USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > A history of the city of Saint Paul, and of the county of Ramsey, Minnesota > Part 15
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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 by S. P. FOLSOM, in the summer of 1847, and finally 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 way 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 County of Ramsey, Minnesota. I73
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 1, 1849, the 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 "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 October, 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, we find the number of steamboats arriving there about those times, stated as follows : 1844, 41 boats ; 1845, 48 do .; 1846, 24 do .; 1847, 47 do .; 1848, 63 do .; 1849, (Saint Paul,) 95 do.
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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 "Dr. 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 1, 1858, 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.
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1847] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
SAINT CROIX COUNTY,
which had, up to this time, been included in Crawford county for judicial purposes, was, this year, detached, and reorgan-
PHOTO-ENG. F.H. NY
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
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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, but, for some reason, defeated. A second Convention was held on the 13th 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, and the regular second session of the fifth Assembly was held February 7, to March 13, 1848.
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and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
1848]
CHAPTER XV.
EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1848.
DEATH OF WM. C. RENFRO-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.
T HE 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. RENFRO.
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 use of intoxicating drinks. About the first of January, while stop- ping at his cousin's, W. G. CARTER's, on "Prospect 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.
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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' be 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.t 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 by JESSE H. POMEROY. 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 Ramsey, 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 diary 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. EZEKIEL 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 80 years. In the early days of Saint Paul he was well- known to our pioneer settlers.
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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 caravansary 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 day 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 off 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, unluckily, 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 of
1848] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota. 18I
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 1, 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 subject
* 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.
.
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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. SIBLEY, 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-
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1848] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
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 Wash- ington, and Hon. HENRY H. SIBLEY, of Mendota, was elected, and furnished with proper credentials. It was expected that the delegate so elected 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 CATLIN, 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 fact, 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
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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 15th day of August, 1848, and continued for two weeks. The second sale commenced on or about the 15th 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 fact 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.
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