History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 50

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 50

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The next annual meeting was called April,

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1859, when seventy-five votes were cast and E. A. Boyd was elected chairman; Zoel Langlois and H. J. Brainard, supervisors; J. P. Melan- con, clerk. E. A. Boyd refusing to qualify, N. McLean was appointed chairman and the re- quired bond executed. By the annexation of sec- tions 33, 34, 35 and 36, that part of the town in which he lived, to McLean town, it was found that he could not hold the office, whereupon Wm. M. Stees was appointed to the office, which he filled for one year.

At the annual meeting of 1860 a tax of two mills was voted for current expenses. Officers elected were: George IIammond, chairman; H. J. Brainard and Joseph Leboure, supervisors; J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1861 a tax of two mills was voted for current expenses. Officers elected were: Henry Acker, chairman; II. J. Brainard and Joseph Leboure, supervisors; and J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the election of 1862, a tax of two and one- half mills was voted for current expenses. Of- ficers elected, Henry Acker, chairman; Isaac Gervais and C. M. Melancon, supervisors, and J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1863, a tax of two and one-half mills was voted for current expenses. Thirty-two votes cast this year. Officers elected, II. J. Brainard, chairman; Isaiah Gervais and James Bell, supervisors, and J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual election of 1864, a tax of two mills for current expenses was voted, and three mils for roads and bridges, also two mills to apply on town indebtedness. II. J. Brainard was elected chairman; James Bell and C. M. Melancon, supervisors, and W. B. Boyd, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1865, a tax of one mill was voted for current expenses and three mills for roads and bridges. Officers elected, H. J. Brainard, chairman; Alexander Pipen and Jo- seph Hahn, supervisors, J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the meeting of 1866, it was voted to levy a tax of one mill for current expenses and three mills for roads and bridges. Officers elected were, H. J. Brainard, chairman; C. M. Melancon and Joseph Hahn, supervisors, and J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1867, a tax of two

mills was voted for current expenses and two mills for roads and bridges. Officers elected, II. J. Brainard, chairman; Isaac Gervais and Jo- seph IIahn, supervisors, and J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the election of 1868, a tax of two mills was voted for current expenses and three mills for roads and bridges. Officers elected, HI. J. Brain- ard, chairman; I. Gervais and Phillip Kohn, su- pervisors, and J. P'. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual election of 1869, a tax of two mills for current expenses and three for roads and bridges was voted. Officers elected, H. J. Brain- ard, chairman; Joseph Hahn and N. R. Fitzhugh, supervisors, and J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the election of 1870, a tax of two mills was voted for current expenses and five mills for roads and bridges. Officers elected, H. J. Brain- ard, chairman; N. R. Fitzhugh and Isaac Gervais, supervisors, J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1871, a tax of two mills for current expenses, and five mills for roads was voted, Officers elected were, II. J. Brainard, chairman; N. R. Fitzhugh and Isaac Gervais, supervisors, and J. P. 'Melancon, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1872, a tax of five mills was voted for roads, two for current ex- penses and one-half mill for town house; II.J.Brai- nard, elected chairman; J. W. S. Frost and Isaac Gervais, supervisors, and J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1873 a tax of five mills for roads and bridges, two mills for current expenses, and one-half mill for town house. Offi- cers elected: II. J. Brainard, chairman; Isaiah Gervais and J. W. S. Frost, supervisors; J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1874 a tax of three mills was voted for roads and bridges, three mills for current expenses and one mill for town house. Officers elected: H. J. Brainard, chairman; Isaiah Gervais and C. W. Levalley, supervisors; and J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual election of 1875, H. J. Brainard, was elected chairman; Isaiah Gervais and W. H. Van Kluk, supervisors; J. P. Melancon, clerk. A tax of one mill for current expenses, and two and one-half mills for roads and bridges was voted.

At the annual meeting of 1876, a tax of two and one-half mills was voted for roads and

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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.

bridges, and one and one-half mills for current expenses .. H. J. Brainard, chairman; William Kohlmann and W. H. Van Kluk, supervisors; J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1877 a tax of five mills for roads and bridges, and two mills for cur- rent expenses. Officers elected: II. J. Brainard, chairman; W. L. Ames and W. Kohlmann, super- visors; W. B. Boyd, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1878 a tax of five mills was voted for roads and bridges, and two mills for current expenses; also voted to erect the town house. Officers: II. J. Brainard, chairman; W. Kohlmann and W. L. Ames, supervisors; J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the annual meeting of 1879, a tax of six mills was voted for roads and bridges. Officers; H.J. Brainard, chairman; W. Kohlmann and Hen- ry Brand, supervisors; J. P. Melancon, clerk.

At the meeting of 1880 a tax of five mills for roads and bridges, and one mill for current ex- penses was voted. Officers: H. J. Brainard, chairman; W. Kohlmann and Henry Brand, super- visors; J. P. Melancon, clerk.

In 1881 a tax of one mill for current expenses and five for roads and bridges was voted, H. J. Brainard, elected chairman; W. Kohlman, and Henry Brand, supervisors; E. A. Boyd, clerk.

SCHOOLS.

The first school organization effected in what is now the town of New Canada, was in 1850, by the French people who were the early settlers at what was known as Little Canada, now known as St. John's City. The officers were, Alexander Ducharme, Joseph Leboure 'and Rev. Father Fayolle then priest at this point; the first school- house was of logs, located near the site of the present house. The first teacher was Miss Eliza Leboure, soon after became Mrs. J. Blangea. Not being able to draw public money while un- der the auspices of the church, and when French only was taught, it was changed in 1853, to a regular district school with an English teacher. The present school-house was built about 1862. The present officers are Alexander Belland, treasurer; Severe Gervais, director, and W. B. Boyd, clerk. This school was organized as num- ber 1, in 1862, changed to number 3.

School district number 2, was organized in

1861, The first school-house was erected the same year near the north- east corner of section 10. First board of officers was James Bell, director; M. Vincent, treasurer, and W. Greves, clerk; first teacher was a Mr. Bradley. In the summer of 1880, the district erected a new house on the south-east corner of section 2, of wood, 20x30 feet, at an expense of $400. The present officers are, Hugh Casey, director; John Broch- man, treasurer, and A. P. Wright, clerk.

School district number 1, was organized in 1855, first officers were, J. W. S. Frost, direc- tor; H. J. Brainard, treasurer, and George Hammond, clerk. First school house was lo- cated on what is now known as Iglehart and Mc- Cunn's addition to St. Paul, section 28; house was about 20x30 feet, of wood built at an expense of about $400. The second house was located in the south-west quarter of section 20, built of wood, at an expense of $625.

The third house was built in 1880, at the junc- tion of the White Bear and New Canada roads, of wood, about 20x30 feet, at a cost of $625. The present officers are, H. J. Brainard, treas- urer; George Hart, director, and Robert Bryant, clerk.

School district No.14, house located in the south- east quarter of section 26, was first organized in 1856, with the following officers, Luke Dalton, Sr., director; Henry Brockenfield, treasurer, and Mr. Buel, clerk. The first school was held in the house which is now owned by Frank Keifer in sec- tion 25. First teacher was a Mr. Lantrom. The first school-house was built about 1865. Their present house is of wood, 18x20 feet and cost about $700. The present board of officers is, Frank Keifer, director; Fred. Wouster, treasurer, and Luke Dalton, clerk.

School district number 22, was organized March 26th, 1870, with the following board of officers, John Schirupp, director; Phillip Kohl, treasurer, and John Scheriffbellih, clerk. First school was kept in an old house located on lake Phalen, owned by Fred. Herriker. First teacher was Nellie V. Bell. Their first and present school- house was erected 1871, of wood, 18x22 feet, on section 15, at a cost of $250. Present board of officers, Christian Fischer, director; HI. G. Ide, treasurer; E. R. Ide, clerk.

School district number 22, was organized in the

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fall of 1874, with the following board of officers: John H. Hill, director; John Castle, treasurer, and R. C. Merrill, clerk. The district has no school building, but uses the House of Hope chapel, which was built the same year. The present board is, Henry Brand, director; John Castle, treasurer, and H. J. Cooper, clerk.

CHURCHES.

Prior to 1850 the settlers of Little Canada were in the habit of making trips to Mendota to at- tend sacrament at the mission church of Father Ravoux. The church became too small for such a large parish, and settlers at this point decided to erect a church, which was commenced in the spring of 1850, and built by individual labor of the people, which reduced the expenses of its com- pletion to $500. The old church which is located in section 5, still standing, was built of logs, 30x60 feet, with parsonage attached; was dedicated in the fall of the same year as the church of St. John the Evangelist by Rev. Father Galtier, the first Catholic priest in St. Paul, and who had the honor of giving the name to the city. The new church, located just east of the old one, was com- menced in 1879, built of brick, 35x90 feet, with tower. Though not quite completed it was dedicated June 19th, 1881. As with the old one, the work to a great extent was done by the people, which reduced the expense to about $3,000. The present priest, Rev. J. Goiffon, has minis- tered to this people for the past 18 years.

The Harvester Works mission chapel was erect- ed in 1874 by the House of Hope church of St. Paul.

First road opened through the town was the old territorial road called the old Sampier road, which was opened about 1847; also the old Colum- bus and St. Paul road. The White Bear and Little Canada road was laid out about 1855 as a county road. The first town road was the Lake Phalen road in 1858.

The city in its expansion spread in all directions, and embraced from time to time portions of New Canada town. Outside of its present limits the following plats were made: Bass's out-lots were platted by W. Bass, Decem- ber, 1855, composed of the south-east quarter of section 19. Lake residences were platted in Jan- uary, same year, in lots 1 and 2, section 21, and

the south-west of the north-west quarter of section 22. In July, 1856, M. DeMers, Joseph Gervais, and M. Auger caused to be platted a portion of sections 5 and 6 lying on the north shore of Savage lake, and gave it the name of St. John's City. Quite a collection of houses were erected on these lots at an early day.

In August, same year, Walcott's addition to Cottage Homes was platted by IIenry McKenty, consisting of the east two-thirds of the north half of the south-east quarter of section 24, also the north-west quarter of the south-west quarter of section 19.

Iglehart, Hall, and Mackubin's addition was platted January, 1857, composed of the south- west quarter of the south-west quarter of section 20, and the north-west quarter of the north-west quarter of section 29, also the north-east quar- ter of the north-east quarter of section 28.

In May, 1872, Bass's acre lots were platted by Jacob W. and Martha D. Bass, composed of the south half of the west half and part of the north half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 20.

Dawson's out-lots platted by W. Dawson and R. A. Smith, consisted of the south half of the north-west quarter of the north-east quarter of section 19.

In June, 1874, Ames' out-lots were platted in the south-east quarter of the north-west quarter of section 27.

Cruikshank's garden lots, consisting of the east half of the south-west quarter and the west half of the south-east quarter of section 27, were plat- ted by A. B. Cruikshank, October, 1878.

The St. Paul Harvester Works were estab- lished on sections 27 and 28 in 1872. The his- tory of these works is given in another part of this work.

The North Star Seed Farm, an enterprise which was advertised very extensively throughout the country, was purchased by Henry A. Castle in 1872. Messrs. McCarty and Bush established the enterprise of seed raising in 1875 and carried it on until 1876 when a change was made and the firm became Bush, Hollister and Carter. This continued until 1878 when another change was effected and the firm became Hollister, Castle and Company. In connection with this farm a seed store was opened in the city. The firm of

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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.

Hollister, Castle and Company first introduced the amber sugar cane into Minnesota and mo- nopolised the trade in that seed for some time. In 1880 the enterprise of seed raising was aban- doned, and Mr. Castle purchased the entire in- terest in the farm, and with the addition of other purchases has 840 acres with about 400 under cul- tivation.

The dairy business is carried on to quite an ex- tent in the town. The Ide Brothers, located in section 15, and J. W. S. Frost in section 22, to- gether with other parties in section 20, supply large quantities of milk to city customers.

Two powder houses are located within the town. The Oriental powder house was erected 1871, on the south-west quarter of section 17, and the Presley house in 1873, on section 20.

The authorities of the town erected a fine town house in 1879, of wood, 24x50, located on section 16. near the north end of lake Phalen, at an expense of $575, in which to hold elections and transact all business connected with the town.

A lot was set apart and consecrated as a ceme- tery by the Catholic society, of New Canada, lo- cated in section 8.

In 1878, the Jewish society, known as the Con- gregation of the Sons of Jacob, purchased a lot in the north-east quarter of section 20, and conse- crated it as a burial ground.

Two railroads cross the town. The St. Paul and Duluth road, which was chartered in 1857, as the Nebraska and Lake Superior railroad, which name was changed by the legislature of 1861 to the title of Lake Superior and Mississippi railroad. The road was completed to Wyoming, thirty miles, 1865, and to Duluth, 1870, passes nearly direct north and south through the town. The St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylor's Falls rail- road, which crosses the south-east corner of the town, was completed and opened for business February 10, 1872. The West Wisconsin railroad, the continuation of this line, was opened Febru- ary 14, same year.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Alexander Belland is a native of Canada, born at Montreal, October 29, 1821. Came to New Canada, Minnesota. in 1853. Purchased one. hundred and thirty-nine acres, in 1864, and has

since given his attention to agriculture. Has held various offices in the town. In Canada, 1833, he was married, and is the parent of seven liv- ing children.

George Bowers, an old settler, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, January 30, 1845. Came to St. Paul, in May, 1854. His father pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres near Bennett lake, and has since lived in New Canada. Mr. Bow- ers has opened a place of resort on Vadnais lake, a beautiful sheet of water, and keeps a restaurant, also boats for the use of pleasure seekers.

Severe Gervais, was born at San Boniface, on Red River, August 11, 1829. Arrived at St. Paul, July 15, 1836. After a residence of seven years, removed to Little Canada. His father built a grist mill on Gervais creek. He has engaged in hanling supplies for the government on Red River eleven years. He purchased one hundred and twelve acres in Little Canada, which he sold in 1865, then purchased one hundred and twenty acres from his father, and engaged in farming until 1880. August 10, 1853, he was married to Adelaide Lemay, at St. John's church, by Father Faille, which was the first marriage in Little Canada, Gervais' father was the first settler in the township of New Canada.

A. Lanoux was born in Canada in 1833, and there passed his youth, until sixteen years of age. In 1849 he went to Vermont, and remained in that state three years ; thence to Minnesota, and landed in St. Paul, October S, 1852. He began working at the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed three years, and since then has given his attention to various pursuits. During the spring of 1881 he moved to his farm in New Canada, where he now lives. Married in 1860 to Annise Carle, who has borne him three sons and one daughter.

C. M. Melangon was born near Montreal, Can- ada, December 28, 1832. Came to Little Canada and started a blacksmith shop in 1856, in which business he continued until 1870. He then bought eighty acres, and commenced cultivating fruits and vegetables, having a dairy in connection. Is a prominent man in the township, having held many offices of trust. Married in 1861, Lydia A. Clewett of St. Paul, whose father was the first white man married in that town. having first

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located there in 1832. They are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living.

J. P. Melangon was born January 1, 1819, in Canada. Followed the occupation of lawyer. Went to New York June 1st, 1840 ; remained two years, then went to Europe; visited England, Ireland and France, and for four years lived in Paris, and studied portrait painting. In 1846 re- turned to Buffalo, New York, working there at his profession seven years ; also kept a restaurant several years. Came to Minnesota, November 10, 1854 and landed in St. Paul, January, 1855. The next year he located in Little Canada, and taught school three terms. Has also held prominent offi- ces in the township; was appointed enrolling clerk by the governor in 1862; was also commis- sioned postmaster. Mr. Melançon has taken great pains and been very successful in raising fruits and berries. Was married to Mrs. Apple- gate, June 24, 1860, and has only one child living. In January, 1880, he was married to Mrs. Rene. He has a beautiful situation on Gervais Lake, and intends making it a popular summer resort.

Paul Millette, an old settler, was born in Sor- rel, Canada, in 1835, and is of French parentage. In 1847 came to St. Paul and passed the first winter at Stillwater. Went to Mendota the next year and lived with the family of David Faribault, also worked for General Sibley's fur company, and carried mail from Fort Snelling to Reed's Landing and Shakopee post. After four years at Mendota went to Hastings where he took up a claim. He subsequently worked in the pineries of Red River for Major Forbes nine winters, and nineteen seasons on the drives. Was pilot on the river between St. Paul and St. Louis many years. Came to New Canada and kept store nine years. Was married May 15th, 1855, in New Canada, to Miss Sophia Paul. They have ten children living. Five have died.

Sylvan Nadeau was born in Canada, forty-five miles from Montreal, December 12th, 1834. Came to St. Paul, November 17th, 1851, and for a short time was a butcher. After working as head saw- yer in St. Anthony a short time, he was a dray- man in St. Paul three years. Subsequently he engaged in grocery business three and one-half years. Then he removed to New Canada, built a store, which he opened in March, 1857; after three years experience inthe store he began dealing

in real estate, which did not prove a success, and in 1859 was nearly penniless. He next purchased forty acres of land on time. June 3d, 1859, was struck by lightning, which rendered him a cripple for life. He has since given his attention to farming. In 1874 he built a residence at a cost of $4,000, which burned the same fall, with no insurance. Has held the office of constable twelve years, also is one of the town board. Was married in 1858 to Isabel De Mers, who has borne him fourteen children, ten of whom are living.

MCLEAN.

CHAPTER XLI.

DESCRIPTION-SETTLEMENT-ORGANIZATION- SCHOOLS-VILLAGE PLATS-ROADS-STATIS- TICS-BIOGRAPHICAL. .

McLean is the south-eastern township of Ram- sey county, and has for its surrounding territory the town of New Canada on the north, Washington county on the east and south, and the Mississippi river and the city of St. Paul on the west. At the time of the organization of this town, 1858, the boundaries were described as follows: Com- mencing at the north-west corner of section 4, and running south to a point where the line intersects the river, thence down the channel of the Mis- sissippi river to the intersection of the Washing- ton county line ; thence east on said line to the south-east corner of township 28, range 22 ; thence north on the line of Washington county to the north-east corner of township 28, range 22 ; thence west to the place of beginning.

This area included what has since been known as the Red Rock fraction, consisting of two full sections and the fractional section bordering on the river in the southern part of the town. This was subsequently attached to Washington county and with what is now the town of Woodbury, was organized as Red Rock, October 28th, 1858.

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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.

The Red Rock fraction was afterwards added to the town of Newport, by the Washington county commissioners. In 1859, sections 33, 34, 35 and 36, on the south of New Canada, were detached and added to the town of McLean; The town now embraces thirteen whole and four fractional sections, an area of about 9,600 acres.

The surface of the town for about a mile back from the river is low and marshy, with the excep- tion of a timbered strip bordering on the river, which is dry excepting during very high water. In the interior the surface is broken and hilly, al- though some fine farms have been cleared. The soil is of a ricli black loam, and very productive. In portions of the town the loam is underlaid with a clay sub-soil. The nearness to St. Paul has induced many of the farmers to engage in gardening for the market of that city. This branch of agriculture is carried on with profit.

There are none of the fine lakes in this town, which are found in the surrounding territory. A large, marshy lake, sometimes dry, lies in the south-western part of the town and is dignified by the title of Pig's Eye lake, so named from the settlement made between the lake and river, by Pierre Parrant or "Pig's Eye," as he was univer- sally known. Battle creek flows into McLean in the north-east, and after being augmented by several branches, empties into Pig's Eye lake at its northern extremity. The main stream takes its rise in a lake in the town of Woodbury. From the south of Pig's Eye lake a small stream flows to the Mississippi river. There is also a creek which rises in a small lake in the western part of the town of Woodbury and flowing through McLean, joins Battle creek near its mouth. Bat- tle creek derived its name from the fact that a battle between the Sioux and Chippewa Indians, was fought on the hills about a mile above tlie mouth of the stream, in 1842.

SETTLEMENT.

The first settlers in the town of McLean, came in the summer of 1838 or 1839 and located at the point on the river known as Grand Marais, and subsequently as Pig's Eye. They were a number of French Canadians, who were in the employ of the American Fur Company. This band of set- tlers comprised Amable Turpin. Francis Gam- melle, Henry Belland, Amable Morin, Michel and

Antoine LeClaire, Joseph Labosinier, Charles Mosseau, Chevalier, Lasart and others. They erected small cabins, where their families resided, and tilled their small farms, while they were not absent, engaged in their vocations as voyageurs. The settlement at Pig's Eye continued for several years, but many of the settlers, seeing advanta- ges to be gained in the possession of claims in the rising village of St. Paul, removed to that point and made new claims. Among these was Amable Turpin, wlio, after several years residence at Pig's Eye, removed to St. Paul, where he lived until his death, in 1866. Mrs. Turpin taught the catechism to half-breed children, at the Grand Marais, before the arrival of Father Galtier, and was the first to impart religious instruction, out- side of the early missionaries to the Indians. Michel LeClaire continued a resident of Pig's Eye until his death. which occurred in 1849. Joseph Labosinier was a native of Canada, and removed thence to the Red River, where he mar- ried. He accompanied the colony that came to Fort Snelling in 1836, and after the expulsion of settlers from the military reserve, made his claim at Pig's Eye. About three years later, he made a new claim in what afterwards became the city of St. Paul. This claim he afterwards sold to J. R. Clewett, receiving in payment a horse. Labo- sinier removed to Hennepin county, and was one of the early settlers at Osseo, which place contin- ued his home until his death. Henry Belland, who was living at the Grand Marais, in 1839, be- came a settler in the town of West St. Paul, and was a prominent farmer in that town.

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