Ramsey County MN Archives History - Books .....History Of Ramsey County 1882
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Book Title: History Of The Minnesota Valley

RAMSEY COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLV.


  Ramsey county was created by act of territorial legislature, approved October
27th, 1849, with boundaries including several times its present area, being all
the present county of Ramsey lying east of the Mississippi and all of the
present counties of Anoka, Isanti and Kanabec, as well as a portion of the
counties of Washington, Pine, Carlton, Aitkin, Mille Lacs and Hennepin. St.
Anthony was in Ramsey county when it received its first city charter in 1855.
From time to time, largely for speculative reasons, the area of Ramsey county
has been reduced, until from a large county in the territory, it has become the
smallest in the state, and now contains about one hundred and sixty-nine square
miles, being less than one third the area of Hennepin.

  The passage of the bill creating the territory of Minnesota was due to the
persevering labors of Hon. H. H. Sibley, who had been elected representative to
the national congress from the fractional territory left between the St. Croix
and the Mississippi rivers, after the admission of Wisconsin as a state, with
boundaries contracted from those of the territory of the same name.

  While fulfilling his trust to his constituents, it is worthy of mention that
General Sibley neglected to take advantage of the opportunity offered him of
benefitting himself, by permitting Mendota to remain in the bill as capital, as
originally proposed by Hon. Stephen A. Douglas. The bill making St. Paul the
capital, passed the senate, but met considerable opposition in the house, which
was finally overcome, and received the executive approval March 3d, 1849.

  'It is estimated that at this time the entire territory could not have
contained a population of more than one thousand whites. The census taken four
months later, when many immigrants had arrived, showed a total of but four
thousand six hundred and eighty, of which three hundred and seventeen were
connected with the army, and a large percentage of the remainder were of mixed
blood.

   The entire territory west of the Mississippi was still unceded by the
Indians, save such small tracts as had been secured for military purposes.
Steamers on the river north of Prairie du Chien had no regular landing place
except to wood up Mr. James M. Goodhue, founder of the Minnesota Pioneer, states
that in April of this year there were but thirty buildings in St. Paul.

  E. S. Seymour, author of "Sketches of Minnesota, the New England of the West,"
landed in St. Paul the 17th of May. He says:

   "The townsite 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 center 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 by buildings erected on these lots." At a later date of this year
the same writer says:

   "On the 13th of June I counted all the buildings of the place, the number of
which, including shauties and those in every state of progress from the
foundation wall to  completion, was one hundred and forty-two, 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 to the accommodation
of travelers; a state house, four warehouses, ten stores; seven groceries, three
boarding houses, two printing offices, two drug stores, one fruit and tobacco
store, one or two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one tin shop, one or two
bakery 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
Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian or Baptist persuasion. There is also a
Catholic church, where meetings 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 was not
a brick or stone building in the place. There are, however, good stone quarries
in the vicinity, and clay near the town, where persons are employed in making
brick."

   The territorial census, which was taken this year showed that the St. Paul
precinct contained 540 males and 300 females, a total of 840.

   The election of councillors, representatives and delegates was on August 2d.
Wm. H. Forbes and James McC. Boal were elected to the council, and Benjamin W.
Brunson, Henry Jackson, Dr. John Dewey and Parsons K. Johnson, were elected from
the St. Paul precinct. Captain John Rollins was elected to the council by the
Falls of St. Anthony precinct and the Little Canada settlement. William B.
Marshall and William Dugas were elected delegates to the house.

   The session of the first territorial legislature was held in "The Central
House," on the comer of what is now Minnesota and Bench streets.

   During the session the first struggle took place for the permanent location
of the capital, which was not fully determined until the following year, "when a
compromise was effected by which the Capital was to be at St. Paul, the State
University at St. Anthony and the Penitentiary at Stillwater."

   The legislature was in session sixty days and adjourned November 3, 1849.

   By act of the legislature, approved October 27th, Ramsey county was created,
with boundaries heretofore given. On the adjournment of the legislature Gov.
Ramsey appointed county officers to hold their positions until the first of
January following. The formal election of county officers was held on November
26th.

   The first term of court was held April 28th, 1850, with forty-nine cases on
the calendar, Chief Justice Goodrich presiding. There were thirteen indictments,
mostly amongst gambling house keepers. As there was no jail, prisoners were sent
to Fort Snelling for safe keeping.

   The federal census of this year showed that Ramsey county had 1,337 males and
860 females —a total of 2,197. Number of dwellings, 834. Number of acres
improved, 458. Number of families, 257. It should be borne in mind that at that
time Ramsey county included nearly all of Minnesota on the east of the
Mississippi, except the St. Croix valley.

   Vetal Guerin gave the county a block for county buildings. On January 16th
the county commissioners advertised for plans for a court house and jail. Dr.
David Day furnished the most acceptable plan for a court house, for which he was
paid ten dollars. To raise money for the erection of county buildings, bonds
were issued to the amount of five thousand dollars, drawing ten per cent,
interest, and this sum covered the entire cost of the old court house, except
that a trifling additional compensation was allowed for "winding stairs." At no
time since could the building have been erected for that sum.

   A Mr. Taylor, who purchased Franklin Steele's interest in the St. Anthony
Water-power Company, said he could negotiate the court house bonds in Boston.
They were accordingly drawn up, and signed by Benjamin Gervais, Louis Roberts,
and R. P. Russell, the two former making their marks. These bonds were offered
in the Boston market, but the good people would not purchase bonds thus signed.
They were accordingly returned, by some means duly signed (of course by proxy),
and Mr. Russell paid the money for them. The court house was commenced in
November of this year, and was completed the year following.

   Several months after, the building of the jail was commenced, and was the
first prison erected in Minnesota. It was built of logs, weather boarded, and
stood till 1857.

   From about the 1st of April, 1850, the Mississippi began to rise, and on the
13th, the lower floor of a warehouse, then occupied by William Constans, at the
foot of Jackson street, was submerged. For a purse of $200, the steamboat
Anthony Wayne passed above Fort Snelling to the Falls of St. Anthony, having
Governor Ramsey and others on board.

   The great event of 1851 was the treaty with the the Dakotahs, whereby they
sold their birthright, and were to be henceforth intruders when on their native
soil. Up to 1851, 2 and 3, their dead might be seen on platforms in West St.
Paul, and settlers there found the near presence of the Indian dead so
offensive, that complaint was made to Governor Gorman, who ordered their removal.

   We now approach some of the most stirring events connected with the history
of Ramsey county.

   The military reservation of Fort Snelling included the present town of
Reserve and a part of the present city of St. Paul. Settlers had made homes on
the reservation from time to time until 1853, when all the lands of the reserve,
east of the Mississippi were taken by claimants, though without the sanction of
law. In anticipation of the offering of these lands for sale, a Claim
Association was organized for the purpose of mutual protection. Henry M. Rice
was elected the first president, and William S. Combs, secretary of the
Association, which held a meeting in the open air, on the grass, about where the
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis &  Omaha machine shops are.

   The claims of the settlers frequently overlapped, and the first business of
the association was to settle these claims among themselves, and then to present
a united front against any new comer who might attempt to get possession of the
lands by jumping claims, buying of the government, or otherwise.

   On July 1st, 1854, the association held a meeting, in anticipation of the
sale of the lands which was to occur on the 11th of September following. Mr.
Rice in the mean time having taken his seat in congress as a delegate from the
territory of Minnesota.

   It should be stated that at that time the government required all public
lands, when offered for sale, to be put up at auction and sold to the highest
bidder, though at a price not less than $1.25 per acre.

   At the meeting before referred to, a series of nine resolutions were adopted,
a few of which we give with their numbers.

   3. "Resolved that we repair to the land sale en masse, to protect our homes
from the bids of wealthy and sordid speculators, the homes and improvements
which have cost so many of us long years of toil and labor, and the expenditure
of all our means, the homes which shelter our wives and little ones, the homes
doubly endeared to us by the privations, cares and anxieties which we have all
experienced in their security, the only spot in fact that we can justly call our
home, upon the fairest portion of God's footstool, and which we will protect
from the ruthless hands of those who would eagerly tear them from our possession."

   7. "Resolved that our brethren of Minneapolis and Brownsville land district
be respectfully and cordially invited to be with us at Stillwater on the 11th
day of September next, and that we do pledge ourselves to return the favor at
their respective "land sales" on the 18th of September next."

   9. "Resolved that a copy of these resolutions be sent to every editor in the
territory, and that they be respectfully requested to give publicity to the same."

   The resolutions were signed by William Root, president, and J. D. Williams,
secretary, and were published in the papers of the territory, thereby giving due
and public notice, that no competition in the purchase of the lands of the
reservation would be allowed.

   Wm. R. Marshall was appointed to bid off the lands on the day of sale, in
trust for the claimants.

   On the day appointed for the sale, according to the Daily Democrat, a
thousand people were on the ground at Stillwater, ready to act decisively, had
occasion required. The claimants dressed in red shirts, all armed, and having
clubs in their hands, were arranged in a circle so large as almost to prevent
outsiders from being heard, even if disposed to bid. One outsider only made an
attempt to bid, and he was soon disposed of. The sale commenced at 9 a. m., and
was finished in three-quarters of an hour. The remainder of the day was consumed
in making out the papers for the purchasers, who were congratulated on being
released from their long suspense, and getting lands so valuable to them and the
territory, at the government price of $1.25 per acre, "without disturbance or
violence of any kind."

   The first real settlement was in 1838, by Pierre Parrant, familiarly known as
"Pig's Eye," Abraham Perry, Benjamin Gervais, Pierre Gervais, Edward Phelan,
John Hays, and William Evans. The first settler was the notorious whisky dealer,
Pierre Parrant, who had been ordered "not to enter the Indian country in any
capacity." At "Fountain Cave," in upper town, in 1838, he erected a hovel for
the sale of liquor, and it was in all respects an infamous den. In the fall of
the same year, he borrowed ninety dollars of William Beaumette, of Mendota, to
secure which he gave a judgment note. On this note Parrant lost his claim.

   After losing his place at the Cave, Parrant "selected a tract just east of
Sergeant Hay's claim, fronting on the river, extending from Minnesota street to
Jackson street, approximately, and thence back to the bluff." On Bench street,
near the foot of Robert, he erected his saloon, which he occupied about one year.

   Parrant was blind in one eye, and from his alleged resemblance to a pig, he
was nicknamed "Pig's Eye," a name which was subsequently attached to the
locality of his residence, and at a later period when he moved to a point on the
bottom lands on the east side of the river, about three miles below his former
residence on Bench street, then that place in time became known by the same
name. In 1840, Parrant sold his claim in St. Paul to Benjamin Gervais for ten
dollars. He undoubtedly little dreamed that it would ultimately be worth
millions. It would appear that Parrant and Perry made their claims almost
simultaneously. They were also contiguous.

   Abraham Perry was a Swiss watchmaker, who had come from the Red River colony
and had settled at Fort Snelling in 1827, from which he, in common with other
settlers, was driven off, by order of the government, in 1838. The Gervais
brothers were also refugees from the Red River country. Phelan, Hays and Evans,
natives of Ireland, had been recently discharged from the Fifth regiment, then
stationed at Fort Snelling. Very little is known of Evans, but Phelan, a man of
remarkable physique, boastful and unscrupulous in all his ways, left behind him
a memory for turbulent acts. Sergeant John Hays, on the contrary, was a
gentlemanly, frugal, honest man, and was respected by everybody; Vetal Guerin
subsequently succeeded to the Hays claim. Towards the close of 1838, a man by
the name of Johnson, whose advent created much curiosity and comment, owing to
the fact that he was dressed neatly and well, and appeared to have been
accustomed to better society and living than is usually to be obtained on the
frontier, arrived and put up a cabin on ground near the site of the present gas
works. His stay there was brief on account of the hostile feeling displayed
towards him owing to his unknown origin. He left the region entirely, taking
with him his wife and child, selling his claim before his departure to James R.
Clewett. This was the first claim made in lower town. About the year 1840,
Norman W. Kittson bought this claim from Clewett for the sum of $150, and it
subsequently became known as Kittson's addition.

   The first marriage, birth and death among the settlers, each occurred in the
year 1839. On September 4th, Benjamin Gervais, youngest son of Basil Gervais,
was born, he having the distinction of being the first white child born on the
land, now part of St. Paul, then but a wilderness, there not being even a
post-office in existence. The first Christian marriage also took place in this
year, on April 4th, it being that of J. R. Clewett to Rose Perry, and was
solemnized by Rev. J. W. Pope, who was the Methodist missionary at Kaposia.

   The first recorded death of a white man here, sad to relate, was that of the
murdered John Hays, for even in those early days, when lands were so plenty, and
settlers so few, murder was in the land.

   On January 26th, 1841, Vetal Guerin was married to Adele Perry, who became a
bride at the age of fourteen years. She was the daughter of Abraham Perry, and
about two months after marriage commenced house-keeping with her husband, on the
ground where Ingersoll's store now stands, a part of the Hays claim. As an
illustration of the then primitive state of affairs here, it may be stated that
their house was about sixteen feet by twenty, built- of logs, cut from trees
near by, and had a chimney of clay. Their bridal couch was made of boards. They
had no sheets, and their spread was a red blanket. Their table was Guerin's
chest, and their chairs were three-legged stools. Though they ultimately became
rich and worth over a million dollars, yet such was their humble beginning.

    In the same year, through the instrumentality of the Rev. Lucian Galtier, a
Catholic Chapel was erected and dedicated to the honor of St. Paul. This event
gave to the site a name which has since remained. This was the first church
edifice of any kind in this region with the exception of that built in 1841, at
Lac-qui-Parle, by Dr. Williamson and Bev. S. B. Riggs, the Presbyterian
missionaries at that point.

    In this year also, two brothers, who afterwards occupied a prominent
position in the affairs of the district, first arrived and became residents.
They were Pierre and Severe Bottineau. Prom Benjamin Gervais they obtained, by
purchase, a small tract of land on what was subsequently known as Baptist hill.

    On June 9th, 1842, Henry Jackson, from whom Jackson street is named, landed
in St. Paul and soon after purchased a small tract of land in the block now
hounded by Jackson, Robert, Bench and Third streets, where he built a cabin and
opened a stock of goods suitable for the Indian trade, and built up a prosperous
business. In the following year he became justice of the peace, the first to
serve in that capacity in St. Paul. In 1846 he became its first postmaster.

    Sergeant Richard W. Mortimer also settled in St. Paul this year, and
purchased of Joseph Rondo eighty acres of his claim, fronting on the river and
hounded on the east by St. Peter street, and on the west by Washington street.
He built a good log house and is said to have died of delirium tremens in
January, 1843.

    Stanislaus Bilanski settled in St. Paul this, year, and purchased a claim
and cabin between Phelan's creek and Trout brook, near the present St. Paul and
Duluth railroad shops, where he lived several years. In 1859 he was poisoned by
his fourth wife—he having another wife then living.

    In 1843, John B. Irvine purchased of Joseph Rondo the balance of the Phelan
claim for $300. There was an excellent log house on the property, located about
where the north-west comer of Third and Franklin streets now is, which was
occupied by .Mr. Irvine for several years.

    This year, Norman W. Kittson purchased Clewett's claim, and the latter
purchased Labrisnier's claim.

   The new settlers for the year were—

   John B. Irvine, Antoine Pepin, Ansel B. Coy, Alex. Mege, James W. Simpson,
David Thomas Sloan, William Hartshorn, Jo. Desmarais, A. L. Larpenteur, S.
Cowden, jr. (or Carden), Alex. K. McLeod, Charles Reed, Christopher C.
Blanchard, Louis Larriveer, Scott Campbell, Xavier Delonais, Alexis Cloutier,
Joseph Gobin, Francis Moret.

   During the winter of 1853 and 4, snow fell to an unusual depth, and the
weather was extremely severe.

   Parrant sold his claim on the lower levee, made subsequent to the sale of his
cabin and land to Gervais, to Louis Robair or Robert, and took his fame, trade,
name and carcass to what is now known as "Pig's Eye."

   In May of this year, Father Galtier was transferred to another field of
labor, and thereafter Father Ravoux officiated in St. Paul and Mendota, spending
one Sunday in the former to two in Mendota.

   In 1849 the Catholics still continuing to increase Father Ravoux "determined
upon spending two Sundays in St. Paul and the third one in Mendota." At Mendota
he preached in both the French and English languages, but he says, it was not
till 1848 or 1849, that "we had in our congregation" at St. Paul, "some members
who did not understand French."

   The settlers of this year were Louis Robert, Thomas McCoy, Charles Bazille,
Joseph Hall and William Dugas.

   In the beginning of the year 1845 it is estimated that there were about
thirty families living in or near St. Paul besides a floating population of
laborers, mechanics, trappers and adventurers. The larger portion of the
inhabitants were Canadian French, refugees from the Selkirk settlement in the
Red River valley and their descendants.

   There were three, or not more than four, purely American families in the
settlement. Most of the French were intermarried with the Indians, and not more
than half the families in the place were white, and English was spoken by but few.

   1846—St. Paul had now become quite a point on the river, and during the
season of navigation, steamboats landed here with some regularity. But there was
no hotel here, and strangers who landed were usually entertained by Henry
Jackson without charge. His hospitality was a distinguishing trait, and he kept
a tavern without making a bill. He was a justice of the peace, a merchant, and a
saloon-keeper. Being well liked, his place became one of popular resort, and the
mail for settlers was left with him by nearly every boat that landed, because
there seemed to be no one else to receive it. He kept the letters piled up on a
shelf and when any one called for mail the pile was thrown down and the
expectant helped himself to such as he wanted.

   It was evident that a post-office was needed here and a petition was
accordingly forwarded to the post-office department at Washington, favorably
considered, and on April 7, 1846, a commission was issued to Henry Jackson. It
does not appear that he had a competitor for either the honor or emoluments of
the office. But the salary then was not a perquisite of $4,000 per annum, with
an elegant office for the lucky recipient.

   Mr. Jackson constructed a rude case about two feet square, containing sixteen
pigeon-holes, labelled with initial letters, which, rude as it was, answered the
purpose for some years. Fortunately it is still preserved by the Historical
Society, and on looking at it one can but be impressed with the changes
thirty-five years have wrought. This was the first post-office established in
Ramsey county.

   David Faribault, had one hundred and forty feet fronting on third street,
next to Jackson, and extending through to Fourth street. The south half of this
claim, and seventeen and a half dollars he gave A. L. Larpenteur for a horse
valued at $80. Referring to the subject, in a recent interview, Mr. Larpenteur
said "Faribault would undoubtedly have given the entire one hundred and forty
feet for the horse, and called it an even trade, but I was poor, seventeen and a
half dollars was an object, and he did not want so much land.' "

   During the same year Mr. Larpenteur built on this property what he believes
to have been the first frame residence in St. Paul. It was subsequently enlarged
and became the Wild Hunter hotel, now standing in its original position on
Jackson street. The lumber was purchased at Stillwater for ten dollars per
thousand and brought to St. Paul by boat at a cost of three dollars per
thousand. Mr. Larpenteur built a store, made some further improvements on the
property and before the war was offered $75,000 for it. In 1864 he sold the
property for $26,500. It is now worth over $150,000.

   The settlers of this year were: James M. Boal, Thomas S. Odell, Wm. H.
Randall, Harley D. White, Wm. Randall, Jr., Joel D. Cruttenden, E. West, Louis
Denoyer, David Faribault, Joseph Monteur, Charles Rouleau.

   1847—The new settlers of this year were: William Henry Forbes, John Banfil,
J. W. Bass, Fred. Oliver, Benjamin W. Brunson, Wm. C. Renfro, Daniel Hopkins,
Sr., Parsons K. Johnson, Miss Harriet E. Bishop, C. P. V. Lull, Aaron Foster, G.
A. Fournier, S. P. Folsom.

   As St. Paul is substantially all of Ramsey county except in the insignificant
item of area, we confine ourselves almost wholly to St. Paul in writing the
history of the county. In the development of the principal town in almost any
region of country can be found a sufficient indication of what the growth of the
surrounding country must be. We can trace the advance of the material interests
at this, the head of navigation of the Father of Waters, from the hut of a mean
whisky dealer on the bank of the river, by gradual steps at first, and more
rapid strides after a little, through the successive stages of shanties and log
huts, a hamlet with a few houses, up to a city of nearly fifty thousand, all in
a marvelously short space of time.

   Governor Ramsey's description of St. Paul in 1849, when he was appointed
Governor, found in his message to the legislature in 1853, shows it to have been
a little village of a dozen frame houses, not all completed, and some eight or
ten small log buildings, with bark roofs. Such was then the capital of
Minnesota. The steamer which brought the first Governor np when he first came to
assume the gubernatorial chair did not have a pound of freight for St. Paul, but
before the season of navigation had closed over one hundred boats had arrived,
each with merchandise, and at the close of the year the business transactions of
the storekeepers amounted to a total value of $131,000. Next season the number
of boats that arrived was one hundred and ninety-four.

   In 1850 the population was 1,083; in 1855, according to the census at this
time, St. Paul possessed a population of 4,716. The years of 1856 and 1857
brought to St. Paul scenes of extravagant speculation and financial ruin similar
to those that characterized the whole country.

   The census taken in 1857 in accordance with the provisions of the enabling
act, showed the population of the territory to be 150,037, of which Ramsey
county contained 12,747 and St. Paul 9,973; St. Paul in 1860 had 10,401. The
population of the city, according to the census taken in the summer of 1865, was
12,976; in 1870 it was 20,030; in 1875 it had risen to 33,178, and in 1880,
according to the federal census, to 41,750.

   The only event yet to be mentioned is the burning of the capitol, which took
place March 1st, 1881. The alarm was sounded, from box 15, at ten minutes after
9 in the evening. The flames made such rapid headway, that in ten minutes after
the fire was discovered, the flames were above the flag-staff. Both houses were
in session when the alarm was given. Members rushed to the doors of their
respective chambers, only to be met by billows of flame that drove them back.
They had recourse to the windows, and were rescued by ladders. In less than
twenty minutes from the time the fire reached the cupola, the roof fell. The
origin of the fire has ever since been wrapped in mystery; some declare it to
have been the work of an incendiary, to save the prospective passage of the bond
bill. Every effort was made to save the records, which met with much success.
The Historical society, which had rooms in the basement, had the most of its
books saved, to the extent of 10,000 bound, and 13,000 unbound volumes. Mr.
Williams, however, lost his private library, which was a valuable one. The St.
Paul Academy of Science was also a heavy loser. Fortunately, all the valuables
of the secretary and treasurer were locked in the vaults. The building was
entirely destroyed, and there was no insurance.

   As soon as the alarm was sounded Mayor Dawson had the city market warmed and
lighted, and tendered it for the use of the legislature, and there the next
morning it accordingly assembled, and it has since continued to serve as the
capitol. Action was soon taken to secure the erection of a new structure, which
is now being pushed, forward so as to be ready for occupancy as soon as possible.

   With the past two decades as an index, and the evidences of prosperity and
vitality that strike the eye at every point, it is evident that within a
startlingly short period the figures will be doubled. It is a magnificent, an
imperial future that awaits the unfolding of time. The rapid development of the
state, and the marvelous growth of its agricultural interest, the interest that
more than aught else affords the surest foundation for material prosperity, are
influences that are operating with signal force upon St. Paul. It is the focus
of the railroad system of the great Northwest, and this, added to the continuous
growth of immigration, necessarily furnishes a powerful impulse to commercial
growth. Its situation at the head of navigation was the primal cause of its
great trade, and this union by river and rail transit will always inure to its
benefit as giving it low rates of transportation. Minneapolis owes its chief
importance to its manufactures, and these, on account of its possession of
unrivalled water power, will always grow in magnitude and increase in numbers.
St. Paul, on the contrary, will always owe its pre-eminence to mercantile rather
than industrial causes. Already of vast importance and extent, its trade is but
in its infancy, and the ascendancy already gained in this realm will always be
maintained and give it permanent prominence as the great entrepot of the
North-west.

   Unlike most trade centers the situation of St. Paul is one of great natural
beauty, offering many attractions to the tourist, many thousands of' whom
annually arrive. The approach by the winding river which sweeps past the white
sandstone bluffs, from which its Indian name of Immi-ja-ska is derived, is one
affording gratification to all lovers of scenery. Within easy distance are a
number of beautiful lakes, chief of which are lakes Como, Elmo, Phalen, and
White Bear, while the walks to the heights afford views of extreme loveliness.
The pleasures of its suburban drives, views and resorts, could be greatly
enhanced with small outlay of capital. A piece of exquisite rural beauty is the
city park, on the shores of Lake Como, containing two hundred and sixty acres of
land, possessing a natural adaptation for its purpose rarely to be met with. At
present the chief energies of the citizens are turned to more utiliarian ends,
to the erection of huge business blocks, the construction and paving of city
streets, the opening of sewers, and other objects of more direct practical value
made pressingly necessary by the great growth of the city. But when this
pressure shall be partly lifted, the increase of population and wealth will
result in improvements for merely esthetic purposes, and St. Paul will then
become one of the most beautiful residence cities in the world. The natural
advantages she offers will be utilized to their highest, and the enjoyment that
comes from the contemplation of the beautiful having a reflex influence on the
minds of the people will manifest itself in many ways to the advantage of the
community at large. Architecturally considered, the city already presents a good
appearance to the stranger, and when the numerous immense buildings now in
course of construction in the district devoted principally to wholesale trade
are completed, few places of like size can boast of finer structures than St.
Paul. In other portions of the city the era of wood has closed, and the age of
brick and stone taken its place, so much so that those persons returning to St.
Paul after the lapse of but a few years can hardly recognize streets, then
containing only frame houses, now lined with more durable structures of brick.
The changes in this direction have been particularly marked on Seventh street,
which is fast becoming oue of the principal streets devoted to retail trade
purposes. St. Paul has much accumulated wealth within its limits which finds its
expression in the number of handsome residences that ornament its streets in
different parts of the city. A particularly eligible district is that in the
neighborhood of Summit avenue and the top of St. Anthony Hill. Prom the height
there the views to be obtained of the city and river are very fine.

   The changes made in the natural configuration of the land, in order to create
this thriving hive of men, have been many. The office of city engineer has been
no sinecure, as its records well attest. The inequalities and eccentricities of
dame Nature have been tamed and softened, at the expense of much time and money.
Hills have been cut down and valleys filled up, swamps drained, and brooks and
streams blotted out of existence, and the triumphant toil of man has achieved
results thoroughly typical of the enterprising, self-reliant, independent spirit
of the country in which we live. It is to be regretted that the founders of St.
Paul were too much occupied with the multifarious concerns of their present to
look much ahead into the future. Had they possessed sufficient prophetic
foresight to see the ultimate destiny of their town, they would undoubtedly have
paid more attention to the requirements of the coming great city, and given us
wider streets; but had any one of these pioneers given expression to sentiments
implying that such mighty progress was likely to be made in the near future, he
would no doubt have been stigmatized as a visionary and a dreamer, for it is an
important psychological principle that the human mind, so long as it is
compelled to strain its faculties in a struggle for existence, cannot indulge in
poetic activity. Though there is unmistakable evidence of the streets having
been laid out according to a pre-conceived plan, many of them show plainly that
in their infancy they had a wayward will of their own that has required to be
since corrected; that, necessarily, however, had to leave many parts somewhat
compressed. Much of the second plateau, on which the city is built, is a bed of
limestone rock, some twenty feet in thickness, which affords a splendid building
material, which has been largely utilized. In some instances the excavations
necessary to make the ground ready for building upon have furnished sufficient
stone for the building to go up on its site. Underlying this limestone rock, in
the main business portion of the city, is a friable, white quartzose sandstone,
of unknown depth, easily cut into, and through which all the sewers in that
section have been tunneled. There are now nearly fifteen miles of sewers
constructed, and more are proposed. The city also has a good natural drainage.

   St. Paul has an area of twenty square miles, or 12,800 acres, and possesses
281 1/4 miles of streets graded and improved. The streets are well lighted with
gas except in the outlying districts, and water is supplied of a remarkably pure
quality from Lake Phalen, which is a short distance from the city, situated at
an elevation that affords a good natural pressure.

   The public buildings cannot be regarded as of high types of beauty, save and
except the Custom House and Post-office on Wabasha street, but the church and
school edifices will compare more than favorably with any place of twice the
size and importance of St. Paul. Every religious denomination is represented,
the number of churches being more than fifty. There are thirteen public schools
and sixteen select schools and academies. Libraries, hospitals, orphan asylums
and other benevolent and charitable institutions, and other manifestations of
higher civilization, a liberal and enlightened daily and weekly press, fourteen
building societies teaching frugality and economy, judicious and
well-administered laws and an orderly, peaceable population. The ethnological
variety of this population is somewhat remarkable; almost all races of people
and nationalities are represented in the census reports. And be it observed that
this happy commingling of the people of the earth has the effect of rendering
St. Paul a liberal-minded city, cosmopolitan in tone, generous in its
sympathies, and progressive in its ideas.

   The old pioneers that opened up the unknown country, since become such a
thriving commonwealth, are passing away; as a matter of record therefore, it
will be well to present a list of those yet retaining a corporate existence in
the year 1881. The following are the names of those gentlemen forming the
organization known as "The Old Settlers" (which meets in annual sessions), who
were present at the last roll-call in June, 1881: H. H. Sibley, Wm. P. Murray,
Richard Chute, Bart. Presley, J. W. Bass, Aaron Goodrich, Oliver Parsons, A. D.
Nelson, H. P. Masterson, Hon. Alex. Ramsey, Joseph Guion, John B. Spencer, A. L.
Larpenteur, H. L. Moss, J. Villaume, Thos. Odell, B. W. Lott, Dr. J. H. Murphy,
Sylvester Stateler, B. P. Irvine, A. H. Cavender, David Day, Dr. John Dewey,
John Wensinger, Robert Whitacre, Thomas Barton, W. B. Quinn, John A. Ford,
Norman W. Kittson, S. P. Folsom, Geo. L. Becker, Edmund Rice, M. N. Kellogg,
Lorenzo Hoyt, H. M. Rice, C. V. P. Lull, Capt. R. Blakely, James Shearer, Ans.
Northrup, C. E. Leonard, J. D. Ludden, Ed. Bussette, E. Y. Shelley, H. R. Gibbs,
B. W. Brunson, W. C. Morrison, Benj. H. Randall, James Thompson, Wm. Russell, E.
H. Acker, John Rogers, J. Mahoney, Nathan Myrick, Joseph Reed, W. H. Campbell.

   George L. Becker was born February 4th, 1829, in Cayuga county, New York. In
1841, the family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in 1846 he graduated from the
State University there, and immediately after commenced studying law with George
Sedgwick of that city, with whom he remained until removing to St. Paul, in
October, 1849. From that date until 1857, Mr. Becker practiced his profession in
that city. During the last sixteen years he has been actively engaged in the
important work of forwarding the railroad interests of the State. In the
discharge of his duties he has performed an immense amount of physical and
mental labor, at the same time filling responsible public offices. The high, and
we may say fully deserved popularity Mr. Becker has always enjoyed, is well
evinced in his repeated nomination and election to important offices. He is one
of the three original members of the Presbyterian church of St. Paul, organized
in 1850. Mr. Becker's marriage with Susannah Ismond, occurred in 1855, at
Keesville, New York.

   David Day, M. D., is a native of Burke's Garden, Virginia, born September
19th, 1826. In 1846 he went to the lead regions of Wisconsin; for three years in
the summer time, he worked in the mines, and during evenings studied medicine.
During the winter season he attended the medical department of the University of
Pennsylvania, graduating in 1849. In the spring of that year, he came to St.
Paul and began to practice medicine, at which he continued five years. In 1849,
he was elected register of deeds. He was a member of the legislatures of 1852
and '53, from Benton county, where he was a temporary resident. In 1854, Dr. Day
abandoned the practice and entered the drug business, which he continued until
1866. In 1871, he was appointed one of the board of state prison inspectors; in
1874, one of the commission of state fisheries, and one of the seed wheat
commissioners to provide sufferers from grasshoppers with seed. In 1875, he was
appointed postmaster of St. Paul, and has held the position since.

   Charles E. Flandrau was born July 15, 1828, in New York city. He was educated
in Washington and Georgetown, D. C.; followed the sea for three years, then
learned the trade of mahogany sawing. Mr. Flandrau studied law, and since
locating in St. Paul in 1853, has practiced his profession continually. He was
deputy clerk of the United States district court in 1854; member of the
territorial council in 1855; United States Indian agent in 1856; member of the
constitutional convention of Minnesota in 1857; associate justice of the supreme
court of Minnesota, 1857 to 1664; and judge advocate general of Minnesota in
1858. Mr. Flandrau was president of the first board of trade organized in
Minneapolis; he was democratic candidate for governor of Minnesota in 1867, and
candidate for chief justice of State in 1869. Judge Flandrau has been twice
married, and has two sons and two daughters.

   Simeon P. Folsom was born December 27th, 1819, at Ascott, Lower Canada. He is
by profession a civil engineer, and attorney at law. He left the home of his
childhood in 1839 and came west; became a resident of St. Paul July 25th 1847.
One year was passed in the Mexican war, also three years in the rebellion.
During the north-east boundary difficulty between Maine and New Brunswick, he
served on the staff of Major-General Bodfish, in February and March, 1839,
ranking as major. In 1852-'53 he was clerk in the council of the legislature,
and was the first city surveyor of St. Paul in 1854.

   Hon. Aaron Goodrich, born July 6th, 1807, is a native of Cayuga county, New
York. The greater part of his education was received at home, his father being a
scholar and educator. He moved to Tennessee, where he finished his law studies
and commenced practice. In 1847-8, he was a member of the Tennessee legislature,
and in 1849 was appointed to the supreme bench of Minnesota. In 1858, Judge
Goodrich was appointed a member of a commission to revise the laws and prepare a
system of pleadings and practice for the state courts. In 1861 he was appointed
by President Lincoln, secretary of legation to Brussels, and served eight years.
During that period he had an excellent opportunity to gratify his literary and
antiquarian tastes. The judge was originally a whig, and on the demise of that
party he joined the republican, but has latterly acted with the democratic
party. He is a freemason; is past deputy grand master of the grand lodge of the
State; was one of the corporate members of the Minnesota Historical Society, of
the grand lodge of the State, and of the Old Settlers' Association. Among the
pioneers of the State, none have made a more commendable record than Judge
Goodrich.

   Isaac V. D. Heard was born August 31st, 1834, at Goshen, Orange county, New
York. At the age of eighteen he left home, locating in St. Paul, April 28th,
1851. He acted as clerk in the law offices of Wilken and Van Etten, Ames and Van
Etten, and Rice, Hollinshead and Becker. Mr. Heard was a member of the Cullen
Guards, adjutant of mounted militia, a member of General Sibley's staff, and
acting judge advocate of military commission on trial of the participants in the
Sioux war of 1862. He was also prosecuting attorney of Ramsey county eight
years, city attorney of St. Paul two and one-half years, and in 1872 was State
Senator. While acting as city attorney, he gave recommendation to city council
which resulted in the establishment of the State Beform School.

   John R. Irvine, deceased, was born November 3, 1812, in Danville, New York.
In 1837 he removed to Wisconsin, and in the winter of 1843 came to Minnesota
prospecting. He purchased at St. Paul a part of the old Phelan claim, and the
next June located there with his family. Upper Third street from Seven Comers to
the bluff, was a quagmire almost without bottom, and along the side of the hill
near Pleasant and Cottage avenues was a forest of cedar and tamarac, and one
could hardly have imagined it becoming the valuable property it now is. Mr.
Irvine was one of the most active and useful citizens of the town; he erected
business blocks, mills and warehouses, which stand as a credit to the enterprise
of the owner; was also engaged in banking, milling and real estate business. He
served in the legislature and other elective bodies, and perhaps no one of the
pioneer settlers possessed the esteem of the public more than he.

   General R. W. Johnson, son of Rev. Dr. James Johnson, was born in Livingston
county, Kentucky, February 7th, 1827. He was appointed cadet to West Point, June
4th, 1844, and was educated at the United States military academy. Stationed at
Fort Snelling in 1849, as lieutenant in the United States army. At the breaking
out of the rebellion was captain, but rose to the rank of brigadier-general, and
brevet major-general. Was married October 30, 1850, to Miss Bachel E. Steele, of
St. Paul; married at the residence of General H. H. Sibley, Mendota.

   Norman W. Kittson was born March 5, 1814, in Canada. In 1830 he entered the
employ of the American Fur Company, and two years later was sent to the
headwaters of the Minnesota. From 1834 until 1838 he was in the sutler's
department at Fort Snelling, and afterward entered the fur trade on his own
account. In 1843 he purchased a tract of land, which was laid out in 1851 as
Kittson's addition to St. Paul. That year he was elected a member of the council
of the legislature from the Pembina district, and was compelled to ride in a
dog-sledge or walk on snow-shoes a distance of five hundred miles, to attend the
sessions. Mr. Kittson was, in 1858, mayor of St. Paul. He continued his Red
River trade until 1860, and afterward became agent for the Hudson Bay Fur
Company. In 1879 he secured a large interest in the St. Paul, Minneapolis and
Manitoba railroad. Purchased in 1881 the Kittsondale stock farm, erected large
stables, fitted up a track, and made many fine improvements; he is also
expending $100,000 in a private residence, and making a $40,000 addition to his
Clarendon Hotel. The Commodore is one of the most busy as well as valuable
citizens of St. Paul.

   William R. Marshall, a native of Missouri, was born October 17, 1825, in
Boone county. In 1847 he came to Minnesota and marked out a claim at the Falls
of St. Anthony, which he pre-empted in 1849; the latter year he and his brother
opened the first general store at St. Anthony. Mr. Marshal] was elected in 1849
to the first territorial legislature of Minnesota. With his brother he removed
to St. Paul in 1851 and established the first heavy hardware store in the state;
they also opened a banking office. In March, 1855, Mr. Marshall presided at the
convention which organized the republican party in this state. January 1861 he,
with J. A. Wheelock, established the St. Paul Daily Press, and conducted it
until, in 1862, he entered the volunteer army. He was commissioned
lieutenant-colonel and served in General Sibley's campaign against the Indians;
was afterward ordered south and became colonel of his regiment, also brevet
brigadier-general; was mustered out August 16th, 1865; was elected governor of
Minnesota and re-elected in 1867; he served several years as state railroad
commissioner.

   Lot Moffit, deceased, one of the pioneers of St. Paul, was born in Montgomery
county, New York. He learned the business of woolen manufacturing, and in early
life operated a mill. In 1848 he came to St. Paul, and the next year went to
Arkansas, but returned in 1850 and resided in St. Paul until his death, December
28th, 1870. He was proprietor of the Temperance House in that city. Mr. Moffit
never mixed in politics, but held offices in the city council. In 1843 he became
a freemason and was prominently identified with that body until his death. He
was universally respected wherever known, and was always ready to aid any one in
need.

   Dr. J. H. Murphy was born January 22d, 1826, in New Jersey. The family moved
to Illinois in 1834; he read medicine, attended lectures at Push Medical
College, Chicago, and graduated in 1850; the year before, he had located at St.
Anthony. During the civil war he served in the army as surgeon. Since 1864 St.
Paul has been his home; his rides extend over a wide territory, and his skill is
appreciated among a very large circle of acquaintances. He has held several
civil offices and might have had more if he would have accepted them. Dr. Murphy
has been surgeon-general of the state for the past nine years, and is president
of the pension bureau; he is a member of the American Medical Association and
the State Medical Society. He is a freemason and au odd-fellow.

   William P. Murray, born June 21, 1827, is a native of Butler county, Ohio. He
studied law, and has been in the practice of his profession more than thirty
years. In 1849 he came to St. Paul, in company with a party who laid out the
first wagon road to that city from Prairie du Chein. Mr. Murray is city
attorney, and was a member of the legislature for thirteen sessions; as the
journals show, he contributed largely to the legislation which laid the
foundation of our present common school system; which incorporated and gave life
to the many railroads of the State, and which placed the charitable institutions
of Minnesota on a sound footing. For sixteen years he was alderman of St. Paul,
and six years president of the common council. Mr. Murray's wife was Carrie
Conwell, of Indiana.

    Hon. Alexander Ramsey was born September 8, 1815, near Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. Being left an orphan, he was assisted in his education by an
uncle; commenced reading law in 1837, and in 1839 was admitted to practice. The
political life of Mr. Ramsey commenced in 1840, when he was quite active in the
whig cause; the next year he was made chief clerk of the house of
representatives of Pennsylvania; he was in the lower house of congress from 1843
to 1847. In April, 1849, he was appointed Governor of the Territory of
Minnesota, and removed to St. Paul. During his administration the Governor made
several important treaties with Indians, by which the title to large tracts of
land was commuted and these lands opened to white settlers. Mr. Ramsey was mayor
of St. Paul in 1855, and in 1857 was republican candidate for Governor; two
years later he was elected, and again in 1861. No man ever looked after the
interests of Minnesota with greater vigilance. Before the expiration of his
second term he was elected United States senator and served twelve years. He was
appointed secretary of war by President Hayes in 1880, and served during the
remainder of his term. He labored earnestly for the interests of the Northwest,
and his services will long be gratefully remembered.

    Edmund Rice was born February 14, 1819, in Waitsfield, Vermont. In 1838 he
went to Michigan, where he read law, and in 1842 was admitted to the bar. He
served in the Mexican war from '1847 until its close. In 1849 he removed to St.
Paul, and practiced his profession there until 1855. From that time his life has
been actively devoted to furthering the railroad interests of Minnesota. Mr.
Rice not only abandoned a favorite profession and extensive and lucrative
practice, but sacrificed largely his means and time to push these railroads. In
politics he has always been a democrat; he was a "war democrat," and elected as
such to the state senate in 1863. The democratic State convention which met in
St. Paul in 1879 unanimously tendered Mr. Rice the nomination for governor. He
has served in the legislature, in the state senate, and as county commissioner;
is now mayor of St. Paul. He married at Kalamazoo, Michigan, Miss Anna Acker.

   Captain Louis Robert, deceased, was born January 21, 1811, at Carondolet,
Missouri. In 1843 he went to St. Paul, and the year following located there with
his family; he embarked in the Indian trade, also purchased land which comprised
about half of St. Paul, property which ultimately became worth two or three
millions of dollars. Mr. Robert took a prominent part in the Stillwater
convention of 1848, and was largely instrumental in securing the location of the
capital at St. Paul; he was county commissioner of Ramsey county in 1849. In
1853 he engaged in the steamboat business, and at different times owned five
steamers. During the outbreak of 1862 he lost heavily, and only escaped with his
life by secreting himself in the swamp while the Indians were searching for him.
He married in 1841 Miss Mary Turpin, of St. Louis. Captain Robert was the true
embodiment of the pioneer—generous, brave, energetic and liberal; he was widely
known throughout the State and as widely respected by all the old settlers.

   Henry Hastings Sibley, a native of Michigan, was born February 20, 1811, in
Detroit. When 18 years of age he was connected with the American Fur Company, at
Mackinac; in 1834 he became a member of a company consisting of Ramsey Crooks,
H. L. Dousman, Joseph Roulette, Jr., and himself; that year he established his
headquarters at Mendota; the garrison at Fort Snelling and the few settlers
located near, comprised all the population of Minnesota. At that time the
Mississippi river was the dividing line between Iowa and Wisconsin territories;
Mr. Sibley was chosen a delegate from Wisconsin, and during his term secured the
passage of the act organizing the territory of Minnesota, and served five years
as a delegate to represent it. In 1857 he was elected governor; term of office
expired January 1, 1860. He was appointed commander of state troops in 1862;
immediately took the field, and after hard marches and severe battles conquered
the Indians. President Lincoln appointed him brigadier-general and he was
afterward brevetted major-general.

Since 1862 he has been a resident of St. Paul; has been president of the State
Normal School Board; is president of the Board of Regents of the State
University and State Historical Society; also of the St. Paul Chamber of
Commerce and St. Paul Gas Company, and is a director of the First National Bank
of that city. The county of Sibley and the city of Hastings were named in honor
of General Sibley.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 

History of the Minnesota Valley
Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Co. (1882)

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/ramsey/history/1882/historyo/historyo62gms.txt

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