USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > A history of the city of Saint Paul, and of the county of Ramsey, Minnesota > Part 16
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"In 1849, after much delay and difficulty, the land office at the Falls of Saint Croix, was removed to Stillwater. A remonstrance against
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this removal was made by the members of the Wisconsin Legislature ; their objections, however, were overcome by the establishment of an additional land district in Wisconsin."
Gen. H. H. SIBLEY, in his " Reminiscences of the Early Days of Minnesota," published by the Historical Society, says of this sale: "I was selected by the actual settlers to bid off' portions of the land for them, and, when the hour for business had arrived, my seat was invariably surrounded by a number of men with huge bludgeons. What was meant by the pro- ceedings I could, of course, only surmise, but I would not have envied the fate of the individual who would have ventured to bid against me."
Saint Paul Proper, being owned by various parties, the owners selected H. H. SIBLEY, LOUIS ROBERT and A. L. LARPENTEUR, as trustees, to enter the lands in question, and deed the lots, blocks, and fractions to the parties who were entitled to the same. This was quite a difficult task, and re- quired not a little trouble and patience to sift out the real and equitable owners in some cases. Finally, every piece was con- veyed, by the above trustees, to the rightful owner, and their decision acquiesced in. Some of the simple Canadians, who did not understand English very well, or the forms of convey- ancing, suffered their title to remain in General SIBLEY's name, in some cases, two or three years, thinking they were secure there, and it required actual persuasion and trouble on the part of Gen. S. to get some of them to receive the deeds and conclude the transfer by registry.
THE WINNEBAGO REMOVAL.
In 1846, the Winnebagoes, then on a reservation in Iowa, ceded their land to the United States, and accepted, instead, a Reservation now in Todd county, Minnesota. But, in 1848, when the time came for their removal, they refused to go, and their removal was only accomplished by much patience and strategy on the part of H. M. RICE, E .. A. C. HATCH, DAVID OLMSTED, S. B. LOWRY, JOHN HANEY, Jr., N. MYRICK, GEO. CULVER, RICHARD CHUTE, Lieut. JOHN H. McKENNEY, now
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of Chatfield, and other agents, soldiers and traders. They were finally located near Long Prairie Agency, about July I.
This movement resulted in securing, as citizens here, either that year or soon after, most of the above gentlemen. Mr. RICE bought property here, and made valuable improvements ; OLMSTED and RHODES established a trading outfit, while E. A. C. HATCH, N. MYRICK, and GEORGE CULVER ere long made Saint Paul their home.
HI. M. RICE BUYS A PART OF THE TOWN-SITE.
On November 14, Mr. RICE purchased, of JOHN R. IRVINE, the "east half of the northwest quarter, of section 6, town 28, range 22 west." for the sum of $250. This soon became a part of Rice and Irvine's Addition, which was surveyed the same winter, by B. W. BRUNSON. This was an important ac- quisition for the town. J. W. BOND says, in " Minnesota and its Resources." that the very name of having H. M. RICE in- terested in the town, gave it a new influence in the estimation of persons abroad. Ex-Governor MARSHALL, in his address before the Old Settlers of Hennepin county. February 22, 1871, considers that this fact had more to do with turning the scale in favor of Saint Paul, at a critical juncture. than anything else.
HON. HENRY M. RICE
was born in Waitsfield, Vermont, November 29, 1816. He is a lineal descendant of the famous WARREN HASTINGS, one of the most remarkable men connected with the history of Eng- land during his time. His grandfather was engaged in the French War of 1755, and was taken prisoner to Canada at one time, and ransomed. He attended academy at Burlington, and studied law about two years with Hon. WM. P. BRIGGS, of Richmond, Vermont. In 1835, Mr. RICE emigrated to De- troit, Michigan, with Hon. ELON FARNSWORTH, then a resi- dent of that Territory. In 1837, he was appointed Assistant Engineer under the State of Michigan, to locate the Sault Ste. Marie Canal and other works.
In 1839, Mr. RICE came to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, where he remained in the sutler department until June. 1840. when
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he was appointed sutler at Fort Atkinson, in what is now Iowa. He soon after became connected with P. CHOUTEAU, Jr. & Co., and had charge of the trade with the Winnebagoes and Chippewas, having a large number of trading posts throughout the Chippewa country, from Lake Superior to Red Lake, and thence to the British Possessions. No man among the early traders was better acquainted with the Lake Superior and Northern Minnesota region than Mr. RICE. He has traveled over every portion of it, and knew all the old traders, whose names have now passed into history.
In 1846. a delegation of Winnebagoes visited Washington to negotiate a treaty with the United States for their Reserva- tion in Iowa. One of their principal chiefs being taken sick, Mr. RICE was appointed a delegate in his place, and was in- strumental in accomplishing a sale of their lands, then needed for the growing settlements of whites. On August 2, 1847, at Fond du Lac, Lake Superior, Mr. RICE and Hon. ISAAC VER- PLANK, as commissioners on the part of the United States, purchased from the Chippewas of Lake Superior and the Mississippi, the country lying on the Mississippi and Long Prairie Rivers, for a new Reservation for the Winnebagoes. On the 2I'st of the same month they also purchased from the Pillager Indians, at Leech Lake, the country lying between the Otter Tail, Long Prairie, Crow Wing and Leaf Rivers, for a Menominee Reservation, but it was never used for that purpose. Mr. RICE subsequently, in 1851, 1853, 1854, 1863; and other dates, was largely instrumental in consummating treaties with the Chippewas and Sioux, by which the greater portion of our State was ceded to the whites, and thrown open to settlement.
When the Winnebagoes were removed, in the summer of 1848, Mr. RICE aided largely in quelling the threatened out- break by them, and, in order to accomplish it without trouble, advanced the expense of removal, over $20,000 in gold, on be- half of his company. The Indians were finally taken to Long Prairie in July.
In order to attend to the receipt of the goods required in the trade, business compelled Mr. RICE to spend a large share of
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his time in Saint Paul. The growing importance of the place, then recently " laid out" as a town, and regularly entered-and which was already spoken of as the future Capital of the com- ing " Territory of Minnesota"-was one cause of his becoming one of the town-site owners, and, not long after the land had been entered, he purchased a tract, which was soon after laid out as an addition. It is now in the heart of the city, and worth millions. Another cause of Mr. RICE's locating here, and making this the depot for his goods, was the fact that it was the head of navigation. Boats then, as now, could not get above Saint Paul in low or moderate water.
Mr. RICE at once bent his whole energies, and employed his capital to the development of the town. He built ware- houses, erected hotels and business blocks in his addition, diverted trade and commerce from other points hither, and influenced men of capital and energy to invest here largely. In a short time the impetus thus given to the place lifted it above competition. He also proceeded to Washington, “ on his own hook," while the bill organizing Minnesota Territory, with Saint Paul as its Capital, was pending, and labored for it untiringly. His influence with friends in Congress, and other members, aided largely in turning the scale in our favor.
In the early days of Saint Paul, Mr. RICE was one of its most reliable, ready and liberal promoters of every good en- terprise. He donated lots to several churches and public insti- tutions, besides considerable sums in money. "Rice Park," our beautiful resort on summer evenings, was one of his gifts to the public. To one of the institutions of Rice county, named in honor of him in 1853, he gave the documentary portion of his valuable private library, worth several thousand dollars.
In 1853, Mr. RICE was elected Delegate to Congress, and re-elected in 1855. This was the period of the most rapid de- velopment of Minnesota, and it imposed on our Delegate extraordinary labor. He procured legislation extending the pre-emption system to unsurveyed lands ; also opening certain military reservations to actual settlers. Land offices were to be established, post routes opened, and post-offices created ;
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immense tracts to be purchased from the Indians, and thrown open to settlement ; and appropriations to be secured for im- provements. Besides, there were the countless requests from private individuals, for favors to be secured at the departments, or for special legislation-so that one can form some idea of the work Mr. RICE accomplished. Indeed, only those who lived in Minnesota during that period, can know what it really owes to him for much of its material progress.
In 1857, Mr. RICE procured the passage of the act endow- ing our land grant roads with the land, which has alone se- cured their construction, and resulted in the rapid development of the State. Also, establishing here a Surveyor General's office, and, more important in some respects than. all, was the Enabling Act, authorizing Minnesota to form a State gov- ernment. Mr. RICE's term as Delegate closed in 1857, but he was at once elected Senator, for six years, by the first State Legislature. During this term, the rebellion broke out, and considerable numbers of Minnesota troops were stationed near Washington. Mr. RICE's kindness and liberality to our sol- diers will long be remembered. His house in Washington was always open, as well as his purse, to the sick and destitute soldier. During this term, he served on several very impor- tant committees, among others, on finance, on military; on post roads, on public lands, and the special committee to re- port some mode of averting the threatened rupture between the North and South.
On March 29, 1849, Mr. RICE was married to Miss MATIL- DA WHITALL, at Richmond, Virginia. Mr. RICE was, also, the founder of Bayfield, Wisconsin, in 1856, and the beauty of the place, and the security of its harbor, vindicates the wis- dom of his choice of the location of what must be one of the most important places on Lake Superior.
. Mr. RICE is truly a pioneer. He resided in Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, while each passed from a Territorial to a State government, and has borne his share of the hardships, and dangers, and vicissitudes of frontier life. No candid history of Minnesota can be written which does not do full credit to his labors for the welfare of our State, and
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his name, wherever mentioned by its people, is spoken only with the respect and esteem which his public acts and private virtues deserve.
Sketches of some of the other settlers of 1848 are here given, as fully as space will permit.
DAVID OLMSTED
was born in Fairfax, Franklin county, Vermont, May 5, 1822. At the age of 16 years, he left home to seek his fortune in the west. He finally located in the mineral region of Wisconsin, where he mined some time. In July, 1840, with his brother, PAGE, he moved over to northern Iowa, then unsettled by white men, and made a claim near the Winnebago Reserva- tion, at a place now called Monona. Here they lived several years. In the fall of 1844, Mr. OLMSTED sold his claim and embarked in the Indian trade near Fort Atkinson, Iowa, as clerk for W. G. and G. W. EWING, licensed Winnebago traders. In the fall of 1845, he was elected from the district in which he lived (Clayton county) to the Convention to frame a Constitution for Iowa. He was then only 24 years old. In the fall of 1847, Mr. OLMSTED, in company with H. C. RHODES, purchased the interest of the EWINGS in the Winne- bago trade, and, in the summer of 1848, when the Indians were removed to Long Prairie, Minnesota, he accompanied them, opening a trading house at that point, and also in Saint Paul. On August 7, 1849, Mr. OLMSTED was elected a mem- ber of the first Territorial Council of Minnesota, and; on its assembling, was chosen President. Mr. O.'s term extended also to the second session (1851) in which he took an active part.
In 1853, he abandoned the Indian trade, and removed to Saint Paul, where he had lived at intervals for several years, and, on June 29, purchased of Col. D. A. ROBERTSON, the Minnesota Democrat office. He edited that journal with much ability until September, 1854, when he sold it out. In the spring of 1854, Mr. OLMSTED was elected first Mayor of Saint Paul, the city having just been incorporated. In 1855, he removed to the village of Winona. During the summer of
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that year he was nominated by a portion of his party, for Delegate to Congress, but failed to secure an election. Soon after his health began to decline, and he spent a winter in Cuba in hopes of restoring it, but without avail. He con- tinued to grow feebler until his death, February 2, 1861. which ' occurred at his mother's house, in Franklin county. Vermont. During his residence in Minnesota he was one of the most popular men in public life. The flourishing county of Olmsted was named in honor of him.
WILLIAM D. PHILLIPS,
or "BILLY" PHILLIPS, as he was generally called, was one of the oddest of the many odd characters who favored Saint Paul with their presence in early days. He was a Marylander by birth, and came to Saint Paul in 1848, to practice as an attor- ney. His knowledge of law is said not to have been very profound, but he practiced diligently at " the bar," neverthe- less. Oratory was the great hobby and weakness of BILLY D. He imagined he was a second Roscius, and was always ready to speak at any time, on any subject, or in any place. He never used to see several persons together without itching for a chance to address them on some subject, even from the head of a barrel, or a dry goods box. His lecture on KOSSUTH, in 1852, a sort of half-drunken rhapsody, will always be remem- bered, with amusement, by the old settlers who heard it, or, rather, the introduction to it, for he did not reach the body of the discourse when the meeting broke up. GOODHUE, out of joke, printed about half a column of the balderdash, and then added-" The balance of the lecture is all as good as the above !"
In 1849, Hon. H. M. RICE gave, (without consideration.) to BILLY D., several lots, one on upper Third street, about a square below the American House. Mr. RICE told him to make out the deed, and he would sign it, which was done. But be it recorded, as an instance of mean ingratitude, that BILLY, subsequently, brought a claim against Mr. RICE, of $5, for making out the deed, and Mr. R. paid it! One lot BILLY sold, in 1852, for $600.
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That year, BILLY D., who had set high hopes, for a long time, on the nomination of CASS for the Presidency, and fre- quently declared that CASS, (who, he claimed, was an inti- mate friend of his,) would make him Governor, at least-find- ing his fond hopes dashed to the dust, by PIERCE's nomination, left the scene of his ambition and glory, and went to Wash- ington. In 1856, he was appointed to a clerkship in the General Land Office. A year or two later, he was prosecuted for forging the franks of Senator DOUGLAS, and selling them to a patent medicine vender, to mail circulars in. He was acquitted on this charge, and then disappeared from public sight. One old settler saw him, about 1858, looking very much decayed, but, since that date, no tidings have been re- ceived from him, and he has, probably, gone to his reward.
HENRY C. RHODES
came from Logansport, Indiana. His nativity and age I have not been able to get satisfactorily, but Mr. R. CHUTE, of Min- neapolis, thinks he was born about the year 1820. He was in business at Logansport for W. G. & G. W. EWING, and probably represented that firm at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, in the Winnebago trade. After the removal of the Winnebagoes, he went to Long Prairie, and soon after, 'in connection with DAVID OLMSTED, established an agency here. He purchased some property about where AUERBACH, FINCH & SCHEFFER'S store now is, and had a store and dwelling house there. In 1849, he and OLMSTED dissolved partnership, and Mr. RHODES returned to Logansport, with his wife and child. He soon after went to California, where he died, about three years ago. His family remained in Indiana.
EDWIN A. C. HATCH
was born in New York, March 23, 1825. He emigrated to Wisconsin in 1840, and was engaged in the Sioux trade. He first came to what is now Minnesota, in 1843. He was, also, engaged in the Winnebago trade, at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, and after the removal, settled in Saint Paul. Mr. HATCH has been largely engaged in the Indian trade and other enterprises
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growing out of it, since his residence here, and perhaps no man in Minnesota is more accurately informed concerning the . various Indian nations in the Northwest than he. In 1856. President PIERCE asked H. M. RICE to name some one whom he could appoint Agent of the Blackfeet Indians-adding that, whoever accepted the post did so at the risk of his life. Mr. RICE suggested Mr. HATCH, and he was appointed. In car- rying out his duties, Mr. H.'s life was in danger innumerable times, but he is a stranger to fear, and always escaped harm by his coolness and daring. Once, in Wisconsin, he refused to let some insolent Sioux have goods they demanded, and they threatened to help themselves. Mr. HATCH opened a keg of powder, lit his pipe, and told them to go on with their threatened raid. The Sioux slid out as fast as possible. In June, 1863, Mr. HATCH was commissioned a Major in the volunteer service, with instructions to recruit an Independent Cavalry Battalion of six companies, for frontier service and defense. Maj. HATCH soon had his battalion in the field, and commanded it a year, when he resigned. While stationed at Pembina, he was enabled, by strategy, to secure the capture of SHAKOPEE and MEDICINE BOTTLE, who were hung at Fort Snelling in 1865.
BUSHROD W. LOTT
was born at Pemberton, New Jersey, May 1, 1826. His father removed to Saint Louis in 1837, and at the Saint Louis University, a Catholic college, Mr. LOTT received his edu- cation. After leaving college, he went to Quincy, Illinois, where he studied law, and was admitted to practice in 1847. In 1848, he accompanied Gen. SAMUEL LEECH, who had just been appointed Receiver of the land office at Saint Croix Falls, to that place, and acted as clerk of the first land sales in this region.
In the fall of that year, he settled in Saint Paul, and com- menced the practice of law, and land agency, which he con- tinued some years. Mr. LOTT has been elected by his party, the Democratic, to several official positions. He was Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives in 1851, and a member
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in 1853 and 1856. In the former session he was a candidate for Speaker, and was beaten by Dr. DAVID DAY, the Whig candidate, after 22 days' balloting, by one vote.
He was president of the town council for two years. and city clerk (1866-7) for a year and a half.
In 1862, he was appointed by President LINCOLN, United States Consul to Tehuantepec, Mexico, and held that office until 1865. Mr. LOTT was a charter member of Saint Paul Lodge, I. O. O. F., and one of the earliest members of the Christ church (Episcopal.)
WILLIAM II. NOBLES
was born in New York, in 1816, and was a machinist by trade. He came to Saint Croix Falls, in 1841, and assisted in putting up the first mill there. He subsequently removed to Willow River, since called Hudson, where he built the first frame house in the place. He also lived at Stillwater several years, (1843-48,) and came to Saint Paul in 1848. He opened the first wagonmaker's shop in this city, and made the first wagon ever made in Minnesota. A part of the shops used by Col. NOBLES is still standing, now used by the firm of QUINBY & HALLOWELL. In 1856, he was elected a representative in the Legislature from Ramsey county. In 1857, Col. NOBLES, un- der appointment from the Government, laid out a wagon road to the Pacific, through the southwestern part of Minnesota, and, in recognition of this service, Nobles county was named for him. He discovered one of the best passes through the Rocky Mountains, now known as "Nobles' Pass." In 1862. he was elected by the "Seventy-Ninth New York Volunteers," known as the "Highlanders," as Lieut. Colonel, and served with them in South Carolina, afterwards resigning his com- mission, on account of disagreement with the other officers of the regiment. He was then cotton collector for the Govern- ment some time, United States revenue officer, master of transportation of troops at Mobile, and held other positions. . After the war, his health became seriously impaired, which induced him to remove to the Waukesha Springs, in Wisconsin, and, subsequently, to the Hot Springs, Colorado, where he
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now is, in very feeble health. Col. NOBLES has a remarkable inventive genius, and has patented several valuable inventions, but. as usual in such cases, others have borne off all the profits.
NATHAN MYRICK
was born in Westford, Essex county, New York, July 7, 1822. At the age of 18, he came to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and was
PHOTO - ENG. CO . THY.
NATHAN MYRICK.
the founder of that town, in which he stills owns an interest, and which he laid out in 1842. From 1841 to 1848, Mr. MYRICK was engaged in lumbering on Black River. During the latter year he settled in Saint Paul, and has been a resident of this place ever since, except once or twice, when business compelled his removal for a short time. He is in the Indian supply business, an occupation which has made him thoroughly acquainted with the frontier.
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ABRAM H. CAVENDER
was born in Hancock, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, 1815. He attended school for two years, and then went into a machine shop and cotton factory, where he had charge of a weaving loom for eleven years-most of the time in Nashua, New Hampshire. Married, in 1840, a daughter of DANIEL HOPKINS, mentioned in the preceding chapter, and, in 1843, removed to Ohio, where he lived five years. In May, 1848, he settled in Saint Paul. In December, 1849, he commenced blacksmithing and wagonmaking on Robert street, the busi- ness having expanded into the large carriage establishment of QUINBY & HALLOWELL.
BENJ. F. HOYT
was born at Norwalk, Connecticut, June 8, 1800. When a young man, he settled in western New York, and after a few years removed to Ohio, where he secured a tract of land deeded by the Government to some of his ancestors for services in the revolution. Here he married, and resided until 1834, when he removed to Illinois, in which State he resided until he came to Saint Paul, in the summer of 1848. He purchased for $300 that property now bounded by Jackson and Broadway. and Eighth street and the bluff. This was laid out as an ad- dition the next spring. . Mr. HOYT dealt largely in real estate during his residence here, and has at various times owned property now worth millions. Mr. HOYT was an ardent Methodist. When he came here, finding no society, he ac- cepted the appointment of local preacher, and exercised its duties for sometime very acceptably. He always objected to the use of the word, "Rev." to his name, saying he was not regularly in the ministry. As a lay-member he was a valuable worker for his church, giving liberally and taking an active part in every movement. To his exertions is mainly due the first church built by his sect on Market street, while Oakland cemetery was projected by him and secured mainly by his effort. Hamline University also owes much to his active work and his always open purse. To the poor he was unceasingly generous -- not only giving freely, but taking an active interest
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in enabling them to help themselves. In his later years, he spent considerable of his time in this way. So much was he respected and loved, he was generally known as “Father HOYT." In person he was tall and dignified, with a mien of kindness and benevolence, yet always unobtrusive and retiring. The sincerity of his religious professions was best shown by his exemplary walk. Mr. HoYT died on September 3, 1875, without much illness, but from the final decay of strength, at the ripe age of 75.
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