History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 108

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 108

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J. C. Simonet was born in Murton, Canton Freiburg, Switzerland, in 1846. Received his education and served a two and one-half years apprenticeship at upholstering, which he finished when about nineteen years of age, then traveled for five years, visiting different cities in Europe, and working to perfect himself in his occupation. He worked two years in Paris, France, and at different cities in Switzerland until 1872, when he came to the United States; worked one year at New York city, then removed to La Crosse, Wis- consin; after a residence of five years in that place he came to St. Paul and has since been en- gaged here in the upholstering business in all its branches, and is having a very successful trade. In 1871 he married Catherine Briselace of Dele- mont, Switzerland. They have four children living: Mathelda, Louisa, Julius C. and Albert.

Karl Simmon, a native of New York city, was born in 1854. In 1865 he came with his parents to St. Paul; he received his education in the schools of this city and the State University. After leaving school he was nearly four years em- ployed in Paul Rieger's drug store, then five years with G. W. Robinson, whom he finally suc-

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ceeded in business. His store, located at the cor- ner of Third and Market streets, is the largest pharmacy west of Chicago, and is known as the Metropolitan drug store. He was married in this city to E. S. Kechtman, who has borne him one child.

Thomas Skok, a native of Bohemia, was born in 1848. In 1866 his parents brought their family to America and have resided at St. Paul since July 3d of that year. Mr. Skok learned the butcher's trade in his native country, and has been in that business since coming to this city. In 1869 he started a very small market where his commodious building now stands; it is of stone, with brick front, and was built in 1876. It is known as the North Star meat market; is two stories high and has twenty-six feet front on Fort street and sixty-three feet on Leach street; it is well supplied with all the facilities fora first class market. Mr. Skok married in this city in 1873, Margaret Brengs, who was born in Germany. Thomas, Lucy, Gertrude and Margaret are their children.

Thomas Slater was born July 25th, 1833, in Yorkshire, England, where he learned general blacksmithing of his father, who was one of the best of workmen. Mr. Slater moved to St. Paul August 4th, 1858, and now has a fine shop at 65 East Fourth street, where he is doing an exten- sive business under the firm name of Slater and Riley; they make a specialty of shoeing, and turn out as fine work as can be done at any shop in the state. Ann E. Dobson, of Westmoreland, England, became his wife in October, 1856. They have had five children, three daughters and one son are now living. The oldest died suddenly at the age of twenty-one years.

B. W. Smith, of the firm of Smith and Lewis, wholesale and retail dealers in coal, wood and baled hay, was born August 8th, 1829, in Litch- field county, Connecticut. In 1853, he married Mary J. Ryder, of New Hartford, and moved to St. Paul, in 1859. He engaged in farming until the commencement of the late war, when, for three years, he was employed by Captain E. B. Carlin. chief acting quarter-master of this depart- ment. Since the war he has been with C. G. Lewis in the fuel business. August 24th, 1867, in moving a circular saw, used for cutting their wood, a lever broke, causing Mr. Smith to fall

upon the saw, which accident cost him his right arm.

Day Kellogg Smith, whose father was a native of Connecticut, and mother of New York, was born January 16th, 1845, at Chicago, Illinois, and attended the common schools until twelve years of age. In 1863 he left home to enter gov- ernment service; was in Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky, during 1863-'64, in government telegraph service. From 1865 until 1876, he was with the Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw railway at Peoria, Illinois, as train dispatcher, superin- tendent of telegraph and assistant superintend- ent; he held the latter position eight years. Since then he has been train dispatcher of the Union Pacific railway, at Cheyenne, Wyoming: division superintendent and general ticket agent Chicago and Lake Huron railroad, at Port Huron, Michi- gan; master of transportation and superintend- ent of the Illinois Midland railway, Decatur, Illi- nois. He is now train dispatcher of the Breck- enridge division of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba railway, at St. Paul. His marriage with Margaret Donlevy took place at Peoria, Sep- tember 19th, 1870.

G. Sidney Smith was born June 4th, 1829, in Groton, Tompkins county, New York. Ile re- ceived his early education in the public school and academy of his native place; graduated at the State Normal school in Albany, and received the degree of A. M. from Madison university. He taught fifteen years in the schools of his na- tive state, and from 1862 to 1867 was principal of the Adams school in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was subsequently connected with the department of public instruction in the state.

George II. Smith, of American parentage, was born June 23d, 1833, at Norwich, Chenango county, New York. He received an academic education, and in 1857, left home for St. Louis, under engagement to construct and superintend telegraph lines. During the war he was captain and acting quarter-master; also superintendent of military telegraphs, department of the Missis- sippi, and constructed some four thousand miles. Mr. Smith resided two years in New York city, and eight years in St. Louis, and since 1857, has been in telegraph and railroad business. May 7th, 1855, he married Mary Brown, of Norwich, New York. In October, 1873, he located at St.

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Paul; since that date he has been general super- intendent of the St. Paul and Duluth railroad.

George P. Smith was born in 1828, at Bristol, Grafton county, New Hampshire. Since 1857 he has been in the railroad business, with the exception of about six months that he worked. at milling. He was first with the Chicago, Milwau- kee and St. Paul company as receiving clerk at Milwaukee, then went to Muscoda, where he re- mained five years, being the pioneer agent of that place; he was at Boscobel as agent three years, and the same length of time at Monona, Iowa; then removed to St. Paul, and after working three and one-half years for the St. Paul and Du- luth company, he was employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul company, and is serving then as chief clerk in the freight department.

Henry Smith, of American parentage, and a native of New York city, was born August 10th, 1845. IIe was given a common school and academic education. Left New York in 1846, and went to Jersey City, where he lived until 1879, then came to St. Paul. Mr. Smith's busi- ness is that of manufacturing jeweler. In 1868, he married Miss G. II. Gingland, of Jersey City. They have two children. William and Henry.

IToward T. Smith, a native of New Hampshire, was born in 1855, at Bristol. In 1870 he came to St. Paul and worked one year as delivering clerk for the Lake Superior and Mississippi railroad company; he was then one year looking after goods in bond, acting under a commission from the government, and one year employed as dis- charging clerk. He then worked one year for the St. Paul and Pacific company and afterward was with the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul com- pany as cashier until in 1875, sickness compelled him to resign. In 1878 he went to work for them as check clerk and since March, 1879, has been car accountant.

Hon. James Smith, Jr. was born at Mount Ver- non, Ohio, October 29th, 1815. While young his eye-sight was seriously impaired by sickness, but he received an education and then read law; be- ing admitted to practice in 1839 he became a part- ner of the late Col. J. W. Vance. Mr. Smith re- mained at Mount Vernon until 1856, when he set- tled in St. Paul and was first a partner of Judge L. Emmett, and afterward of Hon. John M. Gilman. For the past ten years he has been attorney of

the Lake Superior railroad. He was a member of the state senate in 1861, '62, '63, and has just been elected for another term; the last time with- out opposition, a fact that evinces the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens.

John Smith, a native of Canada, was born in 1848. In 1867 he graduated from the military academy at Toronto and was appointed sergeant- major of the Thirty-third Battalion of Volunteer forces of Ontario. In 1868 he came to the United States and lived about six years at Detroit, Michi- gan. After visiting various parts of the country he removed to Winnipeg and for one year en- gaged in hotel business, then came to this city and opened a sample room at 29 Jackson street, known as the St. Louis. He also has at Kansas City, Missouri, the largest sample room west of Chicago. Mr. Smith always keeps a fine stock of foreign and domestic cigars. Emily Hill became his wife at Detroit in 1876. They have four children.

Robert Smith was born February 23d, 1828, in Lincolnshire, England. IIe was educated in a free grammar school of his native country, and in 1855, emigrated to Buffalo, New York, where he engaged in the butcher business. Since the fall of '1856, St. Paul has been his home. In 1857 he was steward of the St. Paul club ; after- ward kept the house of Judge Nelson, for a time. In 1861 he engaged with the firm of Drewry and Scotten, in their brewery, and remained with them seven years. About 1869 he was employed as book-keeper in the boot and shoe house of W. J. Smith and Company, and later, was with McCauly and Castner, in the commission busi- ness. Since 1873 he has been chaplain of the Bethel Mission of the Western Seaman's Friend society. In January, 1852, Mr. Smith married Dorothy Hicks, of Lincolnshire, England.

Robert A. Smith was born June 13th, 1827, in Indiana. In 1850 he was elected auditor of War- rick county, and served as such three years. In May, 1853, he came to this city, and at once as- sumed the duties of private secretary to Governor Gorman. IIe also acted as territorial librarian until 1858. In May, 1856, he was elected treasu- rer of Ramsey county ; being several times re- elected, he served until March, 1868, a period of twelve years. In 1866, he entered the banking business with William Dawson and II. K. Ste-

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vens, and since that time has been transacting a large financial business.

Webster Smith was born in 1838, in Putnam county, New York. When seventeen years of age he went to New York city, and worked three years clerking in a store ; then returned to Put- nam county, and engaged in mercantile trade. In 1862 he was commissioned captain of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth New York volunteer infantry ; afterward changed to Sixth New York heavy artillery, and commanded by Colonel W. H. Morris. Mr. Smith was made brevet major, for meritorious conduct. After three years' ser- vice, he was honorably discharged. May 13th, 1865, he came to this city, and for a time was employed in a store as clerk ; then was in the re- tail grocery trade two years, after which he tried the milling business, but in May, 1877, returned to the grocery trade. He is located at the corner of Sixth and Jackson streets. In 1855, he mar- ried in New York, Kate Wiltse, who has borne him three children.

A. W. Sonnen, a native of Germany was born in 1829. Emigrated to America in 1849 and worked at his trade in Jefferson county, New York until 1853 when he went to California. In 1859 he came to this state and resided at New Ulm until the massacre of 1862 when he lost all he possessed, and the spring following came to this city. In August he entered the employ of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba railroad company, but in 1864 removed to Chicago and worked for the Illinois Central company until 1867 when he returned to his old position in this city. Since 1879 he has filled the position of as- sistant foreman in the car shops. He married at New Ulm, in 1858, Barbara Melchoir. Their two first children were born at that place, Clementine and William Joseph; Fred. Michel at Chicago; Anthony Hermann at St. Paul, and Charles John, also a native of this city.

Albert Spangenberg, a native of Saxony, Prus- sia, was born in 1848. His mother died when he was seven years old, and at the age of fifteen he came to America with his father. Since June 1st, 1863 he has resided in this city, and since 1865 has been in the butcher's business. He was in the employ of other parties until 1870 when he opened his market 528 St. Peter street, where he is having a prosperous and increasing trade.

Katharina Henkels, of Dubuque, Iowa, became his wife in this city, November 25th, 1874. Albert F., Anna C. and Henry A. are their chil- dren.

Robert Spangenberg, a native of Germany, was born in 1848. He attended school there until 1863 when he came to Ramsey county, Minne- sota, and here acquired his English education. After leaving school he worked three years at farming, then came to this city and engaged in the butcher's business; he is located at the cor- ner of Carroll and Rice streets. Mr. Spangen- berg married Barbary Justus, in this city in 1877. Their children are Lizzie and Ida.

John Nininger Speel, son of John L. and Mar- garet Ramsey Speel, was born July 20th, 1853, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He acquired a scien- tific education, and in 1873, left home to enter the navy. Mr. Speel located at St. Paul in Jan- uary, 1873. He has been engaged as pay-master in the United States navy.

George H. Spencer was born December 20th, 1831, in Shelby county, Kentucky, and when two years of age went with his parents to Terre Haute, Indiana. He attended the Indiana As- bury university at Greencastle, and when sixteen years old entered a hardware store in Terre Haute, where he worked four years. Located in St. Paul, November 8th, 1851, and engaged as clerk in the trading house of A. L. Larpenteur, was with him eight years and during that time learned to speak the French and Indian languages. He accompanied General Sibley's expedition against the Sioux in 1863, as chief clerk of the subsistence department; afterward served in Missouri in the same capacity, until the close of the war; since that time he has been engaged in the fur and hide trade. Mr.Spencer was appointed in June, 1881, United States Indian agent at Crow Creek, Dakota for the Sioux. He was married October, 1866, to Sarah Palmer, of Macon City, Missouri.

Ferdinand Spiegel was born in 1848, at Leipsig, Saxony, and in 1849, came with his parents to America. From New York city they went to Al- bany, and thence to Detroit, Michigan. In 1861, when but thirteen years of age, he enlisted in the Fifth Michigan Infantry, served one year and was discharged. In 1864, he enlisted in the Nineteenth United States Infantry, served three

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years in the regular army and was honorably dis- charged. He came to this city in 1871; served as postmaster in West St. Paul four years, and was then appointed mail agent between St. Paul and St. Vincent. One year later he opened his liquor trade in West St. Paul, where he is still located. He married in this city in 1872, Carrie Schmidt. Their children are Carrie and Ernest.

H. H. Squire, a native of England, was born in 1856. Came to the United States in 1873, and was employed as book-keeper at Duluth one and one-half years, afterward resided six months at Brainerd. In May, 1875, he came to St. Panl, and worked three years as bill clerk, since that time has been cashier with the St. Paul and Dil- Inth railroad.

John Summers was born in 1830, at Glasgow, Scotland. IIe received a high school education and learned the carpenter's trade in his native country. In 1852 he moved to Brooklyn, New York, and shortly after to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked three years in company with his brother. In 1856 he came to St. Paul, and worked as a journeyman until 1877, when he disposed of his business to Taylor and Craig, and became owner and manager of the Windsor hotel. Mr. Summers was married at Chicago in 1856 to Isa- bella Pierce, who died in September, 1876. In 1879 he married in this city Frances Elinor Mon- fort.

George HI. Staehle was born April 9th, 1858, at St. Paul. His father was of German parentage and his mother American. Mr. Staehle is em- ployed as clerk by the St. Paul and Duluth Rail- road company.

C. Stahlmanu, a native of Bavaria, was born in 1829. When seventeen years of age he came to the United States and located in Indiana, where he lived two years, then removed to Cincinnati, and after a residence of five years in that city he spent two years in Iowa, and came to St. Paul in 1855. Mr. Stahlmann built his brewery in 1855. His wife was Catherine Paulus, whom he married in 1853, in Iowa. They have three chil- dren living, Henry, Bernhard and Christopher, Jr.

George II. Stahlman was born in 1857, at Dubuque, Iowa. In 1859 he came with his pa- rents to St. Paul, and here received a practical education. After leaving school he passed three years in the oil regions of Pennsylvania, then re-

turned to this city and associated with George Moeller in the wholesale cigar business. One year later he bought Mr. Moeller's interest, and las since conducted the business alone at 386 Wabasha street. IIe employs from fifteen to twenty men, and manufactures 500,000 cigars an- nually. In 1879 he married in Pennsylvania, Miss L. Enslen. They have one child living. .

Dr. Gottfried Stamm was born in November, 1842, in canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Hle passed the gymnasiums of the city of Schaff- hausen in 1863, and studied medicine from that time until 1867 at different cities, and graduated at Berne. He was in the practice of his profes- ion in the canton of Schaffhausen until 1873, when he emigrated to this country and located at St. Paul in June of that year.

Captain Charles J. Stees was born in Dauphin, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and came to Min- nesota in 1851. At the time of his arrival the government was holding a treaty with the Sioux Indians at Mendota, for the cession of lands on the west side of the river; here young Stees, full of the Cooper novel idea of the noble red men, viewed them in all their paint and feather glory. In after years subsequent events showed him Lo in a very different light. Little Crow's band oc- casionally treated the villagers of St. Paul to dances in the streets. Mr. Stees tells of the first large fire, when Daniel's hotel just completed and furnished, was destroyed; how the boys shouldered the ladders going to the fire, and how buckets were passed before the days of the fire engine. He, together with Mr. McCloud, I. Markley and R. West laid the first board walk in the city. It was made from dry goods boxes and extended from Third street to the foot of the bench run- ning from the bluff, back to where the capitol now stands, thus enabling the down town ladies to reach Rev. Neill's church, dry shod. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Stees, who was in Philadelphia, enlisted in one of the three months regiments, was commissioned major and served until the expiration of his term when he returned to this city and enlisted in the Ninth Infantry regiment for the south; but the Sioux outbreak under Little Crow, in August, 1862, necessitated Governor Ramsey's consolidating the first ten full companies of various regiments into the Sixth. Mr. Stees afterward became captain of Company

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G. The regiment was sent to the front under Gen. Sibley, and on their way to Fort Ridgely, passed scenes of butchery and desolation which beggar description. After the Birch Coolie af- fair, Lieutenant Stees accompanied Colonel John Prince, bearer of dispatches to Governor Ramsey at St. Paul. Before starting he went to the hos- pital and offered to carry messages from the wounded to their friends; Mr. Barton, of St. Paul, said, "Hand down that vest," and taking from the "pocket two bullets that had been removed from his body he said, "Give those to my wife with my compliments and tell her I will be with lier in a few days."

They reached St. Paul in safety and while there Mr. Stees received orders to take charge of what troops there were at Fort Snelling, belonging to regiments on the frontier, and act as an escort to a committee of citizens who wished to go to Birch Coolie to procure the remains of those killed in the fight. They finally decided to wait until cold weather and Lieutenant Stees proceeded to Fort Ridgely to join General Sibley. Then came the fight at Wood Lake, which is a matter of history.

Shortly after this Mr. Stees accompanied Colonel Marshall on his forced march to Wild Goose Nest lake, where a large number of Indians were captured. They returned to Camp Release and in due course of time to Mankato, where the prisoners were jailed and thirty-eight subse- quently hung. January 2d, 1865, Lieutenant Stees took a detachment of troops from Fort Snelling to join their regiments at Benton Barracks, Mis- souri. Leaving New Orleans the regiment was packed like herring in the small steamer George Cromwell, and upon their arrival at Dauphin Island were a sorry looking crowd. The regi- ment under General A. J. Smith participated in the capture of Mobile, by the reduction of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, which occurred after the fall of Richmond and surrender of Lee. Captain Stees was mustered out at Fort Snelling in August, 1865, and afterward married Cythic, daughter of Hon. J. R. Irvine, one of the oldest settlers of St Paul. He was on two Indian ex- peditions under General Sibley and collected a number of Indian trophies, which he holds as re- membrances of the Sioux massacre of 1862.

Washington M. Stees was born March 28th, 1826, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and re-

sided in that state until July 1st, 1850, when he located in St. Paul, and commenced the furniture business in a small building at the corner of Third and Minnesota streets; his trade increased so rap- idly that in the spring of 1852, he put up a brick block 22x40 feet, and three-stories above the base- ment. In 1870, his business demanded still more room, and he erected the commodious brick block which he now occupies. It is 25x70 feet on Third and Minnesota streets; at the rear it is 80x50 feet; it is all connected, and three-stories high above the basement. John A. Stees having been in the employ of his brother a number of years, became a partner in 1860, and the exten- sive business is now carried on under the firm name of Stees Brothers. It is one of the prin- cipal business houses in the city, and the oldest furniture house in the state. Mr. Stees married in 1849, Ann Kirk, who is a descendent of the old stock of Quakers who resided on the Brandywine river in Delaware. They have had one son and one danghter. The son died very suddenly at the state university, when eighteen years of age. When Mr, Stees came to St. Paul, he built a small house in the rear of the store and after a short time discovered that the place had been used for a burying ground. At that time there were few white people in St. Paul, while the In dians were very numerous, but harmless. They had their race course opposite Mr. Stees' house, extending from Fourth and Minnesota to Third and Robert streets.

Charles A. Stein, veterinary surgeon, 97 West Third street, St. Paul, was born February 17th, 1841, in Prussia. When nineteen years of age. he began the study of veterinary surgery, which he continued four years in Berlin. After com- pleting his studies, he served one year in the Prussian army as assistant veterinary surgeon. In 1866, he emigrated to America, and resided in New Orleans until 1874. In 1873, owing to over- flows caused by the breaking of the Mississippi levees, a disease known as charbon broke out among the horses and mules in the country bord- ering on the river. This disease had been known for about two centuries and had baffled the skill of veterinary surgeons everywhere. A cotton firm in New Orleans, engaged Dr. Stein to go to their plantation, where they had about one hun- dred and eighty animals suffering from the dis-

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ease. One died soon after his arrival, and after a post mortem examination, he determined upon the remedy to use, and immediately treated the other animals with success. He met with such success in his treatment that not a single case died where he had been called in the early stage of the disease. His services were in demand in all parts of the state at the rate of fifty dollars per day. In 1874, he entered the United States service in the Seventh cavalry, as veterinary sur- geon, and in 1876, was with the Custer expedi- tion, General Terry's command. In September of that year, resigned on account of ill health and came to St. Paul, where he has since been engaged in practice. Was elected county coronor and held that office until 1880. In 1878, after the death of Sheriff Becht, he took charge of that of- fice until the election of Sheriff King. During his term of office, he continued the practice of his profession. He was married May 19th, 1867, to Anna de Silva, of Liverpool, England. They have two daughters and two sons; Rachel, Nellie, Carlos J. and James E.

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