USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 74
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"ASTOR HOUSE, NEW YORK, April 19th, 1862. His excellency, ALEXANDER RAMSEY, gover- nor of Minnesota.
DEAR SIR: General Sanford, our minister res- ident at the court of Brussels has devolved upon me the pleasing duty of laying before you the ac- companying patriotic letters. These letters are not only for the present, but future generations. They are calculated to inspire lofty deeds and high moral daring, now and at all times, so po-
tent in the vindication of our national honor. In after time the historian will speak of them, and of the patriotism which called them forth. The kind manner in which the writer has been pleased to mention my name restrains me from further comment. "To the First Minnesota Vol- unteers, tribute to patriotism and valor. Brussels 1861 .??
" At the time this battery was ordered 110 regiment from Minnesota, save the First, had been placed under the fire of the enemy, lience none other could have been mentioned in the above presentation.
"General Sanford was a pioneer in Minnesota, I need not say, let him be made an honorary member of the Old Settlers association at its an- nual meeting in June next; yourself, Governor Sibley, Col. Oakes, J. E. McKusick, Lock Nelson, or some other member will see that it is done.
"The freight and charges upon this battery and its appurtenances to this city, have been paid by the donor, who in common with ourselves regrets the delay in its arrival at this port. Inasmuch as I am not certain as to the direction you desire these guns to take, and as they will not be removed until you shall claim or assume them for the state of Minnesota, I shall in the absence of other in- structions, request your friend Simon Stevens, Esq., No. 56 Broadway, to whom they were con- signed, to hold them subject to your order. I herewith send you a copy of the letter, of the secretary of the treasury to the collector of the port of New York, directing him to deliver to you the guns, etc., free of duty. I leave the city for Belgium, on board the Asia, bound for Liverpool, on the 23d inst. I am, sir, very respectfully,
AARON GOODRICII."
BRUSSELS, February 22d, 1862. "SIR: I have directed a small battery, consist- ing of three steel rifled cannon, of six pound cali- bre, with suitable ammunition, to be shipped to New York by this weeks steamer from England, and to be held there subject to your order. I beg to present them through you, to the state of which you are the honored head, for the First Minnesota Regiment of Volunteers. The efficien- cy and discipline of that regiment, as detailed in the public prints, and the conspicuous valor dis- played by it on the field at Bull Run and Ball's Bluff won my admiration, and my pride was
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heightened here in a foreign land, by encomiums which its conduct elicited from strangers. De- sirons of contributing further to the cause of the Union, I have thought that I could not do so more usefully than in having these guns made for its defence, and that they could not be entrusted to better hands than those of the gallant First Min- nesota.
" In our country, where we have no titles or de- corations to bestow, as in monarchies, merit looks for its reward to an appreciating people, and this tribute to patriotism and valor from a fellow citi- zen, may serve to those brave men as an evidence of appreciation, as an encouragement in this great struggle in which they are engaged, and as a last- ing testimonial in after time, of the admiration which I doubt not, is shared by a large majority of their countrymen.
" I pray your excellancy to be my medium of communication in offering these guns to the First Minnesota Regiment and to accept for yourself the assurance of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, your obedient ser- vant, HI. S. SANFORD.
" His excellency, ALEXANDER RAMSEY, gover- nor of Minnesota.
"Brussels, 22d February, 1862. In addition to my official letter of to-day, I will address you a few lines of more personal character. I have watched the development of your state with more than ordinary interest. Near twenty years ago I made on the steamboat Otter a trip from Dubuque to that then little known region, and in 1846 I crossed over from La Pointe to re-visit those lovely scenes which had deeply impressed me. I stopped on the present site of St. Paul at the only tenement then visible-a log cabin where a man named Jackson kept what is called a free tavern. I also spent a few days at Fort Snelling with Major Clark, and proceeded thence, with the aid of Mr. Sibley, to Petit Rochero, where I found my old friend La Framboise, and whence I started on a buffalo hunt across the plains to the upper Missouri. These events have left a profound impression upon my mind, and naturally, lead me to follow with special atten- tion and interest the wonderful progress of your beautiful state.
" The energy and patriotism you displayed at the outset of this war, could not therefore pass
unobserved or unappreciated by me, any more than the noble and gallant conduct of the Min- nesota volunteers, and on consultation with my friend, Judge Goodrich, the secretary of this le- gation, whose pride and interest in the state of his adoption is second only to his devotion to the Union, I concluded to make to Minnesota, as I had already done to my native state, Connecticut, an offering of steel cannon, as a best means of contributing to the cause of the Union, and of testifying my interest in, and appreciation of, your gallant volunteers. These guns were or- dered in England before the departure of Judge Goodrich; they were finished the very day of the Queen's proclamation forbidding the exportation of arms, and afterwards, on the indication of the judge from Washington, I directed the carriages to be made before being sent, which has delayed shipment until now, not too long, I hope, to pre- vent their useful employment in the service of the Country. You will thus appreciate, I am sure, the interest I feel in your state and its sons -an interest akin to that I feel for the state of my birth-and will not, I hope, consider this offering from a comparative stranger, as officious or intrusive. With my best wishes for a contin- ued career of honor and success in directing the destinies of your beautiful state, I remain, dear sir, with great respect,
Your Excellency's obedient servant, II. S. SANFORD." His Excellency, ALEXANDER RAMSEY.
Ramsey County Pioneers. Meets annually, at St. Paul, October 27th. This society embraces all who were residents of Ramsey county previous to the admission of the State into the general government. May 11th, 1858, Pioneers living in 1881: H. J. Taylor. I. C. George, J. F. Williams, T. M. Metcalf, J. W. McChung, Benjamin Brad- ley, Capt. E. Bell. Officers: David Ramaley, president, J. F. Williams, secretary, W. D. Rog- ers, treasurer.
St. Paul Sportsman's Club. The first meeting of the St. Paul Sportsman's club was held March 4th, 1861, in the second story, and over Wm. Gol- cher's gun store. First officers: A. B. Buchanan, president, Dr. David Day, vice-president, Daniel Roarer, secretary, Wm. Golcher, treasurer. The war broke out soon after, and interrupted the business of the club, but on July 16th, 1864, the
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club was re-organized, since which time it has been in active operation. The present member- ship is forty. The object is for the protection of game, and the rigid enforcement of the game laws. Present officers: Reuben Warner, pres- ident, S. Lee Davis, vice-president, C. A. Zim- merman, secretary and treasurer. The Sports- man's association was organized for the purpose of affording a union of action among the gentle- men of this state, having a love for field sports. to promote that social intercourse which is always engendered by a sympathy of tastes; to aid each other in acquiring the best information as to where and how favorite species of game might be hunted; and also to see, by an organized effort, that the laws of our state, for the preservation of game, shall be made as perfect, and enforced as rigidly, as possible.
The St. Paul Library Association was organ- ized on the 30th of October. 1863, by the Union of the libraries of the Young Men's Christian Association and of the Mercantile Library Asso- ciation.
The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1856, and kept open a free reading room until 1858, when the reading room was given up. In 1861, the association procured a room and opened a circulating library. Eligible rooms were secured in Ingersoll's block, and the library was opened with about five hundred new books. The list of books was increased from year to year, and when the union of the two libraries occurred, the Young Men's Christian Association had about one thousand volumes.
The Mercantile Library Association was or- ganized in 1857, and started out with a reading room, and about three hundred books on its shelves, mostly the contribution of its friends. Continuous efforts were made by its directors to keep up an interest in the association, but their efforts were not fully appreciated by the public. The society lingered along until 1862, when the directors made a more vigorous and successful effort, and raised funds enough to purchase about four hundred new books, making altogether, about one thousand volumes in the library at the commencement of the year 1863.
Thus, there were two associations, each asking the support of the public for the same objects, each having its friends, and each in a measure
the rival of the other. The directors of both associations felt the necessity of uniting their energies into one institution, which would at once take its place among the public institutions of the city, and afford reading facilities equal to the demands of the public.
A proposition for a conference of directors was made by the Young Men's Christian Association and accepted by the Mercantile Library Associ- ation. The result of that conference was a propo- sition to be submitted to the members of each association. The meetings were held, and full powers given to the directors to consummate the arrangements for union.
In accordance with the powers granted by their respective associations, the board of directors of the Mercantile Library Association and the Young Men's Christian Association met at the rooms of the latter, on Friday evening, October 30th, 1863. D. W. Ingersoll was chosen chair- man, and Charles E. Mayo, secretary. The members present were: D. W. Ingersoll, HI. M. Knox, George W. Prescott, E. Eggleston, W. S. Potts, D. D. Merrill, II. Knox Taylor, and F. D. Simonton of the Young Men's Christian Associ- ation, and D. A. Roberts, William Dawson, J. P. Pond, R. F. Crowell, W. B. Dean, D. Ramaley, R. O. Strong and C. E. Mayo of the Mercantile Library Association.
On motion of Mr. Knox the meeting proceeded to organize the St. Paul Library Association, on a basis adopted by the two societies. The fol- lowing officers were elected to serve for the re- mainder of the year 1863: D. W. Ingersoll, presi- dent, D. A. Robertson, vice president, C. E. Mayo, recording secretary, W. Dawson, treasurer, E. Eggleston, corresponding secretary and librarian.
The first annual meeting of the association was held at the library rooms on the 19th of January, 1864, and the following officers elected for 1864: D. W. Ingersoll, president, D. A. Robertson, vice president, W. H. Kelly, secretary, W. B. Dean, corresponding secretary, William Dawson, treas- urer. Directors, C. E. Mayo, E. Eggleston, George W. Prescott, H. M. Knox, Morris Lam- prey, D. Ramaley and W. S. Potts. At the annual meeting held at the library rooms Tues- day evening, May 10th, 1881, the following offi- cers were elected: IIon. Alex Ramsey, president. C. C. Andrews, vice president, B. F. Wright,
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treasurer, W. H. Kelly, secretary, G. W. Lam- son, corresponding secretary. Directors, H. K. Taylor, W. HI. Oxley, George B. Young, Charles E. Flandrau, E. F. Drake, James R. Walsh, M. D. Kenyon. Number of volumes in library, eight thousand.
Minnesota society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, was organized October 21st, 1869; incorporated under laws of the state, March 19th, 1870. Its object is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals, throughout the state of Minnesota. The business of the society shall be transacted, for the present, in the city of St. Paul.
At an annual meeting of the. state society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, it was unanimously agreed to proceed at once to the organization of a branch society, to be called the St. Paul society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, February 19th, 1878. The following board of officers and managers was elected for the ensuing year : president, W. L. Wilson ; vice- presidents, C. D. Gilfillan, A. H. Wimbish, Thos. Cochran, Dr. A. Wharton, C. P. Noyes ; treas- urer, James I. Jellett ; secretary, E. W. Chase ; managers, J. McKey, Julius Austrian, IIenry Dugan, II. A. Castle, Dr. B. Mattocks, N. McAfee, Henry Workman, W. L. Mitzen, A. P. Connelly. The officers and managers for 1881, are as follows : president, W. L. Wilson ; vice- presidents, M. McG. Dana, D. D., Dr. J. Wechsler, Thomas Cochran, Jr., A. II. Wimbish, Mrs. J, D. Ludden, Mrs. C. G. Iligbee, Miss Laura Hand ; treasurer, James I. Jellett ; attorney, W. E. Brimhall ; sec- retary, E. W. Chase ; veterinary surgeon, J. Jones. It is only about half a century since organ- ized effort to protect brute animals from cruelty was undertaken. By some it was ridiculed, by others despised. What a contrast was presented when, on June 22d, 1874, before an assembly of most distinguished people of Great Britain, the queen declared her warm interest in the cause, and the duke and duchess of Edinburg distributed prizes to each of some four hundred boys and girls from the different schools, who had writ- ten essays on the subject of cruelty to animals. Nearly every state in the union has now on its statute books a law for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
The Minnesota Boat Club, of St. Paul, was or-
ganized March 1st, 1870. Incorporated Decem- ber 18th, 1873. Its general purpose is the mutual improvement of the physical and bodily condition of its members. Its plan of operations is by the art of rowing and sailing in boats, upon the waters of the state, and by gymnastic exercises. Its place of location is the city of St. Paul. Offi- cers for 1881: John W. White, president, Chas. S. Marvin, first vice-president, D. E. Fogarty, sec- ond vice-president, W. H. Lightner, secretary, J. J. Watson, treasurer, II. M. Butler, captain, G. T. Becker, lieutenant, A. F. Schiffman, ensign. Directors: L. W. Rundlett, chairman, G. C. Squire, W.Granger. Location on Raspberry island, in the Mississippi river, opposite St. Paul. Val- ue of property now, is: land and boat-house,$4,500; boats and other movable property, $2,000. Fifty- two active members.
St Paul Academy of Natural Sciences. On the 4th of April, 1870, several gentlemen met at the office of E. II. Smith, M. D., for the purpose of discussing the matter of organizing an institution having for its special object the promotion of the natural sciences. At this meeting R. O. Sweeny, Esq., was elected chairman, and E. H, Smith, secretary. After a full discussion of the subject, it was decided that the organization of such an institution was both desirable and practi- cable. A committee on constitution and by-laws was appointed, and an adjourment made to the 2d of May following, at the same place. At the adjourned meeting, May 2d, 1870, a constitu- tion and code of by-laws were adopted, and the oaganization completed by the election of a board of officers. The original organization was com- posed of the following named gentlemen: D. W. Hand, M. D., F. T. Brown, D. D., E. H. Smith, M. D., Brewer Mattocks, M. D., Prof. B. F. Wright, II. L. Carver, Esq., R. O. Sweeny, Esq., C. II. Boardman, M. D., C. E. Smith, M. D., F. R. Smith, M. D., J. C. Terry, Esq., J. Fletcher Williams, Esq., C. E. Mayo, Esq., and Albert J. IIill, Esq. The first officers were: R. O. Swee- ny, president, F. T. Brown, D. D., first vice- president, W. II. Kelley, second vice-president, C. E, Smith, M. D. recording secretary, C. E. Mayo, corresponding secretary, J. F. Williams, treasurer, J. B, Chaney, librarian, and Charles Milne, curator. The Academy, from its organi- zation, was the recipient of liberal donations to all
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its departments from friends within and without the city of St. Paul. The Smithsonian institution was among its most liberal contributors outside of the city. At the annual meeting, in 1872, the cura- tor reported that there were not less than 125,000 specimens in the collection. Articles of incorpo- ration were duly filed May 4th, 1875. In May, 1879, the property of the Academy was removed from its former hall, in Wabasha block, to a room in the capitol, formerly occupied by the State His- torical society, and on the evening of March 1st, 1881, was entirely consumed by the fire which destroyed that building. It had a very valuable, though not large, library, which, with its natural history collections, was worth probably not less than five thousand dollars. The records and documents in the recording secretary's possession, and a few books and pamphlets in the president's hands, are all that remain of a once large and rare collection, covering nearly all departments of natural history. The Academy, however, does not propose to leave the field, but intends to re- sume its work at an early day. Liberal donations of specimens have already been offered to it, by numerous friends, and as soon as it can secure a suitable room will re-enter upon its work. Its present officers are: R. O. Sweeny, president, Prof. II. W. Slack, first vice-president, D. W. Ifand, M. D,, second vice-president, J. B. Chaney, recording secretary, H. W. Smith, corresponding secretary, D. L. Kingsbury, treasurer, J. Fletcher Williams librarian, Herbert W. Smith, curator. Although the capitol fire wiped out of existence its entire and valuable collections, and library, (the result of eleven years of hard work) the Academy does not propose to yield up the ghost, but will begin again where it began in 1870, and build up another collection and library, which, it is hoped, will be in some respects, more valuable than their first. As soon as a room can be secured, the institution will be in a condition to receive and properly take care of the numerous donations already tendered, as well as all that may be here- after. Its own members can, from their own private collections, contribute enough to make a very fair beginning, and they will do it.
Standard Club was instituted October 31st, 1875. The object of the club shall be to provide for its members, their families and friends, social, literary and musical, and dramatic entertain-
ments. First officers, in 1875, Joseph Oppenheim, president, Samuel Rosenfield, vice-president, L. Isaacs, recording secretary, Isadore Heiman, financial secretary, S. Bergman, treasurer; trus- tees, L. Goodkind, Julius Austrain, D. C. Sattler, M. Lichtnouer. Present officers, 1881, L. Isaacs, president, S. Sutzbach, vice-president, H. T. Sat- tler, recording secretary, M. Levy, financial sec- retary, S. Bergman treasurer.
The Equitable Aid Union. St. Paul Union, No. 124, was organized July 14th, 1880. The ob- ject of the society is to unite fraternally all per- sons of sound bodily health, socially acceptable, between the ages of sixteen and sixty-five years. To give equal benefits at death to both sexes. To give to women all the rights that social equality can bestow, and to grant her all the benefits secured to man in secret organizations. To es- tablish a benefit fund for men and women alike, for amounts ranging from $200 to $300 as shown by synopsis. The officers are as follows: J. II. Gile, chancellor, J. J. Lemon, advocate, D). Ram- aley, president, David McCaine, vice-president, II. Willhelme, secretary, R. H. Stevens, treas- urer, G. J. Rice, accountant, C. G. Higbee, M. D., med. examiner, F. J. Spear, warden, B. Bretag, auxillary, F. M. Stewart, sentinel.
The St. Paul guards, N. G. S. M. were organ- ized April 1st, 1880, and mustered into the state service April 26th, same year, by D. Bend, mus- tering officer. Officers at that time were: C. S. Bunker, captain, W. B. Bend, first lieutenant, W. HI. Oxby, second lieutenant. F. C. Sibley, sec- retary, Herman Scheffer, treasurer. Fifty mem- bers signed the call for organization; weekly drills were held in Pfeifer hall, Wabasha street, until the 15th of May, and were resumed Septem- ber 20th. In February, 1881, Captain Bunker re- signed, and First Lieutenant Bend was elected captain, subsequently Second Lieutenant Oxby was elected first lieutenant, and Sergeant F. P. Wright, second lieutenant. The company num- bers now sixty active members, with every pros- pect of recruiting up to one hundred. The uni- form consists of a double-breasted white frock coat with blue trimmings, light-blue trousers with black stripe, and helmets. Drills are now held in the large hall in the Market House, every Mon- day evening, and a high state of efficiency is maintained. The leading wholesale houses have
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recently presented the company with a stand of colors, costing one hundred dollars. The state has furnished the company with seventy-five breech-loading rifles of the latest pattern.
The Allen Light Guard, M. N. G. was organ- ized February 10th, 1881, and were soon after mustered in the state service, by Major Victor IIjortsberg, A. D. C. The company muster some sixty men at present, and recruiting is going on still. The uniform adopted is that worn in the regular army. Arms of the most approved pat- tern fill up their gun-rack, with complete accout- rements to correspond, and by steady drill once a week in the new Market House hall, the Allen Light Guard, though but recently organized, has become a highly effective, and well drilled mili- tary company. A large number of the most in- fluential business men in St. Paul are among the honorary members of the company. The military officers of the company, commissioned by the governor and commander in chief were as fol- lows: Charles A. Bigler, captain; Charles F. Push, first lieutenant; John P. Jacobson, second lieutenant. Subsequently Lieutenant Jacobson resigned and Ed. S. Bean was elected second lieutenant of the company. Officers first elected in the civil organization were: Col. A. Allen, president; George J. Mistch, vice-president; Thos. A. Prendergast, secretary; Hon. William Dawson, treasurer. Mr. Prendergast afterward resigning the secretaryship, William J. Sonnen, Esq., was elected to fill the place. The election of officors of Allen Light Guard, held July 14th, 1881, re- sulted as follows: Ed. L. Bean, captain; Chas. F. Push, first lieutenant; Fred. Hester, second lieutenant.
Ramsey County Medical society was organized February 18th, 1870, with twelve members. First officers, D. W. Hand, M D., president; A. Hor- ton, M. D., vice-president; Wm. Banks, M.D., cor- responding secretary; C. H. Boardman, M. D., recording secretary; S. D. Flagg, M. D., treasurer.
Object, to promote mutual improvement so as to avoid all sources of trouble arising from real or supposed breeches of etiquette, and for the ad- vancement of medical science. At each of their meetings there are papers read, and a debate fol- lows the reading of them. The society is now so managed that at least three papers are read at each of its monthly meetings, which are held the last
Monday of each month. The various branches of medicine, surgery and allied sciences are all dis- cussed during each year. Volunteer papers may be read at any of the stated meetings and patho- logical experiments and history of interesting cases are reported at any time. The society has been a great prompter for mutual improvement among the profession since its first inception, and still continues to do a vast amount of good. The so- ciety is in a flourishing condition, financially as well as otherwise; it has increased its membership from twelve in 1870, to thirty-seven in 1881. The present officers are, Daniel Leasure, M. D., pres- ident; Charles A. Wheaton, M. D., vice-president; C. E. Atkinson, M. D., corresponding secretary; Talbot Jones, M. D., recording secretary; E. J. Abbott, M. D. treasurer.
The Ramsey County Homeopathic medical society was organized in February, 1872, by the following : C. D. Williams, M. D., T. C. Schell, M. D., E. Walthers, M. D., J. T. Alley, M. D., C. G. Higbee, M. D., H. Wedelstaedt, M. D., C. Wiegmann, M. D. A constitution and by- laws, a code of medical ethics, and a fee bill, were drawn up and adopted by the society, and the following officers elected for the year 1872: pre- sident, T. C. Schell ; vice-president, E. Walthers ; secretary, J. B. Hall ; treasurer, C. D. Williams ; censors, J. T. Alley, C. G. Higbee, C. Wiegmann. In 1874, two new members were added, E. A. Boyd, A. E. Iligbee. In 1877, Electa R. Smith, M. D., became a member, and in 1878, J. W. Routh, M. D., HI. Hutchinson, M. D., and C. D. Dorion, M. D., became members. In 1879, W. F. Fisher, M. D., W. H. Caine, M. D., and Moni- ca Mason, M. D., united with the society, and in 1880, Charles Griswold, M. D., making a mem- bership of nineteen. 1881 finds the society in a most prosperous condition, holding regular monthly meetings, and doing good work under the following officers : president, J. W. Routh ; vice-president, W. F. Fisher ; secretary and trea- surer, Monica Mason; censors, C. D. Williams E. Walthers, C. Griswold.
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