USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > A history of the city of Saint Paul, and of the county of Ramsey, Minnesota > Part 28
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Some delay was experienced in electing officers and organ- izing. Hon. MARTIN McLEOD was elected President of the Council with but little delay, but the House was not so har- monious. Day after day they balloted for Speaker, and it was not until January 25, on the 64th ballot, that a choice was made. Dr. DAVID DAY, then temporarily residing in Benton county, at present our honored postmaster, was elected, over B. W. LOTT, by one vote.
On January 26, Gov. RAMSEY delivered his annual message to the two houses and populace, in the court-house, then re- cently completed.
INKLINGS.
Capt. WM. B. DODD was engaged in the month of February
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in getting up a subscription to lay out a road from Saint Paul to Traverse de Sioux. The amount needed was raised and the road laid out. It is known to this day as "the Dodd road." Capt. DODD fell by an Indian bullet while bravely defending New Ulm, in 1862.
The temperance element made strong efforts for another prohibitory law this session, and deluged the Legislature with petitions, without avail.
" The several Masonic Lodges of this Territory met in Convention in this city on the 23d ult., at which a Constitution was adopted, and a Grand Lodge formed."-[Pioneer, February 3.]
Venison was so cheap this winter that one hunter complained that he only got $11 for nine carcasses !
The Pioneer, of January 20, 1853, rejoices over the evidences that Saint Paul is becoming a city. He walked down Third street after dark, "when the lights gleam from the dwellings. in multitudinous twinklings, like fire-flies in a meadow. Then along Third street for an eighth of a mile [! ] the shops are so illuminated as to give the same a city aspect." Three years ago last winter, (he continues,) there was scarcely a store on that street.
LOCAL LEGISLATION.
The Legislature adjourned on March 5th. Among the acts passed were the following, affecting Saint Paul and Ramsey county :
To incorporate the Saint Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company. To incorporate the Saint Paul and Saint Anthony Railroad Company. To incorporate the Baldwin School of Saint Paul.
To incorporate the Mississippi and Lake Superior Railroad Company. To incorporate Hennepin Lodge, No. 4, I. O. O. F.
To amend an act to incorporate the Town of Saint Paul. [To grade or pave any street by assessing property pro rata.]
DIVORCE LEGISLATION.
The Minnesotian, of March 14, "congratulates the friends of sound morality on the fact that no divorces were granted at the late session." Prior to that year, the Legislative Assem- bly had severed nuptial bonds quite freely. The petitions of
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1853] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
the applicant were generally referred to a committee who took the testimony and reported. Concerning the visits of the committees to the female party in the suit, their questions con- cerning the evidence and other occurrences-the stories told by old settlers are too "amusing" to repeat here. The con- gratulations of the above journal were appropriate.
Perhaps, under this head may as well be related a good story that used to be told of a Justice of the Peace in early days-one whose rotund form was well known in our midst. A couple-French people-came to him, to be married. The knot was well and truly tied, the fee paid, and the certificate delivered. But next day, back came the parties and wanted the ceremony undone. - Their brief trial of married life had convinced them that they were not suited to one another ! The obliging justice informed them that for $5 he would divorce them. The fee was paid, whereupon he tore up the marriage certificate and announced that they were free and single again.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
Another curious phase of our early Territorial days, was the law authorizing imprisonment for debt, which was in force about four years. (Section 2, article ix, of chapter 16, laws of 1849.)
Chapter 90 of the Revised Statutes, 1851, seemed to provide some relief for debtors confined in jail, under the foregoing law. It provided that such persons might be discharged after ten days' confinement, by giving notice, in writing, to the creditor, that application would be made to two justices of the peace for relief. He was then to show his inability to pay the execution, and the justices were to investigate the fact, pro and con. If they considered that he was not acting fraudulently. and was really unable to satisfy the judgment, he was to be discharged from custody, and not be liable to arrest or impris- onment for the same debt thereafter. But where the debtor undertook to satisfy the execution, he could not be discharged until he had paid all the charges for his support while in pris- on, and the charges and costs.
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The marshalsea in which debtors were confined in this county, was the miserable little log jail, about fit for a pig-pen. Whether there were many committals under the statute or not, I cannot find out now, but it is asserted that there were some cases, at least. It is also stated that a Frenchman named Bou- LANGE, died in the jail, while a prisoner for debt. The old settlers, nearly all of whom belonged to the " poor but hon- est" class, were not very apt to deal harshly with an unfortu- nate brother who had come in debt to them.
A SIOUX-CHIPPEWA FIGHT ON THE STREET.
On April 27, an exciting incident occurred, viz. : a skirmish or fight between small squads of Sioux and Chippewas, in one of the most public streets of Saint Paul, resulting in the mur- der of a Sioux squaw. The particulars may be briefly related :
Early in April, the Ojibwas killed a Sioux near Shakopee. In revenge for this, the Sioux then made an expedition near Saint Croix Falls, killing an Ojibwa, and losing two sons of old LITTLE CROW.
Hearing of these events, the Ojibwas prepared for revenge. A party of some 18, led by a young chief named A-luc-en-zis, started for Saint Paul, determined to assassinate any unlucky Sioux found hanging around the town, as plenty always were. They stealthily entered town on the night of April 26, and concealed themselves until day-break, in an unfinished build- ing in lower town. At daylight they scouted carefully along to the edge of the bank by the gas house, to watch for Sioux coming up from Kaposia in their canoes. Ere long, one hove in sight, making for the landing. It contained " Old BETS," her brother, " Wooden-legged JIM," and her sister. Soon as the Chippewas noted this, they sprang down the bank, and made tracks for the landing, designing to ambush the Sioux at that spot. The marsh between . Fifth street and the river was then overflowed, and they could not cross it. They were thus compelled to strike over Baptist hill, which they did at a rapid dog-trot, but, to their great disappointment, as they arrived near the Merchants' Hotel, found that, owing to the delay, the Sioux had landed and were coming up Jackson
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1853] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
street. This street had been cut through the bluff, leaving a high bank of dirt on each side. The Sioux advanced care- lessly up the hill, suspecting no danger, and turned up the steps of the " Minnesota Outfit," a large frame trading house of the American Fur Company, which stood on the site of the present Prince's Block, and in charge of WM. H. FORBES. The Chippewas, fearful of losing their prey, rushed forward and stood on the bank opposite the store, and on a level with it. The Sioux had just entered the store, when they drew up their guns and fired a volley at them. The sister of Old BETS fell mortally wounded. There were several persons in the store at the time, and it is miraculous that they were not killed. The Chippewas jumped down the bank and rushed towards the store, determined to finish their work. They were met at the door by THEODORE BORUP and GEORGE H. OAKES, who happened to be present, and who peremptorily commanded them . to clear out-or they would get into trouble. This brought them to a sense of their rashness, and they at once retired by the route they came.
The wounded woman proved to be dying, and, at her request, was put in the canoe and taken to Kaposia, where she died the same morning.
Meantime, the firing and excitement attracted a number of citizens, who, as soon as they learned what had taken place, pursued the retreating Chippewas, whether to arrest them, or for what purpose, no one hardly knew. They soon overtook the pagans, who, turning calmly around and confronting them, said : "White man, why do you pursue us? This is none of your affair ! Do you mean to interfere in our fights?" No one knew what reply to make, and, as they were unarmed, allowed the Chippewas to pass on unmolested. .
But we had almost overlooked "Wooden-legged JIM," who in his day had been quite a famous fighter. As soon as the Chippewa volley had been fired, he drew out an old pepper-box revolver he carried, and, rushing to the door, tried to fire at them, but not a barrel would go off. Throwing it down, he picked up a loaded gun standing in the store, and pursued them a short distance, getting a shot at them, and (it
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is said) wounding their chief. The latter returned the salute. knocking a splinter out of JIM's wooden leg, after which the latter stumped back, defiantly yelling the war-whoop. (Mr. JAMES died in 1859.)
Gov. RAMSEY at once dispatched a courier to Fort Snelling for troops to pursue and punish the Chippewas. Lieut. W. B. MAGRUDER soon appeared with a platoon of cavalry, ready for the pursuit.
A Sioux guide was procured, and off they went on a gallop. The guide tracked the Chippewas to Saint Croix Falls, where they were overtaken, at noon next day. Seeing they were pursued, the Chippewas retreated to the bush, when they fired on the dragoons. The latter charged them, and Lieut. MA- GRUDER shot one with his revolver. His scalp was brought back as a trophy, and thus ended this singular chapter of early scenes in Saint Paul.
The " Minnesota Outfit" building, where this occurred, was afterwards used as the Pioneer printing office, and, in 1860, moved to Eighth street, below Broadway, where it still stands, a neat dwelling. The words, "Minnesota Outfit." are still faintly discernable under the recoating of paint.
THE PIERCE ADMINISTRATION
came into power on March 4, and, consequently, all the Fed- ' deral officers in the Territory were sent to the guillotine. Among the new appointees announced, were the following :
WILLIS A. GORMAN,* of Indiana, as Governor, vice RAMSEY; J. TRAVIS ROSSER, of Virginia, as Secretary, vice WILKIN; M. W. IR-
* WILLIS A. GORMAN was born January 12, 1816, near Flemingsburg, Kentucky. He received a good education, and subsequently studied law. At the age of 20, he was admitted to the bar; and, in August, 1855, removed to Bloomington, Indiana, where, " without money or friends," he began the practice of his profession. At the age of 23, he was elected a member of the Legislature, and continued to fill that position for several terms-until the Mexican War broke out, when he promptly volunteered, and was elected Major of a battalion of riflemen, which took a conspicuous part at Buena Vista and other battles. In May, 1847, his battalion was mustered out, and he at once recruited a regiment (Fourth Indiana) of which he was elected Colonel. This regiment took part in a number of battles, until the close of the war. In August, 1849, Col. GORMAN was chosen as Congressman in his district, and re-elected in 1851, serving: in Congress four years.
When PIERCE became President, he appointed Col. GORMAN Governor of Minnesota,
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1853] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
WIN, of Missouri, as Marshal, vice FURBER; WM. H. WELCH, of Minnesota, Chief Justice, vice HAYNER; A. G. CHATFIELD, of Wis- consin, Associate Justice, vice COOPER ; MOSES SHERBURNE, of Maine, Associate Justice, vice MEEKER; DANIEL H. DUSTIN, of New York, District Attorney, vice Moss.
Governor GORMAN arrived on May 13, and took his seat on the 15th. He soon announced the following appointments :
SOCRATES NELSON, Territorial Auditor; LAFAYETTE EMMETT, At-
THE CAPITOL.
torney General; GEO. W. PRESCOTT, Superintendent of Public In- struction ; ROBERT A. SMITH, * State Librarian, and Private Secretary ;
which position the latter accepted and filled until May, 1857. He then resumed the practice of law in Saint Paul, with inuch success. In 1857, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, and was a candidate that winter for United States Sena- tor. In April, 1861, when the First Regiment was raised, Gov. GORMAN was appointed its Colonel, and went with it to Virginia. Soon after Bull Run, he was promoted to a Brigadier General, and served as such until 1864, when he was mustered out of service, and returned to Saint Paul. He resumed the practice of law, in partnership with Capt. (since Governor) C. K. DAVIS, whom he had been associated with in the army. In April, 1869, he was elected City Attorney, and has been four times re-elected to the same office. Gov. GORMAN is one of the most efficient speakers of his party in the State, and if the political scale should turn, he would no doubt be elected to a position to whichi his ability and experience in public life entitle him.
* ROBERT A. SMITH was born in Indiana, June 13, 1827, and lived in that State until his removal to Minnesota. In 1850, he was elected Auditor of Warrick county, and served as such three years. He arrived in Saint Paul in May, 1853, and at once assumed the duties of Private Secretary to Governor GORMAN, and Territorial Librarian, the latter of which he filled until IS58. In May, 1856, he was appointed by the Ramsey
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ROSWELL P. RUSSELL, Territorial Treasurer; S. B. LOWRY, Adjutant General ; ANDREW J. WHITNEY, Clerk of Supreme Court.
Until the completion of the Capitol, the Governor's office was kept in the law office of RICE, HOLLINSHEAD & BECKER, on upper Third street. On July 21, the executive chamber in the Capitol was first occupied.
A NEW POSTMASTER.
With the incoming of PIERCE's administration, among the heads that fell into the basket, was that of Postmaster BASS. His successor was WILLIAM H. FORBES, his commission be- ing dated March 18, but was not gazetted in Saint Paul until April 14. Mr. FORBES bought out the fixtures of BASS' office, and removed them to a one-story frame building, situated about where NELSON's brick block on Third street now is. The glass boxes of BASS' time were extended so as to reach across the room, and a door in the middle of this partition gave entrance to the duly sworn employees to the work-room in the rear. Mr. FORBES appointed as his Deputy JOHN C. TERRY, who retained his position as assistant during several changes of incumbency, and, in 1870, bade adieu to the postal service, after 18 years of faithful labor, to embark in a more healthy and profitable occupation. Mr. WALLACE B. WHITE was, if we remember right, employed a short time after Mr. FORBES' term began, and BOB TERRELL, a lad then, assisted for a time. After TERRELL left, ANDREW WELCH was em- ployed. ANDY remained in the service until the winter of 1858-9, when he died of consumption.
The Saint Paul of 1853 was not the Saint Paul of 1875, by a considerable. Around the "post-office" of that time were hazel bushes and trees. Standing in the door of the office one day, in the fall of 1853, Mr. TERRY shot three prairie chickens which had lit about where the Pioneer-Press office now stands, and were scratching undisturbed by the presence
County Board, County Treasurer ; and, in the fall of that year, elected for two years, and, subsequently, four more terms, serving until March, 1868-a period of 12 years. In 1866, he entered the banking business with WILLIAM DAWSON and H. K. STEVENS, and has since then been transacting a large financial business. He is one of the best financiers in Minnesota, and is deservedly popular, as his repeated election shows.
I853] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota. 341
of man. Contrast the silence of those days with the busy tide of human life that whirls by that spot now.
MINOR TOPICS.
The Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows was instituted on May 5.
"SHORT ALLOWANCE .- The fresh meat market is as bare as a clean bone. Not an ounce of fresh beef, veal, pork or mutton can be found in the market. Our citizens are reduced to salt provisions and fish."- [Democrat, May 4.]
"On June 6, WM. W. WARREN, an educated Chippewa half-blood, author of several valuable papers on the history, customs and traditions of the Chippewas, died."-[Ib.]
"Buildings are going up, new stores opening, immigrants arriving, and improvements of all kinds going ahead to a greater extent than ever before."-[Ib.]
"On July 4, a man named FRANCIS DUNN was thrown from a wagon in which he had been excursing with his family, and was killed."-[Ib. ]
This summer Bishop CRETIN built Saint Joseph's Hospital, on Exchange street. Part of the grounds were contributed by Hon. H. M. RICE. The Bishop also bought grounds for a cemetery-the same now occupied by Saint Joseph's Academy, on Nelson avenue-but it was used for only three years as a burying ground, the bodies being then removed to the new cemetery on the Lake Como road, which was .consecrated in the fall of 1856.
During this year, also, " Oakland cemetery," that beautiful and well-managed "city of the dead," was opened. On June 23, the association was organized with the following corpora- tors : Rev. J. G. RIHELDAFFER, Rev. T. WILCOXSON, Rev. E. D. NEILL, GEO. W. FARRINGTON, ALEX. RAMSEY, JOHN E. WARREN, HENRY A. LAMBERT, B. F. HOYT, SHERWOOD HOUGH. On August 23, the association purchased forty acres of land, for $1,600. The first year only two lots were sold, and it was several years before it had many lot owners. P. P. FURBER was Actuary several years, succeeded by EDMUND F. ELY, and latterly by MORRIS LANPHER. The grounds have recently been extended to 80 acres, and greatly beautified. Fine drives and walks are laid out over it, and many handsome
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The History of the City of Saint Paul, [1853
marble and granite monuments erected. The most elegant and costly is that of SAMUEL MAYALL, erected at an expense of $7,000. Up to the present year, about 3,000 interments had been made.
The papers this season were well saturated with railroad talk, and quite a fever was raised over the proposed survey of the Northern Pacific route. Gov. ISAAC I. STEVENS and Lieut. F. W. LANDER, charged with that work, arrived about the last of May, and organized an expedition here, which explored the northern route. Two volumes were subsequently pub- lished by the War Department, containing the reports of the above survey, and are valuable documents.
BUSINESS HOUSES-1853.
From the city papers this year, we get the names of the following business houses in 1853 :
General Dealers .- H. C. Sanford, A. L. Larpenteur, D. L. Fuller, D. & P. Hopkins, Louis Robert, Wm. H. Forbes, Rey & May, Culver* & Farrington.
Boots and Shoes .- Henry Buel, Luke Marvin, H. A. Schliek, Philip Feldhauser.
Dry Goods .- J. H. & S. McClung, Edward Heenan, A. T. Chamblin, Cathcart, Kern & Co., S. H. Sergeant, J. E. Fullerton, Elfelt Bros., Curran & Lawler, Louis Blum.
Books .- LeDuc & Rohrer, Wm. S. Combs, Dahl & Doull.
Furs .- Louis Robert, C. J. Kovitz.
Drugs .- W. H. Jarvis, Dr. J. H. Day, Bond & Kellogg.
.
* GEORGE CULVER, one of the pioneers of our State, was born in Cayuga county, New York, September 19, 1818. He removed, in 1834, to Michigan, and lived there until 1837, when he moved west again, and engaged in business in Clinton and Fayette counties, lowa. Fort Atkinson, being the principal station then in the Winnebago re- gion, he remained there until 1848, when he removed to Long Prairie, Minnesota, in charge of a part of the Winnebago Indians, (see page 186,) and, shortly after his arrival, engaged in business with CHARLES & HENRY M. RICE, in the Indian trade. He continued in this until 1853, when he left Long Prairie, and, settling in Saint Paul, formed a partnership with JOHN FARRINGTON, Esq., the firm being "CULVER & FAR- RINGTON." This house has remained in active operation 22 years, and is one of the oldest firms in Minnesota. It was the first to open direct trade with Manitoba, and the first to engage in pork-packing in Minnesota. They maintained, for some years, trad- ing posts among several tribes. Recently Col. CULVER has become proprietor of the Metropolitan Hotel, the finest one in the State. His life, up to 1853, was one of stirring adventure and pioneer hardship. It would require a volume to do it justice. He is now one of the " solid men" of Saint Paul, respected and esteemed by all.
.
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1853] and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
Hardware, Iron, &c .- J. McCloud, Jr. & Bro., C. E. & J. Abbott, W. R. Marshall.
Hats and Caps .- R. O. Walker.
Lumber .- J. W. Bass.
Furniture .- Stees & Hunt.
Grocers .- Julius Georgii, Nat. E. Tyson, L. B. Wait & Co., J. W. Simpson, W. H. Stillman, B. Presley, Alex. Rey, J. A. Farmer, C. Sanford, B. W. Brunson.
Glass .- W. W. Hickcox, S. H. Axtell.
Stoves .- F. S. Newell, C. D. Bevans, J. H. Byers.
Clothing .- L. Hyneman.
China .- R. Marvin.
Tobacco .- J. Campbell.
Leather .- P. T. Bradley & Co., Martin Drew & Co., G. Scherer. Furnishing Goods .- Thomson Ritchie.
Confectionery .- Renz & Karcher.
Jewelry .- H. Fowler, N. Spicer, A. D. Robinson, Wm. Illingworth.
Storage, Forwarding and Commission .- Edw. McLagan, Constans & Burbank, Spencer, Kilpatrick & Markley, H. M. Rice, M. Kellogg & Co
Millinery .- Mrs. Marvin, Mrs. Stokes.
The papers about this date refer to the fact that most dealers were confining themselves to one branch of traffic, instead of combining different classes of merchandize in one house, as was done in the early days of the city.
BRIEF MENTION.
Whoever reads the files of Saint Paul papers of this sum- mer, will find numerous references to a " MADISON SWEET- ZER," who had been a sort of Indian trader. Said SWEETZER had made charges of "frod" in the late payment of the Da- kotas, and all the papers were worked up into a white heat, pro and con, over it. A Congressional committee finally in- vestigated the allegations, and reported that they were un- founded. SWEETZER sank again into obscurity, and died at Fort Wayne, Indiana, February 25, 1875.
A military company, called the "City Guards," was or- ganized this summer, probably the first militia company organized under the laws of Minnesota. "Capt. SIMPSON" was commander ; R. C. KNox, Orderly Sergeant.
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LINDEN & UNDERHILL's theatrical corps opened a short season of drama, at the court-house, on July 20.
Superior, Wisconsin, was laid out this season, by some of our citizens, among them R. F. SLAUGHTER, E. Y. SHELLEY, R. R. NELSON,* D. A. J. BAKER, D. A. ROBERTSON, and others, who were the pioneers of that town. At that time, a trip to that place had to be made on foot. There was not even a wagon road.
The market house was built this season. The papers refer to the " city hall" occupying its second story.
At this time there were five journals published in Minne- sota, three in Saint Paul, and two at Saint Anthony.
On June 29, Col. ROBERTSON retired from the Democrat, and was succeeded by DAVID OLMSTED.
In October, the papers notice the removal of the Sioux to the Upper Minnesota Reservations.
On December 7, a low desperado, named THOMAS GRIEVES, made an attack, in a drunken fit, on HENRY CONSTANS, in his place of business on the levee, and CONSTANS was compelled to shoot him in self-defense. GRIEVES died of the injury.
ELECTION OF 1853.
Politics were again warm this year, but the issues were confined to a straight party fight, the Democrats and Admin- istration party against the Whigs. The election took place- on October 12. The following is the full result in Ramsey county :
* R. R. NELSON was born in Cooperstown, New York, May 12, IS26. He is a son of the late Judge SAMUEL NELSON, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, an eminent jurist, who died in December, IS73. R. R. NELSON studied law in his father's office, and was admitted to practice in that State. He removed to Saint Paul in May, IS50, and soon became one of the prominent lawyers of Minnesota. On April 23, IS57, he was appointed, by President BUCHANAN, one of the Supreme Judges of Minnesota Territory. His term expired on the admission of the State, May 11, IS5S, but President BUCHANAN soon after appointed him United States District Judge, the duties of which office he has executed for 17 years, with much ability, and to the cordial satisfaction of all who have had business in his court. Judge NELSON is no less hon- ored for his learning, sound decisions, and urbanity, yet firmness, on the bench, than for the uprightness of his life, and his social characteristics-qualities which eminently fit him to fill his important office with success.
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