee,  to  send  this,  but  that 
ecclesiastic  was  unable  to  do  so.  It  led,  however,  to  the 
erection  here  of  a  bishopric,  and  the  appointment  of  Rev. 
JOSEPH  CRETIN  to  the  charge.  The  latter  was  then  in  Du- 
buque.  and  left  at  once  for  Europe,  to  be  consecrated. 

"After  his  departure  for  France,  [says  Father  RAVOUX,  in  a  sketch  in 
the  North-western  Chronicle,~\  aware  of  the  necessity  of  securing  some 
lots  for  the  cathedral  and  other  purposes,  I  bought  of  Mr.  VETAL 
GUERIN  twenty-one  (21)  lots  for  $800,  and  for  $100  the  lot  on  which  now 
stands  the  cathedral.  This  last  I  bought  of  another  person,  who  had 
already  some  lumber  on  the  ground  for  a  building.  He  had  bought  the 
same  on  credit  of  Mr.  VETAL  GUERIN  for  $60.  He  deeded  me  that  lot 
for  forty  dollars  ($40)  profit.  I  considered  the  purchase  of  the  twentv- 
two  lots  a  very  good  bargain  for  the  church,  as  also  a  good  one  for  Mr. 
VETAL  GUERIN,  because  it  was  understood  that  the  cathedral  and  other 
buildings  would  be  erected  on  block  seven,  and  such  improvements 
would  increase  the  value  of  Mr.  VETAL  GUERIN'S  property.  The  event 
proved  that  I  was  not  deceived  in  my  expectation.  The  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  after  his  return  from  France,  paid  the  money  for  the  22  lots  and 
received  the  deed ;  I  had  but  a  bond  for  the  security  of  our  bargain." 

Speaking  of  Rev.  J.  CRETIN'S  struggle  to  make  up  his 
mind  whether  to  accept  the  bishopric,  or  not.  Father  RAYOUX 
further  writes  that  he  did  so  at  the  advice  of  the  Bishop  of 
Belley: 

"He  then  gave  his  consent  and  was  consecrated  on  the  26th  of 
January,  1851.  'Omnia  omnibus  facius  sum,'  was  the  motto  engraved 
on  his  seal,  and  in  fa6t  the  first  Bishop  of  Saint  Paul,  like  the  Apostle 
of  nations,  was  'all  to  all.'  All  those  who  have  been  well  acquainted 
with  him  are  convinced  that  he  constantly  walked  in  the  footsteps  of 
Saint  PAUL,  by  zeal,  piety,  charity,  humility,  incessant  labor  and 
patience  in  sufferings ;  not  only  after  his  consecration,  but  also  when  a 
priest,  when  in  the  seminaire,  and  in  the  colleges. 

"The  Right  Rev.  Bishop  spent  yet  three  or  four  months  in  Europe 
after  his  consecration,  in  order  to  procure  some  laborers  for  the  exten- 
sive vineyard  intrusted  to  his  care,  and  many  things  necessary  for  the 
establishment  of  a  new  diocese.  On  the  day  of  the  feast  of  the  Visita- 


1851]       and  of  the  (onntv  of  Itamsev*  Minnesota .  31^ 

tion  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  MARY,  the  2d  of  July.  1851, 1  had  the  so  long 
expected  and  desired  visit  of  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop,  who  arrived  at 
Saint  Paul,  accompanied  by  two  priests*  and  three  seminarians.  To 
describe  the  pleasure  I  felt  at  their  arrival  would  be  a  difficult  task. 

"The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  was  not  much  surprised  at  the  poverty  of  the 
Catholic  church  in  Saint  Paul,  for  he  had  been  informed  of  evervthing. 
From  the  first,  he  saw  hard  labor  before  him,  and.  full  of  confidence  in 
GOD,  was  not  discouraged. 

"  He  put  immediately  his  hand  to  the  plow,  and.  faithful  to  the  advice 
of  our  SAVIOUR,  did  not  look  behind.  He  knew  for  whom  he  worked, 
and.  however  difficult  the  task  might  be,  supported  by  Divine  grace,  he 
was  always  cheerful.  Before  the  lapse  of  five  months  after  his  arrival 
in  Saint  Paul,  he  had  erected  on  block  7.  in  Saint  Paul  Proper,  a  brick 
building.  84  feet  long  by  44  wide,  three  stories  and  a  half  high,  includ- 
ing the  basement.  That  building  became  immediately  the  second 
cathedral  of  Saint  Paul,  and  also  the  second  residence  of  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop,  of  his  priests  and  seminarians  :  and.  in  a  few  months  after,  some 
apartments  of  the  basement  were  used  as  school-rooms  for  boys.  The 
young  girls  were  also  to  be  provided  with  Catholic  schools,  and.  in 
1852.  the  Sisters  of  Saint  Joseph  devoted  themselves  in  Saint  Paul  to 
the  holy  work  of  their  institute,  and  they  opened  their  schools  on  the 
property  of  the  church,  on  Third  street.  ****** 

"The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  died  on  the  22d  of  February,  1857.  His  !11- 
ness  had  been  very  long  and  painful,  but  he  always  continued  to  be  the 
good  and  faithful  servant  of  GOD,  bearing  with  the  greatest  patience 
all  his  sufferings.  When  no  more  able  to  leave  his  room,  he  almost 
constantlv  had  his  mind  occupied  about  the  flock  intrusted  to  his  care: 
he  would  often  speak  to  me  on  that  subject,  and  write  letters  to  his 
friends  in  order  to  provide  for  the  diverse  wants  of  his  diocese.  The 
last  of  these  letters,  which  was  addressed  to  a  French  Bishop,  and  left 
unfinished,  was  dated  February  the  2ist,  1857.  More  than  once,  when 
his  sufferings  were  most  intense,  I  heard  him  exclaim,  '  It  is  good  for 
me  to  suffer  for  my  sins !  *  *  As  I  cannot  work.  I.  at  least,  ought 
to  offer  my  pains  to  GOD  for  the  faithful  and  for  all!' 

"Were  I  asked  what  epitaph  ought  to  be  written  on  his  tomb,  mv 
answer  would  be,  let  these  words  be  engraved  upon  it:  O  GOD!  'the 
zeal  of  Thy  house  hath  eaten  me  up !' " 

FIRST    THEATRE    IN    SAINT    PAUL. 

During  the  month  of  August  the  drama  was  inaugurated  in 
Saint  Paul.  A  portion  of  the  troupe  of  ••  Placide's  Varieties." 

*I  think  one  of  them  was  the  Rev.  JAMKS  MORAN,  who  officiated  here  for  a  year  or 
more  about  that  time. 


3 14  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1851 

of  New  Orleans,  then  closed  as  usual  during  the  summer,  wan- 
dered to  Saint  Paul,  partly  for  pleasure,  partly  for  gain,  and 
opened  a  theatre  in  Mazurka  Hall.  GEORGE  HOLLAND  was 
manager.  One  of  the  papers  of  the  day  says:  "•  They  per- 
formed to  full  houses  for  two  weeks."  Among  the  plays  ad- 
vertised were,  "•  The  Day  after  the  -Fair,"  "'  Swiss  Cottage," 
"  Betsey  Baker,"  "  Slasher  &  Crasher,"  &c.  No  very  '-heavy" 
pieces  seem  to  have  been  put  on  the  boards. 

AN    ENGINEERING    BLUNDER. 

GOODHUE  frequently,  in  those  days,  urged  measures  of  local 
importance,  that,  with  criminal  indifference,  the  public  and 
some  of  its  components,  disregarded.  Had  his  advice  been 
followed,  we  would  have  had  a  boulevard  along  the  river  blur]*, 
for  one  thing.  The  streets  of  additions  would  have  corres- 
ponded with  those  of  Saint  Paul  Proper,  instead  of  presenting 
the  confused  maze  of  angles  and  crooks  our  city  map  now 
shows — a  perpetual  misery  inflicted  on  posterity.  Speaking 
of  a  quagmire  on  Third  street,  between  Wabasha  and  Cedar, 
he  advocated  cutting  the  soil  oft*  of  all  the  streets  running  over 
the  limestone  rock,  thus  making  a  hard,  smooth,  dry  pave- 
ment, unequalled  in  every  desirable  quality.  Strange  to  sav. 
this  simple  proposition,  for  a  cheap  improvement,  was  not 
acled  on.  The  grade  was  raised  so  that  the  streets  had  to  be 
filled  in,  at  great  expense,  and  thus  we  have  quagmires  instead 
of  smooth,  rock  pavements.  At  this  day.  it  is  hard  to  say  what 
engineer  is  responsible  for  this  fossilized  stupidity  ;  but,  as 
capital  punishment  has  been  practically  abolished,  even  if  con- 
victed, no  adequate  punishment  exists. 


Political  excitement  ran  pretty  high  in  the  fall  of  1851. 
though  perhaps  a  shade  less  bitter  than  the  year  previous. 
The  Pioneer  launched  its  thunderbolts  at  H.  M.  RICE  and 
his  friends,  and  C.  K.  SMITH,  Secretary  of  State.  The  Dem- 
ocrat inveighed  bitterly  against  the  Whig  office-holders.  The 
Minnesotian  (just  established)  fired  double-shotted  guns  at 
Democratic  nominees.  Botli  parties,  it  seems,  were  split  up 


1851]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  31^ 

into  factions,  warring  against  each  other.  The  Federal  office- 
holders were  at  swords'-points,  and  undermining  each  other. 
The  war  soon  terminated  in  a  batch  of  resignations  and 
removals.  Judge  JEROME  FULLER,  of  New  York,  succeeded 
Chief  Justice  AARON  GOODRICH.  Capt.  ALEX.  WILKIN*  was 
appointed  Secretary  of  State,  decapitating  C.  K.  SMITH.  JO- 


ALEXANDER  WILKIN. 


SEPH  W.   FURBER   received  a  commission  as  Marshal,  vice 

TlLDEN,  &C. 


*  ALEXANDER  WILKIN  was  born  in  Orange  county,  New  York,  December,  1820.  He 
was  the  eldest  son  of  Judge  SAMUEL  J.  WILKIN,  who  had  been  a  member  of  Congress*, 
and  was  otherwise  prominent  in  his  State.  ALEXANDER  studied  law  with  his  father, 
and  practiced  for  a  while  at  Goshen.  In  February,  1847,  he  enlisted  in  the  Tenth  New 
York  Regiment  for  the  Mexican  War,  and  was  commissioned  as  Captain.  He  served 
under  ZACII.  TAYLOR  during  a  part  of  the  war,  when  ill-health  compelled  him  to  return 
home,  and,  meantime,  peace  was  declared,  and  the  army  disbanded.  In  the  spring  of 
1849,  he  removed  to  Saint  Paul,  arriving  here  on  June  ao,  and  practiced  his  profession 
for  some  months.  On  October  33,  1851,  he  was  appointed  Uniti-d  States  Marshal,  and 


316  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.          [185 


The  Weekly  Minnesoti an  appeared  on  September  17.  as  a 
Whig  organ.  JOHN  P.  OWENS'  name  appeared  as  editor,  and 
that  of  JOHN  C.  TERRY,  as  publisher.  Its  very  first  number 
created  a  sensation.  Some  severe  strictures  on  Capt.  WM.  B. 
DODD,  provoked  the  ire  of  that  gentleman,  and  a  rencontre 
between  him  and  Col.  OWENS  on  the  street,  was  the  result. 
The  Minnesotian  flourished  for  nearly  10  years,  as  a  leading 
and  influential  journal.  It  gave  up  the  ghost  in  1861. 

"We  need  a  jail  far  more  than  we  do  a  court-house.  The  criminal 
law  is -almost  a  dead  letter  for  want  of  a  jail  to  lock  up  rogues  in." — • 
\Pioneer.~} 

GEO.  C.  NICHOLS,  surveyor,  has  made  a  splendid  and  accurate  map 
of  the  citv  of  Saint  Paul,  with  its  additions,  which  are  15  in  num- 
her." — [Democrat,  Sept.  30.] 

[This  map  was  the  first  map  of  Saint  Paul  published.  Mr.  NICHOLS 
died  April  8.  1853,  at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  aged  26  years.] 

"Never  was  a  city  laid  out  so  badly  as  Saint  Paul.  The  plat  looks 
as  if  some  accident  had  knocked  all  the  streets  into  pi.  Measures 
should  be  taken  immediately  to  straighten  them." — [Ib.] 

"  Last  week  there  were 400  Indians  out  at  Rice  Lake,  gathering  cran- 
berries. They  gathered  about  250  barrels." — |_I°-] 

"The  country  is  full  of  bears.  A  band  of  Sioux  Indians  killed,  in 
two  days,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Rice  Lake.  25  bears.  Two  were  seen 
within  a  mile  of  our  office,  on  Saturday." — [Ib.] 


served  until  the  PIERCE  administration  commenced,  in  1853.  He  was  an  unsuccessful 
candidate  for  Delegate  that  fall,  and,  in  1860,  espoused  the  cause  of  STEPHEN  A.  DOUG- 
LAS. During  the  Crimean  War,  Capt.  WILKIN  visited  the  allied  armies,  and  studied 
the  art  of  war  before  Sebastopol.  The  experience  that  he  then  gained  was  destined 
soon  to  be  of  great  value  to  him.  When  the  rebellion  broke  out,  he  recruited  the  first 
company  of  the  First  Regiment.  He  acted  with  conspicuous  bravery  at  Bull  Run,  and 
soon  after  was  commissioned  in  the  regular  army.  On  September  10,  he  was  commis- 
sioned as  Major  of  the  Second  Minnesota,  and,  on  March  31,  1862,  its  Lieut.  Colonel. 
On  August  34,  i86»,  he  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  Ninth  Minnesota.  After 
serving  on  our  frontier  several  months,  the  Ninth  was  sent  to  Tennessee,  where  it  took 
part  in  the  expedition  against  FORREST.  In  the  battle  of  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  on  July 
14,  1864,  Col.  WILKIN  was  shot  through  the  heart,  and  died  instantly.  He  was  a  suc- 
cessful and  skillful  officer,  and  one  of  the  most  fearless  and  courageous  men  that  ever 
lived,  although  of  small  and  slight  physique.  The  Legislature,  in  1868,  bestowed  his 
name  on  one  of  our  western  counties. 

— Judge  WESTCOTT  WTILKIN,  brother  of  Cpl.  W.,  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  es 
teemed  members  of  the  Ramsey  county  bar.  He-  was  elected  Judge  of  the  District 
Court  in  ISo4,  and  re-elected.  In  1871,  tor  seven  years. 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.         317 
THE  ELECTION 

was    held  on   October   14.     The    result  in    Ramsey   county, 
(which  then  included  Saint  Anthony,)  was  as  follows : 

Old  Line.  People's  Ticket. 

Councillor*       ./   R-  R-   Nelson 241      Wm.   H.  Forbes 270 

^   Wm.  Freeborn 248  G.  W.  Farrington ...  293 

I    Robert  Kennedy 247      W.  P.  Murray 272 

1   Geo.  Burns 217     5**.   W.  Selby 293 

Representatives      Hugh  McCann 259     C.  S.  Cave 273 

Egidus  Keller 224     J.  E.   Fuller  ton 306 

Louis  Bartlett 220     Sam.  J.  Findley 279 

Sheriff. +....Geo.  F.  Brott 312  Anson    Northrup. . .  .271 

C.  P.  V.  Lull.  (Ind.,)  207. 

Register  of  Deeds.  L.  B.  Wait 376     M.  S.    Wilkinson 427 

Treasurer Lot  Moffet 362  Sam.  H.  Sergeant .  .401 

Attorney John  W.  North 371      Wm.  D.  Phillips 414 

County  Surveyor- Geo.  C.  Nichols 380     S.  P.  Folsom 407 

Judge  of  Probate.. }\.  Fletcher 361  Ira  B.  Kingsley. . . .  424 

Co.  Commissioner.  (  J"  Locke 377     Jo.  LaBonne 419 

*.  Warren  Chapman. .  .367      T.  P.  Reed 429 

Justices  of  Peace  \  Charles  Creek 2  ' '     Jacob  J-  Noah *& 

\Orlando   Simons ...  .244    John  P.Owens 234 

Those  in  italics  eledled. 

TOWN    GOSSIP. 

The  Pioneer,  of  October  30,  announces  the  removal  of  Sec- 
retary C.  K.  SMITH,  and  the  issue  of  November  20,  records 
his  departure  from  the  Territory,  in  a  terribly  denunciatory 
article.  When  GOODHUE  wanted  to  "go  for"  any  one,  he 
never  beat  around  the  bush,  but  spoke  right  out. 

''There  is  a  large  new  bell,  a  very  fine  one,  just  received  and  hung 
up  in  the  rear  of  the  Catholic  seminary,  a  present  from  Louis  ROBERT. 
There  are  now  four  good  bells  in  Saint  Paul,  and  another  coming,  for 
the  Baptist  church." — [Pioneer.  November  6.] 

"  NON-RESIDENT  LANDHOLDERS. — Avarice  and  speculation  can  over- 
lay an  infant  town — nay,  they  oppress  larger  places,  like  a  nightmare. 
A  non-resident  may  buy  up  half-a-doze.n  lots  on  Third  street,  and  keep 
them  unimproved.  The  result  is  ruinous,  perhaps,  to  the  business  of 
the  whole  street..  We  want  to  see  these  gentry  used  up  in  every  pos- 
sible way.  *  *  We  wish  that  no  man  out  of  Minnesota  could 
own  a  foot  of  land  in  it." — [Ib.] 


318  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,          [1851 

The  Pioneer,  of  October  16,  speaks  of  a  contra6t  for  the 
erection  of  a  four-story  hotel  on  the  site  of  Monk  Hall.  This 
was  the  Winslow  House,  a  building  which  played  an  impor- 
tant part  in  our  history,  and  was  burned  down  in  1862. 

"  Rev.  Mr.  RIHELDAFFER.  a  missionary  of  the  Old  School  General 
Assembly,  has  taken  up  his  residence  at  Saint  Paul,  with  a  view  of  gath- 
ering a  second  Presbyterian  congregation." — [Democrat.  November  4.] 

This  was  the  origin  of  the  Central  Presbyterian  church, 
which  was  organized  by  Mr.  RIHELDAFFER.  February  21. 
1852,  at  his  residence,  eight  persons  participating — Mr.  and 
Mrs.  RIHELDAFFER,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  MARVIN,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
G.  W.  FARRINGTON,  J.  D.  POLLOCK  and  JONAS  GISE.  The 
church  was  completed  in  the  summer  of  1854.  Rev.  Mr. 
RIHELDAFFER  resigned  in  1864,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
F.  T.  BROWN,  in  1867,  and  Rev.  WM.  McKiBBiN,  in  June,  1874. 

"Saint  Paul  is  entirely  destitute  of  means  for  extinguishing  fire. 
Measures  should  be  taken  to  form  a  hook  and  ladder  company,  imme- 
diately. Should  a  fire  occur,  let  every  citizen  repair  to  it  with  a  bucket 
of  water." — {Democrat,  November  18.] 

"  Four  Sisters  of  Charity  have  arrived  from  Saint  Louis,  and  will 
shortly  commence  teaching  a  ladies'  seminary,  in  the  old  chapel." — [Ib.] 

''The  workmen  are  putting  on  the  root"  of  the  new  court-house.  It 
makes  a  fine  appearance." — [Ib-] 

Navigation  closed  this  year  on  the  2Oth  of  November.  The 
whole  number  of  steamboat  arrivals  was  119. 

Rev.  J.  P.  PARSONS,  pastor  of  the  new  Baptist  church, 
died  on  November  13,  while  on  his  way  up  the  river  on  a 
steamer,  returning  from  a  visit  east,  to  raise  means  to  finish  his 
church.  Mr.  PARSONS  was  a  native  of  Onondaga,  New  York. 
He  came  west  about  1837,  an<^  settled  in  Saint  Paul,  May, 
1849,  as  a  missionary  of  the  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society. 
He  was  forty-nine  years  of  age. 

CHARLES  SYMONDS,  the  first  ice  dealer  in  Saint  Paul,  com- 
menced cutting  ice  this  month.  He  continued  the  ice  business 
a  number  of  years,  and  died  in  1873. 

"  Rev.  E.  D.  NEILL  has  been  appointed  by  the  Governor,  Superin- 
tendent of  common  schools  for  the  Territory.  An  excellent  appoint- 
ment."— [Democrat.  December  2.] 

"  Plenty  of  delightful  weather,  plenty  to  eat,  plenty  to  drink,  but  not 


1851]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  319 

a  word  of  news  from  the  States  for  two  weeks  past."— [Democrat,  De- 
cember 24.] 

"  The  grading  of  Fourth  street  and  the  building  of  the  culvert  across 
Jackson  street  are  so  far  advanced,  that  the  street  will  be  ready  for 
travel  in  three  or  four  weeks." — [Ib.] 

"  A  friend  informs  us  that  there  are  about  299  applicants  for  the  few 
offices  in  the  gift  of  the  Legislature." — [Ib.] 

"There  appears  to  be  considerable  activity  in  buying  and  selling 
town  lots.  Prices  are  gradually  rising."— [Ib.] 

•'We  have  a  hard-working,  judicious  and  able  town  council.  They 
work  for  nothing,  and  find  themselves."— [Ib.] 

"  A  market  house  is  very  much  needed  in  Saint  Paul." — [Ib.] 

MOVEMENT  TOWARD  A  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

The  need  of  some  -organized  association  for  extinguishing 
fires,  has  several  times  been  noticed.  The  Democrat,  of 
December  24,  says : 

"Mr.  R.  C.  KNOX  is  making  efforts  to  get  up  a  hook  and  ladder 
company.  Let  everybody  help.  *  *  *  A  meeting  will  be  held  at 
the  upper  school  house  on  Saturday  evening  next,  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  a  fire  company." 

Probably  this  movement  of  Mr.  KNOX  and  others  was  the 
little  germ  which  afterwards  gave  birth  to  our  Fire  Depart- 
ment. Prior  to  this  time,  and  for  three  or  four  years  afterwards, 
indeed,  the  mode  of  extinguishing  fires  was  somewhat  primi- 
tive. Whenever  an  alarm  was  given,  the  whole  able-bodied 
population  would  rush  to  the  rescue,  armed  with  pails,  basins, 
dippers,  tubs  or  any  other  utensil  that  came  handy.  Generally 
a  raid  was  made  on  some  grocery,  and  a  few  nests  of  pails 
confiscated.  With  these  a  line  would  be  formed,  between  the 
fire  and  some  pond,  cistern  or  stream,  and  the  pails  then  passed 
from  hand  to  hand.  The  writer  has  seen  a'  line  two  blocks 
long  thus.  The  original  subscription  paper  carried  around  by 
Mr.  KNOX  is  still  in  existence.  Enough  was  raised  to  pur- 
chase several  ladders.  They  were  somewhat  heavy,  and,  as 
the  "boys"  had  no  ladder  wagon,  but  carried  them  to  fires  on 
their  shoulders,  they  could  not  have  made  very  fast  time,  and 
probably  had  their  patience  and  zeal  thoroughly  tried.  An 
amusing  incident  would  occur  once  in  a  while,  however,  that 


3-2O  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paid.         [iS^i 

lightened  their  burdens.  On  one  occasion,  the  boys  got  their 
ladders  out  from  an  alley  on  Third  street,  near  Wabasha. 
where  they  used  to  store  them,  arid  started  on  the  run  for  a  fire 
on  Eagle  street.  After  making  good  time  for  two  or  three 
squares,  thev  concluded  to  seize  on  any  team  that  happened 
along.  Just  then  a  countryman  drove  by  with  a  lumber  wagon. 
R.  C.  Kxox  rushed  up  to  him.  and.  in  tones  that  could  have 
been  heard  at  Pig's  Eve.  almost,  ordered  the  man  to  "get 
down  and  give  up  that  team  !"  KNOX.  we  will  state  for  those 
who  don't  know  him.  is  about  as  large  as  two  ordinary  men. 
The  countrvman  gaxed  at  his  huge  figure  a  moment,  and.  either 
mistaking  him  for  a  ghost  or  a  highwayman,  actually  leaped 
out  of  the  wagon  and  ran  for  dear  life  !  Bursting  with  laugh- 
ter, the  boys  seized  the  team,  threw  off  the  wagon-box,  and 
soon  had  their  ladders  at  the  fire. 

As  but  little  could  be  generally  accomplished  in  this  way. 
however,  the  ladders  soon  fell  into  disuse.  They  were  stored 
away,  and  for  a  time  served  the  free  use  of  painters  and  car- 
penters. After  the  Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  was 
organized  in  1855,  three  of  them  were  recovered  and  became 
the  property  of  that  company,  and  were  used  for  over  13  years. 

In  the  absence  of  engines  or  other  apparatus,  every  imagin- 
able means  was  resorted  to  to  extinguish  fires.  A  small  house 
once  caught  fire  about  that  time,  when  the  ground  was  covered 
with  damp  snow.  Some  one  gave  the  word.  ••  snow-ball  it 
out."  and  it  was  so  deluged  with  snow-balls  bv  the  crowd  in 
attendance,  that  the  fire  was  put  out  and  most  of  the  house 
saved. 


1852]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1852. 

THE  TEMPERANCE  MOVEMENT— PASSAGE  OF  A  PROHIBITORY  LAW— TRAVELING 
ON  DOG-SLEDGES— OUTCOME  OF  THE  MAINE  LIQUOR  LAW— RATIFICATION  OF 
THE  Sioux  TREATY — BRUTAL  WIFE  MURDER — DEATH  OK  J.  M.  GOODHUE — 
MURDERS  BY  WHITES — MURDERS  BY  INDIANS,  *c. 

N  January  i,  a  Temperance  Convention  was  held,  pursu- 
ant  to  a  published  call,  which  was  largely  attended  bv 
delegates.  An  earnest  feeling  prevailed.  The  newspapers  con- 
tain no  report  of  the  proceedings,  and  only  indirect  allusions 
to  it.  Participants  say,  however,  that  strong  ground  was  taken 
for  a  Maine  prohibitory  law,  and  threats  to  form  a  temper- 
ance party  of  the  prohibitory  element  did  not  receive  dvie 
consideration. 

THIRD    LEGISLATIVE    ASSEMBLY. 

The  third  Legislature  met  on  January  7,  in  ••  Goodrich's 
Block,"  on  Third  street,  below  the  Merchants.  The  Ramsey 
countv  members  this  year  were  :  Council. — Geo.  W.  FAR- 
KINGTON,  L.  A.  BABCOCK,  and  WM.  H.  FORBES,  the  latter 
being  President.  House. — CHARLES  S.  CAVE,  WM.  P.  MUR- 
RAY, SAM.  D.  FINDLEY,  JEREMIAH  W.  SELBY,  and  J.  E. 
FULLERTON.  Four  of  our  present  citizens  represented  other 
localities  that  year — N.  W.  KITTSON,  Pembina  ;  JNO.  D.  LUD- 
DEN,  Marine  ;  Dr.  J.  H.  MURPHY,  Saint  Anthony  ;  and  Dr. 
DAVID  DAY,  Long  Prairie. 

On  January  19,  Hon.  H.  L.  TILDEN,  Secretary  of  the  Coun- 
cil, died.  Mr.  TILDEN  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  came  to 
Minnesota  in  1849.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  in  1851. 
and  had  been  appointed  Marshal  of  the  Territory  that  year. 
He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  a  gentleman  of  fine  ability. 
He  was  buried  by  the  Odd  Fellows,  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber, and  the  two  houses  attended  his  funeral  in  a  body. 


322  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1852 

Gov.  RAMSEY  read  his  annual  message  to  the  joint  conven- 
tion of  both  houses,  and  the  citizens,  in  the  Baptist  church, 
'•  on  the  hill,"  then  recently  finished. 

TRAVELING    ON    A    DOG-SLEDGE. 

The  Pioneer,  of  February   19,  says : 

"Dr.  RAE  arrived  in  Saint  Paul  on  the  I4th  instant,  having  performed 
the  journey  from  Pembina  to  Sauk  Rapids,  some  500  miles,  in  ten 
days.  It  was  the  continuation  of  a  journey  from  a  station  on  McKen- 
zie's  River,  about  2,500  miles  beyond  Pembina.  Both  journeys  were 
performed  on  snow-shoes.  He  was  sent  last  spring  to  the  Arctic  coast 
in  search  of  FRANKLIN,  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company." 

The  "-dog-sledge"  used  by  Dr.  RAE,  in  his  long  journey 
over  the  snow,  was  presented  by  him  to  the  Historical  Soci- 
ety, as  a  memento,  and  may  still  be  seen  at  their  rooms.  This 
was  the  only  mode  of  winter  traveling  between  Saint  Paul 
and  Pembina,  until  18^9,  when  BURBANK  &  BLAKELEY'S  line 
of  stages  commenced  to  run  to  Fort  Abercrombie. 

A  Sauk  Rapids  correspondent  of  the  Pioneer,  January  8, 
says : 

"  The  honorable  members  elected  to  the  House  and  Council,  from 
Pembina,  viz.  :  Messrs.  KITTSON,  ROLETTE  and  GINGRAS,  arrived  at 
Crow  Wing  on  Christmas  eve,  in  16  davs  from  home,  stopping  two 
days  at  Red  Lake  by  the  way.  Each  had  his  cariole,  drawn  bv  three 
tine  dogs,  harnessed  tastilv,  with  jingling  bells,  and  driven  tandem 
fashion,  at  2  : 40  at  least,  when  put  to  their  speed.  They  usually  traveled 
from  30  or  40  miles  per  day,  and  averaged  about  35  miles.  They  fed  the 
dogs  but  once  a  day,  on  the  trip,  and  that  at  night,  a  pound  of  pemmi- 
can  each.  On  this,  they  draw  a  man  and  baggage  as  fast  as  a  good 
horse  would  travel,  and,  on  long  journeys,  they  tire  horses  out." 

LEGISLATION    AFFECTING    SAINT    PAUL. 

The  legislation  of  the  third  Assembly,  affecting  Saint  Paul, 
may  be  summarized  as  follows : 

DANIEL  F.  BRAWLEY  was  granted  a  charter  to  run  a  ferry 
for  ten  years,  from  the  upper  levee  to  West  Saint  Paul. 
(This  ferry  ran  until  the  completion  of  the  bridge,  1858.) 

An  ad  to  incorporate  the  Ramsey  County  Agricultural 
Society. 


1852]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          323 

An  act  granting  to  JAMES  M.  GOODHUE  and  ISAAC  N. 
GOODHUE,  the  right  to  run  a  ferry  across  the  Mississippi 
River. 


TEMPERANCE    LEGISLATION. 

The  prohibitory  legislation  demanded  by  the  Temperance 
Convention,  and  the  efforts  made  by  them  in  the  shape  of 
-'  personal  pressure"  on  the  Assembly,  resulted  in  success.  A 
very  stringent  "Maine  Liquor  Law"  was  enacted  by  the  Legis- 
lature. The  manufacture,  sale,  or  possession  of  liquor  was 
made  a  penal  offense,  to  be  severely  punished.  Liquor  dealers 
were  prohibited  from  sitting  as  jurymen.  All  liquor  found  in 
the  Territory  was  to  be  destroyed,  &c.  The  law  was  to  be 
voted  on  by  the  people  on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  and, 
if  approved,  was  to  be  operative  from  and  after  May  i.  If 
approved,  County  Commissioners  could  not  grant  licenses 
longer  than  to  that  date,  &c. 

The  contest  over  the  liquor  question  was  short,  but  very 
excited.  On  April  5,  the  election  took  place.  Ramsev  county, 
strange  to  say,  gave  a  majority  in  favor  of  the  law.  When 
this  result  was  known,  late  in  the  evening,  the  church  bells 
rang  a  peal  of  joy.  The  result  in  the  Territory  was  for,  853  ; 
against,  662. 

It  was  ardently  hoped  and  expected,  by  the  advocates  of  the 
law,  that  it  would  operate  successfully,  but,  as  in  so  many 
other  cases,  they  were  disappointed.  In  Ramsey  county,  the 
Commissioners  construed  the  law  to  suit  themselves,  and  granted 
licenses  as  before.  Thus  the  liquor  traffic  in  Saint  Paul  went 
on  about  as  usual.  In  Stillwater,  however,  the  law  was  en- 
forced, and  the  saloons  closed  up. 

Believing  the  law  to  be  unconstitutional,  its  opponents  took 
an  early  occasion  to  test  it  by  a  case  occurring  at  Saint  An- 
thony soon  after.  WILLIAM  CONSTANS,  a  commission  mer- 
chant on  the  levee,  had  in  his  warehouse  several  packages  of 
liquor,  stored  there  by  or  for  another  party,  and  Sheriff  BROTT, 
being  informed  of  the  fact,  made  a  descent  on  his  place,  to 
confiscate  and  destroy  the  liquor.  CONSTANS  and  his  friends 
resisted  the  process,  offering  to  give  the  packages  up,  if  BROTT 


324  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1852 

would  give  a  bond  to  indemnify  him  if  the  law  was  declared 
unconsitutional.  This  the  Sheriff'  declined  to  do.  and  sum- 
moned a  larger  force  from  the  crowd  collected  there,  as  a  posse 
comitatiis.  CONSTANS'  friends  also  rallied,  and,  in  the  excited 
state  of  things,  a  riot,  with  serious  results,  might  have  occurred, 
if  other  parties  had  not  advised  a  compromise,  which  was 
effected,  and  the  liquors  left  in  CONSTANS'  possession  for  the 
time. 

The  Saint  Anthony  case  soon  came  before  Judge  H.  Z. 
HAYNER,  of  the  Supreme  Court,  who  declared  the  liquor  law 
null  and  void,  inasmuch  as  the  legislative  power  was  vested  by 
the  Organic  Acl  in  the  Governor  and  Assembly  solely,  and  they 
had  no  power  to  delegate  their  authority  to  the  people,  and 
the  law  in  question,  being  an  attempt  to  do  so,  was  inopera- 
tive. This  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  temperance  element,  but. 
nothing  daunted,  it  set  to  work  to  procure  the  passage  of  an- 
other and  better  law  the  next  session. 

THE    TOWN    ELECTION 

took  place  on  Mav  6.     The  result  was  as  follows  : 

President B.   W.  Lott 227     Robert  Kennedy 183 

Recorder Louis  M.  Olivier 237      B.  B.  Ford 171 

I    CAas.  Bazille 231       Win.  Freeborn 396 

Egidus  Keller 228     Firman  Cazeau 178 

Councilmen        }Q^  Rog£rs ^     A   Baker ^ 

|    LotMoffet 306     W.  W.  Hichcox 166 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

The  total  vote  cast  in  both  precincts  into  which  the  town 
was  now  divided,  was  414,  evincing  a  population  of  about 
1,500. 

SOME    NOTES    ON    STEAMBOAT1.NG. 

The  steamboat  interest  now  began  to  be  quite  a  consider- 
able one,  and  profitable,  doubtless,  as  travel  on  the  Upper  Mis- 
sissippi, under  the  flood  of  immigration  pouring  in,  was 
becoming  large,  and  freighting  was  also  growing  in  importance. 

On  page  173  was  given  some  note  of  the  beginning  of  the 
old  Galena  Packet  Company.  The  •'  Senator"  and  "Norni- 


1852]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey,  Minnesoia.  32^ 

nee"  had  been  the  regular  "  stand-by"  packets,  up  to  this 
season.  During  the  past  winter,  (1851-2,)  the  "  Ben  Camp- 
bell" had  been  built  for  the  trade.  During  the  seasons  of 
1849,  1850,  and  1851,  the  packet  line  only  made  two  trips  per 
week,  each  way.  This  year,  it  commenced  tri-weekly  trips. 
During  the  season,  also,  there  was  quite  a  rivalry  in  the 
steamboat  trade.  The  HARRISES,  SMITH  and  SCRIBE,  ran  a 
packet  in  opposition  to  the  old  line,  but,  ultimately,  they  con- 
solidated with  it.  Capt.  Louis  ROBERT  brought  out  the 
••Black  Hawk"  and  "Greek  Slave,"  this  year — both  new. 
There  were  "  wild"  boats,  also,  in  the  trade.  Capt.  KEELER 
HARRIS,  who  had  commanded  a  new  boat  this  yeaV,  called 
the  •*  Saint  Paul."  died  in  August,  aged  36  years. 

BRIEF    NOTES. 

The  Pioneer,  of  July  29,  in  a  pretty  pointed  paragraph, 
compares  the  dearth  of  schools  to  the  abundance  of  churches  : 

"Truth  compels  us  to  say,  that  there  is  not  a  building  in  all  Saint 
Paul,  fit  to  be  called  a  district  school  house.  The  only  building  known 
as  such,  is  hardly  fit  for  a  horse  stable.  There  was  another  miserable 
substitute  for  a  school  house  on  Bench  street,  belonging  to  the  upper 
district ;  but  that  was  sold  the  other  day,  to  satisfy  a  mortgage  of  less 
than  $200.  All  this  in  an  opulent  town,  swarming  with  children,  little, 
untaught  brats — swarming  about  the  streets,  and  along  the  levee,  in 
utter  idleness,  like  wharf  rats.  All  this  in  a  town,  too,  that  boasts  of 
half-a-dozen  steepled  churches.  If  Saint  Paul  is  not  a  priest-ridden 
town,  it  is  in  a  fair  way  to  be.  This  is  a  blunt,  homely  truth,  but  we 
are  perfectly  indifferent  who  dislikes  it." 

The  Pioneer,  of  August  25,  says:  "The  court-house  is 
finished,  and  is  an  ornament  to  the  town." 

The  same  journal  (September  16)  says:  "'NEILL'S  church 
has  got  a  fine  organ,  and  the  Cedar  street  church  followed 
suit."  It  also  adds,  on  the  subjecl  of  church  music  :  "now  we 
have  good  choirs  in  all  the  churches,  which  would  do  honor 
to  the  most  refined  congregations  in  the  States." 

The  Pioneer,  of  October  21,  has  a  little  item  which  shows 
that  even  at  that  earlv  dav  our  present  system  of  \\ater-works 
was  thought  of.  It  suggests  supplying  the  city  with  water 
"from  one  of  the  lakes  toward  Little  Canada." 


326  77?*  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1852 

On  August  10,  it  was  stated  that  the  cars  on  the  Galena  road 
had  commenced  to  run  to  Rockford.  They  did  not  reach  the 
Mississippi  for  three  years  after  this. 

At  this  date,  Minneapolis  was  not  yet  christened  by  that 
name,  but  is  always  referred  to  in  the  papers  as  ^AJJ  Saints" 

Hotels  seemed  to  be  as  ill-fated  those  days  as  the}-  were  a 
few  years  subsequently.  On  June  23,  a  large  hotel  just  erected 
by  DANIELS  &  WASSON,  near  the  upper  levee,  burned. 

The  repeated  reference  by  the  editors  to  the  need  of  a  cem- 
etery, led  to  the  formation  in  March  of  an  association,  which 
procured  80  acres  on  what  was,  for  many  years,  and  perhaps  is 
now,  known  as  "Nigger  Lake,"  a  beautiful  forest-covered 
hill  to  the  right  of  Como  avenue,  and  laid  out  a  cemetery 
called  "Oak  Hill."  Several  burials  were  made  there,  when, 
for  some  reason,  the  scheme  was  abandoned  and  the  property 
reverted  to  the  original  owners.  It  is  unfortunate  that  the 
sites  of  the  graves  made  there  were  afterwards  obliterated,  and 
cannot  be  recognized. 

"  LANGRISHE  &  AT  WATER'S  Troupe"  commenced  a  theatri- 
cal season  at  Mazurka  Hall,  on  May  22.  and  played  to  good 
houses  for  two  or  three  weeks. 

RATIFICATION    OF    THE    SIOUX    TREATY. 

During  the  early  summer,  the  Sioux  treaties  of  1851  were 
before  Congress  for  ratification,  and,  for  some  reason,  delayed 
unnecessarily.  The  result  was  looked  for  with  great  interest 
by  the  people  in  Saint  Paul.  On  June  26,  the  Senate,  having 
ratified  the  principal  treaty,  (with  the  upper  Sioux,)  the  news 
was  received  in  Saint  Paul,  amid  great  rejoicings. 

The  newspapers  issued  extras,  and  in  the  evening  bonfires 
blazed  on  the  bluffs,  while  the  Maine  law  was  somewhat  dis- 
regarded. Settlers  had  not  waited  for  the  formal  ratification 
of  the  treaty  before  taking  possession  of  "  Suland,"  as  it  was 
slangishly  termed.  Good  points  for  farms,  mills  and  town- 
sites  had  already  been  seized  on,  which  have  since  become 
leading  cities  of  our  State. 

MURDER    OF    ELIJAH    S.   TERRY    BY    THE    SIOUX. 

The  doom  of  the  Dakota  race  in  this  State  was  practically 


1852]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  327 

sealed  by  the  treaty,  although  they  continued  to  hang  around 
until  1862.  During  all  those  years,  there  were  repeated  mur- 
ders of  white  people  by  them,  which  nearly  all  went  unpun- 
ished. On  June  25,  the  Sissetons,  near  Pembina,  murdered, 
under  the  most  outrageous  circumstances,  a  young  man  named 
ELIJAH  S.  TERRY,  a  resident  of  Saint  Paul,  who  had  gone  to 
that  point  to  teach  a  mission  school.  He  was  a  finely  educated 
and  religious  young  man,  who  had  designed  to  devote  his  life 
to  the  elevation  of  the  very  savages  who  murdered  him.  He 
was  a  brother  of  JOHN  C.  TERRY,  of  this  city,  and  of  BENJ. 
S.  TERRY,  who.  10  years  later,  himself  fell  at  Birch  Coolie  by 
a  Sioux  bullet. 

WIFE    MURDER. 

On  July  21,  a  man  named  CHAUNCY  GODFREY,  formerly 
of  Baraboo,  Wisconsin,  while  in  a  fit  of  jealousy  and  drunk- 
enness, shot  his  wife  through  the  heart  with  a  pistol,  killing 
her  almost  instantly.  They  were  -boarding  at  the  Tremont 
House,  a  small  frame  hotel  which  stood  on  Bench  street, 
where  the  rear  of  Bell's  Block  now  stands.  In  the  excitement 
that  followed,  GODFREY  escaped,  and  was  captured  some  days 
afterwards  at  Reed's  Landing.  He  broke  jail  several  weeks 
subsequently,  and  fled  from  the  Territory.  No  effort  to  re- 
take him  was  made,  and  he  was  never  heard  from  again. 

The  newspapers  of  that  day  did  not  cultivate  sensational 
reporting,  as  they  do  now.  The  murder  did  not  make  an  item 
of  over  six  or  eight  lines  in  either  journal. 

DEATH    OF  JAMES    M.    GOODHUE. 

On  August  5th,  Mr.  GOODHUE'S  serious  illness  wras  an- 
nounced in  his  own  journal,  and  referred  to  with  apprehension 
by  the  other  papers.  He  grew  rapidly  worse.  About  the  26th 
he  rallied,  and  hopes  were  entertained  of  his  recovery,  but  he 
relapsed  again,  and  sank  rapidly,  expiring  on  the  27th. 

JAMES  M.  GOODHUE  was  born  in  Hebron,  New  Hampshire,  on  March 
31,  1810.  He  entered  Amherst  College  at  a  youthful  age,  and,  after  a 
creditable  course,  graduated  in  1832,  in  his  23d  year.  He  at  once  en- 
tered upon  the  study  of  law,  and  was.  for  a  time,  associated  with  Judge 


328  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1852 

W.  R.  BEEBE,  now  of  the  firm  of  BEEBE  &  DONOHUE,  New  York.  He 
ultimately  emigrated  west,  and  finally  settled  in  the  lead  region  of 
Wisconsin,  then  almost  on  the  frontier  of  the  Northwest,  and  compar- 
atively unsettled.  Here  he  began  to  practice  his  profession  with  vigor 
and  success,  and  was  soon  widely  known  in  that  region.  A  circum- 
stance, however,  changed  the  current  of  his  life.  He  was  invited  to 
take  charge  of  the  editorial  columns  of  the  Wisconsin  Herald,  pub- 
lished at  Lancaster,  during  the  temporary  absence  of  the  editor.  He 
found  in  the  new  vocation  the  very  field  that  his  restless  activity,  strong 
discrimination  and  keen  wit  eminently  qualified  him  for.  The  paper 
doubled  its  interest  during  his  occupancv  of  the  tripod,  and  at  length 
it  resulted  in  his  becoming  its  editor. 

In  the  spring  of  1849,  Mr.  GOODHUE  resolved  to  remove  to  Saint  Paul, 
and  swiftly  executed  his  design.  On  April  28,  he  issued,  under  dis- 
couraging circumstances,  the  first  paper  ever  published  in  Minnesota, 
which  he  continued  with  remarkable  success  until  his  death,  three 
years  subsequently. 

He  became  a  man  of  mark  and  power  in  the  new  commonwealth. 
He  was  one  eminently  fitted  to  impress  the  "elements  of  empire." 
which  were  "plastic  yet,  and  warm."  His  habits,  temperament, 
feelings  and  style,  were  all  such  as  to  give  him  influence  in  such  a 
population  as  the  Territory  then  had.  His  journal  was  an  institution 
inseparably  connected  with  the  word  Minnesota.  In  the  early  days  of 
the  Territory  it  was  a  powerful  immigration  document.  Thousands  of 
the  present  citizens  of  our  State  first  heard  of  Minnesota  in  the  columns 
of  the  Pioneer,  or  by  extracts  from  it  in  other  journals,  which  were 
widely  circulated,  and  were  attracted  hither,  by  his  bright  and  glowing 
pictures  of  life  in  the  new  Territory.  His  paragraphs  thus  circula- 
ted, powerfully  contributed  to  correct  the  prevalent  errors  in  eastern 
States  as  to  our  climate,  soil,  etc.  He  was  unwearied  in  laboring  for 
good  enterprises  to  advance  the  prosperity  of  his  adopted  State.  His 
faith  in  its  future  greatness  was  unbounded.  He  constantly  predicted 
its  prosperous  career,  in  paragraphs  that  now  read  as  if  he  had  been 
gifted  with  prophetic  ken.  When  any  civil  or  political  emergency 
arose,  he  could  summon  the  force,  strength,  nerve  and  daring  of  his 
nature  so  promptly  and  powerfully  as  to  astonish  and  confuse  his  op- 
ponents. His  strength  of  will  and  purpose  was  remarkable. 

In  a  paper  prepared  bv  Rev.  E.  D.  NEILL,  his  intimate 
friend  and  spiritual  counselor,  for  the  Historical  Society,  his 
character  is  strikingly  sketched  : 

"The  editor  of  the  Pioneer,  was  unlike  other  men.  Every  action, 
and  every  line  he  wrote  marked  great  individuality.  Impetuous  as  the 
whirlwind,  with  perceptive  powers  that  gave  to  his  mind  the  eye  of  a 
lynx,  with  a  vivid  imagination  that  made  the  verv  stones  of  Minnesota 


1852]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          329 

speak  her  praise ;  with  an  intellect  as  vigorous  and  elastic  as  a  Damas- 
cene blade,  he  penned  editorials  which  the  people  of  this  Territory  can 
never  blot  out  from  memory.  His  wit,  when  it  was  chastened,  caused 
ascetics  to  laugh.  His  sarcasm  upon  the  foibles  of  society  was  paralyz- 
ing. His  imagination  produced  a  tale  of  fiction  called  '  Striking  a 
Lead,'  which  has  already  become  a  part  of  the  light  literature  of  the 
west.  When  in  the  heat  of  partisan  warfare,  all  the  qualities  of  his 
mind  were  combined  to  defeat  certain  measures;  the  columns  of  his 
paper  were  like  a  terrific  storm  in  mid-summer  in  the  Alps. 

"As  a  paragraphist,  he  was  equalled  by  few  living  men.  His  sen- 
tences so  leaped  with  life,  that,  when  the  distant  reader  perused  his 
sheet,  he  seemed  to  hear  the  purling  brooks  and  see  the  agate  pavements 
and  crystal  waters  of  the  lakes  of  Minnesota,  and  belonged  to  leave  the 
sluggish  stream,  the  deadly  malaria,  and  worn-out  farms,  and  begin  life 
anew  in  the  Territory  of  the  sky-tinted  waters." 

JOSEPH  R.  BROWN,  whose  sagacity  in  reading  and  knowing 
men  was  scarcely  equalled  by  any  one  in  our  State,  thus  wrote 
of  him  : 

"  Col.  GOODHUE  was  a  man  of  warm  temperament,  which  occasion- 
ally betrayed  him  into  an  undue  severity  of  comment  upon  those  who 
differed  with  him  in  opinion  upon  political  questions,  and  upon  aspirants 
for  office  whom  he  deemed  unworthy  of  public  confidence.  Many  of 
his  editorials  would  have  done  no  discredit  to  the  Neiv  Tork  Herald 
in  its  most  palmy  days.  They  are  replete  with  satiric  humor.  Indeed, 
his  powers  of  sarcasm  were  limited  only  by  his  sense  of  propriety,  and 
we  can  all  testify  to  the  effective  mode  in  which  they  were  exercised. 
In  comparison  with  the  ordinary  controversial  articles  of  the  country 
press,  his  style  of  writing  was  as  fine  gold  to  lead.  *  *  *  He  will 
be  numbered  with  the  small  band  of  sturdy  men  who  labored  constantly 
and  with  iron  resolution  to  establish  the  pillars  of  society  in  our  Ter- 
ritory upon  a  sound  moral  basis.  His  press  was  always  found  on  the 
side  of  law,  order,  temperance  and  virtue.  Minnesota  may  well  lament 
his  death,  and  inscribe  his  name  on  the  roll  of  her  benefactors." 

But  GOODHUE  did  not  live  to  finish  the  harvest  of  fame 
and  wealth  which  his  energy  and  ability  had  begun  to  reap, 
as  indicated  by  the  foregoing  extracts.  He  was  mysteriously 
cut  off  in  the  prime  of  life,  with  apparently  years  of  useful- 
ness to  come.  The  slight  illness  with  which  he  was  at  first 
attacked  took  an  unfavorable  turn,  and,  on  August  2yth,  1852, 
as  the  twilight  shadows  darkened  around  his  home,  his  eyes 
closed  forever  on  earth.  The  news  of  this  sad  event  produced 
a  feeling  of  gloom  in  the  entire  community.  He  was  buried 


330  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL        [1852 

on  Sunday,  August  291!!,  by  the  Masonic  fraternity,  from  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  the  pastor  of  which,  Rev.  E.  D. 
NEII.L,  preached  his  funeral  discourse  to  the  largest  audience 
which  had  ever  gathered  in  the  town.  The  Legislature  of 
the  following  year  very  appropriately  honored  his  memory, 
by  bestowing  his  name  on  a  new  county,  now  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  in  the  State. 

OUR    TOWN    SURVEYS. 

GOODHUE  had  a  broad  and  liberal  view  of  public  improve- 
ments. In  his  pride  of  our  young  city,  and  his  strong  desire 
for  its  success  and  welfare,  he  never  ceased  to  importune  for 
its  social,  physical,  educational  and  commercial  prosperity. 
His  paper  teems  with  advice  to  the  people,  which  it  would 
have  been  wisdom  for  them  to  have  adopted.  lie  deplored 
the  building  of  houses  on  the  bluff  side  of  Bench  and  Third 
streets,  and  so  have  thousands  since  then.  At  that  day  it  could 
have  been  avoided.  The  execrable  manner  in  which  the  town 
was  laid  out  was  another  horror  to  him.  In  one  of  his  articles, 
just  before  his  death,  he  savs  : 

J  "  The  projectors  of  this  town  appear  to  have  had  but  the  smallest 
'possible  ideas  of  the  growth  and  importance  that  awaited  Saint  Paul. 
The  original  plat  was  laid  off  in  very  good  imitation  of  the  old  French 
part  of  Saint  Louis,  with  crooked  lanes  for  streets,  irregular  blocks, 
and  little  skewdangular  lots,  about  as  large  as  a  stingy  piece  of  ginger- 
bread, broken  in  two  diagonally,  without  a  reservation  fit  to  be  called  a 
public  square — without  a  margin  between  the  town  and  the  river;  with- 
out preserving  a  tree  for  shade,  without  permanent  evidences  of  bounda- 
ries made  by  the  survey.  In  fa<5t,  it  was  a  survey  without  measure- 
ment, a  plan  without  method,  a  volunteer  crop  of  buildings,  a  sort  of 
militia  muster  of  tenements.  So  much  for  the  old  plat.  Then  came 
Rice  and  Irvine's  Addition.  This  is  laid  out  but  little,  if  any,  better. 
In  fa<ft,  the  two  plats  appear  to  have  taken  a  running  jump  at  each 
other,  like  two  rival  steamboats — which,  having  inextricably  run  into 
each  other,  the  passengers  and  crews  have  concluded  to  knock  down 
the  railings  and  run  along  together,  as  one  craft.  Kittson's  is  laid  off 
in  smaller  lots  than  any  of  the  other  additions,  and  its  streets  make  no 
sort  of  coincidence  with  other  streets  in  town.  It  -would  save  immense 
cost  and  prove  an  eternal  blessing  to  Saint  Paul,  if  the  whole  site  of 
the  town  could  now  be  thrown  into  one  common  field,  and  platted  as 


1852]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  331 

it  ought  to  be,  with  large  reservations  of  public  grounds,  with  straight, 
wide,  regular  streets,  and  blocks  and  lots  of  uniform  size." 

ANOTHER    HOMICIDE. 

On  the  night  of  October  12,  an  affray  occurred  in  the  saloon 
of  THOMAS  H.  CALDER,  between  Col.  DANIEL  BRECK,  JAMES 
BRECK,  SIMON  DALTON  and  others,  in  which  DALTON  was 
fatally  stabbed,  dying  a  few  hours  afterwards.  A  coroner's 
jury  tried  to  sift  the  case,  but  could  come  to  no  conclusion  as 
to  who  gave  DALTON  his  quietus.  (May  be  he  suicided?) 

THE    ELECTION 

came  off  on  October  12.     The  canvass  of  votes  for  Saint  Paul 
precinct  of  Ramsey  county,  showed  as  follows : 

Democrat.  Opposition. 

|   Louis  M.  Olivier. 395  J.   R.  Brown 301 

Mich'l  Cummings.354  J.  C.  Ramsey 366 

Representatives William  Noot 363  B.  L.  Sellers 306 

j     Wm.  P.  Murray.  .355  D.  F.  Brawley 317 

[  B.    W.  Lott 382  V.  B.  Barnum 301 

County  Commisioner  •  -Louis  Robert 179  George  Irvine 188 

Treasurer RoVt  Cummings . .  179  Ira  B.  Kingsley 185 

Judge  of  Probate W.  H.  Welch 179  Henry  A .  Lambert. .  182 

Surveyor Wm.  R.  Marshall.  184 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

ANOTHER    MURDER    BY    INDIANS. 

Though  the  Sioux  had  received,  in  good  faith,  a  large  sum 
as  a  quit-claim  for  territory  they  had  no  more  actual  owner- 
ship of  than  the  fowls  of  the  air,  they  seemed  unwilling  to 
give  peaceable  possession  of  it  to  white  people.  On  October 
27,  a  party  of  German  immigrants  were  traveling  up  the  Min- 
nesota valley,  near  Holmesville,  where  some  Indians  met 
them,  and  used  threatening  actions  and  language.  Finally,  a 
Sioux  buck  raised  his  gun  and  shot  a  -woman,  named  Mrs. 
KEENER.  Her  body  was  brought  to  Saint  Paul,  and  buried. 
The  Indians  were  pursued,  and  the  murderer,  l~u-ha-zee,  ar- 
rested. He  was  taken  to  Fort  Snelling,  on  Tuesday  ;  indicted 
by  the  grand  jury  of  Ramsey  county,  on  Thursday  :  tried  and 
convicted  of  murder  in  the  first  degree,  on  Friday  ;  and,  on 


332  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul*         [1852 

Saturday,  sentenced,  by  Judge  HAYNER,  to  be  hung.  Justice, 
those  days,  was  speedy,  (to  Indians,  that  is.)  The  Statutes 
of  the  Territory  then  provided  that  a  person  sentenced  to  be 
hung,  could  not  be  executed  for  at  least  twelve  months  there- 
after. So  Tu-ha-zce  was  sent  to  jail  to  meditate  on  his  latter 
end.  He  was  not  executed  until  December  31,  1854. 

THE    SPECULATIVE    ERA 

seems  to  have  commenced  as  early  as  this.  A  correspondent 
of  the  Pittsburg  Token,  who  visited  Saint  Paul  in  the  fall  of 
this  year,  writes  of  it : 

"  My  ears,  at  every  turn,  are  saluted  with  the  everlasting  din  of  land  ! 
land!  money!  speculation!  sawmills!  land  warrants !  town  lots,  &c., 
Sic.  I  turn  away  sick  and  disgusted.  Land  at  breakfast,  land  at  din- 
ner, land  at  supper,  and  until  n  o'clock,  land;  then  land  in  bed,  until 
their  vocal  organs  are  exhausted — then  they  dream  and  groan  out  land, 
land !  Everything  is  artificial,  floating — the  excitement  of  trade,  spec- 
ulation and  expectation  is  now  running  high,  and  will,  perhaps,  for  a 
year  or  so — but  it  must  have  a  reaction." 

NECROLOGY    OF    1852. 

In  addition  to  the  death  of  Hon.  H.  L.  TILDEN,  JAMES  M. 
GOODHUE,  and  ELIJAH  S.  TERRY,  before  mentioned,  several 
other  prominent  citizens  died  this  year. 

On  June  13,  DANIEL  HOPKINS,  merchant,  died  on  the  steam- 
boat "  Dr.  Franklin,  No.  2,"  while  returning  from  a  business 
trip  to  Saint  Louis,  aged  65  years. 

ROBERT  HUGHES,  a  painter,  fell  over  the  bluff,  on  Bench 
street,  June  14,  and  was  killed.  [Several  deaths  have  since 
occurred  in  the  same  manner.] 

On  November  22,  EGIDUS  KELLER,  a  member  of  the  Town 
Council,  died  of  inflammation  resulting  from  a  frozen  heel. 

On  December  9,  J.  O^.  A.  ALTMAN,  a  printer,  formerly  of 
Pennsylvania,  died.  • 

December  22,  RICHARD  O.  WALKER,  merchant,  formerly 
of  Philadelphia,  died,  aged  24. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          333 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1853. 

A  RETROSPECTIVE  VIEW — IMPRISONMENT  FOR  DEBT — A  SIOUX-CHIPPEWA  FIGHT 
ON  THE  STREET— CHANGE  OF  ADMINSTRATION  — Gov.  WILLIS  A.  GORMAN 
ARRIVES — MAJ.  FORBES  APPOINTED'  POSTMASTER — THE  NORTHERN  PACIFIC 
RAILROAD  SURVEY— BUSINESS  DIRECTORY— BRUTAL  MURDER  OF  Two  MEN- 
BALDWIN  SCHOOL  DEDICATED. 

r  I  "'HE  fourth  Legislative  Assembly  met  on  January- 5,  in  the 
•*-  two-story  brick  now  located  on  Third  street,  corner  of 
Minnesota.  (The  Capitol  was  not  then  completed.)  The 
Pioneer,  speaking  of  the  legislative  buildings  about  that  time, 
said  : 

"  Strangers  inquire  which  of  the  three  doors  the  front  of  the 
building  used  as  the  Capitol,  leads  to  the  lower  house.  The  members 
themselves  sometimes  get  puzzled." 

The  Pioneer,  of  January  n,  notes  the  facl:  that  Messrs. 
KITTSON,  GINGRAS  and  ROLETTE,  members  from  Pembina, 
'walked  the  500  miles  from  that  place,  on  snow  two  feet  deep, 
with  snow-shoes. 

Some  delay  was  experienced  in  electing  officers  and  organ- 
izing. Hon.  MARTIN  McLsoD  was  elected  President  of  the 
Council  with  but  little  delay,  but  the  House  was  not  so  har- 
monious. Day  after  day  they  balloted  for  Speaker,  and  it  was 
not  until  January  25,  on  the  64th  ballot,  that  a  choice  was 
made.  Dr.  DAVID  DAY,  then  temporarily  residing  in  Benton 
county,  at  present  our  honored  postmaster,  was  elected,  over 
B.  W.  LOTT,  by  one  vote. 

On  January  26,  Gov.  RAMSEY  delivered  his  annual  message 
to  the  two  houses  and  populace,  in  the  court-house,  then  re- 
cently completed. 

INKLINGS. 

Capt.  WM.  B.  DODD  was  engaged  in  the  month  of  February 


334  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.        [1853 

in  getting  up  a  subscription  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Saint  Paul 
to  Traverse  de  Sioux.  The  amount  needed  was  raised  and 
the  road  laid  out.  It  is  known  to  this  day  as  "the  Dodd 
road."  Capt.  DODD  fell  by  an  Indian  bullet  while  bravely 
defending  New  Ulm,  in  1862. 

The  temperance  element  made  strong  efforts  for  another 
prohibitory  law  this  session,  and  deluged  the  Legislature  with 
petitions,  without  avail. 

"The  several  Masonic  Lodges  of  this  Territory  met  in  Convention 
in  this  city  on  the  23d  ult..  at  which  a  Constitution  was  adopted,  and  a 
Grand  Lodge  formed." — [Pioneer,  February  3.] 

Venison  was  so  cheap  this  winter  that  one  hunter  complained 
that  he  only  got  $n  for  nine  carcasses  ! 

The  Pioneer,  of  January  20,  1853,  rejoices  over  the  evidences 
that  Saint  Paul  is  becoming  a  city.  He  walked  down  Third 
street  after  dark,  "when  the  lights  gleam  from  the  dwellings, 
in  multitudinous  twinklings,  like  fire-flies  in  a  meadow.  Then 
along  Third  street  for  an  eighth  of  a  mile  [  !  ]the  shops  are  so 
illuminated  as  to  give  the  same  a  city  aspect."  Three  years 
ago  last  winter,  (he  continues.)  there  was  scarcely  a  store  on 
that  street. 

LOCAL    LEGISLATION. 

The  Legislature  adjourned  on  March  5th.  Among  the  acts 
passed  were  the  following,  affecting  Saint  Paul  and  Ramsey 
county : 

To  incorporate  the  Saint  Paul  Fire  and  Marine  Insurance  Company. 
To  incorporate  the  Saint  Paul  and  Saint  Anthonv  Railroad  Companv. 
To  incorporate  the  Baldwin  School  of  Saint  Paul. 
To  incorporate  the  Mississippi  and  Lake  Superior  Railroad  Companv. 
To  incorporate  Hennepin  Lodge,  No.  4,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
To  amend  an  at5t  to  incorporate  the  Town  of  Saint  Paul.     [To  grade 
or  pave  any  street  by  assessing  property  pro  rata.~\ 

DIVORCE    LEGISLATION. 

The  ^finnesotian.  of  March  14,  ••  congratulates  the  friends 
of  sound  morality  on  the  fact  that  no  divorces  were  granted 
at  the  late  session."  Prior  to  that  year,  the  Legislative  Assem- 
bly had  severed  nuptial  bonds  quite  freely.  The  petitions  of 


1853]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  335 

the  applicant  were  generally  referred  to  a  committee  who 
took  the  testimony  and  reported.  Concerning  the  visits  of  the 
committees  to  the  female  party  in  the  suit,  their  questions  con- 
cerning the  evidence  and  other  occurrences — the  stories  told 
hy  old  settlers  are  too  ik  amusing"  to  repeat  here.  The  con- 
gratulations of  the  above  journal  were  appropriate. 

Perhaps,  under  this  head  may  as  well  be  related  a  good 
story  that  used  to  be  told  of  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  early 
days — one  whose  1'otund  form  was  well  known  in  our  midst. 
A  couple — French  people — came  to  him,  to  be  married.  The 
knot  was  well  and  truly  tied,  the  fee  paid,  and  the  certificate 
delivered.  But  next  day,  back  came  the  parties  and  wanted 
the  ceremony  undone.  Their  brief  trial  of  married  life  had 
convinced  them  that  they  were  not  suited  to  one  another ! 
The  obliging  justice  informed  them  that  for  $5  he  would 
divorce  them.  The  fee  was  paid,  whereupon  he  tore  up  the 
marriage  certificate  and  announced  tJiat  they  ivere  free  and 
single  again. 

IMPRISONMENT    FOR    DEBT. 

Another  curious  phase  of  our  early  Territorial  days,  was  the 
law  authorizing  imprisonment  for  debt,  which  was  in  force 
about  four  years.  (Section  2,  article  ix,  of  chapter  16,  laws 
of  1849.) 

Chapter  90  of  the  Revised  Statutes,  1851,  seemed  to  provide 
some  relief  for  debtors  confined  in  jail,  under  the  foregoing 
law.  It  provided  that  such  persons  might  be  discharged  after 
ten  davs'  confinement,  bv  giving  notice,  in  writing,  to  the 
creditor,  that  application  would  be  made  to  two  justices  of  the 
peace  for  relief.  He  was  then  to  show  his  inability  to  pav  the 
execution,  and  the  justices  were  to  investigate  the  fact,  pro  and 
con.  If  they  considered  that  he  was  not  acting  fraudulently, 
and  was  reallv  unable  to  satisfy  the  judgment,  he  was  to  be 
discharged  from  custody,  and  not  be  liable  to  arrest  or  impris- 
onment for  the  same  debt  thereafter.  But  where  the  debtor 
undertook  to  satisfy  the  execution,  he  could  not  be  discharged 
until  he  had  paid  all  the  charges  for  his  support  while  in  pris- 
on, and  the  charges  and  costs. 


336  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1853 

The  marshalsea  in  which  debtors  were  confined  in  this 
county,  was  the  miserable  little  log  jail,  about  fit  for  a  pig-pen. 
Whether  there  were  many  committals  under  the  statute  or  not, 
I  cannot  find  out  now,  but  it  is  asserted  that  there  were  some 
cases,  at  least.  It  is  also  stated  that  a  Frenchman  named  Bou- 
LANGE,  died  in  the  jail,  while  a  prisoner  for  debt.  The  old 
settlers,  nearly  all  of  whom  belonged  to  the  "poor  but  hon- 
est" class,  were  not  very  apt  to  deal  harshly  with  an  unfortu- 
nate brother  who  had  come  in  debt  to  them. 

A    SIOUX-CHIPPEWA    FIGHT    ON    THE    STREET. 

On  April  27,  an  exciting  incident  occurred,  viz.  :  a  skirmish 
or  fight  between  small  squads  of  Sioux  and  Chippewas,  in  one 
of  the  most  public  streets  of  Saint  Paul,  resulting  in  the  mur- 
der of  a  Sioux  squaw.  The  particulars  may  be  briefly  related  : 

Early  in  April,  the  Ojibwas  killed  a  Sioux  near  Shakopce. 
In  revenge  for  this,  the  Sioux  then  made  an  expedition  near 
Saint  Croix  Falls,  killing  an  Ojibwa,  and  losing  two  sons  of 
old  LITTLE  CROW. 

Hearing  of  these  events,  the  Ojibwas  prepared  for  revenge. 
A  party  of  some  18,  led  by  a  young  chief  named  A-luc-cn-zis^ 
started  for  Saint  Paul,  determined  to  assassinate  any  unlucky 
Sioux  found  hanging  around  the  town,  as  plenty  always  were. 
They  stealthily  entered  town  on  the  night  of  April  26,  and 
concealed  themselves  until  day-break,  in  an  unfinished  build- 
ing in  lower  town.  At  daylight  they  scouted  carefully  along 
to  the  edge  of  the  bank  by  the  gas  house,  to  watch  for  Sioux 
coming  up  from  Kaposia  in  their  canoes.  Ere  long,  one  hove 
in  sight,  making  for  the  landing.  It  contained  "  Old  BETS," 
her  brother,  "  Wooden-legged  JIM,"  and  her  sister.  Soon  as 
the  Chippewas  noted  this,  they  sprang  down  the  bank,  and 
made  tracks  for  the  landing,  designing  to  ambush  the  Sioux 
at  that  spot.  The  marsh  between  Fifth  street  and  the  river 
was  then  overflowed,  and  they  could  not  cross  it.  They  \\c-rc 
thus  compelled  to  strike  over  Baptist  hill,  which  they  did 
at  a  rapid  dog-trot,  but,  to  their  great  disappointment,  as  they 
arrived  near  the  Merchants'  Hotel,  found  that,  owing  to  the 
delay,  the  Sioux  had  landed  and  were  coming  up  Jackson 


1853]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          337 

street.  This  street  had  been  cut  through  the  bluff",  leaving  a 
high  bank  of  dirt  on  each  side.  The  Sioux  advanced  care- 
lessly up  the  hill,  suspecting  no  danger,  and  turned  up  the 
steps  of  the  "  Minnesota  Outfit,"  a  large  frame  trading  house 
of  the  American  Fur  Company,  which  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  present  Prince's  Block,  and  in  charge  of  WM.  H.  FORBES. 
The  Chippewas,  fearful  of  losing  their  prey,  rushed  forward 
and  stood-  on  the  bank  opposite  the  store,  and  on  a  level  with 
it.  The  Sioux  had  just  entered  the  store,  when  they  drew  up 
their  guns  and  fired  a  volley  at  them.  The  sister  of  Old  BETS 
fell  mortally  wounded.  There  were  several  persons  in  the 
store  at  the  time,  and  it 'is  miraculous  that  they  were  not  killed. 
The  Chippewas  jumped  down  the  bank  and  rushed  towards 
the  store,  determined  to  finish  their  work.  They  were  met  at 
the  door  by  THEODORE  BORUP  and  GEORGE  H.  OAKES,  who 
happened  to  be  present,  and  who  peremptorily  commanded 
them  to  clear  out — or  they  would  get  into  trouble.  This 
brought  them  to  a  sense  of  their  rashness,  and  they  at  once 
retired  by  the  route  they  came. 

The  wounded  woman  proved  to  be  dying,  and,  at  her  request, 
was  put  in  the  canoe  and  taken  to  Kaposia,  where  she  died 
the  same  morning. 

Meantime,  the  firing  and  excitement  attrafted  a  number  of 
citizens,  who,  as  soon  as  they  learned  what  had  taken  place, 
pursued  the  retreating  Chippewas,  whether  to  arrest  them,  or 
for  what  purpose,  no  one  hardly  knew.  They  soon  overtook 
the  pagans,  who,  turning  calmly  around  and  confronting  them, 
said:  "  White  man,  why  do  you  pursue  us?  Thisvis  none  of 
your  affair!  Do  you  mean  to  interfere  in  our  fights?"  No 
one  knew  what  reply  to  make,  and,  as  they  were  unarmed, 
allowed  the  Chippewas  to  pass  on  unmolested. 

But  we  had  almost  overlooked  "Wooden-legged  JIM," 
who  in  his  day  had  been  quite  a  famous  fighter.  As  soon  as 
the  Chippewa  volley  had  been  fired,  he  drew  out  an  old 
pepper-box  revolver  he  carried,  and,  rushing  to  the  door,  tried 
to  fire  at  them,  but  not  a  barrel  would  go  orY.  Throwing  it 
down,  he  picked  up  a  loaded  gun  standing  in  the  store,  and 
pursued  them  a  short  distance,  getting  a  shot  at  them,  and  (it 


338  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PanL         [1853 

is  said)  wounding  their  chief.  The  latter  returned  the  salute, 
knocking  a  splinter  out  of  JIM'S  wooden  leg,  after  which  the 
latter  stumped  back,  defiantly  yelling  the  war-whoop.  (Mr. 
JAMES  died  in  1859.) 

Gov.  RAMSEY  at  once  dispatched  a  courier  to  Fort  Snelling 
for  troops  to  pursue  and  punish  the  Chippewas.  Lieut.  \V. 
B.  MAGRUDER  soon  appeared  with  a  platoon  of  cavalry,  ready 
for  the  pursuit. 

A  Sioux  guide  was  procured,  and  oft' they  went  on  a  gallop. 
The  guide  tracked  the  Chippewas  to  Saint  Croix  Falls,  where 
thev  wrere  overtaken,  at  noon  next  day.  Seeing  they  were 
pursued,  the  Chippewas  retreated  to  the  bush,  when  they  fired 
on  the  dragoons.  The  latter  charged  them,  and  Lieut.  MA- 
GRUDER shot  one  with  his  revolver.  His  scalp  was  brought 
back  as  atrophv.  and  thus  ended  this  singular  chapter  of  early 
scenes  in  Saint  Paul. 

The  '"Minnesota  Outfit"  building,  where  this  occurred, 
was  afterwards  used  as  the  Pioneer  printing  office,  and,  in 
1860,  moved  to  Eighth  street,  below  Broadway,  where  it  still 
stands,  a  neat  dwelling.  The  words,  "Minnesota  Outfit."  are 
still  faintly  discernable  under  the  recoating  of  paint. 

THE    PIERCE    ADMINISTRATION 

came  into  power  on  March  4.  and,  consequently,  all  the  Fed- 
eral officers  in  the  Territory  were  sent  to  the  guillotine. 
Among  the  new  appointees  announced,  were  the  following: 

WILLIS  A.  GORMAN,*  of  Indiana,  as  Governor,  vice  RAMSEY;  J. 
TRAVIS  ROSSER,  of  Virginia,  as  Secretary,  vice  WILKIN  ;  M.  W.  IR- 

*  WILLIS  A.  GORMAN  was  born  January  la,  1816,  near  Flemingsburg,  Kentucky.  He 
received  a  good  education,  and  subsequently  studied  law.  At  the  age  of  20,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar;  and,  in  August,  1855,  removed  to  Bloomington,  Indiana,  where, 
"  without  money  or  friends,"  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  At  the  age  of  33, 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  continued  to  fill  that  position  for  several 
terms — until  the  Mexican  War  broke  out,  when  he  promptly  volunteered,  and  was 
elected  Major  of  a  battalion  of  riflemen,  which  took  a  conspicuous  part  at  Buena  Vista 
and  other  battles.  In  May,  1847,  his  battalion  was  mustered  out,  and  he  at  once  recruited 
a  regiment  (Fourth  Indiana)  of  which  lie  was  elected  Colonel.  This  regiment  took 
part  in  a  number  of  battles,  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  August,  1849,  Col.  GORMAN 
was  chosen  as  Congressman  in  his  district,  and  re-ele<5ted  in  1851,  serving  in  Congress 
four  years. 

When  PIERCE  became  President,  he  appointed  Col.  GORMAN  Governor  of  Minnesota, 


anft  °f  thg  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  339 

WIN,  of  Missouri,  as  Marshal,  vice  FURBER;  WM.  H.  WELCH,  of 
Minnesota,  Chief  Justice,  vice  HAYNER;  A.  G.  CHATFIELD,  of  Wis- 
consin, Associate  Justice,  vice  COOPER  ;  MOSES  SHERBURNE,  of  Maine, 
Associate  Justice,  vice  MEEKER  ;  DANIEL  H.  DUSTIN,  of  New  York, 
District  Attorney,  vice  Moss. 

Governor  GORMAN  arrived  on  May  13,  and  took  his  seat  on 
the  I5th.     He  soon  announced  the  following  appointments: 
SOCRATES  NELSON,  Territorial  Auditor;  LAFAYETTE  EMMETT.  At- 


THE  CAPITOL. 


torney  General ;  GEO.  W.   PRESCOTT,   Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction ;  ROBERT  A.  SMITH.*  State  Librarian,  and  Private  Secretary ; 


which  position  the  latter  accepted  and  filled  until  May,  1857.  He  then  resumed  the 
practice  of  law  in  Saint  Paul,  with  much  success.  In  1857,  'le  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Constitutional  Convention,  and  was  a  candidate  that  winter  for  United  States  Sena- 
tor. In  April,  1861,  when  the  First  Regiment  was  raised,  Gov.  GORMAN  was  appointed 
its  Colonel,  and  went  with  it  to  Virginia.  Soon  after  Bull  Run,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
Brigadier  General,  and  served  as  such  until  1864,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of  service, 
and  returned  to  Saint  Paul.  He  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  in  partnership  with  Capt. 
(since  Governor)  C.  K.  DAVIS,  whom  he  had  been  associated  with  in  the  army.  In 
April,  1869,  he  was  elected  City  Attorney,  and  has  been  four  times  re-eledted  to  the  same 
office.  Gov.  GORMAN  is  one  of  the  most  efficient  speakers  of  his  party  in  the  State, 
and  if  the  political  scale  should  turn,  he  would  no  doubt  be  elected  to  a  position  to  which 
his  ability  and  experience  in  public  life  entitle  him. 

*  ROBERT  A.  SMITH  was  born  in  Indiana,  June  13,  1827,  and  lived  in  that  State  until 
his  removal  to  Minnesota.  In  1850,  he  was  elected  Auditor  of  Warrick  county,  and 
served  as  such  three  years.  He  arrived  in  Saint  Paul  in  May,  1853,  and  at  once  assumed 
the  duties  of  Private  Secretary  to  Governor  GORMAN,  and  Territorial  Librarian,  the 
latter  of  which  he  filled  until  1858.  In  May,  1856,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Ramsey 


340  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1853 

ROSWELL  P.  RUSSELL,  Territorial  Treasurer;  S.  B.  LOWRY,  Adjutant 
General ;  ANDREW  J.  WHITNEY,  Clerk  of  Supreme  Court. 

Until  the  completion  of  the  Capitol,  the  Governor's  office 
was  kept  in  the  law  office  of  RICE,  HOLLINSIIEAD  &  BECKER, 
on  upper  Third  street.  Oit  July  21,  the  executive  chamber 
in  the  Capitol  was  first  occupied. 

A    NEW    POSTMASTER. 

With  the  incoming  of  PIERCE'S  administration,  among  the 
heads  that  fell  into  the  basket,  was  that  of  Postmaster  BASS. 
His  successor  was  WILLIAM  H.  FORBES,  his  commission  be- 
ing dated  March  18,  but  was  not  gazetted  in  Saint  Paul  until 
April  14.  Mr.  FORBES  bought  out  the  fixtures  of  BASS'  office, 
and  removed  them  to  a  one-story  frame  building,  situated 
about  where  NELSON'S  brick  block  on  Third  street  now  is. 
The  glass  boxes  of  BASS'  time  were  extended  so  as  to  reach 
across  the  room,  and  a  door  in  the  middle  of  this  partition 
gave  entrance  to  the  duly  sworn  employees  to  the  work-room 
in  the  rear.  Mr.  FORBES  appointed  as  his  Deputy  JOHN  C. 
TERRY,  who  retained  his  position  as  assistant  during  several 
changes  of  incumbency,  and,  in  1870,  bade  adieu  to  the  postal 
service,  after  18  years  of  faithful  labor,  to  embark  in  a  more 
healthy  and  profitable  occupation.  Mr.  WALLACE  B.  WHITE 
was,  if  we  remember  right,  emploved  a  short  time  after  Mr. 
FORBES'  term  began,  and  BOB  TERRELL,  a  lad  then,  assisted 
for  a  time.  After  TERRELL  left,  ANDREW  WELCH  was  em- 
ployed. ANDY  remained  in  the  service  until  the  winter  of 
1858-9,  when  he  died  of  consumption. 

The  Saint  Paul  of  1853  was  not  the  Saint  Paul  of  1875,  by 
a  considerable.  Around  the  "  post-office"  of  that  time  were 
hazel  bushes  and  trees.  Standing  in  the  door  of  the  office 
one  day,  in  the  fall  of  1853,  Mr.  TERRY  shot  three  prairie 
chickens  which  had  lit  about  where  the  Pioneer-Press  office 
now  stands,  and  were  scratching  undisturbed  by  the  presence 

County  Board,  County  Treasurer;  and,  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  elected  for  two  years,  and, 
subsequently,  four  more  terms,  serving  until  March,  1868 — a  period  of  13  years.  In 
1866,  he  entered  the  banking  business  with  WILLIAM  DAWSON  and  H.  K.  STEVENS, 
and  has  since  then  been  transacting  a  large  financial  business.  He  is  one  of  the  best 
financiers  in  Minnesota,  and  is  deservedly  popular,  as  his  repeated  election  shows. 


1853]       and  °f  Me  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          341 

of  man.     Contrast  the  silence  of  those  days  with  the  busy  tide 
of  human  life  that  whirls  by  that  spot  now. 

MINOR    TOPICS. 

The  Grand  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  was  instituted  on  May  =;. 

"  SHORT  ALLOWANCE. — The  fresh  meat  market  is  as  bare  as  a  clean 
bone.  Not  an  ounce  of  fresh  beef,  veal,  pork  or  mutton  can  be  found 
in  the  market.  Our  citizens  are  reduced  to  salt  provisions  and  fish." — 
[Democrat,  May  4.] 

"On  June  6,  WM.  W.  WARREN,  an  educated  Chippewa  half-blood, 
author  of  several  valuable  papers  on  the  history,  customs  and  traditions 
of  the  Chippewas,  died." — [Ib.] 

"Buildings  are  going  up,  new  stores  opening,  immigrants  arriving, 
and  improvements  of  all  kinds  going  ahead  to  a  greater  extent  than 
ever  before." — [Ib.] 

"  On  July  4,  a  man  named  FRANCIS  DUNN  was  thrown  from  a  wagon 
in  which  he  had  been  excursing  with  his  family,  and  was  killed." — [Ib.] 

This  summer  Bishop  CRETIN  built  Saint  Joseph's  Hospital, 
on  Exchange  street.  Part  of  the  grounds  were  contributed  bv 
Hon.  H.  M.  RICE.  The  Bishop  also  bought  grounds  for  a 
cemetery — the  same  now  occupied  by  Saint  Joseph's  Academy, 
on  Nelson  avenue — but  it  was  used  for  only  three  years  as  a 
•  burying  ground,  the  bodies  being  then  removed  to  the  new 
cemetery  on  the  Lake  Como  road,  which  was  consecrated  in 
the  fall  of  1856. 

During  this  year,  also,  "•  Oakland  cemetery,"  that  beautiful 
and  well-managed  "city  of  the  dead,"  was  opened.  On  June 
23,  the  association  was  organized  with  the  following  corpora- 
tors :  Rev.  J.  G.  RIHELDAFFER,  Rev.  T.  WILCOXSON,  Rev. 
E.  D.  NEILI.,  GEO.  W.  FARRINGTON,  ALEX.  RAMSEY,  JOHN 

E.  WARREN,  HENRY  A.  LAMBERT,  B.  F.  HOYT,  SHERWOOD 
HOUGH.     On  August  23,  the  association  purchased  forty  acres 
of  land,  for  $1,600.     The  first  year  only  two  lots  were  sold, 
and  it  was  several  years  before  it  had  many  lot  owners.     P.  P. 
FURBER  was  Actuary  several  years,  succeeded   by  EDMUND 

F.  ELY,  and   latterly  by  MORRIS   LANPHER.     The  grounds 
have  recently  been  extended  to  80  acres,  and  greatly  beautified. 
Fine  drives  and  walks  are  laid  out  over  it,  and  many  handsome 


34^  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1853 

marble  and  granite  monuments  erected.  The  most  elegant 
and  costly  is  that  of  SAMUEL  MAYALL,  erected  at  an  expense 
of  $7,000.  Up  to  the  present  year,  about  3,000  interments 
had  been  made. 

The  papers  this  season  were  well  saturated  with  railroad 
talk,  and  quite  a  fever  was  raised  over  the  proposed  survey  of 
the  Northern  Pacific  route.  Gov.  ISAAC  I.  STEVENS  and  Lieut. 
F.  W.  LANDER,  charged  with  that  work,  arrived  about  the 
last  of  May,  and  organized  an  expedition  here,  which  explored 
the  northern  route.  Two  volumes  were  subsequently  pub- 
lished by  the  War  Department,  containing  the  reports  of  the 
above  survey,  and  are  valuable  documents. 

BUSINESS    HOUSES 1853. 

From  the  city  papers  this  year,  we  get  the  names  of  the 
following  business  houses  in  1853  : 

General  Dealers.— -H.  C.  Sanford,  A.  L.  Larpenteur,  D.  L.  Fuller, 
D.  &  P.  Hopkins,  Louis  Robert,  Wm.  H.  Forbes.  Rey  &  May,  Culver* 
&  Farrington. 

Boots  and  Shoes.—  Henry  Buel,  Luke  Marvin,  H.  A.  Schliek,  Philip 
Feldhauser. 

Dry  Goods.—].  H.  &  S.  McClung,  Edward  Heenan,  A.  T.  Chamblin. 
Cathcart,  Kern  &  Co.,   S.  H.  Sergeant,  J.  E.  Fullerton,  Elfelt  Bros..    , 
Curran  &  Lawler,  Louis  Blum. 

Books.—  LeDuc  &  Rohrer,  Wm.  S.  Combs,  Dahl  &  Doull. 

Furs.— Louis  Robert,  C.  J.  Kovitz. 

Drugs.— W.  H.  Jarvis,  Dr.  J.  H.  Day,  Bond  &  Kellogg. 

*  GEORGE  CULVER,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  our  State,  was  born  in  Cayuga  county, 
Xew  York,  September  19,  1818.  He  removed,  in  1834,  to  Michigan,  and  lived  there 
until  1837,  when  he  moved  west  again,  and  engaged  in  business  in  Clinton  and  Fayettc 
counties,  Iowa.  Fort  Atkinson,  being  the  principal  station  then  in  the  Winnebago  re- 
gion, he  remained  there  until  1848,  when  he  removed  to  Long  Prairie,  Minnesota,  in 
charge  of  a  part  of  the  Winnebago  Indians,  (see  page  186,)  and,  shortly  after  his 
arrival,  engaged  in  business  with  CHARLES  &  HENRY  M.  RICE,  in  the  Indian  trade. 
He  continued  in  this  until  1853,  when  he  left  Long  Prairie,  and,  settling  in  Saint  Paul, 
formed  a  partnership  with  JOHN  FARRINGTON,  Esq.,  the  firm  being  "CULVER  &  FAR- 
RINGTON." This  house  has  remained  in  active  operation  23  years,  and  is  one  of  the 
oldest  firms  in  Minnesota.  It  was  the  first  to  open  direft  trade  with  Manitoba,  and  the 
first  to  engage  in  pork-packing  in  Minnesota.  They  maintained,  for  some  years,  trad- 
ing posts  among  several  tribes.  Recently  Col.  CULVER  has  become  proprietor  of  the 
Metropolitan  Hotel,  the  finest  one  in  the  State.  His  life,  up  to  1853,  was  one  of  stirring 
adventure  and  pioneer  hardship.  It  would  require  a  volume  to  do  it  justice.  He  is.no\v 
one  of  the  "  solid  men"  of  Saint  Paul,  respected  and  esteemed  by  all. 


,  and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          343 

Hardware,  Iron,  <kc.—].  McCIoud,  Jr.  &  Bro.,  C.  E.  &  J.  Abbotl. 
W.  R.  Marshall. 

Hats  and  Caps.—R.  O.  Walker. 

Lumber.—].  W.  Bass. 

Furniture.— Stees  &  Hunt. 

Grocers.— Julius  Georgii,  Nat.  E.  Tyson,  L.  B.  Wait  &  Co.,  J.  W. 
Simpson,  W.  H.  Stillman,  B.  Presley,  Alex.  Rey,  J.  A.  Farmer,  C. 
Sanford,  B.  W.  Brunson. 

Glass.—  W.  W.  Hickcox,  S.  H.  Axtell. 

Stoves.—  F.  S.  Newell,  C.  D.  Bevans,  J.  H.  Byers. 

Clothing'. — L.  Hyneman. 

China. — R.  Marvin. 

Tobacco.—}.  Campbell. 

Leather.— P.  T.  Bradley  &  Co.,  Martin  Drew  &  Co..  G.  Scherer. 

Furnishing  Goods. — Thomson  Ritchie. 

Confectionery. — Renz  &  Karcher. 

Jevjelry.—  H.  Fowler,  N.  Spicer,  A.  D.  Robinson,  Win.  Illingworth. 

Storage,  Far-warding  and  Commission. — Edw.  McLagan,  Constant 
&  Burbank,  Spencer,  Kilpatrick  &  Markley.  H.  M.  Rice.  M.  Kellogg  & 
Co. 

Millinery. — Mrs.  Marvin,  Mrs.  Stokes. 

The  papers  about  this  date  refer  to  the  fact  that  most  dealers 
were  confining  themselves  to  one  branch  of  traffic,  instead  of 
combining  different  classes  of  merchandize  in  one  house,  as 
was  done  in  the  early  days  of  the  city. 

BRIEF    MENTION. 

Whoever  reads  the  files  of  Saint  Paul  papers  of  this  sum- 
mer, will  find  numerous  references  to  a  "  MADISON  SWEET- 
ZER," who  had  been  a  sort  of  Indian  trader.  Said  SWEETZER 
had  made  charges  of  ••frod"  in  the  late  payment  of  the  Da- 
kotas,  and  all  the  papers  were  worked  up  into  a  white  heat, 
pro  and  con,  over  it.  A  Congressional  committee  finally  in- 
vestigated the  allegations,  and  reported  that  they  were  un- 
founded. SWEETZER  sank  again  into  obscurity,  and  died  at 
Fort  Wayne.  Indiana,  February  25,  1875. 

A  military  company,  called  the  "City  Guards,"  was  or- 
ganized this  summer,  probablv  the  first  militia  companv 
organized  under  the  laws  of  Minnesota.  "  Capt.  SIMPSON" 
was  commander ;  R.  C.  KNOX,  Orderly  Sergeant. 


344  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1853 

LINDEN  &  UNDERHILL'S  theatrical  corps  opened  a  short 
season  of  drama,  at  the  court-house,  on  July  20. 

Superior,  Wisconsin,  was  laid  out  this  season,  by  some  of 
our  citizens,  among  them  R.  F.  SLAUGHTER,  E.  Y.  SHELLEY, 
R.  R.  NELSON,*  D.  A.  J.  BAKER,  D.  A.  ROBERTSON,  and 
others,  who  were  the  pioneers  of  that  town.  At  that  .time,  a 
trip  to  that  place  had  to  be  made  on  foot.  There  was  not 
even  a  wagon  road. 

The  market  house  was  built  this  season.  The  papers  refer 
to  the  c"  city  hall"  occupying  its  second  story. 

At  this  time  there  were  five  journals  published  in  Minne- 
sota, three  in  Saint  Paul,  and  two  at  Saint  Anthony. 

On  June  29,  Col.  ROBERTSON  retired  from  the  Democrat, 
and  was  succeeded  by  DAVID  OLMSTED. 

In  October,  the  papers  notice  the  removal  of  the  Sioux  to 
the  Upper  Minnesota  Reservations. 

On  December  7,  a  low  desperado,  named  THOMAS  GRIEVES, 
made  an  attack,  in  a  drunken  fit,  on  HENRY  CONSTANS,  in  his 
place  of  business  on  the  levee,  and  CONSTANS  was  compelled 
to  shoot  him  in  self-defense.  GRIEVES  died  of  the  injury. 

ELECTION    OF    1853. 

Politics  were  again  warm  this  year,  but  the  issues  were 
confined  to  a  straight  party  fight,  the  Democrats  and  Admin- 
istration party  against  the  Whigs.  The  election  took  place 
on  October  12.  The  following  is  the  full  result  in  Ramsey 
county  : 

*  R.  R.  NELSON  was  born  in  Cooperstown,  New  York,  May  12,  1826.  He  is  a  son  of 
the  late  Judge  SAMUEL  NELSON,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  an  eminent  jurist,  who  died  in  December,  1873.  R.  R.  NELSON  studied  law  in 
his  father's  office,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  that  State.  He  removed  to  Saint 
Paul  in  May,  1850,  and  soon  became  one  of  the  prominent  lawyers  of  Minnesota.  On 
April  33,  1857,  he  was  appointed,  by  President  BUCHANAN,  one  of  the  Supreme  Judges 
of  Minnesota  Territory.  His  term  expired  on  the  admission  of  the  State,  May  11, 1858, 
but  President  BUCHANAN  soon  after  appointed  him  United  States  District  Judge,  the 
duties  of  which  office  he  has  executed  for  17  years,  with  much  ability,  and  to  the  cordial 
satisfaction  of  all  who  have  had  business  in  his  court.  Judge  NELSON  is  no  less  hon- 
ored for  his  learning,  sound  decisions,  and  urbanity,  yet  firmness,  on  the  bench,  than 
for  the  uprightnessof  his  life,  and  his  social  charaaeristics— qualities  which  eminently 
fit  him  to  fill  his  important  office  with  success. 


1853]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsev,  Minnesota. 


345 


346 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PanL          [1853 


Democrat. 

Whiff. 

Councillors, 

2ddist. 

(Isaac  Van  Etten.  . 

.481 

B.  W.  Brunson  

•376 

t   Wm.  P.Murray.. 

.421 

J.  K.  Humphrey.  .  . 

•237 

Councillors, 

4th  dist 

.  Wm.  Freedom.  .  .  . 

.462 

D.  B.  Loomis  

•338 

Levi  Sloan  

4  (  U 

Dr.  J.  H.  Day  .  .  . 

-^88 

Wm.Noot  

•39° 

M.  S.Wilkinson.. 

JOO 

•383 

Representatives.  •  •   - 

B.   Rogers  

•378 

J.  M.  Marshall.... 

•387 

TT/-               Df7~Jtf 

J.T7 

Find.  McCormick. 

^  - 

Louis  Bartlett.  •  •  • 

•  T-M 

•425 

Alden  Bryant  

"O/.^ 

•383 

Sheriff 

_    Leonard 

co6 

A.  M.  Fridlev-  •  •  • 

-6sO 

Register  of  Deeds-  • 

.Louis  M.  Olivier.  . 

•548 

Wm.  H.  Tinker... 

•523 

Judge  of  Pt 

7         y  7 

J  M   Stone 

667 

Allen  Pierse  . 

j.86 

County  Attorney  •  •  • 

.D.  C.  Cooley  

.600 

D.  A.  Secombe  

•  400 
•537 

County  Trea 

surer.  • 

•  A.  L.  Larpenteur. 

.476 

Nat.  E.  Tyson 

•497 

Surveyor.  •  . 



.y.  D.   Case  

•578 

Jno.  T.  Halsted... 

•570 

y~- 

Carey 

C"2C 

y.  E.  Fullerton 

cSi 

/•  Beni   Gervais*    • 

•5^6 

CAA 

W.  H.  Stillman... 

•  JOI 

-60 

Assessors  

John  O'  Gorman.. 

•564 

Caleb  D.  Dorr... 

•  5^** 

•570 

I  Robert  Cummings  . 

•590 

Jas.  R.  Clewett  

.520 

Those  in  italics  eleAed. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  eletfed. — First  Precindt.  Joseph  Lemay,  D.  : 
Second  Precindt,  N.  Gibbs,  D. 

The  total  vote  for  Delegate  in  Saint  Paul,  was,  H.  M.  RICE. 
883  ;  ALEX.  WILKIN,  292.  The  vote  in  the  Territory  stood — 
RICE,  2,149;  WILKIN,  696. 

BRUTAL    MURDER    OF    TWO    MEN. 

On  December  26th,  two  young  men.  named  JOHN  CLARK 
and  PHILIP  HULL,  were  brutally  murdered,  on  the  corner  of 
Robert  and  Fifth  streets.  They  were  respectable  and  intel- 
ligent mechanics,  and  had  been,  during  the  evening,  sitting 
in  a  saloon  near  by,  where,  in  conversation,  they  unintention- 
ally made  some  severe  criticisms  on  political  or  religious  sub- 
jects, which  must  have  given  great  offense  to  some  persons  in 
their  hearing.  When  they  rose  to  go  home,  they  were  fol- 
lowed by  parties  unknown,  and  both  attacked  in  the  dark  with 
slung-shots,  or  other  weapons,  and  their  skulls  so  severely 
fractured  that  they  died  in  a  few  hours.  The  slightest  clue  to 
the  assassins  was  never  gained,  notwithstanding  the  efforts  of 
the  officers,  and  a  reward  of  $500  offered  by  Sheriff'  FRIDLEY  ; 
and  the  affair  remains  a  mvsterv  to  this  day.  Old  settlers 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  347 

used   to  assert  very  positively,  however,  who  committed  the 
aft.  but  no  proof  could  ever  be  procured. 

BALDWIN'    SCHOOL    DEDICATED. 

i;  Baldwin  School"  was  an  educational  institute,  organized 
by  Rev.  E.  D.  NEILL  and  others,  and  a  commodious  building 
was  creeled  during  the  summer  of  1853  for  its  use.  This 
building  was  dedicated  on  December  29,  by  a  banquet,  at 
which  addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  E.  D.  NEILL.  CHARLES 
J.  HENNIS,  WM.  HOLLINSHEAD,  W.  A.  GORMAN,  JOHN  P. 
OWENS,  T.  M.  NEWSON,  M.  S.  WILKINSON.  Rev.  T.  R. 
CRESSEY,  GEO.  L.  BECKER.  W.  G.  LsDuc,  and  others. 
The  name  Baldwin  School  was  given  to  it,  as  a  compliment  to 
Hon.  MATTHEW  W.  BALDWIN,  of  Philadelphia,  the  principal 
donor  to  the  building  fund.  It  had,  in  January  following.  71 
pupils,  and  was  in  successful  operation  until  the  public  schools 
of  Saint  Paul  got  well  organized  in  1857.  During  that  year 
the  building  was  rented  for  the  Saint  Paul  post-office,  and  used 
as  such  until  1862.  In  1864,  it  was  leased  by  the  Board  of 
Education,  and,  in  1869,  purchased  by  them,  being  still  known 
as  ''Baldwin  School."  After  being  used  as  a  school  for  three 
or  four  vears,  the  completion  of  the  Madison  School  rendered 
its  further  occupancy  unnecessary,  and  it  was  leased  to  the  city 
for  public  offices. 

As  a  historical  note  on  the  growth  of  traveling,  and  the 
vivid  contrast  between  kt  then"  and  "  now,"  the  Minnesotian, 
of  December.  1853,  has  just  heard  of  '"sleeping  cars,  in 
which  one  may  rest  as  comfortably  as  anywhere !"  Then 
there  was  not  a  yard  of  railroad  within  200  miles  of  Minne- 
sota. The  papers  that  very  month  report  the  Chicago  and 
Rock  Island  Railroad  finished  to  within  50  miles  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River,  where  it  1'ested  for  the  winter,  and  was  com- 
pleted the  following  spring.  But  of  this  anon. 

Navigation  closed  this  fall  on  November  22d,  unusuallv  late 
for  those  times.  There  were  235  arrivals  this  year. 


348  T/ie  Iff  story  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan],          [1854 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1854. 

INCORPORATION  OF  THE  CITY— THE  FIRST  CITY  ELECTION— E.  S.  GOODRICH  PUR- 
CHASES THE  "  PIONEER"— THE  GREAT  RAILROAD  EXCURSION— BALL  AND  FES- 
TIVITIES AT  THE  CAPITOL — BURNING  OF  THE  SINTOMINE  HOTEL — EXTRAOR- 
DINARY BUFFALO  HUNT — EXECUTION  OF  YU-HA-ZEE  FOR  MURDER. 

THE  fifth  session  of  the  Minnesota  Legislature  assembled 
in  the  new  Capitol  for  the  first  time.  The  year  1854 
witnessed  entirely  new  coalitions.  Ramsey  county  was  rep- 
resented this  year  by  WM.  P.  MURRAY*  and  ISAAC  VAX  ET- 
TEN,f  in  the  Council ;  and  WM.  NOOT,  WM.  A.  DAVIS,  Louis 
BARTLETT.  JOHN  H.  DAY,  and  LEVI  SLOAN,  in  the  House. 

LEGISLATION    AFFECTING    SAINT    PAUL. 

Not  much  private  legislation  aftedling  Saint  Paul  was  made 

during  this  session.     Among  the  acts  we  notice  the  following  : 

To  incorporate  the  German  Reading  Society.    Approved,  February  23. 


*Hon.  WM.  P.  MURRAY  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  June  ai,  1837.  He  attended 
the  law  school  of  Indiana  University,  and  graduated  in  1849,  having  also  previously 
studied  for  that  profession.  He  came  to  Saint  Paul  in  December,  1849,  and  is  now  one 
of  the  oldest  lawyers  in  Minnesota.  He  has  also  filled  a  number  of  official  positions. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Territorial  House  of  1852  and  1853,  Council  in  1854  and  1855, 
(the  latter  year  President)  of  the  House  of  1857,  a"d  Constitutional  Convention  the  same- 
year,  member  of  the  House  in  1863,  Senate  in  1866  and  1867,  House  in  1808,  and  Senate 
again  in  1875  and  1876 — eleven  sessions  in  all.  He  has  also  been  a  County  Commis- 
sioner, and  member  of  the  City  Council  continuously  since  1859,  except  about  18  months, 
while  he  was  absent  in  South  America.  No  man  in  our  county  has  been  so  honored 
with  positions  of  this  kind  as  Mr.  MURRAY,  and,  it  may  be  said,  no  man  has  been  more 
faithful,  attentive  and  hard-working  as  a  legislator  or  alderman,  than  he,  and  fully 
deserves  his  remarkable  popularity.  In  1857, tne  now  flourishing  county  of  Murray  was 
named  for  him.  ' 

t  ISAAC  VAN  ETTEN  was  a  native  of  Orange  county,  New  York,  and  studied  law  with 
Judge  WILKIN,  father  of  Hon..  W.  WILKIN.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1851,  and 
at  once  came  to  Minnesota.  He  was  Adjutant  General  of  the  Territory  from  1853  to 
1858 — a  member  of  the  Territorial  Council  1853  and  1854,  and  State  Senate  1857-8.  He 
was  a  law  partner  for  some  time  of  Col.  ALEX.  WILKIN,  and  afterwards  of  MICHAEL 
E.  AMES,  and  Capt.  HARVEY  OFFICER,  until  1865,  and  subsequently  of  Judge  L.  EM- 
METT  in  1872.  He  died  December  29.  1873,  aged  45  years. 


1854]       and  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  349 

To  incorporate  a  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  in  Saint  Paul. 
Approved,  March  3. 

To  incorporate  the  Saint  Paul  Bridge  Company.     Approved,  March  4. 

But  the  most  important  law  concerning  our  city  was  the 

ACT    OF    INCORPORATION 

of  the  "  City  of  Saint  Paul,"  approved  March  4,  1854.  The 
territory  embraced  in  the  corporate  limits  was  but  a  small 
fraction  of  that  ample  territory  to  which  it  is  now  grown,  be- 
ing not  over  2,400  acres  in  all.  Three  wards'  were  created, 
and  much  the  same  officers  and  general  regulations  that  our 
present  city  charter  provides  for. 

THE    FIRST    CITY    ELECTION 

under  the  new  charter  was  held  on  April  4.  The  following 
was  the  result : 

Democrat.  Whig, 

For  Mayor David  Olmsted 269     W.  R.  Marshall 238 

City  Marshal W.  R.  Miller 262     A.  H.  Cavender 241 

Treasurer D.  L.  Fuller 224     D.Rohrer 271 

Police  Justice  . .  .James  Starkey 227     O.  Simous 248 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

Aldermen  elected.—  First  Ward,  R.  C.  Knox,  2  years ;  A.  T.  Chamb' 
lin  and  R.  Marvin,  i  year.  Second  Ward,  A.  L.  Larpenteur,  2  years; 
T.  Fanning  and  C.  S.  Cave,  i  year.  Third  Ward,  Geo.  L.  Becker,  2 
years ;  Jno.  R.  Irvine  and  J.  M.  Stone,  i  year. 

Justices  of  Peace  elected.—  First  Ward,  W.  H.  Tinker;  Second  Ward, 
Joseph  Lemay ;  Third  Ward,  J.  M.  Winslow. 

Assessors  eletfed.—  First  Ward,  W.  H.  Tinker;  Second  Ward,  W.  H. 
Stillman  ;  Third  Ward,  H.  Stillwell. 

On  Tuesday,  April  n,  the  City  Council  organized.  They 
elected  officers  as  follows :  President,  GEO.  L.  BECKER  ; 
Clerk,  SHERWOOD  HOUGH  :  Comptroller,  FINDLEY  McCoR- 
MICK  ;  Surveyor,  S.  P.  FOLSOM  ;  Attorney,  D.  C.  GOOLEY. 

THE    SEASON    OF    1854 

was  one  of  unprecedented  prosperity  for  the  young  city,  as 
well  as  for  the  entire  Territory.  Navigation  opened  on  April 
6  this  vear,  and  a  heavy  immigration  poured  in.  The  popu- 


350  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL 

lation  and  business  of  the  city  increased  rapidly,  and  the 
county  outside  also  received  large  accessions  of  population. 
Roads  were  opened ;  farms  smiled  in  the  wilderness :  the 
••  squatter's  cabin"  was  to  be  seen  on  every  lake.  Other  por- 
tions of  Minnesota  were  prospered  as  highly.  Towns  sprang 
up  on  every  hand  ;  mills  clattered  by  the  waterfall ;  the  emi- 
grant wagon  whitened  every  road,  and  hardly  had  the  yell  of 
the  retreating  red  man  died  away,  ere  the  settler's  axe  echoed 
in  its  stead. 

E.    S.    GOODRICH    PURCHASES    THE    i4  PIONEER." 

Journalism  in  Saint  Paul  took  a  high  bound  forward  this 
year.  In  March,  EARLE  S.  GOODRICH*  purchased  of  JOSEPH 
R.  BROWN,  the  Minnesota  Pioneer,  and  became  its  editor 
and  publisher. 

Mr.  GOODRICH  had  been  engaged  in  journalism  in  Wiscon- 
sin, and,  being  in  New  York  city  in  the  latter  part  of  February, 
1854.  fell  in  at  the  same  hotel  with  Capt.  ESTES,  one  of  the 
pioneer  steamboatmen  of  the  Upper  Mississippi.  In  the  course 
of  conversation,  Capt.  ESTES  said  he  had  just  been  up  to  Saint 
Paul,  and  had  seen  Jo.  BROWN,  who  remarked  he  was  anxious 
to  sell  out  the  Pioneer  office,  to  go  into  some  other  business, 
and  was  then  trying  to  find  a  suitable  person  to  purchase,  one 
who  would  edit  an  able  paper,  and  build  up  the  party  in  Min- 
nesota. '•  There,  GOODRICH,"  said  Capt.  E.,  "there  is  a  good 
field  for  you.  The  Pioneer  is  doing  well,  and  Saint  Paul  is 


*EAKLE  S.  GOODRICH  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  New  York,  July  37,  1827.  In 
early  life  he  resolved  to  enter  the  editorial  profession,  and  preliminary  to  that  learned 
the  printing  business,  and  also  studied  law,  being  admitted  to  practice.  He  afterwards 
removed  to  Sheboygan,  Wisconsin,  where,  in  1848,  he  established  a  campaign  paper, 
which  ran  for  some  months.  He  was  also  elected  Clerk  of  the  Court,  but  resigned  and 
removed  to  Green  Bay.  He  was  County  Clerk  of  Brown  county  from  1850  to  1854,  and 
one  year  District  Attorney.  In  March,  1854,  he  settled  in  Saint  Paul,  and  published  the 
Pioneer  with  great  success  for  over  10  years,  winning  the  reputation  of  being  the  most 
graceful,  elegant,  and  caustic  editorial  writer  we  have  ever  had  in  Minnesota.  In  1862, 
while  in  Washington,  he  was  tendered  a  commission  as  Captain  and  Aid  to  General 
MCCLELLAN,  which  he  accepted,  but  was,  by  a  blunder  of  STANTON'S,  sent,  instead,  to 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  where  he  served  some  time,  and  was  then  ordered  to  Saint  Paul. 
A  disagreement  with  Gen.  POPE,  then  in  command  here,  led  him  to  resign  his  commis- 
sion. In  1865,  he  purchased  the  Saint  Paul  Gas  Company,  which  he  controlled  for  two 
years.  He  soon  after  engaged  in  railroad  construction,  in  which  he  .has  been  interested 
most  of  the  time  since. 


1854]       and  of  the  County  of .  Ramsey,  Minnesota,  351 

a  prosperous  place,  bound  to  grow,  as  also  the  Territory. 
You  ought  to  go  up  there  and  buy  the  concern."  Capt.  E. 
urged  the  matter  so  strongly  that  (although  Mr.  GOODRICH 


P:ARLE  s.  GOODRICH. 


had  hardly  spent  a  moment's  thought  on  Saint  Paul  before  that 
interview)  he  was  quite  in  the  notion  of  going.  Hon.  BEN. 
C.  EASTMAN,  a  Member  of  Congress  from  Wisconsin,  hap- 
pened to  arrive  at  the  hotel  the  same  time,  and  he,  too,  urged 


352  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1854 

Mr.  GOODRICH  to  come,  glowingly  describing  the  prospects  of 
success,  and  ottering  to  give  him  letters '  of  introduction  to 
prominent  men.  The  result  was,  that  Mr.  GOODRICH  was  en 
route  for  Saint  Paul  within  24  hours. 

On  arriving  here.  (March  4.)  he  at  once  called  on  JOSEPH 
R.  BROWN,  and  found  a  letter,  written  by  Mr.  EASTMAN  in 
advance,  had  already  reached  Major  BROWN,  and  that  the  lat- 
ter had  his  mind  made  up  to  sell  the  Pioneer  to  Mr.  GOOD- 
RICH. The  bargain  was  quickly  closed,  and  Mr.  G.  left  for 
New  York  next  day,  to  secure  material  for  a  daily  paper,  to 
be  issued  on  May  i . 

The  Democrat  and  the  Minnesotian  at  once  determined  to 
follow  suit,  the  former  appearing  on  May  i.  the  same  day  as 
the  Daily  Pioneer,  and  the  latter  on  May  12.  On  May  15, 
the  Dailv  Times  made  its  appearance,  edited  and  published  by 
THOMAS  M.  NEWSON.  whq  had  for  a  year  or  more  been  en- 
gaged as  a  writer  on  the  Pioneer.  With  him  was  associated 
J.  B.  H.  MITCHELL  and  M.  J.  CLUM.  Mr.  NEWSON  subse- 
quently secured  the  interest  of  both  these  gentlemen,  and  con- 
tinued the  Times,  with  much  success,  until  1861.  when  it  was 
purchased  by  Hon.  W.  R.  MARSHALL,  as  more  fully  men- 
tioned under  that  date. 

THE    GREAT    RAILROAD    EXCURSION. 

Perhaps  the  most  notable  event  of  1854,  was  "the  Great 
Railroad  Excursion."  as  it  was  generally  termed,  to  celebrate 
the  completion  of  the  ••  Chicago  and  Rock  Island  Railroad." 
the  first  road  to  reach  the  Mississippi  River  in  the  Northwest. 
Messrs.  SHEFFIELD  &  FARNHAM,  the  contractors  who  built 
the  road,  to  commemorate  the  opening  of  that  line,  prepared 
a  tnonster  excursion.  Nearly  one  thousand  guests  were  in- 
vited, mostly  from  the  east.  They  rendezvoused  at  Chicago, 
about  June  3d.  and  excursed  westward  over  the  new  road  to 
Rock  Island,  where  five  large  steamers  conveyed  them  to  Saint 
Paul,  arriving  here  on  the  8th.  The  company  proceeded  to 
Saint  Anthony.  Minnehaha.  &c.,  in  such  conveyances  as  they 
could  find,  and  in  the  evening  a  grand  reception  was  given  at 
the  Capitol. 


1854]        and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  353 

The  hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives  was  used  as  a 
supper-room,  while  the  Supreme  Court  chamber  was  appro- 
priated for  a  ball-room.  In  the  Senate  chamber,  a  large 
crowd  assembled  to  listen  to  speeches  from  ex-President  FILL- 
MORE,  GEO.  BANCROFT,  the  historian,  Governor  GORMAN, 
and  a  number  of  others.  The  music,  dancing,  feasting  and 
speaking  continued  until  midnight,  the  hour  set  for  the  depart- 
ure of  the  steamers,  and  the  great  excursion  terminated. 

The  opening  of  this  great  line  of  travel  largely  increased 
the  steamboat  trade  on  the  Upper  Mississippi.  The  packet 
company  put  on  three  new  and  first-class  packets  this  year. 

BRIEF    ITEMS. 

September  6.  CHARLES  L.  EMERSON  succeeded  DAVID 
OLMSTED.  as  publisher  of  the  Democrat. 

On  June  26,  W.  W.  HICKCOX,  a  druggist,  who  was  engaged 
in  business  in  the  well-known  old  brick  drug  store,  so  long 
occupied  by  DAY  &  JENKS.  corner  of  Third  and  Cedar  streets, 
had  an  altercation  with  a  drayman,  named  PELTIER,  in  which 
the  latter  struck  him  with  a  dray-pin,  fracturing  his  skull. 
HICKCOX  died  on  July  3.  PELTIER  was  arrested  and  tried  for 
homicide,  but  ultimately  got  clear  on  the  ground  of  self- 
defense. 

The  Sintomine  Hotel,  a  large  and  fine  frame  structure,  built 
by  N.  W.  KITTSON,  near  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  John  streets, 
was  burned  on  October  3.  just  as  it  was  completed,  and  ready 
to  occupy.  E.  C.  RICH  and  HOWARD  WARD  had  just  leased 
it.  This  was  quite  a  loss  to  the  town,  which  needed  more 
hotel  room. 

The  Wirislow  House  had  recently  been  got  into  running 
order  by  Capt.  I.  C.  GEORGE,  (who  died  in  1872,)  and  the  In- 
ternational Hotel  was  about  being  put  under  contract.  It  was 
commenced  this  fall,  (contract  price,  $75,000.)  but  not  com- 
pleted for  some  two  years. 

THE    COUNTY    ELECTION 

this  fall  occurred  on  October  10.     The  following  is  a  synopsis  : 


354  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1854 

Democrat.  Whig. 

I   Reuben  Haus 463     J.  E.  Fullerton 376 

j    D.  F.  Sraiv ley.. 4.61  Wm.   Hollinshead.  .   343 

Representatives {    C.  S.  Cave 459  Wm.  H.Randall...   349 

Joseph  Lemay. .  .430    J.  M.  Marshall 371 

Wm.  Davis 453  Findley  McCormick  359 

Co.    Commissioner Joseph  Le  Bonn.   80  Abraham  Bennett..  1056 

Judge  of  Probate W.  H.  Stillman .  -285     Richard  Fe-wer 604 

S.  M.  Tracy 173 

County  Treasurer Louis  Robert 564     Allen  Pierse 576 

Coroner Wm.  H.  Jarvis-^-i 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

At  this  period.  Saint  Anthony,  Rum  River  and  Manomin. 
were  the  precincts  outside  of  what  is  the  present  bounds  of 
Ramsey  county. 

BRIEF    MENTION. 

The  Democrat,  of  October  22,  notes  the  rush  of  immigra- 
tion as  follows:  "Six  steamboats  arrived  yesterday  and 
landed  about  600  passengers." 

The  currency  which  was  chiefly  in  circulation  those  days, 
was  mostly  composed  of  "Indiana  wild-cat,"  or  free-bank 
issues.  This  fall  it  depreciated  about  as  badly  as  the  "  Glen- 
coe"  and  "  Owatonna"  did  in  1859,  causing  much  trouble  and 
loss  to  tradesmen.  Several  meetings  of  merchants  were  called 
to  devise  means  to  remedy  the  evil,  which  resulted  in  organ- 
izing a  protective  union  under  the  name,  >;  Board  of  Trade." 
W.  R.  MARSHALL,  was  President,  THOS.  FOSTER,  Vice  Pres- 
ident, SAM.  W.  WALKER,  Secretary,  and  A.  H.  CATHCART,* 
Treasurer.  It  does  not  seem  to  have  done  much  except  take 
measures  to  remedy  the  currency  fraud. 

Navigation  closed  this  fall  on  November  25111,  the  season 
having  been  unusually  long,  and  a  very  prosperous  one  for 

*  ALEX.  H.  CATHCART  is  a  native  of  Toronto,  Canada,  where  he  was  educated 
and  learned  the  dry  goods  business.  He  afterwards  lived  in  Montreal  and  New  York, 
and  emigrated  to  Saint  Paul  in  1851.  Soon  after,  with  his  brother,  JOHN  WILSON  CATH- 
CART, he  established  here  a  dry  goods  store,  now  the  oldest  in  Minnesota.  For  34  years 
continuously,  Mr.  CATHCART  has  carried  on  that  trade  in  our  city,  part  of  the  time  being 
the  largest  wholesale  house  in  the  State.  J.  W.  CATHCART  leased  a  plantation  near 
Vicksburg  during  the  war,  and  was  killed  by  guerillas  on  April  i .,  1864.  He  was  a 
highly  estimable  and  noble  man. 


1854]       an(t  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  355 

steamboatmen.     The   number  of  arrivals  were   256.   a   large- 
increase  over  former  years. 

THE    FIRST    EXECUTION    IN    RAMSEY    COUNTY 

took  place  on  December  29.  Tn-ha-zee*  the  Sioux  Indian, 
mentioned  on 'page  331,  was,  after  much  delays  of  law,  hung 
in  public,  on  a  gallows  erected  on  Saint  Anthony  hill.  The 
execution  was  witnessed  by  a  large  crowd,  who.  according  Ur* 
the  journals  of  the  day,  looked  on  it  more  as  a  joke  than  as  a 
solemn  acl:  of  justice. 

NECROLOGY    OF    THE    YEAR. 

Died.  January  8,  JOHN  G.  COOLEY,  a  merchant  of  the  city  ; 
July  10,  Col.  DANIEL  H.  DUSTIN,  United  States  District  At- 
torney ;  July  27,  C.  D.  FILLMORE,  brother  of  the  ex-President ; 
November  22,  Hon.  LEVI  SLOAN,  merchant  and  member  of 
Legislature  of  1854. 


356  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul*         [1855 


C  H  A  P  T  E  R  X  X  V  . 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1855. 

THE  THIRD  HOUSE,  OR  "SOVEREIGNS" — MAILS — STAGE  AND  EXPRESS  ITEMS — BIRTH 
OF  OUR  FIRE  DEPARTMENT — THE  PIONEER  HOOK  AND  LADDER  COMPANY — 
IMMIGRATION— THE  REAL  ESTATE  MANIA— POLITICAL  MATTERS,  &c.,  ftc. 

r  I  ""HE  Legislature  of  1855  assembled  on  January  3.  Ram- 
-^-  sev  county,  this  year,  was  I'epresented  by  WILLIAM  P. 
MURRAY  and  ISAAC  VAN  ETTEN,  in  the  Council,  and  WM.  A. 
DAVIS,  D.  F.  BRAWLEY,  CHAS.  S.  CAVE,  REUBEN  HAusand 
JOSEPH  LEMAY.  in  the  House.  No  unusual  or  noticeable 
events  characterized  the  session.  Some  local  legislation  aflect- 
ing  Saint  Paul,  amending  its  charter,  &c..  was  passed,  but 
scarcely  worthy  of  notice  here. 

It  was,  during  this  year,  if  we  remember  right,  that  some 
of  the  boys  organized  the  tk  Third  House"  or  Sovereigns,  as 
a  burlesque  on  the  Legislatures  of  that  day.  They  were  con- 
tinued several  vears.  and  produced  great  amusement.  D.  C. 
COOLEY.  was  Governor,  and  his  ••  messages"  were  admirable 
specimens  of  sarcasm. 

This  winter  there  was  only  a  tri-weekly  mail  between  Saint 
Paul  and  Dubuque.  by  M.  O.  WALKER'S  line  of  stages. 
Those  who  remember  the  M.  O.  WALKER  era  of  staging,  have 
no  very  pleasant  reminiscences  concerning  it.  The  stages 
were  anything  but  commodious,  and.  with  spavined  stock  and 
surly  drivers,  intensified  the  horrors  of  a  winter  trip  to  Galena, 
the  nearest  point  where  the  eastern-bound  traveler  could  strike 
a  railroad.  The  trip  was  advertised  for  four  days,  but  fre- 
quently took  six.  Storms  and  drifts  on  the  prairies  often 
snowed  up  the  stages  at  some  frontiersman's  cabin  for  two  or 
three  days,  and  not  unseldom  was  real  surlering  and  privation 
the  consequence. 


1855]       «*<?•  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  357 

BIRTH    OF    OUR    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

On  March  i,  1855,  our  Fire  Department  was  organized,  by 
the  formation  of  the  Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  with 
28  members.  A  subscription  was  raised  to  purchase  a  hook 
and  ladder  wagon.  One  which  had  been  used  by  a  company 
in  Philadelphia  was  purchased,  and  brought  out.  It  was  used 
by  the  hook  and  ladder  company  up  to  within  a  year  or  two, 
and  did  good  service.  A  small  fire  engine  was  also  purchased 
by  several  citizens,  and  was  for  several  years  the  only  engine 
in  use. 

THE    CITY    ELECTION 

took  place  on  April  3d,  resulting  as  follows  : 

Mayor Alexander  Ramsey 552  James  Starkev 256 

Treasurer  . .  .Daniel Rohrer 494  Louis  Demeules 312 

Marshal W.  R .  Miller 564  John  Trower 237 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

Aldermen  elefled.—  First  Ward,  Wm.  H.  Nobles,  C.  H.  Schurmeier; 
Second  Ward,  C.  S.  Cave,  A.  L.  Larpenteur;  Third  Ward,  J.  R.  Ir- 
vine, A.  G.  Fuller. 

The  total  number  of  votes  cast  at  the  election  was  809,  from 
which  the  newspapers  claimed  5,000  population  for  Saint  Paul, 
but.  in  point  of  fa6t,  it  was  much  less  than  that. 

IMMIGRATION.    IMPROVEMENTS,    ETC. 

Navigation  opened  on  April  17,  the  old  favorite  '•  War 
Eagle"  leading  the  van.  with  814  passengers.  The  papers 
chronicle  the  immigration  that  spring  as  unprecedented.  Sev- 
en boats  arrived  in  one  day,  each  having  brought  to  Minnesota 
200  to  600  passengers.  Most  of  these  came  through  to  Saint 
Paul,  and  diverged  hence  to  other  parts  of  the  Territorv.  It 
was  estimated  by  the  packet  company  that  they  brought  30,000 
immigrants  into  Minnesota  that  season.  Certainly,  185:5,  1856 
and  1857  were  tne  three  great  years  of  immigration  in  our 
Territorial  days.  Nothing  like  it  has  been  seen  since. 

With  such  a  human  flood  pouring  into  and  through  it,  Saint 
Paul  was  a  busy  place.  The  hotels  and  boarding  houses  were 
crowded,  the  stage  lines  worked  night  and  day.  people  even 


3^8  The  History  of  the  Citv  of  Saint  Paul. 

camping  on  the  streets,  stores  doing  a  perfect  rush  of  business. 
liverv  stables  coining  money,  saloons  reaping  brisk  profits, 
real  estate  dealers  fairly  ecstatic,  and  mechanics  not  half  able 
to  keep  up  with  the  work  pressing  upon  them.  Perhaps  not 
a  city  on  the  continent,  the  size  of  Saint  Paul,  was  such  a 
bustling  bee-hiye  as  it  was  that  season.  The  fever  of  real 
estate  speculation,  which  before  was  but  feebly  developed,  this 
season  seemed  to  attack  all  classes,  and  began  to  grow  into 
the  mania  which  a  few  months  later  almost  rendered  Saint 
Paul  a  by- word. 

THE  REAL  ESTATE  MANIA. 

In  some  sense  the  real  estate  mania  this  year  was  excusable 
and  natural,  in  view  of  the  enormous  and  rapid  profits  made 
by  shrewd  and  daring  operators.  For  instance,  the  papers 
chronicle  one  movement  made  by  HENRY  McKENTY,  the  king 
of  real  estate  dealers,  and  who  was  on  the  flood-tide  of  prosper- 
ity during  1855,  1856  and  1857.  ^n  l&54">  he  entered  several 
thousand  acres  of  prairie  farming  land  in  Washington  county, 
by  land  warrants,  at  $i  .25  per  acre.  In  the  spring  of  1855,  he 
sold  the  same  land  to  a  colony  from  Pennsylvania,  at  $^  per 
acre,  clearing  300  per  cent.  His  total  net  profits  on  this  trans- 
action was  $23,000,  which  he  at  once  invested  in  more  land, 
on  which  he  in  turn  made  almost  as  great  profits. 

Right  here  the  author  will  be  pardoned  for  giving  an  inci- 
dent of  those  days  which  well  illustrates  the  profits  of  real 
estate  dealers.  PENNOCK  PUSEV,  Esq..  our  plain  and  sober- 
going  friend,  came  to  Saint  Paul  from  Philadelphia  in  18^5. 
and  got  acquainted  with  McKENTY,  who  startled  him  one  dav 
by  ottering  him  three  and  one-half  per  cent,  a  month,  or  42  per 
per  cent,  annum,  for  the  use  of  some  money  Mr.  PUSEY  had. 
This  seemed  such  an  enormous  premium  to  the  latter  gentle- 
man, who  had  come  from  a  region  where  six  and  seven  per  cent, 
is  the  established  rate,  that  he  declined  the  otter  on  the  ground 
that  McKENTY  could  not  aftbrd  to  pay  it,  and  that  it  would  be 
wrong  to  accept  such  an  usurious  rate.  McKENTY  soon 
demonstrated,  however,  that  he  would  make  large  profits  if 
he  could  get  the  money,  and  hence  could  pay  the  rate  men- 


1855]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  359 

tioned  without  trouble.  The  loan  was  made.  McKENTY 
entered  some  large  tradls  of  land  in  Cottage  Grove,  at  $1.25 
an  acre,  and  within  a  year  Mr.  PUSEY  himself  bought  a  part 
of  the  lands,  and  gave  McKENTY  $2.50  an  acre  for  it !  Thus, 
while  Mr.  PUSEY  made  4*  per  cent,  on  his  money,  MCKENTY 
cleared  58  per  cent,  over  and  above  that  amount  off  of  the 
lender !  Mr.  PUSEY  afterwards  sold  the  land  to  O.  DALRYM- 
PLE  at  $15  per  acre,  as  pai't  of  his  famous  wheat  farms. 


The  census  of  1855  was  announced  in  the  papers,  as  fol- 
lows :  Population  of  the  Territory,  53,600  ;  of  Ramsey  coun- 
ty, 9,475  ;  of  Saint  Paul,  4,716. 

Building  was  very  brisk  this  year.  The  mechanics  could 
not  turn  out  the  buildings  fast  enough  for  people  to  get  shelter 
in.  Street  improvements,  to  a  considerable  extent,  were 
made,  also.  Third.  Fourth.  Jackson,  and  other  prominent 
streets  were  graded. 

This  season  the  post-office  was  moved  to  the  old  brick  build- 
ing, near  the  bridge,  which,  after  passing  through  many 
changes,  is  now  a  saloon. 

The  election  this  year  was  somewhat  triangular.  There 
were  three  candidates  for  Delegate  in  the  field — H.  M.  RICE. 
WM.  R.  MARSHALL,  and  DAVID  OLMSTED — and  three  county 
tickets  to  match.  The  election,  (October  9,)  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  the  following  officers  :  Councillor,  JOHN  B.  BRIS- 
BIN;  Representatives,  WM.  H.  NOBLES,  F.  KNAUFT,  R. 
HAUS.  Ross  WILKINSON  and  B.  W.  LOTT  ;  Sheriff,  A.  W. 
TULLIS  ;  Register,  Louis  M.  OLIVIER  ;  Treasurer,  CHARLES 
F.  STIMSON,  (Saint  Anthony  ;)  Attorney,  I.  V.  D.  HEARD  : 
Surveyor,  JAMES  A.  CASE;  Probate  Judge,  A.  C.  JONES. 

LOCAL  TOPICS. 

On  October  4,  the  Daily  Free  Press,  an  evening  paper, 
made  its  appearance  as  the  organ  of  the  Gorman  Democracy, 
or  "Nebraska  wing"  of  that  party.  It  was  edited  by  Hon. 
A.  C.  SMITH,  now  of  Litchfield,  and  published  by  SAMUEL 
J.  ALBRIGHT  &  Co.  Saint  Paul  now  boasted  of  five  daily 


360  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1855 

papers — three  morning  and  two  evening.  Not  long,  however, 
was  such  an  abundance  of  journals  to  shed  intelligence  on 
this  saintly  city.  On  October  31,  the  Democrat  was  discon- 
tinued and  merged  with  the  Daily  Pioneer*  under  the  name 
of  Pioneer  and  Democrat,  which  «t  bore  for  six  years,  and 
the  following  spring  the  Free  Press  was  discontinued. 

A  man  named  E.  HOWITZ,  a  book-dealer,  committed  a 
forgery  on  MARSHALL  &  Co.,  this  fall,  and  escaped  with  sev- 
eral hundred  dollars  of  ill-gotten  booty. 

On  the  night  of  November  9,  the  grocery  store  of  H.  C. 
SANFORD.  corner  of  Third  and  Wabasha  streets,  on  the  site 
of  the  present  Warner  Block,  was  burned  down.  SAXFORD 
had  a  quantity  of  powder  in  store.  When  it  went  oft',  it  shook 
things  up  lively  in  the  vicinity.  Dr.  J.  H.  STEWART*  was 
lying  sick  of  typhoid  fever  in  the  building  that  stood  where 
McQuillan's  Block  now  does.  The  shock  threw  him  out  of 
bed  on  the  floor,  and  cured  his  fever  !  He  never  recommended 
the  remedy  in  his  subsequent  practice,  however. 

In  the  fall  of  1855.  Rev.  E.  D.  NEILL  organized  a  Presbyte- 
rian society  known  as  the  "House  of  Hope,"  now  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  churches  in  the  city.  It  used  to  worship 
that  fall  in  the  Walnut  street  school  house. 

On  November  19.  navigation  closed.  The  total  number  of 
arrivals  this  year  were  553. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  amount  of  travel  and  business  on  the 
river  during  the  season  of  1855,  it  was  stated  that  the  packet 
company  declared  dividends  (net  profits)  of  $100.000  on  that 
season's  business.  The  •' War  Eagle."  which  cost  $20,000, 
cleared  $44.000  alone  :  and  the  "  City  Belle."  costing  $r  i  .000. 
cleared  $30.000  profits. 


*  Dr.  J.  H.  STEWAKT  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  New  York,  January  15,  1829. 
He  graduated  at  the  University  of  New  York,  in  1851,  and  prafticed  medicine  at  Peeks, 
kill,  on  the  Hudson  River,  from  1851  to  1855.  In  May,  of  the  latter  year,  he  came  to 
Saint  Paul  and  established  himself  here — soon  becoming  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
successful  practitioners  in  the  city.  In  1859,  he  was  elected  State  Senator,  and  served 
on  important  railroad  committees.  He  was  commissioned  Surgeon  of  the  First  Min- 
nesota Regiment  in  1861,  and  was  captured  at  Bull  Run,  July  ai,  being  held  as  prisoner 
at  Richmond  some  time,  but  finally  exchanged.  In  1864,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Saint 
Paul,  and  the  following  year  appointed  Postmaster,  which  position  he  held  five  years. 
In  1869,  he  was  again  eledted  Mayor,  and  re-eledted  in  1871, and  again  in  1873.  But  few 
gentlemen  in  our  city  have  been  so  popular  as  Dr.  STEWART,  :\  fart  owing  to  his  fine 
abilities  professionally,  and  his  bonhomie  socially. 


1855]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  361 

NECROLOGY    OF    THE    YEAR. 

Died  in  January,  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  (his  former 
home.)   JOSEPH    WAKEFIELD,   a  talented    lawyer.      May  9, 


DR.  J.  H.  STEWART. 

HENRY  P.  PRATT,  one  of  the  publishers  of  the  Minnesotian. 
July  4,  by  drowning,  LUKE  MARVIN,  Jr.,  a  promising  young 
business  man.  November  22,  Rev.  JOSHUA  BRADLEY,  pastor 
of  the  "First  Baptist  church.  December  3,  by  an  accident, 
CHARLES  Ross. 
24 


362  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/.         [1856 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1856. 

CHANGE  IN  THE  COUNTY  LINES — CREATION  OF  OUR  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION — WIN- 
TER TRAVELING  AND  BUSINESS— THE  PIONEER  GUARD— A  POLICE  FORCE 
CREATED  —  CORNER-STONE  LAYING  —  THE  CITY  HALL  BUILT — BARON  VON 
GLAHN — THE  REAL  ESTATE  MANIA — CRIME  AND  DISORDER — A  VIGILANCE 
COMMITTEE — THE  FULLER  HOUSE  BUILT,  *c. 

On  March  11.  CHARLES  S.  CAVE  was  appointed  postmas- 
ter, vice  Major  FORBES.  '  Mr.  CAVE  held  the  office  four  years, 
but  left  it  poorer  than  he  entered  it.  He  now  resides  in 
Missouri. 

The  Legislature  adjourned  on  March  i.  No  bills  were 
passed  materially  affecting  Saint  Paul,  unless  we  except  the 
act:  detaching  Saint  Anthony  from  Ramsey  county,  and  adding 
it  to  Hennepin  county,  with  which  its  interests  were  more 
nearly  allied,  though  many  now  believe  that  in  a  few  years 
we  will  all  be  in  the  same  corporation  again. 

This  change  left  two  officers  of  Ramsey  county  residing  be- 
yond the  new  limits,  viz.  :  CHAS.  F.  STIMSOX,  Treasurer,  and 
J.  P.  WILSON.  Commissioner.  The  Board  of  Commissioners, 
on  March  23.  elected  ROBERT  A.  SMITH,  as  County  Treas- 
urer, and.  at  a  special  election.  EDMUND  RICE  was  chosen  as 
County  Commissioner. 

A  i;  Board  of  Education"  was  also  created,  for  the  city  of 
Saint  Paul,  to  consist  of  six  members,  two  from  each  ward. 

The  "  Pioneer  Guard,"  the  finest  volunteer  military  com- 
pany which  ever  flourished  in  our  State,  was  organized  this 
spring.  It  existed  until  1861.  when  most  of  its  members  went 
to  the  war.  and  it  ceased  to  maintain  an  organization. 

BRIEF    NOTES. 

On  May  23.  McClung  and  Stewart's  Blocks,  a  row  of  frame 


1856]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  36^ 

buildings  where  the  present  stone  blocks  of  the  same  owners 
stand,  were  burned. 

On  May  30,  the  City  Council  authorized  the  appointment  of 
four  policemen.  Hitherto,  the  City  Marshal,  "  BILL  MILLER." 
had  been  the  only  officer  in  the  city,  with  powers  equivalent  to 
a  policeman.  The  first  appointees  were  JOHN  GABEL,  NICH- 
OLAS MILLER,  M.  C.  HARDWIG  and  EDWARD  MAKER. 

On  June  24,  the  corner-stones  of  the  proposed  hall  for  the 
Historical  Society,  and  of  a  projected  Masonic  Hall,  were 
laid  with  great  ceremony.  A  large  procession  of  civic  socie- 
ties, military,  &c.,  paraded  through  the  city.  Mayor  BECKER 
delivered  the  oration  over  the  corner-stone  of  the  former  insti- 
tution, and  "  Rev."  JOHN  PENMAN,  Grand  Chaplain  of  the 
Masons,  did  the  trowel  work.  Neither  of  these  buildings, 
commenced  with  such  prodigious  flourish,  were  ever  built,  or 
progressed  beyond  a  partial  foundation. 

About  the  same  date,  the  corner-stone  of  the  cathedral, 
corner  of  Saint  Peter  and  Sixth  streets,  was  laid,  with  impos- 
ing ceremonies,  by  Bishop  TIMON,  of  Buffalo.  The  excava- 
tion for  this  large  edifice  had  been  commenced  in  the  fall  of 
1854,  but  the  work  progressed  slowly,  for  want  of  funds.  It 
was  completed  for  use  in  1857.  During  this  spring,  the  corner- 
stone of  (old)  "Assumption  church,"  on  Exchange  street, 
was  laid,  and  the  church  itself  completed  and  occupied  the 
same  season.  Rev.  DEMETRIUS  MAROGNA,  since  deceased, 
was  first  priest,  followed  bv  Rev.  CLEMENT  STAUB.  In  1872—^, 
the  new  •"Assumption  church."  on  Eighth  street,  was  erect- 
ed— the  largest  and  most  expensive  church  in  our  citv. 

Among  other  structures  'built  in  1856,  was  the  Jackson 
Sti-eet  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

This  season  the  City  Hall  was  erected.  The  monev  for  its 
erection  was  borrowed  from  ki  BARON  VON  GLAHN."  a  capi- 
talist who  used  to  flourish  around  here  in  those  days,  and  after- 
wards moved  to  Chicago. 

The  real  estate  mania  this  year  assumed  alarming  propor- 
tions. Speculation  was  red  hot,  and  the  inflation  continued 
for  some  months,  when  the  panic  of  18^7  caused  the  memor- 
able collapse  in  values. 


364  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1856 

THE  CITY  EJECTION 

this  spring  resulted  as  follows  : 

Democratic.  Republican. 

Mayor Geo.  L.  Becker 723     A.  G.  Fuller 524 

Treasurer..  .  .Lewis  Demeules 505     Dan.  Rohrer 620 

Justice Joseph  Lemay 480     O.  Simons 717 

Marshal Wm.  R.  Miller,  (no  opposition,)  1224. 

Those  in  italics  elected. 
Aldermen    elected. — First    Ward — Three    years,    Wm.    Branch ;     two 

years,  C.  H.  Schurmeier. 
Second  Ward — Three  years,  Wm.  B.  McGrorty ;  two  years,  Charles 

Rauch. 
Third  Ward — Three  years,  Chas.  L.   Emerson ;  two  years,  Patrick 

Ryan. 

The  Citv  Council  shortly  afterwards  met  and  organized  by 
electing  the  following : 

City  Clerk,  L.  P.  Cotter ;  City  Attorney,  J.  B.  Brisbin  ;  Comptroller. 
Geo.  W.  Armstrong;  Surveyor,  James  A.  Case;  Physician.  Dr.  Sam- 
uel Willey. 

A  REIGN  OF  CRIME  AND  DISORDER. 

The  rush  of  immigration,  and  the  fast  habits  induced  by 
the  speculative  era,  brought  to  our  city  numbers  of  thieves, 
gamblers  and  other  abandoned  characters.  For  several  weeks 
during  the  summer,  crime  was  rampant.  On  July  9,  the  dead 
body  of  GEO.  R.  McKENZiE.  proprietor  of  the  Mansion  House, 
was  found  in  the  river,  having  been  robbed  of  money  known 
to  be  in  his  possession  previously,  and  a  young  man  named 
ROBERT  JOHNSON,  was  assaulted,  robbed,  and  thrown  over  the 
bluff,  one  night,  by  highwaymen,  dying  of  his  injuries.  Some- 
times eight  or  ten  boats  would  be  in  port  at  once,  each  with 
large  crews  of  low  ruffians,  who  would  roam  about  the  citv 
maddened  with  liquor,  and  committing  excesses,  and  the 
small  police  force,  (four  men,)  were  able  to  do  but  little.  A 
public  meeting  was  held,  at  which  a  secret  police,  or  sort  of 
vigilance  committee,  was  appointed  to  aid  the  authorities. 
Our  streets  were  carefully  patroled  at  night  for  some  time,  a 
number  of  suspicious  characters  arrested  and  sent  out  of  town, 
others  tried  for  offenses  committed,  and  punished,  and  security 


1856]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  365 

and  order  established  in  a  short  time.  Meantime,  the  police 
force  was  increased  to  twelve  men.  HENRY  GALVIN,  our 
veteran  patrolman,  was  one  of  those  appointed. 

On  September  25,  the  -  Fuller  House,"  just  completed  and 
furnished,  was  opened  with  a  grand  ball.  The  cost  of  the 
building  was  $i  10.000.  ALPHEUS  G.  FULLER  was  the  builder 


FULLER  HOUSE— (AFTERWARDS  INTERNATIONAL.) 

and  owner.  A  bonus  of  $12,000  was  raised  for  him  at  the 
outset.  J.  W.  BASS  and  WM.  H.  RANDALL  contributed  the 
land  as  a  bonus.  STEPHEN  and  ED.  LONG  were  the  lessees. 
The  hotel  commenced  doing  a  splendid  business  at  once.  The 
next  week  it  was  stated  that,  between  Saturday  evening  and 
Monday  morning,  there  were  100  arrivals.  That  fall  all  the 
hotels  did  a  large  business.  The  same  paper  states  the  arri- 
vals at  the  four  principal  houses,  (Fuller,  Merchants,  Ameri- 
can and  Winslow.)  in  one  week,  amounted  to  over  i.ooo,  and 
it  was  stated  at  the  close  of  the  season  that  the  number  of  vis- 
itors registered  at  all  the  hotels  was  28.000. 


366  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1856 

THE    ELECTION 

this  fall.  (October  14,)  was  with  the  following  result: 

Republican..  Democrat. 

i   j  n  •       -j  '    William  Branch .  .246     A.  T.    Chamblin-.-.    324 
House.  1st  District 

l  B.  W.   Branson.  ..187     Isaac   Rose 215 

\  y.  C.  Ramsey 607      Wtn.  P.  Murray 696 

House,  2d  District.  !•  C.  Bergfeld 408      Win.  Costello 664 

)  Dr.   C.  Goring 198    J.  G.  McBean 436 

)  P.  P.  Furber 493     W.  B.  McGrortv 659 

K.  A.  SmM,  (Ind.,)  671 

Co.  Commissioner  •  •  •  Parker  Pai ne 560     E.  Rice 1 232 

Coroner W.  H.  Shelly 502     Dr.  J.  D.  Goodrich.  1174 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

Ramsey  county  extended  northward  at  that  time  as  far  as 
Crow  Wing,  and  R.  A.  SMITH  was  elected  by  the  votes  at 
that  place,  the  vote  here  being  almost  a  tie. 

The  season  of  1856  was  very  prosperous  in  many  ways. 
The  city  grew  wonderfullv.  almost  doubled,  indeed.  Manv 
fine  buildings,  especially  residences,  were  erected,  streets 
graded,  churches  built,  and  other  improvements  made,  that 
changed  the  appearance  of  Saint  Paul  from  a  rough  frontier 
town  to  a  bustling  and  thriving  city. 

BRIEF     ITEMS. 

On  October  15.  the  papers  announce  the  arrival  of  Rev. 
JOHN  MATTOCKS,*  from  Keeseville,  New  York,  to  become 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church. 

*Rev.jNO.  MATTOCKS  was  born  in  Peacham,  Vermont, July  14,  1814.  He  was  the  son  nf 
Hon.jNO.  MATTOCKS,  of  that  State,  once  Governor,  and  Member  of  Congress  two  terms. 
He  graduated  at  Middlebury  College  in  1833,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but, 
embracing  religion  soon  after,  resolved  to  become  a  clergyman,  and  graduated  in  the 
theological  department  of  Yale  College.  He  settled  in  1838,  over  a  congregation  at 
Keeseville,  New  York,  where  he  remained  eighteen  years,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Saint  Paul.  He  came  here  in  August,  1856,  and  at  his 
death  was  the  senior  pastor  in  our  city.  In  March,  1860,  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the 
School  Board,  and  Superintendent  of  Schools— a  post  he  filled  until  July,  1873.  He  was 
also  a  leading  member  of  the  Historical  Society,  &c.  Mr.  MATTOCKS  was  a  scholar  of 
tine  ability.  He  was  quite  an  antiquarian  by  taste,  and  very  fond  of  the  natural  sciences. 
His  information  on  these  points  was  full  and  accurate,  and  he  frequently  lectured  on 
geology,  &c.,  with  much  success.  He  died  suddenly  on  November  13,  1875,  to  the  great 
sorrow  of  the  community,  and  of  his  congregation,  for  whom  he  had  labored  so  long 
and  faithfully. 


1856]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota,  367 

On  November  16,  the  building  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
Saint  Anthony  and  Washington  streets,  known  as  the  "•  Rice 
House."  (on  the  site  of  the  Third  street  front  of  the  present 
Metropolitan  Hotel,)  was  burned.  It  was  a  three-story  brick, 
and  in  the  upper  story,  the  Legislature  of  1851  held  its  session. 
SANBORN  &  FRENCH,  attorneys,  had  rooms  above;  KING  & 


REV.  JOHN  MATTOCKS. 

RICH,   upholsterers,  and   D.  L.  FULLER  &   COMPANY,   mer- 
chants, occupied  the  lower  story  at  the  time  of  the  fire. 

The  papers  speak  of  the  large  increase  of  business  this 
year.  The  number  of  business  firms,  they  report,  doubled 
this  season.  Several  new  banking  houses  were  established — 
that  of  WM.  L.  BANNING*  is  specially  referred  to. 

*  WILLIAM  L.  BANNING  is  a  native  of  Wilmington,  Delaware.  In  early  life  he 
adopted  the  profession  of  law.  and  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  associated  in 
that  profession  with  the  late  WILLIAM  HOLLINSHEAD.  During  his  residence  in  Phil- 


368  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1856 

Work  was  commenced  on  the  Saint  Paul  bridge  this  winter. 
Piles  for  the  piers  were  driven  into  the  river  bed.  SANFORD 
A.  HOOPER  and  J.  &.  J.  NAPIER  were  the  original  contractors. 

NECROLOGY    OF    THE    YEAR. 

Died,  on  Januarv  27.  J.  S.  BROWN,  a  prominent  banker. 
February  14,'CnAS.  J.  HENNISS,  a  journalist.  December  i.  at 
Scotland,  Connecticut,  (his  former  home,)  DAVID  L.  FUL- 
LER, an  earlv  merchant  of  Saint  Paul. 


dclphia,  (1845,)  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature.  In  1855, 
e  removed  to  Saint  Paul,  and  soon  after  engaged  in  the  banking  business,  which  he  con- 
inued  with  success  until  1861,  when  he  retired  from  it.  In  the  fall  of  1860,  he  was 
le<5ted  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  finan- 
ial  and  railroad  questions.  In  1861,  Mr.  BANNING  was  appointed  a  Commissary  in  the 
rfrmy,  and  served  under  General  FREMONT,  in  Missouri,  for  about  two  years.  In  1864, 
he  engaged  in  the  enterprise  of  building  the  Superior  Railroad,  and  to  his  energy  and 
ability,  and  influence  in  enlisting  capital,  the  people  of  Saint  Paul  are  indebted  for  that 
valuable  highway.  He  was  President  of  the  road  for  seven  years,  and  retired  from  it 
owing  to  his  impaired  health.  Captain  BANNING  is  a  valuable  member  of  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  where  his  views  on  political  economy  and  public  matters  have  always 
had  great  influence. 


[857]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          369 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 
EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1857. 

AN  ATROCIOUS  MURDER— DEATH  OF  BISHOP  CRETIN— ATTEMPTED  REMOVAL  OF 
THE  CAPITAL— Jo.  ROLETTE  MAKES  OFF  WITH  THE  BILL— THE  INK-PA-DOO-TAH 
MASSACRE— ANOTHER  MURDER— INCENDIARISM— SUNRISE  EXPEDITION,  AC. 

r  T"HE   year    1857  was   marked   by  a   number  of  important 
-*-     events,  and  was  one  of  the  most  exciting  and  memora- 
ble of  any  in  our  career. 

"  We  learn  that  a  new  parish  has  been  organized  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  city,  by  the  Episcopalians.  A  handsome  stone  edifice  will  be 
erected  during  the  coming  season,  on  the  corner  of  Ninth  and  Olive 
streets.  Rev.  ANDREW  BELL  PATERSON,  of  Salem,  New  Jersey,  has 
been  called  to  the  rectorship. — [Minnesotian,  January  i.] 

Services  were  held  for  several  months  in  the  Washington 
school  house. 

On  the  morning  of  January  14.  a  German  tailor,  named 
HENRY  WM.  SCHROEDER,  formerly  of  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
who  lived  alone  in  a  little  shop  on  Third  street,  on  the  present 
site  of  "•  Maxfield's  Block,"  was  found  dead  in  his  shop,  hav- 
ing been  murdered  by  a  blow  on  the  head  with  an  axe  or 
hatchet.  He  was  a  single  man,  and  was  known  to  have  had 
considerable  money,  which  he  was  accustomed  to  keep  about 
his  person,  or  in  his  shop.  No  clue  to  the  perpetrator  of  the 
atrocious  act  was  ever  discovered. 

On  February  22,  Right  Reverend  Bishop  CRETIN  died,  to 
the  great  sorrow  of  his  large  congregation  in  this  region. 
His  body  lay  in  state  at  the  old  brick  church  on  Wabasha 
street  until  the  24th,  when  the  funeral  took  place.  Fully 
1,500  people  were  in  the  procession.  A  memoir  of  him  is 
given  on  page  311. 

The  first  City  Directory  of  Saint  Paul  was  issued  in  Febru- 
ary, by  GOODRICH,  SOMERS  &  Co.  It  contained  about  1,700 


370  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1857 

names  of  citizens.  Not  one  in  five  of  these  are  now  living  in 
the  city,  nor  of  the  158  business  houses  advertised  in  it,  arc 
there  over  half  a  dozen  in  existence  now.  and  these  \\ith  more 
or  less  change  of  firm. 

REMOVAL    OF    THK    CAPITAL. 

During  this  session  occurred  a  somewhat  exciting  event, 
frequentlv  referred  to — the  passage  bv  the  Legislature  of  an 
acl  removing  the  Capital  to  Saint  Peter.  The  bill  was  intro- 
duced on  February  6.  by  W.  D.  LOWRY,  Councillor  from 
Saint  Cloud,  and  on  the  12th  passed  the  Council — ayes  eight. 
nays  seven.  Among  those  who  prominently  opposed  it  were 
Hons.  J.  D.  LUDDEN,  H.  N.  SETZER,  J.  B.  BRISBIN.  and  B. 
F.  TILLOTSON.  In  the  House  it  was  opposed  by  J.  R.  BROWN. 
L.  K.  STANNARD,  Dr.  W.  W.  SWENEY.  of  Red  Wing.  ELAM 
GREELEY.  JOHN  M.  BERRY,  and  "  our  own"  W.  P.  MURRAY. 
The  measure  was  also  generally  opposed  by  the  press  of  the 
Territory.  It,  however,  passed  on  the  i8th,  and  the  bill  was 
.sent  back  to  the  Senate  to  be  enrolled. 

About  this  time  the  odor  of  the  mouse  had  so  permeated  the 
atmosphere,  that  one  of  the  most  obtuse  olfactories  could  have 
perceived  it.  There  were  a  few  individuals  hereabouts  who 
came  to  the  conclusion  that,  after  some  things  had  occurred 
which  looked  a  little  kt  heathen  Chinee,"  almost  any  maneuver 
to  defeat  the  bill  would  be  legitimate.  The  member  from 
Pembina."  Jo."  ROLETTE.  as  he  was  generally  called,  dearly 
loved  a  joke,  no  matter  at  whose  expense.  He  was  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Enrolled  Bills  !  A  wink  was  as  good  to 
him  as  a  nod.  On  the  27th,  the  original  bill  and  enrolled 
copy  was  placed  in  Mr.  ROLETTE'S  hand  to  compare. 

Next  day.  February  28.  Mr.  ROLETTE  was  not  in  his  seat ! 
The  other  side  now  saw  the  mouse  "floating  in  the  air."  and 
concluded,  as  the  Irish  orator  said,  "to  nip  him  in  the  bud." 
ST.  A.  D.  BALCOMBE.  of  Winona.  now  editor  of  a  journal  at 
Omaha,  moved  resolutions  calling  on  ROLETTE  to  report 
forthwith  ;  and  if  he  failed  to  do  so,  that  the  next  member  of 
the  committee,  (Mr.  WALES,)  be  ordered  to  procure  another 
enrolled  copy,  and  report  the  same,  &c. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  371 

Mr.  BALCOMBE  at  once  moved  the  previous  question  on  the 
resolutions,  but  Mr.  SETZER  moved  a  call  of  the  Council, 
which  was  ordered,  and  Mr.  ROLETTE  reported  absent.  BAL- 
COMBE  moved  tbat  further  proceedings  under  the  call  be  dis- 
pensed with,  on  which  there  were  veas  nine,  nays  five.  Two- 
thirds  not  voting  for  the  motion,  the  Chair.  (Hon.  J.  B.  BRIS- 
BIN.)  declared  it  lost,  notwithstanding  BALCOMBE  eloquently 
protested  that  nine  was  two-thirds  of  fourteen  !  The  Ser- 
geant-at-Arms,  JOHN  M.  LAMB,  of  White  Bear  Lake,  was 
ordered  to  report  Mr.  ROLETTE  in  his  seat,  and  started  out  to 
••find"  him.  He  didn't  find  him  that  day.  The  Council, 
unable  to  adjourn,  patiently  (  ?)  waited  his  return.  The  din- 
ner hour  passed,  and  messengers  were  dispatched  to  the  hotels 
for  a  supply  of  food.  Bed-time  arrived,  still  the  Sergeant-at- 
Arms  came  not  with  the  missing  member.  Beds  and  bedding 
were  sent  for.  and  the  members  camped  on  the  floor  of  the 
Senate.  Next  day.  no  tidings  of  either  ROLETTE  or  the  Ser- 
geant-at- Arms.  It  was  rumored  that  ROLETTE  had  been  seen 
near  Sank  Rapids,  in  his  sledge  drawn  by  dogs,  flying  swiftly 
homeward,  with  the  enrolled  bill  sticking  out  of  his  pocket. 

Others  said,  bosh,  and  declared  ROLETTE  was  hid  in  an 
upper  room  of  the  Fuller  House,  playing  poker  and  drinking 
punch.  Anon  it  was  reported  that  JOHN  LAMB  was  "  look- 
ing" for  ROLETTE  in  every  possible  and  impossible  place  in 
the  city,  armed  with  a  rope,  and  threatening  to  bear  ROLETTE 
to  the  Council,  dead  or  alive.  It  was  asserted  by  others,  how- 
ever, that  this  was  pure  •'  blow" — that  LAMB  was  not  looking- 
for  him  to  any  great  extent — that  he  had  one  eve  closed,  (and 
some  say  both,)  and  couldn't  have  ••  seen"  ROLETTE  if  he  had 
met  him.  Certain  it  is.  that  LAMB  didn't  find  him.  "either 
dead  or  alive."  and  ROLETTE  continued  his  poker  and  punch, 
while  the  enrolled  bill  quietly  reposed  in  the  safe  of  TRUMAN 
M.  SMITH,  banker,  on  the  first  floor  of  the  Fuller  House. 

The  Council,  meantime,  continued  in  its  dead-lock,  with 
the  call  still  pending.  Another  bill  was  procured  and  enrolled, 
but  Mr.  BRISBIN.  President  of  the  Council,  and  Mr.  FURBER, 
Speaker  of  the  House,  refused  to  sign  it  in  that  shape,  endors- 
ing on  it  their  reasons  therefor.  The  bill  was,  however,  sent 


37-  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1857 

to  the  Governor,  signed  by  him,  and  printed  in  the  laws  of 
that  year,  with  the  endorsements  mentioned. 

After  a  continuous  session  of  five  days  and  nights,  (or  123 
hours,)  the  Council  adjourned,  the  call  still  pending.  At 
midnight,  on  March  5,  the  last  night  of  the  session,  the  Pres- 
ident resumed  the  chair,  and  announced  the  Council  adjourned 
sine  die.  The  moment  the  doors  were  thrown  open,  in  stalked 
Jo.  ROLETTE,  and  commenced  rallying  his  brother  members, 
in  his  vivacious  and  pointed  style,  on  the  good  joke  he  had 
played  on  them. 

But  little  more  remains  to  be  recorded,  to  show  the  end  of 
this  singular  chapter  of  Minnesota  history,  one  which,  now  that 
19  years  have  cooled  the  passions  excited  by  the  contest,  is 
generally  mentioned  with  a  smile  by  both  the  former  friends  and 
opponents  of  the  scheme.  The  first  of  these  took  the  ground 
after  the  session  was  over,  that  the  bill  had  become  a  law.  a 
position  scouted  by  the  others.  The  Saint  Peter  Company, 
we  believe,  erected  buildings  to  accommodate  the  Territorial 
officers  and  Legislature,  and,  on  June  29,  A.  F.  HOWES,  Pres- 
ident of  the  company,  applied  before  Judge  R.  R.  NELSON, 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  for  a  writ  of  mandamus  to  compel  the 
Territorial  officers  to  remove  to  -Saint  Peter.  Judge  NELSON 
took  the  motion  under  advisement,  and,  on  July  12,  filed  an 
opinion.  After  reviewing,  at  considerable  length,  the  evidence 
concerning  the  passage  of  the  act,  he  decides:  "We  are  of 
the  opinion,  therefore,  that  there  has  been  no  law  passed  bv 
the  Legislative  power  of  the  Territory,  removing  the  Capital 
from  Saint  Paul  to  Saint  Peter.  The  application  for  a  man- 
damus is  therefore  refused." 

BRIEF    ITEMS. 

There  was  no  legislation  at  the  last  session  especially  arlect- 
ing  St.  Paul,  except  the  incorporation  of  the  "Saint  Paul  Li- 
brary Association."  The  incorporators  were  CHARLES  E. 
MAYO,  J.  W.  McCLUNG,*  R.  F.  HOUSEWORTH,  S.  D.  JACK- 

*  JOHN  W.  McCLUNG  was  born  near  Maysville,  Kentucky,  November  ai,  i8a6.  He 
studied  law  at  Transylvania  University,  and  graduated  in  1847.  He  practiced  law  at 
Maysville  until  1855,  when  he  came  to  St.  Paul  and  engaged  in  law  and  the  real  estate 


1857]       and  of  the.  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.  373 

SON,  J.  F.  HOYT,  E.  INGALLS,  A.  R.  CAPEHART,  WM.  A. 
CROFFUT,  THOMPSON  CONNOLLY  and  P.  DER.OCHEBRUNE. 

On  March  25,  Messrs.  DAY  &  GRACE,  who  had  contracted 
to  build  the  Ramsey  county  jail  for  $7^.000,  broke  Around 
for  the  same.  The  building  was  finished  that  fall. 

On    April    13,    news  was  received   of   the  Ink-pa-doo-tah 


JOHN  W.  McCLUNG. 

massacre.  Great  excitement  prevailed.  The  Pioneer  Guard 
promptly  volunteered  to  go  to  the  protection  of  the  frontier, 

business.  He  was  elected  County  Commissioner  in  :86o,  and  City  Assessor  in  1864,  serv- 
ing five  years.  He  was  also  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Public  Works  in  1873.  He  was  elected 
County  Assessor  in  March,  1875.  We  can  hardly  say  of  Mr.  McCLUNG,  as  we  have  of 
others,  that  he  is  a  popular  man,  for  any  one  filling  the  diflicult  and  unpleasant  office  he 
holds,  must  necessarily  be  the  subject  of  much  censure  and  fault-finding.  But  he  bears 
it  like  a  philosopher,  and  works  for  the  interests  of  Saint  Paul  with  an  untiring  zeal  that 
is  worthy  of  imitation.  He  has  also  published  a  work,  "  Minnesota  as  it  is  in  iSyo,'' 
that  has  done  our  State  great  benefit. 


374  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/,          [1857 

but  could  get  neither  transportation  or  proper  ammunition. 
Two  of  the  female  captives,  who  were  rescued  soon  after,  were 
brought  to  Saint  Paul  and  presented  with  a  purse  bv  our 
citizens. 

Hon.  SAMUEL  MEDARY.  who  had  been  appointed  Governor 
of  the  Territory,  arrived  on  April  22.  and  at  once  assumed 
the  gubernatorial  chair. 

This  spring  two  new  volunteer  companies  were  organized. 
One  was  the  "  Saint  Paul  Light  Cavalry."  Capt.  JAMES 
STARKEY  :  the  other  was  called  the  .Shields'  Guards,  Capt. 
JOHN  O'GORMAN. 

On  April  27,  the  extra  session  of  the  Legislature  convened, 
and  continued  until  May  25.  Among  the  local  a<5ls  passed, 
affecting  Saint  Paul,  were :  To  incorporate  the  Saint  Paul 
Water  Company  ;  to  extend  Rice  street ;  to  incorporate  the 
Saint  Paul  Fuller  House  Company  ;  to  incorporate  the  Saint 
Paul  Dramatic  Joint  Stock  Association  :  to  open  and  extend 
Seventh  street.  &c. 

The  spring  of  1857  was  one  °f  the  latest  ever  known.  The 
"•  first  boat"  did  not  arrive  at  Saint  Paul  until  the  morning  of 
Mav  i.  Once  the  barrier  was  broken,  however,  the  season 
was  inaugurated  with  a  fleet  of  boats.  On  May  4th.  ei'ifl/teen 
were  at  the  levee  at  one  time,  and,  a  few  days  afterwards. 
tiventy-four.  the  largest  number  ever  seen  at  our  landing.  Each 
of  these  were  crowded  with  passengers  and  their  goods,  so 
great  was  the  rush  of  immigration  that  spring. 

SCRAPS. 

On  May  ^,  the  citv  election  occurred,  with  the  following 
result : 

Republican.  Democratic. 

Mayor John  B.  Brisbin.  (Democrat — had  no  opposition.)  . .  1876 

Treasurer  •  •  Daniel  Rohrer 961     Edward  Heenan 

Marshal Wm.  R.  Miller 1 143    John  O'Gorman 

Those  in  italics  ele&ed. 

Aldermen  elected.—  First  Ward,  Luke  Marvin :  Second  Ward.  A.  L. 
Larpenteur;  Third  Ward,  H.  J.  Taylor. 

On  the  night  of  May  10,  a  murder  took  place  at  the  "  Cave," 
a  low  sink  of  crime  above  town.  A  man,  named  PETER  W. 


an(I  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  375 

TROTTER,  was  stabbed  by  a  roustabout,  named  "MiKE 
SMITH,"  alias  GOLDEN,  and  died  in  a  few  moments.  The 
murderer  escaped  and  was  never  detected,  although  Deputy 
Sheriff"  J.  W.  PRINCE  pursued  him  to  Saint  Louis. 

Saint  Paul  was  well  supplied  with  theatres  this  season. 
"SALLiE  ST.  CLAIR'S  Varieties"  opened  at  Market  Hall  on 
May  20,  with  a  very  good  company. 

On  June  27,  H.  VAN  LIEW  opened  the  "  People's  Theatre," 
in  a  frame  strufture,  built  for  the  purpose,  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Fourth  and  Saint  Peter  streets.  VAN  LIEW  had  a 
very  good  company,  and  ran  his  theatre  that  season,  and  also 
during  the  summers  of  1858  and  1859.  Tne  building  burned 
down  September  8.  1859,  during  a  political  meeting,  while 
SCHUYLER  COI.FAX  and  GALUSHA  A.  GROW  were  addressing 
it.  The  scenery  of  the  People's  Theatre  was  painted  by  AL- 
BERT  COLGRAVE,  the  first  scenic  artist  in  Minnesota.  He 
came  from  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  was  a  young  man  of  prom- 
ising ability  and  talent.  In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Sixth 
Regiment,  and  died  at  Glencoe.  in  March  following — an  un- 
timely ending  of  a  noble  life. 

A  few  days  subsequent  to  the  opening  of  the  People's 
Theatre,  a  Mr.  SCOTT  brought  a  small  company  here,  and 
opened  a  theatre  in  a  hall  in  Irvine's  Block.  Thus  there  were 
three  theatres  going  at  one  time,  and  all  doing  well.  The 
panic,  a  few  weeks  later,  soon  closed  them  up.  The  hall  used 
by  SCOTT'S  troupe  was  subsequently  used  for  a  while  by  the 
House  of  Hope  congregation. 

The  election  for  delegates  to  the  Constitutional  Convention 
occurred  on  June  i.  The  Democratic  nominees  were  all 
elected,  as  follows : 

Moses  Sherburne,  Geo.  L.  Becker,  Michael  E.  Ames,  D.  A.  J.  Baker. 
John  S.  Prince,  Patrick  Nash,  Lafayette  Emmett,  Wm.  P.  Murray,  W. 
A.  Gorman,  Wm.  H.  Taylor,  W.  B.  McGrorty,  Paul  Faber. 

The  total  vote  cast  in  the  city  was  2,820,  which  would  have 
shown  (if  not  fraudulent)  a  population  of  17,000,  or  more, 
but  one  journal  asserts  that  "  several  steamboat  crews  voted 
several  times  in  each  ward  !" 


376  The  History  of  the.  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1857 

WAIFS. 

On  August  4,  a  severe  fire  occurred  on  the  north  side  of 
Third  street,  between  Market  and  Saint  Peter,  which  de- 
stroyed some  twenty  buildings  and  much  of  their  contents. 
The  fire  was  undoubtedly  the  work  of  an  incendiary. 

On  August  18,  another  fire  swept  the  west  side  of  Robert 
street,  between  Third  and  Fourth,  then  occupied  by  frame 
business  buildings.  This  fire  was  also,  beyond  doubt,  the 
work  of  an  incendiary. 

These  two  fires,  taken  in  connection  with  a  number  of  bur- 
glaries, attempted  and  successful,  and  the  presence  of  a  gang 
of  hard  characters  in  the  city,  and  the  insufficiency  of  the 
small  police  force  to  properly  guard  so  extensive  an  area  as  they 
were  expedted  to  protect,  led  to  the  formation  of  an  organiza- 
tion similar  to  that  of  the  preceding  summer — a  volunteer 
patrol,  or  vigilance  committee.  This  was  kept  up  for  several 
weeks,  and  rendered  good  service  in  clearing  the  city  of  vaga- 
bonds and  criminals.  The  fires  also  demonstrated  the  neces- 
sity of  fire  engines,  and  the  City  Council  set  about  procuring 
them,  though  it  was  fullv  a  year  before  they  were  received. 

A  "FAST"  TOWN. 

During  the  summer  of  1857,  Saint  Paul  was  said  by  trav- 
elers, to  be  the  fastest  and  liveliest  town  on  the  Mississippi 
River.  Emigration  was  pouring  in  astonishingly,  several 
boats  landing  daily  loaded  with  passengers.  Those  intending 
to  go  back  in  the  country,  usually  purchased  their  supplies 
here,  and  the  stores  were  almost  overtaxed,  so  profitable  was 
their  trade.  The  hotels  and  boarding  houses  were  crowded 
to  overflowing.  The  principal  business  streets  fairly  hummed 
with  the  rush  of  busy  life.  Building  was  never  so  brisk  ;  an 
army  of  workmen  and  mechanics  labored  night  and  day  to 
keep  up  with  the  demand  for  dwellings  and  stores.  Another 
small  army  was  engaged  in  grading  streets,  and  laying  gas 
pipes,  the  air  being  continually  shaken  with  the  concussion 
of  blasting  rock.  Saloons,  of  course,  throve  as  thev  ahvavs 
tlo,  be  times  flush  or  hard.  That  season  they  coined  money  ; 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  377 

so,  also',  did  the  livery  stables.  The  city  was  continually  full 
of  tourists,  speculators,  sporting  men,  and  even  worse  char- 
afters,  all  spending  gold  as  though  it  was  dross.  Perhaps 
this  "floating"  population  amounted  to  two  or  three  thousand 
persons  during  most  of  the  summer,  until  the  crash  scattered 
them  like  leaves  before  an  autumn  gale. 

THE    SUNRISE    EXPEDITION. 

During  the  summer,  settlers  near  Cambridge.  Sunrise,  &c., 
complained  that  the  Chippewas  were  very  troublesome,  steal- 
ing, &c.  Gov.  MEDARY  ordered  Capt.  STARKEY  to  take  a 
part  of  his  volunteer  cavalry  company,  and  proceed  to  the 
spot,  and  arrest  any  Indians  known  to  be  committing  depre- 
dations, or  order  them  to  return  to  their  Reservation.  Capt. 
STARKEY  took  20  men,  and,  on  August  24,  started  for  the 
settlements  named.  On  August  28,  they  overtook  six  Indians 
near  Washington,  and,  while  talking  to  them,  the  Indians 
broke  away  and  ran.  Capt.  STARKEY  ordered  one  of  his  men, 
FRANK  DONNELLY,  to  head  them  off  and  tell  them  to  stop. 
DONNELLY  did  so,  when  one  of  the  Indians,  named  Sha-go- 
ba,  shot  DONNELLY,  killing  him  instantly.  The  other  cavalry- 
men fired  on  the  Indians,  killing  one  and  wounding  another. 
Securing  the  four  Indians,  and  putting  the  other  two,  together 
with  DONNELLY'S  body,  in  a  wagon,  the  cavalry  returned  to 
Saint  Paul,  arriving  on  the  zpth.  The  scene,  when  DON- 
NELLY'S bloody  corpse  'was  left  at  his  house,  can  better  be 
imagined  than  described. 

The  funeral  of  DONNELLY  took  place  on  Sunday,  August 
30,  from  the  Jackson  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
"•  Rev."  JOHN  PENMAN  preached  the  discourse  from  the  text: 
'•  To  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain."  (This  was  a  subject 
well  suited  to  the  piety  of  that  holy  and  eloquent  divine!) 
The  military  of  the  city  did  the  accustomed  honors  to  their 
fallen  comrade. 

The  Indians  were  kept   in   confinement   for   several   days, 

when  they  were  released  by  Judge   NELSON,  on  a  writ   of 

habeas  corpus,  brought  by  Maj.  CULLEN,  Superintendent  of 

Indian  Affairs.      Sha-go-ba  was  sent  to  Chisago  county,  to  be 

25 


378  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paid.          [1857 

tried  for  the  murder  of  DONNELLY,  but  soon  cut  his  way  out 
of  the  ''jail"  with  a  knife,  and  escaped. 


On  August  31.  the  Washington  school  house,  which  had 
been  built  that  season,  was  dedicated.  This  was  the  first 
school  house  built  bv  the  Board  of  Education,  and  cost  $8.433. 

On  September  3,  the  City  Council  subscribed  $50,0x30  to- 
ward the  Saint  Paul  bridge,  which  had  been  commenced  the 
previous  winter,  and  stopped  for  want  of  funds.  The  work 
was  now  pushed  forward  night  and  day.  to  complete  the  piers 
before  frost,  and  the  wood  work  was  built  during  the  winter. 

On  September  7,  the  District  Court,  second  judicial  district, 
assembled.  Judge  R.  R.  NELSON  presiding.  There  were  400 
cases  on  the  calendar,  no  term  of  the  court  having  been  held 
for  two  years. 

On  September  16.  the  ''  Mercantile  Library  Association" 
was  organized.  It  maintained  its  organization  quite  success- 
fully for  several  years,  accumulating  a  considerable  library, 
keeping  up  a  good  reading  room,  and  getting  up  two  or  three 
interesting  courses  of  lectures.  In  1863,  its  library  was  united 
with  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  formed  our 
present  well-managed  and  excellent  l'  Saint  Paul  Library." 

This  fall,  the  Milwaukee  and  Prairie  du  Chien  Railroad  was 
completed.  The  nearest  railroad  connection  east  had  hitherto 
been  at  Dunleith.  Step  by  step,  the  iron  horse  was  advancing 
toward  our  city. 


1857]       an(l  °f  t?lc  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  379 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1857.— CONTINUED. 

THE  REAL  ESTATE  MANIA— THE  PERIOD  OF  THE  "  FLUSH  TIMES"— THE  PANIC- 
THE  REAL  ESTATE  MARKET  RUINED— HARD  TIMES— THE  CENSUS— ELEC- 
TION—CURRENCY  TROUBLES— PERILOUS  BALLOON  ASCENSION,  *c.,  *c. 

r  I^HE  real  estate  mania,  before  mentioned,  was  now  at  its 
•*-  height.  No  description  that  can  be  given  of  this  singu- 
lar era  of  our  history  can  convey  an  idea  of  it.  Only  those 
who  lived  through  the  "flush  times"  will  ever  know  what 
they  were. 

Everybody  seemed  inoculated  with  the  mania,  from  the 
moneyed  capitalist  to  the  humble  laborer  who  could  merely 
squat  on  a  quarter  section,  and  hold  it  for  a  rise.  The  buying 
of  real  estate,  often  at  the  most  insane  prices,  and  without 
regard  to  its  real  value,  infected  all  classes,  and  almost  ab- 
sorbed every  other  passion  and  pursuit.  Town-sites  and 
additions  to  towns  were  laid  out  by  the  score.*  Many  of 
these  town-sites  were  purely  imaginary,  and  had  never  been 
surveyed  at  all.  Lots  in  these  paper  cities  were  sold  by  the 
hundi'ed  east,  at  exorbitant  prices.  Agriculture  was  neg- 
lected, and  breadstuffs  enough  for  home  consumption  were  not 
raised.  Their  import  formed  a  large  branch  of  trade.  Honest 
labor  was  thrown  aside  for  more  1'apid  means  of  wealth. 
Farmers,  mechanics,  laborers,  even,  forsook  their  occupations 
to  become  operators  in  real  estate,  and  grow  suddenly  rich,  as 
they  supposed. 

"Real  estate  dealers" — some  of  them  honorable  men,  like 
HENRY  McKENTY,but  many  without  character  or  conscience, 

*  D.  C.  COOLEY,  "  Governor  of  the  Sovereigns,"  in  one  of  his  inimitable  messages  to 
the  Third  House,  recommended,  with  bitter  irony,  that  a  small  portion  of  the  land  be 
reserved  for  agriculture,  and  not  all  laid  out  in  town  lots.  There  was  almost  some 
grounds  for  the  advice. 


380  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1857 

mere  shysters — flourished  in  Saint  Paul  by  the  score.  A  large 
share  of  them  were  purely  street  sharpers,  having  no  office 
but  the  sidewalk,  and  no  capital  but  a  roll  of  town-site  maps, 
and  a  package  of  blank  deeds,  yet  all  fairly  coining  monev. 
and  spending  it,  in  many  cases,  as  rapidly  as  made,  on  fast 
horses,  fast  women,  wine  and  cards.  These  operators  would 
board  boats,  on  their  arrival,  or  hang  around  hotels,  and,  by  a 
little  sharp  maneuvering,  as  ••confidence  men."  find  out  and 
manipulate  unsuspecting  strangers,  who  had  money,  and  fleece 
them  of  their  means,  by  selling  them  lots  in  moonshine  towns, 
for  several  hundred  dollars  each,  not  actually  worth  as  many- 
cents,  even  if  they  got  a  title  at  all.  Such  operations  were 
repeated  by  the  score,  until  Saint  Paul  and  Minnesota  got  a 
name  abroad  anything  but  enviable. 

This  mad,  crazy,  reckless  spirit  of  speculation,  vyliich  char- 
acterized those  times,  was  appalling,  to  look  on  it  now  from  a 
soberer  stand-point.  Perhaps  in  no  city  of  America,  was  the 
real  estate  mania,  and  reckless  trading  and  speculation,  so 
wild  and  extravagant,  as  in  Saint  Paul.  It  could  not  last,  and 
must  soon  bring  its  own  punishment  in  general  ruin.  Indeed, 
the  storm  was  near  at  hand. 

THE    BUBBLE    BUIisls. 

On  August  24.  occurred  the  failure  of  the  Ohio  Life  Insur- 
ance and  Trust  Company,  of  New  York,  which  gave  rise  to 
the  memorable  panic  or  financial  revulsion  of  that  year. 

To  Saint  Paul,  this  pricking  of  the  bubble  of  speculation 
was  more  ruinous  and  dire  in  its  consequences  than  perhaps 
to  any  other  city  in  the  west.  Everything  had  been  so  infla- 
ted and  unreal — values  purely  fictitious,  all  classes  in  debt, 
with  but  little  real  wealth,  honest  industry  neglected,  and 
everything  speculative  and  feverish — that  the  blow  fell  with 
ruinous  force.  Business  was  paralyzed,  real  estate  actually 
valueless  and  unsaleable  at  any  price,  and  but  little  good 
monev  in  circulation.  Ruin  stared  all  classes  in  the  face. 
The  notes  secured  by  mortgages  must  be  paid,  but  all  values 
were  destroyed.  No  device  would  raise  money,  for  no  one 
had  any  to  lend.  Everybody  was  struggling  to  save  himself. 


1857]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsev.  Minnesota.  381 

The  banking  houses  closed  their  doors — nearly  all  the  mercan- 
tile firms  suspended  or  made  assignments.  All  works  of  im- 
provement ceased,  and  general  gloom  and  despondency  settled 
down  on  the  community.  In  a  few  davs.  from  the  top  wave 
of  prosperity,  it  was  plunged  into  the  slough  of  despond. 

And  now  the  "  hard  times"  commenced  in  earnest.  No 
description  of  this  terrible  and  gloomy  period  will  convey  anv 
idea  of  it.  With  many,  even  those  who  had  but  shortly  be- 
fore imagined  themselves  wealthv.  there  was  a  terrible  struggle 
between  pride  and  want.  But  few  had  saved  anything,  so 
generally  had  the  reckless  spirit  of  the  times  infested  all  classes. 
The  humble  poor,  of  course,  suffered  ;  but  the  keenest  suffer- 
ing was  among  those  who  experienced  the  fall  from  affluence 
to  poverty. 

The  papers  were  crowded  for  months  with  foreclosures  of 
mortgages,  executions,  and  other  results  of  the  crash.  Not 
one  in  five  of  the  business  houses  or  firms  weathered  the  storm, 
despite  the  most  desperate  struggles.  The  population  of  the 
city  fell  oft"  almost  50  per  cent.,  and  stores  would  scarcely  rent 
at  any  price. 

BREVITIES. 

On  September  19.  the  gas  works  having  been  completed, 
and  got  in  running  order,  gas  was  for  the  first  time  let  on  the 
city. 

On  September  21,  A.  C.  JONES,  Deputy  Marshal,  com- 
menced to  take  the  census  of  Ramsey  county,  pursuant  to 
section  four,  of  the  Enabling  A6t.  the  object  being  to  ascer- 
tain the  population  of  the  State  when  admitted,  and  fix  its 
representation  in  Congress.  The  census  was  completed  in 
about  six  weeks,  and  showed  the  population  to  be  as  follows : 
Of  Saint  Paul,  9,973  ;  of  Ramsey  county,  12,747,  anfl  of  tne 
Territory,  1=50,037.  [It  was  the  wish  of  the  writer  to  have 
given  the  names  of  adult  male  citizens  in  this  census,  but  the 
length  of  such  a  list  precluded  the  attempt,  after  the  list  was 
prepared,  and  alphabetically  arranged.] 

THE  FIRST  STATE  ELECTION 

occurred  on  October  13.     The  State  had  not  yet  been  admit- 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1857 


ted,  though  it  was  supposed  this  would  be  done  in  December, 
and  State  officers  were  therefoi'e  elected.  The  vote  in  Ramsey 
county  was  as  follows  : 

Republican.  Democratic. 

Distrifl  Judge E.  C.  Palmer,  (Ind. , )  1936     Wm.  P.  Murray . 

r  J.  W.  Selby 1143     Isaac    Van  Etten 

Senators -I  Martin  D.  Clark 1048     Charles   S.  Cave 

(j.   M.  Marshall 1156 

r  James  Day 1297 

I   Daniel   Rohrer 1224 

|   Charles  Colter 1073      Wm.B.McGrorty~\&if> 

B.F.Irvine 1125     Charles  Ranch 2037 

A.  Varenne 1088 

V.  B.  Barnum 1078 


1253 
2040 
1690 

Wm.  Sprigg  Hall.  1754 
John  W.  Crosby  •  .2076 
Wm.  Davern 1086 


Representatives 


Probate   Judge 


f  C.  T.  Cotton. 


James  Star  key 2024 

Geo.  Z,.  Otis 2079 

973  "Rev."  J.  Penman  1291 
A.  C.Jones,  (Ind.,)  691 

086     R.  F.  House-worth. 2016 


Clerk  of  Court. '.E.  Ingalls 

.-.  JJ.  W.  Prince,  (Ind.,).  684     J.    T.   Caldwell...i6& 

"  I  R.  B.  Galusha,  (Ind.,)  382 

Treasurer R.  A.  Smith,    (no  opposition,) 2659 

Attornev /•   V.  D.  Heard,  (no  opposition,) 3X9^ 

r,      ,      f  Louis  Demeules 370     Edivard Heenan.  .  .I28<; 

Register  Deeds,  s 

i.  S.  Hough,  (Ind.,)...  622 

Coroner J.  M.  Castner 948 

Surveyor James  A.  Case 303 

Those  in  italics  elected. 


Dr.  J.  V.  Wren...i<]c£ 
W.   F.  Duffy 1236 


CURRENCY    TROUBLES. 

Toward  winter,  the  stringency  increased  severely.  The 
currency  which  had  been  in  use  before  the  crash  had  about 
all  gone  up,  or  been  withdrawn.  There  was  a  limited  amount 
of  specie  in  circulation,  but  this  was  soon  hoarded  up.  Ex- 
change on  the  east  was  10  per  cent.  !  To  devise  some  meas- 
ures for  relief,  meetings  of  the  merchants  were  held,  and 
various  measures  recommended  to  the  Legislature — a  stay  law, 
general  banking  system,  &c.  The  city  and  county  boards 
were  advised  to  issue  *'  denominational  scrip,"  to  use  as  cur- 
rency. This  scheme  was  soon  after  put  in  operation,  and  the 
scrip  was  in  circulation  for  two  or  three  years.  Every  old 
settler  remembers  it — not  with  pleasure,  perhaps.  But  it  was 
of  some  use. 


1857]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsev*  Minnesota.  383 

In  the  midst  of  these  troubles  came  a  call  from  Stearns  and 
other  counties,  asking  relief  for  poor  settlers,  whose  crops  had 
been  destroyed  by  grasshoppers.  A  considerable  amount  was 
subscribed  in  this  city,  poor  as  everybody  was.  Our  own 
home  destitute  were  also  cared  for,  and  public  improvements 
were  projected  to  give  them  employment. 

The  City  Council  this  summer  ordered  two  new  fire  engines, 
for  the  use  of  the  city.  In  anticipation  of  this,  two  fire  com- 
panies were  organized — "Hope  Engine  Company,  No.  i\" 
on  September  14,  and  ''Minnehaha  Engine  Company,  No.  2," 
on  December  4.  Of  the  former,  M.  LEVOY,  R.  C.  WILEY, 
JAMES  HERY,  JOHN  H.  DODGE,  and  others,  were  the  organ- 
izers ;  and  of  the  latter.  H.  P.  GRANT,  M.  J.  O'CONNOR,  R. 
G.  SHARPE,  L.  E.  CLARKE  J.  B.  OLIVIER.  S.  T.  RAGUET,  &c. 

WILLIAM  MARKOE  built  a  handsome  balloon  this  summer, 
and  made  two  ascensions.  The  last  was  on  October  8,  at  the 
Territoi-ial  Fair,  in  the  Capitol  grounds.  S.  S.  EATON  and 
H.  H.  BROWN  went  with  him.  The  balloon  descended  on 
Rice  Creek,  about  18  miles  northward,  throwing  Mr.  EATON 
out.  and  breaking  the  valve  ropes  off  in  the  neck  of  the  bal- 
loon. The  balloon  shot  up  rapidly,  and  when  a  mile  high. 
Mr.  BROWN  climbed  up  to  the  neck  of  the  balloon  by  the  net- 
ting, and  secured  the  cords  !  It  was  a  perilous  feat,  but  saved 
their  lives. 

From  a  report  made  to  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  it  was 
ascertained  that  343  buildings,  costing  $591,500,  had  been 
creeled  this  season.  Among  them  were  several  churches,  a 
countv  jail,  a  school  house,  bridge,  &c.  For  street  improve- 
ments, sewers,  &c.,  $133,153  had  been  expended. 


384  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1858 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1858. 

THE  "  FIVE  MILLION  LOAN  BILL" — CREATION  OF  THE  FOURTH  WARD — ADMIS- 
SION OF  THE  STATE — DULLNESS  OF  BUSINESS — CABLE  CELEBRATION — FIRE 
ENGINES  ARRIVE — HOMICIDE — DEDICATION  OK  SCHOOL  HOUSES — ELECTION 
STATISTICS. 

ONE  of  the  most  noticeable  events  in  1858,  was  the  "Five 
Million  Loan,"  which  was  passed  this  spring,  by  the 
Legislature,  and  was  voted  tm  April  i^.  The  debate  on  its 
merits  was  short,  but  somewhat  acrimonious.  Meetings 
were  held,  pro  and  con,  handbills  circulated,  &c.  R.  O. 
SWEENY  prepared  an  amusing  caricature,  which  was  litho- 
graphed by  the  opponents  of  the  measure,  and  made  much 
merriment.  When  the  loan  measure  was  voted  on,  it  was 
carried  by  a  majority  that  was  surprising.  In  the  city,  the 
vote  was,  ayes  4,051,  noes  183  ! 

In  common  with  other  cities  of  the  country.  Saint  Paul  was. 
that  winter,  visited  by  sweeping  revivals  of  religion. 

Navigation  opened  on  March  2^ — one  of  the  earliest  dates 
on  record — but  travel  and  business  on  the  river  were  painfully 
dull.  The  Northern  Line  Packet  Company  was  put  on  this 
season. 

The  papers  about  this  period  frequently  mention  the  ••  Sons 
of  Malta."  One  of  our  citizens  rose  to  the  high  rank  of  Car- 
dinal in  this  ancient  order. 

The  Fourth  Ward  was  created  by  the  Legislature  this  win- 
ter, out  of  the  Third  Ward. 

THE  CITY    ELECTION 

occurred  on  April  4.     It  was  not  a  straight  party  contest,  the 
Republicans  making  no  nominations  as  such.     The  result  was  : 


1858]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  385 

Independent.  Democratic. 

Mayor Moses  Sherburne 1546     N.   W.  Kittson '.1788 

Treasurer Daniel  Rohrer 1936     Mich.   Cummings . . .  1334 

City  Justice  •  -•'  ^r^an<^°  Simons 1 193     Thomas  Howard 1 191 

Nelson  Gibbs 857 

Comptroller  . .  T.  M.  Metcalf.. 1615     C.  W.  Williams 1520 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

Aldermen  elected.—  First  Ward,  C.  H.  Schurmeier;  Second  Ward, 
P.  O'Gorman;  Third  Ward,  Nicholas  Gross,  three  years;  Wm.  H. 
Wolff,  two  years;  Thomas  Grace,  one  year;  Fourth  Ward.  Henrv  M. 
Dodge. 

BRIEF    MENTION. 

The  LaCrosse  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  was  completed  this 
spring  to  LaCrosse.  Little  by  little  the  iron  horse  was  ap- 
proaching our  city. 

On  May  14,  the  papers  announced  that  the  State  was  ad- 
mitted, but  no  demonstrations  were  made  over  the  event. 
The  State  officers  were  quietly  sworn  in  on  the  24th. 

Business  was  depressingly  dull  all  the  season.  Still,  a  num- 
ber of  buildings  were  built,  and  public  improvements  carried 
on.  The  scarcity  of  a  good  currency  was  a  great  drawback 
to  trade. 

During  July,  at  an  adjourned  session  of  the  Legislature,  an 
attempt  was  made  to  remove  the  Capital  to  Nicollet  Island, 
but  it  did  not  meet  with  much  favor. 

On  September  i,  Saint  Paul,  with  other  cities  of  the  Union, 
celebrated  the  successful  laying  of  the  Atlantic  Cable  to  Eng- 
land. The  celebration  was  carried  out  with  much  spirit  and 
enthusiasm — a  procession,  orations,  music,  &c.,  and  at  night 
fireworks  and  general  illumination. 

Our  Fire  Department  were  gladdened,  this  fall,  by  the  arrival 
of  two  new  engines,  which  the  city  had  procured  at  Philadel- 
phia. They  were  formally  delivered  to  Hope  Engine  Com- 
pany, No.  i,  and  Minnehaha,  No.  2,  on  November  i,  and  did 
good  service  for  some  ten  years,  when  steamers  were  substi- 
tuted. This  summer,  also,  Fort  Snelling  was  abandoned  by 
the  Government,  and  Hon.  JOHN  S.  PRINCE*  purchased  the 

*  Hon.  JOHN  S.  PRINCE  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  May  7,  i8»i,  and  resided  in  that  city 
until  1840,  being,  during  the  latter  part_of  that  period,  in  the  commission  business.  He 


386  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan!.         [1858 

post  engine,  and  presented  it  to  a  company  formed  of  em- 
ployees of  his  mill,  called,  "Rotary  Mill  Company.  No.  i." 
so  that  we  had  now  a  well-equipped  Fire  Department. 

On  October  18,  an  old  man,  named  JAMES  McCi>AY,  was 
killed  at  a  disreputable  shanty,  near  the  jail,  by  two  roughs. 
named  kl>  Chicago  JACK"  and  CORMACK  MALLOY.  They  es- 
caped without  any  punishment,  by  some  technicality. 

On  November  13,  Adams  school  was  dedicated,  and,  soon 
after,  Jefferson  school.  The  latter  burned  down  about  nine 
years  subsequently,  and  has  been  rebuilt  on  another  site. 
Saint  Paul  had  now  three  good  school  houses,  and  a  good 
corps  of  teachers. 

On  December  22.  "•  House  of  Hope."  on  Walnut  street. 
was  dedicated. 

THE    ELECTION 

that  fall  was  only  for  County  Auditor  and  Representatives,  the 
latter  useless  after  all,  as  the  session  [of  1859]  was  never 
called.  The  following  was  the  vote  : 

Democratic.  Independent. 

John  B.  Brisbin  .  .  1770     H.  J.  Taylor  .....   941 
W.  A.  Gorman...  n  50     Wm.  Branch  .....   864 


E.D.Cobb  .......  1301     M.  Groff  .........  6iq 

Representatives  ....    ,    Wm    ^  Hamm  ^     W-  B>  Q^^  .....     ^ 

I    Wm.  P.  Murray.  .1209  T.  M.  Metcalf  ----   377 

I  John  S.  Prince..  .  1523  W.  H.  Nobles  ....  1061 

County  Auditor  .......  L.  P.  Cotter  ......  1026  Alex.  Buchanan.  .1084 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

The  business  and  financial  outlook  this  fall  was  very  discour- 
aging. Trade  was  almost  paralyzed.  The  harvest  had  been 
poor.  There  was  no  immigration.  Some  "  Glencoe"  money, 

then  entered  the  employ  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  at  Evansville,  Indiana,  and 
after  the  company  suspended  in  1843,  he  engaged  with  PIERRE  CHOUTEAU,  Jr.,  &  Co., 
who  assumed  the  business,  and  became  their  purchasing  agent,  throughout  Ohio,  Indi- 
ana, Illinois,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin.  In  1854,  ne  came  to  Saint  Paul,  to  look  after 
their  real  estate  here.  Connected  with  it  was  a  saw  mill,  long  known  by  early  residents 
as  the  Rotary  Mill.  This  was  carried  on  by  Mr.  PRINCE  for  15  years.  He  also  dealt 
largely  in  real  estate,  on  his  own  account.  Personally,  no  gentleman  in  our  city  has 
been  more  popular  than  Mr.  PRINCE.  He  was  a  member  from  Ramsey  county, 
in  the  Constitutional  Convention,  and  has  been  elected  Mayor  five  times,  being  one  of 
the  most  faithful  and  valuable  municipal  officers  our  city  ever  had. 


1858]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  387 

based  on  the  State  railroad  bonds,  began  to  circulate,  but  they 
were  looked  on  with  distrust.  State  scrip  circulated  for  a 
while,  but  it  soon  ran  down  to  fort}-  cents  on  the  dollar,  and 
all  classes  were  in  bad  financial  straits. 

NECROLOGY    OF    THE    YEAR. 

July  ii,  by  drowning,  Hon.  WM.  COSTELLO,  ex-member 
of  the  Legislature,  fi-om  this  county.  November  23,  M.  W. 
IRWIN,  formerly  United  States  Marshal  for  Minnesota.  De- 
cember 4,  JOHN  H.  BROWNSON,  a  lawyer,  (by  falling  from  a 
window.) 


388  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.          [1859 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1859. 

MURDER  OF  MRS.  LALIYER— G.  L.  LUMSDKN  CONVICTED  OF  MAIL  ROBBERY— THE 
BILANSKI  MURDER  CASE — WRIGHT  COUNTY  WAR — SKETCH  OF  BISHOP  GRACE — 
DEATH  OF  DOCTOR  BORUP. 

NO  session  of  the  Legislature  was  held  this  winter.     Mem- 
bers had  been  elected,  but  the  session  was  not  called  to- 
gether by  the  Governor,  it  having  been  left  for  him  to  decide 
whether  it  was  necessary  or  not. 


During  January,  a  man.  named  LAWRENCE  LALIYER,  was 
arrested  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  on  charge  of  having  murdered 
his  wife,  in  Mounds  View  township,  in  18^6.  Her  remains 
were  found  buried  under  an  old  ice  house.  LALIYER  was 
tried  for  murder  in  the  first  degree  twice,  and.  on  the  second 
hearing,  convicted  of  murder  in  the  second  degree,  and  sen- 
tenced to  a  short  term  in  the  penitentiary. 

On  February  12,  GEO.  L.  LUMSDEN.  a  clerk  in  the  Saint 
Paul  post-office,  was  arrested  on  charge  of  stealing  a  land 
warrant  out  of  the  mail,  and  selling  it  to  HENRY  McKENTY. 
He  was  convicted,  and  soon  after  sentenced  to  ten  years'  im- 
prisonment in  the  State's  prison.  LUMSDEN  was  pardoned,  in 
1864,  on  condition  that  he  would  enlist  in  the  army,  which  IK- 
did,  and,  in  a  few  days  afterwards,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Nashville. 

On  March  n,  STANISLAUS  BILANSKI.  a  Polander  by  birth, 
of  whom  some  account  is  given  on  page  121,  died  at  his  resi- 
dence on  the  Stillwater  road.  He  was  married  at  the  time  to 
a  woman  whose  name  had  been  ANNIE  EVARDS,  formerly  of 
Fayetteville.  North  Carolina,  with  whom  he  had  had  but  little 
previous  acquaintance,  and  of  whose  past  life,  what  was 


1859]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  389 

known,  was  not  creditable.  BILANSKI'S  last  illness  was  short, 
and  his  symptoms  thought  suspicious  by  several  persons  who 
visited  him.  After  his  burial,  a  girl,  who  had  been  employed 
in  the  family  during  BILANSKI'S  illness,  reported  that  she  had 
purchased  arsenic  at  Mrs.  B.'s  request,  and  mentioned  other 
circumstances  fully  sufficient  to  warrant  the  belief  that  BILAN- 
SKI  was  the  viftim  of  a  design  to  murder  him  on  the  part  of 
his  wife.  Mrs.  BILANSKI  was  at  once  arrested,  and  the  body 
of  B.  being  exhumed,  the  stomach  was  subjeded  to  analysis. 
This  was  made  by  Dr.  WM.  H.  MORTON,  and  revealed  strong 
and  unmistakable  proofs  of  arsenic,  and,  on  May  15.  Mrs.  Bi- 
LANSKI  was  indicted  for  murder  in  the  first  degree.  On  her 
trial  she  was  ably  defended,  but.  on  June  31!.  was  found  guilty. 
On  December  9,  she  was  sentenced  to  be  hung,  and  March 
23d  was  fixed  by  the  Governor  as  the  date. 

"  THE  WRIGHT  COUNTY  WAR." 

Many  of  the  readers  of  this  book  may  have  heard  of  the 
Wright  County  War,  but  do  not  know  to  what  it  refers.  In 
the  fall  of  1858,  one  H.  A.  WALLACE  was  murdered  in 
Wright  county,  and  a  neighbor,  named  OSCAR  F.  JACKSON, 
was  tried  for  the  offense,  in  the  spring  of  1859,  but  acquitted 
by  the  jury.  On  April  25,  a  crowd  of  men  assembled,  and 
hung  JACKSON  to  the  gable  end  of  WALLACE'S  cabin.  It  was 
a  most  wicked  and  inexcusable  outrage.  Governor  SIRLEV 
offered  a  reward  for  the  conviction  of  any  of  the  lynchers. 
Not  long  afterwards,  one  EMERY  MOORE  was  arrested  on  the 
charge  of  aiding  in  the  affair,  and  taken  to  Wright  countv  for 
trial,  but  was  rescued  by  a  mob.  Governor  SIBLEY  at  once 
decided  to  take  vigorous  measures  to  maintain  the  majestv  of 
the  law.  A  military  force  was  called  out.  and  three  compa- 
nies dispatched  (August  5)  to  Monticello,  to  arrest  the  rioters 
and  reinforce  the  law.  The  Pioneer  Guard  headed  the  col- 
umn, which  was  in  command  of  Colonel  JOHN  S.  PRINCE. 
A  few  special  officers  and  detectives  accompanied  the  force. 
The  militaiy  proceeded  to  Monticello.  reinforced  the  civil 
authorities,  arrested  eleven  lynchers  and  rescuers,  and  turned 
them  over  to  the  Wright  county  officers.  Having  subdued 


390  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1859 

the  "rebellion,"  they  returned  on  August  1 1 — the  "Wright 
County  War,"  as  it  is  facetiously  termed,  having  fortunately 
ended  without  bloodshed. 

THE    CITY    ELECTION 

took  place  on  May  3,  resulting  as  follows  : 

Republican.  Democratic. 

Mayor Henry  J.  Howe 1514  D.  A .  Robertson 1755 

Comptroller. . .F.  Willius 1468  Wm.  Von  Hamm 1801 

Treasurer Daniel  Rohrer 1411  C.  A.  Morgan 1851 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

Aldermen  defied.— First  Ward,  Wm.  Branch  ;  Second  Ward,  M.  J. 
O'Connor;  Third  Ward,  R.  C.  Wiley;  Fourth  Ward,  Peter  Berkey. 

On  May  23,  Dr.  J.  F.  HEYWARD,  a  capitalist  of  the  city, 
died,  leaving  a  large  estate. 

On  July  i,  Col.  WILBUR  M.  HAYWARD,  a  lawyer  of  Saint 
Paul,  died  at  Taylor's  Falls. 

On  July  6,  Dr.  CHARLES  W.  BORUP,  one  of  the  first  and 
most  prominent  bankers  of  the  citv,  of  the  firm  of  BORUP  & 
OAKES,  died  suddenly.  He  was  a  native  of  Denmark,  came 
to  America  when  young,  and  was  engaged  in  the  fur  trade  on 
Lake  Superior  for  many  years.  He  came  to  Saint  Paul  in 
1849,  and  had  been,  since  that  date,  one  of  the  most  influen- 
tial and  wealthiest  citizens. 

During  August,  the  hearts  of  our  Catholic  population  were 
gladdened  by  the  arrival  of  Rt.  Rev.  THOMAS  L.  GRACE,*  who 


*  Rt.  Rev.  THOMAS  L.  GRACE  was  born  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  November  15, 
1814.  He  commenced  his  studies,  preparatory  to  the  priesthood,  under  Bishop  FEN- 
WICK,  in  the  Seminary  of  Cincinnati,  in  1828.  A  year  later,  he  went  to  the  Dominican 
Convent  of  Saint  Rose,  Kentucky,  where  he  became  a  member  of  the  Dominican 
order,  continuing  there  his  studies  until  1837.  ^n  that  year  he  went  to  Rome,  and 
studied  at  the  Minerva  until  1844.  He  was  ordained  priest  in  Rome,  December  ai, 
1839.  On  his  return  to  America,  in  1844,  he  was  for  two  years  engaged  in  the  ministry 
in  Kentucky,  and  for  13  years  in  Memphis,  Tennessee.  While  in  Memphis,  he  built 
the  very  fine  church  of  Saints  Peter  and  Paul,  the  Convent  of  Saint  Agnes,  Orphan 
Asylum,  &c.  On  July  24,  1859,  he  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Saint  Paul,  and  arrived 
here  shortly  after.  He  has  had  great  success  in  his  zealous  labors  in  this  city  and  State, 
increasing  the  church  greatly,  procuring  large  additions  to  the  clergy,  opening  schools, 
establishing  charitable  institutions,  and  multiplying  churches.  He  is  warmly  beloved 
by  his  large  congregation,  and  respedted  by  other  sec~ts,  for  his  learning,  piety,  amiable 
character  and  benevolence.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  prelates  in  America. 


1859]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  391 

had  recently  been  ordained  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Saint 
Paul. 

The  State  election  took  place  on  October  1 1.  WM.  SPRIGG 
HALL,  C.  N.  MACKUBIN  and  Dr.  J.  H.  STEWART  were  elected 
Senators;  and  GEO.  MITSCH.  OSCAR  STEPHENSON,  J.  B. 
OLIVIER.  D.  A.  ROBERTSON,  JOHN  B.  SANBORN  and  HENRY 
ACKER.  Representatives;  A.  W.  TULLIS,  Sheriff;  SHER- 
WOOD HOUGH,  Register;  I.  V.  D.  HEARD,*  County  Attor- 
ney ;  R.  A.  SMITH,  Treasurer :  J.  F.  HOYT,  Probate  Judge. 

On  December  5,  a  fire  destroyed  several  frame  buildings  on 
the  north  side  of  Third  street,  where  McCargar's  Block  now 
stands,  and  thence  to  the  corner  above. 

On  December  14,  the  two  organs  of  the  party,  the  Minnc- 
sotian  and  the  Times,  were  united  into  one  journal,  and  the 
joint  proprietors,  "NEWSON,  MOORE,  FOSTER  &  Co.,"  were 
elected  State  printers.  This  firm  was  not  a  happy  family,  and 
the  union  was  soon  dissolved. 

The  year  1859.  closed  with  somewhat  better  prospects 
financially.  The  harvest  had  been  abundant,  and  somewhat 
enlivened  business.  The  people  of  the  State  were  confident 
that  the  panic  had  spent  its  force,  and  that  matters  were  now 
on  the  mend.  For  the  first  time  this  fall,  grain  had  been  ex- 
ported from  the  State,  and  the  people  began  to  get  on  a 
foundation  of  real  prosperity. 

*  ISAAC  V.  D.  HEARD  was  born  at  Goshen,  New  York,  August  31,  1834.  He  canlc 
to  Saint  Paul  in  May,  1852,  when  18  years  of  age,  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to 
praAice.  He  was  elefted  City  Attorney  in  1856,  and  again  in  1865,  1866  and  1867.  He 
was  appointed  County  Attorney  in  1857,  elected  the  same  fall  for  two  years,  and  re-elected 
in  1859  and  1861,  serving  over  six  years.  He  was  elefted  State  Senator  from  Ramsey 
county,  in  1871.  Mr.  HEARD  volunteered,  during  the  Sioux  War,  in  an  independent 
cavalry  company ;  was  Judge  Advocate  during  the  trial  of  the  303  Indian  murderers  the 
same  fall,  and  afterwards  wrote  a  valuable  work  on  the  Sioux  War. 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1860 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR  1860. 

SUPPOSED  UXORICIDE  —  DESTRUCTIVE  FIRES  — EXECUTION  OF  MRS.  BILANSKI— 
PRICES,  BUSINESS,  *c. — THE  DOUGLAS  AND  LINCOLN  CAMPAIGN — SUICIDE  OF 
WM.  C.  GRAY. 

January  26,  the  wife  of  a  shoemaker,  named  WM. 
NEiLL.  was  found  dead  in  their  hovel,  in  the  swamp, 
near  the  corner  of  Seventh  and  Cedar  streets.  It  was  uncer- 
tain whether  she  had  died  by  accident,  or  her  husband  mur- 
dered her  in  a  drunken  fit.  He  was  tried  for  it.  at  any  rate, 
and  sentenced  to  Stillwater  for  five  years. 

February  25,  THEODOKK  FRENCH,  a  feading  lawyer  of  the 
city,  died. 

On  March  16.  most  of  the  buildings  on  both  sides  of  Third 
street,  from  Robert  to  Jackson,  were  destroyed  by  fire.  It 
commenced  in  the  clothing  store  of  a  well-known  character, 
named  ISAAC  ANSELL.  Soine  25  or  30  business  houses  wen- 
broken  up  by  this  calamity. 

These  fii'es.  of  which  there  were  several  very  destructive 
ones,  from  1857  to  1861,  always  produced  great  discourage- 
ment. But  from  the  ashes  of  despair  ever  grew  the  plant  of 
new  hope  and  courage.  The  fires  really  did  good.  Most  of 
the  buildings  destroyed  were  old  shells,  and  in  their  places 
fine  and  valuable,  blocks  were  built.  Old  settlers  have  seen 
Third  street  swept  by  flames  nearly  from  one  end  to  the  other, 
and  rebuilt  again. 

On  March  22.  the  appointment  of  W.  M.  CORCORAN,  a 
lawyer  and  real  estate  dealer,  as  postmaster,  was  announced. 
He  held  the  office  about  a  year.  He  resides  now  in  Maryland. 

THE    EXECUTION    OK    MRS.   BILANSKI. 

A  strong  effort  was  made  by  a  few  members  of  the  Legis- 


i86o]       and  of  the  Countv  of  Ramsey*  Minnesota.  393 

lature,  opposed  to  capital  punishment,  to  commute  the  death- 
sentence  of  Mrs.  BILANSKI,  to  imprisonment  for  life.  A  bill 
to  accomplish  this  was  passed  early  in  March,  but  Governor 
RAMSEY  promptly  vetoed  it,  on  the  grounds  of  tmconstitu- 
tionality,  and  that  it  was  a  case  not  calling  for  any  show  of 
clemency.  The  law,  therefore,  took  its  course. 

The  execution  of  the  unfortunate  woman  took  place  at  ten 
o'clock,  on  March  23d.  The  scaffold  was  erected  in  the  en- 
closed yard  adjoining  the  jail,  and  alongside  the  old  hook  and 
ladder  house.  An  immense  crowd,  several  thousand  in  num- 
ber, were  present.  The  Pioneer  Guards,  with  loaded  muskets 
and  fixed  bayonets,  were  placed  in  line  in  front  of  the  jail,  to 
preserve  order.  Mrs.  BILANSKI.  who  had  spent  the  whole 
morning  in  devotional  exercises,  with  Father  CAILLET  and 
another  clergyman,  walked  with  a  firm  step  to  the  gallows, 
cheerfully  bidding  her  acquaintances  good-bye.  Before  the 
fatal  noose  was  adjusted,  she  spoke  a  few  words,  to  the  effect 
that  she  had  not  had  justice  in  her  trial,  and  conveying  the 
impression  that  she  was  innocent.  She  then  kissed  the  cruci- 
fix, the  black  cap  was  put  on.  and  the  noose  adjusted.  The 
bolt  was  then  drawn,  and  the  body  fell.  After  hanging  a  short 
time,  it  was  taken  down  and  buried  in  the  Catholic  cemeterv. 

THE  CITY   ELECTION' 

this  spring  resulted  as  follows  : 

Democratic.  Republican. 

Mayor John   S.  Prince 1 148     C.  D.  Gilfillan 1 133 

Treasurer Chas.  A.  Morgan.  .  •  1257     Geo.  C.  Mott 1012 

Comptroller.  -  -  Wm.  Von  Hamm . . .  1262     T.  M.  Metcalf 1012 

City  Justice . .  •  Nelson   Gibbs 1 285     Luke  Marvi n 997 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

County  Commissioners  elected.—].  C.  Burbank,  J.  R.  Irvine,  John 
Smith,  J.  W.  McClung,  John  Nicols. 

Aldermen  defied.—  First  Ward.  R.  H.  Fitz;  Second  Ward,  H.  P. 
Grant;  Third  Ward,  C.  M.  Daily;  Fourth  Ward,  W.  M.  Corcoran. 

"  Ingersoll's  Block"  was  this  year  built  by  D.  W.  Ingersoll.* 

*DANIKL  W.  INGERSOLL  was  born  at  Newton,  New  Jersey,  June  la,  i8ia.    At  quite 
an  early  age  he  entered  the  mercantile  business,  in  the  employ  of  a  friend,  at  Newton, 
26 


394  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PanL         [1860 

It  supplied  a  great  want  in  the  matter  of  a  public  hall  for 
meetings,  &c.  It  was  used  for  some  14  years  for  that  purpose, 
and,  a  few  months  ago,  converted  into  offices. 

PRICES BUSINESS IMMIGRATION. 

Some  improvement  in  business,  &c.,  was  noticeable  during 
this  spring,  and  immigration  commenced.  Much  of  the  splendid 
wholesale  trade  of  our  city  dates  from  this  time,  and  was  one 
of  the  good  results  of  the  commercial  revulsion.  Country 
dealers,  unable  to  buy  large  stocks  east,  on  long  credit,  as 
formerly,  could  purchase  small  lots  in  Saint  Paul  for  cash, 
and  many  of  our  merchants  thus  had  a  wholesale  trade  thrust 
on  them,  without  seeking  it,  which  has  grown  into  huge  pro- 
portions, and  now  employs  an  immense  capital.  Thus,  out 
of  the  nettle  disaster,  we  plucked  the  flower  prosperitv. 

Prices  had,  about  this  date,  touched  their  lowest  ebb.  Pro- 
duce and  provisions,  fuel,  rents.  &c.,  were  so  low  that  even  a 
little  money  would  go  a  great  ways  in  the  ik  pursuit  of  happi- 
ness." The  Minnesotian,  of  June  2,  mentions  that  houses, 
that  in  1856  or  1857  rented  for  $18  and  $20  per  month,  then 
only  brought  $5  and  $6.  Potatoes  were  15  and  18  cents  a 
bushel  ;  wood,  $4  per  cord,  and  other  necessaries  in  propor- 
tion. Even  whisky  could  be  had  for  2^  cents  a  gallon.  Alas  ! 
that  those  halcyon  days  should  have  fled  forever  ! 

FRAGMENTS. 

On  April  7,  Rogers'*  Block  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

who  not  long  after  removed  to  Burlington,  Vermont,  and  Mr.  INGEKSOLL  accompanied 
him  to  that  place,  ultimately  becoming  his  partner.  In  1837,  Mr.  INGERSOLI.  removed 
to  New  York,  and  engaged  in  trade  there,  remaining  until  1855,  when  he  came  to  Saint 
Paul.  He  established  his  dry  goods  house  here  the  following  year,  which  has  continued 
one  of  the  leading  establishments  of  Minnesota  since  that  year.  Mr.  INGEKSOLL  was 
never  elected  to  any  position  except  the  School  Board,  in  which  he  has  given  valuable 
labor  for  education,  and  is  now  its  President,  but  has  held  many  honorary  appointments, 
being  President  of  the  State  Reform  School  Board  of  Managers,  President  of  the  State 
Temperance  Association,  &c.,  and  member  of  a  number  of  charitable,  religious,  and 
similar  bodies.  He  is  one  of  our  most  faithful  and  energetic  workers  in  every  L;IM><| 
cause. 

*  HIRAM  ROGERS  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  7,  1806.  He  subse- 
quently went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  morocco. 
Arc.,  which  he  carried  on  extensively  for  some  years.  In  1836,  he  removed  to  Zanesville, 


1860]       ana I  of  the  County  of  Ramsey \  Minnesota.  395 

The  census  was  taken  in  June,  by  JOHN  M.  LAMB.  Deputy 
Marshal.     The  result  was  reported  :     Population  of  the  city, 


D.  W.  INGERSOLL. 


10,279;  °f  the  county.  12.150;  native  born,  (in  city.)  5.620: 
foreign  born.  4,659. 

Ohio,  where  he  carried  on  leather,  and  boot  and  shoe  manufacturing,  for  about  30  years. 
In  1856,  he  came  to  Saint  Paul,  investing  a  large  amount  of  capital  here,  and  erecting 
several  fine  blocks  of  buildings,  &c.  He  has  also,  in  connection  with  his  son,  WM.  D. 
ROGERS,  carried  on  the  manufacture  of  boot-packs,  &c.,  quite  extensively,  and  in  other 
ways  added  to  the  trade  and  prosperity  of  our  city. 


396  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/.         [1860 

This  season,  Capt.  DAVIDSON  started  a  line  of  packets  from 
Saint  Paul  to  LaCrosse,  with  three  small  boats,  and  thus  laid 
the  foundation  of  his  present  marine  corporation. 

The  presidential  campaign  of  1860  was  a  memorable  one. 
and  was  hotly  contested  in  Saint  Paul.  The  Republicans  had 
a  large  club,  called  the  kt  Wide  Awakes,"  commanded  by 
Capt.  WM.  H.  ACKER.*  and  the  DOUGLAS  Democrats  had  a 
similar  club,  called  the  ;i  Little  Giants."  commanded  by  Capt. 
ALEX.  WILKIN.  Both  were  finely  drilled. 

On  August  9.  the  telegraph  from  Saint  Paul  to  LaCrosse 
being  completed,  the  first  message  was  sent,  being  addressed 
to  Hon.  WM.  H.  SEWARD. 

On  November  10.  WM.  C.  GRAY,  once  a  prominent  broker 
and  real  estate  dealer,  committed  suicide,  by  leaping  over  the 
bridge  into  the  river.  A  sheriff  had  arrested  him  for  forgery, 
when  GRAY  broke  away  from  him.  ran  to  the  bridge,  and  com- 
mitted the  desperate  acl:,  in  full  sight  of  a  number  of  persons. 

The  county  election  (November  6)  resulted  as  follows : 

Republican .  Democratic. 

Auditor T.  M.  Metcalf. .  1510     C.  W.  Griggs 943 

Court  Commissioner. .  O.  Malmros 1288     Greenleaf  Clark 1 169 

Surveyor D.  L.  Curtice. .  1251     C.   M.  Boyle 1214 

„  I  'Jus.  Smith,  Jr. .  703    J.   C.  Burbank 673 

' '  (  J,,o.  B.  Sanborn  581     Alex.  Wilkin 506 

(Andrew  Nessel.^  677  J.  P.  Kidder 679 
Henry  Acker...  726  John  S.  Prince 663 
W.  L.  Banning.  501  Thomas  Dalv 447 

Those  in  italics  eleAed. 


*  Captain  WILLIAM  H.  ACKER  was  born  in  Clyde,  Wayne  county,  New  York. 
December  :;,  1833.  He  was  a  son  of  Hon.  HENRY  ACKER,  deceased,  who  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  county  at  various  times.  WM.  H.  spent  most  of  his  youth  in 
Michigan,  coming  to  Saint  Paul  in  1854.  He  was  book-keeper  in  the  banking  house  of 
W.  R.  MARSHALL,  for  several  years.  In  1856,  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Pioneer  Guard,  the  first  military  company  in  Minnesota,  and  was  afterwards  its  Captain. 
He  was  very  fond  of  military  exercises,  and  was  a  fine  drill-master.  On  March  19, 
1860,  Governor  RAMSEY  appionted  him  Adjutant  General  of  the  State,  but  when  the  war 
broke  out  in  1861,  General  ACKER  resigned,  and  recruited  a  company,  which  became 
Company  C,  First  Regiment.  He  was  wounded  at  Bull  Run,  and  afterwards  commis- 
sioned a  Captain  in  the  Sixteenth  Regulars.  He  fell  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862.  His 
death  created  profound  sorrow  in  this  city,  where  he  was  warmly  esteemed.  His  remains 
now  repose  in  Oakland  cemetery. 

t  NKSSEI.  contested  KIDDKR'S  seat  and  gained  it. 


1860]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          307 

On  December  25.  WM.  HOLLINSHEAD,  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  of  the  city.  died. 

The  Daily  Times  was  this  month  sold  to  WM.  R.  MAR- 
SHALL, who,  on  January  i.  issued  it  as  the  Daily  Press. 


CAPT.  WILLIAM  H.  ACKER. 

The  year  1860  closed  under  gloomy  circumstances.  The 
disunion  cloud  was  darkening  the  southern  horizon,  and  the 
mutterings  of  war  were  heard  in  the  distance.  Trade  was 
again  depressed,  currency  depreciated,  and  gloom  and  fore- 
bodings rested  on  all. 


398  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1861 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  WAR  PERIOD.— 1861  TO  1865. 

THE  DISUNION  PERIOD— OPENING  OF  THE  WAR— THE  FIRST  REGIMENT  RAISED— 
OFFICERS  OK  THE  VARIOUS  REGIMENTS— OUR  RAILROAD  SYSTEM  BEGUN— THE 
SAINT  PAUL  AND  PACIFIC  RAILROAD — OVERLAND  EMIGRATION — THE  CALL  FOR 
600,000  MEN — THE  Sioux  OUTBREAK — BIRCH  COOLIE — ORIGIN  OF  OUR  BANKING 
SYSTEM— SAINT  PAUL  AND  Sioux  CITY  RAILROAD— CASUALTIES  AND  CRIMES— 
THE  SANITARY  FAIR — END  OF  THE  WAR — CELEBRATION — RETURN  OK  OUR 
REGIMENTS— OUR  QUOTA,  *c. 

THE  year  1861  was  marked  hr  history  by  the  opening  of 
the  great   struggle  between  the  Northern  and  Southern 
States.     The  disunion  movement,  which  began  in  the  fall  of 
1860,  steadily  advanced,  and  in   its  course  the   depression  of 
business,   the   failure   of  banks,    and   gloomy    forebodings  of 
trouble,  were  the  results.      In  Saint  Paul  this  was  especially  so. 
At  the  municipal   election.    (April   2.)   the  following  vote 
was  cast : 

Republican.  l>,iii,xratic. 

Mayor Dr.  J.  H.  Stewart 88 1      John  S.  Prince 1121 

Comptroller  ..Findley  McCormick 860      Wm.   Von  Ihiimn...  1135 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

Aldermen  defied.—  First  Ward.  J.  E.  Thompson;  Second  Ward. 
Wm.  P.  Murray;  Third  Ward.  N.  Gross:  Fourth  Ward,  L.  H.  Eddy. 

During  this  month,  the  appointment  of  CHARLES  NICHOLS. 
as  postmaster,  was  announced  ;  also  GEO.  W.  MOORE,  Col- 
lector of  the  Port ;  Hon.  AARON  GOODRICH.  Secretary  of 
Legation  to  Brussels,  &c. 

On  April  13,  the  telegraph  brought  the  sad  news  of  the  fall 
of  Sumter,  and  the  call  for  75,000  troops.  Great  excitement 
prevailed  for  some  days,  and  war  was  the  only  theme  of  con- 
versation. Capt.  WM.  H.  ACKER  and  Capt.  ALEX.  WILKIN, 
at  once  commenced  recruiting  companies  for  the  First  Minne- 
sota Regiment,  and  war  meetings  were  held  to  encourage  en- 


r86i]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          399 

listments.  Gen.  JOHN  B.  SANBORN*  was  appointed  Adjutant 
General  of  the  State,  vice  ACKER,  resigned. 

In  four  days,  Capt.  ACKER'S  Company  (C)  was  full,  and  ac- 
cepted, with  the  following  officers  :  Captain,  WM.  H.  ACKER  ; 
First  Lieutenant,  WILSON  B.  FARRELL  ;  Second  Lieutenant, 
SAMUEL  T.  RAGUET.  On  the  22d,  Capt.  WILKIN'S  Company 
'•  A,"  (Pioneer  Guard,)  was  accepted — First  Lieutenant. 
HARRY  C.  COATES  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  H.  ZIERENBERG. 
Ex-Governor  GORMAN  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  Regi- 
ment, with  Dr.  J.  H.  STEWART  as  Surgeon,  and  Rev.  E.  D. 
NEILL  as  Chaplain.  The  Regiment  was  mustered  in  at  Fort 
Snelling  on  April  29,  and  on  June  22,  left  for  Washington. 

In  the  meantime  a 

SECOND    REGIMENT 

had  been  accepted.  *•  The  Western  Zouaves"  was  recruited 
in  Saint  Paul  by  Capt.  H.  H.  WESTERN,  and  became  Com- 
pany D.  The  Regiment  was  mustered  in  on  June  26.  Among 

*  Gen.  JOHN  B.  SANBORN  was  born  December  5,  1826,  in  Merriinac  county,  New 
Hampshire.  Determining  upon  the  profession  of  law,  after  preparatory  schooling,  he 
studied  three  years,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  July,  1854.  In  December,  of  the 
same  year,  he  removed  to  Saint  Paul,  and  at  once  began  a  successful  practice  here,  in 
the  well-known  law  firm  of  early  days — "  SANBORN,  FRENCH  &  LUND." 

In  1859,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  The  next  year 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  1861.  Hardly  had  his  term  closed,  when  the  war  broke 
out,  and  he  was  appointed  Adjutant  General  of  the  State.  Very  heavy  labor  now  de- 
volved on  him,  in  the  organizing,  arming  and  equipping  of  the  four  regiments  raised  that 
year.  When  the  Fourth  Regiment  was  filled,  the  command  was  tendefed  to  him,  and 
he  accepted  it  (December.)  He  remained  in  command  of  Fort  Snelling  that  winter, 
and  early  in  the  spring  of  1862,  his  regiment  was  sent  to  Mississippi,  when  it  at  once 
entered  the  Corinth  campaign.  Col.  SANBORN  was  placed  in  command  of  a  demi- 
brigade,  and  subsequently  of  a  brigade,  afterwards  part  of  the  famous  iyth  army  corps. 
On  September  19,  at  luka,  he  lost  600  out  of  2,200  of  his  men,  and,  for  his  gallant  con- 
duct, was  promoted  to  Brigadier  General.  He  was  also  in  the  battles  of  Port  Gibson, 
Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hills,  and  the  assault  on  Vicksburg.  After  the  surren- 
der of  the  latter  post,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  southwest  district  of 
Missouri,  where,  after  the  campaign  against  PRICE,  he  was,  upon  recommendation  of 
Gen.  ROSECRANS,  promoted  to  Brevet  Major  General,  for  "  gallant  and  meritorious 
-services." 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  performed  other  important  duties,  civil  and  military,  for 
some  months.  In  September,  1866,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  special  "  Peace  Com- 
mission," along  with  Generals  SHERMAN,  HARNEY,  TERRY,  and  Senator  HENDER- 
SON, to  negotiate  treaties  with  the  principal  tribes  of  the  central  plains.  The  commission 
was  engaged  18  months  on  this  important  labor. 

On  his  return  home,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1872,  he  again 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 


400  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL        [1861 

our  citizens  who.  at  various  times,  held  rank  and  commissions 
on  its  rolls,  are  the  following : 

Alex.  Wilkin,  Lieut.  Colonel ;  Dr.  W.  L.  Armington,  Assistant  Sur- 
geon ;  John  D.  Wilson,  (Company  D,)  Sergeant-Major :  Webster  D. 
Hoover,  (Companj-  D.)  Quartermaster  Sergeant;  Brewer  Mattocks. 
Hospital  Steward;  Michael  Esch,  Band  Leader,  (died.  July  10,  1873;) 
Calvin  S.  Uline,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  I,  afterwards  Captain, 
Major  and  Lieut.  Colonel;  John  B.  Davis.  Captain,  Companj  F,  and 
afterwards  Major;  John  Moulton.  Companj  D.  promoted  Lieutenant, 
Captain  and  Major ;  Horace  H.  Western,  Captain,  Companj  D ;  Moses 
C.  Tuttle,  First  Lieutenant,  Companj  D,  promoted  Captain ;  S.  P.  Jen- 
nison,  Second  Lieutenant,  Companj  D.  promoted  First  Lieutenant 
and  Adjutant ;  C.  F.  Mejer.  Second  Lieutenant,  Companj  G.  promo- 
ted First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant;  James  W.  Wood,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, Companj  I.  promoted  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant;  Geo.  W. 
Shurman.  Adjutant,  and  promoted  Captain.  Company  D:  Samuel  G. 
Trimble,  Companj  D,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  and  First  Lieu- 
tenant, (killed  at  Mission  Ridge.  November  25.  1863:)  Hiram  Lobdell, 
Companj  D,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  and  First  Lieutenant:  Ja- 
cob T.  McCoj,  Companj  D,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  and  First 
Lieutenant;  Isaac  W.  Stuart,  Companj  D,  promoted  Second  Lieuten- 
ant; John  S.  Livingston.  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  F,  promoted 
First  Lieutenant  and  Captain  ;  Andrew  R.  Kiefer,  Captain,  Company 
G;  Jacob  Mainzer,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  G:  Henning  Von 
Rumohr,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  G,  promoted  First  Lieutenant 
and  Captain  ;  Charles  Rampe,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant,  Company 
G  ;  Fred.  Lambrecht,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant,  Companj  G  ;  Ja- 
cob J.  Noah,  Captain,  Companj  K;  E.  Allen  Otis.  Second  Lieutenant. 
Companj  K,  promoted  Staff. 

The  Second  Regiment  left  Fort  Snelling  for  the  seat  of  war 
October  14. 

Congress,  which  assembled  July  4,  having  authorized  the 
raising  of  500,000  troops,  a  Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth  Regiments 
were  apportioned  to  Minnesota's  quota,  besides  one  or  two 
companies  of  Cavalry  and  Batteries  of  Light  Artillery,  Sharp- 
shooters, &c. 

THE    THIKI)    REGIMENT 

was  completed  in  October,  and  remained  at  Fort  Snelling 
until  March.  Among  the  citizens  of  Saint  Paul  who  served 
in  its  ranks,  the  following  gained  commissions  : 


1861]       and  of  the  County  of  Kamsey,  Minnesota.  401 

Ephraim  Pierce,  Second  Lieutenant,  promoted  First  Lieutenant, 
Adjutant  and  Captain,  Company  F ;  Otto  F.  Dreher,  First  Lieutenant! 
Company  F,  promoted  Captain,  Company  A;  John  C.  Devereux.  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Company  G,  promoted  First  Lieutenant  and  Captain  : 
Damon  Greenleaf,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  I,  promoted  First 
Lieutenant  and  Captain ;  Hiram  D.  Gates,  First  Lieutenant,  Com- 
pany K. 

THE    FOURTH    REGIMENT 

was  organized  in  December.  Saint  Paul  was  largely  repre- 
sented in  its  officers,  as  follows : 

John  B.  Sanborn,  Colonel,  afterwards  Brigadier  and  Major  General : 

D.  M.  G.  Murphy,    Quartermaster,   promoted  Captain.  Company  B: 
Dr.  John  H.  Murphy,  Surgeon;  Geo.  M.  D.  Lambert,  Hospital  Stew- 
ard, promoted  Assistant  Surgeon  ;  Rev.  Asa  S.  Fiske.  Chaplain  ;  Frank 

E.  Collins,  Quartermaster  Sergeant;  Thomas  P.  Wilson,  Commissary 
Sergeant,  (afterwards  Major  of  another  regiment;)   Wm.  F.  Wheeler, 
First  Lieutenant,    Company   F,  promoted  Captain ;  James  Drysdale, 
Second  Lieutenant,  Company  F.  promoted  First  Lieutenant:  John  G. 
Janicke.  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  G,  promoted  First  Lieutenant; 
Edward  H.  Foster,  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  I ;  L.  B.  Martin,  First 
Lieutenant,  Company   K,  promoted  Captain;  Frank  S.  DeMers,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  promoted  Adjutant;   Cheeseman  Gould,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Company  B.  promoted  First  Lieutenant  and  Captain. 

THE    FIFTH    REGIMENT 

was  recruited  mostly  during  the  winter  of  1861-2,  and  was 
not  mustered  in  until  March.  1862.  Our  citizens  who  bore 
commissions  in  that  Battalion,  are  as  follows  : 

John  C.  Becht,  Captain,  Company  E,  promoted  Major;  Wm.  B.  Mc- 
Grorty,  Quartermaster ;  Dr.  J.  A.  Vervais.  Surgeon  ;  Rev.  John  Ireland.* 


*  Right  Reverend  JOHN  IRELAND,  D.  D.,  was  born  at  Burncliurch,  Kilkenny  county, 
Ireland,  September  n,  1838.  His  parents  came  to  America  in  1849,  settling  at  Chicago, 
where  he  attended  school  at  "  Saint  Mary's  of  the  Lake."  Three  years  later,  his  father, 
RICHARD  IRELAND,  Esq.,  settled  in  Saint  Paul,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1853, 
under  the  auspices  of  Bishop  CRETIN,  Dr.  IRELAND  left  for  France,  to  complete  his 
studies,  in  company  with  Rev.  THOMAS  O'GORMAN,  now  of  Rochester,  Minnesota,  and 
Rev.  A.  RAVOUX.  The  latter  placed  them  at  Meximeux,  Aiti,  where  Dr.  IRELAND 
passed  four  years  of  preparatory  study,  and  another  four  years  with  the  Marist  Fathers 
of  Hyeres,  Var,  where  he  completed  his  theological  course.  In  1861,  he  returned  to 
Saint  Paul,  and  was  ordained  priest,  by  Bishop  GRACE,  on  December  ai.  The  next 
year  he  was  commissioned  Chaplain  of  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Volunteers,  and  remained 
in  service  a  vear,  resigning  on  account  of  ill-health.  Since  that  date  he  has  been  pastor 
of  the  cathedral  parish.  On  February  13,  1875,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Sovereign  Pon- 


402  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.    '     [1861 

Chaplain;  F.  A.  Cariveau,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  D;  Killian 
Six,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  E ;  Ross  Wilkinson,  First  Lieuten- 
ant, Company  F,  promoted  Captain;  David  O.  Oakes^Second,  Lieu- 
tenant, Company  F,  (killed,  May  28th,  1862,  at  Corinth ;)  W.  A.  Van 
Slyke,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  G  ;  Luther  E.  Clark,  Captain, 
Company  I;  Alpheus  R.  French.  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  I, 
promoted  First  Lieutenant  and  Captain  ;  Patrick  Ryan,  First  Lieuten- 
ant, Company  I;  James  Farrell,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  I. 

BRACKETT'S  BATTALION. 

originally  three  companies,  attached  to  the  Fifth  Iowa  Cav- 
alry, was  recruited  in  the  fall  of  1861.  Commissioned  officers 
from  Saint  Paul  as  follows : 

Alfred  B.  Brackett,  Captain,  Company  C,  promoted  Major  and  Lieut. 
Colonel;  Henning  Von  Minden,  Captain  Company  A.  promoted  Ma- 
jor; Albert  T.  Phelps,  Captain,  Company  A;  August  Matheus,  Cap- 
tain, Company  A;  Gustave  Leue,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company 
A;  Joseph  J.  Buck,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  A;  Geo.  A.  Freud- 
enrich,  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  A;  Adam  Lindig,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Company  A;  Wm.  Smith,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  B. 
promoted  Captain;  Erwin  Y.  Shelley,  First  Lieutenant,  Company 
C,  promoted  Captain  ;  Mortimer  Neeley,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company 
C,  promoted  First  Lieutenant  and  Captain ;  R.  W.  Peckham,  Second 
Lieutenant,  Company  C;  Charles  H.  Osgood,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Company  C;  Andrew  J.  Church,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  C; 
Wm.  B.  McGeorge,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  C,  promoted  First 
Lieutenant  and  Adjutant. 

At  the  election,  on  October  9.  the  following  officers  were 
chosen:  Senators. — JAMES  SMITH.  Jr.,  and  J.  R.  IRVINE. 
Representatives. — HENRY  L.  CARVER.  PHILIP  ROHR.  X. 
GROSS.  Sheriff. — D.  A.  ROBERTSON.  Treasurer.— R.  A. 
SMITH.  Register. — CHARLES  PASSAVANT.  Clerk  of  Court. — 
GEO.  W.  PRESCOTT.  Attorney. — I.  V.  D.  HEARD.  Probate 
Judge.— J.  F.  HOYT.  (HoYT  resigned  ini  862,  when  E.  C. 
LAMBERT  was  elected.) 


tift",  Bishop  of  Maronea,  in  partibus  in  fid  f  Hum,  ;«nd  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Nebraska,  hut, 
at  the  solicitation  of  Bishop  GJ«ACE,  this  appointment  was  recalled,  and  Dr.  IRELAND 
was  appointed  to  the  Coadjutorship  of  the  See  of  Saint  Paul— consecrated  December 
31,  1875.  Dr.  IRELAND,  since  his  priesthood  began,  has  labored  untiringly  for  the 
welfare  of  his  flock,  and  is  looked  up  to  by  them  with  the  deepest  affection.  His  labor* 
in  the  cause  of  temperance,  which  have  been  blessed  with  remarkable  success,  have 
gained  him  the  gratitude  of  every  good  citizen.  He  is  /.ealous  in  ;ill  good  works,  is  an 
impressive  and  eloquent  preacher,  and,  having  attained  a  rank  but  few  prelates  reach  at 
his  age,  a  career  of  extensive  usefulness  is  yet  before  him. 


1862]        and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  403 

EVENTS    OF    THE    YEAR    1862. 

The  year  1862.  was  marked  by  several  important  events — 
among  which  were  the  Sioux  massacre,  the  heavy  levies  of 
troops,  the  beginning  of  our  railroad  system,  &c. 

The  principal  legislation  of  the  winter,  affecting  Saint  Paul, 
was  the  creation  of  the  Fifth  Ward. 

The  second  company  of  Sharpshooters  was  recruited  this 
spring.  Capt.  WM.  J.  RUSSELL,  First  Lieut.  EMIL  A.  BUR- 
GER, and  Second  Lieut.  JOHN  A.  W.  JONES,  were  citizens  of 
Saint  Paul. 

The  Legislature  of  1862,  did  a  work  of  great  importance 
by  infusing  life  into  our  dead  railroads.  The  franchises, 
which  the  State  secured  by  foreclosure  sale  in  1860,  were  con- 
veyed to  new  corporations.  Work  was  commenced  vigor- 
ously on  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific  Road,  between  Saint 
Paul  and  Saint  Anthony,  by  Messrs.  WINTERS  &  DRAKE.* 
and  iron  arrived  early  in  the  summer,  sufficient  to  lay  the 
track  to  Saint  Anthony. 

THE    SAINT    PAUL    AND    PACIFIC    RAILROAD 

may  truly  be  called  a  Saint  Paul  institution,  and  as  such  it  has  always 
been  regarded.  It  was  projected  and  started  by  Saint  Paul  citizens, 
and  has  been  almost  exclusively  managed  and  officered  by  them.  The 
company  was  first  chartered  by  the  Legislature,  May  22,  1857,  and  en- 
dowed with  a  part  of  the  Congressional  land  grant,  under  the  name 
"  Minnesota  and  Pacific  Railroad,"  and  authorized  to  construe"!  a  line 
"from  Stillwater  via  Saint  Paul  and  Saint  Anthony  to  Breckenridge, 
on  the  Sioux  Wood  River,  with  a  branch  from 'Saint  Anthony  via 

*  ELIAS  F.  DRAKE,  one  of  the  pioneer  railroad  men  of  Minnesota,  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  in  which  State  he  lived  until  he  came  to  St.  Paul,  in  1861.  In  early  life  he  studied 
law,  and  practiced  awhile,  but  was  more  interested  in  finance  than  law,  and  was 
appointed  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Ohio,  which  position  he  filled  ten  years.  Dur- 
ing that  period  he  served  three  terms  as  member  of  the  Legislature,  one  of  which  he 
was  Speaker.  He  was  largely  interested  in  works  of  internal  improvement,  embarking 
capital  in  several  of  them.  Mr.  DRAKE,  in  company  with  two  other  capitalists,  (HiRSH- 
MAN  &  WINTERS,)  in  1863,  built  the  first  railroad  in  Minnesota,  from  Saint  Paul  to  Saint 
Anthony,  which  gave  a  start  to  our  present  splendid  railroad  system.  Soon  after,  he, 
with  some  associates,  took  hold  of  the  Minnesota  Valley  Railroad,  and,  in  the  face  of 
great  obstacles,  completed  it  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  in  1873.  Mr.  DRAKE  represented  his 
county  in  the  State  Senate  in  1874-5,  with  marked  ability,  and  advantage  to  the  State. 
He  is  known  as  one  of  the  most  able,  sagacious,  hard-working  and 'resolute  business 
men  in  our  State. 


404  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1862 

Anoka,  Saint  Cloud  and  Crow  Wing,  to  Saint  Vincent,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Pembina  River,"  &c.  Among  the  names  of  the  first  Board  ot" 
Directors  (named  in  the  act)  were  ALEX.  RAMSEY.  EDMUND  RICE,  R. 
R.  NELSON,  WM.  L.  AMES,  CHARLES  H.  OAKES,  F.  R.  DELANO,  and 
other  past  and  present  citizens  of  Saint  Paul.  EDMUND  RICE  was 
first  President.  The  line  was  surveyed  in  1857,  and  some  grading  done 
by  SELAH  CHAMBERLAIN  that  fall,  but  the  panic,  then  raging,  prevented 
much  active  work  being  done. 

When  the  five  million  loan  bill  was  passed,  in  1858,  work  was  resumed 
vigorously,  and  most  of  the  bed  between  Saint  Paul  and  Saint  Anthony 
graded,  when  the  failure  of  the  loan  scheme  again  compelled  a  stop- 
page of  work. 

In  1860,  the  mortgage  given  by  the  road  to  the  State,  as  security  for 
its  aid,  was  foreclosed,  and  the  bed,  franchises,  &c.,  became  the  prop- 
erty of  the  State,  and  so  remained  until  March,  10.  1862.  when  the 
Legislature  conferred  them  on  EDMUND  RICE,  R.  R.  NELSON,  E.  A. 
C.  HATCH.  J.  E.  THOMPSON.  WM.  LEE,  and  others,  with  provisos  that 
certain  portions  should  be  constructed  by  specified  dates.  The  name 
of  the  corporation  was  also  changed  to  "Saint  Paul  and  Pacific  Rail- 
road Company." 

A  contract  was  soon  entered  into.  (March  n,  186-'.  with  Mfs-r-.  K. 
F.  DRAKE  and  V.  WINTERS,  to  construct  the  road  from  Saint  Paul  to 
Saint  Anthony,  and  it  was  completed  and  running  on  June  28,  of  that 
year.  The  first  locomotive  was  the  "William  Crooks,"*  named  in 
honor  of  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the  road :  it  was  run  by  WEBSTER  C. 
GARDNER,  who  still  runs  on  the  same  road  ;  and  J.  B.  RICE,  at  present 
Assistant  Superintendent,  was  the  conductor  of  the  first  train,  lion. 
E.  RICE,  the  President,  about  that  time,  went  to  England,  where  he  en- 
listed capitalists  in  the  construction  of  the  road,  and  sent  back  3.000 
tons  of  rails  for  its  construction.  Work  was  steadily  pushed  on  the 
road  during  the  ensuing  year.  On  February  6,  1864,  the  road  was 
divided  into  two  companies — the  part  from  Saint  Paul  to  Breckenridge. 
and  the  Branch  Line  to  Watab.  being  called  the  "  First  Division."  un- 
der the  presidency  of  GEO.  L.  BECKER,  and  the  remaining  portion. 
(Saint  Cloud  to  Saint  Vincent,  Saint  Paul  to  Winona,  &c.,)  being 


*  WILLIAM  CROOKS  WHS  born  in  New  York  City,  June  ao,  1833.  He  attended 
West  Point  Military  Academy,  and  learned  the  profession  of  Civil  Engineer.  He  came 
to  Saint  Paul  in  1857,  as  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific  Railroad,  and 
was  one  of  the  men  who  helped  carry  through  that  enterprise  in  its  dark  and  trying 
days.  In  honor  of  his  services,  the  first  engine  which  ever  turned  a  wheel  in  Minne- 
sota, (186.2,)  was  named  for  him.  Col.  CROOKS  volunteered  in  the  Sixth  Regiment,  in 
1X62;  was  commissioned  Colonel,  and  commanded  that  fine  battalion  two  years,  resign- 
ing October,  1864.  He  then  aided  Hon.  E.  RICE  in  starting  the  "  River  Road,"  mak- 
ing two  trips  to  Europe,  &c.  Col.  CROOKS  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1875, 
and  has  been  re-elected  for  another  term.  He  also  served  a  term  as  member  of  the 
Board  of  Public  Wrorks  of  Saint  Paul. 


1862]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  40^ 

called  the  "Saint  Paul  and  Pacific."  Recently,  the  Saint  Vincent 
branch  has  been  leased  to  the  "  First  Division"  for  99  years,  and  thus 
is  now  again  virtually  one  organization. 

On  the  Branch  Line,  the  road  was  completed  to  Elk  River,  39  miles. 


E.  F.  DRAKE. 

in  1864,  and,  on  September  i.  1866.  to  Saint  Cloud,  74  miles.  On  the 
Main  Line  it  was  completed  to  Wayzata  in  1867;  to  Willmar  in  1869; 
to  Benson  in  1870,  and  to  Breckenridge,  217  miles  from  Saint  Paul,  in 
October,  1871.  The  road  from  Saint  Cloud  to  Melrose,  35  miles,  has 
also  been  completed,  and  from  Glj-ndon  to  Crookston,  84  miles,  &c. 


406  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1862 

The  officers  of  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific,  (including  both  divisions 
at  the  various  dates,)  have  been  :  Presidents. — 1857  to  J87i,  Hon.  ED. 
RICE;  1864  to  1875,  (First  Division,)  Hon.  GEO.  L.  BECKER,  (the  lat- 
ter also  Land  Commissioner.)  Vice  Presidents.— Hon.  R.  R.  NELSON. 
to  1864,  and  W.  B.  LITCHFIELD,  thence.  Secretaries.— J.  W.  TAYLOR. 
HENRY  ACKER,  S.  S.  BREED,  (1864  to  1875.)  Treasurer  and  present 
Land  Commissioner. — HERMAN  TROTT.  Superintendents. — First,  WM. 
CROOKS;  second,  W.  B.  LITCHFIELD;  third,  F.  R.  DELANO;  fourth, 
E.  C^  SEWALL.  Chief  Engineers.— First,  D.  C.  SHEPARD;  second. 
WM.  CROOKS:  third,  CHAS.  A.  F.  MORRIS.  General  Ticket  Agent. — 
1862101875,  JOHNH.  RANDALL.  General  Freight  Agent. — 1862101875. 
JAMES  W.  DORAN.  Attorney. — HENRY  F.  MASTERSON.  '  The  names 
of  some  of  the  old  and  faithful  officers  of  this  pioneer  road  have  been 
verv  appropriately  given  to  the  flourishing  towns  along  the  main  line. 

THE  SAINT  PAUL  AND  CHICAGO    RAILWAY. 

Section  25  of  the  original  charter  of  the  Minnesota  and  Pacific  Rail- 
road, authorized  a  line  from  Saint  Paul  to  Winona.  On  March  6.  1863. 
a  grant  of  swamp  lands  was  made  to  it  by  the  State.  The  city  of  Saint 
Paul  subsequently  gave  a  bonus  of  $50,000  to  the  line,  and,  on  March 
19,  1867,  the  Directors  of  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific  Railroad  resolved 
that  it  should  be  called  the  "  Saint  Paul  and  Chicago  Railway."  In 
1864,  Hon.  E.  RICE,  President  of  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific  Railroad, 
commenced  active  efforts  to  build  the  road.  He  went  to  England,  en- 
listed the  aid  of  capitalists,  procured  an  enlargement  of  the  land  grant, 
and,  in  a  few  months,  the  road  was  under  way,  and  progressed  steadilv 
until  completed  to  LaCrescent.  in  1872.  Through  eastern  trains  com- 
menced ruwning  in  September,  1872,  via  Winona.  The  road  bed  was 
sold  to  the  Saint  Paul  and  Milwaukee  road,  of  which  it  is  the  "  River 
Division."  The  officers  of  the  road  have  been  :  President. — EDMUNIJ 
RICE,  1864  to  1875.  Chief  Engineers.— C.  A.  F.  MORRIS.  WILLIAM 
CROOKS,  D.  C.  SHEPARD,  and.  at  present.  JOSEPH  G.  DODGE.  Secre- 
tary.— HENRY  ACKER,  &c. 

.  The  city  election  took  place  on  April  i.  with  the  following 
result : 

Republican.  Democratic. 

Mayor D.  W.  Ingersoll 853  John  S.  Prince 1 197 

Comptroller  . .  Edw.  Zimmerman 815  Wm.  Von  Hamm 1216 

Treasurer. .  .  .A.  Armstrong,  (Ind..)  .  .869  C.  A.   Morgan 1 174 

City  Justice  . .  A.  McElrath 925  N.   Gibbs 1 106 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

This  summer,  an  important  movement  was  inaugurated,  thai 
ultimately  led  the  way  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  bv 


1862]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  407 

calling  public  attention  to  the  desirability  of  the  route  via  the 
Upper  Missouri.  A  party  of  citizens  formed  an  expedition  to 
go  to  the  gold  mines  in  Idaho  and  Montana,  overland,  and 
started  on  May  14.  They  arrived  safely.  Meantime  Congress 
appropriated  a  small  amount  for  guidance  and  protection  to 
emigrant  trains.  Capt.  JAMES  L.  FISK  was  appointed  to  com- 
mand an  expedition,  and  another  train  left  on  June  16,  getting 
through  safely.  Most  of  our  citizens  who  accompanied  these 
expeditions,  ultimatelv  returned. 

The  call  -for  600,000  men,  in  July,  was  very  disheartening, 
coming  after  the  disasters  in  Virginia,  but  was  bravely  met. 
Meetings  were  called,  funds  subscribed  to  encourage  enlist- 
ments, the  city  voted  a  monthly  bounty  to  the  families  of  vol- 
unteers, and  with  this  stimulus  five  regiments  were  raised  in  a 
few  days.  Among  our  citizens  who  held  official  rank  in  these 
regiments  were  : 

SIXTH    REGIMENT. 

William  Crooks,  Colonel;  Hiram  P.  Grant,  Captain,  Company  A. 
promoted  Major  and  Lieut.  Colonel ;  F.  E.  Snow,  Adjutant ;  Alonzo  P. 
Connolly,  First  Lieutenant,  promoted  Adjutant;  H.  L.  Carver,  Quar- 
termaster; H.  H.  Gilbert,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  G,  promoted 
First  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster;  Dr.  A.  Wharton.  Surgeon:  Dr. 
J.  W.  McMasters,  Assistant  Surgeon ;  Harry  Gillham,  First  Lieuten- 
ant, Company  A,  promoted  Captain  ;  Wm.  T.  Barnes,  First  Lieutenant. 
Company  A ;  Jacob  E.  Baldwin,  Second  Lieutenant,  (died?  December 
10,  1863;)  Dana  White,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  C,  promoted  Cap- 
tain; R.  Schcenemann,  Captain,  Company  E;  Christian  Exel,  First 
Lieutenant,  Company  E  ;  Matthias  Holl,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company 
E,  promoted  First  Lieutenant;  Justus  B.  Bell,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Company  E;  D.  H.  Valentine,  Captain,  Company  G;  Chas.  J.  Stees, 
Second  Lieutenant,  Company  G,  promoted  Captain ;  Geo.  W.  Pres- 
cott,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  G;  A.  C.  Helmkamp,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Company  G,  (died,  September  24,  1864,  at  Saint  Paul;)  E.  O. 
Zimmerman,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  G ;  Fred.  Norwood,  Ser- 
geant-Major; D.  H.  McCloud,  Sergeant-Major ;  H.  D.  Tenney,  Quar- 
termaster Sergeant;  Wm.  S.  McCauley,  Commissary  Sergeant;  John 
H.  Gillis,  Hospital  Steward,  (died,  April  8,  1864,  at  Saint  Peter;) 
George  L.  Van  Solen,  Hospital  Steward. 

SEVENTH    REGIMENT. 
Wm.  R.  Marshall.  Colonel,  promoted  Brigadier  General ;  Dr.  Brewer 


408  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan],         [1862 

Mattocks,  Assistant  Surgeon;  Wm.  H.  Burt,  Captain,  Company  C; 
Frank  H.  Pratt,  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  C,  promoted  First  Lieu- 
tenant and  Captain  ;  Stephen  C.  Miller,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company 
F.  promoted  Captain  ;  James  Gilfillan,  Captain,  Company  H,  promoted 
Colonel,  Eleventh  Regiment;  S.  Lee  Davis.  Second  Lieutenant.  Com- 
pany H.  promoted  First  Lieutenant. 

EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

Dr.  F.  Rieger,  Surgeon ;  Wm.  Paist,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company 
H,  promoted  Captain  ;  Egbert  E.  Hughson.  First  Lieutenant,  Company 
H ;  John  G.  McGregor,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  I,  promoted 
First  Lieutenant  and  Captain;  Wm.  T.  Rockwood,  Captain,  Company 
K;  John  I.  Salter.  First  Lieutenant,  Company  K;  Benj.  W.  Brunson. 
First  Lieutenant,  Company  K;  William  Helsper,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Company  K;  R.  Goodhart,  Sergeant-Major ;  Edgar  W.  Bass.  Quarter- 
master Sergeant. 

NINTH     HKGI.MKNT. 

Alex.  Wilkin,  Colonel,  (killed  at  Tupelo,  July  14,  1864;)  John  P. 
Owens,  Quartermaster,  brevetted  Colonel;  Dr.  John  J.  Dewey,  Assis- 
tant Surgeon ;  S.  P.  Tomlinson,  Hospital  Steward ;  Thomas  Van  Et- 
ten,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  I,  promoted  First  Lieutenant  and 
Captain. 

I  i:\MI     KKGIMKNT. 

Samuel  P.  Jennison,  Lieutenant  Colonel ;  Cyrus  A.  Brooks,  Assist- 
ant Surgeon ;  M.  R.  Prendergast,  Commissary  Sergeant ;  M.  H.  Sul- 
livan, Captain,  Company  H;  M.  J.  O'Connor,  Captain,  Company  K. 

Hardly  were  these  regiments  raised,  when  the  tearful  Sioux 
massacre  occurred  on  our  frontier.  The  news  of  this  event 
was  received  here  on  August  20.  A  volunteer  cavalrv  com- 
pany was  at  once  raised  by  our  citizens,  and  started,  with 
other  troops,  toward  the  scene  of  the  massacre.  Some  of 
this  company  afterwards  fell  at  Birch  Coolie.  Large  numbers 
of  fugitives  from  the  western  counties  fled  to  Saint  Paul  for 
safety,  destitute  and  panic-stricken,  and  many  of  them  suffering 
from  wounds. 

On  September  2d,  occurred  the  tragic  atfair  at  Birch  Coolie. 
The  news  was  received  here  on  the  6th.  and  it  was  truly  one 
of  the  blackest  days  in  the  many  gloomy  ones  of  that  year  of 
disaster  and  trouble.  In  the  conflict  at  Birch  Coolie,  23  men 
were  killed  and  60  wounded.  Among  the  Saint  Paul  men 


1863]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  409 

who  lost  their  lives  were  :  BENJ.  S.  TERRY,  FRED.  S.  BEN- 
EKEN,  GEORGE  COLTER,  WM.  M.  COBB,  WM.  IRVINE,  WM. 
RUSSELL,  JOHN  COLLEDGE,  H.  WHETSLER.  ROBERT  BAX- 
TER, ROBERT  GIBBENS.  The  bodies  of  these  men  were 
afterwards  disinterred  and  brought  to  Saint  Paul,  where  they 
were  buried  with  appropriate  honors. 


The  Daily  Union  was  established  this  fall,  by  F.  DRISCOLL. 
In  the  spring  of  1863.  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Daily  Press. 

The  post-office  was  removed,  in  December,  to  the  stone 
building  on  Third  street,  above  Market. 

On   October    10,  the  Winslow   House  was  burned  down. 

The  election  this  fall,  November  2,  resulted  as  follows: 

Representatives. — WM.  P.  MURRAY.  J.  P.  KIDDER,  J.  B. 
BRISBIN.  Auditor. — WM.  H.  FORBES.  Probate  Judge. — E. 
C.  LAMBERT.  Coroner. — O.  F.  FORD. 

NECROLOGY    OF    1862. 

Died,  January  4,  at  Saint  Paul,  MICHAEL  E.  AMES,  a  well- 
known  lawyer  of  our  city.  April  8.  at  Shiloh,  Captain  WM. 
H.  ACKER,  of  Saint  Paul.  May  19,  ALEX.  BUCHANAN,  ex- 
County  Auditor.  May  28,  at  Corinth,  Captain  DAVID  O. 
OAKES.  August  24,  in  Canada,  Louis  M.  OLIVIER,  formerly 
Register  of  Deeds.  September  12.  LAWRENCE  P.  COTTER, 
City  Clerk.  December  22,  at  Saint'Louis,  EDWARD  HEENAN, 
formerly  County  Auditor. 

EVENTS    OF    THE    YEAR     1863. 

The  city  election  (April  7)  resulted  as  follows : 

Union.  Democratic. 

Mayor J.  H.  Stewart 838  John  Esaias  Warren . .  920 

Comptroller T.  M.  Metcalf 736     C.   H.  Lienau 1024 

Assessor C.  T.  Whitney ....  796     John  J.  Soens 938 

Surveyor G.  A.  Johnson 805      C.  M.  Boyle 957 

Street  Com'r....G.  Rank 807     John  Dorian 938 

Attorney 5.  M.  Flint,  (on  both  tickets,) 1730 

Those  in  italics  elected. 
27 


4 io  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1863 

This  season  commenced  the  memorable  drought  which  ex- 
tended over  the  years  1863  and  1864.  The  low  water  was 
the  worst  result,  seriously  affecting  trade  on  the  river. 

Gen.  SIBLEY'S  expedition  to  the  Missouri  occurred  this 
year.  Col.  MILLER  was  in  command  of  the  headquarters  here. 
In  July,  LITTLE  CROW  was  reported  killed. 

On  July  6,  a  torch-light  procession,  fireworks,  illumination. 
£c..  took  place  in  honor  of  the  victory  of  Gettysburg. 

HATCH'S  BATTALION 

was  organized  during  this  summer.     The  following  citizens 
of  Saint  Paul  bore  commissions : 

E.  A.  C.  Hatch,  Major;  Charles  H.  Mix,  First  Lieutenant,  Com- 
pany A,  promoted  Captain;  Allen  T.  Chamblin.  Captain,  Company 
A;  Geo.  A.  Freudenreich,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  A;  Wm.  H. 
Ensign,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  B;  James  E.  Cochrane,  Second 
Lieutenant,  Company  C,  promoted  First  Lieutenant;  Mark  T.  Berry, 
First  Lieutenant,  Company  E. 

THE    SECOND    CAVALRY 

also  bore  on  its  rolls  the  following  names  of  our  citizens  : 

Andrew  J.  Whitney,  Commissary;  Dr.  J.  A.  Vervais,  Surgeon:  Dr. 
Charles  J.  Farley,  Assistant  Surgeon  ;  Joseph  S.  Thompson,  Sergeant- 
Major;  Horace  W.  Moore,  Hospital  Steward;  John  Ledden.  Second 
Lieutenant,  Company  H ;  Frank  C.  Griswold.  Second  Lieutenant, 
Company  M. 

Captain  H.  H.  WESTERN  was  commissioned  in  June,  First 
Lieutenant  of  the  Third  Battery. 

ORIGIN    OF    OUR    BANKING    SYSTEM. 

The  year  1863  was  marked  in  our  financial  history,  by  tin- 
establishment  of  the  First  National  Bank,  on  December  S. 
This,  the  pioneer  national  bank  of  our  State,  was  one  of  the 
earliest  established  in  the  country.  Its  original  stockholders 
were:  J.  E.  THOMPSON,*  President;  HORACE  THOMPSON, 

*  JAMES  E.  and  HORACE  THOMPSON  were  born  in  Poultney,  Vermont,  in  iSaa  and 
1837,  respectively.  While  young  men,  they  removed  to  Georgia,  and  entered  into  busi- 
ness there,  remaining  until  1859,  when  they  settled  in  Saint  Paul,  and  engaged  in  the 
hanking  business,  with  groat  success,  becoming  the  leading  bankers  of  Minnesota. 


1863]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  411 

Cashier  ;  T.  A.  HARRISON,  Vice  President ;  CHARLES  SCHEF- 
FER,  Assistant  Cashier ;  W.  M.  and  H.  G.  HARRISON,  and 
J.  C.  BURBANK,  Directors.  H.  P.  UPHAM  was  appointed 


L.  E.  REED. 

Teller,  and  WM.  H.  KELLY,  Book-keeper.     Its  present  officers 
are  :     H.   THOMPSON,   President ;  L.  E.  REED,*  Vice  Presi- 


JAMES  E.  THOMPSON  was  suddenly  cut  off,  in  the  prime  of  life,  on  May  28,  1870,  but 
not  until  he  had  established  a  reputation  as  one  of  the  best  financiers  in  Minnesota,  and 
one  of  the  first  men  in  our  city.  HORACE  THOMPSON  is  also  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
influential  capitalists  in  our  State, and  oneof  ourmost  liberal  and  public-spirited  citizens. 

*  L.  E.  REED  was.  born  in  Massachusetts,  in  1830.  His  parents  removed  to  Ravenna, 
Ohio,  when,  he  was  three  years  old,  and  he  lived  there  until  1851,  when  he  came  to  Saint 
Paul.  Mr.  REED  engaged  in  the  banking  business,  in  our  city,  at  a  very  early  day, 
being  connected  with  the  THOMPSON  BROTHERS  in  1862,  and,  subsequently,  with  tin- 
First  National  Bank,  when  it  was  established,  in  1863.  He  afterwards  became  a  part- 
ner of  WM.  DAWSON,  under  the  name  of  "  DAWSON  &  COMPANY,",  and  continued  four 
years,  after  which  he  was  Vice  President  of  the  City  Bank,  for  three  years.  In  1873,  he 
was  elected  Vice  President  of  the  First  National  Bank.  Mr.  REED,  though  a  modest 


4i2  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1863 

dent ;  H.  P.  UPHAM,  Cashier  ;  W.  W.  HOYT.  Paving  Teller. 
Capital,  $1,000,000.  Surplus.  $250,000. 

The  Second  National  Bank  was  established  April  10.  186^. 
Its  officers  are  :  E.  S.  EDGERTON,  President ;  D.  A.  MON- 
FORT,  Vice  President;  G.  R.  MONFORT,  Cashier:  W.  H. 
BELL,  Teller.  Capital,  $200,000. 

The  National  Marine  Bank  was  next  organized.  O.  B. 
TURRELL.  President ;  W.  R.  MARSHALL.  Vice  President : 
F.  C.  HOWES,  Cashier.  Capital,  $100,000. 

The  Merchants  National  Bank,  organized  in  1870.  M. 
AUEKBACH,  President :  WALTER  MANN,  Vice  President ;  W. 
R.  MERRIAM,  Cashier.  Capital.  $500.000. 

The  other  banking  houses  of  our  city  are  as  follows  :  Ger- 
man American  Bank.  FERDINAND  Wn.Lirs.  President ;  J. 
B.  SANBORN,  Vice  President:  GTSTAV  WILLIUS,  Cashier. 
Capital,  $200,000. 

Farmers  and  Mechanics  Bank.  JOHN  FARRINGTON.  Presi- 
dent;  Dr.  A.  WHARTON,  Vice  President;  C.  A.  MORTON. 
Cashier.  Capital,  $50,000. 

.Savings  Bank  of  Saint  Paul.  W.  R.  MARSHALL.  Presi- 
dent:  H.  SAHLGAARD.  Vice  President:  JOHN  S.  PR  INCH. 
Cashier. 

DAWSON  &.  COMPANY.  [WILLIAM  DAWSON.  R.  A.  SMITH 
and  ALBERT  SCHEFFER.] 

The  total  capital  employed  bv  the  above  banking  houses,  is 
over  $2.000,000,  and  are  all  managed  by  men  of  acknowl- 
edged financial  ability  and  experience. 

The  enrollment  for  the  draft  was  made  this  summer,  and  as 
threats  of  resistance  were  made,  and  trouble  was  anticipated 
similar  to  that  in  other  cities,  a  provost  guard  was  stationed  in 
the  city  for  some  weeks. 

The  election  this  fall  was  closely  contested,  the  ••  Union 
League,"  a  secret  political  organization,  playing  a  conspicuous 
part.  EDMUND  RICE  and  JOHN  NICOLS  were  elected  Sena- 
tors ;  and  R.  H.  FITZ,  J.  P.  KIDDER,  and  A.  R.  KIEKER. 

:in<l  unassuming  gentleman,  in  private  life,  is  one  of  the  ablest  financiers  in  our  State, 
and  his  judgment  and  sagacity  are  proverbial.  He  wields  an  influence  in  nionev  cir- 
cles greater  than  almost  any  man  in  Minnesota.. 


1864]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          413 

Representatives;  D.  A.  ROBERTSON,  Sheriff;  R.  A.  SMITH, 
Treasurer;  C.  A.  PASSAVANT,  Register  of  Deeds;  H.  J. 
HORN,*  Attorney  ;  R.  F.  CROWELL,  Judge  of  Probate ;  G. 
A.  JOHNSON,  Surveyor ;  PHILIP  SCHEIG,  Coroner,  &c. 

In  Oaober,  the  Seventh,  Ninth  and  Tenth  Regiments  left 
for  "  Dixie." 

December  20,  the  American  House  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

NECROLOGY    OK    1863. 

Died,  April  12.  at  the  residence  of  Hon.  JOHN  S.  PRINCE, 
GABRIEL  FRANCHERE.  a 'pioneer  of  the  Northwest.  July  3. 
by  a  railroad  accident,  Capt;  ABRAM  BENNETT.  July  10, 
CHARLES  N.  MACKUBIN,  formerly  a  banker,  legislator,  &c. 
July  3,  at  Gettysburg,  Capt.  W.  B.  FARRELL.  August  7, 
Capt.  CHARLES  KOCH,  Fifth  Regiment.  November  9,  HEN- 
RY A.  LAMBERT,  formerly  Probate  Judge.  December  16.  at 
Washington,  ROBERT  F.  FISK. 

PRINCIPAL    EVENTS    OF    1864. 

The  early  part  of  this  year  was  marked  by  the  return  of  a 
number  of  our  regiments  on  veteran  furlough,  and  the  enter- 
tainments given  them  by  our  citizens. 

The  city  election  this  spring  went  Republican,  for  the  first 
time,  bv  the  following  vote  : 

Republican.  Democratic. 

Mayor Dr.  J.  H.  Stcivart noo     Geo.  Culver 784 

.City  Just  ice...  A.  McElrath 1140     F.  F.  Strother 707 

Comptroller  •  •  H.  Schiffbauer 1000     C.  H.  Lienau 859 

Treasurer C.  T.   Whitney,  (no  opposition,) 1875 

Those  in  italics  elecfted.     ' 

While  the  events  of  the  war,  the  large  levies  of  troops,  the 
sufFering.  among  the  destitute  families  of  absent  soldiers,  the 

*  HENRY  J.  HORN,  (we  had  almost  written  "  HARRY  HORN,"  as  his  intimate  friends 
call  him,)  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  in  igai.  He  studied  law  with  HENRY  D.  GILPIN, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1849.  In  1855,  he  came  to  Saint  Paul,  and  has  actively 
practiced  his  profession  ever  since.  He  was  elected  City  Attorney  in  1857, an<^  re-elected 
in  1858  and  1859;  elected  County  Attorney  in  1863;  member  of  School  Board  in  1857 
and  1858,  and  is  at  present  Corporation  Counsel.  His  legal  services  to  the  city  and 
county  have  been  of  great  value,  and  he  has  been  zealous  in  promoting  every  good  work. 
No  man  has  more  warm  friends  than  Mr.  HORN,  or  is  more  respected  and  confided  in. 


414  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,        [1864 

mourning  in  thousands  of  households  "over  the  unreturning 
braves,"  and  other  incidents  of  the  strife,  sometimes  caused 
gloom,  still  there  was  remarkable  courage  and  hopefulness 
among  the  people.  Financially,  matters  were  curious.  The 
rise  in  gold,  and  the  inflation  produced  by  the  enormous  issues 
of  currency,  created  a  buoyancy  in  business  matters  that  gave 
a  silver  edge  to  the  cloud.  Even  real  estate  looked  up,  the 
population  increased,  and  our  railroads  were  now  in  aclual 
progress.  Security  was  restored  to  the  frontier,  and  immi- 
gration recommenced. 

SAINT  PAUL  AND  SIOUX  CITY  RAILROAD. 

This  road  was  incorporated  in  1857,  as  one  °f  tne  lines  of  the  Root 
River  Valley  and  Southern  Minnesota  Railroad,  and  separated  from  that 
corporation  in  1864,  into  a  new  line,  called  the  "Minnesota  Valley 
Railroad."  Under  the  five  million  loan  impetus,  a  few  miles  of  the  road 
from  Mendota  to  Shakopee  was  partially  graded,  in  1858.  Nothing 
more  was  done  until  after  theac\  of  1864.  Messrs.  E.  F.  DRAKE,  JNO. 
L.  MERRIAM,  HORACE  THOMPSON,  A.  H.  WILDER.  H.  II.  SIBLEY,  JNO. 
S.  PRINCE,  J.  C.  BURBANK,  W.  F.  DAVIDSON,  CHAS.  H.  BIGELOW,  GEO. 
A.  HAMILTON,  Capt.  R.  BLAKELEY,  and  others,  became  incorporators 
and  stockholders,  and  furnished  means  to  construct  and  equip  a  part 
of  the  road.  From  this  time  on,  its  building  was  steadily  pushed. 
The  line  from  Mendota  to  Shakopee  was  opened  November  16,  1865 ; 
from  Saint  Paul  to  Mendota,  August  24,  1866;  completed  from  Saint 
Paul  to  Belle  Plaine,  November  19,  1866;  to  LeSueur,  December  5, 
1867;  Saint  Peter,  August  17,  1868;  Mankato,  October  12,  1868;  Lake 
Crystal,  December  13,  1869;  Madelia,  September  5,  1870;  Saint  James, 
November  i,  1870;  Worthington,  1871;  Sioux  City,  1872.  [From 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  to  Saint  James,  Minnesota,  the  line  is  called  "The 
Sioux  City  and  Saint  Paul  Railroad."] 

This  road  is  one  of  our  home  institutions.  It  was  projected,  con- 
structed, and  is  still  owned  and  operated  and  controlled  by  Saint  Paul 
men,  who,  by  their  expenditure  of  capital,  and  by  their  labor  and 
energy,  have  thus  given  the  State  this  important  and  valuable  highway 
of  commerce. 

The  officers  of  this  road,  since  its  period  of  active  life,  have  been  : 
President  and  Land  Commissioner. — Hon.  E.  F.  DRAKE.  Vice  Presi- 
dent.— Hon.  JNO.  L.  MERRIAM.  Secretary. — GEO.  A.  HAMILTON. 
Chief  Engineers. — First,  JOHN  B.  FISH  ;  second,  CHARLES  MCNAMARA  ; 
third,  J.  W.  BISHOP  ;  fourth,  T.  P.  GERE.  Superintendents.— First, 
J.  H.  GARDNER;  second,  JNO.  F.  LINCOLN.  Treasurer. — H.  THOMP- 
SON. General  Manager. — J.  W.  BISHOP.  Secretary  of  Land  Depart- 


1864]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  41  5 

ment.— EDWARD  SAWYER.     General  Ticket  and  Freight  Agent.— J.  C. 
BOYDEN. 

On  June  14,  the  Sixth  Regiment  left  for  the  South. 

The  draft,  to  fill  calls  previously  made,  commenced  at  the 
Provost  Marshal's  office,  Mackubin's  Block,  on  May  26.  Saint 
Paul  had  filled  her  quota  previously,  but  several  townships 
were  drawn  on. 

On  July  1 8,  the  call  for  500,000  men  was  received.  The 
quota  of  Saint  Paul  was  160  men,  she  having  already  furnished 
1,180.  This  number  was  raised  only  by  special  exertions,  the 
city  giving  $30,000  as  bounties,  besides  large  sums  raised  by 
subscription. 

THE    ELEVENTH    REGIMENT 

was  organized  from  the  men  obtained  under  this  call.     Among 
our  citizens  holding  official  position  in  it  were  : 

James  Gilfillan,  Colonel ;  Peter  Gabrielson,  Assistant  Surgeon  :  Rob- 
ert L.  Morris,  Assistant  Surgeon ;  Franklin  Paine,  Captain,  Company 
B;  John  S.  Moulton,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  E;  Jason  W.  Gard- 
ner, Quartermaster  Sergeant;  Wilford  C.  Wilson,  Hospital  Steward. 

The  Eleventh  Regiment  departed  for  the  front  on  Septem- 
ber 22. 

The  political  campaign  of  1864  was  "'red-hot,"  MC~CLELLAN 
and  LINCOLN  being  candidates  for  the  presidency.  Public 
meetings,  torch-light  parades,  &c.,  kept  the  excitement  at  fe- 
ver heat.  The  vote  on  county  officers  was  : 

Union.  Democratic. 

{James  Smith,  Jr.. 744  Wm.  P.  Murray 750 
C.  D.  Gilfillan . .  .779  John  A.  Peckham 772 
A.  R.  Kiefer 517  John  M.  Gilman 561 

District  Judge J.  P.  Kidder 1 1 16      W.    Wilkin 1520 

Auditor W.  H.  Kelley. . .  .1248     J .  F.  Hoyt 1406 

Judge  of  Probate.  ..R.F.  Croivell. . .  1322     E.  C.  Lambert 131 1 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

On  September  28,  a  soldier  of  Hatch's  Battalion,  named 
MINER,  had  both  arms  blown  off,  while  firing  a  salute,  by  the 
premature  explosion  of  a  cannon.  The  following  day,  another 
soldier,  named  LAFLESH,  had  his  right  hand  blown  off  in  the 
same  way.  A  liberal  purse  was  raised  for  the  unfortunate  men. 


416  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1864 

On  November  4.  a  terrible  casualty  occurred  in  front  of  our 
lower  levee.  The  boiler  of  the  steamer  "John  Rumsey" 
blew  up,  just  as  she  was  coming  into  port,  blowing  the  boat 
to  pieces,  and  killing  seven  men.  also  badly  injuring  others. 
Nearly  every  house  in  the  city  was  shaken  by  the  concussion. 
The  boat  was  owned  by  Mr.  RUMSEY.  of  LaCrosse.  but  leased 
by  W.  F.  DAVIDSON,  and  the  latter  partv.  after  several  years' 
litigation,  ultimately  paid  over  $30.000  to  the  families  of  the 
men  killed  by  the  accident. 

On  December  19,  another  call  for  300.000  men  had  been 
made,  making  the  quota  of  Saint  Paul  200  men.  It  seemed 
almost  impossible  to  raise  this  number,  but  by  special  sub- 
scriptions raised  bv  ward  committees,  in  addition  to  the  Gov- 
ernment bounties,  it  was  at  length  accomplished.  The 

FIRST    REGIMENT    MINNESOTA    HEAVY    ARTILLERY 

was  raised  from   the   men  obtained  under  this  call.      Among 
our  citizens  honored  with  commissions,  were  the  following: 

Dr.  Clinton  G.  Stees,  Surgeon;  George  Powers.  Hospital  Steward; 
E.  D.  K.  Randall,  Senior  First  Lieutenant,  Company  A ;  E.  J.  Van 
Slyke.  Junior  First  Lieutenant,  Company  A :  William  Colter,  Junior 
Second  Lieutenant,  Company  A;  Wm.  M.  Leyde,  Captain,  Company 
B;  James  J.  Egan,  Junior  First  Lieutenant,  Company  B:  R.  G.  Dan- 
iels, Junior  First  Lieutenant,  Company  C;  Harvey  Officer.  Captain, 
Company  E;  B.  N.  Cushway,  Junior  First  Lieutenant,  Company  E: 
James  K.  Wilson,  Senior  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  H  ;  Henry  C. 
Collins,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  I:  Harry  H.  Wilson. 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  K  ;  James  P.  Allen,  Captain,  Com- 
pany L;  Harrison  Allen.  Senior  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  L. 

The  Heavy  Artillery  was  the  last  body  of  troops  which  left 
our  State  for  the  war. 

On  December  22.  a  married  woman,  named  EI.KAXOR  STKI.- 
XKR,  living  on  Summit  avenue,  while  laboring  under  insanitv. 
killed  two  of  her  children  with  a  hatchet,  attempted  to  kill  a 
third,  and  cut  her  own  throat,  dying  in  a  few  moments. 

NECROLOGY  OF   1864. 

Died,  January  8,  at  Saint  Louis,  Rev.  F.  R.  NEWKLL.  a 
Unitarian  clergyman  of  Saint  Paul,  then  temporarily  in  the  em- 


1865]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  417 

ploy  of  the  Sanitary  Commission.  January  20.  Capt.  T.  M. 
SAUNDERS,  Third  United  States  Artillery,  and  Quartermaster 
at  Saint  Paul.  April  n,  near  Vicksburg.  Mississippi.  JOHN 
W.  CATHCART.  He  was  buried  at  Saint  Paul,  May  12.  May 
16,  CHARLES  L.  EMERSON,  formerly  editor  of  the  Saint  Paul 
Democrat*  for  several  years  Surveyor  General,  Alderman  of 
the  city.  &c.  June  15,  Louis  BUECHNER,  the  first  lithographer 
in  Saint  Paul.  July  14, 'at  Tupelo,  Mississippi.  Col.  ALEX. 
WILKIN,  of  the  Ninth  Regiment.  September  i,  MATTHEW 
BROOME.  a  trader  and  capitalist  of  the  city.  November  12. 
C.  A.  GATES,  was  accidentally  killed  on  the  Des  Moines 
River,  where  he  was  hunting. 

THE  SANITARY  FAIR. 

On  January  9,  1865,  the  ladies  and  other  patriotic  citizens 
of  Saint  Paul,  gave  a  fair  at  Mozart  Hall,  (Mackubin's  Block.) 
the  object  being  to  raise  money  for  the  destitute  families  of  sol- 
diers, of  which  there  were  a  large  number  in  our  citv.  The 
fair  remained  open  four  days  and  evenings,  and  was  crowded 
to  excess  all  the  time,  the  citizens  spending  their  money  with 
lavish  generosity.  At  the  close,  the  entire  receipts  were  found 
to  be  $13,000.  leaving  $10,000  after  paying  all  expenses.  A 
contest  for  a  sword,  to  be  given  to  a  Minnesota  officer,  was 
one  feature.  Col.  C.  S.  ULINE  carrying  it  off  by  2,300  votes 
over  all  competitors. 

In  addition  to  this  amount,  our  citizens  had.  during  the  war 
period,  given  lavishly  to  the  Sanitary  and  Christian  commis- 
sions, to  hospital  funds  and  other  war  charities,  to  the  families 
of  soldiers,  and  to  numerous  special  cases  of  distress,  &c. 
Mayor  PRINCE  reported,  in  the  summer  of  1865,  that  in  the 
preceding  four  years,  $225.000  had  been  raised  and  expended 
by  our  citizens.  A  noble  and  patriotic  record,  truly,  and  one 
that  we  may  point  to  with  pride. 

On  February  5.  a  young  man.  named  JOHN  McHuoH,  wa& 
fatally  stabbed  in  an  affray  in  a  saloon  on  upper  Third  street. 

On  March  14,  1865,  Dr.  J.  H.  STEWART  was  appointed 
postmaster,  holding  that  office  for  five  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1865,  after  four  years  of  dreadful   conflict. 


418  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1865 

which  can  only  be  briefly  hinted  at  here,  the  clouds  of  war 
seemed  lifting.  Glorious  news  was  received  from  Petersburg, 
and  the  Shenandoah,  and  from  SHERMAN.  Soon  came  the 
news  of  the  evacuation  of  Richmond,  and  the  end  then  seemed 
near.  A  general  celebration  was  arranged,  to  commemorate 
the  Union  victories.  It  took  place  on  April  8.  An  artillery 
salute,  a  procession,  civic  and  military,  a  general  decoration 
of  buildings  with  flags,  &c.,  were  the  principal  features.  At 
the  International  Hotel,  addresses  were  made  by  Gov.  MILLER, 
JOHN  M.  GILMAN,  Judge  GOODRICH,  T.  J.  GALBRAITH,  J.  W. 
TAYLOR,  S.  LUDVIGH.  and  even  ••  President  JONES."  All 
were  enthused  with  joy,  and  when  Gen.  SIBLEY,  president  of 
the  day,  read  from  the  balcony  a  telegram  announcing  the  sur- 
render of  LEE  and  his  army,  the  crowd  fairly  exploded  with 
delirious  excitement.  At  night  a  general  illumination  and  a 
torch-light  parade  took  place. 

The  city  election,  on  April  4,  resulted  as  follows  : 

Democratic.  Republican. 

Mayor John  S.  Prince 867  Charles  E.  Mayo.  .702 

Attorney /.  V.  D.  Heard 900     E.  C.  Palmer 666 

Street  Commissioner.  John  Dotvlan *5^7  (No  opposition.) 

Those  in  italics  elected. 

The  exultation  at  the  Union  victories,  was  somewhat  chilled 
by  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  President  LINCOLN,  on  April 
i  v  It  created  profound  gloom  and  sorrow,  and,  on  April  19, 
the  day  of  his  funeral,  all  business  was  suspended  in  the  city — 
the  bells  tolled,  and  funeral  sermons  were  preached  in  nearly 
all  the  churches,  to  large  audiences. 

The  spring  and  summer  of  this  year  was  marked  by  the 
return  of  our  regiments  from  the  South,  to  Fort  Snelling,  to 
be  mustered  out.  Each  of  them  was  received  here  with  the 
most  cordial  demonstrations  of  joy,  and  escorted  to  the  Capi- 
tol, where  an  ovation  was  given  them  by  the  ladies  and  citi- 
zens generally,  and  speeches  of  welcome  made  by  prominent 
officials.  These  receptions  were  a  feature  of  the  summer. 

Altogether,  our  city  had  furnished  to  the  army  of  the  Re- 
public, 1,470  men;  but  of  .this  number,  one  hundred  and 
tiventy-four  brave  men  returned  not.  Many  of  them  lie  in 


1865]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          419 

unrecorded  graves  on  battle-Holds  where  they  fell,  or  heaped 
in  the  burial-trench  of  some  prison-pen,  the  victims  of  disease 
and  starvation.  It  is  not  creditable  to  our  city,  so  generous 
and  liberal,  that  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  these  martyrs 
to  liberty,  our  friends  and  fellow  citizens,  has  not  been  eredled. 
as  has  been  done  in  many  other  places. 


420  The  History  of  the  City  of  -Saint  PauL         [186^ 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  PERIOD,  1865  TO  1870. 

A  NEW  ERA  OF  PROSPERITY— THE  CENSUS  OF  1865— DECEMBER  STEAMBOAT  Ex- 
CURSIONS — THE  LAKE  SUPERIOR  RAILROAD — A  SINGULAR  "  ACCIDENT" — THE 
STATE  REFORM  SCHOOL — SUPPOSED  UXORICIDE — DESTRUCTIVE  FIRES — COURT 
OF  COMMON  PLEAS — SUPPOSED  MURDER  OF  DR.  HARCOURT — ATTEMPTED  RE- 
MOVAL OF  THE  CAPITAL — THE  CITY  WATER  WORKS — ANOTHER  MVRDER — 
COMPLETION  OF  RAILROADS,  &c. 

ANEW  era  seemed  to  have  commenced  with  the  close  of 
the  war.  Our  city  entered  on  a  career  of  unusual  pros- 
perity. Money  was  abundant,  capital  came  in  from  abroad  ; 
business  never  was  more  flourishing ;  real  'estate  buoyant ; 
immigration  increasing;  employment  plenty  for  all  classes; 
every  branch  of  trade  and  manufacture  brisk,  and  everything 
presented  a  vivid  contrast  to  the  despondent  days  from  1857  to 
1862. 

From  this  period  mav  be  dated  the  most  rapid  growth  of 
Saint  Paul.  Her  railroad  system  had  now  become  well 
advanced.  Building  had  never  been  so  brisk.  The  popula- 
tion increased  very  rapidly.  In  short,  the  struggles  and  draw- 
backs of  infancy  over.  Saint  Paul  began  to  assume  the  vigor, 
the  energy,  the  strength,  of  maturitv. 

The  census  taken  this  summer  showed  a  considerable  in- 
crease of  population,  despite  all  drawbacks.  The  population 
of  the  city  was  reported  at  12,976,  and  of  the  county  at  15.107. 

On  August  24,  the  body  of  a  man  was  found  in  the  river. 
below  Dayton's  Bluff,  tied  by  a  rope  around  the  neck  to  a 
heavy  stone  at  the  bottom.  The  body  was  much  decayed,  and 
was  not  recognized,  but  it  was  evident  that  a  murder  had  been 
committed,  and  its  concealment  attempted.  The  body  of  the 
stranger  was  buried  by  the  Coroner,  but  was  destined  to  ere 
long  play  an  important  part  in  the  criminal  annals  of  the  county. 

The   autumn   of   1865   was   remarkable   for  its  lateness  and 


1865]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  421 

uniform  mildness.  Nothing  approaching  it  had  been  known 
in  the  weather  records  of  our  city.  That  year,  the  first  of 
December  steamboat  excursions  were  inaugurated,  by  Colonel 
HEWITT.* 

This  fall  will  also  be  remembered  as  the  period  of  the  Ver- 
million  gold  excitement,  in  which  many  of  our  citizens  were 
interested. 


THE    LAKE    SUPERIOR    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD. 

During  the  year  1865,  the  grading  on  this  road  was  pushed 
quite  vigorously,  and  completed  to  Wyoming,  30  miles. 

This  road  was  first  incorporated  in  1857,  under-  the  name  of  the 
"  Nebraska  and  Lake  Superior  Railroad,"  and  the  name  was  changed 
by  the  Legislature  of  1861,  to  its  present  title.  LVMAN  DAYTON  and 
others,  were  made  corporators.  But  little  was  done  in  actual  construc- 
tion for  some  three  or  four  years.  Meantime,  Capt.  WM.  L.  BANNING, 
L.  DAYTON,  JAMES  SMITH,  Jr.,f  WM.  BRANCH,  Dr.  STEWART,  ROBERT 
A.  SMITH,  PARKER  PAINE,  and  one  or  two  others,  took  hold  of  the 
enterprise  and  put  in  enough  money  to  grade  30  miles.  On  October 
20,  1865.  the  President  of  the  road,  LYMAN  DAYTON,  died.  Capt.  BAN- 
NING succeeded  him,  and,  after  much  trouble,  got  some  Philadelphia 
capitalists  to  build  and  equip  the  road.  It  was  not  completed  to  Duluth 
until  1870,  and  the  Stillwater  branch  was  built  the  same  year. 

The  early  officers  of  the  road  were  :  LYMAN  DAYTON,  President,  to 
his  death  in  1865;  1865  to  1870,  Capt.  WM.  L.  BANNING;  FRANK  H. 
CLARK,  1870  to  1873 ;  and  J.  P.  ILSLEY,  to  the  present  time.  GATES 


*  GIRART  HEWITT,  one  of  the  most  acftive  real  estate  dealers  of  the  city,  was  born  in 
Hollidaysburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1825.  He  studied  law,  and  removed  to  Alabama  in 
1845,  remaining  there  twelve  years.  He  came  to  Minnesota  for  health,  in  1856,  and  has 
since  that  date  been  a  prominent  citizen.  Col.  HEDWTT'S  specialty  has  been  immigra- 
tion and  December  steamboat  excursions.  His  "pamphlet"  on  Minnesota  and  its 
advantages  to  immigrants,  has  been  circulated  in  the  United  States  and  Europe  by  the 
hundred  thousand,  and  passed  through  twenty  editions.  He  says  he  never  held  any 
office  except  School  Inspector,  and  was  beat  the  only  time  he  ever  ran  for  Alderman, 
and  that,  too,  after  his  services  in  the  Indian  War  of  1862! 

t  Hon.  JAMES  SMITH,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio,  October  39,  1815.  While 
young,  his  eye-sight  was  seriously  impaired  by  sickness,  but  he  accomplished  his  educa- 
tion and  read  law,  being  admitted  to  practice  in  1839.  He  was  a  partner  of  the  late 
Col.  J.  W.  VANCE,  killed  on  Banks'  Expedition.  He  remained  at  Mount  Vernon  until 
1856,  when  he  settled  in  Saint  Paul,  and  was  a  partner  first  of  Judge  L.  EMMETT,  and 
afterwards  of  Hon.  JOHN  M.  OILMAN.  For  ten  years  or  more  past,  he  has  been  Attor- 
ney of  the  Lake  Superior  Railroad.  Mr.  SMITH  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  in 
1861,  1862  and  1863,  and  has  just  been  elec'ted  for  another  term— the  last  time  without 
opposition,  a  fact  that  evinces  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  citizens. 


422 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1865 


A.  JOHNSON*  was  Chief  Engineer  through  the  period  of  construction, 
in  connedtion,  part  of  the  time,  with  J.  S.  SEW  ALL.  and  was  then  Superin- 
tendent for  two  or  three  years,  succeeded  by  VV.  W.  HUNGERFORD.  and 
more  recently  by  GEO.  H.  SMITH.  THOMAS  BRENNAN,  who  laid  all 
the  iron  on  the  road,  is,  at  present,  Assistant  Superintendent.  The 
first  Secretary  was  CHARLES  ST.  CLAIR  :  next.  CHARLES  BREWSTER. 


HON..  JAMES  SMITH,  JR. 

succeeded  by  ROBERT  P.  LEWIS  ;  then  R.  H.  LAMBORN,  and  the  present 
Secretary,  THOS.  M.  DAVIS.  Hon.  JAMES  SMITH,  Jr.,  has  been 
Attorney  from  the  inception  of  the  road  until  the  present  time. 

On   November  8,  the   Daily    Pioneer  was  sold  to  H.  P. 
HALL  and  JOHN  X.  DAVIDSON. 

*  GATES  A.JOHNSON  was  born  at  Plattsburg,  New  York,  i8a6.  He  adopted  tin-  pro- 
fession  of  engineer,  and  in  1855  removed  to  Saint  Paul.  He  pursued  his  calling  with 
much  success  for  several  years,  being  elected  City  Engineer  in  1860,  and  County  Sur- 
veyor in  1863.  He  was  also  elected  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Superior  Railroad  in  iSi.i. 
and  remained  until  the  completion  of  the  road.  In  1871,  he  was  elected  Alderman,  and 
has  given  faithful  attention  to  the  interests  of  the  city. 


i866]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          423 

There  were  no  well-defined  issues  in  politics  this  year. 
Two  old  settlers,  WM.  R.  MARSHALL  and  HENRY  M.  RICE, 
were  candidates  for  Governor,  the  former  gaining  the  day,  but 
the  county  election  was  dull.  The  following  officers  were 
elefted: 

D.  A.  ROBERTSON,  Sheriff";  ALBERT  ARMSTRONG,  Clerk 
of  Court ;  S.  M.  FLINT,  District  Attorney ;  J.  MAINZER, 
Register  of  Deeds  ;  O.  F.  FORD,  Coroner  ;  Dr.  JOHN  STEELE, 
County  Commissioner;  W.  P.  MURRAY  and  GEO.  L.  OTIS, 
Senators ;  PARKER  PAINE,  WILLIAM  BRANCH  and  HERMAN 
TROTT,  Representatives. 

NECROLOGY    OF    1865. 

Died,* January  2,  WILLIAM  HARTSHORN,  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  our  city.  February  16,  M.  L.  TEMPLE,  a  mer- 
chant of  this  city,  and  Capt.  W.  B.  McGRORTY.  a  well-known 
public  man,  were  drowned  at  LaCrosse.  April  — ,  in  Vir- 
ginia, JOHN  W.  CROSBY,  formerly  Chief  of  Police  of  Saint 
Paul.  April  n,  JEREMIAH  W.  SELBY,  an  old  and  esteemed 
citizen.  May  22,  Hon.  JOHN  A.  PECKHAM,  banker,  alder- 
man, legislator,  &c.  July  21,  at  Homer,  Louisiana,  Dr. 
EBENEZER  MILLER,  formei'ly  Deputy  Sheriff*.  '  October  i, 
SOLOMON  COGGSWELL,  an  old  resident.  October  4,  DESIRE 
MICHAUD,  for  many  years  a  merchant.  October  14,  Captain 
EMIL  A.  BURGER,  an  ex-officer.  October  20,  LYMAN  DAY- 
TON, one  of  the  early  settjers  of  the  city.  October  25,  JOSEPH 
R.  ATKINS,  a  prominent  fireman.  November  2,  CHARLES  T. 
WHITNEY,  a  well-known  real  estate  dealer,  formerly  County 
Commissioner  and  City  Treasurer.  November  1 1 ,  at  Evans- 
ville,  Indiana,  Capt.  R.  M.  SPENCER,  an  early  steamboatman. 

PRINCIPAL  EVENTS  OF   l866. 

The  year  1866  was  one  of  great  ease  financially,  t"he  enor- 
mous expenditures  of  Government  in  settling  up  its  war 
claims,  making  money  plenty. 

On  March  i .  ground  was  broken  for  the  Opera  House. 

On  May  2^,  the  Cosmopolitan  Hotel  and  ten  other  build- 
ings, were  destroved  by  fire. 


424  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PauL         [1866 

The  city  election  this  spring  was  not  much  contested.  The 
following  officers  were  eledted :  Mayor.— JOHN  S.  PRINCE. 
Treasurer. — NICHOLAS  GROSS.  Justice. — E.  C.  LAMBERT. 
Surveyor. — C.  M.  BOYLE.  K.  T.  FRIEND  was  elefted  by  the 
Council,  City  Clerk.  Comptroller.— JOHN  W.  ROCHE.  City 
Physician. — Dr.  A.  G.  BRISBINE. 

The  cholera  having  threatened  to  pay  the  city  a  visit,  a  quar- 
antine was  established  at  Pig's  Eye. 

June  20,  Rev.  J.  D.  POPE,  for  ten  years  pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  church,  resigns. 

June  30,  Jefferson  s,chool  house  burned. 

July  i,  Capt.  JOHN  JONES  appointed  Chief  of  Police,  vice 
TrRXiu-LL.  resigned.  , 

July  29,  Capt.  H.  L.  CARVER.  C.  W.  XASH  and  others, 
purchase  the  Pioneer. 

August  1 1.  the  first  steam  fire  engine.  "  Citv  of  Saint  Paul." 
received  by  our  firemen,  and  assigned  to  Hope  Engine  Com- 
pany, No.  i. 

August  21,  a  curious  "accident"  occurred  at  the  Mansion 
House,  a  hotel  which  stood  where  the  Custom  House  now 
is.  A  man.  named  HAWKES,  from  Chicago,  who  was  board- 
ing there,  while  cleaning  a  revolver,  shot  his  wife,  killing  her 
instantly.  As  it  afterwards  transpired  that  he  had  taken  a 
policv  of  insurance  on  her  life  for  $10.000.  not  long  before, 
the  facts  seemed  to  warrant  his  prosecution  for  murder.  Ik- 
was  consequently  tried  on  that  charge,  but  acquitted.  The 
county  was  the  only  sufferer,  the  trial  costing  $4.000. 

INSTITUTION  OF  A  STATE  REFORM  SCHOOL. 

During  the  year  1866.  one  of  the  most  useful  of  our  State 
institutions,  a  Reform  School  for  juvenile  culprits,  was  insti- 
tuted, and  soon  after  got  into  operation,  adjoining  what  is  now 
the  corporate  limits  of  our  citv,  on  the  road  to  Minneapolis. 
This  institution  had  its  origin  in  the  following  circumstances  : 

During  1865,  Hon.  I.  V.  D.  HEARD.  City  Attorney,  was 
frequently  called  on  to  prosecute  young  boys,  some  of  them 
mere  children,  for  larceny  and  other  petty  crimes.  Their 
confessions  as  to  their  own  a6ts,  and  those  of  their  compan- 


r 866]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  425 

ions,  were  deplorable,  and  exhibited  an  amount  of  depravity 
among  the  boys  of  the  city,  that  alarmed  Mr.  HEARD  and 
excited  his  sympathies.  There  seemed  but  one  way  to  check 
and  cure  the  evil — a  juvenile  reformatory. 

After  several  communications  to  the  daily  papers  on   the 
necessity  of  such  an  institution  in  or  near  our  city,  Mr.  HEARD 


EDWARD   ZIMMERMAN.* 

on  November  9,  1865.  addressed  an  official  communication  to 
the  City  Council,  urging  that  body  to  take  steps  to  secure  a 
juvenile  reformatory. 

*  EDWARD  ZIMMERMAN  was  born  in  Strasbourg,  (then  in  France,)  April  36,  1821,  and 
resided  in  the  Department  of  Alsace  until  1848,  when  the  revolutionary  troubles  induced 
him  to  seek  a  home  in  the  new  world.  He  came  to  New  York  that  year,  and  to  Saint 
Paul  in  1855,  and  entered  mercantile  business  here,  in  which  he  was  widely  known,  and 
highly  respected.  He  was,  also,  an  active  and  useful  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
for  several  years.  He  died  on  July  ir,,  1866. 
28 


426  77/e  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1866 

The  communication  was  referred  to  a  special  committee, 
who  reported,  on  January  2.  strongly  urging  that  Mr.  HEARD'S 
proposal  be  concurred  in.  and  means  taken  to  secure  such  an 
institution  as  was  proposed.  A  committee  was  appointed  to 
secure  the  proper  legislation,  and  an  appropriation  from  the 
State  for  the  purpose,  and  sufficient  aid  pledged  by  the  city  to 
ensure  its  organization,  conditioned  that  the  institution  was 
located  in  or  near  the  latter. 

The  Legislature  of  1866,  on  a  proper  representation  of  the 
facts,  established  by  enactment,  a  '•  House  of  Refuge."  and 
appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  grounds,  &c.,  in  Ramsey 
county,  $5,000.  on  condition  that  the  city  of  Saint  Paul  would 
contribute  a  similar  sum.  which  was  done.  Messrs.  D.  W. 
INGERSOLL.  S.  J.  R.  MCMILLAN,  A.  T.  HALE  and  Rev.  J.  G. 
RIHELDAFFER.  were  appointed  managers.  A  very  suitable 
location,  near  the  city,  called  the  Burt  Farm,  was  purchased 
for  $10.000.  and.  in  a  few  months,  the  institution  was  in  suc- 
cessful operation,  Mr.  RIHEJ.DAFFEK  having  been  appointed 
as  Superintendent.  Its  name  was  subsequently  changed  to 
the  "  State  Reform  School." 

On  January  I,  1875,  the  Superintendent  reported  that  since 
the  opening,  253  inmates  had  been  received,  and  145  of  these 
had  been  discharged,  all  of  whom  were,  (so  far  as  known.) 
doing  well,  and  many  holding  positions  of  trust  and  responsi- 
bility, and  leading  moral  lives.  The  amount  of  good  such  an 
.institution  does,  no  one  can  tell,  for  its  main  power  is  in  pre- 
venting rather  than  remedying. 

October  18,  two  servant  girls,  named  LENA  BODEN  and 
SOPHIA  MARTIN,  at  Mrs.  STOKES'  boarding  house,  on  the 
site  of  the  present  Metropolitan  Hotel,  were  burned  so  badly 
by  the  explosion  of  kerosene,  with  which  they  were  lighting 
a  fire,  that  they  died  within  a  few  days. 

November  3.  J.  D.  WILLIAMS,  who,  for  a  number  of  years, 
had  kept  "  Williams'  Ferry,"  above  the  city,  was  murdered 
near  Fort  Snelling. 

December  19.  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  which,  for  almost 
10  veil's,  had  been  dormant,  was  reorganized,  and  became  one 
of  our  most  important  institutions. 


1 867]        «*<*  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota .  ,  j  7 

The  election,  this  fall,  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the  following 
officers:  Senator.— WM.  .P.  MURRAY.  Representatives.— 
C.  H.  LIENAU,  EDMUND  RICE,  and  C.  K.  DAVIS.  Judge  of 
Probate.— R.  F.  CROWELL.  Auditor.— S.  LEE  DAVIS. 

NECROLOGY  OF   1 866. 

Died,  February  5,  BERT  MULLER,  a  pioneer  hotel  keeper.' 
policeman,  &c.  February  20,  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  R.  FRANK 
HOUSEWORTH,  an  old  resident,  Clerk  of  the  Ramsey  county 
Court,  member  of  School  Board,  &c.  March  2,  at  Prairie  du 
Chien.  Rev.  LUCIEN  GALTIER,  first  priest  of  Saint  Paul. 
March  21,  Dr.  WM.  H.  MORTON,  a  well-known  physician. 
April  7,  J.  WATSON  WEBB,  a  merchant.  May  4,  AMABLE 
TURPIN,  father  of  Mrs.  Louis  ROBERT,  aged  100  years. 
June  3,  PERRY  SLOAN,  by  accidentally  falling  from  the  third 
story  of  Merchants'  Hotel.  August  13,  at  the  Iowa  Insane 
Hospital,  DEWITT  C.  MARVIN,  a  well-known  auftioneer  of 
Saint  Paul.  August  23,  at  Philadelphia,  WM.  H.  WOLFF, 
for  many  years  a  druggist  in  Saint  Paul,  Alderman,  &c.  Octo- 
ber, 15,  KENNEDY  T.  FRIEND,  City  Clerk.  December  14, 
GEORGE  G.  STRONG,  formerly  of  Second  Regiment. 

PRINCIPAL    EVENTS    OF    THE    YEAR    1867. 

The  congregation  of  Christ  church,  Protestant  Episcopal, 
(Rev.  S.  Y.  MCMASTERS,*  rector,)  which  had  for  about  16 
years  worshipped  in  the  old  chapel  on  Cedar  street,  completed 
their  newr  and  fine  edifice,  corner  of  Fourth  and  Franklin 
streets,  early  in  January.  On  the  i3th,  it  was  used  for  service, 

*Dr.  STERLING  Y.  MCMASTEKS  was  born  at  Guilford  Court  House,  North  Carolina, 
December  9,  1813,  and  graduated  at  the  University  of  that  State.  He  studied  medicine 
in  early  life,  but  subsequently  studied  theology,  and  was  ordained  a  clergyman  in  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church.  In  1846,  he  became  rector  of  Christ  church,  at  Alton, 
Illinois.  In  1858,  he  became  President  of  Saint  Paul's  College,  Palmyra,  Missouri. 
Three  years  later,  this  was  broken  up  by  the  war,  and  he  became  Chaplain  of  the 
Twenty-seventh  Illinois  Regiment.  In  1863,  he  came  to  Saint  Paul  for  his  health,  and 
became  redtor  of  Christ  church,  ministering  to  that  society  for  12  years.  He  soon  at- 
tained a  high  reputation  in  our  State  as  a  fine  scholar,  a  skilled  theologian,  an  earnest, 
aftive,  faithful  clergyman,  and  a  Christian  gentleman  of  the  finest  culture.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Normal  Board,  of  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society,  and  was  Com- 
missioner to  the  Vienna  Exposition  in  1873.  He  was  a  Free  Mason  of  the  33d  degree. 
He  died  November  5,  1875,  sincerely  lamented. 


428  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan/.         [1867 

/ 

and,  two  Sabbaths  later,  caught  fire  from  the  furnace,  and  was 
destroyed,  all  except  the  bare  walls.     It  was  soon  rebuilt. 

January  25.  the  ;*  Mansion  House."  corner  of  Wabasha  and 
Fifth  streets,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  the  fifteenth  hotel,  the 
papers  remarked,  that  had  been  burned  in  our  city.  In  this 
case,  it  was  ultimately  of  some  benefit  to  the  public.  It  led 
the  way  to  the  purchase,  a  few  days  subsequently,  of  the 
ground  for  the  site  of  the  Custom  House  and  Post-office. 

The  great  increase  of  business  in  the  District  Court  of  Ram- 
sey county,  for  some  months  prior  to  this  date,  clearly  rendered 
an  additional  court  necessary.  The  bar,  at  meetings  held  in 
1866,  decided  to  secure  the  same,  and  the  Legislature  of  1867, 
established  the  ••  Court  of  Common  Pleas"  for  Ramsey  county. 
At  a  city  election  held  April  2,  Hon.  WILLIAM  SPRIGO  HALL* 
was  elected  as  Judge. 

Several  very  destructive  fires  [besides  those  noticed]  occur- 
red this  season.  On  February  22.  WKIDK  &  BKO.'S  wholesale 
grocery  store,  on  Third  street,  burned  down.  June  22,  the 
machine  and  car  shops  of  the  Saint  Paul  and  Pacific  Railroad 
were  destroyed — loss  $i  =50.000.  May  23.  several  buildings  on 
the  south  side  of  Third  street,  above  Cedar,  were  destroyed, 
including  an  old  landmark,  the  ••  Saint  Paul  House."  on 
Bench  street. 

The  municipal  election,  this  spring,  resulted  in  the  choice 
of  the  following  officers:  Mayor. — Hon.  GKO.  L.  Ons.t 

*  WILLIAM  SPRIGG  HALL,  one  of  the  most  respected  jurists  that  Kainsey  county 
ever  had,  was  born  July  9,  1833,  in  Anne  Arundel  county,  Maryland.  He  was  educated 
at  Saint  John's  College,  in  that  State,  and  studied  law,  being  admitted  to  practice  in 
1854.  He  came  to  Saint  Paul  in  October  of  that  year,  and  formed  a  law  partnership 
with  HARWOOD  IGLEHART,  formerly  of  Annapolis,  Maryland.  In  1856,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  the  Common  Schools  of  Minnesota,  which  office  he  filled  two 
years.  In  1857,  ne  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  in  which  he  showed  high  ability. 
In  1867,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  1'Ieas,  and  re-elected  in  1874,  for 
seven  years  more.  His  health  failed  rapidly  about  that  period,  and  he  took  an  European 
tour  without  much  benefit.  On  February  35,  1875,  he  died  on  a  railroad  car,  while  on 
his  way  home  from  the  east. 

f  GEO.  L.  OTIS  was  born  in  New  York,  October  7, 18.19.  He  removed  to  Michigan  in 
1837,  and  lived  there  until  1855,  in  the  meantime  studying  law  and  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice. In  October,  1855,  he  came  to  Saint  Paul,  and  has  practiced  his  profession  here  since 
that  date,  with  eminent  success.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature  (House) 
of  1857-8,  and  of  the  Senate  in  1866,  performing  valuable  services  on  the  Judiciary  Com- 
mittee during  the  first  named  session.  Mr.  OTIS  was  elected  Mayor  of  Saint  Paul  in 


1867]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  429 

Street  Commissioner.— JOHN  DOVVLAN.  Attorney.— HARVEY 
OFFICER.  The  Council  elected  B.  W.  LOTT.  City  Clerk ;  J. 
W.  ROCHE.  Comptroller:  Dr.  B.  MATTOCKS.  City  Physician! 


GEO.  L.  OTIS. 

On  April  27,  Hope  Hose  Company,  No.  i,  was  organized. 


1867,  and  in  1869  was  the  nominee  of  his  party  for  Governor,  but  they  were  too  greatly 
in  the  minority  to  succeed.  Mr.  OTIS  has  also  given  several  years'  service  to  the  public 
as  one  of  the  Managers  of  the  State  Reform  School.  He  is  one  of  the  ablest  memlxTs 
lit"  the  Ramsey  county  bar,  and  in  the  Masonic  order  has  atlaincd  a  high  rank. 


430  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pan  I.          [1867 

July  28,  Saint  Mary's  church.  (Catholic,)  was  dedicated. 
Rev.  L.  CAILLET  has  been  its  priest  since  that  date. 

September  10.  ground  was  broken  for  the  Custom  House. 

November  14,  a  young  woman,  named  MAGGIE  MURPHY. 
burned  to  death  at  Gen.  SIBLEY'S  residence  by  the  explosion 
of  a  kerosene  lamp. 

THE  SUPPOSED  MURDER  OF  DR.   HENRY  HARCOURT. 

During  the  fall  of  this  year  occurred  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting criminal  trials  that  has  ever  taken  place  in  the  history 
of  the  Northwest,  and  rivalling,  in  some  features,  the  celebrated 
cases  of  EUGENE  ARAM  or  Dr.  WEBSTER. 

On  page  420.  was  mentioned  the  finding  of  the  body  of  an 
unknown  man.  evidently  murdered.  A  curious  chain  of  cir- 
cumstances led  to  the  arrest,  at  Chicago,  on  September  23. 
1866,  of  a  young  man  named  GEO.  L.  VAN  SOLEN,  for  some 
years  a  resident  of  Saint  Paul,  as  the  murderer  of  the  unknown 
man.  who  was  subsequently  proven  (as  was  supposed)  to  be 
Dr.  HENRY  HARCOURT,  of  England — more  latterly  of  Saint 
Louis,  Missouri.  VAN  SOLEN  had  known  HARCOURT  in 
Saint  Louis,  in  1864  and  1865.  and  shortlv  afterwards  the 
former  returned  to  Saint  Paul.  HARCOURT  soon  after  received 
a  letter  from  a  person  unknown  to  him.  offering  him  a  situa- 
tion, as  surgeon  to  an  expedition,  if  he  would  come  to  S;iint 
Paul,  and  giving  VAN  SOLEN  as  a  reference.  Dr.  HARCOURT 
came  to  Saint  Paul  with  a  surgeon's  outfit,  about  August  i^. 
and  stopped  at  VAN  SOLEN'S  house.  The  two  went  hunting 
at  Pig's  Eye,  on  August  19.  VAN  SOLEN  returned  alone, 
stating  that  HARCOURT  had  run  away  from  him.  and  the  latter 
was  never  seen  alive  after  that  day.  His  friends  in  England, 
alarmed  at  not  hearing  from  him.  investigated  his  wherea- 
bouts, which  led  to  VAN  SOLEN'S  arrest,  as  stated.  He  was 
tried  on  the  charge,  in  December,  and  ably  defended  bv  Hon. 
C.  K.  DAVIS*  and  Hon.  I.  V.  D.  HEARD.  The  theory  of  the 


*  CUSIIMAN  K.  DAVIS  was  born  in  Henderson,  New  York,  June  16,  1838.  While  an 
infant,  his  parents  removed  to  Waukesha.  Wisconsin,  where  he  attended  Carroll  Col- 
lege, but  subsequently  graduated  at  the  University  of  Michigan,  in  1857.  He  studied 
law  with  Hon.  A.  W.  RANDALL,  and,  after  the  election  of  that  gentleman  as  Governor, 
he  appointed  Mr.  DAVIS  a-  State  Librarian.  He  was  admitted  t«.  the  bar  in  ]S;,,.  ami 


1867]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota. 


43 * 


CUSHMAN  K.  DAVIS. 

defense  was,  that  the  body  of  the  unknown  man,  found  in  the 

removed  to  Milwaukee,  where  he  practiced  some  time,  but  ultimately  returned  to  Wau- 
kesha,  at  which  place,  in  1863,  he  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-eighth  Wisconsin  Volunteers. 
He  was,  not  long  after,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  was  put  on  the  start"  of  Gen. 
GOKM  AN,  with  the  rank  of  Assistant  Adjutant  General.  When  Gen.  GouM  AN  retired  from 
the  service,  Capt.  DAVIS  returned  to  his  command,  and  was  made  Judge  Advocate  of 
the  Department.  After  several  months'  service,  illness  compelled  him  to  withdraw  from 
the  army.  He  settled  in  Saint  Paul  in  1864,  engaging  in  the  practice  of  law  with  great 
success.  In  1866,  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and,  in  1868,  appointed  United  States 
District  Attorney.  In  November,  1873,  he  was  elected  Governor,  and  has  filled  that 
office  with  acknowledged  ability.  He  is  one  of  the  most  scholarly  and  ready  speakers 
in  our  State. 


432 


The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.          [1868 


river,  was  not  that  of  HARCOURT.  The  prosecution.  Judge 
S.  M.  FLINT  and  H.  J.  HORN,  Esq.,  had  the  body  exhumed, 
and  endeavored  to  prove,  by  its  size.  &c..  and  articles  found 
on  it.  that  it  was  HARCOURT'S  body.  The  jury,  on  the  first 
trial,  disagreed,  and,  on  a  second  trial,  in  the  spring  of  1868. 
VAN  SOLEN  was  acquitted.  The  Pioneer,  in  commenting 
on  the  case,  said  :  ''It  is  a  case  painful  as  it  is  mysterious, 
and  one  of  the  dark  riddles  that  occur  more  frequently  in  real 
life  than  in  the  attractive  pages  of  fiction." 

The  election  this  fall  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the  following 
officers  : 

Senator. — GEO.  L.  BECKER.  Representatives. — WM.  P. 
MURRAY,  D.  C.  JONES  and  C.  H.  LIENAU.  Sheriff. — D.  A. 
ROIJERTSON.  Treasurer. — C.  S.  UI.INK.  Register. — J. 
MAINXER.  Attornev. — S.  M.  FLINT.  &c. 

NEC  'KOLOGY     OK     1867. 

Died.  January  5,  JACOB  BECK,  an  ex-soldier.  Turner,  &c. 
January  20,  BENSON  GALLOWAY,  for  some  years  a  merchant 
on  Third  street.  March  20,  D.  C.  MTRRAY.  an  old  resident. 
April  2,  at  Waconia.  B.  RODECK.  a  prominent  fireman.  April 
26,  JAMES  WILEY,  a  well-known  citizen.  June  7.  MICHAEL 
DORNIDEN,  member  of  City  Council.  June  19,  Dr.  \\M. 
CAINE,  homoepathic  physician  since  1858.  July  5.  CHARLES 
PATTEN,  a  resident  since  1852.  July  7.  WILLIAM  PERKINS. 
an  eaivlv  settler.  August  4,  Capt.  SAM  TEL  T.  RAGTET.  late 
of  the  First  Minnesota  Volunteers,  a  prominent  fireman. 
merchant.  &c. 

PRINCIPAL   EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAR    lS68. 

On  January  9,  a  row  of  frame  buildings,  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Third  and  Wabasha  streets,  burned  down.  J.  L. 
FOREPAUGH,  that  year,  erected  on  the  site,  his  fine  block,  now 
the  property  of  P.  F.  McQuiLLAN,  by  whose  name  it  is 
known.  It  is  the  largest  and  finest  business  block  in  our  city. 

On  February  29.  the  Daily  Dispatch,  an  evening  journal. 
was  issued  by  H.  P.  HALL  and  DAVID  RAMALEY. 


1 868]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsev*  Minnesota.  433 

April  21,  Mackubin's  Block  burned.     Total  loss.  $120.000. 

The  city  election  this  spring,  resulted  : 

Mayor.— Dr.  J.  H.  STEWART.  City  Justice.— O.  MALM- 
ROS.  Comptroller.— J.  W.  ROCHE.  Treasurer. — NICHOLAS 
GROSS.  The  Council  elected  JOHN  J.  WILLIAMS  as  City 
Clerk,  &c. 


MCQUILLAN  BLOCK. 

May  22,  the  Rotary  Mill,  an  old  landmark,  burned. 
August  8.  old  Christ  church,  (Cedar  street,)  burned. 
The  post-office  was  removed  to  the  Opera  House  this  season. 
At  the  State  election,  this  fall,  the   following  officers  were 
chosen  :      Representatives. — JOHN   M.   GILMAN,*    JAMES  J. 

*  JOHN  M.  OILMAN  was  horn  in  Vermont,  September  7,  1834.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  practice  of  law  in  that  State,  and  removed  to  Ohio  in  1846,  settling  at  New  Lisbon. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  that  State  in  1849-50.  He  removed  to  Saint 
Paul  in  September,  1857,  and  soon  afterwards  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  J  AS. 
SMITH,  Jr.,  which  continued  some  years.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of"  OILMAN, 
CLOUGH  &  LANE."  Mr.  OILMAN  has  been  three  times  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
from  this  county,  and  has  rendered  the  State  valuable  service  in  that  capacity. 


434  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1869 

EGAN  and  PAUL  FABER.    Judge  of  Probate. — O.   STEPHEN- 
SON.     County  Auditor. — S.  LEE  DAVIS. 

NECROLOGY    OF    1 868. 

Died,  January  15.  SAMUEL  L.  VAWTER,  a  prominent  mer- 
chant. February  2.  ELIAB  L.  WHITNEY,  an  early  real  estate 
dealer.  February  3.  in  Hennepin  county,  JAMES  DAY,  a  pio- 
neer builder  of  Saint  Paul.  February  21,  GEORGE  H.  OAKES, 
a  well-known  earlv  resident.  February  26,  at  Toronto,  Can- 
ada, H.  HOLMES,  an  early  surveyor  of  Saint  Paul,  afterwards 
a  General  in  the  Confederate  States  Army.  March  14.  Rev. 
J.  E.  DIXON,  a  teacher.  March  29,  at  Orono,  Judge  MOSES 
SHERBURNE.  one  of  the  early  jurists  of  Minnesota.  April 
10,  RUDOLPH  H.  FITZ.  a  pioneer  builder,  Alderman,  &c. 
April  10,  THOMAS  H.  CALDER.  a  well-known  character 
of  early  days.  April  21,  S.  R.  CHAMPLIN,  a  merchant 
for  manv  years.  April  27,  at  Chicago,  by  suicide.  \\*M. 
WOOD,  of  the  firm  of  MEHAFFEY  &  BLACK,  in  1856.  May 
20,  JIM  LORD,  a  relic  of  early  days.  July  12,  Capt.  EUGENE 
H.  FALES,  an  ex-army  officer.  August  4,  SIMON  POWERS,  a 
pioneer  stage  line  operator.  August  30,  at  Louisville,  k'  Pres- 
ident" JONKS.  an  eccentric  character,  who  lived  at  Saint  Paul 
for  several  years.  September  19,  MICHAEL  J.  WISE,  an  old 
resident.  October  10.  Dr.  J.  A.  VERVAIS,  a  pioneer  physi- 
cian. November  6.  Rev.  T.  H.  N.  GERRY,  a  Protestant 
Episcopal  clergyman.  December  25.  THOMAS  WALL,  well 
known  in  political  circles. 

PRINCIPAL    EVENTS    OF    1869. 

January  i.  Jubilee  of  colored  citizens  at  Ingersoll  Hall, 
to  celebrate  the  amendment  to  the  State  Constitution  conferring 
on  them  the  elective  franchise. 

January  12.     Masonic  Hall,  in  McQuillan's  Block,  dedicated. 

February  3.  The  International  Hotel  burned.  This  fire 
commenced  about  two  o'clock  a.  m.  There  were  over  200 
guests  in  the  house,  but  all  escaped  without  injury.  The  loss 
was  stated  at  $125,000.  [See  page  365.] 

During  the   Legislative   session  of  1869,  a  bill  was   intro- 


1869]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey ,  Minnesota.          435 

duced,  by  Hon.  C.  H.  CLARKE,  of  Hennepin  county,  to  re- 
move the  Capital  to  Kandiyohi  county,  on  one  of  the  sections 
of  land  called  "  Capital  lands."  The  bill  passed  both  houses, 
with  very  little  opposition — probably  being  regarded  in  the  na- 
ture of  a  joke.  When  presented  to  Gov.  MARSHALL  for  his  sig- 
nature, he  declined  to  approve  it,  and  returned  the  bill,  with  his 
reasons  for  vetoing  it,  which  were  probably  satisfactory,  as  a 
motion  to  pass  it  over  his  veto  failed  to  carry.  The  same,  or 
substantially  the  same,  measure  was  introduced  again  in  1872, 
but  met  with  no  favor. 

The  city  election  this  spring  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the 
following  officers  :  Mayor. — JAMES  T.  MAXFIELD.  Comp- 
troller.— J.  W.  ROCHE.  Attorney. — W.  A.  GORMAN.  As- 
sessor.— CHARLES  PASSAVANT.  Surveyor. — D.  L.  CURTICE. 
Street  Commissioner. — FRANK  DECK.  The  City  Council 
elected  JOHN  J.  WILLIAMS.  City  Clerk ;  Dr.  MATTOCKS, 
Health  Officer.  &c. 

THE  CITY  WATER  WORKS. 

An  important  event  of  this  year  was  the  completion  of  the 
city  water  works,  bv  the  "Saint  Paul  Water  Company." 
This  company  was  first  chartered  in  1857,  ^ut  nothing  was 
done  by  the  parties  holding  the  franchises,  until  about  1864  or 
1865,  when  C.  D.  GILFILLAN,  and  others,  took  hold  of  the  en- 
terprise, and,  after  much  labor  and  expenditure,  completed  the 
works.  The  water  was  turned  on  from  Lake  Phelan,  the  res- 
ervoir, on  August  23.  There  has  been  in  all,  17  miles  of  pipe 
laid,  three  miles  of  canals  built,  and  1,100  buildings  are  now 
supplied  with  water.  The  works  have  a  capacity  of  4,300,000 
gallons  every  24  hours.  In  all,  $340,000  have  been  invested 
in  the  works.  To  the  energy,  perseverance  and  enterprise  of 
Hon.  CHARLES  D.  GILFILLAN,*  president  of  the  company, 

*  CHARLES  D.  GILFILLAN  was  born  near  Utica,  New  York,  July  4,  1831.  He  was 
educated  at  Hamilton  College,  and  removed  to  Missouri,  in  1850.  In  April,  1851,  he 
came  to  Saint  Paul,  then  removed  to  Stillwater,  where  he  practiced  law  three  years, 
returning  to  Saint  Paul  in  1854,  and  continuing  his  profession  here.  He  was  elected  to 
the  Legislature  in  1864  and  1865.  At  the  close  of  the  latter  term,  he  began  the  con- 
struction  of  the  Saint  Paul  Water  Works,  which  will  always  entitle  him  to  the  rank  of 
one  of  the  benefactors  of  our  city  He  has  just  been  elected  a  third  time  to  the  Legis- 
lature. 


436 


The  History  of  Me  City  of  Sahit  Pa* 


[1869 


Saint  Paul  is  indebted  for  this  valuable  improvement:  and 
perhaps  no  city  in  the  Union  is  more  cheaply  or  easily  sup- 
plied with  water  than  Saint  Paul. 

The  State  election,  (November  2.)  was  somewhat  more 
closely  contested  than  usual  this  year.  Hon.  GEO.  L.  OTIS. 
one  of  our  most  popular  and  esteemed  citizens,  was  a  candi- 
date for  Governor,  and,  although  his  party  throughout  the 
.State  was  in  a  hopeless  minority,  he  received  a  vote  in  this 


CHARLES  D.  GILFILLAN. 

county  that  was  a  generous  compliment  to  him,  the  result  be- 
ing: for  HORACE  AUSTIN,  778  ;  for  Mr.  OTIS,  2847!  The 
counh  officers  elected  were  :  Senator. — GEO.  L.  BECKER. 
(no  opposition.)  Representatives. — JOHN  M.  GILMAN,  PAW. 
FABER,  JN.O.  L.  MERRIAM.  Clerk  of  Court. — ALBERT  ARM- 
STHONC,.  .Sheriff. — JOHN  GRACE.  Treasurer. — C.  S.  I  i  i  \  i  . 


1870]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  437 

Register. — JACOB    MAINZER.      County   Attorney. — HARVEY 
OFFICER. 

The  newspapers  reported  that  509  buildings  were  built  this 
year,  at  a  total  cost  of  $1.500,000. 

NECROLOGY  OF   1869. 

Died,  near  Princeton,  Minnesota,  January  7,  from  a  gun-shot 
wound,  GEO.  W.  THOMPSON,  an  early  resident.  January  14. 
ROBERT  P.  PATTERSON,  a  brick-mason,  well-known  in  the 
city.  January  26.  at  Chicago,  RICHARD  MARSHALL,  formerly 
proprietor  of  the  City  Mills.  February  22,  near  Omaha,  bv 
freezing,  H.  H.  GILBERT,  formerly  Deputy  State  Treasurer, 
and  Quartermaster  of  the  Sixth  Regiment.  March  19. 
CHARLES  CREEK,  an  early  settler.  March  27.  Rev.  DEME- 
TRIUS MAROGNA,  priest  of  Assumption  church.  April  n. 
NELSON  GIBBS,  for  several  years  City  Justice.  &c.  May  8. 
JULIUS  SCHMIDT,  well  known  to  theatre-goers.  May  28,  ASA 
GOODRICH,  for  several  years  president  of  the  gas  company. 
June  29,  GEO.  C.  MOTT,  since  1861,  clerk  in  the  Surveyor 
General's  office.  July  10.  at  Chicago,  MASON  M.  FORSYTHE, 
a  well-known  business  man  of  Saint  Paul.  July  14.  JOSEPH 
CAMPBELL,  an  old  settler.  August  10,  Col.  HENRY  McKEN- 
TY,  once  the  largest  and  most  prominent  real  estate  dealer  in 
Minnesota.  October  30,  ANDY  L.  SHEARER,  for  some  years 
a  "banker"  on  Jackson  street.  November  12,  Louis  C. 
JONES,  a  capitalist.  November  22.  JACOB  B.  BRADEN,  a 
highly  respected  merchant.  November  22,  ORRIN  CURTIS, 
formerly  Mayor  of  Saint  Anthony,  a  well-known  insurance 
agent.  November  25,  DAVID  STUART,  Jr.,  an  old  resident. 
December  30,  THOMAS  DALY,  well  known  in  political  circles. 

PRINCIPAL    EVENTS    OF    THE    YEAR    1870. 

During  the  rebuilding  of  part  of  the  Saint  Paul  bridge,  this 
winter,  a  young  man,  named  JAMES  NOLAN,  fell  about  100 
feet  on  the  ice,  and  was  killed. 

At  the  spring  election,  only  one  ticket  was  in  the  field,  be- 
ing elected  as  follows:  Mayor. — WILLIAM  LEE.*  Comp- 

*  WILLIAM  LEE,  one  of  the  oldest  wholesale  merchants  of  Minnesota,  was  born  in 
Milford,  Hnnterdon  county,  New  Jersey,  April  14,  1823.  After  completing  his  educa- 


438  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1870 

troller.— JOHN  W.  ROCHE.  City  Justice? — THOMAS  HOWARD. 
Treasurer. — MICHAEL  ESCH.  Surveyor. — D.  L.  CURTICE. 
The  City  Council  elected  WM.  RHODES.  President;  M.  J. 
O'CONNOR,  City  Clerk  ;  Dr.  MATTOCKS,  Health  Officer. 

The  river  was  on  a  freshet  this  spring,  being  the  highest 
water  for  20  years. 

May  4,  JOSEPH  A.  WHEELOCK  was  appointed  postmaster. 

May  19,  Concert  Hall  Block  burned.  A  young  lady,  named 
MC-LELLAN,  was  burned  to  death  ;  and  two  brothers,  named 
MUELLER,  tailors,  saved  their  lives  only  by  leaping  from  the 
windows  in  the  rear  to  the  foot  of  the  bluff,  receiving  frightful 
injuries.  The  fire  spread  across  the  street,  consuming  several 
buildings.  The  total  loss  was  $50,000. 

June  i,  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  Merchants'  Hotel  was 
laid  by  the  Old  Settlers'  Association,  with  appropriate  cere- 
monies. 

On  June  27,  the  Metropolitan  Hotel  was  opened,  GILHEKT 
DUTCH ER,  proprietor. 

The  census  of  1870  showed  a  rapid  growth  of  the  city  since 
1865.  The  total  population  of  the  city  was  reported  at 
20.030:  county,  23,085. 

An  atrocious  murder  was  committed,  on  September  2.  in 
Rose  township.  A  man.  named  JOSKIMI  STKHLE,  of  Saint 
Anthony,  was  enticed  away  from  home  by  a  tramp,  named 
DANIEL  GUNDY,  who  murdered  and  robbed  him.  GUNDY 
was  convicted  of  the  crime  in  March  following,  and  sentenced 
to  imprisonment  for  life. 

The  Lake  Superior  and  Mississippi  Railroad  was  completed 
and  opened  to  Duluth  in  August,  this  vear,  thus  giving  our 
citv  a  connection  with  the  great  lake  system,  which  has  been 
of  incalculable  advantage  to  its  commerce. 

The  State  election  this  fall  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  Representatives. — H.  H.  SIBLEY.  Jon\  L. 

tion,  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Eastern,  Pennsylvania,  and,  in  1859,  removed 
to  Saint  Paul,  where  he  established  what  is  now  one  of  the  leading  jobbing  houses  in 
our  city.  Mr.  LEE  was  twice  elected  Mayor,  and  is  at  present  County  Commissioner, 
serving  the  public  with  fidelity  and  ability.  While  devoted  to  his  business,  he  find* 
time  to  engage  in  politics,  simply  (as  he  asserts,  and  the  writer  believes,)  as  a  recreation 
from  business  cares ! 


1 870]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  439 

MERRIAM.   CHRIS.   STAHLMAN.      Probate  Judge. — O.    STE- 
PHENSON.     County  Auditor. — HIRAM  J.  TAYLOR. 

Navigation  remained  open  this  fall  unprecedentedly  late.  A 
steamboat  excursion  in  aid  of  the  Home  of  the  Friendless, 
came  oft'  on  December  17 — the  latest  on  record. 

NECROLOGY    OF    1870. 

Died,  April  n,  CHARLES  A.MORGAN,  for  several  years 
City  Treasurer.  May  12,  at  Hebron,  Illinois,  JOHN  McCo.N- 
KEY,  a  former  railroad  man.  May  21,  THOMAS  THOMAS,  a 
pioneer  builder.  May  28,  JAMES  E.  THOMPSON,  President  of 
the  First  National  Bank.  May  30,  J.  W.  SIMPSON,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  city.  June  6,  ISAAC  A.  BANKER,  one  of  the 
earlier  surveyors  and  real  estate  dealers.  June  4,  EDWARD 
COLES  LAMBERT,  for  many  vears  Probate  Judge,  City  Justice. 
&c.  June  23,  WILLIAM  ILLINGWORTH,  town-clock  builder. 
June  16,  at  Charleston,  Illinois,  JONATHAN  FROST,  one  of  the 
early  merchants.  July  n,  Lieutenant  CHARLES  RAMPE,  for- 
merly of  the  Second  Regiment.  October  6,  by  suicide,  WIL- 
LIAM YUNG.  October  29,  F.  SCHWARTZ,  a  well-known 
German  citizen.  November  n,  VETAL  GUERIN,  the  oldest' 
living  settler.  November  16,  HENRY  BUEL,  for  many  years  a 
well-known  merchant.  December  9,  WILLIAM  J.  CULLEN,  a 
prominent  public  man.  December  28,  LOT  MOFFET, -builder 
and  proprietor  of  "  Moftet's  Castle,"  or  the  Temperance  House. 


440  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1871 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEARS.   1871  TO  1875. 

ADVANCE  IN  REAL  ESTATE— THE  PRAIKIE  FIRES— RELIEF  FOR  CHICAGO  SUFFER- 
ERS—CHANCES IN  CITY  CHARTER— BOARD  OF  PUBLIC  WORKS  CREATED— PUB- 
LIC PARK  PURCHASED— STREET  RAILWAY  BUILT— MORE  STEAMERS  SECURED— 
THE  GREAT  STORM  OF  1873— CUSTOM  HOUSE  COMPLETED— THE  JAY  COOKE 
PANIC — ANNEXATION  OF  WEST  SAINT  PAUL — A  CARNIVAL  OF  CRIME — THE 
CENSUS  OF  1875— CONCLUSION. 

THE  events  of  the   period   from    1870  to  the  present  date, 
can  only  be  briefly  noted,  as  they  are  too  recent,  and  not 
sufficiently  "historical"  to  bear  chronicling  at  much  length. 

I'KI.NCIPAJ.    EVENTS    OF    1871. 

One  of  the  noticeable  features  of  this  year,  was  the  rapid 
and  decided  advance  in  real  estate.  The  demand  was  better, 
and  sales  more  ready,  than  for  several  years — perhaps,  better 
than  since  the  fatal  1857.  Woodland  Park,  and  a  number  of 
other  additions,  were,  about  this  date.  got  into  market,  and 
the  rapid  advance  in  prices — sometimes  doubling  in  a  few 
weeks — almost  reminded  one  of  the  kiting  days  before  the 
memorable  collapse.  It  set  the  real  estate  market  all  abla/e. 
and  gave  it  an  impetus  which  continued  until  the  JAY  COOKK 
disaster  of  September,  1873.  again  checked  it. 

The  city  election  this  spring  resulted  in  the  following  choice  : 

Mayor. — WILLIAM  LEE,  re-elected.  Attorney. — W.  A. 
GORMAN.  Comptroller. — JOHN  W.  ROCHE.  Surveyor. — D. 
L.  CURTICE. 

July  5.  the  Minnesota  State  Sabbath  School  Convention 
assembled  in  a  temporary  building,  opposite  the  Capitol. 

The  State  Fair  took  place  at  the  Driving  Park.  September 
26,  27,  28  and  29. 

The  fall  of  this  year  was  memorable  for  the  destructive  fires 
in  the  Northwest — Wisconsin.  Michigan,  and  our  own  prairie 
region  were  swept  b\  the  flames.  The  crowning  disaster  was 


1871]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  441 

the  great  tire  of  Chicago,  October  8th  and  9th.  Our  City  Coun- 
cil, as  soon  as  it  could  be  called  together,  appropriated 
$20,000  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers  of  that  city,  and  the 
amount  was  taken  to  Chicago  the  same  evening.  "  A  consid- 
erable amount  in  money,  provisions  and  clothing,  was  also 
sent  to  the  sufferers  by  our  prairie  fires. 

On  October  24,  25  and  26,  occurred  the  excursion  of  the 
Old  Settlers'  Association  of  Minnesota,  to  the  Red  River  of 
the  North,  to  celebrate  the  completion  of  the  Saint  Paul  and 
Pacific  Railroad  to  that  river. 

The  State  election  this  fall.  (November,)  resulted  in  the 
following  choice:  District  Judge. — WESTCOTT  WILKIN. 
Treasurer. — CAL.  S.  ULINE.  Sheriff. — JOHN  GRACE.  Reg- 
ister of  Deeds.— JACOB  MAINZER.  County  Attorney. — W. 
W.  ERWIN.  Surveyor.— C.  M.  BOYLE.  Court  Commis- 
sioner.— G.  SIEGENTHALER.  Senators.— JOHN  NICOLS  and 
ISAAC  V.  D.  HEARD.  Representatives.  — JOHN  B.  SANBORN, 
PETER  BERKEY,*  JAMES  C.  BURBANK,  H.  M.  SMYTIIE  and 
EDMUND  RICE. 

December  15,  the  Ramsey  County  Pioneer  Association  was 
organized.  This  society  was  designed  to  include  all  who  set- 
tled in  this  county  prior  to  the  admission  of  the  State,  (May 
n,  1858,)  and  who  were  of  age  at  the  date  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  society. 

The  newspapers  reported  that  832  buildings  were  built  dur- 
ing 1871,  at  a  total  cost  of  $1,735,761. 

Died,  January  9,  WM.  BEAUMETTE,  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  Saint  Paul,  (1838.)  January  n,  at  Santa  Barbara. 
California,  Major  H.  A.  KIMBALL,  a  lawyer  of  this  city. 

*  Capt.  PETER  BEKKEY,  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  our  city,  was  born  in  Somerset 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1822.  His  early  life  was  one  of  hard  labor,  privation,  and  but 
little  opportunity  for  education.  To  his  own  pluck  and  industry  he  owes  his  present  re- 
spedled  position  in  our  community.  In  early  days,  he  struggled  with  fortune  on  the 
canals,  railroads  and  stage  roads  of  his  native  State.  He  and  SELAH  CHAMBERLAIN 
stood  by  the  track  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  in  1836,  and  saw  the  first  train  go  by. 
He  came  to  Minnesota  in  1855,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  hardware,  iron,  rail- 
road, livery,  insurance  and  banking  business,  at  various  dates.  He  is  now  President 
of  the  Saint  Paul,  Stillwater  and  Taylor's  Falls  Railroad,  Director  of  the  Second  Na- 
tional Bank,  &c.  He  has  given  the  city  and  county  years  of  valuable  service,  as  Al- 
derman^ County  Commissioner,  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  other  offices,  and  in  all 
good  enterprises  is  a  most  valuable  and  reliable  citizen. 
29 


442  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1872 

January  28,  at  Cottage  Grove,  PIERCE  P.  FURBER,  for  many 
years  actuary  of  Oakland  cemetery,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
First  Ward.  March  3,  WM.  R.  WOOD,  a  draughtsman  in  the 
Surveyor  General's  office.  March  4.  JOHN  AUSTIN,  a  well- 
known  English  resident.  March  20,  at  Little  Canada.  PIERRE 
GKRVAIS.  a  resident  here.  1838  to  1845.  April  7.  CHARLES 
WEED,  a  well-known  railroad  agent.  April  n.  Major  NA- 
THANIEL McLEAX,  ex-editor  and  public  officer  ;  a  settler  of 
1849.  April  16,  at  Saint  Peter.  ROBERT  F.  SLAUGHTER,  an 
early  real  estate  dealer.  June  13.  at  Waterford.  Pennsylvania. 
JOHN  CURTIS,  for  many  years  a  hotel  keeper  and  hardware 
dealer.  June  20,  JOHN  B.  LAHR.  August  4.  AMOS  W.  PEAR- 
SON, a  manufacturer  of  this  city.  August  30,  C.  G.  WYC  K<  >i  i  . 
a  public  officer,  prominent  Mason.  &c.  September  22. 
GEORGE  LOWRY,  for  many  years  a  saddler.  October  2.  JOHN 
C.  RAGUET,  a  prominent  merchant.  November  27.  at  Saint 
Cloud,  MASON  H.  MILLS.  December  25,  HEXNING  Vox 
MINDEN,  an  officer  during  the  war,  engineer.  &c. 

KVKXTS    OK    THE    YEAR     1872. 

Some  very  important  amendments  were  made  to  the  charter 
of  the  city  by  the  Legislature  this  winter.  One  was.  providing 
that  the  city  election  should  be  held  (after  1872)  the  same  day 
as  the  State  election,  and  terms  of  officers  expiring  in  the 
spring  of  1873  should  continue  until  1874.  Each  ward  \vas 
also  divided  into  two  election  precincts,  and  the  limits  of  the 
city  largely  extended. 

A  "  Board  of  Public  Works"  was  also  created,  to  consist  of 
five  members,  one  from  each  ward.  Thev  are  charged  with 
the  control  and  supervision  of  public  improvements  generally. 
The  Board  has  performed  a  large  amount  of  work  in  improv- 
ing our  streets,  sewerage,  &c.,  though  at  considerable  expense. 

Another  important  acl  was  the  one  authorizing  the  purchase 
of  a  public  park.  Five  commissioners  were  to  be  appointed 
by  the  District  Judge,  to  purchase  a  suitable  tract  for  that  pur- 
pose. Judge  WILKIX  soon  after  appointed  H.  H.  SIBLEY.  J. 
A.  WHEELOCK,  SAMUEL  COLHOUX.  W.  P.  MURRAY,  and  J. 
C.  BURBANK.  After  some  months  of  inquiry  and  survey.  ;i 


1872]       and  of  the  Cotinty  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.          443 

very  fine  traft  bordering  on  Lake  Como,  containing  about  260 
acres,  was  purchased  for  $100.000,  the  bonds  for  which  were 
issued  by  the  City  Council. 

The  last  spring  city  election  was  held  on  April  2,  resulting 
in  the  following  •  choice  :  Mayor. — Dr.  J.  H.  STEWART. 
Treasurer. — MICHAEL  ESCH.  Justice. — ARCHIBALD  MC£L- 
RATH.  Commissioners. — CASPER  H.  SCHURMEIER,  PETER 
BERKEY. 

On  February  10.  the  ki  Saint  Paul,  Stillwater  and  Taylor's 
Falls  Railroad"  was  formally  opened  by  an  excursion,  and  on 
February  14,  the  West  Wisconsin  Railroad,  a  new  route  to 
Chicago,  was  dedicated  to  business  by  an  excursion. 

During  this  year,  the  first  street  railway  was  chartered  and 
constructed.  On  July  14,  two  miles  were  opened  to  travel. 
The  following  year  a  branch  line  was  built. 

On  July  2,  two  new  steam  fire  engines  were  ordered  by  the 
City  Council,  and  soon  after  received,  making  four  in  all  in 
use  by  our  Fire  Department,  which  is  now  one  of  the  best 
managed  and  most  efficient  in  the  country. 

On  July  24,  the  Sheriff  of  Crow  Wing  county,  fearing 
trouble  with  the  Chippewas,  owing  to  the  lynching  of  two  of 
their  number,  at  Brainerd,  telegraphed  for  a  military  force 
from  this  city.  Although  this  was  late  at  night,  by  daylight 
next  morning,  two  military  companies  wei'e  under  arms,  and 
en  route  for  Brainerd.  Fortunately  the  expedition  was  a 
bloodless  one,  and  is  now  generally  known  as  the  "  Blueberry 
War." 

At  the  State  election  this  fall,  the  following  officers  were 
chosen  :  Senator. — EDMUND  RICE.  Representatives. — J.  N. 
ROGERS,  HUBERT  H.  MILLER,  GEO.  BENZ,  HENRY  A.  CAS- 
TLE, H.  J.  BRAINARD.  Auditor.— J.  B.  OLIVIER.  Probate 
Judge. — H.  R.  BRILL.  Mr.  OLIVIER  resigned  soon  after,  and 
was  elected  Abstract  Clerk.  S.  LEE  DAVIS  was  elected  as 
Auditor. 

The  winter  of  1872,  set  in  unusually  early  and  severe,  and 
a  kkfuel  famine"  added  to  its  discomfort. 

December  21,  ''Warner's  Corner,"  as  it  was  long  known, 
burned  down,  together  with  the  building  adjoining,  then  occu- 


444  ^'//6>  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.         [1872 

pied  by  A.  T.  C.  PIERSON.  In  the  latter,  a  young  man,  named 
JOHN  H.  DOWLING,  was  burned  to  death. 

The  season  of  1872.  was  remarkable  for  the  number  of  fine 
buildings  erected.  The  papers  reported  932  buildings  built 
during  the  year,  at  a  cost  of  $2,346.487. 

Died,  January  12.  BARON  Vox  FREUDKNREICH.  a  native  of 
Germany,  a  resident  since  18^6.  January  14.  at  Memphis.  R. 
McL.VGAN,  an  early  settler.  January  27.  WM.  B.  XEWCOMB, 
a  prominent  merchant.  January  28,  Capt.  JOHN  O'GoRMAN, 
formerly  Chief  of  Police.  January  30.  J.  A.  CHAFFEE.  mer- 
chant. February  i,  at  Chaska,  JAMES  HOUGHTON.  pioneer 
steamboatman.  February  10.  at  Carver,  GEO.  P.  HOLMES, 
formerly  of  Saint  Paul.  February  16.  THOMAS  SHEARAN, 
Alderman  Second  Ward.  February  28.  DAVID  HART,  a  well- 
known  tobacconist.  April  4,  MARSHALL  SELLERS,  an  old 
resident.  April  22,  GEORGE  P.  PEABODY,  a  prominent  mer- 
chant. May  2,  WALTER  KITTREDGE,  many  years  in  the  hotel 
business.  May  3,  at  Elgin.  Illinois,  WALTER  W.  WEBB,  a 
young  merchant.  May  20,  at  Lakeville.  PATRICK  O'Goi;  MAN, 
for  several  years  an  AldCrman.  June  3.  RODNEY  PARKER,  a 
pioneer  hotel  keeper.  June  19,  J.  R.  BREWSTER.  June  26, 
I.  C.  GEORGE,  a  well-known  railroad  man.  July  7.  Capt. 
CHAS.  G.  PETTYS,  an  early  real  estate  dealer.  August  3.  AU- 
GUST VON  BEECK.  formerly  of  Fifth  Regiment.  August  9. 
at  San  Jose,  California,  JUDSON  A.  RUSSELL,  several  years 
clerk  of  the  Press  office.  "August  26.  at  Cleveland.  Ohio. 
ANDREW  SPENCER,  formerly  a  Saint  Paul  hotel  keeper.  Sep- 
tember 12,  LUTHER  H.  EDDY,  for  several  years  Alderman. 
Chief  of  Police,  &c.  September  21,  JOHN  H.  CARRIER.  Sep- 
tember 23,  at  Chicago,  C.  N.  PEASE,  formerly  a  bookseller 
here.  October  9,  ALLAN  CAMPBELL,  an  editor  of  Daily  Dis- 
patch. October  25,  Rev.  J.  R.  BALME,  an  Englishman  by 
birth,  used  to  preach  on  the  levee,  &c.  November  6.  WM. 
TOWLERTON.  November  9,  BUTLER  COMSTOCK.  a  pine  land 
operator.  November  21,  Dr.  SAMUEL  WILLEY,  a  promi- 
nent physician  for  many  years.  Nov.  27,  JOHN  P.  KILROY. 
well-known  in  Second  Ward  politics.  December  12,  at  Ti- 
conderoga.  New  York.  R.  W.  DELANO,  for  several  years  a 


1873]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.  445 

member  of  Saint  Paul   School   Board.     December  31.  \VM. 
BRAXCH.  railroad  builder,  public  man.  &c. 

PRINCIPAL  EVENTS  OF   1873. 

The  year  1873,  opened  with  a  storm,  unequalled  in  severity 
and  destructiveness  by  any  which  had  ever  occurred  in  the 
memory  of  man.  On  January  7.  a  "  polar  wave"  swept  over 
the  State,  lasting  some  36  hours,  during  which  time,  the  wind 
blew  an  icy  gale,  and  the  air  was  rilled  with  fine  snow.  In  a 
report  made  by  Gov.  AUSTIN  to  the  Legislature,  on  the  sub- 
ject, it  is  stated  that  70  persons  died  from  exposure,  a  large 
number  were  maimed,  and  about  300  cattle,  horses.  &c., 
perished. 

January  29.  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  in  Semper's  Block,  was 
burned. 

On  February  9,  the  Saint  Paul  Custom  House  was  so  far 
completed,  that  the  post-office  was  removed  to  it — a  change 
hailed  with  joy.  The  Custom  House  had  occupied  five  years 
in  construction,  and  cost  $350.000.  The  engraving  accompa- 
nying this,  shows  its  fine  proportions  and  architecture — a 
building  that  is  truly  an  ornament  to  our  city. 

On  September  19.  the  news  was  circulated  of  the  failure  of 
JAY  COOKE.  Those  who  remembered  the  disastrous  failure 
of  the  Ohio  Life  and  Trust  Company,  in  1857,  (Paee  3^°-) 
were  apprehensive  that  history  was  about  to  repeat  itself,  and 
that  another  financial  revulsion  would  occur.  While  to  some 
extent  it  did  occur  in  the  manufacturing  districts  and  money 
centers  of  the  east,  it  was  scarcely  felt  here,  beyond  a  slight 
stringency  of  the  money  market,  and  a  dullness  in  real  estate. 
Not  a  failure  of  any  mercantile  or  banking  house  occurred  as 
a  consequence,  nor  did  any  manufacturing  establishment  close 
its  doors.  How  vastly  different  was  our  condition  in  1857. 
when  a  similar  flurry  utterly  wrecked  every  branch  of  busi- 
ness and  every  enterprise.  Then,  there  was  no  real  wealth, 
no  actual  capital,  no  solvent  business,  no  production  to  create 
exchange,  and  a  currency  not  worth  the  paper  used  in  its  issue. 
Everything  was  fictitious  and  unreal.  Now.  how  changed. 
Twenty  million  bushels  of  wheat  marketed  per  annum,  hail 


446  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul,         [1873 


1873]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  447 

created  real  financial  strength  and  profitable  trade.  Wealth 
and  capital  had  accumulated.  Few  or  none  were  in  debt,  and 
all  in  a  condition  to  laugh  at  panics.  Sixteen  years  had  built 
up  from  the  soil  a  new  commonwealth,  strong  in  its  own  re- 
sources. with  capital  accumulated  from  .honest  industry  and 
trade,  and  with  reserve  means  to  weather  even  severer  finan- 
cial storms  unscathed. 

The  election  on  November  4,  combined,  for  the  first  time. 
the  city  with  the  State  tickets,  making  a  lengthy  list  of  officers 
elected,  as  follows:  Senator.  —  E.F.DRAKE.  Representa- 
tives. —  L.  HOYT.  GEO.  BENZ,  T.  M.  METCALF,*  JOHN  X. 
DAVIDSON.  H.  MEYERDING.  Treasurer.  —  CALVIN  S.  ULINE. 
Sheriff.  —  JOHN  GRACE.  Register.  —  THEO.  SANDER.  Attor- 
ney. —  C.  D.  O'BRIEN.  Surveyor.  —  C.  M.  BOYLE.  Clerk  of 
Court.  —  A.  ARMSTRONG.  Coroner.  —  P.  GABRIELSEN.  For 
the  city  :  Mayor.  —  J.  H.  STEWART.  Treasurer.  —  F.  A. 
RENZ.  Attorney.  —  W.  A.  GORMAN. 

This  fall,  a  moving  appeal  for  aid  was  received  from  the 
frontier  counties,  which  had  been  ravaged  by  the  grasshop- 
pers. Large  donations  in  money,  food  and  clothing  were  sent 
to  the  sufferers,  with  that  lavish  generosity  that  has  always 
characterized  our  city. 

Died.  February  8.  WILLIAM  L.  AMES,  an  early  resident. 
February  27.  F.  J.  METZGAR,  an  early  resident.  March  13. 
CASPER  H.  SCHURMEIER,  a  prominent  German  citizen.  March 
25.  Judge  SHERMAN  FINCH,  a  much  respected  lawyer.  May 
5,  JOHN  H.  GRIXDALL,  a  well-known  builder.  Mav  9. 
MICHAEL  HARRIS,  a  prominent  fireman.  Mav  14,  at  Baraboo. 
Wisconsin,  Lieut.  EDWIN  J.  VAN  SLYKE,  formerly  of  the 
Heavy  Artillery.  May  16.  at  Chicago,  OSCAR  R.  COWLES, 
better  known  as  1%  King  Cole,"  a  well-known  sporting  man  in 
Saint  Paul,  1855  to  1858.  May  31,  H.  HERWEGEN,  a  mer- 
chant. June  24-  at  Denver.  GUSTAVE  HANCKE.  a  well-known 


*  TRACY  M.  METCALF  was  born  in  Homer,  New  York,  1827.  Ir.  iSS-J,  he  removed  to 
Michigan,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  Paymaster's  Department,  of  the  Southern 
Michigan  Railroad,  until  1854,  when  he  came  to  Saint  Paul.  Mr.  METCALH  was  City 
Comptroller,  from  185710  1859;  County  Auditor,  in  1861  and  iS6a,  and  member  of  the 
Legislature  in  1874.  He  was  also  Chief  Clerk  in  the  Provost  Marshal's  office  in  this 
district,  from  iS6a  to  1865.  For  the  past  ten  years  he  has  been  in  the  real  estate  business. 


448  The.  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  PanL         [1874 

and  popular  musician.  July  10,  MICHAEL  ESCH,  City  Treas- 
urer. July  13,  HOWARD  .A.  HUNT,  merchant.  July  25,  at 
Minneapolis,  CONRAD  ZENZIUS,  director  of  the  Musical  So- 
ciety. July  29?  JOHN  NICOLS,  iron  merchant,  several  years 
Senator  from  this  county.  &c.  August  6,  Major  ROBERT 
WHITACRE,  capitalist  and  real  estate  operator.  September  5. 
Lieut.  HARRY  H.  WILSON,  formerly  of  the  Heavy  Artillery. 
September  20,  HUGO  PETZHOLD,  a  German  politician.  Oc- 
tober i.  GILBERT  DUTCHER,  proprietor  of  the  Metropolitan 
Hotel.  September  26,  at  the  Insane  Asylum,  Saint  Peter. 
GEORGE  MORTON,  for  several  years  Captain  of  Police.  Octo- 
ber 13,  JOHN  SIMS.  December  25,  A.  W.  GRENIER.  Decem- 
ber 26.  ISAAC  VAX  ETTEN.  a  prominent  lawyer. 

PRINCIPAL  EVENTS  OF   1874. 

At  the  Legislative  session  this  winter,  several  a<5ts  affe&ing 
this  city  and  county  were  passed.  One  was  the  revised  and 
consolidated  city  charter — a  ponderous  document  of  100  pages. 
Another  important  act  was  the  one  authorizing  a  change  of  the 
county  line  between  Dakota  and  Ramsey  counties,  so  as  to 
annex  West  Saint  Paul  to  this  city  and  county.  This  proposed 
change  was  to  be  voted  on  at  the  next  general  election,  and.  if" 
approved  by  a  majority  of  the  people  of  the  two  counties, 
should  become  a  law. 

April  2d,  the  newspapers  reported  a  daring  forgery  on  two 
of  our  banks,  by  which  the  perpetrator  gained  $7.400.  No 
certain  clue  to  the  bold  rascal  was  ever  gained. 

This  season,  the  old  Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  building  was 
converted  into  court  rooms  and  offices  for  the  county. 

April  22,  the  Daily  Pioneer  became  the  property  of  Hon. 
DAVID  BLAKELV. 

August  12,  Prof.  S.  S.  TAYLOR,  shot  and  seriously  wounded 
by  a  burglar,  whom  he  surprised  in  his  house. 

September  9,  serious  fire  on  Third  street ;  HUNTIXGTOX'S 
photograph  gallery,  and  other  parties,  burned  out. 

The  State  election  this  year,  (November  3,)  resulted  in  tin- 
choice  of  the  following  officers:  Auditor. —  S.  LEK  DAVIS. 
Probate  Judge. — ().  STKPIIENSON.  Senator. — W.  P.  MCI:- 


1874]        anft  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  AAQ 

RAY.  Representatives.— WM.  CROOKS,  H.  H.  MILLER, 
GEORGE  BENZ,  F.  R.  DELANO,  LORENZO  HOVT.  County 
Commissioners. — WM.  LEE  and  E.  S.  BLASDELL.  The  total 
vote  cast  in  the  city  at  the  election,  was  5,017.  On  change  of 
county  line,  the  vote  stood — yeas,  4,700;  nays,  53.  Dakota 
county  also  voted  in  favor  of  it.  Due  proclamation  of  the 
ratification  of  the  Legislative  adt,  was  made  by  the  Governor, 
on  November  16,  and  West  Saint  Paul  became  a  part  of  our 
city,  being  designated  as  the  Sixth  Ward.  By  this  annexa- 
tion, about  2,800  acres  were  added  to  the  area  of  Saint  Paul, 
making  in  all  an  area  within  our  city  limits  of  13,^83  acres, 
or  twenty-one  and  one-fifth  square  miles.  One  of  the  imme- 
diate results  of  the  annexation  was,  abolishing  tolls  on  the 
Saint  Paul  bridge,  and  it  was  thrown  open  to  free  use  on  No- 
vember 4. 

This  year  was  characterized  by  an  unusual  amount  of  crime. 
On  August  3,  near  the  head  of  Rice  street,  a  man,  named 
MICHAEL  KELLEY  stabbed  BARNEY  LAMB,  during  an  alterca- 
tioiif  killing  him  almost  instantly.  KELLEY  was  tried  twice, 
and,  on  the  second  trial,  found  guiltv,  and  sentenced  to  the 
State's  prison  for  life. 

On  November  i,  JOSEPH  LICK  and  his  wife,  ULRICA,  were 
attacked  in  the  yard  of  their  residence.  No.  59  West  Tenth 
street,  late  at  night,  by  some  parties  armed  with  a  hatchet  and 
knife.  Mrs.  LICK  was  killed,  and  her  husband  severely  in- 
jured. Three  persons,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  FRANK  RAPP  and  GEO. 
LAUTENSCHLAGER,  were  arrested  for  the  act,  and  subsequently 
found  guilty  of  murder  in  the  first  degree — the  latter  being 
condemned  to  suffer  the  death-penalty.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  RAPP 
were  sentenced  to  the  State's  prison  for  life,  and  an  appeal  to 
the  Supreme  Court,  in  the  case  of  LAUTENSCHLAGER,  is  now 
pending. 

On  November  10,  a  man,  named  JOHN  H.  ROSE,  shot  PAT- 
RICK O'CONNOR,  a  respeclable  and  industrious  contractor, 
with  a  gun,  in  broad  daylight,  on  a  public  street.  O'CONNOR 
died  in  a  day  or  two.  ROSE  was  convicted  the  following 
summer  of  murder  in  the  first  degree,  and  sentenced  to  the 
.State's  prison  for  life. 


4^0  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.          [1875 

The  municipal  election  was  held  this  year,  (under  the  re- 
vised charter,)  separate  from  the  State  election,  on  December 
6.  There  was  only  one  ticket  nominated  for  city  officers,  and 
they  were  elected,  as  follows:  Mayor. — JAMES  T.  MAX- 
FIELD.*  Comptroller. — JOHN  W.  ROCHE.  City  Justice. — S. 
M.  FLINT.  The  Sixth  Ward,  for  the  first  time,  joined  in  our 
city  election. 

Died.  January  10,  MARTIN  WHELAN,  an  old  resident.  Jan- 
uary 19,  J.  J.  PRENDERGAST,  a  prominent  fireman.  January 
27,  by  accident,  TIMOTHY  MCCARTHY.  March  29,  EDWARD 
HOGAN,  for  many  years  a  well-known  dry  goods  merchant. 
March  30,  DAVID  GUERIX,  one  of  the  first  white  children 
born  in  Saint  Paul.  April  6,  at  Chicago,  A.  VON  GLAUN.  ;i 
capitalist  of  Saint  Paul  in  early  years.  April  9,  CHARLES 
SYMONDS,  the  first  ice  dealer  in  Saint  Paul.  April  28.  ROB- 
ERT TERRY,  an  old  settler.  May  n,  Capt.  Louis  ROBERT. 
a  pioneer  of  Minnesota,  for  many  years  a  prominent  trader. 
&c.  June  5,  (at  Dixon,  Illinois,)  WM.  KENNEDY,  for  sixteen 
years  Superintendent  of  the  Saint  Paul  Gas  Company,  June 
ii,  JOHN  L.  STRYKER.  a  well-known  real  estate  owner. 
August  31,  Hon.  HENRY  ACKER,  formerly  member  of 
the  Legislature,  Federal  officer,  County  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  &c.  October  6.  Dr.  THOMAS  R.  POTTS,  City  Physi- 
cian, an  old  settler.  October  12,  Capt.  WM.  PAIST.  Secretary 
of  the  State  Agricultural  Society,  State  Grange,  £c.  Novem- 
ber i.  (at  Chicago,)  S.  K:  PUTNAM,  formerly  Alderman. 
October  31.  HENRY  SHEARAN.  for  several  years  a  policenrm. 
\o\ember  25,  at  Newport,  Minnesota.  WM.  R.  BROWN,  tin- 
many  years  a  resident  of  the  city. 

PRINCIPAL    EVENTS    OF     187^- 

The  months  of  January  and  February  were  character! /ed  by 
intense  and  unusuallv  protracted  cold  weather. 

*  JAMKS  T.  MAXFIELD  was  born  in  Norwich,  Ohio,  March  7,  1837,  and  livi-d  in  that 
city  until  23  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Goshen,  Indiana,  of  which  State  he  re- 
inained  a  resident  eight  years,  being  a  member  of  the  Indiana  Legislature  in  iS^j-^. 
He  then  removed  to  Detroit,  subsequently  to  Cleveland,  and  became  a  re.Mdcnt  of  Saint 
Paul  in  1864.  Mr.  MAXFIELD  is  known  as  one  of  our  most  enterprising,  public-spirited 
and  valuable  citizens.  He  has  been  three  times  elected  Mayor,  and  has  labored  hard 
and  successful  I  v  for  the  welfare  of  our  citv. 


l875]       an(t  °f  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.          451 

February  19,  Judge  S.  J.  R.  McMiLLAx.  ele6ted    United 
States  Senator. 

March  i.  H.  R.  BRILL,   appointed   Common    Pleas 
vice  HALL. 


FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

March  i^,  ORLANDO  SIMONS,  appointed  Common  Pleas 
Judge. 

April  i.  C.  H.  BIGELOW'S  house  burned. 

April  ii.  the  Pioneer  and  Press  consolidated. 

May  30,  dedication  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  the  finest 
church  edifice  in  Minnesota. 


452  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul.          [1875 

June  i ,  Dr.  DAVID  DAY  appointed  postmaster. 

The  months  of  September  and  October  were  characterized 
bv  a  great  revival  of  religion,  aided  by  Messrs.  WHITTLE. and 
BLISS,  two  lay  evangelists. 

November  27,  OLIVER  BEAUDOIX.  killed  by  a  railroad  ac- 
cident, at  the  lower  Levee. 

December  21,  consecration  of  Rt.  Rev.  JOHN  IRELAND,  as 
Coadjutor  Bishop. 

The  census  of  Saint  Paul  and  Ramsey  county  was  com- 
pleted this  month,  showing  as  follows:  Population  of  citv. 
33,178  :  county,  36,333.  The  tax  duplicate  was  also  returned, 
showing  the  total  valuation  of  the  city  to  be  $27.755,926.  hav- 
ing, in  five  years,  fully  trebled.  Contrast  this  with  the  first 
census  of  Saint  Paul  (1849)  giving  a  population  of  840.  and 
the  first  tax  roll,  showing  a  total  valuation  of  $85.000!  In 
the  appendix  will  be  found  a  compendium  of  the  various 
census  and  assessment  rolls. 

Died,  January  4,  ALANSON  WILDER,  a  resident  since  1864. 
January  15,  JAMES  GOODING,  ex-Chief  of  Police.  January 
17,  JOHN  B.  WAGNER.  January  23,  JOHN  GRAHAM,  a  manu- 
facturer. January  31.  MICHAEL  FETSCH,  a  leading  fireman. 
February  24,  Hon.  WM.  SPRIGG  HALL,  Judge  of  Common 
Pleas  Court.  March  i,  Capt.  JAMES  R.  LUCAS,  Deputy  StaU- 
Auditor.  March  1 1,  HENRY  SCHIFFBAUER,  ex-City  Comp- 
troller. March  22,  GEO.  NATHAN.  March  26,  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, California,  JAMES  WYLIE,  for  many  \ears  a  carpet 
merchant  here.  June  i.  AUGUSTUS  BOYDEN.  June  6,  JARED 
VAN  SOLEN,  an  old  resident.  June  19.  WM.  M.  DWINNKLS. 
one  of  our  earliest  settlers.  July  20.  at  Fort  Totten,  Dakota 
Territory,  WM.  H.  FORBES,  a  pioneer.  July  2.  PATRICK  II. 
BUTLER,  an  old  resident.  August  8.  Hon.  CHARLES  SCHEF- 
FER,  State  Treasurer  for  several  years,  a  leading  wholesale 
merchant,  president  of  the  Musical  Society.  &c.  August  17. 
PARKER  PAINE,  for  many  years  a  banker.  &c.  August  iS. 
THEODORE  SCHLEIF.  August  29,  H.  BERRY.  September  3. 
BENJAMIN  F.  HOYT,  a  pioneer  of  our  city.  September  2^. 
ROBERT  WILEY,  an  old  resident.  November  5.  Rev.  S.  Y. 
MCMASTERS,  D.  D..  rector  of  Christ  church.  November  8. 


l&75]       and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  4^3 

at  Bass  Lake,  SAMUEL  McCuLLoucn.  November  13,  Rev. 
JOHN  MATTOCKS,  pastor  of  First  Presbyterian  church,  for 
twelve  years  Superintendent  of  Schools.  &c.  November  23. 
JOHN  G.  IRVINE,  a  much  esteemed  young  citizen.  November 
28,  Judge  J.  J.  SCARBOROUGH,  formerly  of  Georgia.  &c. 

CONCLUSION. 

And  here  the  writer  must  lay  down  the  pen  of  the  histo- 
rian. His  task  is  done,  and  he  closes  it  with  satisfaction,  and 
with  pardonabk  pride  in  the  goodly  subject  on  which  he  has 
labored  so  long,  with  no  other  motive  than  to  place  on  the  en- 
during page  of  history,  those  facts  concerning  the  early  days 
of  Saint  Paul  which  might  else  be  lost,  if  not  recorded  in  time. 

He  has,  in  these  imperfect  and  poorly  written  annals,  traced 
the  career  of  our  city  from  the  dimly  remembered  days  of  1838. 
when  a  single  bark-roofed  hovel  formed  its  only  civilized  land- 
mark, an  unknown  point  in  the  wilderness  surrounding  it — 
through  the  perils  of  its  infancy  and  pioneer  days,  its  strug- 
gles to  secure  and  retain  the  Capital,  its  period  of  wild  infla- 
tion and  speculation,  its  financial  reverses  and  dark  days,  its 
later  years  of  success  and  prosperity,  fairly  won  by  the  enter- 
prise of  its  citizens — until  we  reach  the  Saint  Paul  of  1875 — 
a'  prosperous,  populous,  opulent  city,  the  capital  of  a  great 
and  flourishing  State,  the  commercial  emporium  of  the  valley 
of  the  Upper  Mississippi. 

The  period  mentioned  is  but  a  brief  span,  after  all — about 
one  average  generation — but  what  great  results  those  few  years 
have  seen  accomplished.  Let  the  mind  take  in  our  city  now, 
with  its  33,000  inhabitants,  and  taxable  property  of  $27.000.- 
ooo — its  long  miles  of  splendid,  smooth,  well-paved  avenues, 
lined  with  solid  business  blocks  and  public  buildings,  or  pala- 
tial mansions,  and  underlaid  with  water  and  gas  pipes,  and  a 
well-arranged  system  of  sewerage — her  levee,  with  the  com- 
merce of  the  greatest  river  in  the  world,  and  its  tributaries, 
connecting  us  with  35,000  miles  of  inland  navigation — her 
eight  railroads,  with  nearly  a  hundred  trains  arriving  and  de- 
parting daily.  Her  numerous  manufactories,  warehouses, 
elevators,  &c.,  banking  houses  with  millions  of  capital  in  the 


454  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paid.         [1875 

aggregate,  and  large  wholesale  houses  doing  a  trade  of  mil- 
lions annually — her  numerous  large  and  elegant  churches, 
commodious  first-class  hotels,  well  managed  public  schools, 
orphan  asylums,  hospitals,  and  other  charitable  and  reforma- 
tory institutions — a  splendidly  drilled  and  efficient  fire  de- 
partment and  police  force — public  libraries  and  academies  of 
art  and  science — in  a  word,  all  the  numerous  institutions  which 
are  the  outgrowth  of  civilization  and  refinement,  aided  by 
wealth,  and  the  remarkable  progress  of  our  city  will  be  appa- 
rent, inspiring  us  with  the  hope  that  the  future  of  a  commu- 
nity which  has  achieved  such  wonders  in  the  past,  will  be  still 
more  brilliant  and  glorious. 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey,  Minnesota.  455 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

A  QUARTER  CENTURY'S  RETROSPECT. 

THE  UNPARALLELED  GROWTH  OF  OUR  CITY— A  CENTURY'S  WORK  COMPRESSED  IN 
35  YEARS— THE  SOCIAL  CONDITION  OF  OUR  CITY  35  YEARS  AGO,  CO.NTKASTED 
WITH  Now— MONEY  vs.  CULTURE  AND  SOCIAL  REFINEMENT— OUR  ^STHETI- 
CAL  GROWTH— EDUCATION,  LITERATURE,  Music  AND  ART. 

[For  this  interesting  chapter— a  fitting  close  to  our  civic  history— the  writer  is  in- 
debted to  Col.  EARLE  S.  GOODRICH.  Indeed,  this  acknowledgment  is  scarcely  neces- 
sary—his  graceful  and  polished,  style  would  be  recognized  without  it.] 

n*HE  past  quarter  of  a  century  stands  by  itself  in  the  im- 
-»-  portance  and  variety  of  the  results  achieved  in  all 
departments  of  knowledge  and  enterprise.  The  happy  mar- 
riage of  the  mechanic  arts  with  science,  has  produced  and  per- 
fected a  series  of  remarkable  inventions,  which,  in  ministering 
to  the  demands  of  commerce,  manufactures,  and  the  social 
needs  and  luxuries,  have  revolutionized  trade,  created  new  and 
expanded  old  industries,  refined  the  conditions  of  labor,  and 
by  their  influence  upon  habits  of  thought  and  methods  of  life, 
have  affected  the  structure  as  well  as  changed  the  surface  of 
society,  and  almost  created  a  new  race  in  a  single  generation. 
These  transformations,  clearly  enough  seen  in  old  communi- 
ties, are  most  vividly  revealed  in  the  new  and  frontier  sections. 
For  whereas,  in  the  older  States,  twenty-five  years  ago,  there 
were  in  existence  all  known  methods  which  produce  wealth, 
and  all  the  culture  and  ease  which  are  the  fruit  of  it,  here,  at 
the  Northwest,  civil  society  was  just  in  process  of  organiza- 
tion, and  all  things  were  as  wild  and  untamed  as  nature  itself. 
There,  in  the  older  communities,  nature  was  already  subdued, 
and  country*  as  well  as  town  showed  the  marks  of  refined  liv- 
ing, so  that  the  influence  of  the  quarter  century's  progress  is 
revealed  more  in  the  inner  and  higher  life  of  the  people  than 
in  physical  manifestations  ;  while  here,  on  the  border,  what- 
ever lies  between  the  first  turning  of  the  sod  and  the  last 
achievement  of  art,  had  to  be  wrought  from  crude  nature,  and 


456  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Paul. 

by  men  gathered  together  by  chance,  and  exhibiting  not  merely 
every  grade  of  culture,  but  every  phase  of  the  lack  of  it. 
Here,  then,  has  been  furnished  the  most  tangible  and  striking 
revelation  of  the  wonderful  progress  which  has  marked  the 
third  quarter  of  the  present  century. 

In  selecting  out  of  this  frontier  region  a  point  to  serve  as  an 
example  of  the  remarkable  development  of  the  last  twentv-five 
years,  and  which  shall  cover  not  merely  increase  of  business 
and  access  of  population,  but  growth  in  those  mental,  moral. 
and  aesthetic  directions  which  make  up  culture,  and  are  the 
flowering  of  a  high  civilization,  we  can.  without  being  invidi- 
ous, choose  our  own  city  of  Saint  Paul.  The  history,  which 
closed  with  the  last  chapter,  certainly  presents  a  record  in 
which  our  citizens  may  take  a  justifiable  pride.  It  shows  the 
work  of  a  century  compressed  into  a  quarter  of  the  time.  The 
simple  record  of  the  organization  of  our  religious  societies, 
embracing  almost  every  seel  :  of  the  beginning  and  spread  of 
our  educational  svstem  ;  of  societies  devoted  to  art  and  science, 
as  well  as  to  charity  and  reform  :  of  our  public  libraries  :  and 
of  scores  of  other  beneficent  organizations,  having  for  their 
object  the  improvement  of  our  people  in  intelligence  and 
worth  ;  this  simple  record  reveals  more  forcibly  our  progress 
in  culture  than  any  mere  generalizing  can  show  ;  for  all  these 
things  not  only  sustain  culture,  but  grow  out  of  it,  and  are  the 
best  and  highest  indications  of  its  quality  and  strength. 

The  social  condition  twenty-five  vears  ago  and  now,  pre- 
sents as  strong  a  contrast  as  anything  shown  in  our  histoix. 
A  small  population,  joining  together  to  form  a  community, 
but  mingling  only  in  business  intercourse  ;  divided  into  cliques 
which  represented  every  nationality  ;  this  made  up  an  un- 
promising composition  to  mould  into  shapelv  and  attractive 
social  form.  Yet.  the  very  heterogeneousness  of  the  character 
of  our  early  settlers,  through  the  wearing  but  smoothing  eflect 
of  years  of  friction,  and  under  gradually  improving  conditions, 
has  developed  a  society  more  cosmopolitan,  and  with  greater 
variety  and  breadth  of  culture,  than  can  be  found  in  many 
cities  of  quadruple  our  age  and  population.  Freedom  from 
insularity  marks  our  habits  and  manners  as  it  does  our  posi- 
tion ;  the  representatives  of  many  lands  have  contributed  their 


and  of  the  County  of  Ramsey.  Minnesota.  457 

graces  and  refinements  ;  until,  if  we  were  to  calculate  our  age 
by  the  ordinary  growth  of  social  tone  and  breeding,  we  might 
without  vanity  count  by  decades  instead  of  years. 

This  change  in  the  social  condition  is  due  greatly  to  the 
difference,  then  and  now.  in  the  prime  objeds  of  life  and 
effort.  The  accumulation  of  wealth  is  everywhere  and  at  all 
times  the  moving  spring  of  energy,  not  always  for  the  gratifi- 
cation of  a  sordid  desire  for  gain,  but  for  the  comfort  which 
it  brings,  and  the  good  which  may  be  done  with  it.  With  our 
first  settlers,  making  money  seemed  the  sole  aim  and  end  of 
living.  And  while  that  passion  continued  the  dominant  one, 
the  possession  of  money  was  the  touchstone  of  influence  ;  the 
man  who  gained  the  most  of  it  was  the  man  most  regarded — 
with  little  reference,  during  the  earlier  years,  to  the  means  by 
which  it  was  obtained,  or  to  the  mental  or  moral  qualities  of 
its  possessor.  Under  the  impulse  of  this  spirit  there  could, 
of  course,  be  little  society  worth  its  name,  for  the  general  ten- 
dency was  toward  narrowness,  selfishness  and  vulgarity.  It 
must  be  understood,  however,  that  these  sweeping  remarks 
apply  to  society  in  the  mass,  and  are  held  to  be  true  of  it  only 
in  that  sense.  For  no  one,  whose  residence  dates  back  to  our 
earliest  days,  can  fail  to  recall  many  homes,  in  Saint  Paul 
and  vicinity,  vyhich  were  the  seats  of  an  elegant  hospitality, 
and  from  which  proceeded  the  most  elevating  influences. 
These  cannot  be  remembered  with  more  gratitude  than  is  their 
due  ;  they  wei'e  the  leaven  that  leavened  the  whole  lump  ;  and 
the  air  of  graceful  refinement  that  pervaded  them,  remains 
with  us  as  the  purest  and  best  of  the  social  atmosphere  of  to- 
day. We  are  still  sordid  enqugh,  without  doubt,  but  our 
growth  has  been  in  the  right  direction,  and  we  can  now  see 
more  in  life  than  the  gathering  of  a  fortune.  There  is  to-day 
more  pride  in  the  possession  of  a  good  name  than  in  great 
riches  ;  and  there  exists  a  healthily  growing  respecl  for  social 
position  and  family  repute,  which  are  the  fruits  of  good  conduct 
and  virtuous  living.  These  things  as  tangibly  mark  right  devel- 
opment as  do  the  substitution  of  the  opera  and  drama  for  the 
Indian  dance  and  pow-wow,  the^  popular  le&ure-room  for  the 
public  gambling-hall,  and  the  music  of  MOZART,  BEETHOVEN 
and  WAGNER  for  the  grotesque  mouthings  of  negro  minstrelsy. 
30 


458  The  History  of  the  City  of  Saint  Pa?//. 

In  public  architecture,  the  progress  is  seen  at  a  glance,  by 
comparing  the  Missioh  of  Saint  Paul,  (of  which  an  engraving 
is  given  in  this  history,)  with  Saint  Mary's,  the  First  Baptist 
church,  or  the  German  Catholic  cathedral  :  while  scattered 
over  the  city  are  hundreds  of  elegant  residences,  which  show 
that  in  domestic  architecture,  no  stereotype  forms  have  been 
used,  but  that  expression  has  been  given  to  cultivated  individ- 
ual tastes,  in  which  lies  the  peculiar  charm  and  beauty  of  any 
structure  named,  and  used  as,  a  home.  Many  of  these  are 
beautv  spots  upon  the  face  of  the  citv.  reflecting  a  refining 
influence  upon  all  who  see  them,  and  holding  within  their 
walls,  in  pictures  and  libraries,  such  treasures  of  art  and 
knowledge  as  prove  that  all  is  not  done  for  outward  show,  but 
that  very  much  is  the  legitimate  expression  of  enlightened 
sentiment  and  cultured  taste. 

The  strictly  material  progress  of  Saint  Paul  during  tilt- 
quarter  century  past,  does  not  come  within  the  purview  of  this 
chapter.  In  those  preceding,  the  details  of  its  growth  in 
trade,  commerce,  population,  manufactures,  and  all  the  indus- 
tries which  go  to  make  up  a  prosperous  community,  have  been 
as  fully  presented  and  discussed,  as  could  be  suitably  dour  in 
such  a  work.  But  this  may  be  said,  that,  coupling  the  .substan- 
tial character  of  our  development  with  its  rapidity,  the  result 
is  quite  without  example,  even  in  this  region  and  during  this 
period  of  marvelous  growth.  We  cannot,  however,  contem- 
plate this  picture  of  progress,  pleasing  as  it  is.  without  notic- 
ing that  ghostly  shadows  fall  upon  it.  day  by  day.  as  one  by 
one  of  those  who  laid  the  foundations  of  our  prosperity,  pass 
away  from  our  midst.  The  majority  of  the  men  who,  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  were  influential  in  the  political,  financial,  and 
commercial  enterprises  of  the  little  town  just  christened  after 
its  mission  chapel,  and  whose  names  and  deeds  are  recorded 
in  this  book,  sleep  now  in  one  or  another  of  the  pleasant  cem- 
eteries that  lie  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city  which  they  founded. 
The  many  are  taken  ;  the  few  are  left.  May  these  few  linger 
among  us  during  long  years  to  come,  enjoying  the  prosperity 
which  they  helped  to  create*  and  receiving  the  benediction  of 
every  worthy  citizen  of  our  beautiful  Saint  Paul  ! 


APPENDIX. 


LIST   OF   FEDERAL,    COUNTY   AND   CITY 
OFFICERS   SINCE    1849. 


FEDERAL  OFFICERS. 


April  7, 1846— Henry  Jackson. 
July  5,  1849— Jacob  W.  Bass. 
March  15,  1853— Wm.  H.  Forbes. 
March  n,  1856— Charles  S.  Cave. 
March  12, 1860— W.  M.  Corcoran. 
April  13, 1861— Charles  Nichols. 
March  14, 1865— Dr.  J.  H.  Stewart. 
May  4,  1870— J.  A.  Wheelock. 
June  i,  1875 — Dr.  David  Day. 


Collector  of  the  Port: 

'SS'-SS— Charles  J.  Hennis; 
1853-55— Robert  Kennedy. 
'SSS-S?— L-  B-  Wait. 
1857-59 — James  Mills. 
1859-61— E.  A.  C.  Hatch. 
1861-76— George  W.  Moon 


COUNTY  OFFICERS. 


Register  of  Deeds: 

1849-52— David  Day. 
IS53-54— M-  S.  Wilkinson. 
IS54-5S-L.  M.  Olivier. 
1858-60— Edward  Heenan. 
1860-63 — S.  Hough. 
1863-66 — Charles  Passavant. 
1866-74— Jacob  Mainzer. 
1874-76 — Theodore  Sander. 
1876-78 — Alex.  Johnston. 

Sheriff: 

1849-53— C.  P.  V.  Lull. 
1852-54— George  F.  Brott. 
1854-56— A.  M.  Fridley. 
J856-58— Aaron  W.Tullis. 
1858-60— J.  Y.  Caldwcll. 
1860-62— A.  W.  Tullis. 
1863-70 — D.  A.  Robertson. 


Sheriff: 

1870-76— John  Grace. 

18/6-78— John  C.  Becht. 
Judge  of  Probate: 

1849-53— Henry  A.  Lambert. 

1852— Ira  B.  Kingsley. 

1853 — Henry  A.  Lambert. 

1854 — Jesse  M.  Stone. 

1855 — Richard  Fewer. 

1856-58— A.  C.  Jones. 

1858-60— John  Penman. 

1860-62— J.  F.  Hoyt,  (res.  Ap.  13,  '63.) 

1862 — R.  F.  Crowell. 

1863— E.  C.  Lambert. 

1864-69— R.  F.  Crowell. 

1809-73 — Oscar  Stephenson. 

! 873-75— Hascall  R.  Brill. 

1875-76 — Oscar  Stephenson. 


460 


Appendix 


Treasurer: 

1849-53— James  W.  .Simpson. 
,853—8.  H.  Sergeant. 
1853 — Robert  (Jammings. 
1854 — Nathaniel  E.  Tyson. 
1855— Allen  Pierse. 
1856— (to  March  33,)  C.  F.  Stiinson. 
,856-68—  Robert  A.  Smith. 
,868-76— Calvin  S.  Uline. 

County  Attorney: 

,840-53— W.  D.  Phillips. 
,853-56—0.  C.  Cooley. 
1856-64— Isaac  V.  D.  Heard. 
1864-66— Henry  J.  Horn. 
,866-70— S.  M.  Flint. 
1870-7 a — Harvey  Officer. 
1873-74— W.  W.  Erwin. 
1874-76— C.D.  O'Brien. 
County  Surveyor: 

,853-53—8.  P.  Folsom. 
,853— W.  R.  Marshall. 
1854-58-;.  A.  Case. 
,858-60— Wilbur  F.  Duffy. 
1860— D.  S.  Kenney. 
1861-64— D.  L.  Curtice. 
iS64-66-Gates  A.  Johnson. 
1866-72— (No  election.) 
1873-76— Charles  M.  Boyle. 
Coroner: 

,854— J.  E.  Fullerton. 
1855-57— Dr.  W.  H.  Jarvis. 
1857— Dr.  J-  D-  Goodrich. 
iSsS-oo-Dr.J.  V.Wren. 
1860-63— James  M.  Castner. 
1863-64—0.  F.  Ford. 
1864-66— Philip  Scheig. 
1866-6&-O.  F.  Ford. 
,868-70-J.  P.  Melancon. 
1878-72 — Dr.  A.  Guernon. 
1873-74— P.  McEvoy. 
iS74-76-Dr.  P.  Gubrielsen. 
Clerk  of  Court: 

'850-53— J.  K.  Humphrey. 
.8S3-S4-A.  J.Whitney. 
,854-58 — George  W.  Prescott 
1858-63— R.  F.  Houseworth. 
1863-66— George  W.  Prescott. 
1866-76— Albert  Armstrong 
Auditor: 

1859-61 — Alexander  Buchanan. 
1861-63— Tracy  M.  Metcalf. 
1863-65— William  H.  Forbes. 
1865-67— J.  F.  Hoyt. 
,867^71—8.  Lee  Davis. 


Auditor: 

1871-73— Hiram  J.  Taylor. 

,873— John  B.  Olivier,  (resigned. 

1873-76 — S.  Lee  Davis. 
Court   Commisfion,r: 

1861-67— Oscar  Mahnros. 

1867-71— Henry  M.  Dodge. 

1873-76 — G.  Siegenthaler. 

District  Judge: 

1858-64— E.  C.  Palmer. 
1864-78— Westcott  Wilkin. 

Common  PI  fan  Judges; 

1866-75— William  Sprigg  Hall. 

,875-83 — O.  Simons. 

1875-83— H.  R.  Brill. 
Count  v  Com  m  iss  toners . 
Acker  Henry,  1860-71. 

Baker  D.  A.  J.,  1858  to  '61. 

Barney  T.  J.,  1871-73. 

Bennett  Abr.,  1855  to  '58. 

Berkey  Peter,  1863-73-75. 

BeUj.  G.,  1861-63. 

lihi-dellE.  S.,  1874-5. 

Brainerd  H.  J.,  1868-75. 

H  ranch  Win.,  1858-9. 

Burbank.J.C.,  1860. 

Clark  Martin  D.,  1858  to  '6u. 

Davern  Win.,  1858-9. 

Kim-rson  f.  L.,  1858-9. 

Godfrey  Ard.,  Nov.  1849  to  Jan.  1850. 

(icrvais  Benj.,  1850-1. 

Hale  H.,  1863  from  5th  July. 

Hammond  George,  1863-7. 

Holland  John,  1864.9. 

Howard  Thomas,  1867-71. 

Hoyt  L.,  1871-3. 

Irvine  J.  R.,  1860. 

Kelly  Dan.,  1871-5. 

Kilroy  John  P.,  1863-66. 

Lambert  John  S.,  1858  to  'i«i. 

Larpenteur  A.  L.,  1859. 

LeBonne  Joseph,  1853-4. 

I.,,   William,  1875. 

Lindeke  William,  1873-5. 

McClungJ.  W.,  1860. 

McGrorty  William  B.,  iSsS-y. 

McLean  N.,  1856  to  '59. 

Marvin  L.,  1859. 

Morgan  Charles  A.,  1865  from  Sept  9. 

Murray  James  F.,  1858-9. 

Xicolsjohn,  1860-1,  1871-3. 

O'Connor  M.  J.,  1861. 

Parker  A.  F.,  1861-3. 

Prince  John  S.,  1871-3. 


Appendix. 


461 


Rice  Edmund,  1856  to  '58. 
Robert  Louis,  Nov.  184910  Jan.  1856. 
Russell  R.  P.,  1850-3. 
Ryan  Patrick,  1864-6. 

Schiller ,  1859. 

Schurmeier  C.  H.,  1872-3. 

SelbyJ.  W.,  i86a. 

Smith  John,  1860-1. 

Spiel,  Joseph,  1867-72. 

Stahlman  C.,  1870-1. 

Steele  John,  1866-8. 

Stees  W.  M.,  1859. 

Taylor  H.  J.,  1859. 

Welch  Wm.,  1871-5. 

Whitney  C.  T.,  1863-5. 

Wilkinson  Ross,  1859. 

Wilson  J.  P.,  Jan.  1854  to  April  1856. 

Wolff  Wm.  H.,  1858  to  '60. 

Senate. 

Becker  George  L.,  1868-9-70-1. 

Boal  James  McC.,  1849-51. 

Brisbinjohn  B.,  1856-7. 

Cave  Charles  S.,  1858. 

Drake  E.  F.,  1874-5. 

Farrington  George  W.,  1852-3. 

Forbes  William  H.,  1849-51-2-3. 

Hall  Wm.  Sprigg,  1858-60. 

Heard  I.  V.  D.,  1872. 

Irvine  John  R.,  1862-3. 

Mackubin  C.  X.,  1860. 

Murray  William  P.,  1854-5-66-7-75-6. 

Xicols  John,  1864-5-72-3. 

Otis  George  L.,  1866. 

Rice  Edmund,  1864-5-73-4. 

Sanborn  John  B.,  1861. 

Smith  James,  Jr.,  1861-2-3-76. 

Stewart  J    H.,  1860. 

Van  Etten  Isaac,  1854-5-8. 

House  of  Representatives: 
Acker  Henry,  1860-1. 
Banning  William  L.,  1861. 
Bartlett  Louis,  1854. 
Ben/.  George,  1873-4-5. 
Berkey  Peter,  1872. 
Brainard  H.  J.,  1873. 
Branch  William,  1857-66. 
Br.iwley  Daniel  F.,  1855. 
Brisbin  John  B  ,  1863. 
Brunson  Benjamin  W.,  1849-51. 
Burbaiik  James  C.,  1872. 
Carver  H.  L.  1862. 
Castle  Henry  A.,  1873. 
Cave  Charles  S.,  1852-5. 


J  louse  of  Representations  ; 
Chamblin  A.  T.(  1857. 
Costello  William,  1857. 
Crooks  William,  1875-6. 
Crosby  John  W.,  1858. 
Davern  William,  1858. 
Davidson  John  X.,  1874. 
Davis  C.  K.,  1867. 
Davis  W.  A.,  1854-5. 
Day  John  H.,  1854. 
Delano  F.  R.,  1875. 
•Dewey  John  J.,  ,849. 
Egan  James  J.,  1869. 
Faber  Paul,  1869-70. 
Findley  Samuel  J.,  1852. 
Fitz  R.  H.,  1864. 
FullertonJ.  E.,  185*. 
Gilfillan  Charles  D.,  1865-76. 
Gilman  John  M.,  1865-9-70. 
Gross  Nicholas,  1862. 
Haus  Reuben,  i'SS-6. 
Hoyt  Lorenzo,  1874-5. 
Jackson  Henry,  1849. 
Johnson  Parsons  K.,  1849. 
Jones  D.  C.,  i863. 
Kidder  Jefferson  P.,  1863-4. 
Kiefer  Andrew  R.,  1864. 
KnauftF.,  1856. 
Lemay  Joseph,  1855. 
Lienau  Charles  H.,  1867-8. 
Lott  Bushrod  W.,  1853-6. 
Lunkenheimer  John,  1876. 
McGrorty  William  B.,  1858. 
Merriam  John  L.,  1870-71. 
Metcalf  Tracy  M.,  1874. 
Meyerding  Henry,  1874. 
Miller  H.  H.,  1873-5. 
Mitsch  George,  1860. 
Murray  William  P.,  1852-3-7^7-^. 
Xessel  Andrew,  1861. 
Nobles  William  H.,  1856. 
Xoot  William,  1853-4. 
Olivier  John  B.,  1860. 
Olivier  Louis  M.,  1853. 
Otis  George  L.,  1858. 
Paine  Parker,  1866. 
Peckham  John  A.,  1865. 
Ramsey  Justus  C.,  1851-3-7. 
Rauch  Charles,  1858. 
Rice  Edmund,  1851-67-72. 
Richter  Fred.,  1876. 
Robertson,  D.  A.,  1866. 
Rogers  J.  N.,  1873. 

*  Eleaed,  but  did  not  take  his  seat. 


462 


Appendix. 


House  of  Representatives  ; 
Rohr  Philip,  i86a. 
Sanborn  John  B.,  i!?oo-7.J. 
Selby  Jeremiah  W.,  1852. 
Sibley  H.  H.,  1871. 
Sloan  Levi,  1854. 
Smythe  H.  M.,  1872. 
Stahlman  Christopher,  1871 


House  of.  Representatives : 
Starkey  James,  1858. 
Stephenson  Oscar,  1860. 
Tilden  H.  L.,  1851. 
Trott  Herman,  1866. 
Webber  William,  H7n 
Wilkinson  Ross,  1856. 


CITY   OFFICE  US. 


Mayor: 

1854— David  Ol.nstcd. 
1855 — Alex.  Ramsey. 
1856 — George  L.  Becker. 
1857— J.  B.Brisbin. 
1858— N.  W.  Kittson. 
1859 — D.  A.  Robertson. 
1860-63— John  S.  Prince. 
1863— J.  E.  Warren. 
1864— Dr.  J.H.Stewart. 
1865-67— J.  S.  Prince. 
1867— George  L   Otis. 
1868— Dr.  J.  H.  Stewart. 
1869— J.  T.  Maxfield. 
1870-73 — Win.  Lee. 
1873-75 — Dr.  J.  H.  Stewart. 
1875-76— J.  T.  Maxfield. 

City  Treasurer: 

l854-59—  Daniel  Roher. 
1859-64— Charles  A.  Morgan. 
1864-66— C.  T.  Whitney. 
1866-70— X.  Gross. 
11-370  to  July  10,  1873— M.  Esch. 
'^73-76 — F.  A.  Renz. 

City  Justice: 

1854-60— Orlando  Simons. 
1860-64— Nelson  Gibbs. 
1864-66-A   McElrath. 
,866  68— E   C.  Lambert. 
1868-70-0.  Malmros. 
1870-73 — Thomas  Howard. 
lS73-75— A.  McElrath.  ' 
1875-8.  M.  Flint. 

City  Clerk: 

1854-56— Sherwood  Hough. 

1856-58— L   P.  Cotter. 

i8st-— A.J.  Whitney,  (Resigned.) 

i\Ss—  Isaac  H.  Conway. 

1859-61— John  H.  Dodge. 

1861  (to  Sept.  13)— L.  P.  Cotter. 


City  Clerk  ; 

1863,  (Sept    13,)  to  Oct.   15,  ir<oo—  K. 

T.  Friend 

1866  (Oa.  is)-6--l?    \V.  l.utt. 
i868-70-John  J.  Williams. 
1870-76—  M.  J.  O'Connor. 

Comptroller: 

1854-56—  F.  McCormick. 
1856—6.  W.  Armstrong. 

fA.  T.  Chaniblin,  resigned. 
1857^  Sher.  Hough,  r«.-signed(July.Ji  ) 

IT.  M.  Metcalf. 
i859-63-Wm.  Von  Hamm. 
1863-0.  H.  Lienau. 
1864  —  Henry  Schift"bauer. 
1865-76—  John  W.  Roche. 

Attorney: 

1854—  D.  C.  Cooley. 

1855—  J.  B.Brisbin 
1856—1.  V.  D.  Hi  aid. 

1-57—  C.J.  Pemiington,  rcsij:  nctl. 

H.J.  Horn 
i860—  S.  R.  Bond. 
IN,,  o5-S    M    Flint 
1865-67—1    V.  I).  Heard 
1867-69—  Harvey  Officer. 
,869-76-W.  A.  Gorman. 


1854—  Sinu-on  I'.  l-..lsoin. 

i8SW7—  J-  A  ' 

,S57_J.  T.  Halstt-d. 
1858—0.  L.  Curtice. 
iS5o^F.  Wippcrman. 
1860—  Gates  A  Johnson. 
1861^3—  Chark-s  A.  F.  M.,m> 
i863-6o-Charles  M    Boyle. 
1869-74  —  D.  L  Curtice. 
1-74-76—D.  L    Wcllman. 


Appendix. 


Chief  of  Police:* 

1854-58— William  R.  Miller. 

1858-60— John  W.  Crosby. 

1860— John  O'Gorman. 

1861— H.  H.  Western. 

1862 — James  Gooding. 

1863— Michael  Cummings,  Jr. 

1864— J.  R.  Cleveland. 

1865-6—0.  W.Turnbull  (res  July,'66  ) 

1866-67— John  Jones. 

1867-70— J.  P.  Mcllrath. 

1870-72—1..  H.  Eddy. 

1872-75— J.  P.  Mcllrath. 

l87S— James  King. 
Physician  and  Health  Officer: 

1856— Samuel  Willey. 

IS57-59-J-  V.  Wren. 

1859-J.  A.  Vervais. 

1860-62— T.  R.  Potts. 

'1862  to  June,  1866— A.  G.  Brisbine. 

1866— T.  R   Potts. 

1867-71— Brewer  Mattocks. 

1871— M.  Hagan. 

1872-74— T.  R.  Potts  i 

1874-76— Brewer  Mattocks. 
Wharfmaster: 

1858—8.  R.  Champlin. 

1859— Andrew  R-  Kiefer. 

1860 — Louis  Semper. 

1861— James  J.  Hill. 

1862— John  B.  Cook. 

I363_  j  James  Hall. 
(  Paul  Faber. 

1864— T.  K.  Danforth. 

1865 — Henry  Constans. 

1866— Louis  Krieger. 

,867— John  O'Connor. 

1868— G.  A.  Borup. 

1869-72— Patrick  Butler. 

1872— H.  D.  Mathews. 
Market  Master. 

1859-61— N.J.March. 

1861— Jacob  Heck. 

1862-65— Michael  Cummings,  Sr. 

1865-68— N.  Gibbs. 

1868-70— John  O'Connor. 

1870— John  Lunkenheimer. 

iS7i-75-P.  McManus. 
Chief  Engineer  Fire  Department: 

1854— W.  M.  Stees. 

1855-59— C.  H-  Williams. 


*  From  185410  1858  this  office  was  called 
9ity  Marshal. 


Chief  Engineer  Fire  Department  • 
I8S9-J.  B.  Irvine. 
i86o-62-J.  E.  Missen. 
1862— W.  T.  Donaldson. 
1863— L.  H.  Eddy. 
I864-J.  C.  A.  Pickett. 
1865— C.  H.  Williams. 
1866-63— B.  Presley. 
1863-70—  Frank  Breuer. 
1670-72— J.  C.  Prendergast. 
1872— R.  O.  Strong. 
18/3-76— M.  B.  Farrell. 

Superintendent  of  Schools: 
1856-59— E.  D.  Neill. 
1859—6.  Drew. 
1860-72— John  Mattocks. 
1873-74—660.  M.  Gage. 
1874-76— L.  M.  Burrington. 

Street  Commissioner: 

1860— R.  C.  Knox. 

1861-63— Patrick  Murnane. 

1863-69— John  Dowlan. 

1869— Frank  Deck. 
City  Council; 

Bazille  Charles,  1854-6. 

Beaumont  J.  I.,  1865-7. 

Becker  George  L.,  1854-6. 

Berkey  Peter,  1859-62,  1864-5,  1868-71 

Betzjohn  G.,  1863-5. 

Branch  William,  1856-61. 

Breuer  F.,  1870-74., 

Cave  Charles  S.,  1854-7. 

Chamblin  A.  T.,  1854-7. 

Corcoran  William  M.,  1860-2. 

Cummings  Michael,  Jr.,  1868-72. 

Dailey  C.  M,  1860-3. 

Dawson  William,  1865-8. 

Demeules  Louis,  1874-7. 

Dodge  H.  M.,  1858-61. 

Dorniden  M.,  1864-7. 

Dowlan  John,  1874-7. 

Eddy  Luther  H.,  1861-4,  1869-72. 

Emerson  Charles  L.,  1856-9. 

Fanning  Thomas,  1854. 

Farrell  M.  B.,  1869. 

Finck  Adam,  1862-5. 

Fisher  J.  W.,  1871-5. 

Fitz  R.  H.,  1860-3,  !865-S. 

Fuller  A.  G.,  1855. 

Galbraith  Thomas  J.,  1865. 

Gies  William,  1866-7. 

Golcher  William,  1872-75. 

Grace  Thomas,  1858-9,  1869.79. 

Grant  C.  L.,  1867-8. 


464 


Appendix. 


City  Council: 

"  Grant  H.  P.,  1860-3. 
Gross  Nicholas,  1858-66. 
Hartshorn  William  E.,  1870-71. 
Heathcote  Thomas,  1875-8. 
Hoffman  James  K.,  1867-74. 
Holland  John,  1865-7. 
Irvine  John  R.,  1854-7. 
Jansen  Frank,  1 869-71. 
Johnson  Gates  A.,  1871-8. 
Keller  John  M.,  1865-6. 
King  James,  1863-9. 
Kittson  Norman  W.,  1856-^. 
Knauft  F.,  1874  7- 
Knox  R.  C.,  1854-7. 
Krieger  Louis,  1871-75. 
Langevin  E.,  1875-7. 
Larpenteur  A.  L.,  1855-6, 
Lienau  Charles,  1862-3. 
Litchfield,  William  B.,  1869-70. 
Livingston  John  R.,  1863-5. 
McCarthy  Jeremiah  C.,  1875-8. 
McGrorty  William  B.,  1856-9. 
Madden  S.  C.,  1866^. 
Markoe  William,  1865-7. 
Marvin  Luke,  1857-00. 
Marvin  Richard,  1854-5. 
Maxficld  James  T.,  1867-9,  1871-5. 
Metzdorf  J  ,  1874-7. 
Minea  Joseph,  1875. 
Mitsch  George,  1867-70. 
Moore  George  W.,  1866-9. 
Morton  C.  A.,  1875-8. 
Murray  William  P.,  1861-8.  1870-79. 
Nash  Patrick,  1866-69. 
Nobles  Wm.  H.,  1855-6. 
O'Connor  John,  1875-8. 
O'Connor  M.  J.,  1859-62. 
O'Gorman  Patrick,  1858-61. 
Paine  Parker,  1863-5. 
Peckham  John  A.,  1863-65. 
Presley  Bart  ,  1870-74. 
Putnam  S.  K.,  1863-8. 
QuimbyJ.  C  ,  1872-9. 
Rauch  Charles,  1856. 
ReaneyJohnH.,  1875-8. 
Reardon  Timothy,  1868-71. 
Reed  L.  E  ,  1863-70. 
Rhodes  William,  1868-70. 
Richter  Fred.,  1873-6. 
Robert  Nelson,  1873-4. 
Ryan  Patrick,  1856-8. 
SchurmeirC.H.,  1855-61. 
Shearan  Thomas,  1867-73. 
Slater  Richard,  1867-9. 


City  Council : 

"Slichterj.  B.,  1864-7. 
Steele  John,  1861-65,  1869-7*. 
Stone  J.  M.,  1854-5. 
Taylor  H.  J.,  1857-60,  1870-4. 
Thompson  James  E.,  1861-4. 
Valentine  D.  H.,  1862-5. 
Werner  Frank,  1874-7. 
Wiley  R.  C.,  1859-63. 
Willius  F.,  1869-76. 
Wolff  Win.  H.,  i85<-(x>. 
Wood  E.  H.,  1876-9. 
Wright  Isaac  P.,  1863-64. 
Board  of  Education: 
Ames  W.  L.,  1856-7.  ' 
Arbuckle  S.  C.,  1873-6. 
Baker  H.  E.,  1856-8. 
Berrisford,  E.  F.,  1873-6. 
Hi-veridge  F.,  H?63. 
Blakeley  Russell,  1864-5. 
Bradley  Newton,  1866. 
Bradley  Richard,  1875-7. 
Brisbine  A.  G.,  1863-5. 
Carpenter  C.  W.,  1875--. 
Chancy  J.  B.,  1873-5. 
Collins  W.  H.,  1-57--. 
Combs  W.  S.,  1858-76. 
Cummings  Michael,  1868-71 
Dean  W.  B.,  1875-7. 
Delano  R.  W.,  1867-70. 
IKmi-ules  L.,  1871-3. 
Donaldson  J.  H.,  1874-7. 
Donnelly  J.  G.,  1870-7. 
Duncan  T.  B.,  1876-9. 
Dunham  W.  N.,  1858. 
Erdman  William,  1875-8. 
Farrell  M.  B.,  ix'--7i. 
Farwell  George  L.,  ir^sA 
Kink  Adam,  1875-8. 
Fink  Jacob,  1859-60. 
Fisk  R.  F.,  i8sc>-6o. 
Flynn  P.  F.,  1875-8. 
Folsom  S.  P.,  1858-63. 
French  Theo.,  1856-7. 
Furber  P.  P.,  1856-9. 
Gci*  William,  1870-4. 
Goodrich  A.  J.,  1865-6. 
Grace  Thomas,  iSyi--. 
Grant  William  H.,  1867. 
Gray  William  C.,  1858-61. 
Green  J.  C.,  1870-1. 
Grindall  J.  H.,  1867-8. 
Hamilton  G.  A-.lS?!-?. 
Hewitt  Girart,  1859^1. 
Horn  Henry  J.,  1857-9. 


Appendix. 


465 


Board  of  Education  : 

Houseworth  R.  F.,  1865-6. 
Howard  Thomas,  1867-70. 
Ingersoll  D.  W.,  1865-77. 
Kiefer  John  ,1665-68. 
Kelly  W.  H.,  i£6a-7. 
King  T.J.,  1663-5. 
Lambert  E.C.,  1861-7. 
Lambert  Henry  A.,  1861-3. 
Langford  N.  P.,  1859. 
Little  George,  1859-60. 
Lott  B.  W.,  1858-60. 
Lumsden  G.  L.,  1857-8. 
McCormick  F.,  1858-9- 
McNamee  Francis  P.,  1663-9. 
Mann  C.  A.,  1666-9. 
Marshall  William  R.,  1656-7. 
Mason  W.  F.,  1666-7. 
Mathews  James  H.,  1666-8. 
Mattocks  John,  1859-73. 
Merrill  D.  D.,  1665-8. 
Meyerding  Henry,  1669-79. 
Minor  John,  1873. 
Moody  A.  C.,  1664. 
Mott  George  C.,  1658-9. 
Mueller  B.,  1874-5. 
Murphy  J.  H.,  1876-9. 
Xeill  E.  D.,  1856-60. 
Xicols  John,  1862-5. 
Xoah  Jacob  J.,  1660-61. 
Paine  Parker,  1656-74. 
Palmer  E.C.,  1856-7. 


Board  of  Education  : 
Peckham  J.  A.,  1863-5. 
Phillips  J,B.,i66o^5i. 
Pond  J.  P  ,  1857-8, 1669-63. 
Pope  John  D.,  1863. 
Potts  Thomas  R.,  1660-62,  1662-3. 
Prescott  George  W.,  1663,  l?65-8. 
Putnam  S.  K.,  1660-63. 
Ramaley  David,  1662-5. 
Robertson  D.  A.,  1663-69. 
Rogers  John,  1669-72. 
Scheffer  Albert,  1675-8. 
SelbyJ.W.,  1661-3. 
Sheire  Monroe,  1668-75. 
Sibley  H.  H.,  1868-70. 
St.  Peter  I.,  1875-6. 
Starkey  James,  1857-8. 
Stewart  J.  H.,  1858-61. 
Strong  C.  D.,  1662-3. 
Studdart  I.  F.  A.,  1871-5,  1876-9. 
Terry  J.  C.,  1876-9. 
Torbet  A.  M.,  1856-7. 
Trott  Herman,  1669-73. 
Von  Minden  H.,  1871. 
Ward  J.  Q.  A.,  1662-5. 
Watson  George,  1876-9. 
Wedelstaedt  H.,  1668-71. 
Williams  J.  Fletcher,  1664-7,  1860.71 
Wolff  Albert,  1872-5. 
Zenzius  Conrad,  1665-8. 
Zimmerman  Edward,  1662-6. 


3' 


466  Appendix. 

GROWTH  OF  WEALTH  AND  POPULATION. 


The  first  assessment  ma 
1853,  this  had  risen  to  $733, 
it  rose  to  $3,287,320,  which, 
being  $6,437,385.  This  va 
and,  in  1860,  had  declined 
quinquennial  increase  : 

le  in  Saint  Paul,  in  1849,  gave  a  valuation  of  $85,000.     In 
534;  and,  in  i854,almost  doubled,  being  $1,300,000.     1111856, 
n  one  year  more,  (1857,)  had  increased  nearly  100  per  cent., 

$1,691,176.     From  this  on,  the  following  table  gives  the 

1860. 

1865. 

1870. 

1875- 

First  Ward—  Real  Estate. 

$877,593 
»4i.933 

**8J 

$1.3*3,159          $3,593,743 
331,390            1,185,005 

Second  Ward—  Real  Estate 

i,  i  i9.Sa5 
1,319,100 
397,309 

737.019 
747.313 
896,038 

1,663,449            4>777>74S 
3,143,936            4,106,751 
779-943            3,536,734 

Third  Ward  —  Real  Estate. 
Personal  Property  

Fourth  Ward—  Real  Estate 
Personal  Property  

Fifth  Ward—  Real  Estate. 

1,516,309            1,643,340 
818,149     ;          616,4^9 
367.963     \          366,657 

3,933,868            7.633.4S5 
1,194,181            3.069,374 
185,01*             7*4,674 

i,  086,113 
926,685 
98*88 

983,336 
685,951 
366,974 

I-479.I93 
1,363,041 

'(;.-"•• 

3,793,948 

[5,897>943 
773,370 

1,034,173 

953,935 
431,663 
518,997 

1,405,350 
1,139,315 
145,033 

6,670,313 

3-939,535 
676,613 



Sixth  Ward—  Real  Estate. 
Personal  Property  

940,660 

i,  374.»47 

4,618,137 
330,474 
33,937 



Total,  (city,)  
McLean—  Real  Estate  

j  

•      363,401 

1  

$4,746,119 
73,909 

5,"3 

*S,3S7.37o 

9S 

*9.3i5,5o7 

78.777 
35.,936 

$37,755,936 

*S3f 

Mounds  View—  Real  Estate 
Personal  Property  

New  Canada  —  Real  Estate 
Personal  Property  

Reserve—  Real  Estate  

78,013 
68,643 

££j 

168,663 

71,614 
1,511 

'7'.463 

46>394 
3,933 

310,888 

TS 

7i,938 
390,998 

i6,§88 

73,135 

138,304 

19,365 

50,316 
330,643 
37,975 

113,481 
568,430 
91,817 

307.886 
190,668 
Is.ooS 

198,713          307.156 

116,353    :          169,733 
33,101               34,876 

731,137 

437,065 
33,013 

Rose  —  Real  Estate  
Personal  Property  

307,676 
346,665 
6,943 

.98,408 
318,667 
35,950 

331,019    '          491,858 

347,314               631,934 
35,893                 19,633 

White  Bear—  Real  Estate. 

3S3,6o8 
60,643 
1.718 

331,308 

64,591 
10,349 

34i,95i 
71,554 
i3,4§7 

789,890 
161,143 
30,354 

63,360 

80,663                85,041 

199,496 

Total,  (county,) j     $5,837,599     |     $6,308,058          $1,493,353     I    $30,383,666 


Appendix. 


467 


COMPENDIUM  OF  CENSUSES. 


1850. 

.855- 

1860. 

1865. 

1870. 

'875- 

First  Ward 

2)348 

3  4*6 

4,763 

Second  Ward 

3,893 

3,466 

Third  Ward 

2,874 

4,775 

10.175 

Fifth  Ward 

2,146 

4,408 

6,893 

Sixth  Ward 





1,503 

Total  City           

1,083 

13,976 

30,030 

33.178 

115 

3I5 

295 

267 

378 

43° 

647 

511 

565 

789 

799 

35° 

439 

Reserve  Township. 

338 

442 

3i6 

McLean  Towns  lp 

499 

495 

75° 

710 

Total  County  

3,237 

9.495 

12,150 

iS.i0? 

»3.o8s 

36,333 

NOTE.— The  first  census  taken  in  Saint  Paul  was  in  June,  1849,  simply  an  enumera- 
tion of  the  inhabitants,  which  were  reported  at  840.  The  census  of  1850  and  1855,  were 
not  taken  by  wards,  but  the  city  and  county  given  as  a  total. 


468 


Appendix. 


NATIVITIES  OF  THE  POPULATION. 


The  census  of  1875,  gives  the  nativities  of  the  population  of  Ramsey 
county  as  follows : 


Native  Born. 

Minnesota 1 1 ,865 

Connecticut 160 

I  llinois 644 

Indiana 207 

I°wa 154 

Kentucky 130 

Maine '.  385 

Massachusetts 394 

Michigan .114 

Missouri 338 

Xew  Hampshire 140 

89 

1,789 

619 


Xew  Jersey 

Xew  York 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

Vermont 

Virginia  and  West  Virginis 

Wisconsin 

Other  States  and  Territories 


739 
1,384 


Total  native  born 30,133 


Foreign  Born. 

Canada i  ,309 

England 663 

Ireland a,66a 

Scotland 131 

Wales 19 

Sweden M37 

Norway 5*5 

Denmark IS9 

Holland 30 

France i  »6 

Switzerland 168 

Austria 163 

Bohemia 665 

Wirtemberg 8 

Baden 35 

Bavaria 175 

Hanover 31 

Prussia i  ,850 

Germany 3,837 

Other  Countries 333 


Total  foreign  born. 


'4,364 

Unknown,  1,847.    Total,  36,333.     Percentage  of  native  born,  58-4;  of  foreign  horn 
and  unknown,  41.6. 


INDEX. 


Acker  Henry,  391,  306,  406,  450. 

Acker  William  H.,  391,  396,  398,  399,  409. 

Allen  Alvaren,  173,  297. 

American  House,  224. 

Ames  Wm.  L.,  404,  447, 

Annexation  of  West  Saint  Paul,  448,  449. 

Area  of  city,  449. 

Armstrong  A.,  406,  423,  436,  447. 

Assumption  Church,  363,  737. 


Babcock  L.  A.,  293,  331  . 
Baldwin  School,  347^ 
Balloon  Ascension,  383. 
Balls,  early,  178,  180,  248. 
Banks  and  Currency,  243,  354,  382,  386,  397, 
398,410. 

Banning  Wm.  L  ,  367,  396,  421. 
Baptist  Church,  230,  250,  252,  279,295,318, 

320,361,424,451. 

Bass  J.  W.,  164,  171,  172,210,  231,340,365. 
Bazille  Charles,  101,  138,  143.  *9'.  3*4- 
Beaumette  William,  76,  84,  441. 
Becker  George  L.,  256,  347,  349,  363,  364, 

37S.  40S.  43«.  437- 
Bell,  first  in  city,  242. 
Benz  George,  443,  447,  449. 
Berkey  Peter,  390,  441,  443. 
Bets  Old,  125,  252,  336. 
Bigelow  Charles  H.,  414,  451. 
Bilanski  Mrs.,  executed,  392. 
BilauskiS.,  121,392. 
Birch  Coolie,  408. 
Birth,  first  in  city,  90. 
Bishop  Miss,  169,  178,  245,  253. 
Blakeley  Capt.  R.,  169,  173,  174,  206,  297, 
301,303,414. 

Blanchard  C.  C.,  125.  128,  129,  152. 
Boal  J.  M.,  158,  180,  232,  235,  284. 
Board  of  Puhlic  Works,  442. 


Bolles'  Mill  built,  107, 
Bond  J.  W.,  quoted,  186. 
Borup  Dr.  C.  W.,  390. 
Bottineau  Pierre,  107, 132, 151/155, 257, 278. 
Boyle  C.  M.,  396,  409,  434,  441,  447. 
Brackett's  Battalion,  402. 
Branch  Wm.,  364,  366,  386,  390,  423,  445. 
Brawley  D.  F.,  216,  233,  287,  317,  333. 
Breck  Rev.J.  L,.,  372,  311. 
Bremer  Miss  Fredrika — quoted — 378. 
Brick  yard,  first,  216,  233. 
Bridge  the,  230,  237,  322,  368,  378,  449. 
Brill  H.  R.,  443,  45,. 

Brisbin  John  B.,  359,364,  370.374.386,409. 
Brown  Joseph  R.,  41,68,  85,  99,  103,  147, 
182,278,329,331,350,370. 
Brunson  Rev.  Alf.,  46, 165. 
Bruuson  B.  W.,  165, 170,  171, 186,  333,  238, 
245,  263,  277,  284,  366,  376,  408. 
Brunson  Ira  B.,  82,  99,  102,  170,  241. 
Burbank  J.  C.,  174,  295,  397,  393,  396,  411, 
414,441,443. 


Caillet  Rev.  L.,  393,  431. 
Campbell  Scott,  103,  134,  170. 
Capital,  location  of,  183,304,  337,  2§6. 
Capital,  removal  of,  161,  338,  370,  385,  435. 
Capitol  square,  gift  of,  &c.,  144. 
Capitol  building,  238, 335,  337, 286,  287,  291, 
308, 333.  339- 

Carpenter  C.  W.,  174,  301. 
Carter  W.  G.,  145,  150,  177,  183. 
Carver  Jonathan,  26,  30,  32. 
Carver  Henry  L.,  402,  424. 
Case  J.  A.,  346,  359,  364,  38*- 
Catholic  church,  109,  111,113,115,  162,311, 
3'3.  363.  39>.'43°- 
Cathedral,  257, 313,  363- 


470 


Index. 


Cathcart  A.  H.  and  J.  W.,  354,  417. 
Cave  Charles  S.,  391,  317,  321,349,  354,356> 
,«7.  .V>2,  .VS2- 

Cavileer  Charles,  115,  151,  173. 
Cavender  A.  H.,  179,  196,  215,  225,  349. 
Celebration  Fourth  July,  first,  227. 
Cemetery,  196,  326,  341. 
Census,  228,  266,  359, 381 , 395,  420, 438, 452. 
Central  House,  136,  228,  248,  277. 
Chapel  of  Saint  Paul,  in,  113,  115^311. 
Cherrier  Denis,  88,  103,  105,  i.Vt- 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  426. 
Cholera,  215,  262. 
Chouteau  P.  &  Co.,  187,  277. 
Christ  church,  272,  311,  427,  433. 
Claims,  early,  64,  66,  72,  102,  104. 
Clewett  J.  R.,  68,  92,  101,  102,  139. 183,  346. 
Close  Rev.  H.,  179. 
Common  Pleas  Court,  428. 
Constans  William,  323. 
Cpoley  D.  C.,  346,  349,  356,  379. 
Cooper  David,  223,  234,  285. 
Corcoran  William  M.,  392,  393. 
Corner-stones  laid,  363. 
County  of  Ramsey  created,  241. 
County  of  Ramsey,  boundaries,  354.  30.'. 
Cotter  L.  P.,  364,  386,  409. 
Court,  first  in  countv,  258. 
Court,  early,  235,  258,  293,  438. 
Court  House,  279,  318,  325,  448. 
CotyJ.  B.,  171,  258,  263. 
Coy  Ansel  B.,  126,  128,  130. 
Crawford  county,  Wis.,  39,91,99,  176. 
Cretin  Bishop,  no,  311,  341,  369. 
Crosby  J.  W.,  383,  423. 
Crooks  Ramsay,  51,  303. 
Crooks  Wm.,  404,  406,  407,  449. 
Crowe  11  R.  K.,  413,  415,  437. 
CullenW.J.,377,439. 
Culver  George,  185,  342,  413. 
Curtice  D.  L.,  396,  435,  438,  440. 
Custom  House,  428,  430/445. 


Daily  Paper,  first,  352. 

Davidson  Capt.  W.  F.,3o6,  414,  416. 

Davidson  John  X.,  422,  447. 

Davis  C.  K.,  427,  430. 

Davis  S.  Lee,  408,  437,  434, 443,  448. 

Dawson  Wm.,  413. 

Day  Dr.  D.,  194,  242,  244,  279,321,332,353, 

45*- 

Dayton  L.,  421,423. 
Death,  first  in  Saint  Paul,  90. 
Deed  of  Carver,  33. 


I     Deed,  first  in  Saint  Paul,  131. 
J    Deeds  early,  131,  144,  150,  159,  185. 
i     Delano  F.  R.,  404,  406,  449. 
:    Delegate  election,  183,   188,  232,  240,  277, 
278,  340. 

Desire  or  Fronchet,  62,  120. 

Dewey  J.  J.,  151,  167,  232,37;,  293,  408. 

Dispatch  Daily,  432. 

Divorce  Legislation,  334. 

Dodge  H.  M.,  385. 

Dog-sledge  traveling,  320. 

Donnelly  Frank,  killed,  377. 

Dousman  H.  L.,  51,  89,  156,  173. 

Dowlan  John,  409,  418,  429. 

Draft,  415. 

Drake  E.  F.,  403,  404,  414,  447. 

Dugas  William,  104,  143,  144,  293. 


KddyL.H.,  288,398,444. 
Education.     (See  Schools.) 
Egan  J.J.,  416,  433. 
Emerson  C.  L.,  353,  364,  417. 
Kntry  of  town-site,  128,  183. 
Episcopal  church,  272,  279,  311,  369,  427. 
Esch  M.,  400,  438,  443,  448. 
Kvans  William,  71,  92,  102. 
Execution  of  Yu-ha-zee,  355. 
Execution  of  Mrs.  Bilanski,  393. 
Explosion  of  steamer  Rumsey,  416. 
Express  business,  growth,  &c.,  174,  398. 
Expulsion  of  settlers,  94,  99,  100,  1 10. 


Fabcr  Paul,  375,  434,  436. 
Farrington  G.  W.,  391,  317,  331.  341. 
Farrington  John,  343,  412. 
Ferries,  237,  322. 

Fisk's  Wagon  Expedition,  108,  407. 
Five  Million  Loan,  384,  404. 
Fire,  first  in  city,  363. 

Fir,-  Department,  318,  319,  357,  383,  385, 
434,  439,  443,  448. 
Fit/.  R.  H.,  393,  413,  434. 
Flag,  first  in  city,  130. 
Floods,  358,  365,  395. 
Flint  S.  M.  409,  433,  433,  450. 
Floral  Homes — quoted,  169,  17$. 
Fnlsiini,  S.  P.,  150,  166,  172,  317,  349. 
Fort  Siiolling  Reservation,  3*,  77,  95,  99. 
Foster  Aaron,  120,  168. 
Forbes  Wm.  H.,  54,  171,  232,  335,  345,356, 
261,  284,  304,  317,  321,  337, 340, 409, 452. 
Franchere  Gabriel,  89,  97. 
Freeborn  William,  291,  317,334,  346. 


Free  Masons,  173,  215,  219,  221,  235,  308, 

334.434- 

Freeman  A.  and  D.  B.,  132,  133,  151,  156. 
Friend  K.  T.,  434,  437. 
French  settlers,  the,  163,  271. 
French  Theodore,  367,  392,  399. 
Fronchet,  or  Desire,  62,  120. 
Fur  Trade,  48,  307. 
Fuller  House,  365,  434. 
FurberP.  P.,34,,443. 


Gabrielsen  P.,  415,  447. 
GaltierRev.  L.,  105,109,  in,  114,  148,  311, 
427. 

Gammell  Francis,  86,  123. 
Gear  Rev.  E.  G.,  179,  227. 
George  I.  C.,  353,  444. 
Geology  of  Saint  Paul,  11. 
German  settlers,  271. 

Gervais  Benj.,  68,90,  100,  101,105,111,118, 
130,  136,  143,  145,  344,  346. 
Gervais  Pierre,  68,  100,  103,  442. 
Gibbens  Robert,  297,  409. 
Gibbs  Nelson,  393,  406,  437. 
Gilfillan  C.  D.,  393,  415,  435,  436. 
Gilfillan  James,  408,  415. 
Oilman  John  M.,  415,  418,  433,  436. 
Godfrey,  wife  murderer,  337." 
Goodhue  J.  M.,  146,  191,  302,208,  310,  331, 
234,  237,  263,  364,  285,  386,  310, 
317.  323,  327- 

Goodrich  Aaron,  173,  219,  234,  235,  288,315, 
398,  4«S. 

Goodrich  K.  S.,  350,  369,  455. 
Gorman  W.  A.,  338,  347,  375,386,  399,434,' 
440,447. 

Grace  John,  436,  441,  447. 
Grace  Rt.  Rev.  Thos.  L.,  no,  390,  441. 
Grace  Thomas,  373,  385. 
Grand  Marais,  (or  Pig's  Eye,)  86. 
Grant  Hiram  P.,  383,  393,  407, 
Gray  William  C.,  suicide  of,  396. 
Greenleaf  Rev.  E.  A.,  179. 
Gross  N.,  385,  398,  402,  424,  433. 


Hall  H.  P.,  422,  432. 

Hall  Wm.  Sprigg,  382,  391,  428,  ^53. 

Harcourt,  Dr.H.,  supposed  murder  of,  430. 

Hard  times,  381. 

Hartshorn  Wm.,   103,   131,   133,   137,  iji, 


Hatch  E.  A.  C.,  185,  193,  387,  404,  410. 
Hays  Sergeant  John,  71,  90,  146. 


47' 

Heard  I.  V.  D.,  359,  383,  39,,  403,  4,8,  434, 

430,44'- 

Hennepin  Louis,  33. 

Henniss  Charles  J.,  383,  386,  347. 

Hewitt  Girart,  431. 

Hinckley  Mrs.  John  S.,  117,  118,  154,  179. 

Hole-in-the-Day,  137,  261,  275,  384. 

Hollinshead  Wm.,  350,  347,  367,  397. 

Hopkins  Daniel,  116,  159,  168,  196,332. 

Homicides,  90,  336,  354,  337,  331,  346,  353, 
364,  369,  374,  386,  388,  392,  416,  417, 
420,  434,  436,  438,  449. 

Horn  Henry  J.,  390,  413,  433. 
Hospital  Saint  Joseph's,  341. 
Hotels,  153,  173,  223,  339,  353, 365, 438,  435 , 
438- 

House  of  Hope,  312,  386. 
Hough  Sherwood,  349,  383,  391. 

Howard  Thomas,  385,  438. 
HoytB.  F.,  179,   196,  315,  330,  345,   361, 
378,  341,452. 

Hoyt  J.  F.,  373,  391,  402,  415. 
HoytL.,  447,449. 
Hudson's  Bay  Trade,  303. 
Hughes  James,  215,  230,  235. 
Hurlbut  Rev.,  148,  178. 


Immigration,  357- 
Imprisonment  for  debt,  335. 
Indian  Treaties,  57,  68,  187,  309,  326. 
Indian  War  of  1863,  53. 
Indians,  various  references,  43, 81, 82, 105, 
138,  161,  238,  272,  389,  291,  295, 310,336. 
Incorporation  of  Town,  240. 
Incorporarion  of  City,  349. 
Ingersoll  D.  W.,  233,  393,  406,  407,  426. 
Ireland  Rt.  Rev.  John,  83,  109,  401,  452. 
Irvine,  John  R.,  126,  169, 178, 179,  186, 237, 
244,391,349,357,393,402. 

Jackson  Henry,  117,  131,  136, 131,  133, 137, 
>3S,  145,  '48,  150, 153.  'S9>  '67. l68.  '7», 
180,  182,  310,  331,  332,  237, 
338,  248,  261,  377. 
Jail  old,  281. 
Jail  new,  373. 

Johnson  Gates  A.,  388,  409,  413,  433. 
Johnson  P.  K.,  167,  333,  277,  282. 
Johnson  Gen.  R.  W.,  83,  335. 
Jones  A.  C.,  381,  383. 
Justices  of  Peace,  early,  148,  168,  180. 


Kaposia  battle  of, 


472 


Index. 


Kavenaughs,  Missionaries,  115, 123,  151. 
Kennedy  Robert,  338,  246,  277,  291,  296, 
3'7>  334- 

KidderJ.  P.,  396,  409,  412,  415. 
Kiefer  A.  R.,  400,  412,  415. 
Kittson  X.  W.,  47,  68,  89,   134,   139,   160, 
304,321,322,333,353,385. 
Knox  R.  C.,  291,  319,  343,  349. 


Lake  Phelan,  146. 
Lamb  John  M.,  370,  395. 
Lambert  David,  171,  183,  197,  206. 
Lambert  E.  C.,  402,  409,  415, 424,  439. 
Lambert  Henry  A.,  197,  242,  244,  272,  291, 

33',34>.4'3- 

Larpenteur  A.  L.,  132,  133,   151,   156,   174, 
182,  185,  215,  225,  227,  233,  258,  261, 
375.  *9'.  346,  349.  357.  3/4- 
LaRoche  L.  H.,  150,  171,  172,  291. 
Larrivier  L.,  138,  144. 
LaSalle,  early  explorer,  21. 
Lawsuit  curious,  146. 
Lawyers  early,  234,  258. 
Lee  Win.,  404,  437,  440,  449. 
Leech  Gen.  Samuel,  184,  193. 
Library,  Public,  378. 
Lienau  C.  H.,  409,  413,  437,  432. 
Lincoln's  obsequies,  418. 
Liquor  sale  to  soldiers,  75,  79,  Si,  82. 
Little  Canada  settled,  145. 
Little  Crow,  Sr.,67,  91,  122. 
Little  Crow,  Jr.,  135,  162,  275,  410. 
Loras  Bishop,  108,  no,  115. 
Lott  B.  W.,  193,  344,  263,  284,  324,  331, 

33.?.  3S9-  4»9- 
Lumsden  Geo.  L.,  388. 
Mackubin  C.  X.,  391,  413. 
Mail  robbery,  388. 

Mail  service,  44,  153,  203, 205,  249, 357,  396. 
MalmrosO.,396,433. 
Markoe  Wm.,  383. 
Mankato,  118,  135,  167. 
Mainzer  J.,  400,  422,  432,  437,  441. 
Market  Street  M.E.  church,  179,  196,  230. 
Marriage,  first  in  Saint  Paul,  90. 
Marrying  "  by  bond,"  148. 
Marshall  J.  M.,  340,  258,  346,  383. 
Marshall  Wm.  R.,  ,86,  238,  239,  377,  286, 
33'.  349.  3S3.  354.  359.  397.  4°7,  4*3.  435- 
Marvin  Luke,  374,  393,  343. 
Marvin  Richard,  343,  349. 
Masterson  H.  F.,  282,  406. 
Mattocks  Dr.  B.,  400,  408,  429,  435,  43S. 
Mattocks  Rev.  John,  366,  453. 


Mayo  Charles  E.,  372,  418. 
Maxfield  J.  T.,  435,  450. 
McCormick  Findlay,  346,  349,  354,  398. 
McClung  J.  W.,  363,  373,  393. 
McElrath  A.,  406,  413,  443. 
McDonald  Donald,  63,  82,  83. 
McLean  Nathaniel,  209,  239,  442. 
McGrorty  Wm.  B.,  364,  366,  375,  382,  433. 
McKenty  Henry,  358,  379,  388,  437. 
McLeod  Alex.  R.,  135,  145,  j8o,  354,  358. 
McMasters  Dr.  S.  Y.,  153,  437. 
McMillan  S.  J.  R.,  436,451. 
McQuillan  Block,  360,  433,  433. 
Medicine  Bottle  hung,  193. 
Mege  Alex.,  130,  152. 
Metcalf1  T.  M.,  335,  386,  393,  396,  409,  447. 
Merriam  John  L.,  297,  303,  414,  437,  438. 
Merchants'  Hotel,  150,  438. 
Methodist  church,   179,  196,  379,  310,  363. 
Metropolitan  Hotel,  438. 
Mill,  first  in  Saint  Paul,  143. 
Miller  H.  H.,  443,  449. 
Minnesota,  first  settlement  of,  38. 
Minnesota,  name  first  proposed,  156. 
Minnesota,  Territory  organized,  205. 
Minnesota,  condition  of  in  1849,  a°7- 
Minnesota,  State  admitted,  385. 
Minnesota  River,  358,  265. 
Mitchell  Col.  A.  M.,  22,,  335,  377,  385. 
Missions,  46,  109,  115. 

Moffet  Lot,  198,  215,  235,  378,  383,  317,  334, 
•439- 

Monk  Hall,  288,  318. 
Morgan  C.  A. ,390,  393,  406,  439. 
Moore  George  W.,  390,  391,  398. 
Morris  C.  A.  F.,  406. 
Morrison  W.  C.,  108,  215. 
Mortimer   Sergeant   R.  W.,  62,  82,   118, 
138,  ,68. 

Morton  Dr.  Wm.  H.,  389,  427. 
Mn-v  Henry  L.,  183,  333,  339. 
Mott  George  C.,  393,  437. 
Mousseau  Charles,  88,  101,  in. 
Murders,  (see  homicides.) 
Murders,  by  Indians,  395,  326,  331,  377. 
Murphy  Dr.  J.  H.,  321,  401. 
Murray  Wm.  P.,  146,  377,  317,  32,,  331, 
346,  348,  366,  370,   375,  382,  386,  398, 
409,  415,  433, 437,  433,  442, 448. 
Myrick  Xathan,  185,  ,95. 


National  banks,  4,1. 
Navigation  opening  of,  359,  374,  384. 
Neill   Rev.   E.  D.,  2,2,  230,  233,  235,  245, 
963,  378,  318,  3*8,  34i.  347.  360,  399- 


Index. 


473 


Nelson  R.  R.,  317,  344,  372,  377,  378,  404, 
406. 

Newspapers,   190,   208,   215,   229,  240,  282, 
344. 35°.  3S3,  353.  359.  39'.  397.  4°9. 
4?3.  434.  432>  448,  45'- 
Newson  Maj.  T.  M.,  347,  352,  391,  404. 
New  Year's  Address  first,  113. 
New  Year's  calls,  247. 
Nichols  Charles,  398. 
Nicols  John,  413,  441 ,  448. 
Nobles   Win.  H.,   108,  194,  210,  337,  357,' 


Northern  Pacific  Railroad  predifted,  260. 


Oakland  Cemetery,  196,  341. 

O'Connor  M.  J.,  383,  390^  408,  438. 

O'Gorman  John,  346,  374,  444. 

Odell  Thos.  S.,  123,  135,  158,  170. 

Odd   Fellows,   15:,   104.  321,233,263,287, 

3°8.  445- 

Officer  Harvey,  416,  429,  437. 
Oldest  building  in  city,  143. 
Old  Settlers'  Association,  223. 
Olivier  John  B.,  383,  391,  443. 
Olivier  Louis  M.,  334,  331,  346,  359. 
Olmsted  David,  185,  190,  192,  256,  377,  344, 

349.  359- 

Opera  House,  423. 
Otis  George  L.,  383,  433,  438,  436. 
Owens  John  P.,  209,  329,  387,  316,  317,347, 
408. 

Paine  Parker,  421,  423,  452. 
Palmer  Judge  E.  C.,  382,  418. 
Panic  of  1857,38). 
Park  Rice,  188. 
Park  Como,  443. 

Parrant  Pierre,  64,  75,  84,  101,  146. 
Parsons  Rev.  J.  P.,  345,  378,  318. 
Passavant  Charles  A.,  403,  413,  435. 
Paterson  Rev.  A.  B.,  369. 
Patten  Mrs.  J.  R.,  83,  119,  130,  170. 
Peckhara  John  A.,  4:5,  423- 
Pembina  cart  trade,  160,  304. 
Pemmican,  how  made,  305. 
Pepin  Antoine,  137,  140. 
Perry  Abraham,  59,  60,  66,  89,  100. 
Phelan  Ed.,  70,  90,  103,  104,  144,   '45.   '46> 
183. 

Phillips  W.  D.,  191,  327,  290,  291,  317. 
Physician,  first  in  Saint  Paul,  167. 
Pig's  Eye,  origin  of,  85. 
Pig's  Eye,  locality,  86,  in,  113,  146. 
Pioneers  of  Minnesota,  47. 
Pioneer  Guard,  362, 373,  393. 


Plympton  Col.  J.,  60,  67,  69,  77,  93,  100. 
Police  first,  363. 
Politics,  236. 

Population,   207,   328,   359,  381,  395,  430, 

438,  453- 

Post-office,  153,  ,54,  331,  398,  409,  417,  433, 

Potts  Dr.  T.  R.,  260,  450. 
Powers  Simon,  250,  395,  434. 
Presbyterian  church,  313,  230, 250, 263, 379, 
318,  335,  360,  366. 
PrescottG.  W.,  339,  402,  407. 
Presley  B.,  134,  293,  294. 
Pre-Territorial  settlers,  199. 
Prince  John  S.,  375,  385,  386,  389,  393.  39°. 
398,  406,  412,  413,  414,  417,  418,  434. 
PrinceJ.W.,  375,382. 
Proprietors  of  Town,  171. 
Protestant  services  first,  148,  178, 

Raguet  Samuel  T.,  383,  399,  432. 
1    Railroads,  347,  378,  385.     Saint  Paul  and 
Pacific,  403,  441 ;  Saint  Paul  and  Chi- 
cago,4o6;  Saint  Paul  and  Sioux  City, 
414;  Lake  Superior  and  Mississippi, 
431,439;  Saint  Paul  and   Stilhvater 
441,443;  West  Wisconsin,  443. 
Ramsey  Alex.,  158,  216,  324,  337,  338,  356, 
278,  385, 309, 333,  333, 338, 341 ,  393,  404. 
Ramsey  J.  C.,  335,  363,377,  331,  366. 
I     Ramsey  County  Pioneer  Association ,  441 . 
!    Randall  E.  D.  K.,  157,  416. 
Randall  John,  133. 
Randall  John  H.,  157,  416. 
Randall   Wm.  H.,  133,  133,  151,  156,  335, 
245,  261,  391,365. 
Randall  Wm.  Jr.,  157,  238. 
RavouxRev.  A.,  90,  no,  113,148,353,311. 
'.    Real  estate  speculation,  293,  379,  440. 
Red  River  settlement,  38,  43,  66,  69. 
Red  River  Transportation  Company,  49. 
Red  River  trade,  48,  160,  304,  306. 
Reform  School,  424. 
Reed  Charles,  freezes  to  death,  140. 
ReedL.  £.,411. 

Removal  of  Capital,  161 , 338, 370,  385, 435. 

Rhodes  H.  C.,  171,  186,  190, 193. 

Rice  Edmund,  146,  345,  351,  255,  261,  377, 

284,  362,  366, 404,  413,  437,  441,  443. 

]    Rice  Henry  M.,  166, 173,  179,  183,  185, 186, 

188, 191,  193,  304,  209,  313,  33i,  340, 349, 

377,  298,  303,  314,  34' >  343>3S9>  433- 

'    Riheldaffer  Rev.  J.G.,  318,  341,436. 

Robert  Louis,  103,  131,  136,  140,   146,   159, 

170,  171,  182,  185,342,348,387,317, 

33  >.4S°- 


474 


Index. 


Robertson  D.  A.,  190,  383,   286,  344,  390, 
391,403,413,433,433. 
Roche  J.  W.,  434,  439,  433,  435,  438,  440. 
Rogers  Hiram,  394. 

Rohrer  D.,  349,  357,  364,  374,  383,  385,  390. 
Rolette  Jo.,  160,333,  333,  370. 
Rondo  Joseph,  62,  100,   104,  119,  137,  139, 

.35,  '83. 

Rumsey  Mrs.  Matilda,  130,  133. 


Saint  Anthony  Kails,  34,  !o8,  155,  164,  183, 
184,  334,  339,  340,  386. 
Saint  Croix  County,  99,  175,  176. 
Saint  Paul  :     Its  first  settler,  64. 

How  the  name  originated,  in. 

A  post-office  established,  154. 

Description  of  in  1847,  163. 

Entry  of  town-site,  183. 

List  of  earliest  settlers,  198. 

How  it  became  the  Capital,  303. 

Incorporation  as  a  town,  340. 

Incorporation  as  a  city,  349. 
Saint  Paul  House,  165,  173,  333,  333. 
Sanborn  John  B./39I,  396,  399,  401,  441. 
Sanitary  Fair,  417. 
Scheffer  Charles,  393,  411,  453. 
Schiffbauer  H.,  413,  453. 
Schools,    163,  169,  316,  344,  383,  335,  378, 
386,434. 

School  house  first,  176,  344,  335. 
SchurmeierC.  H.,  364,  385,  443,  447. 
Selby  J.  W.,  350,  317,  331,  383,  433. 
Settlers  on  reservation,  58,  61,67,  94,  99. 
Settlers  in  Saint  Paul  first,  198. 
Seven-corners,  138. 
Shakopee  hung,  193. 
Sherburne  M.,  339,  385,  434. 
Sibley  H.  H.,  49,  57,  76,  84,  91,  100,  135, 

159,  171,  173,  183,  183,  184,  185,302,303, 

309,  316,  333,  337,  333,  234,277,  389, 

410,  414,  430,  438,  442. 

Simons  O.,  282,317,364,451. 

Simpson  J.  W.,  130,  144,  171,  182,  344,378, 

439- 

Sioux,  habits,  &c.,  373,  391. 
Sioux  and  Chippewa  fights,  336. 
Sioux  massacre  of  1862,  408. 
Slave,  sale  of  a,  46. 
Sloan  Levi,  335,  346,  348,  355. 
Smith  C.  K.,  338,  235,  244,  263,  314,  321. 
Smith  James  Jr.,  396,402,415,421. 
Smith  Robert  A.,  339,  362,  366,  383,  391, 


Social  life,  178,  249,  456. 


Sons  of  Temperance,  173. 
Sovereigns,  or  Third  House,  357. 
Speculation,  3,8,  332,  358,  379,  440. 
Stage  lines,  &c.,  160,  295. 
Starkey  James,  349,  357,  374,  377,  382. 
Steamboats,  43,  173! 334,360. 
Steam  fire  engines,  443. 
Steele  Frank.,  ,34,  136,  ,82,  337. 
Stephenson  O.,  391,  434,  439,  448. 
Stevens  Col.  J.  H.,  58,  67. 
I    Stewart  J.   H.,  360,  391,  398,  399,  409,  413, 

4I7>431»433>443.  447- 

1     Stillwater,  99,  164,  175,  ,80,   183,  183,  184, 
»34.  386. 

Stillwater  Convention,  142,  ,50,  183,  197, 
208. 

Street  railroad,  443. 
Sunrise  expedition,  377. 
Survey  of  the  town-site,  330. 
Sweeny  R.  O.,  ,6,  384. 

j  Taliaferro  Maj.  L.,  40,  57,  64,  91,  93,  137. 
'  Taylor  H.J.,  374,  386. 

Taylor  J.W.,  406,  418,  439. 

Telegraph,  293,  396. 

Temperance,  83,  180,  215,333,356,331,333. 
;  Temperance  House,  ,98. 

Terry  John  C.,  316,  327,  340. 

Territory  of  Minnesota,  155,  164,  181, 188, 
205,  223. 

Theatres,  313,  326,  344,  375. 

Thompson  Horace,  410,  414. 

Thompson  J.  E.,  398, 404,  4,0,  439. 

Tilden  H.  L.,  377,  384,  33,. 

Town  of  Saint  Paul  surveyed,  170. 

Town-site,  entry  of,  183. 

Town  election  first,  360. 

Trading  with  Indians,  374. 

Traveling  in  winter,  48,  203,  249,  296,  333, 
3S6- 

Treaty  Indian,  57,  68,  187,  309,  326. 

Trott  Herman,  406,  423. 

Tullis  A.  W.,  ,37,359,39,. 


Uline  C.  S.,  400,  4,7, 432,  436,  441 ,  447. 


Valuation  of  property,  452. 
Van  Etten  Isaac,  346,  348,  448. 
Van  Solen  G.  L.,  trial  of,  407,  430. 
Vervais  Dr.  J.  A.,  401 ,  410,  434. 
Von  Glahn  Baron,  363. 
Von  MindenH.,402,  442. 


Index. 


475 


Walker  M.  O.,  397,  301,  359. 
War,  rebellion,  398. 
Wrar  Wright  County,  389. 
War  "  Blueberry,"  443. 
Water  Works,  325,  435. 
Wharton  Dr.  A.,  407,  413. 
Wheelock  J.  A.,  340,  438,  442. 
White  Bear  Lake,  290,  308. 
White  Wallace  B.,  233,  340. 
Whitney  C.  T.,  174,  300,  409,  413,  433. 
Wholesale  trade,  origin  of,  394.. 
Wiley  R.  C.,  383,  390. 
Wilkin  Alex.,  1+5,  3»s,  396,  398,  4°°.  408, 
417. 


Wilkin  W.,  3,6,  348,  41S.44'.  443- 
Wilkinson  M.  S.,  .82,  335,  317,  346,  347. 
Willey  Dr.  Samuel,  364,  444. 
Willius  Ferdinand,  390,  412. 
Williams  John  J.,  433,  435. 
Williamson  Dr.  T.  S.,  162, 169, 179, 350, 263. 
Willoughby  A.,  250,  295. 
Winnebagoes,  185,  187,  190,  256,  289. 
Winslow  House,  353,  409. 
Wisconsin,  45,  95,  99,  155,  164,  J76,  181. 


Zimmerman  Edward,  406,  425. 


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