Fifty Years In The Northwest

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

Society was incorporated June 6, 1868, and the first preaching was by Rev. E. A. Hodsdon, of St. Anthony. The edifice is on Third street South; cost about $15,000.

SWEDISH LUTHERAN

The society was organized in 1871; the church building was erected in 1882-83, at a cost of $15,000. The pastor is Rev. A. F. Tornell.

THE FIRST GERMAN LUTHERAN

Church was organized in 1871. The church building and parsonage are on Third street, near Olive, and are valued at $4,500. The pastor is Rev. J. J. Weiss.

THE NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN

Society uses the German Lutheran church buildings, corner of Olive and Fourth streets.

THE GERMAN METHODIST

Congregation worships in a frame building, corner of Linden and Everett streets.

THE SALEM GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH

Was formed by the withdrawal of a part of the members of the First German Lutheran church for separate worship. The Swedish church and school, on the corner of Olive and Fourth streets, were purchased for $2,150. To this a parsonage was added at a cost of $2,150. Rev. L. F. Frey is the pastor.

THE DANISH LUTHERAN CHURCH

Has a cosy frame edifice on Laurel, between Williams and Owen, but is not holding services at present. The edifice cost $7,000 and the membership is one hundred and fifty.

SWEDISH CONGREGATIONAL

The Swedish Congregational church occupies a frame building on Fourth street, between Hickory and Elm streets, which cost $2,000 and has sixty members.

THE ST. JOSEPH'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH

Was organized by the present pastor, Rev. Father E. Roe, in 1882, with seventeen members, which has since been increased to eighty families. A frame edifice was erected in 1884, with a seating capacity of four hundred, costing about $8,000, corner of Olive and Greely streets. The church property consists of the edifice and the priest's house, and cost $11,000.

THE SWEDISH METHODIST CHURCH

Was organized in 1880 by Rev. C. S. Carlander. The church building is located on Myrtle and Fourth streets, and cost $2,000.

THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

Has a membership of seventy-five and a frame building erected in 1872 at a cost of $1,200.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS

The court house and other public buildings of the city are creditable specimens of architecture, rooms convenient and well adapted to the purposes of their construction. The present court house building is the third erected. Its cost, including that of the jail buildings, the wall around them and other improvements, has been something over $75,000. The city hall, at the corner of Myrtle and Third streets, is a substantial and convenient building. It contains also room for the city officers. The public school buildings have kept pace with the growth of the city. In the summer of 1887 the city erected a high school building at a cost of $60,000. The engine house is a good building, centrally located. An elegant union depot was built in 1887, of brown stone from the Apostle islands, at a cost of $30,000.

The Opera House. – The opera house occupies the site of the old Lake House, on Main street between Nelson and Chestnut streets. It was commenced in 1880 and finished in 1881, under the supervision of L. W. Eldred, architect. Its size is 90×120 feet, ground plan, and four stories in height, or seventy-one feet from lower floor to cornice. The style of architecture is a blending of the Queen Anne, Victoria and Gothic. The entrance to the upper part of the building is by a stairway twelve feet wide, in a lofty, ornamental turret. The auditorium is 64×120 feet, and beautifully and elaborately finished and furnished, and is capable of seating over 1,200 persons. It is well lighted, being supplied with 130 gas jets, warmed by steam, and well ventilated. The stage is 39×64 feet, complete in all its appointments, and supplied with all the necessary stage scenery, wings, border bridge, balcony, interior and other decorations. The ceiling of the auditorium is superbly frescoed and the cornice is adorned with medallions of Shakespeare, Haydn, Schiller, Goethe, Dickens, Handel, Scott, Longfellow, Mozart, Tennyson, and Beethoven. The parts of the building not occupied for stage purposes are appropriated to halls, offices and stores.

SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

I. O. O. F. – Lodge No. 1, organized June, 1849; Stillwater Lodge, No. 51, organized January, 1876.

Masonic. – St. John's Lodge No. 1, organized 1849; Washington, Royal Arch Chapter, No. 17, organized March, 1868; Bayard Commandery, K. T., No. 11, organized March, 1878.

Knights of Pythias. – Stillwater Lodge, No. 7, organized November, 1872.

A. O. U. W. – St. Croix Lodge, No. 11, organized July, 1876.

Sons of Herman. – Stillwater Lodge, No. 3, organized January, 1876; Concordia Lodge, No. 19, organized January, 1881.

Temperance Societies. – I. O. G. T. Lodge of Stillwater, organized in 1859; L'Etoile du Nord Lodge, No. 57, organized May, 1866; Temple of Honor, No. 10, organized September, 1876; Father Matthew Temperance Society, organized November, 1872.

Miscellaneous. – St. Ann's Society, organized November, 1866; St. Vincent de Paul Conference, organized October, 1870; St. Joseph Benevolent Society, organized November, 1879; Y. M. C. A., organized in 1878; Washington County Bible Society, organized in 1851; Northwestern Benefit Society, No. 1, organized in 1879; Subordinate Union Penn Equitable Association, No. 165, organized in 1880; Stillwater City Hospital, organized March, 1880; Stillwater Mannerchoir, organized in 1875; the Stillwater Turnverein, organized in 1859; G. A. R., Stillwater Post, No. 13, organized March, 1868.

CEMETERIES

The first burial ground was selected in 1846. Ten years later, by a survey of the city, these grounds were included in what is now known as block 3. These grounds were used until the organization of the Fairview Cemetery Association in 1867, when the bodies were removed to the new cemetery in the burial ground in South Stillwater. Fairview cemetery is beautifully located on undulating or hilly ground and is adorned with shrubbery and made attractive by the hand of art. Its location is within the city limits, near the corner of Orleans and Fourth streets.

WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

An attempt was made at organization in 1856, but it proved premature. The present society was organized in February, 1871, at Cottage Grove, and incorporated the same year. The first board of officers consisted of J. W. Furber, president; J. S. Norris, vice president; T. Elwell, secretary, and James Middleton, treasurer. In 1873 the fair grounds were established near Stillwater, under the joint control of the Agricultural Society and the Driving Park Association. In 1875 the fair grounds were established at Lake Elmo. But one fair had been held there when a cyclone struck the grounds and swept away all the improvements. The society again effected an arrangement by which their fairs were held on the grounds near Stillwater.

MINNESOTA STATE PRISON

At the organization of Minnesota Territory Congress appropriated $5,000 for a territorial prison. The legislature expended the money thus appropriated in building a prison at Stillwater. The site was located by a commission appointed by the legislature in 1849, consisting of John McKusick, E. A. C. Hatch and Lewis Robert. The commission was also authorized to locate the Territorial University and select a site in St. Paul for the capitol. Their task was not completed until the ensuing year. Their selection of a location for the university and of a site for the capitol were satisfactory, but it was generally conceded that the site for the prison was badly chosen. The ground, nine acres, was mostly quagmire, and was, moreover, crowded in a ravine between high bluffs. However, it was convenient to the lake and steamboat landing, and was well watered with pure spring water.

In 1851 Jesse Taylor, F. R. Delano, Martin Mower, J. E. McKusick, and Jacob Fisher entered into contract with the commissioners, under the firm name of Jesse Taylor & Co., to build one stone wing of the prison building, to be inclosed with a stone wall. The dimensions of the wing were 30 × 40 feet and three stories high. In 1853 an addition was built, and Francis R. Delano was appointed warden. Until 1858 the expenditure of the public money used in building and other expenses was under the control of the warden. Under state rule the warden was relieved of this burden of responsibility. The legislature had provided that prisoners might be received in the penitentiary not yet convicted of crime, on condition that their board should be defrayed by the counties from which they were sent. When this expense was not promptly met by the counties the prisoners thus held were set at liberty. The Washington county grand jury investigated the matter and memorialized the ensuing legislature, which effected a change in the laws regarding such commitments. Wings were added to the prison, walls were built, shops and other accessories added from year to year, and appropriations were made from time to time. In 1870 an appropriation of $74,000 was made for extending the building. Outside companies were permitted to build shops and manufactories within the prison limits that they might avail themselves of convict labor.

The following are the wardens who have served since the prison was built: Territorial, F. R. Delano; state government: Francis O. J. Smith, appointed March 4, 1858; Henry N. Setzer, Aug. 4, 1858; John S. Proctor, Jan. 1, 1860; Joshua L. Taylor, Feb. 16, 1868; A. C. Webber, March 16, 1870; Henry A. Jackman, Oct. 10, 1870; John A. Reid, Aug. 3, 1874; H. G. Stordock, 1887.

The following table shows the number of convicts each year up to the present time:

The prison on the whole has been well and humanely managed. There have been occasional outbreaks, easily suppressed, or cases of individual insubordination, two or three with fatal results to the insubordinates.

The prison buildings have been several times visited by damaging and disastrous fires. The most serious were in 1884. The first occurred January 8th, by which the large workshop and machinery owned by the State and the Northwestern Car Company were destroyed. The second occurred January 26th, and destroyed the main prison buildings, including the cells, from which the prisoners were rescued with the greatest difficulty. One perished of suffocation. On this occasion guards, prison officials and some of the convicts displayed heroism worthy of the highest commendation. The convicts on the whole behaved well. Mr. Reid, the warden of the prison, behaved with great coolness and decision, and so averted what might have been a fearful disaster.

FIRES

Stillwater has suffered occasionally from fires. The first house burned was the McKusick boarding house, in 1846. The Northrup hotel was burned in 1847. In 1866 a fire occurred on the west side of Main street, between Myrtle and Chestnut, in which twelve buildings were burned, principally frame structures. In 1872 the Lake House and four adjacent buildings were burned. The Schulenburg mill was burned in 1878. Two great fires occurred in the penitentiary in 1884. The Episcopal church building and the mills of Hersey & Bean were burned in 1887. Numerous smaller fires occurred at intervals, but owing to the efficiency of the fire companies they were easily suppressed.

BONDS AND INDEBTEDNESS

Up to 1886 the bonded indebtedness of the city has aggregated the sum of $345,000. The bonds were issued at various times for railway and levee improvements, city bridge, city buildings, water works and current funds. The interest on these bonds has always been promptly met, and the expenditures for improvements have been more than repaid to the taxpayers by the increased valuation of property within the city limits.

Issac Staples, son of Rev. Winslow Staples, was born in Topsham, Maine, Sept. 25, 1816. At eighteen years of age he bought his time of his father for three hundred and sixty dollars. He found employment on the Penobscot river at lumbering for two years, when he engaged in selling goods at Old Town, but soon after went into the lumbering business with S.F. Hersey. In 1849 Mr. Staples was appointed agent for the Penobscot Indians living at Old Town, twelve miles above Bangor, on the Penobscot. In October, 1853, Mr. Staples came to Minnesota for the purpose of purchasing pine lands, and located at Stillwater, moving his family here in 1854. Mr. Staples represented a wealthy company, composed of himself, S. F. Hersey and some Massachusetts men, who furnished all the money needed to buy pine land or make any other investments deemed advisable. They, through the agency of Mr. Staples, purchased immense quantities of pine timber. They built a large saw mill in Stillwater, and dealt in any and all branches of business considered remunerative. The advent of Isaac Staples in Stillwater gave to the city new life. Mr. Staples was indefatigable in his labors, full of vigor and in prime health. His ambition was unlimited, his judgment good. Backed up by a successful lumbering experience in Maine, and with money sufficient to meet all necessary calls, he was financially progressive and prosperous. In after years Messrs. Staples & Hersey purchased the entire interest of the firm of Hersey, Staples & Co. Subsequently the firm changed to Hersey & Staples and Hersey, Staples & Bean, and finally a division of property was agreed upon. Since the division Mr. Staples has been just as extensively engaged in the name of Isaac Staples in doing business as at any period in his past life.

In 1887 Mr. Staples purchased the property of the Cushing Company, located at St. Croix and Taylor's Falls, for $50,000. This property has long been in litigation and consequently has been unimproved. The advent of Mr. Staples, as proprietor, opens a new era in the history of the two villages at the head of navigation on the St. Croix.

In addition to his lumbering and real estate interests, Mr. Staples has also engaged in farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He owns one farm of six hundred and forty acres within the limits of Stillwater. This farm is well stocked and supplied with stores, barns, shops and other buildings. It is used as a stork farm, and as a headquarters for supplying his lumbering camps.

Mr. Staples has another farm located on the line of the Minneapolis, Soo & Atlantic railway, eleven miles northwest of Stillwater, known as the Maple Island farm, which contains 1,400 acres of land, inclosed and supplied with barns, farm houses and other buildings. There are fine wells and lakes and some well stocked fish ponds. He owns a flouring mill on this farm.

Mr. Staples has a third farm at Bronson, Kanabec county, containing 2,000 acres of land, well under cultivation. Ann river flows through this farm, and is supplied with a dam to facilitate the driving of logs into Fish lake. The farm is also made a fitting-out place for the lumbering camps. These three farms are valued at $250,000.

Mr. Staples has lived an unusually busy life, and has been unusually successful. Though past the ordinary limit of human life, he is still active, and will probably continue to plan and work as long as he lives. He is happiest when most busily employed. His mind is of the active type. He is restless, alert, far-seeing, systematic, and persistent. Without these qualities he never could have achieved the success that has crowned his career. He has been twice married; first in 1839, to Miss Caroline B. Rogers, of Old Town, Maine, by whom he had one child, who is still living. Mrs. Staples died in 1810. He was again married, Jan, 31, 1841, to Miss Olivia J. Pettengill, of Old Town, Maine, by whom he has had eight children, – four sons and four daughters, – four of whom are living.

Samuel F. Hersey, of the late firm of Hersey, Staples & Co., was born in Sumner, Maine, in 1812. At an early day he became a citizen of Bangor, Maine, and wisely invested in pine timber lands on the Penobscot waters, when lands were cheap. Their true value was not appreciated by many. The business interests of the county had not been developed and lumber dealing was not profitable. The increase in value on his investments made him a wealthy man. He was a banker, merchant and lumberman. His investments always yielded a rich return. His associates and townsmen often elected him to posts of honor and trust. In 1842-57-65-67 and 69 he was in the Maine state legislature. When he died, Feb. 3. 1875, he was serving his second term (four years) as representative in Congress, from the Bangor or Fourth district of Maine. He died at his home in Bangor. Both houses of Congress paid fitting tributes to his high business, social and christian standing, and his worth as a legislator and statesman.

Mr. Hersey was not a citizen of Minnesota, but as early as 1851 became a member of the firm of Hersey, Staples & Co., of Stillwater, and interested himself greatly in Minnesota and Stillwater enterprises. Amongst other things he aided in building two railroads, and gave liberally for the erection of the Universalist church and to its library. He was thrice married, and left a family of four sons, the children of his second wife.

Roscoe F. Hersey, the oldest son, was born July 18, 1841, in Milford, Maine; was educated at the graded school in Bangor, and clerked in his father's store until 1862, when he volunteered as a soldier in Company A, Eighteenth Maine Infantry. He was appointed second lieutenant and rose to the rank of captain in 1863, but on May 19, 1864, was severely wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, was confined in the hospital nine months, and discharged with the brevet rank of colonel.

Col. Hersey spent two years in New Orleans, engaged in the shipping and commission business, and in the spring of 1867 came to Stillwater and thence to Lake City, where he had charge of the lumber and mercantile business of Hersey, Staples & Co. in that city for five years. In 1872 he returned to Stillwater, entered the firm of Hersey, Brown & Bean, dealers in lands, lumber and merchandise. In 1877 he was elected state senator and served one term. He has held many responsible positions. He married Eva C. Wardwell, of Bangor, Maine, Jan. 4, 1864. They have one son, Clinton, an enterprising, public spirited man, inheriting much of his father's will power.

Dudley H. Hersey, the second son, was born in Bangor, Dec. 25, 1847. He was educated at Westbrook Seminary, Maine, and came to Stillwater at an early age in the employ of his father. In 1872 he became one of the firm of Hersey, Bean & Brown. Mr. Hersey was married to Estella Wardwell, of Bangor, Maine, in 1870. They have one son, Samuel F.

Eugene M. Hersey, the third son, was born in Bangor, Maine, May 6, 1850. He was educated at the high school in Bangor. With his brother he has been interested in milling and lumbering operations. He was married in 1876.

Edward L. Hersey, the youngest son, was born in Bangor, Maine, April 29, 1852; graduated at Westbrook Seminary in 1871, and was married to Mary L. Merrill, of Chicago, in 1877.

Jacob Bean was born in Upper Stillwater, Maine, in 1837. In that centre of the lumbering interests he early and easily took to lumbering, and pursued the business continuously until 1863, when he came to Stillwater, where he became an active member of the firm of Hersey, Staples & Bean, and of Hersey, Bean & Brown.

Charles Bean was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, in 1827; removed to Orono, Maine, in 1835; followed lumbering on the Penobscot river for a few years. He came to Stillwater in 1863, and some years later sent for his aged parents, giving them a home until their death. In 1865 he became one of the firm of Hersey, Staples & Bean, dealers in pine land. He is at present with his oldest son in California, where both are interested in real estate and irrigation enterprises. Mr. Bean has been twice married and has a family of eight children. The oldest daughter married Jerry Brown, now deceased. Mr. Bean moved to California in 1887.

Rudolph Lehmicke was born in Prussia in 1822. He learned the trade of cabinet and organ making; came to America in 1849, and to Stillwater in 1854, working at his trade until 1858. He served one year as justice of the peace, and having studied law was admitted to practice in 1859. In the fall of 1859 he was elected county auditor and served until 1874. He was elected judge of the probate court, in which position he continued until 1881. He has served as inspector of the prison, superintendent of public schools, and member of the board of education. Judge Lehmicke was married in 1853, in Coldwater, Michigan, to Jane Tackeberry. They have a family of five sons and two daughters.

Hollis R. Murdock was born in Governeur, New York, Aug. 15, 1832. He graduated at Williams College, Massachusetts, in 1854, came to Stillwater in 1855, and was admitted to the practice of law in 1856, since which time he has been in continuous practice. He has held many offices of trust. Has been judge of the probate court and member of the legislature from Washington county, and director of a bank and railroad company. Mr. Murdock was married to Sarah A. Rice, Nov. 3, 1857.

George M. Seymour was born in Onondaga county, New York, March 26, 1829. Part of his early life he spent on a farm, but later he learned the carpenter's trade and became a builder and contractor. While in Syracuse he engaged for some years in the manufacture of lumber and staves, and later, of salt. He was married to Anna B. Kingsley in 1851. In 1858 he came to Stillwater, and in 1861 was awarded the prison contract, and engaged in making cooperage. He was one of the founders of the firms of Seymour, Webster & Co. and Seymour, Sabin & Co. (the Northwestern Car Company). He was sheriff of Washington county for two years.

Frank A. Seymour, only son of George M., was cashier of the First National Bank of Stillwater for four years, and subsequently cashier of the Merchants Bank, St. Paul.

Marion O., only daughter of George M. Seymour, graduated from Mount Holyoke Seminary in 1880.

Louis Hospes, for many years identified with the Schulenberg-Boeckeler Lumber Company, and father of A. C. Hospes, surveyor general of logs and lumber, E. L. Hospes of the Schulenberg-Boeckeler Company, and Otto G. Hospes of the hardware firm of A. C. Hospes & Co., died April 9, 1888. The deceased was born in the landgravate of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Feb. 8, 1809, and attended school in the city of Witzenhausen until he was sixteen years old. He then became a farmer, which avocation he followed for four years. He then entered the University of Gottingen, where he made a special study of the theory and practice of agriculture and of veterinary medicine and surgery. Retiring from the university, for two years he took charge of the farms on some large estates. In 1832 he sailed from Bremen for America, arriving at New York on September 4th of that year. Leaving that city on the eleventh of the same month, he arrived in St. Louis on October 18th. From that city he went to St. Charles county, where he engaged in agriculture and other pursuits until 1840. During his residence there he married Elvira Wurdeman, who survives him. In 1840 he removed to Green county, Southwest Missouri, where he made his home for the next six years among the Ozark mountains, where he and two brothers engaged in the distilling business. In 1848 Mr. Hospes went to St. Louis and entered the employ of Schulenberg & Boeckeler, where he remained until Oct. 21, 1854, when he came to Stillwater to take charge of the business of his employers here. In 1856 he became a partner in the concern, and continued so until 1874, when the firm reorganized as the Schulenberg-Boeckeler Lumber Company. When he retired, his son, E. L. Hospes, succeeded to his interest, which he now holds. In 1871 Mr. Hospes visited Europe with his family, spending a year abroad. In 1862, with his associates, he organized the First National Bank of Stillwater, of which he has been president for twenty years. His life in this city has been that of an active, energetic and generally successful business man, and though conservative in his business operations has always been ready to lend a helping hand to any deserving or practical business enterprise. He was marked for that fixed and reliable character which made his name a tower of strength to any enterprise with which he was connected, and his integrity, extending to little things, became proverbial. Besides the sons named he left two daughters, Mrs. H. E. Mann, of Milwaukee, and Mrs. J. Schlenk, of St. Paul.

David Tozer was born in Miramachi, New Brunswick, in 1823. His early opportunities for obtaining an education were somewhat limited, and he obtained only three months' schooling. He came to Stillwater in 1856 and engaged in lumbering, working by the month for five years, and afterward independently or in partnership with his brother Albert, and in the firm of Sauntry & Tozer, cutting and rafting lumber. He was married in Canada, in 1867, to Margaret McKay. Mr. Tozer has been an industrious and successful man.

David Bronson was born in Anson, Maine, in 1834. He clerked in Boston from 1850 to 1855, when he came to Stillwater, where he has since been engaged in selling goods, lumbering and manufacturing. He was married in 1861 to Ianthe Davis.

John Maloy is of Irish descent. He was born in Ireland, and emigrated to New Brunswick. He came to Stillwater with his family in 1853, and engaged in lumbering. His family consisted of nine sons and three daughters. The daughters are married. Four of the sons are living; two of them. Patrick and William, in Oregon, and the others, James and Robert, in Stillwater.

Mrs. Susannah Tepass, nee Burkhart, was born in Germany, Aug. 10, 1824. Her parents emigrated to America in 1847 and settled in Freeport, Illinois, where she was married, in 1849, to N. Kimmick, and the same year came to Stillwater. Mr. Kimmick died in 1857. In 1860 she was married to Frank Aiple. Mr. Aiple died Nov. 10, 1868. Dec. 9, 1869, she was married to her present husband, Herman Tepass. Her children are Mary, Herman and Frank Aiple.

William E. Thorne came to Stillwater in 1853. He has been an attentive and successful merchant, a polite and honorable gentleman, and a good citizen.

Edmund J. Butts was born in Delaware county, New York, in 1832; graduated at the Albany Normal School in 1853, and taught school awhile during his minority, and some years after studied law (in 1861), and was admitted to practice in Broome county, New York. In 1862 he enlisted in a New York regiment and served his full time of enlistment. In 1864 he was appointed clerk in the third auditor's office, Washington, which position he resigned in 1865 and came to Stillwater to practice his profession. He served some time as justice of the peace, and for ten years as judge of probate in Washington county. He was collector of internal revenue one year, and was eight years postmaster in Stillwater, completing his term of service in 1886. Mr. Butts was married to Augusta Miller in 1856. Mrs. Butts died in 1869, leaving one son and one daughter. Mr. Butts married Ida Ellsworth in 1878. They have one son and two daughters. His oldest son is in the military school at West Point.

A. B. Easton was born at Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, Ohio, March 1, 1828. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, tracing their lineage to the Pilgrim Fathers. At the age of fourteen years he was clerk in a store, but at the wish of his parents, left the store and attended school, finishing his studies by a course at the high school. Soon after he again assumed the position of clerk, in which he continued two years, when, in 1855, he took charge of his father's hotel. Two years subsequently he came to Stillwater, beginning work as a compositor for the Stillwater Messenger, A. J. Van Voorhes, proprietor. During the absence of the proprietor Mr. Easton was manager. Finally, in 1863, he and A. B. Stickney rented the paper, which they operated one year, then carried it on alone until 1865. During this time Mr. Van Voorhes had been filling the position of quartermaster, and on his return made Mr. Easton foreman, where he continued until 1868. The St. Paul Dispatch had just been established, and he was connected with the interests of this paper until his return to Stillwater in 1869. Aug. 6, 1870, he issued the first number of the Stillwater Gazette. His son William E. was taken as a partner in 1876. Mr. Easton and son have through their ability and industry made the Gazette a readable, reliable and popular paper. Mr. Easton was married to Julia Burke, Oct. 14, 1849. They have four sons and three daughters.

Edwin A. Folsom was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, June 30, 1833. He spent most of his youth with his parents in Bangor, Maine, where he was educated in the common schools. In 1856 he came to Stillwater and for six years was book-keeper for Hersey, Staples & Co. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Eighth Minnesota Volunteers, and was commissioned as captain. He left the service at the close of the war with the rank of brevet colonel. Returning to Stillwater, he served six years as county treasurer, and has since been engaged in lumbering and selling goods under the firm name of Bronson & Folsom. He was married Oct. 12, 1872, to Frances E. Staples.

John B. H. Mitchell. – The ancestors of Mr. Mitchell were Revolutionary patriots, originally Scotch covenanters, who settled in North Carolina, but who in after years freed their slaves and came to the Northern States. Mr. Mitchell was born Nov. 26, 1820, in Monroe county, Kentucky. His education was obtained chiefly in the printing office of H. H. Houghton, of Galena, Illinois. He came to St. Paul in 1852, and was employed two years in the Pioneer printing office. In 1854, in company with T. M. Newson and others, he published the St. Paul Daily Times. In 1855 he located on a farm near South Stillwater. During the early part of the Civil War he was in Nashville, Tennessee, and reported proceedings of secession conventions to northern papers. In 1863 he was elected a member of the Minnesota legislature. Mr. Mitchell has filled other offices of trust. He was married in 1850 to Mariana B. Fiske, a daughter of David Fiske, of Baytown.