USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > Personal recollections of Minnesota and its people : and early history of Minneapolis > Part 26
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
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OF MINNESOTA AND ITS PEOPLE.
ionable ; but parents of the present time, if thrown upon their own resources and dependent upon their industry, could not better sustain themselves and their families in respecta- ble honest poverty ; and with the greatest respect for them, we must say that it is to be doubted if they would as cheer- fully make the effort. To the untiring industry and intelli- gence of the pioneer ladies of Minnesota we were all indebted for domestic happiness, that now seems to have been bliss.
In looking back upon the events of the past forty years in Minneapolis I seem to awake from a dream. The transform- ation can scarcely be realized. Nearly everything has changed. The few pioneers whose lives have graciously been prolonged are in the sear and yellow leaf. Their beards are frosted with age, and their locks,powdered with the snows of many winters. For many summers the genial sun has imprinted upon the tresses of these first ladies of this new land the light of its caresses. All these marks of time are a crown of glory for good works.
Instead of rude cabins, elegant residences surround me. Where the wolf sat and howled, are ten-story brown-stone business blocks. Tall spires point toward the heavens from fine temples of worship. A net-work of railroads is all around me. Millions are invested in manufactures. Commerce is unceasing. All that art and science can do for us is being done. All these things have come to pass in a little over one generation, many of them within the last decade. If the pos- sibility of such changes had been suggested to me on that October morning in 1852 when the first election was held in Minneapolis, I should have said, "Behold ! if the Lord would make windows in Heaven, then might these things be !"
One hundred and fifty-seven years had elapsed since the discovery of the Falls of St. Anthony by the missionary Louis Hennepin, before a claim was made to the soil in the neigh- borhood of the Falls. For more than ten years after the latter event, no progress of moment was made in developing the wonderful natural resources of the neighborhood.
When we consider that it is but a few years since this was the home of the red man, and when we view the great city of to-day, we can hardly imagine what a mighty destiny is in waiting for those who will soon follow us.
CHAPTER XL.
EVENTS OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SEVEN.
On New Years Day 1857, there was a meeting of the Union Board of Trade of St. Anthony and Minneapolis. The follow- ing officers were elected for the year : Samuel Hidden presi- dent, David Edwards and John H. Spear vice-presidents, N. H. Hemiup corresponding secretary, T. L. Bibbins record- ing secretary, R. P. Upton treasurer, Z. E. B. Nash, D. Mor- rison, Richard Chute, John Jackins and Edward Murphy directors.
Early in January Edward Patch was appointed postmaster in St. Anthony.
The first restaurant in Minneapolis was established by L. F. Harris the first part of January.
The new county officers elected for 1857 and 1858 were Rev. C. G. Ames register of deeds, Edward Lippencott sheriff, G. G. Loomis county commissioner, Geo. A. Nourse district- attorney, John L. Tenney county treasurer, and Edwin Smith Jones judge of probate. For the first time the citizens of St. Anthony voted in Hennepin county. The voters on the west side of the river residing in the county were liberal in selecting many of the officers from St. Anthony.
Judge Joel B. Bassett was elected to the council from the Hennepin district in place of D. M. Hanson deceased, and W. W. Wales of the St. Anthony district was elected to the council to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of John Rollins. Asa Keith of Richfield, John P. Plummer of Brook- lyn, Rev. W. Hayden of Champlin, and Delano T. Smith of Minneapolis, were elected to the house of representatives,
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OF MINNESOTA AND . ITS PEOPLE.
while Jonathan Chase and Henry Hechtman were elected to the same office in the St. Anthony district. The session for which they were elected, 1857, was the last one under the territorial authority.
The legislative session of 1857 was more important than any that had preceded it, from the fact that members of that body had the disposal of the vast amount of land granted to Minnesota in aid of building railroads, and took the necessary steps for the territory to become the state.
The citizens of Minneapolis met early in March for the purpose of rendering a tribute to Hon. Henry T. Welles, who had visited Washington during the session of congress, and had contributed largely in making Minneapolis a railroad center, in the passage of a bill granting railroad lands to Min- nesota. It was decided that a public dinner should be given to Mr. Welles as a slight token of appreciation of his great services in behalf of the people-which compliment Mr. . Welles declined. Messrs. Eugene M. Wilson, S. P. Snyder, Cyrus Aldrich, Isaac Atwater, C. H. Pettit, and other promi- nent citizens, participated in the meeting.
The news of the appointment of Samuel Medary, a promi- nent editor of Ohio, as Governor of Minnesota, was received early in the spring. Charles L. Chase of St. Anthony was selected by President Buchanan as secretary of the territory.
New towns sprang up this spring all over the territory. Many of them were of course paper town-sites. To-day the location of many of those sites is unknown.
AN INDIAN REPUBLIC.
The Hazlewood republic, established on the upper Missis- sippi by Rev. Dr. Williamson and Rev. Dr. Riggs, among the Dakotas, promised good results this year. One great trouble the missionaries had to contend with was the difficulty in getting the red men to wear shirts, pants, vests, coats, hats, and short hair, instead of breechcloths, blankets, leggins, and long hair. Dr. Riggs in March of this year writes : "We " continue to make some progress ; occasionally we have need " for the barber to operate upon a new subject. When a man " doffs the Indian and dons the white man's dress, by far the "most important part of the ceremony is cutting off the hair. " A few weeks since Robert Chaskay was spending the evening
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"at Mr. Renville's. For some time previous Chaskay had " been promising to put on pantaloons as soon as he could " obtain a full suit. Renville intimated to him that he doubted " whether he had such intention. Looking up at a coat and " pantaloons which hung against the wall, Chaskay said 'if "you will give me those I will put them on.' No sooner said " than done. Renville pulled down the clothes and gave them " to Chaskay, and then had the privilege of cutting off his hair. " As those locks cost him so much, he said he must hang them " up as a house ornament."
Rev. A. A. Russell, one of the most faithful of ministers in Minneapolis, resigned his charge over the Baptist church May 1st. Samuel Hidden was appointed postmaster May 1st, in place of Dr. A. E. Ames. On the 12th of May Carlos Wilcox was married to Miss Mary S. Burgess, a sister of Mrs. F. R. E. Cornell ; and on the 2d of June C. H. Pettit was married to Miss Deborah Williams, daughter of Captain Williams.
On the 3d of June Mrs. Margaret Marble, one of the cap- tive women taken at Spirit Lake, by the Indians, in March, was brought by Indian Agent Flandreau to St. Paul. Inkpa- duta, her captor, sold her for a keg of powder to a couple of Dr. Williamson's Lac-qui-parle Indians.
The election of delegates to attend the Constitutional con- vention for the formation of a state government, came off on June 1st. The delegates elected from this district were Dr. A. E. Ames, Col. Cyrus Aldrich, David Morgan, and Erastus N. Bates, of Minneapolis ; Rev. W. Hayden of Champlin, Gen. R. L. Bartholomew of Richfield, W. F. Russell and Rev. Chas. B. Sheldon of Minnetonka, Henry Eschlie, Albert W. Combs, and T. D. Smith, of Carver county ; B. E. Messer of Hutchinson, McLeod county. From the St. Anthony district Judge B. B. Meeker, Wm. M. Lashelles, Calvin A. Tuttle, Charles L. Chase, Dr. John H. Murphy, L. C .. Walker, Peter Winell, and D. A. Secombe, S. W. Putnam, and D. M. Hall.
On the 17th of June the new Governor, Samuel Medary, removed Rev. C. G. Ames from the office of register of deeds. An hour after Mr. Ames was decapitated, the county com- missioners restored him to office.
William D. Washburn arrived in Minneapolis early this season, and has from that time occupied a prominent place in
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the history of the city and country. No one man has accom- plished more for the land of his adoption than has General Washburn. He has always been at the head and front of every movement that would benefit the country.
Rev. A. Gale, from Massachusetts, was called to the pulpit of the Baptist church, in June. He was an excellent citizen and a good pastor. He was peculiarly fitted for pioneer work in the church. He accomplished much good in the city, state, and northwest. He died several years since while making a journey through the Holy Land. His memory will ever be fondly cherished by those who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
SPIRIT LAKE CAPTIVES.
On the 3d of May Miss Gardner, the surviving captive of the Spirit Lake raid, was rescued in the wilds of Dakota. She arrived in St. Paul on the 26th of June. One of the Indians, young Inkpaduta, engaged in the massacre at Spirit Lake, was killed by members of the Hazelwood republic, not far from Payzhehootaze, late in June. The bones of the chief who led the murderers at Spirit Lake was found many years since near the present town of Ortonville. Most of the red devils engaged in that horrible affair met with violent deaths. Old Inkpaduta's band of Indians were declared outlaws. Their red brothers were as eager as the whites to exterminate them.
The members of the constitutional convention met in St. Paul on Monday the 15th of July.
Rapid progress was made in building the two new bridges over the Mississippi this early summer. They were ready for the traveling public before the winter set in.
The first appearance of grasshoppers since the organization of the territory occurred this year. They made their appear- ance on the Fort Snelling prairie, and rapidly spread over the portion of the country north of the Minnesota river. Their greatest injury to the crops was in Hennepin county.
GREAT DEPRECIATION IN PRICE OF PROPERTY.
As the fall approached the money market became seriously stringent. Numerous banks in the western states became ' insolvent. Minnesota had not sufficient currency for the transaction of ordinary business. The result was a great fall in the price of real estate. Corner lots that would readily
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bring three thousand dollars in Minneapolis in May, could not be sold in October for three hundred dollars. Property of all descriptions depreciated in price.
Hon. Chas. E. Flandreau, agent for the Dakota Indians, was appointed territorial judge. Hennepin county was assigned to his judicial district.
A high school was opened in Minneapolis under the care of Prof. A. A. Olcott. The immense Winslow hotel in St. Anthony was was finished and furnished in the most complete manner. Mr. Winslow let the house to M. V. and D. J. Mattison.
A distressing accident occurred on the 20th of August at the residence of Mr. John Reidhead, about four miles above Minneapolis. Two of his children were burned to death in a. stable. Mr. Reidhead was highly esteemed in the county.
The two principal political parties in the neighborhood of the Falls organized in the most thorough manner early in September. James A. Lawrence of St. Anthony represented the democracy, and Colonel Cyrus Aldrich of Minneapolis, represented the republicans.
Woodbury Fisk, a prominent young business man from New Hampshire, who had made St. Anthony his home for a year or more, was married to Miss Mary A. Sinclair, an esti- mable young lady of St. Anthony. Mr. Fisk became one of the leading merchants and millers at the Falls. He died late in the winter of 1889.
The Constitutional convention met in St. Paul July 13th, and closed August 29th.
Messrs. W. A. Croffut and Edwin Clarke having purchased the St. Anthony Republican from Rev. C. G. Ames, these gentlemen, on the 28th of September, published the first number of the Daily News, the first daily newspaper ever printed at the Falls of St. Anthony.
On account of so many bank failures, the country was flooded with worthless bank-bills. A person who had retired at night with a pocket-book well filled with currency which was considered good, might awake the next morning to find that he could not buy a breakfast with hundreds of dollars of that currency.
The Cataract hotel was finished and opened to the public
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OF MINNESOTA AND ITS PEOPLE.
the first of October. The Nicollet house, erected by J. M. Eustis, was also ready for guests this fall. Woodman's hall, capable of holding more people than any room in the territory, was completed this fall.
The second annual Minnesota fair was held in St. Paul, commencing October 1st. Messrs. J. W. Bass, D. C. Taylor, 'and Major P. P. Furber, were the committee on management. The annual address was delivered by the president, Hon. H. H. Sibley, on the third day of the fair. The officers elected for 1858 were Judge M. Sherburne president, J. W. Selby vice-president, Simon P. Snyder treasurer, John Mur- ray jr. secretary.
Franklin Cook, so long a leading citizen and engineer, arrived in Minneapolis this year. He was at once elected county surveyor. The mill company's dam across the Missis- sippi, which was in process of erection, proved to be the most gigantic undertaking of any similar work on the great river. The new board of directors were Hon. D. Morrison, Hon. W. D. Washburn, Dr. Jacob S. Elliott, Geo. E. Huy, Leonard Day, and H. E. Mann. Gen. Washburn was appointed secre- tary and agent, and Mr. Mann treasurer. The stockholders had paid in several hundred thousands of dollars. Now the hard times made it difficult for them to raise more money to complete the work. They persevered, however, and in time the work was finished.
Many new and beautiful structures were completed this season. The finest bank building in the state was completed and occupied by Messrs. Snyder, McFarlane & Cook, on Hen- nepin avenue.
A lecture association was organized in St. Anthony with James R. Lawrence president, Hon. David Heaton vice- president, Edwin Clark secretary, and R. C. Graves treasurer. This was the first organization of the kind at the Falls.
There being no small change in circulation, the merchants issued fractional notes of ten, fifteen, twenty-five and fifty cents, which obtained a wide circulation. The following is a correct copy of one of them :
" Minneapolis, Min., Oct. 20th, 1857.
"25 cts. This certificate for twenty-five cents will be "redeemed with current bank notes, at our store, corner of
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"Bridge and First street, when presented to the amount of "one dollar.
Moore & Power."
Mr. Alex Moore, the senior member of the firm who signed the above, was one of the first commissioners of Hennepin county. The firm were the successors of I. I. Lewis & Co., and A. Bradford. The place of business was where Harlow A. Gale's city market house now stands. These were times that tried a man's character. If he was a good man, he was proved to be such ; if he was a bad man, he appeared in his real character. Messrs. Snyder, McFarlane & Cook, C. H. Pettit, and Beebe & Mendenhall, the prominent bankers of Minneapolis, rendered all the aid to the poor that was in their power. They loaned many thousands of dollars on securities which were considered good, but in the end proved worthless. As the winter months approached, instead of any relief in the money market, it became more stringent. Such dreadfully dark days in financial' matters had not occurred since the panic of 1837. The bottom disappeared from everything except politics.
The following gentlemen were elected to fill the county offices for 1858 and 1859 : Clerk of the court, H. A. Partridge ; judge of probate, E. S. Jones ; register of deeds, C. G. Ames ; treasurer, David Morgan ; county commissioner, F. Thorn- dike ; county surveyor, F. Cook. Messrs. A. C. Austin, J. C. McCarnard, and Fred Bassett were elected assessors. The first election for members of the state senate and house of representatives was held this fall. E. N. Bates and Delano T. Smith were elected senators, and R. B. Gibson, Dr. Geo. H. Keith, William S. Chowen, and J. B. Hinckley, members of the house of representatives from Hennepin west ; and Jonathan Chase, senator, and L. C. Walker and William H. Townsend to the house of representatives from St. Anthony, which election district was known as Hennepin east. Hon. James R. Lawrence of St. Anthony was elected district- attorney for the Fourth judicial district, which comprised several counties. Mr. Lawrence was a son of Judge Law- rence, a distinguished jurist of New York. He had recently made St. Anthony his home. He was one of the most elo- quent speakers that ever addressed a Minnesota audience. He died early in life. With his great talent and popularity,
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OF MINNESOTA AND ITS PEOPLE.
had his life been spared, he would unquestionably long ere this have occupied the highest trusts in the gift of the people. He has two children residing in Minneapolis-James A. Lawrence, of the firm of Wilson & Lawrence, and Mrs. Reeve, wife of Colonel C. McReeve.
James M. Jarrett had purchased the block Mr. Steele and I had built in 1851 and changed it into a first-class hotel. He was the landlord for several years, when he sold it to J. W. Thurber, who gave it the name of the Tremont.
The first syrup made from sorghum in Minnesota was man- ufactured this fall at Elm creek, now Champlin, in this county, by H. W. Richardson. As syrup in large quantities is now made from the early amber and other varieties of sorghum, Mr. Richardson deserves special mention as the first one in this section who was successful in the enterprise. .
The census of Minnesota was ordered by congress prepara- tory to the admission of the territory as a state. By the returns St. Anthony had a population October 1st, 1857, of 4,720 ; Minneapolis and the Reserve 4,120; the rest of the county 4,523 ; total 13,363.
October 15th a daily mail via St. Paul was established by the postoffice department from the Falls to Prairie du Chien. This was the first daily mail service over this route.
Charles E. Vanderburgh and Miss Julia N. Mygatt of New York were married this year. Arthur H. Mills, a pioneer, and Miss Abby Newell were married October 24, in New Haven, Connecticut. W. W. Eastman, who has been so prom- inent in the destinies of this immediate country, settled in St. Anthony this year. On the 1st of November, at Dr. Bausman's office, in Minneapolis, the Minnehaha fire company reorganized with W. A. Todd for president and foreman, Fred Chalmers, treasurer ; A. L. Bausman, F. Chalmers and W. Wringley, executive committee.
The St. Anthony Express was sold this fall to Prof. D. S. B. Johnson and Chas. H. Slocum. Prof. Johnson was editor- in-chief. Mr. Slocum had charge of the local columns. Both of these gentlemen have since become prominent in this state.
Mrs. Mary C. Smith, wife of senator-elect Delano T. Smith, died suddenly November 15th. On the 17th Walter Carpen- ter, a brother of Mrs. J. B. Bassett, died.
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The advertisement of O. M. Laraway, dealer in groceries and provisions, corner of Second and Bridge streets, appeared in the journals of the day. Mr. Laraway, during his long residence in Minneapolis, has been honored with many high local and federal trusts, which he has worthily held.
R. J. Mendenhall, who had made the city his home the previous year, associated with him in business Mr. C. Beede, a man from New England. They extended their kind deeds to a large number of persons who were affected by the panic.
Simon Stevens, the pioneer of Minnetonka, was married by Rev. A. D. Williams to Miss Kate C. Cole, early in December, and Henry Oswald was married by the same clergyman to Miss T. Sieber.
The first state legislature met in St. Paul December 2d. The following is a complete list of the justices of the peace in Hennepin county, elected and qualified to serve for 1858 : Bloomington, E. B. Stanley, George Cook ; Corcoran, John Molan, Israel Dorman ; Dayton, A. C. Kimble, W. P. Jones ; Hopkins, H. H. Hopkins, L. Holman ; Eden Prairie, W. O. Collins, H. F. Durgin ; Excelsior, O. Wilcox, E. Day ; Green- wood, T. R. Briggs, A. S. Lensbeye : Hassan, S. Anderson ; Island City, John Carman ; Medicine Lake, D. Parker, F. Huot ; Maple Grove, William Trott, John B. Bottineau ; Minneapolis, Henry Hill; Minnetonka, A. B. Robinson ; Maple Plain, Wm. F. Hillman, Irvin Shrewsbury ; Richfield, Geo. W. Irvin ; Lower St. Anthony, Wm. McHerron, J. C. McCain ; Upper St. Anthony, Anton Grethen, George W. Thurber ; Wayzata, J. A. Colman, Wm. A. Spafford.
The first New England Society was organized late in December, with Colonel Cyrus Aldrich, a native of Rhode Island, president ; vice-presidents, natives of New England states, D. Morrison, Maine ; Wm. M. Kimble, New Hamp- shire ; E. N. Bates, Massachusetts ; Thos. Hale Williams, Rhode Island ; Henry T. Welles, Connecticut ; and A. E. Ames, Vermont. Forefathers day was observed by the society with all honors. W. A. Croffut, then a young man just from the land of steady habits, contributed much that made the event interesting. Then, as now, Mr. Croffut was talented, and his presence at. an assemblage of this kind could not fail of making an impression.
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OF MINNESOTA AND ITS PEOPLE.
MEN OF MARK WHO ARRIVED IN EIGHTEEN FIFTY-SEVEN.
A large number of immigrants located in the two cities this year. Among them were Hon. R. J. Baldwin, General W. D. Washburn, Samuel C. Gale, Eugene M. Wilson, Jacob K. Sidle, Rev. J. F. Chaffee, Judge E. B. Ames, Major A. C. Morrill, Jesse Bishop, Josiah H. Chase, H. D. Beeman, David Heaton, William A. Croffut, J. C. Williams, John C. Oswald, Edwin Clarke, George A. Brackett, Dan M. Demmon, Henry Oswald, William Garcelon, Nathan Herrick, W. W. Winthrop, Paris Gibson, William Lochren, Jared S. Demmon, P. H. Kelly, D. Y. Jones, Anthony Kelly, L. M. Stewart, William P. Ankeny, Fred Chalmers, Captain Williams, Asa B. Bar- ton, Dr. S. F. Rankin, Solon Armstrong, Thomas G. Barnard, William Buckendorf, C. G. Bugbee, H. C. Butler, W. H. Chamberlain, Gilbert Clough, D. M. Clough, Thomas Gardi- ner, J. G. Gluck, Anton Grethen, C. B. Heffelfinger, Michael Hoy, L. Mell Hyde, B. F. Inks, J. G. Jones, W. H. Lauder- dale, James R. Lawrence, James W. Lawrence, S. B. Loye, Michael Lyons, Peter McKernan, W. W. McNair, Charles Robinson, and Fred L. Smith.
It was hoped that the financial panic which had so recently swept over the country would end before the close of the year, but it rather increased, and the people accepted the hard times with as much cheerfulness as they could command. So depressed were the citizens by the financial crisis that places of amusement were comparatively unattended, though the best musicians were appreciated, such as Ole Bull and Adelina Patti, who appeared at an early day before the people at the falls. Fortunately we had in our midst Prof. Widstrand, one of the best teachers of music in the northwest, and many ladies in this city to-day, daughters of the pioneers, are indebted to him for their musical education.
CHAPTER XL.
THE LOCAL OUTLOOK IN EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHT.
The year 1858 opened under gloomy circumstences. Trade was depressed, currency depreciated, business paralyzed, real estate valueless, and financial ruin to all classes seemed inev- itable. The crops of 1857 were poor. The flow of immigration ceased. Since the 24th of August, when the Ohio Life Insur- ance and Trust Company failed, no one could borrow money, for no one had it; and yet the people were hopeful. The fractional currency issued by the merchants and bankers was a convenience. The News and the Republican, two of the leading newspapers at the Falls, opposed the issue of these notes, which led to a warm controversy between Messrs. Snyder, McFarlane & Cook, C. H. Pettit, O. M. Laraway, Alex Moore, Jackins & Wright, Beebe & Mendenhall, A. Clarke, and other business men. Gosport, Tekoma, and Brownsville was about all the money that was in circulation, and it was claimed by many of the citizens that this currency was of doubtful character. At all events the bills issued by these banks served an excellent purpose for the occasion.
A new board of trade was organized the first of the year, for the purpose of rendering every possible relief to business men and citizens generally. The officers were Captain John C. Reno, president ; Richard Chute and William M. Kimball, vice-presidents ; T. S. Bibbins and Judge Hemiup, secreta- ries ; William D. Washburn, treasurer ; John S. Pillsbury, D. Morrison, W. D. Babbett, Samuel Hidden, and Edward Hedderly, directors. The efforts of this organization were attended with good results in many instances. This was the
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