History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 81

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 81

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

William Schmidt and Co., wholesale wines and liquors. This institution was established in 1864, on Eagle street, running a distillery at the same time. They continued at this point distilling and manufacturing liquors for four years, distilling all kinds of spirituous liquors, whiskies, brandies, gin, etc. In 1868 they built a large distillery on the corner of James and Toronto streets, (at the same time continuing the wholesale liquor trade on Eagle street), where they did a large manu- facturing trade for two years, until in 1870 the distillery was destroyed by fire. After the fire they removed to Sibley street. They did not re- build the distillery, but opened a large wholesale liquor house and remained on Sibley street until 1874, when they moved to No. 90 East Third street and stayed there until 1876. Up to this time the firm consisted of Wm. Schmidt and Mr. Rich- ter, which was dissolved at that time, Mr. Rich- ter selling his interest to Mr. Schmidt. Mr. S. then moved to No. 25 Robert street, his present location, and did business alone until 1879, when Mr. Miner entered the firm as partner, and the firm changed to its present style, William Schmidt and Company. They occupy a three-

463

SAINT PAUL-WHOLESALE HOUSES.

story stone building, the upper stories being used for dwellings and offices. For their business they use the first floor, for salesroom and office, the basement is used for storage of wines and liquors. They employ five men about their es- tablishment, and keep two traveling men con- stantly on the road. Their annual sales amount to $150,000. Their goods find a ready market all through the North-west.

Bowlin and McGeehan, importers and whole- sale dealers in wines, liquors and ales. This bus- iness was first started in 1869, under the firm name of Bowlin and Flannigan, continued under that head for a year. In September, 1870, the firm changed to Bowlin and McGeehan, Mr. Flannigan going out. The building they occupy at 38 Sibley street is 25x125 feet, four stories and a basement. They use every floor for their busi- ness, the basement is used mostly for imported goods, such as Rhine wines, Madeira, port and Bordeaux wines, also domestic wines of different kinds, and champagne. The first floor is used for office and salesroom, and the upper floors for storing liquors and bottling goods. They import large quantities of Scotch and English ales and porters, etc. By the aid of three traveling men their goods are introduced through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Dakota and Montana. They employ four men in the house who are constant- ly employed filling orders and shipping goods. At the commencement of their business they oc- cupied a small room on Sibley street, doing a moderate business of $60,000 per annum, but the past year their sales amounted to $450,000.

B. Kuhl and Company, wholesale wine and liquors. This is one of the largest establish- ments in St. Paul. The building covers an area of 40x150 feet, constructed of stone, three stories high, with basement and sub-cellar the full dimension of the building; the basement be- ing on a level with the ground in the rear, affords every facility for the receipt and shipment of goods, there being a rear as well as a front en- trance. The building is but one block from the steamboat landing and railroad depots. The basement room is used for handling and shipping goods. The first floor is occupied for the count- ing room and sale and store room. The second floor is used for the storing of case goods and imported liquors, and the most important of all

the conveniences the establishment possesses, is a cool, dry cellar beneath the basement, with an even temperature the year around, said to be the finest in the city, where fine imported and domes- tic wines are stored in endless variety and quantity. An elevator is constructed from the upper floor to the lower basement or wine cellar, enabling them to handle the largest size wine casks with perfect ease, and which further ena- bles them to hoist goods to any desired floor in the building. The different floors are devoted to a special line of goods, which are classified and arranged with a thorough knowledge of the de- mand and complete experience in this necessary and important part of the business; and it is safe to say that this house in its truly massive propor- tions is unequalled in this city or the North-west. They are importers of Rhine wines and Ken- tucky whiskies, where all the favorite brands are made. They make a specialty of Rhine wines, but by no means neglect other wines, which can be proven by a visit to their cellars. This firm has the control in this market of the O. F. C. "Hume," "Nelson," and Crystal spring whiskies, and besides this they are handling a number of Cincinnati brands of goods, including the world renowned McBrayer whisky. They do an exclu- sive wholesale business, which already extends over a great territory, and is constantly increas- ing. Representatives of the house are con- stantly on the road, and when we take into con- sideration the character and enterprise of the new firm, the fact that they only buy at first hands, we will not be surprised if their trade does not excell in a short time, any house of a like character, in this city or state. Their trade already extends throughout Minnesota, Iowa, West Wisconsin, Dakota, Manitoba and Montana.

Peabody Brothers and Company, wholesale dealers in wines, liquors and ales, No. 134 East Third street, St. Paul. In 1860, George Peabody started this business in a small room, 25x40 feet, on East Third street, with a small capital. At that early day railroads were scarce in Minnesota, and goods had to be hauled by team, and travel- ing in this new country was very tedious, and sometimes even dangerous. Roads, most of the time, in bad condition, so much so that traveling men were very reluctant to start out with their samples, for fear they would never reach their

464

HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.

destination, or get back home. After the death of George Peabody, which occurred in 1874, the firm changed to Peabody and Lyons. The busi- ness in the meantime had greatly increased. Geo. Peabody, previous to his death, had built a large addition to his store, and Charles Peabody, of the new firm of Peabody and Lyons, added another story to the building, in 1876. The size of the building in which they are doing business at present, is 24x100 feet, three stories, and a very commodious basement. The basement, which is well adapted to their business, being perfectly dry, and of an even temperature during winter or summer, is used for storing wines, whiskies, and imported ales. The first floor is used for offices and salesroom; the second and third floors are used for storage, packing, etc. In the spring of 1879, Peabody and Lyons sold out their stock to Perkins and Lyons, and Mr. Peabody retired from business for about a year. In April, 1880, the business was re-opened at the old stand, under the firm name of Peabody Brothers and Company, consisting of Charles Peabody, P. S. Peabody and Martin Flannigan Their business, which has assumed large propor- tions, extends through Minnesota, Iowa, Wiscon_ sin and Dakota. They keep three traveling salesmen constantly on the road. Their sales for the year, ending June 30th, 1881, were $90,000, and their business is rapidly increasing

Joseph Elles, wholesale wines and liquors. This establishment was started May 1st, 1880, at number 446 Wabasha street, under the name and style of Pfeifer, Heck and Elles. Continued un- der this head until February 1st, 1881. Mr. Elles bought Mr. Pfeifer out, and continued to run the business on his own account. Mr. Elles occupies a store 20x85 feet, and basement same size in the Pfeifer block. The basement is used for storage of wines and liquors. The first floor or store is used for office, sample-room and salesroom. Mr. Elles imports many of his wines direct, such as Rhein wine, Bordeaux and other fine wines. He also keeps a fine line of native wines in stock. Mr. Elles keeps no traveling salesmen, but goes out on the road himself when necessary. Mr. Elles distills, compounds and rectifies liquors. He employs three men about his establishment.

Phillip Best's brewing agency, Arthur Kænig,

general agent for the north-west. The consump- tion of malt liquors in this country has become so vast that its manufacture necessarily involves considerations of great commercial importance, and as it is our special object to place before the public concise and truthful exhibits of the vari- ous mercantile and manufacturing enterprises, we therefore propose to lay before our readers the high standing and indispensable character of the malt liquor traffic in this city, as carried on by Mr. Kænig, representing the celebrated brew- ing establishment of Philip Best, located at Mil- waukee, Wisconsin. A repository of this estab- lishment, under the management and control of Mr. Konig, was established in St. Paul, on East Third street, in very diminutive quarters, in 1876, but owing to the rapid increase of business dur- ing the three years following, Mr. K. was compelled to seek extensive quarters, and he therefore re- moved to the spacious premises he now occupies, No. 286 Jackson street. As evidence of the in- crease of Mr. Kœnig's business the books show' that during the first two years no beer whatever was sold in casks, but during the last two years the sales in this form have amounted to from 110 to 125 casks per week, an average of 5,000 bar- rels per annum, and the cash receipts increased from $12,000 the first year to $147,000 the fourth year. This may seem an exaggerated statement, but our readers will comprehend the fact that an immense patronage is required to dispose of the product of so mammoth an establishment as Mr. Kænig represents. In 1879 it was decided to be the largest brewing establishment in the United States, the sales of which, from January 1st, 1879, to January 1st, 1880, amounted to 362,000 barrels and it is a matter of statistics that Phillip Best car- ried away a gold medal from the Paris exposition in 1878, for exhibiting the most superior article of malt liquor of any on exhibition from almost every quarter of the globe, and it will be observed that every bottle of Phil. Best's manufacture of beer bears a label signifying the award. The spacious building now occupied by Mr. Konig, the general agent in this city, is constructed of stone; three stories high 40x110 feet, with sub- cellar of same dimensions. The sales of the St. Paul agency now extend throughout the entire state, Dakota, Iowa, west Wisconsin, Manitoba and Montana.

465

SAINT PAUL-MANUFACTURES.

M. A. Schultz, importer and wholesale dealer in foreign and domestic delicacies. This enter- prise was started in October, 1880, at 87 and 89 West Third street. This is the only wholesale business of the kind in St. Paul, in fact there is no establishment of this kind west of Milwau- kee. Mr. Schultz keeps several travelingmen on the road selling his goods through Minnesota, but has customers as far west as Montana. Mr. Schultz looked upon this business at first only as an experiment, but it has now proved a decided success, his trade has reached beyond his expec- tations. He has a very fine city trade, supplying most all the retail dealers both in St. Paul and Minneapolis with goods in this line. Three men are constantly employed in his store filling or- ders, packing and delivering goods. The annual sales are about $40,000, which is a very good showing from nothing in the beginning to so large amount.

Thomas H. Lyles, tonsorial parlors. Mr. Lyles arrived in St. Paul from Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, and on the 1st of the following Octo- ber, he began business in this line at the Ameri- can house in this city. He followed his occupa- tion at that place something over two years, at the end of which time he bought out Prof. Stock- ton's elegant appartments in Music hall. Here he continued until the fire of February 4th, 1879, materially injured the building. Immediatly after he obtained a lease of the large hall in Opera House block, which he at once proceeded to put in order for future operations. The di- mensions of this room are 21x91 feet, and as it now appears, it is one of the most elaborate ton- sorial and bathing establishments this side of Chicago. The first apartment is styled the gen- tlemen's reception room. Next in order brings us to the shaving department, containing its six elegant chairs, six dressing bureaus, cup cases, lavatories, beautiful chandeliers, French mirrors and other articles of utility and adornment. Still beyond are six bathing rooms, furnished in a style becoming such an enterprise. These apart- ments are arranged to accommodate ladies as well as gentlemen, and all kinds of baths are given, hot, cold, tepid, douche, shower, sitz, hip, head or any other kind. In this connection may be mentioned the ladies' reception room for hair dressing. This branch of the enterprise is pre- 30

sided over by Mrs. Lyles herself, a lady of culture and refinement. Another department is devoted to sitting room for employes in connection with her branch of the business. Mrs. Lyles is intro ducing all kinds of hair work for ladies. The heating apparatus of this enterprise is not sur- passed in the state. A large furnace is provided, to which are attached three coils of three inch pipes, which convey the water from the city pipes to a twenty-five barrel tank, thus affording a supply of hot water at all times while the fire is kept burning. Great credit is due the worthy proprietor for his enterprise in fitting up such an inviting establishment

CHAPTER LI.

ST. PAUL HARVESTER WORKS-PLOW WORKS MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTORIES.

The originators of this institution were E. M. Deane and S. S. Murdock, who, under the firm name of Deane, Murdock and Company, were do- ing a large business in agricultural machinery. In 1871, they made arrangements with the own- ers of the Elward patents, to manufacture the Elward harvester in St. Paul. Their success in the harvest of 1872, caused the formation of the company known as the St. Paul Harvester Works.

The institution was incorporated in September, 1872, with capital stock placed at $250,000, which amount was increased to $500,000, in November, 1874, and still further increased, in April, 1881, to $1,000,000, thus placing it at the head of all manufacturing corporations in the West. The incorporators of the company were: E. M. Deane, S. S. Murdock, Charles H. Bigelow, Thomas Cochran, Jr., James R. Walsh, John Nicols, Wil- liam B. Dean, Christopher W. Levalley, Hugh L. Pilkington.

The "Harvester" is the most important adjunct of the farmer who raises grain in large quanti- ties, and more especially is the need of a good machine felt among the wheat-producers of the

466

HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.

North-west, which has justly been termed the "granary of the world." The St. Paul Harvester Works manufacture the Elward Harvester, Pioneer Cord Binder, and the Eureka Mower, and it is but just to say that these machines have stood the severest tests to which they could be put, and have increased in popularity with each succeeding year.

The works occupy ground room of some fifty acres, and a very large force of men is employed. The location of the manufactory is north-east of the city, and distant from the court-house about three miles. The company owns an additional eighty acres of land, part of which has been laid out in lots, which are offered on favorable terms to those employed by the company. Here, a vil- lage has sprung into existence, with church, school-house, store and post-office, surrounded by the neat homes of the workmen and their fami- lies.

Of the buildings in use for manufacturing. the wood-working shop is 50x250 feet in size, and is completely furnished with machinery of the lat- est improved patterns. Some of the most inge- nious wood-working machines are the invention of the foreman of this department, Henry Brand. Sixty men are employed in this branch.

The packing room and paint shop adjoins this on the south, and is 60x120 feet in dimension. Thirty men work in the paint shop, and twelve in the packing room.

The foundry is 60x150 feet, and furnishes em- ployment to thirty men, the cast amounting to nearly six tons daily.

The machine shop is located in a frame build- ing 40x120 feet, the basement of which is in use as a cleaning room for castings, and the second floor as binder room. In the latter the binders are set up and operated for a time and thoroughly tested before they leave the room. Fifty men are required in this building. The power for keeping in motion the machinery of this vast establish- ment, is furnished by a seventy horse-power en- gine, located in a brick building 32x75 feet which also contains the iron punching room and the room where the canvass carriers are prepared.

A perfect system of water works extends through- out the grounds, five hydrants being located at convenient points about the buildings. These are supplied through three-inch pipes, with water

from Phalen creek, which flows through the premises. The pressure is furnished by a power- ful steam pump. Each hydrant has over three hundred feet of hose in constant readiness, prov- ing an efficient protection in case of fire.

The works are in charge of Mr. C. W. Leval- ley, superintendent, and II. J. Cooper, assistant superintendent. Leslie Parlin, clerk in charge of the office. The company are now, (1881), hav- ing plans prepared for buildings to be erected this fall, of much more than double the present capacity, to meet the increasing demand for their machines.

A business office is located corner of Fourth and Robert streets, St. Paul. The officers of the company are E. M. Deane, president; C. B. New- comb, vice-president; John E. Miller, secretary and treasurer.

The number of machines produced annually is five thousand, the total business reaching nearly one million dollars per year. The sales of ma- chines manufactured by the St. Panl Harvester works, extend throughout Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and all the western states and territories, even to the Pacific coast. A remarkable feature of the business of this institution is the fact that large sales are made in Ohio, which state has been considered the birth place and home of harvesting machin- ery. This fact is evidence of the superiority of the St. Paul machines over those manufactured in the East.

ST. PAUL PLOW WORKS.

This enterprise was started in the spring of 1876, in a small way as an experiment, in the city of St. Paul. It more than fulfilled the expecta- tions of its projectors, and in the fall of 1877, ex- tensive works were erected on Seventh street, about two miles in a north-easterly direction from the heart of the city. The total cost of grounds, buildings, side-track and machinery, will aggre- gate not far from $100,000. The present officers of the company are, C. II. Bigelow, William Dawson, A. H. Wilder, W. B. Dean, directors ; Osmon Lunn, manager; J. H. Harris, superin- tendent. We enumerate some of the different departments, and what they contain, and how many men are employed in each : Machine room, where five men are employed, 40x20 feet, con-

467

SAINT PAUL -MANUFACTURES.

tains two drills, one lathe, and emery wheel ; iron warehouse, 30x15 feet, sixty tons of iron and steel kept constantly on hand for manufacturing pur- poses ; blacksmith shop, 40x110 feet, ten forges, eight furnaces, with all the latest improved ma- chinery, employs twenty men ; fitting room, 40x30 feet, where the plows are put together, can put up forty per day, with ten men employed ; engine room and tempering room, 75x40 feet, contains a fifty horse-power engine, which furnishes power for the entire department, two steel boilers, thirty- six flues, complete line of shafting for running machinery through the several departments ; temper room, one tempering furnace, vats, &c., two men employed ; grinding and polishing room, 60x30 feet, three run of grindstones, three emery frames, employs five men ; wood shop, 90x40 feet, where all the wood work is done for plows, drags, "&c., six men employed ; paint shop, 90x40 feet, six painters employed constantly ; one warehouse, 75x20 feet, two stories; two warehouses, 110x40 feet, two stories, and other necessary out-build- ings, with capacity for storing $175,000 worth of goods. Shops and yard cover five acres of ground, located on North-western and St. Paul and Du- luth railroads, with side-track running to the works. The city office, on Sibley street, No. 318, and the office at the works, are connected by tel- ephone, thus enabling them to hold communica- tion and transact business, without the delay and trouble of passing back and forth. Mr. Osmon Lunn, the manager, and J. II. Harris, the super- intendent, are cautious, prudent and practical men, possessed of rare business ability, pre-emi- nently qualifying them for the onerous duties per- taining to their official capacity.

St. Paul Foundry and Manufacturing Com- pany. This establishment was organized and incorporated in 1877, by John L. Merriam, W. R. Merriam, A. H. Wilder, C. D. Gilfillan, C. N. Parker, Walter Mann and H. W. Topping. The business consists of the manufacture of car wheels, railroad and architectural castings, farm engines and boilers. The works are located on Arkwright street near Lafayette Avenne, the buildings occupied being the main foundry of brick, 92x120 feet in dimension; blacksmith shop of wood, 30x40 feet; cleaning and filing shop, 40x60 feet; two store rooms, one 50x100 feet, the other, 24x90 feet. There are 194 men in the em-

ploy of the company. Thirty tons of iron are melted daily and the establishment turns out thirty car wheels in addition to a large amount of work of a miscellaneous character. This con- cern does the larger part of the casting of iron work for nearly all the large blocks now in course of erection in the city. In July, 1881, the amount received for work done during that month, was $32,000, and for the year the sum will reach $300,000. The officers of the company are: W. R. Merriam, president; H. W. Topping, secretary and treasurer; C. N. Parker, general manager.

The Washington Iron Works, Depew and Com- pany, proprietors. Engines, boilers, flour, saw- mill and elevator machinery, wrought iron pipe and fittings, iron and brass castings, etc. The works are under the direction of R. H .- Depew, who is one of the oldest machinists in his line in the state, having come to Minnesota in 1856. He had a machine shop for a time on Sibley street, and was afterwards connected with the St. Paul Foundry and Manufacturing Company. In December, 1879, he established works for himself on Fifth street, and his place there proving too small, the present large shops were erected, and the new company under the name of the Washington Iron Works took possession in October last. The main build- ing is 35x100 feet, with an L 35x35 feet, all two stories in height. Then there is an engine room 30x34 feet and a blacksmith shop 30x34 feet. There are thirty men regularly on the pay roll of the works, and with the very latest and most im- proved machinery, driven by a powerful steam engine, each skilled workman can accomplish as much work as a dozen men could perform with the old methods and in the old way of turning off such work. The amount of work done by these shops is to an outsider, unacquainted with this line of business, simply wonderful. Aside from the numerous small jobs of work turned off, Depew and Company have, since being established in their present quarters,-among other large con- tracts, built and furnished an engine of fifty horse power, and two fifty horse boilers complete, for Lindekes, Warner and Schurmeier's mammoth wholesale dry goods house; a hundred horse power engine and machinery for Gray's saw mill at Duluth; also have just completed an engine and steamboat machinery and pile driving appar- atus for the St. Croix Boom Company; and are

468

HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.

building a fifty horse power engine for the large wholesale grocery house of P. H. Kelly; one seventy-five horse power engine for the tow works at Heron Lake, and a twenty-five horse power engine and boiler, with 500 feet of shafting, for the new coal docks at Duluth; and are rebuilding a one hundred and seventy-five horse power engine for the saw mill of the C. N. Nelson Lumber Com- pany at Lakeland, opposite Hudson. They have also just completed a fifty horse power engine, with boilers and all the mill machinery of a six run flouring mill, for the Farmers and Millers Association at Crook City, D. T., and they have under contract and are building the engines and machinery of eight grain elevators for Pillsbury and Hulbert of Minneapolis. These are only a few of the great contracts finished or being car- ried out. This establishment does more engine work than any other shop west of Milwaukee, and makes engines from one horse power up to two hundred horse power, besides all kinds of mill and elevator machinery, stationary, portable and marine engines, boilers, flour, saw-mill and ele- vator machinery, wrought iron pipe and fittings, iron and brass castings, engine trimmings and iron building work of all descriptions, and special attention is given to repair work. The busi- ness extends thoughout this and adjoining states and territories, and it is an establishment of which St. Paul, with all her numerous, extensive and growing manufactures, should be proud, and which her business men should keep in mind. It is an institution which is of great value to the state, as well as of convenience, and with its present enlarged facilities has really only com- menced to grow.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.