USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 52
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The nature of this individual was not in har- mony with peaceful agricultural pursuits. He pre- ferred an easier method of accumulating wealth. His purpose was the sale of liquor, and his claim was located with a special view to its fitness for that purpose. It was selected because it was near the fort, yet being at the same time without the lines of the reserve, and close to the river. It was.easy of access, therefore, by the soldiers and by the Indians. Parrant had been prohibited
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from going into the Indian country by the author- ities, but it appears that though he disobeyed this injunction he was unmolested. So the first busi- ness enterprise of a future flourishing commer- cial point was a bar room, and that too, estab- lished by a man of the most depraved habits. Happily, however, the succeeding settlers were men of a different cast of mind. The advance guard of a broader civilization was soon to ap- pear. The inevitable law of progress was in motion, and this point, selected for the advan- tages it offered for the sale of whiskey, was to be taken possession of for other and better purposes. Parrant made but a short stay, however, but a few months. Borrowing some money from Wil- liam Beaumette, he failed to repay it, and his claim, which was the security for the note given, passed from his control. In nowise disturbed by this he made another claim; this time it being a tract fronting the river, between where now Min- nesota and Jackson streets are located. He also engaged in the same business of selling whiskey. This man, before he finally made his exit from the scene, located in several different places, as the exigences of his inclination or affairs di- rected.
These claims were made to land now the most valuable in the city. To illustrate the extent and direction of these early properties the present names of streets will be used. An approximate idea only can be given, as, of course, the land was then but virgin forest and field, but the lines were used in greater or less extent in the town survey made in 1847. The Scott Campbell claim was bounded as follows : Commencing on the east bank of the Mississippi river at a point opposite elevator A, thence northerly to the intersection of St. Peter and Sixth street; thence easterly on Sixth street to Wabasha street; thence southerly on Wabasha street to the river ; thence up the river bank to the place of be- ginning. On this claim is now situated the Cus- tom house, elevator A, Music hall and other large buildings.
Vetal Guerin's claim was bounded as follows : Beginning at the intersection of Sixthi and St. Peter streets and running thence northeasterly to the intersection of Rice and Bluff streets; thence along Bluff to Cedar street, and from there in a direct line to a point on the east bank of the river
nearly opposite the site of the Pioneer Press build- ing ; thence up the river bank to Wabasha street, thence northwesterly on Wabasha to Sixth, and from there along Sixth to the place of beginning. Within the limits of this claim are situated the Capital grounds, Market house, Court house square, St. Joseph Hospital, the Cathedral, As- sumption church, Plymouth church, St. Louis (French) church, and many other public buildings and business blocks.
Pierre Gervais' claim was bounded as follows: beginning at a point on Fourth street, between Jackson and Sibley streets, running thence north- westerly to the intersection of Jackson and Four- teenth streets, thence south to a point in the rear of the present residence of Norman W. Kittson on Jackson street, thence south-easterly to a point on Fourth street, between Robert and Jack- son streets, then north-easterly on Fourth street to the place of beginning.
The claim of Benjamin Gervais embraced most of the territory lying between the claims of Vetal Guerin and Pierre Gervais, as above de- scribed. It was sold partly to Louis Robert and partly to John Randall.
The Chenevert claim contained the territory bounded on the north and south by Eighth and Fourth streets respectively, and lying between Broadway and the claim of Pierre Gervais, as described.
The following is a list of entries made and patents issued covering the most valuable of the land in the city of St. Paul, bounded by the Mis- sissippi and the produced line of St. Clair street, westerly by the line of Dale street, northerly by the line of Minnehaha street and easterly by a line running due north from a point near Carver's cave.
Louis Roberts, September 1st, 1848, lot 1, sec- tion 5, township 28, range 22.
Louis Roberts, September 1st, 1848, lots 1 and 2, section 6, township 28, range 22.
John R. Irvine, September 1st, 1848, north-east quarter of north-west quarter and west half of north-west quarter, and lot 3, section 6, township 28, range 22.
John R. Irvine, May 25th, 1849, north-east quarter of north-west quarter of section 32, township 29, range 22.
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
Benjamin F. Irvine, February 21st, 1849, lot 4, section 6, township 28, range 22.
Robert Smith, May 18th, 1849, north-east quar- ter of north-east quarter of section 31, township 29, range 22.
Benjamin Cluse, February 10th, 1849, south- east quarter of north-east quarter of section 31, township 29, range 22.
William Freeborn, May 25th, 1849, west half of north-east quarter and east half of north-west quarter of section 31, township 29, range 22.
Richard Freeborn, October 31st, 1849, west half of north-west quarter of section 31, township 29, range 22.
IIenry II. Sibley, September 2d, 1848, south- east quarter of section 31, township 29, range 22.
A. L. Larpenteur, September 2d, 1848, south- west quarter section 31, township 29, range 22.
Norman W. Kittson, September 20, 1848, north half of south-west quarter, and lots three and four of section 32, township 29, range 22.
Lyman Dayton, October 16th, 1849, north half of south-east quarter, and lots 1 and 2 of section 32, township 29, range 22.
Benjamin F. Hoyt, December 22d, 1849, south- east quarter of north-west quarter section 32, township 29, range 22.
Benjamin W. Brunson, September 11th, 1848, west half of north-west quarter of section 32, township 29, range 22.
James McC. Boal, October 15th, 1848, north- east quarter section 1, township 28, range 23.
Hugh McCann, September 11th, 1848, north- west quarter of section 1, township 28, range 23.
H. H. Sibley, September 6th, 1848, east half of south-east quarter section 1, township 28, range 23.
Samuel Leech, September 11th, 1848, west half of south - east quarter section 1, township 28, range 23.
Samuel Leech, September 11th, 1848, east half of south-west quarter, section 1, township 28, range 23.
Richard Freeborn, September 7th, 1848, west half of south-west quarter, section 1, township 28, range 23.
In 1840, Benjamin Gervais built a log hut on the site of the residence of the late Louis Robert. The next year he sold to IIenry Jackson three acres of land, and on this, at the point of the bluff next the lower landing, in the block
where the Fire and Marine building now stands, Jackson built a log cabin, which subsequently became the great store house and chief dwelling of the place for many years. The price paid for this was forty dollars per acre. The store of IIenry Jackson was erected in 1842; that of J. W. Simpson, in 1843. The next business house was that of Louis Robert, which was built at the foot of what is now Jackson street. It was then considered as unwarrantably large, but the pas- sage of a few years found it too small, and Robert erected a larger and more costly structure on the ground where the present passenger station of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad is situated. This ground was also part of the claim of Benjamin Gervais, the whole remaining portion of the property of Gervais, being bought in 1844, for $350, by Louis Robert and Alexander R. McLeod. The latter, on his portion, erected a log building one story in height. From time to time its dimensions were added to, until it passed out of his possession, and, with yet farther en- largement, became the Central House.
Phelan's claim passed into the hands of Richard W. Mortimer, who paid $300 for it. The latter died in 1843, and his widow sold the claim for $400, to John R. Irvine, by whom it was entered.
It should be noted that, great as has been the growth of St. Paul, in the days of its earliest in- fancy, Stillwater was ahead of it in population, and at this mature period of its history it causes a smile to think that there was great rivalry be- tween the two cities in embryo. In 1846 and 1847, indeed, it seemed as if Stillwater was going to be the more important point of the two. It was greatly owing to the efforts of Henry M. Rice that the tide finally turned in favor of St. Paul. At a very early date he was in charge of a heavy Indian trade, his operations extending north to the British possessions, and as boats could not reach Mendota, (where Rice was then located) when the water was at a low stage, he located his headquarters here, and his large influ- ence was exerted in favor of the place. His ben- efactions to this city and state have been many and will long serve to perpetuate his memory. He built warehouses, erected hotels and business blocks, and induced men of means and enterprise to locate here. He has aided in the erection of very many churches, at a time, too, when without
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his assistance, they would not have been built. Ile gave money and land to Methodists, Presby- terians and Baptists, and to the Catholics a large tract, on a part of which now stands St. Joseph's Hospital. To the city he gave the park that bears his name. Much legislation in favor of St. Panl was obtained. chiefly through his efforts.
In 1847, through the efforts of Henry Jackson and Louis Robert, the town, or rather the site of the yet unborn town, was surveyed. Already there were quite a number of settlers, although the native Indians were more numerous than the whites, and claims had been transferred several times, and the want of definite boundaries was felt. Jackson and Robert recognized this want, and their foresight was such as to give them faith in the ultimate possibilities of the growth of the place, and therefore of the need of accurate meas- urement of property, before too great complica- tions arose.
As yet the general government had had no sur- vey made of this region, but in the fall of this same year, the United States surveyors arrived and run township lines, and made the subdivi- sions.
No entry therefore could be made of the plat, which embraced an area of ninety acres. but at the conclusion of the township survey, which was made by Ira B. Brunson, assisted by his brother Benjamin W. Brunson, the lots were deeded to the owners. The signatures on the recorded plat were those of Louis Robert, David Lambert, Henry Jackson, Benjamin W. Brunson, Charles Cavilier, Henry HI. Sibley, J. W. Bass, A. L. Larpenteur, William II. Forbes, J. W. Simpson, Henry C. Rhodes, L. II. La Roche, J. B. Coty, and Vetal Guerin.
The years 1847, 1848 and 1849 composed a period of metamorphosis. Slowly the elements necessary to the formation of a future city were gathering. Each year their aggregate weight and diversity increased; maturative and accretive in- flences slowly but surely tended towards crystali- zation, and in 1849 the law of evolution produced St. Paul as a town; In 1848 the nuclei of civiliza- tion consisted of a church, that established by Father Galtier, and from which the town took its name, a school and a hotel. The school was taught by Miss Catherine Bishop and was kept in a log cabin situated on the site of Dr. Manns
present block at the corner of Third and St. Peter streets. The hotel was kept by J. W. Bass, who called it the "St. Paul House." It was quite an extensive affair for that time, and occupied the site of the present Merchants Hotel.
During the year 1848 quite a number of addi- tions were made to the population of the place, among whom was HI. M. Rice, who obtained, by purchase, the east half of the north-west quar- ter of section 6, town 28, range 22 west. The amount paid to John R. Irvine the owner, by Rice, for this tract was $250. It was also during the year 1848 that the celebrated Stillwater con- vention was held; and the purchase of the town site effected from the government, both of which events will be found to be fully treated in the chapters more particularly devoted to Ramsey county.
The year 1849, may justly be reckoned as an epoch in the history of St. Paul. For now it be- comes a place of some importance and possesses a legal name; and it is a year crowded with events having a deep influence on its future growth and prosperity.
The newly appointed governor, Hon. Alexan- der Ramsey arrived, and the territorial govern- ment was organized, the first session of the leg- islature being held at St. Paul. Ramsey county, was created, and the elections for county officers held. The town of St. Paul was incorporated November 1st, and the institution of the regular forms of civil government, had the natural effect of bringing this region into public notice and inducing a heavy immigration. The greatest of activity prevailed; hotels and buildings were erected as fast as possible, and was often a hard matter for strangers to find sleeping accommodations. Three newspapers were started, public schools were organized, lodges started, and altogether considered, the progress made in the short space of twelve months was really wonder- ful. It was solid substantial progress; real prog- ress in fact. On May 27th, when Governor Ram- sey arrived, the steamer which brought him did not have a pound of freight to land here. Ere the season of navigation had closed, however, over one hundred boats had arrived, each with merchandise, and at the close of the year, the busi- ness transactons of the store-keepers amounted to a total value of 131,000. Next season the num-
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
ber of boats that arrived was one hundred and ninety-four.
It may be interesting at this point to take a glance at the topography of the town at this, its initial, year. All was wild and picturesque, the land was almost as from the womb of Nature, the patient toil of man had not effected the mighty changes since made. While beautiful to look at, much, as may be seen, was required to make it conform to the requirements of a modern city. Starting at Jackson street the bluff rose abruptly to a height of from fifty to sixty feet ; passing thence it continued in a south-west direc- tion toward Minnesota street, where it was joined by a second range of bluffs having a north-west direction through blocks 24, 19 and 20, of St. Paul proper, and 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Bazille and Guer- in's addition. This range rises and forms the second bench. Then a long line of bluffs com- menced at the northern terminus of Minnesota street running in a south-western direction along the entire length of the city, forming the third bench. Above this line the surface was more level. At the intersection of Third and Wash- ington streets another range left the river range running nearly east through blocks 28, 24 and 25, of Rice and Irvine's addition. At Minnesota street the first or river range, which had an elevation of about eighty feet, turned more to the west, bearing a little from the river at Douglas street, losing its bold appearance as the west was approached, being only forty feet in height at Donglas street, and from there gradually disappearing. Returning to the foot of Jackson street the bluffs toward the east were broken by a ravine about sixty feet in width. Passing the ravine these bluffs fell back from the river some ten rods, where they rose again to a height of fifty feet, where they started in a half circular form, passing through blocks 30, 27 and 17, in St. Paul proper.
Baptist Hill, which has been referred to in ear- lier chapters, was formed by another range of bluffs, which passed in almost regular form within Whitney and Smith's addition. The top of this prominence presented a nearly level sur- face. At the south-east extremity of Baptist Hill the bluff projected in almost a straight line through blocks 45 to 52 in Kittson's addition, (with an arm falling back through the same ad-
dition in an eastern direction) and on towards Dayton's bluff.
In blocks 5 and 6 of St. Paul proper, was a swamp, which covered about two acres ; this had its outlet through the ravine already mentioned, which opened to the river at the foot of Jackson street. This topographical description will be better understood by making a reference to the map made by S. P. Folsom, the city surveyor, in the year 1854, in which the topographical feat- ures are clearly defined. In order to reduce this very uneven surface much excavation and filling was necessary, so that the changes made have been very marked. Baptist Hill has been cut down some forty feet. All of Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, between Mississippi and Jackson streets, in the early days was an impass- able swamp. That portion of Kittson's addition lying east and south of the bluffs, has been filled up to a height of from ten to twenty feet, nearly all of which space is now used for railroad pur- poses.
At the junction of Mississippi street with the bluff, the excavation has been fully fifty feet, and again, at the corner of Mout Airy and L'Orient streets, the same depth has been cut. The fill on blocks 5, 6 and 20, of old St. Paul proper, varies from ten to twenty-five feet. From the plateau on the third bench, a small brook descended, in its course passing through Vine, along Exchange to Franklin, and thence to the river at Chestnut street. The course of this old brook has been utilized in the construction of the city sewers. Dense growths of heavy timber covered the whole front of Rice and Irvine's, and Kittson's addition; the immediate vicinity of the city hall as far up as Seven Corners, and down what was formerly called Eagle creek; the ground between the capi- tol and the bluff, and where the First Baptist church and the residences of Sibley, Wilder and Thompson now stand. The only place where a steamboat could effect a landing, was at the foot of Jackson street, where there was a strip of land some sixteen feet in width, extending down the river two hundred feet. At high water, even this was all covered. No better idea of the place can be given than the following article, taken from a newspaper published in 1851.
" BENCH STREET IN 1849."
" It may be interesting to those who come after
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us to know that, at this time (1851), the bluff be- tween Bench street and the river, from near the foot of Jackson street to the street leading down to the upper landing, is now in a wild state of nature, the only building between the two points above named being an old log house at the mouth of that slough into which the steamer Dr. Frank- lin ran last spring and broke away a boom of pine logs. All the buildings on Bench street in April, 1849, above the Catholic church were Vetal Guer- in's at the junction of Third and Bench ; two log houses a little east of Mr. Neill's church (at the corner of Bench and St. Peter streets), on the lot where Mr. Goodhue's house now stands ; two log houses on the street near the junction of Hill street ; an old rookery on the south side near the foot of Capitol street, and the house of John R. Irvine on the north side, which was a round log house chinked and daubed. We call it Bench street as far as the street follows along the edge of the bluff, that is from the foot of Jackson street at the lower landing to its intersection with Fort street, where Monk's hall stands, and where Mr. Winslow is about to erect a new hotel. Ly- ing east of the Catholic church there was an old log building into which the Central House was en- grafted in 1849, which has since been and still is (1851) the principal hotel at the lower end of the towu, and in which the first territorial legislature met. The next east was the house belonging to Louis Robert, the next being the old log build- ing on the corner of Bench and Robert streets (erected by J. W. Simpson in 1843) in the end of which Mr. Creek sells tobacco, etc., and east of that again was the building occupied by William H. Forbes as the ' St. Paul Outfit.' At the cor- ner of Bench and St. Charles streets, so called, was Henry Jackson's place, There were then no stairs at the foot of Bench street; stairs were built in 1850. (At the foot of Jackson street, at the landing, on the west side, was Randall's store, and on the east side stood Louis Robert's store, East of Robert's store was Charles Cavilier's harness shop,)
THIRD STREET IN 1849.
"At the lower end of Third street stood an old log house, the principal grocery store in the place. At the corner of Third and Jackson streets stood the first taveru, which was kept by J. W. Bass.
Previous to the erection of this tavern, IIenry Jackson entertained all who arrived at the place, without charge. Here, also, stood the store of Mr. Hopkins, and on the opposite corner was A. L. Larpenteur's store and dwelling. Just west of this was an old building not wholly completed, which belonged to the fur company, which was soon after finished for the occupancy of Governor Ramsey. A. R. French then had a saddler's shop and house near by, on the north side of Third street, next to which was a frame building belonging to Mr. Lull, where, afterwards, the Pioneer was first printed. Besides these, on this street were Dr. Dewey's office and drug store, the fur store of Ewing & Co., kept by Olmsted & Rhodes ; the office of Babcock & Wilkinson ; the shop of McCann, and the law office of William D. Phillips."
ROBERT STREET IN 1849.
"The first that would be noticed at that day, was a log grocery store kept by one La Roche; the next, Nobles' new blacksmith shop, and on the other side, Benjamin W. Brunson's house, which was situated on block 11, lot 16. This was a large, and, for that day, a very elegant structure. "Wm. Freeborn's house, and that of B. F. Hoyt, were on lots 3 and 4, of block 7, fronting Ninth street. These were only a portion of the build- iugs then in existence, but were the most promi- nent." At this period Third street, beyond the site of the present Pioneer Press office was al- most impassable, it being blocked by a ledge of huge limestone rocks. Across Jackson street, a deep ravine existed at about Fourth street, which was spanned by a rude bridge. Through this ravine flowed a brook of clear, fresh water. A Mr. Moffet, a man of peculiar notions, at an early day began to build at the bottom of this ravine, and continued the house uutil it reached the top of the bluffs. Afterwards this was filled up by the city authorities,and the Warren House, as it is now called, while having four stories above ground, also contains the two beneath the ground as ori- ginally built by Moffet. At the corner of Bencli and Minnesota streets, was the old Central House, now long since burned to the ground. Where now stands the Merchants Hotel, stood a small log cabin, built by La Roche, and first used by S. P. Folsom as a public house. This he afterwards
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
transferred to J. W. Bass. The claim-house of Vetal Guerin stood where Ingersoll's block now is.
At this time the total number of buldings, including those in process of construction. was one hundred and forty-two. Included in this number were three hotels, four warehouses, ten stores, several groceries, three boarding houses, two printing offices, two drug stores, one fruit and tobacco store, a school house, several black- smith shops, one wagon shop, and a billiard and bowling saloon. Among these there was not to be found a single stone or brick building.
The territorial census which was made this year, gave a total population to the town of 840, of which 540 were males, and 300 were females.
At this time, while there were only ten stores in existence, there were fourteen lawyers lo- cated in the place. Their incomes from purely legal business must have been rather meagre, and their faith in the future litigious disposition of the inhabitants must have been great.
The territorrial government was declared by proclamation issued June 1st, to be duly organ- ized. On July 7th, the secretary, Hon. Charles K. Smith, having arrived two days previously, Governor Ramsey issued the notice for the elec- tion of councillors and representatives, and for the election of a delegate to congress, to take place August 1st, the time for the assembly of the legislature being fixed for Monday, Septem- ber 3d. St. Paul had been designated by the pro- visions of the enabling act as temporary capital; the place for the permanent one was left to the people of the territory to decide. St. Paul, Still- water and St. Anthony each desired the honor, and a struggle ensued as to where it should be located; a struggle that was kept up through re- curring sessions of the legislature. It was not until 1872 that the question was definitely and de- cisively settled.
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