The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-10-29

jail, prisoner hung himself in the adj
joining cell, and his death struggles go dis
turbed Mr.. Taylors sensitive nature that
he preferred to settle to being
martyr. These suits resulted in the sale of
Mr.. Taylors interest in all the property be-
fore referred to. Finallya compromise was
effected between Steele and Taylor, the
celebration of which caused some misunder-
standing between myself and the Temper
ance Society to which I belonged. All these
legal proceedings, involving the title OF
real estate, for many years prevented the
growth Of the town. Emigration and cap
ital sought some other locality. The only
one that seemed to flourish amid the gen.
eral disaster was the writer, who was then
officiating as Sheriff: Mr.. Henry T.
Welles was elected first Mayor of St. An
thony. His inaugural was marked by tie
ability and foresight that have attended his
subsequent career, and for which he has
become distinguished throughout the State.
The next Mayor who presided over the
destinies of the new-aedged city was Mr..
Alvaren Allen, now the popular landlord
of the Merchants Hotel, St. Paul. His cleo
ton was then considered the salvation of
the city from everlasting disgrace. His
opponent was an emigrant from Africa.
At the time referred to, colored barber,
surnamed Banks, was officiating in little
shop on Main street. He wore a standing
collar, and possessed some of the dignity and
style of his greatnamesake. 1t was his forte
to discuss the great questions that agitated
the country so it occurred to me, while
listening to one Of his dissertations, to sug-
gest to him that he was born for a higher
sphere of usefulness, and that he ought to
submit his name for Mayor, to which sug-
gestion Banks took very readily. 1t was
arranged that he should post hand bills an.
nouncing himself as candidate, in which he
would give notice thathe would deliver from
the steps Of the Jarrett House an address
foreshadowing the policy of his admins
tration. My part of the programme was to
write the address,. The Indian policy, the
public funds and the tariff were discussed,
but not word on municipal affairs. At
the appointed time, Banks began reading
his address to large audience, mostly COM
posed of lumbermen just from the "drive."
While in the midst of his eloquent effort, AL.
Stone, 1.-THE embodiment Of innocent deviltry,)
from the second story bed room window,
played the part of Zentippe and SO dampen-
ed our Socrates that he fed to the shelter
designated by the striped pole. He was soon
surrounded by hundred and fifty lumber
men in their red shirt uniforms, who ar
ranged some "skids" under our candidate
and conveyed him, building and all, sever
al squares and back, singing and shouting,
Blanks for Mayorv' 1t was soon discovered
that the lumbermen would turn our Joke in
to reality if some one could not be found
to turn the tide; Mr.. Allen was the only
one who could Save thecity;" he announc-
ed himself as candidate, in large. posters,
in which he stated, I'm the language of
Old Hickory, am down on all Banks"
His election was by close vote, and the
inhabitants breathed free again. My
readers will observe that all this occurred
before the late amendments to the National
Constitution were made. We now can
"render unto Cesar etc." without regard to
trace, color or previous condition."
Southern Minnesota. including the valley
of the Minnesota river, was open to settle
ment several years before that portion
of the State west of the Mississippi and
north of the Minnesota. I believe it was
in the autumn of 1851 that all the tribes
of Sioux Indians within the limits of the
Territory were assembled at Mendoza to
make treaty, the result of which was the
cession to the United States of all that rich
country west Of the Mississippi. At the
time referred to, there was not settler be-
tween the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
The buffalo and the elk roamed in the
Sank Valley undisturbed by white men.
Gov. Ramsey and Commissioner Lee rep
resented the Government at this treaty. I
can remember the impressive harangus of
Little Grow and other distinguished orator..
The harangues were impressive so far asges.
lures, and loud, sonorous voices could make
them. Some time afterwards Gov, RAM
sey and the Commissioner were arraiened
by the St. Paul Democrat and charged, lin
great head lines,) with swindling, stealing
and other sins which are now used to desiR-
nate the qualities of a carpet Dagger. The
investigation showed mo cause of action"
and that the editor, Col. D. A. Robertson,
was the innocentvictim of an Indian trader.
who had not been provided for in the
treaty. This treaty opened up for settle
ment all that rich country heretofore re-
ferred to. Embryo cities were started or
founded in all directions. 1t would be a
safe calculation to state that two cities to
one farm were the first products of that
eminent domain, t., Long before the In
dams left their poetic villages, (th.t is,