Fifty Years In The Northwest by William H. C. Folsom

1888. Robert A. Smith.

921 words | Chapter 183

MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS. Number of churches 105 Value of school property $1,500,000 Value of stockyards, West St. Paul 1,000,000 Value of products manufactured 40,000,000 Amount of lumber sales 5,318,000 Capital of thirteen banks 8,498,000 Aggregate post office business 4,289,102 Bonded indebtedness 4,168,725 Annual valuation of city property 100,000,000 WEST ST. PAUL. The flourishing suburb of West St. Paul is rapidly approaching metropolitan dimensions. The original settlement took place almost simultaneously with that of St. Paul, but its growth until late years has not been rapid. It was originally within the limits of Dakota county, but that portion included in its plat has been annexed to Ramsey county, and West St. Paul has become a part of St. Paul and has been placed under the municipal government of that city. The city is connected with St. Paul by two free bridges for carriages and pedestrians and by several railroad bridges. TOWNS OF RAMSEY COUNTY. After the state organization in 1858, Ramsey county was subdivided into the following towns: Little Canada, McLean, Mounds View, Reserve, Rose, St. Paul, and White Bear. From year to year the city of St. Paul has made encroachments upon the towns adjacent--Little Canada, McLean, Reserve, and Rose--until they have been in part or wholly absorbed. Of the remaining towns we shall refer only to White Bear, which, owing to the beauty of its lake scenery and its attractiveness as a place of popular resort, deserves special mention. WHITE BEAR. White Bear, the northeastern township of Ramsey county, contains thirty-six sections. Its surface is agreeably diversified with lakes. About six sections in all are occupied by these lakes, of which there are several large and beautiful ones, among which may be mentioned White Bear, Bald Eagle, Pleasant, Lambert's, Vadnais, Birch, Goose, Otter, etc. The surface is undulating, and in no place actually hilly, while there is much level and very desirable land. Extensive meadows border some of the lakes, and are found in most of the intervales watered by running streams. These produce enormous crops of hay. Portions of these marshy localities are thickly grown with tamaracks, which were invaluable to the early settler, furnishing him with a supply of logs and poles for his improvements. The timber consists principally of red, white and black oak, sugar maple, tamarack, poplar, elm, elder, and ash. The township derives its name from White Bear lake. This lake was so named, it is asserted, by the Dakota Indians, a tradition existing amongst them that a grizzly bear once made its appearance on the island, with which one of their bravest hunters engaged in mortal conflict, each slaying the other. The Indians called this a grizzly, polar or white bear, and named an adjacent locality "Mah-to-me-di" or (M'de), _i. e._, Mahto, gray polar bear, and M'de, lake. It is not probable, however, that a polar bear ever reached this spot, and a visit from a grizzly is nearly as improbable. Indian legends are very frequently made to order by those who succeed them as owners of the soil. Not much is known of White Bear prior to 1851. No human habitations, save those of Indians, were to be seen. There were no roads to this region, and none nearer than Little Canada. The lake itself seems to have been little known to white men. J. Fletcher Williams, in a sketch contributed to the _Pioneer_, and to which we are indebted for many of our statements, says that Hugh I. Vance, a typo employed in the _Pioneer_ office at that time, was probably about the first settler of White Bear; that in the spring of 1851 he wended his way to this region in search of a claim, selected a piece of land on Bald Eagle lake, erected a cabin, resided here with his family several years, and was probably the first man to drive a plowshare in this locality. Mr. Vance joined the Union Army in 1861, and with his two sons was killed in Missouri the year following. In the spring of 1851 V. B. Barnum selected a tract on the south shore of White Bear lake, and hired Geo. O. Nichols to run out the lines. Mr. Barnum entered one hundred and seventy-five acres. On this land he built a cabin near the present Leip House, which burned down in 1857. Jas. B. Clewett, one of the pioneers of St. Paul as early as 1840, drove his stakes at White Bear in the spring of 1851. He afterward built a house on the island, where he yet resides, a mile north of the lake. Soon after Wm. Freeborn and B. F. Hoyt entered a tract of land in sections 13 and 14. Isaac Banta built a cabin on it, near the point by the island, resided there three or four years, and moved to Forest Lake. This land was afterward bought by the Murray family. Thomas Milner came in about the same time. Daniel Getty came and located on the east side of the lake at a later day, becoming a resident of the village proper, of which he is now postmaster, superintendent of the Sunday-school, elder in the church, school trustee, etc. Mr. Barnum opened a hotel, which he kept till 1856, and then sold out to John M. Lamb. In 1855 James F. Murray, his three sons and O. R. Stratton settled at White Bear. W. W. Webber, John Aubery, Joseph Freeman, Ross Wilkinson, Frank Perfect, Fred Whittaker, George Starbuck, Duncan Ross, Charlie A. Morgan, and others came here in

Chapters

1. Chapter 1 2. INTRODUCTION. 3. INTRODUCTION. 4. CHAPTER I. 5. CHAPTER II. 6. CHAPTER III. 7. CHAPTER IV 8. CHAPTER V. 9. CHAPTER VI. 10. CHAPTER VII 11. CHAPTER VIII. 12. CHAPTER IX. 13. CHAPTER X. 14. CHAPTER XI. 15. CHAPTER XII. 16. CHAPTER XIII. 17. CHAPTER XIV. 18. CHAPTER XV. 19. CHAPTER XVI. 20. CHAPTER XVII. 21. CHAPTER XVIII. 22. CHAPTER XIX. 23. CHAPTER XX. 24. CHAPTER XXI. 25. CHAPTER XXII. 26. CHAPTER XXIII. 27. Chapter II, page 32, read Stillwater and St. Croix County, instead of 28. CHAPTER I. 29. 1781. Mr. Brisbois lived a stirring and eventful life. He died in 30. CHAPTER II. 31. 1845. Capt. Wm. Holcombe acted during this period as clerk of the 32. CHAPTER III. 33. 1857. From 1857 to 1869 he was also a heavy logger alone. Mr. Anderson 34. 1777. He was married to Hannah Greely, a second cousin, at Hopkinton, 35. 1882. His wife survived him but a few months. The bodies of both were 36. 1885. She was the last of her family, husband and daughter having 37. 1846. As a business man he is capable and shrewd, giving close 38. 1838. In 1839 he drove the first herd of cattle through a wilderness 39. 1847. He was appointed clerk of the first Minnesota territorial term 40. 1848. He engaged in lumbering and scaling continuously. He was born in 41. 1820. He spent his youth on his father's farm, and received a common 42. 1843. He settled in Stillwater in 1844, and removed to his farm in 43. 1844. He came to America in June, 1847, and to Stillwater in 1848. Mr. 44. 1815. He was reared during his minority by an uncle, at Cambridge, New 45. 1853. In 1852 Gov. Ramsey appointed him territorial auditor. He was a 46. 1838. He became a great sufferer in the later years of his life. He 47. 1826. He received a good common school education. At the age of 48. 1857. Mrs. McPhail died in Stillwater in 1885. They left no children. 49. 1845. He was married in 1860 to Miss Jackins. He made his home in 50. CHAPTER IV. 51. 1838. Polk county, originally a part of Crawford, in 1840 became a 52. CHAPTER V. 53. 1857. The name of Gov. Holcombe will long be remembered in the valley 54. 1850. Through untiring industry and honorable dealing he has secured a 55. 1884. Mr. Stratton wrote for the Minneapolis papers many interesting 56. 1826. He settled on a farm near St. Croix Falls in 1856, where he 57. 24. The first sermon in the town of Clayton was preached by Rev. W. W. 58. 19. The west part is somewhat broken by the St. Croix bluffs; the 59. 1866. Few men have been more active in the opening up of a new 60. 1861. A. A. Heald, M. C. Lane and John Hurness were the first 61. 1864. Their new house of worship was built in 1870. The first settlers 62. 1867. It is situated on the same stream, a few rods above the first. 63. 1856. These have been succeeded by Rice, Webb, Clark Brothers, 64. 1853. The first white child born was John Francis, in 1847. The first 65. 1858. In 1874 he removed to Ashland, Wisconsin, where he died in 1878, 66. CHAPTER VI. 67. 1849. James Hughes was appointed in 1850. The first district court was 68. 1852. A day was fixed in 1852 to vote on the change of name, Willow 69. 20. Wm. H. Phipps. 70. 1838. Mr. Bouchea had been educated for the Catholic priesthood. He 71. 24. He took a deep interest in the affairs of the pioneer settlement, 72. 1847. Mr. Andrews was a carpenter and took some important building 73. 1847. He was appointed receiver of the United States land office at 74. 1812. His parents were George and Mary Hoyt. Both grandfathers were 75. 1814. He removed to Harford, Pennsylvania, with his parents when six 76. 1851. He was married to Clarissa A. Day in 1841, who with one son and 77. 1850. Mr. Jones died in 1874. Mrs. Jones, five sons and two daughters 78. 1827. At eighteen years of age, he went to Weston, New York, where he 79. 1881. In 1887 he served again as a member of the assembly. 80. 1833. He received a common school and academic education and attended 81. 1884. He was a man of eccentric manners, but upright life. 82. 14. By industry and perseverance they have become independent, and own 83. 1848. In 1830 he was a member of the Maine legislature; in 1849 and 84. 1867. He was married in 1867 to Mary J. Stewart, of Pennsylvania. He 85. 1858. The North Wisconsin railroad passes through the southeast corner 86. 1870. He left a widow and four sons, three of them farmers in Troy. 87. CHAPTER VII. 88. 1886. His home business is farming and real estate. He was married in 89. 1854. A building for a graded school was erected in 1859. A high 90. 19. Trimbelle river drains the eastern portion and the Kinnikinic the 91. 1854. Charles Hutchinson was the first postmaster, and the office was 92. 1814. He was liberally educated. He came to Edwardsville, Illinois, in 93. 1830. He graduated at the Chicago Medical College in 1860, and in 1861 94. 1810. He graduated at Yale College. He came to River Falls in 1858 and 95. 1866. The first town meeting was held at the house of J. Prickett. The 96. 1871. The first settlers in the order of their coming were James 97. 6. It was organized Aug. 15, 1863. Among its first settlers were 98. CHAPTER VIII. 99. 19. He built a flour and saw mill, the first in the county, a good 100. 1865. He subsequently became the first settler in the town of 101. 1877. Millions of feet of pine timber have been gathered and marketed 102. CHAPTER IX. 103. 9. It has seventy-five miles of lake shore, with some fine harbors, 104. 1855. It was the first newspaper published at the head of Lake 105. CHAPTER X. 106. 20. It contains about forty dwellings, three large boarding houses, 107. 1874. His seat was contested by John Hallburg, of Centre City. The 108. CHAPTER XI. 109. 1883. The first supervisors were Eric Hokansen, John Rines and Haquin 110. 1855. He lived there eight years and filled various responsible 111. CHAPTER XII. 112. 1703. This fort was in all probability erected on the plateau below 113. 1884. There is also a good school house. The village was incorporated 114. 1852. Henry married Margaret Smith, daughter of David Smith. During 115. 1856. He died in 1874, leaving a widow, two sons and two daughters. 116. 1873. They have three children. Elof, John, Elias and Hans are 117. 1865. In 1868 he came to Taylor's Falls and engaged in teaching, which 118. 1859. The first marriage was that of Peter Abear to Kittie Wickland. 119. 26. Mr. and Mrs. Walmarson reared a fine family of children. Nelson 120. CHAPTER XIII. 121. 1863. At the close of the war, in 1865, he settled in St. Paul and 122. 1865. He died in 1872. Edward H., his second son, for some years has 123. 1823. He came to Marine Mills in 1844. For two years he was in the 124. 1804. He graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 125. 1822. In the spring of 1849 he came westward, and engaged in 126. CHAPTER XIV. 127. 1847. A military road was surveyed from Point Douglas to Superior 128. 1840. In 1843 he opened a grindstone quarry in the soft, coarse 129. 1854. The first child born was Nathan, son of John Atkinson, in 1846; 130. 1867. In 1885 they removed to California. 131. 1874. Four children survive him. 132. 1858. In 1874 a large church 50 × 80 feet, ground plan, and with 133. 1875. Rev. L. O. Lindh was the first pastor. Oakland Cemetery 134. 1858. The Marine flour mill was built in 1856 by Gaskell & Co. The 135. 1859. Henry F., a son by his first wife, enlisted in 1862, in the 136. 1869. A plat of ten acres, beautifully situated in a natural grove 137. 1855. They were followed by Dunn, Barnum, Hatch and Beecroft. 138. 1819. He was married to Sarah Blanchard in 1848. Mr. Jackman, with his 139. 1849. Their children are Daniel, Thomas, James, Elisabeth, Mary, 140. 1826. In 1844 he came with his parents to St. Louis, Missouri, where 141. 22. This fragment contains the famous painted rock, now included in 142. 1841. He was married in 1846 to Jane Middleton. 143. 1815. Mr. Gilbert settled in Woodbury in 1851. In company with Mr. 144. CHAPTER XV. 145. 1850. It was organized regularly in 1853 by Rev. T. M. Fullerton. The 146. 1878. Two great fires occurred in the penitentiary in 1884. The 147. 1850. He was educated at the high school in Bangor. With his brother 148. 1829. Part of his early life he spent on a farm, but later he learned 149. 1851. In 1858 he came to Stillwater, and in 1861 was awarded the 150. 1824. Her parents emigrated to America in 1847 and settled in 151. 1886. Mr. Butts was married to Augusta Miller in 1856. Mrs. Butts 152. 1828. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, tracing their lineage 153. 1836. He came to Osceola, Polk county, Wisconsin, in 1850. In 1859 he 154. 1858. He was intrusted with the expenditure of public moneys from 155. CHAPTER XVI. 156. 1859. This bank, a private institution, was the beginning of the 157. 1820. He came to Minnesota in 1851, locating at St. Anthony, but in 158. 1877. The first supervisors were Moses Ripley, George Tisdale and 159. CHAPTER XVII. 160. 1854. The proprietors were J. Russell, G. M. Sweet and S. Van Nest. 161. 1855. Asa White, D. Gilman, C. W. Borup, N. Myrick, Gen. Lowry, and 162. 1827. He served an apprenticeship to a printer in Canada for five 163. 1809. He received a common school and academic education, and learned 164. 32. It derives its name from a rapid in the Mississippi river, formed 165. 1853. One daughter lives in Alabama and his youngest son is a 166. 1871. The name, Brainerd, was given to the new town in honor of Mrs. 167. CHAPTER XVIII. 168. 1884. The proprietors are the Minnesota Iron Company, of which 169. CHAPTER XIX. 170. 1849. A post office was established and Ard Godfrey was appointed 171. 1871. Edwin S. Brown. 172. 1871. Eli B. Ames. 173. 1888. A. A. Ames. 174. 1811. He received an academic education, and remained with his parents 175. 1814. He was the oldest son of Billy and Phebe (Baker) Ames, whose 176. 1818. In 1829 he removed with his parents to Lower Canada, where he 177. 1860. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Sixth Minnesota Volunteers, 178. 1809. He was educated at Princeton College and West Point, graduating 179. 1844. He served as a soldier during the Mexican War. He was the first 180. CHAPTER XX. 181. 1865. Of Benoit little or nothing is known. The Freeman brothers were 182. 1847. Its effects, however, were not greatly felt until toward the 183. 1888. Robert A. Smith. 184. 1857. The early settlers were much disturbed by roving bands of 185. 1886. 1887. 186. CHAPTER XXI. 187. 1861. In 1863, before the expiration of his second term, he was 188. 1806. He received a thorough classical and medical education. In 1828 189. 1822. He came to La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1840. The writer first met 190. 1820. His father, Otis Bigelow, was a Revolutionary patriot and 191. 1842. In 1845 he came to St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, remained at this 192. 1820. He studied law with his father, Judge Samuel J. Wilkin, and 193. 1858. He was married to Helen M. Olds, in New York, in 1840. Their two 194. CHAPTER XXII. 195. 1830. He received a common and high school education and spent one 196. 1868. He served as state senator in 1866-67. He has been an 197. CHAPTER XXIII. 198. 1817. His early life was passed amongst the Ojibways in the employ of 199. 1842. When he came to Gray Cloud island he was accompanied by a Mr. 200. 1827. Mr. Berry received an excellent education at the Pittsfield 201. 1879. He has been twice married. His first wife was Ellen Brady, of 202. 1878. He married a second wife in 1880. His family consists of eight 203. 1634. Jean Nicollet ventured into Wisconsin, and explored the country 204. 1658. Two fur traders penetrated to Lake Superior and wintered there, 205. 1660. Rev. M. Menard with eight companions came to La Pointe, Lake 206. 1665. Claude Allouez, an eminent pioneer missionary, succeeded Menard, 207. 1669. Father Allouez established a mission on the shores of Green bay, 208. 1670. Father Allouez made a voyage of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers to 209. 1671. In this year the French took formal possession of the whole 210. 1673. Louis Joliet, accompanied by Father James Marquette, discovered 211. 1674. Father Marquette coasted Lake Michigan, from Green Bay, by 212. 1679. The Griffin, a schooner built by La Salle, and the first to make 213. 1680. About the first of May Father Louis Hennepin arrived at Mille 214. 1683. Le Sueur made a voyage of the Fog and Wisconsin rivers to the 215. 1688. Nicholas Perrot first planted the cross and arms of France on 216. 1695. Le Sueur built a fort on Isle Pelee, in the Mississippi, below 217. 1700. Le Sueur established Fort L'Huillier, on the Blue Earth river 218. 1719. Francis Renalt explored the Upper Mississippi with two hundred 219. 1721. Previous to this date a French fort had been established at 220. 1727. The French established a fort on Lake Pepin, with Sieur de 221. 1728. There was a great flood in the Mississippi, and Fort Beauharnois 222. 1751. Sieur Marin, in command at Green Bay, made a peace with the 223. 1761. Capt. Balfour and Lieut. Gorrell, with English troops, took 224. 1763. The English, under Lieut. Gorrell, abandoned Green Bay in 225. 1766. Capt. Jonathan Carver visited St. Anthony falls and Minnesota 226. 1774. A civil government was established over Canada and the 227. 1786. Julian Dubuque explored the lead region of the Upper 228. 1788. There was an Indian council at Green Bay. Permission to work the 229. 1793. Lawrence Barth built a cabin at the portage of the Fog and 230. 1796. The western posts were surrendered by the English to the United 231. 1803. Antoine Barth settled at the portage of the Fog and Wisconsin 232. 1809. Thomas Nuttall, the botanist, explored Wisconsin. 233. 1814. Gov. Clark took possession of Prairie du Chien. Prairie du Chien 234. 1816. Indian treaty confirming that of 1804. 235. 1818. State of Illinois was organized; Wisconsin attached to Michigan. 236. 1822. The New York Indians purchase lands east of Lake Winnebago. 237. 1823. January. Counties of Brown, Crawford and Michillimackinac made a 238. 1824. First term of United States court held at Green Bay, Judge Duane 239. 1825. Great flood on the Red River of the North; a part of the colony 240. 1827. Rush of speculators to lead mines. 241. 1828. Fort Winnebago built. Indian treaty at Green Bay. Lead ore 242. 1832. Black Hawk War. 243. 1834. The portion of Minnesota west of the Mississippi attached to 244. 1837. Gov. Dodge, of Wisconsin, made a treaty at Fort Snelling, with 245. 1838. The treaty ratified by Congress. Frank Steele makes a claim at 246. 1840. St. Croix county established. 247. 1847. The Wisconsin constitutional convention meets. The town of St. 248. 1848. May 29th, Wisconsin admitted. August 26th, the "Stillwater 249. 1850. Great flood on the Mississippi. Minnesota river navigated by 250. 1851. Permanent location of the capital of Minnesota at St Paul. 251. 1852. President Pierce appoints Willis A. Gorman governor of 252. 1854. Real estate mania commenced. Treaty with the Chippewas at La 253. 1855. Treaty at Washington, District of Columbia, with the Chippewas, 254. 1857. Enabling act to admit Minnesota passed Congress. President 255. 1858. Minnesota admitted as a state. State loan of $250,000 256. 1859. Hard times. Work on the land grant road ceases. Collapse of the 257. 1861. April 13th. President's proclamation for troops received. The 258. 1862. Call for 600,000 men. August 17th, massacre at Acton; 18th, 259. 1863. Gen. Sibley's expedition to the Missouri river. July 3d, Little 260. 1864. Large levies for troops. Expedition to Missouri river under 261. 1865. Peace returns. Minnesota regiments return and are disbanded; in 262. 1873. January 7th, 8th and 9th, polar wave sweeps over the State; 263. 1876. September 7th, armed outlaws from Missouri attack a Northfield 264. 1878. May 2d, three flouring mills at Minneapolis explode; eighteen 265. 1880. November 15th, hospital for the insane at St. Peter partly 266. 1886. Cyclone destroys Sauk Rapids. Wisconsin legislature adopts 267. 1854. Several reservations were set aside in each purchase for the 268. 1887. Alvah H. Heald, receiver; Wm. M. Blanding, register. 269. 4. Albert Henry Judd, Orange Walker, Samuel Burkelo, Hiram Berkey, 270. 5. Martin Mower, David B. Loomis; Lots 7 and 8, Sec. 29, T. 31, R. 19, 271. 6. John Allen; Lots 4 and 5, Sec. 2, T. 29, R. 20, west of river; gold 272. 7. Eleazer R. Steves; Lots 1 and 2, Sec. 14, T. 29, R. 20, east of 273. 10. Himan W. Greely; E. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold. 274. 21. Himan W. Greely; W. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold. 275. 1832. This lake is really the source of the Mississippi, though from 276. 1888. David Day. 277. 1887. Morton S. Wilkinson. 278. 1875. The _True Republican_ was established by M. A. Fulton in 1875, 279. 1850. He is now a resident of Fleming, Cayuga county, New York.

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