History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 105

Author: Warner, George E; Foote, Charles M., joint author; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893. Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota. 1n; Williams, J. Fletcher (John Fletcher), 1834-1895. Outlines of the history of Minnesota
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Minneapolis, North Star Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 684

USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 105

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Charles F. Rapp, a native of Bavaria, was born in 1847. Came to the United States with his parents in 1858, and settled in St. Paul, where he learned the trade of cigar making, after which worked as a journeyman two years. This busi- ness being detrimental to his health he changed his vocation for house and sign painting. In 1874 he opened a grocery store and sample room at 426, corner of Exchange and Ninth streets. He has by strict attention to business, accumulated a fine property; is sole owner of his brick store,

twenty-five by sixty feet, three stories in height, which is an ornament to the corner. In July, 1871, he married Maggie C. Kerst, who died in May, 1872. His second wife was Miss Catherine Reis, married in October, 1873. They have three children.

Henry Ray, car-builder in the St. Paul and Duluth shops, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania, in 1812, where he grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's trade. Migrated to Natchez, Mississippi, in 1834, and there passed thirty years at his trade. In June of the fourth year after his arrival he married Miss Emily Snell, who happily shared with him his southern home until the rebellion. They spent eighteen months in Cairo, also eighteen months in Mem- phis, Tennessee. In 1869 they bade adieu to the southern clime and sought a home in the north, locating in St. Paul, where they have since re- sided. In 1853 Mr. Ray visited St. Paul with a view to making it his permanent home, but the then young city offered few inducements to one who had possessed a home in a thriving city in the south. He has been an active member of the I. O. O. F. since 1838, a Mason since 1856, and a member of the Presbyterian church since 1833. Eight children blessed their union, five of whom are living, all married.

Timothy Reardon was born in county Cork, Ireland, in 1837. While quite young the family came to America, locating in New York, where the father still lives, ninety-seven years of age. Timothy was the thirteenth child of the family ; learned the carpenter's trade in New York, and June 1st, 1856, came westward to St. Paul. His first work was with Richard Ireland, in the erec- tion of H. M. Rice's residence. Soon after he began contracting and building, and has since given his time and attention to it. Was married in New York in 1860, to Miss Mary Collins, who died in June, 1873. By her he had eight children, six are living. Married his second wife, Miss Ellen Manning, in this city, who has borne him one child.

Peter Reder, proprietor of the Iowa meat mar- ket, 122 Fort street, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1854. When twelve years old he moved to Iowa, where he carried on butchering business until 1880, then moved to St. Paul. In July, 1880, he purchased his present market fron C.

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W. Oertel, and has since done a prosperous busi- ness. At St. Paul, October 22d, 1880, he married Miss Agnes Vanhoven, a native of Holland, and daughter of HI. Vanhoven, of St. Paul.

Lathrop E. Reed, the subject of this sketch, was born in Worthington, Massachusetts, on the 12th day of April, 1830. At the age of three years he accompanied his parents, (Lathrop and Chloe Reed), to Ravenua, Ohio, where he resided until 1851. In that year he visited the then ter- ritory of Minnesota, selecting St. Paul as his abiding place.

A financier by intuition, at an early period of his sojourn here, he attracted the attention and possessed the confidence of capitalists, busi- ness and observing men, both in city and country. This confidence has steadily increased under the tests of time, observation, and the ever recurring seasons of prosperity and depression to which new and undeveloped regions are subject- ed. Hence, at an early day Mr. Reed is found occupying responsible positions with those suc- cessful financiers, the late "Thompson Brothers," the First National Bank, subsequently an active partner in the banking house of "Dawson and Company," then vice-president of the City bank, later vice-president of the First National bank, and now president and chief owner of "The Cap- ital Bank of St. Paul," an institution evincing a vigor and financial success rarely achieved.

Mr. Reed is senior member of the firm of Reed and Sherwood, successful manufacturers and deal- ers in pine lumber at their mills in Anoka, as well as this city. The capital thus employed ex- ceeds one-fourth of a million dollars.

While Mr. Reed is an unpretending man, rather shrinking from, than seeking public or po- litical preferment, he has for a series of years as alderman and president of the common council, done the city good service.

Whether representing the first ward in the board of aldermen, or presiding over the deliber- ations of that body, his votes, speeches, rulings and influence, have ever been strictly in the line of duty, and calculated to promote the honor and prosperity of St. Paul. No job or Bonus ever commanded his vote.

Wise in council, mindful of others rights, true to friendships contracted, ever faithful in the discharge of trusts reposed, it is not strange that

time should have increased the number, devotion and constancy of those who know him. or that riches and honor are his.

Philip Reilly was born December 15th, 1843, in Marshall county, West Virginia. Educated in St. Vincent's college, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Came to St. Paul in May, 1865, for the benefit of his health, which was so much improved that he decided to locate permanently. The same year he began working for General W. D. Washburn, as clerk of his lumber yards, re- inaining with him until 1871. He then formed a partnership with H. J. Taylor as general lumber dealers. This firm dissolved in January, 1877, the outcome being John Martin and Company, in which firm Mr. Reilly has since been an active partner. July 10th, 1873, he married Miss Jennie E. Taylor, at Sugar Grove, Warren county, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of the late II. J. Taylor, of St. l'aul.

E. A. Rengstorff was born in St. Louis, Mis- souri, in 1846. When eleven years old his parents came to Stillwater, where they resided till 1862. He then came to St. Paul, finishing his education in the city schools. In 1869 he entered the house of J. L. Forepaugh and Company, wholesale dry goods dealers, remaining until 1872. In June of that year engaged in general dry goods business in company with Mr. Moran. After their disso- lution he was traveling salesman for the whole- sale millinery houses of Z. Weiss and Company, and J. Oppenheim and Company until December, 1880. He is at present with Eddy, Harvey and Company, 236 to 242 Monroe street, Chicago, dealers in hats, caps, boots and shoes. At Still- water, in 1871, Mr. Rengstorff was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary E. Farmer, who died Feh- ruary 3d, 1876. Grace A. is their only child.

William Rhodes, of the firm of Breuer and Rhodes, was born in Covington, Kentucky, Sep- teniber 1st, 1854. When only four years old he came to St. Paul, having since made this city his home. July 1st, 1880, he became junior partner of the firm of Breuer and Rhodes, wholesale deal- ers in steel, iron, and general hardware. Located at 221 and 223 East Fourth street. Mr. Rhodes received a good collegiate education.

Edmund Rice was born in Waitsfield, Ver- mont, on the fourteenth day of February, 1819, and during his boyhood, his father dying when

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lie was scarcely eleven years old, worked upon a farm, and clerked in a country store, receiving a very limited common school education. In 1838 le came to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he read law with Messrs. Stuart and Miller, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1842. While a resident of Michigan he was "master in chancery," "regis- ter of the court of chancery for the third circuit," and "clerk of the supreme court."

He enlisted as a private in the Mexican war and served as first lieutenant in Company A, First Michigan Volunteers, from 1847 until the cessation of hostilities, marching to within twenty miles of the City of Mexico. In July, 1849, shortly after the organization of Minnesota as a territory, Mr. Rice came to St. Paul, and there, as senior member of the law firm of "Rice, Hollins- head and Becker," practiced luis profession until 1855. During the latter portion of Mr. Rice's connection with the above mentioned firm he be- came the professional adviser and agent for East- ern capitalists, who desired to invest largely in contemplated railroad enterprises in the territory. The great interest Mr. Rice took in the subject, and the urgent demands made upon him in that direction for the exclusive use of his time, in- duced him to abandon his profession, and from thenceforthi until a very recent date, his life has been entirely and actively devoted to furthering the railroad interests of Minnesota.

In 1857 he became president of the Minnesota and Pacific Railroad Company, afterwards the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company, and so remained until 1872. What is now the St. Paul Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company, and the River Division of the Chicago, Milwau- kee and St. Paul Railway Company, and the St. Paul, Stillwater, and Taylor's Falls Railroad Company, were carved out of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company, during Mr. Rice's pres- idency, and formed a part of the original scheme. He was also one of the trustees of the First Di- vision of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Com- pany, in possession during the pendency of the litigation which led to the merging of the First Division Company into that of the Manitoba. While outside capital was at an early date ready to invest in these undertakings, and would liave doubtless been so invested had not Mr. Rice's plans been thwarted by adverse influences;

such capital afterwards became timorous, and it was only throngh almost superhuman exertions, that these enterprises finally became a success. Mr. Rice not only abandoned a favorite profession and lucrative and extensive practice, but sacri- ficed largely of his means and time to push these railroads in advance of the productive resources of the country, relying upon the future sale of lands conceded, to sustain them during the first years of their existence. The first completed railroad in the state was the St. Paul and Pacific, constructed to St. Anthony in 1862, and to Allo- ka in 1863. The St. Paul and Chicago was built from St. Paul to La Crescent in 1869-'70-'71 and '72, Mr. Rice's object being to effect at the earl- iest possible moment an eastern connection with the Chicago and Milwaukee lines, and a north- westerly connection with the then contemplated Northern Pacific and the Canadian Pacific lines. The arduous, unflinching and never-ceasing struggles of Mr. Rice in this behalf, in spite of often baffled hopes, and when everything seemed lost, can only be adequately understood by him- self. To effect his design of a connection with the Canadian lines, he made four visits to London, the first in 1863, where he received financial aid through the influence of the members of the IIudson Bay Company, who saw the wisdom of Mr. Rice's project as soon as suggested, to the extent of a partial credit for three thousand tons of rails. This was at a period of our civil war when it was next to impossible for any American railroad company to obtain credit abroad.

Mr. Rice has lived long enough to see the pol- icy of himself and associates, and particularly of his brother, Hon. Henry M. Rice, who was, as delegate and afterwards senator in congress from Minnesota, mainly, if not wholly, instrumental in forwarding the passage of the acts granting lands in aid of the system of railroads projected in Minnesota, fully consummated, and followed, as he anticipated, by an enormous influx of immigra- tion and wealth, and a degree of prosperity al- most unexampled in so short a period of time, in the world's history of any new peopled province or territory.

. In politics Mr. Rice has always been a demo- crat, and except as below stated, acted with the organization of the party. He was a "Union" or "war democrat" and elected as such to the state

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. senate in 1863, and was a member of the legisla- tive caucus of Union members that in 1865 nomi- nated IIonorable Daniel S. Norton a "Union or Liberal Republican" to the Senate of the United States.

Mr. Rice was chairman of the democratic state central committee in the presidential campaign of 1872, and , democratic candidate for elector at large in the presidential campaign of 1876.

The democratic state convention which was held at St. Paul, September 25th, 1879, without solicitation on his part, unanimously tendered Mr. Rice the nomination for governor, upon a sound currency and anti-protective tariff plat- form, which he accepted, and although the party was known to be in a hopeless minority, he re- ceived at the election 41,583 votes, and his suc- cessful competitor, John S. Pillsbury, 55,918 votes.

Mr. Rice was, in 1856 and 1857, a member of the board of county commissioners of Ramsey county, and largely instrumental in procuring . the erection of the present jail in the city of St. Paul, for a long period, if not still, the finest structure of that character in the state. He was in the territorial legislature in 1851; in the state senate in 1864, 1865, 1873 and 1874; and in the "house" in 1867, 1872, 1877, and 1878, attending in all eleven sessions.

Representing the growing city of St. Panl, and railroad matters falling to his peculiar province, he was always placed on the most important committees, and gave his efforts to the welfare of the state.

Mr. Rice was elected mayor of the city of St. Paul on the 3d day of May, 1881, by a vote of 3899 to one of 1963 cast for R. Barden his repub- lican opponent, his majority being 1936. His term of office is for two years. The office was unsolicited by him.

Mr. Rice was married at Kalamazoo, Michigan, in November, 1848, to Miss Anna M. Acker, daughter of Hon. Henry Acker, thien of that place. Eleven children were born of this mar- riage, all of whom, except one, are still living.

Edmund Rice, Jr. was born in St. Paul, Min- nesota Territory, July 30th, 1857. IIe received a thorough academic education. Having been nearly if not quite a lifelong resident of St. Paul, he is naturally greatly interested in the advance- ment of the interests of the city, both educational

and otherwise. He hield the office of school inspector from the fifth ward in 1879 and 1880; he also deals quite largely in real estate Married Miss Ella Thompson, daughter of James E. Thompson, of St. Paul.

J. B. Rice, assistant superintendent of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba railroad, was born in Woodstock, Vermont, in 1830. When a young lad removed to Michigan, and in 1849 be- gan working for the Michigan Central Railroad Company, remaining with them until 1856. He then came to St. Paul, and for about five years was with Austin and Tomlinson, dealers in wag- ons, sleighs, etc. In 1862, he entered the employ of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company, and on July 2d, run the first passenger train in Minnesota, running from St. Paul to St. Anthony. IIe continued as conductor until 1868, when he was made assistant superintendent, which posi- tion he still holds. Until the fall of 1880, he had charge of both divisions; since, only the Fergus Falls division.

William Richeson, M. D., was born June 21st, 1835, in Wayne county, Ohio. Ilis youth was passed on a farm, and in school during the win- ter, until the age of sixteen years. IIe then entered the academy at Fredericksburgh, Ohio, continuing through a course of four years; was then engaged in teaching three years. In the spring of 1858, he began ,the study of medicine with Dr. T. II. Baker, of Wooster, Ohio. After attending one course of lectures at Ann Arbor university, Michigan, he graduated from the Medical college of Ohio. In the spring of 1863, he entered the army as surgeon in the Seventy- third Ohio Regiment, serving two years. Re- turned to Wooster, and practiced his profession until 1870, then came to Minnesota for the benefit of failing health. On locating in St. Paul, he resumed his practice, which he still pursues. At Wooster, Ohio, in 1865, he married Miss Given, daughter of Judge Given, of that city. She lias borne him two sons and one daughter.

C. Eugene Riggs, A. M., M. D., was born in 1852, in Williams county, Ohio. At the age of seventeen years, commenced the study of phar- macy, and entered a drug store in order to famil- iarize himself with the business in all its practi- cal details. Several years afterward he passed the required preliminary examination, and entered

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the freshman class of the Ohio Wesleyan univer- sity, at Delaware, Ohio, Graduating in the class- ical course, he was elected in his senior year, a member of the editorial corps of The Transcript, the college paper. During the ensuing fall lie attended the regular session of the medical de- partment of Vanderbilt university, and Univer- sity of Nashville, at Nashville, Tennessee. Grad- uated in medicine the following spring, at Balti- more, Maryland, having attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons of that city. He was elected by the faculty as resident physican of the Maryland Woman's Hospital, of Baltimore, be- ing there associated with the eminent surgeon of the hospital, Professor A. F. Erich. In the spring of 1881, he was invited by the faculty of the St. Paul Medical college, to finish the unex- pired term of the lectures on materia medica, being in the interim elected to the chair of ner- vous diseases.

Thomas Riley, a native of England, was born December 11th, 1847. Moved to Wisconsin in · 1859. Enlisted, January 4th, 1864, in the Seventh regiment of Wisconsin infantry ; was engaged in the battle of the Wilderness, battle of Five Forks ; was badly wounded twice, but finally recovered and was honorably discharged, June 19th, 1865. In 1867 came to Rochester, Minnesota, residing there two years, then moved to St. Paul, and for six months was in the horse-shoeing business, in the employ of Thomas Slater. He then became his partner, the firm being Slater and Riley. They have a good shop, are good workmen and make a specialty and study of horse - shoeing. In February, 1876, Mr. Riley married Miss Mary Bradley of Patch Grove, Wisconsin, who has borne one son.

F. X. F. Rivard, of the firm of McArdle and Rivard, was born in Quebec, Canada, November 3d, 1833. Was reared on a farm, and received a collegiate education. Followed clerking and book-keeping in a dry goods house till he came to St. Paul in 1866. He was then employed on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway, as foreman of bridge, elevator and depot building. In 1871 he associated himself with Thomas McArdle, and began contracting and building, continuing until 1875. Returning to Canada, he engaged in the grocery business one year, then built a saw and grist mill, which he still owns.

and which is under the supervision of his son, IIonorey. He again returned to St. Paul, and rejoined his former partner in the contracting business, but expects to return to his interests in Canada. While in Canada, in 1862, he married Miss Mary Morin. They have nine children liv- ing, and have lost two.

Capt. Louis Robert, deceased, was one of the most prominent men connected with the early history of St. Paul. He was of Canadian parent- age, and was born at Carondolet, Missouri, Janu- ary 21st, 1811. His early life was spent in that region, and in the fur trade of the upper Mis- souri river. He traveled the whole of the Mis- souri valley, while a young man, meeting with innumerable hair-breadth escapes. In 1841 he went to Prairie du Chien, and in the fall of 1843 came to St. Paul with some goods, which he sold to the Indians. IIe then determined to remove here with his family, and did so in 1844, and established a trading post at the foot of Jackson street. At that time there were only three or four log cabins at what is now St. Paul. He purchased a part of the claim of Benjamin Ger- vais and other property for $300, which comprised about one-half of St. Paul, all the land from Wabasha street to Dayton's bluff, and as far as Lake Como, which ultimately became worth two or three millions of dollars, and embarked in the Indian trade here. In 1847 he was one of the original proprietors of the town of. St. Paul when it was laid out. IIe took a prominent part in the Stillwater convention of 1848, and was largely instrumental by his influence in securing the location of the capital at St. Paul. In 1849 he was appointed county commissioner for Ram- sey county, and rendered important service. IIe was also elected a member of the Territorial Board of Building commissioners. Though with- out the advantages of education in early life, he had a large fund of information, gained by travel and contact with men, and was gifted with excel- lent business capacity and judgment. IIe was very generous and liberal in aiding any worthy object for the public good, gave freely of his means, and also donated valuable property to the church. The bells of the Cathedral and French Catholic church were gifts from him. In the way of private charity his hand was ever open, and he never refused to render a friend any favor that

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lay in his power. In the year 1853 he engaged in the steamboat business, and at different times owned five steamers. He was also largely en- gaged in the Indian trade and supply contracts when the Indian massacre occurred in 1862. He lost heavily in that outbreak, and nearly lost his own life, which the Indians seemed determined to take, only escaping by secreting himself for a considerable time, while they were searching for him, by lying in a marsh with merely his nose out of water. Capt. Robert was widely known throughout the state, and as widely respected by all the old settlers. He was the true embodiment of the pioneer-generous, brave, energetic, lib- eral to a fault-and broad-guage, as it is termed, in his manners. Unlike many of his fellow pio- neers who allowed millions to slip through their fingers and died poor, Capt. Robert saved a fine estate, valued at $400,000. He died after a pain- ful illness of several months, on May 10th, 1874, universally lamented. IIe was married in 1841 to Miss Mary Turpin, of St. Louis, Missouri, in the city of St. Louis, who survived him, with two daughters, one the wife of Uri L. Lamprey, Esq., the other, Lilian D., was married January 13th, 1876, to Mr. Alexander De Meuil.

Mrs. Mary Robert was born in St. Louis, in 1828, on the first day of February. The parents of Mrs. Robert were Amable Turpin and Auleily Turpin of St. Louis. She was married to Captain Louis Robert of the same place when she was thirteen years of age, in St. Louis. About a year after her marriage she accompanied her husband to Praire du Chien, Wisconsin, where she re- mained three years. She arrived in St. Paul, Oc- tober 15th, 1844. Mrs. Gervais, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Perry and Mrs. Robert were the only white women here at that time, and there were only a few log cabins. In 1846 they built a frame dwell- ing house of which Mrs. Robert was very proud, it being the only one in St. Paul; it burned to the ground six months afterward; they then built another. These houses were on the bluff. In 1853 Mr. Curran built the first brick house, which Mr. Robert afterwards bought, tore it down and used the material to build the house on Robert street, where Mrs. Robert now resides. Mrs. Robert made many trips with her husband among the Indians, on his trading expeditions. They would camp out in a tent or some Indian cabin.

In 1851 Stephen A. Douglas visited St. Paul and dined with Mrs. Robert in their little house on the bluff. Mrs. Robert had many hair-breadth es- capes from Indians who wished to take her and make her their wife, and if she refused they would threaten to kill her, often times had the knife raised, when some friendly hand interposed. Al- together she had a very rough experience of fron- tier life.

T. M. Roberts, born in 1848, is a native of New York, where he also received his education, and at Norwich of that state learned the trade of jeweler, with John Crawley. He continued with him about two years, then in 1864, enlisted in the Twenty-second New York Cavalry, and was honorably discharged at Winchester, Virginia, in 1865. Returning to civil life he engaged with his former employer, remaining with him until 1874. He then came to St. Paul to benefit his health, and engaged in the jewelry store of A. T. Upham. After six years experience here, he in 1881, opened a store for himself at 199 East Seventh street.

Osmond M. Robbins was born in South Thomas- ton, Maine, September 30th, 1856. After receiv- ing such advantages in childhood as the country schools afforded, he completed his education at the Rockland high school, where he attended three years. Commenced his trade as granite cutter in May, 1878, at Spruce Head, from which point he removed to St. Cloud, Minnesota, in July, 1879. There he engaged with the present firm of Breen and Young, stone contractors and builders, as book-keeper until September of that year, when they also gave him charge over their yards, he being foreman of their extensive works.

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