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

Chippewa and Sioux Indians. White Bear being debatable ground, and sometimes a battlefield between hostile parties. The Sioux claimed the right, under the treaty of 1851, to hunt, fish and gather berries and rice in that region. In the fall of 1855 a party of Sioux from Kaposia went by the lake on a hunting expedition. Near Oneka lake, a few miles above, they fell in with some Chippewas, one of whom they killed and scalped, but had two of their own number mortally wounded. Returning, they camped on Goose lake, just about where St. John's church was first built, and had a scalp dance, lasting two days and nights. It was from time immemorial a grand battle field for them. Hardly a foot of the soil around the lake but what has been ensanguined with the blood of the hereditary foes. Many are the tales told of their encounters. "Spirit Island" seems to have been the hardest fought spot, and to this day it is honeycombed with the remains of rifle pits, redoubts and earth works made by the contending parties, while innumerable bodies of the slain have enriched its soil. It is a perfect Golgotha--an island cemetery. If but a fraction of these savage combats and sieges were truly narrated, no romance could equal it in thrilling interest. These fierce combats continued as late as 1855. Miss Mary Stiles, daughter of William Stiles, was the first white child born at White Bear. Miss Mary E. Barnum was married to Richard McLagan--being the first wedding which occurred at White Bear. 'Squire Jacob J. Noah, justice of the peace of St. Paul, tied the knot. The first death was that of Clara Murray, aged four years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Murray, in July, 1856. J. G. Riheldaffer preached at the funeral service at Mr. Murray's house the first sermon in the settlement. A lay Methodist named Hoffman held services on the Sabbath several times at Barnum's hotel. A Baptist clergyman from Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin, named Messer, also occasionally held services in the early days, at the school house, a log house built in 1857. The Episcopal church of St. John in the Wilderness was built in 1861 and consecrated in August of the same year. It was located at the lower end of the lake, but in 1874 was moved to its present site on Clarke avenue. The Presbyterian church was organized May 28, 1864, with eight members, two of whom were elected ruling elders, James F. Murray and Daniel Getty. The corner stone of the present church edifice was laid Nov. 8, 1871, and the foundation laid in the following spring. The church was completed in 1872. A Catholic church was built in 1879, on a block between First and Second streets and Bald Eagle avenue, in which services are held every two weeks. The post office of White Bear was established in November, 1859, and J. C. Murray appointed postmaster. The township of White Bear was organized May 11, 1858, with the following officers: Clerk, G. Schnabel; supervisor, J. F. Murray; assessor, V. B. Barnum; justices of the peace, J. R. Clewett and Alex. Pepin. The village is easy of access, and abundantly supplied with railroad facilities. The St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Company has built a double track to St. Paul. This company built a road to Stillwater known as the Stillwater & White Bear railroad. There is in addition to this road an extension to Minneapolis known as the Minneapolis & White Bear railroad. The Sault Ste. Marie passes through the north part of the village. WHITE BEAR LAKE Is one of the most famous pleasure resorts in the vicinity of St. Paul. Its clear waters, gently sloping wooded shores, and the entire absence of marsh or swamp lands adjoining, render the situation at once pleasant and salubrious. It has an extreme length of 6-1/2 miles, and a width of 2-3/4. It has, according to survey meanders, a shore line of over 20 miles, and its area is 3,940 acres, or 62 square miles. Beautiful parks surround the lake. Prominent among these are Wildwood Park and Mahtomedi, the latter renowned as a camp ground, and later as the site of a summer school, modeled after that at Chautauqua, and one of a system of schools of which the Chautauqua school is the principal and central institution. Spirit island, connected with the mainland by a bridge, is also a charming resort. The lake shore is crowded with hotels and cottages for the use of summer visitors. Among these the Leip House is especially worthy of mention, the proprietor having beautified the grounds and built around the hotel a small village of cottages for excursionists. Other houses are the Ramaley, the Williams, the Chateaugay, the Dellwood, etc., with pleasant surroundings. The appearance of this resort during the summer months is one of great animation. Tourists and summer visitors crowd the hotel, or gather in groups along the lake shore, while the lake is dotted with their sailing vessels. A small steamer makes regular trips to points of interest about the lake. White Bear Lake village was incorporated by the legislature in 1881, the following being chosen as the first officers under their charter: Daniel Getty, chairman of council; James C. Murray, Luke H. Bacon, Abel E. Leaman, and Fred W. Benson, councilmen; B. E. McGurk, recorder; H. K. Getty, treasurer; Wm. Clark, village justice; Reuben Clewett, marshal. DANIEL GETTY was born in the north of Ireland in 1826. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish. He came with his parents to Philadelphia in 1832; was educated in the common schools, and learned the trade of a cabinet maker. He came to White Bear in 1855, and opened the first store in the place. He has four sons associated with him in business. He has done much to promote the prosperity of White Bear, and by enterprise and close attention to business, both as a merchant and a dealer in real estate, he has been successful. SOUTH ST. PAUL Is located in the northeastern corner of Dakota county, four and a half miles below St. Paul, the site of the Presbyterian and Methodist missions of old Kaposia. It is situated on a plateau considerably above high water mark, in the rear of which the grounds rise gradually to a rich agricultural plain. It is connected with St. Paul by an hourly motor line of cars. It has communication with St. Paul by the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City railway, and also has communication by water. The famous St. Paul Union Stockyards are located here, and occupy two hundred acres of land. This great enterprise was founded by A. B. Stickney and Ansel Oppenheim, president of the company. W. M. Littell is general superintendent; Arnold Kalman, secretary and treasurer. The stockyards were located here in 1886, and now (1888) possess a capital of $1,500,000 in grounds and necessary buildings pertaining to such an enterprise. There are eight miles of railroad track upon the grounds. The stock is brought from Montana, Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa by railroad. 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 shores 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 furnishing 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. Sexias. 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 Washington 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.