Fifty Years In The Northwest Part 66

The city was organized in 1887, with the following board of officers; Joseph H. Lawrence, mayor; George W. Wentworth, Philip Crowley, J. W.

McGrath, and Irwin Marshall, aldermen.

A post office was established in 1888, of which H. M. Littell is postmaster.

The city embraces South Park, and there are five churches, English and German Methodist, a Congregational and two Baptist churches.

An electric motor line is being established. The city of South St.

Paul has about 6,000 inhabitants. Its progress is upward.

NORTH ST. PAUL.

This rapidly growing suburb of St. Paul is situated on the sh.o.r.es of Silver lake, a lovely sheet of water lying six miles northeast of the court house. The grounds about the lake were converted into farms soon after the settlement of St. Paul. In 1886 the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company extended their St. Paul branch through the neighborhood. Capt. H. A. Castle established suburban residences near the lake. In March, 1887, the North St. Paul Land Company was formed for the purpose of encouraging manufactures and furnis.h.i.+ng homes and facilities for business. Their plant was located on the farm of Capt.

Castle. The company consists of H. A. Castle, Lane K. Stone, Frederick Driscoll, W. S. Morton, and George A. s.e.xias. The capital stock of the company was fixed at $1,000,000. Under their enterprising management twenty miles of street has been graded, a boulevard extended around the lake, five miles of sidewalk completed and numerous cottages erected. A railroad depot has been built at a cost of $8,000; two hotels and fifteen manufacturing establishments have been erected.

There are (in May, 1888) 3,000 inhabitants, with eight church organizations and six buildings, and a school house, built at a cost of $11,000. The growth of this village since its commencement in 1887 has been remarkable.

New, populous and important suburbs of St. Paul are Merriam Park, St.

Anthony Park, and St. Paul Park in Was.h.i.+ngton county.

The following table gives the population of St. Paul from 1838 to May, 1888.

YEAR. POPULATION.

1838 3 1847 50 1849 400 1850 850 1855 4,400 1856 5,630 1857 9,973 1860 10,600 1865 13,100 1870 20,300 1871 24,200 1872 25,500 1873 27,023 1875 33,178 1880 41,498 1881 50,900 1882 75,835 1883 88,378 1884 99,322 1885 111,397 1886 123,395 1887 155,577 1888 (Estimated) 187,759

POST OFFICE.

The following figures will show the amount of business transacted at the post office, St. Paul, Minnesota, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1887, as compared with the year 1886:

GENERAL BUSINESS.

1886. 1887.

From sale of stamps, envelopes, etc $204,565 90 $274,178 95 From sale of newspapers and periodical stamps 15,912 38 17,697 00 From sale of unpaid letter stamps 1,814 80 2,119 00 From box rent 1,866 50 1,772 25 From sale of waste paper, twine and packing boxes 95 98 176 93 From other offices (deposited) 87,721 65 106,858 42 Sent a.s.sistant treasurer United States, New York 177,412 59 268,770 70 Paid route agents, messengers, etc 93,246 16 83,130 49 Paid letter carriers 38,121 19 44,282 11 Paid letter carriers' expenses and horse hire 1,856 01 1,644 89 ----------- ----------- Total postal funds $622,612 36 $713,620 74

MONEY ORDER BUSINESS.

No. Amount. No. Amount.

Domestic orders and postal notes issued 29,420 $257,572 95 35,603 $305,339 94 Fees on same 2,250 62 2,537 94 Foreign orders issued 2,632 37,356 88 2,540 57,582 03 Fees on same 466 90 699 80 Domestic orders and postal notes paid 74,526 670,304 82 84,972 701,667 17 Foreign orders paid 1,250 30,701 91 1,508 36,132 44 Surplus money order funds received from other offices 1,743,516 42 1,773,455 99 Surplus money order funds remitted Chicago and New York 1,339,600 00 1,275,800 00 ------------ ------------ Total money order funds $4,081,770 50 $4,153,215 11 Total postal funds 622,612 36 713,620 74 ------------- ------------ Grand total financial transactions $4,704,382 86 $4,867,845 85

POST OFFICE HISTORY.

The names and date of the commission of the postmasters of St. Paul are as follows: Henry Jackson, April 7, 1846; Jacob W. Ba.s.s, July 5, 1849; Wm. H. Forbes, March 18, 1853; Chas. S. Cave, March 11, 1856; Wm. M. Corcoran, March 12, 1860; Chas. Nichols, April 2, 1861; Jacob H. Stewart, March 14, 1865; Jos. A. Wheelock, March 4, 1870; David Day, July 1, 1875.

Net yearly income, being balance on quarterly returns from its establishment to the present time:

1846 $3 43 1847 20 33 1848 48 40 1849 369 25 1850 429 07 1851 1,192 72 1852 1,497 73 1853 1,806 04 1854 3,042 89 1855 3,814 07 1856 5,164 67 1857 9,171 87 1858 5,577 05 1859 6,135 66 1860 5,254 47 1861 5,136 71 1862 6,898 99 1863 9,509 53 1864 13,140 08 1865 12,082 32 1866 12,009 03 1867 15,033 19 1868 16,991 76 1869 20,848 03 1870 23,437 66 1871 32,250 61 1872 36,817 17 1873 43,305 05 1874 43,284 36 1875 42,767 82 1876 41,667 92 1877 38,998 42 1878 48,141 04 1879 64,670 59 1880 73,456 87 1881 96,197 77 1882 132,702 66 1883 141,704 78 1884 127,977 99 1885 134,501 13 1886 153,009 08 1887 189,017 20

Gross yearly income of the St. Paul post office from 1875 to 1887:

1875 $58,922 63 1876 57,092 85 1877 53,412 82 1878 63,922 49 1879 81,299 92 1880 102,450 22 1881 128,156 45 1882 173,131 31 1883 190,907 36 1884 186,571 22 1885 200,407 94 1886 226,972 28 1887 272,181 87

[Ill.u.s.tration: BRIG. GEN. HENRY H. SIBLEY.]

CHAPTER XXI.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HENRY HASTINGS SIBLEY.--The father of Gen. Sibley, Judge Solomon Sibley, of Ma.s.sachusetts, was a well known pioneer of the Northwest.

He settled in Ohio in 1795, but two years later removed to Michigan, which he represented as delegate to Congress in 1800. In 1799 he served as member of the first legislature of the Northwest Territory.

He was judge of the supreme court from 1824 to 1836, and died in 1846, universally lamented. The mother of Gen. Sibley was the daughter of Col. Ebenezer Sproat, and a granddaughter of Commodore Whipple of the American Navy. She was a cultured lady, of unusual personal beauty and of rare accomplishments. She was married to Judge Sibley in 1802, and died at Detroit Jan. 22, 1851. Henry H. Sibley was born in Detroit, Michigan, Feb. 20, 1811. He received an academic education, and two years' tuition in the cla.s.sics. In 1828 he came to the Sault Ste.

Marie and secured employment as a clerk. In 1829 he entered the service of the American Fur Company at Mackinaw. In 1834 he came to the mouth of St. Peter's river, to the post afterward known as Mendota, as the agent of the American Fur Company. He made the journey from Prairie du Chien, a distance of nearly three hundred miles, on horseback. At that time there was but a single civilized habitation on the way. In 1836 he built a stone house at Mendota, the first in Minnesota, in which he resided twenty-four years. This house is still standing. He continued to act as agent for the American Fur Company until called to act as delegate to Congress for Wisconsin Territory west of the St. Croix, in 1848. Mr. Sibley, when elected, was a citizen of Mendota, Clayton county, Iowa, but the question of citizens.h.i.+p was not raised. He was recognized as the ablest and best representative that could be chosen for the difficult task of securing the organization of Minnesota Territory. In this he was successful.

In the fall of 1849 he was re-elected as a delegate from the new territory he had been instrumental in forming, and served in that capacity until March 4, 1853, rendering the Territory important services. In 1855 he was elected a member of the Minnesota territorial legislature from Dakota county, and in 1857 was a member and president of the Democratic wing of the const.i.tutional convention. On the admission of Minnesota as a state he was elected governor, taking his seat May 24, 1858. His term expired Jan. 1, 1860. Aug. 19, 1862, his successor, Gov. Ramsey, appointed him commander of the forces sent to quell the Sioux outbreak. He marched with his command in pursuit of the Indians, defeating them in several skirmishes and battles, releasing 250 captives held by them and capturing about 2,000 prisoners, over 400 of whom were tried by court martial and sentenced to be hanged. Of this number thirty-eight were executed at Mankato, Dec. 26, 1862, President Lincoln having pardoned the remainder. Col.

Sibley was commissioned brigadier general for his gallant services, and retained in command of the frontier. In 1863 he led another expedition into the Indian country, driving the hostiles across the Missouri river, and returning to Fort Snelling in September. The years 1864 and 1865 were employed in securing the defense of the frontier.

Nov. 29, 1865, Gen. Sibley was commissioned major general for efficient and meritorious services. He continued in the service until August, 1866, when he was relieved of his command and detailed as a member of the commission to negotiate treaties with the hostile Sioux and other bands on the Upper Missouri river.

In 1871 Gen. Sibley was elected to represent the Fifth ward, St. Paul, in the legislature. He became a resident of St. Paul in 1862, but, in company with Louis Robert and A. L. Larpenteur, had entered land for the town site there as early as 1854.

Gen. Sibley has been for several years president of the Gas Company, director of the First National Bank, director of the Sioux City railway, etc. He has at different times filled other responsible positions; has been park commissioner, president of the Historical Society, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and was once the candidate of his party for Congress, but unsuccessful. He has contributed many valuable papers to the State Historical Society and has written much on topics relating to the welfare of the State, of which, with the exception of his personal friend, W. T. Boutwell, he is now the oldest resident.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Alex. Ramsey]

Gen. Sibley, for his integrity, persistent devotion to the welfare of the State, for his indomitable persistence in upbuilding its interests, has won a lasting place in the confidence and respect of the people. His history is inseparably interwoven with the history of the State, and he is justly regarded as one of its first and best citizens. The town and county of Sibley bear his name.

He was married May 2, 1843, to Sarah J., sister of Frank Steele. Mrs.

Sibley died May 21, 1869, much respected for her many virtues and rare accomplishments.

ALEXANDER RAMSEY, the first territorial governor of Minnesota, was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 8, 1815. His paternal ancestors were Scotch-Irish. His mother was of German descent. His parents were Thomas and Elisabeth (Kelker) Ramsey. His father was an officer in the war of 1812, and died when the son was but ten years old. Frederic Kelker, an uncle, a.s.sisted in the education of the son, who in turn a.s.sisted as salesman in the store of his uncle. At the age of eighteen he entered Lafayette College; at Easton, Pennsylvania; attended college but a short time, when he commenced the study of law with Hon. Hamilton Alricks, of Harrisburg, graduating afterward in the law school at Carlisle, and commenced the practice of law in 1839. He commenced his political life in 1840, the year of the Harrison campaign, and was made secretary of the electoral college. In 1841 he was appointed clerk of the Pennsylvania house of representatives. He was in the lower house of Congress from 1843 to 1846, and was renominated for a third term, but declined. In 1848 he was made chairman of the Whig state central committee, and the following year was appointed governor of the newly formed territory of Minnesota by President Taylor. He entered upon his duties as governor in May, 1849.

The territorial government was organized in June, and the governor issued his proclamation establis.h.i.+ng three judicial districts, and providing for the election of members of the first legislature. He served as governor four years. In 1855 he was elected mayor of St.

Paul. In 1857 he was candidate for governor of the State, but was not elected. He was elected to that office in 1859, and re-elected in 1861. In 1863, before the expiration of his second term, he was elected to the United States senate, and re-elected in 1869. March 4, 1875, he accepted the position of secretary of war in the cabinet of President Hayes, and for a time was acting secretary of the navy. In 1883 he was appointed chairman of the Utah commission under the Edmunds bill.

In the various departments of public service to which he has been called, Gov. Ramsey has acquitted himself well, displaying rare qualities of statesmans.h.i.+p. He is remarkable for his caution, which leads him sometimes almost into conservatism, but results have generally proved the sagacity of his apparently tardy movements. He is a master in the exercise of a wise caution in the conduct of public affairs. He has, in fact, great political sagacity. He has made several favorable treaties with the Indians, being empowered during his term as governor to act also as superintendent of Indian affairs.

During his two terms as state governor, he rendered the country great service by his prompt response to the calls for volunteers and his decisive and unwavering support of the general government. He also acted with great promptness and resolution in the suppression of the Indian outbreak. As a senator he supported all measures for the prosecution of the war for the preservation of the Union; advocated the abolition of the franking privilege and a.s.sisted in procuring aid for the building of the Northern Pacific railroad, favoring the project of three trunk lines between the Mississippi and the Pacific States and the general plan of aiding these roads by the donation of alternate sections of public land, and was also active in promoting the improvement of the Upper Mississippi and navigable tributaries.

In person Gov. Ramsey is a hale, hearty, and well preserved gentleman, who is pa.s.sing gracefully into what with many is the season of the sere and yellow leaf. He is genial and pleasant in his manners, and would impress the ordinary observer as one whose "lines have fallen in pleasant places," and who is the happy possessor of a good digestion, a serene temper and a clear conscience.

On Sept. 10, 1845, he was married to Anna Earl Jenks, daughter of Hon.

Michael H. Jenks, for many years judge of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a lady of rare accomplishments, and in every way fitted to s.h.i.+ne in the society into which she was introduced as the wife of a governor, senator and cabinet officer. In private life she was not less noted for her kindness of heart, amiability and christian virtues. This estimable lady died in 1883, leaving a daughter, Marion, the wife of Charles Elliott Furness, of Philadelphia.

MAJ. WM. H. FORBES was born on Montreal island, Canada, Nov. 3, 1815.