Fifty Years In The Northwest Part 64

Odell had been a soldier, but on being mustered out at Fort Snelling came to St. Paul. He died in 1879. We have made mention of White in biographical sketches. Crittenden went to Crow Wing and represented the Twenty-first district in the first state legislature. Denoyer married a sister of Louis Robert and in 1850 removed to Belle Plaine.

David Faribault was a son of Jean Baptiste Faribault. He now resides in Dakota. Banfil removed to Manomin, and represented his district as senator in the first state legislature.

The writer of these sketches visited St. Paul in 1846, and was entertained at Jackson's hotel, which he well remembers as a log building, one story high, with store and post office in the east end, a dining room in the west end, with small, low sleeping rooms in the rear. The hotel stood on a romantic elevation, a precipitious bluff, and commanded a magnificent view of the river and valley. Louis Robert's tamarack pole store was located east of Jackson's, under the bluff, and directly on the bank of the river, a good steamboat landing in front. West of Jackson's was J. W. Simpson's store, and still further west the store of Faribault & Co., beyond which were two small dwellings, all these buildings fronting the river. Still further west, Alexander McLeod was building a handsome hewed log house. On the next rise of ground stood the Catholic church. On the next plateau the store of Wm. Hartshorn, and near a small creek the dwelling of John R.

Irvine. There were two residences on a plateau a short distance north of Jackson's hotel. There were in all five stores, one tavern and a few dwellings, mostly built of logs. A few United States soldiers and Indians were lounging about the stores, some drunk, some sober. Such was St. Paul in 1846. The settlers of 1847 were Jacob W. Ba.s.s, Harriet E. Bishop, Benj. W. Brunson, Dr. J. J. Dewey, G. A. Fonrnier, Simeon P. Folsom, W. H. Forbes, Aaron Foster, Daniel Hopkins, Parsons K.

Johnson, C. P. V. Lull, and W. C. Renfro. Ba.s.s and Johnson had been in the lumber business at Chippewa Falls. On arriving at St. Paul Mr.

Ba.s.s leased a hotel on the corner of Third and Jackson streets, known as the St. Paul House. He was appointed postmaster in 1849, and in 1852 opened a commission and forwarding warehouse on the levee. Mr.

Brunson was a surveyor, and, a.s.sisted by his brother, Ira B., laid off the town plat of St. Paul, also a plat known as Brunson's addition, in the fall of 1847. He was a member of the first and second territorial legislatures, and justice of the peace for several years.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Miss Bishop was one of the company of teachers sent West by Gov.

Slade. She organized the first permanent day school and the first Sunday-school in St. Paul. The school house was a cabin on the corner of Third and St. Peter streets. Miss Bishop, later Mrs. McConkey, was the author of a valuable book of frontier sketches ent.i.tled "Floral Homes." She died in 1884.

Of Mr. Forbes mention is made in biographical sketches. Aaron Foster came from Stillwater. He was a carpenter by trade. He married f.a.n.n.y Mortimer, daughter of Sergt. Mortimer. He died in 1864. S. P. Folsom is mentioned in biographical sketches. Dr. Dewey, the first practicing physician in St. Paul, was a member of the first territorial legislature, and established the first drug store in Minnesota.

Parsons Johnson, a descendant on his mother's side of Jonathan Carver, engaged in tailoring, the first of his trade in St. Paul. He was a member of the first territorial legislature.

Cornelius V. P. Lull was a carpenter. He served as sheriff in 1849, and still lives in the city. Daniel Hopkins engaged in general merchandising. He died in 1852. W. O. Renfro, a cousin of Henry Jackson, had studied medicine, was a young man of ability but addicted to drinking habits. The winter after his arrival he wandered forth, suffering from _mania a potu_, and froze to death near the bend in Phalen's creek.

This year was memorable for the organization of a regular steamboat line from Galena to Mendota and Fort Snelling. The steamer Argo was purchased for the trade. M. W. Lodwick was made commander and Russell Blakely, clerk. The Argo was designed to make weekly trips, but sank before the close of the season, and the Dr. Franklin was purchased to take her place the ensuing year. St. Paul had not increased largely in population this year. One hotel and two dwellings had been built. Some progress had been made in farming and gardening, and there was much lively talk on the subject of making claims. The prospective separation of Minnesota into a territory, and the opening of the country for settlement gave a new impetus to business. The Wisconsin convention for the adoption of a state const.i.tution was held Dec. 13, 1847. Its effects, however, were not greatly felt until toward the middle of the ensuing year.

Among the prominent accessions in 1848 to the population were Henry M.

Rice, Henry C. Rhodes, David Olmsted, W. D. Phillips, E. A. C. Hatch, Bushrood W. Lott, W. H. n.o.bles, Nathan Myrick, A. H. Cavender, Benjamin F. Hoyt, William Freeborn, David Lambert, W. C. Morrison, Lot Moffett, and W. D. Brown. Of these Rice, n.o.ble, Hoyt and Myrick are referred to in biographical sketches. Mr. Olmsted was a trader, and in the summer of the year 1848 established a trading post at Long Prairie, whither the Winnebagoes had removed. He was a member of the first and second territorial councils, and the first mayor of St.

Paul, in 1854. He removed to Winona in 1855, and died in 1861. Olmsted county, Minnesota, is named in his honor. W. D. Phillips, better known as "Billy" Phillips, was a somewhat eccentric character who pa.s.sed for awhile as a lawyer in St. Paul, and in 1856 drifted off into a clerks.h.i.+p at Was.h.i.+ngton, since which time nothing has been heard of him. E. A. C. Hatch was appointed Indian agent to the Blackfeet Indians by President Pierce in 1856. In 1863 he was commissioned as major in the volunteer service, and acquitted himself creditably.

While stationed at Pembina, by strategy he captured the insurgent Indians, Shakopee and Medicine Bottle, who were hanged at Fort Snelling in 1865. He died in 1881. H. O. Rhodes was engaged in trade with David Olmsted. He died in California some years ago. A. H.

Cavender was a blacksmith and wagonmaker on Robert street in 1849.

Wm. Freeborn was quite a prominent citizen and member of the town council. He is better known as one of the founders of Red Wing, to which place he removed in 1853. He represented his district in the territorial councils of 1854, 1855, 1856 and 1857. He removed to California in 1862. Freeborn county is named for him. David Lambert, a prominent member of the Stillwater convention, was a young man of promise, but addicted to drink. In 1849, while suffering from a delirious paroxysm induced by drink, he jumped from the deck of a steamer and was drowned. W. C. Morrison originally came from New York, thence to Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Galena, Dubuque, and other places and lastly to St. Paul, where he is widely and favorably known as a business man. Lot Moffett will be remembered as the builder and proprietor of the picturesque heap of rocks known as "Moffett's Castle," where he kept a temperance hotel for several years. He was a man of patriarchal appearance, wearing a long, white beard. He was known as an honest, kind hearted, benevolent man. He died in 1870. W.

B. Brown came from Wisconsin and purchased the corner on which the Warner block now stands. He died some years ago. To enumerate the accessions to the population in 1849 would require more s.p.a.ce than we are allowed. The fact that St. Paul was this year designated as the territorial capital brought in a great number of official personages, and an army of traders, boarding house keepers, builders and adventurers. Heretofore Mendota had seemed to be the objective point of steam navigation. It also aspired to be the capital of the new territory. Senator Douglas, chairman of the committee on territories, favored Mendota. Gen. Sibley, the territorial delegate, favored St.

Paul, and earnestly solicited the senator to yield, which, along with the personal appeals of H. M. Rice, finally secured his acquiescence, and the bill to form Minnesota Territory, with St. Paul as its capital, finally pa.s.sed March 3, 1849. The news, however, did not reach the capital until April 9th, it having been brought up on the Dr. Franklin, No. 2, the first boat of the season.

On May 27th the newly appointed governor, Alexander Ramsey, arrived with his wife, but not being able to obtain accommodations in St. Paul went for the time to Mendota, where they were entertained by Hon. H.

H. Sibley. Every succeeding boat was crowded with emigrants. A newspaper was an immediate necessity. The first steps had been taken the year before by Dr. A. Randall, of Owen's Geological Survey. Dr.

Randall was not immediately able to carry his project into effect, and not till April 27, 1849, did the promised paper, the _Minnesota Register_, appear. The first copy had, however, been printed at Cincinnati two weeks earlier. Of this paper Maj. John P. Owens was publisher.

The first number of the second paper in the city was issued April 28th. This was the St. Paul _Pioneer_, James M. Goodhue, publisher and editor. These papers and others established later became faithful chroniclers of the progress of the city, and invaluable as historical doc.u.ments.

The first number of Goodhue's paper, the St. Paul _Pioneer_, bearing date of April 28, 1849, contains what we may designate as the earliest news. We cull a few items that maybe of interest to antiquarians:

It announces Congressman Sibley's return from Was.h.i.+ngton, Rev. E. D.

Neill's removal to St. Paul, and that the latter would preach the following Sabbath at the school house.

An editorial paragraph calls attention to the fact that the _Pioneer_ is printed in a building situated on Third street near Robert, and that the building has five hundred apertures through which the daylight is streaming.

The arrival of steamer Franklin, No. 2, bringing the tidings of the pa.s.sage of the bill organizing Minnesota Territory, is announced. The steamer was greeted by a large crowd of eager and excited citizens, whose shouts re-echoed amongst the adjacent hills.

Arrival of steamers Cora and Dr. Franklin, No. 1, is announced.

The following advertis.e.m.e.nts will show who were the most enterprising of the early settlers:

H. Jackson, postmaster; D. Lambert, real estate dealer; W. H. n.o.bles, wagonmaker; J. J. Dewey, M.D.; W. D. Phillips, lawyer; J. Monteur, D.

C. Taylor, blacksmiths; J. R. Irvine, plasterer; B. L. Sellers, stonemason; Lot Moffett, Anson Northrup, hotel keepers; James Pomeroy, Francis McCoy, house builders; McBoal & Gilbert, stock dealers; Henry Jackson, W. H. Forbes, Daniel Hopkins, Freeman, Larpenteur & Co., J.

W. Simpson, Olmsted & Rhodes, Fuller & Brothers, R. P. Russell, merchants.

A road notice completes the list.

Among the prominent citizens who arrived in 1849, David Day became the first register of deeds in Ramsey county. He served in the territorial house in 1852 and 1853, and was speaker during the last session. He served as postmaster from 1874 to 1887. D. F. Brawley established the first brickyard in the Territory, and made the brick for the first brick building north of Prairie du Chien, which was built by Rev. E.

D. Neill. Willoughby & Powers introduced the first stage coaches, and established the first livery stable. Nathaniel McLean came as a Sioux Indian Agent and served four years. He died in 1871, aged eighty-four years. Henry F. Masterman, a prominent lawyer, died in 1883. J. D.

Crittenden, who served in the late war and rose to the position of colonel. Orlando Simmons, a useful citizen and sound jurist, still lives in St. Paul. Wm. Hollinshead, a brother-in-law of Edmund and H.

M. Rice, died some time in the '50s. J. W. Bond was the author of the first history of Minnesota. Chauncey Hobart was chaplain of the first legislature. John B. Spencer, carpenter and contractor, built the first breakwater and dock at Duluth.

Thomas Foster became editor of the _Minnesotian_, and subsequently issued a paper at Duluth. He gave the name of "The Zenith City of the Unsalted Sea" to Duluth. He was too much of a critic to be popular. He died near Was.h.i.+ngton, District of Columbia, in 1884. The first Masonic, Odd Fellows and Sons of Temperance lodges were organized this year. The Bank of St. Croix, with headquarters at St. Paul, was established this year. Its paper was the first issued in the form of bank notes in the city and Territory. Nevertheless it was a fraud. Its paper was quoted in New York at one per cent. The proprietors were Young & Sawyer.

For a few terse comparisons and statistics with regard to the St. Paul of the past and of the present we are indebted to a writer in the "Soo Line edition" of the _St. Croix Standard_:

"Twenty-six years ago there were no railroads in St. Paul, now there are 26 trunk lines entering the city, with over 3,000 miles of track and more than 20,000 miles of mileage, 90,000 cars in use and 100,000 men employed. Beside this is the river trade, which employs two lines of boats and affords a very considerable commerce to St. Paul. In the manufacturing interests St. Paul has shown a great increase, and in every department of trade manufactories are springing up in all directions, and the business has already reached the large sum of $45,000,000, with not less than 1,200 factories and 22,000 men employed. Forty-six hotels accommodate the traveling public. The fire department is one of the best in the West, consisting of 8 steam fire engines, 7 chemical engines, hose carts, 159 men, 78 horses, etc., and the value of all the property belonging to the fire department is $316,367. The city is abundantly supplied with good, pure water, obtained from several lakes. One year ago there were 1,800 miles of mains and 1,000 new water connections, so it is safe to say that at present there are 2,000 miles of mains and 1,200 connections. The receipts of the department for the past year were $2,109,026.09. The real estate sales in 1887 will reach as high as $32,000,000."

Beyond this year we shall not follow the history of the city, except so far as a few tables of statistics and the biographies of a few of its leading citizens may be concerned.

POPULATION OF ST. PAUL.

1849, April 200 1849, June 840 1855 4,716 1857 9,973 1860 10,279 1865 12,976 1870 20,030 1875 33,178 1880 41,498 1886 138,074

SCHOOLS IN 1886.

Number of school houses, 26; valuation, $816,650; number of teachers, 246; number of scholars, 9,600.

STATISTICS OF BUILDINGS COSTING $100,000 AND OVER.

Capitol $300,000 Custom house 500,000 Court house 1,000,000 Hotel Ryan 1,000,000 Merchants Hotel 500,000 Metropolitan Hotel 100,000 Globe building 500,000 Pioneer Press building 650,000 Chamber of Commerce 100,000 High School building 137,000 Hamline University 175,000 Macalester College 100,000 Baptist church 100,000 German Catholic church 100,000 Central Park Methodist Episcopal church 100,000 New York Life Insurance Company building 1,000,000 German Life Insurance Company building 250,000 Northern Pacific office building 250,000 Manitoba office building 200,000 Omaha office building 160,000 Union Depot 150,000 German American Bank 250,000 Germania Bank 200,000 First National Bank 100,000 Watson block 300,000 Hale block 150,000 McMurrin block 150,000 Willius block 150,000 Gilfillan block 125,000 Drake block 100,000 Drake block 100,000 Union block 100,000 Albion block 100,000 Gotzian block 100,000 Wilder block 100,000 Mayhall block 100,000 DeCoster & Clark block 100,000 Sherman block 100,000 Astoria block 100,000 Steele block 100,000 Shuter block 100,000 Dawson block 100,000 J.J. Hill's residence 350,000 Kittson's residence 150,000 Wilder's residence 150,000 Stickney's residence 125,000 Griggs' residence 125,000 Merriam's residence 125,000 Opera House 100,000 United States Army headquarters 100,000 Lindeke Flour mill 100,000 Elevator A 100,000 Elevator B 100,000 Bohn Manufacturing Company 120,000

MAYORS OF ST. PAUL.

1854. David Olmsted.

1855. Alex. Ramsey.

1856. George L. Becker.

1857. J. B. Brisbin.

1858. N. W. Kittson.

1859. D. A. Robertson.

1872. Dr. J. H. Stewart.

1873. Dr. J. H. Stewart.

1874. Dr. J. H. Stewart.

1875. J. T. Maxfield.

1876. J. T. Maxfield.

1877. J. T. Maxfield.