USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > A history of the city of Saint Paul, and of the county of Ramsey, Minnesota > Part 24
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CHAPTER XX.
EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1851.
THE GOODHUE-COOPER RENCONTRE-STRUGGLE OVER THE LOCATION OF THE CAPI- . TAL-SAINT PAUL WINS-A CASE OF INDIAN JUSTICE-LOCATING THE CAPITOL BUILDING-VIEW IN SAINT PAUL IN 1851-THE RED RIVER CARAVANS-THE FUR TRADE, &C .- THE EARLY STAGE, MAIL AND EXPRESS BUSINESS, &C., &C.
T HE second Territorial Legislature met on January 2, in .
the three-story brick building, just completed, of RICE & BANFIL, which stood where the Third street entrance of the Metropolitan Hotel now is, and was burned down in the winter of 1856-7. Saint Paul was represented this year by WM. H. FORBES and J. McC. BOAL, in the Council, and JUSTUS C. RAMSEY, BEN. W. BRUNSON, H. L. TILDEN, and EDMUND RICE in the House-a gallant delegation it was, too, and a brave fight they made to keep the Philistines from mov- ing the Capital from Saint Paul.
SCRAPS.
" There was a warm election last Monday, for Justice of the Peace, n Saint Paul. JOHN F. TEHAN had 119 votes, and BUSHROD W. LOTT had 182 votes, and is elected."-[ Pioneer, January 2.]
** Our exchange papers perversely spell Saint Paul, Saint Pauls, and Minnesota, Minesota. Half the paragraphists in the United States have scarcely sense and intelligence enough to pick up chips in the door-yard !"-[Ib.]
HOLE-IN-THE-DAY, the Chippewa chief. addressed the Leg- islature and citizens, on January 10. at the First Presbyterian church. His object was to represent the starving condition of his tribe, and solicit relief for them. His speech is described as eloquent and pathetic. A committee was appointed to se- cure the aid desired, and some donations were obtained. There is no doubt but that the Chippewas were suffering from starvation, that winter. Many died, and cases of cannibalism were reported by the papers.
.285
1851] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
THE GOODHUE-COOPER RENCONTRE.
On January 16, GOODHUE printed a savage and bitter article on " Absentee Office Holders," in which he inveighed, with all the ferocity of his pen, against Col. MITCHELL and Judge COOPER, for absenteeism, &c. On the latter, he was particu- larly severe, using such terms as, "a sot," "'a brute," " an ass." a "profligate vagabond." &c. The article closed as follows :
" Feeling some resentment for the wrongs our Territory has so long suffered by these men, pressing upon us like a dispensation of wrath- a judgment-a curse-a plague-unequalled since the hour when Egypt went lousy, we sat down to write this article with some bitterness, but our very gall is honey to what they deserve."
Of course, such an article as this could not fail to produce a personal collision between GOODHUE and the friends of COOPER. (he himself was absent,) and scarcely had the paper been distributed through the town. ere it bore its natural fruits in a rencontre on the street. Eye-witnesses give a minute account of it, in affidavits afterwards published, but it can only be briefly recited here. GOODHUE had been in the Legis- lature, and started down street. in company with a friend. After leaving the building a few steps, they met JOSEPH COOPER. a brother of Judge C., who at once advanced and struck at GOODHUE. Both then drew pistols, " Col. GOOD- HUE (one account says) having a single-barrel pistol, and COOPER a revolver." Some parleying ensued, when Mr. COOPER declared, "I'll blow your G-d d- brains out." Sheriff LULL here ran up, and, commanding the peace, dis- armed the parties, but it seems COOPER still retained a knife, and GOODHUE another pistol, with which they renewed hos- tilities. Some one endeavored to hold GOODHUE, which gave COOPER an opportunity to stab him in the abdomen slightly. GOODHUE then broke away, and shot COOPER, inflicting quite a serious wound on him. COOPER again rushed on GOODHUE. and stabbed him in the back, on the left side. Both parties were then led away, and their wounds dressed, neither being fatally injured. Col. GOODHUE seems to have acted on the defensive during the whole rencontre. In subsequent issues of
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his journal, he charges that it was a "conspiracy on the part of his enemies to murder him for political revenge, and that COOPER was a mere tool, spurred on by others," &c.
· The affair produced great excitement throughout the city. and was angrily discussed, pro and con, by the friends of each. A public meeting was held and resolutions passed, a plan that always acts as a sedative on excited communities, and peace once more reigned.
The Legislative session of 1851 was a stormy one, and sev- eral exciting questions tended to divide the members. One of these was
THE LOCATION OF THE CAPITOL,
and other public buildings. Twenty thousand dollars had been appropriated by Congress the summer previous for a Territorial prison, and, by the same act, authority was given the Governor and Legislature to expend the appropriation of $20,000 provided for in the Organic Act, for Capitol buildings. The vexed question was, where should the Capitol be built? Several places competed for it, and the struggle was close and hard contested. Finally, by the vigorous efforts of some of our leading men, a compromise was effected. The Capitol was to be erected at a central point in the town of Saint Paul, the penitentiary at Stillwater, and the University, (incorporated that session, ) at Saint Anthony Falls. Thus each were satis- fied for the present, and all went merry as a marriage bell for six years, when a rival Saint got jealous of our city, and aspired to Capitolean honors. Gov. MARSHALL, in his address before quoted, says Saint Anthony got the best of this trip- artite agreement.
Another question that stirred up strife was the apportion- ment, and several members bolted their seats, barely leaving a quorum for the rest of the session.
Another subject of controversy was the election of State printer. J. M. GOODHUE, of the Pioneer, was the regular Democratic candidate, but Col. ROBERTSON, of the Democrat. and HENNISS & VINCENT, of the Chronicle and Register. expected to gain votes enough between them to secure the
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1851] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
printing. When the ballot was taken, however, Mr. GOOD- HUE's side proved the strongest. This proved a death-blow to the moribund Chronicle and Register. It soon gave up the ghost, and a new Whig organ was projected, a sort of joint stock journal, which, however, was not finally got into operation until September following.
The session seemed to have been a turbulent one throughout. Col. JNO. P. OWENS afterwards wrote of it :
" The session finally closed on the night of March 31, which was a day and night of excitement, such as we have never seen since in Saint Paul, and never desire to. Hundreds of citizens were about the streets and public places, armed to the teeth, and ready, upon the slightest provocation, to shoot down their fellow-citizens, who opposed them. Feelings of enmity, bitterness and hatred were engendered between citizens during that session of the Legislature, and particularly during its last days, which extended even into family relations, and were not eradicated for months, and even years subsequent."
LEGISLATION AFFECTING SAINT PAUL.
Excepting the location of the Capital at Saint Paul, there was not much legislation this session, affecting the town. Its corporate limits were extended, however, so as to "include the additions" recently filed by BAZILLE & GUERIN, ROBERT & RANDALL, HOYT, and WHITNEY & SMITH. "Saint Paul Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F.," was incorporated, and “ Saint Paul Division, No. 1, Sons of Temperance." This was to enable these societies to purchase property, which they soon after did.
The act providing for the erection of the Capitol in Saint Paul, enacted that the work should be done under the super- vision of a board of three commissioners, who should receive $3 per day, etc. The election for these officers took place on April 17, resulting in the choice of D. F. BRAWLEY and LOUIS ROBERT, of Ramsey county ; E. A. C. HATCH, of Benton county ; and J. McKUSICK, of Washington county. The Governor was ex-officio a member and chairman of the board. The board organized on May 19. CHARLES F. TRACY was elected clerk.
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CURRENT ITEMS.
Navigation opened quite early in the spring of 1851. The "'Nominee" arrived on April 4. and soon business and immi- gration were quite brisk.
The Pioneer refers in one or two places to " Monk Hall." This was a sort of bachelors' retreat, kept in a building cor- ner of Fort and Eagle streets, and was a sort of free and easy club house and political headquarters for the stags of those days. Some poetical genius about that time wrote a few verses for the Pioneer, under the heading, "The Last Night at Monk Hall," one or two extracts from which give perhaps a fair view of the inside proceedings :
"Come, pass round the bowl-we'll drink while we stay- Although from the Hall, ere the dawning of day, Our order forever wide scattered will be, No more to unite in our wild revelry.
*
*
*
*
Bright spirits of heaven, and spirits of hell, With their thin airy forms and sulphurous smell. Flit wildly around us and join in our glee, Sing to our dancing and bend with us the knee."
Monk Hall was moved across Fort street, and is still stand- ing-the same building used for many years as a store by LUTHER H. EDDY.
A CASE OF INDIAN JUSTICE.
If I have not related already too many stories about Indians. there is one curious incident, almost romantic in its character. that should be chronicled here. One day this spring (April 4) some boys came into town, and reported to Judge GOODRICH that a dead Indian was lying in the bushes back of the brick yard, about where Alderman GATES A. JOHNSON'S residence now is. Sheriff LULL, being notified, summoned the Coroner and one or two other officials, and proceeded to the spot. Sure enough, there was a dead Winnebago Indian, who was well known about here those days, by the name of "Dr. JOHNSON," and examination showed that he had died from a stab. As he had been seen a day or two before with some
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1851]
and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota. 289
other Winnebagoes, the probability was that they had given him his quietus, and, as there was an encampment of those Indians not far off, a file of soldiers was sent to the spot, to arrest the murderer, if he could be found. They proceeded to the encampment, and found some of the red-skins quietly cooking their evening meal. The officer in charge of the squad asked one of them, Che-en-u-wzhee-kaw, or STAND- ING LODGE, if he knew anything of how their brother "Lo" had met his end, when STANDING LODGE very coolly and unconcernedly replied, " I killed him !" On further question- ing him, he stated that the dead Indian had committed some crime or offense, which, according to the Indian code, merited death, and that he. the speaker, had been selected to give him his quietus, which he did.
There seemed no other way than to apprehend the self-con- fessed murderer, and ascertain whether the statutes in such case made and provided would not cover his crime, as equally as if one white man had killed another. So the officer told STANDING LODGE to come along. The Indian made no objec- tion, but very quietly followed the officers to town. That night he slept in Sheriff LULL's carpenter shop, the jail not being tenable yet, and made no efforts to escape. Next day. a sort of preliminary examination was held. STANDING LODGE never denied his guilt, but always said, "I did it," when asked. Some urged to let him go, as it would only expose the county to considerable cost to imprison and try him, and it was scarcely worth while to take note of all the quarrels and murders among the Indians, as they were occur- ring every few days, and but few cared much how many Indians were killed. Others thought it ought not to be passed thus. Finally it was agreed to lay the case over until the grand jury met, about the middle of the month, and mean- time, to avoid boarding Mr. Lo at public expense, to dismiss him on his own recognizance. This was explained to STAND- ING LODGE, and he promised to be on hand when court met. He asked how many days it was, and, on ascertaining, took some sticks and cut notches in them, one for each day, and
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depositing them in his pouch, started off to join his band, who were hunting muskrats.
Scarcely any one ever expected to see STANDING LODGE again. But, sure enough, on the first day of court, there he was. sitting on the steps, awaiting his fate, whatever it might be. BILLY PHILLIPS. the Prosecuting Attorney, was unable to attend to business all that week, so the grand jury did noth- ing. Yet the Indian was in attendance promptly every day, and slept at night on the shavings in LULL's shop. Had he run away, no one would have objected, but he said he had given his word to be there. and must do so. He even com- plained, finally, that he was not tried.
Finally the case was called by the grand jury, and, though opposed by some, an indictment was found and returned. The case was never brought to trial. It was shoved over to the September term, STANDING LODGE meantime being out at large, on his own recognizance, with his bundle of notched sticks as an almanac showing him what day to return. When the September term began, he was again on hand, but Judge GOODRICH, finding there was no intention to prosecute him, ordered the case to be dismissed. STANDING LODGE was in- formed he could go his way. He shook hands with the offi- cers as unconcernedly and stolidly as ever, folded his blanket around him, and marched off, an imperturbable stoic. There was really something noble about the fellow, a poor pagan and murderer, though he was, and the incident serves to illustrate one of the curious phases of our early days.
WHITE BEAR LAKE NOTICED.
"A company of young men from Saint Paul, went out to see the country around White Bear Lake, one day last week. The lake is about 10 miles from Saint Paul, and is six miles long by two or three miles wide. They represent it as a fine country, the land good and much timber. They saw many deer, and killed ducks and pheasants. It is on the east side of the river, and is subject to entry."-[Pioneer, April Io.]
GEORGE W. MOORE, the venerable abbot of the Custom House. was one of this party.
291
.
1851] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
LOCATION OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
The board of building commissioners did not find a site for the Capitol very easily. Several blocks were offered to them, but defective title, or other considerations, induced their refusal, until June 27, when CHARLES BAZILLE offered block six, Bazille and Guerin's Addition, which was accepted. A warranty deed, consideration $1, was given for the property. It does not revert to the giver, as has been reported, if the seat of government is moved.
A plan made by N. C. PRENTISS was chosen. It certainly does credit to his talent. The contract for the building was let for $33,000, but it cost in the end over $40,000.
THE CHARTER ELECTION
occurred on May 6. Party lines were not closely drawn, like our city elections at present-personal issues holding the scales mostly. The following is the vote :
President. . .R. Kennedy 146 A. L. Larpenteur. .138
Members
Firman Cazeau
of
Council.
R. C. Knox
I54 Chas. S. Cave. 122 Wm. H. Randall 142
Wm. D. Phillips .. 135 Those in italics elected.
SCRAPS.
The Democrat, of May 27, has the following items :
"The Council has elected JOHN F. TEHAN, Esq., to the office of Town Marshal. Mr. T. will make a good officer."
"Our citizens are beginning to think of the importance of providing sidewalks for the streets most traveled. As a temporary and cheap pavement, two-inch plank answer."
"About 40 Sioux squaws, with canoes, have been at work on the Mississippi for some days past, driving logs. They receive for their services about a dollar a day each. They are very expert canoe pad- dlers."
"Our citizens were visited on Tuesday last by a company of 20 or
Egidus Keller. 148
F. E. Fullerton 143
I45 J. R. Irvine. I26
Wm. Freeborn 148 L. H. LaRoche. 124
G. W. Farrington .130 Recorder ..... Henry A. Lambert. 140
.
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The History of the City of Saint Paul, [1851
LIVERY STABLE.
ROBINSONIST, PAUL
CORNER OF THIRD AND ROBERT STREETS, IN IS51.
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1851] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
more juvenile Sioux, from LITTLE CROW's band, who danced the · beggar-dance' in different parts of town. The young red-skins, from 5 to 18 years of age, presented a grotesque appearance. They were naked and painted."
The Pioneer, of this date, refers to a Mr. CLUTE, who was in town endeavoring to procure subscriptions enough to build a telegraph from Galena to Saint Paul, $27,000 being required. The amount could not be raised, and the line was not built until 1860.
The District Court of Ramsey county (Judge GOODRICH) was held that spring in Mazurka Hall. The roof was fire- proof, but not water-proof. a heavy rain deluging the court while in session. and rendering umbrellas necessary.
The rapid influx of strangers and growth of the town1. caused unprecedented activity in real estate, property doubling sometimes in one week, says the Pioneer, and cautions every- body against the speculative mania and too much inflation.
The first Minnesota paper published outside of Saint Paul, the Saint Anthony Express, appeared during the latter part of May.
A HISTORICAL PICTURE.
A short time ago, Dr. J. J. DEWEY presented to the Histor- ical Society, a daguerreotype view of the corner of Third and Robert streets, taken in the spring of 1851. It was enlarged by the photographer, C. A. ZIMMMERMAN, and the Ramsey County Pioneer Association ordered it to be engraved for this work.
This is certainly a historical picture. The white frame building on the left, is the same one, I believe, that is now used as a saloon by Voss-the old Haggenmiller place, then occupied by WM. DUGAS. The log cabin on the right was the law office for several years, of L. A. BABCOCK, and others. FINCH, AUERBACH & SCHEFFER'S store now occupies that spot. The cabin next to it. was occupied at the date mentioned, as a cigar store and confectionery, by BARTLETT PRESLEY .* and the wing in the rear was his dwelling. The
* BARTLETT PRESLEY is a native of Offerberg, Germany, and came to the United States when eight years of age, settling in Saint Louis. He entered mercantile life very
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The History of the City of Saint Paul, [1851
frame beyond this (about where NOYES BROS. & CUTLER'S wholesale drug store now is) was JOHN M. CASTNER'S board- ing house, and the small building next to that, was a meat shop. WILLOUGHBY & POWERS livery stable appears in its
Photo-Eng. Co. MX.
AZ
BARTLETT PRESLEY.
old place. The large building on the extreme right was OLM- STED & RHODES' old store. The house seen between these
young, ultimately engaging in the grocery and fruit business, in which he has remained over thirty years. In 1843, he removed to Quincy, Illinois, and was there married. At a subsequent date, he removed to Galena, and, in 1849, to Saint Paul. He here com- menced business in an humble way, and, by industry and application, in a few years built up a very extensive business, and acquired a fine competence. Mr. PRESLEY was an Alderman from 1870 to 1874, and Chief Engineer of the Fire Department for six years. To his zealous labors in that office is largely owing the efficiency of our present depart- ment. Mr. PRESLEY is now, undoubtedly, the oldest merchant in Minnesota, having been continuously in business here since 1849. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of a wide circle of friends.
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1851] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
buildings, in the distance. was J. C. BURBANK'S residence, and the church on the hill, was the First Baptist church, then just built. What could better show the growth of our city than this picture ?
There was quite a flood in the river again this summer. On June 26, it reached its highest altitude, being only six inches lower than the great flood of 1850.
It made steamboating brisk. The Pioneer, of July 3, speaks exultingly of " eight steamboats having arrived in one week."
About the middle of May, a war-party of Sioux, who were sneaking about in the Chippewa region, near Swan River, discovered a Chippewa who had a keg of whisky. He es- caped, leaving his keg behind. The captors drank the con- tents, got gloriously drunk, and, in this condition, attacked some teamsters, who were wagoning goods from Saint Paul to Fort Ripley. They killed one, Mr. ANDREW SWARTZ, of this city-a very worthy man-and went off, leaving his body in the road, not molesting any of the goods. A force of sol- diers from Fort Ripley pursued the murderers, but did not overtake them. The Sioux, subsequently, delivered. up five of the guilty ones, and, while they were being taken to Fort Ripley for trial, the guard fell asleep, and they escaped.
THE EARLY STAGE, MAIL AND EXPRESS BUSINESS.
The papers, in July, speak of an express line being estab- lished between Saint Paul and Galena, by J. C. BURBANK. As the stage, express and transportation business is so allied, we will endeavor to briefly sketch their rise and growth at this time.
The first stage ever run in Minnesota Territory, was by AM- HERST WILLOUGHBY and SIMON-POWERS. Mr. WILLOUGHBY, who is a Vermonter by birth, was an old stage driver and manager-went to Chicago in 1828, and drove in that region for 20 years. In the fall of 1848, he came to Saint Paul ·· prospecting," and soon determined to embark in the stage business here. He went back to Galena, and in the spring returned with his partner, SIME POWERS. They had a nice span of horses, and a two-seated open wagon, but not much
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else. They commenced running this from Saint Paul to Saint Anthony, daily, and sometimes made two trips daily. They ran until September, when their business increased so that they put on a four-horse open spring wagon, that would carry 14 passengers. They ran this conveyance until winter set in. They then ran a line from Saint Paul to Prairie du Chien, over the new road mentioned on page 249, via Stillwater, Hudson, Menominee, Black River Falls, Sparta, &c. They ran this route in the winter season for four winters. The first winter the traveling was very rough. There were no regular stations to stop at. and at night they would sometimes encamp on the snow.
When the spring of 1850 set in, they resumed their four- horse wagon to Saint Anthony, and continued all that season. This year, ROBERT KENNEDY ran a line to Stillwater, and, afterwards, WILLOUGHBY & POWERS put on a line to that place.
In the summer of 1851, WILLOUGHBY & POWERS brought to Saint Paul .and put on their line, the first Concord coach ever ran in Minnesota. It is still in use in the Minnesota Stage Company's stock somewhere. Up to the close of this season, they had had no opposition in their business, but, during the fall of 1851, LYMAN L. BENSON and a Mr. PATTISON, came from Kalamazoo, Michigan, where they had been in the livery busi- ness, bringing a large outfit. In the spring of 1852, they put on an opposition line to Saint Anthony, called the " Yellow Line." WILLOUGHBY & POWERS' coaches were red, and it was generally termed the .. Red Line." A furious opposition sprang up. WILLOUGHBY & POWERS, who had hitherto charged seventy-five cents for fare, reduced their price to a quarter, and. finally, to ten cents, as did also the yellow line, and the latter soon put on an opposition coach to Stillwater also. The war between the red and yellow lines was one of the curious phases of that day. Perhaps some of our readers may remember, when they landed at the levee, how the wordy contest was waged between the rivals. Bishop WILLOUGHBY says the other line had more money than he. but he "always beat them at sassing."
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1851] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
This rivalry, with varying success, continued two seasons or more. In the meantime, WILLOUGHBY & POWERS had in- creased their rolling stock to eight Concord coaches, and had built up a large livery business besides, at their well-known old stand, corner of Fourth and Robert streets. In 1854, they made a compromise with PATTISON & BENSON, the latter buy- ing off their Saint Anthony line. WILLOUGHBY & POWERS had also, in the meantime, opened, and still ran a line to Shak- opee, &c., and also ran the Stillwater branch.
WILLOUGHBY & POWERS soon after (1855) divided their business, W. retaining the livery part, and P. taking the stage lines, which he carried on about two years longer, and then sold out to ROBERT GIBBENS, who was killed at Birch Coolie in 1862.
In the meantime (about 1856) PATTISON, BENSON & WARD, as the firm now was, sold out their business to ALVAREN AL- LEN and CHARLES L. CHASE, of Saint Anthony. ALLEN & CHASE extended the lines to the Upper Mississippi, got sev- eral mail contracts, and ran them about three years, when they consolidated with J. C. BURBANK and Capt. RUSSELL BLAKE- LEY's line, the whole forming a copartnership called the "' Minnesota Stage Company," of which J. C. BURBANK Was the general manager, and Mr. ALLEN superintendent of stock and running arrangements. C. L. CHASE, not long after, sold out his interest to JOHN L. MERRIAM. Col. ALLEN remained a couple of years, when he also withdrew.
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