USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 56
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The death of "Old Bets" occurred during this year, at Mendota, on May 1st. She had lived all her life in the vicinity of St. Paul, and was for long regarded as a sort of privileged character by the inhabitants, chiefly owing to the fact that she had rendered many little services to captives in the hands of the Indians during the . Sioux war, in 1862. Her photograph was an arti- cle that tourists always carried away with them as a souvenir of their visit to St. Paul. Common rumor attached to her the reputation of having
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SAINT PAUL-CAPITOL BURNED.
attained to a great age, it usually being put down as a hundred years. Authentic accounts, how- ever, put her age, at her decease, at between sev- enty and eighty. She was a full blooded Sioux, and had several children. Prior to her death she had embraced the Christian religion, her conver- sion being effected by Father Ravoux, and she was buried according to the rites of the Catholic church.
The chief event of consequence, in 1874, was the revision of the city charter by the legislature, and the absorption of the former city of West St. Paul, it being made into the Sixth ward. The history of this act will be found in the chapter devoted to West St. Paul.
From this period there are few matters that can be recorded without trespassing upon the subjects treated on succeeding pages, under the divisions relating to public institutions, commerce, schools, churches, railroads, etc.
In 1875, the population of the city had risen to 33,178, and in 1880, according to the Federal cen- sus, to 41,750.
The record of building statistics for the year 1880, shows a footing of 729 buildings, erected at a cost of $2,789,941. The close of 1881 will show a larger aggregate than even this.
The only event yet to be mentioned is the burning of the capitol, which took place March 1st, 1881. The alarm was sounded, from box 15, at ten minutes after nine in the evening. The flames made such rapid headway, that in ten minutes after the fire was discovered, they were above the flag staff. Both houses were in session when the alarm was given. Members rushed to the doors of their respective chambers, only to be met by billows of flame that drove them back. They had recourse to the windows, and were rescued by means of ladders. In less than twenty minutes from the time the fire had reached the cupola, the roof fell. The origin of the fire has ever since been wrapped in mystery; some declare it to have been the work of an incendiary, to save the prospective passage of the bond bill. Every effort was made to save the records, which met with much success. The His- torical Society, which had rooms in the basement, liad the most of its books saved, to the extent of 10,000 bound, and 13,000 unbound volumes. Mr. Williams, however, lost his private library, which
was a valuable one. The St. Paul Academy of Science was also a heavy loser. Fortunately, all the valuables of the secretary and treasurer were locked in the vaults. The building was entirely destroyed, and there was no insurance.
As soon as the alarm was sounded Mayor Daw- son had the city market warmed and lighted, and tendered it for the use of the legislature, and there the next morning it Accordingly assembled, and it has since continued to serve as the capitol. Action was soon taken to secure the erection of a new structure, which is now being pushed for- ward so as to be ready for occupancy as soon as possible.
With the past two decades as an index, and the evidences of prosperity and vitality that strike the eye at every point, it is evident that within a startlingly short period these figures will be doubled. It is a magnificent, an imperial future that awaits the unfolding of time. The rapid development of the state, and the marvellous growth of its agricultural interest, the interest that more than aught else affords the surest foundation for material prosperity, are influences that are operating with signal force upon St. Paul. It is the focus of the railroad system of the great North-west, and this, added to the continuous growth of immigration, necessarily furnishes a powerful impulse to commercial growth. Its sit- uation at the head of navigation was the primal cause of its great trade, and this union by river and rail transit will always inure to its benefit as giving it low rates of transportation. Minneapo- lis owes its chief importance to its manufactures, and these, on account of its possession of un- rivalled water power will always grow in magni- tude and increase in numbers. St. Paul, on the contrary, will always owe its pre-eminence to mercantile rather than industrial causes. Already of vast importance and extent, its trade is but in its infancy, and the ascendancy already gained in this realm will always be maintained and give it permanent prominence as the great entrepot of the North-west.
Unlike most trade centers the situation of St. Paul is one of great natural beauty, offering many attractions to the tourist, many thousands of whom annually arrive. The approach by the winding river which sweeps past the white sand- stone bluffs, from which its Indian name of Im-
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
mi-ja-ska is derived, is one affording gratification to all lovers of scenery. Within easy distance are a number of beautiful lakes, chief of which are lakes Como, Elmo, Phalen and White Bear, while the walks to the heights afford views of extreme loveliness. The pleasures of its subur- ban drives, views and resorts, could be greatly enhanced with small outlay of capital. A piece of exquisite rural beauty is the city park, on the shores of Lake Como, containing 260 acres of land, possessing a natural adaptation for its pur- pose rarely to be met with. At present the chief energies of the citizens are turned to more utili- tarian ends, to the erection of huge business blocks, the construction and paving of city streets, the opening of sewers, and other objects of more direct practical value made pressingly necessary by the great growth of the city. But when this pressure shall be partly lifted, the in- crease of population and wealth will result in im- provements for merely esthetic purposes, and St. Paul will then become one of the most beautiful residence cities in the world. The natural ad- vantages she offers will be utilized to their high- est, and the enjoyment that comes from the con- templation of the beautiful having a reflex influ- ence upon the minds of the people will manifest itself in many ways to the advantage of the com- munity atlarge. Architecturally considered, the city already presents a good appearance to the stranger, and when the numerous immense build- ings now in course of construction in the district devoted principally to wholesale trade are com- pleted, few places of like size can boast of finer structures than St. Paul. In other portions of the city the era of wood has closed, and the age of brick and stone taken its place, so much so that those persons returning to St. Paul after the lapse of but a few years can hardly recognize streets, then containing only frame houses, now lined with more durable structures of brick. The changes in this direction have been particularly marked on Seventh street, which is fast becoming one of the principal streets devoted to retail trade purposes. St. Paul has much accumulated wealth within its limits which finds its expres- sion in the number of handsome residences that ornament its streets in different parts of the city. A particularly eligible district is that in the neighborhood of Summit Avenue and the top of
St. Anthony IIill. From the height there the views to be obtained of the city and river are very fine.
The changes made in the natural configuration of the land, in order to create this thriving hive of men, have been many. The office of city en- gineer has been no sinecure, as its records will attest. The inequalities and eccentricities of dame Nature have been tamed and softened, at the expense of much time and money. Hills have been cut down and valleys filled up, swamps drained, and brooks and streams blotted out of existence, and the triumphant toil of man has achieved results thoroughly typical of the enter- prising, self-reliant, independent spirit of the country in which we live. It is to be regretted that the founders of St. Paul were too much occu- pied with the multifarious concerns of their pres- ent to look much ahead into the future. Had they possessed sufficient prophetic insight to see the ultimate destiny of their town, they would, undoubtedly, have paid more attention to the re_ quirements of the coming great city, and given us wider streets ; but had any one of these pioneers given expression to sentiments implying that such mighty progress was likely to be made in the near future, he would no doubt have been stigmatized as a visionary and a dreamer, for it is an impor- tant psychological principle that the human mind, so long as it is compelled to strain its faculties in a struggle for existence, cannot indulge in poetic activity. Though there is unmistakable evidence of the streets having been laid out according to a pre-conceived plan, many of them show plainly that in their infancy they had a wayward will of their own that has required to be since corrected ; that, necessarily, however, had to leave many parts somewhat compressed. Much of the second platean, on which the city is built, is a bed of limestone rock, some twenty feet in thickness, which affords a splendid building material, which has been largely utilized. In some instances, the excavations necessary to make the ground ready for building upon, have furnished sufficient stone for the building to go up on its site. Underlying this limestone rock, in the main business portion of the city, is a friable, white quartzose sandstone, of unknown depth, easily cut into, and through which all the sewers in that section have been tunneled. There are now nearly fifteen miles of
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SAINT PAUL-OFFICIAL ROSTER.
sewers constructed, and more are proposed. The city also has a good natural drainage.
St. Paul has an area of twenty square miles, or 12,800 acres, and possesses 281} miles of streets graded and improved. The streets are well lighted with gas except in the outlying districts, and water is supplied of a remarkably pure quali- ty from Lake Phalen, which is a short distance from the city, situated at an elevation that affords a good natural pressure.
The public buildings cannot be regarded as of high types of beauty, save and except the Custom House and Post-office on Wabasha street, but the church and school edifices will compare more than favorably with any place of twice the size and importance of St. Paul. Every religious de- nomination is represented, the number of churches being more than fifty. There are thirteen public schools and sixteen select schools and academies. Libraries, hospitals, orphan ayslums and other benevolent and charitable institutions, and other manifestations of higher civilization, a liberal and enlightened daily and weekly press, fourteen building societies teaching frugality and economy, judicious and well administered laws and an order- ly, peaceable population. The ethnological variety of this population is somewhat remarkable; al- most all races of people and nationalities are rep- resented in the census reports. And be it ob- served that this happy commingling of the people of the earth has the effect of rendering St. Paul a liberal minded city, cosmopolitan in tone, gener- ous in its sympathies, and progressive in its ideas.
The old pioneers that opened up the unknown country, since become such a thriving common- wealth, are passing away ; as a matter of record, therefore, it will be well to present a list of those yet retaining a corporate existence in the year 1881. The following are the names of those gen- tlemen forming the organization known as " The Old Settlers" (which meets in annual sessions), who were present at the last roll-call in June, 1881: HI. H. Sibley, Wm. P. Murray, Richard Chute, Bart. Presley, J. W. Bass, Aaron Good- rich, Oliver Parsons, A. D. Nelson, H. F. Mas- terson, Hon. Alex. Ramsey, Joseph Guion, John B. Spencer, A. L. Larpenteur, II. L. Moss, J. Villaume, Thos. Odell, B. W. Lott, Dr. J. H. Murphy, Sylvester Stateler, B. F. Irvine, A. II. Cavender, David Day, Dr. John Dewey, John
Wensinger, Robert Whitacre, Thomas Barton, W. B. Quinn, John A. Ford, Norman W. Kittson, S. P. Folsom, Geo. L. Becker, Edmund Rice. M. N. Kellogg, Lorenzo Hoyt, H. M. Rice, C. V. P. Lull, Capt. R. Blakely, James Shearer, Ans. Northrup, C. E. Leonard, J. D. Ludden, Ed. Bussette, E. Y. Shelley, H. R. Gibbs, B. W. Brunson, W. C. Morrison, Benj. H. Randall, James Thompson, Wm. Russell, E. H. Aker, John Rogers, J. Mahoney, Nathan Myrick, Joseph Reed, W. H. Campbell.
OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THE CITY OF ST. PAUL.
Mayors-1854, David Olmsted; 1855, Alexan- der Ramsey; 1856, George L. Becker; 1857, J. B. Brisbin; 1858, N. W. Kittson; 1859, D. A. Rob- ertson; 1860, '1, '2, '5, '6, John S. Prince; 1863, J. E. Warren; 1864, '8, '72, '3, '4; Dr. J. H. Stewart; 1867, George L. Otis; 1869, '75, '6, '7; J. T. Max- field; 1870, '1, William Lee; 1878, 79, '80, William "Dawson; 1881, Edmund Rice.
City treasurer-1854, '5, '6, 77, '8, Daniel Roher; 1859, '60 '1, 72, '3, Charles A.Morgan; 1864, '5, C. T. Whitney; 1866, '7, 8, '9, N. Gross; 1870, to July 10th, 1873, M. Esch; from July 10th, 1873, to the present time, 1881, F. A. Renz.
City justice-1854, to '9, Orlando Simons; 1860, to '3, Nelson Gibbs; 1864, '5, A. McElrath; 1866, 77, E. C. Lambert; 1868, '9, O. Malmros; 1870, '1, Thomas Howard; 1872, '3, '4, A. McElrath; 1875, to '81, S. M. Flint; 1881, W. T. Burr, term ex- pires in 1885.
City clerks-1854, '5, Sherwood Hugh; 1856, '7, L. P. Cotter; 1858, A. J. Whitney, resigned, and Isaac II. Conway, elected; 1859, '60, John II. Dodge; 1861, to September 12th, 1862, L. P. Cotter; 1862, September 12th, to October 15th, 1866, K. T. Friend; 1866, from October 15th, to 1868, B. W. Lott; 1868, '9, John J. Williams; 1870, to '79, M. J. O'Connor; 1879, '81, Thomas A. Prender- gast.
Comptroller-1854, '5, F. McCormick; 1856, G. W. Armstrong; 1857, A. T. Chamblin; Sher- wood Hough, vice Chamblin, resigned; T. M. Metcalf, vice Ilough, resigned, July 21st; 1858, to '62, William von Hamm; 1863, C. H. Lienau; 1864, Henry Schiffbauer; 1865, to '81, John W. Roche. .
Attorney-1854, D. C. Cooley; 1855, J. B. Bris- bin; 1856, I. V. D. Heard; 1857, C. H. Penning-
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
ton, resigned; H. J. Horn; 1860, S. R. Bond; 1861, '64, S. M. Flint; 1865, '6, '7, I. V. D. Heard; 1867, '8, Harvey Officer; 1869, to '76, Willis A. Gorman; 1876, to 'S1, W. P. Murray.
Engineer-1854, Simeon P. Folsom; 1855, '6, J. A. Case; 1857, J. T. Halsted; 1858, D. L. Curtice; 1859, F. Wipperman; 1860, Gates A. Johnson; 1861, '2, Charles A. F. Morris; 1863, to '68, Chas. M. Boyle; 1869, to '73, D. L. Curtice; 1874, '5, D. W. Wellman; 1876, to '80, J. S. Sewell; 1881, L. W. Rundlett.
City Marshal-1854 to '7, William R. Miller.
Chief of Police-1858, '9, John W. Crosby; 1860, John O'Gorman; 1861, II. II. Western; 1862, James Gooding; 1863, Michael Cummings, Jr .; 1864, J. R. Cleveland; 1865, '6, G. W. Turn- bull, John Jones, rice Turnbull, resigned; 1867, '8, '9, J. P. McIlrath; 1870, '1, L. IF. Eddy; 1872, '3, '4, J. P. McIlrath; 1875 to '8, James King; 1878 to '81, Charles Weber.
Physician and Health Officer- 1856, Samuel. Willey; 1857, '8, J. V. Wren; 1859, J. H. Ver- vais; 1860, '1, T. R. Potts; 1862 to June, 1866, A. R. Brisbin; 1866, T. R. Potts; 1867 to '70, Brewer Mattocks; 1871, M. IIagan; 1872, '3, T. R. Potts; 1874, '5, Brewer Mattocks; 1876, '7, C. E. Smith; 1877 to '80, Brewer Mattocks; 1881, Stewart and Wheaton.
Wharfmaster-1858, S. R. Champlin; 1859, Andrew R. Kiefer; 1860, Louis Semper; 1861, James J. Hill; 1862, John B. Cook; 1863, James Hall, Paul Faber; 1864, T. K. Danforth; 1865, IIenry Constans; 1866, Louis Krieger; 1867, John O'Connor; 1868, G. A. Borup; 1869 to '71, Pat- rick Butler; 1872, H. D. Masters. After that year the office was discontinued.
Market Master-1859, '60, N. J. March; 1861, Jacob Heck; 1862, '3, '4, Michael Cummings, Sr .; 1865, '6, 77, N. Gibbs; 1868, '9, John O'Connor; 1870,John Lunkenheimer; 1871 to'81,P.McManus.
Chief Engineer of the Fire Department-1854, William Stees; 1855 to '8, C. II. Williams; 1859, J. B. Irvine; 1860, '1, J. E. Missen; 1862, W. T. Donaldson; 1863, L. II. Eddy; 1864, J. C. A. Rickett; 1865, C. H. Williams: 1866, '7, '8, B. Presley; 1868, '9, Frank Breuer; 1870, 71, J. C. Prendergast; 1872, R. O. Strong; 1873, '4, '5, M. B. Farrell; 1875 to '81, R. O. Strong.
Superintendent of Schools-1856, 77, '8, Rev. E. D. Neill; 1859, B. Drew; 1860 to '72, Rev. Jolin
Mattocks; 1872, '3, George M. Gage; 1874 to '7, L. M. Burrington; 1878 to '81, B. F. Wright.
Street Commissioners-1860, R. C. Knox; 1861, "2, Patrick Murnane; 1863 to '68, John Dowlan; 1870, -- Nelson. Since 1870, the supervision of streets has been vested in the board of public works.
ALDERMEN.
1854-Charles Bazille, George L. Becker, Chas. S. Cave, A. T. Chamblin, Thomas Fanning, John R. Irvine, R. C. Knox, Richard Marvin.
1855-Charles Bazille, George L. Becker, Wil- liam Branch, Charles S. Cave, A. T. Chamblin, John R. Irvine, R. C. Knox, A. L. Larpenteur Richard Marvin, William H. Nobles.
1856-Charles Bazille, George L. Becker, Chas. S. Cave, A. T. Chamblin. Charles L. Emerson, John R. Irvine, Richard Marvin, W. H. Nobles, Patrick Ryan.
1857-L. Marvin, William Branch, C. H. Schur- meier, A. L. Larpenteur, W. B. McGrorty, N. W. Kittson, II. J. Taylor, C. L. Emerson, Patrick Ryan.
1858-C. H. Schurmeier, L. Marvin, William Branch, Patrick O'Gorman, A. L. Larpenteur, W. B. McGrorty, Nicholas Gross, William HI. Wolff, Thomas Grace, H. M. Dodge, II. J. Taylor, C. L. Emerson.
1859-William Branch, C. II. Schurmeier, Luke Marvin, M. J. O'Connor, Patrick O'Gorman, A. L. Larpenteur, R. C. Wiley, Nicholas Gross, W. II. Wolff, Peter Berkey, II. M. Dodge, H. J. Taylor.
1860-William Branch, C. II. Schurmeier, R. H. Fitz, M. J. O'Connor, Patrick O'Gorman, IF. P. Grant, R. C. Wiley, Nicholas Gross, C. M. Dailey. Peter Berkey, H. M. Dodge, William M. Corcoran.
1861-William Branch, James E. Thompson, R. II.Fitz, M. J. O'Connor, W. P. Murray, II. P. Grant, R. C. Wiley, Nicholas Gross, C. M. Dailey, Peter Berkey, L. Il. Eddy, William M. Corcoran. October 19th John Steele vice Wm. Branch, re- signed.
1862-John Steele, L. E. Reed, Parker Paine, D. II. Valentine, J. E. Thompson, R. H. Fitz, R. C. Wiley, W. P. Murray, H. P. Grant, Adam Finck, Nicholas Gross, C. M. Dailey, J. R. Liv- ingston, L. II. Eddy, Wm. M. Corcoran. Sep- tember 19th I. P. Wright rice W. M. Corcoran.
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SAINT PAUL-OFFICIAL ROSTER.
November 6th, Charles Lienau rice C. M. Dailey, resigned.
1863-John Steele, L. E. Reed, Parker Paine, D. HI. Valentine, J. E. Thompson, J. G. Betz, R. C. Wiley, W. P. Murray, J. A. Peckham, Adam Finck, Nicholas Gross, I. P. Wright, J. R. Liv- ingston, L. H. Eddy, James King. November 17th S. K. Putnam vice Wiley, resigned.
1864-John Steele, L. E. Reed, Parker Paine, D. H. Valentine, W. P. Murray, M. Dorniden, Nicholas Gross, J. A. Peckham, I. P. Wright, Peter Berkey, J. G. Betz, J. R. Livingston, S. K. Putnam, J. B. Slichter, James King.
1865-J. I. Beaumont, L. E. Reed, Parker Paine M. Dorriden, W. P. Murray, D. H. Valen- tine, S. K. Putnam, Nicholas Gross, I. P.Wright, William Dawson, Peter Berkey, J. G. Betz, R. H. Fitz. J. B. Slichter, James King.
1866-L. E. Reed, J. I. Beaumont, Patrick Nash, W. P. Murray, M. Dorniden, James King, Nicholas Gross, S. K. Putnam, William Markoe; John Holland, William Dawson, G. W. Moore, J. B. Slichter, R. HI. Fitz, J. M. Keller; S. C. Madden, claimed Keller's seat. The contestants were allowed to draw lots. Madden was successful and accordingly took his seat. April 16th Wil- liam Gies rice Gross, resigned.
1867-L. E. Reed, C. L. Grant, Patrick Nash, W. P. Murray, M. Dorniden, James King, George Mitsch, S. K. Putnam, William Markoe, Richard Slater, Wm. Dawson, G. W. Moore, J. B. Slich- ter, R. II. Fitz, S. C. Madden. June, Thomas Shearan rice Dorniden, deceased; September, J. T. Maxfield vice Markoe, resigned; J. K. Hoff- man vice Slichter, resigned.
1668-L. E. Reed, Patrick Nash, Timothy Rear- don, W. P. Murray, James King, Thomas Shea- ran, George Mitsch, J. T. Maxfield, Peter Berkey, Richard Slater, G. W. Moore, Frank Jansen, J. K. Hoffman, S. C. Madden, William Rhodes. August 18th, M. Cummings vice W. P. Murray.
1869-L. E. Reed, Timothy Reardon, John Steele, M. Cummings, Thomas Shearan, W. B. Litchfield, George Mitsch, Peter Berkey, Thomas Grace, Richard Slater, Frank Jansen, L. II. Ed- dy, J. K. Hoffman, William Rhodes, F. Willius, M. B. Farrell vice Slater.
1870-Timothy Reardon, John Steele, B. Pres- ly, Thomas Shearan, W. B. Litchfield, M. Cum- mings, Peter Berkey, Thomas Grace, F. Breuer,
Frank Jansen, L. H. Eddy, H. J. Taylor, Wil- liam Rhodes, F. Willins, J. K. Hoffmann. W. P. Murray rice Litchfield, resigned August 31st; W. E. Hartshorn rice Rhodes, resigned November 10th.
1871-L. Krieger, John Steele, B. Presley, W. P. Murray, M. Cummings, Thomas Shearan, Thomas Grace, F. Breuer, J. T. Maxfield, L. H. Eddy, II. J. Taylor. G. A. Johnson, F. Willius, J. K. Iloffman, J. W. Fisher.
1872-73 -- B. Presley, L. Krieger, J. C. Quimby, Nelson Roberts, William Golcher, W. P. Murray, F. Breuer, J. T. Maxfield, Thomas Grace, H. J. Taylor, G. A. Johnson, F. Richter, J. K. Hoff- man; J. W. Fisher, F. Willius.
1874 -- L. Krieger, J. C. Quimby, John Dowlan, William Golcher, W. P. Murray, Louis Demeules, J. T. Maxfield, Thomas Grace, J. Metzdorf, G. A. Johnson, F. Richter, Frank Werner, J. W. Fish- er, F. Willius, F. Knauft.
1875-J. C. Quimby, John Dowlan, J. II. Rea- ney, W. P. Murray, Louis Demeules, John O'Connor, Thomas Grace, J. Metzdorf, Charles A. Morton, F. Richter, Frank Werner, G. A. Johnson, F. Willius, F. Knauft, J. W. Fisher, J. Minea, E. Longevin, J. C. McCarthy. Novem- ber, T. Heathcote, rice Fisher, removed.
1876-John Dowlan, J. II. Reaney, J. C. Quim- by, L. Demeules, John O'Connor, W. P. Murray, J. Metzdorf, Charles A. Morton, Thomas Grace, Frank Werner, G. A. Johnson, James Cleary, F. Knauft, Thomas IIeathcote, Thomas Bren- nan, E. Longevin, J. C. McCarthy, E. II. Wood. February, William Dawson rice Demeules, re- signed.
1877 -- A. Allen, John Dowlan, John O'Connor, William Dawson, Thomas Grace, P. J. Dreis, James Cleary, D. C. Shepard, C. W. Griggs, II. M. Smyth, William Rhodes, J. C. McCarthy.
1878 -- John Dowlan, A. Allen, William Daw- son, John O'Connor, P. J. Dreis, Thomas Grace, D. C. Shepard, C. W. Griggs, W. II. Sanborn, II. M. Smyth, William Rhodes, J. C. McCarthy. May, Pascal Smith, rice Shepard, resigned; N. W. Kittson, rice Dawson, elected mayor. No- vember, E. C. Belote, rice II. M. Smyth, resigned.
1879-A. Allen, John Dowlan, John O'Connor, N. W. Kittson, Thomas Grace, M. Breen, C. W. Griggs, W. II. Sanborn, Pascal Smith, William Rhodes, Thomas Brennan, Joseph Minea.
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
1880-A. Allen, John Dowlan, John O'Connor, N. W. Kittson, Thomas Grace, Charles N. Bell, C. Ringwald, U. D. Cornish, C. W. Griggs, Wil- liam Rhodes, Thomas Brennan, Joseph Minea.
1881-A. Allen, John Dowlan, John O'Connor, Joseplı Robert, Thomas Grace, Charles E. Otis, C. Ringwald, W. D. Cornish, C. W. Griggs, Her- man Trott, E. C. Starkey, J. C. McCarthy.
CHAPTER XLIV.
WEST SAINT PAUL.
The history of West St. Paul has been a some- what checquered one; its career has been attended by many vicissitudes of fortunes. It is difficult to give more than a mere outline of the changes it has undergone, owing to the very meager records that survive the extinction of its individuality as a city. It was a part of the territory secured under what is known as the Lousiana purchase.
The first white settler was Thomas S. Odell, who made a claim there, previous to the extinc- tion of the Indian title in 1850. He built a log house for trading purposes, which still stands on his property. The same year George W. H. Bell settled there; he subsequently became the first mayor of the city. Soon after this, in 1851 Henry Belland and Alexander R. McLeod settled there, and erected cabins. McLeod had been for some time in Minnesota, and had previously lived on the other side of the river as early as 1843. After moving to West St. Paul, he lived there most of his time, until enlisting in Company A, Sixth Minnesota Regiment. He died in Mis- souri while in the service. Mr. Belland still lives in West St. Paul, as do Mr. Odell and Mr. Bell. The ground in the vicinity of the river having a very slight elevation, and being subjected, there- fore, to the danger of floods, it was not thought to offer great advantages for settlement, as in those times claims were always made fronting the river whenever it was practicable. In the first days of its history, the Indians were numerous in its immediate neighbourhood, and
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